Evaluation of Breast Cancer Patients with Genetic Risk in a University Hospital: Before and After the Implementation of a Heredofamilial Cancer Unit.

The identification of patients at risk for breast cancer by genetic testing has proven to reduce breast cancer mortality. In 2010, due to a lack of systematization in hereditary cancer assistance in our center, we implemented a multidisciplinary Heredofamilial Cancer Unit (HFCU). We analyze if the HFCU improved the rates of referrals and preventive management of breast cancer patients with genetic risk. We retrospectively compared family history records, referrals of high-risk patients to genetic counseling, and detection and management of patients with BRCA1/2 mutations in two cohorts of breast cancer patients diagnosed before (first period: 2007-2010) and after the creation of the HFCU (second period: 2010-2013). In the first period, 893 patients were included, and 902 were included in the second. Due to the inability to establish their genetic risk, 142 patients (15.9%) vs. 70 (7.8%) were excluded from analysis (p < 0.001). Among the evaluable patients, 194 (25.8%) vs. 223 (26.8%) fulfilled one or more risk criteria (p = 0.65). Family history documentation in patient's medical records (92.4 vs. 97.8%, p < 0.001) and referral rate (26.3 vs. 52%, p < 0.0001) significantly increased in the second period. Eight BRCA1/2 mutations were detected among patients referred in the first period and 17 among those referred to the HFCU. The rate of preventive surgeries in patients with BRCA mutations significantly increased in the second period (25 vs. 76.5%, p = 0.03). In conclusion, there was a clear improvement in family history records, referrals, and preventive surgeries in breast cancer patients with genetic risk after the implementation of the HFCU.

Multicenter analysis of neoadjuvant docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: In an era where neoadjuvant dual blockade is emerging as the standard of care for early and locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, we aimed to identify predictors of response to single-blockade chemotherapy. METHODS: This retrospective analysis reviewed all the incident stage I-III HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) in three institutions. pCR was defined as the absence of invasive tumor in breast and axillary nodes (ypT0/isypN0). RESULTS: From 2008 to 2015, 84 patients receiving neoadjuvant TCH were identified within our institutions. The mean age at diagnosis was 51.8 years. 59.5% of the patients were hormone receptor (HR) positive, lymph node involvement occurred in 67.9%, and clinical distribution was 2.4, 65.5, and 32.1% for stage I, II, and III, respectively. pCR rate was 47.6%; there was a significantly lower response in HR-positive patients compared to HR-negative ones (34 vs 67.6%, p = 0.005). pCR rate was associated with tumor size, whereas differences did not reach significance either for stage or for nodal status. Multivariate analysis found that only HR status was associated with response (p = 0.003). At a median follow-up of 31.7 months, disease-free survival, distant disease-free survival, and overall survival were 78.6, 85.7, and 94%, respectively. Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 44% of the patients. Overall, TCH was well tolerated, with low rates of grade 3-4 adverse events, and neither late toxicities nor cardiac dysfunctions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant TCH, an anthracycline-free single-blockade regimen, achieved a pCR of 47.6%. Further molecular analyses are required in order to identify stronger predictive markers of pCR and thus for an accurate selection of patients who do not benefit from dual blockade.

Frequency of germline DNA genetic findings in an unselected prospective cohort of triple-negative breast cancer patients participating in a platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial.

We describe the status and frequency of germline DNA genetic findings in an unselected prospective cohort of triple negative breast cancer patients participating in a platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial. Study population includes 124 consecutive patients with stage II-III TNBC from a trial exploring the antitumor activity of neoadjuvant carboplatin/docetaxel chemotherapy enrolled between 2012 and March 2015, to determine the frequency of germline DNA genetic mutations. 17.1 % of the patients with germline DNA tested had deleterious mutations in any of the analyzed genes (12.38 % in BRCA1, 1.9 % in BRCA2 and BARD1 and 0.95 % in RAD51D). Attending the intrinsic subtype, all the BRCA1/2 carriers tested had basal-like subtype. Among wild-type (WT) patients, 70.11 % had basal subtype, 16.09 % HER2 enriched, 1.15 % Luminal B, and 4.60 % Normal-like. Mean age at diagnosis was significantly lower in mutation-carriers compared with no carriers (43.72 vs 53.10, p = 0.004). 3 BRCA1/2 carriers were detected between 51 and 60 years, and only one deleterious mutation (BARD1) over 60 years. A positive familiar history of breast and ovarian cancer was more frequent in patients with deleterious mutations (39.39 vs 17.94 %, p = 0.043). Our study confirms the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations in TNBC patients. TNBC should therefore be considered by itself as a criterion for BRCA1/2 genetic testing. Determination of other breast cancer predisposition genes implicated in homologous recombination should also be discussed in this population. However, no definitive conclusions can be reached due to the low prevalence and the uncertain clinical impact of most of the genes included.

