Absence of TERT promoter mutations in colorectal precursor lesions and cancer

Abstract Hotspot mutations (c.-124bp G > A and c.-146bp G > A) in the promoter region of the TERT gene have been recently described in several types of solid tumors, including glioma, bladder, thyroid, liver and skin neoplasms. However, knowledge with respect to colorectal precursor lesions and cancer is scarce. In the present study we aimed to determine the frequency of hotspot TERT promoter mutations in 145 Brazilian patients, including 103 subjects with precursor lesions and 42 with colorectal carcinomas, and we associated the presence of such mutations with the patients clinical-pathological features. The mutation analysis was conclusive in 123 cases, and none of the precursor and colorectal carcinoma cases showed TERT promoter mutations. We conclude that TERT mutations are not a driving factor in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Lesiones precursoras de malignidad gástrica y su asociación con hábitos alimentarios / Precursor Lesions of Malignant Gastric Cancer and Associations with Eating Habits

Resumen Introducción: se determinó la asociación entre los hábitos alimentarios y la presencia de lesiones precursoras de malignidad gástrica (gastritis crónica atrófica, metaplasia intestinal y displasia leve), en hombres y mujeres entre los 30 y los 60 años de edad que acudieron a consulta de gastroenterología en el Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Digestivas de la ciudad de Pasto (Nariño) durante el último trimestre del año 2015 y el primer semestre del año 2016. Metodología: estudio analítico transversal en el que se analizaron variables histológicas, sociales, demográficas, antropométricas y alimentarias. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, bivariado y multivariado por medio de la odds ratio (oportunidad relativa) cruda y ajustada con un IC del 95%. Resultados: el 35,5% de los 231 pacientes encuestados fueron diagnosticados histológicamente con dichas lesiones; la edad promedio no superó los 46 años; predominó el sexo femenino con 57,1%; el 32,5% de los pacientes tenía una formación de nivel profesional y el 58% estaba afiliado al régimen subsidiado. Estas lesiones se asociaron con el consumo de cereales y grasas por encima de los 10 y 8,5 intercambios (OR 2,20; IC del 95%: 1,08-4,47 y OR 2,52; IC del 95%: 1,28-4,94), respectivamente. La incorporación de sal a las comidas servidas aumenta la probabilidad de presentar lesiones estomacales en 1,94 (IC del 95%: 1,03-3,66). El consumo regular de vegetales por encima de los 2 intercambios reduce la probabilidad de presentar lesiones estomacales (OR 0,53; IC del 95%: 0,27-0,99). Conclusión: con la investigación, se pretende aportar conocimientos acerca de diferentes factores que pueden participar en la iniciación, promoción y progresión del cáncer gástrico.

Abstract Introduction: Associations between dietary habits and precursor lesions of gastric malignancies including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and mild dysplasia were identified in men and women between the ages of 30 and 60 who came to the gastroenterology department of the Center for Research on Digestive Diseases of the city of Pasto, Nariño in the last quarter of 2015 and the first half of 2016. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional analytical study in which histological, social, demographic, anthropometric and dietary variables were analyzed. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% CI. Results: Of the 231 patients surveyed, 35.5% were diagnosed histologically with precursor lesions. The average age was 46 years old, and 57.1% of the cases were women, 32.5% were professionals, and 58% were affiliated with the subsidized health care scheme. These lesions were associated with cereal consumption of above 10 exchanges (OR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.47) and with and fat consumption above 8.5 exchanges (OR 2.52, 95% CI: 1.28-4.94). Adding salt to meals increased the likelihood of developing stomach lesions by 1.94 (95% CI: 1.03-3.66). Regular consumption of vegetables for more than two exchanges reduced the likelihood of stomach lesions (OR 0.53; 95% CI: 0.27-0.99). Conclusion: This study aims at contributing knowledge about factors that involved in initiation, promotion and progression of gastric cancer.

