e22505 Background: Knowledge and awareness of cancer screening among medical doctors has a great relevance in prevention of oncologic diseases. It is well known that cancer screening can significantly improve patients’ outcomes and prognosis by reducing morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, improving medical doctors’ knowledge regarding cancer screening can directly influence health promotion behavior as well as their capacity to recognize cancer in premalignant or early stages of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of cancer screening among medical students and doctors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we evaluated the cancer screening knowledge of medical students and physicians residing in Puebla City, Mexico. This study was conducted by the Centro Oncológico Integral at the Hospital Ángeles de Puebla in Puebla, Mexico. All the participants had given their informed consent for the use of their data for research purposes. Data was collected using an anonymous online-based, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire to measure their knowledge about cervical, breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer screening. Data analysis was done using R-Statistics. Results: A total of 383 health care professionals were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 28 years. Participants included last year medical students (n = 68, 17.8%), interns (n = 37, 9.7%), social service year physicians (n = 75, 19.6%), general practitioners (n = 138, 36%), residents (n = 23, 6%) and specialists (n = 42, 11%). The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions, the total knowledge score had a quartile 1 (Q1) of 11 points, a quartile 2 (Q2) of 13 points and a quartile 3 (Q3) of 14 points. Participants were categorized in three groups according to their score: 45.95% showed a low (< Q2) level of knowledge, 30.02% a moderate (Q2–Q3) level of knowledge and only 24.02% a high (> Q3) level of knowledge. Residents and specialists showed a better median score than other groups of participants. A one-way ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the level of knowledge according to the occupation of the participants (p = 0.0171). Conclusions: Most participants showed a low to moderate level of knowledge about cancer screening in this study. Active measurements, effective education programs and communication strategies are required to improve the level of knowledge and awareness of health care professionals in cancer screening and prevention.
e14570 Background: Cancer in Mexico represents the third cause of death nationally. Immunotherapy agents have changed management and prognosis of cancer patients. Immune-checkpoint agents are now being used as both first- and second-line treatment improving cancer patient prognosis, nevertheless it is not always accessible. Methods: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with any type of cancer that received immunotherapy during their disease course from the last 5-years. We present the most common malignancies, immunotherapeutic regimens received, population characteristics and survival analysis. Results: 130 records of patients ≥18 years that received immunotherapy were included. 52.3% female with mean age of 59 years (range, 22-89 years), 48.5% former smokers (average pack/year of 22.5) and 31.5% asbestos exposure. 53.1% were ECOG 0 and 82.3% clinical stage IV. 62.3% of cases were lung adenocarcinoma, followed by lung epidermoid carcinoma (13.1%) and 10% small-cell lung carcinoma. Immunotherapeutic agents used included nivolumab in 63.1%, pembrolizumab 12.3%, nivolumab + ipilimumab 8.5%, durvalumab 6.2%, pembrolizumab + ipilimumab 4.6%. 36.2% of patients received immunotherapy as second line treatment, 30.0% as third and 23.8% as first line treatment. The best Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was RECIST 3 in 46.2% followed by RECIST 0 with 25.4%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months (95% CI; 3.883-6.117) and median OS of 13 months (95% CI; 10.210-15.790). Analysis per immunotherapy on PFS (p = 0.0414) and OS (p = 0.0046) demonstrated pembrolizumab had the longest median PFS with 19-months and OS with 22-months. Analysis between tumor types was significant for both PFS (p = 0.0018) and OS (p = 0.0090) with melanoma having the longest median PFS (42-months) and OS (46-months). Conclusions: Immunotherapy has changed cancer management; however, its use depends on specific biomarkers and adequate patient selection. Not all patients benefit from immunotherapy, in a country like ours where resources are limited, it is of vital importance to properly select candidates for immunotherapy. Even though, all patients had an FDA-approved indication at the time of receiving immunotherapy, PFS and OS are not as significant as Phase 3 studies demonstrate, this may be due to late stages, advanced ECOG, correct biomarkers availability and adequate patient selection. It is important to mention that about 40-60% of patients with immunotherapy do not respond adequately. In our study, because there is more evidence with pembrolizumab, the patients who received it were better chosen and therefore there was an impact in PFS and OS. Immunotherapy selection also depends on physician experience to the different immunotherapy regimens.
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