Predictors of poor precautionary practices towards COVID-19 among cancer patients.

Objective: Our study goal was to evaluate the behavioral response and practices of cancer patients to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Middle East and north Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated anonymous 45-question survey administered via SurveyMonkey® to cancer patients in 13 centers in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Results: During the study period (from 21 April to 30 May 2020), 3642 patients participated in the study. The majority of patients (84.81%) were worried about contracting the infection. The reported strict adherence to precautions included avoiding the following actions: hand-shaking (77.40%), hugging and kissing (82.89%), social gathering (90.09%), meeting friends (84.68%) and visiting markets (75.65%). In a multivariate analysis, patients with poor precautionary practices were about twice as likely to cancel their medical appointment or a treatment session. Conclusion: Improving cancer patients' knowledge of and adherence to precautionary measures is needed not just to reduce the risk of acquiring infection but also to minimize the interruption of their medical care.

Lay abstract COVID-19 poses a higher risk for patients with cancer than other patients; therefore, it is prudent that they adhere to precautionary measures to protect themselves from the infection. We conducted a study to evaluate the behaviors and practices of these patients in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle, East and North Africa. We developed a survey of 45 questions that was distributed in 13 centers in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Saudi Arabia between 21 April and 30 May 2020. About 85% of the 3642 patients who participated in the study were worried about contracting the infection. A substantial percentage of them (10­30%) were not adhering to various precautions and social distancing rules. On the other hand, 16% of them canceled medical appointments and 12% canceled treatment sessions. Our study showed the need for better adherence of patients with cancer to the infection precautions and most importantly, the need to have a better compliance with their treatment plans, such as keeping their scheduled appointments, to avoid harms from treatment delays.

Virtual Management of Patients With Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Web-Based Questionnaire Study.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with cancer in rural settings and distant geographical areas will be affected the most by curfews. Virtual management (telemedicine) has been shown to reduce health costs and improve access to care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this survey is to understand oncologists' awareness of and views on virtual management, challenges, and preferences, as well as their priorities regarding the prescribing of anticancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We created a self-administrated electronic survey about the virtual management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated its clinical sensibility and pilot tested the instrument. We surveyed practicing oncologists in Gulf and Arab countries using snowball sampling via emails and social media networks. Reminders were sent 1 and 2 weeks later using SurveyMonkey. RESULTS: We received 222 responses from validated oncologists from April 2-22, 2020. An awareness of virtual clinics, virtual multidisciplinary teams, and virtual prescriptions was reported by 182 (82%), 175 (79%), and 166 (75%) respondents, respectively. Reported challenges associated with virtual management were the lack of physical exam (n=134, 60%), patients' awareness and access (n=131, 59%), the lack of physical attendance of patients (n=93, 42%), information technology (IT) support (n=82, 37%), and the safety of virtual management (n=78, 35%). Overall, 111 (50%) and 107 (48%) oncologists did not prefer the virtual prescription of chemotherapy and novel immunotherapy, respectively. However, 188 (85%), 165 (74%), and 127 (57%) oncologists preferred the virtual prescription of hormonal therapy, bone modifying agents, and targeted therapy, respectively. In total, 184 (83%), 183 (83%), and 176 (80%) oncologists preferred to continue neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and perioperative treatments, respectively. Overall, 118 (53%) respondents preferred to continue first-line palliative treatment, in contrast to 68 (30%) and 47 (21%) respondents indicating a preference to interrupt second- and third-line palliative treatment, respectively. For administration of virtual prescriptions, all respondents preferred the oral route and 118 (53%) preferred the subcutaneous route. In contrast, 193 (87%) did not prefer the intravenous route for virtual prescriptions. Overall, 102 (46%) oncologists responded that they would "definitely" prefer to manage patients with cancer virtually. CONCLUSIONS: Oncologists have a high level of awareness of virtual management. Although their survey responses indicated that second- and third-line palliative treatments should be interrupted, they stated that neoadjuvant, adjuvant, perioperative, and first-line palliative treatments should continue. Our results confirm that oncologists' views on the priority of anticancer treatments are consistent with the evolving literature during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges to virtual management should be addressed to improve the care of patients with cancer.

