Prognostic and clinical value of circPRKCI expression in diverse human cancers / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Highly expressed in various human cancers, circular RNA Protein Kinase C Iota (circPRKCI) has been reported to play an important role in cancer development and progression. Herein, we sought to reveal the prognostic and clinical value of circPRKCI expression in diverse human cancers.@*METHODS@#We searched the Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases from inception until May 16, 2021. The relationship between circPRKCI expression and cancer patients' survival, including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), was assessed by pooled hazard ratios (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The correlation between circPRKCI expression and clinical outcomes was evaluated using odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% CI. The data were analyzed by STATA software (version 12.0) or Review Manager (RevMan 5.3).@*RESULTS@#A total of 15 studies with 1109 patients were incorporated into our meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that high circPRKCI expression was significantly related to poor OS (HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.61, 2.39, P <0.001) when compared with low circPRKCI expression in diverse human cancers. However, elevated circPRKCI expression was not associated with DFS (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.95, P = 0.121). Furthermore, the patient with a higher circPRKCI expression was prone to have a larger tumor size, advanced clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis, but it was not significantly correlated with age, gender, and distant metastasis.@*CONCLUSION@#Elevated circPRKCI expression was correlated with worse OS and unfavorable clinical features, suggesting a novel prognostic and predictive role of circPRKCI in diverse human cancers.

Oncological outcomes in non-seminomatous testicular tumors and residual mass after cisplatin-based chemotherapy / Resultados oncológicos en tumores testiculares no seminomatosos y masa residual posquimioterapia con cisplatino

Objective: The aim of our study is to describe the progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with clinical stage (CS) II and III NSGCT with an RM after primary or secondary CT with negative serum markers (NSM). A residual mass (RM) in non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) after chemotherapy (CT) is defined as a mass >1 cm in greatest diameter. The preferred treatment for RM is retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), with a cure rate greater than 80%. Methods: We identified 60 patients with NSGCT, RM, and NSM between 2007 and 2020. Data regarding clinical and oncological outcomes as well as pathological information were obtained in a retrospective fashion from our electronic database. Results: A total of 60 patients were included. 50% of cases were CS II, and 50% CS III. About 90% of the patients had undergone RPLND. Teratoma was found in 73.6% of these patients. PFS and OS were better in CS II patients, compared to CS III. The patients treated with observation were found to have a shorter PFS compared to patients who underwent RPLND. Patients with viable tumors after RPLND had shorter OS compared to patients with teratoma and fibrosis. Conclusions: RPLND continues to be the treatment of choice to patients with RM after CT and NSM

Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo es describir la supervivencia libre de progresión (SLP) en pacientes con TCGNS en estadio clínico (CS) II y III con masa residual tras QT primaria o secundaria con marcadores séricos negativos (MSN). Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con TCGNS, MR y MSN atendidos entre 2007-2020. Los datos se obtuvieron de forma retrospectiva de nuestra base de datos electrónica. Resultados: Se identificaron 60 pacientes, el 50% eran CS II y el 50% CS III, y el 90% de los pacientes fueron sometidos a DGLRP. Se evidenció teratoma en el 73,6% de los pacientes. La SLP y la supervivencia global (SG) fue mejor en pacientes con CS II, frente a CS III. Los pacientes observados tuvieron una SLP menor frente a los que se sometieron a DGLRP. Los pacientes tratados con DGLRP y evidencia de tumor viable en la patología tenían una SG más corta comparado con teratomay fibrosis. Conclusión: La DGLRP sigue siendo el tratamiento de elección para las MR posterior a QT y MSN.

Sobrevida global y sobrevida libre de enfermedad a cinco y diez años en pacientes con cáncer de ovario, un estudio observacional de centro único / Overall survival and disease-free survival at five and ten years in patients with ovarian cancer, a single-center observational study

Introducción: La supervivencia del cáncer de ovario se aproxima al 50%, sin embargo, varía en función de los distintos factores pronósticos, siendo el principal la extensión de la enfermedad al diagnóstico. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer la supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad en un centro de referencia para el tratamiento de cáncer de ovario en Quito, Ecuador. Métodos: El presente estudio longitudinal, se realizó en el Hospital Metropolitano de Quito, de enero del 2008 a diciembre del 2018. Se incluyeron mujeres con cáncer de ovario. Se registraron variables demográficas, número de embarazos, comorbilidades, diagnóstico histológico, tiempo de evolución, tratamiento recibido, estadío de la enfermedad, progresión, recaídas, período libre de enfermedad y mortalidad. La muestra fue no probabilística. Se realiza un análisis descriptivo y un análisis de supervivencia. Resultados: Participaron 84 pacientes. La edad en 20 casos (23.8%) < 50 años, en 29 casos (34.5%) de 50 a 59 años y en 35 casos (41.7%) > 60 años. El 60.7 % con 1 a 3 embarazos, el 23.8% nunca se embarazo y el 15.5 % con > 4 embarazos, sin relación con la mortalidad. El tipo histológico más prevalente fue el carcinoma epitelial en 56 casos (66.6%). La media de tiempo de recaída fue 56.8 meses y de tiempo de sobrevida fue de 87.7 meses. La supervivencia a los 5 años fue del 62% y a los 10 años del 55%. La supervivencia fue menor en mayores de 60 años y con estadios IIB, IIC, IIIA y IIIC. Conclusión: En este estudio la mortalidad se modificó por el estadío clínico, el tiempo de evolución y la edad de las pacientes con cáncer de ovario.

