Exploring the feasibility and implications of cranioencephalic computed tomography in HER2-positive breast cancer: A pilot study.

Background: Breast cancer has several subtypes, including HER2-positive breast cancer, which is characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), aggressiveness, poor prognosis, and high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Brain metastases are a common complication of HER2-positive breast cancer, but brain imaging is not included in the initial staging of this disease. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of brain computed tomography (CT) in the initial staging of HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients and methods: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled and demographic, clinical, and breast cancer-specific data were collected after the informed consent and ethical approval were obtained. Results: A descriptive analysis was performed. The median age of the patients was 55 years, and the majority had good performance status. Brain CT scans were performed at diagnosis, and no brain metastases were detected in early-stage patients. However, brain CT identified brain metastases in one advanced-stage patient with clinical suspicion. Conclusions: This study suggests that brain CT may have limited utility in the initial staging of early HER2-positive breast cancer, while it could be a valuable tool in advanced cases. Further research is needed, including a higher number of patients to identify those with high risk, which may benefit from brain imaging.

Corrigendum: Impact of body composition on prognosis and dose-limiting toxicities on metastatic colorectal cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.671547.].

Foot drop - an uncommon presentation of FOLFOX toxicity

A quimioterapia com FOLFOX (oxaliplatina, leucovorina e 5-fluorouracilo) é frequentemente utilizada em doentes com cancro colorretal. Os sais de platina são conhecidos por serem uma classe de quimioterápicos que comumente induzem neurotoxicidade periférica. Na toxicidade induzida pela oxaliplatina, os sintomas sensitivos são os mais frequentes. Neste artigo, apresentamos dois casos clínicos de pacientes com adenocarcinoma de cólon, ambos submetidos à quimioterapia com FOLFOX4, e que desenvolveram neurotoxicidade incomum, apresentando pé pendente após o terceiro ciclo de tratamento. Esta manifestação clínica pode ser explicada por dano axonal nos neurônios motores periféricos do nervo peroneal comum (fibular), que fornece inervação motora aos músculos do pé. A paralisia do nervo fibular causa fraqueza súbita nos músculos do pé, que parece ser temporária. Ambos os doentes recuperaram completamente do evento sem necessidade de ajustes no tratamento, nem introdução de medicamentos diferentes. A apresentação de pé pendente como toxicidade da quimioterapia ainda é pouco compreendida. Os casos relatados mostram o pé pendente como uma manifestação grave e incomum de neuropatia induzida por FOLFOX, que pode ser transitória, e não requer necessariamente intervenção específica.

Chemotherapy based on FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil) regimen is frequently used in colorectal cancer patients. Oxaliplatin and other platinum agents are known to be a class of chemotherapy drugs that commonly induce peripheral neurotoxicity. The most frequent oxaliplatin related neurotoxicity is sensitive symptoms. Here, we present two cases of patients with colon adenocarcinoma, both undergoing chemotherapy with FOLFOX4, who developed uncommon neurotoxicity, presenting with foot drop after the third treatment cycle. Foot drop may be explained by axonal damage of peripheral motor neurons of the common peroneal (fibular) nerve, which provides motor innervation to the foot muscles. Peroneal nerve palsy causes sudden weakness in the muscles of the foot that seems to be temporary. Both patients completely recovered from the event. There was no need for treatment adjustments, neither introduction of different drugs. Foot drop as chemotherapy toxicity is still poorly understood. The reported cases show foot drop as a severe and uncommon manifestation of FOLFOX-induced neuropathy, that might be transitory, and does not necessarily requires specific intervention.

Impact of Body Composition on Prognosis and Dose-Limiting Toxicities on Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Sarcopenia is a progressive skeletal muscle disease, often present in oncological patients, that is associated with multiple adverse events such as worse prognosis, physical performance, and quality of life. Body composition evaluation by CT cross-section at the L3 vertebrae region appears to be a precise method to quantify skeletal muscle. The optimal cut-off for the definition of sarcopenia is not yet established, therefore the incidence of sarcopenia varies according to different studies. The main goal was to evaluate the presence of sarcopenia in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and its impact on overall survival (OS) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLT). A retrospective cohort study of 178 patients with mCRC under first-line chemotherapy (ChT) in association with target therapy, in two hospital units, between January 2015 and December 2018. Skeletal mass area (SMA) was quantified with the NIH ImageJ software in CT cross-sectional images at the L3 vertebrae region. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS v25 software https://www.ibm.com/analytics/spss-statistics-software. The median age was 62 (SD ± 11) years old, 65% were men and 62.9% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0. The cut-off value was established based on ROC analysis, with sarcopenia defined as SMI < 49.12 cm2/m2 for men and < 35.85 cm2/m2 for women. Despite the mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.71 (± 4.71) kg/m2, half of the patients presented sarcopenia. In a multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model, an association was observed between OS and higher ECOG PS (p = 0.014; HR 5.46, CI 95% [1.42-21.10]), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >2.80 (p = 0.038; HR 2.20, CI 95% [1,05-4.62]), and sarcopenia (p = 0.01; HR 4.73, CI 95% [1.85-12.09]). Additionally, in a logistic regression model, age (p = 0.014; OR 1.09, IC 95% [1.02-1.16]) and sarcopenia (p= 0.030, OR 4.13, IC 95% [1.15-14.8]) were associated with higher incidence of DLT. The CT evaluation of the body composition at the L3 region allows for the quantification of sarcopenia, providing prognostic information and predictive value of DLT in patients with mCRC, although the establishment of optimal cut-off values are required for implementation in clinical practice. A multimodal strategy to delay muscle waste should be considered in these patients.

How shall we treat locally advanced triple negative breast cancer?

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been shown to respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). It has been established that achieving pathological complete response (pCR) for certain aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, including HER-2 (over-expressed) and TNBC, provides an important surrogate marker for predicting long-term clinical response and survival outcomes. How to increase the number of patients that achieve pCR remains challenging. Platinum-based NACT seems to be part of the solution and capecitabine, an active drug in metastatic breast cancer, but not a standard one in earlier stages may have found its place in the adjuvant setting. In the near future immunotherapy can play a role in early TNBC.