Prognostic significance of age in 5631 patients with Wilms tumour prospectively registered in International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) 93-01 and 2001.

BACKGROUND: To enhance risk stratification for Wilms tumour (WT) in a pre-operative chemotherapy setting, we explored the prognostic significance and optimal age cutoffs in patients treated according to International Society of Paediatric Oncology Renal Tumour Study Group (SIOP-RTSG) protocols. METHODS: Patients(6 months-18 years) with unilateral WT were selected from prospective SIOP 93-01 and 2001 studies(1993-2016). Martingale residual analysis was used to explore optimal age cutoffs. Outcome according to age was analyzed by uni- and multivariable analysis, adjusted for sex, biopsy(yes/no), stage, histology and tumour volume at surgery. RESULTS: 5631 patients were included; median age was 3.4 years(IQR: 2-5.1). Estimated 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 85%(95%CI 83.5-85.5) and 93%(95%CI 92.0-93.4). Martingale residual plots detected no optimal age cutoffs. Multivariable analysis showed lower EFS with increasing age(linear trend P<0.001). Using previously described age categories, EFS was lower for patients aged 2-4(HR 1.34, P = 0.02), 4-10(HR 1.83, P<0.0001) and 10-18 years(HR 1.74, P = 0.01) as compared to patients aged 6 months-2 years. OS was lower for patients 4-10 years(HR 1.67, P = 0.01) and 10-18 years(HR 1.87, P = 0.04), but not for 2-4 years(HR 1.29, P = 0.23). Higher stage, histological risk group and tumour volume were independent adverse prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Although optimal age cutoffs could not be identified, we demonstrated the prognostic significance of age as well as previously described cutoffs for EFS (2 and 4 years) and OS (4 years) in children with WT treated with pre-operative chemotherapy. These findings encourage the consideration of age in the design of future SIOP-RTSG protocols.

Etiología de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en un hospital de cuarto nivel en Bogotá: estudio descriptivo de un registro institucional durante los años 2007 a 2012 / Etiology of community acquired pneumonia in a fourth level attention hospital in Bogotá: Descriptive study of an institutional record during 2007 to 2012

Introducción: La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) puede ser causada por diferentes gérmenes. En Latinoamérica la principal etiología es Streptococcus pneumoniae , aislado en aproximadamente el 35-40% de los casos. Objetivos: Describir las características de los pacientes hospitalizados con diagnóstico de NAC durante 6 años en la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, los principales agentes etiológicos y el patrón de susceptibilidad antibiótica en los microorganismos más importantes. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo que incluyó a todos los pacientes mayores de 16 años hospitalizados con diagnóstico de NAC. Se revisaron variables demográficas y clínicas, presencia de pruebas diagnósticas para determinar etiología y los microorganismos aislados. Resultados: Se aisló un germen en 130 pacientes, siendo los más frecuentes Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae y Staphylococcus aureus . Encontramos mayor frecuencia de microorganismos atípicos en menores de 65 años y en pacientes sin comorbilidades, y de enterobacterias en mayores de 65 años y en pacientes con comorbilidades. Discusión: Los principales gérmenes aislados son similares a los reportados en otras series. Llama la atención la frecuencia de Staphylococcus aureus y la presencia de SAMR. Es importante conocer la etiología local para adaptar las guías de manejo de acuerdo a los gérmenes encontrados, la susceptibilidad a los antibióticos y la disponibilidad de recursos.

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be caused by different microorganisms. In Latin America the main cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in about 35-40% of cases. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of patients admitted with diagnosis of CAP at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá during a 6 years period, the etiological agents isolated and the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility in the most frequent microorganisms. Materials and methods: Retrospective descriptive study; all patients older than 16 years admitted with diagnosis of CAP were included. Demographic and clinical variables, diagnostic tests to evaluate etiology and the microorganisms isolated were reviewed. Results: At least one microorganism was isolated in 130 patients, being the most common Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus . We found higher frequency of atypical microorganisms in patients under 65 years and without comorbidities, while enteric gram-negative rods were more frequent in patients with comorbidities or older than 65 years. Discussion: Our most common etiologies are similar to those reported in other series. Special attention is drawn to Staphylococcus aureus as one of the major etiologies and the presence of MRSA. It is important to know the local etiology to adjust guidelines according to the isolated microorganisms, antibiotics susceptibility and availability of resources.