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer.: A single institution experience in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the current real-world treatment landscape, sequence of therapies, and outcomes in patients with prostate cancer (PC). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study for PC patients diagnosed at King Abdullah Medical City Cancer Center in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, between January 2011 and December 2021. Data extracted from electronic medical records. RESULTS: A total of 282 patients with PC, with a mean age of 70 years and body mass index of 27. Among them, 274 (99%) had no family history of cancer, while 164 (58%) had hypertension and 125 (44%) had diabetes mellitus. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology, found in 275 (97%) patients, with 99 (35%) having a Gleason score of 9. Notably, 184 (65%) patients presented with metastatic disease, and 147 (52%) with bone metastasis. While 198 (70%) patients underwent surgery, 184 (65%) did not receive radiotherapy. The most common first-line metastatic therapy was abiraterone in 23 (8%) patients, followed by enzalutamide in 7 (2.5%). During the study period, 167 (59%) patients survived, with an average treatment duration of 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with PC. The findings of this study highlight the importance of adhering to treatment standards and making informed clinical decisions.

Impact of COVID-19 on Management and Outcomes of Oncology Patients: Results of MENA COVID-19 and Cancer Registry (MCCR).

Introduction: Despite extensive studies of the impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer, there is a dearth of information from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Our study aimed to report pertinent MENA COVID-19 and Cancer Registry (MCCR) findings on patient management and outcomes. Methods: MCCR was adapted from the American Society of Clinical Oncology COVID-19 Registry to collect data specifically from patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12 centers in eight countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. The Registry included data on patients and disease characteristics, treatment, and patient outcomes. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with mortality. Results: Between November 29, 2020, and June 8, 2021, data were captured on 2008 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic. Median age was 56 years (16-98), 56.4% were females, and 26% were current or ex-smokers. Breast cancer (28.5%) was the leading diagnosis and 50.5% had metastatic disease. Delays of planned treatment (>14 days) occurred in 80.3% for surgery, 48.8% for radiation therapy, and 32.9% for systemic therapy. Significant reduction in the delays of all three treatment modalities occurred after June 1, 2020. All-cause mortality rates at 30 and 90 days were 17.1% and 23.4%, respectively. All-cause mortality rates at 30 days did not change significantly after June 1, 2020; however, 90-day mortality increased from 33.4% to 42.9% before and after that date (p = 0.015). Multivariable regression analysis showed the following predictors of higher 30- and 90-day mortality: age older than 70 years, having metastatic disease, disease progression, and being off chemotherapy. Conclusion: Patients with cancer in the MENA region experienced similar risks and outcome of COVID-19 as reported in other populations. Although there were fewer treatment delays after June 1, 2020, 90-day mortality increased, which may be attributed to other risk factors such as disease progression or new patients who presented with more advanced disease.

Staghorn Calculus with Adenomatoid Tumor: A Case Report.

Testicular adenomatoid tumor is very rare. More understanding of the tumor and treatment is required for better outcomes. A 63-year-old man visited a urologist for staghorn calculus. During follow-up, he had recurrent left flank pain and intermittent hematuria. Computed tomography demonstrated left staghorn calculus, and then further assessment revealed left testicular swelling. Ultrasound showed epididymal mass. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy was deferred and we performed left radical orchiectomy. A pathologic examination revealed testicular adenomatoid tumor. This case highlights the importance of awareness of a very rare benign tumor in a patient with staghorn calculus.

Current Status of CRISPR/Cas9 Application in Clinical Cancer Research: Opportunities and Challenges.

Cancer is considered by not only multiple genetic but also epigenetic amendments that drive malignant cell propagation and consult chemo-resistance. The ability to correct or ablate such mutations holds enormous promise for battling cancer. Recently, because of its great efficiency and feasibility, the CRISPR-Cas9 advanced genome editing technique has been extensively considered for therapeutic investigations of cancers. Several studies have used the CRISPR-Cas9 technique for editing cancer cell genomic DNA in cells and animal cancer models and have shown therapeutic potential in intensifying anti-cancer protocols. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9 may be used to correct oncogenic mutations, discover anticancer drugs, and engineer immune cells and oncolytic viruses for immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer. We herein discuss the challenges and opportunities for translating therapeutic methods with CRISPR-Cas9 for clinical use and suggest potential directions of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for future cancer therapy.

