Asian Pacific Journal of Environment and Cancer

Cancer Literacy in Women: A Kap Exploration of Breast and Gynecological Cancers Accompanied by Cross-Sectional Based Online Survey in Tirupathi District

Kopparapu Venkata Nanda Kumar — 2024-06-23

Background: Cancer is an illness caused by uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine cancers are among the most prevalent types of cancers in women. According to the 2020 report from the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the risk of breast and other gynaecological cancers affects 1in 6 women. Acquiring knowledge about these cancers and adopting preventive measures or early detection methods can potentially save lives by treating them at an early stage when they are still localized and more manageable.

Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices concerning Breast and Gynaecological Cancers among women in Tirupati.
Methods: A cross-sectional study is carried out among 600 women in Tirupati through an online survey. The study is aimed to gather information on their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding breast and gynaecological cancers. A pre-validated questionnaire was utilized to collect the necessary data.

Results: In this study, a group of 600 women was included, spanning from 15 to 45 years of age. The majority of these participants demonstrated proficient knowledge, held a strong positive attitude, and regrettably, exhibited deplorable practice. Notably, out of these women, 104 had receive the HPV vaccine for the prevention of cancer.

Conclusion: To improve women’s awareness and understanding, it is essential to introduce health education initiatives that aim to enhance their knowledge levels. The survey results indicate that the women surveyed demonstrated sufficient understanding and involvement in relation to breast and gynaecological cancers.

CRISPR-Cas9: An Evolutionary Technique for the Treatment of Breast and Cervical Carcinoma

Syed SIb Tul Hassan Shah — 2024-05-14

CRISPR/Cas9 has transformed genome editing methods in several scientific domains, including the study of human cancer. Globally, breast cancer (BC) affects women more than any other kind of cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the greatest fatality rate. The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have come a long way, yet many patients still experience metastases or relapses. One of the potential techniques for correcting faulty genes and curing different cancers is gene therapy. Certain mutations associated with cancer onset and development might be repaired in model organisms as a first step toward translational applications using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, which consists of a single readily modified guide RNA (sgRNA) sequence coupled to a Cas9 nuclease, has transformed genome editing owing to its simplicity and effectiveness when compared to previous methods. CRISPR/Cas9 allows for the knockdown of over-expressed genes, the reversal of mutations in defected genes, and the remodeling of the regulatory environment to inhibit BC proliferation. CRISPR/Cas9-based treatment mixed with traditional chemotherapy has proven to be beneficial in combating drug resistance and tumor inhibition difficulties. The CRISPR cas9 system may edit many genes at the same time by generating numerous sgRNAs that target different genomic regions, considerably increasing its therapeutic potential and making it a unique technique for treating cervical lesions. This review focuses on the therapeutic applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in the treatment of cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Chlorothalonil Exposure and Risk of Cancer : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocol

Yaser Soleimani — 2024-05-14

Background: Chlorothalonil, a fungicide widely used in agriculture, has come under scrutiny due to concerns about its potential link to human cancer. Although chlorothalonil plays an important role in plant protection, questions remain regarding the health effects of exposure to chlorothalonil and extensive research is needed. This review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the existing evidence on the association between chlorothalonil exposure and cancer risk and to resolve the controversy in existing knowledge.

Method: A systematic review of clinical studies published in English from the 1990s to the present was conducted, including design and data management. A search strategy in the primary literature was used and a two-stage analysis was conducted. A sampling design was used to extract data and a design tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Use meta-analysis techniques to generate quantitative evidence and explore differences across exposures, populations, and regions through cluster analysis.

Results: A meta-analysis provides summary estimates of the association between chlorothalonil exposure and breast cancer risk. The group of observers offered different understandings of differences in phenomenon, time, group, and geographic area. While statistical analysis evaluates the quality of results, studying heterogeneity and assessing publication bias leads to a better understanding of the pooled evidence.

Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis provides insight into the health effects of chlorothalonil exposure. These findings combined with other studies reached a consensus on the link between chlorothalonil and cancer. The study’s findings have implications for decision-making, public health implications, and future research directions regarding the interaction between pesticide use and human health.

Radon Exposure and Risk of Leukemia: A Protocol of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yaser Soleimani — 2024-05-14

Introduction: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is considered a risk factor for many health problems, including leukemia. Although there are many scientific studies on this relationship, the available evidence is still inconclusive. This review and meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature to provide a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between radon exposure and leukemia risk.

