Survival Analysis of Breast Cancer Patients in Northwest Iran

Ziaei, Jamal Eivazi,Sanaat, Zohreh,Asvadi, Iraj,Dastgiri, Saeed,Pourzand, Ali,Vaez, Jalil Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer among Iranian women; however limited studies have been conducted to address survival rates. Objective: The objective was to examine survival rates in Tabriz (Northwest of Iran) and comparing with those of data reported from other cities and countries. Methods: Survival rates were calculated for one, three, five, seven and ten years for 271 breast cancer patients referred to one university clinic during 1997-2008. Results: Survival analysis demonstrated a lower survival rate compared to western countries. Conclusions: Survival rates for our patients are similar/better than other cities in Iran, but lower than certain European countries and the US. Further studies with a higher number of patients are now required.

Patterns of Metastasis and Survival in Breast Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Study in an iranian Population

Ziaei, Jamal Eivazi,Pourzand, Ali,Bayat, Amrollah,Vaez, Jalil Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Due to lack of sufficient data on characteristics of breast cancer patients and risk factors for developing metastasis in Iran this study was designed to understand clinical aspects impacting on survival. A cross-sectional study on breast cancer patients was conducted in an oncology clinic of the university hospital between 1995 and 2010. Data were retrieved from medical records and included age, menopausal status, tumor diameter, number of involved nodes, histopathological type, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, c-erbB-2, primary and secondary metastasis sites, overall survival, disease free interval and type of chemotherapy protocol. The results were analyzed with SPSS 13 software. The mean age of the patients was 49.2 (27-89) years. The primary tumors were mainly ER positive (48%) and PR negative (49.3%). The status of lymph nodes dissected and examined in these patients was unknown in 19 patients (25.3%) while 18 patients (24%) had positive lymph nodes with no report on the number of involved nodes. All of the patients had received antracyclin based chemotherapy in an adjuvant or metastatic setting. Adjuvant hormonal therapy was administered to receptor positive patients. In average, overall survival after recurrence was 30 months (95%CI 24.605-35.325) for non-skeletal versus 42 months (95%CI 31.211-52.789) for skeletal metastasis (P= 0.002). The median survival was also greater for receptor positive patients; 39 months (95%CI 33.716-44.284) for PR+ versus 26 months (95%CI 19.210-32.790) for PR- (P=0.047) and 38 months (95%CI 32.908-43.092) for ER+ versus 27 months (95%CI 18.780-35.220) for ER- patients (P=0.016). No relation was found between site of first metastasis and hormone receptor, age, tumor diameter, DFI and menopausal status. Sites of metastasis were independent of age, size of the tumor, menopausal and hormone receptor status in this study. Overall survival provided significant relations with respect to receptor status and bone metastasis.

Effect of Beta Glucan on White Blood Cell Counts and Serum Levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Ostadrahimi, Alireza,Ziaei, Jamal Eivazi,Esfahani, Ali,Jafarabadi, Mohammad Asghari,Movassaghpourakbari, Aliakbar,Farrin, Nazila Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.14

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in the world. Beta glucan can be a hematopoietic and an immune modulator agent in cancer patients. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of beta glucan on white blood cell counts and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 30 women with breast carcinoma aged 28-65 years. The eligible participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n=15) or placebo (n=15) groups using a block randomization procedure with matching based on age, course of chemotherapy and menopause status. Patients in the intervention group received two 10-mg capsules of soluble 1-3, 1-6, D-beta glucan daily and the control group receiving placebo during 21 days, the interval between two courses of chemotherapy. White blood cells, neuthrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts as well as serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 were measured at baseline and at the end of the study as primary outcomes of the study. Results: In both groups white blood cell counts decreased after 21 days of the intervention, however in the beta glucan group, WBC was less decreased non significantly than the placebo group. At the end of the study, the change in the serum level of IL-4 in the beta glucan group in comparison with the placebo group was statistically significant (p=0.001). The serum level of IL-12 in the beta glucan group statistically increased (p=0.03) and comparison between two groups at the end of the study was significant after adjusting for baseline values and covariates (p=0.007). Conclusions: The findings suggest that beta glucan can be useful as a complementary or adjuvant therapy and immunomodulary agent in breast cancer patients in combination with cancer therapies, but further studies are needed for confirmation.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Iranian Women: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study in Tabriz, Iran

Mina Hosseinzadeh,Jamal Eivazi Ziaei,Nader Mahdavi,Parvaneh Aghajari,Maryam Vahidi,Alaviehe Fateh,Elnaz Asghari 한국유방암학회 2014 Journal of breast cancer Vol.17 No.3

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in womenworldwide and the leading cause of cancer death among women. In Asian countries such as Iran, the incidence of breast canceris increasing. The present study aimed to assess the riskfactors for breast cancer of women in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: Ahospital-based case-control study was undertaken to identifybreast cancer risk factors. The study consisted of 140 casesconfirmed via histopathological analysis and 280 group-matchedcontrols without any malignancy. Data were analyzed using descriptiveand inferential statistical methods via the SPSS softwareversion 18. Results: In a multivariate analysis, educationallevel (odds ratio [OR], 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.11–10.83), menopausal status (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.41–4.59), ahigh-fat diet (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.51–5.04), abortion (OR, 2.13;95% CI, 1.20–3.79), passive smoking (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.51–5.04), oral contraceptive use (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.80–5.59),stress (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.74–5.36), and migration (OR, 3.09;95% CI, 1.39–6.90) were factors associated with a significantlyincreased risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding (OR, 0.39; 95%CI, 0.16–0.97) and a diet containing sufficient fruit and vegetables(OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12–0.39) had protective roles againstbreast cancer. Conclusion: The study revealed that the risk factorsfor breast cancer among women in the Tabriz area of Iranare related to the lifestyle. Therefore, the provision of educationto change unhealthy lifestyle choices and periodic check-ups forearly breast cancer detection are recommended.

Other Side of Breast Cancer: Factors Associated with Caregiver Burden

Maryam Vahidi,Nader Mahdavi,Elnaz Asghari,Hossein Ebrahimi,Jamal Eivazi Ziaei,Mina Hosseinzadeh,Hossein Namdar Areshtanab,Iraj Asvadi Kermani 한국간호과학회 2016 Asian Nursing Research Vol.10 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to determine factors associated with caregiver burden among primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran. Methods: This was a descriptive correlation study conducted in 2012 on 150 main caregivers of patients with breast cancer who came to the oncology clinic of Shahid Ghazi hospital in Tabriz, Iran. A questionnaire which included caregiving-related factors and the Zarit Burden Interview was used for data collection after its validity and reliability were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software with descriptive and analytic statistics. The association between significant variables and the dependent variable with an observation of the effects of other variables was assessed using the multiple linear regression model. Results: The mean age of caregivers was 39.60 ± 13.80 years old, and 77 (51.3%) of them were men. The mean score of the Zarit Burden Interview was 30.55 ± 19.18. In the regression model, the mean score of activities of daily living, level of education, gender, and financial status were identified as the determining factors of the burden of caregivers. Conclusions: Primary caregivers need to be financially supported by the relevant organizations. Care skills training and providing palliative care seem helpful in reducing the pain and the burden of family caregivers for patients with breast cancer.