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CUBAN MEDICAL RESEARCH

Abstracts

A Preliminary assessment and application of an instrument to measure life quality in breast cancer patients.

Josefina Lugo, 1
Gema Quinteros 2
Jorge Bacallao 3
Leticia Fernández 4
Héléne Sancho-Garnier 5
Fabiénne Séguret 6

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the application of a questionnaire to measure life quality in patients who were operated for breast cancer and were on therapeutic treatment. The questionnaire consists of four blocks related to economic, functional, psychological and social factors. The results can be summarized as follows: 70% of the surveyed women believe that their disease causes economic difficulties; for 60 % the disease has affected their functional capacity; 50% consider their treatment causes discomfort; while 12,5% feel that their disease and treatment has had an extreme psychological impact on their life quality. On the other hand, a qualitative analysis of the questionnaire showed that the differential scales are usually polarized and can be reduced to three or five levels instead of the original ten levels for which they were designed. Some of the questions need a “Non-Applicable” option. Some of the spheres of the polarized scales make an acceptable summary of the information contained in all of the items for that sphere. The interviewees agree that in most cases the questionnaire explores all topics of interest.

DeCS Descriptors: BREAST NEOPLASMS/Surgery; LIFE QUALITY; QUESTIONNAIRE

  1. First Degree Specialist in Bio-statistics. National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.
  2. Professor of Psychology. National Center for the Third Age.
  3. Doctor in Mathematics. Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana.
  4. Second Degree Specialist in Bio-statistics. Doctor in Medical Sciences. National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.
  5. Second Degree Specialist in Epidemiology. Center Against Cancer, EPIDAURE, Montpellier, France.
  6. First Degree Specialist in Public Health Center Against Cancer, EPIDAURE, Montpellier, France.
Rev Cubana de Oncologia 1998;14(3):161-70

Death Risk due to Breast Cancer in Cuba

Sofía González Marinello 1
Dr. Felipe Chávez Martínez 2
Dr. Teresa Romero Pérez 3
Juan Lence Anta 4

ABSTRACT

A study is made of the geographical distribution of breast cancer mortality in Cuba in the 1991-1993 three-year period. A higher death risk was found in the central and western provinces. A statistically significant correlation was found between the average standardized death rates and almost all of the studied risk factors, especially` late first childbirth and nulliparity.

DeCS Descriptors : BREAST NEOPLASMS / Mortality; RISK FACTORS; MORTALITY RATE; CUBA

1. Associate Researcher. National Cancer Control Program Department. National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.

2. First Degree Specialist in General Surgery. Surgery Department . 10 de Octubre Clinical-Surgical Hospital.

3. Second Degree Specialist in Epidemiology, Department Head of the National Cancer Control Program . National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.

4. Associate Researcher, Department of Clinical Trials, National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.

Rev Cubana Oncol 1998;14(1):22-25

Oncology in Cuba

National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.
Historical notes on the origin and development of radiological protection in Cuba.
Dr. Luis E. Beldarraín Gómez 1
Dr. Enrique Beldarraín Chaple 2

ABSTRACT

Radiological protection is a relatively young branch of medicine that was started at the beginning of the 20th Century, and considerably developed during its last decades. It was created after the discovery of ionizing radiation (Roentgen, Becquerel, the Curie couple, Villard) and the dangerous pathological reactions they produce in the human body. As it was new and unknown, it was necessary to wait several years for these lesions (that even caused cancer) to evolve. Some of its discoverers were victims of the radiations. These radiations were found to be able to cure and cause cancer. There was a need for those who applied them in cancer therapies to protect themselves against these dangerous radiations. Means of protection began to be created, including regulations to eliminate the possibility of iatrogenic . Such measures led to the birth of this very important discipline in which physics and medicine are linked together. Radiological protection has reached a high level of development in the last few years in Cuba. Professor Jorge Gavilondo was the forerunner of this discipline in the country. He sparked the interest of the International Organization of Atomic Energy. From then on, this institution has offered appreciable economic and technical assistance, equipment, scholarships, etc. This paper pays just and public tribute to this outstanding Cuban scientist.

DeCS Descriptors: RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION / history; IONIZING RADIATION; CUBA.

1. Second Degree Specialist in Oncology.

2. First Degree Specialist in Epidemiology.  
Rev Cubana Oncol 2000;16(3):192-7

Male Breast Carcinoma. Five Case Studies and Bibliographic Review.

Dr. Jose Aguilar Luque 1
Dr. Custodio Sarmiento Robles 1
Dr. Esther Merino de la Torre 1
Pablo Martinez Garcia 1.

