Our Team > Medical Oncology

The discipline of oncology today is an expanding field acquiring new information and dimension everyday on the molecular & cellular biology, immunology, biochemistry, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. 'Medical Oncology' as a specialty has assumed immense importance. The division of Medical Oncology started functioning in 1989 and over the last 27 years the division has grown enormously in terms of the patient load, services, facilities and treatments offered. The department treats more than 2000 new cases every year and has an out-patient attendance of about 25000/year. About 2500 patients are admitted every year for the administration of high dose chemotherapy and management of emergencies and complications. Critically ill patients are closely monitored and managed in the ICU. We give state-of-the-art treatment for all kinds of haematologic malignancies including bone marrow transplant. The BMT unit is a fully equipped four bedded unit where about 30-40 peripheral blood stem cell transplants (autologous and allogenic) are performed annually. Medical oncology services are provided in breast, chest and gastro and genitourinary clinics also. Free chemotherapy and supportive care is given to poor patients who are unable to afford treatment.

Out patient services

The Division of Medical l Oncology conducts outpatient clinics from 09.00 am to 04.30pm from Monday to Saturday. We see about 150 patients daily. Chemotherapy is given as outpatient to about 100 - 150 patients daily.

Details regarding OPD attendance in the last 5 years

Year	New patients	Follow up patients
2011-2012	2030	31362
2012-2013	2153	33264
2013-2014	2187	37174
2014-2015	2411	34295
2015-2016	2375	43041

Inpatient services

About 2500 patients are admitted every year for the administration of high profile chemotherapy and management of emergencies and complications. Critically ill patients are closely monitored and managed in the ICU.

Year	Total
2011-2012	2600
2012-2013	2763
2013-2014	2802
2014-2015	2602
2015-2016	2853

Bone Marrow / Stem cell transplantion

Year	Total
2011-2012	24
2012-2013	33
2013-2014	30
2014-2015	39
2015-2016	30

Post Graduate Superspeciality Course - DM Medical Oncology

Annual intake of 3 students.
The Division has regular academic activities.

Monday	Case Discussion
Tuesday	Tumor board / Transplant clinics
Wednesday	Seminar
Thursday	Journal Club
Friday	Tumour Board

International trials

1. A randomized, open label comparative Multicenter Trial of Voriconazole Vs. Ambisome for emperical antifungal therapy in Immunocompromised Patients with persistent fever and neutropenia. - Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
2. A randomised open label comparative multicenter study of Voriconazole Vs Amphotericin in invasive aspergillosis. Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
3. A randomised open label international study of interferon alpha versus peginterferon in chronic myeloid leukemia. Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
4. A comparative trial of Droloxifene and Tamoxifene as first line hormonal therapy in women with advanced breast cancer : Dr. Geetha N.(Co - investigator
5. Clinical Study Protocol PIX301 "A novel aza-anthracenedione versus other Chemotherapeutic Agents for Third line Single Agent Treatment of Patients with Relapsed Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A randomized, Controlled Phase III Comparative Trial - Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
6. Efficacy and Safety of XM01 compared to placebo in patients with solid tumours or non-myeloid hematological tumours receiving no platinum chemotherapy. A multinational, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel-group phase III study. Study No: XM01-22 - Dr. Geetha N.(PI).
7. Efficacy and safety of XM01 compared to placebo in anaemic patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or multiple myeloma receiving anticancer therapy". A multinational, multicentre, randomised, placebo controlled, double blind parallel-group phase III study. Study No: XM01-23. Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
8. FM - CL 1 A Phase I/IIa, Open Label, Dose-Escalation Study to Determine the Safety, Tolerance, and Preliminary Activity of Intravenous High-Dose Fluphenazine HCL in Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma. Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
9. BMS Clinical Study: An Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter Phase III Trial of Dasatinib (SPRYCEL©) vs. Standard Dose Imatinib (400 mg) in the Treatment of Subjects with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Phase Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.: CA180056. Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
10. WORLD Observational registry collecting longitudinal data on the management of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia patients ( The WORLD CML registry) in routine practice. Dr. Prakash NP (PI)
11. PRELUDE: A Phase 3 Clinical Study to Investigate the Prevention of Relapse in Lymphoma Using Daily Enzastaurin " H6Q-MC-JCBJ(c)'.- Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
12. 152CL201 A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase 2/3 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Lumiliximab in Combination with Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab Versus Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab Alone in Subjects with Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. - Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
13. MK-0683-088-An International, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Vorinostat (MK-0683) or Placebo in Combination with Bortezomib in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (Merck Myeloma 088 Study) - Dr. Geetha N.(PI)
14. A Phase II Study of Dasatinib Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia or with Ph+ Leukemias Resistant or Intolerant to Imatinib - Dr. Geetha N (PI)
15. A Phase 3, double blind placebo controlled trial of Gemcitabine plus placebo versus Gemcitabine plus R11577 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. International multicentre trial -Janssen research. Dr. VP Gangadharan (PI)
16. A Randomized Phase 3 Study comparing Gemcitabine and Carboplatin versus Carboplatin alone in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who failed first line platinum based therapy - Principal investigator - Dr Dr Sreejith Nair
17. An Open Label Phase2 Study of Oral Recombinant Human Lactoferrin (rhLF)monotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma-Principal investigator -Dr Sreejith Nair
18. Randomised, Controlled, Open-labelled, Multi-centre Comparison of Thalidomide Versus High-dose Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma Protocol No: THA PH INT 2005 CL 001-Principal Investigator-Dr Sreejith Nair
19. A Randomised Open label Multicenter study of Velcade with Rituximab or Rituximab alone in subjects with relapsed or refractory Follicular B cell NHL - Dr. sreejith Nair ( PI)

