Prognostic value of molecular biomarkers in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a real-world study

Purpose Outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have been improved by the identification of biomarkers predictive and prognostic of clinical outcome. The present retrospective analysis was undertaken to assess the utility of key biomarkers and clinical parameters in predicting outcomes in Spanish patients with mCRC. Methods We retrospectively analyzed tumor samples from a series of patients aged > 18 years with mCRC who were treated at the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Spain. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations. The key outcome of interest was overall survival (OS). Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and stratified by the variables of greatest clinical interest. Differences were tested using the log-rank test. Results Median OS in the overall population was 24.4 months. Triple WT patients (WT KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF) and quadruple WT patients (WT KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA) had significantly better OS than those who did not have triple or quadruple WT tumors. OS was significantly better in patients with left- vs. right-sided tumors, patients with resected primary tumors and metastases vs. those without resection, and patients with isolated hepatic and isolated pulmonary metastases. Conclusions This retrospective, observational study has confirmed the prognostic value of the location and resection status of the primary tumor and metastases in Spanish patients with mCRC. Triple WT status, in particular, was prognostic in this patient population, with PIK3CA adding to the prognostic value in the quadruple WT population (AU)

Prognostic value of molecular biomarkers in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a real-world study.

PURPOSE: Outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have been improved by the identification of biomarkers predictive and prognostic of clinical outcome. The present retrospective analysis was undertaken to assess the utility of key biomarkers and clinical parameters in predicting outcomes in Spanish patients with mCRC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed tumor samples from a series of patients aged > 18 years with mCRC who were treated at the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Spain. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations. The key outcome of interest was overall survival (OS). Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and stratified by the variables of greatest clinical interest. Differences were tested using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Median OS in the overall population was 24.4 months. Triple WT patients (WT KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF) and quadruple WT patients (WT KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA) had significantly better OS than those who did not have triple or quadruple WT tumors. OS was significantly better in patients with left- vs. right-sided tumors, patients with resected primary tumors and metastases vs. those without resection, and patients with isolated hepatic and isolated pulmonary metastases. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective, observational study has confirmed the prognostic value of the location and resection status of the primary tumor and metastases in Spanish patients with mCRC. Triple WT status, in particular, was prognostic in this patient population, with PIK3CA adding to the prognostic value in the quadruple WT population.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes oncológicos con enfermedad tromboembólica venosa aguda sintomática. Diseño del estudio qca (quality of life in cancer). Estudio de casos y controles / Health-related quality of life in cancer patients with acute symptomatic venous thromboembolic disease. Design of the QCa (quality of life in cancer) study. Case-control study

La asociación entre cáncer y enfermedad tromboembólica (ETV) se encuentra bien establecida. La ETV presenta una elevada morbimortalidad, objetivándose un incremento del riesgo de ETV hasta 4 veces mayor en aquellos pacientes con cáncer respecto a la población general. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia científica sobre la CVRS (calidad de vida relacionada con la salud) en pacientes oncológicos con ETV, cuando es presumible que esta patología suponga un agravante sobre la percepción del estado de salud de los pacientes oncológicos. Nuestro objetivo es presentar el estudio "QCa Study", el cual pretende evaluar la CVRS de los pacientes oncológicos con ETV aguda sintomática en comparación con pacientes oncológicos sin ETV. "QCa study" es un estudio nacional de cohortes, prospectivo, de casos y controles en pacientes con cáncer activo. Definimos "caso" como aquel paciente oncológico con ETV aguda sintomática, y "control" aquel paciente oncológico sin ETV aguda sintomática. Los criterios de inclusión son: para los casos: presentar cáncer activo al momento de la inclusión. Tener más de 18 años, pacientes diagnosticados de trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) en miembros inferiores aguda sintomática o de embolia de pulmón (EP) confirmado de forma objetiva mediante pruebas de imagen y firma del consentimiento informado. Para los controles; presentar cáncer activo. Tener más de 18 años. Firma del consentimiento informado. Dado los escasos datos publicados respecto a la CVRS en pacientes con ETV, hemos diseñado el estudio Qca, para poder determinar el impacto que genera la ETV en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer

