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PURPOSEWomen with pathogenic variants (PVs) in breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) associated genes are candidates for cancer risk-reducing strategies. Limited information is available regarding risk-reducing surgeries (RRS) among Hispanics. The aim of this study was to describe the uptake of RRS in an international real-world experience of Hispanic women referred for genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) and to identify factors affecting uptake.METHODSBetween July 1997 and December 2019, Hispanic women, living in the United States or in Latin America, enrolled in the Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network registry were prospectively included. Demographic characteristics and data regarding RRS were obtained from chart reviews and patient-reported follow-up questionnaires. Median follow-up was 41 months.RESULTSAmong 1,736 Hispanic women referred for GCRA, 27.2% women underwent risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), 25.5% risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and, 10.7% both surgeries. Among BRCA carriers, rates of RRM and RRSO were 47.6% and 56.7%, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, being a carrier of a BC susceptibility gene (odds ratio [OR], 3.44), personal history of BC (OR, 6.22), living in the US (OR, 3.90), age ≤50 years (OR, 1.68) and, family history of BC (OR, 1.56) were associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing RRM. Carrying an OC susceptibility gene (OR, 6.72) was associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing RRSO.CONCLUSIONThe rate of RRS among Hispanic women is suboptimal. PV carriers, women with personal history of cancer, and those with a family history of cancer were more likely to have RRS, with less uptake outside the US. Understanding personal and systemic factors influencing uptake may enable interventions to increase risk appropriate uptake of RRS. more...

Objective: To analyze the temporal and territorial relationship between health system financing fragmentation and maternal mortality in the last two decades in Mexico. Methods: We conducted an ecological-longitudinal study of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the 32 states of Mexico during the period 2000–2022. Annual MMRs were estimated at the national and state levels according to health insurance. We compared the distribution of individual attributes and place of residence between deceased women with and without social security to identify overrepresented demographic profiles. Finally, we mapped state disparities in MMR by health insurance for the last four political administrations. Findings: MMR in Mexico decreased from 59.3 maternal deaths per hundred thousand live births in 2000 to 47.3 in 2018. However, from 2019 onwards, MMR increased from 48.7 in 2019 to 72.4 in 2022. Seven out of ten maternal deaths occurred in the population without social security from 2000 to 2018, then decreasing to six out of ten from 2020. Maternal deaths in the population without social security were more frequent among younger women, with less schooling, unmarried, and residing in rural areas, with higher Indigenous presence and greater social marginalization. From 2019 onwards, the MMR was higher in the population with social security. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the close relationship between maternal mortality and social inequalities, and suggest that affiliation with social security has ceased to be a differentiating factor in recent years. Understanding the evolution of maternal mortality between the population with and without social security in Mexico allows us to quantify the gap in maternal deaths attributed to inequalities in access to maternal health services, which can contribute to the design of policies that mitigate these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Antecedentes: En México, las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer han experimentado cambios a lo largo de las últimas décadas. Objetivo: Analizar la evolución de las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer en México entre 1990 y 2021. Materiales y métodos: Del Global Burden of Disease (GBD) se obtuvieron las tasas de mortalidad de los 10 tipos de cáncer más predominantes en México, en el ámbito nacional y por estados, considerando distintos grupos etarios y el sexo. En el GBD se reasignan las causas mal clasificadas y se distribuyen entre los distintos cánceres; posteriormente se modelan y ajustan las causas al total de fallecimientos con un modelo de conjunto de causas de muerte y un corrector de causas, con lo cual se corrigen registros de mortalidad del INEGI. Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad por cáncer pasó de 117.87 en 1990 a 84.18 en 2021. En las mujeres, los cánceres de mama, cervicouterino, estómago y pulmón fueron los más frecuentes; en los hombres, de próstata, estómago, pulmón, colon y recto. Destacó la disminución de la mortalidad por cáncer en hombres y mujeres, en particular por cáncer de pulmón y cérvix uterino. Conclusiones: Los resultados ofrecen información para desarrollar políticas de salud y estrategias de prevención y control específicas para enfrentar el impacto del cáncer en México. more...

