Disseminated lomentosporiosis in a heart transplant recipient: Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Lomentospora prolificans (formerly S prolificans) is a saprophyte fungi that causes opportunistic infections in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Resulting disseminated infections are difficult to treat and have a high mortality. Indications for antifungal prophylaxis after heart transplantation (HT) include CMV disease, reoperation, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and high environmental exposure to Aspergillus spores. However, the risk of breakthrough infections, such as Lomentosporiosis, remains a cause of concern. METHODS: We report the clinical findings, microbiology, treatment and outcome of a disseminated Lomentosporiosis in a heart transplant recipient with ECMO and antifungal prophylaxis. RESULTS: A 25-year-old male with complex grown-up congenital heart disease (GUCHD) was admitted for HT. He presented severe post-surgical complications including acute kidney injury and right heart and respiratory failure requiring venoarterial-ECMO, continuous renal replacement therapy (CCRT) and later on (+14) a ventricular assist device (VAD). Ganciclovir, cotrimoxazole, and antifungal prophylaxis with anidulafungin at standard doses had been started on day + 3 post HT. The patient presented seizures (+4), pancytopenia with mild neutropenia (days + 6 to + 11), influenza B (+7), and bacteremic Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) (+10). On days + 14 to + 16 Lomentospora prolificans was recovered from blood cultures, broncho aspirate, catheter tip, and skin biopsy. Despite treatment with L-AMB, voriconazole and terbinafine the patients died on day 17 after HT. Necropsy revealed disseminated infection with fungal invasion in central nervous system, heart, lung, cutaneous, and subcutaneous tissue. Broth microdilution tests demonstrated resistance to all antifungals. CONCLUSIONS: Lomentosporiosis is a rare complication that may emerge as a breakthrough invasive fungal infection in heart transplant recipients on ECMO despite antifungal prophylaxis.

Long-term outcomes and clinical impact of anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after liver transplantation: a prospective study in a pilot cohort.

INTRODUCTION: the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) is thought to affect survival of the allograft and patient after liver transplantation (LT). However, their significance is not well understood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a prospective study was performed of 32 adult patients who underwent LT in 2011 to analyze the existence of DSA, associated risk factors and medium-term impact. Immunological determinations were performed immediately before LT and at three, six, 12 months and five years after LT. RESULTS: eight patients (24.2 %) presented pre-formed DSA. However, titers were negative in all patients five years after LT and there were no associated events. Eight out of 24 patients (33.3 %) developed de novo DSA. After five years, only two remained positive; both were class II with high mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values at diagnosis (over 15,000). No association was found between the development of DSA and the risk of rejection, graft loss or death. However, an increase in liver stiffness values was observed in patients with persistent DSA, and focal sinusoidal deposition of C4d and moderate liver fibrosis were reported. CONCLUSION: the incidence of DSA is high after LT. In addition, the persistence of de novo DSA could be associated with silent liver fibrosis with a potential impact on graft outcomes.

Association Between Baseline Circulating Tumor Cells, Molecular Tumor Profiling, and Clinical Characteristics in a Large Cohort of Chemo-naïve Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Prospectively Collected.

BACKGROUND: Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic and predictive factors offer valuable guidance when selecting optimal first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The association between baseline circulating tumor cell (bCTC) count, molecular tumor profile, and clinicopathologic features was analyzed in a chemo-naïve metastatic CRC population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1202 patients from the Spanish VISNÚ-1 (FOLFIRINOX/bevacizumab vs. FOLFOX/bevacizumab) and VISNÚ-2 (FOLFIRI/bevacizumab vs. FOLFIRI/cetuximab; RAS-wildtype) studies were analyzed for mutational status and bCTC count. The association between clinicopathologic characteristics and bCTC count, mutational status, and microsatellite instability (MSI) was analyzed in 589 eligible patients. RESULTS: Interestingly, 41% of the population studied presented ≥3 bCTC count. bCTC count ≥3 was associated with worse performance status (according Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale), stage IV at diagnosis, at least 3 metastatic sites, and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels; but not with RAS or BRAF mutations or high MSI. BRAFmut (BRAF mutated) tumors were associated with right-sided primary tumors, peritoneum, distant lymph node metastasis, and less frequent liver involvement. RASmut (RAS mutated) was associated with worse performance status; stage IV at diagnosis; right-sided primary tumors; liver, lung, and bone metastases; at least 3 metastatic sites; and elevated CEA, whereas PIK3CAmut (PIK3CA mutated) tumors were associated with right-sided primary tumors, high CEA serum levels, and older age. High MSI was associated with right-sided primary tumors, distant lymph nodes metastasis, and lower CEA levels. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, elevated bCTCs and RASmut were associated with clinicopathologic features known to be associated with poor prognosis; whereas the poor prognosis of BRAFmut tumors in chemo-naïve metastatic CRC is not explained by associations with poor clinicopathologic prognostic factors, except right-sided primary tumors. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: VISNU 1 ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01640405/ VISNU 2 ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01640444.

