Hospital-acquired infections (also called Health Care-Related Infection - IRAs) are complications that can be caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Some of the microorganisms that cause hospital infections are found in the environment and some are part of our body.
Although they generate a lot of fear and have serious variants, infections can be prevented with simple preventive measures. Shall we understand more about the subject?
The most common types of hospital infections include those associated with a surgical wound or the insertion of medical devices, such as an intravenous drip, urinary catheter, or wound drain. Such a misfortune can occur because many sick people have their immune systems compromised, making them more susceptible to contracting an infection. In Brazil, the most common are respiratory infections, with pneumonia being the most common; urinary tract infection; skin infections, and blood infections.
In addition, there is also the risk of contamination by superbugs, which arise when antibiotics are administered improperly, which can cause a natural selection of the most resistant bacteria. In the Brazilian context, the incidence of superbugs is striking Acinetobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E.coli.
In order for the hospital body to avoid the incidence of these infections, there are a series of safety protocols to be followed for prevention. The most common are: washing hands with soap or using alcohol-based gel; using protective equipment, such as gloves, lab coats, masks, and eye protectors; separating infectious patients from others; disinfecting medical equipment between the use of one patient and another; in addition to maintaining a clean environment.
Despite these efforts, some patients are still at greater risk than others of contracting an infection while hospitalized. This can happen especially with people who have illnesses that affect their body's ability to fight infections such as cancer. However, the elderly, newborns; people with impaired immunity (AIDS patients or post-transplant patients, for example); diabetics; people with vascular diseases and patients who use invasive devices, such as urinary catheter insertion, venous catheter insertion and the use of ventilation by devices are also vulnerable to hospital infections.
To reinforce the safety of all patients, we, visitors, family members and friends of sick people can also do our part to prevent the onset of hospital infections. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom or before eating; do not visit if you have symptoms of any illness; avoid touching a wound or device inserted in the patient's body; inform the health professional who cares if the area surrounding any of the lines or tubes inserted in the patient's body becomes red, swollen, or painful; avoid talking too close to the patient to prevent infection by respiratory diseases and do not be afraid to ask a health professional if he cleaned his hands before doing any procedure.
The actions described above seem simple, but they have the power to make all the difference in the safe evolution of a medical treatment. Therefore, remaining vigilant about the environment and your own habits is the first step so that we can keep the hospital environment safe for patients, staff, and the people we love. Be aware, follow hygiene protocols and health professionals' guidelines!
Text by Letícia Barbosa
This Wednesday (16), the public was able to learn about the research that won the Renata Thormann Procianoy award, designed by the Cura Project Institute. The research, entitled “Randomized study using electric hand warmer versus observation to reduce discomfort during scalp cooling for prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia”, is led by Dr. Luciana Landeiro and studies ways to provide general and thermal comfort for breast cancer patients who use scalp cooling during their chemotherapy treatment as a way to prevent Alopecia Areata (hair loss). The award ceremony took place on the 16th and was part of the program of the Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting — Brazil Edition.
Winner's profile
A Northeastern woman, Dr. Luciana Landeiro has breast cancer and gynecological tumors as her main line of research. The doctor began her career as a scholarship holder in a hepatology research group at the Federal University of Bahia. Years later, in his oncology residency, he focused his efforts on improving the quality of life of cancer patients.
In addition, she completed postgraduate studies in clinical research from Harvard Medical School. Luciana then became a PhD in Clinical Oncology from the University of São Paulo and chose the Survivorship line of research, in which she evaluated return to work rates in patients with breast cancer.
Dr. Luciana Landeiro is a member of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC); of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and coordinator of the Research Center of the Oncology Center of Bahia (NOB)/Oncoclinics Group.
About the research
The study was developed within the area of quality of care for patients with breast cancer and was conceived jointly by Dr. Luciana Landeiro and Dr. Clarissa Mathias. The study population were patients diagnosed with early, locally advanced breast cancer.
Research volunteers underwent scalp cooling during chemotherapy treatment as a way to prevent the adverse effect of Alopecia, which is hair loss. In the study, patients were randomized, in a ratio of 1 to 1, for intervention with the use of electric hand warmers versus observation during scalp cooling. The main objective was to assess the participants' overall comfort by evaluating comfort and thermal sensation.
The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of hand warmers has a favorable and consistent impact on overall and thermal comfort among breast cancer patients who use scalp cooling during their chemotherapy treatment. These results are an initial indication that a simple device can improve patients' quality of life and perhaps reduce interruptions in treatment with the thermal cap.
History of the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize
The award was launched by the Cura Project Institute in 2019 during the Best of ASCO and pays homage to the story of Renata Thormann Procianoy who dedicated two years of her life helping her mother, Nora Thormann, to find a correct diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Nora recovered when she was recruited for research coordinated by doctor Dr. Roberto Miranda at the MD Anderson hospital at the University of Texas, USA.
The Cura Project Institute is especially grateful to Cristália for encouraging research through support for the 3rd edition of the Renata Thormann Procianoy award.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
With information from: Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting - Brazil Edition
The ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting is the largest oncology conference in the world and the most awaited by those who work in this area, since every year it presents several studies that change clinical practice. In 2021, due to the pandemic, for the second consecutive year the event was held 100% online. Each year there are countless studies that can transform our practice or appear as an option for change.
Below are some highlights from ASCO 2021:
Mamma: adjuvant study with PARP inhibitors in patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. There was a significant increase in disease-free survival with the use of olaparib. We await the overall survival data.
Prostate: treatment that demonstrated an increase in overall survival with LU-PSMA 617 therapy in PSMA positive castration-resistant prostate cancer undergoing previous treatments with new-generation antiandrogens and taxanes. This study already changes clinical practice because it has demonstrated an increase in overall survival.
Head and neck: use of immunotherapy combined with standard chemotherapy for first-line recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. There was a significant increase in progression-free survival. It is worth waiting for data on overall survival and quality of life.
Rim: immunotherapy in the adjunctive treatment of clear cell renal cancer. It shows an increase in disease-free survival, but it is still immature for the analysis of overall survival, but with a tendency to be positive.
These are just a few examples of several studies presented that may give new directions to our clinical practice or, if they do not change it yet, open up new possibilities in the treatment of various types of neoplasms.
For this reason, we always stress the importance of clinical research. It really saves lives! And there's nothing like a congress of this size to encourage us more and more to Do research.
Several Brazilian centers and researchers from our country participated in these and other studies presented at ASCO, which fills us with pride and encouragement to continue the fight for facilitate research practice in our country. The patients gain the most from this.
