Objective Metastases are rare in early breast cancer (EBC), and international guidelines recommend against routine systemic staging for asymptomatic patients. However, imaging exams remain widely employed in the clinical practice. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the value of imaging for systemic staging in EBC. Methods A retrospective analysis of newly-diagnosed breast cancer (BC) patients was performed. Clinical data including BC subtype, stage, presence of symptoms at diagnosis and instrumental procedures performed for staging were recorded. Results A total of 753 patients were included, with a median age of 57 years. The majority of the patients underwent at least 1 imaging procedure (91%); had invasive ductal carcinoma (83.5%); histological grade 2 (51.4%); stage II (61.8%); and luminal subtype (67.9%). Among the 685 (91%) patients who underwent any radiologic staging, distant metastases (DMs) were detected in 32 (4.7%). In the univariate analyses, stage IIb and pathological lymph node involvement (pN1) showed a statistically significant association with the presence of DMs, versus only a trend for triple negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) positive subtype. In an exploratory analysis performed in this same subgroup, when unfavorable biology (triple negative or Her2 positive) was present, patients had a DM rate of 14.4%, one of the highest reported at this stage of the disease. Conclusion Early breast cancer has a low prevalence of DM at the initial evaluation, and systemic staging of asymptomatic, unselected patients is not warranted as a routine practice. However, we have identified subgroups of patients to whom a full staging could be indicated. ResumoObjetivo Metástases são de ocorrência rara no câncer de mama precoce, e as diretrizes internacionais não recomendam o estadiamento sistêmico de rotina para pacientes assintomáticos. Apesar disso, exames de imagem continuam sendo

The stimulation of the immune system, in order to generate an attack against cancer cells, similarly to that which occurs in infectious disease, has long been matter of interest in oncology; however, only limited success has been achieved, with different treatment strategies tested in recent years. The development of new immune checkpoint inhibitors is currently changing this scenario, and immunotherapy is becoming a real choice among traditional cytotoxic treatments to fight cancer. Recent reports have shown efficacy and safety with the use of pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab for the treatment of different neoplasms, especially melanoma. In this article, we propose a review of the mechanisms of action involved in cancer immunology, the response evaluation of immunotherapies, and its toxicity profile, as well as a summary of the main clinical trials that led to the adoption of these new drugs for melanoma treatment.

No abstract

Background Breast cancer outcomes among patients who use safety-net hospitals in the highly populated Harris County, Texas and Southeast Brazil are poor. It is unknown whether treatment delay contributes to these outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 at Harris Health Texas and Unicamp’s Women’s Hospital, Barretos Hospital, and Brazilian National Institute of Cancer, Brazil. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate association of time to treatment and risk of recurrence (ROR) or death. Results One thousand one hundred ninety-one patients were included. Women in Brazil were more frequently diagnosed with stage III disease (32.3% vs. 21.1% Texas; P = .002). Majority of patients in both populations had symptom-detected disease (63% in Brazil vs. 59% in Texas). Recurrence within 5 years from diagnosis was similar 21% versus 23%. Median time from diagnosis to first treatment defined as either systemic therapy (chemotherapy or endocrine therapy) or surgery, were comparable, 9.9 weeks versus 9.4 weeks. Treatment delay was not associated with increased ROR or death. Higher stage at diagnosis was associated with both increased ROR and death. Conclusion Time from symptoms to treatment was considerably long in both populations. Treatment delay did not affect outcomes. Impact Access to timely screening and diagnosis of breast cancer are priorities in these populations.

476 Background: Temsirolimus is perceived as the standard of care in pts with mRCC with poor risk features. However, sunitinib (Su) is commonly used in this setting. In this study, we assessed the use of Su in an unselected mRCC population. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 51 pts with mRCC and ≥ 3 poor prognosis features, as determined in the Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (ARCC) trial, treated with Su between January 2006 and July 2012. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated, as well as Su-related adverse events (AE). Median time to treatment failure (mTTF) and OS were estimated by Kaplan–Meier methods. On exploratory grounds, univariate, and multivariate analysis using Cox regression model was performed to determine possible prognostic variables. Results: Median age was 60 years (26-89). Most had clear cell histology (98%), 19% prior systemic treatment, and 51% prior nephrectomy. 64%, 15%, and 4% had 4, 5, and 6 adverse prognosis factors respectively. 88% had diagnosis to treatment intervals < 1 year and 45% had KPS scores of < 80. A median of 2 cycles (0–12) were administered. 63% received standard regimen of Su (50 mg/d 4 wk on/2 wk off). Reasons for discontinuation were disease progression (63%) and adverse events (21%). Most grade ≥ 3 AE were fatigue (14%), neutropenia (8%), and stomatitis (8%). 17%, 25%, and 14% developed hypothyroidism, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), and hypertension, respectively. Two therapy-related deaths were observed (one febrile neutropenia and one intracranial hemorrhage). Estimated mTTF and mOS of this cohort were 2.4 and 6.6 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that in a model adjusted for type of Su regimen, KPS, presence of brain metastasis, and occurrence of HFS, only Su-associated hypothyroidism was significantly associated with survival (respectively, odds ratio [OR] = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.07-0.68). Conclusions: Pts with mRCC with poor risk features treated with Su have an OS, TTF and rates of therapy discontinuation due to AE comparable to clinical trial subsets of similar pts. Our data suggest that the development of hypothyroidism in this setting might be useful as a predictor of OS, and this finding should be further investigated.

ARTICLE INFO ______________________________________________________________ ______________________Purpose: To assess the activity, safety and treatment patterns of sunitinib in patients with poor-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Materials and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the charts of poor risk patients treated with sunitinib from October 2006 to July 2013 who met the eligibility criteria. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Tumor radiological response was measured according to RECIST 1.1 and adverse events (AEs) were assessed through standard criteria. Results: Median OS was 8.16 months (95% CI, 5.73-10.59). Of the 53 patients included in this analysis, 9 (17.0%) achieved partial response, 12 (22.6%) had stable disease. Median treatment duration was 3.30 months (95% CI: 1.96-4.63) and 26.4% of patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Grade 3 or higher AEs occurred in 39.6% of patients, the most common being fatigue (15.1%), neutropenia (9.5%), nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (7.5% each). Discussion: Sunitinib may benefit some unselected poor-risk patients, although the rates of AEs and drug discontinuation suggest a need for careful patient monitoring.

No abstract

e18150 Background: Mechanisms underlying social inequalities in breast cancer (BC) survival are not fully understood, being possibly related to the effects of comorbidity, stage at diagnosis and treatment choices. Our study aimed to assess the effect of comorbidity and socioeconomic status (SES) on BC survival in a large metropolitan area in Brazil with universal health care. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including all women with invasive ductal BC treated at the Non-profit Program for Breast Cancer Treatment at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil, between 2006-2011. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and other study variables were collected from medical charts. Education and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) measured individual and neighborhood-level SES, respectively. Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox regression model were used to compare five-year overall survival rates (5y-OS) and to estimate crude (cHR) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR). Results: Our sample comprised 257 women with median age = 58 years. The majority of patients had more than 8 years of education (59%), and they were submitted mostly to conservative surgery (57.2%). Median follow-up time was 84.9 months. Less educated women presented lower 5y-OS (83.3%) compared to more educated patients (95.1%) (p = 0.069); no differences were found according to SVI (p = 0.515). Comorbidities affected prognosis (CCI 0, 5y-OS = 91.6%; CCI 1+, 5y-OS = 84.0%, p = 0.011). Age (p = 0.023), marital status (p < 0.001), pathologic stage (p < 0.001), adjuvant treatment (p = 0.001), type of surgery (p = 0.013), lymph node dissection (p = 0.016), and medication use (p = 0.045) also have influenced 5y-OS. Multivariate analysis has shown an interaction between education and comorbidity (CCI 0, less educated, aHR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.50-2.85; CCI 1+, more educated, aHR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.26-4.21; CCI 1+, less educated, aHR = 3.90, 95%CI 1.38-11.03) and an independent prognostic effect of widow status (aHR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.51-7.80) (adjusted for age, pathologic stage, adjuvant treatment, and surgery). Conclusions: Comorbidity and SES affect survival in women with BC. Interventions to correct these disparities are crucial to obtain optimal results for all.