New cases of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 , also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continue to rise worldwide following the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The current pandemic has completely altered the workflow of health services worldwide. However, even during this critical period, patients with other diseases, like cancer, need to be properly treated.A few reports have shown that mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 is higher in elderly patients and those with other active comorbidities, including cancer. Patients with lung cancer are at risk of pulmonary complications from COVID-19, and as such, the risk/benefit ratio of local and systemic anticancer treatment has to be considered. For each patient, several factors, including age, comorbidities, and immunosuppression, as well as the number of hospital visits for treatment, can influence this risk. The number of cases is rising exponentially in Brazil, and it is important to consider the local characteristics when approaching the pandemic. In this regard, the Brazilian Thoracic Oncology Group has developed recommendations to guide decisions in lung cancer treatment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Due to the scarcity of relevant data, discussions based on disease stage, evaluation of surgical treatment, radiotherapy techniques, systemic therapy, follow-up, and supportive care were carried out, and specific suggestions issued. All recommendations seek to reduce contagion risk by decreasing the number of medical visits and hospitalization, and in the case of immunosuppression, by adapting treatment schemes when possible. This statement should be adjusted according to the reality of each service, and can be revised as new data become available.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine the feasibility and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination of cetuximab with chemoradiotherapy based on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CP) in locally advanced anal canal carcinoma. METHODS: Cetuximab was administered on days 1,8,15, 29, 36, 43, and 50 (400 mg/m 2 initial dose, then 250 mg/m 2 /week) concurrent with total dose radiation of 55 to 59 Gy, both starting on day 1. Escalating doses of 5-FU (96-hour infusion) and CP (2-hour infusion), both on days 1 and 29, were administered according to the following design: starting dose level (0) 5-FU/CP 5 800/60 mg/m 2 /day and up to dose level (12) 5-FU/CP 5 1000/80 mg/m 2 /day. RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) events (uncontrolled diarrhea or febrile neutropenia) occurred in 3 of 14 assessable patients receiving escalated dose of 5-FU/CP, with 1 in dose level (0) and 2 in dose level (12). The RP2D was 5-FU/CP 5 800/80 mg/m 2 /day. Because of unexpected non-DLT treatment-related grade 3 (G3) adverse events (AEs) such as thrombosis/embolism, syncope, and infection occurring in 20% of patients, a safety expansion cohort with an additional 9 patients was investigated with the RP2D. The most frequent G3/G4 AEs evaluated in 23 patients were radiation dermatitis (12 patients), diarrhea (10 patients), thrombosis/embolism (6 patients), and infection (5 patients). The study was closed due to these severe AEs, although no G5 AEs occurred. Twenty of 21 patients (95%) achieved pathological complete response at primary tumor. With a median follow-up of 43.4 months, the 3-year locoregional control rate was 64.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Cetuximab could not be integrated with chemoradiotherapy-cisplatin-based therapy due to the high toxicity rate. However, efficacy is encouraging and further investigation of an epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted agent (other than cetuximab) concurrent with chemoradiation should be pursued. Cancer 2013;119:2973-80.

Lung cancer is one of the most common incident cancers and a leading cause of cancer mortality in Brazil. Here, we aim to describe some aspects related to its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in our country. Lung Cancer EpidemiologyIn Brazil, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fourth most common cancer in women, with 18,740 and 12,530 new cases, respectively, estimated for 2018 (Fig. 1). It is the leading cause of death due to cancer in men and the second such leading cause in women. 1 These numbers are largely underestimated, though, on account of a high rate of underdiagnosis and underreporting. The incidence of adenocarcinoma has been progressively increasing in comparison with that of squamous cell carcinoma in Brazil; in fact, it has become the predominant histologic type. In addition, the prevalence of NSCLC has been decreasing among men, whereas it has increased in the female population, mainly among never-smokers.

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