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer (OC) is considered the most lethal gynecological cancer, of which more than 65% cases are diagnosed in advanced stages, requiring platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Methods A prospective-longitudinal study was conducted among women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC), III and IV stages, and treated with NACT, at the National Cancer Institute – Mexico, from July 2017 to July 2018. Serum samples were obtained for quantification of CA125 and HE4 using ELISA at the first and in each of the three NACT cycles. The therapeutic response was evaluated through standard tomography. We determined whether CA125 and HE4, alone or in combination, were associated with TR to NACT during follow up. Results 53 patients aged 38 to 79 years were included, 92.4% presented papillary serous subtype OC. Higher serum HE4 levels were observed in patients with non-tomographic response (6.89 vs 5.19 pmol/mL; p = 0.031), specially during the second (p = 0.039) and third cycle of NACT (p = 0.031). Multivariate-adjusted models showed an association between HE4 levels and TR, from the second treatment cycle (p = 0.042) to the third cycle (p = 0.033). Changes from baseline HE4 levels during the first cycle was negative associated with TR. No associations were found between CA125 and TR. Conclusions Serum HE4 levels were independently associated with TR among patients with AOEC treated with NACT, also a reduction between baseline HE4 and first chemotherapy levels was also independently associated with the TR. These findings might be relevant for predicting a lack of response to treatment. more...

ABSTRACT: Objective: The aim of this study was to describe trends in lung cancer (LC) mortality and trends in tobacco use. Methods: This is an ecological time-series study to determine mortality trends due to lung cancer resulting from tobacco consumption, based on secondary open-access sources, such as the National Surveys. Smoking prevalence, tobacco use trends, mortality rates, and percentage were determined by LC. The mortality trend from LC was calculated, and a linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the General Law for Tobacco Control. Results: The prevalence of tobacco use decreased steadily between 1988 and 2015, particularly in men. Mortality rates and percentage decreased between 1998 and 2018. During this period, the mortality rate decreased from 6.3 to 5.4 per 100,000 population (−0.032/100,000 each year, p more...

Objective. To evaluate the prognostic factors (clinicalpathological characteristics and treatments) in patients with breast cancer and metastasis to central nervous system (CNS) as the first site of the disease. Materials and methods. Kaplan-Meier method and life tables were used to estimate overall survival time over a retrospective cohort of 125 breast cancer patients treated at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) during 2007-2015, who presented metastasis to the CNS as the first site of extension of the disease. The cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognosis factors. Result. The median overall survival time was 14.2 months (IC95%: 11.83-26.93). Patients with triple negative (TN), according to inmunohistochemistry analysis classification, had lower survival times (p=0.0004) and had a risk of dying two times (p=0.037) higher than patients with a different immunophenotype (HR: 2.77. 95%CI: 1.10-6.99). The degree of intermediate SBR increases the risk of dying in patients with metastasis (HR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.17-6.51). Conclusion. CNS metastasis continues to be a poor prognostic factor that reduces survival and affects quality of life. It is recommended to monitor the early presence of clinical neurological manifestations during follow-up for prompt treatment. TN patients have worse prognosis and HER2+ a better control. more...

Purpose: Cancer in a country like Mexico is a challenge for the current health system and for public health. However, the statistics about cancer in Mexico are scarce, so epidemiologic surveillance needs to be improved. The objectives of this article were to describe the extent of cancer and to estimate the national burden of cancer through 2020. Materials and Methods: To meet this objective, an analysis of secondary official sources was performed. The cancer cases through 2020 were estimated on the basis of trends in mortality and the projection of incident cases reported by GLOBOCAN. Results: In 2013, cancer was the cause of 12.84% of all deaths in Mexico. It is projected that the prevalence of cancer will be 904,581 by 2017 and will reach 1,262,861 by early in the next decade (ie, 2020). Conclusion: Available data for cancer are incomplete. The development and implementation of population-based cancer registries in Mexico are essential. Assessment of the future outlook of cancer in Mexico will provide awareness of future challenges and can help health systems prepare to face them. more...

