Attitudes towards cancer survivors: a small survey.

INTRODUCTION: The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a cancer "survivor" as anyone living with a history of cancer--from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. Little is known about the size and make-up of this population or about the medical care experience of and social implications for patients who have had a diagnosis of cancer in Singapore. An opportunistic survey was undertaken to understand how members of the public believe about this population. METHODS: A sample of the general public was undertaken during the "CancerVive" event in 2004. Questionnaires regarding employment as well as attitudes towards cancer and cancer survivorship were distributed. RESULTS: Members of the public held certain misconceptions about cancer survivors. They also have certain negative attitudes toward cancer survivors. Beliefs and attitudes about cancer are similar for cancer survivors and the general public. Although members of the public had positive attitudes towards working with cancer survivors, the majority felt that cancer survivors should not be given equal opportunities at work, by not employing cancer survivors if they were in the position to hire. CONCLUSION: Further research with larger and more representative samples needs to be undertaken to extend the understanding into cancer survivorship issues.

Acceptance of prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention of cancer in Singapore - a survey.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to surveillance practices, chemoprevention and prophylactic surgery can reduce the risk of cancer in individuals at high risk. Sociocultural factors may have a role to play in such decision making. Little is known regarding the factors that play a role in decision making in Singapore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and two individuals at normal risk completed a questionnaire on the concept of chemoprevention and prophylactic surgery. The results were analysed using the convenience sampling method. RESULTS: Participants were mostly Chinese (94.1%). More than 90% of the respondents answered the section on prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention. Thirty-eight individuals (41.3%) would not consider prophylactic surgery, while 42 (45.7%) would not consider prophylactic surgery now but might consider it in the future. Twenty-five individuals (26.9%) would not consider chemoprevention by taking a medication, 57% would not consider it now but might in the future. CONCLUSION: A cross-sectional public view suggests that medical prophylaxis is likely to be more acceptable to the general public compared to surgical prophylaxis.

A breathless lady with lumpy kidneys.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is now known to be associated with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (PLAM). Patients with either isolated PLAM or pulmonary involvement in TSC suffer from progressive respiratory failure and death within ten years of diagnosis. We report a case of TSC with PLAM, and a short review of recent literature regarding the conditions.

Efficacy and tolerability of irinotecan in patients with advanced colorectal cancer in Singapore.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the commonest malignancy encountered in Singapore. The long-term outcome of patients with advanced diseases is poor. For many decades, 5-fluorouracil was the only effective cytotoxic drug against colorectal cancers. Randomised trials have documented the efficacy of irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We investigated the efficacy and safety profile of irinotecan (CPT-11), as a second-line treatment for an Asian population who had failed 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 patients were enrolled in the study between October 1996 and May 1999. This was an open label phase II study. All patients who had received at least one dose of CPT-11 were evaluated for toxicity. Thirty patients were evaluated for response. RESULTS: Six patients (20%) had partial responses and 1 (3%) experienced minor response. Fourteen patients (47%) progressed. Nine patients (30%) had stable disease. The range of time to progression was 5.8 months to 21 months. The median survival was 9.5 months. There was no treatment-related death. Seven patients (23%) who received treatment had diarrhoea. Only 2 of the 7 patients had grade 3-4 diarrhoea. Eleven patients (37%) suffered from haematological toxicity, of whom 2 patients had grade 3-4 neutropenia. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated efficacy and tolerability of CPT-11 in Singaporean patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Secondary leukemia after treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin in a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer.

The occurrence of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been reported after treatment with cytotoxic alkylating agent-based chemotherapy for solid tumors. We report a patient with metastatic ovarian carcinoma treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel, who developed secondary acute erythroid leukemia. The overall survival of patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer has increased in the past decade. Monitoring of the long-term outcome of paclitaxel- and platinum-based regimens is warranted, particularly with regard to monitoring the development of secondary MDS and/or AML. The incidence and outcome of secondary leukemia in the setting of active ovarian carcinoma is reviewed.

Combined adjuvant cisplatin and ifosfamide chemotherapy and radiotherapy for malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus.

The role of adjuvant therapy for malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus has not been established. Our aim was to review our experience with sequential adjuvant therapy using cisplatin and ifosfamide chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical staging. A retrospective study of 43 patients from 1995 to 2004 was undertaken. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to assess the effect of treatment on survival after adjustment for age and stage. Twenty-eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 28 patients had adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-one patients underwent sequential adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Tumor recurrence occurred in 14 patients at a median duration of 10 months. The overall 2- and 5-year survival was 64% and 60%, respectively. The 2- and 5-year survival for stage I and II diseases was both 95%, while the 2-year survival for stage III and IV diseases was 25%. Patients who underwent sequential adjuvant therapy had an improved survival compared with patients who did not follow the protocol (P= 0.024). Our results with sequential adjuvant therapy are encouraging and justify future randomized trials.

