Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where effective screening is essential for early detection. Although the conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is widely used, its diagnostic accuracy may be affected by obscuring factors such as blood, mucus, and inflammation. Low-cost liquid-based cytology (LBC) using EziPREP has been introduced to improve smear quality while remaining affordable. To evaluate and compare the specimen adequacy, cytomorphological features, and diagnostic performance of conventional Pap smear and low-cost liquid-based cytology (EziPREP). This cross-sectional study included 200 women attending the gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital between January and February 2024. Cervical samples from each participant were processed by both conventional Pap smear and EziPREP liquid-based cytology. Smears were evaluated for specimen adequacy, cytomorphological characteristics, endocervical cell representation, background obscuring factors, epithelial cell abnormalities, and infective organisms. The study population had a mean age of 42.2 years (range: 23–78 years). EziPREP demonstrated significantly better endocervical cell representation than conventional Pap smear (57.39
Non-gestational choriocarcinoma is rare ovarian tumor may be mixed or pure originates from trophoblastic differentiation of residual germ cell of ovary and has no association with pregnancy, most frequently occurs in adolescents and young females. It is very difficult to differentiate it from gestational choriocarcinoma as both of them shares same clinical and histopathological features. Compared with gestational choriocarcinoma, non-gestational choriocarcinoma is more aggressive, poor prognosis, and requires multiple chemotherapeutic agents. A 16-year-old unmarried girl had presented to a local hospital with complaints of lower abdominal pain, where she had undergone ultrasonography, which had revealed a right ovarian mass measuring 15 × 10 cm. She had subsequently undergone exploratory laparotomy followed by right oophorectomy performed by a local surgeon. One month later she reported with same complaints. Based on the detailed history, clinical presentation, markedly elevated β-hCG levels, histopathological findings, and radiological evidence of metastatic disease, `she had been diagnosed with non-gestational choriocarcinoma with lung and liver metastases (Stage IV). She had received two cycles of the BEP regimen. On follow-up, her β-hCG level had decreased to 3,471 mIU/mL, and her blood reports had been within normal limits. However, on day 10 of the second cycle of the BEP regimen, she had presented to the emergency department with complaints of bloody diarrhea. On further evaluation, she had been diagnosed with acute kidney injury with evidence of both glomerular and tubular damage, consistent with cisplatin-induced toxicity. Despite initiation of hemodialysis and supportive management, her clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, progressing to grade 5 multiorgan failure, resulting in death. This case highlights the importance of early recognition, careful risk stratification, and individualized chemotherapy planning in NGCO.
The overall treatment time remains as an independent prognostic indicator for cervical cancer. In this study we share our experience and 5 year survival analysis of early stage cervical cancer patients treated with External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) interdigitated with High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Histologically confirmed cervical cancer from stage I.B.2 to II.B from July 2018 to September 2019 were included. Patients were treated with EBRT to pelvis TD 45Gy in 25 fractions with cisplatin 40mg/m2/week along with HDR bracytherapy 6 Gy to point A, per fraction for four fractions done twice weekly from week 5. All patients were followed up for 5 years for response assessment and toxicity management. A total of 40 patients were enrolled in this study. Median overall treatment time was 43 days. The EQD2 was 76Gy to the tumor. Local Control (LC) was 87.5
Breast cancer development entails a series of genetic events, including activated oncogenes, disrupted tumor suppressor genes, and chromosomal anomalies. Its heterogeneity, characterized by distinct molecular subtypes and signalling pathways, poses key challenges to effective diagnosis and treatment. Understanding molecular mechanisms is critical for developing targeted therapies and overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer. This review analyzes existing literature related to the roles of tumor suppressor gene inactivation, oncogene activation, and chromosomal abnormalities in relation to breast cancer, as well as the targeted therapeutic strategies currently utilized to exploit these molecular alterations. Mitogenic signals stimulate the abnormal growth of neoplastic cells to divide and proliferate uncontrollably, forming cancers. Mitogenic stimuli involve genetic modifications in genes that control the cell cycle and cell cycle-regulating genes. This review describes various tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, and chromosomal anomalies. The article emphasizes p53, PTEN, BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, Rb, and their recent target therapies among the tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes like RAS, c-MYC, PI3K, Cyclin D1, HER2, AKT, and Cyclin E and their recent target therapies have been discussed. In addition, alterations in chromosomal number and structure also play an important role in the development of breast cancer. This review summarizes the key genetic and molecular alterations driving breast cancer and highlights their relevance for targeted therapy and disease management.
