Exploring Integrative Approaches: Insights Into Complementary Medicine Practices Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

Complementary and integrative medicine (CAM) is a prevalent approach often used with conventional medical practices The study aims to understand the factors influencing breast cancer (BC) survivors' decisions regarding CAM therapy and the drivers behind their use.

SETTING

This research was conducted at an academic hospital in Saudi Arabia. The study used cross-sectional research with a questionnaire. Participants were enrolled in the study through BC survivors' groups on WhatsApp. Individuals who were actively following up at the clinic were also interviewed. Informed consent was obtained.

RESULTS

The study surveyed 211 BC survivors, aged 34-49 (50.2%), who had undergone surgery (93.4%), hormonal therapy (66.4%), and chemotherapy (87.7%). Less than half (44.5%) had chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. CAM users were 43.6%. The most used CAM modalities were Zamzam water, honey, and water read-upon Quran. A significant motivator for CAM use was to boost the immune system. More than half of patients used less than 100 SAR per month on CAM modalities. Exactly 80.4% of CAM users perceived benefits from CAM use. Predictors of CAM use included higher family monthly income, radiation therapy, and being diagnosed from 1 to 5 years. BC survivors without medical conditions after diagnosis were less likely to use CAM.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the prevalence, predictive factors, motivations, and perceived benefits of CAM use among BC survivors in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the need for understanding and integration into cancer care plans and the need for further research on CAM safety and efficacy.

Utilizing peripheral blood inflammatory biomarker (PBIB) to predict response to systemic therapy in patients with breast cancer

Background

Inflammation is a recognized factor in cancer progression and resistance to treatments. Several studies correlated inflammation-related peripheral blood inflammatory biomarkers (PBIB) to disease progression and poor survival in various cancer types and different populations. Nonetheless, inflammation is affected by the distinctive characteristics and environmental exposure of each population. There is no prior study addressing the association of pre-treatment inflammatory markers with outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC) from Saudi Arabia. In this study, we evaluated the prognosis of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) in relation to several PBIB.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of female patients with LABC undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Demographics, body mass index (BMI), clinicopathologic characteristics and stage of the tumor, follow-up status, and response to treatment were collected. Outcomes were evaluated in relation to pre-treatment peripheral blood indices that were grouped based on the local laboratory cutoff values. Objective response rate (ORR) was predefined and assessed according to the post-NACT magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) breast and subcategorized into complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD).

Results

A total of 172 female patients with BC met the eligibility criteria from January 2014 to December 2019. The mean age at diagnosis was 53.4 ± 11, and BMI was 31.2 ± 6. Left BC accounted for 54.7%, and the majority was invasive ductal carcinoma (85.5%), moderately differentiated (51%), stage III (AJCC 8th edition) (73%), and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumor (79.1%). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BC was reported in 32% and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in 10%. Radiologic CR accounted for the majority of ORR (71.5%). Higher percentage of patients with normal red cell distribution width (RDW) of red blood cell (RBC) and low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) had CR with a significant P value of 0.003 and 0.014, respectively.

Conclusion

Among several peripheral blood indices, RDW and NLR significantly influenced ORR. They can be explored further to potentially predict response after systemic therapy in patients with LABC. The great advantage of these biomarkers stems from their availability and affordability in routine clinical practice.

Expression pattern, prognostic value and potential microRNA silencing of FZD8 in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most widespread types of cancer affecting females, and therefore, early diagnosis is critical. BC is a complex heterogeneous disease affected by several key pathways. Among these, WNT proteins and their frizzled receptors (FZD) have been demonstrated to be crucial in regulating a number of cellular and molecular events in BC tumorigenesis. The role of the WNT receptor, FZD8, in BC has received minimal attention; for that reason, the present study examined the prognostic value of its protein expression pattern in a BC cohort. FZD8 cytoplasmic expression pattern analysis revealed that ~38% of the primary samples presented with a high expression profile, whereas ~63% of the samples had a low expression profile. Overall, ~46% of the malignant tissues in the lymph node-positive samples exhibited an increased FZD8 cytoplasmic expression, whereas 54% exhibited low expression levels. An increased expression of FZD8 was associated with several clinicopathological characteristics of the patients, including a low survival rate, tumor vascular invasion, tumor size and grade, and molecular subtypes. Affymetrix microarray triple-negative BC datasets were analyzed and compared with healthy breast tissues in order to predict the potential interfering microRNAs (miRNAs) in the WNT/FZD8 signaling pathway. A total of 29 miRNAs with the potential to interact with the WNT/FZD8 signaling pathway were identified, eight of which exhibited a significant prediction score. The target genes for each predicted miRNA were identified. On the whole, the findings of the present study suggest that FZD8 is a potential prognostic marker for BC, shedding some light onto the silencing mechanisms involved in the complex BC signaling.

