Consensus guidelines for the management of primary central nervous system lymphoma for low and middle-income countries.

Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive form of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma primarily involving the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, and eyes. The role of surgical intervention in PCNSL is currently limited to biopsy and decompression of critical structures if needed - extended resection is debated. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment.

Uniqueness of lung cancer in Southeast Asia.

Lung cancer varies between Caucasians and Asians. There have been differences recorded in the epidemiology, genomics, standard therapies and outcomes, with variations according to the geography and ethnicity which affect the decision for optimal treatment of the patients. To better understand the profile of lung cancer in Southeast Asia, with a focus on India, we have comprehensively reviewed the available data, and discuss the challenges and the way forward.

Outcomes of locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma cancers treated with neoadjuvant FLOT in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Background And Aim: Docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (FLOT) may improve overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal cancer. Our study aims to determine the pathological response in these patients with the FLOT chemotherapy in the Neoadjuvant setting. This is the first study conducted in our country.

Clinical and psychosocial factors associated with quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: an analytical cross-sectional study from a lower-middle-income country.

Introduction: The disease course of head and neck (H&N) cancer can severely impair patients' quality of life (QoL). In Pakistan, a South Asian lower-middle-income country (LMIC), psychosocial factors may impact QoL. We aimed to assess QoL and associated factors amongst patients with H&N cancer in Pakistan.

Psychosocial factors influencing quality of life in patients with primary brain tumors in Pakistan: an analytical cross-sectional study.

Objective: Despite quality of life (QoL) being recognized as an important outcome in neuro-oncology, there is a lack of research from Pakistan where sociocultural differences may influence QoL. This study aimed to measure the QoL in patients with primary brain tumors (PBTs) and assess its association with mental health outcomes and social support.

Results: Our study included a total of 250 patients, with a median age of 42 years (range 33-54 years).

Mean level of pretreatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-Cross-sectional study.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have been characterized using various prognostic parameters. These include advanced age, lifestyle habits such as smoking, higher tumor stage at presentation & presence of metastasis. Many patients are diagnosed with head and neck cancers annually in Pakistan, but limited data is available for the prognosis of these patients.

Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR): Consolidated Data of 5-years 2017-2021.

Objective:  To collect and analyse epidemiologic data of all malignancies by age group and gender for the Karachi population to estimate the cancer incidence of 5-years (2017-2021) and identify major risk factors for setting priorities towards cancer control programs.

Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR) Secretariat, Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC), JPMC, Karachi, from 2017-2021.

Factors affecting well-being in brain tumor patients: An LMIC perspective.

Introduction: Brain tumor is a devastating and often fatal diagnosis; quality of life and patient well-being are important goals of treatment. This study addresses the gap in culture-specific literature exploring the needs and coping strategies of brain tumor patients within an LMIC setting.

Methodology: A qualitative approach was undertaken using an exploratory descriptive study design.

Cardiac sarcoma: A rare case of primary cardiac sarcoma.

Introduction And Importance: Primary cardiac sarcoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis because of diagnostic delay, therapeutic difficulties, and high metastatic potential. The therapeutic approach includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, alone or in combination. However, there is a lack of evidence to guide the treatment.

Psychometric properties of the Urdu version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (European organization for research and treatment of cancer head and neck module) quality of life tool.

Background: We translated and validated the Urdu version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaire's Head and Neck (H&N) Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and assessed its convergent and discriminant validity by examining correlations of QoL with depression, anxiety, and resilience.

Methods: We translated the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 according to EORTC instructions. Patients at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan completed a survey consisting of Urdu versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 (core QoL tool), QLQ-H&N35, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (RS-14).

Spectrum of germline pathogenic variants using a targeted next generation sequencing panel and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with suspected hereditary breast cancer at an academic medical centre in Pakistan.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, affecting over 1.5 million women every year, which accounts for the highest number of cancer-related deaths in women globally. Hereditary breast cancer (HBC), an important subset of breast cancer, accounts for 5-10% of total cases.

