Cancer Science & Therapy

Back ground: Clinical radiotherapy is one of the most important techniques for the treatment of malignant lesions in head and neck; however, exposure to ionizing radiation may lead to both systemic and local complications, immediately and after this treatment, where the main issue is the xerostomia and its consequent oral mucositis. Regarding late complications produced by radiation, decay of radiation and osteoradionecrosis, both dosedependent lesions, showed a high level of incidence in recent decades and it would be difficult to manage, although patients referred after treatment’s completion and under the influence of local factors. Methodology: Then, this study evaluated the effect of ionizing radiation from gamma source onto samples of enamel, root dentin and jawbone samples undergone to the same absorbed dose/dose rate that those in patients with head and neck cancer. The non-irradiated and irradiated samples were analyzed by microhardness surface analysis; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR). Results and Discussion: Microhardness data were analyzed statistically with a confidence level of 95% (p value <0.05%), using parametric Student’s t-test for related averages and ANOVA statistical test, finding a statistically significant result (p=0.00) to all four groups samples. Conclusion: It was observed a high deleterious and statistical significant effect of gamma radiation on hard tissues from oral cavity, regarding to physical, compositional and morphological properties.

Control of communicable diseases has been the focus in the Tigray region. The research team, all of whom live in this region, propose that non-communicable diseases need to have this same control. To comprehend the impact of cancer, a non-communicable disease, the team conducted a secondary analysis of all patients who had received care in the Tigray region over a 4-year period. Over 10,000 registrations were reviewed; descriptive statistics provided the team with a rough estimate of the impact of cancer in this region. What follows is a more descriptive illustration of the impact with recommendations to decision makers in the Tigray region.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a biocompatible citrate-functionalized magnetic fluid (NPCit) sample in mediating hyperthermia, using two types of alternated (AC) magnetic field equipment operating in two different ways: a portable apparatus, generating an electromagnetic field in MHz range (radiofrequency range; radiofrequency hyperthermia-RFHT) developed by our research group (CMagMHG), and a commercial one working in kHz range (magnetohyperthermia-MHT) (Magnetherm, NanoTherics Ltd, Newcastle, United Kingdom), to treat ectopic Ehrlich-solid-tumor-bearing elderly mice.

Methods: Females intraperitoneally anesthetized with ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/Kg) were subcutaneously inoculated with Ehrlich ascitic tumor cell suspension (1.03 × 106 viable cells) in the upper head region for solid form implantation. After 48 hours, mice received one of four treatments: (a) filtered water and no tumor implantation (negative control); (b) tumor inoculation and no treatment (tumor control); (c) intratumoral injection of NPCit (40 µL) containing 18 × 1018 particles/mL and 13 minutes’ exposure to CMagMHG, operating at 1MHz, 40 Oe field amplitude; (d) intratumoral injection of NPCit and 13 minutes’ exposure to Magnetherm, assembled with 17-turn coil, capacitive box B22, operating under 330 kHz, 4.9 A, 25 V and maximum field strength 170 Oe. Treatments occurred once daily for three consecutive days. Tumor histopathology and semi-quantitative analysis of necrosis area served to assess tumor aggressiveness and regression. Possible acute side effects were assessed by animals’ body and spleen weight and hemogram.

Results: NPcit showed adequate biocompatibility and was effective in mediating RFHT and MHT, which promoted significant increases in necrosis area using both equipment types.

Conclusion: Our findings evidence the potential use of NPcit mediating hyperthermia for future use as an adjuvant in breast cancer therapy.

For women of reproductive age with cervical carcinoma, they usually receive not only standard surgical treatment but also postoperative radiotherapy to increase the cure rates. However, infertility and premature ovarian failure are often occurred after radiotherapy. Autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is a new technique for preserving gonadal function for cervical cancer patients of reproductive age. Here, a successful ovarian function recovery through cryopreservation and autotransplantation in a case of 28-year-old patient with cervical cancer was reported. In brief, a slow-programmed freezing/thawing method was conducted for ovarian cortex cryopreservation. Six thawed ovarian cortical slices were transplanted to the left upper arm after the radiotherapy. The ovarian endocrine functions and follicle growth was successfully improved to normal level at 12 months after autotransplantation. In conclusion, autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortex for ovarian function preservation is a viable option for cervical cancer patients to gain the quality of life and avoid the suffering from conventional menopause hormone therapy.

