Lucely Cetina-Pérez

Impact of metabolic syndrome on the risk of endometrial cancer and the role of lifestyle in prevention

Endometrial cancer is the second gynecological cancer with the highest global incidence. Among many associated risk factors, Among the risk factors, metabolic syndrome is an important and preventable one. It comprises a group of conditions that often occur together: central adiposity, hyperglycemia, arterial hypertension, and atherogenic dyslipidemia. This review aimed to describe the epidemiological and biological relationship between metabolic syndrome and endometrial cancer, focusing on the role of lifestyle in prevention. A literature search was carried out in the PubMed database. 4824 publications were screened, and 123 were included for this review. The association between metabolic syndrome and endometrial cancer has been described. Chronic adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance are involved in the development of obesity, particularly visceral adiposity. These changes promote the ideal environment for the development of endometrial cancer. Strategies based on lifestyle modifications may be effective for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and consequently endometrial cancer. Some of these modifications include adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, depending to the accessibility of these foods for each region. Avoiding ultra-processed foods and increasing daily physical activity were also some suggested modifications. We propose that women be screened for metabolic syndrome to establish early treatment and to possibly prevent endometrial cancer. Clinical trials designed to prove the effect of lifestyle modifications on the prevention of endometrial cancer are needed.

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.

Chemoradiotherapy treatment with gemcitabine improves renal function in locally advanced cervical cancer patients with renal dysfunction

Cervical cancer (CC) in Mexico is diagnosed mainly in locally advanced (LACC) and advanced (ACC) stages, where ureteral obstruction is more frequent. The standard treatment for this population is concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin, which is nephrotoxic and could lead to further deterioration of renal function in LACC patients with renal function decline. We aimed to evaluate the effect of CCRT with Gemcitabine on renal function in LACC patients. This retrospective study included LACC patients treated with CCRT with Gemcitabine as a radiosensitizer from February 2003 to December 2018. Data were collected from medical archives and electronic records. We assessed renal function before and after CCRT treatment and analyzed the patient's response to treatment and survival. 351 LACC patients treated were included and stratified into two groups: 198 with Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) ≥60ml/min (group A) and 153 with GFR<60ml/min (group B). An improvement in GFR was observed after CCRT in patients in group B, from 33 ml/min to 57.5 ml/min (p<0.001). Complete response was observed in 64.1% of patients in Group A and 43.8% in Group B (p<0.0001). Factors associated with increased risk of death included having a GFR of 15-29 ml/min (HR: 2.17; 1.08-4.35), having GFR<15 ml/min (HR: 3.08; 1.63-5.79), and receiving Boost treatment (HR: 2.09; 1.18-3.69). On the other hand, receiving brachytherapy is a positive predictor for OS (HR:0.51; 0.31-0.84). CCRT with gemcitabine is an appropriate treatment option for patients diagnosed with LACC who present impaired renal function due to the disease's obstructive nature or other comorbidities.

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.

Ultrasensitive detection and tracking of circulating tumor DNA to predict relapse and survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: phase III CALLA trial analyses.

After chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 30%-50% of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) relapse, highlighting the unmet need for prognostic biomarkers. In the global randomized CALLA trial (NCT03830866), the addition of durvalumab during and after CRT did not significantly improve progression-free survival (PFS) in a biomarker-unselected intent-to-treat population. We analyzed the association of ultrasensitive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating human papillomavirus (cHPV) DNA detection with relapse and survival in the largest dataset in LACC to date. In CALLA, adult women with stage IB2-IIB node-positive or IIIA-IVA any node-status LACC were randomized 1 : 1 to receive durvalumab + CRT or CRT alone. The NeXT Personal® (Personalis) ultrasensitive tumor-informed assay with up to 1800 patient-specific variants was used for ctDNA and cHPV DNA analysis at baseline, cycle 3 day 1 (C3D1, post-CRT), and C6D1 (3 months post-CRT). Correlations were analyzed between ctDNA/cHPV DNA detection and outcomes [PFS, overall survival (OS)]. ctDNA was detected in 98.9% (183/185) of baseline samples, with no difference between treatment arms. Detection levels of ctDNA were predictive of disease progression and survival at baseline: hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing PFS and OS, respectively, in the ctDNA less than median versus ctDNA greater than median subgroups were 0.61 (0.28-1.35) and 0.55 (0.23-1.35) with durvalumab + CRT, and 0.49 (0.26-0.95) and 0.65 (0.33-1.28) with CRT. Post-treatment trends were similar and independent of stage or lymph node status. ctDNA detection at C3D1 occurred a median of 164 days (95% confidence interval 85-250) days before clinical progression. Baseline cHPV DNA levels were similar but were only predictive following treatment. This study demonstrates the potential utility of ultrasensitive detection of ctDNA as a predictive and prognostic marker of disease progression and OS in LACC independent of disease stage.

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.