Next-generation sequencing impact on cancer care: applications, challenges, and future directions.

Fundamentally precision oncology illustrates the path in which molecular profiling of tumors can illuminate their biological behavior, diversity, and likely outcomes by identifying distinct genetic mutations, protein levels, and other biomarkers that underpin cancer progression. Next-generation sequencing became an indispensable diagnostic tool for diagnosis and treatment guidance in current clinical practice. Nowadays, tissue analysis benefits from further support through methods like comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsies. However, precision medicine in the field of oncology presents specific hurdles, such as the cost-benefit balance and widespread accessibility, particularly in countries with low- and middle-income. A key issue is how to effectively extend next-generation sequencing to all cancer patients, thus empowering treatment decision-making. Concerns also extend to the quality and preservation of tissue samples, as well as the evaluation of health technologies. Moreover, as technology advances, novel next-generation sequencing assessments are being developed, including the study of Fragmentomics. Therefore, our objective was to delineate the primary uses of next-generation sequencing, discussing its' applications, limitations, and prospective paths forward in Oncology.

Preventive and therapeutic assessment program for mucositis in patients with cancer: promising advances in stomatological care / Programa de avaliação preventiva e terapêutica de mucosite em pacientes com câncer: avanços promissores na assistência estomatológica

OBJECTIVES: We propose a preventive and therapeutic assessment program for mucositis in patients with cancer based on a comprehensive review of scientific evidence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This methodological study, designed as a non-systematic review, entails a thorough review of the scientific evidence on the management of mucositis in patients with cancer. The PICO method was used, allowing for a structured approach to explore and synthesize relevant evidence. RESULTS: Effective mucositis management requires regular assessments, dental exams, preventive strategies, and consideration of modifiable risk factors. Pharmacological therapies may be considered for severe cases, while oral antimicrobials, prophylactic antiviral and antifungal therapy can prevent infections. Topical anesthetics o?er pain relief but require careful administration. A gradual management plan, from gentle rinses to analgesics, is recommended. CONCLUSION: The suggested program may improve the identification, prevention, and management of this complication to achieve optimal management outcomes.

OBJETIVOS: Propomos um programa de avaliação preventiva e terapêutica de mucosite em pacientes com câncer com base em uma revisão abrangente de evidências científicas. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Este estudo metodológico, concebido como uma revisão não sistemática, envolve uma revisão aprofundada da evidência científica sobre o manejo de mucosite em pacientes com câncer. Foi utilizado o método PICO, permitindo uma abordagem estruturada para explorar e sintetizar evidências relevantes. RESULTADOS: O manejo eficaz da mucosite requer avaliações regulares, exames odontológicos, estratégias preventivas e consideração de fatores de risco modificáveis. As terapias farmacológicas podem ser consideradas para casos graves, enquanto os antimicrobianos orais e a terapia antiviral e antifúngica profilática podem prevenir infecções. Os anestésicos tópicos oferecem alívio da dor, mas requerem administração cuidadosa. Recomenda-se uma administração gradual, desde enxágues suaves até analgésicos. CONCLUSÃO: O programa sugerido pode melhorar a identificação, prevenção e manejo desta complicação para alcançar resultados de conduta ideais.

Precision medicine in Thoracic Oncology: understanding disparities to tackle inequities in access.

INTRODUCTION: Precision medicine is defined as personalized interventions fitted to patients' or tumors' characteristics. Patients diagnosed with different neoplasms have benefited from a personalized therapeutic approach in terms of response and survival. However, several challenges must be addressed for precision oncology to become a global reality. Access to genomic testing that allows biomarker identification is a main issue. AREAS COVERED: A nonsystematic literature review about inequities in access to molecular genetic testing, focusing on lung cancer as the prominent example, was performed by a group of expert clinical oncologists. EXPERT OPINION: Access to molecular tests and their matched treatments differ between regions of the world and even among diverse populations in the same country. Socioeconomic characteristics are often strongly correlated with this disparity. Furthermore, although the cost is a determinant factor for inequality, other issues have been recognized. Advances in the education of healthcare professionals, patient advocacy initiatives, building local laboratory workstreams, and promoting favorable regulatory environment are vital factors in promoting equal access.

