Luz Saúde SA

03/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/01/2024 04:19

Guilherme Castela, doctorate degree in Health Sciences

The Hospital da Luz ophthalmologist researched the incidence and treatment of retinoblastoma, a rare tumor in children.

Guilherme Castela, Hospital da Luz Coimbra ophthalmologist, concluded his doctorate degree in Health Sciences, last February 5, at the School of Medicine of Coimbra University. In his thesis - entitled "The efficacy of super selective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy (SOAC) in the treatment of intraocular retinoblastoma" -, Guilherme Castela characterizes the incidence of retinoblastoma in Portugal and analyses the efficacy of the respective first-line treatments.

Although rare, the retinoblastoma is the intraocular tumour most frequent in children. With the strategies of treatment currently available, it is curable if diagnosed in early ages.

The research work of Guilherme Castela was based on cases followed up at the National Centre of Reference in Ocular Oncology, in Coimbra, and was developed in two stages:

  1. Publication of reviews of the existing literature, where he describes the whole clinical spectrum of retinoblastoma and summarizes the scientific evidence on the protocols of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), the first line of treatment of the disease.
  2. Study of Portuguese and PALOP-native (Portuguese-speaking African countries) children diagnosed with retinoblastoma, and the results of the National Centre of Reference with the use of IAC.

Among the main conclusions of the thesis, which earned the unanimous approval of the jury, we highlight the following:

  • The global Portuguese incidence of retinoblastoma is of 4.04 in 100,000 live births, in line with other developed countries.
  • 80% of patients, at the moment of diagnosis, present leukocoria or strabismus, isolated or in association. The remaining 20% present atypical forms, associated with later stages of diagnosis, and have a worse prognosis.
  • The IAC has 78.6% efficacy (ocular globe preservation) and an overall survival of 100%. It has better results in earlier stages, but it is efficient and safe even in more advanced stages of intraocular tumour and also in the treatment of recurrent and relapsing tumours.

"This was the first demographic, genetic and clinical characterization of the Portuguese population diagnosed with retinoblastoma. The main goal is that this work may contribute to the global knowledge on retinoblastoma, improving the clinical results in these patients, and also allow the definition of a more complete and individualized national strategy", explains Guilherme Castela.

The advisors of this thesis were Miguel Castro Branco (School of Medicine, Coimbra University - FMUC), Zélia Corrêa (Bascon Palmer Eye Institute of Miami, USA), and Joaquim Neto Murta (FMUC).

The doctorate jury included Eunice Carrilho (FMUC), Carlos Marques Neves (School of Medicine, Lisbon University), Manuel Falcão (School of Medicine, Oporto University), Joaquim Neto Murta, Rufino Silva (FMUC) and Rui Proença (FMUC).