Abstract: Cancer is the second cause of premature deaths globally. In Malaysia, a total of 18,219 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2007. Cancer is preventable and potentially avoidable disease, mainly by tackling modifiable risk factors, increasing participation in cancer screening tests and early detection of cancer through the recognition of early cancer signs. Cancer awareness was assessed using a validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient > 0.77) containing 63 items which included awareness (cancer early signs and symptoms, and cancer screening tests); cancer risk factors knowledge; attitude towards cancer prevention; and barriers in seeking cancer and health information. A total of 965 students (36.0% males and 64.0% females) participated with informed consent. Majority of the students were from private universities (73.1%) while 26.9% were from public universities. Majority of the students had low awareness (94.4%) and knowledge (64.9%) scores but have high attitude scores (76.9%). Awareness, knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher among female students and science faculty students. Only knowledge score was significantly higher among students from Chinese ethnicity. Emotional and practical barriers were determined as the main barrier in seeking medical advice among the participants. This study provides a valuable basis of information toward the formulation of relevant cancer prevention strategies, especially within the scope of health education among the undergraduate students.

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of death and fifth most common malignancy worldwide. Objective: Present study focused on the abnormal tumor cell glucose metabolism, considering the pathways of hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt enzymes. The key regulatory enzymes of HMP include hexokinase (HK), glyeraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Their perturbations sought to be helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC in addition to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Materials and methods: Diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) plus carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) chemically-induced HCC model was used. Sixteen male albino rats were equally divided into 2 groups. Group I: served as a normal control received single intraperitonial (I.P) injection of saline, 2 weeks later, received subcutaneous (S.C) injection of saline, in equal volumes given for group II animals. Group II animals received single I.P injection of DENA (200mg/kg), 2 weeks later, received S.C injection of CCl4 (3ml/Kg/week) for 6 weeks. Then animals were sacrificed, blood and liver samples were obtained. Results: In HCC group, relative liver weights, serum AFP and HK, GAPDH and G6PD activities in both serum and liver homogenate were significantly increased; subsequent decrease in body weight was also evident. The histopathological examination of liver biopsies revealed the presence of few dysplastic nodules. Such nodules were 1mm or more in diameter on macroscopic examination, indicating carcinogenic features, nuclear and cytoplasmic alterations with clustering of population cells, structurally abnormal portal tracts, supporting serum enzyme and tumor marker assays. Conclusion: Glycolytic alterations can be used for diagnosis and prognosis of carcinogenesis in liver. These biomarkers may be beneficial tools to improve diagnostic performance of conventional tumor markers as AFP.

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to detect and determine the different genotypes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) found in high-grade squamous preinvasive lesions of the uterine cervix of Cameroonian women. HPV genotyping was conducted on 37 endocervical secretions of women with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. HPV was found in 31 of the 37 women (83.8%); 9 different HPV genotypes were identified. The genotypes with high oncogenic potential were found in decreasing order of frequency as follows: 16, 18, 45, 33, 35 and 68. The frequency of strains found per patient ranged from 1 to 3. Genotypes 16 and 18 were single in 17 out of 31 patients. They were associated with other HPV genotypes in 4 out of 31 patients. In this study genotypes 16 and 18 are the most frequent genotypes encountered in high grade squamous preinvasive cervical lesions in Yaounde. This finding, if confirmed on a larger sample, portrays the potential effectiveness of HPV vaccines in the Cameroonian population as a preventive measure against cervical cancer. However, the position of genotype 45 is not negligible and should be confirmed on a large sample.

Abstract: Extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) is an uncommon, aggressive, and malignant tumor with poor outcome. Pancreas in one of the very rare extraosseous location for this tumor thus minimal information regarding this disorder is present in literature. The present case was clinically and radiologically misdiagnosed as a pancreatic tumor. Histopathology of the tumor tissue revealed “small round cells” that were positive for CD99 (MIC-2), confirming the diagnosis of ES/PNET. This case report emphasis on the importance of considering Ewing’s sarcoma in the differential diagnosis of intraabdominal, extraintestinal masses particularly in young patients presenting with pancreatic mass.

Abstract: Radiation therapy has been one of the major treatment modalities for the prostate cancer over the past few decades. Treatment planning system (TPS) is an integral component in radiation therapy in order to ensure the accurate estimation of radiation dose to the tumor. However, due to the variability in optimization techniques and beam modeling among various TPS, the current literature on radiation treatment planning have shown disagreement on the dosimetric findings, especially for the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated radiation therapy (VMAT). This may create a confusion for the cancer centers who are debating whether to implement IMRT or VMAT as the primary treatment modality for the cancer treatment in their institution. The purpose of this article is to provide the brief review on the IMRT and VMAT for the prostate cancer treatment.

