Severe thyrotoxicosis as initial presentation of gastric choriocarcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Extragonadal choriocarcinoma is rare and can be associated with hyperthyroidism when producing very high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old Hispanic female presented with a 3-week history of shortness of breath, palpitations, extreme weakness, new-onset hot flashes, and right flank pain. Her physical examination was remarkable for tachycardia, hepatomegaly, hyperreflexia, and tremor; goiter was absent. Laboratory studies revealed increased lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, suppressed thyroid stimulating hormone, very elevated T4, and absent thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography exhibited hepatomegaly with multiple large fluorodeoxyglucose-avid liver masses and a focus of fluorodeoxyglucose avidity in the stomach with no structural correlate. A thyroid scan (99mTcO 4 - ) showed diffusely increased tracer uptake. She was started on propranolol and methimazole. Upon stabilization of severe thyrotoxicosis, upper endoscopy was performed, showing a ~ 5 cm bleeding lesion in the greater stomach curvature body; biopsy was consistent with choriocarcinoma; beta-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone was 2,408,171 mIU/mL. The patient received methotrexate followed by etoposide and cisplatin. Methimazole was titrated down, and upon liver failure the medication was stopped. The thyrotoxicosis was effectively controlled with antithyroid drug and concurrent chemotherapy. At ~ 1.5 months after initial diagnosis, the patient died due to bleeding/acute liver failure with coagulation defects followed by multiple organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Severe thyrotoxicosis can represent an unusual initial presentation of metastatic choriocarcinoma in the setting of extreme elevation of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin. Primary gastric choriocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with very poor outcomes. The co-occurrence of severe thyrotoxicosis with advanced primary gastric choriocarcinoma and imminent liver failure complicates management options.

Real-World Evidence: Multicenter Efficacy and Toxicity Analysis of Nintedanib With Docetaxel as Second-Line Treatment in Mexican Patients With Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The LUME-Lung 1 study has brought consistent evidence of the effective use of nintedanib in lung adenocarcinoma as a second line of treatment; however, differences among ethnicities have been found in some studies. METHODS: This was a retrospective review among 21 medical centers of 150 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, included in a compassionate use program of nintedanib from March 2014 to September 2015. The current study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of nintedanib in combination with docetaxel in the Mexican population, using progression-free survival rate and the best objective response to treatment by RECIST 1.1 as a surrogate of effectiveness. In addition, we examined the toxicity profile of our study population as a secondary end point. RESULTS: After exclusion criteria, only 99 patients met the criteria for enrollment in the current study. From the total study population, 53 patients (53.5%) were male and 46 (46.5%) were female, with an average age of 60 years and stage IV as the most prevalent clinical stage at the beginning of the compassionate use program. A total of 48 patients (48.5%) had partial response; 26 (26.3%), stable disease; 4 (4%), complete response; and 16 (16.2%), progression; and 5 (5%) were nonevaluable. We found a median progression-free survival of 5 months (95% CI, 4.3 to 5.7 months). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were fatigue (14%) and diarrhea (13%). CONCLUSION: Nintedanib, as part of a chemotherapy regimen, is an effective option with an acceptable toxicity profile for advanced lung adenocarcinoma after first-line treatment progression.

