• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.757-760
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• 2015

Aim: To present the epidemiologic data (age, gender, size etc) and histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) reported in our department. Settings: Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Duration: All cases of RMS diagnosed between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 were included in the study. Results: A total of 277 cases were included. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) was by far the dominant histologic type (87.4%) followed by alveolar type (ARMS)(9.4%). ERMS was much more common in males (64.0%)and over 65% of cases occurred in the first decade of life (over 90% in the first two decades). Head and neck region was commonest site for ERMS (46.7%), followed by the genitourinary system (16.1%). Over 65% cases of ARMS occurred in the extremities. Over 80% cases of ARMS occurred in the first 3 decades of life. Immunohistochemical staining for Desmin and MyoD1 was positive in 96.7% and 85.4% respectively. Conclusions: The epidemiologic data and microscopic findings in our patients are similar to international published data on rhabdomyosarcoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4727-4732
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• 2015

Background: Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), an important enzyme in the folate metabolic pathway, plays a central role in intracellular accumulation of folate and antifolate in several mammalian cell types. Loss of FPGS activity results in decreased cellular levels of antifolates and consequently to polyglutamatable antifolates in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Materials and Methods: During May 1997 and December 2003, 134 children diagnosed with ALL were recruited from one hospital in Thailand. We performed a mutation analysis in the coding regions of the FPGS gene and the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within FPGS in a case-control sample of childhood ALL patients. Mutation screening was conducted by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and subsequently with direct sequencing (n=72). Association analysis between common FPGS variants and ALL risk was done in 98 childhood ALL cases and 95 healthy volunteers recruited as controls. Results: Seven SNPs in the FPGS coding region were identified by mutation analysis, 3 of which (IVS13+55C>T, g.1297T>G, and g.1508C>T) were recognized as novel SNPs. Association analysis revealed 3 of 6 SNPs to confer significant increase in ALL risk these being rs7039798 (p=0.014, OR=2.14), rs1544105 (p=0.010, OR= 2.24), and rs10106 (p=0.026, OR=1.99). Conclusions: These findings suggested that common genetic polymorphisms in the FPGS coding region including rs7039789, rs1544105, and rs10106 are significantly associated with increased ALL risk in Thai children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8215-8220
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• 2016

Background: The prevalence of non-squamous cell malignant tumors of the oral cavity has not been evaluated in Iran extensively. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological aspects of the oral malignancies with non-squamous cell origin during a 43-year period in the Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, the records of all patients referred to dental school of Mashhad university of medical sciences in northeast of Iran, during the period 1971-2013 were evaluated. All confirmed samples of oral non squamous cell malignant tumors were included in this study. Demographic information including age, gender and location of the lesions were extracted from patient's records. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical soft ware, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Among 11,126 patients, 188 (1.68%) non squamous cell malignant tumors were found, with mean age of 39.9 years ranging from 2 to 92 years. The most common tumors were mucoepidermoid carcinoma (33 cases) and lymphoma (32 cases). Non squamous cell malignant tumors occurred almost equally in men (94 cases) and women (93 cases). Most (134 cases) of them were located peripherally with high frequency in salivary glands (89 cases) and 52 cases were centrally with high frequency in the mandible (38 cases). Conclusions: More findings in this survey were similar to those reported from other studies with differences in some cases; it may be due to variation in the sample size, geographic and racial differences in tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1629-1633
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• 2013

Background: Gene set analysis (GSA) incorporates biological with statistical knowledge to identify gene sets which are differentially expressed that between two or more phenotypes. Materials and Methods: In this paper gene sets differentially expressed between acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with BCR-ABL and those with no observed cytogenetic abnormalities were determined by GSA methods. The BCR-ABL is an abnormal gene found in some people with ALL. Results: The results of two GSAs showed that the Category test identified 30 gene sets differentially expressed between two phenotypes, while the Hotelling's $T^2$ could discover just 19 gene sets. On the other hand, assessment of common genes among significant gene sets showed that there were high agreement between the results of GSA and the findings of biologists. In addition, the performance of these methods was compared by simulated and ALL data. Conclusions: The results on simulated data indicated decrease in the type I error rate and increase the power in multivariate (Hotelling's $T^2$) test as increasing the correlation between gene pairs in contrast to the univariate (Category) test.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1931-1935
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• 2013

Background: This study was undertaken to identify the socio-demographic determinants of quit attempts among smokers and smokeless tobacco users to identify correlates of tobacco cessation behaviour in India Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study for the outcome of quit attempts made by current tobacco users in last 12 months in twelve districts in two states. Simple and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) of socio-demographic variables (age, gender, education, occupation, socio-economic status, community, area, type of family) and tobacco user status (smoker/smokeless). Results: In the combined analysis, a smoker had higher predicted probability of attempting quitting (OR-1.41,CI 1.14-1.90), in comparison to a smokeless tobacco user and a tobacco user in the state of Gujarat was less likely to attempt quitting than a user in Andhra Pradesh (OR-0.60, CI 0.47-0.78). The probability of making a quit attempt was higher among tobacco users who were more educated (OR-1.40, CI 1.04-1.94), having a higher socio-economic status (SES) (OR-2.39, CI 1.54-3.69), and belonging to non-agricultural labourer occupational group (OR-1.90, CI 1.29-2.78). The effects were maintained even after adjusting for all other variables. In disaggregated analysis, findings were similar except in smokeless as a separate group, education level was not significantly associated with quit attempts and with lower odds (OR-0.91, CI 0.58-1.42). Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to provide useful insight into potential determinants for quit attempts of tobacco users in India including smokeless tobacco users, exploring the socio-demographic patterning of correlates of quit attempts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6039-6045
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• 2012

