Journal of Cancer and Tumor International

Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Presenting as Severe Epistaxis Associated with Maxillary Sinus Malignancy: A Case Report

2026-06-04T13:38:11+00:00

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterised by isolated thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100 × 10⁹/L) and bleeding manifestations. While primary ITP is common, secondary ITP associated with solid organ malignancies is a rare and challenging clinical overlap. A 25-year-old male with a known history of immune thrombocytopenic purpura presented with severe recurrent epistaxis associated with facial swelling. Evaluation revealed thrombocytopenia without abnormalities in coagulation parameters, consistent with ITP. Due to persistent bleeding and atypical local symptoms. Imaging of the paranasal sinuses revealed a mass lesion involving the maxillary sinus, and histopathological examination confirmed malignancy. Early recognition of secondary causes of ITP can significantly influence treatment strategy and prognosis. This case emphasises the necessity of investigating secondary causes of thrombocytopenia when patients present with atypical local symptom that severe epistaxis may represent the initial manifestation of a complex interaction between haematological and malignant processes.

Epidemiological Data Gaps in Breast Cancer Research in Cameroon: A Meta-analysis

2026-05-28T13:54:03+00:00

Background: Breast cancer is the leading malignancy among women in Cameroon, yet national decision-making still relies heavily on international estimates, isolated hospital series and incompletely documented registries. This limitation weakens the interpretation of incidence, prevalence, mortality, survival and treatment indicators, and may delay evidence-based cancer control planning. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the published evidence on breast cancer in Cameroon, quantify key epidemiological and clinical outcomes, and identify methodological gaps that compromise national comparability.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting breast cancer data from Cameroon between 1 January 2000 and 30 April 2025. MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the WHO Global Health Library were searched without language restriction. Eligible designs included cohort, cross-sectional, case-control and retrospective hospital-based studies reporting at least one of the following outcomes: prevalence, incidence, mortality, five-year survival, clinical stage, histological profile, immunohistochemistry or treatment patterns. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled proportions were estimated using random-effects models after Freeman-Tukey double-arcsine transformation, with heterogeneity quantified using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics.

Results: Fifty-six studies including 41,494 breast cancer patients were retained. The mean age was 45.97 ± 5.53 years, and women represented 96.3% of reported cases. Breast cancer accounted for a pooled 32% of female cancers (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14%-57%; I2=97%). The pooled mortality proportion was 72% (95% CI: 6%-99%; I²=97.7%), while pooled five-year overall survival was 36% (95% CI: 26%-47%; I2=92.2%). Most patients were diagnosed at advanced stages, with stage III and IV disease accounting for the majority of reported cases. Ductal carcinoma was the dominant histology. Hormone receptor positivity was frequent (estrogen receptor: 82%; progesterone receptor: 56%), whereas HER2 overexpression was less frequently reported (14%). Treatment reporting was incomplete: chemotherapy and radiotherapy were commonly documented, but endocrine therapy and palliative care were substantially underreported.

Conclusion: Published breast cancer research from Cameroon indicates a severe clinical burden marked by late diagnosis, high mortality and poor five-year survival. However, the extreme heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting across studies show that the country's breast cancer evidence base remains structurally fragile. Standardized cancer registration, harmonized minimum datasets, routine immunohistochemistry, active survival follow-up and transparent treatment documentation are urgently needed to support effective breast cancer control in Cameroon.

Assessment of Nutritional Concerns and Parental Information Needs in Pediatric Oncology Patients Surveyed at Benghazi Pediatric Hospital

2026-06-08T11:56:13+00:00

Background: Childhood cancer remains a major global health concern, with treatment-related nutritional complications significantly affecting outcomes and quality of life despite survival rates improving. Parents of children with cancer face significant emotional, psychological, and financial strain, often accompanied by fear of poor outcomes. Providing clear and accurate information is essential to help children understand their condition, support informed decision-making, reduce anxiety and depression, and strengthen trust between families and healthcare professionals.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the nutritional concerns experienced by pediatric oncology patients and to identify the nutrition-related information needs of their parents at Benghazi Pediatric Hospital, Libya.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2024 on patients attending the Children's Hospital in Benghazi, Libya. In total, participants were selected from the hospital 61 including 32 females and 29 males. They were randomly selected from the oncology ward. Collecting patients’ data and assessing the nutritional problems in children with cancer and the information needs of their parents by using questionnaires.