ABSTRACT

Breast carcinoma is not very frequent en males (0.1 to 0.2% of all male cancers), which causes much later diagnosis and somber prognosis. Seven breast carcinomas are presented in six males with an average age of 60 years (from 47 to 72 years), and a first symptom - intervention average span of 14.3 months (from 5 to 30 months). These patients were in the following stages: one in stage I, three in stage II, one in stage III and one in stage IV. The histopathological study rendered 6 infiltrating duct carcinomas (1 multi centric), and 1 intraduct (multi centric) carcinoma. Five of them were treated with modified radical mastectomy, one received Halsted radical mastectomy, and the other one was treated with simple lumpectomy plus axillary lymphadenectomy. Five patients received co-adjuvant treatment: 2 with Chemotherapy, 1 with Radiotherapy, 1 Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, and 1 with hormone therapy. One of the patients passed away on the ninth day after the operation as a result of a terminal disseminated disease. Another patient died 3.5 years after due to metastasis. The remaining four patients have survived disease-free after 7, 5, 5, and 5 years. Diagnostic and therapeutic topics are dealt with in a comprehensive bibliographic review, concluding that this is a neoplasia with similar characteristics and prognosis in both sexes. Worse results are found in male neoplasia due to a later diagnosis in comparison with females.

DeCs: BREAST NEOPLASMS/Surgery; BREAST NEOPLASMS/diagnosis; MEN.

1 Surgeon

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(2):128-34

A mammographic study of asymptomatic patients

Dr. Lourdes Gonzalezs-Longoria Boada 1
Iliana Gonzalez Pompa 2

ABSTRACT

A descriptive prospective study was made with a supposedly healthy population over 50 years of age in the same health area. All participants in the study underwent mammographic studies. 2 063 patients were examined, and 445 of them showed mammographic findings as well as images of probable breast cancer in patients between 50 and 54 years of age, regardless of risk factors. The fibrocystic disease was the most frequent affection, followed by breast nodes in patients both with or without risk. There are complementary images of patients with lesions without malignity. Results of high probability were found to be significantly healthy.

DeCS: MAMMOGRAPHY/methods; FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE / diagnosis; BREAST NEOPLASMS / diagnosis; BREAST NEOPLASMS / mortality; WOMEN.

1. First degree Specialist in Oncology

2. First degree Specialist in Imageology

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(3):162-66

Electro chemotherapy: a new therapeutic alternative in oncology.

Lic. Hector Camue Ciria 1
Demetrio Segura Lopez 2

ABSTRACT

Electro chemotherapy is a new technique in the treatment of tumors. It consists of the combination of chemotherapeutic agents with local short and intense electrical pulses. The applied electrical fields either induce or activate pores in the membrane to destabilize it. This allows the increase of drug penetration into the cell and the reinforcement of its cytotoxic activity. This therapy allows for the use of lower drug doses and the reduction of the side effects caused by conventional chemotherapy. This technique has been used effectively in preclinical and clinical studies, proving useful in treating tumors, regardless of their histological type and location. This review summarizes part of the studies carried out so far and the possibilities of using this therapy in Oncology.

DeCS: COMBINED CHEMOTHERAPY BY ELECTRICAL STIMULATION / methods; NEOPLASMS; CLINICAL TRIALS / methods; CELLULAR MEMBRANE.

1. Bachelor in Biology, National Center of Applied Electromagnetism

2. First Degree Specialist in Oncology, “Conrado Benitez” Oncological Hospital, Santiago de Cuba.

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(3):188-94

Medical information for the oncological patient.

MsC. Tania Pire Stuart 1
Jorge Grau Avalo, PhD 2
MsC Maria del C. Llanta Abreu 3

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the complex issue of providing medical information to patients with cancer, which is currently under discussion due to the stigmas and prejudices around this feared diseased. Present standpoints on this issue are included, as well as suggestions on how to manage this kind of information. Data are also presented about research carried out in different countries as well as in Cuba.

DeCS: DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS; DISEASE DISCLOSURE

1. Bachelor in Psychology, Assistant Researcher

2. Doctor in Psychological Sciences, Professor and Researcher

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(2):105-10

Primary Hodgkin breast lymphoma. Six case studies and literature review.

Dr. Carlos M. Diaz Salas 1
Dr. Maria del C. Barroso Alvarez 2
Dr. Encarnación Vazquez Olazabal 1
Dr. Gladys Exposito 1
Dr. Arturo Perez Corrales 3

ABSTRACT

Primary non-Hodgkin breast lymphomas are not frequent. The present study includes 6 patients with this type of lymphoma who were diagnosed at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology between 1986 and 1999. All of these patients are female, with an average age of 48 (ranging between 21 and 78 years). The right breast was most frequently affected (83%), as well as the external quadrants in 5 patients (83%). Stage I was predominant (5 patients). All staging tests including thoracic X-Rays, abdomen ultrasound, thoracic and abdomen CT, and bone marrow puncture with biopsy rendered negative results. The most frequently referred symptom (83%) was palpation of a painful intra-breast tumor with a duration ranging from 1 to 12 months. However no patients showed B symptoms.

