Maximizing Breast Cancer Therapy with Awareness of Potential Treatment-Related Blood Disorders

In this review we summarize the impact of the various modalities of breast cancer therapy coupled with intrinsic patient factors on incidence of subsequent treatment-induced myelodysplasia and acute myelogenous leukemia (t-MDS/AML). It is clear that risk is increased for patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy at younger ages. Radiation is associated with modest risk, whereas chemotherapy, particularly the combination of an alkylating agent and an anthracycline, carries higher risk and radiation and chemotherapy combined increase the risk markedly. Recently, treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), but not pegylated G-CSF, has been identified as a factor associated with increased t-MDS/AML risk. Two newly identified associations may link homologous DNA repair gene deficiency and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor treatment to increased t-MDS/AML risk. When predisposing factors, such as young age, are combined with an increasing number of potentially leukemogenic treatments that may not confer large risk singly, the risk of t-MDS/AML appears to increase. Patient and treatment factors combine to form a biological cascade that can trigger a myelodysplastic event. Patients with breast cancer are often exposed to many of these risk factors in the course of their treatment, and triple-negative patients, who are often younger and/or BRCA positive, are often exposed to all of them. It is important going forward to identify effective therapies without these adverse associated effects and choose existing therapies that minimize the risk of t-MDS/AML without sacrificing therapeutic gain.

Implications for Practice

Breast cancer is far more curable than in the past but requires multimodality treatment. Great care must be taken to use the least leukemogenic treatment programs that do not sacrifice efficacy. Elimination of radiation and anthracycline/alkylating agent regimens will be helpful where possible, particularly in younger patients and possibly those with homologous repair deficiency (HRD). Use of colony-stimulating factors should be limited to those who truly require them for safe chemotherapy administration. Further study of a possible leukemogenic association with HRD and the various forms of colony-stimulating factors is badly needed.

     

Lenalidomide in the management of eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy

Eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy is a paraneoplastic skin eruption associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other B‐cell malignancies. It clinically resembles an insect bite reaction and it can precede the symptoms of the hematological malignancy or be related to a more aggressive course. Different treatments have been proposed, but partial response and recurrence are frequent. Herein, we describe a case of eosinophilic dermatosis associated with mantle cell lymphoma with remission after lenalidomide therapy.     

临床护理路径用于ICU重症颅脑损伤患者护理中的价值

目的 探讨临床护理路径用于ICU重症颅脑损伤患者护理中的价值。方法 选择2017年11月～2018年10月进行ICU重症颅脑损伤治疗的患者100例作为对象,随机数字表法分为对照组(n=50)和观察组(n=50)。对照组给予常规护理,观察组在其基础上应用临床护理路径,15 d护理后比较患者依从性情况、对患者护理前后心理状态进行评分,对不良并发症产生情况进行比较。结果 观察组康复锻炼依从、按时用药依从及饮食依从高于对照组(P0.05)。护理前两组SDS与SAS评分比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),护理后,观察组SDS与SAS评分低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组出现压疮、泌尿感染、以及发热的发生率显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论 将临床护理路径用于ICU重症颅脑损伤患者的护理中,提高了患者的护理依从性,减少了不良情绪以及不良并发症的产生,有助于患者整体治疗,值得推广应用。     

Clinical Guidance for the Management of Patients with Urothelial Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Rapid Review

The current COVID-19 pandemic presents a substantial obstacle to cancer patient care. Data from China as well as risk models suppose that cancer patients, particularly those on active, immunosuppressive therapies are at higher risks of severe infection from the illness. In addition, staff illness and restructuring of services to deal with the crisis will inevitably place treatment capacities under significant strain. These guidelines aim to expand on those provided by NHS England regarding cancer care during the coronavirus pandemic by examining the known literature and provide guidance in managing patients with urothelial and rarer urinary tract cancers. In particular, they address the estimated risk and benefits of standard treatments and consider the alternatives in the current situation. As a result, it is recommended that this guidance will help form a framework for shared decision making with patients. Moreover, they do not advise a one-size-fits-all approach but recommend continual assessment of the situation with discussion within and between centres.