Extramural Projects

1. Chemotherapy response in osteosarcoma. Role of intrinsic nuclear factors in the prognosis of osteogenic sarcoma: Dr. Geetha N Principal investigator ICMR project
2. Molecular Remission with Arsenic Trioxide in Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia - Indian APML Study Group - IASG)- multicentric study DBT Dr. Geetha N Principal investigator
3. Cytogenetic and molecular response to Imatinib in patients with Chronic myeloid leukaemia. Dr. Geetha N Principal Investigator STEC project

National trials

1. A clinical study to evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of amphomul (amphotericin b emulsion) as emperical antifungal therapy in patients with febrile neutropenia. Dr. Geetha N Principal investigator
2. Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (rHu-GCSF) in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Principal investigator

Department Projects

1. Limb salvage surgery versus AK amputation for osteosarcoma of lower extremity- A comparative assessment of functional outcome and quality of life - Dr. Geetha N (PI)
2. Clinical and prognostic significance of Molecular factors in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Dr.Geetha N (PI)
3. Platelet refractoriness in ABO compatible and noncompatible platelet transfusions Hematologic and cytogenetic response to Imatinib in patients with Chronic myeloid leukaemia. - Dr.Geetha N(PI)
4. Prospective study of Melphalan, Prednisolone and Lenalidamide in the treatment of elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma - Dr.Geetha N(PI)
5. Prospective study of CDEP chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
6. Epstein Barr Virus Expression in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A Prospective Study - Dr. Geetha N (PI)
7. Free Light chain assay in Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and its correlation with outcome.- Dr Geetha N(PI)
8. FLT3 mutation and its prognostic significance in newly diagnosed Acute myeloid leukaemia in adult (Prospective study)- Dr. Geetha N (PI)
9. Correlation of BCR-ABL 1 transcript levels at 3rd month with subsequent cytogenetic response in chronic myeloid leukaemia patient in chronic phase treated with imatinib negative- Dr. Geetha N (PI)
10. The prognostic significance of Absolute Lymphocyte and Monocyte count and the Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio at diagnosis in patients with classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma - A follow up study - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
11. A prospective study of NF-KB expression in Multiple myeloma and its correlation with response to Bortezomib.- Dr.Geetha N (PI)
12. The prognostic significance of Absolute Lymphocyte and Monocyte count and the Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio at diagnosis in patients with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – A follow up study- Dr. Geetha N (PI)
13. The prognostic significance myeloid antigen coexpression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – A follow up study- Dr.Geetha N (PI)
14. P-glycoprotein expression in newly diagnosed Acute myeloid leukaemia in adults and its impact on treatment outcome. - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
15. Cytogenetic abnormalities and risk stratification of multiple myeloma patients by ‘FISH’ technique- Dr.Geetha N (PI)
16. Outcome of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma with renal dysfunction - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
17. Quality of life and functional outcome in long term survivors of osteosarcoma - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
18. Estimation of Plasma Epstein Barr virus DNA in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its correlation with treatment response - Dr.Geetha N (PI)
19. A prospective study to evaluate association between normalization of free light chains and outcome in patients with multiple myeloma - Dr.Sreejith G Nair (PI)
20. The Clinical Spectrum and Outcome of Carbapenem Resistant Infections in Patients with Acute Leukaemia - Dr.Prakash N.P (PI)