Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a very uncommon central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm and accounts for less than 1% of primary CNS tumors. After the World Health Organization’s reclassification in 2021, SFT is a rare novel entity. Since SFT is a slow-growing, vascular, and aggressive tumor, it has a likelihood of local recurrence as well as distant metastasis. Surgery remains the main treatment modality, whereas postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) benefits in local control. In this case series, we analyzed the data on intracranial SFT retrospectively among patients who had presented to us in 2024 and underwent surgery in the same year. We reviewed the primary surgery that was done, the extent of resection, clinical presentation, radiological findings, tumor size, post-operative radiotherapy, and a brief follow-up. In this study, 4 cases of intracranial SFT have been discussed along with a review of the literature. Although surgery remains the main treatment domain, PORT is a part of adjuvant treatment in all grades of SFT for controlling local recurrence. Because of the rarity of the disease, most of the previous studies are single-center, and the role of post-operative radiotherapy is in controlling local recurrence; however, conflicting.

Objectives: Early identification of infection is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality in febrile neutropenia (FN). Conventional biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), have limitations in availability and additional cost. A complete blood count (CBC) performed by automated hematology analyzers provides volume, conductivity, and scatter (VCS) parameters for leukocytes, reflecting cellular morphometric and structural changes that may serve as rapid adjunctive markers for infection. Material and Methods: In this prospective observational study, 35 pediatric oncology patients (<18 years) with 50 FN episodes were analyzed at a tertiary cancer care center. VCS parameters of neutrophils and monocytes—mean neutrophil volume (MN-V-NE), conductivity (MN-C-NE), scatter (MN-S-NE), mean monocyte volume (MN-V-MO), and conductivity (MN-C-MO)—were recorded at a non-febrile state and during FN episodes. Correlations with blood culture, CRP, PCT, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Diagnostic accuracy was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Significant elevations were observed during FN for MN-V-NE (p = 0.001), MN-V-MO (p = 0.009), and MN-C-MO (p = 0.028) compared to baseline. Blood cultures were positive in 28% of episodes, with equal proportions of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, and 28.6% fungal isolates. CRP and PCT levels were significantly higher in culture-positive cases (p < 0.01). ROC analysis showed MN-V-NE had the highest diagnostic accuracy for FN (AUC = 0.78; sensitivity 94% at cutoff >142.5), followed by MN-C-MO [area under curve (AUC) = 0.63; specificity 84% at cutoff >117.5]. No VCS parameters correlated with mortality or discharge status. Conclusion: VCS parameters, particularly MN-V-NE and MN-C-MO, are rapid, cost-effective adjuncts for FN diagnosis in pediatric oncology patients but lack prognostic significance.

Objectives: Accurate setup margin (SM) estimation is critical in radiotherapy to ensure target coverage while sparing organs at risk. Traditional methods like van Herk’s formalism assume that setup errors follow a normal or Gaussian distribution, which may not hold for small or skewed datasets and may result in under- or over-estimated SMs.This study evaluates an unconventional method based on the non-Gaussian percentile approach against the van Herk formalism for SM estimation across multiple tumor sites using electronic portal imaging device (EPID) setup data. Material and Methods: Eighty patients (20 per site: brain, head and neck, thorax, pelvis) treated with external beam radiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Setup errors were measured via EPID-based imaging. Conventional SMs were calculated using van Herk’s method (2.5Σ + 0.7σ), while the unconventional method derived SMs directly from the setup-error histogram, i.e., the 5th–95th percentiles (90% range of setup errors, RSE) of per-patient mean daily shifts.Normality was assessed using Shapiro-Wilk(S-W) tests, skewness/kurtosis analysis, and Q-Q plots. Methods were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p<0.05) and effect sizes (Cohen’s d)reported without claiming clinical significance. Results: Unconventional SMs were consistently larger than conventional SMs (overall medians: 4.21 vs 2.71 mm; p<0.05), with the largest differences in thorax (Δ up to 3.63 mm) and pelvis (Δ up to 2.17 mm). Several datasets were non-normal by S–W and/or skewness/kurtosis. As a practical benchmark, margin differences ≥2 mm were considered clinically meaningful for interpretation, given typical planning target volume (PTV) rounding and published cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-era margins. Conclusion: In non-Gaussian or limited-data scenarios, the percentile-based method yields more conservative SMs than van Herk. Given EPID’s inability to capture organ motion/rotation, validation with CBCT or 4D imaging is recommended before clinical implementation.

