Reviewing Treatment Options for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Is There Still a Place for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Monotherapy?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises a highly heterogeneous group of kidney tumours built upon distinct genetic- and epigenetic-driven mechanisms and molecular pathways. Therefore, responsiveness to treatment is considerably variable across patients, adding an extra layer of complexity to the already challenging therapeutic decision process. The last decade brought an unprecedented shift in the medical approach to advanced or metastatic RCC; in fact, immunotherapy-based combinations have significantly transformed the therapeutic arsenal and clinical outcomes of these patients. These strategies were quickly adopted by international guidelines committees as the new standards of care. However, this enhanced efficacy comes at the expense of tolerability, with a predictable negative impact on patients' quality of life. Moreover, subgroup and post hoc analyses of the major clinical trials have shown that not all patients benefit equally from these innovative approaches. In this context, a group of experts on kidney cancer met and discussed the state of the art in the field, with a special emphasis on the appropriateness of using monotherapy with an anti-angiogenesis tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) to treat specific subgroups of patients with RCC. This article reviews the main topics that were considered to be pertinent for that discussion and establishes the profile of patients for whom TKI monotherapy remains a sensible frontline option by avoiding overtreatment and an unnecessary exposure to treatment-related toxicity.

Liver Growth and Portal Hypertension Improvement After Percutaneous Recanalization of Chronic Portal Vein Thrombosis in Non-Cirrhotic Participants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate liver function improvement and volume gain after percutaneous recanalization of chronic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in non-cirrhotic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, five non-cirrhotic participants between 21 and 67 years old with secondary chronic PVT (4-21 years from diagnose) were submitted to percutaneous portal vein recanalization, followed by varices and shunts embolization. RESULTS: After a mean of 12.6 months, all portal veins remained patent and there was complete resolution of portal hypertension (PH) symptoms in all participants. There was a significant increase in liver volume of 39.8 ± 19.0% (p = 0.042), platelets count of 53120 ± 20188/µl (p = 0.042), and a significant decrease in total bilirubin levels from 1.04 ± 0.23 mg/dL to 0.51 ± 0.09 mg/dL (p = 0.043). We also found a non-significant increase in albumin levels from 3.88 ± 0.39 g/dL to 4.38 ± 0.27 g/dL (p = 0.078) and decrease in spleen diameter from 16.88 ± 4.03 cm to 14.15 ± 2.72 cm (p = 0.068). DISCUSSION: In this retrospective study, even with a small number of participants, we were capable of showing a median of 39.8% increase in liver volume, laboratorial liver function improvement, platelets count and resolution of PH symptoms, including gastroesophageal varices disappearance after portal vein recanalization followed by shunt embolization. CONCLUSION: In this small series of cases, recanalization of chronic PVT in non-cirrhotic participants was feasible, successful and safe despite the prolonged time of occlusion. This is a new and promising approaching to an old and still challenging disease.

Neutrophile-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios as prognostic and response biomarkers for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) improves prognosis in locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are prognostic biomarkers but not predictive factors. AIM: To assess blood ratios' (NLR, LMR and PLR) potential predictive response to FLOT and survival outcomes in resectable LAGC patients. METHODS: This was a multicentric retrospective study investigating the clinical potential of NLR, LMR, and PLR in resectable LAGC patients, treated with at least one preoperative FLOT cycle, from 12 Portuguese hospitals. Means were compared through non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined the cut-off values as: High PLR > 141 for progression and > 144 for mortality; high LMR > 3.56 for T stage regression (TSR). Poisson and Cox regression models the calculated relative risks/hazard ratios, using NLR, pathologic complete response, TSR, and tumor regression grade (TRG) as independent variables, and overall survival (OS) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: This study included 295 patients (mean age, 63.7 years; 59.7% males). NLR was correlated with survival time (r = 0.143, P = 0.014). PLR was associated with systemic progression during FLOT (P = 0.022) and mortality (P = 0.013), with high PLR patients having a 2.2-times higher risk of progression [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89-5.26] and 1.5-times higher risk of mortality (95%CI: 0.92-2.55). LMR was associated with TSR, and high LMR patients had a 1.4-times higher risk of achieving TSR (95%CI: 1.01-1.99). OS benefit was found with TSR (P = 0.015) and partial/complete TRG (P < 0.001). Patients without TSR and with no evidence of pathological response had 2.1-times (95%CI: 1.14-3.96) and 2.8-times (95%CI: 1.6-5) higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: Higher NLR is correlated with longer survival time. High LMR patients have a higher risk of decreasing T stage, whereas high PLR patients have higher odds of progressing under FLOT and dying. Patients with TSR and a pathological response have better OS and lower risk of dying.