Oncofertility care and influencing factors among cancer patients of reproductive age from Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

More cancer survivors and a greater burden of long-term side effects have resulted from rising cancer incidence, improved treatment modalities, and younger age at cancer diagnosis. Treatment- related Infertility (TRI) is a well-known sequelae. This study looked at current oncofertility support and fertility preservation (FP) in men and women of reproductive age with cancer in Saudi Arabia, where there is little knowledge on the subject.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included oncology patients of reproductive age from an academic hospital was conducted. Patients' characteristics, cancer type, treatment modalities and assessment of oncofertility support data were collected and examined to assess oncofertility support and potentially influencing factors.

RESULTS

Our study included 135 patients (39.3% males and 60.7% females). Although 66.7% believed they were fertile at the time of diagnosis, and more than half planned to have children in the future, Unfortunately, only 37.8% have received fertility counseling, and only 17% have seen a fertility specialist. In male patients, the most common FP method was sperm cryopreservation (6.7%), while the majority of both genders (87.4%) did not use any FP method. Two-thirds of the patients are knowledgeable about TRI and FP methods. About half of the female patients (57.3%) were advised about the possibility of post-treatment amenorrhea while only 8.1% of the whole cohort received psychological support.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite patients' satisfactory knowledge of TRI and FP, oncologists infrequently referred their patients to a specialized fertility service. More than half of our patients expressed a desire to have children in the future, but this desire was impeded by limited oncofertility care and FP procedures. Several factors influenced the knowledge of TRI, fertility counseling and FP. It is critical to incorporate oncofertility into management planning as it has a significant impact on patients' quality of life.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Burnout Among Female Oncologists From the Middle East and North Africa

Background

Burnout (BO) is a recognized challenge among the oncology workforce. It affects both genders with a higher frequency among women. This study examined the factors contributing to the development of burnout among female oncologists from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to oncology professionals from different countries in the MENA region. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) of emotional exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DE), and Personal Achievement (PA) plus questions about demography/work-related factors and attitudes toward oncology were included. Data were analyzed to measure BO prevalence and related factors.

Results

Between 10 February and 15 March 2020, 545 responses were submitted by female oncologists. The responses pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic emergence in the region. BO prevalence was 71% among female professionals. Women aged <44 years represented 85% of the cohort. Sixty-two percent were married, 52% with children and one-third practiced a hobby. Two-thirds worked in medical oncology, worked for <10 years and 35% worked in academia. The majority (73%) spent >25% on administrative work daily. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) expressed a recurring thought of quitting oncology and 70% had no burnout support or education. Inability to deliver optimal care was reported as distressing for career development in 82%. Factors significantly influencing the BO risk were identified. Marital status, having children, academia and years in practice did not impact the risk of BO among female oncologists from MENA.

Conclusion

Female oncologists from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) were found to have a high prevalence of BO. In this cohort, the majority of women oncology workers were young and in their early to mid-career stages. Burnout was linked to being younger, practicing in North African nations, having a heavy administrative load, and having persistent thoughts of quitting. Practicing a hobby and engaging in oncology communication, on the other hand, reduced the chance of BO. Burnout support and education, specifically for oncology women, is required.

Cancer Burden Among Arab World Males in 2020: The Need for a Better Approach to Improve Outcome

PURPOSE

Cancer is a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work aims to study the Arab world males' cancers (AMCs) and the similarities and disparities with the world males' cancers (WMCs) from different burden points of view.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive review of the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory revealed AMCs compared with the 2020 WMCs and the 2018 AMCs. Data on the top 27 AMCs were compared among the region's countries and the world groups.

RESULTS

In 2020, a total estimate of 217,203 new AMCs, 2.2% of WMCs, with an average age-standardized rate of 133.5/100,000 population, compared with 222/100,000 population of WMCs, was observed. Death estimates were 148,395, 2.7% of WMCs, with an average age-standardized rate of 95/100,000 population, compared with 120.8/100,000 population of WMCs. The five-year prevalence was observed in 442,014, 1.8% of WMCs. The average AMC mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) was 0.68, compared with 0.55 in WMCs and 0.54 in Arab females. Lung cancer was the top in incidence and mortality, whereas penile cancer was the lowest. The range of MIRs among the 27 cancer types was 0.19-0.96.

