RESUMO
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups. Although, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the recommended adjuvant therapy of high-risk bladder tumor, optimal schedule (induction versus maintenance) of this therapy is a subject of debate. The objective was to evaluate outcomes of induction BCG in high-risk NMIBC patients at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Pakistan and retrospective cohort study conducted in the department of urology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Pakistan. Three-year disease-free survival and progression-free survival was the main outcome measure. Data of 68 high-risk (Ta and T1 with G3 or high-grade subtype) bladder cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection followed by six-weekly intravesical BCG instillation was included in the study. Recurrence was described as biopsy-proven bladder cancer; whereas the presence of muscle invasion was considered as progression. Disease-free survival and progression-free survival were defined as time intervals elapsed between the starting date of BCG instillation and recurrence or progression, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curve was employed to estimate the three-year study end-points. Disease-free survival at three years was observed to be 66.2% and progression-free survival at 86.8%. The use of induction BCG alone for high-risk patients of NMIBC is a viable option both in terms of effective disease-free and progression-free survival rates.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Testicular cancer management is considered a marvel of modern science with excellent treatment results. Pakistan has a distinct ethnic variation and geographic distribution but data regarding clinical presentation of testicular tumors and their management is under reported. The objective of this study was to determine clinical profile, treatment modalities and survival outcome of testicular tumors in the Pakistani population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who received treatment for testicular cancer at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to December 2012 was performed. Patient demographics, clinical features at presentation and treatment modalities were assessed. For categorical variables chi square test was used. Survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier survival curves and Log rank test was employed to determine significance. RESULTS: The most common tumor was mixed germ cell tumor in 49% patients. For all tumor variants except seminoma, stage III was the most common clinical stage at presentation. Majority of patients with non seminomatous germ cell tumors presented in the15-30 year age group as compared to seminoma which was most prevalent in the 30-40 year age group. Orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy was the most common treatment modality in 80% patients. Expected 5 year survival for seminomas and non- seminomatous germ cell tumors was 96% and 90% respectively which was not significantly different (p=0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a distinct clinical profile of testicular tumors in Pakistani population, survival is comparable with published reports.
