The elusive Luminal B breast cancer and the mysterious chemokines.

PURPOSE: Invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) is heterogeneous. Staging and immunohistochemistry (IH) allow for effective therapy but are not yet ideal. Women with Luminal B tumors show an erratic response to treatment. This prospective study with 81 women with breast cancer aims to improve the prognostic stratification of Luminal B patients. METHODS: This is a prospective translational study with 81 women with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, grouped by TNM staging and immunohistochemistry, for survival analysis, and their correlations with the chemokines. Serum measurements of 13 chemokines were performed, including 7 CC chemokines [CCL2(MCP1), CCL3(MIP1α), CCL4(MIP1ß), CCL5(Rantes), CCL11(Eotaxin), CCL17(TARC), CCL20(MIP3α)], 6 CXC chemokines [CXCL1(GroAlpha), CXCL5(ENA78), CCXCL8(IL-8), CXCL9(MIG), CXCL10(IP10), CXCL11(ITAC)]. RESULTS: Overall survival was significantly dependent on tumor staging and subtypes by immunohistochemistry, with a median follow-up time the 32.87 months (3.67-65.63 months). There were age correlations with IP10/CXCL10 chemokines (r = 0.4360; p = 0.0079) and TARC/CCL17 (Spearman + 0.2648; p = 0.0360). An inverse correlation was found between body weight and the chemokines Rantes/CCL5 (r = - 0.3098; p = 0.0169) and Eotaxin/CCL11 (r = - 0.2575; p = 0.0470). Smokers had a higher concentration of MIP3α/CCL20 (Spearman + 0.3344; p = 0.0267). Luminal B subtype patients who expressed lower concentrations of ENA78/CXCL5 (≤ 254.83 pg/ml) (Log-Rank p = 0.016) and higher expression of MIP1ß/CCL4 (> 34.84 pg/ml) (Log-Rank p = 0.014) had a higher risk of metastases. CONCLUSION: Patients with Luminal B breast tumors can be better stratified by serum chemokine expression, suggesting that prognosis is dependent on biomarkers other than TNM and IH.

Operable breast cancer: How not to worsen the prognosis, especially in triple negative and stage II tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Oncological surgery must follow some fundamental principles to be truly curative, one of which is the resection of the tumor with surgical margins free of neoplasia. In breast cancer, surgery with positive margins should be expanded immediately. There are probably different intensities, between the stages and molecular subtypes of operable breast cancer, of worsening prognosis due to the surgical margin compromised by the neoplasia in women not submitted to the necessary enlargement of the positive surgical margin. MATERIALS AND. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty-seven women with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, analyzing anatomical-pathological information, types of surgery, molecular subtypes, and the presence or absence of the surgical margin compromised by neoplasia. RESULTS: Sixty-one (8.2%) patients had positive surgical margin, causing 2.85 times more risk of locoregional relapse compared to negative surgical margin by multivariate analysis. In subgroup analysis, among stages I, II and III, stage II was the most negatively impacted, with those patients presenting 2.42 times more risk of distant metastasis and 4.94 times more risk of locoregional relapses compared to negative surgical margin by multivariate analysis. Among the molecular subtypes, Triple Negative tumors with a positive surgical margin had 3.56 times more risk of death, 4.98 times more risk of distant metastasis and 5.55 times more risk of locoregional relapse compared to negative surgical margin by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The positive surgical margin, especially in Stage II and Triple-Negative breast cancer patients negatively impact the patient's evolution, increasing risk of distant metastasis and death.

Effectiveness of antiemetics in control of antineoplastic chemotherapy-induced emesis at home / Efetividade de antieméticos no controle da emese induzida pela quimioterapia antineoplásica, em domicílio

Objective Evaluating if antiemetics are effective in the prevention or treatment at home, of chemotherapy-induced emesis. Methods In total, were included 42 women with breast cancer in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, using dexamethasone/ondansetron before each cycle. The frequency of nausea and vomiting was obtained by applying the instrument in the pre-chemotherapy period, and 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h after chemotherapy. The use of antiemetics was considered in accordance with adherence to medical prescription. Results All patients (n = 42, 100%) reported emesis at some point. Only five cases (11.9%) were anticipatory. In the first 24 hours (acute emesis), 38 (90.5%)ayed), emesis was reported by all despite the regular use (n = 20, 47.6%) or not (n = 22, 52.4%) of antiemetics (ondansetron, dexamethasone and metoclopramide/or dimenhydrinate). Conclusion Antiemetics were not effective in the prevention or treatment at home, of chemotherapy-induced emesis. .

Objetivo : Avaliar se antieméticos são eficazes na prevenção ou tratamento da emese induzida pela quimioterapia antineoplásica, em domicílio. Métodos : Foram incluídas 42 mulheres com câncer de mama, em quimioterapia moderadamente emetogênica, submetidas à dexametasona/ondansetrona antes de cada ciclo. A frequência de náuseas e vômitos foi obtida por instrumento aplicado nos tempos pré-quimioterapia e 24h, 48h, 72h e 96h pós-quimioterapia. O uso de antieméticos foi considerado conforme adesão à prescrição médica. Resultados : Todas as pacientes (n=42, 100%) relataram emese em algum momento. Apenas cinco casos (11,9%) foram antecipatórios. Nas primeiras 24h (emese aguda), 38 (90,5%) apresentaram náuseas associadas (n=20, 47,6%) ou não (n=18, 42,8%) a vômitos e, após este período (tardio), a emese foi referida por todas, apesar da utilização regular (n=20, 47,6%) ou não (n=22, 52,4%) de antieméticos (ondansetrona, dexametasona, metoclopramida e/ou dimenidrinato). Conclusão : Os antieméticos não foram eficazes na prevenção ou no tratamento da emese induzida pela quimioterapia, em domicílio. .

Ocorrência da dor nos pacientes oncológicos em cuidado paliativo / Occurrence of pain in cancer patients in palliative care

Objetivo: Avaliar a ocorrência da dor e qualidade de vida entre pacientes oncológicos em cuidado paliativo. Métodos: Estudo transversal, incluindo 56 pacientes com câncer em tratamento paliativo, avaliados quanto a dor referida (escalas verbal, numérica e visual), uso de analgésicos (adjuvantes, opióides fracos, fortes ou não opióides) e qualidade de vida (WHOQOL bref). Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes (n=53, 94,6%) usava algum tipo de analgésico e pouco mais da metade (n=30, 53,7%) referia dor. Considerando a qualidade de vida como consequência da intensidade de dor (leve, moderada ou intensa) tratada ou não com analgésicos, observou-se que a dor intensa - a mais frequente - obteve pior escore para o domínio físico. Por outro lado, o meio ambiente apresentou maior escore (77,4), independente da dor referida ou uso de analgésicos. Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram a ocorrência de dor, afetando a qualidade de vida e comprometendo as atividades diárias de vida. .

Objective: Evaluating the occurrence of pain and quality of life among cancer patients in palliative care. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 56 cancer patients in palliative care evaluated for reported pain (verbal, numerical and visual scales), analgesic treatment (adjuvants, weak opioids, strong opioids or non-opioids) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Most patients (n = 53, 94.6%) used some type of analgesic drug and just over half (n = 30, 53.7%) reported pain. Considering the quality of life as consequence of pain intensity (mild, moderate or intense), treated with painkillers or not, it was observed that intense pain - the most common - had the worst score for the Physical domain. On the other hand, the Environment domain showed the highest score (77.4), regardless of reported pain or analgesic use. Conclusion: The results showed that the occurrence of pain affects the quality of life and compromises the daily life activities. .