Commencement Of Chemotherapy Research Articles

Age and serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels as predictors of time to return of menses after chemotherapy.

Chemotherapeutic agents result in the loss of growing follicles, which can manifest as amenorrhoea. Alkylating chemotherapy (AC) is known to be more gonadotoxic than non-alkylating chemotherapy (NAC). Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), an indirect marker of ovarian reserve, and age have been investigated as predictors of ovarian function after chemotherapy, however little is known about the time to return of menses. This study aimed to assess how patient age and baseline serum AMH levels at cancer diagnosis affect the time to return of menses post-chemotherapy. This retrospective cohort study examined oncology patients (n=67) who underwent chemotherapy and were treated through the Reproductive Services Unit of two institutions in Melbourne, Australia. Primary outcomes included correlation between age and baseline AMH with time to return of menses after chemotherapy. Secondary outcomes include the change in AMH levels at 6- and 12-months post-completion of chemotherapy. Pairwise correlation of pre-chemotherapy AMH level and time to return of menses demonstrated statistical significance (Spearman's coefficient, ρ = -0.40) for patients who underwent AC. This analysis in breast cancer patients who underwent AC displayed a negative correlation, however, was not statistically significant. No association was found between age and time to return of menses for all cancer (NAC or AC) or breast cancer patients who underwent AC. Higher AMH level prior to AC was associated with an earlier return of menses after chemotherapy. Age at the commencement of chemotherapy was not associated with return of menses. Further prospective research is required to assess post-chemotherapy recovery of AMH.

Uptake of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists for prevention of premature ovarian insufficiency in women undergoing chemotherapy: an Australian single-centre study.

Treatment-related premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) can result in early-onset menopause and infertility. To assess the prevalence of goserelin use for POI prevention in women with cancer since it was listed by the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2018 for this indication. This retrospective study included women aged 18-45 years who received curative-intent alkylating chemotherapy for a malignancy between August 2020 and December 2022 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The co-primary end-points were (i) documentation of a discussion with the patient regarding goserelin for POI prevention and (ii) prescription of goserelin for POI prevention prior to chemotherapy commencement. Sixty-six patients were eligible. Fifty patients (76%) had a documented discussion regarding goserelin for POI prevention and 53 patients (80%) were prescribed goserelin for POI prevention. Nulliparous women were more likely to have a discussion regarding goserelin (P = 0.004). Younger women, nulliparous women and those referred to a fertility service were more likely to have been prescribed goserelin for POI prevention (P = 0.003, P = 0.001 and P = 0.002 respectively). Twenty-one of 53 patients (40%) who received goserelin had the first dose administered ≥7 days before chemotherapy commencement. One-quarter of eligible patients did not have a documented discussion regarding goserelin, despite the negative consequences of POI. Efforts are needed to increase the discussion and use of goserelin in all premenopausal women regardless of their fertility interests and to ensure timely administration in those who choose to receive it.

Prevalence and determinants of distress at the start of chemotherapy among adult cancer patients in two tertiary hospitals in Kenya

