Latin American Consensus on the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is well known as a serious health problem worldwide, especially in low-income countries or those with limited resources, such as most countries in Latin America. International guidelines cannot always be applied to a population from a large region with specific conditions. This study established a Latin American guideline for care of patients with head and neck cancer and presented evidence of HNSCC management considering availability and oncologic benefit. A panel composed of 41 head and neck cancer experts systematically worked according to a modified Delphi process on (1) document compilation of evidence-based answers to different questions contextualized by resource availability and oncologic benefit regarding Latin America (region of limited resources and/or without access to all necessary health care system infrastructure), (2) revision of the answers and the classification of levels of evidence and degrees of recommendations of all recommendations, (3) validation of the consensus through two rounds of online surveys, and (4) manuscript composition. The consensus consists of 12 sections: Head and neck cancer staging, Histopathologic evaluation of head and neck cancer, Head and neck surgery-oral cavity, Clinical oncology-oral cavity, Head and neck surgery-oropharynx, Clinical oncology-oropharynx, Head and neck surgery-larynx, Head and neck surgery-larynx/hypopharynx, Clinical oncology-larynx/hypopharynx, Clinical oncology-recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer, Head and neck surgery-reconstruction and rehabilitation, and Radiation therapy. The present consensus established 48 recommendations on HNSCC patient care considering the availability of resources and focusing on oncologic benefit. These recommendations could also be used to formulate strategies in other regions like Latin America countries.

First-line cisplatin, docetaxel, and cetuximab for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer: A multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The targeted therapy cetuximab [directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)] in combination with 5-fluorouracil and platinum-based chemotherapy (the EXTREME regimen) has shown substantial efficacy for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). Thus, this scheme has been established as the preferred first-line option for these patients. However, more recently, a new strategy combining platinum, taxanes, and cetuximab (the TPEx regimen) has demonstrated similar efficacy with a more favorable toxicity profile in clinical trials. AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TPEx scheme as first-line therapy in advanced SCCHN in a multicenter cohort study. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic SCCHN treated with first-line TPEx at five medical centers in Argentina between January 1, 2017 and April 31, 2020. Chemotherapy consisted of four cycles of docetaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab followed by cetuximab maintenance therapy. Clinical outcomes and toxicity profiles were collected from medical charts. Treatment response was assessed by the investigator in accordance with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1). Adverse events were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years (range: 36-77 years). The majority of patients (83.3%) received at least four chemotherapy cycles in the initial phase. In the included group, the overall response rate was 62.5%, and 3 patients achieved a complete response (12.5%). The median time to response was 2.4 mo [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-3.5]. With a median follow-up of 12.7 mo (95%CI: 8.8-16.6), the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 mo (95%CI: 6.5-7.3), and the overall survival rate at 12 mo was 82.4%. Patients with documented tumor response showed a better PFS than those with disease stabilization or progression [8.5 mo (95%CI: 5.5-11.5) and 4.5 mo (95%CI: 2.5-6.6), respectively; P = 0.042]. Regarding the safety analysis, two-thirds of patients reported at least one treatment-related adverse event, and 25% presented grade 3 toxicities. Of note, no patient experienced grade 4 adverse events. CONCLUSION: TPEx was an adequately tolerated regimen in our population, with low incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events. The median PFS were consistent with those in recent reports of clinical trials evaluating this treatment combination. This regimen may be considered an attractive therapeutic strategy due to its simplified administration, decreased total number of chemotherapy cycles, and treatment tolerability.

Ibero-American Expert Consensus on Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Treatment in Patients Unable to Receive Cisplatin: Recommendations for Clinical Practice.

Cisplatin is the standard of treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that has demonstrated efficacy, either in locally advanced disease when combined with radiotherapy at high doses, or in metastatic/recurrent disease when combined with other agents. However, the usual toxicities related to cisplatin, such as neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and hematologic toxicities, especially when high doses have been administered, have important implications in the patients' quality of life. The decision to administer cisplatin depends on several patient factors, such as age, performance status, weight loss, comorbidities, previous toxicities, chronic viral infection, or even the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In order to establish recommendations for the management of patients with SCCHN, a group of experts in medical and radiation oncology from Spain and Latin-American discussed how to identify patients who are not candidates for cisplatin to offer them the most suitable therapeutic alternative.

Platinum ineligibility in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: consensus from Central America and the Caribbean.

The high incidence of head and neck cancer in Central America and the Caribbean, together with limitations in the healthcare system for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) in this region necessitate a consensus of opinion based on a review of the literature on therapy with cisplatin plus radiation. Such an approach will ensure appropriate selection of patients who can benefit from therapy and reduce the incidence of related adverse events. Therefore, we recorded the opinion of experts in the region in order to identify needs and challenges in the treatment of LA SCCHN.

Defining the needs of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer: An expert opinion.

The clinical and biological heterogeneity of head and neck cancer (HNC) is paralleled by a plethora of different symptoms that affect the patient's quality of life. These symptoms include, for instance, pain, fatigue, nutritional issues, airways obstruction, voice alterations and psychological distress. In addition, patients with HNC are prone to a high risk of infection, and may also suffer from acute complications, such as hypercalcemia, spine compression by bone metastasis or bleeding. Prolonging survival is also an inherent expectation for all patients. Addressing the above needs is crucial in all patients with HNC, and especially in those with recurrent and/or metastatic (RM) disease. However, research on how to address patients' needs in RM-HNC remains scarce. This paper defines patients' needs for RM HNC and presents an Expert Opinion on how to address them, proposing also some lines of research.