The association between cancer and venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) is well established. VTD presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with patients with cancer showing an increased risk of VTD that is up to 4 times greater than the general population. However, there is little scientific evidence on HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in cancer patients with VTD when this disease is likely to be an aggravating factor in perceived state of health among cancer patients. Our objective is to present the QCa study, which aims to evaluate the HRQoL of cancer patients with acute symptomatic VTD in comparison with cancer patients without VTD. The QCa study is a prospective, case-control national cohort study in patients with active cancer. We define "case" as a cancer patient with acute symptomatic VTD and "control" as a cancer patient without acute symptomatic VTD. Inclusion criteria for cases were: having active cancer at the time of inclusion, being over the age of 18, patients diagnosed with acute symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities or pulmonary embolism (EP) that was objectively confirmed through imaging tests, and having signed the informed consent. For the controls: having active cancer, being over the age of 18, and having signed the informed consent. Given the scarce data published with regard to HRQoL in patients with VTD, we designed the QCa study to determine the impact VTD has on the quality of life of patients with cancer

Seminoma: puesta al día / Seminoma: an update

Objetivos: Revisar y actualizar los aspectos epidemiológicos, factores de riesgo (con especial atención a los aspectos genéticos e inmuno-histoquímicos), diagnósticos y terapéuticos del seminoma. Material y Métodos: Se ha realizado una revisión de la literatura en la base de datos PUBMED, utilizando la palabra clave principal »seminoma», y los subtítulos (subheadings) «diagnóstico», «epidemiologia», «etiología», «genética, «mortalidad» y «tratamiento», sin restricciones en cuanto al tipo de estudio, seleccionando aquellos artículos considerados de interés para una revisión. La información se ha completado con otras fuentes bibliográficas como guías clínicas de referencia, registros de cáncer y tratados de Oncología y Urología. Se ha restringido la búsqueda a artículos en inglés o castellano. Así mismo se ha utilizado el Programa de Vigilancia, Epidemiología y Resultados Finales del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (SEER) para obtener datos de incidencia y mortalidad de cáncer en los Estados Unidos, y de GLOBOCA para los datos referentes a otros 184 países del mundo. Resultados: Se han revisado un total de 3.131 artículos, con un periodo de búsqueda objeto de la revisión comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 1990 y el 31 de marzo del 2012, incluyendo un total de 51 revisiones sobre la epidemiología del tumor, 23 sobre los factores de riesgo genético, 66 revisiones sobre los distintos aspectos del diagnóstico y tratamiento, un estudio prospectivo y tres estudios randomizados, incluyéndose así mismo las directrices de 3 Guías Clínicas. Conclusiones: El tumor de células germinativas del testículo (TCGT) supone el tumor sólido más frecuente en los varones entre los 20 y 34 años, representando, el seminoma, entre el 40 y el 50% de todos ellos. Los factores de riesgo son múltiples, congénitos y adquiridos, destacándose entre ellos la predisposición familiar y bilateralidad, la criptorquidia y la acción de determinados agentes carcinógenos químicos considerados como disruptores endocrinos, que podrían favorecer el desarrollo estos tumores. El aumento del volumen testicular y la palpación de un nódulo duro, doloroso o no, y de tamaño variable es el síntoma más frecuente de presentación. En el diagnóstico juega un importante papel la ecografía testicular y los marcadores tumorales AFP y β-hCG, sustancias onco-fetales que, además, son muy útiles en la estadificación y monitoreo de la respuesta al tratamiento. Actualmente se disponen de tres sistemas de estadificación de estos tumores que, utilizados de manera conjunta, permiten al equipo multidisciplinar realizar un tratamiento adaptado al riesgo, alcanzándose tasas de supervivencia específica superiores al 98% a los 5 años. El tratamiento del seminoma en el estadio I es la orquiectomía radical como primer gesto terapéutico, existiendo algunas discrepancias sobre el tratamiento adyuvante. Actualmente se consideran tres opciones: la vigilancia, la quimioterapia basada en derivados del platino y la radioterapia. Para los estadios II y III, las opciones tras la cirugía radical son radioterapia con o sin quimioterapia (AU)

