Treatment patterns for metastatic colorectal cancer in Spain.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this retrospective study was to describe the treatment patterns according to the type of treatment received by patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in Spain. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, multicenter study performed by 33 sites throughout Spain that included consecutive patients aged 18 years or older who had received or were receiving treatment for mCRC. RESULTS: At the time of inclusion, of the 873 evaluable patients, 507 (58%) had received two lines, 235 (27%) had received three lines, 106 (12%) had received four lines, and the remaining patients had received up to ten lines. The most frequent chemotherapy schemes were the FOLFOX or CAPOX regimens (66%) for first-line treatment, FOLFOX, CAPOX or FOLFIRI (70%) for second-line treatment, and FOLFOX, FOLFIRI or other fluoropyrimidine-based regimens for third- and fourth-line (over 60%) treatment. Sixty percent of patients received targeted therapy as part of their first-line treatment, and this proportion increased up to approximately 70% of patients as part of the second-line of treatment. A relevant proportion of patients were treated with unknown KRAS, and especially the BRAF, mutation statuses. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals inconsistencies regarding adherence to the recommendations of the ESMO guidelines for the management of mCRC in Spain. Improved adherence to the standard practice described in such guidelines for the determination of RAS and BRAF mutation statuses and the use of targeted therapies in first-line treatment should be considered to guarantee that patients can benefit from the best therapeutic approaches available.

European edition of the NCCN clinical practice guidelines: relevance of the translation and adaptation into Spanish.

The NCCN-evidence-based oncology guidelines are consensus-based management documents, to ensure that all patients receive the most appropriate diagnosis, treatment and support services to achieve the best results. However, the use of these guidelines for decision-making by physicians in Spain is sometimes controversial, as treatments or diagnostic procedures are recommended which might not be authorised in our country, or other management options may exist. In March 2015, the ECO Foundation reached an agreement to translate and adapt the NCCN's clinical practice guidelines in oncology for the Spanish sector. Consequently, ECO is the first European organization to reach an agreement of this type with the NCCN. This agreement will allow all agents involved in managing the cancer patients to have available guidelines that are adapted to the specific needs of Spain.

Oncological translational research in the Spanish national health system: the INTRO study.

OBJECTIVES: Under the auspices of the Foundation for Excellence and Quality in Oncology (ECO), the Translational Research in Oncology Medical Services Study (INTRO) was conducted with the aim of describing the current state of, and future expectations for translational cancer research in Spanish medical centres. The first step in the investigation was intended to analyse the current condition of the national Medical Oncology Services network by examining different aspects of the oncology research field. METHODS: A descriptive and observational multicentre study was performed at a statewide level; information was collected by surveying a cross-section of all those responsible for Medical Oncology Services in Spain. RESULTS: The survey was completed by key informants, who were selected independently by each service, between September 2010 and April 2011. We were able to gather comprehensive data from a total of 27 Spanish hospitals. These data enabled us to describe the allocation of human and material resources devoted to clinical and translational research across the Medical Oncology Services and to describe the organisational and functional components of these services and units. These data included information pertaining to the activities developed, their funding sources, and their functional dependence on other internal or external bodies. Finally, we explored the degree of dissemination and use of some specific techniques used for the genetic diagnosis of cancer, which have recently been introduced in Medical Oncology within the Spanish healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of variability exists between different oncology services in Spanish hospitals. Time should be spent reflecting on the need and opportunities for improvement in the development of translational research within the field of oncology.

Germ cell tumours of the ovary.

Germinal cell tumours represent only 2-5% of all cancers of the ovary. However, the characteristics of the tumour and the patients have some special qualities as high rates of healing goes together with a strong desire to keep fertility intact because this condition occurs in female children and adolescent girls. Neither the prognosis nor the treatment of these tumours is homogeneous; the low incidence is the reason it is hard to develop prospective studies for establishing prognostic factors and specific treatments. The introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy into initial surgery has improved the prognosis of these patients. The BEP scheme has proved to be equally efficient and less toxic than PVB, and for this reason it has become the standard scheme despite the fact that no randomised studies have been carried out. The surgical treatment demands the application of the same principles seen in cytoreduction surgery of epithelial cancers of the ovary (maximum possible cytoreduction), though in many cases hysterectomy and double adnexectomy may be obviated. In view of the rarity of these tumours, it is advisable to work within cooperative groups that may have subgroups for the treatment of rare tumours. This will probably be the only way to move forward in the prospective knowledge of prognostic factors for these tumours.

