Survival with Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the "Docetaxel Era": Data from 917 Patients in the Control Arm of the STAMPEDE Trial (MRC PR08, CRUK/06/019)

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common disease among men worldwide. It is important to know survival outcomes and prognostic factors for this disease. Recruitment for the largest therapeutic randomised controlled trial in PCa--the Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy: A Multi-Stage Multi-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial (STAMPEDE)--includes men with newly diagnosed metastatic PCa who are commencing long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT); the control arm provides valuable data for a prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE

Describe survival outcomes, along with current treatment standards and factors associated with prognosis, to inform future trial design in this patient group.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

STAMPEDE trial control arm comprising men newly diagnosed with M1 disease who were recruited between October 2005 and January 2014.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) were reported by primary disease characteristics using Kaplan-Meier methods. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from multivariate Cox models.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A cohort of 917 men with newly diagnosed M1 disease was recruited to the control arm in the specified interval. Median follow-up was 20 mo. Median age at randomisation was 66 yr (interquartile range [IQR]: 61-71), and median prostate-specific antigen level was 112 ng/ml (IQR: 34-373). Most men (n=574; 62%) had bone-only metastases, whereas 237 (26%) had both bone and soft tissue metastases; soft tissue metastasis was found mainly in distant lymph nodes. There were 238 deaths, 202 (85%) from PCa. Median FFS was 11 mo; 2-yr FFS was 29% (95% CI, 25-33). Median OS was 42 mo; 2-yr OS was 72% (95% CI, 68-76). Survival time was influenced by performance status, age, Gleason score, and metastases distribution. Median survival after FFS event was 22 mo. Trial eligibility criteria meant men were younger and fitter than general PCa population.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival remains disappointing in men presenting with M1 disease who are started on only long-term ADT, despite active treatments being available at first failure of ADT. Importantly, men with M1 disease now spend the majority of their remaining life in a state of castration-resistant relapse.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Results from this control arm cohort found survival is relatively short and highly influenced by patient age, fitness, and where prostate cancer has spread in the body.

Escalated-dose versus control-dose conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer: long-term results from the MRC RT01 randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this trial was to compare dose-escalated conformal radiotherapy with control-dose conformal radiotherapy in patients with localised prostate cancer. Preliminary findings reported after 5 years of follow-up showed that escalated-dose conformal radiotherapy improved biochemical progression-free survival. Based on the sample size calculation, we planned to analyse overall survival when 190 deaths occurred; this target has now been reached, after a median 10 years of follow-up.

METHODS

RT01 was a phase 3, open-label, international, randomised controlled trial enrolling men with histologically confirmed T1b-T3a, N0, M0 prostate cancer with prostate specific antigen of less than 50 ng/mL. Patients were randomly assigned centrally in a 1:1 ratio, using a computer-based minimisation algorithm stratifying by risk of seminal vesicle invasion and centre to either the control group (64 Gy in 32 fractions, the standard dose at the time the trial was designed) or the escalated-dose group (74 Gy in 37 fractions). Neither patients nor investigators were masked to assignment. All patients received neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy for 3-6 months before the start of conformal radiotherapy, which continued until the end of conformal radiotherapy. The coprimary outcome measures were biochemical progression-free survival and overall survival. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. Treatment-related side-effects have been reported previously. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN47772397.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 7, 1998, and Dec 20, 2001, 862 men were registered and 843 subsequently randomly assigned: 422 to the escalated-dose group and 421 to the control group. As of Aug 2, 2011, 236 deaths had occurred: 118 in each group. Median follow-up was 10·0 years (IQR 9·1-10·8). Overall survival at 10 years was 71% (95% CI 66-75) in each group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·77-1·28; p=0·96). Biochemical progression or progressive disease occurred in 391 patients (221 [57%] in the control group and 170 [43%] in the escalated-dose group). At 10 years, biochemical progression-free survival was 43% (95% CI 38-48) in the control group and 55% (50-61) in the escalated-dose group (HR 0·69, 95% CI 0·56-0·84; p=0·0003).

INTERPRETATION

At a median follow-up of 10 years, escalated-dose conformal radiotherapy with neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy showed an advantage in biochemical progression-free survival, but this advantage did not translate into an improvement in overall survival. These efficacy data for escalated-dose treatment must be weighed against the increase in acute and late toxicities associated with the escalated dose and emphasise the importance of use of appropriate modern radiotherapy methods to reduce side-effects.

