The world is facing the pandemic linked to COVID-19 virus infection that has rapidly spread worldwide, and severe complications have been reported to occur in around a third of patients. To date, ...there is no approved vaccine or specific therapy against COVID-19, but many trials are ongoing with some of them showing promising results. It has been shown recently that patients with cancer are at high risk of infection and they are more susceptible to develop severe events such as the necessity of invasive ventilation and death. Therefore, this crisis presents a real challenge for health systems especially in low- and middle-income countries where the health systems are already fragile such as African countries. In this article, we describe the epidemiological situation of the infection in Morocco and the different challenges in cancer centers in the era of COVID-19, in addition to various strategies that have been implemented to prevent and control the infection spread in oncological units in order to ensure the continuation of adequate cancer care.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer that is defined by negative estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor ...receptor 2 (HER2) status. Treating patients with TNBC remains clinically challenging, as patients are not candidates for endocrine or HER2-directed therapy. As a result, chemotherapy with traditional agents such as anthracyclines and taxanes remains the only available option with moderate success. Recent discoveries have revealed that TNBC is a heterogeneous disease at the clinical, histological and molecular levels. The use of biomarkers to identify distinct subsets of TNBC that derive the greatest benefit from presently approved as well as novel therapeutics has become the main focus of current research. The aim of this review is to explore the clinical and biological complexity of TNBC as well as identify novel therapeutic options that target the various molecular subsets of TNBC.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a potential curative disease at its localized stage, by the use of multimodal treatment including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. While the ...metastatic stage is considered incurable and is characterized by poor prognosis. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy in addition to cetuximab were the only available systemic treatment with limited efficacy and modest median overall survival barely crossing the 1 year limit. Immunotherapy with PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of multiple cancers. Recently, Immunotherapy is being extensively explored in head and neck cancer and clinical trials have shown impressive results that allowed to immune check point inhibitors to be the new standard of care. In this article we tried to explain the rationale and mechanisms of targeting the immune system in head and neck carcinoma and to report the results from the phase III clinical trials that put the immunotherapy as a new standard of care for head and neck cancer.
Ovarian rhabdomyosarcoma is extremly rare and the diagnosis might be a real dilemma clinically and histologically. We report here the case of a 19-year-old patient, who presented a progressive ...increase of the abdominal volume associated with dyspnea and general conditions deterioration. The pelvic MRI showed bilateral ovarian masses associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis. CA125 was elevated (273u/ml) while other markers including bHCG, inhibine, AFP were normal. Simultaneously, the patient developed a cutaneous lesion in the thenar´s lodge of the right hand rapidly increasing volume, painful and necrotic. The MRI of the right hand showed a large necrotic tissue mass of the right thenarian lodge without bone involvement which may correspond to a secondary localization. Cutaneous biopsy was performed and revealed a skin localization of undifferentiated malignant tumour and IHC analysis were compatible with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. After these findings, an exploratory laparotomy was performed and revealed the presence of two bilateral ovarian masses with ascites of great abundance and large dissemination of carcinomatosis nodules. Several biopsies were performed and the histological analysis with IHC have confirmed the diagnosis of ovarian rhabdomyosarcoma (desmin, myogenin, myoD1 were positive). The patient received chemotherapy based on: vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide with peritoneal and thenar progression after 6 cycles. Patient refused hand amputation and was proposed for radiotherapy. A second line chemotherapy with etoposide and ifosfamide was established.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
BackgroundCancer in young women is a major health problem in the Middle Eastern and North African population. We explored the awareness, barriers and practice of Arab oncologists towards ...oncofertility.MethodsOncologists from Arab countries treating female cancer patients were invited to complete a 30-item web-based questionnaire that explores oncologists’ demographics, available techniques and barriers to oncofertility.Results170 oncologists working in 9 different Arab countries responded to the questionnaire. Among the responders, 89 (52.4%) were from Egypt and the central region, 60 (35.3%) were from North Africa and 21 (12.4%) were from the Gulf region.While most participants considered a dedicated training ‘necessary’, only 43 oncologists (25.3%) received a formal training. Only 17 participants (10%) had a fertility clinic in their centre, 44 (25.9%) and 13 (7.6%) had to refer patients to other centres or other cities, respectively. A total of 96 oncologists (56.5%) did not have access to a fertility preservation service.Out of 147 responders, 79 (53.7%) offered fertility preservation only in patients presenting with early disease and 38 (25.9%) did not offer fertility preservation. In terms of proposed strategies, 50 responders (29.4%) offered embryo cryopreservation, 79 (46.5%) oocyte cryopreservation and 48 (28.2%) ovarian tissue cryopreservation.ConclusionA large gap exists between international clinical practice guidelines and current practices of fertility preservation in Arab countries. Barriers to optimum service delivery include the lack of physician awareness/training, unavailability of some advanced techniques and a lack of dedicated fertility clinics within the cancer centres.