Basic & Clinical Cancer Research
Year:2020 | Volume:12 | Issue:4|Papers Count:6

Iran exhibited about 85, 000, 000 population in 2020. Based on the estimation provided by the global cancer observatory, the incidence of all cancer types in Iran was 70, 704 among men and 60, 484 among women, summing up to 131, 191 cancer in both sexes (1). Also, 79. 139 patients, including 46, 436 men and 32, 700 women, died of cancer in the same year. The 5-year prevalence for both sexes was 319. 740, including 161, 810 men and 157, 790 women (Table 1). The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of all the cancer types, excluding non-melanoma cancer, was 165. 0 per 100, 000 for men and 139. 0 per 100, 000 for women...

Background: Cancer is a significant public health problem, and its burden is increasing globally, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Cancer charities, alongside the government, could address health issues based on their goals. We studied the activities of cancer charities related to breast cancer (BC) prevention in Iran. Methods: We designed a situational analysis study. We abstracted the cancer charities’ objectives that were members of the “ Iran Cancer National Network of NGOs and Charities (IRCNNC). ” We also searched for their international activities. We reviewed the BC prevention programs conducted by Iranian cancer charities and collected their data and information regarding BC awareness and screening. Results: Overall, 43 charities were an active member of the IRCNNC and were engaged in 6 areas, including 1) financial and non-financial supports, 2) providing medical services, 3) providing accommodation to companions of the patients traveling from other cities, 4) supplying infrastructure and medical equipment to cancer hospitals, 5) conducting scientific and research activities, and 6) running educational and awareness campaigns. Most actions were on financial and non-financial supports. Seven charities are a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Five charities reported their movement on BC prevention. Conclusion: Most charities did not document their prevention programs and did not follow an organized screening program. Training and capacity building is needed to support the cancer charities for the evidence-based cancer prevention program.

Background: In the last two decades, canine mammary cancer has played an essential role in human breast cancer research. There are various similarities between biological and clinical features of canine breast cancer and female breast cancer in many cases. Clinical studies and evaluation of prognostic factors in canine mammary cancer can increase reliability in generalizing results to human cancers. This study was performed in the direction of comparative oncology. Methods: We collected clinicopathological data of an invasive type of canine mammary carcinoma from clinical records and pathology reports. Age, tumor laterality, tumor size, lymph node status, and tumor grade were recorded, and the relationships between the parameters were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Results: Ninety-seven patients were included in the study, and the mean age was 10. 06 ± 2. 73 years. The left mammary gland was involved in 51% of cases, and pT2 was the most common tumor size. Lymph nodes were involved in 27% of patients, and 43% of tumors were grade I. Statistical analysis showed no relationship between tumor size and laterality with other clinicopathological features. However, there was a statistically significant relationship between tumor size and tumor grade, and lymph node status. As the tumor size increased, tumor grade and the risk of lymph node involvement raised. Conclusion: Similar results of this study to breast cancer in women show that canine mammary carcinoma is a suitable model in comparative oncology research. Dogs live shorter than humans so that researchers can get the results of treatment and perform survival rate assessments faster in clinical trials. By considering ethical principles, dogs with breast cancer may replace phases I and II of human clinical trials in some cancer types soon.

Background: Different factors can affect the future of a person with cancer. The patient’ s systemic inflammatory response is an important factor. Several inflammatory markers have been evaluated for measuring the patient’ s response to cancer. We evaluated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as prognostic factors for survival in patients with pathologically proven esophageal cancer. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with pathologically approved esophageal cancer, who underwent surgical treatment in the cancer institute of Iran, were included. Demographic, pathological, and laboratory data of patients were obtained from the archive of medical records. Results: In this study, 135 patients with esophageal cancer with a mean age of 60 were studied. The median time of the follow-up period was 21 months. Mean NLR and PLR were 7. 05 and 898, respectively. Patients’ survival had a significant relationship with their age, gender, tumor differentiation, receiving chemotherapy, absolute neutrophil count, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and NLR. Conclusion: According to the results, in a multivariable investigation, it was demonstrated that a high NLR has a direct effect on patients’ poor survival.

Background: Breast cancer has the highest incidence and mortality among female malignant tumors. Breast cancer with negative axillary lymph nodes has been diagnosed mainly at an early stage. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard screening technique for patients with early-stage breast cancer and clinically negative lymph nodes. Lymphoscintigraphy (sentinel lymph node mapping) has been regularly used as the standard method for SLNB. Today, ultrasound-guided wire localization (USGWL) is a well-established technique with superior outcomes. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether preoperative UGWL and lymphoscintigraphy (blue dye and isotope injection) improve SLN detection and false-negative rate in breast cancer patients undergoing SLNB and identify clinical factors that may affect the diagnostic accuracy of axillary ultrasound (AUS). Methods: Between December 2018 and June 2019, 55 patients with clinical T1-3N0 breast cancer eligible for an SLNB at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran were included in our study. Tumor characteristics and demographic data were collected by reviewing medical records and questionnaires prepared by our surgical team. The day before SLNB, all patients underwent ultrasound-guided wire localization of SLN. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed with an unfiltered 99mTc-labelled sulfur colloid peritumoral injection followed by methylene blue dye injection. The results were analyzed based on the permanent pathology report. Results: Among the 55 patients, 71. 8% of SLNs were detected by wire localization, while 57. 8% were found by methylene blue mapping and 59. 6% by gamma probe detection. Compared with wire localization and isotope injection, the methylene blue dye technique had a low sensitivity (72. 2%), while both wire localization and isotope injection reached 77. 8%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of UGWL were 77. 8%, 42. 1%, and 65. 4%, respectively. Otherwise, methylene blue dye and isotope injection accuracy was 47. 3% and 50. 1%, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between BMI, tumor size, laterality, reactive ALN, and the accuracy of preoperative AUS. But there was no significant correlation between age, weight, height, tumor biopsy, tumor location, the time interval between methylene blue dye and isotope injection to surgery, and also the type of surgery to the accuracy of preoperative AUS. Conclusion: Preoperative UGWL can effectively identify SLNs compared to lymphoscintigraphy (blue dye and isotope injection) in early breast cancer patients undergoing SLNB.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare primary liver cancer that occurs in young adults, and its biology is not well known. We present a 21-year-old woman with metastatic liver cancer 6 months after undergoing embolization procedures for a typical hemangioma. The pathological investigation confirmed metastatic FLHCC. Despite liver mass resection and lung metastasectomy, after 3 months, the tumor recurred. In 18F-FDG PET-CT scan, lung, ovary, colon, and peritoneal invasions were reported. Unfortunately, the patient died a year after diagnosis due to a rapid progression and multiple unusual metastatic sites.