Objectives Traditionally, oral health maintenance of patients diagnosed with a cancerous condition relied mainly on the patients themselves and the bedside nurses. Limited overlap of medical and dental expertise and curbed dental resources in typical oncology units baffles access to optimal dental care for children with cancer. Here, we outline the creation of a novel pediatric oncodental team to address this predicament by furnishing primary prevention strategies for high-risk patients in a multispecialty center. To form an interdisciplinary team and implement a novel system aimed at optimizing oral health care for inpatient pediatric oncology patients in a hospital setting, and to study the effect of primary prevention on pediatric oncology patients after primary health education and oral hygiene demonstration by a pediatric dentist. Material and Methods After the genesis of a novel pediatric oncodental team, this prospective longitudinal one-group (pre- and post) study assessed fifty-three 3-13-year-old inpatients undergoing treatment at a cancer super specialty institution. Primary health education was imparted to the participants, their caretaker, nurses, and the paramedical staff, along with giving case-specific oral hygiene maintenance modification measures. Oral hygiene status was recorded at baseline and 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up. Results The results demonstrated a significant plummeting in the OHIS score at 1, 3, and 6 months as compared to baseline, proving evidently that oncodental role can potentially be an emerging arm of pediatric dentistry. Conclusion Conceding the importance of oral health for pediatric oncology patients and restraints in the traditional approaches, the role of the pediatric dentist in the oncodental team represents an innovative solution. By integrating oncology and dental specialties, the team aims to improve oral health outcomes, reduce the risk of infection, and provide better support and education for patients and caregivers

Objectives This study explores variations in hormone receptor (HR) status between biopsy and post-operative reports, as well as changes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The correlation between HR status alterations and patient survival outcomes is the key focus of this investigation. Material and Methods This retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care center in Kolkata, Eastern India, from 2013 to 2018. Results The parameters of 482 breast cancer patients meeting inclusion criteria were studied. The majority were >40 years (68.2%), with 300 receiving NACT. Clinical staging distribution was I (2.9%), IIA (10.4%), IIB (22.2%), IIIA (34.3%), IIIB (28.6%), and IIIC (1.6%). Preoperative and postoperative staging changes occurred in 47.7%, with 38.8% downstaging and 13.5% upstaging. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Her2neu positivity at diagnosis were observed in 46.3%, 41.9%, and 36.9% of patients, respectively. Postoperative ER, PR, and Her2neu positivity were 46.1%, 40%, and 37.3%, respectively. Recurrence in 33.6% of patients correlated with factors like age, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), Perineural invasion (PNI), postoperative stage, ER, PR, and their changes. Multivariate analysis identified age, PNI, postoperative stage, stage change, ER, and PR changes as independent factors for recurrence. The correlation study demonstrated a significant association between NACT and changes in PR status (χ2 = 16.56; p = 0.001), while no significant associations were found for ER and Her2neu changes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a substantial association between NACT and PR status changes (p = 0.001). Post Hoc tests indicated significant differences in PR status changes related to NACT. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) based on changes in ER and PR status, with ER-positive patients having a median DFS of 76 months and PR-positive patients showing a median DFS of 47 months. No significant DFS difference was observed for changes in Her2neu status. Conclusion Changes in hormone receptor status, particularly ER and PR, significantly impacted recurrence and DFS. The study highlights the importance of personalized management strategies, with age, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and changes in ER and PR status identified as key factors influencing prognosis.

Objectives To assess the clinicopathological parameters in colorectal cancer. To determine the proportion of BRAFV600E mutations among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Material and Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted in 85 consecutive samples of histologically confirmed colon/rectal adenocarcinoma cases from a Tertiary Care Hospital, Thrissur, for eighteen months. Informed consent was obtained from patients whose specimens were collected, and the tests were performed after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. All the gross findings were recorded, including the size of the specimen, the tumor site, and the gross appearance. Histological sections were studied under a light microscope. Further deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolation and amplification refractory mutation system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS PCR) were carried out to confirm the BRAF mutation status. Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using IBM-SPSS software version 25. Results 55.3% (47 cases) of CRC were above 65 years, 63.5% (54 cases) were males and 36.5% were females (M: F 3:1). Majority of tumors were located in the sigmoid colon (31.8%) followed by rectum (16.5%), ascending colon (14.1%), hepatic flexure (10.6%), caecum (7.1%), transverse colon (5.9%), descending colon (4.7%), and splenic flexure (1.2%). 91.8% of cases were low grade, and 8.2% were high grade. 50.6% of tumors were pT3, and the least were T4 (2.4%). Out of 85 study participants, BRAF was positive in 2(2.4%) patients and negative in 83(97.6%) patients, respectively. Conclusion This is the first such South Indian study. The small sample size, demographic disparities in the study population, and pre-analytical factors could explain the low positivity number. In the future, routine molecular testing for various biomarkers including BRAF may become inevitable in targeted therapy of CRC for practicing precision medicine.

