Amylase-Producing Lung Cancer with a Positive Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Treated With Gefitinib: A Case Report

A 60-year-old woman was diagnosed with metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma (c-stage IV) with an L858R point mutation in the gene encoding epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Serum amylase levels were elevated (1,531 IU/L) with the salivary-type enzyme dominating. First-line chemotherapy using carboplatin plus paclitaxel reduced serum amylase levels, although second-line gefitinib eventually failed to control tumor growth and hyperamylasemia after 4.5 months of treatment. The cancer cells harbored a positive EGFR mutation and secreted amylase. The number of amylase-producing cancer cells and the immunochemical staining intensity for amylase were significantly reduced after gefitinib treatment. This was a rare case of a lung cancer that expressed amylase and harbored a positive EGFR mutation.

Splenic volume may be a useful indicator of the protective effect of bevacizumab against oxaliplatin-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the use of bevacizumab (Bmab) in addition to oxaliplatin (OX), the development of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) and the changes in splenic volume as an indicator of the protective effect of Bmab against OX-induced SOS.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients who received OX-based chemotherapy with (OX + Bmab group: n = 48) or without Bmab (OX group: n = 31) for colorectal liver metastases were included in this study. The changes in splenic volume after chemotherapy were evaluated in the two groups. Furthermore, the relationship between the changes in splenic volume and SOS were analyzed in the 55 patients who underwent hepatectomy.

RESULTS

A significant increase in the splenic volume was observed in the OX group, but not in the OX + Bmab group. The increase in the splenic volume relative to baseline was significantly higher in the OX group than in the OX + Bmab group (39.1% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.0001). The incidence of moderate or severe SOS was significantly higher in the OX group than in the OX + Bmab group (50.0% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.0068), and the increase in the splenic volume was significantly higher in the patients with SOS than in those without SOS (42.9% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.0001). A multivariate analysis identified the increase in the splenic volume as an independent predictor of the development of SOS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that the inhibition of splenic volume enlargement might be a useful indicator of the protective effect of Bmab against OX-induced SOS.

Dynamic treatment regimen analysis to determine which treatment sequence can prolong survival of NSCLC patients

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Background: We often experience the re-challenge of EGFR-TKI on practice. However, it has not been reported which treatment sequence for EGFR-TKI re-challenge will contributes to long-term survival of NSCLC patients. Methods: We extracted information from retrospective cohort of advanced NSCLC patients with the following inclusion criteria: 1) Japanese patients who were diagnosed by October 2010 and treated with gefitinib after July 2002. 2) Performance status (PS) 0-2. 3) PR, CR, or long SD (6 months or more) by gefitinib. 4) Patients who had not received curative surgical operation or radiation therapy. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of treatment histories on Overall Survival (OS). We also conducted a “Dynamic Treatment Regimen Analysis (DTRA)”. DTRA can be used to compare multiple treatment strategies/sequences in terms of time-to-event data like overall survival time. Results: A total of 335 NSCLC patient details were extracted. Sixty five patients experienced gefitinib re-challenge. There was a statistical difference in OS between gefitinib re-challenge group and non re-challenge group (median OS was 1272 days vs 774 days; p<0.001). We confirmed this result using DTRA, “Gefitnib-Singlet chemo-Gefitinib” treatment sequence extended survival most out of all treatment sequence. Conclusions: This study suggests that gefitinib re-challenge may have significant affects on OS in long survivors after responding gefitinib treatment. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006913. [Table: see text]

Emergency department visits after hours by lung cancer patients in Japan

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to clarify frequency with which Japanese lung cancer patients visited an emergency department (ED) after hours and their final outcome.

METHODS

This is a retrospective and single institutional study. We reviewed medical records of patients who died of lung cancer from January 2008 to June 2012 at Osaka Police Hospital who had been followed up since diagnosis of lung cancer until death. We compared patients who had visited the ED after hours on weekdays, weekends, or holidays over their lives with cancer (ED visitors) and patients who had never visited the ED (non-ED visitors).