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is considered the cornerstone in the treatment of many cancers, but it also comes with its challenges. The distress experienced by patients at the commencement of chemotherapy is a critical aspect of their cancer journey, with profound implications for their overall well-being and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of distress before the first dose of chemotherapy among adult cancer patients in two tertiary hospitals in Kenya. METHODOLOGY This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 438 patients who were scheduled for the first dose of chemotherapy were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Those who were not able to give consent, those who were only on oral chemotherapy and those who were not chemotherapy naïve were excluded. Distress was measured using the Distress thermometer with a cutoff point of four. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V26. RESULTS The study participants interviewed were predominantly women (63%), older than 50 (53%), unemployed (87%), married (65%), Christian (99%), lived less than 100 Kilometers (55%), lived with family (90%), educated up to the primary level (49%), and had insurance (92%). The most prevalent cancers were reproductive organ tumours, and 43% of the participants had stage four disease. A total of 89 % of the participants were clinically distressed (DT ≥ 4). In a chi-square analysis, there was a significant relationship between unemployment (P=0.003), residence (P=0.002), income level (P=0.001), insurance status (P= 0.004), living conditions (P=0.003), education level (P=0.001), tumour type (P=0.004), goal of therapy (P=0.001) and stage of disease (P=0.000) with clinical distress. On a multi-variate regression analysis, the strongest predictors were the cancer stage with (aOR: 8.4 P=0.000), education level (aOR: 8.3 P=0.001) along with unemployment (aOR: 4.1 P=0.003) and goal of therapy (aOR: 6.32 P=0.001) CONCLUSION The prevalence of distress at the start of chemotherapy is high, and interventions should be initiated before chemotherapy. Sociodemographic and disease characteristics should be considered when developing targeted interventions to manage distress among patients starting chemotherapy.

Prognostic Implications of Timing of Immunotherapy in Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Currently, the established approach for addressing stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involves combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy. However, the necessity for molecular analysis prior to commencing immunotherapy often results in a delay in its initiation following the commencement of chemotherapy. Therefore, this study aimed to study the significance of postponing immunotherapy on pertinent patient outcomes. Using the National Cancer Database (NCBD), patients diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC between 2017 and 2018 were screened. Inclusion criteria comprised those treated with multi-agent chemotherapy as the first-line therapy within 30 days of treatment, surviving beyond 2 months of diagnosis, and absence of neuroendocrine pathology. Patients were grouped among those receiving immunotherapy within 30 days of chemotherapy, immunotherapy within 31 - 60 days of chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone. Clinical characteristics were collected and their correlation with the timing of immunotherapy was evaluated. The impact of delaying immunotherapy on overall survival (OS) was investigated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was employed to identify independent prognostic variables associated with OS. Our cohort comprised 99,008 patients with clinical stage IV NSCLC diagnosed between 2017 and 2018, which were distributed in the three treatment groups described above. Patients receiving immunotherapy within 30 days of chemotherapy showed greater OS in contrast to both those subjected to delayed immunotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64 - 0.87, P = 0.0003). Subsequent multivariate regression analysis showed that postponing immunotherapy, older age, male sex, white race, non-adenocarcinoma histology, higher clinical N stage, use of radiation treatment, and presence of liver metastasis were all associated with worse OS. Introducing immunotherapy within the first 30 days of chemotherapy initiation significantly increases survival in patients with stage IV NSCLC.

Breast cancer symptom profile longitudinal changes: data mining study

ObjectivesIdentifying stable co-occurring symptoms in breast cancer (BC) patients during chemotherapy can improve symptom management and the treatment process. This study examines symptom cluster stability in Iranian BC patients receiving...

Dental Abnormalities in Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

Background: Chemotherapy is a common treatment for pediatric cancer. Although life prognosis is improving because of advances in medical science, it is important to deal with late effects such as dental abnormalities. We investigated the association between dental abnormalities and chemotherapy by age and tooth type. Methods: Among the 568 patients referred to the pediatric dentistry department of our hospital, we selected 32 patients (21 male and 11 female) who received chemotherapy between the ages of 0 and 6 and underwent panoramic examination after the age of 7. We recorded the age of chemotherapy commencement, diagnosis of systemic disease, and dental abnormalities such as congenital absence, microdonts, and short-rooted teeth. Results: Almost half of the patients had dental abnormalities such as congenital absence, microdonts, and short-rooted teeth, but there were no significant differences in the incidence of these abnormalities by age. When we analyzed the incidence of abnormal teeth by tooth type, the incidence of congenital absence was significantly higher in premolars (5.5%) and second molars (3.9%) than in incisor or canine or 1st molar (0.4%) (p < 0.01). The incidence of microdonts was significantly higher in premolars (3.9%) than in incisor or canine or 1st molar (0.2%) and second molars (0.0%) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients who received chemotherapy had a high prevalence of dental abnormalities, and the incidence of abnormalities varied by tooth type. It is important to maintain long-term oral care for patients who have undergone chemotherapy even after the treatment is completed.

