B Al-Bahrani

Publications (6)12.58 Total impact

• Article: Prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2, epidermal growth factor receptor 1, and microvascular density in gastric cancer.

  M S Al-Moundhri, I Al-Hadabi, K Al-Mawaly, S Kumar, F A R Al-Lawati, G Bhatnager, S Kuruvila, A Al-Hamdani, S M El-Sayed, B Al-Bahrani
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  ABSTRACT: Gastric cancer remains a significant global health burden with poor treatment outcome. New treatment modalities that target inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis have been used in various cancers, including gastric cancer. We sought to study the pattern of expression of two important proteins, cyclooxygenase-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor, and their association with microvascular density, clinicopathological features, and survival in Arab Omani patients with gastric cancer. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors were studied by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies to cyclooxygenase-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and CD34. The immunohistochemical results were correlated with clinicopathological features and survival. In our study population, we found a male/female ratio of 72:43, a median age of 59 years, stage III and IV incidence of 66.9%, and a median follow-up of 96 months. Positive expression rates of cyclooxygenase-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor were 89.6 and 23.5%, respectively. The median microvascular density value was 52.5. When this value was determined as the cut-off point, 50% of patients were found to have high microvascular density. Epidermal growth factor receptor over-expression correlated with high microvascular density values, advanced lymph node involvement (N3), and TNM stage presentation (III and IV). Similarly, lymph node involvement was associated with cyclooxygenase-2 over-expression and high microvascular density. Univariate analysis showed that epidermal growth factor receptor over-expression, pathological T3 and T4 disease, and overall stage III and IV disease were adverse prognostic factors. On multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model, expression of epidermal growth factor receptor, and advanced TNM stage were significant adverse prognostic factors for overall survival. Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in Arab Omani patients with gastric cancer correlates with aggressive tumor characteristics and is an independent prognostic factor. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the utility of epidermal growth factor receptor immunohistochemistry as a tool for gastric cancer treatment.
  Medical Oncology 11/2011; 29(3):1739-47. · 2.14 Impact Factor
• Article: Measurement of circulating levels of VEGF-A, -C, and -D and their receptors, VEGFR-1 and -2 in gastric adenocarcinoma.

  Mansour-S Al-Moundhri, A Al-Shukaili, M Al-Nabhani, B Al-Bahrani, I-A Burney, A Rizivi, S-S Ganguly
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  ABSTRACT: To analyze the serum levels and prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -A, -C, and -D, and their receptors, VEGFR-1 and -2 in gastric adenocarcinomas. The serum levels of VEGF family members were measured in 76 control subjects and 76 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These measurements were correlated with clinco-pathological features and survival rates. The serum levels of VEGF-A and its receptor, VEGFR-1, were significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer than in healthy donors (t = 2.3, P = 0.02 and t = 4.2, P < 0.0001, respectively). In contrast, the serum levels of VEGF-D were significantly higher in control subjects than in patients (t = 2.9, P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 between patients and controls. VEGF-C was associated with advanced tumor stage and presence of metastasis. VEGFR-1 was associated with metastasis, advanced overall stage, tumor differentiation and survival. VEGFR-2 levels were associated with poor tumor differentiation. There was no significant prognostic value for any of the VEGF family members or their receptors except for VEGFR-1 where high levels were associated with a poor overall survival. Serum VEGF levels vary significantly in the same cohort of patients with variable clinico-pathological features and prognostic values. The simultaneous measurement of VEGF receptors levels in sera may overcome the limitations of a single biomarker assay.
  World Journal of Gastroenterology 07/2008; 14(24):3879-83. · 2.47 Impact Factor
• Article: Evaluation of the prevalence, pattern and management of cancer pain in Oncology Department, The Royal Hospital, Oman.