Cost-Effectiveness of First-Line Cetuximab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line cetuximab in relation to primary tumor location and after resection from the perspective of the Saudi healthcare system over a lifetime horizon. METHODS: Two standard partitioned survival models were developed in this study comprising 3 health states in each model. The first model was to simulate outcomes and costs of folinic acid, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus cetuximab compared with FOLFIRI alone in 2 target groups-first, in RAS wild-type left-sided metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and second, in patients administered with 4 cycles of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab, who underwent a resection of liver metastases. The second model compared FOLFIRI plus cetuximab with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab in wild-type left-sided mCRC and after resection. All cost data and utilities were extracted from published data. RESULTS: FOLFIRI plus cetuximab in RAS wild-type left-sided mCRC compared with FOLFIRI alone resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of Saudi Riyal (SAR) 180 880 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained ($102 019; cost-effective). After resection of liver metastases, it resulted in SAR140 442 ($79 211) per QALY gained (cost-effective). When comparing FOLFIRI plus cetuximab with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab, it resulted in SAR35 818 ($20 201) per QALY gained (highly cost-effective). After resection, it resulted in SAR109 612 ($61 822) per QALY gained (highly cost-effective). Thus, FOLFIRI plus cetuximab improved QALYs compared with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab at the minimized difference in costs in left-sided mCRC and patients with unresectable metastases. CONCLUSION: FOLFIRI plus cetuximab is cost-effective compared with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab or FOLFIRI alone in RAS wild-type left-sided mCRC and patients who undergo resection.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome in Patients With Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review of Reported Cases.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) in patients with solid tumors is a rare and potentially fatal condition associated with anti-cancer treatment. Its outcome depends on awareness, identification of high-risk patients, and implementation of appropriate preventive measures. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines of case reports describing the occurrence of TLS in patients with solid tumors, primarily to identify potentially unrecognized or unusual clinical findings and outcomes. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases and conference abstracts and performed manual searches for case reports and case series published in English and describing patients who developed TLS. A total of 124 studies (118 case reports and six case series) describing the findings for 132 patients were included. The most common cancers were hepatocellular carcinoma (17%, n = 22), lung cancer (13%, n = 17), and melanoma (10%, n = 13). The most common risk factor was metastatic disease (75%, n = 100). TLS was induced by chemotherapy in 48% (n = 64) of the patients. Clinical manifestations of TLS developed within three days of anti-cancer treatment in 37% of the patients (n = 49), while 52% (n = 68) received the full dose of anti-cancer treatment. Gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 33% of the patients (n = 44), hyperuricemia in 95% (n = 125), and elevated creatinine level occurred in 85% of the patients (n = 112), While 58% (n = 77) of the patients received intravenous fluids, only 49% received allopurinol, and 24% (n = 32) received rasburicase. A total of 101 patients (77%) were treated in the ward, and 54% (n = 71) died. The mortality rate associated with TLS in patients with solid tumors remains high. Adequate management requires awareness, early recognition, and identification of patients at high risk. Interdisciplinary team management is essential to reduce mortality.

Risk of Fatigue and Anemia in Patients With Prostate Cancer Treated With Novel Oral Anti-androgens: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Novel oral anti-androgens (NOAAs) represent a new class of drugs that are being approved for prostate cancer. However, fatigue and anemia are among the most common treatment-related symptoms. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the relative risks (RRs) of fatigue and anemia associated with NOAAs. PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and abstracts presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Society of Clinical Oncology were searched for phase III and V RCTs of NOAAs from January 2000 to March 2020. Safety profile from each selected study was evaluated for all-grade and high-grade fatigue and anemia adverse events. The RRs with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using random-effects for all-grade and high-grade events. Our analysis involved 15 RCTs, including 16,795 patients. Overall, 9,177 patients were treated with NOAAs in the experimental arm, whereas 7,095 received a standard of care in the control arm. The RR of all-grade and high-grade fatigue was 1.26 (95% CI 1.15-1.38) and 1.24 (95% CI 0.83-1.84), and that of all-grade and high-grade anemia was 0.81 (95% CI 0.77-1.19) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.61-1.06), respectively. Our findings suggest that NOAAs are associated with an increased risk of fatigue but decreased risk of anemia. Patients should be frequently monitored to identify adverse events to improve oncological outcomes and optimize the overall treatment efficacy and safety. Not all the RCTs addressed fatigue and anemia simultaneously as side effects of NOAA treatment.

