Background and Objectives: A prospective, singlearm study was carried out to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) in Oman.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the Oncology and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Departments, Muscat, Oman between October 1998 and December 2001. Eligible, previously untreated patients with confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced non-metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck were examined. A maximum of three cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (Cisplatin 100mg/m2 Day 1 plus 5-Fluorouracil 1gm/m2 continuous infusion for four days) were administered, followed by radical radiotherapy according to primary site. The main end-points were toxicity, response rate, disease-free survival and overall survival.

Results: Seventy-three patients (45 males and 28 females) were eligible; all were evaluable for response and toxicity. The median age of studied patients was 52 years (range: 17-83 years). Forty-four patients (60%) had stage III disease and 29 (40%) had stage IV disease. After neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, Overall Response (OR)[Complete Response (CR)+ Partial Response (PR)] was observed in 50 patients (68%), 33 patients (45%) had clinical CR and 17 patients (23%) had PR. Sixteen patients (22%) showed Stable Disease (SD) and 7 patients (10%) progressed while on chemotherapy. After completion of radiotherapy, the OR rate was 80%. Forty patients (55%) had clinically confirmed CR, 18 (25%) had PR, 9 patients (12%) had SD and 6 patients (8%) had progressive disease (PD). The median follow-up period …

Aim: The lack of structured breast cancer awareness programs (BCAP) in developing countries coupled by the scarcity of radiation oncology centers limit the available surgical options. The aim of this study is to Probe the use Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) treatment as a stem to initiate positive impact on early disease detection and propagate breast conserving surgery (BCS).

Materials and Methods: This observational review was undertaken at King Fahd hospital of the university, AL Khobar, Eastern province of Saudi Arabia between 2012-2016. All patients diagnosed with breast cancer were reviewed. Strict recruitment criteria were adopted for patients to receive IORT. Selected candidates where only those who were eligible and consented to undergo BCS and IORT. Special emphasis was placed on demographic data, tumor size at the initial presentation, post Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy response, post–pathology cavity size and applicator size used.

Results: The total number of patients diagnosed with breast cancer were 330 out of which 69 (20%) patient were eligible for IORT. Age ranged from31-75years with the Median age 50 years. Applicator sizes used ranged from 2.0-5.0. Tumor size ranged between 0.6-4.0 centimeters. 1 (1%) was post pathology case with excision performed two weeks prior to presentation. 0-1 in 8 (11%), 1.1-2 in 22 (31%), 2.1-3 in 24 (34%), and 3.1-4.0 in 15 (21%) patients. 7 (10%) patients received Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with positive response and were included. The applicator sizes available ranged between 1.5-5.0 centimeters. Applicator sizes were size 2.0 in 2 (3%), size 2.5 in 10 (14%), size 3.0 in 18 …

King Fahad University Hospital of Dammam (KFHU) is a major referral teaching Hospital in the Eastern province in Saudi Arabia. With permission, The Breast Division at KFHU accepts expatriate patients for treatment of breast cancer free of charge. Between Jan 2010 and June 2015 the unit has received 435 new and previously treated breast cancer patients, 35% of them were expatiates. We have noticed that most of these patients had an out of their hand delay in initiating either their investigations for a breast lump or start of active treatment; this has resulted in less than optimum prognosis in many cases. We reported that 75% of these patients had an average of 6-19 months delay before they presented for investigations of a breast mass, 25% had received previous irregular treatment and did not complete their management due to war unrest and travelling. More than 70% of patients who needed radiotherapy …

Background: The first random study of incidence of Her-2 over expression among Omani breast cancer patients was carried out by the Medical Oncology Department, the Royal Hospital in 2001. The incidence was reported as 40% (higher than international published figures). The Herceptest was routinely performed on all new patients for a whole year (2004) and the incidence was found to be 36%. Trastuzumab was approved for use in the Sultanate of Oman in 2002, since then a total of 26 patients with metastatic breast cancer received Trastuzumab, the results are presented. Methods: Prospective, single arm, single centre experience. Patients with confirmed metastatic breast cancer (at presentation or after adjuvant treatment), HER-2 positive (+++ by Herceptest, or FISH positive), age > 18, ECOG PS ≤ 2, LVEF = 50% and adequate renal & liver function, were included. Treatment consisted of …

Abstract Background: The molecular mechanism associated with remission of primary gastric lymphoma post helicobacter pylori eradication is still unclear. Aim of the study: to evaluate Microsatellite (MSI) instability at markers adjacent to Chromosomal loci involved in primary gastric lymphoma in relation to helicobacter eradication therapy. Methods: 107 primary gastric lymphoma patients included 30 low grade Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue Gastric lymphoma (MALT), 36 Diffuse large gastric lymphoma with MALT component (MALTDLBCL) and 41 DLBCL gastric lymphoma (DLBCL) were treated with anti Helicobacter pylori therapy as fi rst line treatment and to asses for Microsatellite instability (MSI) Results: the incidence of complete remission post helicobacter pylori eradication was higher in Low grade MALT in comparison to MALTDLBCL and denovo DLBCL. The incidence of MSI is decrease post helicobacter pylori eradication in all subtypes Conclusion: Remission of gastric lymphoma post Helicobacter eradication may associate with correction of MSI

Pain is under-treated in all parts of the world. Moderate to severe pain is experienced by the majority of patients with advanced disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, pattern and pain management in Oman.