Search

The SPOT-MAS assay “Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by Methylation And Size” detects the five most common cancers in Vietnam by evaluating circulating tumor DNA in the blood. Here, we validated its performance in a prospective multi-center clinical trial, K-DETEK. Our analysis of 2795 participants from 14 sites across Vietnam demonstrates its ability to detect cancers in asymptomatic individuals with a positive predictive value of 60%, with 83.3% accuracy in detecting tumor location. We present a case report to support further using SPOT-MAS as a complementary method to achieve early cancer detection and provide the opportunity for early treatment.

To date, little is known about palliative care (PC) awareness and utilization in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia.This study aimed to investigate PC awareness and its predictors, utilization of PC services, and perceived utilization barriers among advanced cancer patients from select hospitals in Asian LMICs.This cross-sectional study analyzed data of 759 advanced cancer patients at major hospitals of four LMICs in Asia (i.e., Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). The predictors of PC awareness were investigated using multivariable logistic regression.Overall PC awareness was 30.8% (n = 234). Patients with higher education (OR = 1.0; CI = 1.0,1.1), from upper-middle or high-income households (compared to low-income) (OR = 2.0; CI = 1.2,3.3), awareness of disease severity (OR = 1.5; CI = 1.0,2.2), and higher pain severity (OR = 1.1; CI = 1.0,1.2) had higher odds of PC awareness. Compared to patients who perceived themselves as being very informed about disease trajectory, those who were unsure (OR = 0.5; CI = 0.3,0.8) or uninformed (OR = 0.5; CI = 0.3,0.9) had lower odds of PC awareness. The PC utilization rate was 35.0% (n = 82) among those with PC awareness, and 47.8% (n = 66) among patients recommended PC by a healthcare professional (n = 138). The most cited PC utilization barriers were currently receiving anti-cancer treatment (n = 43; 33.9%), and having insufficient information about PC (n = 41; 32.3%).The low awareness of PC services in these major hospitals in Asian LMICs highlights that more effort may be required to promote the awareness of PC in this region. The efforts should especially focus on those from disadvantaged groups to reduce the gap in PC awareness.

Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy attempt to maintain efficiency while limiting toxicity in the treatment of neck squamous cell carcinomas. Side effects of the therapy are both challenge during treatment such as treatment delay, increasing financial and hospitalization rate and also cause early and late toxicities, affects to patient performances and treatment outcomes. We aimed to assess acute and late toxicity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) managed with concurrent chemoradiation therapy using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique. Methods: A prospective descriptive study of 120 patients suffering from non-metastatic HNSCC received Intensity-modulated radiotherapy concurrently with four to six cycles of cisplatin (30mg/m2/day/ weekly) from May 2017 to 2018 at Hue Central Hospital (Vietnam). The dose to the primary tumour and cervical lymph nodes totally taken was 70 Gy. Toxicities were gradedbased on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Results: Acute toxicities were mainly at grade 1 with oral mucositis, dermatitis and nausea/vomiting. For late toxicities, grade 3 xerostomia accountings for 5.8%. Neck fibrosis and trismus were not at grade 3 to grade 4, grade 1 mandibular bone necrosis (3.4%) was found in 3 patients. Conclusions: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy with IMRT demonstrated a well-tolerated regime with manageable toxicities.

Mục tiêu: Đánh giá vai trò của cộng hưởng từ (Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI) trong mô phỏng lập kế hoạch xạ trị cho bệnh lý u não tại Bệnh viện Trung Ương Huế, đánh giá sự tối ưu, lợi ích của vai trò MRI, các giá trị liều lượng mà u và các cơ quan lành nhận được. Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu 38 bệnh nhân u não được chỉ định xạ trị có chụp cắt lớp vi tính (Computed Tomography-CT) 16 lát cắt Philips và cộng hưởng từ(MRI) 1.5 Tesla Philips tại Trung tâm Ung bướu - Bệnh viện Trung Ương Huế từ tháng 01/2018-07/2019. Lập kế hoạch xạ trị gia tốc bằng phần mềm XiO 5.10 đối với kỹ thuật xạ trị 3D-CRT (Three Dimensional - Conformal Radiation Therapy), và phần mềm Monaco 5.11 đối với các kỹ thuật xạ trị hình cung điều biến liều theo thể tích khối u (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy-VMAT), Xạ phẫu gồm SRS và SRT (Stereotactic radiosurgery, Stereotactic radiotherapy). Chụp Cone beam CT kiểm tra trước khi điều trị bởi thiết bị hướng dẫn hình ảnh XVI. Điều trị trên máy gia tốc AXESSE (Elekta). Kết quả và bàn luận: 38 bệnh nhân có khối u ở não (u nguyên phát và u di căn) MRI giúp phát hiện thêm các tổn thương 39,5% và 55,3% phát hiện rõ ranh giới u, tất cả những thương tổn u mà CT rất khó phân biệt với mô lành và tổn thương phù não. Kết luận: Ứng dụng hình ảnh MRI trong mô phỏng lập kế hoạch xạ trị gia tốc cho các bệnh lý u não giúp phát hiện và xác định kích thước, thể tích u tốt hơn so với CT mô phỏng. Từ đó sẽ làm thay đổi kế hoạch xạ trị đem lại kết quả điều trị tốt hơn và cải thiện chất lượng sống tốt hơn cho bệnh nhân

Background There is very limited evidence on the existence of cancer-related perceived stigma and self-blame among patients with advanced cancer in Asia, and how they are associated with psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to address the gap in the current literature by (1) assessing perceived stigma, behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame among Vietnamese patients with advanced cancer, and (2) investigating the associations of perceived stigma and self-blame (behavioural and characterological) with depression, emotional well-being and social well-being. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 200 Vietnamese patients with stage IV solid cancer. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Emotional well-being and social well-being were measured with the relevant domains of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale. Perceived stigma was assessed using the sense of stigma subscale of Kissane’s Shame and Stigma Scale. Behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame were measured by the patients’ answers to the questions on whether their cancer was due to patient’s behaviour or character. Multivariable linear regressions were used to investigate the associations while controlling for patient characteristics. Results Approximately three-fourths (79.0%, n = 158) of the participants reported perceived stigma with an average score of 20.5 ± 18.0 (out of 100). More than half of the participants reported behavioural self-blame (56.3%, n = 112) or characterological self-blame (62.3%, n = 124). Higher perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being (ß = -0.0; p = 0.024). Behavioural self-blame was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms, emotional well-being or social well-being. Patients who reported characterological self-blame reported greater depressive symptoms (ß = 3.0; p = 0.020) and lower emotional well-being (ß = -1.6; p = 0.038). Conclusion Perceived stigma and self-blame were common amongst Vietnamese advanced cancer patients. Perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being while characterological self-blame were associated with greater depressive symptoms and lower emotional well-being. Interventions should address perceived stigma and self-blame among this population.