Introduction: Survival from ovarian cancer is close to 50%; however, it varies depending on the different prognostic factors, the main one being the extent of the disease at diagnosis. The objective of this study was to establish overall and disease-free survival in a reference center for the treatment of ovarian cancer in Quito, Ecuador. Methods: The present longitudinal study was carried out at the Metropolitan Hospital of Quito from January 2008 to December 2018. Women with ovarian cancer were included. Demographic variables, number of pregnancies, comorbidities, histological diagnosis, evolution time, treatment received, disease stage, progression, relapses, disease-free period, and mortality were recorded. The sample was non-probabilistic. A descriptive analysis and a survival analysis are performed. Results: 84 patients participated. Age in 20 cases (23.8%) <50 years, in 29 cases (34.5%) from 50 to 59 years, and in 35 cases (41.7%) >60 years. 60.7% with 1 to 3 pregnancies, 23.8% never got pregnant, and 15.5% with > 4 pregnancies without relation to mortality. The most prevalent histological type was epithelial carcinoma in 56 cases (66.6%). The mean time to relapse was 56.8 months, and the survival time was 87.7 months. Survival at 5 years was 62%, and at 10 years, 55%. Survival was lower in those over 60 years of age and with stages IIB, IIC, IIIA, and IIIC. Conclusion: In this study, mortality was modified by the clinical stage, the time of evolution, and the age of the patients with ovarian cancer.

Efficacy and clinical outcome of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy as first-line treatment in patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Endocrine therapy (ET) and ET-based regimens are the preferred first-line treatment options for hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- MBC), while chemotherapy (CT) is commonly used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and clinical outcome of ET and CT as first-line treatment in Chinese patients with HR+/HER2- MBC.@*METHODS@#Patients diagnosed with HR+/HER2-MBC between January 1st, 1996 and September 30th, 2018 were screened from the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer database. The initial and maintenance first-line treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among the 1877 included patients, 1215 (64.7%) received CT and 662 (35.3%) received ET as initial first-line treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in PFS and OS between patients receiving ET and CT as initial first-line treatment in the total population (PFS: 12.0 vs. 11.0 months, P = 0.22; OS: 54.0 vs . 49.0 months, P =0.09) and propensity score matched population. For patients without disease progression after at least 3 months of initial therapy, maintenance ET following initial CT (CT-ET cohort, n = 449) and continuous schedule of ET (ET cohort, n = 527) had longer PFS than continuous schedule of CT (CT cohort, n = 406) in the total population (CT-ET cohort vs. CT cohort: 17.0 vs . 8.5 months; P <0.01; ET cohort vs . CT cohort: 14.0 vs . 8.5 months; P <0.01) and propensity score matched population. OS in the three cohorts yielded the same results as PFS.@*CONCLUSIONS@#ET was associated with similar clinical outcome to CT as initial first-line treatment. For patients without disease progression after initial CT, switching to maintenance ET showed superiority in clinical outcome over continuous schedule of CT.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in children and adolescents with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a Meta analysis / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the efficacy and safety of rituximab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of children and adolescents with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) through a Meta analysis.@*METHODS@#The databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and Weipu were searched to obtain 10 articles on rituximab in the treatment of mature B-NHL in children and adolescents published up to June 2022, with 886 children in total. With 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, 3-year overall survival (OS) rate, complete remission rate, mortality rate, and incidence rate of adverse reactions as outcome measures, RevMan 5.4 software was used for Meta analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias analysis.@*RESULTS@#The rituximab+chemotherapy group showed significant increases in the 3-year EFS rate (HR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.25-0.59, P<0.001), 3-year OS rate (HR=0.29, 95%CI: 0.14-0.61, P=0.001), and complete remission rate (OR=3.72, 95%CI: 1.89-7.33, P<0.001) as well as a significant reduction in the mortality rate (OR=0.31, 95%CI: 0.17-0.57, P<0.001), as compared with the chemotherapy group without rituximab. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions between the two groups (OR=1.28, 95%CI: 0.85-1.92, P=0.24).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The addition of rituximab to the treatment regimen for children and adolescents with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can bring significant survival benefits without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.

