Neoadjuvant systemic therapy in breast cancer: use and trends in radiotherapy practice.

BACKGROUND: The use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (nast) in the treatment of breast cancer is increasing, and the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (rt) in that setting is uncertain. We sought to review and report the use of nast, its trends over time, and its relationship with the prescribing patterns of locoregional rt in a provincial cancer system. METHODS: Patients with stages i-iii breast cancer diagnosed during 2007-2012 were identified using a provincial database. Patient, tumour, and treatment characteristics were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations with the use of nast. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used for survival analyses. RESULTS: Of the 11,658 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 602 (5%) had received nast. Use of nast was more frequent in stage iii patients (53%) than in stages i and ii patients (2%). In clinically lymph-node positive patients, a pathology assessment was made approximately 50% of the time. Higher clinical tumour stage and increasing clinical nodal stage predicted for increasing use of nast and of nodal rt after nast, but pathologic nodal status after nast was not associated with use of nodal rt. A statistically significant survival difference was observed between patients in the nast and no-nast groups, but that significance disappeared in a multivariable Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study demonstrated 5% use of nast for breast cancer. Most patients received nodal rt after nast, and nodal rt was not associated with pathologic stage after nast. Findings likely reflect the realities of clinical practice and show that reliance on clinical nodal staging results in outcomes similar to those reported in the literature.

MANAGEMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER IN ACCRA, GHANA.

INTRODUCTION: Africans living with prostate cancer in Africa face problems of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. AIM: To study the clinical incidence of prostate cancer, risk factors, TNM stage, their management and outcomes. METHODS: A prospective study of Prostate Cancer cases managed at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and hospitals in Accra, diagnosed by history, abnormal PSA/DRE, physical examination and histologically confirmed by biopsy from 2004 to 2013 was carried out. The cases were TNM staged and managed by approved protocol. RESULTS: There were 669 cases with a mean age 70±0.045SE years, median Gleason Score of 7, organ confined Prostate Cancer(PC) in 415(62%), locally advanced in 167(25%) and metastatic Prostate Cancer in 87(13%) cases. The cases were followed for median of 10 months to ≥ 84 months. Organ confined cases were managed by: Radical Prostatectomy (RP) 92 (13.8%) with a mortality of 0.3%; brachytherapy 70 (10.5%) with a mortality of 0.1% and External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) 155 (23%) with a mortality 0.7%. In all, 98 men constituting (14.1%) cases with a mean age of 75+0.25SE years, life expectancy <10 years were treated by hormonal therapy with a mortality of 1.7%. Twenty cases who were for active surveillance (GS6), PSA <10ng/ml, life expectancy <10 years later all opted for EBRT. Locally advanced cases 25% all had neoadjuvant hormonal therapy then Brachytherapy in 3 (0.4%) mortality 0.15% and EBRT in 64 (9.5%), mortality 0.59%. Hormonal therapy was given in 100 (15%) locally advanced cases, mortality 5%. Metastatic prostate cancer cases (13%) were managed by hormonal therapy, mortality 6%. CONCLUSION: Improved facilities and dedicated skilled teams led to a significant rise in proportion of organ confined Prostate Cancer from 15.3% to 62% curable by Radical Prostatectomy, brachytherapy or EBRT with longer disease free survival.

Management of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors: a retrospective study of twenty cases from the radiotherapy centre, Accra, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: One in ten patients on anticancer medication will develop febrile neutropenia irrespective of tumour type. There is need to protect our patients from this fatal condition while optimising chemotherapy. This may be difficult for a poor country. OBJECTIVE: to assess the management of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia in a low resource setting. METHODS: records of 20 cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (fn) over a three-year period were retrospectively analysed. data retrieved included age, sex, type of cancer and number of cycles of chemotherapy taken. Other parameters included initial temperature, site of infection, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at presentation and antibiotic choice. Use of antifungal drugs, duration of fever and overall treatment outcome were also assessed. RESULTS: the male : female ratio was 3:2 with a median age of 24 years (range: 15 - 68 years), and a mean temperature of 38.8 oC (range 38.0-39.8 0C). Mean absolute neutrophil count was 0.2 x 109 (range: 0.0 to 0.6 x 109). Thirteen (65%) received Cisplatin, five (25%) received Adriamycin, two (10%) received Paclitaxel or Cyclophosphomide-Methotrexate-5, Fluorouracil (CMF). Ten(50%) developed FN with the first cycle of chemotherapy, and six(30%) in the second cycle. Twelve (60%) had oral infection, four(20%) had gastroenteritis and single episodes of respiratory and urinary tract infections. Eleven (55%), received Ceftriaxone and Gentamycin, five (25%) cases received Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin/clavunate + metronidazole; two cases(10%), Ceftazidime and Gentamycin; two cases(10%) received Meropenem. Twelve (60%) patients had antifungal therapy for oral candidiassis. Eight (40%) patients received growth factors. The mean fever duration was 4.5 days (range 1-10 days). Two (10%) of the patients died. CONCLUSION: febrile neutropenia in resource limited countries can be managed with good history and physical examination skills. Aminoglycosides are important components of empiric treatment in Ghana.

Management of Febrile Neutropenia in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Solid Tumors: a Retrospective Study of Twenty Cases from the Radiotherapy Centre; Accra; Ghana

BACKGROUND: One in ten patients on anticancer medication will develop febrile neutropenia irrespective of tumour type. There is need to protect our patients from this fatal condition while optimising chemotherapy. This may be difficult for a poor country. OBJECTIVE: To assess the management of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia in a low resource setting. METHODS: Records of 20 cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) over a three-year period were retrospectively analysed. Data retrieved included age; sex; type of cancer and number of cycles of chemotherapy taken. Other parameters included initial temperature; site of infection; absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at presentation and antibiotic choice. Use of antifungal drugs; duration of fever and overall treatment outcome were also assessed. RESULTS: The male : female ratio was 3:2 with a median age of 24 years (range: 15 - 68 years); and a mean temperature of 38.8 oC (range 38.0-39.8 0C). Mean absolute neutrophil count was 0.2 x 109 (range: 0.0 to 0.6 x 109). Thirteen (65) received Cisplatin; five (25) received Adriamycin; two (10) received Paclitaxel or Cyclophosphomide-Methotrexate-5; Fluorouracil (CMF). Ten(50) developed FN with the first cycle of chemotherapy; and six(30) in the second cycle. Twelve (60) had oral infection; four(20) had gastroenteritis and single episodes of respiratory and urinary tract infections. Eleven (55); received Ceftriaxone and Gentamycin; five (25) cases received Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin/clavunate + metronidazole; two cases(10); Ceftazidime and Gentamycin; two cases(10) received Meropenem. Twelve (60) patients had antifungal therapy for oral candidiassis. Eight (40) patients received growth factors. The mean fever duration was 4.5 days (range 1-10 days). Two (10) of the patients died. CONCLUSION: Febrile neutropenia in resource limited countries can be managed with good history and physical examination skills. Aminoglycosides are important components of empiric treatment in Ghana