Diagnósticos de enfermagem CIPE® relacionados à nutrição na clínica pediátrica: estudo transversal / ICNP® nursing diagnoses related to nutrition in the pediatric clinic: a cross-sectional study / Diagnósticos de enfermería de la CIPE® relacionados con la nutrición en la clínica pediátrica: estudio transversal

OBJETIVO: identificar os Diagnósticos de Enfermagem CIPE® relacionados à necessidade humana básica de nutrição na clínica pediátrica. MÉTODO: estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa, realizado na clínica pediátrica de um hospital público da cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba. A amostra foi composta por 91 participantes, entre crianças e adolescentes com período de internação superior a 24 horas. RESULTADO: foi possível identificar os diagnósticos: Emagrecimento; Adesão ao Regime Dietético Eficaz; Comportamento Alimentar Infantil, Prejudicado; Apetite, Prejudicado; Obesidade; Amamentação Exclusiva; Amamentação Exclusiva Prejudicada; Problema de Peso Corporal; Sobrepeso; Adesão ao Regime Dietético Prejudicada e Condição Nutricional, Prejudicada. CONCLUSÃO: dentre os diagnósticos, destacaram-se Apetite Eficaz; Comportamento Alimentar Infantil Eficaz; Padrão de Ingestão de Alimentos ou Líquidos Eficaz; Condição Nutricional Positiva e Capacidade para Alimentar-se. A elaboração dos diagnósticos relacionados à nutrição da criança e adolescente corrobora à construção de subconjuntos terminológicos, a fim de garantir a eficácia do cuidado.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the ICNP® Nursing Diagnoses related to the basic human need for nutrition in the pediatric clinic. METHOD: a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, carried out in the pediatric clinic of a public hospital in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba. The sample consisted of 91 participants, including children and adolescents with a hospital stay of more than 24 hours. RESULT: it was possible to identify the following diagnoses: Weight loss; Adherence to the Effective Dietary Regime; Infant Feeding Behavior, Impaired; Appetite, Impaired; Obesity; Exclusive Breastfeeding; Impaired Exclusive Breastfeeding; Body Weight Problem; Overweight; Impaired Adherence to Diet; and Nutritional Condition, Impaired. CONCLUSION: the following stood out among the diagnoses: Effective Appetite; Effective Infant Feeding Behavior; Effective Food or Fluid Intake Pattern; Positive Nutritional Status; and Ability to Feed. Elaboration of the diagnoses related to child and adolescent nutrition corroborates the construction of terminology subsets, in order to ensure care effectiveness.

OBJETIVO: identificar los diagnósticos de enfermería de la CIPE® relacionados con la necesidad humana básica de nutrición en la clínica pediátrica. MÉTODO: estudio transversal con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado en la clínica pediátrica de un hospital público de la ciudad de João Pessoa, Paraíba. La muestra estuvo formada por 91 participantes, niños y adolescentes con una estancia hospitalaria de más de 24 horas. RESULTADO: fue posible identificar los diagnósticos: Pérdida de Peso; Adherencia al Régimen Alimentario Efectiva; Conducta Alimentaria Infantil, Alterada; Apetito Alterado; Obesidad; Lactancia Exclusiva; Lactancia Exclusiva Comprometida; Problema dePeso Corporal; Sobrepeso; Adherencia al Régimen Alimentario Comprometida y Condición Nutricional Deteriorada. CONCLUSIÓN: entre los diagnósticos se destacó Apetito Efectivo; Conducta Alimentaria Infantil Efectiva; Patrón de Ingesta de Alimentos o LíquidosEfectivo; Estado Nutricional Positivo y Capacidad para Alimentarse. La elaboración de diagnósticos relacionados con la nutrición infantil y adolescente coincide con la construcción de subconjuntos terminológicos, a fin de asegurar la efectividad del cuidado.