More microinvasive foci in larger tumours of breast ductal carcinoma in situ

INTRODUCTION@#Microinvasion (Mi) is often thought to be an interim stage between ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of Mi on survival and assess its correlations with clinicopathological parameters, prognosis and molecular markers.@*METHODS@#The number of Mi foci in a cohort of 66 DCIS-Mi cases was assessed from haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Disease-free survival, clinicopathological parameters and biomarker expression were correlated with the number of Mi foci.@*RESULTS@#Higher numbers of Mi foci were found in larger tumours (P = 0.031).@*CONCLUSION@#Greater extent of DCIS is associated with multifocal Mi.

Clinical study of antinib combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of third-line extensive small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore whether the survival benefit of the third-line extensive small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) will be obtained by the combination of anlotinib and radiotherapy, and evaluate the safety of this treatment regimen. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with ES-SCLC who received third-line treatment with less than three metastatic organs at the Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from November 2018 to July 2021 were collected and treated with radiotherapy based on anlotinib. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), descriptive statistical analysis was used to evaluate the safety, and European organisation for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to evaluate the quality of life. Results: The follow-up cut-off date was July 1, 2021, and the follow-up time ranged from 4.8 to 31.0 months, with a median follow-up time of 10.2 months for the entire group. Among the 27 patients, 4 achieved partial remission, 17 had stable disease and 6 had progression of disease. The objective remission rate (ORR) was 14.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 77.8%. Median PFS and the median OS were 5 months and 11 months, respectively. The most common adverse reactions included fatigue (33.3%, 9/27), anorexia (14.8%, 4/27), bleeding (14.8%, 4/27) and hand-foot syndrome (11.1%, 3/27). Most of them were grade 1 to grade 2, 3 cases were more than grade 3, and there was no grade 5 toxicity recorded. After radiotherapy combined with amlotinib treatment, patients showed improvement in general health, somatic functioning, social functioning, and emotional functioning (all P<0.05). Conclusion: For the third-line ES-SCLC patients, radiotherapy based on the anlotinib can significantly prolong their PFS and OS, and the adverse reactions can be tolerated.

Clinical study of antinib combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of third-line extensive small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore whether the survival benefit of the third-line extensive small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) will be obtained by the combination of anlotinib and radiotherapy, and evaluate the safety of this treatment regimen. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with ES-SCLC who received third-line treatment with less than three metastatic organs at the Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from November 2018 to July 2021 were collected and treated with radiotherapy based on anlotinib. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), descriptive statistical analysis was used to evaluate the safety, and European organisation for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to evaluate the quality of life. Results: The follow-up cut-off date was July 1, 2021, and the follow-up time ranged from 4.8 to 31.0 months, with a median follow-up time of 10.2 months for the entire group. Among the 27 patients, 4 achieved partial remission, 17 had stable disease and 6 had progression of disease. The objective remission rate (ORR) was 14.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 77.8%. Median PFS and the median OS were 5 months and 11 months, respectively. The most common adverse reactions included fatigue (33.3%, 9/27), anorexia (14.8%, 4/27), bleeding (14.8%, 4/27) and hand-foot syndrome (11.1%, 3/27). Most of them were grade 1 to grade 2, 3 cases were more than grade 3, and there was no grade 5 toxicity recorded. After radiotherapy combined with amlotinib treatment, patients showed improvement in general health, somatic functioning, social functioning, and emotional functioning (all P<0.05). Conclusion: For the third-line ES-SCLC patients, radiotherapy based on the anlotinib can significantly prolong their PFS and OS, and the adverse reactions can be tolerated.

Tratamiento y supervivencia de pacientes con melanoma en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología / Treatment and survival of patients with melanoma at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology

RESUMEN Introducción: El melanoma es una enfermedad potencialmente mortal, asociada a una alta morbilidad y mortalidad, por el alto riesgo de metástasis nodal regional y a distancia. Objetivo: Describir las características demográficas, clínico-patológicas, terapéutica, instaurada en la serie estudiada y la supervivencia en los pacientes evaluados. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo, en 79 pacientes con melanoma localmente avanzado estadio III, en el período de 2003 a 2018. Se realizó una revisión documental de historias clínicas e informes de anatomía patológica para la obtención de los datos. Resultados: En relación con las variables clínico-patológicas de los pacientes, 51,9 % fueron hombres y el subtipo histológico de extensión superficial representó 44,1 % de la muestra. Un 64,6 % se diagnosticó en etapa IIIB y 35,4 % en etapa IIIC. La exéresis de la lesión primaria como único tratamiento se realizó en 35,1 % de los pacientes y el uso del Interferón alfa en 80 % para los que recibieron inmunoterapia. Hasta el momento del análisis 67 pacientes, 84,8 %, habían progresado y un 83,5 % fallecieron. La mediana de supervivencia libre de progresión se estimó en 1,0 año y la de la supervivencia global en 1,10 años. Conclusiones: En la serie de pacientes evaluados predominó el subtipo extensión superficial. Predominó discretamente el sexo masculino y la etapa IIIB. La modalidad terapéutica más indicada fue la exéresis de la lesión primaria; tanto la supervivencia libre de progresión como la global fueron bajas.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Melanoma is a potentially lethal disease that is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rates due to the high risk of regional or distant nodal metastasis. Objective: To describe the demographic and clinical-pathological characteristics and the therapeutic procedure, as well as to determine the survival in the patients evaluated in the study. Material and Methods: A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out in a group of seventy-nine patients suffering from locally advanced stage III melanoma during 2003-2018 period. Data were taken from the documentary review of clinical histories and the records of the Department of Pathological Anatomy. Results: Regarding the clinical-pathological variables, men comprised 51,9 % of the sample, and the superficial extension in the histological subtype represented 44,1 % of the sample. About 64,6 % and 35,4 % of patients were diagnosed in stage IIIB and stage IIIC, respectively. The removal of the primary lesion was performed as the only treatment option in 35,1 % of the patients, and Interferon Alfa was used in 80 % of those who received immunotherapy. Up until the analysis of 67 patients, it was demonstrated that 84,8 % of them had improved while 83,5 % had died. The median progression-free survival was 1,0 years and the global survival was 1,10 years. Conclusions: The superficial subtype predominated in the group of patients studied. There was a discrete prevalence of males and stage IIIB. The most commonly indicated therapeutic procedure was the removal of the primary lesion. Both the median progression-free survival and the global one were low.

Clinical effect of multicenter multidisciplinary treatment in children with renal malignant tumors / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the long-term clinical effect of multicenter multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) in children with renal malignant tumors.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 55 children with renal malignant tumors who were diagnosed and treated with MDT in 3 hospitals in Hunan Province from January 2015 to January 2020, with GD-WT-2010 and CCCG-WT-2016 for treatment regimens. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the survival of the children.@*RESULTS@#Of the 55 children, 10 had stage I tumor, 14 had stage Ⅱ tumor, 22 had stage Ⅲ tumor, 7 had stage IV tumor, and 2 had stage V tumor. As for pathological type, 47 had FH type and 8 had UFH type. All children underwent complete tumor resection. Of the 55 children, 14 (25%) received preoperative chemotherapy. All children, except 1 child with renal cell carcinoma, received postoperative chemotherapy. Among the 31 children with indication for radiotherapy, 21 (68%) received postoperative radiotherapy. One child died of postoperative metastasis. The incidence rate of FH-type myelosuppression was 94.4%, and the incidence rate of UFH-type myelosuppression was 100%. The median follow-up time was 21 months and the median survival time was 26 months for all children, with an overall survival rate of 98% and an event-free survival rate of 95%.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Multicenter MDT has the advantages of high success rate of operation and good therapeutic effect of chemotherapy in the treatment of children with renal malignant tumors, with myelosuppression as the most common side effects, and radiotherapy is safe and effective with few adverse events. Therefore, MDT has good feasibility, safety, and economy.

Radiotherapy for early and advanced stages Follicular Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the results of radiotherapy (RT) for follicular lymphoma (FL) under different management scenarios. METHODS We retrospectively assessed consecutive patients with FL who had undergone irradiation between 2010 and 2018. All patients had biopsy-proven FL and were positron emission tomography-staged, although some (35.3%) were reassessed with computed tomography after treatment alone. Rituximab was only available to FL patients after 2016. RESULTS Thirty-four patients were selected, with a mean age at diagnosis of 61.6 years (34-89 years). The median follow-up duration was 49.4 months. Most patients were female (58.8%) and showed good performance on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale (ECOG 0-55.9%). The mean overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were 48.7 and 33.6 months, respectively, with four deaths reported. OS rates at 2 and 3 years were 94.1% and 91.2%, respectively. Four patients showed transformation into aggressive lymphomas and underwent rituximab-based systemic treatment. Transformation-free survival was 47.8 months, and all patients with transformed disease were alive at assessment. Five patients had in-field relapse, all of them also relapsed elsewhere, and the mean relapse-free survival time was 40.3 months. No median end points were reached on assessment. CONCLUSION FL is an indolent disease. Our findings show good outcomes for patients treated with radiation, with a low transformation rate and excellent management of relapsed disease. RT is an important part of these results.

