Evidence-based appraisal of the upfront treatment for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health problem, with around 1 million new cases and 500000 deaths every year worldwide. Over the last two decades, the use of novel therapies and more complex treatment strategies have contributed to progressively increase the median survival of patients with unresectable advanced CRC up to approximately 30 mo. The availability of additional therapeutic options, however, has created new challenges and generated more complicated treatment algorithms. Moreover, several clinically important points are still in debate in first-line, such as the optimal treatment intensity, the most appropriate maintenance strategy, the preferred biologic to be used upfront in patients with KRAS wild-type CRC, and the need for more detailed information on tumor biology. In this moving landscape, this review analyses why the first-line treatment decision is crucial and how the choice may impact on further treatment lines. In addition, it focuses on results of major phase III randomized trials.

Critical appraisal of ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) for cancer treatment: from benchside to clinical use

Although antiangiogenic treatments have produced milestone advances in the treatment of several diseases, and have significantly extended the median survival of cancer patients, these agents share some weaknesses, including a limited impact on the overall cure rate, a fleeting effect because of redundant pathways or early appearance of resistance mechanisms, and the lack of predictive factors for treatment selection. Recent data suggest that antibodies targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor axis exert their activity through the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 phosphorylation, which has a pivotal role in the neoangiogenic process. Ramucirumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody specifically directed against the extracellular domain of the receptor, administered intravenously every 2 or 3 weeks, is emerging as a novel antiangiogenic opportunity. Starting with preclinical data and early clinical results, this concise review focuses on the development of the novel compound across multiple cancers (including gastrointestinal malignancies, breast cancer, lung carcinoma, and genitourinary tumors), and presents available data from randomized phase II and phase III trials. REGARD was the first phase III study to report on the efficacy of single-agent ramucirumab in patients with advanced cancer. Many other ongoing phase III trials are testing the efficacy of this interesting antiangiogenic compound as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy in different cancer types.

Treatment effectiveness in advanced breast cancer patients in Italy: Ten years experience

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Background: Several studies suggest that newer therapies can improve survival in MBC, but a different impact on overall survival (OS) is observed according to histology, extension of disease and prognostic factors. This survey was performed for evaluate Italian experience in cancer treatment in the last ten years. Methods: We collected data from 13 Italian Medical Oncology Unit; we registered all consecutive patients (pts) with breast cancer who have developed metastasis between 2000 and 2008. Demographic data, pathological characteristics and treatment were reported. OS was calculated from time of recurrence and stratified according to biological characteristics and to recurrence date. Results: 1542 pts was suitable for analysis; median age 61,7 (range 22-94); MBC at diagnosis 21,8%. Site of disease recurrence: bone 26,2%, visceral 25,4%, bone and visceral 20,7%, soft tissue 11,5%, soft tissue and visceral 8,4%, bone and soft tissue 7,8%. Molecolar classification: luminal A 66,3%, luminal B 14,5%, triple negative 11,5%, HER2+ like 7,7%. Pts received a median of 2 lines of chemotherapy (range 0-10) and 1 line of hormonal therapy (range 0-7); 22,5% received biological drugs. 15,5% of metastatic pts were enrolled in clinical trials. After a median follow up of 7.1 years 84,1% pts died (1297/1542 pts) and median OS was 2,7 years (range 2,6-2,9). We did not observe difference in OS for pts divided into 3 groups according to recurrence date (2000-2002, 2003-2005, 2006-2008). A longer median OS was observed in luminal B (3,8 years) versus luminal A and HER2+ like (2,8 years) and triple negative disease (1,2 years). Conclusions: Our survey describe a large number of MBC pts treated in 13 Italian Oncology Unit. OS analysis did not show significant differences according to recurrence date, but for different prognostic factors. OS data are superimposable to literature ones, showing a good transfer from clinical trials to clinical practice.

Prediction of benefit from treatment beyond the first line in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

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Background: Despite the availability of several therapeutic options for MBC, palliative treatments beyond 1st line lack of predictive factors that could help clinical decision making. We aimed to determine which is the impact of benefit at 1stline into the benefit from subsequent therapeutic lines. Methods: We analyzed a consecutive series of 472 MBC patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) and/or endocrine therapy (ET) at the Department of Oncology of Udine, Italy, between 2004 and 2012. We evaluated Progression Free Survival at 1st (PFS1), 2nd (PFS2), 3rd (PFS3) and 4th (PFS4) line of treatment. Three distinct analyses were conducted: the first for the lines of CT, the second for the lines of ET and the third by considering both CT and ET as a line of treatment. A PFS longer than 6 months was defined as “6-month benefit". Results: Median Overall Survival was 34.5 mo (25th – 75th percentile: 14.5 – 58.8), median overall PFS1 and PFS2 was 8.9 mo and 4.3 mo respectively. Median PFS1 and PFS2 in CT lines only was 7 mo and 3.7 mo, respectively. Median PFS1 and PFS2 in ET lines only was 9.4 mo and 4.6 mo respectively. Overall, 289 patients (63.5%) presented 6-month benefit at 1st line, 128 (40.5%) at 2nd, 76 (33.8%) at 3rd and 34 (23.3%) at 4th. Not having a 6-month benefit in overall PFS1 was associated with a lack of benefit both at 2nd line (OR=0.48; p=0.0026) and at any line beyond the 1st (OR=0.39; p< 0.0001). Taking into consideration CT lines only, not having a 6-month benefit in CT PFS1 was associated with a lack of benefit both at 2nd line (OR=0.45; p=0.0072) and at any line beyond the 1st (OR=0.43; p=0.0026). A lack of benefit at the 1st ET line was not associated with further ET outcome neither in 2nd line nor in any line beyond the 1st. Stratification according to immunophenotype highlighted a statistical significance only among HER2 positive tumors (OR=0.2; p=0.0152 in 2nd line and OR=0.14; p=0.0036 beyond 1st line). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the absence of a “6-month benefit” in PFS1 predicts a lack of benefit in subsequent therapy lines, especially in HER2 positive disease. However, a lack of benefit at first line ET appears not to be detrimental to further anti-hormonal lines.

Endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancers (MBC): Prognosis and measures of outcome

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Background: Endocrine manipulation is the cornerstone of therapy in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. However, a significant percentage of patients who receive endocrine therapy (ET) as metastatic treatment experience de novo or acquired resistance. New clinical trials for HR-positive MBC should be tailored around immunophenotypical and clinical features. This study evaluates different potential prognostic factors in patients treated with ET for MBC. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively data from a series of 280 consecutive patients with HR-positive MBC diagnosed from January 2004 to February 2011 at University Hospital of Udine, Italy. Multivariate analysis was performed to establish the independent value of different disease and patients’ characteristics in influencing progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and survival post-progression (SPP). Results: Median OS was 38.44 months (mo), median PFS at first-line ET was 10.05 mo. Median SPP was 22.74 mo, 15.18 mo, and 15.47 mo after first, second and third-line ET, respectively. Age >70 years and ECOG performance status >1 were independent prognostic factors for both shorter OS (HR 2.55, p = 0.019; HR 2.46, p = 0.025, respectively) and shorter SPP (HR 2.99, p = 0.003; HR 2.82, p = 0.011, respectively). Number of chemotherapy lines before first ET was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR 1.45, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 1.62, p = 0.001). MIB-1 >14% was associated with shorter PFS (HR 1.98, p = 0.012); this finding underlines the poor prognosis of luminal B subtype in comparison with luminal A disease. Conclusions: Determinants of treatment decision-making in MBC include patients’ characteristics, prognostic factors, disease biology, and mechanisms of resistance. This study confirms the worse prognosis of luminal B subtype, also in presence of endocrine manipulation. Innovative therapeutic approaches are eagerly waited in order to overcome resistance to ET. This study also provides some insights for the choice of optimal endpoints in trials that enroll patients with HR-positive MBC. In particular, based on long SPP values, OS does not seem to be an appropriate endpoint in studies involving such patients’ population.

Association of body mass index and outcome in advanced breast cancer

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Background: Obesity represents a well-known risk factor for the development of breast cancer and an adverse prognostic factor in early disease. Overweight is associated with reduced efficacy of aromatase inhibitors in adjuvant setting. Few data have been reported about the potential relationship of overweight and outcome in advanced breast cancer (ABC). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated body mass index (BMI) in a consecutive series of 400 ABC patients treated at our institution. BMI was calculated at baseline of diagnosis of ABC. We evaluated association of BMI and other prognostic and predictive markers with Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). We evaluated PFS at first and subsequent lines of chemotherapy (CT) and endocrine therapy (ET). Overweight patients were defined as having BMI > 25. Results: Overweight patients were 52%. Median age of the population was 58 years. Median OS was 33.7 months. Overall, 76% of patients presented with ER+ and 17.7% with HER2+ ABC.Overweight was associated with increased age at diagnosis, menopausal status and luminal B or triple negative immunophenotype. At multivariate analysis, BMI > 25 was associated with better PFS at first-line ET (HR= 0.68, 95% CI 0.46-0.99). BMI was not associated with OS. Conclusions: BMI at baseline does not seem to be an adverse prognostic factor for ABC patients. Overweight may be associated with better PFS in endocrine responsive ABC treated with ET, especially in first-line setting. The role of BMI in ABC deserves to be further investigated.

Tailored endpoints: A proposal for design of future clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

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Background: Widespread access to active agents against MBC has produced significant improvements in survival, even though few phase III trials are powered to detect overall survival (OS) effects. However, regulatory agencies hold OS as gold standard for approval of new drugs. OS can be portioned into the sum of progression-free survival (PFS) and survival post-progression (SPP). Recent data suggest that OS is a reasonable primary endpoint only when median SPP is short. On the other hand, patients enrolled in first-line trials could have a long life-expectancy. Aim of this study was to evaluate PFS, OS and SPP in a consecutive series of patients with MBC in order to obtain information as a basis for design of future clinical trials. Methods: Four hundred patients with MBC diagnosed from January 2004 to February 2011 at University Hospital of Udine, Italy, were included in the study. We examined the role of potential of disease and patients’ characteristics in influencing the different measures of outcome. Results: Median OS was 33.71 months (mo), in line with the best literature. Median PFS at first-line (PFS1) was 9.33 mo, with linear decrease at second (5.06), third (3.58), and fourth (3.19) line, respectively. Median SPP after first-line (SPP1) was 18.69 mo. Interestingly, differences in outcome were noticed according to immunophenotype. The best prognosis was observed in luminal A disease (OS= 46.72 mo, PFS1= 15.61 mo, SPP1= 25.43 mo). In luminal B disease, median OS was 27.66 mo, PFS1 8.94 mo, and SPP1 13.21 mo, respectively. In patients with HER2-positive disease, mainly treated with anti-HER2 therapy, outcome approached that of luminal A disease (OS= 41.10 mo, PFS= 9.89 mo, SPP1 18.69 mo). Patients with triple negative disease (TNBC) experienced the worst prognosis (OS= 8.54 mo, PFS1= 4.04 mo, SPP1= 2.83 mo). Conclusions: The study demonstrated different results in the measures of outcome according to the line of treatment and specific disease characteristics. As a consequence, endpoints of clinical trials should be tailored taking into consideration prognostic/predictive factors as well as the line of treatment.