The incidence of cervical cancer has decreased in recent years due to widespread vaccination and routine screenings. It can be treated successfully, and the prognosis is also excellent if detected early. However, the 5-year survival rate for patients with stage IV cervical cancer is only 17% even with aggressive systemic chemotherapy. With the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s approval of immunotherapy, the prognosis has improved. We present a patient with stage IV cervical cancer who could not tolerate platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab, so she was started on an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as her tumor was 100% programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) positive. She survived more than 2 years since the diagnosis of stage IV cervical cancer without any significant side effects. Based on our patient’s response, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors as a single agent needs further research and probably can be considered in patients with stage 4 cervical cancer who cannot tolerate standard chemotherapy.
Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is due to increased capillary permeability to proteins and fluid extravasation from blood vessels into surrounding tissues and body cavities. This fluid extravasation leads to hypotension, generalized anasarca, pleural effusions, and pericardial effusions --the more severe cases of SCLS can cause multiorgan dysfunction, including cardiovascular collapse, shock, and death. The treatment includes corticosteroids, diuretics, albumin, immunoglobulins, and crystalloids. SCLS is potentially fatal. Recognizing signs and symptoms early and treating the patients is essential as this condition is fatal. It sometimes is a diagnosis of exclusion, being very challenging to diagnose and treat. The lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms causing SCLS and proper treatment guidelines, especially in cancer patients, made diagnosing and treating this condition hard. Reports show that many cancers and anti-cancer treatments, including newer immunotherapy, cause SCLS. The mortality rate of SCLS associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy is 24% at five years. This review focuses on the cancers and anti-cancer drugs causing SCLS, treating acute SCLS, and available preventive regimens. The fundamental purpose of this review is to help clinicians recognize SCLS early to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment. We also would like to elaborate on the fact that research on cancer-related SCLS is critical for developing staging criteria, useful diagnostic markers, prevention, and treatment strategies for anti-cancer drug-induced SCLS to prevent early discontinuation of anti-cancer drugs.
360 Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are an essential treatment for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. Estrogen deficiency caused by AIs has adverse effects on bone health. Studies reveal that 5 years of treatment with anastrozole led to 6.1% of bone loss at the lumbar spine and 7.2% at the hip. The aim of the project is to identify the current degree of attention to bone health and skeletal-related complications in women with early-stage breast cancer stages I-III that are on AIs at a community cancer center at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 63 patients ages 50-85 diagnosed with early-stage I-III breast cancer on an AI in the adjuvant setting. Patients who started on an AI between January 2013 through December 2017 were included. Data on Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans (DEXA) and treatment at baseline, 2-years, and 4-years were analyzed. We followed to see if they had a DEXA scan every 2 years after the baseline DEXA scan for the following 4 years and analyzed information on their bone health. Results: Patients included were on an AI throughout the 4 years. The median age was 60.2 years. 46/63 (73%) had a baseline DEXA scan. Out of these, 12/63 had a normal bone density. 28/63 had osteopenia, of which 16/28 were treated. 6/63 had osteoporosis and only 2/6 were treated. After 2 years, 39/63 (61%) had a 2-year DEXA scan. Of these, 8 had a normal bone density. 26/63 had osteopenia of which 21/26 were treated. 5/63 had osteoporosis and all 5 were treated for this. At 4 years, 40/63 (63%) had baseline DEXA scans. 9/63 had a normal bone density. 21/63 had osteopenia, out of which 17/21 were treated. 10/63 had osteoporosis of which 5/10 were treated. Conclusions: Patients who are being treated with aromatase inhibitors should be evaluated for baseline bone health prior to initiating AIs and every 2 years thereafter. Treatment with bisphosphonates or RANK ligand inhibitors is recommended at an earlier T-score compared to post-menopausal osteoporosis in the absence of breast cancer. In our study, we noticed that the number of patients who did not receive a DEXA scan at the correct time points increased during the period of treatment with the AI. About 53% of patients had osteopenia or osteoporosis at the time of initiation of AIs. The amount of osteoporosis in patients increased from 9.5% at baseline to 15.8% at the 4-year point. This data indicates the need for proper guidelines on DEXA scans and interventions for this patient population. Current interventions planned are patient education Flyers, a patient risk factor checklist in the EMR (Electronic Medical Record) and prompts to review the status of the DEXA report when ordering AIs.
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