Outcome of localised blastemal-type Wilms tumour patients treated according to intensified treatment in the SIOP WT 2001 protocol, a report of the SIOP Renal Tumour Study Group (SIOP-RTSG).

Blastemal-type Wilms tumour (BT-WT) has been identified as a high risk histological subgroup in WT assessed after pre-nephrectomy chemotherapy in trials of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Renal Tumour Study Group. Therefore, in SIOPWT2001, post-operative chemotherapy for BT-WT was intensified aiming to improve survival. Survival analysis of all unilateral BT-WT patients (SIOPWT2001) (n=238), was compared with historical BT-WT controls (SIOP93-01) (n=113). 351/4061 (8.6%) unilateral non-metastatic BT-WT patients (SIOP93-01/SIOPWT2001) were studied. Median age at diagnosis was 43 months (Inter Quartile Range (IQR) 24-68 months), stages: I (n=140, 40%), II (n=106, 30%), III (n=105, 30%). BT-WTs were higher staged, showed greater volume decrease after pre-operative chemotherapy and were diagnosed at an older median age compared to other WT patients. Patient characteristics did not differ substantially between SIOP93-01 and SIOPWT2001. Univariate analysis showed a 5-year event-free survival (EFS) of 80% (95% confidence interval (CI): 75-86%) (SIOPWT2001) compared to 67% in SIOP93-01 (95% CI: 59-76%; p=0.006) and overall survival (OS) of 88% (95% CI: 83-93%) (SIOPWT2001) compared to 84% (95% CI: 77-91%; p=0.4) in SIOP93-01. 95% of relapses were distant metastases (SIOP93-01/SIOPWT2001). Treatment protocol, age at diagnosis, tumour stage (III versus I/II) and volume (at surgery), were prognostic variables for EFS (uni- and multivariate Cox regression analysis). Independent prognosticators for OS were age at diagnosis, tumour stage and volume (at surgery). The most significant survival benefit of intensified treatment, was observed in Stage I (EFS 96% in SIOPWT2001 (OS 100%), 71% in SIOP93-01 (OS 90%)). BT-WT derived benefits from more intensive chemotherapy as reflected by a reduction in relapse risk. However, the benefit of the more intensive chemotherapy to improve OS was only observed in stage I BT-WTs, by adding doxorubicin.

Extraordinary magnetoresistance in graphite: experimental evidence for the time-reversal symmetry breaking.

We report a highly anisotropic in-plane magnetoresistance (MR) in graphite that possesses in-plane parallel line-like structural defects. In a current direction perpendicular to the line defects (LD), MR is negative and linear in low fields with a crossover to a positive MR at higher fields, while in a current direction parallel to LD, we observed a giant super-linear positive MR. These extraordinary MRs are respectively explained by a hopping magnetoresistance via non-zero angular momentum orbitals, and by the magnetoresistance of inhomogeneous media. The linear negative orbital MR is a unique signature of the broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS). We discuss the origin of the disorder-induced TRS-breaking in graphite.

Clear cell sarcomas of the kidney registered on International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) 93-01 and SIOP 2001 protocols: a report of the SIOP Renal Tumour Study Group.

PURPOSE: Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney (CCSK) is a rare childhood renal tumour. Only a few homogeneously treated CCSK cohorts have been reported. This study aims to describe clinical characteristics and survival of CCSK patients treated according to recent International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed the prospectively collected data of patients with a histologically verified CCSK, entered onto SIOP 93-01/2001 trials. RESULTS: A total of 191 CCSK patients (64% male) were analysed, with a median age at diagnosis of 2.6 years. Stage distribution for stages I, II, III and IV was 42%, 23%, 28% and 7%, respectively. Pre-operative chemotherapy was administered to 169/191 patients. All patients underwent total nephrectomy and 189/191 patients received post-operative chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was applied in 2/80 stage I, 33/44 stage II, 44/54 stage III and 6/13 stage IV patients. Five year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 79% (95% confidence interval (CI): 73-85%) and 86% (95% CI: 80-92%) respectively. Stage IV disease and young age were significant adverse prognostic factors for event-free survival. Factors such as gender, tumour volume and type of initial treatment were not found to be prognostic for EFS and OS. CONCLUSION: In this largest SIOP cohort described so far, overall outcome of CCSK is reasonable, although treatment of young and advanced-stage disease patients is challenging. As further intensification of treatment is hampered by direct and late toxicity, future directions should include the development of targeted therapy based on specific molecular aberrations of CCSK.