Diagnosis was made in all the cases after lumpectomy, and there was no indication before this proceeding. The histological subtype of intermediate degree of malignancy that predominated was the diffuse lymphoma of small and large cracked cells (50%). As regards treatment, lesion exeresis was performed on all the patients for histological confirmation. 4 patients (66.6%) received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while the other two only received chemotherapy. The most frequently used plan was CHOP. All patients reached complete remission, and in one of them the disease progressed 15 months after treatment had concluded. The five-year disease-free interval occurred in 83% of the cases, while global survival for five years was 100%. The small sample used does not allow us to draw conclusions.

DeCS: NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA/diagnosis; NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA/Surgery; NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA/Chemotherapy; NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA/radiotherapy; BREAST NEOPLASMS.

1. Second Degree Specialist in Oncology

2. Second Degree Specialist in Oncology. Assistant Professor

3. First Degree Specialist in Oncology

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(3):210-6

Mothers with Breast Cancer, and transmissible risk.

Dr. Nora Ruisanchez Peon 1
Dr. Maria T. Alvarez Buñuelos 2
Lic. Patricia Luaces 3
Lorenzo A. 3
Lic. Yaima Galan A. 3
Sara Ramos G. 4.

ABSTRACT

It is known that 5% to 10% of all breast cancers are caused by hereditary predisposition, and that the highest risk comes from first-line relatives. In order to determine how influential this risk can be in the family, 126 breast cancer patients were studied along with their affected first-line relatives, in relation with the patients’ age. Relative risk was statistically determined by means of a lineal correlation analysis. Patients aged under 50 were found to have a high frequency of infected mothers in relation to the number of affected sisters. These frequencies are inverted in favor of the sisters who are 50 and over. Both values are statistically significant.

DeCS: BREAST NEOPLASMS / genetics; BREAST NEOPLASMS / Epidemiology; genetic screening.

1. Associate Researcher.

2. Doctor in Biological Sciences. Associate Researcher.

3. Assistant Researcher.

4. Genetics Lab Technician.

Rev Cubana Oncol 2000;16(3):154-7

Hereditary Breast Cancer Registry

Dr. Nora Ruisanchez Peon 1
Dr. Maria T. Alvarez Buñuelos 1
Dr. Ibis Menendez 2
Isnalvis Ramírez B 3

ABSTRACT

Breast Cancer is the neoplasia most frequent in women. Around 10% of these cancers are caused by germinal mutations that can be transmitted from parents to children. These are called hereditary cancers. Germinal mutations of at least 2 tumorous suppressing genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2, account for about 85% of all hereditary cancers. In families with these mutations it is frequent to find breast cancer in members of successive generations. Given the importance of identifying these families for both clinical practice to make early diagnosis, and for research on the genes involved in the tumorous process, the Hereditary Breast Cancer Registry was created with the cooperation of the Mastopathy Service of the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology. This paper includes three of these families to show the transmission of genetic factors through several generations.

DeCS:BREAST NEOPLASMAS /genetics LINAGE; REGISTRY SISTEM

1. First Degree Specialist in Oncology. Full Researcher.

2. Second Degree Specialist in Clinical Genetics. Doctor in Sciences.

3. Genetics Lab Technician.  

Rev Cubana Oncol 2000;16(1):48-53

Relationship between prognostic variables and the epidermal growth factor receptor in breast cancer, stages I and II.

Dr. Manuel Duran Borras 1
Dr. Victoria I. Casas Gonzalez Longoria 1
Dr. Luis Moreno de Miguel 2
Dr. Ines Perez Braojo 1
Dr. Sonia Franco Odio 3
Lic. Yaima Galan Alvarez 4.

ABSTRACT

The study included 123 patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of breast cancer, stages I and II, who were assisted at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, between 1983 and 1986. Analysis were made of clinical and histopathological variables, as well as of hormone receptors, which had been collected from the patients’ medical records. An association was determined between these variables and the presence of the receptor of epidermal growth factor. Variables like: age, histological classification, lymphatic invasion, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and distance relapse, were found to hold a significant relationship with the presence of the receptor of epidermal growth factor (p<0,05).

DeCS: PROGNOSIS; ESTROGEN RECEPTORS; PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS; EPIDERMAL GROWTH RECEPTORS; UROGASTRONE FACTOR; NEOPLASM STAGING; BREAST NEOPLASMS / classification; BREAST NEOPLASMS / diagnosis; BREAST NEOPLASMS / pathology.

1. Specialist in Oncology

2. Doctor in Medical Sciences, Specialist in Oncology

3. Specialist in Pathological Anatomy

4. Bachelor in Mathematics

Rev Cubana Oncol 2001;17(1):11-6
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