Peer-assisted versus expert-assisted learning in virtual chest x-ray interpretation: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of peer-assisted learning (PAL) and expert-assisted learning (EAL) in terms of knowledge gain in virtual chest x-ray (CXR) interpretations. The secondary objective was to assess students' satisfaction levels between both groups. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, second-year medical students who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the PAL and EAL groups. The study was carried out from December 2020 to February 2021 at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The primary endpoint was the difference in the students' scores, which were determined by an independent reviewer. The secondary endpoint was students' satisfaction levels. RESULTS: A total of 166 second year medical students were included. The standard deviation and mean age of the population were 19.73±0.66 (males: 79 [47.6%]; females: 87 [52.4%]). Participants were allocated equally into two groups (83 in each group). Student scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (p=0.507). Students in the PAL group thought the session was useful (p=0.01), kept on time (p=0.043), and the tutor facilitated their learning process (p=0.011). They also felt that online teaching was as effective as traditional teaching (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in satisfaction scores on the other aspects of the questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Peer-assisted learning has equivalent efficacy compared to EAL in a virtual setting. The Students in the PAL group had higher level of satisfaction.

E-Learning for Undergraduate Medical Students.

PURPOSE: Disruption of education can lead to drastic changes and therefore, we need to maximize the benefits of e-technology. We aimed to explore changes in knowledge, attitudes, and challenges regarding e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine how e-learning has influenced academic performance. METHODS: We conducted a self-administrated electronic survey to collect information on undergraduate medical students' e-learning. We evaluated its validity, reliability and pilot tested the instrument. RESULTS: Between August 7 and 19, 2020, we received 995 responses. The majority of respondents answered that they knew about the tools used for e-learning, such as mobile learning, links, online classes, e-assessment; 84% (n=836), 82% (n=815), 82% (n=811) and 80% (n=796), respectively. Two-third of the respondents gained fair/very good knowledge from online classes and discussion boards; 65% (n=635), and 63% (n=620), respectively. Regarding attitudes, less than half had "somewhat" adequate knowledge and proper training; 45% (n=449) and 36% (n=361), respectively, and less than a third had "somewhat" positive feelings; 29% (n=289). The reported challenges were poor Internet speed (55%, n=545) and the lack of clinical experience and physical examination skills (51%, n=512). There is a statistical difference between the test score for the first and second semesters for year 6, year 5, year 4, and year 2 (P value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most respondents reported that they knew about e-learning tools and answered that they gained fair/very good amounts of knowledge accompanied by acceptable attitudes. The challenges need to be addressed to improve e-learning infrastructure. The transition to e-learning accompanied by increased academic performance.

Unusual Synchronous Association of Solid Tumors with Hematological Malignancies in Multiple Primary Cancers: Case Series and Literature Review.

The incidence of synchronous multiple primary malignancies (MPMs), which include both solid and hematological malignancy, is considered very rare. In addition, the involvement of sites such as brain, thyroid, and breast are among the least reported in such complex conditions. Here we report five different types of solid tumors including glioblastoma multiforme, thyroid papillary carcinoma, breast invasive ductal carcinoma, colon cancer, and gastric adenocarcinoma that were associated with synchronous five different hematological malignancies in the form of T-cell lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), nodal marginal zone NHL, diffuse large B-cell NHL, Hodgkin lymphoma, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue marginal zone NHL, respectively. The diagnosis of MPMs can be challenging, and there is no standard treatment for such difficult primary malignancies. However, the management of these conditions should be individualized using tumor board discussion and ensuring multidisciplinary coordinated care, besides considering treatment of the more aggressive malignancy before that with the less malignant potential.