EGFR Mutation Detection in Brazilian Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Lessons From Real-World Data Scenario of Molecular Testing.

PURPOSE: There is a paucity of consistent data concerning genetic mutations in Brazilian patients with lung cancer. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations detected in a real-world scenario using a large cohort of Brazilian patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study on the basis of a database of EGFR molecular analysis from tumor samples of patients with a confirmatory histopathological diagnosis of primary lung cancer. Specimens were collected from 2013 to 2017 and were tested using cobas, next-generation sequencing, and Sanger sequencing platforms. RESULTS: A total of 7,413 tumor specimens were tested. The patients were predominantly women with a median age of 67.0 years. Patients with at least one mutation represented 24.2% of the total sample. Among the positive patients, the majority had just one mutation, but two or more simultaneous mutations were observed in 1.52% of patients. Exon 19 deletion was the most prevalent alteration in the sample (12.8%), followed by exon 21 L858R (6.9%) and exon 20 insertion (1.6%). All others were considered uncommon mutations and were observed in 18.5% of all mutated patients and 4.0% of the total sample (2.3%-18.7% depending on the sequencing method). CONCLUSION: This study examined the prevalence of EGFR mutations in Brazilian patients with NSCLC using different technologies, suggesting that the type of method used, directed or nondirected against specific mutations, influences the analysis, particularly for uncommon mutations, which will be missed by mutation-specific approaches such as cobas testing. Our estimates are the largest in Latin America and are consistent with previous reports from other parts of the world. Besides the variability in methods described here as technology incorporation advances in a nonhomogeneous manner, it is probably like the real-world clinical setting Brazilian oncologists face in their daily practice.

Challenges and opportunities in building a health economic framework for personalized medicine in oncology.

Personalized medicine has allowed for knowledge at an individual level for several diseases and this has led to improvements in prevention and treatment of various types of neoplasms. Despite the greater availability of tests, the costs of genomic testing and targeted therapies are still high for most patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Although value frameworks and health technology assessment are fundamental to allow decision-making by policymakers, there are several concerns in terms of personalized medicine pharmacoeconomics. A global effort may improve these tools in order to allow access to personalized medicine for an increasing number of patients with cancer.

Barriers in precision medicine implementation among Advanced Nonsquamous Cell Lung Cancer-patients: A Real-World Evidence Scenario.

Background: Precision oncology has a prominent role in nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC) treatment progress; however, its access in a real-world scenario might be limited. Objective: To investigate the time spent in nsNSCLC molecular profile evaluation and its influence on clinical decisions. Methods: nsNSCLC patients who underwent molecular testing in a private referral Brazilian center between November 2015 and February 2020 were identified. The interval from nsNSCLC diagnosis to the characterization of the molecular profile was determined. Other outcomes, focusing on the biomarker tissue journey, were also assessed. Results: In this cohort (n = 78), the median time between the advanced nsNSCLC diagnosis and biomarker characterization was 40.5 days (range, 29.5-68.5). The median interval between the diagnosis and the test request was longer than the interval between the request and the results (respectively 29.0 versus 12.0 days; p < 0.001). At the treatment initiation, 51% (36/71) of the patients who received any systemic therapy did not have their driver mutations panel results available. But on these, 42% (15/36) had a targetable alteration identified later on. Among patients harboring a targetable alteration, only 46% (n = 13/28) received a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) as first-line therapy. The median time to the TKI initiation was even longer than the median time to all treatment initiation (92.0 versus 40.0 days). Conclusions: Our data show a long median time from advanced nsNSCLC diagnosis and the availability of the biomarker testing in medical practice, which impacted the choice of a non-personalized therapy as the first-line.

