Bayesian analysis of a disability model for lung cancer survival

Bayesian reasoning, survival analysis and multi-state models are used to assess survival times for Stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer patients and the evolution of the disease over time. Bayesian estimation is done using minimum informative priors for the Weibull regression survival model, leading to an automatic inferential procedure. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods have been used for approximating posterior distributions and the Bayesian information criterion has been considered for covariate selection. In particular, the posterior distribution of the transition probabilities, resulting from the multi-state model, constitutes a very interesting tool which could be useful to help oncologists and patients make efficient and effective decisions.This study has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [grant number MTM2010- 19528], Mutua Madrileña [grant AP75942010], Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Universitá e della Ricerca of Italy and the visiting professor program of the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna

Esophagoenteral stents in patients with recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma Prótesis esofagoenterales en pacientes con recidiva de adenocarcinoma gástrico

One of the problems that can appear in patients with total gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma with esophagoenteral anastomosis is the appearance of a stenosis of the anastomosis. These stenosis are frequently malignant due to relapse of neoplasia. The therapeutic possibilities available are the surgical bypass or palliative treatment. There is very little experience described in the literature (21 cases) on the placing of self-expandable metal stents as a palliative treatment for the symptoms of stenosis. We present our experience of 3 patients, in whom 4 esophageal stents were fitted (1 covered and 3 uncovered) with good results. The dysphagia disappeared or improved, it allowed the ingestion of a soft diet and meant an improvement in the quality of life and at the same time stopped the weight loss. It seems an effective palliative treatment as a treatment for dysphagia in patients with tumoral relapse in the anastomosis of total gastrectomies.<br>Uno de los problemas que puede aparecer en los pacientes con gastrectomía total por adenocarcinoma con anastomosis esofagoenteral es la aparición de estenosis de la anastomosis o próxima a ella. Estas estenosis con frecuencia son malignas debido a la aparición de recidiva en la neoplasia. Las posibilidades terapéuticas de las que disponemos son el bypass quirúrgico o bien el tratamiento paliativo. Existe muy poca experiencia descrita en la literatura (21 casos) sobre la colocación de prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles como tratamiento paliativo de los síntomas de la estenosis. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en 3 pacientes, en los que se colocaron 4 prótesis esofágicas (1 recubierta y 3 no recubiertas) con buenos resultados. Desapareció o mejoró la disfagia, permitió la ingesta de dieta blanda y supuso una mejora en la calidad de vida a la vez que impide la pérdida ponderal. Parece un tratamiento paliativo eficaz como tratamiento de la disfagia en pacientes con recidiva tumoral en la anastomosis de las gastrectomías totales