The role of p53 and ki67 in predicting clinical outcome in breast cancer patients.

Background: ">ki67 may be used as a proliferative index in addition to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative status. p53 gene expression is a well-known biomarker in breast cancer and its role in predicting clinical outcome remains unclear. The current study aimed to determine the relationship between p53 gene mutation and ki67 expression, their clinical characteristics, and overall survival (OS), and to differentiate the significance of p53 and ki67 as the prognostic value in breast cancer patients. Methods: ">In this study, 135 patients were enrolled in the study from December 2015 to May 2017. Medical records for all patients were reviewed prospectively. The inclusion criteria included age more than 18 years with histologically proven breast cancer and willingness to be enrolled in p53 genetic study. Exclusion criteria included dual malignancy, male breast cancer, with a loss to follow-up during the study. Results: ">The mean survival of patients with ki67 ≤20 index was 42.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 38.7-46.7) and 129 months (95% CI 101.3-157.2) in patients with ki67 >20. The mean OS was 145 months (95% CI 105.6-185.5) in the p53 wild-type group and 106 months (95% CI 78.0-133.0) in the p53 mutated group, as illustrated. Conclusion: ">Our results indicated that p53 mutational status and high ki67 might have an essential impact on overall survival, with p53 mutated patients having a poorer outcome than p53 wild type patients.

Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the skin treated with immunotherapy.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has a good prognosis, while metastatic tumors have aggressive behavior. Immunotherapy has become a standard line of treatment in metastatic cancers; pembrolizumab has shown promising results and improved quality of life in recurrent and metastatic cancers. We report a case of recurrent SCC of the skin with extensive disease and a known case of human immunodeficiency virus. He completed standard lines of treatment and currently on immunotherapy. After 3 cycles of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy, he got a complete metabolic response. Our experience showed palliative benefits and increased quality of life.

Prospective Analysis of Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer receiving Eribulin Mesylate as Second or More Lines of Chemotherapy: An Indian Experience.

BACKGROUND: Eribulin mesylate is a non-taxane microtubule inhibitor which can be used after anthracycline and taxane treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of eribulin monotherapy in heavily pretreated patients with MBC. METHODS: In this study, a total of 45 eligible patients with MBC who received eribulin in HCG Cancer Speciality Center from November 2014 to March 2016 were prospectively analyzed. Breslow (generalized Wilcoxon) survival analysis was carried out for progression-free survival and for overall survival. Patients were excluded if they had not taken treatment for 3 cycles and defaulted/expired during the treatment. RESULTS: In this study, median age of patients was 52 years. A total of 27 (60%) patients had estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor (PR) positive primary tumors, whereas HER2 was overexpressed or amplified in 7 (15.6%); a triple negative subtype was recorded in 13 patients (28.9%). Regarding toxicity, 30 patients (66.67%) tolerated treatment well and 3 patients (6.67%) got anemia, 6 patients (13.3%) experienced neutropenia, and 7 (15.62%) patients had neurological toxicity. About 14 (31.1%) patients showed PR, 12 (26.7%) patients had stable disease (SD), whereas 19 (42.25%) patients showed progression disease (PD). Response evaluation at 6 cycles was possible in 18 patients and revealed that 4 (22.5%) patients showed PR, 10 (55.5%) patients had SD, whereas 4 (22.2%) patients had PD. Progression-free survival of the overall study population was 3.95 months. CONCLUSIONS: Eribulin mesylate is efficacious and tolerable chemotherapy as second- and third-line treatment options for MBC.