Real-World Evidence of Health Outcomes Related to Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Brazil.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an effective option for patients with both early-stage and oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, data from Latin America are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the real-world outcomes of applying SBRT for lung lesions in a Brazilian institution. METHODS: This study investigated a consecutive cohort of patients treated with SBRT for lung lesions (primary and metastasis). The study primary outcome was local control rates per lesion. Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 216 patients received SBRT and were included in the study. The median follow-up was 24.5 months (5-70), primary NSCLC corresponded to 70% (n = 151) and nonprimary lung lesions to 30% (n = 65), respectively. Stage I NSCLC represented 56% (85 of 151) of the NSCLC cohort. The average number of fractions and total dose prescribed was 5 (3-10)/59 Gy (50-62 Gy). For stage I NSCLC (all lesions treated with a biologically effective dose [10] > 100 Gy), 2-year local control, OS, and PFS were 93.4%, 81.6%, and 80.7%, respectively. For stage IV lesions, if biologically effective dose (10) > 100 Gy or < 100 Gy, 2-year local control was 95.8/86.4% (P = .03), 2-year-OS was 81.6/60.5% (P = .006), and 2-year PFS was 38.9/17.9% (P = .10). Late toxicity was observed in 16.2% (n = 35) of the total cases. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that SBRT is effective (high local control and acceptable toxicity) for treating malignant lung lesions in a real-world scenario in Latin America.

Lessons From Implementing a Clinical Research Network in Brazil.

In this article, we discuss the strategy designed by a private oncology group to offer patients access to new technologies and treatments via a recently created research program, and we describe how the patient journey was the motivation for developing standard assistance flows and processes to integrate areas of care. The increase in Brazilians' life expectancy has raised the incidence of cancer, and it is now the second leading cause of death. Because it is a multifactorial disease, cancer treatment has several challenges. We elected to approach cancer research using a strategic program to obtain national attention and visibility. Starting in 2007, the initial project included three phases: phase I, diagnosis of units in major metropolitan areas; phase II, project design, with a central-office operation model; and phase III, implementation, with launch and integration of research activities at selected units. The foundation of the program was the construction of departmental and interdepartmental flows, standard operating processes, and guidelines (regulatory, ethical, legal, and financial). Recruitment of qualified professionals was another critical, successful determinant. The benefits of an additional central office include improved research-project distribution. Another advantage of the program is attracting and retaining trained professionals with alternative direct or indirect sources of revenue. We increased our corporate and academic partnerships, adhered to deadlines and noted an improvement in turnaround times, and we increased clinical staff engagement and motivation. Some barriers continue to challenge the program's continued expansion, including Brazilian regulatory authority approval, tax inefficiency, and a growing demand for qualified professionals. Research sites offering high-quality care are a reality in Brazil; they offer multiple lines of treatment in the public and private sectors.

Quality of life in a randomized trial comparing two neoadjuvant regimens for locally advanced rectal cancer-INCAGI004.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) followed by surgery is the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), but the emergence of different drug regimens may result in different response rates. Good clinical response translates into greater sphincter preservation, but quality of life (QOL) may be impaired after treatment due to chemoradiotherapy and surgical side effects. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the impact of clinical response and surgical resection on QOL in a randomized trial comparing two different neoCRT regimens. METHODS: Stage II and III rectal cancer patients were randomized to receive neoCRT with either capecitabine (group 1) or 5-Fu and leucovorin (group 2) concomitant to long-course radiotherapy. Clinical downstaging was accessed using MRI 6-8 weeks after treatment. EORTCs QLQ-C30 and CR38 were applied before treatment (T0), after neoCRT (T1), after rectal resection (T2), early after adjuvant chemotherapy (T3), and 1 year after the end of treatment or stoma closure (T4). The Wexner scale was used for fecal incontinence evaluation at T4. A C30SummaryScore (Geisinger and cols.) was calculated to compare QOL results. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were assigned to group 1 and 31 to group 2. Clinical downstaging occurred in 70.0% of group 1 and 53.3% of group 2 (p = 0.288), and sphincter preservation was 83.3% in group 1 and 80.0% in group 2 (p = 0.111). No significant difference in QOL was detected when comparing the two treatment groups after neoCRT using QLQ-C30. However, the CR38 module detected differences in micturition problems (15.3 points), gastrointestinal problems (15.3 points), defecation problems (11.8 points), and sexual satisfaction (13.3 points) favoring the capecitabine group. C30SummaryScore detected significant improvement comparing T0 to T1 and deterioration comparing T1 to T2 (p = 0.025). The mean Wexner scale score was 9.2, and a high score correlated with symptoms of diarrhea and defecation problems at T4. CONCLUSIONS: QOL was equivalent between groups after neoCRT except for micturition problems, gastrointestinal problems, defecation problems, and sexual satisfaction favoring the capecitabine arm after. The overall QOL using the C30SummaryScore was improved after neoCRT, but decreased following rectal resection, returning to basal levels at late evaluation. Fecal incontinence was high after sphincter preservation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03428529.

