[Advances in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment: Induction Chemotherapy and Concomitant Radio-Chemotherapy]. / Carcinoma escamoso de nasofaringe localmente avanzado: actualización en el manejo y rol de la quimioterapia de inducción.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx is responsible for 0.7% of all malignant tumors worldwide, with the highest incidence in the population of southern China and Southeast Asia. The standard treatment for locally advanced disease consists of a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in different schedules. Among them, induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant radio-chemotherapy has shown in recent years to be a standard therapeutic option with high rates of locoregional control and overall survival. This paper aims to review the current evidence related to treatment with induction chemotherapy and subsequent radio-chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal cancer, its effectiveness, and the technical aspects of its applicability.

Dysphonia induced by anti-angiogenic compounds.

The number of studies reporting the benefit of angiogenesis inhibition is steadily increasing. Anti-angiogenic drugs, used as monotherapy or in association with chemotherapy, have been shown to benefit patients with several different malignancies. Despite the benefits of these therapies, however, each drug has different side effects. This review is specifically focused on analyzing the frequency of one of the complications the most frequently overlooked by physicians, dysphonia. Perhaps this side effect is overlooked because it is not life-threatening, but dysphonia may nevertheless affect quality of life considerably. We reviewed 88 studies concerning treatment with anti-angiogenics (bevacizumab, aflibercept, sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, axitinib and regorafenib) presently approved for clinical use, to review the incidence of dysphonia or voice changes in phase I, II and III closed clinical studies reported in ClinicalTrials.gov until March 2013. We found that almost all studies reported certain degree of dysphonia in the trial arms associated with anti-angiogenic treatment. We discuss these findings in light of the fact that it is not an uncommon side effect in patients exposed to these kinds of drugs. Particularly for treatments with axitinib, aflibercept and regorafenib, the angiogenesis inhibition possibly plays a role by altering the larynx in some way and modifying vocal fold vibrations, leading to dysphonia.

Clinical Cases of Coccidioidomycosis in the Americas in the Period 1950-2021: Epidemiology Data, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii, causes significant morbidity and mortality, both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised people, mainly in endemic areas. The present work analyzed its epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and treatment by reviewing clinical cases published from 1950 to 2021. Fifty-nine articles were included, corresponding to 275 clinical cases. The results showed a higher incidence of coccidioidomycosis in the male gender than the female gender. The most affected age group was 31-40 years, and the most reported clinical presentation was disseminated with greater involvement in cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, followed by the CNS, bone system, and peritoneum. The species most frequently reported was C. immitis. The most used treatment was azoles, followed by their combination with amphotericin B, monotherapy with amphotericin B, and alternative medicine. This work shows that epidemiological data outside the USA are still scarce. Serological tests are the preferred diagnostic method in daily medical practice, and cultures remain the gold standard. The treatment for coccidioidomycosis is ketoconazole and amphotericin B, individually or in combination.

Carcinoma escamoso de nasofaringe localmente avanzado: actualización en el manejo y rol de la quimioterapia de inducción

El carcinoma escamoso de nasofaringe es responsable del 0,7% del total de tumores malignos a nivel mundial, siendo la mayor incidencia vista en la población del sur de china y sudeste asiático. El tratamiento estándar para la enfermedad localmente avanzada consiste en la combinación de radioterapia y quimioterapia en diferentes secuencias. Dentro de ellas, la quimioterapia de inducción seguida de radio quimioterapia concomitante ha demostrado durante los últimos años ser una opción terapéutica estándar con altas tasas de control locorregional y sobrevida global. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo revisar la evidencia actual relacionada al tratamiento del cáncer de nasofaringe con quimioterapia de inducción y radio quimioterapia, su efectividad y los aspectos técnicos para su aplicabilidad.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx is responsible for 0.7% of all malignant tumors worldwide, with the highest incidence in the population of southern China and Southeast Asia. The standard treatment for locally advanced disease consists of a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in different schedules. Among them, induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant radio-chemotherapy has shown in recent years to be a standard therapeutic option with high rates of locoregional control and overall survival. This paper aims to review the current evidence related to treatment with induction chemotherapy and subsequent radio-chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal cancer, its effectiveness, and the technical aspects of its applicability.

Otorhinolaryngological Toxicities of New Drugs in Oncology.

