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Cancers Oct 2021Adrenocortical tumors are rare in children. This systematic review summarizes the published evidence on pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to provide a basis for a... (Review)
Review
Adrenocortical tumors are rare in children. This systematic review summarizes the published evidence on pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to provide a basis for a better understanding of the disease, investigate new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and define which patients may benefit from a more aggressive therapeutic approach. We included 137 studies with 3680 ACC patients (~65% female) in our analysis. We found no randomized controlled trials, so this review mainly reflects retrospective data. Due to a specific mutation in the TP53 gene in ~80% of Brazilian patients, that cohort was analyzed separately from series from other countries. Hormone analysis was described in 2569 of the 2874 patients (89%). Most patients were diagnosed with localized disease, whereas 23% had metastasis at primary diagnosis. Only 72% of the patients achieved complete resection. In 334 children (23%), recurrent disease was reported: 81%-local recurrence, 19% ( = 65)-distant metastases at relapse. Patients < 4 years old had a different distribution of tumor stages and hormone activity and better overall survival ( < 0.001). Although therapeutic approaches are typically multimodal, no consensus is available on effective standard treatments for advanced ACC. Thus, knowledge regarding pediatric ACC is still scarce and international prospective studies are needed to implement standardized clinical stratifications and risk-adapted therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 34771430
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215266 -
Cancers May 2022Radiomics is a promising tool that may increase the value of imaging in differential diagnosis (DDx) of glioma. However, implementation in clinical practice is still... (Review)
Review
Radiomics is a promising tool that may increase the value of imaging in differential diagnosis (DDx) of glioma. However, implementation in clinical practice is still distant and concerns have been raised regarding the methodological quality of radiomic studies. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the current status of radiomic studies concerning glioma DDx, also using the radiomics quality score (RQS) to assess the quality of the methodology used in each study. A systematic literature search was performed to identify original articles focused on the use of radiomics for glioma DDx from 2015. Methodological quality was assessed using the RQS tool. Spearman's correlation (ρ) analysis was performed to explore whether RQS was correlated with journal metrics and the characteristics of the studies. Finally, 42 articles were selected for the systematic qualitative analysis. Selected articles were grouped and summarized in terms of those on DDx between glioma and primary central nervous system lymphoma, those aiming at differentiating glioma from brain metastases, and those based on DDx of glioma and other brain diseases. Median RQS was 8.71 out 36, with a mean RQS of all studies of 24.21%. Our study revealed that, despite promising and encouraging results, current studies on radiomics for glioma DDx still lack the quality required to allow its introduction into clinical practice. This work could provide new insights and help to reach a consensus on the use of the radiomic approach for glioma DDx.
PubMed: 35681711
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112731 -
BMC Psychiatry Jul 2020Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments. Research indicates that patients with...
BACKGROUND
Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments. Research indicates that patients with mental illness are willing to engage in the use of telemonitoring and mobile technology to assess and monitor their mood states. However, without the provision of distant support, adverse outcomes and events may be difficult to prevent and manage through self-monitoring. Understanding patient perspectives is important to achieving the best balance of self-monitoring, patient empowerment, and distant supporter involvement.
METHODS
This systematic review synthesises quantitative and qualitative evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of daily/weekly/monthly remote mood monitoring that includes distant support in participants with mood disorders. Inclusion criteria comprised mood monitoring of mood disorder patients as main intervention, study design, method of monitoring, and presence of psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Effectiveness was defined by the change in depression and/or mania scores. Feasibility was determined on participant feedback and completion/attrition rates. Studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018.
RESULTS
Nine studies of acceptable quality met the inclusion criteria. Distant mood monitoring was effective in improving depression scores but not mania scores. Feasibility, as measured through compliance and completion rates and participant feedback, varied.
CONCLUSION
Distant mood monitoring with support may be a useful, acceptable, and feasible intervention for diverse groups of patients in terms of age and ethnicity. Further, it may be effective in improving symptoms of depression, increasing treatment adherence, and facilitating the prevention and management of adverse outcomes. As a task-shifting intervention, distant mood monitoring may help to alleviate the burden on mental health providers in developing countries.
Topics: Affect; Bipolar Disorder; Humans; Mental Health; Mood Disorders; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 32698802
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02782-y -
World Neurosurgery: X Jul 2023The coexistence of meningioma and dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is a rare, but highly complex condition. Various pathophysiological mechanisms underlie intracranial... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The coexistence of meningioma and dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is a rare, but highly complex condition. Various pathophysiological mechanisms underlie intracranial meningiomas with continuous or distant dAVFs. We describe a case of coexisting meningioma and dAVF with a systematic review of the literature.
RESULT
Including the present case, there are 21 reported cases of coexisting intracranial dAVF and meningioma. The patients' ages ranged from 23 to 76 years, with a mean age of 61 years. The most common presenting symptom was headache. The dAVFs were commonly located at the transverse-sigmoid sinus (43%) and superior sagittal sinus (24%). The most common meningioma locations were the tentorium and parietal convexity. In 76% of the cases, the meningioma occluded the sinus. The most common dAVF treatment was transcatheter arterial embolization, followed by tumor resection (52%). Among the 20 cases with available outcome data, 90% reported favorable outcomes.
CONCLUSION
This report highlights some of the features of coexisting dAVF and meningioma and presents a systematic review of other reports on this phenomenon. Through an in-depth analysis of the literature, we highlight some of the leading theories regarding the causes of concomitant dAVF and meningiomas. Our report supports one of the leading theories that impaired venous return, whether through the occlusion of sinuses or sinus manipulation during surgery, plays a role in the development of dAVF. Further understanding may help guide future clinical decision-making and surgical planning.
PubMed: 37235061
DOI: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100217 -
Cancer Treatment Reviews Nov 2023While surgery is the mainstay of treatment for localised retroperitoneal sarcoma, the use of radiotherapy (RT) remains controversial. This systematic review aimed to... (Review)
Review
The role of radiation therapy in the management of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma: A systematic review and clinical practice guidelines from the Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association.
While surgery is the mainstay of treatment for localised retroperitoneal sarcoma, the use of radiotherapy (RT) remains controversial. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the role of RT for retroperitoneal sarcoma. A systematic review using the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome model from 1990 to 2022 identified 66 studies (a mixture of preoperative and postoperative RT); one randomised controlled trial (RCT) with two publications, 18 registry studies, and 46 retrospective studies. In the RCT of preoperative RT, there was no difference in local/abdominal recurrence. The pooled analysis of this RCT and a retrospective study showed a significant abdominal recurrence free survival benefit with preoperative RT in low grade liposarcoma. The RCT and the majority of retrospective series found RT did not improve recurrence free survival (11 of 16 no difference in combined local and distant RFS, 11 of 13 no difference in distant metastasis free survival), disease specific survival (9 of 12 studies) or overall survival (33 of 49 studies). The majority of studies found no association between RT and perioperative morbidity. In summary, preoperative RT may improve local control for low grade (well-differentiated or grades 1-2 dedifferentiated) liposarcoma, but not other histological subtypes. There is no strong evidence that perioperative RT provides an overall survival benefit. Patients with low grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma can be considered for preoperative RT to improve abdominal recurrence free survival. The rationale and level of evidence in this scenario should be carefully discussed by the multidisciplinary team with patients. RT should not be routinely recommended for other histological subtypes.
PubMed: 37657126
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102620 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an extremely rare malignant tumor with an incidence of about 6 new cases per 10 million inhabitants per year. While several papers have...
BACKGROUND
Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an extremely rare malignant tumor with an incidence of about 6 new cases per 10 million inhabitants per year. While several papers have been published on treatments and outcomes of PC patients with loco-regional disease, little is known about the prognosis, treatment strategies, and prognostic factors of patients with distant metastasis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a systematic review and a pooled analysis of histopathologically confirmed PC cases published in literature using the following keywords: "metastasis-metastatic-secondary nodes" AND "parathyroid carcinoma". Original case reports and case series reporting metastatic parathyroid carcinoma were included. Data from 58 articles were extracted in a piloted form by five reviewers on a shared database.