Methods: A comprehensive search of large electronic databases was conducted to identify studies on the association between radon exposure and leukemia. Inclusion criteria were used to select epidemiological studies reporting primary data on this association. Qualitative evaluation is conducted throughout the design process and data extraction is performed independently by two researchers. In meta-analyses, a random-effects model was used to calculate overall results, and subgroup analyzes were performed to investigate sources of variability.

Results: The systematic review identified several studies that met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses show overall effect sizes and confidence intervals that indicate the nature of the relationship between radon and leukemia. To investigate sources of heterogeneity, cluster analysis was performed based on relevant factors such as study design and geographic location. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the findings and assess potential reporting bias.

Conclusion: The systematic review identified several studies that met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showing overall effect sizes and confidence intervals illustrate the nature of the relationship between radon and leukemia. To investigate sources of heterogeneity, cluster analysis was performed based on relevant factors such as study design and geographic location. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the study results and assess the potential for publication bias.

Environmental Determinants of Oral Cancer Development: An Overview

Moein Maddahi — 2024-05-29

Overview: This review article delves into the influence of environmental factors on the onset of oral cancer. It examines the crucial part played by air pollution, occupational exposure and sun exposure in the initiation of oral cancer.

Methods: For this extensive literature survey, we examined relevant publications centered on environmental causes of oral cancer, taking into account case-control research and environmental exposure appraisals. Our selection consisted of works chosen for alignment with our topic areas, robust methodologies, and recent publishing timelines.

Results: Our investigation revealed that air pollution, occupational exposure and sun exposure are significant factors contributing to the development of oral cancer. When present together, they pose an even greater risk. In other words, the combination of these three environmental elements significantly increases the likelihood of oral cancer occurrence. It is crucial to take measures to reduce exposure to occupational exposure, air pollution and UV rays from the sun to mitigate this risk.

Conclusion: The emergence of oral cancer arises from an intricate relationship encompassing hereditary and ecological variables. Efforts devoted to prevention ought to prioritize diminishing direct exposure to established threats, refining general wellbeing guidelines, and informing individuals prone to elevated risk circumstances. Expanded exploration stays imperative for illuminating contributions made by obscured ecological facets, notably pollution, plus devising groundbreaking precautionary tactics.

Molecular and Potential Biomarkers in Diagnosis of Cervical Carcinoma: A Review

Kasireddy Likhitha — 2024-05-29

Cervical cancer, a potentially preventable disease remains the second most common malignancy in women worldwide. Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main risk factor for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. It starts in the cell lining of the cervix which includes abnormal cell division and functions. Cytological screening programs using the Pap test have led to a substantial reduction in the incidence of cervical carcinoma. The identification of new biomarkers that allows monitoring of molecular events associated to tumour progression in histological or cytological specimens may improve the detection of lesions with higher risk of progression. In the present article we review on molecular and potential biomarkers that interfere in the pathophysiology of disease and their possible role in screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndromes

Nadia Ghasemi Darestani — 2024-06-02

Women who inherit a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are much more likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer. A woman’s specific risk depends on many factors including her age, whether she has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, and her medical and family history. Most women with breast or ovarian cancer have a sporadic cancer. The majority of women with inherited breast and/or ovarian cancers carry a pathogenic variant (ie, deleterious or harmful mutation) in breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2), some hereditary breast cancers are due to other rare hereditary syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni and Cowden syndromes, which are associated with pathogenic variants in the tumor protein p53 (TP53) and phosphatase and tensin homolog tumor suppressor (PTEN) genes, respectively. Pathogenic variants in other genes also confer a heightened risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer.hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes associated with genes other than BRCA1/2.

Efficacy and Satisfaction among HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Subcutaneous Injection of PHESGO along with Chemotherapy: A Case Series

Shona Nag — 2024-05-14

Background: The prevalence of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) in India ranged from 11% to 17%. A combination of intravenous (IV) pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel in HER2+ BC reported a significant increase in the overall survival rate. However, the time taken for infusion of these drugs is lengthy. PHESGO, a combination of these two drugs along with hyaluronidase is provided subcutaneously and the time taken is 5-8 minutes. Despite patient preference for PHESGO, its efficacy and satisfaction levels in the Indian context remain unexplored. This case series investigates the efficacy of PHESGO with chemotherapy and assesses the level of satisfaction reported by HER2+ BC patients.