Expression of HER-2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclooxygenase-2, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor in small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathologic and prognostic study.

We studied the immunohistochemical expression of HER-2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) in uterine cervical small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCNECs and LCNECs) from 24 patients seen at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The objectives were to determine their expression and prognostic role in survival. Twenty-three cases (95.8%) expressed VEGF. The tumors expressing EGFR, HER-2/neu, and COX-2 were modest in numbers: eight (33.3%), 10 (41.7%), and seven (29.2%), respectively. Only one tumor (4.2%) expressed ER, and only two tumors (8.3%) expressed PR. No significant differences in the expression of these factors were found between SCNECs and LCNECs or between stage I and stage II-III tumors. The median overall survival was 21.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.2-25.0 months). Only HER-2/neu expression was significantly associated with survival. Patients with negative HER-2/neu expression tumors had significantly shorter survival than those whose tumors were positive, 14.2 months (95% CI, 10.6-17.7 months) versus 33.1 months (95% CI, 0-76.92 months) (P = 0.03). There was a trend toward worse survival in patients with EGFR expression, but this finding was not significant. The combination of negative HER-2/neu expression and positive EGFR expression had the worst impact on survival.

Retrospective review: re-treatment of patients with ovarian cancer with carboplatin after platinum resistance.

The objective of the analysis was to determine the effectiveness of re-treating patients with ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, and fallopian tube cancer with carboplatin after being deemed platinum resistant. From a database period January 1, 1996, to December 12, 2002, 34 patients were identified who received nonplatinum agents before resuming treatment with carboplatin. The median age was 65 years, and a median of two nonplatinum chemotherapy (range 1-5) prior to re-treatment with carboplatin was received. The median platinum-free interval from the time platinum was last received to re-treatment with carboplatin was 15.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.6-17.9; range 6.2-47.0). A median number of four cycles of carboplatin (range 1-11) was received. Two patients (5.9%) achieved partial response, while 21 patients (61.7%) achieved stable disease. The median time to progression for these 23 patients after re-treatment with carboplatin was 5.7 months (95% CI 5.2-6.3; range 1.8-15.3). Twenty-seven patients have died, and all patients have progressed. Seven patients are still receiving salvage therapy. The median overall survival from the time deemed to be platinum resistant is 23.2 months (95% CI 20.1-26.4). Patients who have been deemed platinum resistant may still benefit from platinum re-treatment after an interval of treatment with nonplatinum agents.

Targeted therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer: current status and future prospects.

Despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy, less than 20% of patients with stage III or IV ovarian cancer survive long-term. In the past, cytotoxic regimens have been developed empirically, combining active agents at maximally tolerated doses, often without a clear rationale for their interaction. Advances in understanding the biology of ovarian cancer have identified multiple molecular targets that differ in normal and malignant cells. Targets include cell cycle regulators, growth factor receptors, signal transduction pathways, molecules that confer drug resistance, and angiogenic mechanisms. A number of targeted agents have entered clinical trials. Small molecular weight inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antisense and gene therapy are all being evaluated alone and in combination with cytotoxic drugs. In contrast to earlier studies, the impact of each agent on the designated target can be assessed and agents can be matched to the genotype and phenotype of malignant and normal cells. In the long run, this should facilitate individualization of more effective, less toxic therapy for women with ovarian cancer.

Third-line chemotherapy in platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinoma patients.

Ovarian carcinoma is a malignant disease with a high rate of recurrence, necessitating repeated chemotherapy treatments. We conducted a retrospective study in patients with platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant ovarian, fallopian tubes and primary peritoneal carcinoma patients treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. We evaluated the responses, progression-free intervals, and overall survival duration of 51 patients after third-line chemotherapy treatment. The overall response rate was 16% (eight cases) with 2% complete response rate (one case) and 14% partial response rate (seven cases). Stable disease was achieved in 31% (16 cases). The progression-free intervals of 24 patients who had response and stable disease was 7.4 months (range, 1.4-18.4 months). The median overall survival of all patients was 15.8 months (95% CI, 8.1-23.4 months). The median survival duration of eight responders was not significantly different from that of 43 nonresponders, 18.9 months (95% CI, 2.4-35.4 months) versus 15.8 months (95% CI, 6.4-25.2 months), respectively (P = 0.73). In conclusion, third-line chemotherapy in our study results in a modest response and prolongation of progression-free interval without obvious impact on survival. The decision to utilize third-line chemotherapy will be a balance of the limited efficacy, toxicity of the agents, and the expertise of the clinician.