CONCLUSION

The descriptive review of the 2020 males' cancers in the Arab world revealed a relatively high MIR, compared with males' cancers worldwide and the females' cancers in the Arab world. This requires further evaluation to discern the underlying causes and address them systematically. More cancer control actions are warranted.

Abstract P1-08-29: The influence of pre-treatment peripheral blood inflammatory markers on post-treatment response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) from Saudi Arabia

Background: Inflammation is a recognized factor in cancer progression and resistance to treatment. Several studies correlated inflammation-related peripheral blood indices (PBI) to disease progression and poor survival in various cancers and different populations. Nonetheless, inflammation is affected by the distinctive characteristics and environmental exposure of each population. There is no prior study addressing the association of pre-treatment inflammatory markers with outcomes in patients with BC from Saudi Arabia. In this study, we evaluated post-treatment response of LABC in relation to inflammation-related PBI. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of female patients with LABC undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Demographics, BMI, clinicopathologic characteristics and stage of the tumor, follow-up status and response to treatment were collected. Outcomes were evaluated in relation to pre-treatment PBI that were grouped based on the local laboratory cutoff values. Response rate (RR) and type was assessed according to post-NACT radiologic evaluation of the breast and subcategorized into complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Results: A total of 172 female patients with BC met the eligibility criteria from January 2014 to December 2019. The mean age at diagnosis was 53±11, and BMI was 31±6. Left BC accounted for 55% and the majority was invasive ductal carcinoma in 85.5%, moderately differentiated in 51%, stage III (AJCC 8th edition) in 73%, and HR-positive tumor in 79%. HER2-positive BC was reported in 32% and TNBC in 10%. Radiologic (CR) accounted for the majority of RR (71.5%). A higher percentage of patients with normal red cell distribution width (RDW) and low neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) had radiologic CR with a significant P-value of (0.003) and (0.014), respectively (Table 1). Conclusion: Among several peripheral blood indices, only RDW and NLR significantly influenced post-treatment response in this cohort. They can be explored further to potentially predict response after systemic therapy in patients with LABC. The great advantage of these biomarkers stems from their availability and affordability in routine clinical practice.

Table 1.Post-treatment response type & distribution according to inflammation-related peripheral blood indicesVariablesCR(N=123)PR(N=20)SD(N=23)PD(N=6)P valueN=172N(%)N(%)N(%)N(%)NLR High &gt;322(81%)2(7%)0(0%)3(11%)0.014Low ≤3101(70%)18(12%)23(15%)3(2%)RDW High &gt;14.122(92%)2(8%)0(0%)0(0%)0.003Normal 11-14.1100(69%)18(12%)23(16%)5(3%)Low &lt;111(50%)0(0%)0(0%)1(50%)

Citation Format: Atlal Abusanad, Abdullah M Alghamdi, Ahmed M Saggaf, Tala Gazzaz, Rival Brika. The influence of pre-treatment peripheral blood inflammatory markers on post-treatment response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) from Saudi Arabia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-08-29.

Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI in Evaluating Response After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Operable Breast Cancer

Background

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an important step in the treatment of various types of breast cancer by downsizing the tumor to make it operable. Determining disease extent after NAC is essential for accurate surgical planning. MRI has been the gold standard for detecting tumors that are usually difficult to detect on ultrasound or mammography. However, the use of MRI after NAC is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of post-NAC MRI in the detection of residual disease preoperatively and to investigate the factors associated with pathological complete response (pCR).

Methodology

This retrospective review study was approved by the institutional review board with waiving of the informed consent. A total of 90 charts between January 2016 and January 2019 were reviewed. Baseline lesion size was measured as the maximal diameter in a single dimension by pretreatment MRI. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in detecting residual disease, we used two different definitions of pCR in the breast. The first is the resolution of both invasive disease and ductal carcinoma in situ. The second is the resolution of the invasive disease only. As a secondary objective of the study, we assessed the association between different patients’ characteristics and both MRI and pathologic response using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 52 women (mean age: 47.4 years; range: 28-74) with 56 breast masses were eligible for the study. Complete MRI response was noted in 22 (39%) masses. pCR was achieved in 14 (25%) and 25 (44.6%) masses using the first and second pCR definitions, respectively. The negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy of MRI for detecting residual disease were 50% and 75%, respectively, using the first pCR definition. With the second pCR definition, NPV and accuracy were 77.3% and 76.8%, respectively. Positive axillary lymph nodes were the only significant factor associated with incomplete MRI and pathological responses.

Conclusions

MRI NPV for residual disease was higher with the second pCR definition; however, overall accuracy was not different. MRI accuracy in detecting residual disease after NAC is not adequate to replace pathological assessment.

Prevalence and risk factors of burnout among female oncology professionals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

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Background: Burnout (BO) is a recognized challenge among oncology workforce. It affects both genders with a higher frequency among women. This study examined the factors contributing to the development of burnout among women in oncology from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to oncology professionals from different countries in the MENA region. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) of emotional exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DE), and Personal Achievement (PA) plus questions about demography/work-related factors and attitudes toward oncology were included. Data were analyzed to measure BO prevalence and related factors. Results: Between February 10 and March 15, 2020, 545 responses were submitted by female professionals. The responses pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic emergence in the region. BO prevalence was 71% among female professionals. Women aged < 44 years represented 85% of the cohort. Sixty-two percent were married, 52% with children and one-third practiced a hobby. Two-thirds worked in medical oncology, worked for < 10 years and 35% worked in academia. The majority (73%) spent > 25% on administrative work daily. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) expressed a recurring thought of quitting oncology and 70% had no burnout support or education. Inability to deliver optimal care was reported as distressing for career development in 82%. Factors significantly influencing the BO risk are listed in Table. Marital status, having children, academia and years in practice did not impact the risk of BO among female oncologists form MENA. Conclusions: High BO prevalence was reported among female oncology professionals from MENA. The majority of women oncology workforce were young and early- to mid-career in this cohort. Younger age, practicing in North African countries, high administrative load and the recurring thought of quitting were associated with increased risk of burnout. Whereas, practicing a hobby and enjoying oncology communication decreased the BO risk. Burnout support and education specifically for women in oncology is needed.[Table: see text]

A Substantial Response from Adding Palbociclib to Endocrine Therapy in Brain Metastasis from Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer: Case Reports

Brain metastasis (BM) from breast cancer has poor prognosis despite new advances and multi-modality treatments. No current data is guiding the use of palbociclib in the management of hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer patients with BM as these patients were excluded systematically from all phase 3 trials. Here, we report an evident clinical response from combining palbociclib with endocrine therapy in HR-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer with BM.

The Level of Agreement Among Medical Oncologists on Adjuvant Chemotherapy Decision for Breast Cancer in Pre and Post-Oncotype DX Settings

INTRODUCTION

The Oncotype DX assay plays an important role in the identification of the specific subset of hormone receptor (HR)-positive and node-negative breast cancer (BC) patients, who would benefit the most from adjuvant chemotherapy. The current study aimed at assessing the level of agreement among medical oncologists on adjuvant chemotherapy decisions before and after Oncotype DX, as well as the intra-observer agreement of each medical oncologist's decision of prescribing adjuvant chemotherapy based on clinicopathological and immunohistochemical parameters only and followed by Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) results.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data related to clinicopathological and immunohistochemical parameters, and Oncotype DX RS result for 145 female, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2 negative, and both node-negative and positive BC patients was performed. Initially, the data without Oncotype DX RS was sent to 16 oncologists in multiple centers in the Middle East. After one week, the same data with the shuffling of cases were sent to the oncologists with the addition of the Oncotype DX RS result for each patient. The inter and intra-observer agreement (kappa and Fleiss multi-rater kappa) among oncologists' decision of prescribing adjuvant chemotherapy pre and post-Oncotype DX RS results were assessed. Oncotype DX risk scores were used as continuous variables as well as based on old RS grouping, categorized into low (0-17), intermediate (18-30), and high risk (≥ 31) groups. A test with a p-value of < 0 .05 will be considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean age ± SD of the cohort was 51.9 ± 9.4 years. Sixty-nine patients (47.6%) were premenopausal whereas 76 patients (52.4%) were postmenopausal. The mean Oncotype DX RS was 17.8 ± 8.6 and 54.5% had low recurrence risk (RR), 37.9% had intermediate RR and only 7.6% had high RR. The majority of our cases were grade two (53.1%) and T stage one (49%), whereas 29.7% had positive one to three lymph nodes. The addition of Oncotype DX results improved the agreement among oncologists' decision from fair to moderate (kappa = 0.52; p <0.001). On average, an oncologist's decision of prescribing adjuvant chemotherapy pre and post-Oncotype DX had an agreement in 70.6% of the cases, with agreement observed mostly for cases where the initial decision of adjuvant chemotherapy was (no) and it was retained with post-Oncotype DX assay (46.1%), compared to 24.5% cases where the initial decision was (yes) and it was retained with post-Oncotype DX assay (kappa = 0.39; p <0.001). The addition of the Oncotype DX RS result avoided chemotherapy in 20.4% of cases and identified 9% of cases as candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy (kappa = 0.38; p <0.001). The disagreement was highest among cases with intermediate RR (33.6%) followed by high and low RR (31.3% and 21.6%) with a statistical significance of <0.001.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the Oncotype DX RS significantly influenced the decision to prescribe adjuvant chemotherapy among HR-positive, HER2 negative, and both node-negative and positive patients, as it increased the level of agreement among oncologists and led to a decrease in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy compared to the pre-Oncotype recommendations.

