Objective: Investigate epidemiology of leukemia in Karbala province of Iraq, compare and identify possible changes with other populations. Methods: This was retrospective descriptive study for more than 400 leukemia patients in Karbala province from November 2011 to May 2018 with evaluation of age, gender distribution, types distribution and frequency distribution types of leukemia according to age and gender.Result: About 402 patients with leukemia were retrospectively enrolled in this study at median age of 30 years. Males accounted for a higher proportion of leukemia patients, 58.2 % compared to 41.8% females, with a male to female ratio of nearly 1.4:1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was the most prevalent in the study group, contributing 41% (median age 10 years), followed by chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 24.1% (median age 42 years), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 19.2% (median age 36 years) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) of less frequent type which contributed only 15.7% (median age 60 years). Conclusion: This is the first statistical study of leukemia in Karbala. It can be used as basic information to investigate epidemiological characteristics, to evaluate progress in recent years and to develop future leukemia strategies. More statistical leukemia analyses in Iraq are needed.

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring tumor and the first cause of death in females. Low level of understanding early symptoms leads to a late diagnosis and high mortality rates. Aims: To describe presenting symptoms, risk factors, and medical care delays among breast cancer patients in Iraq. Materials & Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study conducted in Al-Hussein center in Karbala province of Iraq between February 2012 and August 2020.Results: There were 101 female patients with breast cancer, median age was 45 years. Most of our patients diagnosed incidentally and only 17.82% of our patients were performing breast self examination. Lack of physical activity was the most common risk factors in more than 74% of patients. Painless breast lump was the most frequent symptom in 85.14% of patients. Majority of our patients 58.42% asked medical help within six months. Limited knowledge about symptoms was the common barriers for early diagnosis in 43.94% of patients. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about breast cancer had a major concern in our region. Increasing awareness about early symptoms and risk factors is very important for early diagnosis and proper management.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a proangiogenic factor that exerts different effects over stem cell survival growth, apoptosis, and adhesion. Its impact on leukemogenesis has been established by many studies. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of plasma HGF activity on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients at presentation and after remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional prospective study of 30 newly-diagnosed, adult, and AML patients. All patients received the 7+3 treatment protocol. Patients’ clinical data were taken at presentation, and patients were followed up for 6 months to evaluate the clinical status. Plasma HGF levels were estimated by ELISA based methods in the patients at two intervals first at diagnosis and the 2nd time after remission of disease. Plasma HGF levels were only measured once in twenty healthy control individuals. RESULTS: A statistically significant lowering in the median levels of HGF after remission induction therapy has been found when compared with those before treatment (p = 0.006) and in the group of patients who achieved complete remission in comparison with those before treatment (p = 0.005). Furthermore, a significant reduction was also demonstrated after treatment in patients presenting with extramedullary involvement (p = 0.003) and in the alive group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma HGF estimation can be a useful parameter in predicting treatment outcomes in patients with AML, and it can add potentially useful information to risk stratification parameters.

Background: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) occurs due to malignant transformation of a pluripotent stem cell.  Progression is insidious from chronic to aggressive accelerated or blastic phases. Studies revealed a significant role of the tumor suppressor gene P53 in disease progression. Objectives: To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of mutant P53 protein in CML at different clinical phases. J Fac Med Baghdad 2013; Vol.55, No .3 Received Nov .2012 Accepted July.2013   Subjects, materials and methods: This case - control study was conducted over 8 months period from January to August in 2010 on 60 preserved bone marrow trephine biopsies of patients with CML (30 in chronic phase, 15 in accelerated phase and 15 in blastic phase) collected from the Department of Histopathology, Teaching laboratories, Medical City directorate, Baghdad. Mutant P53 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry technique of Dakopatts Corporation and scored in the department of pathology / college of medicine / University of Baghdad. Results: This study was done on 60 CML patients whose age mean was 41.6 ± 16.8 years and range from 14 to 81 years with male to female ratio of 1.06:1. Positive mutant P53 expression was detected in 10 out of 30 cases (33.3%) in chronic phase while it was positive in 8 out of 15 cases (53.3%) in the accelerated phase and positive in 13 out of 15 cases (86.7 %) in the blastic phase with p value of 0.003. Conclusions: There was a significant difference in the immunohistochemical expression of mutant P53 in the bone marrow biopsies of CML patients among different phases and its expression was more in advance phases of the disease. Moreover the mutant P53 expression show a significant correlation with the blast percentage in the accelerated and blastic phases of CML.