Impact of the Delayed Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Outcome of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant chemotherapy decreases the recurrence risk and improves survival rates; however, it is unclear whether a delayed initiation is associated with adverse outcomes, especially in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study, we evaluated the influence of the time to start adjuvant chemotherapy (TTC) in the outcomes of TNBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 15 years of data from patients with TNBC who received adjuvant chemotherapy at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (Lima, Peru). TTC was categorized into 4 groups: ≤ 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, and ≥ 91 days. We evaluated overall survival (OS) and distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS). Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: In total, 687 patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.1 years (SD, 11.8 years), and most (62.6%) patients had pathologic stage T2. The median TTC was 48.1 days (SD, 27.4 days); 189 (27.5%) received chemotherapy ≤ 30 days; 329 (47.9%), between 31 and 60 days; 115 (16.7%), between 61 and 90 days; and 54 (7.9%) in ≥ 90 days. In the multivariate analysis, a TTC between 31 and 60 days (hazard ratio [HR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.72), 61 and 90 days (HR, 2.38; 95%CI, 1.43-3.97), and ≥ 91 days (HR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.32-4.55) was associated with an increased mortality in contrast with a TTC < 30 days. Although a TTC between 31 and 60 days, 61 and 90 days, and ≥ 91 days was associated with an increased risk of DRFS (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.24-2.79; HR, 2.34, 95% CI, 1.42-3.867; and HR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.78-5.61, respectively). CONCLUSION: A delaying in TTC ≥ 30 days was associated with poorer outcomes. Our data suggest that several efforts should be conducted to avoid a delayed TTC in patients with TNBC.

Sintomatología depresiva en pacientes con fibromialgia / Depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia

Introducción: La fibromialgia es una entidad frecuente en la práctica clínica y se ha considerado que está asociada con desórdenes psiquiátricos, en particular con depresión, lo cual podría tener un impacto en el tratamiento de esta entidad. Objetivo: Evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas depresivos en pacientes con fibromialgia. Diseño: Estudio observacional y de tipo transversal. Lugar: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Departamental María Auxiliadora. Participantes: Pacientes de ambos sexos con diagnóstico de fibromialgia. Intervenciones: Se utilizó la escala de Hamilton para la depresión (HDRS) y el recuento de puntos dolorosos para fibromialgia. Principales medidas de resultados: Porcentaje de pacientes con síntomas depresivos. Puntaje total de la HDRS en relación al recuento de puntos dolorosos. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 54,9 ± 14 años, 80 por ciento fue del sexo femenino y el número promedio de puntos dolorosos, 14,4 ± 1,5. El 32,7 por ciento de pacientes no tenía síntomas de ánimo depresivo, en 27,7 por ciento los síntomas fueron leves, en 30,9 por ciento moderados y solo en 9 por ciento severos. Ningún paciente presentó síntomas compatibles con ánimo depresivo muy severo. Encontramos una correlación significativa entre el número de puntos dolorosos y el puntaje de la escala HDRS (r= 0,740), p< 0,001. Conclusiones: Los síntomas depresivos severos se encuentran en una proporción baja en pacientes con fibromialgia y parecen estar directamente asociados con el número de puntos dolorosos.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a common musculoskeletal problem in clinical practice and is associated with psychiatric disorders. The association with major depression potentially has therapeutic implications. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of patient with fibromyalgia. Design: Observational and transversal study. Setting: Rheumatology Department, Maria Auxiliadora Hospital, Lima, Peru. Participants: Fifty-five patients of both sexes with fibromyalgia. Interventions: Fibromyalgia tender points count and use of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS). Main outcome measures: Percentage of depressive symptoms. Total HDRS score in relation to tender point count. Results: Average age was 54,9 ± 14 years, 80 per cent were females, and the average tender point score was 14,4 ± 1,5. The HDRS score did not show depression mood symptoms in 32,7 per cent, 27,7 per cent had mild symptoms, 30,9 per cent moderate and 9 per cent severe symptoms. In no patient depression mood symptoms were considered very severe. There was significant correlation between the number of tender points and HDRS score (r= 0,740), p< 0,001. Conclusions: Severe or very depressive symptoms are infrequent in fibromyalgia and depression mood symptoms seem to correlate positively with the number of tender points.