Physical function as a predictor of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with pancreatic cancer

BackgroundA growing body of research indicates that poor functional status before chemotherapy may be correlated with the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after the neurotoxic treatment. However, little is known about the associations between pre-chemotherapy physical function and CIPN in patients with pancreatic cancer.PurposeTo identify the predictors of CIPN in relation to pre-chemotherapy physical function in patients with pancreatic cancer.MethodsThis secondary analysis included data from patients with pancreatic cancer who participated in a longitudinal research study at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. Four physical function tests (i.e., grip strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 2-minute step test (2MST), and Romberg test) and two questionnaires (The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 [EORTC QLQ-C30] and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module [CIPN20]) were assessed at baseline (i.e., before first chemotherapy session) and 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-month follow-up. Multiple linear regression with adjustment for confounding factors was used to assess the associations between the four functional tests at baseline and the CIPN20 total score and individual subscale scores (sensory, motor, and autonomic) at 6-month follow-up.ResultsData from a total of 209 pancreatic cancer patients (mean age: 64.4 years, 54.5% male) were analyzed. The findings showed that the severity of CIPN at 6-month follow-up was significantly associated with the baseline TUG completion time (β = 0.684, p = 0.003). The TUG completion time was also positively correlated with the 6-month CIPN sensory and autonomic subscales. In addition, a baseline positive Romberg test (β = 0.525, p = 0.009) was a significant predictor of the severity of motor neuropathy at 6-month follow-up.ConclusionThe TUG completion time and positive Romberg test before chemotherapy may be predictive factors of the CIPN severity 6 months after the commencement of chemotherapy. Accordingly, the incorporation of TUG and Romberg tests into the clinical assessment protocol emerges as imperative for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy regimens.

Disseminated AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma without cutaneous involvement: a case report and review of literature.

Disseminated AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) without cutaneous lesions is rare and can present in varying ways. Diagnosis is even more challenging now when incidence of KS is on the decline. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the medical literature should be made aware of any manifestations of KS that can occur without the typical cutaneous lesions. A 23-year-old presented with worsening cervical lymphadenopathy, recurrent cough and bilateral leg swelling of a month duration. Examination revealed features of pericardial effusion, pulmonary fibrosis, necrotizing cervical lymphadenopathy and the presence of pityriasis rotunda at the periumbilical region. Patient was diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive 6months before she presented and was placed on antiretroviral therapy. Histology confirmed AIDS-associated KS. However, patient died before commencement of chemotherapy. The clinical course of disseminated AIDS-associated KS without cutaneous lesions can be atypical and aggressive. It is important to include KS inthe differential diagnosis of cases with atypical or persistence/recurrence of clinical symptoms in spite of treatment especially in HIV patients.

Short-term chemotherapy-related complications and undernutrition in children diagnosed with cancer at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: A prospective cohort study.

Undernutrition in children with cancer is associated with complications during cancer therapy. The study objective was to determine the association between specific anthropometric parameters and short-term chemotherapy-related complications and mortality. This was a hospital-based, prospective cohort study of children, age ≤12 years, with a new cancer diagnosis at the Paediatric Oncology Unit, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Socio-demographic information, cancer characteristics and anthropometric measurements were obtained at enrolment. Participants were followed up for twelve weeks from commencement of chemotherapy and selected treatment-related complications such as anaemia and thrombocytopenia requiring transfusions, prolonged neutropenia resulting in treatment delays, febrile neutropenia, mucositis and death were recorded. A total of 133 participants were recruited with a median age of 4.5 years. Eighty-one (60.9%) were diagnosed with solid tumours, 31 (23.3%) had leukaemias and 21 (15.8%) had lymphomas. Of the anthropometric parameters assessed, only arm anthropometry using upper arm muscle area (UAMA) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were associated with complications. Participants with wasting were more likely to develop anaemia and mucositis. However, the incidence of prolonged neutropenia was significantly higher among participants with average UAMA (p = 0.043) and low average UAMA (p = 0.049) compared to those with low UAMA. Risk of neutropenia was also significantly less among those with wasting by MUAC compared to those well-nourished (p = 0.045). Twenty-three participants (17.3%) died with a greater proportion (11/44; 25%) occurring in those who were wasted using MUAC. These findings underscore the need for nutritional surveillance at diagnosis and during chemotherapy, particularly where co-morbid disease is prevalent.

