PURPOSE An expert panel on breast cancer and COVID-19 disease was convened to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for early breast cancer (eBC) management. METHODS To ensure that the most clinically relevant information was addressed, essential information was drawn from several of the latest national and international guidelines and another technical document. The expert panel met in five virtual closed sessions from November 2020 to May 2021 to consult on the relevant data from evidence-based results. The data gathered were discussed on an online platform. RESULTS This article reports the expert panel's highlights of these meetings' discussions. In addition, it provides practical recommendations covering topics regarding diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with eBC in clinical settings routinely encountered by health care professionals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION This article provided guidance on several topics regarding eBC management amid the COVID-19 pandemics to inform safer care practices.

Objective Several controversies remain on conservative management of cervical cancer. Our aim was to develop a consensus recommendation on important and novel topics of fertility‐sparing treatment of cervical cancer. Methods The consensus was sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (BSSO) from March 2020 to September 2020 and included a multidisciplinary team of 55 specialists. A total of 21 questions were addressed and they were assigned to specialists' groups that reviewed the literature and drafted preliminary recommendations. Further, the coordinators evaluated the recommendations that were classified by the level of evidence, and finally, they were voted by all participants. Results The questions included controversial topics on tumor assessment, surgical treatment, and surveillance in conservative management of cervical cancer. The two topics with lower agreement rates were the role of minimally invasive approach in radical trachelectomy and parametrial preservation. Additionally, only three recommendations had <90% of agreement (fertility preservation in Stage Ib2, anti‐stenosis device, and uterine transposition). Conclusions As very few clinical trials have been developed in surgery for cervical cancer, most recommendations were supported by low levels of evidence. We addressed important and novel topics in conservative management of cervical cancer and our study may contribute to literature.

Background and Objectives: The incidence, predictive, and prognostic impact of programmed cell death (PD-L1) expression in gastric (GC) and gastroesophageal junction tumors (GEJC) treated with perioperative chemotherapy is poorly understood. We aimed to assess PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in both pre and posttreatment specimens evaluating its impact on pathological response and survival outcomes.Methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with GC and GEJ tumors treated in a single western cancer center between 2007 and 2017. PD-L1 expression was assessed by IHC before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in surgical samples, and reported as combined positive score (CPS). CPS > 1% was tested for its association with pathological response and overall survival (OS).Results: We were able to assess PD-L1 expression in at least one tissue sample from 155 subjects. PD-L1 positivity rate was 20%. In 74 paired samples, a 21% discordance between PD-L1 expression in biopsy sample and surgical specimen was observed. With a median follow-up period of 60.3 months, 5-years disease-free survival was 60.5% with a median OS not reached. PD-L1 expression was neither associated with pathological response or survival outcomes.Conclusions: PD-L1 expression in the setting of locally advanced GC tumors was relatively low and can vary considering the tissue sample analyzed. This expression had no association with survival or pathological response in this population.

The management of colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) has become complex because of the increasing availability of medical, radiological, and surgical treatment options applied either alone or in combination. However, resection remains the only evidence‐based curative therapy. These Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology surgical standards are intended to guide clinicians in the decision‐making process for modern surgical management of CRLM within a multidisciplinary team in an evidence‐based framework, focusing on resectable disease.

Background Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a frequent complication in advanced cancer patients and especially those with abdominal tumors. The clinical management of MBO requires a specific and individualized approach based on the disease prognosis. Surgery is recommended. Less invasive approaches such as endoscopic treatments should be considered when surgery is contraindicated. The priority of care for inoperable and consolidated MBO is to control the symptoms and promote the maximum level of comfort. Objectives This study aimed to develop recommendations for the effective management of MBO. Methods A questionnaire was administered to all members of the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology, of whom 41 surgeons participated in the survey. A literature review of studies retrieved from the National Library of Medicine database was conducted on particular topics chosen by the participants. These topics addressed questions regarding the MBO management, to define the level of evidence and strength of each recommendation, and an adapted version of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Health Service rating system was used. Results Most aspects of the medical approach and management strategies reviewed were strongly recommended by the participants. Conclusions Guidelines outlining the strategies for management MBO were developed based on the strongest evidence available in the literature.

BackgroundAnal canal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a relatively uncommon neoplasia, and it is mostly a local‐regional cancer, of low metastatic potential (only 15%), resulting in cure in most cases treated with definitive chemoradiation. On the other hand, its incidence has been steadily increasing over the last decades, which makes it an important public health problem. In an effort to provide surgeons and oncologists who treat patients with anal cancer with the most updated information based on the best scientific evidence, the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (SBCO) has produced the present guideline for the management of anal canal SCC, focused on the main topics related to daily clinical practice.ObjectivesThe SBCO developed the present guidelines to provide recommendations on the main topics related to the management of anal canal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) based on current scientific evidence.MethodsBetween October 2022 and January 2023, 14 experts met to develop the guidelines for the management of anal canal cancer. A total of 30 relevant topics were distributed among the participants. The methodological quality of a final list with 121 sources was evaluated, all the evidence was examined and revised, and the management guidelines were formulated by the 14‐expert committee. To reach a final consensus, all the topics were reviewed in a meeting that was attended by all the experts.ResultsThe proposed guidelines contained 30 topics considered to be highly relevant in the management of anal canal cancer, covering subjects related to screening recommendations, preventive measures, tests required for diagnosing and staging, treatment strategies, response assessment after chemoradiotherapy, surgical technique‐related aspects, and follow‐up recommendations. In addition, screening and response assessment algorithms, and a checklist were proposed to summarize the important information and offer an updated tool to assist surgeons and oncologists who treat anal canal cancer and in providing the best care to their patients.ConclusionThese guidelines summarize recommendations based on the most current scientific evidence on relevant aspects of anal canal cancer management and are a practical guide to help surgeons and oncologists who treat anal canal cancer make the best therapeutic decisions.

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