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including can- cer, have become the leading cause of human morbidity and mortality. In Mexico, cancer is the third leading cause of death, with a high incidence among the economically active popula- tion, a high proportion of advanced stages at diagnosis and limited care coverage for patients. However, no public policy aimed at managing this important public health problem has been developed and implemented to date. This manuscript describes the first interinstitutional proposal of a National Program for Cancer Control, considering the known risk factors, early detection, treatment, palliative care and patient rehabilitation. This manuscript also outlines a series of thoughts on the difficulties and needs that the Mexican health system faces in achieving the main objectives of the program: to decrease the incidence of cancer, to increase survival and to improve the quality of life for this group of patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21149/spm.v58i2.7804 more...

Cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, with 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths annually. A marked disparity exists between developed countries and developing countries, with 57% of new cases and 65% of deaths in 2012 occurring in developing countries. This global picture can only be obtained because of data obtained from population-based cancer registries, which allow cancer estimations for different geographic areas. Our objective is to perform a review of different types of registries and their role in the control of cancer. These types of registries are lacking in developing countries. In Central and South America, only 6% of the population is included in cancer registries versus 83% in North America. It is necessary to increase the coverage of cancer registries to obtain more reliable data that will more appropriately guide control programs. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21149/spm.v58i2.7802 more...

Objective. To estimate the indirect costs generated by adults with cancer in Mexico from 2002-2020. Materials and methods. Using information from national sources and the national cancer incidence from GLOBOCAN, we estimated income lost due to premature death (ILPD), short-term benefits (STBs), disability pensions (DPs), and opportunity costs for the carer (OCCs) generated by patients with cancer. Amounts were reported in Mexican pesos. Results. We estimated 23 359 deaths and 216 679 new cases of cancer by 2020, which would be associated with a total indirect cost of 20.15 billion Mexican pesos. Men are expected to generate 54.9% of these costs. ILPD is expected to comprise the highest percentage of the cost (60%), followed by OCCs (22%), STBs (17%) and DPs (1%). Conclusions. From an economic perspective, the results emphasize the need to strengthen preventive interventions and early detection of cancer among adults to reduce its effect on the productivity of Mexico. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21149/spm.v58i2.7792 more...

Objective. To analyze the utilization of hospital services for cancer care by location, sex, age group and care institution in Mexico from 2004-2013. Materials and methods. Time series study from 2004-2013, based on administrative records of hospital discharges for cancer in the health sector, including the private sector. Results. The utilization rate increased significantly from 290 to 360 per 100 000 inhabitants. A total of 62% of hospital discharges related to malignant tumors were concentrated in eight types of cancer. Leukemia, breast and colorectal cancers almost doubled in the period. While lung cancer showed a decline among men, it increased among women. A total of 63.1% of cancer patients were women, and 81% of cases occurred in the public sector. From 2011, the Ministry of Health was the main provider of hospital services for cancer care. Conclusions. Increases in utilization were mainly found in the Ministry of Health, quite possibly as a result of the implementation of universal insurance. more...

Under the national plan for addressing cancer, prevention and detection play important roles. However, the cost of treatments and late diagnosis represent a significant burden on health services. At the National Cancer Institute, more than half of patients present with tumors in advanced stages, and approximately 10% of patients seen for the first time exhibit terminal-stage malignancies, where there are no feasible cancer treatment options, and the patients are instead admitted to the hospital exclusively for palliative symptomatic management. In 2010, the National Cancer Plan began implementing a model of integrative management of palliative care in oncology that has gradually come to include symptomatic palliative care, involving ambulatory, distant and hospitalized management of patients with cancer, in its final stages and, more recently, in earlier stages. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21149/spm.v58i2.7803 more...

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Primary prevention of cancer was initiated with the introduction of Hepatitis B vaccine in the 80’s. However, in primary prevention of cancer at the worldwide level has been relatively recent. Intervention-action initiatives began at the global level in 2003 with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which was the first treaty negotiated under WHO guidance and as of today includes 168 countries. This negotiation, although innovative, was somewhat overdue, considering that the causal association between exposure to tobacco and elevated cancer incidence was established over 65 years ago. Vaccines against hepatitis and more recently human papilloma virus are other noteworthy developments in primary cancer prevention. As for secondary prevention, it has focused on early detection of cancer, especially among women, first with screening based on the Pap test and later other strategies for cervical cancer detection. For breast cancer, early detection strategies such as mammograms and clinical breast examination have been used for many years. However, today their impact on mortality for this cancer has come into question. In this context, in Mexico we face enormous challenges to provide an efficient organized social response to cancer prevention and control. This issue of Salud Pública de México on “Cancer burden in Mexico: urgent challenges to be met” is an effort to estimate in epidemiological terms the breadth and depth of the problem faced in Latin America and particularly in Mexico. The authors do this by describing the enormous population-level and clinical challenges which need to be faced in the short term. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21149/spm.v58i2.7778 more...

Objective. To describe the mammographic findings and carcinoma detection rate in asymptomatic women of Mexico City, that participated in an opportunistic screening program. Materials and methods. 39 491 participants were included, with mammograms performed and interpreted in the National Cancer Institute, from 2008 to 2011. The mammographic findings, type of lesion and true positives (TP), are described by age groups. We calculated the crude effect of age on the classification BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) 0 and the type of lesion. Results. The median age was 50 (45-57) years. 80.5% were classified as BIRADS 2, 11.4%(0), 4.1%(1), 3.5%(3), 0.5%(4) y 0.1%(5). Malignant lesions were detected in 1.3 and 3.3 per 1000 and the proportion of true positives (TP) was 8.2% and 20.6%, in women of 41-50 and 51-70 years, respectively. Conclusions. Although some cases are detected in women 40 to 50 years, in women over 50 years the screening by mammography is more efficient, with a higher proportion of cases detected and fewer false positives. more...

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la asociación entre cáncer cervicouterino (CaCu) invasor y el virus del papiloma humano de alto riesgo (VPH-AR) (carga viral/tipo 16), así como con factores ginecológicos y socioeconómicos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de casos y controles pareado individualmente (215 casos con CaCu invasor y 420 controles). La población de estudio se reclutó entre los años 2000 y 2001. Se evaluaron variables tradicionalmente asociadas con CaCu (ginecológicas y socioeconómicas) y dos variables asociadas con la presencia de VPH (carga viral y el tipo 16). La presencia de VPH-AR se determinó mediante Captura de Híbridos II. La carga viral se midió a través de unidades relativas de luz y picogramos por ml (1 RLU=1 pg/ml), divididas en cuatro categorías: negativa (499 pg/ml). El análisis estimó razones de momios (RM) ajustadas a través de modelos de regresión logística condicionada. RESULTADOS: La presencia de VPH-AR incrementa en 78 veces la probabilidad de presentar CaCu invasor; cuando el VPH es tipo 16, el incremento es mayor (RM= 429.7) comparado con otros tipos (RM=64.1). Se observó una tendencia importante en la RM al elevarse la carga viral (RM=46.6 carga baja; RM=250.7 intermedia y RM=612.9 alta). Finalmente, los factores demográficos y obstétricos conocidos, incrementaron la probabilidad de CaCu invasor. No se observó asociación entre CaCu invasor y tabaquismo en la población de estudio. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio contribuye a la identificación de las mujeres con alto riesgo de desarrollar CaCu invasor, entre las pacientes infectadas con VPH-AR. Por otra parte, confirma la importancia de la infección de VPH-AR y refleja la carga viral del VPH-AR como cofactor y posible promotor en el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Por último, este biomarcador puede contribuir a mejorar la prevención y la detección temprana de esta enfermedad.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between invasive Cervical Cancer (CC) and high risk Human Papilloma Virus (HR-HPV) (viral load and type 16), along with other gynecological and socioeconomic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Individually matched case-control study (215 women with invasive CC and 420 controls). The study population was recruited between 2000 and 2001. A set of variables traditionally linked with CC (gynecological and socioeconomic factors) and two variables related to HPV infection (viral load and type 16) were assessed. Hybrid Capture II was used to detect HR-HPV DNA. Viral load was measured by light measurements expressed as relative light units (RLU) and they were categorized for analysis into four groups: negative (499 RLU). The analysis included univariate, bivariate and multivariate techniques being the final step the estimation of Odds Ratios (OR) by means of conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: The probability of having invasive CC was 78 times higher in patients with infection of HR-HPV. Risk increases with HPV type 16 (OR=429.7) as compared with other types of HR-HPV (OR=64.1). An important trend was observed with the increase of the viral load (from 46.6 with low viral load; to 250.7 with intermediate and 612.9 with high load). The findings also indicate significant diferences in the viral load between cases and controls according to age groups and HR-HPV types (16 versus others high risk types). Finally, the partner-demographic and obstetrical variables related to the disease increased the risk of invasive CC. No association between CC and smoking was observed in this population. CONCLUSIONS: This study helps in identifying women at higher risk of developing invasive CC as a subset of those patients infected with HR-HPV. The findings point strongly to the importance of the viral load in HR-HPV as a co-factor in the development of this disease. This biomarker contributes to improving the prevention and early detection of this disease and also to identify women at higher risk who carry a high viral load of HR-HPV. more...