RESULTS
Seventy-nine patients with metastatic PC were identified between 1898 and 2018. Ten (13%) patients had synchronous metastases, while metachronous metastases occurred in 43 (54%) patients. The remaining 26 patients developed metastatic disease concomitantly to local recurrence. Primary hyperparathyroidism guided the diagnosis of metastatic recurrence in 58 (73%) patients. Surgery was the main primary approach adopted, as it was performed in 43 (54%) patients. Twenty (25%) patients underwent systemic antineoplastic therapy, consisting of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and hexestrol therapy. Bone resorption inhibitors had a limited efficacy in the long-term control of hypercalcemia. After a median follow-up of 37.5 months, 43 (55%) patients died, 22 (51%) due to the consequences of uncontrolled PHPT. The median overall survival was 36 months (range: 1-252). Surgery was associated with a better OS (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.88), whereas bone metastases represented a negative prognostic factor (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.2).
CONCLUSION
Metastatic PC has a relatively poor prognosis. The main goals of treatment are to counteract tumor growth and control hypercalcemia. Surgery of metastases is the best approach to achieve rapid control of PHPT and longer survival. Target therapies and immunotherapy deserve to be extensively tested in metastatic PC and strategies to better control hypercalcemia should be implemented.
PubMed: 36226055
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.997009 -
Gynecologic Oncology Apr 2022The 2020 ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines stratify the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients combining The Cancer Genome ATLAS (TCGA) molecular signature and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The 2020 ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines stratify the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients combining The Cancer Genome ATLAS (TCGA) molecular signature and pathological factors, including lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). However, little is known about the prognostic independence of LVSI from molecular signature.
AIM
To assess whether the prognostic value of LVSI is independent from the TCGA signature.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching 5 electronic databases from their inception to March 2021. All peer-reviewed studies reporting assessing LVSI as a prognostic factor independent from the TCGA groups in EC were included. Multivariate HRs with 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled separately for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The absence of LVSI was considered as a reference. In DFS analyses, locoregional and distant recurrence were separately considered for one study.
RESULTS
Six studies with 3331 patients were included in the systematic review and three studies with 2276 patients in the meta-analysis. LVSI showed a pooled multivariate HR of 1.818 (CI 95%, 1.378-2.399) for OS, 1.849 (CI 95%, 1.194-2.863) for DSS, 1.377 (CI 95%, 1.008-1.880) for DFS excluding one study, 1.651 (CI 95%, 1.044-2.611) for DFS additionally considering locoregional recurrence from one study, and 1.684 (CI 95%, 1.05-2.701) for DFS additionally considering distant recurrence from the same study.
CONCLUSION
LVSI has a prognostic value independent of TCGA signature, as well as age and adjuvant treatment, increasing the risk of death of any cause, death due to EC and recurrent or progressive disease by 1.5-2 times.
Topics: Disease-Free Survival; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35078650
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.01.013 -
Cureus Nov 2019Intracranial metastatic melanoma is a major challenge for neuro-oncological teams. Historically, treatment has focused on surgical or radiosurgical treatment of... (Review)
Review
Intracranial metastatic melanoma is a major challenge for neuro-oncological teams. Historically, treatment has focused on surgical or radiosurgical treatment of appropriate lesions, mostly for palliative purposes. Immunotherapies and other targeted therapies (BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi)) are mainstays of advanced melanoma therapy, yet the optimal timing and synergistic properties of concurrent combinations of these systemic therapies and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are poorly understood. We performed a systematic review of the MEDLINE and Scopus databases focused on outcomes after therapy using SRS and either immunotherapies or targeted therapies in an effort to define the optimal timing. We defined concurrent therapy as SRS within three months of treatment with any systemic therapy. End points included local control, distant control, overall survival, and toxicities. We identified five retrospective cohort studies from the literature. These studies found that concurrent SRS plus immunotherapy or BRAFi/MEKi is well tolerated by most patients and generally improved local control, distant control, and overall survival. Importantly, no significant increases in toxicities were noted with concurrent therapy. Combining concurrent SRS with immunotherapy or BRAFi/MEKi may offer important advances for patients with intracranial metastatic melanoma. To address interstudy heterogeneity, we propose reporting two major time intervals defining "concurrent treatment": concurrent-SRS (≤4 weeks) and peri-SRS (≤3 months). Future large-scale, prospective trials considering truly concurrent SRS therapies with systemic therapies are desperately needed.