Patterns of cervical cytological abnormalities according to the Human Development Index in the northeast region of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in cancer incidence and mortality rates between regions arise due to differences in socioeconomic conditions and in human development factors. The major purpose of this study was to measure the role of the Human Development Index (HDI) in the pattern of cervical cytological abnormalities (CCAs). METHODS: This was an analytical sectional study involving a review of secondary cervical cytology data collected from women living in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, in 2007-2012 and collected from the Cervical Cancer Information System (Sistema de Informação do Câncer do Colo do Útero - SISCOLO). The cervical screening results were classified according to the Brazilian Classification of Cervical Reporting (Nomenclatura Brasileira para Laudos Cervicais), an adaptation of the Bethesda System. The Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) was used, which is an adaptation of the global HDI. The association between CCAs and MHDI was evaluated using the chi-squared test and odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). The significance level used for all tests was 5 %. RESULTS: We analysed 1,363,689 examinations of women living in the state of Maranhão. CCAs were identified in 2.0 % of smears in municipalities with high MHDI, 2.2 % in those with medium or low MHDI and 4.1 % in those with very low MHDI. In addition, potentially malignant changes and suspected cervical cancer (HSIL+) were 40.0 % more frequent (0.3 %) in municipalities with medium or low MHDI and 3.6 times more frequent (0.8 %) in municipalities with very low MHDI compared to those with high MHDI (0.2 %). CONCLUSION: The association between MHDI and the occurrence of CCAs and HSIL+ shows that more developed areas with more effective health services have a lower prevalence of these lesions. To control cervical cancer, it is necessary to reduce social inequality and improve the availability of health services.

Cáncer serosopélvico de alto grado: evidencia sobre su origen en la trompa de Falopio / High-grade serous pelvic cancer: evidence of its origin in the fallopian tube

Cáncer epitelial de ovario es una enfermedad altamente letal. Constituye la quinta causa de muerte por cáncer en mujeres a nivel mundial. El subtipo histológico más frecuente es el carcinoma seroso de alto grado. Este es el responsable de la alta letalidad de la enfermedad. Se presenta evidencia que respalda el origen tubario de este tipo histológico desde lesiones precursoras. A partir de estos datos se ha establecido que el cáncer tradicionalmente conocido como cáncer ovárico seroso de alto grado, el cáncer de trompa de Falopio y el carcinoma peritoneal primario, corresponden a una misma entidad nosológica: cáncer seroso pélvico de alto grado. Se revisa además la evidencia disponible para establecer que la salpingectomía podría constituir una medida de prevención para este tipo de cáncer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a highly lethal disease. It is the 5th cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The most common histologic subtype is the high-grade serous carcinoma. This is the responsible for the high lethality of the disease. Evidence supporting the tubal origin of this histological type from precursor lesions is presented. From these data it has been established that cancer traditionally known as serous high-grade ovarian cancer, cancer of the fallopian tube and primary peritoneal carcinoma, correspond to a single disease entity: pelvic serous high-grade cancer. We also check the available evidence to establish that the salpingectomy could be a preventive measure for this type of cancer.

Prevalencia y severidad de las lesiones precursoras de malignidad en una área de alto riesgo de cáncer gástrico. Pasto 2012 / Prevalence and severity of gastric cancer precursor lesions in a high risk area

