Tumor marker and measurement fluctuations may not reflect treatment efficacy in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma on long-term RET inhibitor therapy

BACKGROUND

RET kinase inhibitors have significant activity in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical record for patterns of calcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tumor measurement responses in consecutive patients with MTC who received treatment with a RET inhibitor for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients who received RET kinase inhibitors for at least 6 months were included. All patients experienced an initial decline in calcitonin; 20 (77%) demonstrated later fluctuations in calcitonin, which spiked above baseline levels in 9 individuals (35%). Twenty of the 22 patients (91%) with elevated CEA experienced a decline with treatment, with 11 individuals (50%) later demonstrating transient fluctuations in CEA, including spikes above baseline in 7 patients (32%). Ten of the 26 patients (38%) also demonstrated short-lived fluctuations in RECIST measurements, including changes of over 20% from nadir values. Vacillations in calcitonin, CEA and measurements often occurred repeatedly in individual patients and did not regularly correlate with each other.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated transient fluctuations in tumor markers and measurements are a characteristic of patients with MTC receiving treatment with RET inhibitors, and such short-term vacillations may not reflect responsiveness over the long term.

CLINICAL TRIALS INCLUDED

NCT00215605; NCT00244972; NCT00121680; NCT00495872.

Accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum

BACKGROUND

Patients with pancreas divisum may develop pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard for diagnosing pancreas divisum. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive test reported to be highly accurate in diagnosing pancreas divisum.

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRCP in detecting pancreas divisum at our institution.

METHODS

We reviewed patients who underwent both ERCP and MRCP. Patients who had diagnostic endoscopic pancreatograms (ERP) after MRCP comprise the study population. Secretin was given in 113/146 patients (S-MRCP). The remaining 33/146 patients had MRCP without secretin. In 7/33 patients who underwent MRCP without secretin (21.2%), the studies were non-diagnostic and, therefore, this group was not further analyzed and the study focused on the S-MRCP group only.

RESULTS

ERP identified pancreas divisum in 19/113 (16.8%) patients. S-MRCP identified 14/19 pancreas divisum and was false-positive in three cases (sensitivity 73.3%, specificity 96.8%, positive predictive value 82.4%, negative predictive value 94.8%). Of the eight patients with inaccurate S-MRCP, 5 (63%) had changes of chronic pancreatitis by ERP. This differs from the frequency of chronic pancreatitis by ERP in 24/105 (23%) patients with accurate MRCP findings. The ERCP findings of chronic pancreatitis were more frequent among incorrect S-MRCP interpretations than among correct interpretations (odds ratio [OR] 5.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-25.3]). MRCP without secretin is non-diagnostic for pancreas divisum in a significant proportion of patients. S-MRCP had a satisfactory specificity for detecting pancreas divisum. However, the sensitivity of S-MRCP for the diagnosis of pancreas divisum was modest at 73.3%. This is low compared to previous smaller studies, which reported a sensitivity of MRCP of up to 100%.

Adjusted indirect comparison of everolimus and sorafenib in sunitinib-refractory mRCC patients using a robust matching technique

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Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFr-TKIs) sunitinib (SU) and sorafenib (SO) are approved for first- and second-line (after cytokines) use in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Because most patients progress after first-line VEGFr-TKI, the need for an effective second-line treatment is compelling. Although SO is frequently considered after SU failure, no randomized controlled trials have established clinical benefit in this scenario. Results from the RECORD-1 phase III trial suggest that second-line everolimus (EVE) therapy leads to improved overall survival (OS) vs. placebo. No trial data exist comparing treatment outcomes for EVE vs SO in the second-line setting. Thus, the current analysis provides a robust estimate from an indirect comparison examining the OS benefit of EVE and SO as second-line treatment options after SU failure.

Methods: The single-arm SO study was selected as a basis by which to match an EVE SU-refractory subpopulation of the RECORD-1 trial. Patients were limited to those with clear cell histology. An adjusted matching approach was taken in which 1,000 repeated random samples matched to the SO population on risk score distribution were produced. These data were used to generate a distribution of survival outcomes and infer a 95% CI around the mean of all sampled median OS estimates.

