ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy [HFRT] in locoregional control [LRC] in breast cancer
Study Design: Descriptive case series
Place and Duration of Study: Oncology Department of CMH Rawalpindi, from Jan 2014 to Oct 2014
Material and Methods: Fifty three female patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [ECOG-PS] =2were enrolled in the study. These patients required post-operative radio-therapy to intact breast/ chest wall / residual breast tissue were treated using linear accelerator. Lateral/medial tangential and ipsilateral supraclavicular fields were employed to a dose of 39 Gyin 13 fractions with 6 MV photon beam. The ipsilateral axilla was also radiated if required to same dose with postero-anterior field. Scar boost was administered using 6 MeV electron beam to a dose of 7.5 Gy in 3 fractions in patients with high risk features for local recurrence like high grade, positive axillary nodes, lymphovascular invasion and close or positive surgical resection margins. Patients were followed up weekly during radio-therapy [RT] and three monthly after completion of RT for a period of 6 months. Any suspicious lesion was subjected to biopsy. Data analysis was done with the help of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS] version 19 software, which included descriptive analysis. Loco-regional control [LRC] and loco-regional recurrence [LRR] rates were calculated. LRC was no recurrence of tumor/tumor control in chest wall, axilla, residual breast tissue, and/or infraclavicular/supraclavicular lymph nodes. LRR was appearance of nodules / leison at local site which was biopsied and confirmed histopathologically
Results: Fifty three female patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and ECOG-PS =2 requiring post-operative radio-therapy to intact breast/chest wall/ residual breast tissue were treated. The mean age was 47 years [age range, 20-70 years]. Modified radical mastectomy [MRM] was performed in 47 [88.7%] patients and breast conserving surgery [BCS] in 6 [11.3%] patients. The commonest histological subtype was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [IDCA] observed in 47 [88.7%] patients. Three [5.7%] patients had stage I disease, 16 [30.2%] patients had stage II and stage III included 34 [64.2%] patients. Four [7.5%] patients had T1 disease, 19 [35.8%] had T2, 18 [33.9%] had T3 and 12 [22.6%] patients had T4 disease. Node positive disease was present in 45 [85%] patients. LRC and LRR rates were 98.1% and 1.9% respectively
Conclusion: It is concluded that HFRT is a simple and effective protocol for LRC in breast cancer in our set up. Large scale randomized trials and longer follow up is needed to confirm the results
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of increase in serum tumor marker CEA levels in PBC patients at the time of diagnosis
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Oncology Department of Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Rawalpindi, from January 2014 to November 2014
Material and Methods: Sixty three female patients with histopathologically confirmed carcinoma of breast and age range from 20 to 70 years from Oncology outpatient department [OPD]/indoor patient department at CMH Rawalpindi, were selected. All patients were staged by clinical and radiological work-up that included physical examination, all base line investigations, serum biomarkers, chest radiograph, ultrasound abdomen and pelvis, bone scan, computed tomography [CT] scan/magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] of the chest [optional]. Patients serum carcino-embryonic antigen [CEA] levels were carried out only by blood sampling using chemiluminescent immunoassay with immulite 2000 CEA. Data analysis were done with the help of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS] version 19 software. Cut-off values of serum CEA levels >2.5 ng/ml were taken as elevated
Results: Sixty three female breast cancer patients with histopathologically confirmed carcinoma of breast revealed elevated serum CEA levels in three stages of the disease. The median age was 47 years [range, 20-70 years]. Fifteen [23.8%] patients had family history of the breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma [IDCA] was the commonest histology with 60 [95.23%] patients. Most of the patients had advanced stage of the disease. Node positive cases were 53 [84.1%]. The frequency of abnormal CEA levels were varying from stage II to stage IV. Elevated serum CEA levels were noted in 4 [28.6%] of stage II, 19 [76%] of stage III and 17 [77.3%] patients of stage IV, respectively. Overall percentage increase in levels of serum CEA from stage I through IV were 0%, 6.34%, 30.2%, 26% respectively. The sensitivity of serum CEA in our primary breast cancer [PBC] patients was 63.5%
Conclusion: It is concluded that serum CEA had significant sensitivity in detecting breast cancer in our population. Elevated serum CEA levels were seen in various stages of our PBC patients