Clinical, demographic, anatomopathological, and molecular findings in patients with medulloblastoma treated in a single health facility / Achados clínicos, demográficos, anatomopatológicos e moleculares de portadores de meduloblastoma tratados em uma única instituição

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the clinical, demographic, anatomopathological, molecular, and survival characteristics of patients with medulloblastoma. Methods: Retrospective study based on patient information obtained from the review of medical records. Overall and event-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and the curves were compared by the log-rank test. Results: Among the patients investigated, 70 were male (66%), and age at diagnosis ranged from 2 months to 22 years. The most frequent signs and symptoms were headache (80.8%) and vomiting (75.8%). Regarding treatment, most patients (63.2%) underwent complete surgical resection, with a predominance of classic histology (63.2%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 67.9%, and the 10-year rate was 64.2%. Patients with molecular profile characteristic of the wingless (WNT) subgroup had a better prognosis, with 5-year overall survival of 75%. Conclusions: The clinical, demographic, anatomopathological, and molecular characteristics of patients with medulloblastoma described in the present study were mostly similar to those reported in the literature. Patients submitted to complete tumor resection had better clinical outcomes than those who underwent incomplete resection/biopsy. Patients classified as high-risk showed worse overall and event-free survival than those in the standard-risk group, and the presence of metastasis at diagnosis was associated with recurrence.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas, demográficas, anatomopatológicas, moleculares e de sobrevida de pacientes portadores de meduloblastoma. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, no qual as informações dos pacientes foram obtidas pela revisão dos prontuários médicos. Análises de sobrevida global e de sobrevida livre de eventos foram realizadas por meio da construção de curvas de Kaplan-Meier e a comparação entre as curvas foi feita pelo teste log-rank. Resultados: Entre os pacientes analisados, 70 pertenciam ao sexo masculino (66%) e a idade ao diagnóstico variou de dois meses a 22 anos. Os sinais e sintomas de maior frequência foram cefaleia (80,8%) e vômitos (75,8%). Em relação ao tratamento, a maioria (63,2%) dos pacientes foi submetida à ressecção cirúrgica total e apresentava como histologia predominante a forma clássica (63,2%). A taxa de sobrevida global em cinco anos foi de 67,9% e, em 10 anos, de 64,2%. Os pacientes com perfil molecular característico do subgrupo wingless (WNT) apresentaram melhor prognóstico, com sobrevida global em cinco anos de 75%. Conclusões: As características clínicas, demográficas, anatomopatológicas e moleculares dos pacientes com meduloblastoma descritas no presente estudo foram majoritariamente semelhantes às descritas na literatura. Pacientes submetidos à ressecção completa do tumor tiveram melhor evolução clínica do que aqueles com ressecção incompleta/biópsia. Pacientes estratificados como de alto risco apresentaram pior sobrevida global e livre de eventos do que o grupo standard e a presença de metástases ao diagnóstico se mostrou associada à ocorrência de recidiva da doença.

Pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level as a prognostic biomarker for patients with lung cancer

Many researchers have shown that pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels are closely correlated with the prognosis of patients with lung cancer (LC). In this study, we thus performed a meta-analysis to systematically assess the prognostic value of pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels in LC patients. A computerized systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was performed up to March 15, 2018. Studies with available data on the prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen in LC patients were eligible for inclusion. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the correlation between pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels and prognosis as well as clinicopathological characteristics. A total of 17 studies with 6,460 LC patients were included in this meta-analysis. A higher pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.39-1.77; p=0.001), disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.33-1.76; p=0.003), and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 3.14; 95% CI: 2.15-4.59; p<0.001). Furthermore, our subgroup and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the pooled HR for OS was robust and reliable. In addition, we also found that a higher fibrinogen level predicted advanced TNM stage (III-IV) (OR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.79-2.66; p<0.001) and a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.44-2.10; p=0.02). Our study suggested that higher pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels predict worse prognoses in LC patients.