The willingness of the Saudi Arabian population to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine trial: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the Saudi Arabian population's willingness to participate in clinical trials for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, comparing recovered cases' willingness with that of healthy volunteers. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on the Saudi Arabian population during September 2020. The data were collected from recovered COVID-19 participants as the case group, and healthy volunteers as the control group. RESULTS: The data showed that 42.2% (n = 315) of recovered COVID-19 cases were more willing to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine trial than healthy volunteers (299; 38.1%) with a p < 0.001. The proportion of the participants who were willing to donate plasma was significantly higher among recovered participants, 84.2% (n = 112), than healthy volunteers, 76.3% (n = 87), with a p < 0.0001. The most significant factor responsible for a willingness to participate was the belief that vaccine discovery would help scientific developments (r = 0.525 and 0.465 for case and control, respectively). In comparison, significant reasons behind the unwillingness to participate were the risk of exposure to an unproven vaccine, r = 0.377 and 0.497 for case and control, respectively (p < 0.001), and a discomfort with being treated as an experimental subject (r = 0.275 and 0.374 for case and control, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The differences in readiness toward the COVID-19 vaccine trial in our study does not indicate any passive exposure of participants to an unproven clinical trial vaccine, nor does it shed light on well-informed risk-related decisions. However, certain factors can significantly influence decision-making while contributing toward clinical research. This study's results must not be used for the individuals' recruitment bias in a COVID-19 vaccine trial.

Level of Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers at a Comprehensive Cancer Center During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Objective The recent coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) has severely increased the burden on the field of oncology, leading to the implementation of new rules to overcome its negative impact. An important issue is the psychological impact of the pandemic on already vulnerable populations, such as oncology staff, as reported by oncology associations. This study assessed the anxiety level among oncology staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and related it to its risk factors and the effectiveness of departmental interventions that seek to provide coping methods. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to the oncology staff at our oncology center. Generalized anxiety disorder scale "yes-or-no" questions were used to determine secondary objectives regarding the concern of infection and the impact of a departmental intervention on overcoming distress. Results Overall, 199 participants were included in the analysis; more than 60% were women, with a median age of 34 years. More than 50% had anxiety and the most significant risk factors were parenthood and contraction of infection (P-value 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Most responders reported an increase in the workload during the pandemic, but coping methods applied by the administration had improved anxiety levels as reported by a majority of the responders. Conclusion Oncology staff members have been negatively affected by the pandemic, although coping methods helped to improve anxiety. In the future, attention must be focused on the most vulnerable groups.

Fluoropyrimidine-Induced Severe Toxicities Associated with Rare DPYD Polymorphisms: Case Series from Saudi Arabia and a Review of the Literature.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the major enzyme in the catabolism of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and its prodrug capecitabine. We report cases from our institute with colorectal cancer who experienced severe toxicities to standard dose 5-FU based chemotherapy. DPYD gene sequencing revealed rare different polymorphisms that prompted dose adjustments of administered 5-FU and capecitabine. To our knowledge, this is the first case series looking at DPYD polymorphisms in the Saudi Arabian population.