June 10, 2021 - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed how necessary it is to celebrate research efforts and share knowledge. In view of this, for the first year, the pharmaceutical company Cristália will support the Renata Thormann Procianoy award. The award will take place on June 16, from 8 pm to 8:30pm, during the Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting Congress - Brazil Edition. This, which is one of the largest oncology events in the country, can be viewed virtually from June 14 to 16. The conference is free, aimed at doctors and health professionals, and is open for registration. Those interested can register by clicking hereto.
Cristália, our new partner, is a Brazilian pharmaceutical, pharmachemical, biotechnological and research industrial complex that has been leading the innovation market for 47 years and has been considered the best pharmaceutical company in Brazil for 3 consecutive years. With regard to cancer patients, Cristalia is also a pioneer and inaugurated in 2019 the Pharmoquimica plant for oncological products, which is already producing several high-potency drugs (IFAs) for oncology in Brazil. Are you curious and want to know a little more about Cristália? Access your portfolio hereto!
More than providing due recognition, the Cura Project Institute seeks, with the Renata Thormann Procianoy award, to motivate the scientific community to continue with its excellent research and to renew its impetus to help others and future generations, since working in research in Brazil can be challenging and exhausting due to the lack of incentives. In addition, the intention is to disseminate among scientific peers and the lay public what has been innovative in our science in search of quality of life for cancer patients and more effective treatments against cancer.
The award was launched by the Cura Project Institute in 2019 during the Best of ASCO, whose winner was Dr. Thiago Bueno. The award pays homage to the story of Renata Thormann Procianoy who dedicated two years of her life to helping her mother, Nora Thormann, find a correct diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Nora recovered when she was recruited for research coordinated by doctor Dr. Roberto Miranda at the MD Anderson hospital at the University of Texas, USA.
This year the Best of ASCO 2021 will have lectures on the topics: Genitourinary; Skin Cancer and Sarcomas; Head and Neck/Neuro; Breast; Gynecology; Hematology; Gastrointestinal and Lung. The speakers are among the most renowned and innovative researchers in the country, so we invite everyone to participate in this moment of knowledge exchange and communion, join us!
Text by Letícia Barbosa
With information from: Cristália and Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting - Brazil Edition
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use causes 8 million deaths every year. To make the population aware of the risks of smoking, May 31 is marked as World No Tobacco Day. The date, already charged with importance, becomes even more essential, as recent evidence shows that smokers are more likely to develop severe cases of COVID-19 and to die.
On April 29, 2020, a review of studies by public health experts convened by the WHO found that smokers are more likely to develop more severe versions of the coronavirus, compared to non-smokers. This is because COVID-19 is an infectious disease that mainly attacks the lungs and smoking is a risk factor for many respiratory infections, because it damages the lungs, which increases the severity of respiratory diseases. That is, smoking decreases lung function, making it harder for the body to fight against coronavirus and other diseases.
According to information from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), tobacco is also related to approximately 50 diseases, including various types of cancer (lung, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, kidney, bladder, cervix, leukemia), respiratory system diseases (pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, respiratory infections) and cardiovascular diseases (angina, acute myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, aneurysms, stroke, thrombosis). These diseases are the comorbidities we hear so much about on the news, which put people at greater risk if they are affected by coronavirus.
Faced with this situation, it is essential to seek ways to overcome cigarettes, not only because they leave those who use them more vulnerable to COVID-19, but because their use alone causes various health problems. The challenge is tough, but the Unified Health System (SUS) offers free treatment for those who wish to quit smoking. The initiative is carried out through the National Tobacco Control Program (PNCT). The program is provided by the Ministry of Health in partnership with INCA and covers all Brazilian states and the Federal District. Click here and learn where you can find anti-smoking treatment near you.
With information from: World Health Organization and Cancer Institute Brazil
As part of its mission to democratize access to information about science, the Cura Project Institute follows the tradition of promoting informative lives on Instagram, always with renowned guests from the fields of medicine and research. On Thursday (27), the debate was about the status of clinical research in the midst of a health crisis. The guests were the oncologists and researchers Dr. Heloisa Resende and Dr. Fábio Franke. The mediation was carried out by Fernanda Schwyter, president of the Cura Project Institute.
On live, it was discussed how the pandemic made it difficult to continue the treatment of oncological patients because of the risk of the disease. In addition, Dr. Resende and Dr. Franke state that the fear of going to hospitals, in addition to the lack of vacancies in the Unified Health System (SUS), has led to underreporting of new cases of cancer. “Faced with the pandemic, people are not having the opportunity to receive a diagnosis. This situation gives a poor prognosis for the coming years, because early treatment is essential against cancer. Thus, there will be an increase in the number of patients needing emergency treatment for the disease and the SUS will find it difficult to witness this accumulation of people that will come”, lamented Dr. Heloisa Resende.
The solution to “relieve” the SUS would be to invest and reduce bureaucratization of access to clinical research who study treatments and cures for the most diverse cancers. However, just as the arrival of COVID-19 accelerated scientific collaboration processes and popularized the importance of research for the lay population, a certain mistrust has emerged about clinical tests and research. According to Dr. Fábio Franke and Dr. Heloisa Resende, there was a loss of reference. “The research fell on the lips of the people, which was positive, but what research should the population believe in? There's so much denial and Fake News. The challenge is: how to filter information as a layman?” , asked Dr. Heloisa Resende. For Dr. Franke, “education must be brought closer to health, so that information can be shared about vaccines, good health habits, and self-care.”
At the end of the live, there was talk of the need to publicize the rights and duties of the research patient, in order to demystify the belief that such participants are guinea pigs. Dr. Fábio Franke also defended the urgent need to regulate and reduce bureaucratization of clinical studies in Brazil, because the context of the pandemic showed us how much more agile processes are fundamental for us to save lives and have access to modern treatments. The oncologist is one of the supporters of Bill 7082/2017, authored by Senator Ana Amélia, which seeks to regulate and expedite the conduct of clinical research with human beings by public or private institutions in Brazil, thus creating principles, guidelines, and rules for conducting such studies.
Not only in the context of the health crisis, but also in the treatment of cancer, the regulation of clinical studies has the power to open Brazil up to the latest in international medicine. Dr. Franke reports that “there is a great need for new treatments on the part of cancer patients that is not being met because few studies from other countries are able to effectively reach Brazil. This is because of the bureaucracy and the lack of predictability. [...] I have already worked on the regulatory side and we spent a year organizing only the documentation. In the end, the studies did not open in Brazil or were canceled because recruitment in the rest of the world was simply closed”.
