Metastasectomy and BRAF mutation; an analysis of survival outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Resection of oligometastases improves survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). It is unclear whether the benefit is consistent for BRAF V600E mutant (MT) and wild type (WT) mCRC. This retrospective analysis explores the influence of BRAF MT on survival after metastasectomy. Methods: Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for BRAF MT and WT mCRC were evaluated. Survival was also analyzed in the cohort of BRAF MT with or without metastasectomy. Results: Five hundred and thirteen patients who had undergone metastasectomy were identified, 6% were BRAF-MT. Median age 63. Median OS in BRAF MT vs WT: 25.7 vs 48.5 months (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95; 1.18-3.22). However, difference was not significant in a multivariate model. Right primary tumor, intact primary, >1 metastatic site, non-R0 resection, peritoneal metastasis, and synchronous metastasis were independent predictors of worse OS. Among 364 patients with RFS data there was no difference between BRAF MT and WT (16 vs 19 months, p=0.09). In another cohort of 158 BRAF-MT patients, OS was significantly better after metastasectomy compared to “no metastasectomy” (HR 0.34; 0.18-0.65, P= 0.001). Proficient mismatch repair status showed a trend toward worse survival after metastasectomy in BRAF MT (HR 1.71, P = 0.08). Conclusion: OS did not differ after metastasectomy between BRAF MT and WT in a multivariate model. Median OS was >2 years in this study after metastasectomy among BRAFV600E MT patients suggesting a survival benefit of metastasectomy in this group where systemic therapeutic options are limited. Metastasectomy may be considered in carefully selected BRAF-MT patients.     

Integration of geriatric assessment into clinical oncology practice: A scoping review

Sixty percent of newly diagnosed cancers occur in older adults and more complex planning is required to sustain quality care for older populations. Individualized care incorporating geriatric assessment can predict early mortality and treatment toxicity for older cancer patients. We mapped and summarized the available evidence on the integration of geriatric assessment into clinical oncology practice, and ascertained which domains have been implemented. We systematically searched bibliographic databases and trial registries for reports of clinical studies, clinical practice guidelines, systematic and non-systematic reviews, and grey literature published in English. We gathered data on study characteristics, geriatric domains and strategies evaluated, and relevant study objectives and findings. From a total of 10,124 identified citations, 38 articles met our eligibility criteria, 3 of which were clinical practice guidelines. Nearly half of these articles came from the United States. Domains of the geriatric assessment implemented in studies ranged from 1 to 12, with varied combinations. We identified 27 studies on strategies for implementing geriatric assessment and 24 studies on feasibility of implementing geriatric assessment, into clinical oncology practice. We also identified 3 main geriatric assessment models: 2 from the United States and 1 from Australia. Furthermore, we identified 2 reviews that reported varied components of geriatric assessment models. There is increasingly robust evidence to implement formal geriatric assessment in oncology practice. There remains a great deal of variation in the tools recommended to address each of the domains in a geriatric assessment, with only 1 guideline (American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline) settling on a specific best practice.Protocol registration: Open Science Framework osf.io/mec93.     

Primary site disease and recurrence location in ovarian cancer patients undergoing primary debulking surgery vs. interval debulking surgery

IntroductionThe natural history and patterns of ovarian cancer (OC) relapse are still unclear. Recurrent disease can be peritoneal, parenchymal, or nodal. This study aims to analyze the location and pattern of OC recurrence according to the primary site of disease and to the type of surgical approach used.Material and methodsAll OC patients underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) or interval debulking surgery (IDS), with 2014 FIGO stage III-IV, and with platinum-sensitive recurrence were included in the study. Primary disease location and site of recurrences were divided into peritoneal, parenchymal, and nodal, according to the presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis, parenchymal metastasis, and nodal involvement, respectively.ResultsA total of 355 patients were initially considered; of them, 295 met the inclusion criteria. Two hundred thirty-three patients obtained no macroscopic residual tumor at the end of primary surgical treatment. Primary parenchymal disease relapsed in 84.6% cases at a parenchymal site (p < 0.001), 97.2% of peritoneal diseases relapsed on the peritoneum (p < 0.001), and 100% of nodal diseases had a nodal recurrence (p < 0.001). Stratifying by the surgical approach all these correlations have been confirmed both in the PDS (p < 0.001) and IDS (p < 0.001) groups.ConclusionOur study shows that the site of relapse in cases of platinum-sensitive OC recurrence is closely related to the primary location of the disease, regardless of the type of initial treatment. Therefore, more attention during followup should be paid to areas where the initial tumor was present.     

