ABSTRACT
Stevens-Johnson syndrome presents as mucocutaneous blistering and sloughing, which may follow a devastating clinical course. Although Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been reported following the administration of anticancer drugs, only a few cases induced by cytotoxic anticancer drugs, administered after immune checkpoint inhibitors, have been reported. The present report describes a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome caused by capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPEOX) combination chemotherapy, in a patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, who had been previously treated with nivolumab.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the healthcare system worldwide. Cancer patients and oncologists faced challenges equally in the context of the pandemic. The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, encompassing infection source, care type, treatment delays, and infection outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This single-center retrospective study was conducted between March 2020 and January 2022 at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, India. It examined COVID-19 cases in cancer patients with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. Data collection included demographics, clinical details, COVID-19 specifics, treatment delays, and infection outcomes. RESULT: In our study of 9,854 oncology patients' visits, 26 (0.26%) tested COVID-19 positive by RT-PCR, aged three to 70 years with a male-female ratio of 1:1.67. Twenty-three percent had comorbidities, mainly hypertension. Gastrointestinal cancers (30.8%) and hepatobiliary origin (15.5%) were common. Most patients (69.2%) had stage IV cancer, and 34.6% aimed for curative treatment. The majority of the patients (76.9%) were community-acquired, and the rest (23.1%) contracted during hospital stay. Fever (34.5%) and asymptomatic infection (30.8%) were common presentations. Six (23.1%) comorbid patients required ICU care. Median treatment delay was three weeks, with one COVID-19-related death (3.8%) and six cancer-related deaths. On follow-up, 19.2% had stable disease, 7.7% partial response, 7.7% recurrence, and 23.1% had progression. CONCLUSION: Amid the pandemic, cancer patients safely received treatment. Mild cases were managed at home. Poor outcome was found in comorbid, severe COVID-19 cancer patients. However, the impact of treatment delays on long-term oncological outcomes needs further study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bone is a common site of dissemination in advanced cancer accounting for one-third of all distant metastases. Various fractionation schedules of radiotherapy have been used for palliation of bone metastases. The aim of this study was to compare three schedules of external radiation therapy (8 Gy single session versus 20 Gy/5 fractions versus 30 Gy/10 fractions) for palliative management of bone metastases. METHODS: In the present study, 60 patients of bone metastases from any primary site were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each by draw of lots. These patients received palliative external beam radiation therapy to the involved site. Patients were given 8 Gy single session, 20 Gy/5 fractions/1 week and 30 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks in groups I, II and III, respectively. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with overall pain relief was 80% in group I, 75% in group II and 85% in group III (P = 0.7). The number of patients with complete pain relief was 4 (20%) in each group. Maximum patients got pain relief at 4 weeks post-radiotherapy. The number of patients with improved performance status was 4 (20%) in group II and 2 (10%) each in groups I and III (P = 0.5). Thirteen (65%) patients in each of the groups had decreased analgesic requirement at 2-month follow-up. Retreatment rate was more in the single fraction (20%) compared to only 5% in group II and none in the group III (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: From the present study we conclude that 8 Gy single fraction is as effective as multifraction radiotherapy for the palliation of painful bone metastases. However, for a center like ours being the only Government Tertiary Cancer Care Centre in the State, general consensus drawn after this study, recommends external radiation therapy 20 Gy/5 fraction regimen to be an appropriate means of palliation of painful bone metastases.
