INDIAN JOURNAL OF CANCER

Effect of educational intervention on knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine and vaccine acceptability among teachers: A pilot investigation
Ghosh S, Bhatnagar P and Chabbra R
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cancer worldwide. In India, cancer of the cervix is ranked as the second and the first most frequent cancer for women in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent cancers, but vaccine uptake has been low in India due to a lack of awareness, cultural acceptance, and non inclusion in the national immunization program. With the introduction of the indigenous vaccine, 'Cervavac', by the Government of India, a school based intervention can prove to be a cost effective and successful strategy in promoting the uptake of the HPV vaccine.
Tobacco abuse among public transport bus employees in Mumbai, India: A randomized control trial
Kulkarni VY, Mishra GA, Pimple SA, Singal AM, Patil AS, Majmudar PV and Shaikh HA
Consumption of tobacco products including smokeless tobacco is a public health problem. Measures of tobacco control along with promotion of tobacco cessation will have a great impact in reducing the burden tobacco-related diseases. The objectives of current paper were to create cancer awareness and understand predictors influencing use of smokeless tobacco among the public transport bus employees.
A rare case of high-grade diffuse glioneuronal tumor treated with VMAT radiotherapy
Sarkar S, Bashir I, Yotham RR and Saran RK
Glioneuronal tumors are a very rare type of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Due to rarity, even literature is limited. There is inconsistency in literature with respect to prevalence in different age groups, sex predilection, and treatment. Diagnosis of diffuse glioneuronal tumors is based on both radiologic and histopathologic features. Radiologically, they are often large, ill-defined lesions. On immunohistochemistry, the are positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), OLIG2, S100, and synaptophysin and negative for IDH1. Recently, glioneuronal tumors are included in the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of CNS neoplasms; however, there are many cases of glioneuronal tumors with distinctive morphologic features that are still not formally included in any classification. Similarly, there is vast disparity between treatments in various literature reports, ranging from surgery to chemoradiation to craniospinal irradiation. Here, we are presenting a case of high-grade diffuse glioneuronal tumor in a 28-year-old male. We have described the radiologic and pathologic features in our case. He was treated with volumetric modulated arc technique (VMAT) radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.
Succinate dehydrogenase deficient GIST: Case series and review of literature from a tertiary care center in India
Santhosh AP, Rastogi S, Shamim SA, Yadav R and Khan D
Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common type of wild type GIST characterized by lack of mutations in proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDFGR alpha) pathways. It has a unique predilection for females and young adults, with a relatively indolent prognosis and varied treatment modalities. Data regarding SDH GIST from the Indian subcontinent is sparse.
Vascular endothelial growth factor: A potential prognosticator in Ewing sarcoma
Panda GS, Chandrasekharan A, Rekhi B, Bhargava P, Laskar S, Mokal S, Khanna N, Noronha V, Joshi A, Prabhash K, Banavali SD, Gupta S and Bajpai J
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic marker and is implicated in the carcinogenesis and prognostication of cancers. However, its prognostic potential in Ewing sarcoma (ES) merits exploration.
"The Emperor of all Maladies - A biography of cancer" by Siddhartha Mukherjee: An essential read for oncologists
Antony C and Mane SS
Lineage switch of acute myeloid leukemia to B-lymphoblastic leukemia in an adult at relapse with review of literature
Mundada MC, Potturu B, Ahmed F and Kumar BP
"Lineage switch" is a term used to describe the phenomenon of change of lineage of acute leukemia to a different lineage. It is typically seen during therapy or at the time of relapse. More commonly, it is described in the pediatric population with an incidence of 6-9%. Lineage switches, though uncommon, can occur from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL (B/T)) and vice versa. The present scenario of AML to B-ALL switch is rare in an adult, with only a handful of cases described in literature. We report herein a case diagnosed as AML at 56 years of age, with NPM mutation who relapsed after 18 months post initial diagnosis. The clinicopathological features, flowcytometry, and molecular characteristics are discussed.
The Rs 100 "R+Cu" (resveratrol and copper) anti-cancer magic tablet controversy: Results of online survey among oncologists
Parikh PM, Prasad N, Thirumalairaj R, Mohapatra PR, Lavingya V, Menon H, Bapna A, Chitalkar P, Kanakasetty GB, Gupta VG, Chandrasekharan A, Aggarwal IB and Vora A
Recently, there has been a lot of interest and controversy regarding the media reporting the impending availability of a Rs 100 nutraceutical to prevent the resurgence of cancer. The institution involved rapidly issued a statement to clarify the facts. We also decided to see the short-term effect of this episode on the practicing oncologist. Here we present the results of this survey.
