ecancermedicalscience最新文献

{"title":"Validation of Onco-MPI and Geriatric-8 for predicting 2-year mortality in older Indian patients with breast cancer: a prospective observational study.","authors":"Shivani Sable, Tabassum Wadasadawala, Myvizhi Kannan, Rajiv Sarin, Rima Pathak, Revathy Krishnamurthy, Seema Gulia, Shalaka Joshi, Palak Popat, Tanuja Shet","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2099","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Identifying vulnerabilities in older patients through comprehensive geriatric assessment is crucial but resource-intensive. This prospective study validated shorter tools- Onco-multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) and Geriatric-8 (G8) for predicting 2-year mortality in breast cancer patients and developed a nomogram using significant clinical predictors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The geriatric assessment was done in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve breast cancer patients with age ≥65 years. Overall survival was analysed by Kaplan-Meier test; univariate and multivariate analyses done to determine predictors of survival using Cox-proportional hazards model. A nomogram was constructed based on multivariate model and validated using calibration curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 300 patients (median age 70 years, IQR 67-74), 95.6% had ECOG-PS 0-1. High-grade histology and lympho-vascular invasion (LVI) positivity were seen in 77% and 30%, respectively. Most patients (77.6%) were non-metastatic. Luminal, HER2+ and triple negative subtype was present in 70%, 10.3% and 18.7% tumours. Rate of non-compliance to treatment was 25%. At median follow-up of 28.8 months, 2-year survival was 78%. The 2-year mortality for Onco-MPI categories was 13.36% (low-risk), 25.9% (medium-risk) and 29.8% (high-risk); high versus low-risk showed statistical difference (HR 2.68, 95% CI 1.13, 6.37; <i>p</i> = 0.026). G8 scores ≤14 and ≤12 both significantly predicted survival (<i>p</i> = 0.001; <i>p</i> = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, higher nodal stage, metastatic status, triple negative breast cancer subtype and LVI positivity independently predicted poorer survival. G8 score remained a significant predictor at both cut-offs (≤14 and ≤12) compared to Onco-MPI. A nomogram integrating nodal stage, metastatic status, LVI and G8 predicted 1- and 2-year survival with a C-index of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.84) and demonstrated good calibration at 12 and 24 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In elderly breast cancer patients, G8 score was a stronger predictor of survival, outperforming onco-MPI. The nomogram combining conventional prognostic factors with G8 showed good discrimination for pre-treatment prognostication.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2099"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13319346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148367479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of breast-conserving surgery versus reconstruction post-mastectomy: a BREAST-Q™ assessment.","authors":"Kristian Bugeja, Alexia Mercieca, Kristina Attard, Serkan Ilgun, John Agius","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2095","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare patient-reported outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and breast reconstruction post-mastectomy (BRPM) at Mater Dei Hospital using the BREAST-Q™ questionnaire, with a focus on multiple quality-of-life domains including satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, physical well-being, sexual well-being, fatigue, cancer worry and impact on work.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective audit analysed 46 patients treated between 2017 and 2020 at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta: 23 underwent BCS via wide local excision, and 23 underwent two-stage implant-based reconstruction following mastectomy. To reduce variability, only cases performed by a single breast surgeon were included, and age distributions were matched between groups. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the validated BREAST-Q™ version 1.0 questionnaire. Statistical comparisons between the BCS and BRPM groups were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BCS patients reported higher scores in physical well-being (70.0% versus 64.6%, p = 0.01) and slightly better sexual well-being (73.3% vs versus 66.7%, p = 0.83), while BRPM patients showed higher psychosocial well-being (74.0% vs versus 69.4%, p = 0.17). Satisfaction with breast outcomes appeared higher in the BCS group when expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible score (83.5% vs versus 63.3%, p = 0.43), though raw scores favoured BRPM. Cancer worry, fatigue and impact on work scores were similar between groups, with no statistically significant differences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Both BCS and BRPM yielded broadly comparable patient-reported outcomes across most domains. BRPM was associated with higher psychosocial well-being, while BCS patients experienced better physical and sexual well-being. The only statistically significant difference was found in physical well-being, favouring BCS. These findings underscore the importance of personalised counselling and shared