[Clinicopathological features, prognosis and influence in the adjuvant treatment of the risk recurrence groups determined by the 21 gene expression profile, Oncotype Dx®, in early breast cancer]. / Características clinicopatológicas, pronóstico e influencia en el tratamiento adyuvante en los grupos de riesgo de recurrencia determinados por el perfil de expresión de 21 genes, Oncotype Dx®, en cáncer de mama temprano.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) reduces recurrence and mortality in breast cancer (BC); however, not all patients require ACT. Oncotype Dx® (ODX) explores the expression of 21 genes and the risk of recurrence BC. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics, prognosis, and the prescription for ACT in early BC according to ODX risk groups. METHODS: 36 patients with resected stage I-IIA BC, axillary lymph node-negative or 1-3+, hormonal receptor (HR)-positive, HER2 negative. Three groups were designed by ODX: low (LG), medium (MG) and high-risk groups (HG). RESULTS: LG 23 patients (63.9%), MG eight (22.2%) and HG five (13.9%). We detected high expression of Ki-67 in MG and HG in relation to LG, 21.1 and 32.5 versus 10.1%, respectively (p = 0.007) and lower ER-positive, 85.3, 85.4 and 56.9%, respectively (p = 0.005). Recurrence score: LG 12 (0-18), MG 23 (19-27) and HG 47 (36-57); p < 0.000. Pre-ODX, we planned ACT in 21/36 patients (58.3%) and post-ODX only 9/36 patients (25%) received it. No recurrences or deaths were observed in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: In early BC, 64% have low recurrence risk. High-risk cases presented elevated Ki-67 and lower ER expression. ODX modifies the therapeutic recommendation in 57.2% of cases.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Mexican patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the second cause of death in Mexico, most cases are detected at advanced stages and the use of chemotherapy is frequent. At present, more than 300 types of complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) treatments are known that offer different therapeutic objectives. Many patients use this type of treatments. OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of the patients that use CAM, to identify the aim of these treatments, the source of information and the potential benefits obtained by the patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied from February 20 to March 5, 2004 to non-selected patients with cancer in private consultation to determine age, sex, education level, work, use of CAM, type and number of used therapies, potential benefits and monthly cost. Two groups were formed, A for users and B for non-users of CAM. Results between groups were compared and the mentioned variables were correlated with the use of alternative medicine. RESULTS: Group A included 37 patients and group B included 38, with no difference regarding age, education level, work and oncological diagnosis, p > 0.05; a significant trend was found as regards the feminine sex, p = 0.07, neoplasm different from breast cancer, p = 0.08 and evident association with neoplasm advanced stages, p = 0.02. Most patients used between 1 and 3 types of therapies, 97.2%. The most common types of therapies were nutritional and spiritual, 54% and 48.6%, respectively. The source was the patient's family in 56.4% and the physician in 24.3%. Complementary and alternative therapy was considered a success in 57.1%; most of the users mentioned benefits (78.6%) deemed as tranquility (46.4%) or improvement of the physical condition (46.4%). The average monthly cost was $ 345.5 dollars, with a range of $ 13.6 to $ 2,545.5 dollars. CONCLUSIONS: The use of complementary and/or alternative therapy is frequent among young women with advanced cancer and high level of education. The family participates in the decision of using these methods; most users noticed a benefit in their general condition and reported tranquility; these patients may be prone to higher incidence of depression and anxiety. The effectiveness and safety of this type of treatments remain to be determined, as well as the possible interactions with conventional therapy.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in mexican patients with cancer

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Background. Cancer is the second cause of deathin Mexico, most cases are detected at advancedstages and the use of chemotherapy is frequent. Atpresent, more than 300 types of complementaryand/or alternative medicine (CAM) treatments areknown that offer different therapeutic objectives.Many patients use this type of treatments.Objective. To determine the characteristics of thepatients that use CAM, to identify the aim of thesetreatments, the source of information and the potentialbenefits obtained by the patient.Patients and methods. A questionnaire was appliedfrom February 20 to March 5, 2004 to non-selectedpatients with cancer in private consultation to determineage, sex, education level, work, use of CAM,type and number of used therapies, potential benefitsand monthly cost. Two groups were formed, Afor users and B for non-users of CAM. Results betweengroups were compared and the mentionedvariables were correlated with the use of alternativemedicine.Results. Group A included 37 patients and group Bincluded 38, with no difference regarding age, educationlevel, work and oncological diagnosis, p >0.05; a significant trend was found as regards thefeminine sex, p = 0.07, neoplasm different frombreast cancer, p = 0.08 and evident association withneoplasm advanced stages, p = 0.02. Most patientsused between 1 and 3 types of therapies, 97.2%. Themost common types of therapies were nutritionaland spiritual, 54% and 48.6%, respectively. Thesource was the patient's family in 56.4% and thephysician in 24.3%. Complementary and alternativetherapy was considered a success in 57.1%; most ofthe users mentioned benefits (78.6%) deemed astranquility (46.4%) or improvement of the physicalcondition (46.4%). The average monthly cost was $345.5 dollars, with a range of $ 13.6 to $ 2,545.5 dollars.Conclusions. The use of complementary and/or alternativetherapy is frequent among young womenwith advanced cancer and high level of education.The family participates in the decision of usingthese methods; most users noticed a benefit in theirgeneral condition and reported tranquility; thesepatients may be prone to higher incidence of depressionand anxiety. The effectiveness and safetyof this type of treatments remain to be determined,as well as the possible interactions with conventionaltherapy

Talidomida en cáncer avanzado: estudio en fase I / Thalidomide in advanced cancer: aphase I study