Physician, patient and family attitudes regarding information on prognosis: a Brazilian survey.

BACKGROUND: Communication between physicians and patients is a fundamental aspect of cancer care, yet most physicians' perceptions are often inconsistent with the patients' stated preferences while prognostic information is the most misunderstood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Members of the Brazilian Society of Oncology Physicians (n=609) were identified and asked to complete a mailed questionnaire. Outpatients (n=150) and their family members (n=150), oncologists and fellows (n=55) from a public healthcare hospital and a tertiary cancer hospital in Sao Paulo were also personally invited to participate. RESULTS: A total of 202 physicians, 150 outpatients and 150 family members were participated. The majority of patients (92%) believe they should know about their terminal stage compared with 79.2% of physicians and 74.7% of families (P=0.0003). Cancer patients were most likely to support disclosure of diagnosis and terminality (P=0.001), to consider that this disclosure was not stressful (P<0.0001) and that this knowledge would improve their quality of life (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients seen in these centers in Southeastern Brazil prefer to know the truth about their poor prognosis more than their physicians and families think. Further studies with larger samples of patients and physicians are necessary to show if our results are representative of all Brazilian situations.

Temporal blastemal cell gene expression analysis in the kidney reveals new Wnt and related signaling pathway genes to be essential for Wilms' tumor onset.

Wilms' tumors (WTs) originate from metanephric blastema cells that are unable to complete differentiation, resulting in triphasic tumors composed of epithelial, stromal and blastemal cells, with the latter harboring molecular characteristics similar to those of the earliest kidney development stages. Precise regulation of Wnt and related signaling pathways has been shown to be crucial for correct kidney differentiation. In this study, the gene expression profile of Wnt and related pathways was assessed in laser-microdissected blastemal cells in WTs and differentiated kidneys, in human and in four temporal kidney differentiation stages (i.e. E15.5, E17.5, P1.5 and P7.5) in mice, using an orthologous cDNA microarray platform. A signaling pathway-based gene signature was shared between cells of WT and of earliest kidney differentiation stages, revealing genes involved in the interruption of blastemal cell differentiation in WT. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR showed high robustness of the microarray data demonstrating 75 and 56% agreement in the initial and independent sample sets, respectively. The protein expression of CRABP2, IGF2, GRK7, TESK1, HDGF, WNT5B, FZD2 and TIMP3 was characterized in WTs and in a panel of human fetal kidneys displaying remarkable aspects of differentiation, which was recapitulated in the tumor. Taken together, this study reveals new genes candidate for triggering WT onset and for therapeutic treatment targets.

El papel autónomo de enfermería en las consultas / The autonomous role of nursing during medical visits / O papel autônomo da enfermagem nas consultas

El presente artículo hace referencia a la autonomía de enfermería en las consultas de atención primaria. Surgió de las inquietudes que plantean las enfermeras sobre su autonomía en el desarrollo de su rol en el marco de la estrategia de atención primaria en salud (APS). Además de la revisión de la literatura sobre la temática, contiene algunos lineamientos para hacer una aproximación a la autonomía de las enfermeras a través de la APS. Está dirigido a todos los profesionales de enfermería que comparten la esperanza de llegar a tomar decisiones propias, teniendo en cuenta que la falta de delimitación de sus funciones implica una repercusión importante para la profesión y la sociedad. Para la profesión porque hace más difícil la consolidación del logro de su identidad profesional, tan necesaria y promulgada en la actualidad, y en la sociedad porque redunda en la calidad de la atención que se brinda y en la imagen que esta tiene de la enfermería.

This article refers to the nursing autonomy in primary assistance patient services. It originated from the questions posed by nurses on the autonomy in the development of their role within the framework of the health primary assistance strategy (APS for its initials in Spanish). In addition to the literature review on the issue, it contains some guidelines to make an approach to the nurses’ autonomy through the APS. It is geared at all the nursing professionals who share the hope to, one day, be able to make their own decisions, taking into account that the lack of definition of their functions has an important repercussion for the nursing profession and for society. For the profession because it makes consolidation of professional identity more difficult, an identity that is much needed and promoted nowadays, and for society because it is reflected in the quality of the assistance provided and in the image people have of nursing.

O presente artigo se refere à autonomia da enfermagem nas consultas de atenção primária. A necessidade do trabalho nasceu a partir da preocupação das enfermeiras sobre sua autonomia no desempenho da função de enfermagem no âmbito da estratégia de atenção primária em saúde (APS). Além da revisão bibliográfica acerca dos temas, o trabalho contem algumas diretrizes para abordar a autonomia das enfermeiras através da APS. O estudo está voltado para todos os profissionais da enfermagem que compartilham a esperança de tomar decisões próprias, levando em conta que a falta de delimitação de suas funções traz repercussões importantes para a profissão e a sociedade. Para a profissão, porque dificulta a consolidação de sua identidade profissional, tão necessária e promulgada atualmente, e para a sociedade, porque redunda na qualidade da atenção oferecida e na imagem da enfermagem dentro da sociedade.

Implications of infectious diseases and the adrenal hypothesis for the etiology of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute leukemia is the most frequent cancer in children. Recently, a new hypothesis was proposed for the pathogenesis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The so-called 'adrenal hypothesis' emphasized the role of endogenous cortisol in the etiology of B-cell precursor ALL. The incidence peak of ALL in children between 3 to 5 years of age has been well documented and is consistent with this view. The adrenal hypothesis proposes that the risk of childhood B-cell precursor ALL is reduced when early childhood infections induce qualitative and quantitative changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. It suggests that the increased plasma cortisol levels would be sufficient to eliminate all clonal leukemic cells originating during fetal life. Because Brazil is a continental and tropical country, the exposure to infections is diversified with endemic viral and regionally non-viral infections, with some characteristics that support the recent adrenal hypothesis. Here we discuss this new hypothesis in terms of data from epidemiological studies and the possible implications of the diversity of infections occurring in Brazilian children.

Implications of infectious diseases and the adrenal hypothesis for the etiology of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute leukemia is the most frequent cancer in children. Recently, a new hypothesis was proposed for the pathogenesis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The so-called "adrenal hypothesis" emphasized the role of endogenous cortisol in the etiology of B-cell precursor ALL. The incidence peak of ALL in children between 3 to 5 years of age has been well documented and is consistent with this view. The adrenal hypothesis proposes that the risk of childhood B-cell precursor ALL is reduced when early childhood infections induce qualitative and quantitative changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. It suggests that the increased plasma cortisol levels would be sufficient to eliminate all clonal leukemic cells originating during fetal life. Because Brazil is a continental and tropical country, the exposure to infections is diversified with endemic viral and regionally non-viral infections, with some characteristics that support the recent adrenal hypothesis. Here we discuss this new hypothesis in terms of data from epidemiological studies and the possible implications of the diversity of infections occurring in Brazilian children.

DNA damage in lymphocytes and buccal mucosa cells of children with malignant tumours undergoing chemotherapy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes and exfoliated buccal mucosa cells from children with malignant tumours and under chemotherapy. Micronucleated cells (MNCs) were assessed from children before and during chemotherapy. A total of 21 healthy children (controls), matched for gender and age, were used as control. The results pointed out higher frequencies of micronucleated lymphocytes in children with malignant tumour before any therapy when compared to healthy probands. Furthermore an increase of micronucleated lymphocytes during chemotherapy was detected when compared to the data obtained before chemotherapy. No statistically significant increases of MNCs were noticed in buccal mucosa cells at any of the timepoints evaluated. Taken together, these data indicate that the presence of malignant tumours may increase the frequency of DNA damage in circulating lymphocytes, these cells being more sensitive for detecting chromosome aberrations caused by anti-cancer drugs.

Report of the second international symposium on molecular epidemiology in childhood leukaemia and embryonal tumours, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The recent International Symposium on Molecular epidemiology in Embryonal Tumours and Paediatric Leukaemia was held on 4-6 March 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It proved a very productive meeting in which studies relating to genetics, therapeutical trials, identification of risk factors in acute leukaemia neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumours were presented. Over 120 participants gathered for three days of fruitful discussions, including representatives of paediatrics, haematology, laboratory, epidemiology and pathology. Debates were held about strategies of applications of important biomarkers for clinical trials. Highlights of each of the scientific presentations are summarized below.

Noninvasive ventilation in immunocompromised pediatric patients: eight years of experience in a pediatric oncology intensive care unit

The experience of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the pediatric setting is limited. The aim of the present study is to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of NPPV in pediatric immunocompromised patient admitted in our PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for acute respiratory failure. Retrospective cohort study of children admitted to the PICU of Hospital do Cancer between June 1997 and May 2005 requiring ventilatory support. A total of 239 admissions were included. The first mechanical ventilation (MV) technique used was NPPV in 120 (50.2%) patients [noninvasive ventilation (NIV) group] and conventional MV in 119 (49.8%) [invasive ventilation (IV) group]; 25.8% of the patients from the NIV group subsequently required intubation. Patients in the IV group were more likely to be in a severe clinical status. Characteristics associated with severe clinical status were median value for therapeutic intervention scoring system score (37.5 points IV vs. 29 points NIV, P2 organs failure (63.6% IV vs. 36.4% NIV, Por=40 points (P=0.018). Our results encourage the use of NPPV as a first-line treatment in children with malignancies who develops acute respiratory failure, except in those with severe hemodynamic status.

Disability and health-related Quality of Life in Long-term Survivors of Cancer in Childhood in Brazil

There is limited experience with patient-reported measurements of health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in survivors of cancer in childhood in low-income countries. The purposes of this study were to collect such measurements in Brazil, to test hypotheses about differences among diagnostic groups, and to compare results with those from other countries. Survivors were eligible if diagnosed with cancer in childhood, attending a long-term follow-up clinic, cancer free, literate, and at least 13 years of age. Health status measurements were collected using a Brazilian Portuguese Health Utilities Index questionnaire. Questionnaire responses were converted to scores for morbidity in individual health attributes and for overall HRQL. More than one-third of the 138 consecutive survivors who participated reported some cognitive disability or pain. Approximately one-quarter reported problems with vision, speech, or emotion. Mean HRQL was similar (P>0.05) among countries for survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Hodgkin disease. The results support the hypotheses that Brazilian survivors of cancer in childhood experience a wide range of disabilities and impaired HRQL, are similar to those in other countries, and should be assessed in long-term follow-up clinics.

Molecular profiling of isolated histological components of Wilms tumor implicates a commom role for the Wnt signaling pathway in kidney and tumor development

Wilms tumor (WT), a tumor composed of three histological components - blastema (BL), epithelia and stroma - is considered an appropriate model system to study the biological relationship between differentiation and tumorigenesis. To investigate molecular associations between nephrogenesis and WT, the gene expression pattern of individual cellular components was analyzed, using a customized platform containing 4,608 genes. WT gene expression patterns were compared to genes regulated during kidney differentiation. BL had a closer gene expression pattern to the earliest stage of normal renal development. The BL gene expression pattern was compared to that of fetal kidney (FK) and also between FK and mature kidney, identifying 25 common deregulated genes supposedly involved in the earliest events of WT onset. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed, confirming the difference in expression levels for 13 of 16 genes (81.2%) in the initial set and 8 of 13 (61.5%) in an independent set of samples. An overrepresentation of genes belonging to the Wnt signaling pathway was identified, namely PLCG2, ROCK2 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Activation of the Wnt pathway was confirmed in WT, using APC at protein level and PLCG2 at mRNA and protein level. APC showed positive nuclear immunostaining for an independent set of WT samples, similarly to the FK in week 11. Lack of PLCG2 expression was confirmed in WT and in FK until week 18. Taken together, these results provided molecular evidence of the recapitulation of the embryonic kidney by WT as well as involvement of the Wnt pathway in the earliest events of WT onset.

