Browsing by Author "Freitas, Helano C."

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    Characteristics and outcomes of thymomas in Latin America: Results from over 10 years of experience (CLICaP-LATimus)
    (Thorac Cancer, 2021) Martín, Claudio; Enrico, Diego; Mas, Luis; Patane, Ana Karina; Arrieta, Oscar; Soria, Tannia; Cardona, Andres F.; Ruiz-Patiño, A.; Ruiz, Rossana; Rioja, Patricia; Lozano, Sophia; Zatarain-Barrón Zyanya Lucia; Barrón, Feliciano; Puparelli, Carmen; Tsou Florencia; Corassa, Marcelo P.; Freitas, Helano C.; Cordeiro de Lima, Vladmir Cláudio; Rojas, Leonardo; Ordóñez-Reyes, Camila; Corrales, Luis; Sotelo, Carolina; Rodríguez, July; Ricaurte, Luisa; Ávila, Jenny; Archila, Pilar; Rosell, Rafael; Cuello, Mauricio; Remon, Jordi
    Background: Thymomas are a group of rare neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment approaches in Latin America. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients with histologically proven thymomas diagnosed between 1997 and 2018. Demographics, clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes were collected locally and analyzed in a centralized manner. Results: A total of 135 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years old (19-84), 53.3% (n = 72) of patients were female and 87.4% had an ECOG performance score ranging from 0-1. A total of 47 patients (34.8%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Concurrent myasthenia gravis occurred in 21.5% of patients. Surgery was performed in 74 patients (54.8%), comprising 27 (20%) tumorectomies and 47 (34.8%) thymectomies. According to the Masaoka-Koga system, overall survival (OS) at five-years was 73.4%, 63.8% and 51%, at stages I-II, III-IVA and IVB, respectively (p = 0.005). Furthermore, patients with low lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (≤373 IU/L) at baseline and myasthenia gravis concurrence showed significantly better OS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate analysis, high LDH levels (HR 2.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-7.8]; p = 0.036) at baseline and not performing a surgical resection (HR 4.1 [95% CI: 1.3-12.7]; p = 0.016) were significantly associated with increased risk of death. Conclusions: Our data provides the largest insight into the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with thymomas in Latin America. Survival in patients with thymomas continues to be very favorable, especially when subjected to adequate local control. Keywords: Latin America; cohort studies; medical oncology; thymoma.
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    Personalizing Precision Oncology Clinical Trials in Latin America: An Expert Panel on Challenges and Opportunities
    (The Oncologist, 2019) Arai, Roberto Jun; Guindalini, Rodrigo Santa Cruz; Llera, Andrea Sabina; O'Connor, Juan Manoel; Muller, Bettina; Lema, Mauricio; Freitas, Helano C.; Soria, Tannia; Delgado, Lucía; Landaverde, Denis; Montenegro, Paola; Riechelmann, Rachel P.
    Abstract The participation of patients in precision oncology trials needs to fulfill molecular-based selection criteria. This strongly limits accrual, and as a consequence, screening successes have decreased, costs have increased, and fewer subjects are enrolled. To achieve narrowed targets, studies have been forced to be multicenter and multinational to reach a larger pool of candidates. However, this globalization faces many challenges, as, for example, in the case of precision oncology trials. These trials have a complex structure that is dependent upon a high-tech infrastructure and knowledge in a dynamic environment. Given the movement of precision clinical cancer research to regions other than Europe and the U.S., it is important to evaluate the feasibility of performing such trials in lower-middle- and low-income countries. Here we critically discuss the advantages of conducting precision oncology clinical trials in Latin America and make suggestions on how to overcome the main challenges involved. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Precision clinical trials in oncology are studies that require candidates to have tumors with specific molecular alterations, which are considered the target for the trial experimental therapy. Because many molecular alterations are rare, fewer patients are enrolled. This has led to trials being forced to be multicenter and multinational, including trials in Latin America. This article discusses the challenges and opportunities to conduct precision oncology trials in Latin America, aiming to help sponsors and investigators to solve complex issues that ultimately lead to more of such trials being run in the region, potentially benefiting more Latin American patients with cancer. Keywords: Cancer; Clinical trials; Global oncology; Precision oncology.