Suggested Modifications to the Management of Patients With Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Web-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with cancer in the current era of the COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant challenge to health care systems. Breast cancer is the most common cancer internationally. Breast cancer is a disease that involves surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and, more recently, immunotherapy in its management plan. The immune system requires months to recover from these medications, and this condition is even worse in patients with metastatic breast cancer who need ongoing treatment with these drugs. Some of these drugs, such as inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, can cause rare but life-threating lung inflammation. Patients with breast cancer who have metastatic disease to the lungs can experience deterioration of disease symptoms with COVID-19 infection. Oncologists treating patients with breast cancer are facing a difficult situation regarding treatment choice. The impact that COVID-19 has had on breast cancer care is unknown, including how to provide the best care possible without compromising patient and community safety. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the views of oncologists regarding the management of patients with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A web-based SurveyMonkey questionnaire was submitted to licensed oncologists involved in breast cancer management in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates. The survey focused on characteristics of the participants, infection risk among patients with cancer, and possible treatment modifications related to different types of breast cancer. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 82 participants. For early hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer, 61 of the 82 participants (74%) supported using neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in selected patients, and 58% (48/82) preferred giving 6 over 8 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy when indicated. Only 43% (35/82) preferred inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 with hormonal therapy as the first-line treatment in all patients with metastatic HR-positive disease. A total of 55 of the 82 participants (67%) supported using adjuvant trastuzumab for 6 instead of 12 months in selected patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. For metastatic HER2-positive, HR-positive breast cancer, 80% of participants (66/82) supported the use of hormonal therapy with dual anti-HER2 blockade in selected patients. The preferred choice of first-line treatment in metastatic triple negative patients with BRCA mutation and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) <1% was poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor according to 41% (34/82) of the participants, and atezolizumab with nab-paclitaxel was preferred for PD-L1 >1% according to 71% (58/82) of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Several modifications in breast cancer management were supported by the survey participants. These modifications need to be discussed on a local basis, taking into account the local infrastructure and available resources.

Mortality and morbidity of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter population-based retrospective study.

Administration of effective anticancer treatments should continue during pandemics. However, the outcomes of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic remain unclear. The present retrospective observational study aimed to determine the 30-day mortality and morbidity of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March 1 and June 30, 2020, all adults (n=2,504) with solid and hematological malignancies irrespective of cancer stage and type of anticancer treatments at five large comprehensive cancer centers in Saudi Arabia were included. The 30-day mortality was 5.1% (n=127) for all patients receiving anticancer treatment, 1.8% (n=24) for curative intent, 8.6% (n=103) for palliative intent and 13.4% (n=12) for COVID-19 cases. The 30-day morbidity was 28.2% (n=705) for all patients, 17.9% (n=234) for curative intent, 39.3% (n=470) for palliative intent and 75% (n=77) for COVID-19 cases. The 30-day mortality was significantly increased with male sex [odds ratio (OR), 2.011; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.141-3.546; P=0.016], body mass index (BMI) <25 (OR, 1.997; 95% CI, 1.292-3.087; P=0.002), hormone therapy (OR, 6.315; 95% CI, 0.074-2.068; P=0.001) and number of cycles (OR, 2.110; 95% CI, 0.830-0.948; P=0.001), but decreased with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) of 0-1 (OR, 0.157; 95% CI, 0.098-0.256; P=0.001), stage I-II cancer (OR, 0.254; 95% CI, 0.069-0.934; P=0.039) and curative intent (OR, 0.217; 95% CI, 0.106-0.443; P=0.001). Furthermore, the 30-day morbidity significantly increased with age >65 years (OR, 1.420; 95% CI, 1.075-1.877; P=0.014), BMI <25 (OR, 1.484; 95% CI, 1.194-1.845; P=0.001), chemotherapy (OR, 1.397; 95% CI, 1.089-5.438; P=0.032), hormone therapy (OR, 1.527; 95% CI, 0.211-1.322; P=0.038) and immunotherapy (OR, 1.859; 95% CI, 0.648-4.287; P=0.038), but decreased with ECOG-PS of 0-1 (OR, 0.502; 95% CI, 0.399-0.632; P=0.001), breast cancer (OR, 0.569; 95% CI, 0.387-0.836; P=0.004) and curative intent (OR, 0.410; 95% CI, 0.296-0.586; P=0.001). The mortality risk was lowest with curative treatments. Therefore, such treatments should not be delayed. The morbidity risk doubled with palliative treatments and was highest among COVID-19 cases. Mortality appeared to be driven by male sex, BMI <25, hormonal therapy and number of cycles, while morbidity increased with age >65 years, BMI <25, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and immunotherapy. Therefore, oncologists should select the most effective anticancer treatments based on the aforementioned factors.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges Associated with the Rare Cardiac Metastasis Complicating Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. It typically metastasizes to the lymph nodes, liver or lungs. Cardiac involvement is considered the least likely metastatic complication of malignant tumors including CRC. We report a rare case of metastatic rectal cancer to the liver, ovaries, lungs and peritoneum that presented initially with a 1-week history of rectal bleeding. Her hospital course was complicated by progressive dyspnea and palpitations secondary to right atrial metastasis based on imaging studies including cardiac MRI with contrast. The patient was not fit for chemotherapy or any surgical intervention given her poor prognosis and functional status in the setting of advanced stage of her disease. After discussion with the patient and her family, a decision was made to change her code status to DNR (do not resuscitate) and focus on palliative treatment of her disease. She expired about 2 weeks following her discharge date. Based on this case report, we recommend a high index of suspicion for cardiac metastasis when dealing with cardiac or respiratory complaints in cases of CRC that need careful evaluation with echocardiography and MRI.