Liposarcoma del cordón espermático simulando una hernia inguinal incarcerada / Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord mimicking an incarcerated inguinal hernia

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los tumores paratesticulares representan del 7%-10% de las masas intraescrotales. Los sarcomas abarcan el 90% de las lesiones malignas del cordón espermático y de éstas, aproximadamente, el 3%-7% son liposarcomas. CASO CLÍNICO: Presentamos el caso de un varón de 45 años, que consultó en urgencias por una masa inguinoescrotal derecha no reductible, diagnosticándose de hernia inguinal incarcerada. Se realizó cirugía urgente evidenciando una gran tumoración de aspecto lipomatoso, dependiente de cordón espermático. Se realizó orquiectomía y hernioplastía inguinal. La anatomía patológica, reveló un liposarcoma bien diferenciado de cordón espermático. Posteriormente, se realizó estudio de extensión, sin afectación a distancia y no precisó tratamiento adyuvante. Actualmente, tras dos años de seguimiento no ha presentado recidiva. DISCUSIÓN: Sólo alrededor de 200 casos han sido comunicados previamente en la literatura y sólo 61 de éstos se presentaron simulando una hernia inguinal incarcerada. Debido a la baja incidencia de esta patología es difícil de conocer la historia natural y llegar a conclusiones sobre los resultados del tratamiento, el cual hasta el momento sigue siendo la orquiectomía radical, con escisión amplia de los tejidos locales. El papel de la radio y quimioterapia aun es controvertido. CONCLUSIONES: Los sarcomas del cordón espermático son neoplasias raras con alta tasa de recurrencia local. Su manejo inicial es quirúrgico. Se requiere de un alto índice de sospecha clínica para el diagnóstico ya que las implicaciones oncológicas varían en función del tratamiento que, en ocasiones, es llevado a cabo por cirujanos generales al simular una hernia inguinal.

INTRODUCTION: Paratesticular tumors represent 7%-10% of intraescrotal masses. Sarcomas account for 90% of malignant lesions of the spermatic cord and of these approximately 3%-7% are liposarcomas. CLINICAL CASE: This is the case of a 45 year old male who consulted in the emergency department for a non-reducible right inguino-scrotal mass and was diagnosed with an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Emergency surgery was performed which revealed a large lipomatous tumor, originating from the spermatic cord. Orchiectomy and hernioplasty were performed. Histopathology revealed a well-differentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. Later extension study was conducted, without distant affectation, and did not require adjuvant treatment. Today, after two years of monitoring has been no recurrence. DISCUSSION: Only about 200 cases have been previously reported in the literature and only 61 of these were presented mimicking an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Due to the low incidence of this disease it is difficult to know the natural history and draw conclusions on the results of treatment, which so far remains the radical orchiectomy with wide local excision of the tissue. The role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is still controversial

Family history record and hereditary cancer risk perception according to National Cancer Institute criteria in a Spanish medical oncology service: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Identification of patients at risk of hereditary cancer is an essential component of oncology practice, since it enables clinicians to offer early detection and prevention programs. However, the large number of hereditary syndromes makes it difficult to take them all into account in daily practice. Consequently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has suggested a series of criteria to guide initial suspicion. OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to assess the perception of the risk of hereditary cancer according to the NCI criteria in our medical oncology service. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the recordings of the family history in new cancer patients seen in our medical oncology service from January to November 2009, only 1 year before the implementation of our multidisciplinary hereditary cancer program. RESULTS: The family history was recorded in only 175/621 (28%) patients. A total of 119 (19%) patients met 1 or more NCI criteria (1 criterion, n = 91; 2 criteria, n = 23; 3 criteria, n = 4; and 4 criteria, n = 1), and only 14 (11.4%) patients were referred to genetic counseling. CONCLUSION: This study shows that few clinicians record the family history. The perception of the risk of hereditary cancer is low according to the NCI criteria in our medical oncology service. These findings can be explained by the lack of a multidisciplinary hereditary cancer program when the study was performed.