Las lesiones precursoras de malignidad (gastritis crónica atrófica, metaplasia intestinal y displasia leve), según lo demuestran múltiples estudios, están claramente relacionadas con el riesgo que presentan como predictoras del cáncer gástrico y más aún en nuestra región considerada como de alto riesgo de esta patología. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo descriptivo con 212 pacientes entre 11 y 89 años de edad procedentes de la zona amarilla del departamento de Nariño, atendidos en el Centro de Investigaciones de Enfermedades Digestivas (CIED) del Centro Hospital La Rosa dependiente de la ESE Pasto Salud a quienes se tomaron 7 biopsias de mucosa gástrica sometidas a un procesamiento y coloración especial de Giemsa modificado para detectar lesiones precursoras de malignidad y presencia de Helicobacter Pylori. La prevalencia para gastritis crónica atrófica antrocorporal fue de 38,6%, metaplasia intestinal 24,4% y displasia leve 1,5%; presencia de infección para Helicobacter pylori en gastritis crónica atrófica 73,5%, para metaplasia intestinal 52% y displasia leve 100%; en relación a la severidad de las lesiones precursoras de malignidad de acuerdo a la escala de OLGA, 11,5% se clasificó como estadios III y IV; a excepción de un solo caso clínico todos fueron Helicobacter Pylori positivos. Se pone en consideración de la comunidad médica el protocolo del CIED para seguimiento y vigilancia de las lesiones precursoras de malignidad tratando de demostrar que la mayor estrategia sigue siendo la prevención para el control del cáncer gástrico en las regiones de alto riesgo.

Atrophic chronic gastritis (ACG), intestinal metaplasia (IM) and mild dysplasia (MD)) are all precursor lesions which have been clearly demonstrated by many studies to be related to risks for development of gastric cancer (GC). This is especially true in our region which is considered to be a high risk area for this disease. We conducted a prospective study of 212 patients between the ages of 11 and 89 years who were from the yellow zone of Nariño. Patients were cared for in the Centro de Investigaciones de Enfermedades Digestivas (CIED - Center for the Investigation of Digestive Diseases) at the Centro Hospital la Rosa which is part of the public health care system of Pasto. Seven gastric mucosa biopsies were taken from each subject and stained with specially modified Giemsa stain to detect precursor lesions and the presence of Helicobacter pylori. The prevalence of ACG was 38.6%, the prevalence of IM was 24.4%, and the prevalence of MD was 1.5%. Prevalence of H. pylori infections among patients with ACG was 73.5% while among patients with IM it was 52%, but prevalence rose to 100% among patients with MD. When severity of precursor lesions on the OLGA-staging (Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment) scale was 11.5%, lesions were classified as stage III and IV. With one exception, all of these patients were H. pylori positive. We would like to ask the medical community to consider CIED's Follow-up and Monitoring Protocol for precursor lesions in order to demonstrate that the best strategy continues to be GC prevention in high risk regions.

The intraoral video camera: a diagnostic tool in the exam of patient with ncreased oral cancer risk / A vídeo-câmera intraoral como instrumento auxiliar no exame dos pacientes com risco aumentado para câncer bucal

OBJECTIVE: To compare the findings of the clinical examination of the oral cavity with and without theaid of an intraoral video camera (“videoroscopy”) with the purpose of diagnosing epithelial precursorlesions (leukoplakia, erythroplakia and actinic cheilitis) and precancerous conditions (lichen planus).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both forms of examination were performed in 100 patients withincreased risk of oral cancer. All patients were examined without the aid of any enlargement apparatusbefore the intraoral video camera was used. After each of the exams, the presence or absence of epithelialprecursor lesions or lichen planus was recorded. In the event a lesion was found, a digital picture was takena toluidine blue staining test was performed and then a biopsy was done. RESULTS: Of the patients withepithelial precursor lesions or lichen planus, 80% of the lesions had been observed in both of the examinationswhile 7% only had been diagnosed the after the videoroscopy. The results of the histopathological analysisand the toluidine blue staining tests are also presented. CONCLUSIONS: In this study videoroscopy issuggested for use on a regular basis in patients with an increased risk of oral cancer in an attempt to diagnoseearly lesions, select of the best area to be biopsied and during the following up of these lesions.