decision-making to align surgical choices with patient values and expectations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2095"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disparities in oral cancer screening among Indian women aged 30-49: insights from a national survey.","authors":"Navjot Kaur, Pritam Halder, Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy, Gursimer Jeet, Garima Bhatt, Sathish Rajaa, Priyanka Sudhir, Rohit Sharma, Sarthak Tandon, Manish Gupta","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2096","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Oral cancer estimates are concerning in India, with inequalities in accessing screening services, especially in rural areas. Socioeconomic characteristics contribute to disparities in screening coverage. The current study estimates the coverage of self-reported screening, spatial patterns, differences in screening rates in urban and rural areas and determinants of screening among Indian women.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>We analysed data from 348,882 women (30-49 years) participating in India's fifth wave of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). Self-reported oral cancer screening weighted coverage was estimated and compared per socio-demographic characteristics. Global and local spatial autocorrelation methods were applied to understand the spatial distribution of screening coverage, which was then depicted using choropleth maps. The differences in urban-rural screening were decomposed and determinants of screening were identified using the multivariable binary logistic regression. Analysis was done using Stata v17.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, at the national level, self-reported screening coverage was 0.87%, with higher rates in urban areas (1.08%) compared to rural areas (0.77%). Screening uptake increased with age, socioeconomic status and education. Scheduled Tribes and the poorest quintile had the lowest rates. 348,882 participants were included in the final analysis after all exclusions. The uptake of oral cancer screening increased with an increase in wealth Index (Middle: adjusted odds ratio: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.07-1.70), Richer (1.43; 1.12-1.84), Richest (1.60; 1.20-2.13) and in obese women (1.28; 1.02-1.63). Meanwhile, women who belonged to the Muslim religion (0.68; 95% CI: 0.56-0.84), scheduled tribes (0.70; 95% CI: 0.53-0.84) and those who were illiterate (0.66; 0.51-0.85) had lower odds of screening uptake. Women from South Indian states (9.58; 95% CI: 7.60-12.07), West Indian states (3.81; 95% CI: 2.88-5.04), Central India (2.48; 95% CI: 1.95-3.14) and North-east Indian states (1.65; 95% CI: 1.20-2.27) had higher odds of oral cancer screening uptake compared to North Indian states. The urban-rural gap was 57.76% due to factor distribution and 42.24% due to differences in factor effects. Religion, caste, education and media exposure all significantly contributed to the gap.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Screening uptake varied according to socio-economic status and region of the country. Significant disparities in oral cancer screening exist among urban and rural women, driven by socioeconomic factors. Enhancing healthcare access, education and media outreach in rural areas is essential to improving screening rates and reducing disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2096"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13319343/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148367431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum: Relationship between khat chewing and upper digestive tract cancers among male patients in Hargeisa: a preliminary case-control study.","authors":"Abdiwahab M Ali, Mirriam N Mutuku, Abdiwahab Hashi, Omar M Muhumed","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2094","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Khat chewing is a common cultural practice in countries bordering the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa. Despite some indications in the literature, its association with upper digestive tract (UDT) cancers is under-researched.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study investigated the relationship between khat chewing and UDT cancers among male patients in Hargeisa, Somaliland. A total of 97 participants (36 cases with UDT cancer and 61 controls) were recruited using purposive sampling from the two cancer clinics in Somaliland: Nageeye Cancer Clinic and Needle Hospital. Data were collected via structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Analysis was performed using Stata/MP version 16.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for confounders, khat chewing was significantly associated with increased UDT cancer risk in a dose-response manner. Ever chewing khat was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 3.51 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-11.2; p = 0.024). Chewing for >20 years had an aOR of 36.8 (95% CI 7.16-303; p < 0.001), daily chewing an aOR of 22.6 (95% CI 5.30-124; p < 0.001) and consuming >600 g per session an aOR of 6.87 (95% CI 2.06-25.8; p = 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight a strong association between khat chewing and UDT cancers and underscore the urgent need for public health interventions, including awareness campaigns and policy measures, to mitigate khat-related cancer risks in Somaliland.