The clinical impact of hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian multiple myeloma patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a human B cell neoplasia characterized by the clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Worldwide, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. For MM patients, the clinical impact of preexisting HCV infection is still unclear. We aim to assess the clinical characteristics and the prevalence of the HCV infection in Egyptian MM patients. This observational study included 81 MM patients. HCV antibody assay was performed, and positive cases were confirmed using a reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: Fifteen (18.5%) patients were anti-HCV antibody positive. Only 6/15 (7.4%) patients were HCV RNA positive by RT-PCR. Liver affection in the form of hyperbilirubinemia with grade 4 adverse events was significantly higher in the anti-HCV positive/HCV RNA positive group versus anti HCV negative group (16.7% vs. 1.5%, p value = 0.005). The median HCV-RNA before the initiation of chemotherapy was 2.5 log IU/ml with mean ± SD = 4.25 ± 1.6 with no HCV reactivation. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, HCV infection was not an independent factor related to DFS. Low hemoglobin level < 10 g/dL (HR 0.59, 95% CI, 0.36-0.97, p value = 0.037) and abnormal serum total bilirubin level (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.03-3.5, p value = 0.039) influenced DFS in the univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, serum calcium level greater than 12 mg/dL (HR 7.04, 95% CI 1.12-44.45, p value = 0.038) and abnormal serum total bilirubin level (HR 10.9, 95% CI 2.92-41.02, p value = < 0.001) remained statistically significant worse prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study revealed the prevalence of HCV infection in Egyptian MM patients. Serologic tests at diagnosis are necessary to identify these patients, and confirmation of positive cases by molecular techniques should be mandatory, with regular follow-up for liver dysfunction. Finally, further larger studies explaining the molecular mechanisms linking HCV and the MM pathogenesis are warranted.

Accelerated Radiotherapy with Concurrent Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancers: Evaluation of Response and Compliance.

PURPOSE: Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) is the primary treatment modality for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer patients (LAHNSCC). Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) and concurrent chemotherapy is not broadly implicated in our region mainly because of the lack of experience. This study aims at evaluating the response and compliance of this approach in our patients. METHODS: Forty patients with LAHNSCC were included and 50% received induction chemotherapy. All the patients were treated with IMRT-SIB radiotherapy for 70Gy over 33 daily fractions. Weekly cisplatin (40mg/m2) was administered during the radiation course. RESULTS: With median follow-up of 1.5 years, LC was achieved in 82.5% of cases and distant control rate was 90%. More than 5 interrupted radiation sessions and GTV volume > 50 cc significantly affected LRC (P= 0.02 and 0.001 respectively). Eighty percent of cases experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Induction chemotherapy and PTV-70 volume >150 cc significantly affected the degree of toxicities (P=0.018 and 0.0001 respectively).The 2 years disease free survival (DFS) was 77%. ECOG PS, large GTV volume (> 50 cc) and RT interruption (>5 sessions) had negative impact on DFS (P= 0.041, 0.002 and 0.001 respectively). The 2 years overall survival (OS) was 87%. Radiation interruption (> 5 sessions) was the only factor which had significant detrimental effect on OS (P= 0.001). CONCLUSION: Induction chemotherapy seems to have a negative impact on patient's compliance to CCRT. Bulky tumors and prolonged radiation interruptions were associated with significantly lower LRC, DFS and OS.