Transvaginal ultrasound assessment of urinary tract in gynecological oncology patients: A multicenter prospective study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of urinary tract involvement diagnosed on transvaginal ultrasound examination in women gynecological cancers. The diagnostic performance of transvaginal ultrasound in detecting ureteral and bladder involvement was also evaluated.MethodsThis is a multicenter prospective study. Women with gynecological cancers or recurrence undergoing ultrasound examination were included. Transvaginal ultrasound is simple and non-invasive method. Ureters, vesico-uterine septum, bladder involvement were evaluated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of ultrasound were calculated. Surgery or imaging methods (MRI or CT scan) were considered as reference standard.ResultsA total of 569 patients were enrolled and 547 of them had diagnosis of malignancy. 56/547 (10.2%) had a diagnosis of urinary tract infiltration at ultrasound examination. On ultrasound examination, both ureters were clearly visualized in the vast majority of cases (507/547, 92.7%), whereas only one ureter was identified in 21/547 (3.8%) patients and both ureters were not visualized in 19/547 (3.5%). Ultrasound examination demonstrated high specificity (>99.0%) and high NPV (>97.0%) for all ultrasound parameters; sensitivity was good for bladder wall infiltration (83.3%) and for vesico-uterine septum infiltration (80.8%), and low for right (69.23%) and left (65.4%) ureter infiltration.ConclusionsThe prevalence of pelvic urinary tract infiltration on transvaginal ultrasound examination in women with gynecologic malignancy was 10%. We believe that pelvic urinary tract assessment plays a key role during transvaginal ultrasound examination, in order to plan the management of patients with gynecologic cancers.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter baumannii</Emphasis> bacteraemia in patients with haematological malignancy: a multicentre retrospective study from the Infection Working Party of Jiangsu Society of Hematology

Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) bacteraemia in patients with haematological malignancies is fatal but rarely reported. We explored the clinical characteristics, drug resistances and prognostic factors in these patients. This multicentre, retrospective study was conducted at the department of haematology wards of 18 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2014 to June 2015. The total clinical isolates from every source were collected from patients with haematological malignancy. Haematological malignancy patients diagnosed with Ab bacteraemia were analysed. During the study period, 40 patients with Ab bacteraemia were identified, accounting for 2.9% (40/1358) of bacteraemia cases, of which 25 (62.5%) had acute leukaemia (AL) and 27 (67.5%) had neutropaenia. Compared with non-neutropaenic patients, neutropaenic patients showed higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores and 30-day mortality rates (p?<?0.05). The in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of Ab to colistin was highest, at 100%, followed by that of tigecycline (91.30%) and amikacin (75.86%). Compared with the patients who had carbapenem-susceptible Ab infections, patients infected with carbapenem-resistant Ab (CRAB) had significantly longer hospital stays and were more likely to have had exposure to carbapenem before bacteraemia (p?<?0.05). The 30-day mortality rate was 32.5%. CRAB, neutropaenia, higher APACHE score, Pitt bacteraemia score and inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Multivariable analysis showed that APACHE score and CRAB were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Haematologic patients with AL and febrile neutropaenia were at high risk of Ab bacteraemia. More attention should be paid to CRAB, which is an independent risk factor for mortality in haematological malignancy patients with Ab bacteraemia.     

