RESUMO
Cancer patients may be at high risk of infection and poor outcomes related to SARS-CoV-2. Analyzing their prognosis, examining the effects of baseline characteristics and systemic anti-cancer active therapy (SACT) are critical to their management through the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The AIOM-L CORONA was a multicenter, observational, ambispective, cohort study, with the intended participation of 26 centers in the Lombardy region (Italy). A total of 231 cases were included between March and September 2020. The median age was 68 years; 151 patients (62.2%) were receiving SACT, mostly chemotherapy. During a median follow-up of 138 days (range 12-218), 93 events occurred. Age ≥60 years, metastatic dissemination, dyspnea, desaturation, and interstitial pneumonia were all independent mortality predictors. Overall SACT had a neutral effect (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.83, 95%Confidence Interval [95%CI] 0.32-2.15); however, metastatic patients receiving SACT were less likely to die as compared to untreated counterparts, after adjusting for other confounding variables (OR 0.23, 95%CI 0.11-0.51, p < 0.001). Among cancer patients infected by SARS-CoV-2, those with metastases were most at risk of death, especially in the absence of SACT. During the ongoing pandemic, these vulnerable patients should avoid exposure to SARS-CoV-2, while treatment adjustments and prioritizing vaccination are being considered according to international recommendations.
RESUMO
Capecitabine is an orally available fluoropyrimidine carbamate that selectively delivers fluorouracil (5-FU) to tissues expressing high levels of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) such as tumors. The drug has demonstrated efficacy in metastatic breast cancer, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. Although these are considered safe drugs, a growing body of literature reports adverse cardiac effects. Clinical trials indicate that capecitabine has a cardiac toxicity similar to that of infused fluoropyrimidines such as 5-FU. Here, we review cardiotoxicity in the use of fluoropyrimidines, with particular attention toward capecitabine. We also describe a severe, reversible cardiac event that occurred in a 39-year-old woman, with no cardiac risk factors, treated with capecitabine for advanced breast cancer. This review and our experience confirm that fluoropyrimidine cardiotoxicity is an infrequent but documented side effect. Oncology patients under treatment should be closely observed and monitored for cardiac symptoms with particular attention in case of signs or symptoms of cardiovascular complications. The implementation of cardio-oncology interdisciplinary teams should, in the future, reduce the impact of cancer treatment-associated cardiotoxicity syndromes.