FUNDING

UK Medical Research Council.

Survival with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer in the “docetaxel era”: Data from >600 patients in the control arm of the STAMPEDE trial (NCT00268476)

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Background: STAMPEDE (www.stampedetrial.org) recruits men with newly-diagnosed or rapidly relapsing prostate cancer (PCa) that is metastatic (M1) or high-risk locally advanced, all commencing long-term androgen ablation therapy (AAT) for the first time. This is now the largest therapeutic RCT in PCa. We report survival outcomes for newly-diagnosed M1 control arm men in order to inform future trials in this setting. Methods: Newly-diagnosed men with M1 disease in the trial’s control arm (standard of care: AAT alone for at least 2yr), diagnosed up to 6 months prior to randomisation, were identified from trial records in Dec-2012. We report overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) from randomisation by primary disease characteristics. Results: 3703 men were recruited to STAMPEDE Oct-2005 to Dec-2012, including a control arm cohort of 630 M1 men with newly-diagnosed disease. This cohort has median age at randomisation 66yr (quartiles 60-71), median PSA 105 (quartiles 34-379) IU/l; metastases to bone only (B) 393 (62%), soft tissue only (ST) 78 (13%) or bone and soft tissue (B+ST) 159 (25%). ST was mainly lymph nodes. Median time from diagnosis to randomisation is 69 days (max 180 days). Median duration of AAT prior to randomisation is 46 days (max 105 days). There were 129 deaths, of which 111 were from PCa. Median OS from randomisation is 42 months, with 2-yr OS 74% (95%CI 68, 78) in this cohort; B 77% (95%CI 71, 83), ST 85% (95%CI 70, 93), B+ST 57% (95%CI 45, 68). Median FFS is 12 months, driven by rising PSA; 2-yr FFS 32% (95%CI 27-37). Median time from FFS event to death was 22 months. Additional data on relapse therapies will be presented. Conclusions: Survival, and particularly FFS, remains relatively poor for men presenting with M1 disease starting long-term AAT, despite potential access when castration-resistant (CRPC) to docetaxel and other newer therapies. Better first-line therapy is required; STAMPEDE will report many comparisons in the future. Different M1 patterns may vary prognostically. Men with M1 disease will now spend most time in a state of CRPC, which has important implications for clinicians and trialists. Clinical trial information: NCT00268476.

Food choice and nutrient intake amongst homeless people

BACKGROUND

Homeless people in the UK and elsewhere have typically been found to consume a nutritionally inadequate diet. There is need for contemporary research to update our understanding within this field. The present study aimed to provide an insight into the nutrient intake and food choice of a sample of homeless adults.

METHODS

In this mixed-methods study, 24 homeless individuals accessing two charitable meal services in Sheffield, UK, participated in up to four 24-h dietary recalls between April and August 2012. Twelve individuals took part in a semi-structured interview focusing on food choice.

RESULTS

Energy intake was significantly lower than the estimated average requirement. Median intakes of vitamin A, zinc, magnesium, potassium and selenium were significantly lower than reference nutrient intakes. Contributions of saturated fat and nonmilk extrinsic sugars to total energy intake were significantly higher, whereas dietary fibre was significantly lower, than population average intakes. Charitable meals made an important contribution to intakes of energy and most micronutrients. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed three major themes: food aspirations; constraints over food choice; and food representing survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study reveals risk of dietary inadequacies amongst homeless people alongside a lack of control over food choices. Charitable meal services are suggested as a vehicle for improving the dietary intake and nutritional health of homeless people.

Flexible trial design in practice - stopping arms for lack-of-benefit and adding research arms mid-trial in STAMPEDE: a multi-arm multi-stage randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Systemic Therapy for Advanced or Metastatic Prostate cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy (STAMPEDE) is a randomized controlled trial that follows a novel multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) design. We describe methodological and practical issues arising with (1) stopping recruitment to research arms following a pre-planned intermediate analysis and (2) adding a new research arm during the trial.