Antecedentes: en 1997, en México se registraron más de 87 mil casos nuevos de cáncer. Las neoplasias más frecuentes fueron: cuello uterino, mama, próstata, ganglios linfáticos y estómago. La angiogénesis es un factor determinante en el crecimiento y proliferación neoplásica, así como para conferir la capacidad metastásica tumoral. La talidomida, que fue vinculada con teratogénesis en los años 50, tiene capacidad de inhibir la angiogénesis, inducir la apoptosis y tiene efectos inmunomoduladores. Objetivo: evaluar la tolerancia y seguridad de la talidomida como agente antiangiogénico, en pacientes con neoplasia avanzada. Pacientes y método: mayores de 18 años, de uno y otro sexos, con neoplasia metastásica multitratada, con resistencia o progresión a terapia convencional, que recibieron talidomida como monoterapia al menos durante un mes. Este fármaco fue administrado a dosis de 100 mg/día, vía oral con ascenso a 200 mg la primera semana y luego cada 15 días hasta 800 mg. Se evaluaron edad, sexo, neoplasia y estirpe histológica, etapa clínica, dosis utilizada, tiempo de uso, efectos secundarios y tiempo de seguimiento. Resultados: 13 pacientes, 3 mujeres y 10 hombres, edad promedio 57.8 + 14.6 años margen de 31 a 76. Correspondían a: 10 tumores sólidos y 3 hematológicos. Se incluyeron 3 hepatocarcinoma, 2 mieloma múltiple, 2 melanoma, 2 pulmón y uno de mama, colon, recto y linfoma no Hodgkin. De las 10 sólidas, 7 en EC IV y 3 EC III; en las hematológicas, 2 etapa II de Durie-Salmon y el linfoma en etapa IV. Ocho pacientes tenían evidencia de actividad metastásica, 61.5 por ciento. Cinco pacientes habían recibido 1 línea de quimioterapia, otros 6 pacientes 2 y 3 más de 3 esquemas. Dosis de talidomida: 4 pacientes emplearon 100 mg/día; 7, 200 mg; 1, 300 mg y 1, 400 mg/día, sólo en 2 pacientes se intentó escalar la dosis. El tiempo promedio de uso 3.15 + 3.8 meses, margen de 1 a 12, mediana 1. Diez pacientes tuvieron efectos secundarios; somnolencia, 8; 6 neuropatía periférica sensitiva, 1 erupción cutánea. Se observaron casos con estabilidad de la enfermedad durante al menos dos meses y ocho casos con progresión. La talidomida fue adecuadamente tolerada a la dosis de 100 a 200 mg/día, su uso se asocia con somnolencia y neuropatía periférica sensitiva de bajo grado, los efectos secundarios se incrementan al elevar la dosis. Se requiere de más estudios para evaluar su efecto antitumoral, dosis óptima y su asociación con quimioterapia o agentes inmunomoduladores

Sobrevida en pacientes oncológicos en una unidad de terapia intensiva / Cancer patients survival in an intensive care unit

Introducción. Los pacientes con cáncer requieren a menudo cuidados intensivos: la falla respiratoria es la causa principal de ingreso y la mortalidad es alta. Objetivo. Determinar las causas de ingreso a la UCI de pacientes con enfermedades oncológicas. Pacientes y métodos. Estudiamos los pacientes que ingresaron a la UCI del hospital ABC, de enero 1993 a junio de 1997 con el diagnóstico de neoplasias en diferente estadio clínico. Se registraron las variables demográficas como edad, tipo de tumor, estadio clínico, metástasis (sitio y número), escala de Karnofsky, diagnóstico de ingreso a la UCI, días de estancia, escala de APACHE II y causa de muerte. Resultados. Se incluyeron 48 pacientes (edad media 56.8 ñ 15.4 años, escala de Karnofsky 61.2 ñ 12.8 puntos y APACHE II 22.5 ñ 6.84 puntos); nueve tuvieron neoplasias hematológicas y 39 tumores sólidos, 27 se clasificaron en estadio IV, 22 ingresaron a la UCI por insuficiencia respiratoria (20 se ventilaron mecánicamente), 28 murieron en la UCI y 11 murieron varios meses después de haberse egresado del hospital. La estancia en la UCI fue de 5.04 ñ 5.12 días. No observamos relación entre el pronóstico y la edad, sexo, tipo de tumor puntaje elevado en la escala APACHE II y la causa más importante de ingreso fue falla respiratoria