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Xenobiotic metabolic enzymes CYP1A1 and GSTM1 are known to increase the risk of head and neck cancer. However, their role in the development of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in the Indian population is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the CYP1A1 and GSTM1 gene polymorphism in the urban population of the state of Delhi as well as to investigate the risk of disease progression. Genotype analysis via polymerase chain reaction was conducted in 1169 cases and 1046 controls with regard to GSTM1 and CYP1A1 (ile-val) genes. The oral lesions were biopsied for histopathological diagnosis. Follow-up of the subjects was done at 6-month intervals and the status of the lesions was recorded as static, progressed, or regressed. Descriptive analysis was done with a p-value ≤ 0.05 and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval being considered for a measure of association. Subjects who consumed both tobacco and alcohol and developed OPMD lesions were 8.2 times more likely to harbour CYP1A1 Val/Val genotype (p = 0.047; OR = 8.224; 95% CI = 1.024–66.037). The highest progression rate and lowest regression rate were found for the CYP1A1 Val/Val genotype in our sample. The CYP1A1 Val/Val genotype may be associated with an increased risk of development of OPMDs amongst consumers of both tobacco and alcohol. Real-time activity-based sensing of isoforms of the CYP1A1 enzyme in living systems is needed to validate the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: Anaplastic ganglioglioma (AGG) is a rare tumor with both glial and neuronal component accounting for less than 1% of all CNS tumors with limited information about the optimum treatment and outcome of these tumors.Method and materials: We did a thorough search of the PubMed with the following MesH terms: “Ganglioglioma; Anaplastic ganglioglioma; Ganglioglioma AND treatment; and Anaplastic ganglioglioma AND survival” to find all possible publications related to AGG to perform an individual patient data analysis and derive the survival outcome and optimum treatment of these tumors.Results: A total of 56 articles were retrieved pertaining to AGG with 88 patients. However, a total of 40 publications found eligible with 69 patients for individual patient data analysis. Median age for the entire cohort was 16 years (range 0.2-77 years). Surgical details were available for 64 patients. A gross total or near total resection was reported in 21 cases (32.8%), subtotal resection or debulking was reported in 25 cases (39.1%). Surgical details were available for 64 patients. A gross total or near total resection was reported in 21 cases (32.8%), and subtotal resection or debulking was reported in 25 cases (39.1%). Median overall survival (OS) was 29 months [95% CI 15.8-42.2 months] with 2- and 5-year OS 61 and 39.4% respectively.Conclusion: AGG is associated with a dismal. Pediatric age and a gross total resection of tumor confer a better progression-free survival and OS. Hence, surgery should remain the cornerstone of therapy. However, because of modest survival, there is enough opportunity to improve survival with addition of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. A whole genome sequencing and molecular characterization would help to derive the best treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oral cancer is among the most common cancers in India. Tobacco, its primary risk factor, is widely consumed across the country, in both smoked and smokeless forms. The current study assessed the prevalence of tobacco use and associated oral lesions in a section of the New Delhi population. Population-based cross-sectional survey was used. House visits in urban Delhi within 15 km radius of a tertiary care teaching hospital were conducted. The basic demographic details, tobacco and alcohol history (on a standardized questionnaire) were elicited from 71,022 individuals, followed by an oral examination (inspection and digital palpation) for detecting oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer. Ever tobacco users comprised 22.2% while 16.1% of individuals were current tobacco users; tobacco use was higher among men than women. Bidi was the most commonly used smoked tobacco product (both genders). Regarding smokeless tobacco, gutkha and khaini use was common among men, while the majority of women consumed betel quid with tobacco. Alcohol use was found in 4% of individuals. OPMDs were detected in 3.4% of individuals. Tobacco abuse is very common in our urban community. Community-based oral health education and oral checkup by trained health care workers should be carried out to reduce the burden of tobacco use and ill effects of tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy carried out on normal, benign breast disease and locally advanced breast cancer patients are presented. The in-vivo MR spectra of malignant breast tissue of patients (n = 67) suffering from infiltrating ductal carcinoma are dominated by the water resonance, while the spectra of the unaffected contralateral breast tissue of these patients are mainly dominated by resonance arising from lipids which is similar to the spectra of normal breast tissue obtained from volunteers (controls, n = 16). In addition to the water and lipid peaks, in majority of the patients (∼80%) the water suppressed spectra showed a resonance at 3.2 ppm due to choline containing compounds (TCho) before treatment. In patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, absence/reduction in choline was observed in 89% of the patients. TCho was also observed in 2 of 14 benign lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of in-vivo MRS in detecting TCho in malignant tumours was 78% and 86%, respectively. Observation of TCho before treatment and its disappearance (or reduction) after treatment may be a useful indicator of response of locally advanced breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was undertaken to evaluate physical, psychological and functional aspects in quality of life (QoL) assessment prospectively in biopsy-proven head and neck cancer patients receiving radical radiotherapy. Fifty male patients were assessed using Karnofsky‘s Performance Status (KPS), Beck‘s Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Functional Living Index – Cancer (FLIC). Patient questionnaires were completed before radiotherapy, during 3–4 weeks of radiotherapy and 3 months after radiotherapy. Before the start of radiotherapy, KPS was 91±10.26, FLIC was 129.98±33.41 and BDI was 7.10±4.57. This indicated good performance and functional status with lower depression. In weeks 3–4 of radiotherapy, KPS (71.00±20.12) and FLIC (81.34±45.23) decreased, while BDI(16.56 ±9.01) increased, indicating impairment in QoL. Three months after radiotherapy, KPS (78.37±23.0), FLIC (119.51± 43.62) and BDI(9.02±7.81) improved but were not restored to pre-treatment levels. When patients were scheduled for radical radiotherapy, maximum deterioration in QoL was seen in weeks 3–4. This is the time when maximum supportive care and psychologic counselling is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Spinal cord tumors are rare and fortunately affect only a minority of the population. These tumors are classified based on their anatomic location in relation to the dura mater and spinal cord as epidural, intradural extramedullary or intradural intramedullary. Intradural extramedullary Ewing's sarcoma is extremely rare.Purpose:Here, we are reporting a case of intradural extramedullary Ewing's sarcoma. This is the fourth such case to be reported in English literature.Methods:A 26-year-old gentleman presented to us with low backache and progressive paraparesis from a spinal tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple intradural, extramedullary mass lesions extending from the T11 to S2 level. Neither osteolytic nor osteosclerotic changes were seen in the vertebral bodies. Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma was diagnosed histopathologically. He was treated by surgery, local radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Two months after treatment, he developed a new skip lesion in the spine at T6–T7 level. The new lesion was treated with local radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Results:Presently, the patient has completed treatment and is clinically doing fine.Conclusion:Intradural extramedullary Ewing's sarcoma is a rare aggressive neoplasm with high propensity for skip metastasis.Spinal Cord (2008) 46, 582–584; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.8; published online 12 February 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer with multiple parenchymal brain metastases carries an extremely poor outcome. Cranial radiotherapy improves survival by only a few months and the role of systemic therapy is marginal and largely unexplored. We report a patient with recurrent carcinoma of breast presenting with multiple bilateral cervical nodes and brain metastases manifesting as a right hemiparesis and facial nerve palsy, who was treated with palliative whole brain irradiation and letrozole. At the follow up at 20 months, neurological function had fully recovered, and both cerebral and extracerebral lesions had completely resolved, with calcification of the cerebral lesions. This report suggests that letrozole has beneficial effects both in extracranial and intracranial disease in hormone responsive metastatic breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]