Indian Journal of Cancer Education and Research

This short communication was directed to provide an evidence-informed overview on the role of music therapy in cancer pain, through a literature update. There were one systematic review, five original studies on a total 321 patients, and one case report found, all of which reported low to moderate beneficial effect of music therapy.Music therapy offered a feasible and a viable adjunctive treatment option for reducing procedural and post-procedural pain in a range of cancer types, across a range of therapy settings. Although existing evidence is insufficient, definitive directional effect was demonstrated for music therapy in its effects not only on pain, but also on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in people with cancer pain. 

Keywords: Music therapy; Alternative medicine; Paliative oncology; Cancer anesthesiology. 

GIST was introduced as a diagnostic term in 1983. GIST are only 0.2% of all GI tumors, the most common sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are thought to arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), which are components of the intestinal autonomic nervous system acting as pacemakers regulating intestinal peristalsis. Jejunal GIST is rare and Pre-operative diagnosis is difficult. Diagnosis is confirmed on histopathology and immunohistochemistry.Complete removal with postoperative Imatinib therapy entails optimal treatment. We present a rare case of Jejunal GIST presented with obscure GI bleeding and managed successfully by surgery.  

Keywords: GIST- Gastro Intestinal Stomal Tumour; Malaena; Interstitial cells of Cajal. 

Introduction: Colorectal cancer in pregnancy is associated with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges which mostly lead to late diagnosis in advanced stages and poor prognosis. Objectives: To study the various presentations and the clinical outcome of pregnant women with rectal cancer and to sensitize the concerned doctors about this rare possibility in pregnancy. Methedology: A retrospective analysis of 4 cases of rectal cancer in pregnancy during a 7 year period (March 2006 – March 2013) was done. These cases were managed with a multidisciplinary approach at S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere. Result: Mean age at presentation was 29 years, bleeding per rectum was their common symptom, two of them being below 20 weeks of gestation. Flexible sigmoidoscopy showed the lesion details and aided biopsy for confirmation. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography helped to detect peritoneal metastasis, serum CEA levels were in the range of 40- 60 ng/dl. Two of them were in stage III, one in stage II and another in stage IV. Only one patient had an emergency caesarean at 32 weeks, while the remaining had medical termination of pregnancy. Surgery in the form of anterior resection with end to end anastomosis followed by chemotherapy was the standard mode of management in three patients while, one patient needed additional radiotherapy for distant metastasis. One patient with stage IV disease had a Transverse loop diversion colostomy with palliative chemotherapy and palliative pain relief. One patient died within 6 months of diagnosis due to advanced disease, others still on follow up. Conclusion: Colorectal cancer in pregnancy is rare, often presents in an advanced stage, a multidisciplinary approach with recommended guidelines will optimize the outcome in pregnancy. More randomized trials are required to standardize management protocols. 

Keywords: Colorectal carcinoma in pregnancy; CEA in pregnancy. 

Backgrounds: Cancer is a disease which is characterized by uncontrolled cell division. There are several markers depicting the onset of cancer, out of which expression of the regulatory proteins is most significant and accurate. The p53 is a most targeted gene that regulates the cell cycle and maintains the integrity of DNA. Aim & objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of p53, tumor suppression gene level in different types of cancer. Materials and Method: The study was conducted at Lavanya Ayurvedic Hospital of Cancer & AIDS & Research Centre, Lucknow. The drug used in this study was a bio-mineral formulation prepared by its own manufacturing unit. After approval of Institutional Ethical committee, the blood samples were collected from the patients after written consent. The test was performed by solid phase sandwich enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) as per standard protocol of kit. Results: After one month treatment with drug the post treatment values of p53 of different malignancies were significantly higher than the pre treatment status. Conclusions: In this pilot study it is concluded that after treatment with the bio-mineral drug the expression pattern of tumor suppression gene, p53 enhances which indicates the effectiveness of drug in different types of cancers. 

Keywords: Bio mineral formulation; p53 Tumor suppression gene.   

Introduction: Over 70% patients with cancer cervix present in advanced stages of the disease with coexisting urological complications like obstructed uropathy. Objectives: To determine the clinical profile of patients with urinary complications of advanced cancer cervix and the clinical outcome of the various therapeutic options administered. Material and Methods: In this study, 93 patients with advanced cancer cervix previously treated or untreated, who had obstructed uropathy were evaluated to know the type of urological complications, their management and their effect on the primary disease. Various methods of urinary reconstruction were tried and the clinical outcomes of these approaches were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 93 patients included in the study, 37 (39.78%) were uraemic at presentation, majority of them being in stage II B of carcinoma cervix with 59 cases (63.44%) having bilateral obstruction. Of the 93 patients, 51 (54.83%) underwent surgical urinary diversion. Stenting was done in 86 (86.02%) cases, 15 (29.14%) had percutaneous nephrostomy, ileal conduit in 20 (39.21%), ureterosigmoidostomy in 8 (15.68%) cases, 8 patients had pelvic exenteration. 11 patients (11.82%) died before intervention. Outcome following urinary diversion procedure was poor, with 30 (58.82%) showing no clinical improvement. Complications following diversion procedures were detected late and were troublesome. Conclusion: Advanced cancer of the cervix leads on to obstructive uropathy, presenting as uraemia. Various urinary diversion procedures are useful in improving renal function, followed by definitive treatment options. At times they serve as life saving procedures. 

Keywords: Obstructive uropathy; Advanced cancer cervix; Urinary diversion.