Are antiangiogenics a good 'partner' for immunotherapy in ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer (OC) is associated with poor survival because there are a limited number of effective therapies. Two processes key to OC progression, angiogenesis and immune evasion, act synergistically to promote tumor progression. Tumor-associated angiogenesis promotes immune evasion, and tumor-related immune responses in the peritoneal cavity and tumor microenvironment (TME) affect neovascular formation. Therefore, suppressing the angiogenic pathways could facilitate the arrival of immune effector cells and reduce the presence of myeloid cells involved in immune suppression. To date, clinical studies have shown significant benefits with antiangiogenic therapy as first-line therapy in OC, as well as in recurrent disease, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab is now an established therapy. Clinical data with immunomodulators in OC are more limited, but suggest that they could benefit some patients with recurrent disease. The preliminary results of two phase III trials have shown that the addition of immunomodulators to chemotherapy does not improve progression-free survival. For this reason, it could be interesting to look for synergistic effects between immunomodulators and other active drugs in OC. Since bevacizumab is approved for use in OC, and is tolerable when used in combination with immunotherapy in other indications, a number of clinical studies are underway to investigate the use of bevacizumab in combination with immunotherapeutic agents in OC. This strategy seeks to normalize the TME via the anti-VEGF actions of bevacizumab, while simultaneously stimulating the immune response via the immunotherapy. Results of these studies are awaited with interest.

Caracterización de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en adultos de una zona suburbana de Posadas-Misiones / Characterization of cardiovascular risk factors in adults of a sub-urban area of the city of Posadas-Misiones / Caracterização de fatores de risco cardiovasculares em adultos de uma zona suburbana de Posadas-Misiones

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son una importante causa de morbimortalidad. Se propuso determinar la frecuencia de los principales factores de riesgo cardiovascular en individuos adultos que asistieron a un centro de atención primaria de una zona suburbana de la ciudad de Posadas-Misiones. Se evaluaron 300 individuos; 203 mujeres y 97 varones, entre 20 y 75 años. Se registraron datos personales, antropométricos y se extrajo sangre con 12 horas de ayuno para las determinaciones bioquímicas. El diagnóstico de síndrome metabólico se basó en los criterios del ATP III. La frecuencia de factores de riesgo fue: hipertensión 21,3%, prehipertensión 36,7%, síndrome metabólico 35,0%, glucemia alterada en ayunas 28,0%, tabaquismo 23,0%, exceso de peso 68,6%, obesidad abdominal 65,0%, índice de filtración glomerular disminuido 12,0%, antecedentes familiares de enfermedad cardiovascular 33,7% e hipercolesterolemia 22,0%. Según nivel de instrucción, los individuos con bajo nivel educativo presentaron mayor frecuencia de factores de riesgo respecto a los individuos con nivel medio y alto. Los resultados de este estudio alertan sobre la necesidad de la búsqueda activa de factores de riesgo para la enfermedad cardiovascular en toda la población.

Cardiovascular diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the main cardiovascular risk factors in adult individuals who attend a primary care center in a sub-urban area of the city of Posadas-Misiones. The population was composed of 300 individuals: 203 women and 97 men, age range between 20 and 75 years. Personal, anthropometric data were recorded and blood was extracted with 12 hours of fasting for biochemical determinations. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on ATP III criteria. The frequency of risk factors was: hypertension 21.3%, pre-hypertension 36.7%, metabolic syndrome 35%, altered fasting glycemia 28%, smoking 23%, over weight 68.6%, abdominal obesity 65%, decreased glomerular filtration rate 12%, family history of cardiovascular disease 33.7% and hypercholesterolemia 22%. According to the level of education, a low educational level had a higher cardiovascular risk factor frequency than medium and high-level. The results of this study warn about the need for an active search for risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the entire population.

As doenças cardiovasculares são uma causa importante não só de morbimortalidade. O objetivo foi determinar a frequência dos principais fatores de risco cardiovascular em indivíduos adultos que frequentaram um centro de atenção primária em uma área suburbana da cidade de Posadas-Misiones. 300 indivíduos foram avaliados; 203 mulheres e 97 homens, entre 20 e 75 anos de idade. Dados pessoais, antropométricos foram registrados e foi extraído sangue com 12 horas de jejum para determinações bioquímicas. O diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica foi baseado nos critérios do ATP III. A frequência dos fatores de risco foi: hipertensão 21,3%, pré-hipertensão 36,7%, síndrome metabólica 35,0%, glicemia alterada em jejum 28,0%, tabagismo 23,0%, excesso de peso 68,6%, obesidade abdominal 65,0%, taxa de filtração glomerular diminuída 12,0%, histórico familiar de doença cardiovascular 33,7% e hipercolesterolemia 22,0%. De acordo com o nível de escolaridade, indivíduos com baixo nível educacional apresentaram maior frequência dos factores de risco quando comparados com indivíduos de nível médio e alto. Os resultados deste estudo alertam para a necessidade de busca ativa de fatores de risco para a doença cardiovascular em toda a população.

