Radiotherapy in Pakistan

Ahmad Mushtaq

Isotope Production Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1100559                

Abstract

In Pakistan we do not have a National Cancer Registry. Some institutions have started to develop their own Cancer Registry. According to the World Health Organisation annually 120,000 people in Pakistan are diagnosed with cancer. All three types of radiotherapy procedures, teletherapy, brachytherapy and unsealed sources are being employed for treatment of cancer. Accelerators and Cobalt-60 teletherapy units are imported. Radioisotopes used as radiotherapeutics are produced locally. IAEA is constantly supporting the activities of radiotherapy in Pakistan. Infrastructure of radiotherapy needs extensive improvement in Pakistan. Clinical applications of radio-therapeutics can only be increased by collaboration of nuclear medical centers and producer of radionuclides—Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan.

Keywords

Radioisotope, Radiotherapy, Teletherapy, Brachytherapy, Cancer, Pakistan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	AGaRT (2013) The Advisory Group on Increasing Access to Radiotherapy Technology in Low and Middle Income Countries. http://cancer.iaea.org/agart.asp
[2]	(2013) Collective Cancer Registry Report from Dec. 1994 up Till Dec. 2009. Cancer Statistics. http://www.slideshare.net/nadirqureshi996/cancer-registry-pakistan-1994-2009
[3]	Hanif, M., Zaidi, P., Kamal, S. and Hameed, A. (2009) Institution-Based Cancer Incidence in a Local Population in Pakistan: Nine Year Data Analysis. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 10, 227-230.
[4]	Faheem, M. (2013) Role of PAEC in Health Sector. www.sassi.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/07/2.-Dr-M-Faheem.pdf
[5]	Begum, N., Nasreen, S. and Shah, A.S. (2012) Quantification of Trends in Radiation Oncology Infrastructure in Pakistan, 2004-2009. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 8, 88-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-7563.2011.01435.x
[6]	Tunio, M.A. (2011) Present and Future of Radiotherapy in Developing Countries: Pakistan as an Example. 13th Annual Scientific Conference (ASCON), Science to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage, Dhaka, 14-17 March 2011. http://www.icddrb.org
[7]	Jangda, A. and Hussein, S. (2012) Validating Dose Rate Calibration of Radiotherapy Photon Beams through IAEA/ WHO Postal Audit Dosimetry Service. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 62, 490-493.
[8]	(2013) RCA Success Story in 2011, Improving the Quality of Radiotherapy in the Asia Pacific Region. RCA Regional Office. www.rcaro.org
[9]	Ali, M. (2000) Regulatory Requirements for Medical Teletherapy Facilities. No. DNSRP-RED-4(111)/99, January 2000. Directorate of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Board). www.pnra.org/medical%20therapy.pdf
[10]	(2013) Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) MS Course on Radiation and Medical Oncology. http://www.jocation.com/course/MS_Radiation_Medical_Oncology_1544
[11]	(2013) Coordinated Research Activities Website—IAEA. www.crp.iaea.org/
[12]	Mushtaq, A. (2010) Reactors Are Indispensable for Radioisotope Production. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 24, 759-760. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12149-010-0425-3
[13]	Mushtaq, A. (2009) PET without Cyclotron. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 23, 321-323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12149-009-0231-y
[14]	Vini, L., Harmer, C. and McCready, V.R. (1996) Thyroid Cancer: A Review of Treatment and Follow-Up. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 10, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03165047
[15]	Hoefnagel, C.A. (1998) Radionuclide Cancer Therapy. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 12, 61-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03164831
[16]	Mushtaq, A., Karim, H.M.A. and Khan, M.A. (1990) Production of No-Carrier-Added 64Cu and 67Cu in a Reactor. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 141, 261-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02035793
[17]	Mushtaq, A. and Karim, H.M.A. (1993) Ion Exchange Behavior of Cadmium and Indium on Organic Anion and Cation Exchangers: A 115Cd/115mIn Generator. Radiochimica Acta, 60, 189-191.
[18]	Mushtaq, A., Mansur, M.S. and Muhammad, A. (1996) Separation of Radioindium (NCA) from Neutron Irradiated Tin and Cadmium on Hydrated Pentoxide. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 212, 107-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02162342
