Development of geriatric oncology in Latin America: A report from the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group

Population aging represents a critical issue for global cancer care, notably in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Latin America is a large region composed of 21 countries with notable diversity in both human development and access to quality healthcare. Thus, it is necessary to understand how care for older individuals is being delivered in such large and diverse regions of the world. This review describes the recent advances made in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, focusing on the creation and implementation of educational, research, and clinical activities in geriatric oncology. These initiatives intend to change healthcare professionals' perceptions about the care for older adults and to improve the way older patients are being treated.

Cross-cultural translation and adaptation of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Multiple Myeloma tool – MM1 and LEU3 – for Portuguese

Objective

To describe of the translation from English to Portuguese and adaption process of subitems of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Multiple Myeloma.

Methods

In the first phase, translations from English into Portuguese of two subitems of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Multiple Myeloma were performed. Subsequently, a consensus and back translation were conducted, and, finally, translation and back translations were reviewed by four independent bilingual experts. In the second phase, the translated subitems were applied, along with a questionnaire, to 10 native Portuguese speakers patients with multiple myeloma.

Results

There was a recognition of the translation process in its first version applied to 10 patients with multiple myeloma, whose reported no difficult to understand the translated and validated instrument. Patients also did not find the content irrelevant or offensive, and they did not suggested changes.

Conclusion

The subitems of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Multiple Myeloma were translated from English into Portuguese following the proposed methodology and there was not need of readjustments. This process allowed this instrument of quality of life, which is widely known to be beneficial in the management of patients with multiple myeloma, to be used among our population.

The use of comprehensive geriatric assessment in older patients before allologeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the results of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) transplantation in patients aged 60 years and over.

METHODS

We evaluated all consecutive patients undergoing CGA before HSCT between September 2011 and July 2018 in a private hospital in Brazil. We also evaluated the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-SCI) and the Disease Risk Index (DRI).

RESULTS

During the study period, 61 patients were referred for transplant evaluation. After exclusions, we analyzed 40 patients, with a mean age of 67.6 years (60-76). The CGA detected vulnerability and frailty in 43% and 18.9% respectively according to the Fried Frailty Phenotype score; limitations across the domain of function and disability with handgrip test alterations in 65.8%. However, 36 (90%) were independent for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Cognitive and depression domain have shown abnormal with the clock test in 44.4%, and loss of memory complains in 37.5%. But the mini-mental test was normal in 89%. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was normal in 82.5%. 30% were considered at risk for malnutrition. Half of the patients (50%) had a high Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) score. 32.5% needed ICU admission. The overall survival and non-relapse mortality at 2 years were 41.8% and 38.7% respectively.

CONCLUSION

The CGA was feasible in detecting the patients' vulnerabilities in our population. More studies, multicentric and with a larger number of patients, are needed to evaluate the role of CGA in this context of allo-HCT in our population.