Objectives: To review and update the epidemiological aspects, risk factors (mainly genetic and immunohistochemical aspects), diagnosis and treatment of the seminoma. Material and Methods: A literature review has been carried out, using the keyword «seminoma» and the subheadings «diagnosis», «epidemiology», «etiology», «genetics», «mortality» and «treatment» without restrictions on types of study, selecting those articles considered of interest for a review. Information has been completed with other bibliographic references as clinical guidelines, cancer registries and Oncology and Urology texts. The search was limited to articles in English and Spanish. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) has also been used to obtain data on cancer incidence and mortality in the US, while GLOBOCAN was utilized to obtain data on other 184 countries. Results: A total of 3131 articles have been reviewed, covering a search period from the 1st January 1990 to 31st March 2012. The search included 51 revie on tumor epidemiology, 23 on genetic risk factors, 66 reviews on different aspects of diagnosis and treatment, a prospective study and three randomized studies, including as well the guidelines of 3 Clinical Guides. Conclusions: The germ cell tumor of the testicle (TCGT) is the most common solid tumor in males between the ages of 20 and 34, and the seminoma represents 40-50% of all of them. The risk factors are multiple, congenital and acquired, in particular familial predisposition and bilaterality, cryptorchidia and some chemical carcinogenic agents considered as endocrine disruptors that might favor the development of these tumors. The increase of testicular volume and the palpation of a hard nodule, painful or not, and of variable size is the most common initial symptom. In the diagnosis the testicular sonography and tumor markers AFP and β-hCG play an important role. These tumor markers are oncofetal substances which are besides very useful in the grading and the monitoring of the response to the trea ment. Currently three grading systems of these tumors are available and their joint utilization allow adapting the treatment to the risk reaching survival rates over 98% in 5 years. The first choice treatment of the seminoma in the stadium I is radical orchiectomy although there are some discrepancies about adjuvant treatment. Currently three options are considered: surveillance, chemotherapy with platinum derivatives and radiotherapy. For stadiums II and III the options after radical surgery are radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy (AU)

Serum concentrations of aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen and propeptide of human type I procollagen in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the serum levels of aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) with disease activity and damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty-three patients with SLE were compared with 31 controls. The assessment in SLE included disease activity indices (SLEDAI, MEX-SLEDAI) and damage index (SLICC/ACR). PIIINP and PICP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Compared with controls, mean levels of PIIINP were higher in SLE (2.9+/-1.8 vs. 1.8+/-1.2, P=0.006). PICP was also increased in SLE versus controls (163+/-94 vs. 102+/-62, P=0.007). PIIINP was correlated with SLICC/ACR (r=0.33, P=0.048). No correlation was observed between PICP and PIIINP with other clinical or therapeutic variables. These preliminary data suggests a role of PIIINP as a marker for chronic damage. Follow-up studies are required to evaluate its utility in predicting future damage.

[Arthrodesis of the hip using a cobra plate. Comments on preliminary reports]. / Artrodésis de la cadera con placa cobra. Crítica de los resultados preliminares

Authors report 50 arthrodesis of the hip joint with AO cobra-plate, and consider that it's a difficult procedure that will be performed by capable surgeons. The complications are infections (26 per cent), inestability after surgery with bend and break of implants occasioned by bad surgery. The most important badness was found by modifying the steps of the precise technique and our opinion is to perform exactly the arthrodesis of the hip joint as the AO group to obtain successful results (88 per cent).