Objective Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a precursor lesion of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Information on treatment and outcome of isolated STIC is rare. Therefore, we reviewed systematically the published literature to determine the incidence of subsequent HGSC in the high- and low-risk population and to summarize the current diagnostic and therapeutic options. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted in MEDLINE-Ovid, Cochrane Library and Web of Science of articles published from February 2006 to July 2021. Patients with an isolated STIC diagnosis and clinical follow-up were included. Study exclusion criteria for review were the presence of synchronous gynaecological cancer and/or concurrent non-gynaecological malignancies. Results 3031 abstracts were screened. 112 isolated STIC patients out of 21 publications were included in our analysis with a pooled median follow-up of 36 (interquartile range (IQR): 25.3-84) months. 71.4% of the patients had peritoneal washings (negative: 62.5%, positive: 8%, atypic cells: 0.9%). Surgical staging was performed in 28.6% of all STICs and did not show any malignancies. 14 out of 112 (12.5%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. Eight (7.1%) patients developed a recurrence 42.5 (IQR: 33-72) months after isolated STIC diagnosis. Cumulative incidence of HGSC after five (ten) years was 10.5% (21.6%). Recurrence occurred only in BRCA1 carriers (seven out of eight patients, one patient with unknown BRCA status). Conclusion The rate of HGSC after an isolated STIC diagnosis was 7.1% with a cumulative incidence of 10.5% (21.6%) after five (ten) years. HGSC was only observed in BRCA1 carriers. The role of adjuvant therapy and routine surveillance remains unclear, however, intense surveillance up to ten years is necessary. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021278340.

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Incidence of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma after isolated STIC diagnosis: A systematic review of the literature

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are more affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19 pandemic when compared with other populations. Therefore, the primary aim of our study was to report the death (case fatality rate) from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Brazilian hospitalized patients with DS from 03 January 2020 to 04 April 2021. The secondary objectives were (i) to compare the features of patients with DS and positive for COVID-19 (G1) to those with DS and with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) from other etiological factors (G2) to tease apart the unique influence of COVID-19, and (ii) to compare the features of patients with DS and positive for COVID-19 to those without DS, but positive for COVID-19 (G3) to tease apart the unique influence of DS. We obtained the markers for demographic profile, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, and the clinical features for SARI evolution during hospitalization in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil from a Brazilian open-access database. The data were compared between (i) G1 [1619 (0.4%) patients] and G2 [1431 (0.4%) patients]; and between (ii) G1 and G3 [222,181 (64.8%) patients]. The case fatality rate was higher in patients with DS and COVID-19 (G1: 39.2%), followed by individuals from G2 (18.1%) and G3 (14.0%). Patients from G1, when compared to G2, were older (≥ 25 years of age), presented more clinical symptoms related to severe illness and comorbidities, needed intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) more frequently, and presented a nearly two fold-increased chance of death (OR = 2.92 [95% CI 2.44-3.50]). Patients from G1, when compared to G3, were younger (< 24 years of age), more prone to nosocomial infection, presented an increased chance for clinical symptoms related to a more severe illness; frequently needed ICU treatment, and invasive and non-invasive MV, and raised almost a three fold-increased chance of death (OR = 3.96 [95% CI 3.60-4.41]). The high case fatality rate in G1 was associated with older age (≥ 25 years of age), presence of clinical symptoms, and comorbidities, such as obesity, related to a more severe clinical condition. Unvaccinated patients with DS affected by COVID-19 had a high case fatality rate, and these patients had a different profile for comorbidities, clinical symptoms, and treatment (such as the need for ICU and MV) when compared with other study populations. 

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Clinical characteristics and comorbidities of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with Down syndrome: first year report in Brazil

Despite the growing understanding of the carcinogenesis of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) of the ovary and peritoneum and its precursor lesion serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), evidence-based proven recommendations on the clinical management of patients with STIC are lacking so far.A questionnaire containing 21 questions was developed to explore the clinical experience with patients with the diagnosis of STICs and the diagnostic, surgical and histopathological approaches in Germany. Overall, 540 clinical heads of department in all German gynaecological centres were asked to participate.131 questionnaires (response rate 24.3%) were included in this survey. 45.8% of the respondents had treated one to three STIC patients during their career. 75.6% of the respondents performed opportunistic bilateral salpingectomies during other gynaecological surgeries. Most of the participants (31.3%) started with the SEE-FIM (Sectioning and Extensively Examining the FIMbria) protocol in 2014. It was requested by 39.7% centres for prophylactic salpingectomies, by 13.7% for both prophylactic and opportunistic salpingectomies and by 22.1% for neither of both. 38.2%, 1.5% and 24.4% of the participants would use the laparoscopic, transverse and midline laparotomic approach for a surgical staging procedure, respectively. 25.6% (54.7%) of the respondents recommended a hysterectomy in premenopausal (versus postmenopausal) patients with a STIC, 24.4% (88.4%) a bilateral oophorectomy and 50.0% (4.7%) an affected side oophorectomy (all p values < 0.001). Omentectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy would be performed by 60.5% (64.0%), 9.3% (11.6%) and 9.3% (11.6%) of respondents in premenopausal (versus postmenopausal) patients (all p values > 0.05).Our survey highlights significant inconsistency in the management of patients with STIC. Prospective data are urgently needed to elucidate the clinical impact of a STIC lesion and its clinical management. 