Changes in nutritional status in adolescents surviving leukemia and lymphoma / Alterações no estado nutricional em adolescentes sobreviventes de leucemias e linfomas

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the changes in the nutritional status of adolescents aged 10-19 years after a minimum 12 months interval following oncological treatment for leukemias and lymphomas. Methods Longitudinal design quantitative study conducted at Hospital de Clínicas, Porto Alegre. Adolescents aged 10-19 years after a minimum 12 months interval following oncological treatment for leukemias and lymphomas were included. The measures of weight, height, brachial circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference and abdominal circumference were collected. Results The sample comprised 50 adolescents who had survived leukemias and lymphomas. In the follow up 38% of the patients were classified as overweight according to the body mass index for their age. There was a significant increase in body mass index for age between the beginning and the end of treatment and follow up (p=0.013) in female individuals, compared to males. The results indicate a reduction in the Z-score means of height for age, with significant differences between the beginning of treatment and follow up (p=0.016); and end of treatment and follow up (p=0.006) in patients of both genders Conclusion The anthropometric indicators show an important frequency of excess weight and increased tricipital skinfold, as well as a significant increase of the body mass index for age and also a growth deficit among the survivors.

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar as alterações no estado nutricional em adolescentes de 10-19 anos, observadas após 12 meses, no mínimo, da conclusão de tratamento oncológico de leucemias e linfomas. Métodos Trata-se de estudo quantitativo de delineamento longitudinal realizado no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Foram incluídos adolescentes de 10-19 anos, que haviam concluído tratamento oncológico para leucemias e linfomas há no mínimo doze meses. Foram coletadas as medidas de peso, estatura, circunferência braquial, dobra cutânea tricipital, circunferência muscular do braço e circunferência abdominal. Resultados A amostra foi constituída por cinquenta adolescentes sobreviventes de leucemias e linfomas. No follow up, 38% dos pacientes foram classificados como excesso de peso de acordo com o índice de massa corporal para a idade. Houve um aumento significativo no índice de massa corporal para a idade, ocorrida entre o início do tratamento, seu fim e follow up (p=0,013) nos indivíduos do sexo feminino, quando comparados a indivíduos do sexo masculino. Os resultados apontam uma diminuição nas médias de Escore-Z de estatura para a idade, com diferenças significativas entre o início do tratamento e follow up (p=0,016) e entre término do tratamento e follow up (p=0,006), em pacientes de ambos os sexos. Conclusão Os indicadores antropométricos demonstram uma frequência importante de excesso de peso e aumento da dobra cutânea tricipital, um aumento significativo do índice de massa corporal para a idade, bem como um deficit de crescimento entre os sobreviventes.

Caracterización del linfoma de Hodgkin en los pacientes adultos / Characterization of Hodgkin's lymphoma in the adults patients

Introducción: El linfoma de Hodgkin ha pasado de ser una enfermedad fatal a una de las neoplasias con mayores posibilidades de curación. Objetivo: Caracterizar el comportamiento del linfoma de Hodgkin en los pacientes adultos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo parcial que incluyó 75 pacientes adultos con linfoma de Hodgkin atendidos en el Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología entre enero de 1987 hasta enero de 2017. Resultados: El 64 por ciento de los pacientes fueron del sexo masculino; predominó el color de piel blanco (85,3 por ciento) y el grupo de 18 a 38 años fue el más frecuente (68 por ciento). Prevalecieron los pacientes sin comorbilidades (65,3 por ciento) y con buen validismo (93,3 por ciento). El 52 por ciento de los pacientes estaba en estadio III al diagnóstico; predominó el grupo pronóstico de avanzado favorable 61.3 por ciento. La variedad histológica más frecuente fue la esclerosis nodular con 48 pacientes y el esquema empleado con mayor frecuencia fue ABVD, con el que se logró 92 por ciento de remisión completa. El 20 por ciento de los pacientes fallecieron y el 18,7 por ciento recayeron. La sobrevida global a los 2, 5 y 10 años fue de 93 por ciento, 83 por ciento y 80 por ciento, respectivamente. La sobrevida libre de enfermedad a los 5 y 10 años fue de 82 por ciento y 73 por ciento, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La sobrevida global y la sobrevida libre de enfermedad de los pacientes fueron altas. Los pacientes tratados con la combinación de quimioterapia y radioterapia mostraron significativamente una mejor supervivencia global(AU)

Introduction: Hodgkin's lymphoma has evolved to be one of the cancers with highest possibilities of cure. Objective: To characterize the behavior of the Hodgkin's lymphoma disease in adult patients. Methods: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. It included 75 adult patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma attended in the Institute of Hematology and Immunology since January 1987 to January of 2017. Results: 64 percent of the patients were male; the white color of skin and the group from 18 to 38 years predominated, with 85.3 percent and 68 percent respectively. Patients without comorbidity prevailed, and those who had a good status performance, representing the 65.3 percent and 93.3 percent respectively. The 52 percent of patients were in stage III at diagnosis, the group with advanced favorable disease was predominant, with 61.3 percent of the cases. The most frequent histological type was nodular sclerosis with 48 patients; and ABVD protocol was used more often, achieving 92 percent of complete remission. Twenty percent of the patients died and 18.7 percent relapsed. The overall survival of the patients at 2, 5 and 10 years was 93 percent, 83 percent and 80 percent respectively. The progression-free survival at of 5 and 10 years was 82 percent and 73 percent respectively. Conclusions: The overall survival and the progression-free survival of patients were high, and patients treated with the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed a significantly better overall survival(AU)

