Low Anterior Resection Syndrome and Quality of Life of Patients After Sphincter Preservation Surgery: A Prospective Study.

Background After anterior resection (AR), one of the most debilitating complications is low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) seen in about 64% of patients. The severity of the LARS score was significantly correlated with neoadjuvant treatment, the extent of rectal surgery, complication by the anastomotic leak, female gender, and age < 64 years. In this study, we analyzed the impact of various clinical factors on LARS and also the various domains of quality of life (QoL). Purpose To assess the incidence of LARS in patients undergoing sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer after the patient starts long-term defecating per anus, change in the QoL, and relation to LARS and factors affecting it. Methods One year before, 72 patients who had undergone AR in the Regional Cancer Centre were interviewed by a trained interviewer and data was collected from the file. The questionnaires used were the Wexner Incontinence score, LARS Malayalam Questionnaire, and European Organisation For Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30 Malayalam translations. Statistical measures The LARS score was used to categorize patients into three grades. The scores were compared with clinical and social factors using the χ2 test for association. Continuous variables were compared by the Spearman Rho test. Results Details of patients were studied (male: 55.6% (40) and female: 44.4% (32)). Fifty patients underwent low anterior resection (LAR). The mean LARS score was 25.61, with 47.2% of patients having severe LARS score. The mean Wexner score was 6.84. The relation with type of surgery, approach (laparoscopic vs open), or type of neoadjuvant therapy was not found to be significant. A higher LARS score did not impact overall QoL as assessed by FACT-C. Insomnia and diarrhea symptoms scores were significantly worsened. The pain score was worse for those undergoing stapler anastomosis. Wexner's score was worse for those who had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Role functioning score was better for AR compared to low anterior resection (LAR). Only distance from the anal verge was found to be a significant cause of LARS and was negatively correlated. Discussion LARS of severe degrees were seen in most patients. No modifiable risk factors were significantly found to affect the chance of LARS. However, LARS did not have a significant impact on QoL, neither did the type of surgery. So sphincter preservation can be offered to the patients, but all patients undergoing LAR should be counseled well about the risk of LARS before surgery.

An overview on liposarcoma subtypes: Genetic alterations and recent advances in therapeutic strategies.

Liposarcoma (LPS) is a rare malignancy of adipocytic differentiation. According to World Health Organization classification, LPS comprises of four principle subtypes Atypical lipomatous tumor/Well-differentiated liposarcoma (ATL/WDLPS), Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS), Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS), and Pleomorphic liposarcoma (PLPS). Each subtype can develop at any location and shows distinct clinical behavior and treatment sensitivity. ATL/ WDLPS subtype has a higher incidence rate, low recurrence, and is insensitive to radiation and chemotherapy. DDLPS is the focal progression of WDLPS, which is aggressive and highly metastasizing. MLPS is sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy, with a higher recurrence rate and metastasis. PLPS subtype is highly metastasizing, has a poor prognosis, and exhibiting higher recurrence rate. Initial histological analysis provides information for the characterization of LPS subtypes', further molecular and genetic analysis provides certain subtype specifications, such as gene amplifications and gene fusions. Such molecular genetic alterations will be useful as therapeutic targets in various cancers, including the LPS subtypes. A wide range of novel therapeutic agents based on genetic alterations that aim to target LPS subtypes specifically are under investigation. This review summarizes the LPS subtype classification, their molecular genetic characteristics, and the implications of genetic alterations in therapeutics.

Prognostic Implications of Various Surgical Procedures and Postoperative Margin Status in Gastroesophageal Junction Tumors.

Esophagogastric junction (EGJ) carcinomas often require access to two compartments of the body for good margin and lymphadenectomy. Whether it is required to do so in all patients is debatable. We analyzed outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries for EGJ carcinomas in terms of margin status and survival. This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients with EGJ adenocarcinomas operated between January 2014 and December 2016. Type of surgery performed and its impact on margin status and survival were assessed. Follow-up was for a minimum of 5 years. Ninety-four patients with EGJ carcinomas were operated on during the study period. Eight (8.51%) had involved proximal margin, and 2 of these had positive distal margin also. None had distal margin alone involved. Seventeen (18.09%) and 5 (5.32%) had a close proximal and distal margin, respectively. Radial margin was close/involved in 6 (6.38%) patients. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival for the cohort was 38% and 30.8%, respectively. Proximal gastrectomy had a higher proximal margin positivity. Positive proximal or distal margin and a close/involved radial margin were detrimental to disease free survival and overall survival. Proximal gastrectomy is associated with a higher likelihood of proximal margin positivity. Positive margin leads to lower survival. Whether involvement of margins is just a surrogate marker of aggressive tumor or is an error in assessing extent tumor needs to be studied. Large-scale prospective studies in this regard are desirable.