Trends in nutritional status and factors affecting prognostic nutritional index in ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy: a prospective longitudinal study based on generalized estimating equations

PurposeNumerous studies have investigated the relationships between nutritional status and the prognosis of ovarian cancer (OC). However, the majority of these studies have focused on pre-chemotherapy malnutrition, with limited attention given to dynamic changes in nutritional status during chemotherapy and the associated risk factors affecting the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in OC women. This study aims to explore the variation trend in the nutritional status of OC women over time during chemotherapy and assess its predictive factors.MethodsA prospective longitudinal study was conducted from January 2021 to August 2023. Body mass index (BMI), PNI, Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002, serum albumin, and prealbumin measurements were utilized to assess the nutritional status of OC women. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews before initial chemotherapy (T0) and during the first (T1), third (T2), and fifth (T3) cycles of chemotherapy. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were employed for the analysis of potential predictive factors.ResultsA total of 525 OC women undergoing chemotherapy completed the study. Significantly varied levels of BMI, PNI, and serum concentrations of hemoglobin, albumin, prealbumin, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium were observed in these patients (p < 0.05). The prevalence of nutritional risk decreased over time during chemotherapy (p < 0.05). Nutritional parameters, including BMI, PNI, and the serum concentrations of albumin and prealbumin, exhibited an upward trend in nutritional status throughout the chemotherapy cycles (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that higher levels of BMI, serum albumin, prealbumin, absolute lymphocyte count, and hemoglobin ≥ 110 g/L at admission were associated with elevated PNI after chemotherapy (β = 0.077, p = 0.028; β = 0.315, p < 0.001; β = 0.009, p < 0.001; β = 1.359, p < 0.001; β = − 0.637, p = 0.005).ConclusionPatients consistently demonstrated improvements in nutritional risk and status from the initiation to the completion of chemotherapy cycles. Nutritional monitoring of OC women, particularly those exhibiting abnormalities at the commencement of chemotherapy, is crucial. Targeted nutritional support programs should be developed to enhance the prognosis of OC women.

Parents’ emotion socialization beliefs over the first four months of children’s cancer treatment: a pilot longitudinal study

ABSTRACT In this pilot study, we longitudinally investigated parents’ coaching and dismissing emotion socialization (ES) belief changes over the first four months of children’s cancer treatment. Children were 1–18 years old, M(SD) = 7.66(5.26), at enrollment. We also investigated whether parents’ negative emotion intensity or reactivity moderated changes. We collected data at chemotherapy commencement, one month later, and four months later. We used hierarchical linear models to investigate study aims. Parents reported decreased emotion coaching beliefs over time but did not change their emotion dismissing beliefs. Parents’ perceptions of their own emotional intensity and reactivity were unrelated to ES beliefs or ES belief changes. These findings could inform future intervention efforts to decrease children’s adjustment difficulties and/or promote resilience during pediatric cancer treatment. Our findings also shed light on mechanisms of ES belief change because the intensity and reactivity of parents’ own negative emotions did not explain significant variance in their beliefs about their child’s ability to manage emotions during early cancer treatment.

