Electronic health records and patient registries in medical oncology departments in Spain.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the current situation of electronic health records (EHRs) and patient registries in the oncology departments of hospitals in Spain.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2018 to September 2019. The survey was designed ad hoc by the Outcomes Evaluation and Clinical Practice Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and was distributed to all head of medical oncology department members of SEOM.

Impact of the subcutaneous formulations of trastuzumab and rituximab on efficiency and resource optimization in Spanish hospitals: H-Excelencia study.

Background: Subcutaneous (SC) versus intravenous (IV) administration is advantageous in terms of patient convenience and hospital efficiency. This study aimed to compare the effect of optimizing the processes involved in SC versus IV administration of rituximab and trastuzumab on hospital capacity and service quality.

Methods: This cross-sectional resource utilization study interviewed oncologists, hematologists, nurses, and pharmacists from 10 hospitals in Spain to estimate changes in processes associated with conversion from IV to SC rituximab and trastuzumab, based on clinical experience and healthcare use from administrative databases.

Efficacy and safety of Nivolumab in older patients with pretreated lung cancer: A subgroup analysis of the Galician lung cancer group.

Background: Nivolumab is an anti PD1 immunotherapy drug approved for advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients who previously received at least one prior line of treatment. Older patients are often not represented in clinical trials and drugs with acceptable safety profiles are necessary. We aim to report the efficacy and safety profile of Nivolumab in the real-world older subgroup of the Galician lung cancer group study.

Sustained Stable Disease with Capecitabine plus Bevacizumab in Metastatic Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report.

In a patient who had been diagnosed in 2006 with appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastases after an incomplete surgery, palliative chemotherapy was administered. First-line treatment with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and second-line treatment including 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus panitumumab showed inefficiency in controlling disease progression. Third-line chemotherapy combining capecitabine plus bevacizumab was started, achieving good control of the tumour growth and a minor response in the second computed tomography scan.

The economic burden of metastatic breast cancer in Spain.

Objectives: The study aimed to estimate the burden of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in Spain over 5 years.

Methods: An incidence-based cost-of-illness model was developed in which a cohort of patients with mBC was followed from the diagnosis of metastatic disease over 5 years or death. Resource use data were collected through a physician survey conducted with 10 clinical experts in Spain.

Dramatic Response of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis to Nivolumab in PD-L1 Highly Expressive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

In a patient who had been diagnosed of located squamous cell lung carcinoma, pneumonectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy were performed. Brain recurrence and subsequent lung metastatic disease were uncontrolled by neurosurgery, holocranial radiotherapy, and first-line chemotherapy. In August 2015, appearance of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis triggered severe clinical deterioration and threatened the patient's life.

Primary malignant melanoma of the biliary tract: A case report and literature review.

Background: Primary malignant melanoma of the biliary tract (MBT) is a rare condition whose diagnosis requires excluding a primary origin in another location. This paper reviews the most important characteristics of MBT cases published in the literature and reports a new case. The patient reported here is the first case of primary malignant melanoma of the biliary tract with pulmonary metastasis treated with immunotherapy.

Broad consensus on the optimal sequence for the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer: results from a survey of Spanish medical oncologists.

The aim of this survey conducted by 20 leading Spanish oncologists was to analyze the concurrence between Spanish clinical practice and the recently published definition of the optimal sequence for the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) according to patient profiles. A self-administered questionnaire was developed, divided into five sections comprising 34 specific questions related to sequential treatments, plus three additional general questions. Respondents were asked to justify negative answers.

Real world data of nivolumab for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer patients: a Galician lung cancer group clinical experience.

Background: Recently, immunotherapy has changed the standard of treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Outside clinical trials, data of real life is lacking. This is an observational study that represents the real world experience with nivolumab in pretreated NSCLC.

Dynamic Modeling of Silicon Bioavailability, Uptake, Transport, and Accumulation: Applicability in Improving the Nutritional Quality of Tomato.

Silicon is an essential nutrient for humans, additionally is beneficial for terrestrial plants. In plants Si enhances tolerance to different types of stress; in humans, it improves the metabolism and increases the strength of skeletal and connective tissues as well as of the immune system. Most of the Si intake of humans come from edible plants creating a double benefit: first, because the absorption of Si increases the antioxidants and other phytochemicals in plants, thereby increasing its functional value, and second because the higher concentration of Si in plants increases intake in human consumers.

A survey of perceptions, attitudes, knowledge and practices of medical oncologists about cancer pain management in Spain.

Purpose: To monitor oncologists' perspective on cancer pain management.

Methods: An anonymized survey was conducted in two waves. First, over a convenience sample of oncologists known to be particularly concerned with the management of pain.

Neuroendocrine Pulmonary Tumors of Low, Intermediate and High Grade: Anatomopathological Diagnosis-Prognostic and Predictive Factors.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) belong to a heterogeneous family of rare tumors with very broad and complex clinical behavior. Due to their heterogeneity, the lack of specific symptoms and the absence of sensitive methods for early detection, patients are usually diagnosed when the disease is in an advanced state for which curative treatments are scarce. In most cases, these few treatments try to prolong the survival of patients, maintaining the quality of life.

Ki-67 is a prognostic marker for hormone receptor positive tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of Ki67 as a prognostic marker in Luminal B node-negative breast cancer patients.