Introduction: Granular cell tumors are uncommon benign neoplasms. The head and neck is the most common site, usually localized to the anterior tongue. The larynx is rarely involved, representing 1.6% to 3.7%.

Case report: We present the case of a 31-year-old, non-smoking female, with a history of recurrent cysts in the pyriform sinus. She consulted for dyspnea. By physical exam, there were no specific findings in head and neck area. Cervical computed tomography demonstrated a tissular mass in the laryngeal area. Laryngoscopy showed a submucosal tumor of the aryepiglottic fold. A biopsy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed round or oval-shaped tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. The nuclei are sometimes small and regular and sometimes hyperchromatic and pleomorphic. The tumor cells showed immunoreactivity for S100 protein and vimentin. The tumor was diagnosed as an atypical granular cell tumor.

Conclusion: Pathologists should be aware of this exceptional lesion. So, that the patient could have appropriate treatment.

Background: The global burden of cancer continues to increase largely because of the aging and growth of the world population alongside an increasing adoption of cancer-causing behaviors, particularly smoking, in economically developing countries. Cancer (CA) is an increasing public health burden for Ethiopia and Sub- Saharan Africa at large. In Ethiopia, hospital records show that there are more than 150,000 cancer cases per year and currently cancer accounts for 4% of all deaths. Objective: The present prospective cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of cancer and its associated risk factors in patients visiting Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in patients of all age groups visiting oncology unit of TASH during the study period of November 2015 to June 2016. Sample size was computed using margin of error 5%, confidence level of 95% and estimating cancer patients visiting TASH per annum equal to 20000. The response distribution was taken 10%, considering the 2012 Cancer Prevalence Report of the WHO in East Africa 5% to 10%. The calculated sample size then was 142. Result and discussion: The mean age of the participants in our study was 42.27 year with a standard deviation of 16.8, and 2 and 86 years were the age range. More than half of the patients in the study (61.3%, n=87) were females and about (38.7%, n=55) were males. In the study area uterine, breast, cervical, colorectal and gastric CA were more prevalent in the age group between 25-49 years while Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) was more common in 13-18 years of age, Ewing sarcoma was seen in age between 19 and 24 years. In our findings, breast CA (14.8%, n=21) was the most frequent type of CA followed by uterine CA (14.1%, n=20), colorectal CA (11.3%, n=16), gastric cancer CA (7.7%, n=11), cervical and esophageal cancers (7%, n=10). ALL was commonly seen in students, while gastric, lung, AML, osteosarcoma; and squamous cell CA were common in farmers. Furthermore, among 20 patients who had breast CA, 65% (n=13) were used contraceptives at least once in their last 10 years period, while uterine cancer patients (40%, n=8) were used either oral or injectable contraceptives. The prevalence of breast CA was not affected by the duration of contraceptive use rather it was stable across the duration of use. Many patients who were developed colorectal CA 12 (8.5%) and gastric CA 9 (6.3%) were reported that they were regularly consuming uncooked red meat as their favorite meal. In our study, many patients were receiving radiation therapy for cases such as uterine, breast, cervical and colorectal CA while chemotherapy was predominantly used in cases such as colorectal, squamous cell, osteosarcoma, ALL, AML and lung cancer. The multinomial regression analysis result further revealed that there was a significant association between breast CA with age (25-49 year, P. value 0.016), Uterine and Cervical CA with gender (female, P. value 0.001); and eating of uncooked red raw meat with colorectal CA (P. value 0.011). Conclusion: Cancer prevalence in the study area looks greatly jeopardizing the life of many Ethiopians in association with life styles. Hence, further studies should be done. Awareness creation programs to the people, allocation of public health preventive medicine approaches and in-depth governmental involvement in the area are highly needed.