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]
Results: Fifty three female patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and ECOG-PS
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
ABSTRACT
To determine the efficacy of whole brain radiotherapy [WBRT] with carboplatin as radiation sensitizer in metastatic brain disease in our adult population. Quasi-experimental study. Department of Oncology, Combined Military Hospital [CMH], Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July 2011 to September 2012. Forty two patients with metastatic brain disease having ECOG performance status [PS] 3 or less with normal hematological and biochemical profile were treated with WBRT with 6MV Photon beam on linear accelerator using parallel opposed lateral beams to a dose of 30 Gys in 10 fractions. Carboplatin was administered in a dose of 150 mg/m2 on day 1 and 6 of WBRT. Improvement in PS and radiological response on CT scan/ MRI brain before and 30 days after the WBRT using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors [RECIST] was evaluated. Out of 42 patients, 38 [90%] showed improvement in PS, 4 [10%] showed either no improvement or worsening of PS [p< 0.001]. Seventeen [41%] patients had complete response, 19 [45%] had partial response, 3 [7%] showed stable disease and 3 [7%] had progressive disease. None of the patients showed grade 3/4 toxicity during treatment. WBRT with carboplatin as radiation sensitizer is effective in palliation of patients with metastatic brain disease