Issue No. 3, Jan 2008 |
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| Issue No. 3 - Jan 2008 | ||
| Pages | ||
| 9-15 | Acute Myeloid Leukemia As a Genetic Disease | |
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S. Al-Bahar, Z. Adriana, R.
Pandita Department of Hematology, Hussein Makki Al-Juma Centre for Specialised Surgery, State of Kuwait |
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| Abstract | ||
| The number of
recurring genetic abnormalities
recognized in acute myeloid leukemia
(AML) has increased rapidly in recent
years and at present, acute leukemia is
probably the most extensively analyzed
human cancer. Combined cytogenetic and
molecular genetic studies have revealed
that clonal chromosome abnormalities are
present in the majority of patients with
AML that are very closely, and sometimes
uniquely, associated with distinct
subsets of leukemia. Detailed analysis
of these rearrangements indicates that
in most instances chromosome
rearrangements result in gene fusions
leading to chimeric abnormal protein
with oncogenic potential. Continued
identification and characterization of
genes involved in the development of
leukemia has a major impact on our
understanding of the molecular biology
of cancer and in formulating of
biologically based therapies. Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia, Oncogenes, leukemogenesis. |
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| full article | ||
| 2 | 17-23 | Role of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in the Management of Lymphoma |
| A. H.
Elgazzar, E. K. Alenizi Department of Nuclear medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University and Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital, Kuwait |
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| Abstract | ||
| Proper Management of Cancer requires evaluation of tumor extent, monitoring of therapy and evaluation of treatment induced side effects. Imaging modalities are crucial in achieving this all the three main pre-requisites for this proper management. Structural modalities such as computerized tomography (CT) and functional modalities such as gamma camera imaging are complementary rather than competitive for cancer management. Each modality has advantages and limitations. Positron emission tomography (PET) as a recent functional modality is now the most powerful modality in advancing cancer management. | ||
| full article | ||
| 3 | 25-31 | Dosimetry study comparing NCS Report-2 versus IAEA Report TRS-398 for high energy photon beams |
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E. M.
Attalla, N. E. Khaled2, H. S.
Abou-Elenein and A. A. Elsayed1
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| Abstract | ||
| In this work a
dosimetry study is presented in which
the results of absorbed dose data
determined under reference condition
according to the IAEA TRS-398 protocol
and the NCS report-2 are compared. The
IAEA TRS-398 protocol for absorbed dose
calibration is based on ionization
chamber having an absorbed dose to water
calibration factor ND,W, while the NCS-
2 report for absorbed dose calibration
is based on an ionization chamber having
an air- kerma calibration factor NK.
This study shows that the absorbed dose
calculated with the IAEA TRS- 398
formalisms is higher than that
calculated with the NCS Report-2
formalism within a range of 0.4 to 0.9%
in a cobalt-60 beam, and from 0.2 to
1.1% for photon beams of 6, 8 and 18 MV.
The chambers used are PTW 30001, 30004,
and NE-2571, which have calibration
factors NK and ND,W traceable to the
BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et
Mesures). Keywords Dosimetry protocol, NCS report-2, Air-kerma, IAEA TRS-398. |
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| full article | ||
| 4 | 33-40 | Post Mastectomy Chest Wall Irradiation Using Mixed Electron-photon Beams with or without Isocentric Technique |
| H. K. Hamdy,
M. S. Zikry Department of clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine – Al-Azhar University. |
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| Abstract | ||
| Aim: To describe our
technique in delivering post mastectomy
radiotherapy to chest wall using
electron-photon mixed beam with or
without isocentric application of the
tangential photon portals, and to
evaluate the associated acute and
