Julissa Luvián-Morales

Fiber, lactose and fat-modified diet for the prevention of gastrointestinal chemo-radiotherapy-induced toxicity in patients with cervical cancer: Randomized clinical trial

The most frequent early gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity symptoms are nausea (58%), diarrhea (46.7%), and vomiting (45.5%) in patients with cervical cancer (CC). Approximately 90% of patients undergoing abdominopelvic radiotherapy present with changes in the GI tract, such as degenerative alterations in mucosal epithelial cells and nutrient malabsorption. To evaluate the effect of a diet modified in fiber, lactose, and fat on the prevention of chemoradiotherapy (QTRT)-induced GI toxicity compared to the usual prescription in women with locally advanced CC. A total of 134 women with a confirmed diagnosis of CC in locally advanced stages (IB2-IVA) were included in a randomized clinical trial conducted between February 2017 and March 2020. The intervention group (IG) received a modified diet of fiber, lactose, and fat, while the usual prescription group (UP) followed habitual nutritional recommendations. Toxicity was measured using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4. A total of 134 women were included in the IG (65) and UP (69) groups. The mean age in the IG and UP groups were 47.2±13.4 and 49.7±14.2 years, respectively. Radiotherapy doses received by the IG and UP groups were 50.1±6.7 and 49.9±4.6 Gy, respectively. IG had a lower risk of presenting with mild constipation compared to the UP (hazard ratio: 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.76, P<0.01). Patients with locally advanced stages of CC undergoing QTRT who received fiber, lactose, and fat-modified diet may have a lower risk of mild constipation during abdominal radiotherapy.

Validation of the QLQ-CX24 questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in Mexican women with cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent neoplasm among women in terms of incidence and mortality. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in oncology. The QLQ-CX24 instrument was developed to measure HRQL in patients with cervical cancer, and its Mexican-Spanish version had not been validated. Between March 2018 and May 2019, Mexican women older than 18, with any-stage cervical cancer were invited to participate in the study. Patients answered the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CX24 questionnaires. Current tests for psychometric and clinical validation were performed. Three hundred and thirty patients with cervical cancer were included in this study. All women invited to participate accepted and were included. The QLQ-CX24 internal consistency test demonstrated adequate convergent (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.001-0.847) and divergent validity (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.7 (minimum 0.76, maximum 0.89). Four scales of the QLQ-CX24 distinguished patients in different clinical stages. The evaluation of responsiveness demonstrated that the peripheral neuropathy scale was sensitive to change over time during chemo-radiation therapy. Six scales of the QLQ-CX24 instrument were associated with survival. The Mexican-Spanish version of the QLQ-CX24 questionnaire is reliable and valid for the assessment of HRQL in patients with cervical cancer.

Quality of life but not cachexia definitions are associated with overall survival in women with cervical cancer: a STROBE-compliant cohort study

Abstract Background Cancer-related cachexia (CRC) has a profound impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), and both were reported to be associated with overall survival (OS). We hypothesize that HRQL and CRC are associated with OS. This study analyzed the impact of CRC on HRQL and its prognostic value in women with cervical cancer (CC). Methods A cohort study including consecutive women with CC treated from October 2020 to October 2021 in a cancer center. Cox’s model defined the associations of immune, biochemical and nutritional parameters, clinical cachexia classifications and HRQL with OS. Results Two hundred forty-four consecutive women with CC were included. Cachexia classifications and several scales of the QLQ-C30 were associated with OS by bivariate but not by multivariate analysis. QLQ-CX24 scales were not associated with OS. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (hazard ratio (HR) 0.828; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.766–0.896), Food aversion (HR 0.95; 95% CI 0.924–0.976), Eating difficulties (HR 1.041; 95% CI 1.013–1.071), Loss of control (HR 4.131; 95% CI 1.317–12.963), Forced self to eat (1.024; 95% CI 1.004–1.044) and Indigestion (HR 0.348; 95% CI 0.131–0.928) scales of the QLQ-CAX24 were independently associated with OS by multivariate analysis (p = 1.9×10−11). Conclusion This model permitted a clear stratification of prognostic subgroups. The PNI and several QLQ-CAX24 scales were associated with OS in women with CC. CRC, defined by several cachexia classifications, was not an independent prognostic factor. These findings require confirmation because of their possible diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications. The prognostic nutritional index and several QLQ-CAX24 scales were associated with overall survival in women with cervical cancer. Cancer-related cachexia, defined by several cachexia classifications, was not an independent prognostic factor, neither The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage classifications.

Sociodemographic characteristics and their association with survival in women with cervical cancer

Abstract Background In 2020, the highest incidence and mortality from cervical cancer (CC) were detected in low and middle-income countries. CC remains a health problem for women living in them. In Mexico, CC ranks second in cancer incidence and mortality in women. The main characteristics of this population are low income, low educational level, and inadequate medical coverage. The present study characterized the Mexican population by CC, and the sociodemographic variables that impacted overall survival (OS) were identified. Methods A retrospective study that included a cohort of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CC at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia between 2003 and 2016. Information was collected on sociodemographic variables related to the disease and OS. Results Four thousand six hundred thirty-one patients were included. The median age was 51 years, 78.5% were unemployed, 44.4% lived in a rural/suburban area, 50.8% had a partner when collecting this information, and 74.3% were classified as having low socioeconomic status. Age, living in a rural/suburban area, more advanced stages of the disease, and not receiving cancer treatment were associated with lower OS. Conclusion CC continues to affect mainly women with minimal resources, low educational levels, and living in marginalized areas. These characteristics influence the OS. Prevention and timely detection programs, education, and training focused on this population and with broader coverage are required to identify patients with CC at earlier stages.