Aportaciones en el tratamiento de formas atípicas de degeneración macular asociada a la enfermedad / Contributions to the treatment of atypical forms of age-related macular degeneration

Se realiza un estudio de las 2 entidades clínicas que presentan un diagnóstico diferencial con la degeneración macular asociada a la enfermedad (DMAE) húmeda, que son la vasculopatía coroidea polipoidea idiopática y la proliferación angiomatosa retiniana. Analizamos sus entidades clínicas y características funduscópicas, así como sus diferencias con la DMAE. Presentamos 2 casos clínicos representativos de estas 2 entidades. Se estudian las posibilidades terapéuticas y los resultados, y las últimas publicaciones referidas a ellas, comparándolas y haciendo un estudio estadístico de las últimas publicaciones(AU)

We performed a study of the two clinical entities with a differential diagnosis with wet age-related macular degeneration, namely, idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV) and retinal angiomatous proliferation. We analyze the clinical and funduscopic characteristics of these entities as well as their differences with wet age-related macular degeneration. We present two cases that are representative of these two entities. The therapeutic possibilities, results and the latest publications are analyzed and compared. A statistical analysis of the latest publications is also presented(AU)

[Contributions to the treatment of atypical forms of age-related macular degeneration]. / Aportaciones en el tratamiento de formas atípicas de degeneración macular asociada a la enfermedad.

We performed a study of the two clinical entities with a differential diagnosis with wet age-related macular degeneration, namely, idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV) and retinal angiomatous proliferation. We analyze the clinical and funduscopic characteristics of these entities as well as their differences with wet age-related macular degeneration. We present two cases that are representative of these two entities. The therapeutic possibilities, results and the latest publications are analyzed and compared. A statistical analysis of the latest publications is also presented.

First evidence of oncologic neuropathic pain prevalence after screening 8615 cancer patients. Results of the On study.

BACKGROUND: Thirty percent to ninety percent of cancer patients suffer from pain, including neuropathic pain (NP), which results in great burden for cancer patients. Thus, it was of great interest to determine NP prevalence in cancer patients in Spain, to raise awareness of the condition, and aiming to improve management of cancer NP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 1-month follow-up prospective epidemiological multicenter study was conducted to assess prevalence and management of NP in Spanish oncologic units. The first 10 cancer patients at each unit diagnosed with NP by the validated Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire (DN4) were recruited. RESULTS: Of 8615 screened patients, 2567 (30%) suffered from pain. From these, 33% had NP according to investigators and 19% according to DN4 test. Three hundred and sixty-six patients (mean age 62.6 years; 61.2% male) were recruited. Pain decrease at 1 month was greater in patients with metastases (P<0.01) and depended on treatment (P<0.05), with 'oxycodone' showing 50.4% pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: NP prevalence in cancer pain is 33%. DN4 reports only about half the cancer NP cases diagnosed by clinicians. Pharmaceutical treatment of cancer pain, including NP, has a greater effect in patients with metastases and seems to depend on the specific treatment used.

Management of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with the combination of pemetrexed and gemcitabine.

INTRODUCTION: Platinum resistant ovarian cancer is a current challenge in Oncology. Current approved therapies offer no more of a 20% of response. New therapeutic options are urgently needed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were treated with the combination of Pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) d1 and Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) d1,8 in a 21 days basis. RESULTS: 10 platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients were treated under compassionate use. Mean previous chemotherapy lines were 3.3. Mean administered cycles were 4. Mean CA 125 decrease was on average of 47%, with one patient experiencing a 95% decrease in her CA 125 level. 1 patient had a complete clinical remission, and 2, had partial radiological responses. Mean Progression free survival was 16.5 weeks, and Overall Survival was 21.2 weeks. Treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Deemd to the observed activity, the combination of Pemetrexed and Gemcitabine deserves deeper investigation in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.

Management of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with the combination of pemetrexed and gemcitabine

INTRODUCTION: Platinum resistant ovarian cancer is a current challenge in Oncology. Current approved therapies offer no more of a 20% of response. New therapeutic options are urgently needed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were treated with the combination of Pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) d1 and Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) d1,8 in a 21 days basis. RESULTS: 10 platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients were treated under compassionate use. Mean previous chemotherapy lines were 3.3. Mean administered cycles were 4. Mean CA 125 decrease was on average of 47%, with one patient experiencing a 95% decrease in her CA 125 level. 1 patient had a complete clinical remission, and 2, had partial radiological responses. Mean Progression free survival was 16.5 weeks, and Overall Survival was 21.2 weeks. Treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Deemd to the observed activity, the combination of Pemetrexed and Gemcitabine deserves deeper investigation in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients (AU)

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Circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: methodology and clinical repercussions.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and clinicians have long recognized its heterogeneity. Its detection and treatment in early stages allow for reduction of mortality. Despite the advances and new strategies for combining surgical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy options, however, the percentage of patients developing metastases and advanced stages remains high. Even though serum tumor markers have been used for the early diagnosis of metastases, their systematic determination has not had an effect on survival. Methods that are more reliable are needed to detect metastases earlier than with the common clinical methods and thus start treatment before overt relapse. Early indicators of response or resistance to treatment are also an issue in clinical practice. Imaging techniques are time consuming, and it is difficult to detect changes that indicate response limited to therapy, and approaches to defining changes in tumor mass are time and resource consuming. In contrast, detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) could be a useful tool in early detection of relapse and response to systemic chemotherapy. Extremely sensitive techniques are available that are easily applied to peripheral blood samples, which might provide enormous research possibilities in this area.

Circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: methodology and clinical repercussions

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and clinicians have long recognized its heterogeneity. Its detection and treatment in early stages allow for reduction of mortality. Despite the advances and new strategies for combining surgical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy options, however, the percentage of patients developing metastases and advanced stages remains high. Even though serum tumor markers have been used for the early diagnosis of metastases, their systematic determination has not had an effect on survival. Methods that are more reliable are needed to detect metastases earlier than with the common clinical methods and thus start treatment before overt relapse. Early indicators of response or resistance to treatment are also an issue in clinical practice. Imaging techniques are time consuming, and it is difficult to detect changes that indicate response limited to therapy, and approaches to defining changes in tumor mass are time and resource consuming. In contrast, detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) could be a useful tool in early detection of relapse and response to systemic chemotherapy. Extremely sensitive techniques are available that are easily applied to peripheral blood samples, which might provide enormous research possibilities in this area (AU)

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Screening and chemoprevention in lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a major health problem due to its incidence and mortality. The risk factors, the existence of a preclinical phase, and the relationship between stage at diagnosis and survival are known. A number of strategies that aim to diagnose lung cancer in its earliest stages, based principally on imaging studies, are therefore being tested. Several drugs aimed at reducing the probability of developing lung cancer in the at-risk population are also under study. At the present time, the results obtained have not been encouraging and we do not have a clear strategy either for early diagnosis or for the use of chemopreventive agents.

Screening and chemoprevention in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a major health problem due to its incidence and mortality. The risk factors, the existence of a preclinical phase, and the relationship between stage at diagnosis and survival are known. A number of strategies that aim to diagnose lung cancer in its earliest stages, based principally on imaging studies, are therefore being tested. Several drugs aimed at reducing the probability of developing lung cancer in the at-risk population are also under study. At the present time, the results obtained have not been encouraging and we do not have a clear strategy either for early diagnosis or for the use of chemopreventive agents (AU)

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