Preferred Place of Death for Patients With Incurable Cancer and Their Family Caregivers in Egypt.

BACKGROUND:: Little is known about the place of death of patients with cancer in Eastern Mediterranean countries including Egypt, where palliative care is underdeveloped. Identifying the preferred place of death (PPoD) is important for the development of appropriate palliative care models in these countries. OBJECTIVES:: To know the PPoD of Egyptian patients with incurable cancer and their family caregivers (FCGs) and to determine the factors that may impact their preferences. METHODS:: An observational cross-sectional study that included 301 dyads of patients with incurable cancer and one of their FCGs. A questionnaire was designed to collect data about the characteristics of patients and FCGs as well as their preferences. RESULTS:: The majority of dyads (272/301, 90.4%) answered the PPoD question. Home was the PPoD in 93% of patients and 90.1% of FCGs ( P = .218). The congruence between patients' and FCGs' PPoD was 92.7% (κ = 0.526). In multivariate analysis, poorer performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 3 or 4) and full employment of FCGs associated significantly with patients' preference to die in hospital (odds ratio [OR] = 3.015 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-9.054], P = .049 and OR = 4.402 [95% CI: 1.561-12.417], P = .005, respectively), while poorer performance status and nonreferral to the palliative medicine unit were associated with FCGs' preference of hospital death (OR = 2.705 [95% CI: 1.105-6.626], P = .029 and OR = 2.537 [95% CI: 1.082-5.948], P = .032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:: The results of the current study suggest that home is the PPoD for the vast majority of Egyptian patients with incurable cancer and their FCGs. Palliative care interventions that promote home death of patients with incurable cancer are needed in Egypt.

Cancer diagnosis disclosure preferences of family caregivers of cancer patients in Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: Family caregivers (FCs) of cancer patients are frequently seen as a barrier to honest communication with patients in Egypt. This study was conducted to investigate the attitude of FCs of cancer patients toward cancer diagnosis disclosure (CDD) and its determinants. METHODS: A structured interview was used to assess the preferences of 288 FCs regarding CDD. RESULTS: According to the FCs, 85% of patients were aware of their diagnosis. The majority (81%) of FCs preferred CDD to patients. In case they developed cancer, 92% of FCs wanted to know their diagnosis and 88% wanted to inform their families. In a univariate analysis, factors associated with FCs' negative attitude toward CDD to patients were as follows: patient's lower level of education (P = .001), patient's rural residence (P < .001), hematological malignancies (P < .001), FC's belief that the patient is unaware of diagnosis (P < .001), FC's unwillingness to know his/her own cancer diagnosis (P < .001), and FC's unwillingness to inform his/her family about his/her cancer diagnosis (P < .001). Only 2 factors predicted independently the negative attitude of FCs toward CDD, the FC's belief that the patient is unaware of diagnosis (P < .001), and the FC's unwillingness to know his/her own cancer diagnosis (P = .049). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the majority of FCs of Egyptian cancer patients prefer CDD to patients. The finding that the vast majority of FCs of aware patients preferred CDD suggests that the reaction of Egyptian patients to CDD is acceptable by FCs. Family caregivers with a negative attitude toward CDD may be reflecting their own fears.

Impact of bilateral breast cancer on prognosis: synchronous versus metachronous tumors.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of bilateral breast cancer is unclear and its influence on prognosis is controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009 we identified 110 cases of bilateral breast cancer (BBC) ; 49 patients had synchronous (duration between the occurrence of carcinoma in both breasts was less than 12 months) and 61 had metachronous (duration was more than one year with no ipsilateral local recurrence). We compared the patient characteristics including age, menopausal status, clinical stage, tumor size, histological classification, lymph node status, and hormone receptor and Her-2 status. We also compared the treatment given and overall and disease free survival (DFS) of both groups. RESULTS: Synchronous cases tend to present more aggressively than metachronous cases and age at first presentation adversely affects survival. The 5 year overall survival was 78.7% for metachronous and 60% for synchronous. Patients with positive hormonal status had better five year disease free survival in metachronous compared to synchronous cases, at 76% and 63%, respectively. Age at first presentation >45years had better DFS (65%) compared to those with age ≤45 years (52%) at 5 years follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with synchronous breast cancer may have worse prognosis. Young age and hormone receptor negative were risk factors in our study. Close follow up and early detection of contralateral breast cancer is mandatory.