Background Smoking is a public health problem in Mexico and worldwide; its economic impact on developing countries has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the direct medical costs attributable to smoking incurred by lung cancer patients treated at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INCan). Methods The study was conducted at INCan in 2009. We carried out a cost of illness (COI) methodology, using data derived from an expert panel consensus and from medical chart review. A panel of experts developed a diagnostic-therapeutic guide that combined the hospital patient pathways and the infrastructure, human resources, technology, and services provided by the medical units at INCan. Cost estimates in Mexican pesos were adjusted by inflation and converted into US Dollars using the 2013 FIX exchange rate for foreign transactions (1 USD = 13.06 Mexican pesos). Results A 297 incident cases diagnosed with any type of lung cancer were analyzed. According to clinical stage, the costs per patient were 13,456; 35,648; 106,186; and 144,555 USD, for lung cancer stages I, II, III, and IV respectively. The weighted average annual cost/patient was and 139,801 USD and the average annual cost/patient that was attributable to smoking was 92,269 USD. This cost was independent of the clinical stage, with stage IV representing 96% of the annual cost. The total annual cost of smoking-related lung cancer at INCan was 19,969,781 USD. Conclusions The medical care costs of lung cancer attributable to smoking represent a high cost both for INCan and the Mexican health sector. These costs could be reduced if all provisions established in the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization were implemented in Mexico. more...

Uno de los caminos que conducen al conocimiento de nuestro pasado es indudablemente la consulta de los acervos existentes en diferentes repositorios como bibliotecas, archivos y museos. Una fuente primaria, también de incalculable valor es la arqueología, que permite conocer la cultura material de los pueblos del pasado. En México sabemos de la terrible destrucción de la documentación prehispánica que se realizó por los conquistadores españoles al momento del contacto. Son numerosas las referencias de cronistas y conquistadores en las que se describen los libros o “pinturas” que sorprendieron a los conquistadores por su contenido. Así por ejemplo Fray Toribio de Benavente o Motolinia aceptó que los indígenas tenían escritura aunque carecían de letras y escribió: “...por que en la verdad aunque bárbaros y sin escritura de letras, mucho orden y manera tenían de contar los mesmos tiempos y años, fiestas y dias .......Ansimismo escribían y figuraban las hazañas e historias de guerra del subceso de los principales señores, de los temporales y pestilencias, y en que tiempo y de que señor acontecían”.1 Las fuentes escritas relatan como parte de esta documentación fue destruida también por los propios indígenas como resultado de las guerras y la derrota de sus enemigos. Se dice que una vez que los mexicas derrotaban a un gobernante, quemaban y destruían el templo del lugar y los palacios principales como símbolo de sometimiento. Era precisamente en estos lugares en los que los códices eran resguardado y por lo tanto destruidos después de las batallas2 more...