Uso de paneles multigénicos en el estudio de cáncer de mama hereditario / Use of multigenic panels in the study of hereditary breast cancer

El cáncer de mama es el tipo de cáncer más frecuente y la primera causa de mortalidad asociada a cáncer en la mujer. Si bien la mayoría de los casos son esporádicos, 5 a 10% de los mismos son causados por mutaciones germinales en genes de susceptibilidad al cáncer de alta y moderada penetrancia. Dichos genes se asocian a un incremento del riesgo individual de desarrollar cáncer de 5 veces y de 2-5 veces, respectivamente. brca1 y 2 fueron los primeros genes de susceptibilidad asociados a cáncer de mama en ser identificados, y se encuentran dentro de los estudios ya aceptados por la comunidad médica y social. Mutaciones en estos genes no solo aumentan el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer de mama en comparación con la población general, sino que también se asocian a un incremento en el riesgo de desarrollar otros tipos de cáncer: ovario, páncreas, melanoma y, en hombres, próstata

Maintenance Therapy in HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A New Approach for an Old Concept.

The aim of this article is to discuss the role of maintenance therapy with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or bevacizumab-based combination therapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer. The optimization of maintenance therapy in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer must be based on disease profile (tumor subtype and endocrine-sensitive status), the prior use of bevacizumab-containing regimens, and the number of prognostic risk factors. Chemotherapy should be used in patients with triple-negative breast cancer and endocrine-resistant hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, whereas endocrine therapy is the preferred option for patients with endocrine-sensitive hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. After first-line bevacizumab plus chemotherapy, bevacizumab may be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, and endocrine therapy or capecitabine may be added. The goals of maintenance therapy in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer are to improve and maintain clinical response, increase time to progression, extend overall survival, relieve tumor-related symptoms, and delay the use of aggressive therapies, without compromising quality of life. Maintenance therapy, using chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and combined therapy with bevacizumab, is a reasonable strategy to achieve these goals in patients with either triple-negative breast cancer or hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Ongoing clinical studies of new molecular-targeted therapies may provide additional pharmacological options for future maintenance strategies in these patients.

[Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor mimicking a pancreatic tumor in a patient with familial colonic polyposis]. / Tumor desmoide intraabdominal simulando una tumoración pancreática en una paciente con poliposis colónica familiar.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromatosis consists of a benign fibroblastic proliferation with local infiltrative growth. Two types are recognized: a superficial and a deep form, also known as desmoid tumor. The latter may occur sporadically or in association with familial adenomatous polyposis and Gardner's syndrome. Pancreatic presentation is exceptional and only eight cases have been described in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman with a history of familial colonic polyposis and two pancreatic lesions. In the surgical specimen, two poorly defined pancreatic lesions were observed with infiltration of neighboring organs. Histologically, the lesions corresponded to mesenchymal proliferation with a fusocellular pattern without cytological atypica, which were diagnosed as desmoid tumors. DISCUSSION: The etiology of fibromatosis is unknown. In patients with familial colonic polyposis, the most common localization of desmoid tumor is intra-abdominal. Pancreatic presentation is unusual, requiring differential diagnosis with other pancreatic neoplasms.

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma with mesenchymal stroma.

Hepatobiliary cystadenocarcinomas (BCACs) with mesenchymal stroma are a rare cystic lesion. This tumour needs to be distinguished from benign biliary cystadenoma, which is antecedent in most cases. The treatment of choice is radical excision of the mass. The diagnostic evaluation, surgical management, pathological characteristics, treatment and follow-up of one patient with hepatobiliary cystadenocarcinoma with ovarian stroma is described. Preoperative diagnosis of BCACs is often difficult, because their clinical manifestations are similar to those of other hepatic cystic lesions. MRI is suitable for accurate characterisation of cystic biliary lesions, but distinguishing between cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma remains difficult on the basis of imaging findings. Complete surgical excision gives a relatively good chance of long-term survival because of the slow growth rate of these tumours.