Olaparib and temozolomide combination in relapsed metastatic Ewing sarcoma brings a new ray of hope
Gupta D, Agarwal P, Chaudhary AS and Gupta A
Ewing sarcoma is a highly malignant neoplasm of bone or soft tissues that is predominantly seen in adolescents and young adults. Patients with recurrent and metastasis have poor survival despite aggressive treatment. In Ewing sarcoma, EWS-FLI-1 translocation has been identified as a biomarker for Poly-ADP ribose Polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) sensitivity and olaparib has been shown to enhance the antitumor activity of chemotherapy agents like temozolomide, irinotecan, and trabectedin. We tried the combination of olaparib and temozolomide in an adult patient of Ewing sarcoma who had metastatic disease, and after 4 months of treatment, he showed excellent response to treatment.
The usefulness of 3D CT reconstruction in surgical planning for glomus tympanicum
Pane-Pianese C, Corona-Cedillo R, Rivera-Sotelo N and Roldan-Valadez E
Glomus tympanicum is a hypervascular, benign neoplasm with a slow rate of growth. The incidence of this pathology is higher in females than in males and mainly occurs in the fifth to sixth decade of life. Pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss are the main clinical features. We present the case of a 70-year-old female patient who was admitted to the otolaryngology service with a 1-month history of epistaxis and equilibrium disorder that caused a ground-level fall.
Nodal histiocytic sarcoma mimicking metastatic carcinoma, a challenging diagnosis - Case report of an extremely rare hematolymphoid neoplasm with recent updates
Kottangal GV, Kuruvilla S, Parameswaran KK, Madhavan L and Kollathodi SB
Histiocytic sarcoma (HS), a rare malignant neoplasm of hematolymphoid origin, belongs to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms. This rare aggressive malignancy occurs predominantly in adults and accounts for less than 1% of all hematolymphoid neoplasms. It arises from the monocytic/macrophage lineage and shares the histomorphologic and immunohistochemical features of mature tissue histiocytes. Its predominant presentation is extranodal, involving the intestinal tract, skin, and soft tissue, and it rarely presents with lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of HS is entirely based on identifying the histiocytic lineage and the exclusion of other poorly differentiated malignancies with large pleomorphic cells like high-grade lymphomas, carcinoma, melanoma, germ cell tumors, and sarcomas. Herein, we report a case of a 61-year-old female patient who noticed a left supraclavicular swelling of 3 weeks duration, and the biopsy revealed a nodal HS. The clinicopathologic, histomorphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of the disease will be further discussed.
Myofibroblastic sarcoma in setting of recurrent breast phyllodes in a young, unmarried Indian woman: A rare case report
Mishra A, Gaurav K, Anand A and Sonkar AA
Myofibroblastic sarcoma (MFS) is a rare malignant tumor of the myofibroblasts (mammary MFS being even rarer but more aggressive). Only 12 cases of mammary MFS have been reported before this. We report a rare case of a 32-year-old lady who had been operated on twice for phyllodes tumor and who came with another recurrence at the same site. Preoperative work-up was suggestive of recurrent phyllodes tumor. Wide local excision with 1 cm margin with type 1 oncoplastic reconstruction was done, considering her age and marital status. Final histology was suggestive of MFS, and margins were clear. Immunostaining was positive for vimentin and weakly positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA). In the existing literature, there exists no clarity on the underlying lesion or cell origin of MFS. One case report highlighted old fibroadenoma and another attributed radiation preceding the MFS. We report a rare case of MFS in a setting of recurrent breast phyllodes in a young unmarried woman.
Osimertinib, metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor T790M mutation, and non-small cell lung cancer
Mungmunpuntipantip R and Wiwanitkit V
Tobacco use among Taxi Drivers in Mumbai, India: Prevalence and predictors
Gupta SD, Mishra GA, Pimple SA, Kulkarni VY, Patil AS, Shaikh HKA and Majmudar PV
Addiction to various forms of tobacco, odd work hours with idle breaks in between, and the lack of targeted tobacco cessation services make taxi drivers vulnerable to a range of tobacco-related diseases and cancers.