Methods: We identified 888 patients with invasive breast carcinomas who underwent surgery between 1997 and 2004. Several classical factors were collected: age, tumor size, node involvement, tumor grade, estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER2 and Ki-67 expression.

Breast cancer management in the elderly.

The increase in life expectancy in the western world means that we are faced with patients diagnosed with breast cancer in old age with increasing frequency. The management of these cases is a challenge for the oncologist, who must take into account the conditions associated with advanced age and the lack of trials in this population. In this review, we addressed the incorporation of geriatric assessment methods that may be useful in making decisions, the particular biological characteristics of breast cancer in elderly patients and their treatment in both localized and advanced disease.

SEOM guide to antiemetic prophylaxis in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy 2013.

Chemotherapy-induced emesis (CIE) both in the form of nausea and vomiting is one of the adverse effects most feared by patients who receive treatment, and one of the factors that most affect their quality of life and limit their functional capacity for everyday activities. Chemotherapy-induced emesis can result from many factors, depending on the treatment and the patients themselves. The best treatment for CIE is prevention, based on the use of drugs aimed at inhibiting the signal of certain neurotransmitters involved in the process.

Tissue factor expressed by microparticles is associated with mortality but not with thrombosis in cancer patients.

A prothrombotic state is one of the hallmarks of malignancy and a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in cancer patients.Tissue factor (TF) is often overexpressed in malignancy and is a prime candidate in predicting the hypercoagulable state. Moreover, increased number of TF-exposing microparticles (MPs) in cancer patients may contribute to venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Pilot study on workload estimate in breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer in a Medical Oncology Service at Valme hospital.

New advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the increased incidence and prevalence of this disease have led to an increase in the number and duration of visits in Medical Oncology in the last few years. Based on the functions of a medical oncologist and the time recommended for each work activity established by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), we carried out a pilot study on the three most frequent neoplasias in our country [breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC)], in order to determine the real time each patient requires from a physician and thus establish a recommendation on the number of medical oncologists necessary. Using the actual itinerary of the first 20 patients of 2009 in each of the three neoplasias seen at the Medical Oncology Service of the Virgen de Valme University Hospital, we measured the number of visits, the antineoplastic treatments received, the number of hospital admissions and average length of stay.

SEOM guideline for the treatment of malignant glioma.

High-grade gliomas are an infrequent disease diagnosed usually in the fifth or sixth decade. Careful histopathological diagnosis is essential because tumour grade and type condition the treatment. Magnetic resonance with gadolinium is considered the standard radiologic exploration and should be followed by tissue sampling.

Functions and workload of medical oncologists in Spain.

The functions and workload of medical oncologists are becoming increasingly relevant as cancer is a priority health issue in our country. Taking into account the specific characteristics and complexity of caring for cancer patients, the time of physicians attached to Medical Oncology could be distributed as follows: 70% for consultation (including participation in tumour committees and multidisciplinary units), 15% for research and 15% for training, teaching and clinical sessions. The time distribution for Heads of Services or Heads of Units is different, since it must also include their clinical management tasks, team coordination, and relations with other services and institutions.

Management of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Hormone treatment is one of the key strategies in the management of metastatic breast cancer. Hormone treatment is one of the key strategies in the management of metastatic breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) have been extensively studied in this setting.

A dose-dense schedule of docetaxel followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant treatment for breast cancer: results from a phase II study.

Introduction: The objective was to evaluate a dose-dense schedule of docetaxel followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) as neoadjuvant treatment for patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-nine patients were included and received 100 mg/m(2) of docetaxel every two weeks for four cycles followed by 60 mg/m(2) of doxorubicin and 600 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide every two weeks for four cycles. Primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered systematically to all patients.

[Continuous monitoring of a guideline: Bell's palsy].

Introduction: The preparation and review of child neurology guidelines can reduce the variability of our medical practice, thus improving health care. We present the continuous monitoring of our Bell's palsy guideline.

Material And Methods: Emergency and medical reports of the children seen in Child Neurology surgery from July 2006 to August 2009 (group 2) are reviewed for the purpose of finding out the present level of compliance with guideline quality criteria and compare it with the previously reviewed period (group 1, from March 2003 to June 2006).

[26th Conference of the Spanish Society of Quality in Healthcare: a good balance between quality, innovation, science and participation].

The experience and learning process of preparing a scientific conference programme, organising and conducting a conference ccompletes the quality circle with the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the process and results. The transmission of this experience and learning process through this paper will improve the performance of committees of future conference venues, partners and participants and collaborators. The method for performing this evaluation is the assessment of the activities of both the scientific and organising committees of the XXVI Conference of the Spanish Society of Quality Healthcare in October 2008 in Zaragoza.

Current controversies in the management of breast cancer.

The following manuscript summarises the content of the Breast Symposium that was held in May 2008 in Barcelona in which four controversies regarding the management of breast cancer were discussed. The design of the symposium included two speakers per controversy, one in favour and one diverging, and the audience had to vote before and after the presentations to assess changes in the participants' views. The four controversies included: (1) the role of non-conventional predictive factors in selecting treatment for breast cancer; (2) the role of surgery in disseminated disease; (3) are taxanes indicated in the adjuvant treatment of patients with lymph-node-negative disease?; (4) is treatment with tamoxifen (TAM) always required after surgery in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)? The symposium concluded with the presentation titled: 'Features of a well designed clinical trial in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer'.