Morbidity of Temporary Loop Ileostomy in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Leakage of low colorectal anastomoses after total mesorectal excision is a dreaded complication. Hence, an ileostomy is commonly performed during anterior resection especially in patients who have received neoadjuvant radiation. The aim of this study was to quantify the temporary loop ileostomy-related benefits as well as morbidity in patients with colorectal cancer. We did a retrospective study including all patients who underwent anterior resection with diversion ileostomy for biopsy-proven rectal carcinoma at our institute from 1 Jan 2016 to 31 Dec 2017 with follow-up of 2 years. A total of 104 patients were included in the study. In our series, 6.7% patients had an anastomotic dehiscence which precluded patients from stoma reversal. 12.5% of the patients had a stoma-related complication. 5.7% patients had complications following a stoma reversal. Eighty percent of the patients who developed clinically evident dehiscence in the immediate postoperative period were managed conservatively because of the presence of stoma. We did not have any mortality related to the stoma. 18.3% patients did not have their stomas reversed. The stoma non-reversal due to anastomotic dehiscence or stricture could be attributed to in 7.7% patients. 3.8% had to have their ileostomies converted to a permanent colostomy due to either a rectovaginal fistula or dehiscence or stricture. The complications associated with ileostomy are not insignificant. In our study, the tumor location in lower rectum was the only significant factor for non-reversal. We have to objectively identify patients who are at low risk for leakage and avoid ileostomy in them, and also try to minimize the morbidity of ileostomy by methods like early closure.

History Cancer Care in Kerala.

The history of cancer care of Kerala spread back to colonial era, where the first hospitals with cancer care facilities were started and run by the London Missionary Society. Later, many government hospitals started cancer care and establishment of the Regional Cancer Centre in 1981 elevated the status of Kerala in the cancer care map of India. The history of modern cancer care in Kerala dates back to the nineteenth century. In Travancore, where the capital of Kerala was later located, modern medicine was first made available in 1811 to the royal family followed by their officials, prisoners and the general public respectively.

DNA Replication Licensing Proteins for Early Detection of Lung Cancer

Background: To identify and characterize malignant and premalignant cells in sputum and matched tissue samples with reference to expression of minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCM2, MCM5) and cell division cycle protein 6 (CDC 6) and to assess their potential as biomarkers of premalignant and malignant lesions of the lung and associations with clinicopathological features. Methods: Expression of MCM2, MCM5 and 6 proteins in sputum samples and corresponding tissues was assessed by immunocytochemistry, and correlated with histological findings. Results: For characterization of malignant, metaplastic or dysplastic cells, CDC6 protein had the highest sensitivity of 87.7%. All the three markers together had a sensitivity of 94.4%. Furthermore these proteins could be employed to assess the proliferative potential of precancerous or atypical cells, as overexpression increasing with the stage of disease and degree of metastasis. Conclusion: The assessed markers can be utilized in routine cytopathology laboratories to supplement conventional morphological evaluation so that the sensitivity of sputum cytology can be enhanced. Potential applications in predicting the clinical behavior of lung lesions and predicting prognosis and survival deserve further attention.

Tuberculosis and metastatic carcinoma coexistence in axillary lymph node: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Coexistence of cancer and tuberculosis in axillary lymph nodes is rare. Only seven cases have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report here a case of infiltrating ductal carcinoma breast metastasizing to the axillary lymph node along with tubercular granuloma in the same lymph node without primary mammary or pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Primary tuberculosis coexisting with carcinoma is of rare occurrence. A possibility should always be borne in mind especially in patients from endemic areas.