METHODS

STAMPEDE recruits men who have locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer who are starting standard long-term hormone therapy. Originally there were five research and one control arms, each undergoing a pilot stage (focus: safety, feasibility), three intermediate 'activity' stages (focus: failure-free survival), and a final 'efficacy' stage (focus: overall survival). Lack-of-sufficient-activity guidelines support the pairwise interim comparisons of each research arm against the control arm; these pre-defined activity cut-off becomes increasingly stringent over the stages. Accrual of further patients continues to the control arm and to those research arms showing activity and an acceptable safety profile. The design facilitates adding new research arms should sufficiently interesting agents emerge. These new arms are compared only to contemporaneously recruited control arm patients using the same intermediate guidelines in a time-delayed manner. The addition of new research arms is subject to adequate recruitment rates to support the overall trial aims.

RESULTS

(1) Stopping Existing Therapy: After the second intermediate activity analysis, recruitment was discontinued to two research arms for lack-of-sufficient activity. Detailed preparations meant that changes were implemented swiftly at 100 international centers and recruitment continued seamlessly into Activity Stage III with 3 remaining research arms and the control arm. Further regulatory and ethical approvals were not required because this was already included in the initial trial design.(2) Adding New Therapy: An application to add a new research arm was approved by the funder, (who also organized peer review), industrial partner and regulatory and ethical bodies. This was all done in advance of any decision to stop current therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

The STAMPEDE experience shows that recruitment to a MAMS trial and mid-flow changes its design are achievable with good planning. This benefits patients and the scientific community as research treatments are evaluated in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN78818544, NCT00268476. First patient into trial: 17 October 2005. First patient into abiraterone comparison: 15 November 2011.

Celecoxib plus hormone therapy versus hormone therapy alone for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: first results from the STAMPEDE multiarm, multistage, randomised controlled trial

Background

Long-term hormone therapy alone is standard care for metastatic or high-risk, non-metastatic prostate cancer. STAMPEDE—an international, open-label, randomised controlled trial—uses a novel multiarm, multistage design to assess whether the early additional use of one or two drugs (docetaxel, zoledronic acid, celecoxib, zoledronic acid and docetaxel, or zoledronic acid and celecoxib) improves survival in men starting first-line, long-term hormone therapy. Here, we report the preplanned, second intermediate analysis comparing hormone therapy plus celecoxib (arm D) with hormone therapy alone (control arm A).

Methods

Eligible patients were men with newly diagnosed or rapidly relapsing prostate cancer who were starting long-term hormone therapy for the first time. Hormone therapy was given as standard care in all trial arms, with local radiotherapy encouraged for newly diagnosed patients without distant metastasis. Randomisation was done using minimisation with a random element across seven stratification factors. Patients randomly allocated to arm D received celecoxib 400 mg twice daily, given orally, until 1 year or disease progression (including prostate-specific antigen [PSA] failure). The intermediate outcome was failure-free survival (FFS) in three activity stages; the primary outcome was overall survival in a subsequent efficacy stage. Research arms were compared pairwise against the control arm on an intention-to-treat basis. Accrual of further patients was discontinued in any research arm showing safety concerns or insufficient evidence of activity (lack of benefit) compared with the control arm. The minimum targeted activity at the second intermediate activity stage was a hazard ratio (HR) of 0·92. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00268476, and with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN78818544.

Findings

2043 patients were enrolled in the trial from Oct 17, 2005, to Jan 31, 2011, of whom 584 were randomly allocated to receive hormone therapy alone (control group; arm A) and 291 to receive hormone therapy plus celecoxib (arm D). At the preplanned analysis of the second intermediate activity stage, with 305 FFS events (209 in arm A, 96 in arm D), there was no evidence of an advantage for hormone therapy plus celecoxib over hormone therapy alone: HR 0·98 (95% CI 0·90–1·06). 2-year FFS was 51% (95% CI 46–56) in arm A and 51% (95% CI 43–58) in arm D. There was no evidence of differences in the incidence of adverse events between groups (events of grade 3 or higher were noted at any time in 123 [23%, 95% CI 20–27] patients in arm A and 64 [25%, 19–30] in arm D). The most common grade 3–5 events adverse effects in both groups were endocrine disorders (55 [11%] of patients in arm A vs 19 [7%] in arm D) and musculoskeletal disorders (30 [6%] of patients in arm A vs 15 [6%] in arm D). The independent data monitoring committee recommended stopping accrual to both celecoxib-containing arms on grounds of lack of benefit and discontinuing celecoxib for patients currently on treatment, which was endorsed by the trial steering committee.

Interpretation

Celecoxib 400 mg twice daily for up to 1 year is insufficiently active in patients starting hormone therapy for high-risk prostate cancer, and we do not recommend its use in this setting. Accrual continues seamlessly to the other research arms and follow-up of all arms will continue to assess effects on overall survival.

Funding

Cancer Research UK, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Medical Research Council (London, UK).

Celecoxib plus hormone therapy versus hormone therapy alone for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: First results from STAMPEDE (MRC PR08, CRUK/06/019), a randomized controlled trial

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Background: Long-term hormone therapy (HT) alone is standard of care for men with metastatic or high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). STAMPEDE investigates whether early use of additional therapies improves overall survival. It is an international randomised controlled trial ( NCT00268476 ) using novel multi-arm, multi-stage methods to assess adding 1 or 2 of three agents (docetaxel, zoledronic acid (ZA), celecoxib) in 5 research arms in men with PCa starting long-term HT for the first time.

Methods: HT was given as per standard care. Celecoxib was planned as 400mg bid until the sooner of 1 year or disease (including PSA) progression. The trial has 3 intermediate activity stages (I-III) where the outcome measure (OM) is failure-free survival (FFS) and 1 final efficacy stage (IV) with overall survival as primary OM. At the end of each stage, research arms are compared pairwise to the control arm. Accrual of further patients is discontinued early for any research arm either showing (a) safety concerns or (b) insufficient evidence of activity (lack-of-benefit) where the treatment effect on FFS is compared against a pre-defined stopping guideline. The interim activity “hurdle” becomes increasingly stringent stage-by-stage.

Results: From Oct-2008 to Feb-2011, 2114 patients were consented and randomised, including 875 in this comparison. With 205 control FFS events, there was evidence of insufficient activity for HT+celecoxib over HT-alone: HR 0.98 (95%CI 0.90-1.06). The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended stopping accrual to this arm; stopping celecoxib was also recommended for patients currently on treatment. (Accrual was also stopped to HT+celecoxib+ZA but data are not disclosed.) There was no evidence of differences in toxicity: 25% and 23% of patients reporting grade ≥3 toxicities or adverse events with or without celecoxib. Control arm FFS was 51% at 2 years, in line with expectations.

Conclusions: Celecoxib shows no evidence of activity in this setting. Accrual continues seamlessly to the other research arms. Follow-up of all arms is ongoing. Support: MRC, Cancer Research UK, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer.

Flexible trial design in practice: Dropping and adding arms in STAMPEDE (MRC PR08, CRUK/06/019)—A multiarm, multistage randomized controlled trial

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Background: STAMPEDE ( NCT00268476 ) is a multi-centre, RCT using novel multi‐arm, multi‐stage (MAMS) methods. We describe the methodological and practical issues arising with early stopping of recruitment to some arms following an intermediate analysis and the issues in adding new research arms during the trial.

Methods: The trial recruits men with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer starting standard long-term hormone therapy. There are 5 research and 1 control arm assessed over 3 intermediate activity stages I-III [outcome measure: failure-free survival (FFS)] and a final efficacy stage IV [outcome measure: overall survival]. At the end of each stage, research arms are formally compared to the control arm. Accrual of further patients is discontinued early for research arms not showing sufficient evidence of activity or with adverse safety considerations; accrual continues to the other arms; this interim hurdle is increasingly stringent at each stage. The addition of new research arm(s) can be actively considered when sufficiently interesting agents emerge. New research arms are compared only to contemporaneously-recruited control arm pts using the same intermediate guidelines in a time-delayed manner.

Results: (1) After the second intermediate activity analysis (Mar-2011), the IDMC recommended and the Trial Steering Committee ratified discontinuation of recruitment to two research arms for lack-of-sufficient activity. Nearly 100 recruiting centres in UK and Switzerland had to promptly implement changes. Detailed advanced preparation meant that activation was swift and recruitment continued seamlessly into Activity Stage III. (2) An application to add a new research arm, abiraterone, has been agreed by funders, industry partner and ethics committee; regulatory approval awaited. Details on methodological and practical issues and implementation of these changes will be presented.