Cáncer renal. Descripción poblacional en una institución académica / Kidney cancer. Population description in an academic institution

El conocimiento en cáncer renal ha sido manifiesto en la última década, con adelantos que optimizan el abordaje diagnóstico, quirúrgico y terapéutico con agentes dirigidos contra blancos específicos. El objetivo del trabajo fue la evaluación retrospectiva de pacientes con cáncer de riñón, destacando los datos demográficos, patológicos, quirúrgicos, de recurrencia, así como las modalidades terapéuticas empleadas, y describir la evolución clínica a través de parámetros de eficacia y seguridad. Fueron incluidos 417 pacientes, analizándose los datos de 356. La edad mediana fue de 56 años y 68% eran hombres. El 14% presentó otro tumor primario no renal y 14 desarrollaron otro tumor renal. El diagnóstico fue incidental en el 28% de los casos, la histología más frecuente fue el carcinoma de células claras, el tamaño mediano fue 6.1 cm y en el 20% se observó infiltración capsular. De los 298 pacientes operados, 54% fueron a nefrectomía radical y 26% parcial. El 19% presentaba metástasis al diagnóstico. Recurrencia post-operatoria en 75 de los 298 operados. Los tratamientos más frecuentemente utilizados en primera línea fueron los inhibidores de tirosina-quinasa (55% de los casos) con remisiones del 43-50% y un tiempo a la progresión de 12.1 meses. La revisión retrospectiva de los datos en cáncer renal de una población académica que incorpora la metodología diagnóstica, quirúrgica y terapéutica en enfermedad localizada y avanzada, permite reproducir los datos que surgen de países centrales y de estudios clínicos aleatorizados (AU)

Improving knowledge in renal cancer has been successful in the last decade in terms of diagnosis, surgical and therapeutic approach with targeted agents. The objective of the study was the retrospective evaluation of patients with kidney cancer, emphasizing recurrence as well as therapeutic modalities, pathological and surgical, demographic data and to describe outcome through efficacy and safety parameters. There were included 417 patients. The median age was of 56 years and 68% were men. There was a 14% of patients with another non-renal primary tumor and 14 patients developed another kidney tumor. The diagnosis was incidental in 28% of cases. The most common histology was clear cell carcinoma, medium size was 6.1 cm and capsular infiltration was observed in 20%. Of the 298 patients operated, 54% were to radical nephrectomy and 26% partial. The 19% of the patients had metastases from diagnosis. Post-operative recurrence was developed in 75 of 298 surgical patients. The most frequent systemic first line therapy was tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (55% of cases) with remissions of 43-50% and time to progression was 12.1 months. The retrospective review in renal cancer of an academic population gives the rationale of data of the real world and to compare with those that arise from central countries and randomized clinical trials (AU)

Tumores de cabeza y cuello asociados al virus del papiloma humano: ¿Nuevas estrategias de tratamiento? / Head and neck tumors associated with human papillomavirus: New treatment strategies?

Los tumores malignos de cabeza y cuello se encuentran dentro de los más comunes en todo el mundo, ocupan el octavo lugar de mortalidad asociado al cáncer (1), y su variante histológica más frecuente es el carcinoma epidermoide o escamoso...

Tumores de cabeza y cuello asociados al virus del papiloma humano: ¿Nuevas estrategias de tratamiento? / Head and neck tumors associated with human papillomavirus: New treatment strategies?

Los tumores malignos de cabeza y cuello se encuentran dentro de los más comunes en todo el mundo, ocupan el octavo lugar de mortalidad asociado al cáncer (1), y su variante histológica más frecuente es el carcinoma epidermoide o escamoso...(AU)

Micrometástasis y células tumorales aisladas en ganglio centinela en pacientes con cáncer de mama: experiencia del Instituto Alexander Fleming / Micrometastases and isolated tumor cells in the centinela node in patients with breast cancer: experience of the Instituto Alexander Fleming

Introducción: el rol del vaciamiento axilar en pacientes con cáncer de mama (CM) con micrometástasis o células tumorales aisladas (CTA) en el ganglio centinella (GC) es controvertido. Objetivos: analizar retrospectivamente pacientes con CM y micrometástasis o CTA en el GC, en términos descriptivos histológicos, terapéuticos y evolución clínica. Métodos: mil veintidós (1.022) biopsias del GC en pacientes con CM (período 1998-2010) fueron evaluadas histológicamente y con inmunohistoquímica. Los tratamientos adyuvantes y los patrones de recurrencia fueron evaluados retrospectivamente de las historias clínicas. Resultados: doscientos treinta y ocho (238) pacientes (23.2%) presentaron GC+. Ciento cuarenta y tres (143) casos (60.0%) fueron macrometástasis, 58 casos (24.3%) micrometástasis y 37 casos (15.5%) CTA. De 58 pacientes con micrometástasis, 75.8% realizó VAG. Veintiocho (28) pacientes (75.6%) de 37 pacientes con CTA no completaron VAG. El porcentaje de GNC+ en las pacientes con micrometástasis y CTA fue 22.7% y 11.0%, respectivamente. Todas las pacientes recibieron tratamiento adyuvante. La mediana de seguimiento fue 54 meses. No hubo recurrencias axilares. El 5% de ambos grupos presentó recurrencias a distancia. La sobrevida libre de eventos es del 94% a 48 meses en ambos grupos. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas para eventos y sobrevida global entre CTA y MIC (p=0.49). Conclusiones: en nuestro estudio las pacientes con micrometástasis y CTA no presentaron recurrencias axilares. No hubo diferencias entre ambos grupos con relación a sobrevida libre de eventos y sobrevida global...