In the live interview, the doctor also explained that the research is extremely organized, so foreign studies are afraid of investing in a country where slow processes make it difficult to know the answers of ethical and health advice; how many patients can participate in the study and when the work can actually begin. Then, the studies, which are mostly global, choose the countries with the most available scenarios.
Dr. Fábio Franke and Dr. Heloisa Resende closed the live with the message that doctors and researchers must have the right to provide new studies and treatments for patients and there is a great demand for such alternatives and interested in applying as research volunteers.
To watch this and other lives follow our Instagram @projetocura.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
In youth we feel immune, we are discovering the world, who we are and we have our whole lives ahead of us. It is common that during this period of life the concern for health is something distant, an issue for older people. Unfortunately, cancer is a disease that affects everyone, including the youngest, who feel so invincible at that age.
According to the oncologist Dr. Eduardo Romero, “people used to believe that cancer was a disease of older people, since it was more common in old age. Today, unfortunately, that has changed dramatically. We increasingly see young people with cancer, largely due to lifestyle changes such as: inadequate diet, overweight/obesity, sedentary lifestyle and stress”.
Oncoguia points out that among the most common cancers in teens, aged between 15 and 19 years, are: Lymphomas, Leukemias, Thyroid Cancer, Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors, Testicular Cancer, Bone Tumors and Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Melanoma, and Ovarian Cancer.
Already among the young adults, aged between 20 and 39, are: Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors, Colorectal Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Female Genital Tract Cancers, Bone Tumors and Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Melanoma, Lymphomas, and Breast Cancer.
We can observe this alarming picture when analyzing North American and Brazilian studies conducted in recent years. The first study in question, carried out by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, collected data from nearly half a million patients between 15 and 39 years of age with cancer, between 1973 and 2015, and discovered that cancer cases among young people increased 30% in the last four decades, making cancer the leading cause of death related to diseases in this age group. The full study can be found hereto.
In Brazil, during the Big Data Oncology Forum (2019), the increase in cancer cases in the population between 20 and 49 years old, from 1997 to 2016, attracted the attention of specialists. During this period, the annual incidence of thyroid cancer increased by 8.8%, prostate cancer 5.2%, and colon and rectal cancer 3.4%. The data are part of the study prepared by the Oncology Observatory, whose theme was Cancer before 50: how data can help with prevention policies. According to the study, there was also an increase in mortality from some types of the disease. The highest percentage was cancer in the body of the uterus, which rose 4.2% per year; followed by colon and rectum with 3.2%, breast 2.5%, oral cavity 1.2%, and cervix 1% . (Information from Agência Brasil)
Dr. Eduardo Romero also points out that “in Brazil, in addition to the increase in cases, there is also an increase in mortality, due to the difficulties we face in our country regarding access to health, both for prevention, screening, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment”. The oncologist also reinforces that “cancer does not choose age, sex, race, religion or place, it is present in our lives more and more. Therefore, do your routine exams, always go to your doctor and discuss with him if there are tests at your age that can be performed for screening and early diagnosis of cancer. Always be aware of symptoms that may be suggestive of neoplasia, but don't wait for symptoms to see a doctor, go to the doctor routinely”.
Below are some examples of tests and vaccines selected by Dr. Eduardo Romero that may contribute to the prevention and early treatment of some types of cancer:
- Breast cancer: mammography exam (starting at age 40 or earlier if there were breast lumps or family history of neoplasia) and breast US (all ages)
- Cervical cancer: pap smear, oncotic cytology, or preventive examination (beginning at age 25)
- Bowel cancer: colonoscopy (beginning at age 45 or earlier if symptoms or family history)
- HPV vaccine: boys from 11 to 14 years old and girls from 9 to 14 years old (available at SUS). The vaccine can prevent cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck (oropharynx)
The content of this text is informational and does not replace the medical report. If you experience any of the symptoms described above, a doctor should be consulted.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
What is it?
Colorectal cancer, also known as colon, rectum, or bowel cancer, is a tumor that develops in the large intestine. The disease, which develops from polyps (benign lesions) that grow on the wall of the large intestine, is treatable and, in most cases, curable, if detected early.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), colorectal cancer is the third most common among men, after prostate and lung cancer. Among women, it is the second most common, second only to breast cancer.
Dr. Rodrigo Melão Martinho, from Cancer Institute Brazil, highlights that “the onset of CRC may be influenced by sporadic factors, which represent 70% to 80% of cases, and genetics”. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 70% of cases could be prevented by changing habits and accessing colonoscopy, which allows, in addition to early diagnosis, the resection of polyps (precursor lesions).
Among the lifestyle-related risk factors highlighted by the doctor are: Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, diet rich in red meat and processed foods. There are also factors that we cannot control, such as: age, family history, inflammatory bowel disease, and ethnicity. For this reason, Dr. Rodrigo warns “practice physical activity, eat a healthy and balanced diet, control excess weight and do not use drugs”.
Signs and symptoms
Unfortunately, in most cases, colorectal cancer has no symptoms, only 40% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an early stage.
However, some symptoms that may occur are:
• Diarrhoea or constipation.
• Feeling that the intestine is not completely emptied.
• Presence of blood in the stool.
• Cramping abdominal pain, a feeling of abdominal bloating.
• Tiredness and fatigue.
• Weight loss for no specific reason.
It is necessary to be aware, as these symptoms may also be associated with other diseases. However, if you have any of these symptoms, a doctor should be consulted for an accurate diagnosis and initiation of treatment if necessary.
(Source: Oncoguia)
Diagnosis and treatment
As colorectal cancer can be confused with other diseases and has a low diagnosis rate in its early stages, it is essential not to ignore the signs and symptoms. This is because investigating immediately and having an early diagnosis is essential for a more effective treatment.
Therefore, when experiencing the symptoms and seeking a specialist, the specialist can investigate the case and arrive at a diagnosis based on imaging tests, such as colonoscopy and rectosigmoidoscopy, and through a stool examination, which will search for the presence of hidden blood in the stool.
Surgery for colorectal cancer
Oncological surgery plays a fundamental role in the fight against cancer, since up to 90% of patients with oncological diseases will require some type of surgical procedure, either for treatment or diagnosis.
According to Dr. Diego Greatti Vaz da Silva, member of the Scientific Committee of the Brazilian Society of Regional Oncological Surgery of São Paulo (SBCO-SP), surgery on colorectal cancer patients is also necessary. “Treatments with curative intent against this disease include surgery to remove the affected intestinal segment. This surgical procedure is one of the most widespread among surgeons who treat cancer. Initially carried out in 1900, it underwent several technical and technological advances over the last few decades, becoming very safe and with low complication rates,” she explains.