Resultados de pacientes con linfoma del manto: impacto de terapias basadas en citarabina y trasplante hematopoyético / Cytarabine and hematopoietic cell transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma: analysis of 20 patients

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has high relapse and mortality rates. There is a survival benefit when treatment is intensified with cytarabine (AraC), hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and maintenance with rituximab. Aim: To assess the outcomes of patients with MCL treated in a university hospital. Material and Methods: Review of an oncology center database and medical records identifying patients with MCL treated between 2006 and 2017. Death dates were obtained from the death certificate database of the National Identification Service. We analyzed the response rate, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). As a secondary objective, the survival impact of AraC, HCT and maintenance with rituximab, was also analyzed. Results: Information on 20 patients aged 62 ± 11 years, followed for a median of 45 months was retrieved. Eighty-five percent were diagnosed at an advanced stage. The most used first-line regime was R-CHOP in 11 patients, followed by R-HyperCVAD in five. Only 47% achieved complete response. 4-year PFS and OS were of 30 and 77% respectively. Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) significantly predicted PFS and OS. Maintenance with rituximab or HCT was associated with better PFS (48 vs 21 months, p < 0.01). The exposure to AraC or HCT, in refractory or relapsed disease, was associated with an increase in PFS from 9 to 28 months (p = 0,02) and 4-year OS from 40 to 100% (p = 0.05). OS increased even more, from 25 to 100% in those with high-risk MIPI (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The incorporation of AraC, HCT and maintenance with rituximab in the therapeutic backbone of MCL, especially for high-risk cases, was associated with improved survival.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of abiraterone, docetaxel or placebo plus androgen deprivation therapy for hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer / Análise de custo-efetividade da adição de abiraterona ou quimioterapia ao tratamento do câncer de próstata metastático hormônio-sensível

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the addition of chemotherapy or abiraterone to androgen deprivation. Methods We developed an analytical model to determine the cost-effectiveness of the addition of docetaxel or abiraterone versus androgen deprivation therapy alone. Direct and indirect costs were included in the model. The effects were expressed in Quality-Adjusted Life Years adjusted for side effects. Results Compared to androgen deprivation therapy alone, the addition of chemotherapy and of abiraterone generated 0.492 and 0.999, respectively, in Quality-Adjusted Life Years. Abiraterone led to a Quality-Adjusted Life Years gain of 0.506 compared to docetaxel. The incremental costs per Quality-Adjusted Life Years were R$ 133.649,22 for docetaxel, R$ 330.828,70 for abiraterone and R$ 571.379,42 for abiraterone compared to docetaxel, respectively. Conclusion The addition of chemotherapy to androgen deprivation therapy is more cost-effective than the addition of abiraterone to androgen deprivation therapy. However, discounts on abiraterone cost might improve cost-effectiveness.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a relação custo-efetividade da adição de quimioterapia ou abiraterona à terapia de privação hormonal. Métodos Um modelo analítico foi desenvolvido para determinar a relação custo-efetividade da adição de docetaxel ou abiraterona comparada à terapia de privação hormonal isolada. Custos diretos e indiretos foram incluídos no modelo. Os efeitos foram expressos em Anos de Vida Ajustados para Qualidade corrigidos pelos efeitos colaterais de cada terapia. Resultados A adição de quimioterapia e de abiraterona à terapia de privação hormonal aumentou os Anos de Vida Ajustados para Qualidade em 0,492 e 0,999, respectivamente, em comparação à terapia de privação hormonal isolada. A abiraterona promoveu ganho de Anos de Vida Ajustados para Qualidade de 0,506 em relação ao docetaxel. O custo incremental por Anos de Vida Ajustados para Qualidade foi R$ 133.649,22 para o docetaxel, R$ 330.828,70 para a abiraterona e R$ 571.379,42 para a abiraterona comparada ao docetaxel. Conclusão A adição de quimioterapia à terapia de privação hormonal é mais custo-efetiva que a adição de abiraterona à terapia de privação hormonal. Contudo, descontos no custo da abiraterona poderiam tornar esse tratamento mais custo-efetivo.

