Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer treatment: an expert panel recommendation from the Brazilian Society of Breast Surgeons 2018.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) consists of the administration of cytotoxic and targeted drugs prior to breast surgery, with the objective of reducing the tumor burden to allow breast conservation. NAC also aims to improve long-term treatment outcomes such as disease-free and overall survival. To optimize clinical practice with the best available evidence for breast cancer patients in the setting of neoadjuvant treatment, the Brazilian Society of Breast Surgeons (Sociedade Brasileira de Mastologia-SBM) held a consensus conference to develop this guideline. METHODS: Twenty-two questions addressing relevant breast cancer neoadjuvant treatment were previously formulated. The voting panel comprised 25 specialists from the SBM. A consensus was established if there was 75% agreement. If there was less concordance, after discussion, the consensus was determined by a 51% concordance. RESULTS: The recommendations were based on the best level of scientific evidence and the opinion from breast cancer experts, when no such research data were available. CONCLUSION: This manuscript provides updated guidance according to the views of the SBM's experts for the clinical practice of breast cancer surgeons. This manuscript depicts the summarized recommendations for NAC treatment.

Management of patients with recurrent/metastatic endometrial cancer: Consensus recommendations from an expert panel from Brazil.

Background: Endometrial cancer is of increasing concern in several countries, including Brazil, in part because of an ageing population, declines in fertility, and the increasing prevalence of obesity. Although endometrial tumors had lagged behind other cancer types in terms of treatment improvements, molecular characterization of these tumors is paving the way for novel therapies and an expansion of the therapeutic arsenal. We aimed to help medical oncologists who manage patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer in the Brazilian healthcare setting. Methods: The panel, composed of 20 medical oncologists, convened in November 2021 to address 50 multiple-choice questions on molecular testing and treatment choices. We classified the level of agreement among panelists as (1) consensus (≥75% choosing the same answer), (2) majority vote (50% to <75%), or (3) less than majority vote (<50%). Results: Consensus was present for 25 of the 50 questions, whereas majority vote was present for an additional 23 questions. Key recommendations include molecular testing for every patient with recurrent/metastatic endometrial cancer; choice of first-line treatment according to microsatellite instability and HER2, with the addition of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and hormone receptors (HRs) for second-line therapy; carboplatin and paclitaxel as the preferred option in first-line treatment of HER2-negative disease, with the addition of trastuzumab in HER2-positive disease; pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as a key option in second line, regardless of HER2, PD-L1 or HRs; and various recommendations regarding treatment choice for patients with distinct comorbidities. Conclusion: Despite the existing gaps in the current literature, the vast majority of issues addressed by the panel provided a level of agreement sufficient to inform clinical practice in Brazil and in other countries with similar healthcare environments.

Brain tumors in the first three years of life: a review of twenty cases.

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To review the clinical and neuropathological findings as well as the type of therapy and outcome in 20 infants under 3 years-old with central nervous system (CNS) tumor. They were treated at the Department of Neurology, "Hospital das Clínicas" University of São Paulo Medical School, from January 1997 to May 2001. RESULTS: Astrocytoma was the most common histological type (n=7), followed by ependymoma (n=3), medulloblastoma (n=2), craniopharyngioma (n=2) and desmoplastic ganglioglioma (n=2). The location of the tumor was predominantly supratentorial. Mean follow-up time was 20.2 months with recurrence in 7 cases. For each type of tumor we have emphasized the treatment currently recommended. CONCLUSION: Although follow-up time is not sufficient for analyzing survival, a trend of improvement in prognosis was noted, compared to another series of cases from our Institution that had been evaluated before 1990.

Brain tumors in the first three years of life: a review of twenty cases

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To review the clinical and neuropathological findings as well as the type of therapy and outcome in 20 infants under 3 years-old with central nervous system (CNS) tumor. They were treated at the Department of Neurology, "Hospital das Clínicas" University of São Paulo Medical School, from January 1997 to May 2001. RESULTS: Astrocytoma was the most common histological type (n=7), followed by ependymoma (n=3), medulloblastoma (n=2), craniopharyngioma (n=2) and desmoplastic ganglioglioma (n=2). The location of the tumor was predominantly supratentorial. Mean follow-up time was 20.2 months with recurrence in 7 cases. For each type of tumor we have emphasized the treatment currently recommended. CONCLUSION: Although follow-up time is not sufficient for analyzing survival, a trend of improvement in prognosis was noted, compared to another series of cases from our Institution that had been evaluated before 1990.

OBJETIVO E MÉTODO: Avaliar os aspectos clínicos e histopatológicos, o tipo de tratamento e a evolução de 20 crianças menores de três anos de idade, com o diagnóstico de tumor de sistema nervoso central, que foram tratadas em nossa Instituição no período de janeiro de 1997 a maio de 2001. RESULTADOS: O astrocitoma foi o tumor mais comum (n=7), seguido pelo ependimoma (n=3), meduloblastoma (n=2), craniofaringioma (n=2) e ganglioglioma desmoplásico infantil (n=2). A localização do tumor foi predominantemente supratentorial. A média de seguimento foi 20,2 meses e houve recidiva em sete casos. Para cada tipo de tumor enfatizamos o tipo de tratamento recomendado na atualidade. CONCLUSÃO: Embora o tempo de seguimento não seja suficiente, ainda, para analisar a sobrevida, foi notada nítida tendência a melhor prognóstico em comparação com a casuística proviniente de nossa Instituição que analisou casos abordados antes da década de 90.