Nowadays, minimally invasive surgery (videolaparoscopy and robotics) for the treatment of colorectal cancer is safe and preferred for most cases. Dr. Diego clarifies that with it, the abdominal incision and surgical trauma are smaller, expediting surgical recovery. In robotic surgery, the procedure is performed by a qualified surgeon controlling the clamps of a robot, which execute the movements delicately and with greater precision on the patient. When available, this route facilitates surgery mainly on tumors located in the lower rectum, closer to the anus.
What's new in colorectal cancer research
Dr. Caio Rocha Lima, oncologist, researcher, and clinical oncology professor at Wake Forest University - North Carolina, highlights two promising initiatives in cancer research colorectal: immunotherapy and DNA technology.
In immunotherapy, Dr. Caio explains that the solution is focused on colon cancer with microsatellite instability. This type affects around 5% of patients with metastatic colon cancer and around 15% of patients with stage 2 and 3 cancer. This type of cancer may be related to genetic (Lynch syndrome) or somatic (non-genetic) predisposition. Immunotherapy treatment consists of boosting the immune system so that it can fight diseases such as cancer.
Another important research area cited by Dr. Caio is dedicated to detecting the recurrence of circulating cancer cells (ctDNA) with DNA technology. This technology is superior in detecting recurrence compared to monitoring recurrence with radiology (CT scan, MRI, or PET scan) or with tumor markers, such as CEA.
The content of this text is informational and does not replace the medical report. If you experience any of the symptoms described above, a doctor should be consulted.
Throughout history, whether as scientists, health professionals, caregivers, or patients, women have played a vital role in the fight against cancer. Although gender inequalities remain, women are able to occupy more leadership and activism positions in the areas of health and science, which has the power to positively impact the attention, care, and access to information of women who are cancer patients or who accompany family members, partners, or friends who are undergoing cancer treatment.
Considering how female participation in this area can help inspire other women to tell their stories and raise the flag of scientific research, we highlight below the inspiring initiatives of some of the many women who work for a common goal: the fight against cancer and the well-being of cancer patients.
USP scientists develop immunotherapy against HPV
Researchers Luana Moraes, Bruna Porchia and Mariana Diniz from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) at USP seek to complete the development of an immunotherapy, called Terah-7. Treatment is aimed at tumors caused by the HPV virus, such as cervical cancer. Terah-7 is able to direct and activate the immune system itself, inducing a specific response to fight the tumor, without harming patients' healthy cells. Source: USP Journal.
Queer activist Ericka Hart has been promoting debates about breast cancer
After being diagnosed at 28 with breast cancer, the same disease that brought her mother, Ericka Hart was shocked and decided to take action. In 2016, she attended the music festival and exposed her mastectomy scars on stage to draw attention to the disease. His act had repercussions on the media and social networks. Since then, Ericka, who is also a sex educator, has used her fame to raise awareness, especially among black Queer and Trans people, about breast cancer and discuss medicine, gender, sexuality, and racism.
A member of the Cura Project Institute, she has overcome two cancers and uses her work to raise awareness and educate about the disease
Paula Dutra has been part of the Cura Project Institute team since 2017, is an advertiser and design specialist, and is responsible for taking care of our social networks! Paula has had breast and ovarian cancer and for this reason she participated in clinical research and is a great supporter of encouraging research to combat cancer. Since her first diagnosis in 2011, Paula decided to share her story and the step by step of her treatment with other women. Thus, she created a support network and experience sharing on the blog Mão na Mama @maonamama, where she also gives tips on health and self-care.
Dr. Angélica Nogueira is an oncologist and researcher and holds leadership positions in several institutions that are committed to a didactic and preventive approach to the fight against cancer.
Dr. Angélica is an example of determination and leadership. The doctor was the creator of the Brazilian Gynecological Tumors Group (EVA Group), which seeks to promote awareness and research in gynecological cancer. In addition, the institution defends the rights of cancer patients and supports them during treatment for the disease. Currently, in addition to chairing the EVA Group, Dr. Angélica is also director of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC), Chair Gynecology of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) and research professor at the Minas Gerais School of Medical Sciences and the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
#JuntasSomosMaisFortes
The Brazilian Cancer Institute (ICB) signed a new partnership this month with the Cura Project Institute and is now part of our team of monthly donors. The Brazilian Cancer Institute is based on the pillars of care, teaching and research with quality, capillarity and social responsibility. Since 2012, the Institute has been fighting to democratize the access of the population in the interior of Brazil to quality cancer treatments.
Former partner in publicizing the actions of the Cura Project Institute, the ICB works to create and manage clinical, surgical and radiotherapy structures for cancer treatments in hospitals, private clinics, and in partnerships with the Unified Health System (SUS), in several cities in Brazil.
In addition to working with some common objectives, the executive director of the Brazilian Cancer Institute, Dr. José Márcio, affirms that the ICB's collaboration with Cura grew out of admiration for the project. “What enchants us most about Cura is its DNA. The institution thinks big and is not afraid to face difficulties and challenges. Since its founding, it was born with the intention of mobilizing society and making the population aware of clinical research and raising funds for this purpose. That in itself is fantastic and is very much in line with our spirit of innovation and resilience.”
The director also reveals that his first impression of the Cura Project was very positive. “A few years ago when we met the embryo of the Cura Project at an event of LACOG, during a presentation by its president Fernanda Schwyter -with a lot of twinkling in our eyes-, we were sure that it was a project that we should support, both because it was in line with the mission, vision and values of our institution, and also because of the quality and credibility of the people involved”, recalls Dr. José Márcio.
Now, we celebrate a new step in the partnership between the Cancer Institute Brazil and the Cura Project, the ICB becomes one of monthly donors from the Cura Project. Regarding the initiative, the president of the Cura Project Institute, Fernanda Schwyter, comments that “the partnership with the ICB will allow us to increase our awareness campaigns about the benefits of research in the fight against cancer, as well as in its funding. This partnership will also help us create a stronger and more engaged team so that we can further disseminate the philanthropic message of Cura and the importance of scientific research in the region”
The Cura Project Institute is the only organization in Latin America dedicated to planning and executing awareness-raising actions and raising funds to support various researches aimed at combating cancer - a disease that claims many victims around the world. Therefore, the collaboration of individuals and legal entities with the culture of philanthropy is essential so that scientists can continue their work and, through research, find treatments and cures for the most diverse cancers.