Abstract:

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to detect and determine the different genotypes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) found in high-grade squamous preinvasive lesions of the uterine cervix of Cameroonian women. The age of the effected women was 28-55 years with 27 (69.3%) women between 34 and 40 years old. HPV genotyping was conducted on 37 endocervical secretions of women with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. HPV was found in 31 of the 37 women (83.8%); 9 different HPV genotypes were identified. The genotypes with high oncogenic potential were found in decreasing order of frequency as follows: 16, 18, 45, 33, 35 and 68. The frequency of strains found per patient ranged from 1 to 3. Genotypes 16 and 18 were single in 17 out of 31 patients. They were associated with other HPV genotypes in 4 out of 31 patients. In this study genotypes 16 and 18 are the most frequent genotypes encountered in high grade squamous preinvasive cervical lesions in Yaounde. This finding, if confirmed on a larger sample, portrays the potential effectiveness of HPV vaccines in the Cameroonian population as a preventive measure against cervical cancer. However, the position of genotype 45 is not negligible and should be confirmed on a large sample.

Abstract: Changes to the oral cavity arising from malignant disease, treatment and other co-morbidity factors can have a profound affect on the person with cancer, causing pain, discomfort, lack of nutrition, longer hospital stays, and in some situations sepsis and death. While it is recognized that caring for the mouth is an important aspect of cancer care, all too often this aspect of care may be overlooked until problems arise. This leads to needless distress and discomfort and in some cases serious clinical consequences. Oral and gastrointestinal mucositis can affect up to 100% of patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and practice on oral care among the patients receiving chemotherapy. This is descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 102 respondents, visiting B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur Chitwan and who met eligible criteria were systematically sampled and interviewed face to face. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis using the SPSS version 16.0. The duration of the study was one month i.e. June, 2010. The tool was developed after reviewing the related literatures. The knowledge on oral care was adequate among 23.4% of the respondents and 18.6% of the respondents had adequate practice receiving chemotherapy. Only 28.4% respondents had adequate knowledge. Among total respondents 60.7% of the respondents had adequate knowledge on the prevention of oral problems and 55.8% of the respondents had adequate knowledge on treatment of oral problems. Nurses were found as a main source of information on oral care. Thus, it was concluded that majority of the respondents had inadequate knowledge and practice on oral care. There was association between selected demographic (age and education). There was no association between family history of cancer and knowledge of respondents. Thus the study also concluded that adequate knowledge on oral care should be provided to the patients before undergoing chemotherapy.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare the knowledge of the relationship between HPV and head and neck cancer (HNCA) in three unique populations: general public at a sporting event, undergraduates, and medical students, and to compare the frequency that a healthcare provider has discussed the topics of cervical cancer and HNCA amongst these populations. A one-way between subjects design was used to evaluate participants at a community based head and neck cancer screening, and students in individual classrooms. A28-item questionnaire was administered to 491 NASCAR race attendees, 186 undergraduate students, and 158 medical students. The survey assessed their knowledge of the relationship between HPV and HNCA using a Likert scale. The survey also assessed the level of information disseminated by healthcare providers regarding HPV and HNCA. NASCAR attendees evidenced significantly (p < .001, η² = .10) lower levels of knowledge of the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer than college or medical students. NASCAR attendees evidenced significantly (p < .001, η² = .02) lower levels of knowledge of the relationship between HPV and HNCA. NASCAR attendees reported significantly (p < .001, η² = .10) more frequent discussions with health care providers regarding HNCA compared to college or medical students. Undergraduates and medical students reported significantly (p < .001, η² = .02) more frequent discussions with health care providers regarding HPV than NASCAR attendees. Results demonstrated group differences in knowledge between the relationship of HPV and cervical cancer and HPV and HNCA. All groups were more aware of HPV’s association with cervical cancer than with HNCA.

Abstract: Background: Jordan, a Middle Eastern country, has a high prevalence rate of smoking. However, little research was done to evaluate knowledge of smoking-related cancers in the region. Objective: To assess knowledge of smoking-related cancers among Jordanian university students. Design: Cross-sectional study conducted in July, 2013, using a self-administered online questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to students from University of Jordan. Results: The final sample consisted of 230 students. The majority of participants (98.7%) were aware that smoking has harmful health effects and (95.7%) agreed that smoking causes cancer. Most of the participants agreed that smoking causes lung cancer (97.8%), oral cancer (83.0%), laryngeal cancer (82.6%), pharyngeal cancer (80.0%), and esophageal cancer (63.0%), while less than half of the participant thought that smoking causes AML (46.1%), stomach cancer (36.1%), kidney cancer (32.6%), cervical cancer (19.6%), pancreatic cancer (19.1%), and bladder cancer (14.8%). Females showed more knowledge about smoking-related cancers than males (p < 0.05) but the there was no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusion: These findings show that most of the students know that lung cancer is caused by smoking. However, there is a lower knowledge of other smoking-related cancers. Our study suggests that more efforts should be done to increase the awareness of the adverse health hazards of smoking especially that are related to cancer.