Journal of Integrative Oncology

Background: One of the determinants of the prognosis of head and neck cancer is the stage at presentation, one third of patients with head and neck cancer are present in the early stages of disease and the rest of them come in advanced stages. Advanced stage of head and neck cancer results not only in poor survival but is also associated with more severe late effects of the disease and treatment. Therefore, this study aims to determine predictive factors of advanced stage presentation of head and neck cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in patients with histologically proven head and neck cancer during March to April, 2019 at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, oncology center. Data were collected using patient chart review and a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. EPI-INFO 7.2.2.6 and Stata 14.0 were used for data entry and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the associated variables.

Results: From a 102 head and neck cancer patients 59.80% of presented with advanced stage. Male respondents (AOR=0.19; 95% CI=0.06-0.64; p=0.007), insured medical expenses (AOR=0.22; 95% CI=0.07-0.69; p=0.01) and living in Addis Ababa (AOR=0.10; 95% CI=0.03-0.33; p=0.000) decrease the odds of advanced stage presentation while substance use (AOR=3.10; 95% CI=1.01, 9.49; p=0.047) increased odds of advanced tumor stage presentation.

Conclusion and recommendation: In conclusion, head and neck cancer patients presented at advanced stage in TASH, Ethiopia. This study also declared that gender; live in out of Addis Ababa, lack of governmental health insurance and substance user are a factors of advanced stage presentation among head and neck cancer patients. Author recommends that the government could increase the accessibility of health care facilities for those out of Addis Ababa, expand health care insurance, and better to practice evidenced based intervention at the national level according to WHO recommendation.

Tumor cells, also known as cancer cells, are abnormal cells that have undergone genetic mutations and changes that lead to uncontrolled growth and division. Unlike normal cells in the body, tumor cells do not respond to the usual signals that regulate cell growth and death. This uncontrolled growth can result in the formation of a lump or mass called a tumor. These are non-cancerous growths that do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. They tend to grow slowly and are usually not life-threatening. However, they can cause problems if they press on surrounding structures or organs. These are cancerous tumors that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis. Malignant tumors are typically more aggressive and can be life-threatening if not treated.

Pancreatic cancer is indeed one of the most challenging types of cancer, primarily because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited, and it has a poor prognosis. The passage you've provided outlines a research project aimed at investigating the role of microRNA 138 (miR-138-5p) in the regulation of pancreatic cancer cell growth and its potential as a therapeutic target. Let's break down the key points: The passage acknowledges the dismal prognosis associated with pancreatic cancer, highlighting that limited progress has been made in its diagnosis and treatment over recent decades. This emphasizes the urgency and importance of research in this area. The primary objective of this study is to understand the role of miR-138-5p in the context of pancreatic cancer. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that can influence gene expression, and investigating their role in cancer is a common area of research.

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment that harnesses the body's own immune system to recognize, attack, and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy works by stimulating or enhancing the body's natural immune response against cancer. The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that defends the body against infections and diseases, including cancer. However, cancer cells can sometimes evade detection by the immune system. ver the years, various immunotherapies have been developed and approved for the treatment of different types of cancer. Some of the most notable ones include pembrolizumab and nivolumab (checkpoint inhibitors), as well as CAR T-cell therapies like Kymriah and Yescarta. Immunotherapy has shown remarkable success in treating some types of cancer, leading to long-lasting remissions or even cures in certain patients. It has particularly been effective in melanoma, lung cancer, and some forms of leukemia and lymphoma.

Plasma is a component of blood that contains water, electrolytes, hormones, waste products, and proteins, including antibodies and clotting factors. While plasma itself is not used as a primary treatment for cancer, it does play a vital role in cancer care in several ways. Cancer patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may experience a decrease in their blood cell counts, including red blood cells (anaemia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia). In such cases, patients may require blood transfusions, which can include components like plasma to help manage these side effects. Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. Global demographic characteristics predict an increasing cancer incidence in the next decades, with >20 million new cancer cases annually expected by 2025. According to GLOBOCAN data, 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths from cancer were estimated in 2012.1 Cancers of the female breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung are the most frequently diagnosed cancers in Europe.2 Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide.