Complete pathological response in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy in Colombia.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of death by cancer in women in Colombia. Approximately 15 to 20% of breast cancers overexpress HER2.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between multiple clinical and histological variables and pathological complete response in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy in a specialized cancer center in Colombia.

Saliva versus Upper Respiratory Swabs: Equivalent for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 University Screening while Saliva Positivity Is Prolonged After Symptom Onset in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hospitalized Patients.

Reopening of schools and workplaces during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires affordable and convenient population-wide screening methods. Although upper respiratory swab is considered the preferable specimen for testing, saliva offers several advantages, such as easier collection and lower cost. In this study, we compared the performance of saliva with upper respiratory swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection.

Pediatric Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms can present early in life and may present a diagnostic challenge. Very few studies have focused on the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy for pediatric myeloproliferative neoplasms. This article focuses on chronic myeloid leukemia, essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, and primary myelofibrosis in children.

Mobile Applications: Breaking Barriers to Early Breast and Cervical Cancer Detection in Underserved Communities.

Background: Although potentially curable with early detection and timely treatment, breast cancer (BC) and cervical cancer (CC) remain leading causes of death for Colombian women. Lack of education, complicated administrative processes, and geographic limitations hinder early cancer detection. Today, technological tools permeate the society and could assess user risk, deliver customized information, and provide care coordination.

Minimally invasive surgery for T4 colon cancer is associated with better outcomes compared to open surgery in the National Cancer Database.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is favored for T1-T3 colon cancer resection due to improved short and long-term outcomes. Recommendations regarding T4 cancers remain controversial due to a paucity of clinical trials or large datasets assessing outcomes. We aim to compare outcomes for pT4 colon cancer patients treated with MIS or open surgery (OS) in the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Overcoming Barriers in the Implementation of Programs for Breast and Cervical Cancers in Cali, Colombia: A Pilot Model.

Breast and cervical cancers are leading causes of mortality among women in Latin America. Colombia has universal health care and a government-sponsored 10-year cancer control plan focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment. However, many administrative and social barriers have hindered its success, and a majority of patients are diagnosed at a late stage.

Efficacy of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Cytoreductive Surgery in the Treatment of Recurrent Uterine Sarcoma.

Objective: Uterine sarcomas (USs) are characterized by poor response to systemic chemotherapy and high recurrence rates. This study evaluates whether the use of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) confers survival benefit in comparison with conventional treatment modalities in patients with recurrent US.

Methods/materials: A retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent US at a single institution for an 11-year study period was performed.

Angiosarcoma of the Pelvis in a 13-Year-Old Girl.

Angiosarcomas are highly aggressive malignancies of vascular origin and are very rarely found in children. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with a history of abdominal pain and increased abdominal girth. Radiologic imaging showed significant ascites and large pelvic masses involving bilateral adnexa with abdominal spread.