Demographic and Clinical Outcomes of Brazilian Patients With Stage III or IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Evidence Study on the Basis of Deterministic Linkage Approach.

PURPOSE: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for 80%-90% of the cases. In Brazil, between 2018 and 2019, lung cancer was ranked as the second most frequent cancer among men and the fourth among women. The primary objectives were to describe the journey and survival rates of patients with advanced NSCLC treated in the Brazilian private health care system (HCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was based on the search in administrative databases to analyze the Brazilian private HCS. Patients with advanced NSCLC diagnosed between 2011 and 2016 were included. The data on demographics, cancer-related information, treatment-related information, and resources used were collected. Survival analyses were performed using the semiparametric Kaplan-Meier method to assess mortality by NSCLC stage, with NSCLC diagnosis as the index date. RESULTS: A total of 5,016 patients were included. Most patients were between 60 and 69 years old (33.6%) and had completed elementary school (52.2%). There was a greater proportion of men (58.1% v 41.9%), and the majority of patients had stage IV NSCLC (67%). It took an average of 31 days, from the first consultation, to have diagnosis. In 44% of the cases, a clinical oncologist was the first specialist in the HCS that the patient was referred to. After the diagnosis, the median time to start of treatment was 35 days. Chemotherapy alone was the most common treatment regimen (32%). The median overall survival was 11.5 months and 6 months for stage II and IV NSCLC, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides contemporary data on stage III and IV NSCLC in private health care in Brazil, which has shown a high rate of metastatic disease diagnoses, high health care-related costs, and low survival rates.

Cyclic ACTH-secreting thymic carcinoid: a case report and review of the literature

SUMMARY Cyclic Cushing's syndrome (CS) due to thymic carcinoid is a rare disorder. We report a case of cyclic CS due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting atypical thymic carcinoid tumor and reviewed similar cases published in the literature. Our patient had hypercortisolemia lasting approximately one month, followed by normal cortisol secretion, with relapse one year later. Histopathology revealed an atypical ACTH-positive thymic carcinoid. Ectopic CS can be derived from atypical thymic carcinoids, which can be aggressive tumors with early relapse, suggesting that this type of tumor probably needs aggressive treatment.

Melanocytic lesions ≤ 6mm: Prospective series of 481 melanocytic trunk and limb lesions in Brazil.

Early diagnosis when melanoma is still small and thin is essential for improving mortality and morbidity. However, the diagnosis of small size melanoma might be particularly difficult, not only clinically but also dermoscopically. This study aimed to define clinical and dermatoscopic parameters in the diagnosis of suspicious pigmented cutaneous lesions with a diameter of ≤ 6mm and determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as the accuracy of each clinical and dermatoscopic criterion. This is a transversal, descriptive and analytical study of dermatoscopic analysis with the gold standard being the pathologic examination obtained from the excisional biopsy of suspicious melanocytic lesions with a diameter of ≤ 6mm. Trunk and limb lesion data from a public health service and a private clinic were prospectively collected from 2011 to 2017 by a unique observer. In total, 481 melanocytic lesions were included, with 73.8% being ≤ 4mm in diameter. Overall, 123 were diagnosed as melanoma, 56.0% in situ and 22.0% as thin melanomas (Breslow index 0.1 to 1.0mm). Melanoma presented symmetry in 53.7% of cases, regular borders in 54.5% and a single color in 60.2%. Regarding evolution, 13.8% of melanomas versus 10.9% of benign lesions (p = 0.116) were new by comparing photos from baseline with photos from the follow-up. The majority of melanomas (65%) were found on the limbs compared to 37.2% of the benign lesions at this location (p<0.001). A multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender and location was created. The independent variables associated with the diagnosis of melanoma ≤ 6mm, adjusted for age, gender and location, were: streaks (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.7; p = 0.006), and the presence of a structureless area (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0, p = 0.011). Conversely, a symmetric typical pigment network was a protection variable (aOR 0.4, 95% 0.7-0.9, p = 0.040). In conclusion, dermatoscopic criteria have been identified which help to diagnose cases of small size melanoma. These include streaks and structureless areas that can be taken, particularly in consideration for the diagnosis of this subset of small difficult melanomas.

