Protecting normal cells from the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy

Comment on: van Leeuwen IMM, et al. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:1851-6

Hormone Receptor Status of Breast Cancer in the Himalayan Region of Northern India

The role of hormone receptors as a prognostic and therapeutic tool in breast cancer is widely accepted. The frequency of nonreactivity of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer patients of India is much more common than in the West. This study was conducted with the aim of analysis of steroid receptor status in breast cancer with clinico-pathological characteristics from the northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, India located in the region of the Western Himalayas. Fifty five consecutive patients with the diagnosis of breast cancer were included in this study. Detailed clinical and histopathologic data was recorded in all cases. Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. On immunohistochemical staining, 34.5% cases proved to be estrogen receptor positive and 36.4% cases progesterone receptor positive. The results in the present study documented low estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity in breast cancer from this region of India

Complications of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Treatment of Early Breast Cancer: A Comparison of MRM and BCS

ALND is part of primary management of breast cancer. In spite of complications it causes, its use in prognostication and planning adjuvant treatment in carcinoma breast is unquestioned. Prospective study was conducted on 100 patients of EBC [clinical stage I&II]. 50 underwent MRM, 50 WLE&AC. Patients were asked to rate on likert scale various symptoms on follow up. Multivariate regression analysis was carried out between pain, numbness, limitation of shoulder or arm motion, arm swelling, infection and age, BSA, clinical status of axilla, no. of LNs removed, no. of positive LNs, co-morbidities, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, type of surgery. 60% patients reported one or more symptoms. Numbness, pain were reported by 39% each, arm swelling by 25%, limitation of arm movement by 16%, infection by 11%. Symptoms were mild in majority. On regression analyses numbness was associated with EBRT, co-morbidity, type of operation (p value- <0.01, <0.01, <0.05), pain had no significant association, swelling with EBRT, no. of LNs positive for metastases, co-morbidity, type of operation (p value- <0.01, <0.05, <0.05, <0.01), limitation of arm motion with no. of positive LNs (p value < 0.01), infection with no. of positive LNs, co-morbidity (p value <0.05, <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in reporting of symptoms by patients in two groups. ALND caused morbidity in majority of patients but few reported severe symptoms and interference with daily activities