ABSTRACT
Background: The evaluation of existing resources and services is key to identify gaps and prioritize interventions to expand care capacity for children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We sought to evaluate the resources for pediatric neuro-oncology (PNO) in Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey with 35 questions was designed to assess PNO resources and services, covering aspects including number of patients, infrastructure, human resources, and diagnostic and treatment time intervals. The survey was distributed to the members of the Mexican Association of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (AMOHP) who belong to the nation's many different health systems. Results: Responses were obtained from 33 institutions, distributed throughout the country and part of the many health systems that exist in Mexico. Twenty-one (64%) institutions had less than 10 new cases of pediatric CNS tumors per year. Although 30 (91%) institutions saw pediatric patients up to the age of 18 years, 2 (6%) had a cutoff of 15 years. Twenty-four (73%) institutions had between 1 and 3 pediatric oncologists providing care for children with CNS tumors. Six (18%) institutions did not have a neurosurgeon, while 19 (57%) institutions had a pediatric neurosurgeon. All centers had a pathology department, but 13 (39%) institutions only had access to basic histopathology. Eleven (33%) institutions reported histopathological diagnoses within one week, but 3 (9%) took more than 4 weeks. Radiotherapy for pediatric CNS tumors was referred to outside centers at 18 (55%) institutions. All centers had access to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, but only 6 (18%) had access to targeted therapy. Eighteen (55%) respondents estimated a survival rate of less than 60%. Fifteen (45%) centers attributed the main cause of mortality to non-tumor related factors, including infection and post-surgical complications. Conclusions: This is the first national assessment of the resources available in Mexico for the treatment of CNS tumors. It shows disparities in resource capacity and a lack of the specific and efficient diagnoses that allow timely initiation of treatment. These data will enable the prioritization of collaborative interventions in the future.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Data on medulloblastoma outcomes and experiences in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Latin America, is limited. This study examines challenges in Mexico's healthcare system, focusing on assessing outcomes for children with medulloblastoma in a tertiary care setting. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted, involving 284 patients treated at 21 pediatric oncology centers in Mexico. Results: High-risk patients exhibited markedly lower event-free survival than standard-risk patients (43.5% vs. 78.3%, p<0.001). Influential factors on survival included anaplastic subtype (HR 2.4, p=0.003), metastatic disease (HR 1.9, p=0.001); residual tumor >1.5cm², and lower radiotherapy doses significantly impacted event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Platinum-based chemotherapy showed better results compared to the ICE protocol in terms of OS and EFS, which was associated with higher toxicity. Patients under 3 years old displayed notably lower OS and EFS compared to older children (36.1% vs. 55.9%, p=0.01).
ABSTRACT
Resumen Objetivo: Describir los efectos cardiovasculares del tratamiento del cáncer infantil en supervivientes mediante métodos clínicos, electrocardiográficos y ecocardiográficos. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal y observacional de casos y controles de 34 pacientes de una clínica de supervivientes de cáncer infantil, evaluados de forma clínica, con electrocardiograma, ecocardiografía convencional y strain. Edad promedio de 13.03 años; dosis acumulada de antracíclicos promedio de 219.5 mg/m2; siete además con radiación a tórax. Análisis con pruebas T de Student y regresión lineal. Resultados: Fracción de expulsión izquierda preservada en supervivientes. Strain longitudinal izquierdo en dos, tres cámaras y circunferencial disminuido en supervivientes (p < 0.05). Los enfermos sometidos a radioterapia y antracíclicos mostraron un incremento de la frecuencia cardíaca, disminución de la fracción de expulsión y fracción de acortamiento izquierdos (< 0.05). Ventrículo derecho sin cambios significativos. Discusión y conclusiones: Existe un gran número de supervivientes de cáncer infantil tratados con cardiotóxicos y radioterapia; éstos pueden experimentar cambios en el strain miocárdico ventricular (aun con fracción de expulsión normal) o arritmias, como lo muestra el grupo estudiado, que concuerda con protocolos internacionales previos. Es importante su evaluación cardiovascular completa para predecir el riesgo de insuficiencia cardíaca como parte de un seguimiento protocolizado en clínicas de cardiooncología bien establecidas.
Abstract Objective: To describe the cardiovascular effects of childhood cancer treatment in survivors through clinical, electrocardiogram and echocardiographic methods. Material and methods: Prospective, observational case-control study of 34 patients of a Childhood Cancer Survivors Clinic, evaluated clinically, with electrocardiogram, with conventional echocardiography and strain. Average age 13.03 years; cumulative average anthracyclic dose 219.5 mg/m2; seven also with chest radiation. Analysis with student T tests and linear regression. Results: Left ejection fraction in survivors was preserved. Longitudinal left strain in 2, 3 chambers and circumferential was decreased in survivors (p < 0.05). Those undergoing radiotherapy and anthracyclic presented increased heart rate, ejection fraction and left shortening fraction decreased (< 0.05). Right ventricle without significant changes. Discussion and conclusions: There are a large number of childhood cancer survivors treated with cardiotoxics and radiotherapy. They may present changes in ventricular myocardial strain (even with normal ejection fraction) and/or arrhythmias, as evidenced in the group studied, which is consistent with previous international studies. Its complete cardiovascular evaluation is important to predict the risk of heart failure as part of a protocolized follow-up in well-established cardio oncology clinics.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/therapy , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Cancer Survivors , MexicoABSTRACT
Objetivo: Describir los efectos cardiovasculares del tratamiento del cáncer infantil en supervivientes mediante métodos clínicos, electrocardiográficos y ecocardiográficos. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal y observacional de casos y controles de 34 pacientes de una clínica de supervivientes de cáncer infantil, evaluados de forma clínica, con electrocardiograma, ecocardiografía convencional y strain. Edad promedio de 13.03 años; dosis acumulada de antracíclicos promedio de 219.5 mg/m2; siete además con radiación a tórax. Análisis con pruebas T de Student y regresión lineal. Resultados: Fracción de expulsión izquierda preservada en supervivientes. Strain longitudinal izquierdo en dos, tres cámaras y circunferencial disminuido en supervivientes (p < 0.05). Los enfermos sometidos a radioterapia y antracíclicos mostraron un incremento de la frecuencia cardíaca, disminución de la fracción de expulsión y fracción de acortamiento izquierdos (< 0.05). Ventrículo derecho sin cambios significativos. Discusión y conclusiones: Existe un gran número de supervivientes de cáncer infantil tratados con cardiotóxicos y radioterapia; éstos pueden experimentar cambios en el strain miocárdico ventricular (aun con fracción de expulsión normal) o arritmias, como lo muestra el grupo estudiado, que concuerda con protocolos internacionales previos. Es importante su evaluación cardiovascular completa para predecir el riesgo de insuficiencia cardíaca como parte de un seguimiento protocolizado en clínicas de cardiooncología bien establecidas.