delayed morbidities. Patients and methods: Twenty-two females with invasive breast cancer were subjected to modified radical mastectomy with adequate axillary dissection. All the patients have either tumour > 5 cm and/ or positive axillary nodes >3. Chest wall was irradiated by a mixed beam of 6-Mev electrons (10Gy) and opposed tangential fields using 6 Mev-photons (36 Gy) followed by 6-Mev electrons boost to the scar of mastectomy for 4 Gy/2 fractions. We randomly allocated our patients to receive the photon beam with or without the isocentric technique. Results: The mean dose to the planned target volume (PTV) by mixed beam was 44 Gy (96%) with a mean dose of 42 Gy (91%) to the overlying skin for the whole study group. In cases with right breast disease (17 cases), the mean right lung tissue volume within the PTV was 220 ml (15%). It was relatively higher with the noniscocentric technique, 281 ml (19%), compared to the isocentric technique of 159 ml (10.5%). In cases with left breast disease (5 cases), the mean left lung volume within the PTV was 175 ml (14%). Larger volume of the lung tissue was included with the non-isocentric technique, 197 ml (16%) compared to the isocentric technique of 153 ml (12%).The mean scattered doses to the rest of the lung tissue, the rest of the heart in left breast cases, and the contra-lateral breast for the whole study group were 2.8 Gy, 1.8 Gy, and 1.4 Gy respectively and was comparable in both treatment arms. None of the cases developed any element of acute radiation related pneumonitis. Delayed radiation induced pneumonitis was seen in 2 cases (18%), with the chest wall treated with radiation with the non-isocentric technique. Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrated the utility of mixed beam in irradiating the chest wall after mastectomy with the dose prescription we proposed. An adequate homogeneous dose level was delivered to the chest wall. The treatment was administered with accepted level of both acute and delayed treatment related morbidity especially when the photons were delivered by the isocentric technique. Keywords Chest wall irradiation, mixed electronphoton beam. |
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| full article | ||
| 5 | 41-45 | Prognostic Value of Hemoglobin Levels Prior to Radiotherapy for Cervical cancer – Kuwait Experience |
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S. Abuzallouf1, S. Vasishta1, A.
Ragheb1, A. Varghese1, O. El-Hattab2
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| Abstract | ||
| Objective: To
evaluate hemoglobin (Hb) levels before
and during radiotherapy and its role as
a prognostic factor on treatment results
of patients treated for cancer cervix.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and seven patients with cervical cancer were registered and managed at KCCC during 1995 – 1999. The pre-treatment and mid treatment Hb levels were found for 47 patients only. Follow-up was done for these cases aiming at evaluation the overall and disease free survival. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS statistical package version 10.0. Results: The median age of patients were 45 and ranged between 26-80 years. Kuwaiti patients represented 21.3% of cases. The most common stage was Stage IIb representing 51.1% followed by IIIb representing 27.7%. Stage Ib and IIa represented 12.8%. About 89.4% were squamous cell carcinoma, while adenocarcinoma was 6.4%. Treatment outcome revealed 18 relapses (38.3%). Disease-free survival for cases with pre-treatment Hb level < 12 was 16.3%, while for those with Hb level > 12 g/dL it was 62.9%. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.02). Conclusion: Patients with pre-treatment Hb < 12 g/dL had a significantly lower disease-free survival. Keywords: Cancer cervix, Radiotherapy, Hemoglobin level, Kuwait. |
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| full article | ||
| 6 | 46-53 | Neo-adjuvant Docetaxel and Cisplatin followed by Concurrent Cisplatin with Radiation Therapy in Treatment of Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma |
|
E. Hassan ,
K. Galal and E. Esmat |
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| Abstract | ||
| Aim of the study: To
assess the tolerability, toxicity and
efficacy of neo-adjuvant Docetaxel and
Cisplatin (TC) followed by concurrent
Cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT) in
patients with locoregionally advanced
nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Patients and methods: Fourteen patients with locally advanced NPC received two cycles of Docetaxel (75 mg/m2 on days 1, and 21) and Cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on days 1, and 21) followed by 7 weeks of Cisplatin (40 mg/m2 weekly) and RT at 70 Gy in 2-Gy per fraction. Results: Response to neo-adjuvant TC was as follows: 5 patients (36%) and 11 patients (79%) achieved partial remission (PR) in regional nodes and nasopharynx, respectively. Nine patients (64%) and 1 patient (7%) achieved complete remission (CR) in regional nodes and nasopharynx, respectively. At 6 weeks after RT, 12 patients (86%) achieved CR in regional nodes and nasopharynx, and 2 patients (14%) achieved partial response (PR) in regional nodes and nasopharynx. Neo-adjuvant TC was well tolerated. The most common acute toxicity of Cisplatin plus Docetaxel was grade 3-4 leucopenia (57%) and alopecia (43%). The most common acute toxicity of Cisplatin plus RT was grade 3-4 mucositis (64%). At median follow-up of 12 months, one distant and one loco-regional failure occurred. Conclusions: Neo-adjuvant Docetaxel and Cisplatin (TC) followed by concurrent Cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was feasible and resulted in excellent local tumour control with acceptable toxicity profile. Keywords: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy. |
