Current status and challenges in timely detection of cervical cancer in Mexico: expert consensus

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for 85% of new cases worldwide. Due to poorly organized screening programs, cervical cancer is more likely to develop in vulnerable groups who do not initiate or rarely undergo screening. Cervical cytology and detecting high-risk human papillomavirus types are the recommended screening tools. Further, these strategies allow for accurately identifying women at a higher risk of cervical cancer and establishing screening times. New detection tools, such as novel biomarkers or automatic HPV detection in the vagina or urine, can improve screening coverage. This review aims to identify the challenges faced by detection programs and screening tools in Mexico to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve early detection programs for cervical cancer.

Epidemiological Data on the Nutritional Status of Cancer Patients Receiving Treatment with Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy, Radiotherapy or Sequential Chemoradiotherapy to the Abdominopelvic Area

Cancer patients are particularly susceptible to undernourishment so associated weight loss is frequent. Approximately 15% of patients lose >10% of their usual body weight, 40-80% become undernourished, and about 20% die as a result. Well-nourished patients have a higher survival rate when compared with patients at risk of undernourishment (19.9 vs. 3.7 months); hence, nutritional intervention is pivotal. Undernourishment negatively influences the patient's prognosis, and its prevalence depends on the tumor type and location, disease stage, treatment, and the applied nutritional evaluation tool. During abdominopelvic radiotherapy, up to 90% of patients experience symptoms of varying severity; weight loss during radiotherapy is an early indicator of nutritional deterioration, and he the use of radiation is associated with a higher likelihood of undernourishment. In patients with gynecological malignancies, 12.5-54% are malnourished before receiving oncological treatment, worsening after treatment in 35.8-82% of cases. There is also deterioration of the nutritional status in patients with colorectal cancer once pelvic radiotherapy is initiated, whereby 50% of cases are malnourished at the beginning of treatment, and 66.7% are so when it ends. Although there are notable differences in the impact of radiotherapy on weight according to the radiated region, 88% patients receiving abdominal radiotherapy were found to lose weight compared to 38% of patients whose treatment was limited to the pelvis.

Impact of a quadrivalent HPV6/11/16/18 vaccine in Mexican women: public health implications for the region

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Recognition of human papillomavirus (HPV) as a necessary cause of cervical cancer (CC) led to new perspectives for its control and the demonstration of an effective primary prevention strategy through vaccination. We undertook this study to evaluate the safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of a quadrivalent HPV6/11/16/18 vaccine in Mexican women.

METHODS

A total of 679 Mexican women between 18 and 23 years old participated in two Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials of a quadrivalent HPV 6/11/16/18 vaccine. Women were enrolled who tested negative for pregnancy and reported having four or less sexual partners during their lifetime. Vaccine or placebo was administered at day 1, month 2 and month 6.

RESULTS

Among Mexican women who were naïve to the respective vaccine type at enrollment, the quadrivalent vaccine was highly efficacious, preventing 100% of HPV6/11/16/18-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3, adenocarcinoma in situ, condyloma and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Statistical significance was not reached for every endpoint due to the limited sample size. Vaccination was generally well tolerated and immunogenic.

DISCUSSION

To widely administer the vaccine, collaborative efforts should be coordinated among public, private and local community sectors. In light of the scarce knowledge of many health professionals with respect to the primary prevention of CC, it will be necessary to educate health providers on the advantages and specific recommendations of HPV vaccines and secondary prevention. Decision making should be based on scientific evidence, allowing health professionals to provide an organized social response that supports the universal right to health.

[Adnexal tumor and pregnancy: diagnosis and treatment]

BACKGROUND

The finding of adnexal masses during pregnancy is an exceptional event. Its reported incidence is less than 5% and most cases resolve spontaneously as the pregnancy progresses.

OBJECTIVE

Describe a case series of patients with adnexal mass and pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had diagnosis of pregnancy and adnexal over a period of five years.

RESULTS

The incidence was 0.22%. The mean age was 26 +/- 7.3 years, mean gestational age was 17 +/- 6.6 weeks. The diagnosis was established by ultrasound (USG) in 95% of cases, 48% had cystic characteristics, the mean diameter of the tumor was 99 +/- 42 mm. Cistectomy was performed during pregnancy or trans-cesarean section in 30% and 58% of patients respectably. The mean tumor size was 118 mm (range 2 a 40 mm), weight 1,370 g (range 10 a 5,800 g). The most frequent histological diagnosis were serous cyst (40%), mature teratoma (28%), mucinous (6%), malignancy (4%). There were not complications related to the surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

The USG constitute a safe method for the diagnosis, but the image method with the highest positive predictive value is the MRI. Tumor markers (CA-125, AFP, GCH-B,DHL, ACE), are not useful during pregnancy. If the tumor doesn't achieve surgical criteria the recommended follow up is clinical observation and USG. If surgery is decided, it should be performed between 16 a 23 weeks of pregnancy, and it's recommended to send the tumor to histological diagnosis, in case of malignancy the surgery will continue according to the tumor stage. The time and delivery route will be decided by the obstetrician.

Strategies and ethical considerations for the recruitment of young men who have sex with men: challenges of a vaccination trial in Mexico

BACKGROUND

The importance of recruiting and retaining study participants from minority groups is well recognized; however, there are no established rules for recruitment as its success depends on the setting and population.

PURPOSE

To describe and analyze recruitment strategies, ethical considerations, and recruitment outcomes from a study to evaluate the efficacy the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine in young men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS

The recruitment settings were university and community sites in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Eligibility requirement were men between 18 and 23 years old, who were free of anal-genital lesions as confirmed by clinical exploration, HIV negative, with no history of sexual relations with female partners and with fewer than five male lifetime sexual partners. Recruitment goals were 25 study participants in a four and a half month period. In addition to traditional recruitment strategies (flyers and media advertising, specific training of the recruitment team and adequate choice of recruitment sites)-engagement of local leaders in the MSM community formed a crucial part of the strategy. Special consideration was given to confidentiality and respect for study participants and a Bill of Participant Rights was developed as an explicit commitment to respect and acceptance.

RESULTS

In total 723 MSM were initially contacted, 243 filled out the recruitment questionnaire, of which 151 met the criteria to be invited to the clinical examination. After clinical examination and interviews with the recruitment team, 131 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of whom 73 were enrolled in the study - nearly triple the recruitment goal. Among the initial recruitment strategies (application of the screening questionnaire) attending meetings with MSM activist organizations was the most successful (326), followed by recruitment at bars and dance clubs (107).

LIMITATIONS

The recruitment strategies should be formally evaluated for their effectiveness to identify those which are most successful. In addition, future studies should consider the evaluation of study participants' perceptions of the recruitment strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Recruiting MSM in a developing country such as Mexico presented multiple challenges. We recommend that future studies actively engage the local MSM community and pay special attention to designing recruitment strategies that guarantee the confidentiality of and respect for participants.