OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the molecular testing and treatment patterns in a retrospective cohort of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: This is an observational retrospective cohort study conducted across 10 cancer centers in Brazil. Treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were enrolled from January to December 2014. The following data were collected from the medical records of patients from diagnosis until the last record (death, loss to follow-up, or the end of the maximum follow-up period): demographics; medical history; smoking status; disease characteristics; previous treatments; and molecular testing patterns and results. The overall survival (OS) was also estimated. Results: A total of 391 patients from 8 different Brazilian states were included, with a median age of 64.1 years (23.7-98.7), with most patients being males (60.1%). The smoking status of 74.2% of patients was a ‘former’ or ‘current smoker’. Stage IV NSCLC at diagnosis was observed in 82.4% of patients, with 269 of them (68.8%) presenting adenocarcinoma (ADC). Among the stage IV ADC patients, 54.0% were referred for molecular testing. Among the patients with an available epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status, 31 (24.0%) were EGFR-positive. The first-line treatment was a platinum-based chemotherapy for 98 patients (25.1%), while non-platinum-based regimens were used in 54 patients (13.8%). OS data were available for 370 patients, with a median OS of 10.8 months. Never smokers had a significantly higher median OS versus current or former smokers (14.6 versus 9.1 months; log-rank p=0.003). Among the patients for whom molecular testing data were available, those with EGFR-positive results had a longer median OS (34.6 versus 12.8 months; log-rank p=0.003). Conclusion: Our findings provide relevant information for prescribers and policy decision-makers by highlighting the unmet needs of patients and the importance of molecular testing in newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. We also highlight the respective EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment when the result is positive and the areas in which further efforts are required to grant access to effective treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar os subtipos histológicos e perfis de mutação do carcinoma pulmonar de células não pequenas no Brasil, bem como as correlações entre os subtipos histológicos, a expressão do gene anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK, quinase do linfoma anaplásico), o estado de mutação do gene EGFR e a expressão de programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1, ligante de morte celular programada 1). Métodos: Avaliamos 173 espécimes provenientes de pacientes com adenocarcinoma pulmonar no Nordeste brasileiro. A expressão de PD-L1 e ALK foi avaliada por meio de imuno-histoquímica, ao passo que o estado de mutação do EGFR foi avaliado por meio de sequenciamento. Os subtipos histológicos foram classificados de acordo com a International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society. Resultados: Os subtipos histológicos mais comuns de adenocarcinoma pulmonar foram o predominantemente sólido (em 46,8%), o predominantemente acinar (em 37,0%) e o predominantemente lepídico (em 9,8%). A expressão de ALK foi detectada em 10,4% das amostras, e 22,0% dos tumores apresentavam mutações do gene EGFR. As mutações mais comuns do EGFR foram a mutação pontual L858R no éxon 21 (em 45,5%) e a deleção do éxon 19 (em 36,3%). O tumor proportion score relativo à expressão de PD-L1 foi ≥ 50% em 18,2% das amostras, = 1-49% em 32,7% e = 0% em 49,5%. O subtipo predominantemente sólido relacionou-se significativamente com EGFR selvagem (p = 0,047). A expressão positiva de PD-L1 não se relacionou significativamente com a expressão de ALK ou o estado de mutação do EGFR. Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que o perfil molecular do carcinoma pulmonar de células não pequenas no Nordeste brasileiro difere do de populações em outras regiões do país: a expressão positiva de ALK é maior que os demais biomarcadores. Mais estudos com informações clínicas e genéticas são necessários para confirmar essas diferenças, além de estudos que se concentrem em populações em diferentes áreas do país.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the histological subtypes and mutational profiles of non-small cell lung cancer in Brazil, looking for correlations among histological subtypes, expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), EGFR mutation status, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Methods: We evaluated 173 specimens obtained from patients with lung adenocarcinoma in northeastern Brazil. Expression of PD-L1 and ALK was evaluated by immunohistochemistry; EGFR mutation status was evaluated by sequencing. We categorized the histological subtypes in accordance with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification. Results: The most common histological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma were solid predominant (in 46.8%), acinar predominant (in 37.0%), and lepidic predominant (in 9.8%). ALK expression was detected in 10.4% of the samples, and 22.0% of the tumors harbored EGFR mutations. The most common EGFR mutation was an exon 21 L858R point mutation (in 45.5%), followed by an exon 19 deletion (in 36.3%). The tumor proportion score for PD-L1 expression was ≥ 50% in 18.2% of the samples, 1-49% in 32.7%, and 0% in 49.5%. The solid predominant subtype was significantly associated with wild-type EGFR status (p = 0.047). Positivity for PD-L1 expression was not found to be significantly associated with ALK expression or EGFR mutation status. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the molecular profile of non-small cell lung cancer in northeastern Brazil differs from those of populations in other regions of the country, with ALK positivity being higher than the other biomarkers. Further studies including clinical and genetic information are required to confirm these differences, as well as studies focusing on populations living in different areas of the country.