Employment loss and financial hardship among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

505 Background: A breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment an have both physical and emotional toxicities. Many who are employed have to reduce hours or take leave, often resulting in loss of income. The effect of this loss of income is potentially compounded by the cost of medical care and can result in significant financial hardship. However, the association between employment income loss and financial hardship is not well studied. Methods: This is an analysis of the Genetics, Molecular Mechanisms, and Symptom Science (GEMMS) longitudinal study of people with newly diagnosed breast cancer undergoing curative intent chemotherapy and surgery. The study collects clinical data, patient-reported outcomes, cognitive assessments, and biospecimens for correlative studies. Participants completed assessments at baseline (prior to chemotherapy initiation), mid-way, and chemotherapy completion, as well as 3 and 6 month post chemotherapy and annually thereafter for up to 5 years. This analysis was restricted to data collected within 1 year of completing chemotherapy. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine which features were associated with employment loss and financial hardship. Financial hardship was assessed using a single question, “In the past week, has your physical condition or medical treatment caused you financial difficulties?”. Results: 149 participants are included in GEMMS, of which 111 (75%) were employed at diagnosis. Within the 1 year following completion of chemotherapy, 48% of working women reported at least one 4 week period of where they did not work. This was most common 3 months following completion, where 30% reported being out of work for the prior 4 weeks. None of the variables tested (age, race, marital status, education level, stage of cancer, etc.) predicted employment loss. Overall, 61% of women reported financial hardship within the year following commencement of treatment. Neither being employed at diagnosis nor suffering employment loss were associated with experiencing financial hardship. Of the other variables tested, only marital status was associated with financial hardship. Married women were 70% ( p = 0.02) less likely to report financial hardship than unmarried women. Conclusions: Nearly half of women receiving curative intent chemotherapy for breast cancer report job loss of 4 weeks or more and nearly two-thirds report financial hardship during the year following commencement of chemotherapy. These negative consequences of breast cancer and its treatment seem to effect women of different backgrounds similarly.

Burkitt lymphoma masquerading as nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Primary nasopharyngeal (NP) lymphoma is a very rare tumor. Burkitt lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma. It is rare in the Waldeyer’s ring (3-5%). It is a highly aggressive, highly chemo sensitive lymphoma seen predominantly in childhood. Presenting a unique case of an 11 year old, male child presented to us with the chief complaints of bilateral nasal obstruction since 1 month, 6-7 episodes of nasal bleed since 1 week. Radiologically, a large soft tissue density mass lesion was seen in the region of nasopharynx, extending into the para/retro pharyngeal space. Excisional biopsy of the mass lesion histopathologic evaluation was suggestive of small round blue cell tumor, later confirmed to be Burkitt lymphoma after a bone marrow biopsy. Nasopharyngeal NHL should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis, apart from inflammatory adenoid hypertrophy and benign tumors such as JNA while evaluating a nasopharyngeal mass in children. Nasopharyngeal NHL are highly chemo sensitive, therefore, an early diagnosis can aid timely commencement of chemotherapy and prevent progression and complications of the disease.

Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Macular Thickness Pre- and Post-Chemotherapy With Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Patients With Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer.

Background Carboplatin and paclitaxel are two standard chemotherapeutic agents known to cause neurotoxicity. In this study, we aim to evaluate the toxicity of these agents by measuring the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in patients with endometrial and ovarian cancers who are receiving them. Methods A one-year prospective cohort study involving 28 patients who were treated intravenously with carboplatin (200-400 mg/m2) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) three-weekly for six cycles was conducted. RNFL and macula thickness were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) before the commencement of chemotherapy, after the third cycle, and one month after the sixth cycle. The main outcome measurements were the average RNFL thickness and central subfield thickness of the macula. Results The mean age of the 28 participants was 54.68 years old (standard deviation [SD] 9.03). Eleven had endometrial cancer, while 17 had ovarian cancer. The mean of the average RNFL thickness during baseline pre-chemotherapy was 96.43 µm (SD 11.39). One month after cessation of treatment, the mean RNFL thickness increased to 101.57 µm (SD 13.54). Statistical analysis showed a significant increment in the mean RNFL thickness (p≤ 0.001), from baseline to after three cycles, and baseline to one month after six cycles of chemotherapy, except the nasal quadrant. The increment of all macular quadrants was statistically significant (p < 0.05) except for central subfield thickness. Conclusion Systemic administration of carboplatin and paclitaxel affected both the peripapillary RNFL and macula thickness. This represents early evidence of subacute subclinical retinal toxicity. OCT can be used as a screening tool to assess peri-chemotherapeutic retinal alterations.