Methods: HER2+ BC patients were identified retrospectively from January 2022 to November 2023. Interviews during follow-ups assessed patient satisfaction. Efficacy was evaluated based on Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for metastatic/adjuvant settings and pathological complete response (pCR) rate for neoadjuvant cases.

Results: In total 27 HER2+ BC patients received PHESGO treatment with a median age of 54.5 years. Patients who received PHESGO with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant and metastatic settings were 44.4% and 51.9% respectively. The median cycle of PHESGO with chemotherapy was 5. Neoadjuvant patients showed an 83.3% pCR rate, while 85.7% of metastatic patients reported partial response after three cycles. Among 25 patients, 92% were satisfied with subcutaneous administration of PHESGO.

Conclusion: The findings support the potential of PHESGO as an effective and convenient treatment option for HER2+ BC patients. However, further research, including larger prospective studies and long-term follow-ups, is warranted to comprehensively evaluate the safety profile, quality of life, and comparative effectiveness of PHESGO versus intravenous administration.

The Role of Chloroform Exposure and Risk of Leukemia: A Protocol of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yaser Soleimani — 2024-01-23

Background: Leukemia is a serious health problem and the possibility of its association with chloroform raises the question of environmental risk. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence on the association between chloroform and leukemia.
Methods: Qualitative research using qualitative methods in primary literature. Studies were selected and data extracted, followed by qualitative analysis. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, dose-response analysis, heterogeneity study, integration of GRADE assessment, forest plots, published results, assessment of the prevalence of injustice, and fairness judgments are systematically addressed.
Results: The study selection process outlined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive analysis describes the key characteristics of the included studies, while quantitative analysis presents the results of the meta-analysis. A sensitivity analysis assessed the quality of the results and examined publication bias due to poor reporting.
Conclusion: This systematic review summarizes the current evidence on chloroform exposure and leukemia risk and provides public information for future research and health interventions.

Wood Dust and Risk of Leukemia: A Protocol of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yaser Soleimani — 2024-01-23

Background: Leukemia is a type of cancer caused by the growth of blood cells, especially in the bones and blood. Although extensive research has investigated various environmental factors that increase the risk of leukemia, the relationship between dust exposure and leukemia remains a topic of interest. Wood dusting is a common activity in industries such as carpentry and woodworking, and its potential link to leukemia warrants a comprehensive review to evaluate the available evidence. Understanding this organization is important for occupational health and safety advice and will assist in prevention strategies for those at risk.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and analysis of the existing literature on the relationship between wood dust and leukemia. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, was conducted to identify relevant studies up to the date of review. Methods included peer-reviewed literature, cohort studies, case-control studies, and meta-analyses of peer-reviewed studies such as chip injury and leukemia. Priority will be given to studies with clear evaluation criteria and strong analytical ability.
Results: The review identified a total of [X] studies that met the inclusion criteria. These studies reveal different groups of people and workplaces with different levels of wood dust. The extracted data showed various associations between wood dust and leukemia, including positive, negative or neutral effects. Meta-analyses were conducted to provide a synthesis of the available evidence. Subgroup analysis was based on characteristics such as study design, population characteristics, and dust levels. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of all outcomes. Potential sources of heterogeneity between studies were explored and the quality of evidence was assessed by design.

Prostate Cancer Incidence and Mortality Linked to Metalworking Fluid Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Zahra Moradpour — 2024-06-19

Introduction: Prostate cancer is a significant health concern, and occupational exposures, including metalworking fluid (MWF) exposure, have been implicated as potential risk factors. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis methodology to investigate the association between MWF exposure and prostate cancer risk among male workers.

Methods: Eligible studies include cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies published until between 1990 and 2023 focusing on MWF exposure and prostate cancer risk in male workers. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, extract data using a standardized form, conduct a meta-analysis using random-effects models, and assess study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Heterogeneity will be assessed, and sensitivity analyses will be conducted to explore sources of bias.

Results: Anticipated outcomes include a comprehensive list of eligible studies, a synthesized analysis using random-effects meta-analysis models to estimate the association between MWF exposure and prostate cancer risk, and a quality assessment report of included studies. Subgroup analyses based on MWF type, exposure duration, and study design will be performed to explore heterogeneity.

Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol aim to provide robust evidence on the association between MWF exposure and prostate cancer risk among male workers. The anticipated findings will have implications for occupational health practices and may guide future research and intervention strategies.