INTRODUÇÃO: A internet se tornou uma das mais importantes fontes de informação sobre saúde. Poucos estudos avaliam as características do acesso à internet pelos pacientes e a influência das informações obtidas na decisão em realizar uma cirurgia. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever as características do acesso à internet pelos pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e da rede privada que pretendem se submeter a uma cirurgia plástica, bem como avaliar o impacto do acesso na confiança do paciente em realizar o procedimento. MÉTODO: Realizado estudo observacional de corte transversal com uso de dados coletados por meio de 200 questionários respondidos por pacientes ainda não operados, sendo 100 dirigidos aos pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos (SUS) e 100, aos pacientes atendidos em consultório da rede privada de saúde, na cidade de Salvador, BA. RESULTADOS: A frequência do acesso à internet na busca por informação sobre cirurgia plástica foi significativamente diferente entre o SUS (n = 24; 24%) e a rede privada (n = 64; 64%). A maioria dos pacientes (n = 48; 54,5%) acessou um a três sites. Os sites de clínicas de cirurgia plástica foram os mais procurados (n = 74; 84,1%), seguidos pelo site da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica. Cinquenta por cento dos pacientes afirmaram ter encontrado informações contrárias sobre um mesmo assunto. Ainda assim, 71 (80,7%) dos entrevistados afirmaram se sentir seguros em realizar a cirurgia. CONCLUSÕES: A internet foi significativamente utilizada na busca de informações sobre cirurgia plástica. Independentemente da contradição entre as informações encontradas nos sites, a maioria dos pacientes sentiu-se segura em realizar o procedimento cirúrgico desejado.

BACKGROUND: The Internet has become one of the most important sources of health information. However, few studies have assessed the characteristics of Internet usage by patients or how the information obtained affects decisions to undergo surgery. This study describes the characteristics of Internet usage by patients who intended to undergo plastic surgery at the Unified Health System (SUS) and private networks and how it affected their confidence. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was performed using data collected by 200 surveys filled out by patients before the operation. One hundred surveys were sent to patients attending the outpatient clinic of Plastic Surgery of Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital (SUS), and the remaining 100 to patients treated in private health clinics in Salvador, BA. RESULTS: The frequency of Internet use to seek health information on plastic surgery differed significantly between the SUS (n = 24; 24%) and private health services (n = 64; 64%). Most of the patients (n = 48; 54.5%) visited 1 to 3 sites. The websites of plastic surgery centers were the most sought (n = 74; 84.1%), followed by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery website. Half of the patients reported the existence of contradictory information. Moreover, 71 (80.7%) of the respondents reported feeling that undergoing surgery was safe. CONCLUSIONS: The Internet was widely used to seek information on plastic surgery. Although visited sites contained contradictory information, most patients felt safe before undergoing their desired surgery.