Access of Patients With Lung Cancer to High Technology Radiation Therapy in Brazil.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is a global health problem, with more than 220,000 new cases and 150,000 deaths per year in the United States. Likewise, in Brazil, lung cancer is the most lethal cancer with 30,200 new cases expected in 2020. Regarding treatment types, radiation therapy (RT) represents an important approach, since 60%-70% of the patients will receive this modality of treatment during the course of their disease. However, access to RT remains challenging because of the socioeconomic inequalities in the Brazilian population, where approximately 100,000 patients/year die without access to RT. This work provides an overview on the availability of high technology RT in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using the Brazilian Radiotherapy Census, local public and private databases, and the current literature published in 2019. RESULTS: The Brazilian radiotherapy network relies on approximately 363 linear accelerators and 20 cobalt machines that remain operational. Most of these machines are installed at public health facilities. Regarding high technology, intensity-modulated RT is available in 53.7% (n = 130) and volumetric modulated arc therapy in 28.5% (n = 69) of the institutions, although only 19.8% (n = 48) of those facilities are capable of performing image-guided RT using cone beam computed tomography. Considering only the public health care system, the scenario is more restricted, with 40.1% (n = 65) of the institutions offering intensity-modulated RT, 21% (n = 34) volumetric modulated arc therapy, and 14.8% (n = 24) using cone beam computed tomography. Because of these scare resources, only 16% of Radiation Departments offer stereotactic body RT. CONCLUSION: Brazil still needs to improve and provide high and safer RT technologies to patients with lung cancer across all Brazilian regions to attend the population needs and obtain better patient outcomes.

Independent real-world application of a clinical-grade automated prostate cancer detection system.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems applied to histopathology whole-slide images have the potential to improve patient care through mitigation of challenges posed by diagnostic variability, histopathology caseload, and shortage of pathologists. We sought to define the performance of an AI-based automated prostate cancer detection system, Paige Prostate, when applied to independent real-world data. The algorithm was employed to classify slides into two categories: benign (no further review needed) or suspicious (additional histologic and/or immunohistochemical analysis required). We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) of a local pathologist, two central pathologists, and Paige Prostate in the diagnosis of 600 transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle core biopsy regions ('part-specimens') from 100 consecutive patients, and to ascertain the impact of Paige Prostate on diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Paige Prostate displayed high sensitivity (0.99; CI 0.96-1.0), NPV (1.0; CI 0.98-1.0), and specificity (0.93; CI 0.90-0.96) at the part-specimen level. At the patient level, Paige Prostate displayed optimal sensitivity (1.0; CI 0.93-1.0) and NPV (1.0; CI 0.91-1.0) at a specificity of 0.78 (CI 0.64-0.89). The 27 part-specimens considered by Paige Prostate as suspicious, whose final diagnosis was benign, were found to comprise atrophy (n = 14), atrophy and apical prostate tissue (n = 1), apical/benign prostate tissue (n = 9), adenosis (n = 2), and post-atrophic hyperplasia (n = 1). Paige Prostate resulted in the identification of four additional patients whose diagnoses were upgraded from benign/suspicious to malignant. Additionally, this AI-based test provided an estimated 65.5% reduction of the diagnostic time for the material analyzed. Given its optimal sensitivity and NPV, Paige Prostate has the potential to be employed for the automated identification of patients whose histologic slides could forgo full histopathologic review. In addition to providing incremental improvements in diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, this AI-based system identified patients whose prostate cancers were not initially diagnosed by three experienced histopathologists. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Cyclic ACTH-secreting thymic carcinoid: a case report and review of the literature.

Cyclic Cushing's syndrome (CS) due to thymic carcinoid is a rare disorder. We report a case of cyclic CS due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting atypical thymic carcinoid tumor and reviewed similar cases published in the literature. Our patient had hypercortisolemia lasting approximately one month, followed by normal cortisol secretion, with relapse one year later. Histopathology revealed an atypical ACTH-positive thymic carcinoid. Ectopic CS can be derived from atypical thymic carcinoids, which can be aggressive tumors with early relapse, suggesting that this type of tumor probably needs aggressive treatment.