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A questionnaire-based survey on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with STIC in Germany

This study aimed to elucidate how the genetic alterations caused by Down Syndrome (DS) impact cases of involvement by SARS-CoV-2, in addition to showing how social isolation can negatively affect the lives of individuals with DS. The study adopted the qualitative literary review model, through the Google Academic, SciELO and PubMed databases, using the descriptors “Down Syndrome” and “Coronavirus”, with twenty articles being selected. It was noticed that DS is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability and the changes that trisomy 21 cause significantly impact the disease course of people with DS infected with Coronavirus, since their immune system is overactivated, with ability to generate a shower of cytokines, which will facilitate the entry of the virus into cells, thus favoring viral replication. Furthermore, it was noted that, even though social isolation is effective in combating the pandemic, it can cause several damages to the health of the population with DS, which can aggravate certain pre-existing comorbidities in this group. Therefore, the surveillance and training of this population and their families is very important, so that they can correctly prevent themselves – with an effective hand washing technique and use of barrier equipment – ​​minimizing exposure to the virus; and socialization and physical activity – even during quarantine periods and remotely – in order to preserve the emotional and physical health of these individuals

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A Síndrome de Down ante a infecção por Coronavírus

Introduction International guidelines recommend risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in BRCA1-2 mutations carriers to decrease ovarian cancer occurrence. In this prospective study, we describe the incidence of occult malignancies and the surgical outcomes in asymptomatic BRCA mutation carriers submitted to RRSO. Methods Data on BRCA1-2 carriers undergoing RRSO with peritoneal washing and peritoneal/omental biopsies (PeS), between January 2019 until March 2021, were prospectively collected. Results A total of 132 patients were enrolled: 74 BRCA1 and 58 BRCA2 mutation carriers. 31.1% women underwent RRSO and PeS (16.2% of BRCA1 and 50% of BRCA2 carriers), while 68.9% patients were submitted also to concomitant hysterectomy. Almost all the procedures (99.2%) were performed by minimally invasive surgery. Postoperative complications occurred in twelve patients (9.1%): 10 in the concomitant hysterectomy group and two complications in the RRSO group. At the final pathological examination, 6 (4.5%) occult carcinomas were diagnosed: 3 fallopian tube carcinomas, one ovarian carcinoma and two serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs), with negative PeS. Median age of occult carcinomas patients at RRSO was 54 (range: 48–79) years. The mean follow up was 20 (range: 7–34) months. During the follow up, no primary peritoneal cancer has been diagnosed. Conclusions Occult pathologic findings in RRSO occurred in 4.5% (3% invasive carcinomas, STIC 1.5%) among our patients. The routine use of peritoneal biopsies does not improve the detection of occult malignancies. Our data confirm the importance of timely performing RRSO in BRCA1-2 carriers. 

Risk reducing surgery with peritoneal staging in BRCA1-2 mutation carriers. A prospective study.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared, on January 30, 2020, that the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Importance — the organization’s highest alert level as per its International Health Regulations. On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. The fact that the lethality of COVID-19 is associated with common comorbidities has caused great concern among professionals who work with people with Down Syndrome (DS). The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in [...]

https://abccardiol.org/wp-content/uploads/articles_xml/1678-4170-abc-115-05-0939/1678-4170-abc-115-05-0939.pdf

Ações contra a Covid-19 na População com Síndrome de Down

multidisciplinary evaluation, cytoreductive surgery was per-formed. Radiotherapy of the right thoracic wall, the only R1 site, was delayed because of postoperative infectious complications. Results Four weeks following surgery, a rapid tumour progression was detected in the R1 site and the peritoneum. A personalized treatment by weekly cetuximab at 250 mg/m2 after a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 was initiated, based on a phase II study of cetuximab as monotherapy for unresectable skin ’ s squamous cell carcinomas. After six weeks of treatment, the patient reported pain reduction in her right abdominal wall and the injected PET-CT confirmed partial tumour response. Conclusion This report illustrates the anti-tumour effect of cetuximab in this rare and challenging clinical setting. Toxic-ities were mild, consisting in a grade 1 skin rash treated with doxycycline and sun-avoidance. The patient is currently on cetuximab without signs of disease progression.

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Giorgia Castilho Russo

Papers

Risk reducing surgery with peritoneal staging in BRCA1-2 mutation carriers. A prospective study.

Ações contra a Covid-19 na População com Síndrome de Down

2022-RA-1356-ESGO Epithelial ovarian cancer and brain metastases: survival analysis according to the BRCA status