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| full article | ||
| 7 | 54-57 | Characterization of a New Photosensitizer (13²-Hydroxy- Bacteriopheophorbide-a Methylester) for Future Treatment of Ovarian Carcinoma (An Experimental Study) |
| M. S. Ismail
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Fahd University Hospital, King Faisel University, Al Khobar, KSA. |
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| Abstract | ||
| The photosensitizer
13²-hydroxy bacteriopheophorbide- a
methyl ester (132 OH- BPME) is
characterized by a high absorption
coefficient at the far red wavelength
750 nm and a good singlet oxygen quantum
yield. Methods & Results: The pharmacokinetics of 13²-OH- BPME were studied in ovarian carcinoma on mice after iv administration of 7.8 μmole/kg body weight at different incubation intervals. The accumulated dye was chemically extracted from selected tissues and the concentrations were measured by absorption spectroscopy. The parenchymatous organs (liver, spleen and kidney) showed maximum 13²- OH- BPME concentrations after 2 hours incubation (liver, spleen), and 4 hours post injection (kidney). A high uptake was detected in the lung with maximum concentration at 2 hours. The malignant tissue accumulated high 13²- OH- BPME concentrations between 2-12 hours post injection with peaking at 8 hours. The 13²- OH- BPME concentrations in muscle tissue, representing the normal tumour surroundings, and in the skin were very low. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that PDT using 13²-OH-BPME could be effective at 8h post injection, where the tumour 13²- OHBPME uptake is maximum and the muscle and skin uptake will be minimum. Keywords: 13²-OH- BPME, pharmacokinetics, ovarian carcinoma, spectroscopy |
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| full article | ||
| 8 | 58-63 | Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour of the Omentum: A Case Report |
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I.A.
Barghash1, M. Abdul-Samad1, M. Oteifa1,
A. O. Adesina2 |
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| Abstract | ||
| Aim: The aim of this
paper is to present the first published
case of a high-risk gastrointestinal
stromal tumour (GIST) in Kuwait. Case presentation and intervention: A thirty-six-year old Egyptian male patient presented with central upper abdominal pain of five-month duration. Clinically, there was an approximately 10 cm × 8 cm diffuse, nontender, firm mass in the epigastrium. A tumour of the stomach wall was diagnosed. The mass was surgically excised. At laparotomy there was obvious peritoneal dissemination. Histopathological examination revealed a (GIST) of the omentum. Postoperatively the patient was advised to receive imatinib mesylate for a period of one year. Conclusion: Despite significant advances in new chemotherapeutic drugs, radical surgery remains the only method offering a chance for long-term survival. Although further data are required to evaluate its use in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, imatinib mesylate currently provides the most effective treatment option in the management of advanced GIST. Keywords: Gastrointestinal, GIST, omentum, stromal tumour |
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| full article | ||
| 9 | 64-67 | Gastrosplenic Fistula following Chemotherapy for Lymphoma |
| K. M.
Moghazy Department of Radiology, Medical School, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia |
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| Abstract | ||
| Gastrosplenic
fistula resulting from erosion of a
primary splenic lymphoma is a very rare
cause of massive upper gastrointestinal
hemorrhage as compared to benign peptic
ulcer disease, gastric Crohn’s disease,
gastric adenocarcinoma, and primary
gastric and splenic lymphomas. This
hemorrhage can be successfully managed
by splenic artery embolization, followed
by splenectomy and gastric resection. A
50-year-old patient developed a
gastrosplenic fistula during a course of
chemotherapy for differentiated
histiocytic lymphoma. The fistula was
demonstrated by CT scan with oral
contrast. The fistula was followed
endoscopically and noted to have closed
spontaneously with confirmed closure at
laparotomy. The clinical management of
this complication is discussed, and the
literature pertaining to this rare
condition is reviewed. Keywords: Gastrosplenic fistula, lymphoma, chemotherapy. |
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| full article | ||