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2094"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161583/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics of de novo metastatic breast cancer in Cameroon.","authors":"Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko, Etienne Atenguena, Abdel Nasser Nsangou Moun, Esther Dina Bell, Lionel Tabola, Dominique Anaba, Anne Sango, Rachel Tayou","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2092","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The dilemma of the incurability of metastatic breast cancer has driven therapeutic advances aimed at prolonging survival. However, access to these innovative treatments remains a significant challenge in low-income countries. Consequently, a diagnosis of de novo metastatic breast cancer (dnMBC) may be perceived as a diagnosis of imminent death. We aimed to analyse the clinical, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics of dnMBC in a Cameroonian context.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study with retrospective data collection from 116 patients with dnMBC followed in two cancer reference hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon, between 2020 and 2022. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25 and Excel 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1,006 confirmed breast cancer cases, 116 were dnMBC (prevalence: 11.53%). The mean age was 47.4 ± 12.1 years, and males accounted for 1.72% of the sample. Pathologically, the predominant subtype was invasive ductal carcinoma (92.2%; <i>n</i> = 83), with hormone-sensitive hormone receptor+/HER2 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 - tumours being the most frequent among those with available immunohistochemistry (IHC) (58%; n = 18). The disease was often polymetastatic (69.8%), with the most common sites being the lungs (72.4%) and liver (40.5%). Treatments were mainly systemic (53.2%), sometimes combined with surgery (43%). The median overall survival was estimated at 24 months (95% CI = 14.21-33.78).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Survival outcomes for dnMBC remain poor, limited by the lack of full access to optimal care, including systematic IHC testing. A more effective multidisciplinary approach to the disease and the factors affecting survival is needed for optimal utilisation of available therapeutic regimens.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2092"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacogenetic landscape of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in Kurdish non-small cell lung cancer patients: implications for precision oncology.","authors":"Badraldin K Hamad, Sami Saleem Omar, Iman H F Alnaqshabandy, Rawaz D Tawfeeq, Sarween A Abdullah, Aveen R Jalal","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2087","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This work presents the first thorough examination of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation prevalence in Kurdish patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), identifying unique molecular and epidemiological traits. We found an overall EGFR mutation rate of 18.2% among 149 metastatic non-squamous NSCLC cases, which is comparable to Middle Eastern cohorts but much lower than rates reported in East Asian populations (47.2%-64.2%). Significant gender differences were found, with females (55.6%) having EGFR mutations at a significantly higher rate than males (44.4%, *<i>p</i>* = 0.0056). For Exon 19 deletions, this difference was especially noticeable (73.3% in females versus 66.7% in males). EGFR positivity was significantly higher in non-smokers (70.4%) than in smokers (29.6%, *<i>p</i>* < 0.0001), indicating a strong correlation between smoking status and mutation frequency. Significant variations in the distribution of mutations according to smoking status were found by subtype-specific analyses: L858R (4 versus 1 case, *<i>p</i>* = 0.04) and Exon 19 deletions (13 versus 6 cases, *<i>p</i>* = 0.001) were more common in non-smokers, while Exon 20 insertions showed no significant association (1 female case, *<i>p</i>* = 0.7147). According to available data, rare G719X/S768I variants (2.0%) may benefit from Afatinib, but Exon 19 deletions were the most common subtype in clinical settings (70.4% of EGFR-positive cases), indicating the use of first-line Osimertinib. By establishing that Kurdish NSCLC patients having a unique molecular subgroup, these findings highlight the significance of population-specific genomic profiling in precision oncology and cast doubt on long-held beliefs regarding the epidemiology of EGFR mutations in Asian populations. However, the study's retrospective design and small sample sizes for uncommon mutation subtypes are among its limitations, which call for additional prospective validation in larger cohorts. These findings highlight the need for specialised diagnostic and treatment approaches in underrepresented populations and advance our understanding of the heterogeneity of EGFR mutations across ethnic groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2087"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161589/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spirituality, symptom burden and palliative care needs