Serum total antioxidant capacity in oral carcinoma patients.

CONTEXT: Oxidative stress is a major determinant in carcinogenesis and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) indirectly reflects the level of oxidative stress. Although oral cancer is the third most frequent cancer in Indian population, there are no standard noninvasive marker for early detection and monitoring therapeutic response in oral cancer patients. AIMS: This study was carried out to investigate implications of serum TAC in oral cancer by evaluating pre- and post-operative levels in oral cancer patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: It was a prospective single blinded study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum TAC was measured using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. Pre- and post-operative values were estimated and compared in 30 oral cancer patients who underwent surgery. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired t-test was used to compare pre- and post-operative values. RESULTS: Compared to the normal value, both pre- and post-operative serum TAC were significantly low in oral cancer patients. However, there was no statistically significant difference between pre- and postoperative levels. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, low mean serum TAC was detected in oral cancer patients. However, its diagnostic and prognostic significance in oral cancer needs further investigation.

Gastric metastases from breast cancer: A report of two cases and review of literature.

Though breast cancer is a common cancer it rarely metastasizes to stomach. Lobular carcinoma is the most common histological type which presents with gastric metastases. The most common presentation is linitis plastica. Here, we would like to report two cases of invasive ductal breast cancer who presented with gastric metastases. One case presented as linitis plastica and the other as nodular growth. Both were given palliative chemotherapy and both responded partially. One patient was succumbed to death in 6 months and the other patient is surviving 7 months after diagnosis of gastric metastases. In conclusion, gastric metastases from breast cancer are rare and are associated with poor prognosis. We would like to add these cases to the literature due to its rarity.

Lenalidomide in relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: An Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Lenalidomide an immunomodulatory agent has shown activity in relapsed/refractory lymphoma. This study was conducted to evaluate its efficacy and optimal dose in Indian patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma who were unable or unwilling to undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received oral lenalidomide at 20 mg on days 1-21 every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients received lenalidomide at a starting dose of 20 mg. Majority of patients were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The overall response rate (ORR) was 48%, with 16% achieved complete remission (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu), 32% partial response (PR) and 16% stable disease (SD) Among patients with DLBCL the ORR was of 33.3%; with CR/CRu 20%, PR (13.3%), 20% had SD, progressive disease (PD) was seen in seven patients (46.6%). All follicular lymphoma patients responded to treatment, with CR in one patient and PR in other two. Among patients with mantle cell lymphoma, ORR was 75% with PR in (75%) and SD in 25%. One case of transformed lymphoma had a PR and peripheral T-cell lymphoma had no response to treatment. The median duration of response was 8.5 months, with a time to response of 3 months. Median progression free survival was not reached in responding patients. CONCLUSION: Lenalidomide is an effective treatment option in relapsed refractory non hodgkin's lymphoma.