Report of the second International Symposium on molecular epidemiology in childhood leukaemia and embryonal tumorus rio de janeiro Brazil

The recent International Symposium on Molecular epidemiology in Embryonal Tumours and Paediatric Leukaemia was held on 4–6 March 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It proved a very productive meeting in which studies relating to genetics, therapeutical trials, identification of risk factors in acute leukaemia neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumours were presented. Over 120 participants gathered for three days of fruitful discussions, including representatives of paediatrics, haematology, laboratory, epidemiology and pathology. Debates were held about strategies of applications of important biomarkers for clinical trials. Highlights of each of the scientific presentations are summarized below.

Trends in childhood leukemia mortality in Brazil and correlation with social inequalities

Mortality from childhood leukemia has declined substantially in developed countries but less markedly in the developing world. This study was designed to describe mortality trends in childhood leukemia and the impact of social inequalities on these trends in Brazil from 1980 to 2002. Cancer mortality data by cause and estimates of resident population stratified by age and sex were obtained from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM) for the years 1980 to 2002. Age-standardized (ages 0-19 years) mortality rates were calculated by the direct method using the 1960 world standard population. Trends were modeled using linear regression with 3-year moving average rates as the dependent variable and with the midpoint of the calendar year interval (1991) as the independent variable. The Index of Social Exclusion was used to classify the 27 Brazilian states. Pearson correlation was used to describe the correlation between social exclusion and variations in mortality in each state. Age-standardized mortality rates for boys decreased from 2.05 per 100,000 habitants in 1984 to 1.44 100,000 habitants in 1995, whereas the observed corresponding decline among girls was from 1.60 per 100,000 habitants in 1986 to 1.14 per 100,000 habitants in 1995. Statistically significant declining trends in mortality rates were observed for boys (adjusted correlation coefficient [r2] = 0.68; P < .001) and girls (adjusted r2 = 0.62; P < .001). Significant negative correlations between social inequality and changes in mortality were noted for boys (r = −0.66; P = .001) and for girls (r = −0.78; P < .001). A consistent decrease in mortality rates from childhood leukemia was noted in Brazil. Higher decreases in mortality were observed in more developed states, possibly reflecting better health care. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Results of the Brazilian Osteosarcoma treatment group studies III and IV: prognostic factors and impact on survival

To evaluate the impact of chemotherapy and surgery on the outcome of osteosarcoma (OS) of the extremities and to identify prognostic factors in Brazilian patients. A total of 225 patients with metastatic and nonmetastatic OS of the extremities were enrolled and assessed in two consecutive studies designed and implemented by the Brazilian Osteosarcoma Treatment Group. The 5-year survival and event-free survival rates for the 209 assessable patients were 50.1% and 39%, respectively; for the 178 patients with nonmetastatic disease at diagnosis, the rates were 60.5% and 45.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the following variables were associated with a shorter survival: metastases at diagnosis (P < .001), necrosis grades 1 and 2 (P = .046), and tumor size (P = .0071). The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were lower than the rates reported in North American and European trials. A pattern of advanced disease at diagnosis was often present, with a high proportion of patients having metastases (20.8%) and large tumor size (42.9%). However, these features were not necessarily associated with longer duration of prediagnostic symptoms. These findings were considered in the strategic planning of the current Brazilian cooperative study, with the aim of improving survival and quality of life of a large number of patients with OS.

A proposed score for predicting severe infection complications in children with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is one of most common complications in patients with cancer during chemotherapy. Identifying factors associated with severe infectious complications (SICs) at time of admission for fever and neutropenia is necessary for better treatment.We revised all medical charts of patients under 18 years old who developed a first episode of FN present from January 2000 to December 2003. Criteria for a SIC were defined. These included the presence of bacteremia or fungemia, sepsis, septic shock, and/or death from infection. To identify risk factors SIC was associated with the first FN episode. Factors identified in univariate analysis were female sex, age less than 5 years old, acute myeloid leukemia, baseline disease activity, use of central venous catheter, hemoglobin level 38.5°C, a chemotherapy interval 38.5°C, hemoglobin level <7 g/dL, any clinical focus of infection on first examination and absence of upper respiratory tract infection. The FN population was than divided among 3 different risk groups as follows: group 1 (low risk), group 2 (intermediate risk), with a 13 (4.4 to 38.3)-fold risk for SIC; and group 3 (high risk) with a 50 (16.4 to 149.2)-fold risk for SIC. This study suggests that patients with FN can be stratified for risk of SIC using clinical parameters at hospital admission