Case report: Treatment with Phesgo® in a patient receiving hemodialysis.

Introduction: Patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer have multiple therapeutic options. However, most are not studied in the renal replacement therapy (RRT) setting.

Case Report: We report the use of Phesgo® (subcutaneous fixed-dose combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab) combined with exemestane as a first-line treatment of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in a hemodialysis patient with multiple comorbidities.

Loss of RAS Mutations in Liquid Biopsies of Patients With Multi-Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Liquid biopsy (LB) is a non-invasive tool to evaluate the heterogeneity of tumors. Since RAS mutations (RAS-mut) play a major role in resistance to antiepidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), serial monitoring of RAS-mut with LB may be useful to guide treatment. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the loss of RAS-mut (NeoRAS-wt) in LB, during the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Lymph node yield in the pathological staging of resected nonmetastatic colon cancer: The more the better?

Introduction: Guidelines recommend regional lymphadenectomy with a lymph node yield (LNY) of at least 12 lymph nodes (LN) for adequate colon cancer (CC) staging. LNY ≥22LN may improve survival, especially in right-sided CC [Lee et al., Surg Oncol, 27(3), 2018].

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in Patients With Cancer on Systemic Antineoplastic Treatment in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal.

At the time of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with cancer were considered to be at high risk of serious illness and had a higher exposure risk since they needed frequent and nondeferrable hospital visits. Serological tests were not routinely used, and seroprevalence in this population was unknown. A single-center, cross-sectional study was developed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in patients with cancer undergoing systemic antineoplastic treatment.

Functional Mapping of AKT Signaling and Biomarkers of Response from the FAIRLANE Trial of Neoadjuvant Ipatasertib plus Paclitaxel for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Despite extensive genomic and transcriptomic profiling, it remains unknown how signaling pathways are differentially activated and how tumors are differentially sensitized to certain perturbations. Here, we aim to characterize AKT signaling activity and its association with other genomic or IHC-based PI3K/AKT pathway biomarkers as well as the clinical activity of ipatasertib (AKT inhibitor) in the FAIRLANE trial.

Experimental Design: In FAIRLANE, 151 patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) were randomized 1:1 to receive paclitaxel with ipatasertib or placebo for 12 weeks prior to surgery.

Febrile Neutropenia in Patients with Solid Tumors Undergoing Intravenous Chemotherapy.

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a potentially life-threatening complication of systemic chemotherapy (CT) that often requires hospital admission. Delay in diagnosis and treatment are associated with higher morbidity and mortality.

Objective: We aimed to determine the factors that influence FN episodes outcomes in the emergency room (ER).

Fatal febrile neutropenia during adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer.

We report the case of a 76-year-old female patient with early breast cancer (hormone receptor-positive erbb2 amplified) that had started adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, carboplatin and trastuzumab (TCH). Eight days after the first cycle of TCH chemotherapy, the patient was diagnosed with grade 1 oral mucositis, treated conservatively. The next day she started with nausea, vomiting, chills and fever, followed by a generalised tonicoclonic seizure.

ONKOTEV Score as a Predictive Tool for Thromboembolic Events in Pancreatic Cancer-A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in patients with cancer and causes considerable morbidity and mortality. The risk of VTE is higher in patients with pancreatic cancer and is often associated with treatment delays or interruptions. Recently, the ONKOTEV score was proposed as a VTE risk predictor model for patients with cancer, but its validation is still ongoing.

Loss of HER2 and disease prognosis after neoadjuvant treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

Introduction: HER2 overexpression/amplification occurs in 15-20% breast cancers (BC) and is associated with worse prognosis. The addition of anti-HER2 treatment to neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Changes in HER2 status after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) have been reported and may affect prognosis.

Effectiveness of Adjuvant Ovarian Function Suppression in Premenopausal Women With Early Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Ovarian function suppression (OFS) with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) improves disease-free survival in premenopausal women with breast cancer, mostly in those at higher risk of recurrence. However, its real-world use and impact remain poorly understood.

Patients And Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study of premenopausal women with stage I to III hormone receptor-positive breast cancer diagnosed from 2006 to 2015 that aimed to look at the uptake and effectiveness of the addition of OFS to backbone endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or AI).

Dietary patterns and their relationships to sarcopenia in Portuguese patients with gastrointestinal cancer: An exploratory study.

Objectives: The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify the main dietary patterns of a Portuguese population of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and to analyze their association with sarcopenia.

Methods: This was a prospective study with a consecutive sample of 100 patients with gastrointestinal cancer enrolled at diagnosis. Dietary intake was assessed with a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire, and dietary patterns were obtained with principal component analysis.

Treatment adoption and relative effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors compared to tamoxifen in early breast cancer: A multi-institutional observational study.