Results: The results show that 78.7% had received Chemotherapy. The most prominent nutritional problems that their children experienced were fatigue/weakness (74%), Taste alteration (72.2%), and anorexia (72.1%). The parents mostly needed information about food-disease interactions (80.3%), food-drug interactions (72.1%), the child’s diet (75%) and food preservation (70.4%). There was a strong correlation between food disease reaction (p=0.028), nutrition education (p=0.011) and income. There was no relationship between the information needs and gender and education level of parents. There was no relationship between type of cancer, treatment and gender, age and weight. There was no relationship between nutritional problems and age and weight

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that most children experience at least one nutritional concern, underscoring the importance of providing parents with comprehensive, up-to-date, and ongoing nutrition-related information to support informed dietary practices.

Epidemiological Profile of Childhood Malignancies at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study (2019–2023)

2026-06-26T12:39:06+00:00

Aim: This study assessed the epidemiological profile, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes of childhood malignancies managed at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, from 2019 to 2023.

Study Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, using records from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2023.

Methods: Data were extracted from the childhood cancer register for children aged 0–14 years who were diagnosed and managed for malignancy during the study period. Records with incomplete key variables and duplicates were excluded. Sociodemographic characteristics, cancer type, National Health Insurance Scheme coverage, treatment modality, and treatment outcome were summarised using frequencies and percentages. Associations between selected variables and treatment outcome were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Results: Of 732 recorded childhood cancer cases, 654 complete records were included in the analysis. The number of recorded cases declined from 142 in 2019 to 112 in 2023. Children aged 0–4 years accounted for the largest proportion of cases, representing 297 cases (45.4%). Males constituted 371 cases (56.7%). Most children had National Health Insurance Scheme coverage, 470 (71.9%). Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was the most common malignancy, accounting for 125 cases (19.1%), followed by retinoblastoma, 110 (16.8%), and Wilms tumour, 87 (13.3%). Chemotherapy was the most frequently used treatment modality, 409 (62.5%), followed by combined treatment, 205 (31.3%). Treatment modality was significantly associated with treatment outcome. In the multivariable analysis, combined treatment was associated with lower odds of death, whereas absence of treatment was associated with higher odds of death.

Conclusion: Childhood malignancies managed at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital during 2019–2023 were most frequent among children under five years, with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia being the leading diagnosis. Strengthening early diagnosis, treatment access, financial protection, and multicentre cancer surveillance may improve paediatric oncology outcomes in Ghana.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome in Patients Treated with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy: A Retrospective Study

2026-06-29T14:20:56+00:00

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has revolutionised cancer treatment, particularly for relapsed or refractory haematological malignancies. However, treatment-related toxicities, including tumour lysis syndrome (TLS), remain a significant concern. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the incidence, healthcare outcomes and systemic complications in patients who developed TLS secondary to CAR T-cell therapy.

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2017 to 2019, adult hospitalisations with an ICD-10 procedure code for CAR T-cell therapy were identified. Cases were stratified into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of a secondary diagnosis of TLS. The primary outcomes evaluated were in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS) and total hospital charges. Secondary outcomes included systemic complications such as sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI) and organ failure. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to adjust for baseline demographics, hospital characteristics and the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Results: Among 685 CAR T-cell therapy inpatient encounters, 58 hospitalisations developed TLS, representing an incidence rate of 8.47% (58/685). Demographics and baseline comorbidities were comparable between the two cohorts. The development of TLS was associated with nearly fivefold higher odds of in-hospital mortality (12% vs. 2.7%; aOR: 4.72, 95% CI: 1.61 to 13.80, $p < 0.01$), a prolonged mean length of stay (26.6 vs. 19.1 days; adjusted coefficient: 6.66 days, 95% CI: 1.41 to 11.90, $p = 0.013$) and a substantial increase in mean total hospital charges ($1,421,658 vs. $826,336; adjusted coefficient: $498,757, 95% CI: $138,090 to $859,424, $p < 0.01$). Furthermore, patients who developed TLS experienced a significantly higher incidence of severe systemic complications, including acute kidney injury, the need for haemodialysis, sepsis, acute respiratory failure, pneumonia and encephalopathy.

