Modern antiandrogens: abiraterone acetate (inhibitor of CYP17 cytochrome) and enzalutamide (irreversible inhibitor of androgen receptor) are the drugs that are increasingly often administered in treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Despite their clinical efficacy, especially in terms of prolonged survival and improved quality of life of patients, they pose of problem for a practicing oncologist such as possible cardiovascular complications (particularly arterial hypertension), which may lead to the cessation of this form of therapy. This article provides a brief overview of the mechanisms responsible for the above complications, including practical recommendations in the event such complications arise. A simple scheme of action for control of cardiovascular risk factors has been presented, which can improve the prognosis in this population of patients.
Women with breast cancer are affected by deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism 3 times more often than the group of healthy women in the same age. Thrombosis can be the first manifestation of a malignant disease, but it can also result from hormonal therapy with aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen which is used in cancer treatment. The necessary clinical problem to solve in this population is the issue of prophylactic antithrombotic treatment. In this paper we present a case of pulmonary embolism in the course of the breast cancer, which was associated with tamoxifen hormone therapy and inadequate thromboprophylaxis.
Therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors is undoubtedly an advancement in cancer treatment; however, it is associated with a risk of developing cardiotoxicity, which most often manifests in myocardial contractile dysfunction or an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Heart failure is observed in 2–4% of patients treated with bevacizumab and in 3–8% of patients on antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The proposed pathomechanisms underlying the impairment in systolic function during antiangiogenic drug treatment include mitochondrial dysfunction, a secondary reduction in cardiomyocyte ATP production and redox imbalance, which may contribute to pathological states known as “free radical diseases”. Additionally, therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors may also cause cardiac oxidative stress. The risk factors for cardiac complications include arterial hypertension, which is a known “class effect” of this class of drugs, as well as a number of other factors such as age, comorbidities, prior radiotherapy and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction. The cardiovascular diseases are still the first cause of death in the world. The more effective oncological treatment becomes, the more often comorbidities occur. This fact seems to demand interdisciplinary approach from investigators and practitioners. This article presents the current state of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of cardiotoxicity of antiangiogenic drugs used in routine clinical practice.
The case describes an 86-year-old man with thrombosis of the deep dorsal vein and corpora cavernosa of the penis who developed symptoms 4 months before hospitalisation. An accurate imaging diagnostics supplemented with a biopsy of the corpus cavernosum confirmed the initial diagnosis. Moreover, an adenocarcinoma of the hepatic flexion of the colon with numerous metastatic lesions, including those to the crus of penis were found. Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties were described and the results obtained were discussed in the context of available literature.
A 63-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital for an in-depth diagnosis of accidentally found pancreatic cystic lesion. The lesion was detected by computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and identified as potentially malignant mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN). Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy with the analysis of the fluid from the cyst was performed as well and it confirmed the malignancy of the cystic lesion. The patient was qualified for surgery and the final diagnosis based on histopathological examination of the surgical material confirmed MCN with the accompanying invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Abdominal surgery on patients with significant body malformation is often a challenge for an operative team. Particularly, when patient presents lesions suspected for malignancy but benign disease cannot be excluded. In the reported case the patient suffered from cerebral palsy and had extreme spinal distortion with significant displacement of internal organs. Solid renal mass was detected incidentally, but because of body deformation the biopsy to asses pathological status could not be performed. The decision to perform surgery was made and the patient underwent successful laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Pathology examination of the specimen revealed renal cell carcinoma grade 2.
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