[19]	Akhter, M., Mushtaq, A., Karim, H.M.A. and Khan, M.A. (1994) Separation of 199Au (NCA) from Neutron Irradiated Platinum on Polythene. Radiochimica Acta, 64, 137-138.
[20]	Mansur, M.S., Mushtaq, A. and Muhammad, A. (1995) Separation of 111Ag from Neutron Irradiated Natural Palladium. Radiochimica Acta, 68, 161-162.
[21]	Khalid, M., Mushtaq, A. and Iqbal, M.Z. (2000) Separation of 111Ag from Neutron Irradiated Natural Palladium Using Alumina as an Adsorbent. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 52, 19-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0969-8043(99)00083-4
[22]	Akhter, M., Mushtaq, A., Karim, H.M.A. and Iqbal, M.Z. (1996) Separation of NCA 188Re from Neutron Irradiated Natural Tungsten. Separation Science and Technology, 31, 1997-2000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01496399608001026
[23]	Jehangir, M., Mushtaq, A., Javed, M., Khalid, M. and Rusheed, A. (1998) Production of Iodine-131 via Dry Distillation Facility. NCD, P-117.
[24]	Khalid, M. and Mushtaq, A. (2005) Preparation and in Vitro Stability of (n, γ) Yttrium-90 Hydroxyapatite. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 62, 587-590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.08.046
[25]	Sohaib, M., Mushtaq, A., Jehangir, M., Yousuf, M. and Perveen, A. (2007) Comparison of Animal Biodistribution of EDTMP Labeled with Various Beta Emitting Lanthanides. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 48, 135.
[26]	Mushtaq, A. (2003) Preparation of High Specific Volume Solutions of Technetium-99m and Rhenium-188. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 58, 309-314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0969-8043(02)00353-6
[27]	Mushtaq, A. (2004) Concentration of by a Single Compact Anion Exchange Cartridge. Nuclear Medicine Communications, 25, 957-962. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006231-200409000-00014
[28]	Mansur, M.S., Mushtaq, A. and Jehangir, M. (2006) Concentration of 99mTc-Pertechnetate and 188Re-Perrhenate. Radiochimica Acta, 94, 107-111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1524/ract.2006.94.2.107
[29]	Mushtaq, A., Bukhari, T.H. and Khan, I.U. (2007) Extraction of Medically Intresting188Re-Perrhenate in Methyl Ethyl Ketone for Concentration Purposes. Radiochimica Acta, 95, 535-537.
[30]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A. and Jehangir, M. (1998) Simple Purification and Radiochemical Testing of 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine. Nuclear Science Journal, 35, 364-368.
[31]	Mushtaq, A., Pervez, S. and Haider, I. (2000) Preparation of 188Re-Lanreotide Peptide and Its Quality Control. Radiochimica Acta, 88, 495-498. http://dx.doi.org/10.1524/ract.2000.88.8.495
[32]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A. and Arif, M. (2002) Preparation of 188Re-Labeled Hydroxyapatite for Radiosynovectomy. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 254, 383-385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1021604806814
[33]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A. and Jehangir, M. (2002) Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of 188Re-Biotinyl-Hydrazino-EDTA. Turkish Journal of Nuclear Sciences, 28, 1-9.
[34]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A., Arif, M. and Chohan, Z.H. (2003) 188Re-Glucoheptonate: A Radiopharmaceutical for Intravascular Radiation Therapy. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 256, 293-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023945603430
[35]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A. and Arif, M. (2003) Formulation of a Freeze-Dried Kit for 188Re-MAG3 and Its Quality Control. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 257, 421-424. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024764703623
[36]	Pervez, S., Mushtaq, A., Arif, M. and Chohan, Z.H. (2003) 188Rhenium-EDTMP: A Potential Therapeutic Bone Agent. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 257, 417-420. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024712719553
[37]	Pervez, S. and Mushtaq, A. (2005) Preparation, Quality Control and Stability of Iodine-131-Lanreotide. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 266, 265-268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10967-005-0902-7
[38]	Ishfaq, M.M., Mushtaq, A. and Jawaid, M. (1999) Experience on the Neutron Activation of Natural/Enriched Re, Sm, and Ho Nuclides in a Reactor for the Production of Radiotherapeutic Radionuclides. Biological Trace Element Research, 71-72, 519-526.