Dr. José Márcio also reinforces the importance of the act of donating and argues that “serious and non-profit institutions, with enormous social responsibility, such as the Cura Project Institute, must always be supported. Even more so when these institutions envision the improvement of our society as a whole”. The director of the ICB also invites “Everyone come with us! We are sure that initiatives such as the Cura Project Institute will contribute to an environment of engagement of individuals, companies and public managers in this very important struggle”.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
It is still difficult for many people to understand the concept of a vaccine, how it works and its importance. However, in a simple way, the vaccine can be understood as a “preventive remedy”, so its function is prophylactic, that is, the vaccine makes the recipient's body resistant to a certain disease, which prevents its onset and subsequent spread in the population. The importance of getting vaccinated lies precisely at that point. When we get vaccinated we're not only protecting ourselves, but also our family, friends, and even those we don't know.
The first vaccine appeared in 1798 and was developed through the observations and studies of Edward Jenner. The English scientist identified that some workers were not infected with smallpox because they had already been infected with bovine smallpox, a milder type of disease. Based on this framework, Jenner understood that the biological substances that cause diseases, when introduced into patients in an attenuated or inactive form, could stimulate the immune system to recognize the bacteria or virus and produce antibodies against the disease. In this case, the vaccine would ensure that the patient's body develops defenses so that, in the case of coming into contact with the cause of the pathology, it can combat it.
Over the years, vaccines have undergone improvements and new discoveries have been made, but his idea remains the same as that discovered by Edward Jenner. Therefore, most vaccines still act on the body today simulating the effect of when we come into contact with an infectious agent and, as a consequence, our immune system creates antibodies to protect us from it. However, with the vaccine there is no need to suffer from the disease to become resistant to it. Vaccination stimulates the body's defenses against a certain disease without the individual having to become ill.
Among the serious diseases that vaccines have the power to protect us, is cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent the onset of penile cancers, throat and anus in boys and cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers, in addition to precancerous lesions, genital warts, and HPV infections in girls. The vaccine can be taken free of charge at the SUS, however, due to misinformation, many fail to vaccinate their children, since they associate the vaccine with encouraging early sexual initiation, since the HPV vaccine prevents the virus from being transmitted through sexual intercourse and is applied to children between girls between 9 and 14 years old and boys aged 11 to 14. Because of this, The numbers of the disease have been increasing over the years. However, this age group was chosen because of the high exposure to antibodies and the lower probability of having sexual contact with the virus.
Also in November 2020, researchers from the University of Oxford announced that their tests to develop a vaccine against breast cancer triple negative, the most serious, was 100% effective when tested on mice. The vaccine has been developed since 2009 and, like all the others, has years of studies until it is applied to the population. However, in times of crisis, such as the spread of COVID-19 in the population, research and tests are duplicated and international collaboration between researchers is intensified in order to find a Coronavirus vaccine with speed and efficiency. Even so, the vaccines are produced in the laboratory with great technical, scientific and sanitary rigor. It is important to note that there is a great effort by health professionals to ensure that vaccines do not present side effects or, if there are effects, are as mild as possible. In addition, dense research is also carried out so that vaccines do not cause the diseases they want to combat.
Another important detail is that vaccines are not always produced with the biological agents that cause the diseases. Therefore, vaccines can be composed of Toxins from the invading organism, as in the vaccine against Tetanus; of the pathological agent in an attenuated state, as in the vaccine against Measles; or inactive, as in the vaccine against HPV and BCG. There are also vaccines that are composed of the antibodies that fight the disease and not its causative agent, such as the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Finally, vaccines prevent and save lives. But to do this, attention must be paid to the vaccination schedule and to the booster doses so that diseases that have already been eradicated do not claim victims again. In this way, it is possible to understand why the vaccine is a collective pact for health, since it is a disease prevention measure that depends on the collaboration of each of the citizens.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
Research is scientific studies, guided by methods, that contribute to the deepening and discovery of new knowledge in all fields of knowledge. Thus, there is research in the human area, which helps us understand society; in the exact area, which makes clear the physical laws that govern our world and collaborate with the creation of new technological resources; and there is research in the area of health, some of which is known as clinical research.
As clinical research, clinical trials or clinical studies are important studies carried out by the most diverse branches of the health area, as they aim to discover new medications, learn details of diseases, establish new treatments and provide quality of life for the patient. To be put into practice, all clinical research is evaluated by a Research Ethics Committee, which guarantees the safety and well-being of the patients who are collaborating with the study.
It was through clinical research that medications and medical treatments, from the simplest to the most complex, were developed and today they help the lives of thousands of patients. A great example of the importance of clinical research is the evolution of cancer treatment over the past 50 years. The disease, which was considered a sentence of death and suffering, now presents new perspectives and great chances of curing more and more patients and, above all, improving their quality of life. Therefore, such studies are extremely important for cancer patients, since many of them have forms of the disease that still have no cure.
Thus, clinical research can save lives. Because of the diverse professionals who study and discover new medications, diseases are combated and the quality of life of those undergoing treatment is greatly improved. Therefore, research, for cancer patients who do not respond to conventional treatments, may be a chance for treatment and cure. Another benefit of clinical research is that it can help patients who do not have access to private medicine, as they may have innovative treatments through clinical studies.
Did you understand the importance of clinical research? Now how about collaborating with studies that investigate the cure of cancer through a donation to the Cura Project Institute? It's easy! Click here and do your collaboration.
Text by Letícia Barbosa
Now you can also make your donation to the Cura Project Institute securely and instantly using Pix.
Just enter the CNPJ as a key at the Cura Project Institute: CNPJ: 33.188.607/0001-04
Pix is the newest payment system launched in Brazil, through which individuals and companies can transfer amounts only by indicating the key of the recipient of the resource, and it is no longer necessary to provide information such as account number, full name, and others. The key options are CPF, email, telephone, or a random key. For companies, it is possible to use the CNPJ instead of the CPF, as we do here at Cura.
This payment method allows transactions of any amount, 24 hours a day, every day of the week (including holidays). The amount is received by the recipient within 10 seconds.
Already available on the apps and internet banking of most banks, there is no cost to use this feature.
Make your donation to Cura now!
Crowdfunding was supported by oncologists from all over Brazil, who mobilized more than 300 donors.
Crowdfunding campaign raised R$ 184 thousand between July and September for investments in scientific research to combat head and neck cancer. “1,000 tests for cancer research” was the motto of the campaign carried out in partnership with the Brazilian Head and Neck Cancer Group - GBCP, and the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group - LACOG, which had a strong digital presence and support from doctors, celebrities, influencers and patients to exceed all expectations.