Testicular Mixed Germ Cell Tumor Combined with Malignant Transformation to Chondrosarcoma: A Very Rare and Aggressive Disease.

BACKGROUND Testicular mixed germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a spectrum of malignancies that differ in terms of histopathology, clinical complications, and overall outcome. A variety of aggressive combinations containing different histological types have been described among such testicular tumors. However, a histopathology characterized by a combination of teratoma and choriocarcinoma, as seen in this case, in which the teratomatous component shows a secondary transformation to chondrosarcoma, is considered very rare. CASE REPORT The patient presented with progressive hemoptysis and dyspnea secondary to bilateral pulmonary cannon-ball lesions indicative of a metastatic process. His workup was remarkable for primary testicular cancer complicated by liver metastasis and very high levels of B-HCG at more than 175 000 mlU/ml. He deteriorated quickly with no improvement following the first cycle of Etoposide/Cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy regimen and died 15 days after starting cancer treatment. Such non-seminomatous GCTs with extrapulmonary visceral metastasis associated with very high tumor markers are deemed poor risk based on the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) criteria, with a reported 5-year overall survival rate reaching up to 73%. CONCLUSIONS This case is considered unique in terms of rapid clinical deterioration and lack of improvement following the standard EP chemotherapy regimen. This unusual dramatic presentation should draw attention to the possible association between the aggressiveness of the disease and its very rare histopathology.

Suggested modifications in oncology/hematology inpatient service in Saudi Arabia during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Management of cancer patients in the current era of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses significant challenges on health-care systems. However, it is mandatory to keep the required level of care of cancer patients while taking the necessary precautions to maintain the safety of both patients and health-care professionals (HCPs). The present survey explores suggested modifications of inpatient oncology/hematology care during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based questionnaire using SurveyMonkey was distributed to HCPs taking care of inpatient hematology/oncology service including oncologists, hematologists, and inpatient nurses in Saudi Arabia. The 25 items selected for the survey focused on five domains including characteristics of HCPs, COVID-19 infection risk among admitted patients, possible modifications related to physicians/nursing practice, and suggested infection control measures. Clinical sensibility assessment was conducted to evaluate the comprehensiveness, clarity, and face validity of our instrument on a scale of 1-5. The percentages of HCP responses to the suggested modifications in the survey were assessed in descriptive statistics to summarize data and report views of participants. RESULTS: Of 215 HCPs, 195 responded and completed the survey. Of the respondents, 30.4% were medical oncologists, whereas hematologists and nurses constituted 6.7% and 62.9% of the participants, respectively. The majority of respondents (87.6%) work in governmental hospitals. The majority of participants (82%) have diagnosed patients with COVID-19 in their hospitals and modifications in inpatient practice during the COVID-19 pandemic were supported by 95% of respondents. The supported modifications by participants include enhanced use of oral medications (83.5%), phone calls to admitted stable patients by physicians, instead of physical interview (77%), decreasing frequency of vital signs assessment in stable patients (91%), decreasing the duration of stay in patients rooms (89%), using peripheral instead of central lines (76%), using video-based educational materials to patients through hospital TV network (91%), testing for COVID -19 before scheduled radiology imaging and procedures (74%), and performing routine nasopharyngeal swabs for HCPs (67%). CONCLUSION: Several modifications in inpatient oncology/hematology practice were supported by the survey participants. These suggestions need to be discussed on local basis considering local infrastructure, available resources, and level of required care.