[Functional decline and presence of symptoms in palliative care: Cause or consequence?] / Declive funcional y presencia de síntomas en cuidados paliativos: ¿causa o consecuencia?

INTRODUCTION: Several publications have related functional decline to the appearance of symptoms, especially psychiatric or psychological ones, such as anxiety and depression. Moreover, an initial depressive disorder or prior to functional decline usually worsens it. It was decided to investigate the relationship between the presence of functional decline, measured by a decrease in the Barthel index (BI), and the presence of symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective analytical study conducted on patients referred to a Home Care Support Team (HCST). RESULTS: The study included 638 cases, of which 53.9% (N=344) were male, 56% (N=357) with cancer and 44% (N=281) geriatric. The mean age was 79.64 years+- 10.8. Significant differences (P<.001) were found in functional decline measured by mean decline in the BI between cancer (34.4) and non-cancer patients (12.12). Significant differences (P<.001) were also found in all recorded symptoms (pain, dyspnoea, anorexia, nausea, anxiety, depression, and insomnia), more frequently in cancer patients, except psychomotor agitation. A higher presence of symptoms was detected in patients with greater functional decline, with decreases in BI above 20 points. There were no differences in previous treatments, except in certain analgesics. Differences were found in the different treatments prescribed by HCST. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of functional decline and its level may be related to the appearance of symptoms, especially in cancer patients.

[Role of low molecular weight heparins in prophylaxis of thromboembolic events on oncological patients with indwelling central venous catheter]. / Heparinas de bajo peso molecular en la profilaxis de episodios tromboembólicos en pacientes con cáncer portadores de catéter venoso central.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our study was designed to assess the incidence of thrombosis in the upper limbs and of pulmonary embolism in oncological patients with indwelling central venous catheters, and to evaluate, also, the potential role of LMWH to prevent these events. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Oncological patients undergoing placement of a central venous acccess (port-a-cath type) were treated with or without bemiparin in a non-randomized fashion. Assessment included clinical and radiological follow-up. A phlebography on the first day and ecodoppler on days 1th, 45th and 90th were performed. Patients received or not prophylactic bemiparin (3500UI/day) in a non-randomized way. The incidence of thrombosis in both groups was assessed as well as its relation with some risk factors. RESULTS: One hundred and forty eight patients were eligible; 19 thrombotic events were found. The incidence of symptomatic upper extremity thrombosis was 5.41%, asymptomatic thrombosis in 2.03% ; there was one case of pulmonary embolism ( 0,68%); catheter failure occurred in 2.70%; incidence of lower extremities deep venous thrombosis was 2.03%. There was a higher percentage of events in the group of patients treated with bemiparin than in the not treated individuals (9.4%), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.27). The only risk factors reaching statistical significance were the prothrombin time, high blood pressure and overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Central venous catheters are very useful in oncology. The procedure was related with a low percentage of thrombotic complications. Sodic bemiparin does not reduce the thrombotic risk in these patients.

[Novel therapeutic targets in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Results of the treatment with single-agent bevacizumab in a single institution]. / Nuevas dianas terapéuticas para el carcinoma de células renales metastásico. Resultados del tratamiento con bevacizumab en monoterapia en un único centro hospitalario.

AIM: Along the past decade a number of new agents have been developed showing promising results in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We describe our experience with the use of bevacizumab in monotherapy in the Urology and Medical Oncology departments of our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A consecutive series of patients treated with Bevacizumab 10 mg/Kg every 14 days between January 2006 and January 2008 has been assessed. Data concerning the type of surgery, histological subtype, tumor stage, Motzer's risk group, metastatic sites number of bevacizumab courses given, time to progression and overall survival were collected. RESULTS: 25 patients (16 male, 9 female) were analyzed. Median age was 59 years. Nineteen of them (75%) had prior surgery: radical nephrectomy 14, cytoreductive 4 y tumorectomy 1). Clear cell carcinoma was the most frequent subtype (22 patients). According to Motzer's prognostic index 14 had good prognosis, 8 intermediate and 3 poor prognosis. Median time to progression was 19 weeks. Overall median survival since metastatic disease was diagnosed 8,7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab offers, as single agent, modest activity in the metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The recently labeled use in combination with interferon as well as the newer targeted agents will improve the results of the treatment of this disease in the next future.

Carboplatin and tegafur-uracil concomitant with standard radiotherapy in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancer.

INTRODUCTION: We undertook a prospective study to determine the feasibility, toxicity, response and survival rate of simultaneous chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) for locally-advanced head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty eight patients were treated with carboplatin (i.e. 100 mg/m(2)) weekly, tegafur-uracil (UFT) (oral 400 mg/m(2)) daily and simultaneous treatment with a cobalt-60 source of radiation (total dose 65-70 Gy). RESULTS: Forty six patients (79%) received the total dose of RT while CT was delayed or reduced in 31 patients (53%). Grade 3-4 toxicity observed was mucositis in 27 (47%), leukopenia in 10 (17%), anaemia in 5 (9%), and diarrhoea in 4 (7%) patients. The objective response rate was 74%; 24 complete response (41%) and 19 partial response (33%). Overall, there are 11 patients (19%) disease-free, 7 (12%) alive with disease, 35 have died of progressive disease (60%) and 3 (5%) from other causes. There were 2 toxic deaths (3%). Median time to progression was 10 months and median survival was 18.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: The use of carboplatin and UFT concomitant with radiotherapy has, in our study, a slightly lower activity than other chemo-radiotherapy protocols, especially with respect to complete responses, but with no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival rates.