Is patient reported outcome (PRO) affected by different follow-up regimens in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? A one year prospective,longitudinal comparison of nurse-led versus conventional follow-up

ObjectiveSpecialist nurses have become increasingly involved in the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of nurse-led versus conventional follow-up on patient outcomes, such as quality of life, worries and time from relapse to start of treatment.MethodsPatients completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (N-IBDQ) and the Rating Form of IBD Patient Concerns (RFIPC) at baseline and after 1 year. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were obtained at V1 and V2. In addition the amount of e.g., relapses, hospitalisations, time from relapse to start of treatment, sick-leave, unscheduled visits or telephone calls was recorded during the follow-up period.ResultsA total of 140 patients were included; ulcerative colitis (UC) n = 92, Crohn's disease (CD) n = 48, mean age 46.9 and 40.0 years old, respectively. One hundred and thirty three patients attended the follow-up after 1 year. After 1 year there were no differences between the groups in relation to quality of life, worries, amount of relapse, sick-leave, hospitalisations or surgery. Participants in nurse-led follow-up had a significantly (p < 0.05) shorter interval from the start of a relapse to the start of treatment.ConclusionsNurse-led follow-up of IBD patients produces PRO results comparable to that of gastroenterologists and may shorten the interval from the beginning of a relapse to the start of treatment.     

泰兴地区乙型肝炎病毒基因型分布与临床意义

目的 了解泰兴地区乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）基因型分布情况,探讨HBV基因型与临床的相关性.方法 选择HBV慢性感染者138例,其中慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）病例113例,肝硬化病例25例,采用荧光定量PCR法测定HBV基因型,并结合临床资料进行统计学分析.结果 138例病例中,基因B型46例（33％）,C型89例（65％）,B/C混合型1例（0.7％）,非B非C型2例（1.4％）;CHB组中,B、C基因型在ALT、HBV DNA、HBeAg阳性率差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;C基因型在CHB重度占77％、肝硬化中占80％,B基因型在CHB重度占20％,肝硬化中占20％,C基因型在CHB重度、肝硬化中比例明显升高.结论 本地区HBV基因型中以C型为主,其次为B型,有少量B/C混合型及其他类型,C基因型往往较B基因型病情严重.     

培美曲塞联合卡铂治疗老年晚期非鳞非小细胞肺癌临床疗效分析

目的评价培美曲塞联合卡铂治疗老年晚期非鳞非小细胞肺癌的临床疗效及毒副作用。方法92例晚期非鳞非小细胞肺癌老年患者,其中培美曲塞联合卡铂（Pc组）治疗42例,吉西他滨联合卡铂（GC组）治疗50例。结果Pc组和GC组疾病控制率（DCR）为73．8％及70．2％（P〉0．05）。PC组毒副反应发生率小于GC组。结论培美曲塞联合卡铂治疗老年晚期非鳞非小细胞肺癌的疗效与吉西他滨联合卡铂的疗效相当,但副作用明显减少,患者耐受性更好。     

癫癎对雄性Wistar大鼠生殖系统的影响

目的：研究癫癎发作对雄性Wistar大鼠生殖系统相关指标的影响,企为临床癫癎男性患者提高生育质量提供依据.方法：运用氯化锂-匹罗卡品建立Wistar雄性大鼠癫癎模型,取血样、睾丸、附睾、精子分别测定其血清性激素、脏器系数、精子计数,观察精子活力及形态,分析癫癎对雄性大鼠生殖的影响.结果：癫癎造模成功组（A组）及癫癎造模未成功组（B组）的总睾酮（TT）及孕酮（P）水平均显著低于健康对照组（C组）,而A组TT水平又显著低于B组,A组大鼠孕酮（P）水平与B组比较差异无显著意义.而A组黄体生成素（LH）及卵泡刺激素（FSH）均显著高于B组及C组,A组大鼠泌乳素（PRL）水平显著高于B组及C组,雌二醇（E2）在三组间比较差异无显著意义.A组与C组及B组相比睾丸脏器系数（睾丸重/体重）显著降低.A组大鼠精子计数低于C组及B组.在精子活动率,A组及B组低于C组.在大鼠精子畸形形态的观察中,A组及B组中可观察到较多的精子头部畸形.结论：氯化锂-匹罗卡品建立的Wistar雄性大鼠癫癎模型对生殖系统的相关检测指标均有较明显的影响.