ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Local progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after failure of standard therapies may cause pain, ulceration, and bleeding. As patients are fully aware of the tumor growth, they might suffer high grade anxiety. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new local palliative treatment for skin metastases of malignant melanoma or other tumors, including squamous head e neck cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of ECT in patients with local progression of PTC. METHODS: Four patients with local progression of PTC were treated with ECT based on Bleomycin, and evaluated according to tumor response, local pain and side effects. RESULTS: In all cases, some grade of tumor response was observed, lasting 6, 7, 12 and 8 months, respectively. Also, reduction of local pain and anxiety was registered in all patients. Tumor infiltrated skin necrosis was the only collateral effect of the treatment. ECT induced a tumor response in all PTC patients with improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: ECT may be an option for local palliative treatment in PTC patients with local tumor progression.
Resumo Introdução: A progressão local do carcinoma papilífero de tireoide (CPT) após a falha da terapia de rotina pode causar dor, ulceração e sangramento. Considerando que os pacientes estão perfeitamente cientes do crescimento tumoral, podem apresentar um alto grau de ansiedade. A eletroquimioterapia (EQT) é um novo tratamento paliativo para metástases de pele de melanoma maligno ou de outros tumores, inclusive em pacientes com carcinoma escamoso de cabeça e pescoço. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da EQT em pacientes com progressão local de CPT. Método: Quatro pacientes com progressão local de CPT foram tratados com EQT com base em bleomicina, e avaliados em relação ao grau de resposta tumoral, dor local, efeitos colaterais. Resultados: Em todos os casos, foi observado algum grau de resposta tumoral, que perdurou por 6, 7, 12 e 8 meses, respectivamente. Da mesma forma, foi registrada diminuição da dor local e da ansiedade em todos os pacientes. Necrose cutânea na infiltração tumoral foi o único efeito colateral do tratamento. EQT induziu resposta tumoral em todos os pacientes com CPT, com melhora dos sintomas. Conclusões: EQT pode ser uma opção para o tratamento paliativo tópico em pacientes com CPT com progressão tumoral local.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Palliative Care , Bleomycin/administration & dosage , Thyroid Neoplasms/drug therapy , Carcinoma/drug therapy , Electrochemotherapy , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Papillary , Treatment Outcome , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary , Neoplasm Recurrence, LocalABSTRACT
Abstract Background: About 40-50% of cancer patients have indication of palliative radiotherapy during the course of their disease. Bone metastases are the most common cause of cancer-related pain. Evidence shows that there is no statistically significant difference between long and short treatments modalities in pain relief. The aim of this study is to review the experience in treatment of patients requiring palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases treated in Clinica IRAM during 2012. methods: Descriptive retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated during 2012 at Clínica IRAM with palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases. results: 197 patients were included. The median time between onset of symptoms and initiation of treatment was 4 months (1-42 months). The scheme of 8 Gy in one fraction was the most prescribed.Sixty-two percent of patients had a very good/good response to treatment, and 10% had a poor response. Themedian survival was 10.5 months. One, 12 and 24 months survival was 91.8%, 46.3%, 28.7% respective ly.Ten patients were re-irradiated, 7 of them had received 8 Gy in a single fraction as first treatment dose. conclusion: The palliative treatment of cancer patients is an important indication of radiotherapy. The most common indication for treatment was 8 Gy/1 fraction; however, there was a 40% multi fractionated treatments. Since pain relief is similar between different treatment modalities, to offer a shorter treatment appears to bea more reasonable option.
Resumen Introducción: Aproximadamente 40-50% de los pacientes con cáncer tiene indicación de radioterapia paliativa durante el curso de su enfermedad. Las metástasis óseas son la causa más frecuente de dolor relacionado al cáncer. Existe evidencia que demuestra que no existe diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre esquemas de tratamientos prolongados y cortos en alivio del dolor. Objetivo: Revisión de la experiencia en el tratamiento de pacientes con indicación de radioterapia paliativa por metástasis ósea tratados en Clínica IRAM en el año 2012. Método: Análisis retrospectivo descriptivo de fichas clínicas de pacientes tratados el año 2012 en Clínica IRAM con indicación de radioterapia paliativa por metástasis óseas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 197 pacientes. La mediana de tiempo entre inicio de síntomas e inicio de tratamiento fue de 4meses (1-42 meses). El esquema de 8 Gy en 1 fracción fue el más prescrito; 62% de los pacientes tuvo una respuesta muy buena/buena al tratamiento, y 10% tuvo una respuesta pobre. La mediana de sobrevida fue10,5 meses. La sobrevida al mes, 12 y 24 meses fue 91,8%, 46,3%, 28,7% respectivamente. Diez pacientes fueron reirradiados, 7 de ellos tuvieron primer esquema de mono dosis 8 Gy/1 fracción. Conclusión: El manejo paliativo de pacientes con cáncer representa una importante indicación de radioterapia. La indicación más frecuente de tratamiento fue 8 Gy/1 fracción, sin embargo, hubo un 40% de tratamientos multifraccionados. Dado que el alivio del dolor es similar entre distintas modalidades terapéuticas, realizar un tratamiento más corto parece ser una alternativa más razonable.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Palliative Care , Bone Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Bone Neoplasms/secondary , Survival Analysis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Local progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after failure of standard therapies may cause pain, ulceration, and bleeding. As patients are fully aware of the tumor growth, they might suffer high grade anxiety. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new local palliative treatment for skin metastases of malignant melanoma or other tumors, including squamous head e neck cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of ECT in patients with local progression of PTC. METHODS: Four patients with local progression of PTC were treated with ECT based on Bleomycin, and evaluated according to tumor response, local pain and side effects. RESULTS: In all cases, some grade of tumor response was observed, lasting 6, 7, 12 and 8 months, respectively. Also, reduction of local pain and anxiety was registered in all patients. Tumor infiltrated skin necrosis was the only collateral effect of the treatment. ECT induced a tumor response in all PTC patients with improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: ECT may be an option for local palliative treatment in PTC patients with local tumor progression.