Objectives The highest cancer incidence and mortality are observed in the northeastern states of India including Assam. The cancer treatment centers in Assam are located only at the state headquarters. Therefore, patients have to travel a long distance, incurring a good number of out-of-pocket expenses. Considering the severity of the issue, the Tata Trusts, in collaboration with the Government of Assam, established the Assam Cancer Care Foundation and developed the distributed cancer care model with a vision to develop cancer institutions to deliver equitable and affordable care closer to the patient’s homes. Material and Methods This is a four-level model. L1 facility is an apex center providing all sophisticated forms of cancer care services including clinical research. L2 facilities developed in Dibrugarh, Silchar, Barpeta, Dhubri, and Diphu provide basic comprehensive oncology services. L3 facilities are being established in Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Nalbari, Golaghat, Goalpara, Tezpur, Darrang, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, and Kokrajhar. These centers will provide diagnostic services to at-risk populations and day-care services for cancer patients. L4 level includes community interventions: preventive health packages delivered at the community level. Results Seven hospitals at Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, and Darrang are functional since 28 April 2022. The rest are at different stages of development. Up to August 2023, 2,78,344 people were screened for common cancers where 211 were confirmed for cancers. During the same time, 31,005 patients were registered, and 18,319 chemotherapy sessions and 62,160 radiation therapy sessions were delivered across the 7 hospitals under government schemes resulting in no financial burden to patients. Conclusion This intervention by Tata Trusts addresses the barriers of affordability, accessibility, and availability and is replicable to any geography of interest.

Objectives In this study we explored Bryonia alba as a new anti-cancer agent against liver cancer cells. Material and Methods The Bryonia 6C - an alternative medicine was applied on HepG2 liver cancer cell line to find out its effectiveness indicating morphological and cytokine changes by observing cytopathic effect and RT-PCR study. Results The result showed a possible anti-cancer effect of Bryonia 6C with degenerative changes on the cancer cells. A cytokine imbalance was also noticed within 24 hours detrimental to the malignant environment of these cells. Conclusion The alternative medicine Bryonia 6C is an effective anticancer agent against liver cancer cells.

Objectives The Filipino population is largely underrepresented in the currently available literature on multiple myeloma (MM). Herein, we aimed to determine the clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of adult Filipinos with MM. Material and Methods The records of 74 patients with MM seen at our institution from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results The median age at diagnosis was 54 years, with the majority lumped in the 40–65 years age group. At diagnosis, anemia (hemoglobin <100 g/L) was present in 36 (64.3%) patients, but hypercalcemia (calcium ≥2.75 mmol/L) and azotemia (creatinine ≥177 umol/L) were seen in only 9 (20.0%) and 18 (34.0%) patients, respectively. Novel drugs (bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide) were used in 54 (84.4%) patients for frontline treatment. The overall response rate was 70.0% and the median overall survival (OS) was 60 months. On univariate analysis, only hemoglobin and the serum albumin levels affected survival. Conclusion Aside from the trend of a younger age at diagnosis, there are no unique clinical characteristics of MM seen in Filipinos. The longer OS may reflect the availability of newer drugs in the recent decade, but larger studies are needed to investigate the prognostic significance of several clinical and treatment parameters.

Objectives Breast cancer (BC) is a major global health issue as it is the most common malignancy in women. Despite, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in early BC has been established, there is a non-small proportion of patients who might develop chemoresistance. Several studies have investigated the relationship between microRNA-210 (miRNA-210) and neoadjuvant chemoresistance in BC with controversial results. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of miRNA-210 as a predictor for chemoresistance in BC receiving NAC. Material and Methods The study enrolled 15 chemo-sensitive and 15 chemo-resistant patients with BC receiving NAC. In addition, 10 newly-diagnosed BC patients before treatment and 10 healthy women were recruited as controls. Serum samples from all patients and controls were withdrawn and measurements of miRNA-210 levels using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were done and compared. Results The median value of miRNA-210 level was 1.53, 0.27, 0.52, and 1.35 in chemo-sensitive, chemo-resistant, newly-diagnosed, and control groups, respectively. A statistically significant difference (Chi square = 9.801, p = 0.020, df = 3) was found in the mean serum miRNA-210 among the four different groups. Using logistic regression model, low serum miRNA-210 expression level was found to be a predictive factor of chemo-resistance with p = 0.038 (OR of 0.103, 95% CI = 0.012 –0.886). Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, it was found that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.747 (95% CI = 0.550 –0.943). Conclusion Serum miRNA-210 could be an effective predictive biomarker for chemoresistance in BC patients receiving NAC.