Breast Cancer Awareness Month: time to focus on prevention, diagnosis and research to find the best treatments.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 200 thousand new cases and 52 thousand deaths due to breast cancer were estimated in 2018. 1. In general, the number of cases has been on a downward trend. However, the disease has been increasing among younger women2. Both the incidence and mortality rates for Latin American women under 44 years old have been shown to be higher than those found in high-income countries (20% compared to 12% and 14% compared to 7%, respectively) 3. October is breast cancer awareness month. It raises attention to breast cancer prevention and its early diagnosis. Considering that, LACOG, a non-profit organization, also reinforces the importance of academical and clinical research and connects research sites and researchers who are interested in developing trials to discover new treatments for cancer patients. Research enables us to better understand patients’ characteristics, to identify population with increased risk of developing cancer, to identify challenges regarding access to screening exams, as well as access to early diagnosis and treatment. Research data generated from real-world patients also helps to recognize gaps in optimal treatment and barriers to health services. Additionally, through clinical research it is
Save the Date for LACOG GU Review 2020
The LACOG Genitourinary Group, the arm of LACOG that focuses on genitourinary cancer, is holding the GU Review 2020 online between October 29th to 31st with many extra features! As well as the free 3 day program online, there will be pre-conference courses, educational activities, doctors discussing the pros and cons of various treatments and multidisciplinary classes available for medical, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy and nutritional practitioners. ⠀ The event will bringing together participants from all over the world and there will be simultaneous translation into English and Spanish. Healthcare professionals will also be able to take part in LACOG’s Second GU Multi-profession Symposium. ⠀⠀ Sign up here: www.geniturinariobrasil.com.br
Non-small cell lung cancer is the subject of an important study for Brazil
The same way it happens in developed countries, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is generally diagnosed in its advanced stages and has poor survival rates in Brazil. Overall, approximately 70% of patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease (stages III and IV, respectively) at diagnosis.1 In order to collect data on clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with stage III NSCLC in Brazil, Dr. Vladmir Cláudio Cordeiro de Lima started the observational study Retrospective epidemiological study of Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (LACOG 0118 – RELANCE). He has worked as the principal investigator of the study ever since. Dr. Cordeiro de Lima is a clinical oncologist at the Department of Clinical Oncology at the AC Camargo Cancer Center. He also works as a permanent advisor of the Postgraduate Course in Sciences focused on the Oncology area at the Antônio Prudente Foundation, and as an investigator at the Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory (CIPE) at the Antônio Prudente Foundation. The study aims to describe the outcomes of 400 patients with locally advanced NSCLC (stage III). The study is supported by LACOG and, according to Dr. Cordeiro de Lima, this support is extremely important because cooperative groups help to bring together and
Cancer clinical research in Latin America and the role of the investigator
In the last decades, clinical research has established the main source of knowledge in the field of Oncology. The development of drugs that improve quality of life and patient survival through clinical research is undeniably important. However, Latin American countries play a small role in this scenario since most clinical studies are developed in European and North American centres. For that reason, reinforcing the importance of Latin-American countries participation and promotion of clinical trials is imperative. Being more engaged in research, Latin America would not only contribute with the scientific community, but also allow patients to have access to new treatment options. A close relationship among the investigator, the research centre and the Research Organisation is the keystone of research development in Latin America. Since 2009, LACOG has been an important Research Organisation in Latin America which provides investigators with the necessary support throughout the whole research process. LACOG is an independent multinational cooperative group that plays a central role in the development and conduction of clinical trials and academic studies. Additionally, LACOG works in cooperation with other international academic institutions, biotechnological and pharmaceutical centres and industries in order to promote and conduct clinical trials. The active participation of investigators is crucial to the development
PALLAS study was presented at ESMO Virtual Congress 2020
The results of the PALLAS study, which evaluated the addition of Palbociclib to adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer, were presented at the ESMOVirtual Congress 2020 on September 20, 2020.The PALLAS study was conducted by the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG), Austria and the ALLIANCE Foundation Trials group - United States. LACOG participated in the study as part of a collaborative group working in Latin America along with Mexican research centers that made a significant contribution to the study.
13th Annual GEICAM Review of Advances in Breast Cancer
GEICAM started this initiative in 2008 with the purpose of presenting an in-depth review of the most relevant milestones presented at congresses and international publications annually. At this annual multidisciplinary meeting, attended by all professional involved with breast cancer, a comprehensive review of the advances made in research, diagnosis and treatment in connection with this disease has been carried out. The main goal of this event is to become a reference for everyone interested in finding out more about the advances made in terms of breast cancer in an independent, comprehensive and critical fashion. Sign up at: https://www.ragmageicam.org/ and participate!
Save the date for ESMO Highlights Webinar LATAM 2020
Register for ESMO Highlights Webinar LATAM 2020 here: https://www.esmohighlightswebinar2020.com An excellent opportunity for oncologists in Latin America to update their knowledge, a few days after the ESMO2020 Virtual Congress, based on updated scientific evidence. A Scientific Committee with 8 international experts will meet virtually on 9/26/2020 to discuss the progress presented at the ESMO 2020 Virtual Congress, with selections in Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal, Lung, Melanoma, Head and Neck and Breast Cancer, with the objective of disseminating scientific and clinical advances and their impact on the daily clinical practices in Latin America. The event will take place in a virtual environment, under the leadership of Dr. Antonio C. Buzaid and Dr. Carlos H. Barrios, with simultaneous translation in Portuguese and Spanish.
The impact of sociodemographic factors and health insurance coverage in the diagnosis and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer in Brazil: AMAZONA III study (GBECAM 0115)
Members of LACOG Breast cancer group have recently published the article “The impact of sociodemographic factors and health insurance coverage in the diagnosis and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer in Brazil: AMAZONA III study (GBECAM 0115)” AMAZONA III/ GBECAM 0115 is a prospective cohort study that evaluated Brazilian patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer from 2016 to 2018. This manuscript depicts a wide and detailed scenario of sociodemographic characteristics of 2,950 breast cancer patients at diagnosis. The patients were from 23 sites in Brazil. The results of the study show that patients with public health coverage were diagnosed with symptomatic disease, at later stages and with more aggressive subtypes of breast cancer when compared to patients with private health coverage. This study brings to light important information that allows us to not only have a better understanding of tumor and patients’ characteristics but also, help to identify gaps within healthcare systems in Brazil. With such knowledge, it’s possible to develop strategies to improve screening and educational programs in the country, especially in the public setting.
The Best of ASCO 2020 Brazil Edition took place between the 8th and 11th of june 2020
2,731 participants from 26 brazilian states and also from other countries, watched, during 4 days, the virtual scientific program. The event was attended by renowned speakers that presented the main studies of ASCO 2020 on different research fields (Genitourinary, Melanoma/Sarcoma, Gastrointestinal, Hematologic, Breast, Gynecological, Lung, Head and Neck and Neuro), in addition to discussing the perspective of clinical practice. We thank all the attendees, speakers, supporters and sponsors for having been a part of this great event. The Best of ASCO 2020 Brazil Edition, organized by LACOG and Ética Institute, is an event officially licensed by ASCO, which organizes the most important oncology congress in the world with a commitment to accelerating progress against cancer, even in the face of a global pandemic.