ABSTRACT
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers globally and accounts for most of the cancer?related deaths in India. Comprehensive data on lung cancer in India are lacking. This review aimed to discuss the epidemiological trends of lung cancers and driver mutations as well as the recent advancements in molecular diagnostics and therapeutic options primarily in non杝mall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in India. Electronic databases, such as PubMed and Google Scholar, were searched to retrieve the relevant literature published in the past 5 years. As per the GLOBOCAN 2018 report, lung cancer was ranked the fourth leading cause of cancer (5.9% cases) in India, in all ages and sexes. Furthermore, 63,475 of all cancer?related deaths (8.1%) were attributed to lung cancer (cumulative risk 0.60), making it the third leading cause of cancer?related mortality. The common targets for treatment in lung cancer patients mainly include EGFR mutation, ALK and ROS1 rearrangements and PDL1 expression. In India, EGFR mutations and ALK re?arrangement are commonly reported, but there is limited data of PD?L1 expression. Molecular testing has gained importance as several biomarkers are being targeted to treat lung cancer patients. Surgery, radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, and personalized molecular?targeted therapy prolong the overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC. Although chemotherapy and molecular?targeted therapies have greatly improved the clinical outcomes, prolonged disease control could not be attained in NSCLC patients without a driver mutation. In this situation, immunotherapy seems to be potentially beneficial to obtain long?lasting disease control with minimal adverse events.
ABSTRACT
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers with a 5?year survival rate that ranges from 30% to 40%. Breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) play a key role in maintaining genomic stability. Mutations in BRCA1/2 genes lead to the accumulation of double?strand breaks, resulting in tumorigenesis. The risk of developing OC in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is 39% and 11%, respectively, by 70 years of age. BRCA1/2 mutation testing is thus important to identify women at greatest risk of developing OC in addition to its impact on diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy. Genetic testing is required to identify the BRCA mutations and thus select patients who can benefit from polyadenosine diphosphate (ADP)杛ibose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapy. Tumor BRCA mutation testing can detect both germline and somatic mutations allowing implementation of preventive strategies on a broader population. Various international guidelines recommend BRCA1/2 mutation genetic testing in all OC patients irrespective of age and family history. This review focuses on the role of BRCA mutation testing in OC
ABSTRACT
Background. Cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown better oncological outcomes in peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM). We assessed the feasibility and perioperative outcomes of this procedure in Indian patients. Methods. In this prospective observational study from February 2013 to April 2015, we included 56 patients (41 females, 73.2%) with PSM. They had a good performance status, were either treatment-naïve or previously treated by surgery and systemic chemotherapy. They underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC using a hyperthermia pump, with the temperature at 42 °C for 30–90 minutes. The chemotherapy regimen was based on the primary malignancy. Perioperative outcome data were collected and analysed. We also analysed the short-term oncological outcomes. Results. Our patients included those with peritoneum confined ovarian carcinoma (32, 57.1%), colorectal carcinoma (9, 16.1%), pseudomyxoma peritonei (7, 12.5%), mesothelioma (2, 3.6%), gastric carcinoma (2, 3.6%) and others (4, 7.1%). The median duration of surgery including HIPEC was 9 hours and the median hospital stay was 12 days. The median time for gastrointestinal recovery was 5 days. One-fifth of patients (11, 19.7%) required an extended stay in the intensive care unit. The most common grades 3 and 4 complications were hypocalcaemia 32.1%, hypokalaemia 32.1%, anaemia 21.4% and thrombocytopenia 7.1%. Major morbidity requiring surgical intervention occurred in 8.9% of patients. The 60-day operative mortality was 1.8%. At a median follow-up of 16 months, 7.1% developed peritoneal recurrence, 8.9% had systemic recurrence and 7.1% succumbed to the disease. Patients with platinum-resistant ovarian carcinomas had more peritoneal recurrence (3.6%). Conclusion. In patients with PSM, surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC is feasible and potentially beneficial. It can be done with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. It requires a