The prevalence and associated factors of microsatellite instability in ovarian epithelial cancers detected by molecular genetic studies in a sample of Iranian women

Background: Microsatellite instability, the main genetic element in HNPCC syndrome, is associated with a number of cancers, including ovarian epithelial carcinomas. These cancers have distinct characteristics compared to non-MSI related ones. Objectives: The present study aims at determining the prevalence of microsatellite instability in ovarian carcinomas and their associated factors in Iranian patients. Methods: Paraffin-embedded blocks, belonging to 37 patients with definite diagnosis of ovarian epithelial cancers, were retrieved from the archives. After DNA extraction from tumor tissue and PCR reaction, the results were assessed in accordance with melting curve analysis. Subsequently, the relationship among microsatellite status and tumor histology, grade, stage, and size were investigated statistically. Results: The predominant histological type was serous histology. Four out of 37 carcinomas were microsatellite unstable (10.8) and only 1 was MSI-high type (2.1). The MSI was more frequent among younger patients with unilateral, non-serous histology, non-high grade, and stage I tumors without omental involvement. After statistical analysis, the only significant relationship was found between histological type (non-serous) and microsatellite status. Conclusions: Microsatellite stable and unstable ovarian cancers may have different associations with various factors in a sample of Iranian women. The identification of these characteristics may help narrow down indications to test this prognostic and predictive genetic error. © 2017, Cancer Research Center (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

The prevalence and associated factors of microsatellite instability in ovarian epithelial cancers detected by molecular genetic studies in a sample of Iranian women

Background: Microsatellite instability, the main genetic element in HNPCC syndrome, is associated with a number of cancers, including ovarian epithelial carcinomas. These cancers have distinct characteristics compared to non-MSI related ones. Objectives: The present study aims at determining the prevalence of microsatellite instability in ovarian carcinomas and their associated factors in Iranian patients. Methods: Paraffin-embedded blocks, belonging to 37 patients with definite diagnosis of ovarian epithelial cancers, were retrieved from the archives. After DNA extraction from tumor tissue and PCR reaction, the results were assessed in accordance with melting curve analysis. Subsequently, the relationship among microsatellite status and tumor histology, grade, stage, and size were investigated statistically. Results: The predominant histological type was serous histology. Four out of 37 carcinomas were microsatellite unstable (10.8) and only 1 was MSI-high type (2.1). The MSI was more frequent among younger patients with unilateral, non-serous histology, non-high grade, and stage I tumors without omental involvement. After statistical analysis, the only significant relationship was found between histological type (non-serous) and microsatellite status. Conclusions: Microsatellite stable and unstable ovarian cancers may have different associations with various factors in a sample of Iranian women. The identification of these characteristics may help narrow down indications to test this prognostic and predictive genetic error. © 2017, Cancer Research Center (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Author Correction: Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy by MRI-Based Machine Learning Texture Analysis in Rectal Cancer Patients (Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer, (2020), 51, 2, (601-609), 10.1007/s12029-019-00291-0)

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. In the author group section, the correct name of the fourth author is �Reza Ghalehtaki.� The authors apologize for this oversight and for any confusion it may have caused. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Efficacy of gabapentin for the prevention of paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy: A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial

Neuropathy is a dose limiting side effect of taxanes which may impact the quality of life and treatment outcomes. This randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial was carried out to assess the efficacy of gabapentin in preventing chemotherapy induced neuropathy. Women with breast cancer were randomized into two groups of paclitaxel chemotherapy with gabapentin 300 mg/three times a day orally or placebo for 2 weeks started at day 1 of each paclitaxel cycle. Two groups were compared based on the relative frequency of neuropathy and change in nerve conducting velocity (NCV). Twenty women were assigned to each study arm. The majority of the neuropathy in gabapentin group was grade 1 in all of the four cycles with no event of �grade 3 neuropathy in this group. Compared to the placebo, the rate of 2nd and 3rd grade neuropathy was significantly lower in the gabapentin group (P = 0.000). The change in NCV after four cycles of paclitaxel was significantly lower in the gabapentin group compared to the placebo group (17.7 vs 61.0 decline in NCV for sural and 21.9 vs 62.5 declines in NCV for peroneal nerve). Gabapentin given with paclitaxel is effective in the prevention of intermediate and high grade neuropathies both objectively and subjectively. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The comparison of 5-field conformal radiotherapy techniques for the treatment of prostate cancer: The best for femoral head sparing

External radiotherapy is a standard treatment procedure for localized prostate cancer. Given the relatively high long term survival treatment complications have been brought in center of attention. In this planning study, between 2012 and 2014, CT simulation data of 90 consecutive high-risk prostate cancer patients were collected. In the first phase, all were planned for whole pelvis irradiation up to 46Gy in 23 daily fractions. In the second phase, only the prostate gland was the target of radiation. Next, the subjects were divided randomly into three groups and each received a unique 5field conformal radiation plan including Plan A (Gantry angle: 0, 60, 120, 240, and 300), Plan B (Gantry angles: 0, 90, 120, 240, and 270) and Plan C (Gantry angles: 0, 60, 90, 270, and 300). The total dose was 70Gy. For each patient, the rectum, bladder, and both femoral heads were contoured as the at risk organs (OAR). From dose volume histograms, the proportional dose of PTV V100, the bladder and rectum V80 and V90 and femoral head V50 and V100 were calculated in all subjects and compared across plans. A statistically significant difference in the femoral head V50 and V100 was found between our studied 5field plans so that in Plan A (beam angles: 0, 60, 120, 240 and 300) less dose was received by both heads of femur. This study suggests that 5 field treatment planning including an anterior, two anterior oblique and two posterior oblique portals to be more proper for 3D conformal radiotherapy in order to spare femoral head with acceptable PTV coverage, and bladder and rectal doses. © 2016 American Association of Medical Dosimetrist