Advances in Transversal Topics Applicable to the Care of Bladder Cancer Patients in the Real-World Setting.

Recommendations regarding transversal topics applicable to bladder cancer patients independent of tumor grade and stage were established by members of the Spanish Oncology Genitourinary Multidisciplinary Working Group (SOGUG). Liquid biopsy in urine and blood samples is useful in the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, respectively. Multiparametric MRI is an accurate, faster and non-invasive staging method overcoming the understaging risk of other procedures. The combination of FDG-PET/MRI could improve diagnostic reliability, but definite criteria for imaging interpretation are still unclear. Hospital oncology pharmacists as members of tumor committees improve the safety of drug use. Additionally, safety recommendations during BCG preparation should be strictly followed. The initial evaluation of patients with bladder cancer should include a multidimensional geriatric assessment. Orthotopic neobladder reconstruction should be offered to motivated patients with full information of self-care requirements. Bladder-sparing protocols, including chemoradiation therapy and immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs), should be implemented in centers with well-coordinated multidisciplinary teams and offered to selected patients. The optimal strategy of treatment with ICIs should be defined from the initial diagnostic phase with indications based on scientific evidence. Centralized protocols combined with the experience of professional groups are needed for the integral care of bladder cancer patients.

Evaluation of a protocol to detect malnutrition and provide nutritional care for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Patients with cancer frequently experience malnutrition, which is associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the implementation of strategies for its early detection and for intervention should improve the evolution of these patients. Our study aim is to design and implement a protocol for outpatients starting chemotherapy, by means of which any malnutrition can be identified and treated at an early stage. Before starting chemotherapy for patients with cancer, a complete assessment was made of their nutritional status, using the Nutriscore screening tool. When nutritional risk was detected, an interventional protocol was applied. Of 234 patients included in the study group, 84 (36%) required an individualised nutritional approach: 27 (32.1%) presented high nutritional risk, 12 had a Nutriscore result ≥ 5 and 45 experienced weight loss during chemotherapy. Among this population, the mean weight loss (with respect to normal weight) on inclusion in the study was - 3.6% ± 8.2. By the end of the chemotherapy, the mean weight gain was 0% ± 7.3 (p < 0.001) and 71.0% of the patients had experienced weight gain or maintenance, with respect to the initial weight. More than a third of cancer patients who start chemotherapy are candidates for early nutritional intervention. This finding highlights the importance of early identification of patients at risk in order to improve the efficacy of nutritional interventions, regardless of the stage of the disease.

Nutritional risk and malnutrition rates at diagnosis of cancer in patients treated in outpatient settings: Early intervention protocol.

OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is frequent in patients with cancer and is associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. However, a significant number of patients at nutritional risk remain undetected due to the lack of a routine screening procedure during diagnosis. Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella (Málaga), Spain has implemented a protocol for outpatients with cancer aimed at identifying and treating malnutrition at an early stage. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk and the rate of malnutrition when cancer is diagnosed. METHODS: We conducted a complete assessment of the nutritional status of patients with cancer of the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, or biliary tract) or head and neck cancer. Using the Nutriscore tool at the first oncology consultation, a screening for nutritional risk was performed for patients with other solid tumors. When nutritional risk was detected, a complete nutritional assessment was conducted. RESULTS: Of 295 consecutive patients, 21.4% were found to be at nutritional risk (Nutriscore ≥5). After complete assessment, a moderate degree of malnutrition was observed in 76% and severe malnutrition in 12%. Among patients with colorectal cancer or tumors of gynecologic origin, only 7.5% presented nutritional risk, but 52.8% presented cachexia. CONCLUSION: The high rate of malnutrition observed and the identification of cachexia at an early stage highlight the importance of obtaining early identification of patients at risk to improve the efficacy of nutritional interventions.

Effects of cyclic parenteral nutrition on parenteral-associated liver dysfunction parameters.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most common complications of parenteral nutrition (PN) is liver dysfunction (LD). Therapeutic approaches for LD include, among others, administering cyclic parenteral nutrition (cPN), allowing some hours for metabolic rest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cPN in treating PN-associated LD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Spain between 2013 and 2014. The study involved inpatients ≥18 years old prescribed with cPN due to the development of PN-associated LD. The hepatic biochemical parameters measured at baseline and after completion of cPN included aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TB). Quantitative values (age, biochemical parameters) were compared using matched Student's t-test; the mean change in qualitative variables (sex, indication of PN, hepatic comorbidities, presence of insulin in cPN, infection during cPN, management of LD prior to cPN administrarion) was estimated using Mann-Whitney U test, and bivariate correlation between quantitative variables was determined by Spearman's coefficient of correlation. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. All hepatic function parameters except ALP improved after the administration of cPN, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in AST GGT and TB. CONCLUSION: cPN improves PN-associated LD by restoring abnormal AST, GGT, and BT levels to normal, and reducing ALT levels close to normal. The results obtained suggest that the administration of cPN is effective in reverting PN-associated LD.