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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical and pathological factors, and the outcome of cancer and COVID-19 patients in Mexico. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicentric study was performed through a digital platform to have a national registry of patients with cancer and positive SARS-CoV-2 test results through reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We performed the analysis through a multivariate logistic regression model and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: From May to December 2020, 599 patients were registered with an average age of 56 years with 59.3% female; 27.2% had hypertension. The most frequent diagnoses were breast cancer (30.4%), lymphoma (14.7%), and colorectal cancer (14.0%); 72.1% of patients had active cancer and 23.5% of patients (141/599) were deceased, the majority of which were men (51.7%). This study found that the prognostic factors that reduced the odds of death were gender (OR = 0.42, p = 0.031) and oxygen saturation (OR = 0.90, p = 0.0001); meanwhile, poor ECOG (OR = 5.4, p = 0.0001), active disease (OR = 3.9, p = 0.041), dyspnea (OR = 2.5, p = 0.027), and nausea (OR = 4.0, p = 0.028) increased the odds of death. In the meantime, the factors that reduce survival time were age (HR = 1.36, p = 0.035), COPD (HR = 8.30, p = 0.004), having palliative treatment (HR = 10.70, p = 0.002), and active cancer without treatment (HR = 8.68, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19 is determined by prognostic factors whose identification is necessary. In our cancer population, we have observed that being female, younger, non-COPD, with non-active cancer, good performance status, and high oxygen levels reduce the probability of death.
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OPINION STATEMENT: Over the years, there have been significant advances in systemic treatments for metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs). Despite these advancements, uncertainty remains regarding how to best sequence available therapies. For well-differentiated and metastatic panNETs that are somatostatin receptor (SSTR) avid on functional imaging, first-line therapy typically consists of somatostatin analogs (SSAs), given their favorable toxicity profile and overall low burden for patients. When progression of disease is observed on an SSA, multiple treatment options are available, including the targeted agents everolimus and sunitinib, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), as well as chemotherapy, with the latter often preferred for those panNETs of heavy tumor burden, higher grade, and/or more aggressive behavior clinically and/or radiographically. Here, we review panNET classification, currently available systemic treatments, therapy sequencing, and areas of active investigation to further our treatments for the disease.