Many new or relatively new cancer drugs-personalized anticancer agents-have been approved for use in various clinical settings in oncology or are still under evaluation in clinical trials. Targeted therapies as well as new immune checkpoint blockers have toxicity profiles that differ from conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, and many can cause adverse effects that affect the mouth and pharynx, the nasal cavities, and the larynx. This review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge concerning these side effects and contemporary management. Adverse effects of the mouth/pharynx, nasal cavities, larynx, and cochlear-vestibular system are generally low grade (according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) and generally present non-life-threatening symptoms. However, the impact on patients' quality of life could be important. The incidence and severity vary according to the drug, its target(s), and dose, but there are currently no known predictive factors, and each patient has an individual toxicity profile. Management guidelines are based on expert opinion. These ear, nose, and throat adverse effects are not frequently mentioned in the literature because of the often non-specific nature of the symptoms and their mildness, but also the absence of specific treatment. These symptoms can contribute to decreased quality of life and lead to drug compliance issues if not diagnosed and managed appropriately.

Targeting primary acute myeloid leukemia with a new CXCR4 antagonist IgG1 antibody (PF-06747143).

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 mediates cell anchorage in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and is overexpressed in 25-30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here we have shown that a new CXCR4 receptor antagonist IgG1 antibody (PF-06747143) binds strongly to AML cell lines and to AML primary cells inhibiting their chemotaxis in response to CXCL12. PF-06747143 also induced cytotoxicity in AML cells via Fc-effector function. To characterize the effects of PF-06747143 on leukemia progression, we used two different patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models: Patient 17CXCR4-low and P15CXCR4-high models, characterized by relatively low and high CXCR4 expression, respectively. Weekly administration of PF-06747143 to leukemic mice significantly reduced leukemia development in both models. Secondary transplantation of BM cells from PF-06747143-treated or IgG1 control-treated animals showed that leukemic progenitors were also targeted by PF-06747143. Administration of a single dose of PF-06747143 to PDX models induced rapid malignant cell mobilization into the peripheral blood (PB). These findings support evaluation of this antibody in AML therapy, with particular appeal to patients resistant to chemotherapy and to unfit patients, unable to tolerate intensive chemotherapy.

Actualización en: El trastorno neuromuscular, un reto diagnóstico / Update on: Neuromuscular disorder, a diagnostic challenge

Los trastornos neuromusculares (TNM) son una causa frecuente de morbilidad pediátrica. Muchos de estos trastornos, generan a largo plazo una discapacidad progresiva en el niño/a, por lo cual, el diagnóstico oportuno es elemental. Como es común con otras afecciones médicas, el punto de partida del proceso diagnóstico es una detallada historia clínica y un examen físico completo. Este abordaje, esencialmente clínico, permite establecer un diagnóstico sindromático inicial y posteriormente orientarnos hacia cuadros específicos que nos permitan dirigir la solicitud de los estudios complementarios. El laboratorio neuromuscular comprende una serie de exámenes que complementan la identificación de estos cuadros y nos permiten el planteamiento de un diagnóstico diferencial entre fenotipos muy similares. Los objetivos de la investigación diagnóstica son los de ofrecer un consejo genético, definir un pronóstico futuro y establecer un plan de tratamiento actualizado, orientado a mantener la funcionalidad, prevenir las complicaciones y mejorar la calidad de vida de cada paciente. Este artículo tiene como finalidad, brindar herramientas de abordaje diagnóstico pediátrico, del niño/a que se presenta a la consulta médica, con síntomas sugestivos de un trastorno neuromuscular

Neuromuscular disorders (NMS) are a common cause of pediatric morbidity. Many of these disorders, in the long term, create a progressive disability in the child, so that timely diagnosis is essential. As is common with other medical conditions, the starting point of the diagnostic process is a complete and detailed medical history and physical examination. This approach, mainly clinical, makes it possible to establish an initial syndromic diagnosis and then to orient ourselves to specific charts and direct the request for complementary studies. The neuromuscular laboratory includes a series of tests that complement the identification of these charts and allow us to approach a differential diagnosis between common phenotypes. The objectives of the diagnostic investigation are to offer genetic counseling, to define a future prognosis and to establish an updated treatment plan, aimed at maintaining the functionality, preventing complications and improving the quality of life of each patient. This article aims to provide tools for a pediatric diagnostic approach of the child who presents to the medical consultation, with symptoms suggestive of a neuromuscular disorder