Background: Since 2005, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been the adjuvant treatment of choice for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer (BC). In this study we characterize the adoption of AIs in Portugal, variables associated with treatment administration, and compare its effectiveness (either in monotherapy or sequential therapy) to tamoxifen monotherapy (TAM).

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included postmenopausal women with stage I-III hormone receptor (HR) positive BC diagnosed from 2006 to 2008 and treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy in four participating institutions.

Acute reversible toxic encephalopathy during capecitabine and oxaliplatin treatment.

Introduction: Capecitabine is a fluoropyrimidine commonly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer which may cause central nervous system toxicity, namely cerebellar dysfunction.

Case Report: We describe a 77-year-old man undergoing adjuvant treatment of colon cancer with capecitabine and oxaliplatin who presented with acute cerebellar ataxia and encephalopathy that progressed to coma. Diagnosis of toxic encephalopathy was made after the exclusion of alternative causes of neurological dysfunction and complete resolution of clinical findings with permanent discontinuation of chemotherapy.

Does Hypoxic Response Mediate Primary Resistance to Sunitinib in Untreated Locally Advanced Breast Cancer?

Background: The antiangiogenic drug sunitinib has never been evaluated as single agent in untreated breast cancer patients.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the activity of sunitinib, alone and with docetaxel, in untreated locally advanced or operable breast cancer and to uncover the mechanisms of response.

Method: Patients were treated with an upfront window of sunitinib followed by four cycles of sunitinib plus docetaxel.

Variation in type of adjuvant chemotherapy received among patients with stage I breast cancer: A multi-institutional Portuguese cohort study.

Background: A contemporary US study showed an increase in the use of chemotherapy in the last decade for some patients with stage-I breast cancer; with a rise in more intensive regimens, and declining use of anthracyclines. Nevertheless, there is still uncertainty on the absolute benefit of chemotherapy for these patients and the optimal regimen. In this study we compare those findings with the patterns of care among a Portuguese cohort of stage-I breast cancers.

The benefit of HER2-targeted therapies on overall survival of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer--a systematic review.

Introduction: This study aimed at evaluating the overall survival (OS) gain associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed therapies in patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane databases. Only phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including HER2-positive (HER2+) mBC patients were included in this review.

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in combination with docetaxel for the first-line treatment of elderly patients with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: results from AVADO.

Background: Oncologic treatment in elderly patients is challenging, due to comorbidities, often impaired organ function, limited clinical trial evidence, inadequate guidelines and no consistent 'elderly' definition. We report exploratory sub-analyses of safety and efficacy in elderly patients, defined as ⩾ 65years old, in AVastin And DOcetaxel (AVADO) receiving first-line bevacizumab plus docetaxel for metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with HER2-negative, locally recurrent or mBC were randomised to 3-weekly docetaxel (100mg/m(2)) with placebo, bevacizumab 7.

Complete response in HER2+ leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from breast cancer with intrathecal trastuzumab.

Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against the HER2 receptor, is a major breakthrough in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer. However, its high molecular weight precludes it from crossing the intact blood-brain barrier, making the central nervous system a sanctuary to HER2+ breast cancer metastases. We prospectively assessed functional outcome and toxicity of administering trastuzumab directly into the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) and brain metastases from HER2+ breast cancer that had already been treated with other intrathecal chemotherapy, with no benefit.

Mixed testicular germ cell tumour in a patient with previous pineal germinoma.

Germ cell tumours (GCT) are a relatively common malignancy in men aged 15-35 years. They occur most frequently in the gonads, but 3-5% have extragonadal origin, mainly in the pineal gland, neurohypophysis, mediastinum and retroperitoneum. Although intracranial germinomas may present with synchronous midline lesions, development of metachronous testicular germ cell primaries seems to be extremely rare, and confirmed dissemination of intracranial GCT to the testes has never been reported.

Detection of human mammaglobin mRNA in serial peripheral blood samples from patients with non-metastatic breast cancer is not predictive of disease recurrence.

Introduction: Human mammaglobin (hMAM) mRNA is a sensitive and specific marker of breast cancer cells. We evaluated if hMAM mRNA detection in serial peripheral blood samples from non-metastatic breast cancer patients predicts for disease recurrence.

Methods: Patients scheduled for adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were eligible.

[High-dose chemotherapy and stem-cell in patients with breast cancer].

Background: The treatment of breast cancer patients with high-dose chemotherapy and stem-cell support is still highly controversial. The elucidation of its clinical benefit awaits the maturation of on-going clinical trials.

Methods: Patients with chemotherapy-sensitive metastatic or locally advanced disease and patients with stage II/III disease and at least four positive axillary lymph nodes in the initial surgical specimen were eligible for transplantation.