ABSTRACT
Introduction: Metronomic chemotherapy (MC) is an emerging therapeutic option in clinical oncology and it may prove usefulat least in metastatic HNSCC patients. To develop rational therapeutic strategies, it is important to identify molecular targetsthat are linked to the pathogenesis of HNSCC.Aim: This study aims to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral MC with methotrexate and celecoxib in the treatment of advanced/recurrent HNSCC.Methods: Patients who received MC for advanced/recurrent HNSCC were analyzed. The combination of weekly oral methotrexate5 mg twice daily for 2 days/week and oral celecoxib 200 mg twice daily was offered as MC. The efficacy was noted in terms ofclinical benefit rate (CBR), pain control, changes in quality of life (QOL), and median time to progression (TTP).Results: A total of 50 patients were included in this study. At the end of 6 months, 4 patients (8%) had partial response (PR), 28patients (56%) had stable disease (SD), and 18 patients (36%) had progressive disease. The CBR (complete response+PR+SD)was 64% at 6 months. The median TTP was 8 weeks. At the end of 6 months, 60% of patients were pain free. The most common(>20% of patients) treatment-related adverse events were nausea (22%), vomiting (22%), and mucositis (20%). 6 patients (12%)developed anorexia and 3 patients (6%) developed fatigue. Mean QOL scores were improved with this MC.Conclusion: Oral MC with methotrexate and celecoxib for patients with advanced/recurrent HNSCC was effective, well tolerated,provides good pain control, and improves QOL with least toxicity profile.
ABSTRACT
The variations observed in the mechanical behaviour of shark skin at different locations and direction of test, bring out the influence of the histological characteristics on the mechanical properties of the skin. These differences in histological characteristics also give an idea about the functional significance of different regions of the skin.
ABSTRACT
The effect of strain rate on the stress-strain behaviour of skin is studied. It is observed that the plastic set in the skin is dependent on strain rate. The scanning electron micrographs of the fractured skin sample shows thicker fibrils and thinner one at low strain rates. The plastic flow is clearly brought out in the stress-strain curves at different strain rates. The stress relaxation behaviour at any given strain is clearly brought out in the 3-dimensional plot.