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Human papilloma virus is a causative factor in the etiology of cervical cancer with HPV16 being the most prevalent genotype associated with it. Intratype variations in oncogenic E6/E7 and capsid L1 proteins of HPV 16 besides being of phylogenetic importance, are associated with risk of viral persistence and progression. The objective of this multicentric study was to identify HPV-16 E6, E7 and L1 variants prevalent in India and their possible biological effects. Squamous cell cervical cancer biopsies were collected from 6 centres in India and examined for the presence of HPV 16. Variants of HPV-16 were characterized by full length sequence analysis of L1, E6 and E7 genes in 412 samples. Similar distribution of the variants was seen from the different centres/regions, with the European variant E350G being the most prevalent (58%), followed by American Asian variant (11.4%). Fifty six changes were seen in E6 region, 31 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being L83V (72.3%), Q14H (13.1%) and H78Y (12.1%). Twenty-nine alterations were seen in E7 region, with 12 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being F57V (9%). L1 region showed 204 changes, of which 67 were nonsynonymous. The most frequent being 448insS (100%), and 465delD (100%), H228D (94%), T292A (85%). The identified variants some new and some already reported can disrupt pentamer formation, transcriptional regulation of the virus, L1 protein interface interaction, B and T cell epitopes, p53 degradation, and thus their distribution is important for development of HPV diagnostics, vaccine, and for therapeutic purpose. ' UICCKey words: cervical cancer; human papilloma virus 16; variants Cervical cancer is the second most predominant cancer worldwide. 1 In India it is the most common cancer amongst women, accounting for 130,000 new cases and more than 70,000 deaths annually. Persistent infection with high risk Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the main aetiological factor in the development of cervical cancer and may depend on HPV genotypes and variants. 2 HPV-16 is the most prevalent genotype associated with cervical carcinomas globally, as well as in Indian women. [3][4][5] This could perhaps be because of differential HPV-16 variant frequency, with certain variants conferring greater oncogenecity. 6,7 The molecular variants or lineages differ in nucleotide sequence by no more than 2% in the coding region and 5% in the noncoding regions of the viral genome with respect to the prototype. 8 Through nucleotide sequence comparisons, it has been found that HPV-16 has evolved along 5 major phylogenetic branches i.e., European, Asian, Asian American, African-1 and African-2. 9 Intratypic variation of HPV-16 has been shown to be an important predictor of progression to clinical relevant cervical lesion. 10 In a cohort study of young women 16 different HPV variants were found, one of which persisted over time, although the other variants were transiently detected. 11 Considerable intratypic diversity of HPV-16 has been reported by other studies based on DNA sequenc...

To assess the diagnostic performance, interobserver agreement and confidence level for determining response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) using morphology based MR-tumour regression grade (MR TRG), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) patterns and their combination in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with NACRT and subsequent surgery. Two independent radiologists blinded to the histopathology reviewed staging and restaging MRI. Diagnostic performance of morphology based MR-TRG, DWI patterns and their combination for determining complete (CR) and incomplete (IR) response was assessed with pathological response as the reference. Likert's scale was used to assess the radiologist's level of confidence. Interobserver agreement was determined using Kappa statistics. Results: The study included 251 patients (mean age of 47.9+/-14 (range 19-86) years, M:F = 164:87). Rate of pathological CR was 14.7 % (n = 37). Pattern based interpretation of DWI and combined approach (DWI + T2-HR) had superior diagnostic performance than morphology based assessment alone with area under curve (AUC) for T2HR, DWI and their combination being 0.531, 0.887, 0.874 respectively for observer 1 and 0.558, 0.653, 0.678 respectively for observer 2, p < 0.001. Interobserver agreement was substantial (k = 0.688) for combined approach, moderate (k = 0.402) for DWI patterns and fair (k = 0.265) for T2 HR MRI with both observers exhibiting highest level of confidence for determining response with the combined approach. Conclusion: Complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be determined with excellent accuracy, substantial interobserver agreement and high level of confidence by combined interpretation of DWI and T2 high resolution MRI.

Capillary haemangiomas rarely occur in the auditory canal and have mainly been managed with surgical excision or kept on close follow up for development of symptoms. Radiotherapy, as a treatment method, has not been reported previously in the published work. We describe a study of a capillary haemangioma in the auditory canal of a 26-year-old woman who presented with bleeding. She was treated with radiotherapy, after the lesion was found to be unsuitable for surgery and embolization. The patient remains well 5 years after completion of treatment.

Aim To study the prognostic significance of MRI identified tumour deposits (TD), extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), lymph node metastases (LNM) and pelvic sidewall (PSW) disease in rectal cancer. Methods This IRB approved study was conducted on patients with stage IIA–IIIC rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant long course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) type of surgery between 2012–2018. A radiologist blinded to outcome reviewed staging and restaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for TD, EMVI, LNM and PSW. The agreement between four radiologists was studied and we obtained outcome data from a prospectively maintained database. The prognostic significance of imaging findings was assessed. Results A total of 297 (186 males) patients with a mean age of 47.3 (SD14.4) years were included in the study. The majority had T3 (n = 206) or T4 (n = 59) stage disease. The mean duration of follow‐up was 49.3 ± 25 months (6.6–101 months). 5‐year overall (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) was 84% and 74%, respectively. Staging and restaging MRI had EMVI in 49.5% and 31.3%; TD in 47.5% and 31.6%; LNM in 61.1% and 38.1% and PSW in 11.4% and 6.1%. OS was adversely affected by EMVI, TD and PSW with the adjusted HR (aHR) of 3.32, 3.31, 3.27 for staging MRI and 2.99, 3.1, 2.81 for restaging MRI, respectively, p < 0.05. DFS was affected by EMVI (aHR = 1.85, 2.33) and TD (aHR = 1.83, 2.19), p < 0.05. Persistence of these findings after LCCRT led to worst outcome. Intra‐ and interobserver agreement for EMVI, TD and LN was 0.789, 0.734, 0.406 and 0.449, 0.354, 0.376, respectively, p < 0.001. Conclusions MRI identified that TD, EMVI and PSW disease are independent poor prognostic indicators in rectal cancer patients. Interobserver agreement for these findings was moderate to fair.

Prophylactic HPV-16/18-L1 vaccines would provide greater than 75% protection against SCC in India. Ranking and frequencies of non-16/18 types were different from earlier reports. Hence, considering the possibility of promotion of persistence of nonvaccine types in the vaccinees due to original antigenic sin and the lack of organized screening programs in India, a broad-based vaccine approach would be appropriate.

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Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel along with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of cervix had a high incidence of acute toxicity. There was no increase in immediate tumor response and progression free survival with this treatment regimen. Hence, this regimen offers no added benefit when compared to the chemo radiation with cisplatin alone.