• Diabetes & Cancer a lethal combination An article was published in Diabetologia, which revealed that patient having a pre-existing diabetes had a greater risk of death and this was highest when observed in those using insulin. This was a Danish study which found that patients who had diabetes for 2 years, and who had been treated with insulin at the time of cancer diagnosis, had a mortality rate that was about 4 times higher than that of non diabetics. Among 426129 patients with cancer, 42205 patients were having diabetes prior to their cancer diagnosis. Diabetic had a poor survival as compared to non diabetic and this difference was more marked when compared to diabetics on insulin. Various co-morbidities associated with diabetes may be one of the reasons but there may be a “direct effect” from glucose lowering regimens that induce a “more progressive cancer at diagnosis &/or impaired prognosis". Although author emphasise that the study is entirely observational so no definitive conclusion can be drawn and only trends are observed and hypothesis is generated for future studies.
  • March Issue of Anticancer Research published a meta-analysis which revealed that women with normal level of vitamin D at the time of diagnosis had twice a chance of survival when compared to those with low levels of Vitamin D. This meta-analysis combined 5 studies having a total of 4443 patients. If we look at 10 year survival, mortality from breast cancer was 44% lower in group of patients with highest level of Vitamin D compared to those with lowest level of Vitamin D. Previous studies have already established that Vitamin D prevents breast and colon cancer. Also there are enough studies to suggest that Vitamin D stops cancer growth. “Doctors should measure Vitamin D levels in their breast cancer patients, if they are deficient, they should be started immediately on 40000.
  • Targeted therapy increases survival in Carcinoma Cervix A phase 2 Brazilian study published in cancer revealed that addition of targeted therapy ( Tab Erlotinib 150mg OD) to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer increase response rate and survival. In general survival in locally advanced cervical cancer ranges between 15% to 40% depending on stage. Although this was a small study of 36 women of locally advanced cervical cancer but it did reveal an impressive disease free survival of 73.8% at the end of 3 year. More important this addition of Erlotinib to concurrent chemoradiotherapy had no enhanced effect on toxicity. As this study was small and there was no control arm so no definitive conclusion can be drawn. Anyhow this study creates an opportunity to further enhance the results of well established treatment protocol for locally advanced carcinoma cervix.
  • The cancer cells are not from outside the body but are cells of body itself over which body has lost control and they have become autonomous and are repeatedly dividing and growing. Various known and unknown, intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect this process. Scientific and technological advancement is providing more and more insight on the processes involved in the development of cancer. Similarly new ways and approaches of tackling the cancer have also evolved. New drugs and therapies are being launced every day to try to control this dreaded disease. Still the main treatment revolves around Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy. Molecular approach has given us a new weapon in the armamentarium that is targeted therapy both in intravenous and oral form. Also, cancer vaccines for carci.
  • SBRT more toxic than IMRT in Prostate Cancer. SBRT is a new technology in radiation oncology which is faster and shorter treatment approach when compared to IMRT. SBRT can finish the treatment in 1 - 2 week while IMRT takes 7-8 weeks. A study published in JCO march 2014 issue revealed that patients treated with SBRT had more urinary symptoms compared to IMRT. This was the retrospective study by Dr Yu and his colleagues. The cohort consisted of 1335 patients treated with SBRT and 2670 matched patients treated with IMRT. At 6 month and 12 month genitourinary complications were more in SBRT group, while gastrointestinal toxicity was also more in SBRT group at 6 month but no difference at 12 month. After one year also this difference was persistent in terms of genitourinary complication.
  • All cancers begin when cells in a part of the body become abnormal and start making more cells. These extra cells form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. If the tumor gets bigger, it can hurt nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body. What is cancer ? Cells are the smallest structural unit of human body. Cells come together and form tissues and tissues come together and form organs. Specific organs have specific functions and together form the human body. Inside the human body, wear and tear is a continuous process. Older cells are continuously replaced by newer cells. the human body has a very fine control over the life cycle of these cells. When cells reach a specific age, they die naturally and this type of cell
  • Diabetes & Cancer a lethal combination An article was published in Diabetologia, which revealed that patient having a pre-existing diabetes had a greater risk of death and this was highest when observed in those using insulin. This was a Danish study which found that patients who had diabetes for 2 years, and who had been treated with insulin at the time of cancer diagnosis, had a mortality rate that was about 4 times higher than that of non diabetics. Among 426129 patients with cancer, 42205 patients were having diabetes prior to their cancer diagnosis. Diabetic had a poor survival as compared to non diabetic and this difference was more marked when compared to diabetics on insulin. Various co-morbidities associated with diabetes may be one of the reasons but there may b.