assessed by the Palliative Outcome Scale in those with cancer: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Gustavo Santos Paiva Laender Moura, Laura Gonzaga de Carvalho Bonifácio, Fernando Pedreschi Bernardes, Livia Regina Gonçalves E Silva, Vivian Marques Miguel Suen, Maria Izaura Sedoguti Scudeler Agnollitto, Rosana Aparecida Spadoti Dantas, Nereida Kilza da Costa Lima, Mevhibe Banu Hocaoglu","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2089","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding symptom prevalence and palliative care needs is essential to advancing palliative care research in South America. This study aimed to assess these outcomes using the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) and explore their relationship with the self-rated importance of spirituality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult persons with cancer receiving palliative care at an outpatient clinic in a Brazilian public hospital. Data were collected through structured interviews using the POS, which assesses physical and psychosocial symptoms, communication, practical concerns and information received. Spirituality was measured using a self-rated single-item question. Associations between symptom burden and spirituality were analysed using <i>t</i>-tests and logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between spirituality importance and inadequate pain control, adjusting for potential confounders. Statistical significance was set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-seven patients (mean age 60 ± 13.8 years; 68.6% female) participated. Pain (77.6%), nausea (27%), weakness/fatigue (20.9%) and psychological distress (19.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. Most had metastatic cancer (62.7%), and 32.8% were undergoing chemotherapy. Patients rating spirituality as highly important had significantly lower pain scores (mean 1.4 ± 1.4 versus 2.6 ± 0.9, <i>p</i> = 0.006) and were over ten times less likely to report inadequate pain control (odds ratios = 10.74, 95% confidence intervals: 1.87-203.82, <i>p</i> = 0.028).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings underscore the high prevalence of physical, psychological and social challenges among persons with cancer receiving palliative care. Symptom patterns aligned with global data, suggesting a universal burden. The strong association between spirituality and pain highlights the protective role of spiritual well-being in mitigating suffering, reinforcing the need to integrate spiritual care into palliative frameworks. These results offer valuable insights for guiding clinical practice, shaping international policy and informing future research to optimise care delivery and patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2089"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brachytherapy reirradiation for local recurrences of gynaecological cancers: two clinical cases, literature review and OAR constraints.","authors":"Javier Faundez, Carlos Schananier, Cynthia Villegas, Javier Retamales","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2091","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Local recurrence of gynaecological malignancies after prior pelvic radiotherapy presents a complex therapeutic dilemma. Pelvic exenteration is curative in select cases but carries high morbidity and profound quality-of-life impact. Salvage reirradiation with image-guided brachytherapy (BT) offers a highly conformal alternative; however, data remain fragmented and practical organ-at-risk (OAR) constraints are not standardised.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>1) To describe in detail two contemporary cases of high-dose-rate (HDR) BT reirradiation - one vulvar and one vaginal vault recurrence - highlighting planning strategy, catheter implantation, dosimetry and clinical outcome; 2) to synthesise current evidence on efficacy, toxicity, dose-fractionation and technique of BT reirradiation in cervical, endometrial and vulvar cancers; and 3) to propose pragmatic cumulative EQD2 OAR limits for rectum, bladder, small bowel and urethra based on published series.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Both patients underwent computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging-based contouring with hybrid interstitial or surface mould applicators. Total doses were 45.6 Gy in 8 fractions (EQD210 ≈ 60 Gy) for the vulvar recurrence and 24.6 Gy in 3 fractions (EQD24.5 ≈ 48 Gy) for the vaginal vault recurrence, with cumulative OAR doses referenced against literature-derived thresholds. A narrative review (1993-2024) identified 35 key studies involving >600 reirradiated patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The vulvar case achieved complete response at 6 months without Grade ≥3 toxicity; the vaginal vault case showed initial partial response, remained ECOG 0 and required systemic therapy for later progression. Across the literature, 1- to 3-year local control ranged 40%-80% and overall survival 40%-60%, with severe late toxicity generally ≤30% when cumulative doses respected D2cc ≈ 70-100 Gy3 (rectum), 90-120 Gy3 (bladder) and D0.5cc ≤ 110 Gy3(urethra). Fractionation of 4-6 Gy BID for 5-10 fractions (EQD210 ≈ 40-50 Gy) was most common.