Bloodstream infection in patients with head and neck cancer: a major challenge in the cetuximab era.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in the cetuximab era. METHODS: We prospectively analysed the epidemiology, microbiology and outcomes of 51 BSI episodes occurring in 48 patients with HNC (2006-2017). We performed a retrospective matched-cohort study (1:2) to determine the risk factors for BSI. Finally, we compared patients who died with those who survived to identify risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: The most frequent HNC localization was the oropharynx (43%), and pneumonia was the most frequent source (25%). Gram-positive BSI occurred in 55% cases, mainly due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (21%), and among Gram-negatives, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequent. Hypoalbuminemia (OR 8.4; 95% CI, 3.5-19.9), previous chemotherapy (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.3-7.4) and cetuximab therapy (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-6.7) were significant risk factors for BSI. Patients with BSI had a higher overall case-fatality rate than patients without BSI (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.8). Hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for the early (7 day) and overall (30 day) case-fatalities, with ORs of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.6-0.9) and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.7-0.97), respectively. The presence of comorbidities (OR, 7; 95% CI, 1.4-34) was also an independent risk factor for overall case-fatality. CONCLUSIONS: BSI causes high mortality in patients with HNC and is most often secondary to pneumonia. It occurs mainly among patients with hypoalbuminemia who receive treatment with cetuximab or chemotherapy. The development of BSI in patients with HNC impairs their outcome, especially in the presence of hypoalbuminemia and comorbidities.

Supportive care in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the cancers with poorest prognosis and represents the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Despite advances in diagnostic procedures and treatment, diagnosis is made in most cases when the disease is locally advanced or metastatic. Supportive care aims to improve symptoms, reduce hospital admission rates, and preserve quality of life. Proper symptomatic management is critical to allow administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Symptomatic management should be accomplished in a multidisciplinary fashion. Its primary aims include relief of biliary or duodenal obstruction, prevention and/or treatment of thromboembolic disease, and control cancer-related pain. Nutritional support and optimal replacement therapy in patients with endocrine and/or exocrine insufficiency, is mandatory. This manuscript highlights the most significant problems faced when caring for patients with advanced PDAC and provides an evidence-based approach to symptomatic management (AU)

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Nutritional changes in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer during treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate changes in body composition and nutritional status that occur throughout the oncological treatment in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort observational study in patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that underwent treatment with induction chemotherapy (iCT) followed by chemoradiotherapy or bioradiotherapy were invited to participate. All patients had dietetic counseling from the diagnosis and a close monitoring throughout the treatment implementing nutritional support as needed. RESULTS: From June 2011 until October 2012, 20 patients were included. Nutritional and anthropometric parameters were collected at diagnosis, post iCT, after radiotherapy, 1 and 3months post radiotherapy. According to Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment, 30% of patients were malnourished at diagnosis. After iCT there was an increase in weight, body mass index (BMI) and fat free mass (FFM) with almost complete improvement in dysphagia and odynophagia. Nevertheless a significant nutritional deterioration (p=0.0022) occurred at the end of radiotherapy with 95% of patients becoming severe or moderate malnourished. Nutritional parameters such as weight, BMI and hand grip strength also decrease significantly during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an intensive nutritional support from the diagnosis throughout the oncological treatment in advanced HNSCC cancer patients, nutritional status deteriorates during radiotherapy. Our findings suggest that iCT may help improve nutritional status by ameliorating the symptoms that limit the oral intake. This improvement in the nutritional status could contribute to minimize further deterioration. Further investigations are needed involving novel approaches to avoid nutritional deterioration.

Supportive care in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the cancers with poorest prognosis and represents the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Despite advances in diagnostic procedures and treatment, diagnosis is made in most cases when the disease is locally advanced or metastatic. Supportive care aims to improve symptoms, reduce hospital admission rates, and preserve quality of life. Proper symptomatic management is critical to allow administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Symptomatic management should be accomplished in a multidisciplinary fashion. Its primary aims include relief of biliary or duodenal obstruction, prevention and/or treatment of thromboembolic disease, and control cancer-related pain. Nutritional support and optimal replacement therapy in patients with endocrine and/or exocrine insufficiency, is mandatory. This manuscript highlights the most significant problems faced when caring for patients with advanced PDAC and provides an evidence-based approach to symptomatic management.

Consensus guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with pancreatic cancer in Spain.

