Breast and gynecologic cancers as a Brazilian health priority

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Cancer imposes a profound burden on low- and middle-income countries where 65% of the global cancer deaths occurred in 2020. The objective of the present review was to describe female cancer epidemiology in Brazil, barriers to prevention, screening, and treatment, and to propose strategies to a better control. METHODS: For the process of literature search and scientific acquisition, we have utilized the terms "female cancer" AND "breast cancer," AND "cervical cancer" AND "endometrial cancer" AND "ovarian cancer" AND "Brazil" in PubMed. References of the articles included in this review were manually searched in order to identify relevant studies on the topic. The official Brazilian epidemiology data were extensively analyzed at the governmental site www.inca.gov.br. RESULTS: Considering cases of breast and gynecologic cancers together, 105,770 new cases are expected to be diagnosed yearly, positioning female cancer as the highest cancer incidence in Brazil. Female breast cancer is the most common and the leading cause of death from cancer in the female population in all regions of Brazil, except in the North, where cervical cancer ranks first. Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, corresponds to the third-most common neoplasia in women, with higher incidences in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. An upward trend has been observed in endometrial cancer incidence, a tendency that follows the increase of its two most common risk factors: population aging and obesity. Ovarian cancer currently occupies the eighth position among female cancers in Brazil, but it is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. The main strategies to reduce female cancer mortality rates are the reduction of inequalities in healthcare services and the early diagnosis of cases. The lack of a specific national cancer program results in a reactive and unplanned approach to healthcare provision, ultimately leading to suboptimal resource utilization and higher expenditure. CONCLUSION: Analyzed together, breast and gynecologic cancers correspond to the leading cause of cancer in Brazil. A heterogeneous group, female cancer includes diseases with a high primary and secondary prevention potential. The organization of a female cancer program in Brazil prioritizing primary and secondary prevention strategies, such as adequate mammography screening and human papillomavirus vaccination coverage, could significantly improve female cancer control in the country.

Dealing with cancer screening in the COVID-19 era

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This article aims to alert health professionals for cancer screening in the face of the possibility of new waves of disease. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted through a search in MEDLINE, Lilacs, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and international medical societies publications. RESULTS: Breast cancer: in high-risk patients (confirmed familial cancer syndrome or with high-risk tools scores), clinicians should act according to usual recommendations; in average-risk individuals, consider screening with mammography with a longer time span (maximum of two years). Cervical cancer: women turning 25 years old who have already been immunized and with no previous Pap test can have the test postponed during the pandemic; if there is no previous dose of Human Papillomavirus vaccination, initiation of screening should be recommended following a more rigid approach for COVID prevention; in women over 30 years of age who have never participated in cervical screening, the first screening exam is also essential. Colorectal cancer: if the individual is at elevated risk for familial cancer, the screening with colonoscopy according to usual recommendations should be supported; if at average risk consider screening with Fecal Occult Blood Test. Prostate cancer: there is a trend to postpone routine prostate cancer screening until the pandemic subsides. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to keep cancer screening must be discussed and individualized, considering the possibility of new waves of COVID-19.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND BREAST CANCER DEVELOPMENT: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY / Associação entre ingesta alcoólica e desenvolvimento de câncer de mama: um estudo de caso-controle

Objectives: To identify the association of alcohol consumption with the development of breast cancer in a patient population of Salvador, Bahia. Methods: Case-control study, conducted between December 2013 and May 2015, with 69 patients with breast ductal carcinoma and 71 controls. Sample calculation was made with 140 patients, with 5% presumed difference between groups and 10% acceptable difference. The χ2 test was used to evaluate the correlation between categorical variables, and Student's t-test was applied to compare continuous variables. Results: From all cases, medium alcohol intake was 3.66±8.60 g/day; among controls, the average was 3.71±7.40 g/day (p=0.890). When analyzing the association between alcohol intake and breast cancer, odds ratio was 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.524­1.890), p=0.988. For alcohol consumption greater than 10 g/day and breast cancer, odds ratio was 1.579 (95%CI 0.624­3.995), p=0.332. Conclusions: Although published data suggest an association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, in this study there was no statistical significance between the variables assessed and the onset of this pathology.

Objetivo: Identificar a associação do consumo alcoólico com o desenvolvimento de câncer de mama em uma população de pacientes de Salvador, Bahia. Métodos: Estudo de caso-controle realizado entre dezembro de 2013 e maio de 2015 com 69 pacientes com diagnóstico de carcinoma ductal da mama e 71 controles. Foi realizado cálculo amostral com 140 pacientes, esperando-se uma diferença presumida de 5% entre os grupos e com diferença aceitável de 10%. Realizou-se teste do χ2 para avaliação de correlação entre as variáveis categóricas e teste t de Student entre as variáveis contínuas. Resultados: Entre os casos, a ingesta alcoólica média foi de 3,66±8,60 g/dia; já entre os controles a média foi de 3,71±7,40 g/dia (p=0,890). Ao analisar-se a associação entre ingesta alcoólica e câncer de mama, obtivemos odds ratio de 0,99 (intervalo de confiança de 95% ­ IC95% 0,524­1,890), p=0,988. Em relação ao consumo de álcool maior do que 10 g/dia e câncer de mama, a odds ratio foi de 1,579 (IC95% 0,624­3,995), p=0,332. Conclusão: Apesar de dados publicados e hipóteses sugerirem associação entre ingesta alcoólica e câncer de mama, neste estudo não houve significância estatística entre as variáveis analisadas e a presença da patologia.

Deplecão de célula B no tratamento de citopenias auto-imunes / B-Cell depletion in the treatment of autoimmune cytopenias

A morbidade associada ao tratamento de citopenias auto-imunes tornou necessária a busca por novas terapêuticas. Baseado no fato de que o rituximab reage especificamente contra o antígeno CD 20, induzindo deplecão de células B e conseqüentemente levando à diminuicão na producão de auto-anticorpos, cinco pacientes com citopenias auto-imunes foram tratados com esta droga. Os pacientes eram refratários à terapia convencional e receberam 375 mg/my de rituximab semanalmente, por um período de quatro semanas. Todos os pacientes apresentaram melhora, seja pelo aumento do número de células (níveis de hemoglobina ou contagem de plaquetas), seja pela suspensão do uso de corticoesteróides. Não foram observadas reacões importantes durante infusão do medicamento, ou mesmo episódios de infeccão durante acompanhamento subseqüente. Desta forma, o rituximab se mostrou eficaz e seguro para pacientes portadores de anemia hemolítica e púrpura trombocitopênica de etiologia imunológica, sugerindo que esta droga deva fazer parte do arsenal terapêutico utilizado nestas doencas auto-imunes.