Proportions of Blood Cell Deficits in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Introduction: Anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia are at the forefront of haematological derangements encountered in the management of breast cancer. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding their degree of occurrence at different stages of chemotherapy. Methods: Longitudinal design and purposive sampling technique were adopted to enroll 50 adult female breast cancer patients who were accessing chemotherapy at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria. Ethical approval and informed consent were duly obtained. The blood cell counts were carried out by automation. Frequencies of anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were calculated after applying cut-off point using age- and gender-specific refence ranges (&lt;120 g/l of Haemoglobin concentration for anaemia, &lt;4.0 x 109/l of total white blood cell count for leucopenia and &lt;150 x 109/l of platelet count for thrombocytopenia). Results: A greater number of the subjects had anaemia with prevalence ranging from 78% at the onset to 100% by the fifth course. Leucopenia ranged from 14% at the beginning to 100% by the third course. Thrombocytopenia was not present at pre-chemotherapy stage but appeared slightly (4%) during the assessment for second treatment course and rose to 55% at the last assessment. Conclusion: This study observed increasing proportions of cytopenia in association with progressing chemotherapy. There is high prevalence of anaemia in breast cancer even before commencement of chemotherapy, while leucopenia develops more rapidly during chemotherapy.

Immature platelet fraction predicts early marrow recovery after severe chemotherapy associated neutropenia

Febrile neutropenia secondary to chemotherapy is one of the most critical complications in cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to determine if an increase in the percentage of immature platelet fraction (IPF%) might predict early neutrophil recovery following cytostatic-dependent aplasia. A retrospective cohort study compared serial complete blood counts and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) following induction chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma and Non-Ewing sarcoma patients. The measurements were taken on a Sysmex XE-2100 instrument. A total of 287 paired samples from 28 children after the first cycle of chemotherapy were analyzed to test if an increase in the IPF% anticipated the CRP peak and recovery of neutrophil count. The chemotherapy associated nadir of neutrophils, reticulocytes and platelets was reached at 9.7 ± 1.5, 11.0 ± 1.7 and 11.9 ± 0.9 days (mean ± SD) respectively, in Ewing sarcoma patients. Still in severe neutropenia, IPF% was the first parameter that significantly increased and anticipated the CRP peak (11.9 ± 1.6 days, mean ± SD). The IPF% continuously increased (maximum = 6.56% ± 2.8%, mean ± SD) and peaked at 12.2 ± 1.4 days (mean ± SD) after commencement of chemotherapy. Compared to neutrophil recovery (14.6 ± 1.4 days, mean ± SD), the IPF% peak was anticipated by 2.4 days (p = 0.0085). Although variably treated, in non-Ewing sarcoma patients the effect was similar and the IPF% peak anticipated neutrophil recovery by 6.8 ± 4.7 days (p < 0.01). IPF% increased significantly at > 48 h before neutrophil recovery in patients treated with chemotherapy. IPF% is an inexpensive parameter and may be valuable in the management of febrile neutropenia.

Poor Muscle Status, Dietary Protein Intake, Exercise Levels, Quality of Life and Physical Function in Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer at Chemotherapy Commencement and during Follow-Up.

