Efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiation in inoperable oral carcinoma in pakistani population

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of concurrent Chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity in terms of local control and toxicity

Study Design: Case series

Place and Duration of Study: Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology [INMOL], Lahore, from January 2008 to December 2013

Methodology: Sixty-nine patients with locally advanced inoperable oral cavity cancer, registered in INMOL hospital from January 2008 to December 2013 who fulfilled a pre-defined eligibility criteria, were enrolled in the study

Concurrent Chemoradiation protocol consisted of conventional fractionation delivering 70 Gy with weekly Cisplatin [50 mg/m[2]] during the course of radiation

Tumor response was calculated by RECIST criteria version 1.1 along with the median overall survival and disease-free survival. Acute treatment related toxicities were graded as [G]

Results: Thirty-six [52.17%] patients showed complete response; while 19 [27.54%], 8 [11.59%] and 6 [8.7%] were observed with partial response, stable and progressive disease, respectively. Treatment response was significant [p<0.001] in terms of responders vs. nonresponders to treatment. Median overall survival was 18.00 months; whereas, median disease-free survival remained 14.00 months. Main toxicities included mucositis [G3 and G4, 71%], xerostomia [G2 and G3, 82.5%], vomiting [G3 and G4, 51%], myelosuppression [G3 and G4, 26.2%], dermatitis [G3 and G4, 49.2%], and fatigue [G3 and G4, 57.9%]

Conclusion: Platinum based CCRT remained effective for inoperable oral cancer patients

Development and bioevaluation of [99m] Tc[CO][3]-labeled [1-azido-1- deoxy-beta -D-glucopyranoside] complex as a potential tumor-seeking agent

The 1,2,3-triazole-containing [1-azido-1-deoxy-beta -D-glucopyranoside] complex was synthesized using click chemistry approach and evaluated its potential as a tumor-seeking agent. In the present study, [99m] Tc-tricarbonyl labeled [1-azido-1-deoxy-beta -D-glucopyranoside] radiotracer [[99m] Tc[CO][3]-BM], [where BM stands for biomolecule, e.g., [1- azido-1-deoxy-beta -D- glucopyranoside]] was synthesized via click chemistry approach and then labeled with technetium- 99m through isolink kit. Radio labeled drug was tested for radiochemical purity and in vitro stability by chromatographic techniques. Normal distribution and tumoral uptake were studied in Swiss Webster mice. Radiochemical purity results show 97.9 +/- 1.5% labeling and its in vitro stability were studied at room temperature up to 5h. The radio labeled drug exhibited 73.6 +/- 1.1% binding with blood proteins. Normal distribution of drug shows prominent uptake in brain while in case of tumor-bearing mice, the uptake was maximum in tumor tissue and negligible amount was shown in brain. The biodistribution was further compared with 2-fluoro-2-deoxy glucose [[18]F-FDG], which was used as a positive control. The data indicate that [99m] Tc-tricarbonyl labeled [1-azido-1-deoxy-beta -D- glucopyranoside] radiotracer might be a feasible candidate with reasonable potential for tumor diagnosis

Unusual presentation of bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma mimicking as breast lump

A 55-year female presented with left breast lump. Her sonomammography was unremarkable. Core biopsy showed it to be metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Biphasic computerized tomography [CT] of liver confirmed presence of primary liver masses while CT chest showed involvement of left anterior chest wall, rather than primary breast mass. F18-Fluorodeoxyglucose [FDG] positron emission tomography CT [PET-CT] imaging confirmed primary liver tumor with bony metastases

Reference intervals for free T[3] and free T[4] in pakistani euthyroid patients: effect of age and gender on thyroid function

To establish reference intervals for Free Triiodothyronine [FT[3]] and Free Thyroxine [FT[4]] in euthyroid subjects and to assess the effect of age and gender on FT[3] and FT[4]. Cross-sectional, analytical study. Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology [INMOL], Lahore, from January 2009 to April 2011. FT[3] and FT[4] were measured in 852 euthyroid patients. Those with previous thyroid surgery, on thyroidrelated medication and severe non-thyroid illness were excluded. There were 215 males and 637 females with mean age of 46 years. The reference intervals, revealed by this study, for FT[3] and FT[4] were 2.80 - 5.39 pmol/L and 11.9 - 22.2 pmol/L respectively. The mean difference between gender groups and age groups was found statistically significant for FT[3] [gender: p < 0.001; age: p < 0.001] but statistically insignificant for FT[4] [gender: p=0.147; age: p=0.201]. There was no effect of gender and age on FT[3] and FT[4]. The age with serum FT[3] and FT[4] significantly negatively correlated but this correlation was stronger for FT[3] as compared to FT[4] levels. Reference intervals of FT[3] and FT[4] for male [2.99 - 5.63 pmol/L, 12.3 - 22.6 pmol/L] and female [2.77 - 5.29 pmol/L, 11.7 - 22.1 pmol/L] respectively are suggested