Determinants of COVID-19 Mortality in Patients With Cancer From a Community Oncology Practice in Brazil.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health emergency of global concern. Determinants of mortality in the general population are now clear, but specific data on patients with cancer remain limited, particularly in Latin America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal multicenter cohort study of patients with cancer and confirmed COVID-19 from Oncoclínicas community oncology practice in Brazil was conducted. The primary end point was all-cause mortality after isolation of the SARS-CoV-2 by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in patients initially diagnosed in an outpatient environment. We performed univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis and recursive partitioning modeling to define the baseline clinical determinants of death in the overall population. RESULTS: From March 29 to July 4, 2020, 198 patients with COVID-19 were prospectively registered in the database, of which 167 (84%) had solid tumors and 31 (16%) had hematologic malignancies. Most patients were on active systemic therapy or radiotherapy (77%), largely for advanced or metastatic disease (64%). The overall mortality rate was 16.7% (95% CI, 11.9 to 22.7). In univariate models, factors associated with death after COVID-19 diagnosis were age ≥ 60 years, current or former smoking, coexisting comorbidities, respiratory tract cancer, and management in a noncurative setting (P < .05). In multivariable logistic regression and recursive partitioning modeling, only age, smoking history, and noncurative disease setting remained significant determinants of mortality, ranging from 1% in cancer survivors under surveillance or (neo)adjuvant therapy to 60% in elderly smokers with advanced or metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Mortality after COVID-19 in patients with cancer is influenced by prognostic factors that also affect outcomes of the general population. Fragile patients and smokers are entitled to active preventive measures to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and close monitoring in the case of exposure or COVID-19-related symptoms.

Dealing with lung cancer in the COVID-19 scenario (A review).

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan (China) and quickly spread worldwide and has since been assigned a pandemic status. This affected the worlds' social interactions, including within medical practices, thus interfering with routine treatments for a variety of diseases including cancer. Different studies have addressed the fact that patients with cancer are often immunocompromised, making them more susceptible to infections. Since COVID-19 frequently causes respiratory distress, patients with lung cancer are considered to be a high-risk group. Genes that have been indicated to mediate viral entry into host cells such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane protease serine 2 are expressed in the lung tissue, a fact that could partially explain COVID-19 pathogenesis and lung involvement. Therefore, the current study offers a disease overview including molecular aspects behind the infection and provide a perspective on already published Chinese data plus recommendations for the management of lung cancer patients according to the two main lung cancer types and stages: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. This review aimed to add to the collective effort of selecting the most appropriate guidelines to follow for the treatment of these patients.

Next-generation sequencing of circulating tumor DNA for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a discussion on its implementation in the Brazilian clinical practice.

The objective of this review is to address the barriers limiting access to next-generation sequencing (NGS) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in Brazil and to propose its implementation in practice. A selected panel of lung cancer experts was provided with relevant prompts to address at a conference; a paper was then compiled on the topic. The authors propose specific and realistic recommendations for implementing access to ctDNA NGS. Further, the authors address all barriers and impediments mentioned within this review. There is a great need to increase ctDNA NGS for cancer care in Brazil. Adapting the current cancer testing framework is essential to expanding the use of this tool.

Brazilian Women With Lung Cancer Have a Higher Overall Survival Than Their Male Equivalents: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the principal cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide; however, there has been controversy as to whether there is a difference in survival rate according to gender in Brazil. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to compare the epidemiologic and clinical profile and the overall survival of patients with lung cancer according to gender. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 1283 patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2006 and 2014 at a single cancer center. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier statistics. A log-rank test was used to assess differences between survival curves, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to quantitate the relationship between gender and overall survival. RESULTS: Compared with men, women were more frequently younger (P < .001), nonsmokers (P = .007), diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (P < .001), had early stage disease (P < .001), received surgery or surgery in combination with chemotherapy (P < .001), and had a better survival rate (P < .001). The median overall survival rate was higher in women (14.2 vs. 10.5 months in men; P < .001). Cox regression-adjusted analysis shows that women were 16% less likely to die than men (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-0.98; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: A higher overall survival rate was found in women with lung cancer as compared with men with lung cancer in Brazil.