The management of patients with pancreatic cancer has advanced over the last few years. We convey a multidisciplinary group of experts in an attempt to stablish practical guidelines for the diagnoses, staging and management of these patients. This paper summarizes the main conclusions of the working group. Patients with suspected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma should be rapidly evaluated and referred to high-volume centers. Multidisciplinary supervision is critical for proper diagnoses, staging and to frame a treatment plan. Surgical resection together with chemotherapy offers the highest chance for cure in early stage disease. Patients with advanced disease should be classified in treatment groups to guide systemic treatment. New chemotherapeutic regimens have resulted in improved survival. Symptomatic management is critical in this disease. Enrollment in a clinical trial is, in general, recommended.

Effect of a diet and physical activity intervention on body weight and nutritional patterns in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors.

Energy restriction from a low-calorie diet and increased energy expenditure induced by physical activity (PA) could promote weight loss/maintenance and be important determinants of breast cancer (BC) prognosis. The aim of this study was to assess participation and adherence of overweight and obese BC survivors to a lifestyle intervention and to demonstrate the capacity of this intervention to induce weight loss and nutritional changes. This single-arm pre-post study, which involved one-hourly weekly diet sessions delivered by a dietician and 75-min bi-weekly PA sessions of moderate-to-high intensity led by PA monitors, was offered to overweight and obese BC survivors shortly after treatment. Before and after the intervention, anthropometry, dietary information, quality of life (QoL) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were collected. A total of 112 BC survivors were invited to participate: 42 of them started the intervention and 37 completed it. Participants attended more than 90 % of the sessions offered and showed a significant weight loss of 5.6 ± 2.0 kg, as well as significant decreases in body mass index, fat mass and waist circumference. Significant decreases in total energy (-25 %), fat (-35 %), saturated fat (-37 %) and carbohydrate (-21 %) intakes were observed while QoL and CRF showed significant increases. This feasibility study demonstrated the success of a short-term diet and PA intervention to induce weight loss and promote healthful changes in BC survivors. Assessing the long-term effects of these changes, and in particular their possible impact of BC prognosis, and designing interventions reaching a wider number of BC survivors are still issues to be addressed.

[Predict factors associated with malnutrition from patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) in head and neck cancer patients]. / Predict factors associated with malnutrition from patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) in head and neck cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) is a validated tool for nutrition evaluation in patients with cancer. AIM: The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis and evaluate the independent prognostic factors for malnutrition from PG-SGA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All outpatients attending at the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Meeting for primary diagnosis, staging and treatment were evaluated by an oncology dietitian using the patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). Patients with recurrences or secondary tumours will be excluded. RESULTS: 64 patients were evaluated (55 men and 9 women) with an average age of 63 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.3 kg/m(2) (SD ± 5.18). After the nutritional assessment we observed that 43.8% of patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The most frequent symptom at diagnosis was dysphagia (48.4%) and anorexia (26.6%). From PG-SGA, the main prognostic factors (p<0,001) were the percentage of weight loss, serum albumin levels, BMI and the presence of dysphagia or/and anorexia prior diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Parameters as BMI, weight loss and low albumin levels at the time of diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients are independent predictors for malnutrition as well as the presence of anorexia or dysphagia.reaffirms the need for sustainability of interventions over time.

Introducción: La valoración global subjetiva generada por el paciente (VGS-GP) es una herramienta validada para la valoración nutricional de los pacientes oncológicos. Objetivo: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la prevalencia de desnutrición de los pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello en el momento del diagnóstico y evaluar los factores pronósticos independientes de desnutrición a partir de la VGS-GP. Material y métodos: Todos los pacientes ambulatorios que fueron evaluados por el Comité de Tumores de Cabeza y Cuello para diagnóstico primario, estadiaje y decisión terapéutica fueron evaluados a través de la VGSGP. Se excluyeron recidivas tumorales y segundas neoplasias. Resultados: Se evaluaron 64 pacientes (55 hombres y 9 mujeres) con una edad media de 63 2013s y un índice de masa corporal (IMC) de 25,3 kg/m2. Después de realizar la VGS-GP se observó que el 43,8% presentaban desnutrición o riesgo de padecerla. Los síntomas más frecuentes en el momento del diagnóstico fueron la disfagia (48,4%) y la anorexia (26.6%). Dentro de la VGS-GP, los principales factores pronósticos (p<0,001) fueron el porcentaje de pérdida de peso, los niveles de albúmina, el valor del IMC y la presencia de disfagia y/o anorexia. Conclusiones: Parámetros como el IMC, la pérdida de peso y las cifras de albúmina en el momento del diagnóstico de cáncer de cabeza y cuello, son factores predictivos independientes para el diagnóstico de desnutrición, así como la presencia de anorexia o disfagia.

