Gastrointestinal cancers in India: Treatment perspective

GI cancer is not one cancer but is a term for the group of cancers that affect the digestive system including gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), esophageal cancer (EC), and pancreatic cancer (PC). Overall, the GI cancers are responsible for more cancers and more deaths from cancer than any other organ. 5 year survival of these cancers remains low compared to western world. Unlike the rest of the world where organ based specialities hepatobiliary, pancreatic, colorectal and esophagogastric exist , these cancers are managed in India by either a gastrointestinal surgeons, surgical oncologist, or a general surgeon with varying outcomes.The aim of this review was to collate data on GI cancers in indian continent. In colorectal cancers, data from tertiary care centres identifies the unique problem of mucinous and signet colorectal cancer. Results of rectal cancer resection in terms of technique (intersphincteric resection, extralevator aper, minimal invasive approach ) to be comparable with world literature. However long term outcome and data regarding colon cancers and nationally is needed. Gastric cancer at presentation are advanced and in surgically resected patients, there is need for a trial to compare chemoradiation vs chemotherapy alone to prevent loco regional recurrence. Data on minimal invasive gastric cancer surgery may be sparse for the same reason. Theree is a lot of data on surgical techniques and perioperatve outcomes in pancreatic cancer. There is a high volume of locally advanced gallbladder cancers with efforts on to decide whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is better for down staging. Considering GI cancers, a heterogeneous disease with site specific treatment options and variable outcomes, the overall data and outcomes are extremely variable. Young patients with pathology unique to the Indian subcontinent (for example, signet ring rectal cancer, GBCs) need focussed attention. Solution for such pathology needs to come from the Indian continent itself. Joint efforts to improve outcomes for GI cancer can be integrated under the national cancer grid program

Chewing Doma (Fermented Betel Nut): Culture versus Cancer?

Areca nut consumption is embedded in many cultures, including that of Bhutan, several parts of India, and other South Eastern countries. Traditional fermenting of areca nut results in the production of what is called doma in Bhutan. The process enhances its carcinogenic potential and is tightly linked to oral and upper gastrointestinal cancers. As many as 45% of Bhutanese people chew doma. It is the number one cause of cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. We propose the slogan “Don't chew your way to cancer, say no to doma” would help in reducing oral and esophageal cancers in Bhutan

Survey of Implementation of Antiemetic Prescription Standards in Indian Oncology Practices and Its Adherence to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Antiemetic Clinical Guideline

Purpose: Adherence to international antiemetic prophylaxis guidelines like those of ASCO can result in better control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; however, the extent of implementation of such guidelines in India is unknown. Therefore, this survey was planned. Methods: This study was an anonymized cross-sectional survey approved by the ethics committee. Survey items were generated from the clinical questions given in the ASCO guidelines. The survey was disseminated through personal contacts at an oncology conference and via e-mail to various community oncology centers across India. The B1, B2, and B3 domains included questions regarding the optimal antiemetic prophylaxis for high, moderate, and low-minimal emetogenic regimens. Results: Sixty-six (62.9%) of 105 responded and 65 centers (98.5%) were aware of the published guidelines. The partial, full, and no implementation scores were 92.5%, 4.5%, and 3.0%, respectively. Full implementation was better for the low-minimal emetogenic regimens (34.8%) than the highly emetogenic regimens (6.1%). The three most frequent reasons for hampered implementation of ASCO guidelines in routine chemotherapy practice cited by centers were a lack of sensitization (26 centers; 39.4%), lack of national guidelines (12 centers; 18.2%), and lack of administrative support (10 centers; 15.2%). Conclusion: Awareness regarding ASCO antiemetic guidelines is satisfactory in Indian oncology practices; however, there is a need for sensitization of oncologists toward complete implementation of these guidelines in their clinical practice

First-line management of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: An Indian perspective

Lung cancer has been the most common cancer in the world for several decades. The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes approximately about 80% of the total cases of lung cancer. Therapeutic interventions in NSCLC have shifted to the target-based approach from histology-based approach, and this has completely changed the face of the management of NSCLC. Developing countries, such as India, have very limited data compiled about the prevalence and treatment practices of lung cancer, despite a large burden of the disease. However, in recent times, there has been a lot of data generated in this regard. This article is an attempt to collate and shine light on the available data for the first-line treatment of NSCLC in India keeping in mind the current standards of care in this area

Practice patterns and outcomes with the use of regorafenib in metastatic colorectal cancer: Results from the Regorafenib in Metastatic colorectal cancer - An Indian exploratory analysis study