This study was conducted to assess the predictive value of p-glycoprotein (p-gp) and p53 immunoexpression in human papillomavirus (HPV) infected cases of cervical dysplasia. Expression of both p-gp and p53 proteins was detected in cervical smears from 177 squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) cases along with 183 "atypical squamous cells of unknown significance" (ASCUS) and 150 normal cases. HPV 16 and 18 infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction using type-specific primers for HPV sub-types. There were no significant detectable p53 and p-gp expression in the normal cervix smears (p>0.05). In the ASCUS group 10 cases were positive for both p53 and p-gp immunoreactivity. In cervical dysplasia cases, p53 was positive in 86 (48.58%) while p-gp was positive in 93 (52.54%) and the two markers showed a highly significant correlation (r=0.92, p<0.001). Expression of p53 and p-gp was associated with grade of SIL (p<0.001). A positive correlation between the presence of HPV and expression of proteins p53 and p-gp in smears of patients with cervical lesions was also noted (p<0.001). Thus, p53 and p-gp immunostaining in cervical smears may act as an auxiliary biomarker for detection of HPV-associated cervical lesions. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between ascending grades of SIL and labeling indices of markers suggests that p53 and p-gp can be used as an adjunct to cytomorphological interpretation of conventional cervical Pap smears.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4203-4208
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• 2012

Aim: This study assessed if onfFN mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DTC can identify individuals with metastatic disease. Methods: Comparison of onfFN mRNA was made among 3 groups: disease-free, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis using real-time RT-PCR on 5 ml blood samples from each DTC patient. Results: Fifty-one patients were included: 30 (59%) were disease-free; 7 (13.7%) had lymph node metastasis; and 14 (27.5%) had distant metastasis. OnfFN mRNA levels in the 3 groups were significantly different (P=0.001) but with a large overlap and the expression being highest in the disease-free group. Subgroup analysis of the metastatic groups did not show any effect of age, cell type, and serum TSH, Tg, and antiTg on onfFN mRNA. The within-run and between-run root mean square coefficients of variations were <2%. Conclusion: OnfFN mRNA in patients with DTC cannot identify those with metastatic disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1261-1266
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• 2012

Introduction: HPV has been found repeatedly in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues. However, reported detection rates of HPV DNA in these tumors have varied markedly. Differences in detection methods, sample types, and geographic regions of sample origin have been suggested as potential causes of variation. We have reported that infection of HPV DNA in ESCC tumors depends on anatomical sites of esophagus of the patients from Mazandaran, north of Iran. Materials and Methods: HPV DNA was examined in 46 upper, 69 middle and 62 lower third anatomical sites of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens collected from Mazandaran province in north Iran, near the Caspian Littoral as a region with high incidence of ESCC. HPV L1 DNA was detected using Qualitative Real time PCR and MY09/MY11 primers. Results: 28.3% of upper, 29% of middle and 25.8% of lower third of ESCC samples were positive for HPV DNA. 13.6% for males and 14.1% for females were HPV positive in all samples. Conclusions: HPV infection is about one third of ESCC in this area. Findings in this study increase the possibility that HPV is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis. Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6979-6983
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• 2013

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is categorized as premalignant lesion although its malignant potential is a matter of controversy. The objective of this study was to investigate Ki67 expression in OLP, oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods: Expression of Ki67 was evaluated through immunohistochemistry (IHC) in groups of A (17 cases of epithelial hyperplasia), B (16 cases of OLP), C1 (10 cases of mild epithelial dysplasia), C2 (10 cases of severe epithelial dysplasia), D1 (10 cases of well-differentiated OSCC), and D2 (10 cases of poorly-differentiated OSCC). Results: There was a significant difference in Ki67 expression based on quantitative analysis among the six studied groups as well as group B compared bilaterally with groups C2, D1 and D2 (p< 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between groups B and C1 or between groups D1 and D2 (p> 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study it may not be possible to definitely consider malignant transformation potential for OLP. However, expression of Ki67 was significantly higher in OLP than that of epithelial hyperplasia with no significant difference from that of mild epithelial dysplasia. This should be considered by clinicians to carefully and regularly follow up OLP lesions to detect potential subtle changes at an early stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6563-6568
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• 2013

Background: Tobacco use and quit attempts are two key indicators of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) that assess quit attempts among current as well as former tobacco users. The relevant data have inherent policy implications for tobacco cessation programme evaluation. This study aimed to review the concepts of quit attempt assessment and quantifying invalid responses considering GATS-India data. Materials and Methods: GATS assessment of tobacco use and quit attempts were examined in the current literature. Two categories of invalid responses were identified by stratified analysis of the duration of last quit attempt among current users and duration of abstinence among former users. Category A included absolute invalid responses when time-frame of assessment of current tobacco use and less than former tobacco use were violated. Category B included responses that violated the unit of measurement of time. Results: Current daily use, current less than daily use and former use in GATS were imprecisely defined with overlapping of time-frame of assessment. Overall responses of 3,102 current smokers, 4,036 current smokeless users, 1,904 former smokers and 1,343 former smokeless users were analyzed to quantify invalid responses. Analysis indicated overall 21.2% (category A: 7.32%; category B: 17.7%) and 22.7% (category A: 8.05%; category B: 18.1%) invalid responses among current smokers and smokeless users respectively regarding their duration of last quit attempt. Similarly overall 6.62% (category A: 4.7%; category B: 2.3%) and 10.6% (category A: 8.6%; category B: 3.5%) invalid responses were identified among former smokers and smokeless users respectively regarding their duration of abstinence. Conclusions: High invalid responses for a single assessment are due to the imprecise definition of current use, former use and quit attempt; and failure to utilize opportunity of direct data entry interface use during the survey to validate responses instantly. Redefining tobacco use and quit attempts considering an appropriate timeframe would reduce invalid responses.