Unusual presentation of an embryonal sarcoma of the liver in an adult
Barwad A, Rastogi S, Chandrashekhara SH and Das P
Embryonal sarcoma of the liver (ESL) is an aggressive tumor of childhood and rare in adults. Herein, we report an ESL in a 37-year-old female patient, who presented with liver rupture and acute abdomen. ESL was not considered in preoperative clinical differential diagnoses due to its rarity and the diagnosis was not established in the preoperative liver aspirate. This study highlights the fact that ESL should be considered as an uncommon malignant tumor in adults affecting commonly the right lobe of the liver, especially when the serum alpha-fetoprotein level is within normal ranges. Histological examination is essential to establish the diagnosis with ancillary tests. Due to its rarity, although a definitive mode of therapy is not known, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is effective in achieving symptom-free recovery. The index patient developed omental metastasis after 9 months of diagnosis and such a presentation is possibly an indicator of aggressive tumor behavior.
Developing a comprehensive ICF core set to document health and functioning in children with Cancer in India: A preliminary study
Merlinann R, Samuelkamaleshkumar S, Ronaldthomvicmaradona J, Mathew AA, John RR, Mahasampath G and Mathew LG
This study aimed to develop a comprehensive ICF Core Set for children with cancer to facilitate the documentation of their health and functioning. Two preparatory phase studies were conducted to gather perspectives from caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Septal chondrosarcoma- An unusual cause of nasal obstruction
David DA, Kurian R, Kurien R and Varghese L
Chondrosarcomas are slow-growing malignant tumors of cartilaginous origin. The tumor can be locally aggressive with a risk of recurrence. Less than 10% of these tumors occur in the head and neck region, with most involving the maxilla, skull base, or larynx. Chondrosarcoma arising from the nasal septum is extremely rare. We report a case of a 64-year-old woman who presented with nasal obstruction and was subsequently diagnosed with nasal septal chondrosarcoma. She was treated with wide endoscopic surgical excision and regular follow-up, resulting in a good outcome.
Artificial intelligence-based parotid contouring for radiation oncology in head and neck cancers
Pitroda HD, Talapatra K, Sankhe M, Kiron G, Bardeskar N, Shaikh AR, Kanikar P, Shah H, Nair JJ, Parab A, Chhoriya D, Kamath R, Rupani V, Shah DR, Sarkar T and Patkar D
Radiation therapy plays a critical role in head and neck cancer treatment, which can utilize artificial intelligence algorithms for automatic contour segmentation, treatment planning, and the selection of individual treatments. During the planning phase of radiation therapy, organs at risk (OARs), like the parotid gland, must be identified and mapped out to avoid unwanted side effects. Manual contouring of the parotid gland can be time-consuming and error-prone, causing interobserver variability. This study presents an algorithmic framework for the automated delineation of parotid glands using artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms that interprets image sets to increase the precision and effectiveness of treatment planning, reduce the risk of side effects, and enhance treatment outcomes. Auto contouring increases the consistency and reproducibility of treatment plans and reduces the need for recontouring.
Eyelid myeloid sarcoma heralding relapse of acute myeloid leukemia in a child: First report from India and literature review
Jain A, Prasad P, Chaudhry S, Gupta DK and Saluja S
Myeloid sarcoma (MS) refers to an extramedullary collection of immature cells of granulocytic series and occurs either in isolation or in association with myeloid malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report a 16-year old girl with AML who was treated at our hospital with standard "7 + 3" induction chemotherapy and achieved morphological remission. She developed a small nodule below her right eyelid at day 10 of first consolidation chemotherapy with high-dose cytarabine. Eyelid lesion increased in size despite oral antibiotics. Peripheral blood did not show any blasts. However, bone marrow examination was consistent with relapsed AML. She was treated with salvage chemotherapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplant. However, her disease relapsed 2 months later and she died. This is the first case of eyelid MS from India in which eyelid MS developed during chemotherapy for AML and heralded the subsequent disease relapse. Eyelid MS could be a sinister manifestation of AML. Literature regarding eyelid MS is discussed in brief.
Association between serum C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma
Chen F, Liu X, Lai Z, Xiang Y and Yang C
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) and the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM).
News in Oncology
Umbarkar P, Yathiraj PH and Hinduja RH