RESUMEN
Objective/background: Epstein Barr Virus [EBV] DNA load is increasingly being used as a noninvasive biomarker for detecting EBV association in lymphomas. Since there is a need of data from India, we undertook to prospectively evaluate plasma EBV DNA load as a marker of EBV association in newly diagnosed adult-onset Hodgkin lymphoma [HL]
Methods: EBV DNA was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. In a subset of patients, an assay was validated qualitatively with EBV latent membrane protein-1 [LMP1] immunohistochemistry [IHC]. Wherever possible, follow-up plasma samples post three cycles of chemotherapy were obtained
Results: Over a period of 10 months, 33 newly diagnosed adult-onset HL were enrolled in the study. Pretherapy plasma EBV DNA was detectable in [tilde] 49% [16/33] patients [viral loads range, 1.0-51.2 [tilde] 10[3] copies/mL] and undetectable in 30 voluntary blood donors. LMP1 IHC was positive in 56% of cases tested [14/25]. Sensitivity and specificity of plasma EBV DNA with respect to LMP1 IHC were 86% and 100%, respectively. Of the eight patients in whom follow-up plasma was available, in five EBV baseline-positive patients EBV load reverted to negative postchemotherapy and corroborated with clinical remission
Conclusion: Plasma EBV DNA load estimation may be useful in detecting EBV-association and possibly monitoring the response to therapy in EBV-related HL especially in our country where EBV association of HL is higher than in developed nations
RESUMEN
Background: In order to document the understanding of current evidence for the management of triple negative breast cancer and application of this knowledge in daily practice, we conducted an interactive survey of practicing Indian oncologists. Materials and Methods: A core group of academic oncologists devised two hypothetical triple negative cases (metastatic and early breast cancer, respectively) and multiple choice options under different clinical circumstances. The respondents were practicing oncologists in different Indian cities who participated in either an online survey or a meeting. The participants electronically chose their preferred option based on their everyday practice. Results: A total of 152 oncologists participated. Just over half (53.8%) preferred taxane based chemotherapy as first-line chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. In the adjuvant setting, a taxane regimen was chosen by 61%. Over half of respondents (52.6%) underestimated the baseline survival of a patient with node positive triple-negative tumor and 18.9% overestimated this survival compared to the estimate of the Adjuvant! program. Discussion: This data offers insight into the perceptions and practice of a diverse cross-section of practicing oncologists in India with respect to their therapeutic choices in metastatic and adjuvant settings in triple negative breast cancer.