With the objective of collecting the basic costs of collecting and storing a thousand laboratory tests on blood samples and biopsies from patients, the action exceeded projections and reached 143% of the goal, raising the equivalent of the basic costs of 1,430 laboratory tests.
The result was only possible due to the dedication of GBCP doctors and researchers who, based on an innovative strategy, mobilized 335 donors for the cause. Despite the difficulties caused by Covid-19, more than 7 thousand accesses were generated to the donation page. In addition to raising funds, the initiative sought to raise awareness of the importance of supporting scientific research in Brazil.
According to Dr. Aline Lauda, oncologist, researcher at the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group and president of the Brazilian Head and Neck Cancer Group - GBCP, “a treatment developed in another country is not necessarily appropriate for Brazilian patients. Therefore, it is essential to carry out studies within our reality to accurately answer our particular questions.” According to the researcher, national research also helps to reduce treatment costs in the country.
Head and neck cancer is the third most common cancer in Brazilian men. It is a very debilitating disease, including with devastating aesthetic effects on the eyes, noses, and lips. Because of the difficulties of swallowing, about 60% of patients have some degree of malnutrition upon receiving the diagnosis, since 80% of the cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
The Cura Project Institute, a non-profit institution based in Brazil, is the only one in Latin America that is active in planning and carrying out awareness-raising and fundraising actions for research to combat cancer. According to the president of the Institute, Fernanda Schwyter, “Initiatives like this are fundamental to developing the culture of philanthropy in Brazil. This was once the largest fundraising campaign for scientific research in the country. And we're just getting started.”
Promoted by the Cura Project Institute, the workshop”Benefits of Research in Combating Cancer” brought together doctors, cancer patients, NGO leaders and others interested in a virtual and historic moment of knowledge exchange. The workshop was the first on the topic to be held in Latin America and enabled debates about the importance of scientific research in more than 6 hours of events, with more than 200 participants. The initiative, which took place between October 7 and 8, was free and sponsored by Roche.
With a didactic proposal, the workshop included 8 lectures given by the speakers:
On the second day, the lectures were led by:
Renowned professionals were also available to answer questions from the participants. The discussions took place in small groups, granting the public direct access to medical coordinators:
During the discussions, we had the support of the Cura moderators: Lisiane Mota, Marie Caponero, Alcina Mara Rodrigues and Fernanda Schwyter.
The workshop became possible due to the availability of the speakers and medical coordinators, who brightened up our event, and the support of the following institutions:
Our thanks also to the more than 20 support professionals who collaborated to carry out the workshop.
Between October 07 and 08, 2020, the Cura Project Institute will promote the 1st Brazilian Workshop - Benefits of Research in the Fight against Cancer. Aimed at leaders of NGOs, support groups and patient associations, the event aims to disseminate content and train about the importance of the benefits of cancer research in the fight against cancer.
The pandemic of the new coronavirus brought to light the importance of scientific research in the fight against pandemic diseases. If we consider the cancer numbers, we can conclude that the world is living with an epidemic of this disease. Studies reveal that 1.7 million cases will be diagnosed in the coming years and more than 1 million cancer deaths will be registered annually, surpassing cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death in the population.
Among the main barriers to the development of clinical research in Latin America are the lack of public recognition of its importance, legal and regulatory obstacles in some countries, and, critically, the lack of funding to support research.
The Cura Project Institute is the only institution in Latin America focused on raising awareness and raising resources to finance research in the region.
“Our intention is to make the population aware of the benefits, to demystify prejudices, and to raise funds for scientific research. Science and history show us that research saves lives and generates knowledge about new techniques and treatments. For many people this is the only chance of a cure.
The workshop is an action that seeks to share knowledge, mobilize institutions and engage people in the cause,” explains Fernanda Schwyter, president of Cura. The workshop, sponsored by Roche, will include a program consisting of conferences that will be given by renowned research specialists and doctors, such as doctors, Carlos Barrios, Fábio Franke, Heloisa Resende, Andreia Melo, Liliam Arruda, Jose Marcio de Figueiredo Ferraz, Fernando Maluf, Paulo Fernandes and Juliana Mauri. There will be more than 6 hours of content, delivered over two days, including debates and discussions on the topic. A unique opportunity for a rich exchange of information and knowledge.
Service:
1st Brazilian Workshop Benefits of Cancer Research Online event with free registration October 07 and 08, 2020, starting at 15:00. Registrations via the link: https://forms.gle/W8sK4QW8f9iCEwh69
Scientific research is an important step in the search for better treatments and medications for cancer patients. With that in mind, the Cura Project launches a new initiative to support science, the crowdfunding campaign “1,000 tests for cancer research”, which will support various researches carried out by the Brazilian Head and Neck Cancer Group (GBCP).
The action aims to collect 1,000 laboratory tests to analyze blood or tumor samples in Brazilian research that investigates head and neck cancer. In addition, the campaign also seeks to draw attention to the importance of supporting scientific research carried out in Brazil.
According to Dr. Aline Lauda, an oncologist, researcher at the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group and president of the GBCP, a treatment developed in another country is not necessarily appropriate for Brazilian patients. For this reason, it is essential to carry out studies within our reality to answer our particular questions precisely. According to the oncologist, national research also helps to reduce treatment costs in the country.
The proceeds will go to the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG), which in partnership with the Brazilian Head and Neck Cancer Group (GBCP), develops studies that seek more effective treatments and the improvement of the quality of life of cancer patients.
About head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer is the third most common cancer in Brazilian men. It is a very debilitating disease, including with devastating aesthetic effects on the eyes, noses, and lips. Because of the difficulties in swallowing, about 60% of patients have some degree of malnutrition upon receiving the diagnosis, since 80% of the cases are already diagnosed at an advanced stage. Today, there are more than 600,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the country.
Learn more and make your donation
To learn more details and support the campaign, interested parties can access the Benfeitoria platform by clicking here. Donations can be made by credit card or bank slip.
Companies interested in supporting the campaign can contact us at contato@projetocura.org
Make your donation, share, tell your friends and family! We need to build a culture of support for scientific research in Brazil.
To facilitate the receipt of recurring donations, the Cura Project Institute provides a tool (PayPal) that can be used by donors in Brazil as well as abroad. Through the system, people can schedule themselves so that the donation is debited monthly.
Fundraising is one of the tasks carried out by Cura, whose purpose is to contribute to the conduct of clinical studies in the search for new treatments to combat cancer. The project also raises awareness about the importance of clinical research and the development of the culture of philanthropy in Latin America.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), in the 2020-2022 triennial period, Brazil will have 625,000 new cases of cancer each year. The most incidents will be breast and prostate (66,000 each), colon and rectum (41,000), lungs (30,000) and stomach (21,000), with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer (177,000 new cases).
