International Journal of Cancer Management
Year:2018 | Volume:11 | Issue:10|Papers Count:7

Background: Combination therapy is recommended in treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of sunitinib in combination with interferon-alpha on the response rate, adverse effects, and tolerance of this treatment among patients with loco regional and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Methods: The study was conducted on patients with loco regional and metastatic renal clear cell carcinoma. Interferon was subcutaneously administered twice a week and one sunitinib capsule (50 mg) was administered per day for 4 weeks, followed by a two-week break from sunitinib. The primary endpoint of this study was the response to this combination therapy and the second endpoint was disease control rate and health status in terms of drug toxicity and overall survival in patients. Results: The participants were 22 patients from 3 hospitals with 12 female patients and 10 male patients. All 12 patients with T4, any N, and M0 were in complete remission. Of the 10 patients with visceral metastases, 70% had a partial response, 10% had a complete response, and 20% were stable. Four patients having visceral metastases died due to progression of the disease. The mean overall survival was 15. 6 months for two patients with only adrenal involvement, 12. 9 months for 10 patients with Gerota's fascia involvement, and 12 months for 10 patients with visceral metastases. Conclusions: This combination therapy did not have a significant toxicity profile and was tolerable in our patients, who also had acceptable response to treatment.

Context: ANRIL (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus) is one of the oncogenic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which is located at the 9p21. 3. It has a regulatory epigenetic function on its neighboring gene cluster p15/CDKN2B-p16/CDKN2A-p14/ARF. Such regulatory role has led to contribution of ANRIL in the pathogenesis of many human cancers. Evidence Acquisition: We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases till February 2018 with the key words "ANRIL" OR "antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus" AND "cancer" OR "tumor" OR "malignancy". Results: ANRIL over-expression is documented in several cancers. The underlying mechanism for regulatory effect of ANRIL on the expression of its neighboring tumor suppressors has been clarified in some malignancies. Moreover, ANRIL over-expression has been associated with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistance in some cancers. Conclusions: ANRIL is regarded as a potential biomarker in diverse cancer types and a therapeutic target in certain malignancies.

Context: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is an accepted standard treatment for early stages of breast cancer in the selected cases. This is proven in two large clinical trials including ELIOT and TARGIT-A ones, which are based on high energy electron beam and low kV X-ray energy, respectively. Published results of two trials aimed at evaluating the local recurrence as the final outcome. In ELIOT study, the local recurrence rate is 4. 4% versus 0. 4% in patients, who received IORT and External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT), in comparison to 3. 2% and 1. 3% in TARGIT-A trial. These differences need to be further evaluated regarding the efficacy and beneficence of IORT. Objectives: The aim of this study is to further analyze the data of these two trials to confirm the strategy of IORT in breast cancer as boost or radical modality. Evidence Acquisition: Two main breast IORT trials were considered in this study. To this end, a computerized search was performed through MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central, ISI web of knowledge, and reference list of related articles. All of the published data from these trials were gathered and their subjects were analyzed and compared. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that in patients with matching clinical, pathological, and biological profiles in both trials, radical IORT using either electron or low kV X-ray is effective and acceptable. It seems that in patients with low risk factors, IORT is more effective than EBRT. Patient selection according to America Society of Radiation Oncology or European Society of Radiation Therapy classification guidelines confirmed that the local recurrence rate of ELIOT in low risk patients, similar to TARGIT, was less than 1. 9%. Conclusions: We compared the ELIOT and TARGIT-A trial documents and found all of similarities and differences referred to these two trials recommend, using IORT for selected cases of breast cancer with at least non inferiority in Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) as well as superiority in cosmetic, non-breast cancer death, and more.

Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is defined as the subjective experience by an individual as a result of the struggle with trauma. Previous research has emphasized the negative psychological experiences of cancer, while some other studies have indicated that a number of patients experience positive changes in the context of the disease. Posttraumatic growth is assumed to be related to social support and life meaning. Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the role of social support and meaningfulness in predicting PTG in patients with breast cancer. Methods: One hundred and ninety-six women diagnosed with breast cancer participated in this study. The sample was recruited from Motahari Clinic in Shiraz, using convenience sampling. Participants completed the research measures, including Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Multidimensional Perceived Social Support (MPSS), and Personal Meaning Index (PMI). Mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis were utilized to analyze data. The data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16). Results: This study showed that a majority of patients with breast cancer experienced posttraumatic growth. Of PTGI dimensions, the highest score was related with others followed by spiritual change and appreciation of life. Findings on regression analysis indicated that social support and meaningfulness significantly predicted posttraumatic growth. Conclusions: This study highlighted that women with breast cancer experienced positive change. This research also indicated that women with more social support and those who had meaning in life were more likely to experience personal growth.