Prolonged response to recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome at a single referral centre in Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of epoetin (EPO) alfa treatment on overall survival, event-free survival and response duration in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who were treated at a haematological referral centre in northeastern Brazil. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 36 patients diagnosed with MDS and treated with EPO alfa at 30,000 to 60,000 IU per week. Clinical data were collected from medical records. The events assessed were non-response to treatment and progression to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 7 and SPSS 24 software. RESULTS: The overall survival of patients who received EPO alfa treatment was 51.64%, with a median of 65 months of treatment, and the overall survival of this group was 100% during the first 24 months. We detected a 43.5-month median event-free survival, with a response rate of 80.5%. We observed responses from 25 to 175 months. Patients with transfusion dependence and those with a high-risk stratification, as determined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R), the WHO classification-based Prognostic Scoring System (WPSS) and the WHO 2016, had a lower event-free survival than other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the wide use of EPO alfa in the treatment of anaemia in patients with MDS, the median response duration is approximately only 24 months. Our data provide encouraging results concerning the benefits of using EPO alfa for the improvement of the quality of life, as patients treated with EPO showed higher overall survival, event-free survival rates and longer response durations than have been previously described in the literature.

Enzalutamida vs abiraterona en el manejo del cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración: comparación indirecta de tratamientos / Enzalutamide vs Abiraterone in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer: Indirect Comparison of Treatments

Introducción Actualmente se dispone de nuevos medicamentos que aumentan la supervivencia en pacientes con cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración. Entre ellos están la Enzalutamida y la Abiraterona. Actualmente no se dispone de experimentos clínicos comparativos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar las diferencias entre la Enzalutamida y la Abiraterona, a través de un modelo de comparación indirecta de tratamientos en pacientes con cáncer de próstata metastásico resistente a la castración. Materiales y Métodos Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura incluyendo ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, en pacientes con cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración que recibieron manejo con Enzalutamida y Abiraterona; tomando como desenlace la supervivencia global y libre de progresión radiológica. Se realizó una comparación de la información y un modelo de Bucher para datos indirectos. Resultados Se incluyeron 2 experimentos clínicos fase 3 de manejo pre quimioterapia y 2 en manejo postquimioterapia. Se involucraron 1418 pacientes en el grupo de estudio prequimioterapia y 1596 en el grupo de estudio postquimioterapia. Al comparar la Enzalutamida versus Abiraterona, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. En la prequimioterapia, la supervivencia global con HR 0,87 (95%IC 0,70­1,09) (p = 0,94), supervivencia libre de progresion radiológica con HR 0,35 (95% IC 0,28­0,44) (p = 0,81) y en postquimioterapia, supervivencia global con HR 0,85 (95% IC 0,67­1,06) (p = 0,82) y supervivencia libre de progresión radiológica con HR 0,60 (95% IC 0,49­0,74) (p = 0,82). Conclusiones No existe una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la supervivencia global y libre de progresión radiológica entre los dos medicamentos.

Introduction and Objective From translational medicine, development of new drugs that increase survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer is obtained. Among these are abiraterone and Enzalutamide, with different mechanisms of action, but with an aplication in the same clinical stage. Currently, there are no comparative clinical trials between these drugs. This study aims to identify the differences between Enzalutamide and Abiraterone through a model of indirect comparison of treatment in patients with castration resistant prostate cancer in pre and post chemotherapy stages. Materials and Methods A systematic search of the literature was conducted including randomized phase 3 clinical trials in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving management with Enzalutamide and Abiraterone compared with placebo or corticoid in pre and post chemotherapy stages, taking as outcome overall survival and radiologic progression-free survival. In addition to the demographic analysis, a comparison of information and a modified model of Bucher for indirect data was performed, with the statistical program Stata version 12 and ICT CADTH program. Results 2 Phase III clinical trials were included in the pre chemotherapy stage and 2 in postchemotherapy stage. 1418 patients in the study group prechemotherapy and 1596 in the post- chemotherapy group study were involved. Control groups involved 1387 and 796 cases respectively. When comparing Enzalutamide vs Abiraterone in the pre chemotherapy group, no statistically significant difference was noted in overall survival HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.70 - 1.09) (p = 0.94) and radiologic progression-free survival HR 0.35 (95 % CI 0.28 to 0.44) (p = 0.81). In post-chemotherapy group, overall survival HR 0.85 (95 % CI 0.67 - 1.06) (p = 0.82) and radiologic progression-free survival HR 0.60 (95 % CI 0.49 to 0.74 ) (p = 0.82) no statistically significant difference was noted. Conclusions There is no statistically significant difference in overall survival and radiologic progression-free survival between the two drugs. The indirect comparison of treatments offers a valid alternative in the absence of direct comparative clinical experiences.