Results: After adjusted matching, the estimated median OS benefit, based on SO patients with clear cell histology (n = 45) and 1000 random samples of n = 41 from the 127 SU-refractory EVE patients, was 82 weeks (95% CI: 78, 86) and 32 weeks (95% CI: 22, 64) for EVE and SO, respectively.

Conclusions: These indirect comparison results suggest that SU-refractory mRCC patients treated with EVE may experience significantly improved OS outcomes compared with patients treated with SO.

[Table: see text]

TFT Performance - Material Quality Correlation for a-Si:H Deposited at high Rates

We evaluated the characteristics of a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H thin film transistors (TFTs), and of separately deposited a-Si:H films, as functions of the a-Si:H deposition power in a high-rate, large-area, 40 MHz PE-CVD system. TFT performance and a-Si:H film properties improve with decreasing power density and deposition rate. However, low defect density a-Si:H material was deposited at rates as high as 1500 Å/min. TFTs with gate nitride deposited at 1000 A/min show excellent I-V characteristics when the a-Si:H deposition power is low enough. The TFT electron mobility in the linear regime correlates well with the Urbach energy of the a-Si:H films, suggesting that the quality of the a-Si: H controls the performance of our TFTs.

Use and perceived effectiveness of non-analgesic medical therapies for chronic pancreatitis in the United States

BACKGROUND

Effectiveness of medical therapies in chronic pancreatitis has been described in small studies of selected patients.

AIM

To describe frequency and perceived effectiveness of non-analgesic medical therapies in chronic pancreatitis patients evaluated at US referral centres.

METHODS

Using data on 516 chronic pancreatitis patients enrolled prospectively in the NAPS2 Study, we evaluated how often medical therapies [pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), vitamins/antioxidants (AO), octreotide, coeliac plexus block (CPB)] were utilized and considered useful by physicians.

RESULTS

Oral PERT was commonly used (70%), more frequently in the presence of exocrine insufficiency (EI) (88% vs. 61%, P < 0.001) and pain (74% vs. 59%, P < 0.002). On multivariable analyses, predictors of PERT usage were EI (OR 5.14, 95% CI 2.87-9.18), constant (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.93-6.04) or intermittent pain (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.14-3.45). Efficacy of PERT was predicted only by EI (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.36-3.42). AO were tried less often (14%) and were more effective in idiopathic and obstructive vs. alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (25% vs. 4%, P = 0.03). Other therapies were infrequently used (CPB - 5%, octreotide - 7%) with efficacy generally <50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is commonly utilized, but is considered useful in only subsets of chronic pancreatitis patients. Other medical therapies are used infrequently and have limited efficacy.

A prospective study comparing rapid assessment of smears and ThinPrep for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

ThinPrep is often used for endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) samples but the sensitivity of this method is unknown. The objective of the study was to compare sensitivity and accuracy of ThinPrep versus the smear method in pancreas and lymph node samples obtained by EUS-FNA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with suspected malignancy in the pancreas or lymph node underwent EUS-FNA. On-site rapid assessment of all aspirates using the smear method was performed. After rapid assessment, three additional passes from each site were submitted into ThinPrep liquid medium. Cytopathologists interpreting the smear method and ThinPrep slides were blinded to each other. The gold standard was final cytology or pathology results.

RESULTS

A total of 130 patients (36 % women, mean age 63 years) underwent EUS-FNA of 139 sites (50 pancreas, 89 lymph node). Malignancy was confirmed in 47 pancreas samples (94 %) and 48 lymph node samples (54 %). Mean +/- SD number of passes made for the smear method was 2.6 +/- 1.3. For pancreatic cancer, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the ThinPrep versus the smear method were: 62 % versus 98 %, 100 % versus 100 %, 100 % versus 100 %, 14 % versus 75 %, and 64 % versus 98 %, respectively. For lymph nodes the values were 67 % versus 92 %, 100 % versus 98 %, 100 % versus 98 %, 72 % versus 72 %, and 82 % versus 94 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The smear method is more sensitive and accurate than ThinPrep in detecting malignancy from EUS-FNA samples of the pancreas and lymph nodes. Smear method with on-site rapid assessment should be favored over ThinPrep in suspected malignancy.