Conclusion: TLS secondary to CAR T-cell therapy is a highly morbid toxicity associated with a nearly fivefold increase in hospital mortality, prolonged hospitalisation and a substantial economic healthcare burden. It is associated with severe multi-organ dysfunction and infectious complications. Structured prophylactic protocols and vigilant early monitoring strategies are important to mitigate these risks and improve survival outcomes in CAR T-cell recipients.

The Peritoneal Paradox: Deciphering the Conflicting Evidence for HIPEC in Primary Versus Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

2026-06-05T12:24:04+00:00

Advanced-stage ovarian cancer is characterized by high mortality and frequent peritoneal recurrence. “Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy” (HIPEC), which delivers heated chemotherapeutic agents directly into the peritoneal cavity following cytoreductive surgery (CRS), aims to enhance local cytotoxicity against microscopic residual disease. A comprehensive Boolean search was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Embase and Scopus to identify relevant studies on the use of HIPEC for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indicates that HIPEC significantly improves overall survival (OS) in primary advanced-stage disease, specifically when administered during interval debulking surgery (IDS) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Conversely, its role in primary debulking and recurrent settings remains controversial. While some trials show benefits, others, including the HORSE trial, found no significant difference in OS. Furthermore, HIPEC is associated with increased morbidity, including longer operative times and a higher incidence of grade 3-5 adverse events. Consequently, current guidelines primarily recommend HIPEC as an option for stage III patients during IDS. While a promising advance, further research is required to standardize protocols and optimize patient selection.

Emerging Technologies in Cancer Treatment: Advances in Gene Therapy, Immunotherapy, Nanomedicine, and Precision Oncology

2026-07-02T07:19:27+00:00

Cancer treatment has advanced substantially with the development of molecularly targeted and immune-based approaches that aim to improve therapeutic selectivity and reduce treatment-related toxicity. This review summarises selected emerging technologies in cancer treatment, including gene therapy, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, cellular immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, nanozyme-based approaches, nanomedicine, clinical sequencing, proteomics, and proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Gene therapy and genome-editing platforms provide opportunities to modify cancer-associated genetic alterations, although delivery efficiency, off-target effects, safety, and clinical translation remain important challenges. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy has shown substantial clinical value in selected haematological malignancies, whereas its application in solid tumours remains limited by antigen heterogeneity, poor trafficking, immune suppression, and toxicity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination immunotherapy have improved outcomes in several cancers, but response rates vary across tumour types and patient groups. Nanomedicine and nanozyme-based systems may improve drug delivery, tumour targeting, imaging, and modulation of the tumour microenvironment, although many applications remain under preclinical or early clinical evaluation. Proteomic profiling, gene panel testing, and next-generation sequencing support biomarker discovery and precision oncology by identifying molecular alterations that may guide diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy selection. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras represent a developing strategy for the selective degradation of disease-associated proteins, including proteins that are difficult to inhibit using conventional approaches. Overall, these technologies are contributing to a shift towards more individualised and multimodal cancer care. Further validation, standardisation, safety assessment, cost consideration, and carefully designed clinical trials are required before many of these approaches can be widely implemented.

Extent of Resection and Survival in Glioblastoma: Clinical and Pathological Correlates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2026-05-29T07:31:55+00:00

Background: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults and is associated with poor prognosis despite advances in surgical and adjuvant therapies. Extent of resection (EOR) has emerged as a critical prognostic factor influencing survival outcomes; however, the optimal degree of tumor removal and its relationship with clinical and pathological characteristics remain controversial.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the impact of extent of resection on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with glioblastoma and to assess associated clinical and pathological correlates.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for eligible studies published from 2000 to 2026. Studies comparing survival outcomes according to extent of resection, including gross total resection (GTR), subtotal resection (STR), supramarginal resection (SMR), and biopsy, were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two reviewers. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

Results: A total of [number] studies involving [number] patients with glioblastoma were included. Compared with STR or biopsy, GTR was significantly associated with improved OS (pooled).