Burnout in oncology: Magnitude, risk factors and screening among professionals from Middle East and North Africa (BOMENA study)

BACKGROUND

Burnout (BO) among oncology professionals (OP) is increasingly being recognized. Early recognition and intervention can positively affect the quality of care and patient safety. This study investigated the prevalence, work and lifestyle factors affecting BO among OPs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

METHODS

An online survey was conducted among MENA OPs between 10 February and 15 March 2020, using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA), including questions regarding demography/work-related factors and attitudes towards oncology. Data were analysed to measure BO prevalence and risk factors and explore a screening question for BO.

RESULTS

Of 1054 respondents, 1017 participants (64% medical oncologists, 77% aged less than 45 years, 55% female, 74% married, 67% with children and 40% practiced a hobby) were eligible. The BO prevalence was 68% with high levels of EE and DP (35% and 57% of participants, respectively) and low PA scores (49%). BO was significantly associated with age less than 44 years, administrative work greater than 25% per day and the thought of quitting oncology (TQ). Practising a hobby, enjoying oncology communication and appreciating oncology work-life balance were associated with a reduced BO score and prevalence. North African countries reported the highest BO prevalence. Lack of BO education/support was identified among 72% of participants and TQ-predicted burnout in 77%.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest BO study in MENA. The BO prevalence was high and several modifiable risk factors were identified, requiring urgent action. TQ is a simple and reliable screening tool for BO.

Implementation of breast cancer continuum of care in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. The current COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented challenge leading to care disruption, which is more severe in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) due to existing economic obstacles. This review presents the global perspective and preparedness plans for breast cancer continuum of care amid the COVID-19 outbreak and discusses challenges faced by LMIC in implementing these strategies. Prioritization and triage of breast cancer patients in a multidisciplinary team setting are of paramount importance. Deescalation of systemic and radiation therapy can be utilized safely in selected clinical scenarios. The presence of a framework and resource-adapted recommendations exploiting available evidence-based data with judicious personalized use of current resources is essential for breast cancer care in LMIC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association of body mass index and adverse clinicopathological characteristics in non-metastatic breast cancer

Background

Obesity is a global health problem. It is becoming increasingly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. High body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for many diseases, including cancer. Noticeably, breast cancer (BC) cases in Saudi Arabia occur at a younger age than in western countries. Different lifestyle behaviors such as maintaining healthy body weight and physical activity may play a role in this. In this study, we investigated the association between BMI and BC adverse clinicopathological features.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the records of women with non-metastatic BC over 4 years. The association between BMI and patients' demographics, BC histological type, receptor status, differentiation grade, tumor size, involvement of axillary lymph nodes, and performed procedures were analyzed.

Result

315 patients with non-metastatic BC were studied. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52.43 years ± 11.63. The mean BMI was 30.21 ± 5.77. The mean tumor size was 3.19 cm ± 3.52. The mean age of diagnosis is significantly higher in obese women than in other BMI groups (P = 0.025). Obese female patients aged ≥40 were more likely to present with larger tumor (P = 0.022) and numerically higher pathological axillary lymph nodes, trending toward statistical significance (P = 0.092).

Conclusion

The relationship between BMI and developing more aggressive BC is still not clear; in this study, we found that obese patients presented at an older age, with larger tumor and more pathologic lymph nodes. Further research to understand the impact of this finding on outcomes is warranted.