Head and neck cancer, which will soon be the target of a Cura campaign, registers 1.3 million new cases worldwide each year. In Brazil, it is the third most common tumor in men (mouth and larynx) and the fifth in women (thyroid).
In this scenario, every penny donated is important for the discovery of new treatments. According to the president of Cura, Fernanda Schwyter, “in Brazil, much progress is needed to achieve international standards in the development of clinical research”.
Fernanda explains that participating in a clinical trial may be the only chance of life for many patients who do not find satisfactory results with conventional treatments.
Resources received by Cura, through donations, have already supported the initiation of breast cancer and prostate cancer research, coordinated by LACOG (Latin American Oncology Group).
Oncologist Dr. Fernando Maluf is the winner of the Renata Thormann Procianoy award, awarded by the Cura Project Institute to honor Brazilian scientific researchers who have contributed to the improvement of treatments and patient survival.
The award was announced this Tuesday (9) during the Best Of ASCO20 Virtual, Brazil edition, an official event licensed by ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology), which annually promotes the largest and most important global Oncology Congress.
Dr. Fernando Maluf is the principal investigator of a 100% Brazilian study on a new drug for advanced prostate cancer. Coordinated by the Latin Oncology Group (LACOG), based in Porto Alegre (RS), the clinical trial involved 14 research centers and several Brazilian oncologists.
The results were presented by the doctor at the plenary session of the American Virtual ASCO20 on May 29 and, this Monday (8), at the Brazilian event. According to him, the work showed very interesting results and managed to reach the podium at the American Oncology Congress. “The unprecedented nature of this research highlights the great importance it can generate for patients from all over the world and that is why this work was selected as one of the most important of the entire conference,” he explains.
The scientific committee responsible for choosing the winner of the Renata Thormann Procianoy prize was chaired by the medical director of the Sírio Libanês hospital and professor of the Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland, oncologist Dr. Max Mano.
About the research
Testosterone is the main food of the malignant prostate cancer cell and the standard treatment procedure is hormonal castration — chemical or surgical. However, according to Maluf, “the reduction of testosterone in men leads to a series of side effects: loss of libido, potency, bone and muscle mass and neurological effects, in addition to calories, placing the quality of life at a level that is often very low”.
The study presented at ASCO submitted 128 patients to the use of drugs that prevent testosterone from reaching the cancer cell.
According to the oncologist, “this is the first study in the world to evaluate these new strategies in advanced prostate cancer with the objective of, in a confirmatory study, replacing hormonal castration with these new drugs, preserving the same efficacy but increasing the quality of life”.
The doctor works at the Benedicência Portuguesa Hospital in São Paulo and the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. He is a professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo.
Renata Thormann Procianoy Award
This was the second edition of the Renata Thormann Procianoy award. In 2019, the winner was the doctor Thiago Bueno , from the AcCamargo hospital, thanks to work aimed at patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.
Laurea's name It is a tribute to Renata, who died in a car accident in 2013. Renata worked tirelessly searching for research that would help her mother, Nora Thormann, discover a treatment for the cancer she was facing.
The efforts resulted in the inclusion of Nora in research coordinated by doctor Roberto Miranda at the MD Anderson hospital at the University of Texas (USA). After the episode, Nora wanted to contribute to research and promoted a donation to the Cura Project, which was directed to research coordinated by LACOG.
According to the president of Cura, Fernanda Schwyter, “the mission of the Cura Project is to develop the culture of philanthropy in Latin America, to make the population aware of the benefits of research, to encourage new researchers, to attract and manage, with the best ethical rigors, resources to finance oncological research in the region, which contribute to the discovery of a cure for cancer”.
May 20, 2020 — Today is International Clinical Research Day. The date, established to sensitize society about the importance of clinical studies, is celebrated in the face of the most serious health emergency in recent history.
Due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, there is a global effort at unprecedented speed to discover a vaccine, drugs and diagnostics that help to stop the effects of the pandemic. Science is taking center stage and will certainly emerge stronger from this sad episode.
In Brazil, however, much progress is still needed to achieve international standards in the development of clinical research.
According to the 2019 publication “The importance of Clinical Research for Brazil” by INTERFARMA (Pharmaceutical Research Industry Association), while Brazil is among the top ten positions in the global population, GDP and pharmaceutical market rankings, it ranks 24th in terms of participation in clinical studies, which represents a drop of seven positions in ten years.
The two most researched therapeutic areas in the world, according to the entity, are Oncology and the Central Nervous System (CNS), together representing 42% of all studies initiated in 2018.
According to the director of Lacog (Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group), oncologist Dr. Carlos Barrios, there are around 70,000 experiments underway worldwide with cancer patients, where different treatments are being tested. Around 45% are conducted in the United States, 25% in Europe and only 2% in Latin America.
The oncologist lists several barriers to the development of research in Brazil: insufficient resources, bureaucracy in public agencies, the need for more research centers, and the lack of information from the population about the importance of experiments.
In recent years, there has been greater concern on the part of regulatory and ethical authorities to accelerate the approval time of protocols, so that deadlines in Brazil are more aligned with those in other countries, Barrios points out. Bill 7082/17, which includes new regulations for the area, is also pending before the Chamber of Deputies.
According to the doctor, with Covid-19, Conep (National Research Ethics Commission) has demonstrated that greater agility is possible in issuing opinions. The agency created digital cameras and approved 253 experiments by May 11, in a record period.
Another relevant aspect, in the opinion of the oncologist, is the lack of information. “When people understand the importance of research, they want to participate in the process,” she says.
According to him, only a minority fails to sign the consent form, a document containing information about everything that will occur in the clinical study. “This shows that the informed patient is someone who collaborates because they feel that the process is something positive for them.”
For Dr. Barrios, the Cura Project has a great mission, which is to generate knowledge in society about the importance of research. “May citizens be proud to say that they participated in a research project,” he concludes.
The Cura Project Institute and the Brazilian Institute for Cancer Control (IBCC) signed a partnership to develop actions that promote better care for cancer patients. The agreement between the organizations provides for carrying out activities aimed at patients and the dissemination of the benefits of clinical research, which is often the patient's only chance of a cure.
According to the president of Cura, Fernanda Schwyter, “the partnership with the IBCC is extremely important, considering the relevance of the institute in the treatment of cancer”. Fernanda explains that among the objectives of the cooperation are the holding of workshops for patients, patient associations and the lay public, an opportunity in which interested parties can obtain more in-depth information about neoplasms and everything that involves them.