Long term control stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for oligometastatic colorectal cancer: a single center study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate survival after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as radical treatment for metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to identify prognostic factors after treatment. METHODS: Patients with metastatic CRC treated with SBRT on metastatic lesions were retrospectively analyzed between February 2012 and August 2016 at the General University Hospital of Valencia. The follow-up was carried out until July 15, 2018. The data have been collected in a database. Patients may have received prior systemic therapy and/or resection of metastatic disease. Endpoints were timed from end of SBRT and included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were identified. Before SBRT, 77.5% of the patients have received systemic therapy and 65.2% surgery for metastatic disease. Of metastatic lesions treated with SBRT 53.1% were located in the lung, 30.6% in the liver and 16.3% in other locations. Median survival were: PFS after treatment with SBRT was 9.9 months (95% CI: 4.64-15.1) and the median OS was 28.9 months (95% CI: 19.0-38.7). No relapses were observed in 20% of the patients after SBRT. The treatment was well tolerated and no patient had grade 3 or 4 adverse effects. Right colon [HR 16.53 (95% CI: 3.11-87.87), P value 0.001] and higher tumor stage (III-IV) [HR 12.30 (95% CI: 2.10-71.92), P value 0.005] showed a lower OS in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT for oligometastatic disease is an effective option for patients with advanced CRC, with encorauging survival outcomes. However, a definitive validation in large randomized studies is required.

Diagnostic-therapeutic management of bile duct cancer.

Biliary tract cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, comprises a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors that can emerge at any part of the biliary tree. This group is the second most common type of primary liver cancer. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, which may be heterogeneous, and nonspecific biomarkers in serum and biopsy specimens, as well as on imaging techniques. Endoscopy-based diagnosis is essential, since it enables biopsy specimens to be taken. In addition, it can help with locoregional staging of distal tumors. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a key technique for the evaluation and treatment of malignant biliary tumors. Correct staging of cholangiocarcinoma is essential in order to be able to determine the degree of resectability and assess the results of treatment. The tumor is staged based on the TNM classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer. The approach will depend on the classification of the tumor. Thus, some patients with early-stage disease could benefit from surgery; complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of cure. However, only a minority of patients are diagnosed in the early stages and are suitable candidates for resection. In the subset of patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease, chemotherapy has been used to improve outcome and to delay tumor progression. The approach to biliary tract tumors should be multidisciplinary, involving experienced endoscopists, oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons.

Valoración e intervención nutricional en pacientes oncológicos hospitalizados en riesgo de desnutrición o con desnutrición: evaluación del efecto sobre parámetros antropométricos y de composición corporal / Nutritional assessment and intervention in hospitalized cancer patients at risk of or with Malnutrition: evaluation of the effect on anthropometric and body composition parameters

Introducción: la desnutrición es un problema frecuente en los pacientes oncológicos que empeora durante la hospitalización y se asocia con mayor morbimortalidad y deterioro de la calidad de vida. Objetivos: describir el efecto de la implantación de un protocolo de valoración y soporte nutricional sobre el estado nutricional de pacientes oncológicos hospitalizados. Métodos: estudio prospectivo, no controlado y cuasiexperimental en pacientes oncológicos ingresados en un servicio de oncología de forma consecutiva, independientemente de su estado nutricional, entre septiembre de 2019 y marzo de 2020. Se determinaron los parámetros antropométricos, la composición corporal y la fuerza prensora de la mano al ingreso y al alta. Se calculó el porcentaje de pacientes con desnutrición, dinapenia y sarcopenia al ingreso y al alta. Resultados: un total de 90 pacientes oncológicos participaron en este estudio (edad media: 66 años, 67,8 % hombres). El 33,2 % de los pacientes presentaban un tumor en el tracto gastrointestinal y el 73,3 % de los pacientes se encontraban en estadio IV. El 95 % necesitaron soporte nutricional (suplementación nutricional, nutrición enteral o nutrición parenteral). Tras la intervención nutricional no se encontraron diferencias en los parámetros antropométricos, con una pérdida de peso media de 0,1, aunque se observaron mejorías en la composición corporal. El porcentaje de pacientes desnutridos se mantuvo estable al ingreso y al alta independientemente del criterio empleado Conclusiones: la implementación de un protocolo de valoración y soporte nutricional al ingreso en pacientes oncológicos puede ayudar a evitar o retrasar el empeoramiento de su estado nutricional durante la hospitalización. (AU)

Introduction: Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients that worsens during hospitalization and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and impaired quality of life. Objectives: to describe the effect of implementing a Nutritional assessment and support protocol on the Nutritional status of hospitalized cancer patients. Methods: a prospective, cross-sectional, non-controlled, quasi-experimental study in cancer patients admitted to an oncology service consecutively regardless of their Nutritional status between September 2019 and March 2020. Anthropometric parameters, body composition, and hand grip strength were measured at admission and discharge. The percentage of patients with Malnutrition, dynapenia, and sarcopenia at admission and discharge was calculated. Results: a total of 90 cancer patients participated in this study (mean age: 66 years, 67.8 % men); 33.2 % of the patients had a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract and 73.3 % of the patients were in stage IV; 95 % required Nutritional support (nutritional supplementation, enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition). After the nutritional intervention, no differences were found in the anthropometric parameters with a mean weight loss of 0.1, although improvements in body composition were observed. The percentage of malnourished patients remained stable on admission and discharge regardless of the criteria used. Conclusions: the implementation of a protocol for assessment and nutritional support at admission in cancer patients may help prevent or delay the worsening of their nutritional status during hospital stay. (AU)

Código internacional de comercializaçäo dos substitutos do leite materno: análise e comentários / International code of marketing of human milk substitutes: analysis and comments

Analisam-se os artigos mais importantes do Código Internacional de Comercializaçäo dos Substitutos do Leite Materno. Relatam a realidade anterior ao código e fazem comentários aos artigos correspondentes