The Impact of COVID-19 on the Delivery of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment at Guy’s Cancer Centre

Background: This study aimed to assess the outcome of cancer patients undergoing systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) at our centre to help inform future clinical decision-making around SACT during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients receiving at least one episode of SACT for solid tumours at Guy’s Cancer Centre between 1 March and 31 May 2020 and the same period in 2019 were included in the study. Data were collected on demographics, tumour type/stage, treatment type (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological-targeted) and SARS-CoV2 infection. Results: A total of 2120 patients received SACT in 2020, compared to 2449 in 2019 (13% decrease). From 2019 to 2020, there was an increase in stage IV disease (62% vs. 72%), decrease in chemotherapy (42% vs. 34%), increase in immunotherapy (6% vs. 10%), but similar rates of biologically targeted treatments (37% vs. 38%). There was a significant increase in 1st and 2nd line treatments in 2020 (68% vs. 81%; p < 0.0001) and reduction in 3rd and subsequent lines (26% vs. 15%; p = 0.004) compared to 2019. Of the 2020 cohort, 2% patients developed SARS-CoV2 infections. Conclusions: These real-world data from a tertiary Cancer Centre suggest that despite the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SACT was able to be continued without any significant effects on the mortality of solid-tumour patients. There was a low rate (2%) of SARS-CoV-2 infection which is comparable to the 1.4%-point prevalence in our total cancer population.

Pivoting the Provision of Smoking Cessation Education in a Virtual Clinical World: The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Experience

Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis may be attributed to misbeliefs by both patients and healthcare providers on the value and benefit of quitting smoking on treatment outcomes. The perceived myths and misconceptions about the relationship between smoking and cancer may be readily dispelled with the provision of practical and pertinent education. However, busy clinics as well as the rapid move to virtual care due to the COVID-19 pandemic present several challenges with the provision of smoking cessation education. Here, we describe how the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre implemented innovative solutions to improve the delivery of education during the COVID-19 pandemic to better support patients and healthcare providers.

Clear Cell Carcinoma Of The Ovary: An Experience From A Regional Cancer Centre In Odisha.

Background: Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (CCCO) shows unique clinical features. There is a remarkable difference in incidence among different ethnic populations. The reasons for these differences in incidence around the world are not known. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with CCCO and to determine the impact of the stage of the disease and the extent of surgery on the prognosis of those patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of the cases of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary that were operated in the regional cancer centre, Cuttack, from January 2009 to December 2018, was performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of the patients. Results: During this study period, the incidence of CCCO was found to be 1.92%. The most common age group was 40–50 years (mean age of 44.7 years). The most common modes of presentation were abdominal distention and pain in the abdomen. Most of the cases in this study belonged to stage III C (65%), making it the most common stage in this group. 20% of the patients within the study group were nulliparous and 35% were menopausal in status.40% of the tumours were >15 cm in size. Almost 28% were lymph node positive. None in stage I had positive lymph nodes. All the cases in stage III were positive for lymph nodes. So, in stage III, 38.5% were positive for lymph nodes. 17/20 had some form of chemotherapy, of which 45% had NACT. Survival curves differ significantly between the early and advanced stages of the disease. A trend of survival benefit is seen with complete cytoreduction. Conclusion: There is a need for data regarding the incidence and specific clinicopathologic behaviour of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary in the Indian population. This is an attempt to compile the data from a single tertiary institute in eastern India over the past 10 years. This is a rare tumour and the chances of missing data are well accepted. The survival advantage of early-stage-diagnosed patients over late-stage patients is tremendous and hard to ignore. Combining the fact that clear cell carcinomas are associated with precancerous lesions like atypical endometriosis and atypical adenofibroma, there may be scope for screening. The mutational changes leading to malignancy in these precancerous lesions also need to be refined. As stated, complete cytoreduction is the key to survival advantage and the need for referral to a centre with proper expertise for the same needs to be emphasized.