Dear Editor, Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignancy in men (1, 2). Choosing the appropriate treatment is important, especially in metastatic PC (3), and one of the treatments that is used, is luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist drugs that cause hormonal castration and tumor deprivation (4). But, in some cases, patients do not respond to this drugs and the level of testosterone failed to drop. In these cases, we require the use of other treatments (5, 6). In this prospective study, after the approval of Ethics Committee was obtained, 36 patients with mean age of 71. 86 ± 7. 25 years (minimum 58 years and maximum 84 years), who were referred to Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were treated with LH-RH agonist (Diphereline® 3. 75 mg IPSEN company) for 3 months. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels were evaluated in the two phases including before and 3 months after treatment; then, the frequency of the participants with testosterone level above 20 ng/dL (castration not achieved) were determined and reported based on the age and location of the metastasis. Mean testosterone concentrations in the morning before and 3 months after starting hormone therapy were 362. 94 ± 141. 9 ng/dL and 12. 21 ± 10. 97 ng/dL, respectively, which was significantly decreased. The mean PSA level before and 3 months after the start of treatment was 20. 68 ± 12. 18 ng/mL and 6. 29 ± 6. 2 ng/mL, respectively. In two cases (5. 6%), the PSA level was not less than 50% of the baseline 3 months after starting the treatment, and in 4 cases (11. 1%), testosterone level did not drop to less than 20 ng/dL (castration not achieved). All four patients that have been considered as "castration not achieved" have been associated with multiple metastases. Three cases (75%) of these patients had visceral metastasis. It was found that the success in castration was significantly correlated with location of the metastasis (P = 0. 001) and there was no correlation with age and number of metastases.

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence has dramatically increased in many countries. Several studies have investigated the association between cancer and allergy, and most of them have had equivocal results. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between allergy and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods: This case-control study was performed among 3 university hospitals of Tehran. Cases (n = 59) were selected among patients with PTC based on final pathology after thyroidectomy. Controls (n = 53) consisted of patients attending the outpatient’ s clinics of the same hospitals with no symptoms of any cancer. Data about allergic diseases and symptoms were collected by a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Results: Logistic regression analysis manifested the reverse association between allergic rhinitis (OR = 0. 07, 95% CI: 0. 007-0. 74) with PTC considering confounding variables (age, body mass index (BMI), and family history of thyroid cancer in first degree relatives). In addition, we found the reverse association between any allergy and PTC in this population (OR = 0. 25, 95% CI: 0. 1-0. 64). Meanwhile, the results in both models revealed a reverse association between BMI (OR < 1, P < 0. 05) and PTC. Finally, family history of thyroid cancer had a significant relationship with developing thyroid cancer in our population (OR > 6, P < 0. 05). Conclusions: Our data suggest a reverse association between allergy diseases, specifically allergic rhinitis and suffering from thyroid cancer. However, further studies are required to clarify association observed between PTC and allergy considering environmental and host factors.

Introduction: Stopping or controlling alcohol consumption in alcohol-related cancers can increase survival rates. Oxytocin due to its potential in craving modulation has been suggested as an alternative therapy. Case Presentation: The patient was alcohol-abused 67-year-old male with a diagnosis of metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and dysthymia syndrome, which was selected using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method. The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two stages and for 6 weeks, and in the control phase, placebo was used. Alcohol consumption rate, its related problems, and changes in the depression index were considered as the primary outcome. The association of mood with alcohol consumption was considered as the secondary outcome. The data were analyzed, using the generalized estimation equation (GEE), a generalized linear mixed models (random effect model) with repeated measures, and repeated measures correlation. Primary outcomes showed that intranasal oxytocin caused a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and its problems related to mood. However, this reduction did not remain until the follow-up stage. Secondary outcomes showed that there is a direct relationship between the dysthymia index and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: The reduction of neurotic cue reactivity induced by the oxytocin function can, with the improvement of the mood, stop the cycle of craving and consumption. However, this hypothesis requires controlled clinical trials.