Conclusions: The STAMPEDE experiences shows that recruitment to MAMS trials is achievable and that mid-flow changes to trial design are practicable and encouraged.

On limb radiance calculations and convergence of relaxation type retrieval algorithms

Several approaches to the solution of the radiative transfer equation assume either Curtis-Godson average or linear change of the source function across grid segments. When such solutions are used for calculating limb radiances, the peak radiance response to the source function perturbation at tangent point i is displaced down to the tangent point i+1. This effect is explained through a geometric argument. Temperature profile retrievals performed by applying the ratio of signals at level i+1 for correcting temperature at level i demonstrate dramatic convergence acceleration of the iterative relaxation scheme.

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of cranberry juice on decreasing the incidence of urinary symptoms and urinary tract infections in patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer of the bladder or cervix

AIMS

Radical pelvic radiotherapy is one of the main treatment modalities for cancers of the bladder and cervix. The side-effects of pelvic radiotherapy include urinary symptoms, such as urinary frequency and cystitis. The therapeutic effects of cranberry juice in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections in general are well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cranberry juice on the incidence of urinary tract infections and urinary symptoms in patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy for cancer of the bladder or cervix.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Participants were randomised to receive cranberry juice, twice a day (morning and night) for the duration of their radiotherapy treatment and for 2 weeks after treatment (6 weeks in total) or a placebo beverage, for the same duration.

RESULTS

The incidence of increased urinary symptoms or urinary tract infections was 82.5% on cranberry and 89.3% on placebo (P=0.240, adjusted odds ratio [cranberry/placebo] 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.14-1.63).

CONCLUSIONS

The power of the study to detect differences was limited by the below target sample size and poor compliance. Further research is recommended, taking cognisance of the factors contributing to the limitations of this study.

Enamel defects in extracted and exfoliated teeth from patients with Amelogenesis Imperfecta, measured using the extended enamel defects index and image analysis

AIMS

To enhance the phenotypic description and quantification of enamel defects from a North Sweden sample of extracted and exfoliated teeth originating from families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta by use of the extended enamel defects index (EDI) and image analysis to demonstrate the comparable reliability and value of the additional measurements.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The sample comprised 109 deciduous and 7 permanent teeth from 32 individuals of 19 families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta in Northern Sweden. A special holder for individual teeth was designed and the whole sample was examined using the extended EDI and an image analysis system. In addition to the extended EDI definitions, the calibrated images were measured for tooth surface area, defect area and percentage of surface affected using image analysis techniques. The extended EDI was assessed using weighted and unweighted Kappa statistics. The reliability of imaging and measurement was determined using Fleiss' intra-class correlation coefficient (ICCC). Kappa values indicated good or excellent intra-operator repeatability and inter-operator reproducibility for the extended EDI. The Fleiss ICCC values indicated excellent repeatability for the image analysis measurements. Hypoplastic pits on the occlusal surfaces were the most frequent defect in this sample (82.6%). The occlusal surface displayed the most post-eruptive breakdown (39.13%) whilst the incisal portion of the buccal surfaces showed most diffuse opacities (53.4%). Image analysis methods demonstrated the largest mean hypoplastic pit areas were on the lingual surfaces. The largest mean post-eruptive breakdown areas were on the lingual surfaces of posterior teeth. The largest mean demarcated opacity areas were found on the labial surfaces.

CONCLUSIONS

The extended EDI and the standardised image acquisition and analysis system provided additional information to conventional measurement techniques. Additional phenotypic variables were described.

Improvement of psychic and somatic symptoms in adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder: examination from a duloxetine, venlafaxine extended-release and placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This study examined the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine and venlafaxine extended-release (XR) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with a secondary focus on psychic and somatic symptoms within GAD.

METHOD

The design was a 10-week, multi-center, double-blind placebo-controlled study of duloxetine (20 mg or 60-120 mg once daily) and venlafaxine XR (75-225 mg once daily) treatment. Efficacy was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), which includes psychic and somatic factor scores. Tolerability was measured by occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and discontinuation rates.