Factores pronóstico de desnutrición a partir de la valoración global subjetiva generada por el paciente (VGS-GP) en pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello / Predict factors associated with malnutrition from patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) in head and neck cancer patients

Introducción: La valoración global subjetiva generada por el paciente (VGS-GP) es una herramienta validada para la valoración nutricional de los pacientes oncológicos. Objetivo: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la prevalencia de desnutrición de los pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello en el momento del diagnóstico y evaluar los factores pronósticos independientes de desnutrición a partir de la VGS-GP. Material y métodos: Todos los pacientes ambulatorios que fueron evaluados por el Comité de Tumores de Cabeza y Cuello para diagnóstico primario, estadiaje y decisión terapéutica fueron evaluados a través de la VGS-GP. Se excluyeron recidivas tumorales y segundas neoplasias. Resultados: Se evaluaron 64 pacientes (55 hombres y 9 mujeres) con una edad media de 63 años y un índice de masa corporal (IMC) de 25,3 kg/m2. Después de realizar la VGS-GP se observó que el 43,8% presentaban desnutrición o riesgo de padecerla. Los síntomas más frecuentes en el momento del diagnóstico fueron la disfagia (48,4%) y la anorexia (26.6%). Dentro de la VGS-GP, los principales factores pronósticos (p<0,001) fueron el porcentaje de pérdida de peso, los niveles de albúmina, el valor del IMC y la presencia de disfagia y/o anorexia. Conclusiones: Parámetros como el IMC, la pérdida de peso y las cifras de albúmina en el momento del diagnóstico de cáncer de cabeza y cuello, son factores predictivos independientes para el diagnóstico de desnutrición, así como la presencia de anorexia o disfagia (AU)

Introduction: Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) is a validated tool for nutrition evaluation in patients with cancer. Aim: The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis and evaluate the independent prognostic factors for malnutrition from PG-SGA. Material and methods: All outpatients attending at the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Meeting for primary diagnosis, staging and treatment were evaluated by an oncology dietitian using the patient generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). Patients with recurrences or secondary tumours will be excluded. Results: 64 patients were evaluated (55 men and 9 women) with an average age of 63 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.3 kg/m2 (SD ± 5.18). After the nutritional assessment we observed that 43.8% of patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The most frequent symptom at diagnosis was dysphagia (48.4%) and anorexia (26.6%). From PG-SGA, the main prognostic factors (p<0,001) were the percentage of weight loss, serum albumin levels, BMI and the presence of dysphagia or/and anorexia prior diagnosis. Conclusions: Parameters as BMI, weight loss and low albumin levels at the time of diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients are independent predictors for malnutrition as well as the presence of anorexia or dysphagia (AU)

[Descriptive study of patients diagnosed with asthma in a regional respiratory medicine practice]. / Estudio descriptivo de los pacientes diagnosticados de asma en una consulta neumológica de ámbito comarcal.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed of bronchial asthma (BA) in a regional respiratory medicine practice. METHODS: Over a period of two years, 88 adult patients followed a prospective-diagnostic protocol for BA that included taking of patient history to determine the probability of initial diagnosis (PID) of asthma, assessment of atopy and a lung function test that included spirometry with a bronchodilator test, recording of forced expiratory volume, and a methacholine challenge test. BA was diagnosed when symptoms denoting high or moderate PID were present and there was a positive reversibility and/or bronchial hyperreactivity test. The severity of disease was evaluated using the consensus criteria of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). A student-t test and a chi 2 test were performed to compare data. RESULTS: BA was diagnosed in 24 men (30%) and 56 women (70%) with a mean age of 43.0 +/- 17.6 years (range 16 to 68). Significant differences between men and women were detected only for function parameters and cigarette consumption (p < 0.05). Fifty-three patients (66%) were referred by general practitioners, 22 (27%) were referred by hospital, and 5 came from other sources. The first group had a shorter history of disease course (p = 0.05) upon first evaluation. Sixty-one patients (76%) had mild asthma; these patients were younger and had had symptoms for a shorter period of time than those with more serious degrees of disease (16 with moderate asthma and 3 with severe asthma) (p < 0.05). Symptoms indicated a high PID in 57 cases (71%), and this figure increased significantly to 89.5% for those with more severe asthma (p < 0.05). Asthma was intrinsic for 39 patients and extrinsic for 41, with significant differences in age and total IgE between the two groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 1. BA is more than twice as common among women as among men. 2. Two thirds of patients are referred by general practitioners. 3. Mild asthma clearly predominates. 4. Clinical symptoms point to asthma, the PID in most cases being high.