In addition, the project is aimed at resident doctors and health professionals, who will receive information about clinical research at events organized by Cura. According to Fernanda, “it is important that, from an early age, resident physicians have contact with the world of clinical research and can better guide their future patients on the subject”.
The initiative was only possible thanks to the collaboration of the Clinical Director and medical coordinator of the IBCC Research Center, Dr. Lilian Arruda. The doctor participated in the campaign “The Cure for Cancer Is In Our Hands”, carried out by the Cura Project to raise funds for NeoSamba Research, and led the collection. The clinical study will take place in 12 Brazilian centers, including the IBCC.
“We were very happy to be able to dedicate ourselves to a project that we believe in. We feel obliged to open space and encourage the exchange of reliable information for the population. We hope that, together, we can be a tool for the dissemination of knowledge about clinical research. We embrace Cura,” said the oncologist.
The Cura Project aims to create a culture of philanthropy to capture and manage, with the best ethical rigors, resources to finance cancer research. The IBCC is a network of hospital services specialized in oncology and people with cancer for over 50 years in São Paulo. It is a private, charitable social assistance institution, a pioneer in the fight against breast cancer in Brazil and with assistance to more than 15 oncological specialties. She has been the owner of the campaign “Breast cancer a fashionable target in Brazil” for 25 years.
The winner of the second edition of Renata Thormann Procianoy award will be announced during the Best Of Asco Brazil 2020, held by LACOG - Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group and the Ethics Institute, from June 8 to 11, virtually.
The award was created by the Cura Project Institute to honor and recognize researchers working in the oncology field.
The scientific committee, chaired by the medical director of the Sírio Libanês Hospital and professor of the Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland, oncologist Dr. Max Mano, will be responsible for choosing the most prominent Brazilian clinical study in 2020. In addition to Dr. Max Mano, 6 other oncologists are part of the commission.
The president of Cura, Fernanda Schwyter, regrets the impossibility of physically holding the event due to COVID-19, but praises the LACOG initiative to organize the virtual scientific event.
“With the holding of the conference, participants will be able to learn about the innovations in cancer treatments and we will also continue the planning of the Cure Project to praise with a degree the great efforts of a researcher from Brazil in the search for a cure for cancer,” he points out.
The Best Of ASCO, Brazil edition, is an event officially licensed by ASCO - American Society of Clinical Oncology. The meeting will present the most relevant and scientifically important works of the ASCO Annual Meeting. The first edition of the Renata Thormann Procianoy award took place at the 2019 Best of ASCO and the winner was the doctor Dr. Thiago Bueno.
The Cura Project was highlighted in the prestigious magazine BIG Research in Focus (Issue 12 March 2020, page 32), published by the Breast International Group, an entity dedicated to breast cancer research.
The publication reported the participation of the Cura Project in the Ready For Christmas event, held on December 13 in Miami, as part of the Journey Through Brazilian Experience, a cultural activity of the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, to raise funds for the fight against cancer. At the time, there was a performance by the Venezuelan singer-songwriter Marger, accompanied by the Puerto Rican pianist and conductor José Negroni and his jazz band, nominated 3 times for the Latin Grammy. Read the full story in the Breast International Group magazine on page 32:
On the 8th, the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC) announced and celebrated the rapid approval by the National Research Ethics Committee (CONEP), linked to the Ministry of Health, of the project that will assess the prevalence of infection with the new coronavirus in cancer patients, over 18 years of age, undergoing oncological treatment or follow-up. The initiative, called ONCOVID 19.1 — National Consortium for COVID-19 in Cancer Patients, aims to collect information from the medical records of patients from all regions of the country diagnosed with the coronavirus, in the public and private sectors, to subsidize strategies, protocols, and policies to combat the disease and care among cancer patients. The platform, which can be powered by all SBOC clinical oncologists, through an online questionnaire, is under development. The link to access the research is expected to be available by the beginning of May.CONEPCONEP is the body responsible for the analysis and issuance of opinions on clinical research in Brazil and is directly linked to the National Health Council (CNS). All clinical research protocols are reviewed by the agency. Due to the pandemic, research proposals have been processed urgently, as provided for in resolution no. 580/2018. As of April 10, the commission had already issued 64 scientific research protocols related to the new coronavirus.With information from SBOC and CONEP
The Cura Project Institute donated 20,000 reais to LACOG (Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group), which will support the start of the activities of the third phase of the NeoSamba Study, whose objective is to analyze the sequence of the medication currently used to treat HER2-negative breast cancer, in order to prevent recurrence in the patient. The donation was only possible thanks to the efforts of oncologists and health professionals, who, through their social networks, encouraged donations for research. The winner of the action, developed within the warfare “The Cancer Cure is in our hands”, was the clinical director of IBCC Oncology (Brazilian Institute for Cancer Control), oncologist Lilian Arruda. According to the doctor, only 2% of the research carried out in the world involves the participation of Brazil. Lilian stresses the importance of carrying out more research in the country. “We are the ninth economy in the world, but we ranked 24th in carrying out clinical research,” she laments.NeoSamba SearchPhase 3 of the NeoSamba survey will be conducted at 12 cancer centers, distributed in 8 Brazilian states, with SUS patients. The study's principal investigator is oncologist José Bines. According to the doctor, “there is a lot of work to be done in the diagnosis, treatment, and research to improve breast cancer outcomes in the country.” Phase 2 of the clinical trial, conducted by INCA (National Cancer Institute), investigated 118 patients. At the time, it was evaluated whether the change in the order of drugs in the anthracycline and taxane class would make a difference in women's survival. The study indicated that treating them first with taxane and then with anthracyclines, and not the other way around, as was the previous standard, could bring more significant gains in progression-free survival and, especially, in overall survival. Phase 3 of the research, which is a confirmatory scientific study, will expand the universe of patients studied. “The results of this analysis may redefine the best neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment (performed before surgery) for women with locally advanced breast cancer. The conclusion may have an immediate global impact on the care of women with breast cancer,” concludes the doctor. According to data from INCA for the three-year period 2020-2023, Brazil will have 600,000 new cases of cancer a year. Breast cancer is the most common among women with a forecast of 66,000 new cases annually. It represents almost 1/3 of all tumors in women and this number is greater than the sum of the following 3 tumors: intestine, cervix, and lung.Godparents and bridesmaidsDoctors and health professionals participated in the Cura campaign: Heloisa Rezende, Susana Ramalho, Tomás Reinert, Alessandra Morelle, Eduardo Romero, Flávia dos Santos, Gilberto Amorim, Gustavo Werutsky, José Bines, Monique Bionotto and Vivian Antunes.
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