RESULTS

Adult out-patients (mean age 42.8 years; 57.1% women) with DSM-IV-defined GAD were randomly assigned to placebo (n=170), duloxetine 20 mg (n=84), duloxetine 60-120 mg (n=158) or venlafaxine XR 75-225 mg (n=169) treatment. Each of the three active treatment groups had significantly greater improvements on HAMA total score from baseline to endpoint compared with placebo (p=0.01-0.001). For the HAMA psychic factor score, both duloxetine treatment arms and venlafaxine XR demonstrated significantly greater improvement compared with placebo (p=0.01-0.001). For the HAMA somatic factor score, the mean improvement in the duloxetine 60-120 mg and venlafaxine XR groups was significantly greater than placebo (p0.05 and p0.01 respectively), whose mean improvement did not differ from the duloxetine 20 mg group (p=0.07). Groups did not differ in study discontinuation rate due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Duloxetine and venlafaxine treatment were each efficacious for improvement of core psychic anxiety symptoms and associated somatic symptoms for adults with GAD.

A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder

The present study is a non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine 60-120 mg/day and venlafaxine extended-release (XR) 75-225 mg/day for the treatment of adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The non-inferiority test was a prespecified plan to pool data from two nearly identical 10-week, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies of duloxetine 60-120 mg/day and venlafaxine 75-225 mg/ day for the treatment of GAD. An independent expert consensus panel provided six statistical and clinical criteria for determining non-inferiority between treatments. Response was defined as > or =50% reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) total score. In the pooled sample, patients were randomly assigned to duloxetine (n = 320), venlafaxine XR (n = 333) or placebo (n = 331). For the non-inferiority analysis, the per-protocol patients who were treated with duloxetine (n = 239) or venlafaxine XR (n = 262) improved significantly more (mean HAMA reductions were -15.4 and -15.2, respectively) than placebo-treated patients (n = 267; -11.6, P < or = 0.001, both comparisons). Response rates were 56%, 58% and 40%, respectively. Discontinuation rate because of AEs was significantly higher for duloxetine (13.4%, P < or = 0.001) and venlafaxine XR (11.4%, P < or = 0.01) groups compared with placebo (5.4%). Duloxetine 60-120 mg/day met all statistical and clinical criteria for non-inferiority and exhibited a similar tolerability profile compared with venlafaxine XR 75-225 mg/day for the treatment of adults with GAD.

Escalated-dose versus standard-dose conformal radiotherapy in prostate cancer: first results from the MRC RT01 randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In men with localised prostate cancer, conformal radiotherapy (CFRT) could deliver higher doses of radiation than does standard-dose conventional radical external-beam radiotherapy, and could improve long-term efficacy, potentially at the cost of increased toxicity. We aimed to present the first analyses of effectiveness from the MRC RT01 randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

The MRC RT01 trial included 843 men with localised prostate cancer who were randomly assigned to standard-dose CFRT or escalated-dose CFRT, both administered with neoadjuvant androgen suppression. Primary endpoints were biochemical-progression-free survival (bPFS), freedom from local progression, metastases-free survival, overall survival, and late toxicity scores. The toxicity scores were measured with questionnaires for physicians and patients that included the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), the Late Effects on Normal Tissue: Subjective/Objective/Management (LENT/SOM) scales, and the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA PCI) scales. Analysis was done by intention to treat. This trial is registered at the Current Controlled Trials website http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN47772397.

FINDINGS

Between January, 1998, and December, 2002, 843 men were randomly assigned to escalated-dose CFRT (n=422) or standard-dose CFRT (n=421). In the escalated group, the hazard ratio (HR) for bPFS was 0.67 (95% CI 0.53-0.85, p=0.0007). We noted 71% bPFS (108 cumulative events) and 60% bPFS (149 cumulative events) by 5 years in the escalated and standard groups, respectively. HR for clinical progression-free survival was 0.69 (0.47-1.02; p=0.064); local control was 0.65 (0.36-1.18; p=0.16); freedom from salvage androgen suppression was 0.78 (0.57-1.07; p=0.12); and metastases-free survival was 0.74 (0.47-1.18; p=0.21). HR for late bowel toxicity in the escalated group was 1.47 (1.12-1.92) according to the RTOG (grade >/=2) scale; 1.44 (1.16-1.80) according to the LENT/SOM (grade >/=2) scales; and 1.28 (1.03-1.60) according to the UCLA PCI (score >/=30) scale. 33% of the escalated and 24% of the standard group reported late bowel toxicity within 5 years of starting treatment. HR for late bladder toxicity according to the RTOG (grade >/=2) scale was 1.36 (0.90-2.06), but this finding was not supported by the LENT/SOM (grade >/=2) scales (HR 1.07 [0.90-1.29]), nor the UCLA PCI (score >/=30) scale (HR 1.05 [0.81-1.36]).

