Epidemiology of male seminomatous and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors and response to first‑line chemotherapy from a tertiary cancer center in India.

INTRODUCTION: Unlike the developed countries, there is a lack of good epidemiologic data for testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) in India with majority presenting in advanced stage. This study aims to elaborate on the epidemiology of testicular GCTs and response to standard first‑line chemotherapy (CT). METHODS: GCTs treated at our center from January 2013 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent orchidectomy either outside or at our hospital. Based on stage and risk group, standard CT (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin/etoposide and cisplatin/carboplatin AUC7) and radiotherapy were given as appropriate. Response was calculated based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18 software. RESULTS: Fifty nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) and 36 of SGCT cases were studied. 30%, 46%, and 64% of NSGCT and 11%, 28%, and 22% of SGCT had N2, N3, and M1 diseases, respectively. The mean nodal size was 7 cm (1.5–19) in NSGCT and 5.5 cm (1.3–11) in SGCT. As per the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification, in patients with metastatic disease, 9% of NSGCT were good, 53% were intermediate, and 38% were poor risk whereas 75% of SGCT were good and 25% were intermediate risk. Following CT among NSGCT, 5% and 71% had radiologic complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), respectively. Among SGCT, 46% and 38% had radiologic CR and PR, respectively. 22%, 53%, and 13% of NSGCT and 12%, 24%, and 20% of SGCT developed febrile neutropenia, Grade 3 or 4 hematological and nonhematological toxicities, respectively, after standard chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: GCTs in India present with high nodal and high‑risk diseases wherein the standard first‑line CT may not be adequate as curative therapy; however, significant chemotoxicity is also a hindrance.

Current evidence and the evolving role of sunitinib in the management of renal cell carcinoma.

The development of targeted agents has expanded the anticancer arsenal available to oncologists and revolutionized the field of cancer treatment. In patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), small molecule targeted therapies have improved clinical outcomes compared with cytokine‑based treatments. Sunitinib malate is one such drug that has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This oral, multi‑targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor is approved for use in multiple countries for the treatment of advanced RCC and gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients who have progressed on imatinib therapy. In patients with advanced RCC, sunitinib significantly improves clinical outcomes with a favorable safety profile compared with conventional treatment with interferon‑a. The clinically proven treatment and safety outcomes have led investigators to evaluate the merits of sunitinib therapy in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting in patients with mRCC. In the neoadjuvant setting, preliminary data suggest that sunitinib can effectively reduce the primary tumor and facilitate surgical resection in patients with locally advanced and mRCC. Post‑operative complications were observed in some patients, but the overall safety profile and efficacy suggests that mRCC patients with surgically inoperable tumors may benefit from neoadjuvant sunitinib therapy. Ongoing clinical trials should provide insight into the value of sunitinib as adjuvant therapy.

Sunitinib in metastatic renal cell carcimoma: A single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has had poor prognosis; the outcomes have improved with the introduction of tyrosine‑kinase inhibitors, such as sunitinib. There is no reported literature from India on the use of sunitinib in metastatic RCC. We present an analysis of sunitinib at our institute over 4 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An unselected population of patients with metastatic or relapsed metastatic RCC receiving sunitinib was analyzed with respect to patient characteristics, response, toxicity, and outcomes. RESULTS: Fifty‑nine patients (51 males, 8 females) with a median age of 55 years were included in the study. Lungs and bones were the most common site of metastases. The patients received a median number of 4 cycles, with 23 patients requiring dose‑modification and 12 discontinuing therapy due to toxicity. Overall, 38 patients (65%) had CR, PR, or standard deviation while 14 had progression or death at initial evaluation. The median progression‑free survival (PFS) was 11.4 months and overall survival was 22.6 months. Hand–foot syndrome, fatigue, mucositis, skin rash, and vomiting were seen more often among our patients, whereas hypertension was not as common compared with previously published reports. CONCLUSION: Sunitinib is a viable option for the treatment of metastatic RCC and shows a comparable PFS in Indian patients. Although toxicity remains a concern, most of the adverse effects can be managed conservatively. Careful patient selection, tailoring the dose of therapy, adequate counseling, and careful follow‑up is essential for optimum therapy.

Colonic wall necrosis due to tuberculosis in HIV-seropositive patient.

We report a 40-year-old man with sloughing off of the colonic due to tuberculous associated with HIV infection. He presented with lump in the abdomen, distention and vomiting suggestive of intestinal obstruction. Proximal loop ileostomy with closure of colonic perforation was performed, with good recovery. This was followed by antitubercular chemotherapy.

Modified mesh rectopexy: a study.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of modified mesh rectopexy for complete rectal prolapse. SUBJECT AND METHODS: In a prospective study between 1989-1998, 47 patients (25 males and 22 females) underwent modified mesh rectopexy using a "Cross-shaped" knitted monofilament polypropylene. They were followed up for a period of four years postoperatively. RESULTS: Anatomical repair was achieved in all patients. Preoperative constipation, a complaint in 22 patients, was relieved in 13 patients and need for laxatives decreased in another four. There were no new cases of constipation. Sexual functions were not hampered irrespective of gender. The complications included prolonged ileus (4 patients), faecal impaction (1), partial mucosal prolapse (2) and post-operative obstruction (2). There was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: This technique aligns the rectum, avoids excessive mobilisation and division of lateral ligaments thus preventing constipation and preserving potency. We recommend this technique for patients with complete rectal prolapse with up to grade 1, 2 and 3 incontinence based on Browning and Parks classification.

An unusual foreign body in the bladder.

In spite of its inaccessibility, every conceivable object has been inserted into the urinary bladder. Such patients may have a psychiatric disorder with a sexual perversion or inquisitiveness (as in children) as the underlying cause. We report a case of an aluminum rod inserted into the urinary bladder by an adult male, which was removed successfully by surgery.

Primary hypertrophic tuberculosis of the pyloroduodenal area: report of 2 cases.

Tuberculosis of the stomach and duodenum is rare in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Primary involvement is even rarer. Two cases of primary tuberculosis of the localised to the pyloro-duodenal area are presented. The most common symptoms are non-specific leading to a difficulty in establishing a pre-operative diagnosis. A high degree of suspicion is therefore required for its diagnosis and to differentiate it from more frequent causes of gastric outlet obstruction such as chronic peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma. The treatment of gastric tuberculosis is primarily medical with anti-tuberculous drug therapy. The role of surgery lies in the cases with obstruction following hypertrophic tuberculosis. The surgery done is usually a gastroenterostomy. With the relative rate of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis increasing, tuberculosis of the pyloro-duodenal area should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric outlet obstruction.

Synchronous primary adenocarcinoma of small and large bowel.

Synchronous cancer of the small and large bowel is rare. We report a 45-year-old woman with synchronous primary cancer of the jejunum and descending colon who presented with intestinal obstruction.