Difficulty Breathing or Just a Case of the Nerves? Incidental Finding of Primary Pleural Schwannoma in a COVID-19 Survivor.

Schwannoma is a rare tumor that arises from the Schwann cells, which are specialized, myelin-producing cells of the peripheral nerve sheaths. As anatomic logic would dictate, these masses commonly occur in the skull base, cerebellopontine angle, and posterior spinal roots. Of this already rare entity, rarer still are the pleural schwannomas, representing approximately 1-2% of thoracic tumors.

Translation and validation of the Urdu version of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer core quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and brain module (QLQ-BN20) in primary brain tumor patients.

Introduction: This study translated and validated the Urdu version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Brain Module (QLQ-BN20) amongst patients with primary brain tumors (PBT) in Pakistan, and assessed the correlation of QoL with resilience, depression, and anxiety.

Methods: Translation of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20 was performed as per EORTC guidelines. A survey comprising of Urdu translations of EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BN20, Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (RS-14) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was administered to patients with PBT at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Resilience and its associated factors in head and neck cancer patients in Pakistan: an analytical cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The study aimed to assess resilience and its associated factors in head and neck cancer patients, post-treatment in a low middle income country (LMIC) such as Pakistan.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to May 2020 among head and neck cancer patients aged at least 18 years at the largest private tertiary care hospital, in Karachi, Pakistan. Information regarding their resilience scores was collected through Wagnild and Young's Resilience scale that comprises of 14 items (RS-14).

A multidisciplinary approach to triage patients with breast disease during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from a tertiary care center in the developing world.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a need to prioritize care because of limitation of resources. Owing to the heterogeneity and high prevalence of breast cancers, the need to prioritize care in this vulnerable population is essential. While various medical societies have published recommendations to manage breast disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, most are focused on the Western world and do not necessarily address the challenges of a resource-limited setting.

Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR): Age-Standardized Incidence Rate by Age-Group and Gender in a Mega City of Pakistan.

Objectives: To estimate the cancer incidence by age group and gender for the population of Karachi Division by analyzing the Karachi Cancer Registry data of 2017-19.

Settings: The population of Karachi division is 16.1 million according to national census 2017.

Depression among adult patients with primary brain tumour: a cross-sectional study of risk factors in a low-middle-income country.

Objective: The prevalence of depression among patients with primary brain tumour ranges from 15% to 40% globally. Several individual and clinical factors contribute to the development of depression. However, their association with depression in Pakistani setting has not yet been assessed.

Resilience and quality of life (QoL) of head and neck cancer and brain tumour survivors in Pakistan: an analytical cross-sectional study protocol.

Background: Cancer is a devastating disease and has detrimental effects on the quality of life (QoL) of cancer survivors and interferes with their treatment compliance. The aim of the study is to assess resilience and QoL among cancer survivors and to evaluate the important factors affecting their resilience and QoL, with respect to the Pakistani cultural context.

Method And Analysis: A cross-sectional study will be conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Solitary Brain Metastasis: A Rare Initial Presentation of Prostate Carcinoma.

Cerebral metastasis as an initial clinical presentation of prostate carcinoma is extremely rare. Usually, patients have widespread metastasis in the body before presenting with brain metastasis. In the absence of extensive metastasis, especially without bony metastasis, only brain metastasis is an unusual presentation of the disease.

Molecular and radiological characterization of glioblastoma multiforme using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant, aggressive and common form of primary brain cancer. Currently, GBM is considered to be a homogenous mass as all its margins are treated equally at the time of resection. However, it is not known whether radiologically distinct regions of GBM are also distinct at molecular level.

Survival and treatment outcomes of metaplastic breast carcinoma: Single tertiary care center experience in Pakistan.

Background: Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare disease with incidence of less than 1%. MBC present with a larger tumor size, less number of nodes involved, mostly undifferentiated triple negative tumors. We aimed to determine progression-free and overall survival and reported hospital-based incidence of MBC.