Glutathione S transferase (GSTP 1, GSTM 1, and GSTT 1) gene polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The super family of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) is composed of multiple isoenzymes with significant evidence of functional polymorphic variation. GSTs detoxify potentially mutagenic and toxic DNA-reactive electrophiles, including metabolites of several chemotherapeutic agents, some of which are suspected human carcinogens. Polymorphisms within the phase II metabolizer enzymes GST T1, GST M1, and GST P1 affect the body's ability to detoxify a range of potential leukemogens encountered in the environment. AIM OF WORK: To address how differences in the human GST isoenzyme expression patterns influence cancer susceptibility, prognosis, and treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as well as 50 age and sex matched apparently healthy volunteers were genotyped for GSTP 1, GSTM 1, and GSTT 1 gene polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. RESULTS: For GSTP1 313 A → G (GSTP1 Ile105Val) polymorphism, It was found that the wild genotype (AA) was significantly higher among control subjects (P value = 0.0277), while the frequency of heteromutant genotype (AG) and mutant G allele (AG + GG) was significantly higher among patients (P value = 0.0402, P value = 0.0277, respectively). For GSTM1 and GSTT1gene, we found statistically significantly higher frequency among patients regarding homozygous gene deletion (P value = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that GSTM1 null or GSTT1 null genotypes may be considered independent risk factors for AML with no impact on prognosis and GSTP1 * 105 genotype is a prognostic factor, adding independent information to the routine laboratory parameters and cytogenetic and molecular alterations of the tumor cells.

The use of opioids at the end-of-life and the survival of Egyptian palliative care patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One of the barriers to cancer pain control and palliative care (PC) development is the misconception that the use of opioids may hasten death. This concern is exaggerated when higher doses of opioids are used at the end-of-life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between survival and the dose of opioids used at the end-of-life of patients with advanced cancer in an Egyptian PC setting. METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of 123 patients with advanced cancer managed in an Egyptian cancer center-based palliative medicine unit (PMU). Patients were classified according to the last prescribed regular opioid dose expressed in milligrams of oral morphine equivalent (OME) per day (mg OME/24 h) into three groups: no opioid or low-dose group (<120 mg OME/24 h), intermediate-dose group (120-<300 mg OME/24 h) and high-dose group (≥300 mg OME/24 h). Survival was calculated from the date of first referral to the PMU to death. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 53 years, breast cancer was the most common diagnosis (18%) and the majority (68%) died at home. Opioids were prescribed for pain control in 94% of patients and were prescribed on regular basis in 89%. The mean last prescribed opioid dose for the whole group of patients was 167 (±170) mg OME/24 h and it was highest among patients with pleural mesothelioma [245 (±258) mg OME/24 h]. The last prescription included no opioids or low-dose opioids in 57 (46%) patients, intermediate-dose in 42 (34%) and high-dose in 24 (20%). The estimated median survival was 45 days for the no opioid/low-dose group, 75 days for the intermediate-dose group and 153 days for the high-dose group (P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the dose of opioids has no detrimental impact on the survival of patients with advanced cancer in an Egyptian PC setting. Further research is needed to overcome barriers to cancer pain control especially in settings with inadequate cancer pain control.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms (677C > T and 1298A > C) in Egyptian patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Folate metabolism plays an essential role in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and methylation processes. Deviations in the flux of the folate may affect the susceptibility to various cancers including lymphoma. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphisms in 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677C/T and 1298A/C) and to evaluate its associations with the risk of Non Hodgkin lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 50 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as well as 50 age matched apparently healthy volunteers (as control). All the subjects included in the study were genotyped for the detection of the MTHFR gene polymorphisms (677C > T and 1298A > C) by using restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: There were highly statistically significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to results of PCR-RFLP for MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism for CC genotype (P value = 0.001), statistically significant differences for CT (P value = 0.048) and TT (P value = 0.038) genotypes; however, no statistically significant differences regarding CC/CT or TT/CT alleles (P value = 0.052). Also, there were highly statistically significant differences between the patient and control groups with regards to the results of MTHFR1298 A/C polymorphism for the AA, AC genotypes as well as the AA/AC and CC/AC alleles (P value < 0.0001), and statistically significant difference regarding CC genotype (P value 0.0192). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study demonstrated a significant association between the MTHFR polymorphisms and the risk of DLBCL. Thus the study could support that folate intake together with the genetic basis may help in modifying the risk to lymphoma.

Opioid consumption before and after the establishment of a palliative medicine unit in an Egyptian cancer centre.

Opioid consumption before and after the establishment of a palliative medicine unit (PMU) in an Egyptian cancer centre was reviewed. A comparison of consumption during the year before the PMU was established to consumption during the third year after the PMU's establishment revealed that morphine consumption increased by 698 percent, fentanyl by 217 percent, and tramadol by 230 percent. Expressed in defined daily dose (DDD) and adjusted for 1,000 new cancer patients, consumption increased by 460 percent, from 4,678 DDD/1,000 new patients to 26,175 DDD/1,000 new patients. Expressed in grams of oral morphine equivalent (g OME), consumption increased by 644 percent, from 233 g OME/1,000 new patients to 1,731 g OME/1,000 new patients. The establishment of the PMU was associated with an increase in opioid consumption, especially morphine, which is an indicator of improvement in cancer pain control. The expression of opioid consumption in OME in addition to DDD may provide further information, especially when weak opioids are included in the analysis.