The Gulf journal of oncology
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The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency of major international concern. In December 2019, an outbreak of atypical pneumonia known as COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. The newly identified zoonotic coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2), is characterized by rapid human-to-human transmission. ⋯ This include changes to resource allocation, clinical care, and the consent process during a pandemic. Currently and due to limited data, there are no international guidelines to address the optimal management of ALL patients in any infectious pandemic. In this review, we will address the potential challenges associated with managing ALL patients during the COVID-19 infection pandemic with suggestions of some practical approaches, focusing on screening asymptomatic ALL patients, diagnostic and response evaluation and choice of chemotherapy in different scenarios and setting and use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Phase II/III Randomized Controlled Trial of Concomitant Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy plus Cetuximab (Anti-EGFR Antibody) or Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.
Globally, there is marked variation in overall incidence and presentation of head and neck cancers, these cancers account for 11.5 per 100,000 population in G.C.C states. Concomitant chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is indicated in such cancers with aim of organ preservation, control and possible cure. Hyper fractionated radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy or cetuximab is a lesser explored option. In this study we wish to assess the tolerability and efficacy of cetuximab with altered fractionation and compare this with the chemotherapy (cisplatin). ⋯ Though cetuximab has lesser side effects but it is not indicated in treatment of LAHNC. Concurrent cisplatin is a trusted option for concomitant setting regardless of the HPV status and tumor location. However, in the context of cisplatin ineligible patients, cetuximab should be used only with hyper fractionation. This preliminary study could represent a good core of large international multicenter RCT.
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Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a biologically benign osteolytic tumor that affects the metaphyseal/epiphyseal portions of bones. Histologically, GCTB is composed of osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells that express receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK), and neoplastic mesenchymal stromal cells that express RANK ligand (RANKL). The pathogenesis of GCTB is primarily attributable to the RANK-RANKL interaction, resulting in the activation of osteoclasts and the resultant osteolytic phenotype. ⋯ Preoperative denosumab does not seem to reduce the likelihood of local recurrence after intralesional therapy; a planned randomized phase III clinical trial (JCOG 1610) will holistically address this concern. Furthermore, more than ten cases of denosumab-related malignant transformation of GCTB have been reported in literature. Lastly, large-sized phase III randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up data are warranted to withdraw concrete conclusions and recommendations.
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In the locally advanced stage, the prognosis of rectal cancer was improved by preoperative chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery including complete total mesorectal excision. At present, the place of adjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial. We aimed to assess the impact of this chemotherapy on our patient survival. ⋯ Although there are some limitations in our study, namely its retrospective design and small size of the cohort, adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy did not improve OS nor DFS.
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Palliative Care (PC) is an evolving oncology subspecialty in the Middle East (ME). Justified opioid use is an integral part of palliative care. Often, morphine consumption is taken as a quality indicator of palliative care services, but is it a reliable indicator to reflect the status of palliative care in current Middle East setting? We need to understand that data on morphine consumption, represent the amount distributed of morphine per person in a country and does not refer the actual justified amount utilization of opioids. ⋯ There is an urgent and essential need to work for comprehensive and integrated palliative care programs encompassing the subspecialties. It must include and care for local perspectives of psychological, social, spiritual, and religious issues in PC in addition to pain management. There remains a need for health education for population, advocacy for policy makers, and a political will at the appropriate levels to meet these challenges.