  M Faris, B Al-Bahrani, A Emam Khalifa, N Ahmad
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  ABSTRACT: Pain is under-treated in all parts of the world. Moderate to severe pain is experienced by the majority of patients with advanced disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, pattern and pain management in Oman. A prospective study was carried out during a 3 months period. We evaluated all admitted patients and only patients who were complaining of pain were eligible. Assessment of pain intensity and pain relief were done using measuring scales. All patients received pharmacological treatment according to WHO analgesic ladder. A total of 335 admissions were recorded during the study period of which 100 patients (30%) were eligible for the study, 52% of cases were males. The mean age was 45 years +/- 16.2 years and the most common tumours were GIT and breast cancer. Sixty four patients had pain but did not complain about it. Forty-five patients (45%) had moderate pain but they did not routinely complain about it. The mean hospital stay was 3.5 days and the range 1- 10 days. Most cancer patients deny pain for various reasons. Thorough history and repeated pain assessment are very important. Following the WHO analgesic ladder is simple and effective.
  gulf journal of oncology, The 01/2007; 1(1):23-8.
• Article: The prognostic determinants of gastric cancer treatment outcome in Omani Arab patients.

  M S Al-Moundhri, B Al-Bahrani, I A Burney, V Nirmala, A Al-Madhani, K Al-Mawaly, M Al-Nabhani, V Thomas, S S Ganguly, C S Grant
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  ABSTRACT: Gastric cancer is the most common cancer in Oman and a leading cause of cancer death. The variation in survival rates between countries and ethnic groups has been attributed to early detection policies, differences in clinicopathological features, treatment approaches, and biological characteristics. There were no previous reports on gastric cancer from Oman and very few studies on Asian Arabs. To evaluate the impact of clinicopathological and treatment variables on the survival prospects of Omani Arab patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. The medical records of 339 Omani Arab patients diagnosed with invasive gastric adenocarcinoma during the period 1993-2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The relative importance of clinicopathological features and surgical and medical treatments were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Most patients had distal ulcerating-type gastric cancer and presented at advanced stages. The median survival time for the entire cohort was 12 months (95% CI 9.7-14.4) with a 5-year overall survival rate of 16.7%. On univariate analysis of 237 patients who underwent surgical resection, the following positive prognostic factors emerged as significant: early overall TNM stage, early T stage, negative lymph nodes, tumor size <5 cm, ulcerating macroscopic appearance, and curative surgical attempt. The independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis were T stage and lymph node involvement. The overall T and N stages are the most important determining factor for survival in Omani Arab patients. More efforts need to be made for the early detection of gastric cancer in developing countries such as Oman, while continuing to employ the standard surgical and medical treatments.
  Oncology 02/2006; 70(2):90-6. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: The outcome of treatment of breast cancer in a developing country--Oman.

  M Al-Moundhri, B Al-Bahrani, I Pervez, S S Ganguly, V Nirmala, A Al-Madhani, K Al-Mawaly, C Grant
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of treatment of breast cancer in Oman with an analysis of clinico-pathological features, treatment modalities utilized, and prognostic factors. One hundred fifty-two breast cancer patients diagnosed between January 1996 and June 2002 were evaluated retrospectively. Their mean age was 48.5 (S.D. +/- 10.8) years, and 48% of the female patients were premenopausal. The mean tumor size according to pathology was 4.6 (S.D. 3.29)cm, and 34.9% and 15.8% of patients had stage III or IV disease, respectively. Only 26.3% of the patients had breast-conserving surgery, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was underutilized. The overall 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall (OS) survival rates were 62% and 64%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, axillary lymph node involvement and tumor differentiation were predictive of RFS and OS, respectively. Thus, breast cancer patients in Oman present with advanced stages of the disease at younger ages than their counterparts in the West and have lower survival rates. Increasing awareness and the introduction of screening programs and of a multidisciplinary approach are essential in Oman and other developing countries to improve the outcome of treatment.
  The Breast 05/2004; 13(2):139-45. · 2.49 Impact Factor
• Article: Primary central nervous system lymphoma and subcutaneous metastases.

  B Al Bahrani, C Henderson, G Delaney
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  ABSTRACT: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. It usually remains confined to central nervous system (CNS). Reports of metastases outside of the CNS are rare. We report a patient with well-documented PCNSL who responded to treatment, but subsequently developed a histologically confirmed subcutaneous metastasis to the left leg without local failure.
  Journal of Neuro-Oncology 05/2000; 47(2):141-4. · 3.21 Impact Factor