Pretreatment anti-Müllerian hormone predicts for loss of ovarian function after chemotherapy for early breast cancer

AimImproving survival for women with early breast cancer (eBC) requires greater attention to the consequences of treatment, including risk to ovarian function. We have assessed whether biochemical markers of the ovarian reserve might improve prediction of chemotherapy related amenorrhoea.MethodsWomen (n = 59, mean age 42.6 years [(range 23.3–52.5]) with eBC were recruited before any treatment. Pretreatment ovarian reserve markers (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], inhibin B) were analysed in relation to ovarian status at 2 years.ResultsPretreatment AMH was significantly lower in women with amenorrhoea at 2 years (4.0 ± 0.9 pmol/L versus 17.2 ± 2.5, P < 0.0001), but FSH and inhibin B did not differ between groups. By logistic regression, pretreatment AMH, but not age, FSH or inhibin B, was an independent predictor of ovarian status at 2 years (P = 0.005; odds ratio 0.013). We combined these data with a similar cohort (combined n = 75); receiver–operator characteristic analysis for AMH gave area under curve (AUC) of 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82–0.97)). A cross-validated classification tree analysis resulted in a binary classification schema with sensitivity 98.2% and specificity 80.0% for correct classification of amenorrhoea.ConclusionPretreatment AMH is a useful predictor of long term post chemotherapy loss of ovarian function in women with eBC, adding significantly to the only previously established individualising predictor, i.e. age. AMH measurement may assist decision-making regarding treatment options and fertility preservation procedures.     

乳腺癌PICC化疗患者自我管理行为测评量表的开发与应用

目的 开发乳腺癌经外周静脉置入中心静脉导管（PICC）化疗患者自我管理行为测评量表,并进行效度和信度检验。方法 参考美国斯坦福大学患者教育研究中心Dr.Kate.Lorig等创建的《慢性病自我管理研究测量表》及其评分标准,结合乳腺癌PICC患者自我管理内容,经参考文献、专家评定,修订成《乳腺癌PICC化疗患者自我管理行为测评量表》。量表包括5个维度,19项量化指标,共78个条目。192例乳腺癌PICC化疗患者参加了调查。结果 有效问卷178份,量表的内容效度指数（CVI）为0.906,总体Cronbach’α系数为0.892。采用因子分析法,提取出特征根大于1的公因子4个,解释总方差的41.180%,每个条目在相应因子上的负荷均在0.3以上。结论此测评量表具有较好的效度和信度,为研究者提供了乳腺癌PICC化疗患者自我管理行为评价和干预的工具。     

The successful treatment of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) overdose in a patient with malignancy and HIV/AIDS with uridine triacetate

According to the NIH, about 275 000 patients receive treatment with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and more than 1300 die from 5-FU toxicity every year from life-threatening myelosuppression, gastrointestinal complications, and neurotoxicity. Immunocompromised persons are at higher risk of developing toxicity. Recently uridine triacetate (Vistagard®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the only specific antidote available for 5-FU poisoning. In a clinical trial (n = 135), 96% of patients with 5-FU toxicity recovered after treatment, where as in a historical control group only 10% survived. This is the first published case report of survival after 5-FU overdose who also was immunocompromised from HIV/AIDs. A 52 year old male with history of HIV/AIDS (CD4 70), CNS toxoplasmosis and anal cancer presented to the emergency department after realizing he had received an entire course of 5-FU in 24 instead of 96 h. Treatment with uridine triacetate was arranged in the emergency department. After receiving treatment the patient was asymptomatic and had an uncomplicated hospital course. 5-FU poisoning must be recognized early as uridine triacetate is approved by the FDA for use within 96 h following the end of 5-FU administration. Emergency medicine physicians should promptly recognize and treat 5-FU poisoning. However, this may be challenging as patients may not seek medical attention until many hours or several days after last administration since symptoms are often delayed with 5-FU poisoning.     

Radiation therapy in cholangiocellular carcinomas

Cholangiocarcinoma can arise in all parts of the biliary tract and this has implications for therapy. Surgery is the mainstay of therapy however local relapse is a major problem. Therefore, adjuvant treatment with chemoradiotherapy was tested in trials. The SWOG-S0809 trial regimen of chemoradiotherapy which was tested in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and in gallbladder cancer can currently be regarded as highest level of evidence for this indication. In contrast to adjuvant therapy where only conventionally fractionated radiotherapy plays a role, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) today has become a powerful alternative to chemoradiotherapy for definitive treatment due to the ability to administer higher doses of radiotherapy to improve local control. Sequential combinations with chemotherapy are also frequently employed. Nevertheless, in general cholangiocarcinoma is an orphan disease and future clinical trials will have to improve the available level of evidence.     

Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery for Extensive Calvarial Metastases of a Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a common tumor of children. We report a patient with extensive calvarial metastases of a neuroblastoma as an initial presentation. A 2-year-old girl presented with a history of gradually increasing head size and fever. A brain CT showed a multilobulated, large, extra-axial tumor involving both frontotemporoparietal areas with a sunray-spiculated hyperostosis of the skull and marked contrast enhancement. A brain MRI demonstrated extensive calvarial lesions with simultaneous involvement of the orbits. A biopsy was performed and a ganglioneuroblastoma was diagnosed. On systemic evaluation, an enlarged abdominal mass was detected. After neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, most of the tumors disappeared except for a tumor in the left parietal area; there was a corresponding decrease in the circumference of the head. We performed surgery for the remnant mass. Intensive chemotherapy was administered and a bone marrow transplantation was performed. Adequate neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery to the neuroblatoma with extensive metastases to the skull and orbit may be helpful.