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HDR BT reirradiation can achieve meaningful, sometimes durable, local control in carefully selected gynaecologic-cancer recurrences while preserving pelvic organs. Adhering to proposed cumulative EQD2 OAR constraints and employing image-guided interstitial techniques are paramount to curtail severe complications. Multidisciplinary assessment and treatment at experienced centres are strongly recommended to optimise outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2091"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13172253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147962697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Profiling of tumour board characteristics and functioning for cancer care under hospitals registered under National Cancer Registry Programme in India.","authors":"Gokul Sarveswaran, Jayasankar Sankarapillai, Kondalli Lakshminarayana Sudarshan, Prashant Mathur","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2090","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multidisciplinary tumour board (MTB) plays an important role in cancer care by collaborating specialist from various disciplines to discuss diagnosis, treatment plan and patient management. Despite its importance, a systematic evaluations of tumour board in hospital registered under hospital-based cancer registries (HBCRs) is limited. This study aims to assess the characteristics, composition and functioning of tumour board in these hospital to identify gaps and challenges to improve the tumour board operations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted from October 1st to 31st 2024 using cross sectional design among hospital under HBCR. A set of structured questionnaires was administered using Google Form, which consists of both qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to analyze the quantitative data, while manual thematic analysis was carried out to analyze the qualitative responses.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Of 229 hospitals, only 172 (75%) responded. Among them, 137 (79.7%) reported having a functional tumour board. Most of the tumour boards were established in tertiary care centres (45.3%) and medical colleges (43.6%). In-person meeting (73.7%) was the most common with 24.8% following a hybrid model. Only 5.1% of hospitals engaged in cross-hospital case discussions; 16.8% maintained electronic medical record notes; and 48.2% lacked any follow-up mechanisms to track tumour board recommendations and outcomes. Involvement of palliative care specialists and other supportive paramedical health professionals was low. In addition to that, thematic analysis also identified that there was inadequate documentation, inconsistent follow-up and limited tumour board participation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although MTBs are established widely in most of the HBCR-affiliated hospitals, variation exist in structure, composition and functionality. Strengthening MTBs through standardised protocol, participation of diverse specialities, increased cross-hospital collaboration, virtual tumour boards and proper documentation practices through electronic data recording systems could enhance the decision making and cancer care outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2090"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161587/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coping and family functionality in women with diabetes and breast cancer.","authors":"María Valeria Jiménez-Báez, Sofía Concepción Thomas-Gómez, Gabriel González-Guerrero, David Rojano-Mejía, Eduardo Patricio Achurra-Godinez","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2088","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2026.2088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of death in Mexican women. Comorbidity with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for complications.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the evolution of family functionality and coping in patients with BC and T2DM after 4 years of diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Longitudinal cohort study in women with BC and T2DM in Quintana Roo. Admission at the time of confirmed diagnosis of BC, discharge at 6 years of evolution. We studied: family function, coping, clinical, family and metabolic control variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>65 women, of whom 18 concluded the study. Family functionality (FF-SIL) 51.1 versus 44.72. Coping level: Problem solving 4.66% (0,10.8) versus 6.2% (5.6,44.4); Self-criticism 24.6% (14.9,33.8) versus 4.6% (0,34.9); Emotional expression 21.5% (11,32.3) versus 4.6% (0,38.9); Desiderative thinking 26.2% (14.9,37. 4) versus 1.5% (0.18.3); Social support 4.6% (0.11) versus 1.5% (0.18.3); Cognitive restructuring 3.1% (0.9.7) versus 4.6% (0.38. 9); Problem avoidance 6.2% (1.5,13.8) versus 3.1% (0,27.8); Social withdrawal 9.2% (1.5,20.4) versus 1.5% (0,22.2) <i>p</i> = >0.5.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The level of coping worsens over 4 years of evolution. Patients maintain their autonomy in decision making within the family. At diagnosis, families adapt; however, with the evolution, they infer sequelae of family health.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"2088"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161580/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147927733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}