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The mediastinal malignant germ cells tumor represents less than 0.5% of thoracic tumors, although the mediastinum is one of the main extragonadic locations of these tumors. In the majority of cases, ...young people are those most affected. The prognosis of mediastinal malignant germ cells tumors is poor, especially non-seminomatous germ tumors. In this article, we report a rare case of a young 19-years-old patient treated for a mediastinal germ cell tumor of yolk sac. The patient presented a chest pain; the chest computed tomography (CT) showed a right paramedian mediastinal mass with a pleural effusion associated with supraclavicular and cervical lymph nodes. Biopsy revealed a non-seminomatousgerm cell tumor of yolk sac. The exams showed elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), without any meaningful elevation of other serictumor markers. The patient received 4 cycles of chemotherapy based on etoposide, ifosfamide and platinum salts then a complete excision of the mass.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Le mésothéliome malin primitif de l´ovaire (MMPO) est une tumeur extrêmement rare qui peut se développer à partir des cellules mésothéliales. Cette néoplasie est causée principalement par une ...exposition à l´amiante ou à d´autres agents cancérigènes. Un bilan d´extension préopératoire comportant une tomodensitométrie, une imagerie par résonance magnétique et une tomographie par émission de positons est essentiel pour la stadification de la maladie. Le diagnostic positif anatomopathologique repose sur un panel immunohistochimique. Le MMPO reste une maladie exceptionnelle impliquant une stratégie thérapeutique multidisciplinaire, au sein de laquelle la chimiothérapie a permis d´améliorer la prise en charge et le pronostic de ces malades. Nous présentons dans cet article le cas d´une patiente ayant subi une chirurgie suboptimale, complétée par une chimiothérapie adjuvante, aboutissant à une réponse complète radiologique, avec une survie sans maladie de plus d´une année.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It accounts for ...15%–20% of all breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive evolution and poor outcomes with the majority of recurrences and deaths occurring in the first 5 years. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment in the absence of effective targets, but the good understanding of immune tumor microenvironment, the identification of immune-related targets, and the role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in TNBC has allowed to develop promising immunotherapeutic strategies for this unique subset of breast cancer. Recently, immunotherapy is being extensively explored in TNBC and clinical trials have shown promising results. In this article, we tried to explain the rationale and mechanisms of targeting the immune system in TNBC, to report the results from recent clinical trials that put immunotherapy as a new standard of care in TNBC in addition to ongoing trials and future directions in the next decade.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Neuroendocrine carcinomas mainly affect the bronchopulmonary and the gastrointestinal systems. Breast localizations are very rare. They represent less than 0.1% of all breast cancers. A definitive ...diagnosis relies on histological and immunohistochemical examinations.
Case 1 We report a case of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast in a 71-year-old Arabic woman who presented with a 3 cm palpable and mobile tumor of the right breast. Clinical and radiological assessment excluded any other primary tumor. Radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node resection were performed. A histopathological examination disclosed the diagnosis of primary breast neuroendocrine tumors, with negative surgical margins and lymph nodes (18 N-/18 N). The tumor cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers, a weak Ki-67 proliferation index and negative Her2/neu. Our patient received adjuvant hormonal treatment with anti-aromatase for 21 months. She is on regular follow-up, and she remains free of disease to date. Case 2 A 48-year-old Arabic woman consulted for a right breast nodule. She underwent lumpectomy with right axillary lymphadenectomy. The diagnosis was breast neuroendocrine tumor. Systemic treatment was proposed, but she was lost to follow-up. She consulted 1 year later for a mass in the same breast. A histological and immunohistochemical examination of a mammary biopsy was consistent with a recurrence of the previous neuroendocrine tumor. A radiological assessment showed a large mass in her right breast, ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathies, and hepatic and pulmonary metastases. She received first-line metastatic chemotherapy, with good clinical and radiological improvement. She refused the mastectomy and was given hormone therapy. One year later, the tumor expanded clinically and radiologically, and she underwent second-line metastatic chemotherapy, with good clinical progress and radiological stability, and she then underwent maintenance hormonal therapy.
Due to the rarity of primary breast neuroendocrine tumors, no standard therapy exists and the prognosis remains difficult to determine. Studies, including larger series, are needed in order to understand the biological behavior of these tumors.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: Intestinal carcinoid tumors are well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors that are capable of secreting bioactive hormones and/or amines; These tumors are uncommon but are the most common ...primary tumors of the small intestine. Case presentation: We report the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with a long history (about 14 years ago) of atypical digestive symptoms such as vague abdominal pain, alternating diarrhea, and constipation, treated as functional colopathy without improvement, until the day when she presented with worsening pain that prompted her consultation. CT scan revealed typical manifestations of a carcinoid tumor associated with signs of subacute small bowel ischemia. Despite the surgery being considered a gold standard treatment, it was rejected due to the extent of tumor mesenteric involvement, therefore, the patient received only somatostatin treatment. Conclusion: Small bowel carcinoid tumors are rare, with typical imaging features based on cross-sectional imaging (CE CT/MRI). Intestinal ischemia is a well-known complication that can be a factor in mortality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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