Tata Memorial Hospital

About: Tata Memorial Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Mumbai, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Breast cancer. The organization has 3187 authors who have published 4636 publications receiving 109143 citations.

Frequencies of the major subgroups of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indian children differ from the West.

Abstract: Frequencies of the major subgroups of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indian children differ from the West

Abnormal levels of proinflammatory cytokines in serum and monocyte cultures from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in different stages, and their role in prognosis.

Abstract: Interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), primarily monocyte-derived cytokines, form a group of proinflammatory cytokines with related and overlapping spectra of activities. The role of these cytokines in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been investigated. A distinctive pattern of cytokine secretion has been found in chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP), in blastic crisis (CML-BC) and in normal subjects. Serum IL-6 levels in CML-CP and CML-BC were significantly raised compared with normal controls (p = 0.0026 for CML-CP and p = 0.0011 for CML-BC). IL-6 was significantly elevated in blastic crisis of CML (103.5 +/- 20.77 pg ml-1) compared with CML-CP (37.35 +/- 10.88 pg ml-1; p = 0.014). IL-6 serum levels were found to correlate significantly with peripheral blood monocyte counts and bone marrow blast and basophil counts. We have analysed monocyte/macrophage function with respect to their ability to produce IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, spontaneously as well as in response to LPS, in comparison with normal controls. A direct correlation of IL-6 levels in unstimulated and stimulated cultures with bone marrow blast and basophil counts has been observed. From these results it is inferred that the monocyte function is impaired in CML patients, and the cytokine secretion is deficient. Our limited data suggest that serum IL-6 levels may play an important role as a prognostic marker for CML.

Does PET-CT scan have a role prior to radical re-resection for incidental gallbladder cancer?

Abstract: Background. Radical re-resection is offered to patients with non-metastatic, invasive, incidental gallbladder cancer. Data evaluating 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography (18F-FDG PET–CT) in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer is sparse. Aim. To evaluate the efficacy of integrated 18F-FDG PET–CT in determining occult metastatic or residual local–regional disease in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer. Methods. Patients referred with incidental gallbladder cancer for radical re-resection were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and PET–CT. Based on preoperative imaging, 24 out of 92 patients were found suitable for surgery. The two imaging modalities were evaluated with respect to residual and resectable disease. Results. In determining residual disease, MDCT had a sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of 42.8%, each, while PET–CT had a sensitivity and PPV of 28.5 and 20%, respectively. In determining resectability, MDCT had a sensitivity, PPV, and accuracy of 100, 87.5, and 87.5%, respectively, as compared to PET–CT (sensitivity=100%, PPV=91.3%, accuracy=91.6%). Conclusions. From our study, it appears that in patients with incidental gall bladder cancer without metastatic disease, PET–CT and MDCT seem to have roles complementing each other. PET–CT was able to detect occult metastatic or residual local–regional disease in some of these patients, and seems to be useful in the preoperative diagnostic algorithm of patients whose MDCT is normal or indicates locally advanced disease.

Craniofacial Resection for Malignant Melanoma of the Skull Base: Report of an International Collaborative Study

Abstract: Objective To report postoperative mortality, complications, and outcomes in a subset of patients with the histologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma extracted from an existing database of a large cohort of patients accumulated from multiple institutions. Design Retrospective outcome analysis. Setting Seventeen international tertiary referral centers performing craniofacial surgery for malignant skull base tumors. Patients A total of 53 patients were identified from a database of 1307 patients who had craniofacial resection for malignant tumors at 17 institutions. The median age was 63 years. Of the 53 patients, 25 (47%) had had prior single modality or combined treatment, which included surgery in 22 (42%), radiation in 11 (21%), and chemotherapy in 2 (4%). The margins of resection were close or microscopically positive in 7 (13%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was given in 22 (42%), chemotherapy in 3 (6%), and vaccine or interferon therapy in 2 (4%). Complications were classified into overall, local, central nervous system, systemic, and orbital. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Predictors of outcome were identified by multivariate analysis. Results Postoperative mortality occurred in 3 patients (6%) and postoperative complications were reported in 14 patients (26%). Local wound complications occurred in 6 patients (11%), central nervous system in 7 (13%), systemic in 3 (6%), and orbital in 1 (2%). With a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 1-159 months), the 3-year OS, DSS, and RFS rates were 28.2%, 29.7%, and 25.5%, respectively. The extent of orbital involvement and adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) were independent predictors of DSS and OS on multivariate analysis, whereas only PORT was an independent predictor of RFS. Patients treated with PORT had significantly better 3-year OS (39% vs 18%; relative risk, 2.9; P = .007), DSS (41% vs 19%; relative risk, 3.0; P = .007), and RFS (39% vs 15%; relative risk, 4.2; P = .001). Conclusions Craniofacial resection in patients with malignant melanoma of the skull base has mortality (6%) and complication rates (26%) comparable to other malignant tumors of the skull base. However, malignant melanoma is associated with a much poorer OS, DSS, and RFS. Adjuvant PORT correlated with improved 3-year OS, DSS, and RFS on multivariate analysis. These factors must be taken into account when considering craniofacial resection in a patient with malignant melanoma invading the skull base.