OBJETIVO: Comparar os achados do exame clínico da boca com e sem auxílio da vídeo-câmeraintrabucal (videoroscopia) com o propósito de diagnosticar lesões epiteliais precursoras(leucoplasia, eritroplasia, eritroleucoplasia e queilite actínica) e condições pré-cancerosas (líquen plano). MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Os exames foram realizados em 100 pacientes com riscoaumentado para câncer oral. Todos os pacientes foram examinados sem o auxílio de qualqueraparelho de aumento antes que a vídeo-câmera intrabucal fosse usada. Após cada exame, a presençaou ausência de lesões epiteliais precursoras ou líquen plano foram anotadas. Nos casos em quelesões foram diagnosticadas, fotografaram-se as lesões, bem como o teste do azul de toluidina ea biópsia. RESULTADOS: Dos pacientes com lesão epitelial precursora ou líquen plano, 80%das lesões foram observadas em ambos os exames, enquanto 7% foram somente diagnosticadasapós a videoroscopia. Os resultados histopatológicos e dos testes com azul de toluidina foramtambém discutidos. CONCLUSÕES: Sugere-se a utilização regular da videoroscopia nos pacientescom risco aumentado para o câncer de boca, para auxiliar o diagnóstico de lesões precoces, naseleção da melhor área para a biópsia e acompanhamento dessas lesões.

O vivido de mulheres com lesões precursoras de câncer do colo do útero: do diagnóstico à terapêutica / The experience of women with precursor lesions of cervical cancer: from the diagnosis to the therapeutics

Os índices de morbi-mortalidade por câncer do colo do útero demonstram que esta patologia é considerada um problema de saúde pública, atingindo grande parcela da população mundial. Isto decorre de diversos fatores, desde o diagnóstico tardio até a falta de informação das pessoas sobre prevenção, fatores de risco, tratamento, entre outros. Doença tratável, cujo potencial de cura pode chegar a 100% quando diagnosticado e tratado inicialmente ou em fases das lesões precursoras. A possibilidade do câncer em nossa existência é difícil de ser abordada, pois quase sempre, é definido por termos que denotam terror, medo, vergonha. Estudo qualitativo de abordagem fenomenológica tem como objeto o vivido de mulheres com lesões precursoras de câncer do colo do útero, objetivando compreender o vivido destas mulheres. A análise interpretativa ancorou-se no referencial teórico filosófico de Martin Heidegger, expresso em Ser e Tempo. A entrevista fenomenológica, aplicada a sete mulheres com diagnóstico de lesões precursoras, ocorreu em agosto de 2009, em uma unidade de referência para o tratamento destas lesões, localizada em Feira de Santana ­ Bahia. A condução da entrevista pautou-se em questões de aproximação e na seguinte questão norteadora: Como é, para a Sr.ª, a experiência de ter uma alteração no colo do útero? A partir da compreensão dos aspectos ônticos foram construídas oito unidades de significado na qual as mulheres revelaram dúvidas e medo pelo desconhecimento em relação às lesões precursoras do câncer do colo do útero, mudanças no relacionamento com os parceiros, evidenciadas a partir do diagnóstico das lesões precursoras, dificuldades de ter amigos participando no processo de enfrentamento das lesões precursoras, importância da família durante o diagnóstico e o tratamento das lesões precursoras, estratégias de enfrentamento para lidar com as lesões precursoras e as modificações que realizaram em seu cotidiano, o relacionamento com as profissionais de saúde e o descrédito na assistência para prevenção do câncer do colo do útero nos postos de saúde do município, sentimentos de vergonha, medo e constrangimento na realização do papanicolaou e o medo da morte por câncer do colo do útero desde a comunicação do diagnóstico das lesões precursoras. Compreendi que a possibilidade do vir a adoecer de câncer do colo do útero leva a mulher com lesão precursora a apresentar o temor, manifestado pela preocupação, pelo medo, pela ansiedade, pelas dúvidas quanto ao diagnóstico e as indicações terapêuticas. Estes sentimentos permitem-na pensar, também, na possibilidade concreta da finitude. E que, como sendo-no-mundo, mulheres não encontraram a expressão autêntica do cuidado, retirando-a da condição de poder-ser. Considero que as profissionais de saúde não devem esquecer que o primordial na nossa profissão é o cuidar, e que este não pode ser influenciado pela cotidianidade, transformandose, assim, num cuidado inautêntico.(AU)