[A complex case of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis following intravesical BCG therapy]. / Un cas complexe de miliaire pulmonaire post-BCG thérapie pour carcinome urothélial.

Bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma in 90 % of cases) is the most common neoplasia of the urinary tract. Superficial carcinoma represents 70-80 % of bladder cancers. The treatment of these tumours includes, after transuretral resection, intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation therapy. This treatment constitutes, by its immune-mediated anti-tumoral action, the first step of immunotherapy in cancer. Severe complications (granulomatosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis or orchitis) are rare (0.5-2 %). Here we report a complex case of pulmonary granulomatosis secondary to BCG therapy. This is a 74-year-old male, treated for superficial bladder carcinoma by transuretral resection (pT1G3) and then endovesical instillations of BCG therapy for two months. Two years later, a new transuretral resection shows an infiltrating urothelial carcinoma pT2G3. The extension balance finds a persistent micro-nodular pulmonary infiltrate. A broncho-alveolar lavage is then realised but no mycobacteria was found. A surgical biopsy of a nodule is performed and revealed a histiocytic reaction without any neoplastic element. Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was finally positive. In the absence of a secondary lesion, the patient had a cysto-prostatectomy and began a tritherapy against tuberculosis. Post-BCG therapy granulomatosis is a rare complication but should remain a differential diagnosis in front of the appearance of pulmonary nodes in patients who have received posttransuretral resection BCG instillations. Mycobacterial DNA PCR research remains the most sensitive examination.

Les carcinomes urothéliaux superficiels de vessies représentent 70 à 80 % des tumeurs de la vessie. Leur traitement comprend, après résection transurétrale, une BCG (Bacille de Calmette et Guérin) thérapie par instillations endovésicales. Les complications sévères (granulomatose, pneumopathie d'hypersensibilité ou orchite) sont rares (0,5-2 %) mais nous rapportons ici un cas complexe de granulomatose pulmonaire secondaire à une BCG thérapie. Il s'agit d'un homme de 74 ans, traité pour un carcinome urothélial superficiel de vessie par résection endo-urétrale (pT1G3) puis instillations endovésicales de BCG thérapie. Deux années après, une nouvelle résection transurétrale objective un carcinome urothélial infiltrant pT2G3. Le bilan d'extension retrouve un infiltrat pulmonaire micronodulaire persistant. Un lavage bronchoalvéolaire ne retrouve pas de bacilles acido-alcoolo-résistants. La biopsie chirurgicale d'un nodule retrouve une réaction histiocytaire sans élément néoplasique. La Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) à la recherche de mycobactérie du groupe tuberculosis revient finalement positive. En l'absence de lésion secondaire, le patient a bénéficié d'une cystoprostatectomie et a débuté dans les suites une trithérapie antituberculeuse. La granulomatose post-BCG thérapie est une complication rare, mais doit rester un diagnostic différentiel devant l'apparition de micronodules pulmonaires chez les patients ayant reçu des instillations de BCG post-résection transurétrale. La recherche par PCR d'ADN de mycobactéries reste l'examen le plus sensible.

Obesity and chemotherapy administration: between empiric and mathematic method review.

Introduction: Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic disease and cancer development. Therapeutic management of obese patients with cancer is a real challenge for physician because of the alteration of antineoplastic pharmacokinetics parameters in this population. In routine clinical practices, chemotherapy doses in obese patients are arbitrarily capped or adjusted to an ideal weight to minimize excessive toxicities. Material and methods: The main goal of this review is to describe the current state of knowledge concerning the correlation between the adjustment of BSA (capping or ideal weight) and the rates of global toxicities and survival outcomes in obese patients under chemotherapy in different types of cancer. We searched in the Medline database (via PubMed) in order to identify all publications of literature reviews whose subject chemotherapy dosing in obese population. Results: Only a single study was pointing toward increased of global toxicities of full weight dosing. Furthermore, some studies suggests that the practice of limiting doses in overweight and obese patients may negatively influence the quality of care and outcomes in a constantly increasing population. Conclusion: This review highlights the lack of prospective studies focusing on chemotherapy methods of administration in obese patients. At this time, there is no prospective study comparing capping and full weight dose chemotherapy administration in obese patient population.

[Carcinomatous meningitis: The radiation therapist's point of view]. / Méningite carcinomateuse: le point de vue de l'oncologue radiothérapeute.

Carcinomatous meningitis complicates 5 to 10% of cancers, essentially with breast cancers, lung cancers and melanomas. The incidence probably increased because of therapeutic advances in oncology. Treatment is based on external beam radiotherapy, systemic treatment, intrathecal chemotherapy and supportive care. The aim of this work was to review data on external radiation therapy and carcinomatous meningitis. There are few evidences on the subject, but it is a major topic of interest. A whole brain radiation therapy is indicated in case of brain metastases or clinical encephalitis. Focal radiation therapy is recommended on symptomatic, bulky or obstructive sites. The dose depends on performance status (20 to 40 Gy in five to 20 fractions), volume to treat and available techniques (classic fractionation or hypofractionation via stereotactic radiosurgery). The objective of radiation therapy is to improve quality of life. Association with systemic therapy improves overall survival. Administration of sequential intrathecal chemotherapy may also improve overall survival, but induces more toxicity. The use of new radiotherapy techniques and development of radiosensitizing molecules in patients with good performance status could improve survival in this frequent complication of cancer.