PubMed: 31886081
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6147 -
European Journal of Surgical Oncology :... Oct 2022Although male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, accounting for <1% of all breast cancers, it has significant oncological, survival and psychosocial implications for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Although male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, accounting for <1% of all breast cancers, it has significant oncological, survival and psychosocial implications for patients. The aim of this study is to assess the latest literature in the diagnosis, management, oncological outcomes, and psychosocial impact of MBC.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines (Moher et al., 2009) [1] to explore the management of MBC, with particular focus on investigative imaging, surgical management, oncological outcomes, survival, genetic screening and psychosocial effects. Electronic databases were searched for randomised control trials, cohort studies and case series involving more than 10 patients. Imaging and surgical techniques, local and distant disease recurrence, survival, genetic screening and psychosocial implications in the setting of MBC were assessed.
RESULTS
The search criteria identified 199 articles, of which 59 met the inclusion criteria. This included 39,529 patients, with a mean age of 64.5 years (55-71), and a mean follow-up of 66.3 months (26.2-115). Mastectomy remains the most frequently used surgical technique, with an average of 89.6%. Loco-regional and distant recurrence rate was 10.1% and 21.4% respectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 and 10 years was 66.8% and 54.5% respectively. Disease-specific survival (DSS) at 5 and 10 years was 87.1% and 67.1% respectively. Overall survival (OS) at 5 and 10 years was 72.7% and 50.7% respectively. Genetic screening was conducted in 38.6% of patients of which 4.8% and 15.8% were found to be BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers respectively. Psychosocial studies were conducted mainly using questionnaire and interview-based methodology focusing primarily on awareness of breast cancer in men, support available and impact on gender identity.
CONCLUSIONS
This review demonstrates that men present with later stage disease with subsequent impact on survival outcomes. There remains a paucity of high-level evidence and prospective studies are required. There is a need for increasing awareness amongst the public and health care professionals in order to improve outcomes and reduce stigma associated with MBC.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Breast Neoplasms, Male; Mastectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Gender Identity; Disease-Free Survival
PubMed: 35725681
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2022.06.004 -
Laryngoscope Investigative... Aug 2022Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy with a steadily increasing incidence. Researches have reported that tumor multifocality occurs in... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy with a steadily increasing incidence. Researches have reported that tumor multifocality occurs in an extensive number of cases. Nevertheless, the clinical characteristics and prognostic value remained controversial. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between multifocal PTC and adverse clinicopathologic features and the prognosis.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on three electronic databases up to December 31, 2021. Parameters of interest included five clinical features (extrathyroidal extension, lymphovascular invasion, central lymph node metastasis, lateral lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis) and were pooled into risk ratios (RRs). Time-to-event data (recurrence-free survival and all-cause mortality) were evaluated using hazard ratios (HRs). Publication bias was examined using funnel plots and Egger's test.
RESULTS
A total of 23 articles were included according to the inclusion criteria; all of the studies were retrospective cohorts. In comparison with unifocality, multifocality showed an increased risk of extrathyroidal extension (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.25-1.53), lymphovascular invasion (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04-1.55), central lymph node metastasis (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.30), lateral lymph node metastasis (RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.62-2.14), and distant metastasis (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76). Multifocal patients were predisposed to postoperative recurrence (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.50-2.07). The rate of all-cause mortality did not reach a statistical difference.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
2.
CONCLUSION
Multifocal PTC is more aggressive in contrast to unifocal PTC and is accompanied by an increased risk of recurrence. They were usually diagnosed in higher grades and stages. To achieve the maximal benefit, we recommend personalized therapy and close follow-up for multifocal PTC patients. Further prospective studies will clarify the best-fitted treatment plans.
PubMed: 36000032
DOI: 10.1002/lio2.824