[Metastatic nasopharynx cancer at diagnosis: clinical and prognostic (study of 51 cases)]. / Cancer du cavum d'emblee metastatique: étude clinique et pronostique (à propos de 51 cas).

This retrospective study aimed to highlight the different epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic features of nasopharinx cancer with inaugural metastases in patients hospitalized in a Tunisian Hospital. We here report 51 cases of histologically diagnosed nasopharynx cancer (NPC) with inaugural metastases. Data were collected in the ENT departments and in the radiation therapy departments at the University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia as well as at the Centre Medical Ibn Khaldoun, Hammam Sousse, between January 1995 and December 2010. We collected data on 51 patients with metastatic nasopharynx cancer at diagnosis. The average age was 49 years. Sex ratio was 6,2. Bone metastases were the most common finding (94.1%), followed by liver metastases (34.6%). In the majority of our patients therapeutic approach was based on chemotherapy (41 patients); 31 of these patients underwent chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy. Adriamycin+cisplatin protocol was the most frequently used (92.6%). Twenty patients underwent cervicofacial radiation therapy with curative purposes (doses ≤ 70 Gy), fourteen patients underwent radiation treatment to the nasopharynx with symptomatic purposes (doses of 30Gy in 10 sessions) associated with radiation treatment to the metastatic sites in 9 cases. Overall survival at 2 years and 5 years was 29% and 10%, respectively. Nasopharinx cancer with inaugural metastases is a serious disease, rapidly fatal despite therapeutic advances. In view of our data and of those from the literature cisplatin-based chemotherapy and cervicofacial radiation therapy with curative doses and that of metastases resulted in long-term survival and even in complete responses. Future trials should focus on new molecules for therapeutic intensification.

[Skin cancer in Tunisia: a retrospective study: 1379 cases and risk factors]. / Les cancers cutanés en Tunisie: une étude rétrospective de 1379 cas et facteurs de risques.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and epidemiological aspects of skin cancer in Tunisia. METHODS: we analysed the clinical files of all cases of skin cancer registrated at the ISA institute between 1975 and 1984. RESULTS: 1379 cases of skin cancer were referred to ISA, representing 9.02% of all cancer cases referred to the institute during the same period. Basal cell carcinoma (CBC) was the most frequent type (57.5%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (CSC): 32.6% and melanomas: 4%. The sex ratio was 1.7 with a mean age of 61 years in men and 60 years in women. The face was the most frequent involved sites in CBC (92%). This region is usually exposed to the sun. The distribution of CSC in the body was different. The lesions were multiple in 11% of the cases. 13.7% of the CSC were developped on a burn scar. 21 cases were radio-induced and 45 patients had a xeroderma pigmentosum. CONCLUSION: skin cancer is relatively frequent in Tunisia. However, our incidence is inferior to other countries. Sun exposure is the main risk factor.

Molecular Diagnostic and Prognostic Subtyping of Gliomas in Tunisian Population.

It has become increasingly evident that morphologically similar gliomas may have distinct clinical phenotypes arising from diverse genetic signatures. To date, glial tumours from the Tunisian population have not been investigated. To address this, we correlated the clinico-pathology with molecular data of 110 gliomas by a combination of HM450K array, MLPA and TMA-IHC. PTEN loss and EGFR amplification were distributed in different glioma histological groups. However, 1p19q co-deletion and KIAA1549:BRAF fusion were, respectively, restricted to Oligodendroglioma and Pilocytic Astrocytoma. CDKN2A loss and EGFR overexpression were more common within high-grade gliomas. Furthermore, survival statistical correlations led us to identify Glioblastoma (GB) prognosis subtypes. In fact, significant lower overall survival (OS) was detected within GB that overexpressed EGFR and Cox2. In addition, IDH1R132H mutation seemed to provide a markedly survival advantage. Interestingly, the association of IDHR132H mutation and EGFR normal status, as well as the association of differentiation markers, defined GB subtypes with good prognosis. By contrast, poor survival GB subtypes were defined by the combination of PTEN loss with PDGFRa expression and/or EGFR amplification. Additionally, GB presenting p53-negative staining associated with CDKN2A loss or p21 positivity represented a subtype with short survival. Thus, distinct molecular subtypes with individualised prognosis were identified. Interestingly, we found a unique histone mutation in a poor survival young adult GB case. This tumour exceptionally associated the H3F3A G34R mutation and MYCN amplification as well as 1p36 loss and 10q loss. Furthermore, by exhibiting a remarkable methylation profile, it emphasised the oncogenic power of G34R mutation connecting gliomagenesis and chromatin regulation.

Breast cancer occurred after Hodgkin's disease: clinico-pathological features, treatments and outcome: analysis of 214 cases.

BACKGROUND: Secondary tumours (ST) represent a major concern in survivors of Hodgkin's disease (HD). Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent ST among young treated women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty-nine women treated for HD by radiotherapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy (CT) subsequently developed 214 BCs. RESULTS: Median age at HD diagnosis was 25 years (34% were less than 20). Median interval between HD and BC was 18.6 years, with a 42-year median age at first BC. According to the TNM classification, there were 30 (14%) T0 (non palbable lesions), 86 (40%) T1, 56 (26%) T2, 13 (6%) T3T4 and 29 (14%) Tx. There were 25 (13.2%) contralateral BC. 160 (75%) and 15 (7%) tumours were infiltrating ductal and lobular carcinomas, 7 (3.3%) were other subtypes and 27 (22%) DCIS. The rate of axillary nodal involvement was 32%. Among 203 operated tumours, 79 (39%) were treated by breast conserving surgery (BCS), with RT in 56 (71%) cases. CT and hormonal treatment were delivered in 51% and 45% of the patients. With a 50-month median follow-up, local recurrence occurred in 12% of the tumours (9% after mastectomy, 21% after lumpectomy alone and 13.7% after lumpectomy with RT). Metastasis occurred in 47 (26%) patients. The risk factors were pN+, pT, high SBR grade and young age (< 50 years). The ten-year overall and specific survival rates were 53% and 63.5%, respectively. The ten-year specific survival rates were 79% for pT0T1T2, 48% for pT3T4 (p = 0.0002) and 79% for pN0 versus 38.5% for pN+ (p = 0.00026). Among 67 deaths, 43 (73%) were due to BC. CONCLUSION: Patients and physicians should be aware that BC is the most frequent secondary tumour in young women treated for HD. The new RT modalities (lower doses and involved fields) may decrease the risk in the future. However, these women require a careful monitoring as from 8 to 10 years after HD treatment, combining mammography, ultrasound and MRI according to several ongoing studies. BC with whole breast irradiation is feasible in some selected cases.