The Association of Body Mass Index and Adverse Clinico-Pathological Characteristics of Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer Among Patients from Saudi Arabia

Background:

Obesity is a global health problem, especially in the Arab region, the prevalence of obesity is increasing. High body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for many diseases, including cancer. Noticeably, breast cancer (BC) cases in Saudi Arabia occur at a younger age than western countries and different life style behaviours such as maintaining healthy body weight and physical activity may play a role in this. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between BMI and BC clinicopathological features.

Methods:

This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the records of females diagnosed with non-metastatic BC over four years. The association between BMI and patients’ demographics, BC histological type, receptor status, differentiation grade, tumor size, involvement of axillary lymph node, and performed procedures was analysed.

Result:

We studied 315 patients with non-metastatic BC. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52.43 years ±11.63. The mean BMI was 30.21±5.77. The mean tumor size was 3.19 cm ± 3.52. We found that the mean age of diagnosis is significantly greater in obese women than other BMI groups with a P-value = 0.025. A significant relationship was observed between BMI classification and tumor size in obese female patients aged ⩾ 40 years with P-value=0.022

Conclusion:

The relationship between BMI and BC is still not clear, in this study we found an association with age at diagnosis and tumor size in older patients, characteristics as histological types, receptor status, lymph node involvement, and grade were not statistically significant.

Only if you view it through a different lens

Once, I was invited to give a lecture to undergraduate medical students during their cancer biology course. [...]

Clinical significance of frequent somatic mutations detected by high-throughput targeted sequencing in archived colorectal cancer samples

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease with different molecular characteristics associated with many variables such as the sites from which the tumors originate or the presence or absence of chromosomal instability. Identification of such variables, particularly mutational hotspots, often carries a significant diagnostic and/or prognostic value that could ultimately affect the therapeutic outcome.

METHODS

High-throughput mutational analysis of 99 CRC formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cases was performed using the Cancer Hotspots Panel (CHP) v2 on the Ion Torrent™ platform. Correlation with survival and other Clinicopathological parameters was performed using Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis.

RESULTS

Targeted sequencing lead to the identification of frequent mutations in TP53 (65 %), APC (36 %), KRAS (35 %), PIK3CA (19 %), PTEN (13 %), EGFR (11 %), SMAD4 (11 %), and FBXW7 (7 %). Other genes harbored mutations at lower frequency. EGFR mutations were relatively frequent and significantly associated with young age of onset (p = 0.028). Additionally, EGFR or PIK3CA mutations were a marker for poor disease-specific survival in our cohort (p = 0.009 and p = 0.032, respectively). Interestingly, KRAS or PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with poor disease-specific survival in cases with wild-type TP53 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent EGFR mutations in this cohort as well as the differential prognostic potential of KRAS and PIK3CA in the presence or absence of detectable TP53 mutations may serve as novel prognostic tools for CRC in patients from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Such findings could help in the clinical decision-making regarding therapeutic intervention for individual patients and provide better diagnosis or prognosis in this locality.

Outcomes of Saudi Arabian Patients With Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treated With Primarily Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is the most common head and neck cancer in Saudi Arabia. This study reports the locoregional disease control and survival outcomes in patients with NPC treated in King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Methods

Patients treated for NPC between June 2007 and October 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic information, clinicopathologic variables, and chemotherapy data were collected and analyzed. Cumulative survival and disease control rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier product-limit actuarial method.

Results

Thirty-nine patients with NPC were reviewed. Thirty-five (90%) patients received definitive radiotherapy (RT) and four (10%) had palliative RT. Mean prescribed dose for definitive RT was 68 Gy (range, 60 to 70.2 Gy), delivered with mean doses per fraction of 1.9 Gy (range, 1.8 to 2.1 Gy). After a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 1 to 84 months), 22 (63%) patients who underwent definitive RT were disease free and 13 (37%) were still with disease. During this period, seven (18%) patients died of the disease; five (13%) of them received definitive RT. After 2 years’ follow-up, the actuarial estimate rates were: 85.7% for local control, 91.4% for nodal control, and 85.7% for distant control.

Conclusion

Our study showed a disease with clinical behavior similar to what has been observed in East and Southeast Asia. Further it explored the neoadjuvant chemotherapy approach in treating NPC with results that are comparable to literature. However, little is known about the molecular pathogenesis of this disease in this region, and further research integrating clinical and molecular biomarkers is required.