This study aimed to investigate nutritional status, body composition, dietary protein intake, handgrip strength, 6 min or 4 m walk tests, self-reported physical activity, physical function, and quality of life (QoL-EORTC-QLQc30) at commencement of chemotherapy; to detect changes over time (from commencement of chemotherapy, and after 3, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks) in women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC); and to investigate the relationship between nutritional variables. 'Sarcopenia' was defined as low muscle mass and strength, 'myosteatosis' as muscle fat-infiltration (CT scan). Continuous variables were analysed using paired t-tests between baseline and follow-ups. Fifteen women (54y, 95% CI [46.3;61.2]) were recruited. At baseline, malnutrition was present in 3 (20%) participants, sarcopenia in 3 (20%) and myosteatosis in 7 (54%). Thirteen (87%) participants had low protein intake; low handgrip strength was observed in 0, and low walk test distance and physical activity in four (27%) participants. Physical function and QoL were low in 10 (67%) and 9 (60%), respectively. QoL between baseline and 52 weeks decreased by 11.7 (95% CI [2.4;20.9], p = 0.025). Other variables did not significantly change over time. In this small study sample, myosteatosis, low dietary protein intake, low exercise levels and impaired quality of life and physical function are common.

Recurrent posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma in a young child with constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD).

Recurrent posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma in a young child with constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD).

Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome in a patient with accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia treated successfully with rasburicase

Rationale: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological emergency that occurs due to diffuse tumor cell destruction with the massive release of intracellular electrolytes. Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) is the development of TLS before the commencement of chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reported cases of STLS in the chronic or accelerated phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Patient concerns: A 37-year-old woman of Arabic descent with a history of CML presented with a 3-day history of nausea and abdominal pain. She had not started any new treatment for CML within the last 3 months of presentation. Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and acute kidney injury. A peripheral blood smear confirmed the accelerated CML phase. Our patient met the criteria for clinical TLS, specifically, STLS. She was also diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Interventions: The patient was started on intravenous normal saline (200 mL/h) and rasburicase (6 mg/d). In addition, hydroxyurea was used as a cytoreductive agent. Outcomes: The creatinine level returned to normal within 48 hours of rasburicase initiation. Lessons: Any patient with hematological malignancy should be monitored for TLS even before the initiation of chemotherapy. The exact mechanism of spontaneous TLS remains unknown, and further studies are needed to explain the pathophysiology of this condition. Rapid initiation of rasburicase, in addition to vigorous hydration, is effective in the treatment of acute kidney injury associated with TLS.

Effectiveness of craniotomy and long-term survival in 35 patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with brain metastases: a clinical retrospective analysis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics, treatments, and prognostic factors among patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) exhibiting brain metastases who underwent craniotomy.MethodsThirty-five patients with GTN who had brain metastases and subsequently underwent craniotomies between January 1990 and December 2018 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were identified using the GTN database. Their clinical manifestations, treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAll 35 patients underwent decompressive craniotomy, hematoma removal, and metastatic tumor resection combined with multiagent chemotherapy. Eighty percent (28/35) achieved complete remission, 11.4% (4/35) achieved partial remission, and 8.6% (3/35) had progressive disease. Not counting 2 patients who were lost to follow-up, 81.8% of the patients (27/33) were alive after a median follow-up of 72 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 80.4%. Univariate analysis revealed that a history of chemotherapy failure (p=0.020) and a >1-week interval between craniotomy and chemotherapy commencement (p=0.027) were adverse risk factors for survival. Multivariate analysis showed that previous chemotherapy failure remained an independent risk factor for poor survival (odds ratio=11.50; 95% confidence interval=1.55–85.15; p=0.017).ConclusionDecompressive craniotomy is a life-saving option if metastatic hemorrhage and intracranial hypertension produce a risk of cerebral hernia in patients with GTN who have brain metastases. Higher survival rates and improved prognoses can be achieved through perioperative multidisciplinary cooperation and timely standard postoperative chemotherapy.