Seguimiento clínico al año de angioplastias coronarias exitosas en pacientes no seleccionados / One year follow up of successful coronary angioplasty in non selected patients

Background:Re-stenosis after percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) is related to clinical and angiographic features. Aim: To describe the clinical and angiographic characteristic of our patients with coronary cardiopathy subjected to PTCA and the predictor factors for re-stenosis. Material and methods: We gathered the clinical and angiographic characteristics of all patients who underwent a successful PTCA of a native coronary artery. All patients had a clinical assessment one year after the procedure. Patients were classified in Group 1, if they did not have angina or coronary events after the angioplasty or Group 2, if they had angina or a coronary event after the procedure. Only Group 2 patients were subjected to a coronary angiogram. Results: We collected 383 PTCA procedures. Follow up information was obtained in 92.2 percent. Three hundred forty two patients (89.3 percent) were assessed one year the procedure. Nine patients (2.3 percent) died of a cardiovascular cause. Ninety patients (26.3 percent) were classified in Group 2. In 65 patients, angiographic re-stenosis was demonstrated (19 percent). Re-stenosis occurred in 36 and 13 percent of patients with an without Diabetes Mellitus, respectively (p <0.01). The other clinical predictor variables were a history of myocardial infarction (p =0.007), obesity (p =0.041) and hypercholesterolemia (p =0.050). None of the angiographic characteristics predicted restenosis. Stents were protective factors against restenosis (15.6 percent in stented lesions vs 25.4 percent in nonstented; p =0.01). Conclusions: Re-stenosis after angioplasty occured in 19 percent of our patients with angina or coronary events. The clinical variables associated with a higher risk of re-stenosis were diabetes (the main risk factor), previous myocardial infarction, obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Angiographic variables were not associated with re-stenosis. The use of stents decreases the incidence of re-stenosis in all groups).

[One year follow up of successful coronary angioplasty in non selected patients]. / Seguimiento clínico al año de angioplastias coronarias exitosas en pacientes no seleccionados.

BACKGROUND: Re-stenosis after percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is related to clinical and angiographic features. AIM: To describe the clinical and angiographic characteristic of our patients with coronary cardiopathy subjected to PTCA and the predictor factors for re-stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We gathered the clinical and angiographic characteristics of all patients who underwent a successful PTCA of a native coronary artery. All patients had a clinical assessment one year after the procedure. Patients were classified in Group 1, if they did not have angina or coronary events after the angioplasty or Group 2, if they had angina or a coronary event after the procedure. Only Group 2 patients were subjected to a coronary angiogram. RESULTS: We collected 383 PTCA procedures. Follow up information was obtained in 92.2%. Three hundred forty two patients (89.3%) were assessed one year the procedure. Nine patients (2.3%) died of a cardiovascular cause. Ninety patients (26.3%) were classified in Group 2. In 65 patients, angiographic re-stenosis was demonstrated (19%). Re-stenosis occurred in 36 and 13% of patients with an without Diabetes Mellitus, respectively (p <0.01). The other clinical predictor variables were a history of myocardial infarction (p =0.007), obesity (p =0.041) and hypercholesterolemia (p =0.050). None of the angiographic characteristics predicted restenosis. Stents were protective factors against restenosis (15.6% in stented lesions vs 25.4% in nonstented; p =0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Re-stenosis after angioplasty occurred in 19% of our patients with angina or coronary events. The clinical variables associated with a higher risk of re-stenosis were diabetes (the main risk factor), previous myocardial infarction, obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Angiographic variables were not associated with re-stenosis. The use of stents decreases the incidence of re-stenosis in all groups).