Avaliação de treinamento em suporte básico de vida para médicos e enfermeiros da atenção primária

Objetivo: Foram avaliados conhecimentos e habilidades sobre reanimação cardiopulmonar antes e após a capacitação em Suporte Básico de Vida (SBV) para médicos e enfermeiros que atuam na atenção primária. Métodos: Estudo quasi-experimental, com amostra aleatória de profissionais. Inicialmente, avaliou-se o desempenho cognitivo em um teste de múltipla escolha sobre o atendimento a uma parada cardiorrespiratória (PCR) e, em seguida, conduziu-se um atendimento simulado de PCR, para a avaliação de habilidades, usando um checklist baseado nas recomendações da American Heart Association (AHA). Após avaliação inicial, todos os profissionais participaram de curso teórico-prático em SBV, durante três encontros. Após o curso, todos se submeteram a nova avaliação. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 32 profissionais. O nível de conhecimentos e habilidades foi insatisfatório antes do curso. Após a capacitação, a média de acertos na avaliação teórico-prática apresentou aumento significativo (p<0,001). Conclusão: Registrou-se impacto positivo da capacitação em SBV para os profissionais da atenção primária.

Tailoring Endometrial Cancer Treatment Based on Molecular Pathology: Current Status and Possible Impacts on Systemic and Local Treatment

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a heterogeneous disease with a rising incidence worldwide. The understanding of its molecular pathways has evolved substantially since The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) stratified endometrial cancer into four subgroups regarding molecular features: POLE ultra-mutated, microsatellite instability (MSI) hypermutated, copy-number high with TP53 mutations, and copy-number low with microsatellite stability, also known as nonspecific molecular subtype (NSMP). More recently, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) updated their staging classification to include information about POLE mutation and p53 status, as the prognosis differs according to these characteristics. Other biomarkers are being identified and their prognostic and predictive role in response to therapies are being evaluated. However, the incorporation of molecular aspects into treatment decision-making is challenging. This review explores the available data and future directions on tailoring treatment based on molecular subtypes, alongside the challenges associated with their testing.

Intracranial Hemangiopericytoma – A Case Report

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor, considered as a subtype of soft tissue sarcomas with an incidence of 3.77/10.000.000 cases. Intracranial hemangiopericytomas account for less than 1% of all primary tumors of the central nervous system. Due to the lack of data available regarding this disease, national and international research provides information derived from retrospective case series and phase I and phase II studies. This is a case report of a young adult diagnosed with intracranial hemangiopericytoma in 2012 with a history of multiple recurrences and therapeutic approaches, assisted in a public health center in southeastern Brazil. Among the treatment options given to the patient, there are surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy (including alkylating and anthracyclines agents). Systemic therapy usually is offered after multiple recurrences or in a metastatic setting; although it increases progression-free survival, there is not enough data on objective response rate and does not yield increased overall survival.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic among patients with lung and head and neck cancer assisted in a public cancer center in Brazil

BACKGROUND

There is no updated national data regarding the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delaying diagnosis and treatment among patients with lung, and head, and neck cancers in Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact on cancer diagnosis and clinical outcomes among lung, head, and neck cancer patients assisted in a tertiary cancer center in Southeastern Brazil, as well as to analyze these patients' pretreatment clinical features.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort of patients with lung or head and neck cancer assisted in a tertiary cancer center in southeastern Brazil between January/2019 and December/2021. To assess statistical differences among groups [i.e., cohort 2019 versus (vs.) 2020 and 2019 vs. 2021] chi-square test was used with a 5% significance level and 90% power for sample size calculation. Differences among baseline clinical features and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated either by T-test for two samples or Fisher's or Pearson's chi-square test (for quantitative or qualitative variables). All utilized tests had a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Six hundred fifty-two patients were included, 332 with lung and 320 with head and neck cancer; it was observed a significant decrease in oncologic treatment recommendations and increase in palliative care recommendation for patients with lung cancer, despite similar stages at diagnosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more pain symptoms were reported at the first Oncology assessment for patients with head and neck cancer (p < 0.05). Compared to 2019, head and neck cancer patients diagnosed in 2021 presented a worse initial performance status (p = 0.008). There was a statistically significant increase in survival for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2021 when compared to 2019 (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This research highlights low survival rates for patients with lung and head and neck cancer in Brazil, even before the pandemic started, as consequence of advanced diseases at diagnosis at the public health system and clinical degrading features. Additionally, there was an increase incidence in both lung cancer and head and neck cancer despite no differences in clinical stage. This reflects how fragile is the public healthcare system even before facing an acute public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the total impact on public health may follow for many years.

PN, Gimenes N, Reis MX, Matsas S, Ferreira CG. Next-generation sequencing impact on cancer care: applications, challenges, and future directions

Fundamentally precision oncology illustrates the path in which molecular profiling of tumors can illuminate their biological behavior, diversity, and likely outcomes by identifying distinct genetic mutations, protein levels, and other biomarkers that underpin cancer progression. Next-generation sequencing became an indispensable diagnostic tool for diagnosis and treatment guidance in current clinical practice. Nowadays, tissue analysis benefits from further support through methods like comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsies. However, precision medicine in the field of oncology presents specific hurdles, such as the cost-benefit balance and widespread accessibility, particularly in countries with low- and middle-income. A key issue is how to effectively extend next-generation sequencing to all cancer patients, thus empowering treatment decision-making. Concerns also extend to the quality and preservation of tissue samples, as well as the evaluation of health technologies. Moreover, as technology advances, novel next-generation sequencing assessments are being developed, including the study of Fragmentomics. Therefore, our objective was to delineate the primary uses of next-generation sequencing, discussing its' applications, limitations, and prospective paths forward in Oncology.