Aims:We present retrospective analysis of patients of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and discuss clinical characteristics, various treatment protocols, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors influencing survival.Materials and Methods:From January 2002 to June 2009, 439 patients of GBM were registered in our department. The median age of patients was 50 years, 66.1% were males, and 75% underwent complete or near-total excision. We evaluated those 360 patients who received radiotherapy (RT). Radiotherapy schedule was selected depending upon pre-RT Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). Patients with KPS < 70 (Group I, n = 48) were planned for RT dose of 30-35 Gy in 10-15 fractions, and patients with KPS ≥ 70 (Group II, n = 312) were planned for 60 Gy in 30 fractions. In group I, six patients and in group II, 89 patients received some form of chemotherapy (lomustine or temozolomide).Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 12.0. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were determined by log rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The median follow-up was 7.53 months. The median and 2-year survival rates were 6.33 months and 2.24% for group I and 7.97 months and 8.21% for group II patients, respectively (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, site of tumor (central vs. others; P = 0.006), location of tumor (parietal lobe vs. others; P = 0.003), RT dose (<60 Gy vs. 60 Gy; P = 0.0001), and use of some form of chemotherapy (P = 0.0001) were independent prognostic factors for survival.Conclusions:In patients with GBM, OS and prognosis remains dismal. Whenever possible, we should use concurrent and/or adjuvant chemotherapy to maximize the benefits of post-operative radiotherapy. Patients with poor performance status may be considered for hypofractionated RT schedules, which have similar median survival rates as conventional RT.

Subcutaneous metastasis from carcinoma larynx is a rare presentation and to the phalynx is the rarest. We herein describe a case report of carcinoma supraglottic larynx, which is involving all five distal phalanges of left hand with simultaneous metastases to lung and liver. Acrometastasis is an unusual presentation, which might mimic an infectious or inflammatory pathology. The brief report highlights the importance of clinical awareness of metastatic dissemination to unusual sites in the face of increasing cancer survivorship.

This is the case report of a 14-year young female who was diagnosed with solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) of proximal tibia and was treated by local involved field radiotherapy. We present the clinical, radiological and pathological findings of the case and review of the available treatment options and prognosis of this rare site presentation of plasmacytoma in an adolescent female.

Acrometastasis to the hand is an unusual presentation which might mimic an infectious, inflammatory, or a metabolic pathology. We herein describe a case series of three patients of acrometastasis to the hand. We encountered three cases of acrometastasis to the hand attending the departmental clinics from 2007 to 2010. The median age at presentation was noted to be 55 years. All were males. The primaries included squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, larynx, and esophagus. In two patients, acrometastasis was detected at presentation and in one it was detected 2 years postcompletion of radical therapy. Two patients were offered palliative radiation to acrometastasis, and best supportive care was given to one. Palliation achieved after radiation was noted to be modest to good. The brief report highlights the importance of the clinical awareness of metastatic dissemination to unusual sites in the face of increasing cancer survivorship. Acrometastasis portends a poor prognosis with limited survival, and optimal integration of the best supportive care is mandatory. A short course of hypofractionated palliative radiation therapy results in modest to good palliation.

The occurrence of multiple primary malignant neoplasias (MPMN) is a rare but increasingly frequently reported event. Many theories have been proposed to explain MPMNs, but none have been proven. The key risk factors appear to be smoking and family history. While numerous studies have been published on the development of second malignancies following a first primary, the literature contains only few case reports and reviews of patients with three or more malignancies. We report a case of a young female who, over a period of 30 years, developed four different malignancies and was treated radically on each occasion.

No abstract

Background SNP genotyping has become increasingly more common place to understand the genetic basis of complex diseases like cancer. SNP-genotyping through massARRAY is a cost-effective method to quantitatively analyse the variation of gene expression in multiple samples, making it a potential tool to identify the underlying causes of colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods In the present study, SNP genotyping was carried out using Agena mass ARRAY, which is a costeffective, robust, and sensitive method to analyse multiple SNPs simultaneously. We analysed 7 genes in 492 samples (100 cases and 392 controls) associated with CRC within the population of Jammu and Kashmir. These SNPs were selected based on their association with multiple cancers in literature.Results This is the rst study to explore these SNPs with colorectal cancer within the J&K population.7SNPs with a call rate of 90% were selected for the study. Out of these, one SNP i.e. rs2229080 of DCC was found to be signi cantly associated with the current study and 6 were non-signi cantly associated with CRC within the studied population. The allelic OR observed for the variant rs2229080 of DCC was 1.5 (1.1-2.3 at 95% CI), p value = 0.02.Conclusion This is the rst study to nd the relation of Genetic variants with the colorectal cancer within the studied population using high throughput mass ARRAY technology. It is further anticipated that the variants should be evaluated in other population groups that may aid in understanding the genetic complexity and bridge the missing heritability.

No abstract