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Background: The survival of patients with triple-negative breast cancer subtype undergoing chemotherapy along with weight management, physical activity, and diet was examined. In addition, the relationship between the Overall Survival (OS) of patients and the expression of P53 and Ki 67 was investigated. Methods: The study was conducted on 110 patients admitted to oncology clinics between October 2009 and July 2018. The patients underwent five chemotherapy cycles, including Docetaxel, Epirubicin, and Cyclophosphamide once every 21 days followed by two cycles of Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and 5-Fluorouracil. The patients also received guidelines for physical exercise, diet, and lifestyle change. Results: The median and mean follow-ups were 52.3 and 45.6 months respectively. Eight patients were metastatic and 103 were under adjuvant therapy, 13 of whom had relapses. The median relapse-free survival and mean OS were 44.4 months and 49.2 months, respectively. OS for P53-negative patients was 64.2 months, eight patients relapsed in the P53-positive group, and two relapsed in the P53-negative group. Survival was more favorable in the negative group (P=0.021). The mean DFS in the P53-negative group was 96.1% and 76.3% in the P53-positive group, suggesting a more favorable status in the P53-negative group. Out of 110 patients, 20 died and 90 are still alive. Conclusion: Combining physical exercise, diet, and lifestyle change with chemotherapy increases the chance of a better response to treatment and a reduction in the rate of relapse during the first three years. The survival rate was better in p53- negative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the significance of tumor lymphocyte infiltration (TIL) and the number of CD8+ T cells in breast cancer and their relationship with the other clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) was investigated. Materials and Methods: The studied samples were breast cancer patients (2005-2017) referring to the medical oncology departments for treatment. Pathologic samples of breast cancer patients were evaluated in terms of TIL and positive immunohistochemical staining for CD8 cytotoxic cells. Results: 299 patients were entered into the study, 3 male and 296 female. Their mean follow-up period was 61 months. Statistical findings indicated that lymph involvement is more accompanied by low TIL within the tumor (0.011). Correlations were observed between the estrogen, progesterone receptors, P53 state, and TIL; which were significant by P-value<0.049, P-value=0.024, P-value =0.002, respectively. With any Ki67 value, the number of patients with less than 30% TIL was more considerable than the two other groups with lymphocyte cut-off of 30-50% and more than 50%. Comparison of the OS of patients with positive and negative CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes in 45 patients with lymphocyte infiltration of equal or more than 40% showed that the OS results were in favor of patients with CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocyte (0.022). Out of 299 patients, 17 died. Conclusion: Our findings showed that in cases of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes in tumors, the OS of the patients will be enhanced which can act as an independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite several studies performed in different provinces of Iran to identify the spectrum of α-globin gene mutations, no such study has so far been carried out in Ilam Province. A total of 274 individuals, including 201 α-thalassemia (α-thal) carriers and 73 normal subjects, originating from the northern counties of Ilam Province, participated in this study. Analysis of α-globin defects was performed using multiplex gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR and direct sequencing, which revealed a total of 11 different mutations and 22 different genotypes. The –α3.7 (rightward) (NG_000006.1: g.34164_37967del3804), α−5 ntα (HBA2: c.95 + 2_95 + 6delTGAGG), and –α4.2 (leftward) deletions were the most prevalent mutations identified in our study, with frequencies of 66.23, 10.09 and 8.33%, respectively. In conclusion, the present study showed that the α-thal mutation spectrum in Ilam Province, at least in the northern part of the province, is different from that in other geographical regions of Iran. These results increase our knowledge about the spectrum and distribution of α-globin gene mutations in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies of cancer worldwide can help identify the prevalence of common cancers in the region and may help to organize their control. The study's purpose was to investigate the frequency of cancer in the urban and rural areas in the West of Iran in both sexes based on the pathological data from a single clinical center (2010–2019). Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the demographic and clinical information was obtained from the pathology reports. Organs involved in cancer based on the international classification of disease 10th revision were coded. The variables extracted were sex, age, time of diagnosis, cancer site, and residency status. Quantitative and qualitative variables were analyzed with an appropriate statically analyzing test using the SPSS software. Results: Of the 7728 registered cancers (2010–2019) with mean age 58 ± 17 years, 3384 (44%) were female, 4341 (56%) were male, 2025 cases (26.2%) were rural, and 5687 cases (73.8%) were urban. Regarding the frequency of cancers and the age of diagnosing cancer, there was a statistically significant association between the two genders (P < 0.05). However, no similar conclusion was reached concerning residence status. Conclusion: The most common cancer in both genders was bladder, colorectal, and breast cancer. The frequency of cancers, despite the differences in the percentage of cancers between the two sexes, did not follow the same pattern as other cities in Iran and the world. Our study confirmed that the prevalence of cancer may follow the pattern of the geographical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the advances in treatment, breast cancer (BC) remains a major cause of death in women. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in paired peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples obtained both before and after adjuvant chemotherapy from patients with operable BC. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, from 160 patients with primary BC, we collected 160 PB and BM samples before and we could be able to collect PB and BM samples from 100 of them after adjuvant chemotherapy. The expression level of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), mammaglobin 1 (MGB1), mucin 2 (MUC2) and trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) mRNAs in the PB/BM samples were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that the detection of CK19 mRNA-positive CTCs/DTCs either before or after adjuvant chemotherapy was an independent factor for prognosis associated with decreased disease-free survival (DFS). Patients with tumor cells detected in both PB and BM and patients with persistent detection of tumor cells before and after chemotherapy had worse outcomes compared to those with tumor cells detected in one or neither of the compartments. Conclusion: This study suggests that the detection of CK19 mRNA-positive CTCs/DTCs either before or after adjuvant chemotherapy could be an independent predictor of DFS in operable BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The role of thalidomide in induction and long-term maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma not eligible for stem cell transplantation remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose thalidomide as induction therapy and as maintenance therapy for 24 months in patients with a complete remission after the induction chemotherapy and to monitor the survival and relapse rates. Methods Between October 2005 and September 2013, 50 patients with multiple myeloma received six courses of Cyclophosphamide-Vincristine Adriamycin and Dexamethazone (c-VAD) and pamidronate, and thalidomide 100 mg daily during induction, then thalidomide 100 mg daily for 24 months as maintenance. The effects of thalidomide were assessed objectively and subjectively. Whenever necessary, electromyography and nerve capacity volume were performed monthly for 6 months, then once every 3 months until the end of treatment. Results Primary response was 96% (CR or very good PR in 48/50 patients). Fifteen out of the remaining 48 patients relapsed during the follow-up period. Nine out of the 15 patients who relapsed showed very good partial response to treatment and four patients showed partial response. Survival rate was 81% in these patients. The primary outcome measures showed a mean and median progression-free survival of 33 and 27 months, respectively, and a mean and median overall survival of 43 and 39 months, respectively. Conclusion Low-dose thalidomide during induction therapy combined with conventional chemotherapy and a 2-year maintenance may be effective in preventing the relapse and improving the overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide as a single agent in acute promyelocytic leukaemia cases for induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy in a long-term, 11-year follow-up. We studied 60 patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Sixty percent of the patients were aged between 12 and 24 years. Arsenic trioxide was infused at a 0.15 mg/kg daily dose until complete remission was achieved. After 2 weeks of rest, arsenic trioxide was infused daily for 28 days as a consolidation therapy. Then, arsenic infusions were given every 3-4 months for 14 days for 2 years, and the patients were followed until relapse or death. The rates of complete remission, disease-free survival, overall survival, and drug toxicity were evaluated. The morphologic complete remission was observed in 55 out of the 60 patients. The most common causes of a remission failure were early mortality because of the APL differentiation syndrome and the lack of response to arsenic treatment. The mean follow-up was 90 months. The primary outcomes for males and females were a mean disease-free survival of 101 and 97 months, respectively, and a mean overall survival of 103 and 101 months, respectively. From the 55 cases with remission, three patients died (late mortality). Of the 60 patients, 85% are still alive. Arsenic trioxide was generally well tolerated. The long-term follow-up of patients with APL, treated with arsenic alone as induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy, shows high cure rates and excellent outcomes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]