INTERPRETATION

Escalated-dose CFRT with neoadjuvant androgen suppression seems clinically worthwhile in terms of bPFS, progression-free survival, and decreased use of salvage androgen suppression. This additional efficacy is offset by an increased incidence of longer term adverse events.

Bilateral testicular cancer: a preventable problem? Experience from a large cancer centre

OBJECTIVE

To report a retrospective review of patients with a testicular germ cell tumour treated in a large cancer centre who developed a second tumour, as 1.8-5% of such patients will subsequently develop a new primary tumour in the contralateral testis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a database of 570 men treated for testicular cancer in the West of Scotland between 1989 and 1998, all those who developed bilateral testicular tumours were identified.

RESULTS

Nineteen men (3.3%) developed a second primary testicular malignancy; the mean age at diagnosis of the first tumour was 29.5 years, with the mean (range) interval to diagnosis of the second tumour of 76 (11-181) months (except for one man with synchronous tumours). The first tumour was teratoma in 11 and seminoma in seven; one patient had synchronous bilateral teratoma. The second primary was teratoma in 10 and seminoma in eight. Known risk factors for carcinoma in situ were present in nine patients, i.e. a small atrophic contralateral testis in five, a family history of testicular cancer in two, a history of infertility in two and unilateral undescended testis in one. Two patients had had contralateral testicular biopsies at the first diagnosis; both were negative for intratubular germ cell neoplasia (IGCN). Eight patients had chemotherapy to treat the first tumour and 14 for the second. All underwent bilateral orchidectomy. Overall, 18 of 19 men are alive and disease-free, with a median follow-up of 51 months. Pathology for 12 of the second testicular tumours was available for review; there was no IGCN in any of the slides from three patients, it was only present focally around the tumour in seven, and was diffuse in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy for the first testicular tumour does not eliminate the risk of developing a contralateral tumour. Despite careful follow-up, in most patients the second primary tumour was not diagnosed early enough to avoid chemotherapy. The focal nature of IGCN in the second testis in most patients questions the value of biopsy of the contralateral testis. Improved methods of detecting patients at risk of second testicular tumours are needed.

Bodyweight gain associated with atypical antipsychotics: epidemiology and therapeutic implications

Atypical antipsychotic medications are associated with different adverse effects and efficacy profiles compared with conventional antipsychotics (i.e. less extrapyramidal symptoms, improved-efficacy against negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, and most often a greater ability to improve patients' quality of life). However, the atypical antipsychotics may be associated with clinically significant bodyweight gain, increasing the risk of medical comorbidity, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidaemia. This literature review assesses the various bodyweight gain liabilities associated with atypical antipsychotics, as well as the effects of bodyweight gain on quality of life. The issue of prevention and management of this often neglected adverse effect is also examined. Most studies reviewed indicate that clozapine and olanzapine are associated with more bodyweight gain than the other atypical antipsychotics. There are potential factors that place certain patients at greater risk for bodyweight gain, including low pretreatment body mass index, young age and being of female gender. Furthermore, bodyweight gain associated with the use of atypical antipsychotics has been reported to be associated with clinical improvement, although this has not been substantiated widely. It is unclear whether increased medical comorbidity, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and/or elevated triglyceride levels, is secondary to the bodyweight gain associated with atypical antipsychotics, or the result of the agents themselves. A patient's quality of life may be greatly affected by excessive bodyweight gain; either by increased comorbid medical illness, an increased relapse rate associated with noncompliance, or the social stigma associated with being obese. However, most studies reveal that treatment with atypical antipsychotic medications is associated with improved quality of life compared with that achieved with conventional antipsychotic medications. Because bodyweight is an important health risk associated with atypical antipsychotics, prevention and effective management of bodyweight are paramount in preventing comorbid medical illness, relapse and possible noncompliance.

