Comparison of conventional fractionation (five fractions per week) and altered fractionation (six fractions per week) in stage I and II squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx: An institutional study.

BACKGROUND: The radiotherapy (RT) dose and fractionation schedule for head and neck cancers for locoregional control and acceptable organ toxicity are still debatable. Accelerated RT includes administration of six fractions per week with the same dose per fraction. AIM: Comparison of conventional versus accelerated RT in terms of locoregional control, and acute and late radiation toxicity in squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx (stage I and II). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective, double arm, phase 2, randomized study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients of squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx (stage I and II) were randomized in two arms (accelerated fractionation, arm 1 and conventional fractionation, arm 2). All patients received RT dose of 66 Gray (Gy) in 33 fractions (#). The patients in arm 1 received six fractions per week with 2 Gy/# (Monday-Saturday) and in arm 2, five fractions per week with 2 Gy/# (Monday-Friday). No chemotherapy was administered. During and after the treatment, locoregional control, and acute and late radiation toxicity were assessed. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, 76% patients in arm 1 and 64% patients in arm 2 had complete response. The recurrence rate at the end of 1 year in arm 1 was 12% and it was 20% in arm 2.The acute Grade 2 and 3 toxicities were higher in the accelerated arm and no significant difference in late toxicities was found. SPSS version 4.0 was used for statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: Accelerated fractionation provides better locoregional control with higher but acceptable acute and equal late radiation toxicity in squamous cell carcinoma oropharynx.

Pattern of distant metastasis in molecular subtypes of carcinoma breast: An institutional study.

BACKGROUND: Molecular subtypes of carcinoma breast show a particular pattern of distant metastasis, the knowledge of which can help to diagnose and intervene early in the course of the disease. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate and establish an association between the molecular subtypes of carcinoma breast and the pattern of distant metastasis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Single arm, retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally 400 patients of carcinoma breast (Stage I and II) were selected who were treated between January 2010 and December 2013. All these patients were treated with the standard treatment protocol for breast cancer. The estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) Neu status, and Ki-67 were done, and patients were classified into luminal A/B, HER-2 enriched, luminal/HER-2, and triple-negative subtypes. All patients were followed up until December 2015, and the pattern of local failure as well as distant metastasis was correlated with the molecular subtypes. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients developed distant metastasis and local recurrence. Bone was the most common site of metastasis overall. It was the most common type of metastasis in luminal A/B (53.3%) and luminal-HER (57.1%). Brain metastasis was most common in HER-2-enriched subtype (30.3%), whereas liver was the most common site of metastasis in HER-2-enriched subtype (45.45%). The incidence of brain metastasis was comparatively lower in luminal A/B subtype. Local recurrence was most common in HER-2-enriched subtype. The results were statistically significant for lung metastasis and local recurrence (with P = 0.004 and 0.047, respectively). CONCLUSION: A strong association exists between the molecular subtypes and the site of distant metastasis in breast cancer which can be used for greater vigilance to detect site-specific distant metastasis beforehand.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Skin after 20 Years of Renal Transplantation.

Solid organ transplant recipients are at high risk of developing malignancies due to the prolonged use of immunosuppressant drugs. Squamous cell carcinoma of skin can occur in these patients even after decades of organ transplant. A 45-year-old male underwent renal transplant for end-stage renal disease 23 years ago and was on immunosuppressive drugs since then. The patient was on regular follow-up. Three years back, he developed squamous cell carcinoma of both forearms and hands, which was treated with radiation therapy using 8 MeV electrons, by parallel opposed fields to a dose of 60 Gy/30 fractions. Complete response to treatment was achieved at 3 months posttreatment. The patient is currently on follow-up and asymptomatic for skin lesions. Hence, these patients require longer follow-up, active surveillance, and screening for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the premalignant and malignant conditions.

Mandatory use of confirmation stage with Chlamydiazyme during urinary sediment analysis.

AIMS: To assess whether false positive results found when the first stage Chlamydiazyme test is performed on urinary sediment could be reduced by using the more specific second stage blocking assay. METHODS: Sediment from 173 urine samples from patients with suspected urinary tract infection caused by Gram negative bacteria and 23 control urine samples were tested using the Chlamydiazyme assay system, which included a blocking assay. RESULTS: A reaction result with the first stage Chlamydiazyme assay test was seen in 102 (58.9%) of the test urine samples. First stage reactivity was not blocked by the Chlamydiazyme confirmatory assay performed on repeat testing. All were correctly identified as true negative (first test false positive) results. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a second (specific) blocking assay for the analysis of urinary sediment using Chlamydiazyme eliminates false positive results in Gram negative urinary tract infections.