Background: Regorafenib is considered a standard of care as third-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs). Materials and Methods: The study was based on a computerized clinical data form sent to oncologists across the country for entry of anonymized patient data. The data entry form was conceived and generated by the coordinating center's (Tata Memorial Hospital) gastrointestinal medical oncologists and disseminated through personal contacts at academic conferences as well as through E-mail to various oncologists across India. Results: A total of 19 physicians contributed data resulting in 80 patients receiving regorafenib who were available for the evaluation of practice patterns. The median age was 55 years (range: 24–75). Majority had received oxaliplatin-based (97.5%), irinotecan-based (87.5%), and targeted therapy (65%), previously. Patients were primarily started on reduced doses of regorafenib upfront (160 mg – 28.8%, 120 mg – 58.8%, and 80 mg – 12.5%). The median duration of treatment (treatment duration) with regorafenib was 3.1 months (range: 0.5–18), while the median progression free survival was 3.48 months (range: 2.6–4.3). Forty-five percent of patients required dose modifications due to toxicities, and the most common were (all grades) hand-foot syndrome (68.8%), fatigue (46.3%), mucositis (37.6%), and diarrhea (31.3%). Conclusions: Majority of physicians in this collaborative study from India used a lower dose of regorafenib at the outset in patients with mCRC. Despite a lower dose, there was a significant requirement for dose reduction. Duration of treatment with regorafenib as an efficacy end point in this study is similar to available data from other regions as it is the side effect profile

Oncology gold standard® practical consensus recommendations for the use of monoclonal antibodies in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck

We present the 2017 Oncology Gold Standard Practical Consensus Recommendation for use of monoclonal antibodies in the management of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head neck region

Survival of Trial-Like and Non–Trial-Like Patients With Immunotherapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Real World: A Collaborative Multicenter Indian Study (IMHEP)

PURPOSEImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is the initial line of management in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but survivals in the real world are not known.MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective study of patients with advanced HCC receiving ICIs (as first-line therapy or as later lines of therapy) across 11 Indian institutions was conducted. Patients were divided into either cohort 1 (trial-like receiving ICI as first-line therapy), with a Child Pugh score (CTP) of ≤6, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0/1, and no VP4 (main portal vein thrombosis [MPVT]) or cohort 2 (trial unlike) who did not satisfy at least one of the above criteria. The primary end point was 12-month overall survival (OS).RESULTSBetween January 2017 and January 2022, 133 patient data were analyzed. The presence of MPVT was seen in 33 patients (25%). The ICIs used were atezolizumab-bevacizumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab in 89 (66%), 44 (33%), and one (1%) patients, respectively. With a median follow-up of 13.8 months, the 12-month OS for the entire cohort was 33.4% (95% CI, 23.6 to 43.2). Patients in cohort 1 (n = 31) had a significantly improved OS compared with patients in cohort 2 (n = 102; 12-month OS, 57.9% [95% CI, 38.5 to 77.3] v 24% [95% CI, 13.4 to 34.6]; P = .005). Patients with CTP A as compared with CTP B (9.7 v 4.3 months; P < .001) and an ECOG PS of 0/1 as compared with a PS of ≥2 (8.7 v 7.2 months; P = .04) and without MPVT (9.4 v 4.0; P < .001) had superior survivals.CONCLUSIONPatients with advanced HCC in the real world, trial-like have survivals in consonance with trial data, whereas patients with features excluding them from trials, such as main portal vein thrombosis, poor ECOG PS, and child Pugh B status, have markedly inferior survivals, despite good tolerance to immunotherapy

Human papillomavirus in head and neck cancer in India: Current status and consensus recommendations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) associated head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC) have become increasingly common in the West, but the same cannot be said about India. These cancers have a different biology and confer a better prognosis, however, its current role in the management of patients in India is not clearly defined. At the 35th Indian Cooperative Oncology Network conference held in September 2016, a panel of radiation, surgical and medical oncologists, pathologists, and basic scientists from across the country having experience in clinical research with respect to HPV in HNSCC reviewed the available literature from India. All the ideas and facts were thereafter collated in this report. Various topics of controversy in dealing with the diagnosis and management of HPV-associated HNSCC have been highlighted in this report in context to the Indian scenario. Furthermore, the prevalence of the same and its association with tobacco and high-risk sexual behavior has been touched on. Conclusively, a set of recommendations has been proposed by the panel to guide the practicing oncologists of the country while dealing with HPV-associated HNSCC