Frequency of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients with previously normal sphincter of Oddi manometry studies

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM), performed at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), is the gold standard for diagnosing sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). The question remains as to whether the short-term manometric recordings reflect the 24-hour pathophysiology of the sphincter. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SOD in persistently symptomatic patients with previously normal SOM studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent ERCP for suspected SOD over a 13-year period (1994 - 2007) were considered for inclusion in the study. Patients with an intact papilla and a previously normal SOM who had a repeat ERCP for persistent symptoms formed the study group. SOM was performed in conventional retrograde fashion.

RESULTS

In all, 5352 patients without prior papillary intervention underwent SOM during the study period. A total of 1037 patients had normal SOM, and of these, 30 patients (27 female, mean age 40.1 years) underwent repeat ERCP for persistent symptoms. The median duration between the two ERCPs was 493.5 days (range 52-3538 days). In these 30 patients, SOD classification prior to the initial ERCP was: type I in one patient (not treated in 1994), type II in 17 patients, and type III in 12 patients. Of the 30 patients, 12 (40%) had normal SOM at repeat ERCP; SOD was diagnosed in 18/30 (60%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A single SOM study may not represent the day-to-day physiology of the sphincter of Oddi; sphincter pathology may progress over time. One normal exam may not rule out SOD. A repeat ERCP with manometry may be warranted in a subset of patients with persistent debilitating symptoms and a high index of suspicion for SOD. Outcome data are needed to determine whether this approach justifies the potential risks of ERCP.

The influence of variable-stiffness guide wires on basal biliary sphincter of Oddi pressure measured at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND

Guide wires are commonly utilized to facilitate endoscopic procedures. However, their use may adversely influence the results of sphincter of Oddi manometry, thereby leading to erroneous diagnosis and therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of guide wires on the basal pressure of the biliary sphincter of Oddi.

METHODS

Forty-five consecutive patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction were enrolled. Biliary sphincter of Oddi manometry was performed with and without a guide wire in the conventional retrograde fashion with a low-compliance infusion pump system, an aspirating catheter, and slow station pull-throughs. Three types of guide wires were studied: the Roadrunner (18 patients), the Glidewire (17 patients), and the standard Teflon guide wire (10 patients). The stiffness of the guide wires was tested and reported in Taber Stiffness Units (TSU; higher values represent greater stiffness).

RESULTS

Biliary sphincter of Oddi manometry performed with a guide wire revealed higher basal pressure than the same measurement performed without a guide wire (52 +/- 33.4 mmHg vs. 34.4 +/- 20.5 mmHg; P = 0.001). Basal pressure changes induced by guide-wire use were highest in the Roadrunner group (32.9 +/- 33.9 mmHg), lowest in the standard Teflon group (11.6 +/- 8 mmHg; Roadrunner vs. standard Teflon: P = 0.02), and intermediate in the Glidewire group (17.1 +/- 22.1 mmHg). The use of a guide wire resulted in crossover from normal to abnormal basal pressure in 11 cases (Roadrunner, 7; Glidewire, 4) and from abnormal to normal in 2 (Roadrunner, 1; Glidewire, 1). Concordance between recordings obtained with and without guide wire was seen in 32 patients (71 %). Guide-wire stiffness was: Roadrunner: 0.74 TSU; Glidewire: 0.153 TSU; standard Teflon guide wire: 0.077 TSU.

CONCLUSION

The use of guide wires frequently alters the basal biliary sphincter pressure, leading to incorrect diagnoses in approximately 40 % of cases. The basal pressure alterations depend on the stiffness of the guide wire used. Hence, the use of guide wires during sphincter of Oddi manometry is strongly discouraged.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration with or without flow cytometry for the diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma - a case series

The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with flow cytometry for the diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) has not been previously described. Our aims were to describe the EUS features of PPL and the role of EUS-FNA with and without flow cytometry in the diagnosis of 16 patients. When EUS-FNA with flow cytometry was compared with EUS-FNA without flow cytometry, the sensitivities for diagnosing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were 84.6 % versus 30.8 %, respectively ( P = 0.01). EUS-FNA with flow cytometry is a valuable tool to diagnose PPL. Flow cytometry analysis complements traditional assessment by standard cytology.