Regulation of murine intestinal inflammation by reactive metabolites of oxygen and nitrogen: divergent roles of superoxide and nitric oxide

Several reports have implicated reactive oxygen and nitrogen metabolites (RONS) in the initiation and/or progression of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). We have investigated the role of three key RONS-metabolizing enzymes (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], superoxide dismutase [SOD], nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH] oxidase) in a murine model of IBD. Mice genetically deficient ((-/-)) in either iNOS or the p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase, transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress SOD, and their respective wild-type (WT) littermates were fed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. In addition, the specific iNOS inhibitor 1400W was used in DSS-treated WT and p47phox(-/-) mice. WT mice responded to DSS feeding with progressive weight loss, bloody stools, elevated serum NO(X) and colonic mucosal injury with neutrophil infiltration. Both the onset and severity of colitis were significantly attenuated in iNOS(-/-) and 1400W-treated WT mice. While the responses to DSS did not differ between WT and p47phox(-/-) mice, enhanced protection was noted in 1400W-treated p47phox(-/-) mice. Interestingly, SOD(Tg) mice exhibited more severe colitis than their WT littermates. These findings reveal divergent roles for superoxide and iNOS-derived NO in intestinal inflammation.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in HIV-infected and uninfected homosexual men in a primary care setting

BACKGROUND

Genital herpes is usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), with infections often being unrecognised by patients and/or clinicians. HSV-2 infections may be a risk factor for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Reliable tests for type-specific HSV antibodies are now readily available.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and -2 in HIV-seronegative gay men in a primary care setting in Melbourne, Australia, and to compare it with the rate in HIV-infected gay men. To assess the utility in a clinical setting of a type-specific HSV enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as compared with western blot.

STUDY DESIGN

We recruited a total of 300 HIV-seronegative homosexual men attending for HIV antibody testing, and HIV-infected men attending for CD4 lymphocyte count and viral load estimation. The subjects completed a questionnaire, and sera were sent for total IgG HSV testing and testing by Gull type-specific HSV ELISA assay. Selected serum samples were retested by western blotting and the results analysed.

RESULTS

In total, 168 HIV-antibody negative men and 132 HIV-antibody positive men were recruited. Of all subjects, 73.3% had HSV-1 antibodies. This proportion did not differ between HIV-seronegative and seropositive men (P=0.48). About twenty percent of HIV-seronegative men and 61% of HIV-seropositive men had antibodies to HSV-2 (P<0.0001); 75.6% of HIV-seronegative men with antibodies to HSV-2 gave no history of genital herpes, as did 66.7% of HIV-seropositive men. Overall, in using the type-specific ELISA (Gull) assay, false negative, false positive or equivocal results were obtained in 33/300 (11%) of samples tested compared with western blot.

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of HSV-2 infection were found in homosexual males, with the rate for HIV-seropositive men being over twice that for HIV uninfected men. Most subjects were not aware of their infection with HSV-2. HIV-infected individuals were also older and had higher numbers of sexual partners, but we were unable to unambiguously establish that these variables contributed to the difference in HSV-2 seroprevalence rates. The Gull type-specific assay for HSV antibodies has significant problems with sensitivity and specificity at a discrepancy rate of 11%. Caution is advised in using this type-specific commercial assay for clinical purposes.

Oral findings in Carpenter syndrome

Acrocephalopolysyndactyly Type II (Carpenter Syndrome) is determined by autosomal recessive inheritance. Only some 40 cases have been described. Variable clinical signs have been described including prolonged retention of primary teeth and hypodontia. This paper describes the oral and dental findings in a family containing two affected brothers. The family pedigree is informative, as the mother has had children by three partners. The two affected individuals are full brothers. The first affected brother has delayed dental development, severe hypodontia and small tooth crown size. Mesio-distal and bucco-lingual dimensions were measured on the study models and compared with population data. The younger brother also has delayed dental development but only mild hypodontia. Their half sister has severe hypodontia but no signs of Carpenter Syndrome. This family study demonstrates two affected individuals with typical clinical features and a pedigree compatible with autosomal recessive inheritance. Small tooth crown size has been shown by standardized measurement and evidence advanced that hypodontia is not part of the syndrome but a coincidental finding which segregates independently. We have also shown that the marked delay in emergence of teeth is associated more with problems of tooth eruption, possibly related to the bony abnormalities, than to a generalized delay in dental development.