OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is to estimate the cost of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management in the Philippines. Specifically, it aims to identify the resource requirements and interventions related to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management, measure resource volumes (number of units), learn to value resource items (unit costs), and determine the total cost of treatment per disease stage.

The study covered nine tertiary hospitals, seven of which were government hospitals and two were private hospitals, with all tertiary hospitals providing breast cancer services and accredited by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC or PhilHealth) for the Z-Benefit Package. Interventions and services related to breast cancer included radiographic procedures, laboratory and imaging tests, chemotherapy drugs and medications, medical and surgical supplies, surgical rates (for breast surgery), accommodation, staff time and salary/professional fees, and other procedure fees. The study conducted in 2022, examined cost prices of breast cancer interventions and services from stage 1–3B.

Purposive and convenience sampling were used based on PhilHealth accreditation and willingness of hospitals to participate in the study. The study conducted a focus group discussion with oncologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and other health care providers to validate the clinical guideline used and to solicit inputs to the costing design, analysis framework, and tools for data collection. Data collection of financial cost information (charge price) was conducted using a set of costing matrices filled out by the various departments of the hospitals. Costs and median rates were calculated across hospitals on diagnostics and imaging tests, surgery costs of both public and private facilities, medical treatment, and radiotherapy.

Breast MRI, Breast Panel, and Chest CT Scan are the top 3 most expensive diagnostic procedures ranging from PhP 8,102.00 to PhP 9,800.00 per procedure. Surgical procedures for breast cancer at private hospitals and public hospitals showed huge differences in costs. The cost of a cycle of chemotherapy ranges from PhP 596.70 to PhP 3,700.00 per session, while the cost of targeted therapy can cost up to PhP 46,394.21 per session. A year of hormone therapy ranges from PhP 3,276.00 with the use of Tamoxifen, and up to PhP 68,284.00 with Goserelin. Aromatase inhibitors such as Anastrozole and Letrozole cost from PhP 18,000 to PhP 36,000, respectively. Multiple cycles depending on the diagnosis are prescribed per patient and used in combination with other chemotherapy medications or other therapies such as targeted therapy and hormone therapy are usually taken daily up to 5 to 10 years. Conventional radiotherapy can cost up to PhP 88,150.00 covering 28 sessions, CT simulation, and CT planning.

This cost study provides relevant information and better perspective on benefit development for the PHIC, policy development for Department of Health on where and how to focus their support for the patient’s financial preparedness to address medical and f inancial catastrophes.

PhilHealth needs to guide the health care providers of their costing method and to develop their own integrated, interoperable, and comprehensive cost data library.

It recommends that the government allocate budget and cover for screening and assessment for earlier stage diagnosis of patients and lower health expenditure costs on cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain detailed understanding on the gene regulation of natural compounds in altering prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSC). METHODS: Gene expression data of HNSC samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HNSC patients were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential gene expression analysis of GEO datasets were achieved by the GEO2R tool. Common differentially expressed gerres (DEGs) were screened by comparing DEGs of HNSC with those of PBMCs. The combination was further analyzed for regulating pathways and biological processes that were affected. RESULTS: Totally 110 DEGs were retrieved and identified to be involved in biological processes related to tumor regulation. Then 102 natural compounds were screened for a combination such that the expression of all 110 commonly DEGs was altered. A combination of salidroside, ginsenoside Rd, oridonin, britanin, and scutellarein was chosen. A multifaceted, multi-dimensional tumor regression was showed by altering autophagy, apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammatory cytokines production. CONCLUSIONS This study has helped develop a unique combination of natural compounds that will markedly reduce the propensity of development of drug resistance in tumors and immune evasion by tumors. The result is crucial to developing a combinatorial natural therapeutic cocktail with accentuated immunotherapeutic potential.
Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/drug therapy* ; Immunotherapy ; Prognosis

Good nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced lifestyle. The beneficial effects of nutrition have been found to counteract nutritional disturbances with the expanded use of nutraceuticals to treat and manage cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other developmental defects over the last decade. Flavonoids are found abundantly in plant-derived foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, cocoa, and wine. Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals like flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids. Flavonoids can act as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-microbial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-diarrheal agents. Flavonoids are also reported to upregulate apoptotic activity in several cancers such as hepatic, pancreatic, breast, esophageal, and colon. Myricetin is a flavonol which is naturally present in fruits and vegetables and has shown possible nutraceutical value. Myricetin has been portrayed as a potent nutraceutical that may protect against cancer. The focus of the present review is to present an updated account of studies demonstrating the anticancer potential of myricetin and the molecular mechanisms involved therein. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying its anticancer activity would eventually help in its development as a novel anticancer nutraceutical having minimal side effects.
Humans ; Flavonoids/chemistry* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; Dietary Supplements ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Elemene, derived from Curcuma wenyujin, one of the "8 famous genuine medicinal materials of Zhejiang province," exhibits remarkable antitumor activity. It has gained wide recognition in clinical practice for effectiveness on tumors. Dr. XIE Tian, introduced the innovative concept of "molecular compatibility theory" by combining Chinese medicine principles, specifically the "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy" theory, with modern biomedical technology. This groundbreaking approach, along with a systematic analysis of Chinese medicine and modern biomedical knowledge, led to the development of elemene nanoliposome formulations. These novel formulations offer numerous advantages, including low toxicity, well-defined composition, synergistic effects on multiple targets, and excellent biocompatibility. Following the principles of the "molecular compatibility theory", further exploration of cancer treatment strategies and methods based on elemene was undertaken. This comprehensive review consolidates the current understanding of elemene's potential antitumor mechanisms, recent clinical investigations, advancements in drug delivery systems, and structural modifications. The ultimate goal of this review is to establish a solid theoretical foundation for researchers, empowering them to develop more effective antitumor drugs based on the principles of "molecular compatibility theory".
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Sesquiterpenes/therapeutic use*

Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Biological Products/therapeutic use* ; B7-H1 Antigen

Background: Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) accounts for about 0.4% of soft tissue sarcomas. Approximately onethird of cases occur in extranodal sites and about 28% of extranodal FDCS may metastasize. Intra-abdominal occurrence is rare and there is limited published data to guide oncologists on how to best treat this malignancy. Case Presentation: This is a case of a 33-year-old female who came in due to incidental finding of a left supraclavicular mass with 2-year history of early satiety. Neck node biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated malignant tumor with positive staining for CD21, CD23, vimentin and S100 consistent with FDCS. PET-CT revealed an intensely FDG-avid large mass in the left upper abdomen with signs of necrosis and mass effect. The patient was given three different chemotherapy regimens that included (1) gemcitabine/docetaxel, (2) single agent doxorubicin and (3) ifosfamide/etoposide, but she progressed on all these. Off-label use of bendamustine was then offered and after just the first cycle, the patient reportedly regained strength and was able to get up from wheelchair with noted interval decrease in size of the cervical mass. Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated and succumbed to infection and multiple pulmonary embolisms. Conclusion Intra-abdominal FDCS is a rare malignancy with heterogenous outcomes with no uniform treatment strategy at present. Molecular tumor board discussion and multi-disciplinary approach in extranodal FDCS is important in the diagnosis and management. Patients with multiple poor prognostic factors are at risk for tumor recurrence, metastasis, and death.
Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; Abdominal Neoplasms ; Drug Therapy ; Bendamustine Hydrochloride ; Prognosis

Rationale/Objective: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is recommended for locally-advanced breast cancer (LABC) to improve resectability and provide in-vivo tumor response assessment. This study aimed to describe the clinical and pathologic tumor response of LABC patients after response-guided NAC. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort analysis of 128 LABC patients who underwent NAC using sequential doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) – docetaxel (T) regimen at the Philippine General Hospital Breast Care Center. Clinical and pathologic response rates were analyzed according to clinicopathologic variables including tumor intrinsic subtype. Results: Objective clinical response (complete and partial) was observed in 88% (111/128) of patients with 11% (14/128) achieving pathologic complete response (pCR). The hormone receptor-negative/ Her2-enriched (HR-/Her2+) subtype had the highest pCR rate (23.5%) followed by triple negative subtype (HR-/Her2-) at 19%. The hormone receptor-positive/Her2-positive (HR+/Her2+) subtype had the lowest pCR (4.7%). Two patients with initial poor response to AC but had good response upon shifting to T achieved pCR. Twelve patients (9.4%) had poor response to AC and T chemotherapy. Patients who were pre-menopausal (p=0.04), had ductal histology (p=0.03), with a HR-/Her2- (p=0.002) or HR+/Her2+ subtype (p=0.03) had good response to AC. Intrinsic subtype was not significantly associated with treatment response in those who received docetaxel. There was strong association between the pathologic and clinical responses (Spearman’s Rho score 0.69, p-value <0.0001). Conclusion Clinical and pathologic response to NAC was highly dependent on tumor subtype. Clinical response was predictive of pathologic response. Response-guided NAC allowed direct and early evaluation of tumor treatment response that allowed for treatment modifications.
Breast Neoplasms ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Drug Therapy

Humans ; Tenofovir/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Viral Load ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Immune escape mechanisms in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can disrupt every step of the anti-cancer immune response. In recent years, an increased understanding of the specific mechanisms fueling immune escape has allowed for the development of numerous immunotherapeutic treatments that have been introduced into the clinical practice. The advent of immunotherapy has dramatically changed the current treatment landscape of advanced or metastatic NSCLC because of its durable efficacy and manageable toxicity. In this review, we will first present a brief overview of recent evidence on immune escape mechanisms in NSCLC. We will then discuss the current promising immunotherapeutic strategies in advanced or metastatic NSCLC tumors.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Immunotherapy

Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Pulmonary Alveoli