RESULTS

Overall, 245 patients met the inclusion criteria for analysis. There were 149 after hours ED visits by 106 lung cancer patients. Mean number of ED visits was 0.6 for all patients. Median interval from ED visit to death was 49 days. The most common chief compliant for these patients was respiratory problems (37.6%). Most patients visited the ED during chemotherapy (32.9%) or for best supportive care (42.3%). Directly after ED visits, 56.4% of ED visitors were finally hospitalized. In a multivariate analysis, performance status (PS) (odds ratio [OR]: 11.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-59.0, p = 0.004) and cancer stage (OR: 0.003, 95% CI: 0.0006-0.014, p < 0.001) at diagnosis were statistically associated with ED visits after hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese patients with lung cancer frequently visit ED after hours. An ED visit is itself an indicator of poor prognosis.

Randomized Phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by gemcitabine switch-maintenance therapy versus gemcitabine and carboplatin followed by gemcitabine continuation-maintenance therapy in previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background

In recent years, maintenance chemotherapy is increasingly being recognized as a new treatment strategy to improve the outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal maintenance strategy is still controversial. Gemcitabine is a promising candidate for single-agent maintenance therapy because of little toxicity and good tolerability. We have conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the validity of single-agent maintenance chemotherapy of gemcitabine and to compare continuation- and switch-maintenance.

Methods

Chemonaïve patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were randomly assigned 1:1 to either arm A or B. Patients received paclitaxel (200 mg/m², day 1) plus carboplatin (AUC 6 mg/mL/min, day 1) every 3 weeks in arm A, or gemcitabine (1000 mg/m², days 1 and 8) plus carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL/min, day1) every 3 weeks in arm B. Non-progressive patients following 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy received maintenance gemcitabine (1000 mg/m², days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks. (Trial registration: UMIN000008252)

Results

The study was stopped because of delayed accrual at interim analysis. Of the randomly assigned 50 patients, 49 except for one in arm B were evaluable. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months for arm A vs. 3.5 months for arm B (HR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.45–2.27; p = 0.95) and median overall survival (OS) was 15.0 months for arm A vs. 14.8 months for arm B (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.40–1.51; p = 0.60), showing no difference between the two arms. The response rate, disease control rate, and the transit rate to maintenance phase were 36.0% (9/25), 64.0% (16/25), and 48% (12/25) for arm A vs. 16.7% (4/24), 50.0% (12/24), and 33% (8/24) for arm B, which were also statistically similar between the two arms (p = 0.13, p = 0.32, and p = 0.30, respectively). Both induction regimens were tolerable, except that more patients experienced peripheral neuropathy in arm A. Toxicities during the maintenance phase were also minimal.

Conclusion

Survival and overall response were not significantly different between the two arms. Gemcitabine may be well-tolerable and feasible for maintenance therapy.

Assessment of the Plasma/Serum IgG Test to Screen for Periodontitis

Chronic periodontitis is a silent infectious disease prevalent worldwide and affects lifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, efficient screening of patients is essential for general health. This study was performed to evaluate prospectively the diagnostic utility of a blood IgG antibody titer test against periodontal pathogens. Oral examination was performed, and IgG titers against periodontal pathogens were measured by ELISA in 1,387 individuals. The cut-off value of the IgG titer was determined in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and changes in periodontal clinical parameters and IgG titers by periodontal treatment were evaluated. The relationships between IgG titers and severity of periodontitis were analyzed. The best cut-off value of IgG titer against Porphyromonas gingivalis for screening periodontitis was 1.682. Both clinical parameters and IgG titers decreased significantly under periodontal treatment. IgG titers of periodontitis patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls, especially in those with sites of probing pocket depth over 4 mm. Multiplied cut-off values were useful to select patients with severe periodontitis. A blood IgG antibody titer test for Porphyromonas gingivalis is useful to screen hitherto chronic periodontitis patients (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01658475).

What factors affect long-term survival after responding to gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer? Real-world evidence

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Background: After gefitinib was approved in July 2002, we experience long-term surviving patients in the actual clinical setting. However, it is not clear how the factors or treatment strategy are contributing to the long-term surviving patients.We evaluated the effects of clinical backgrounds and treatment histories on overall survival (OS). Methods: We extracted information on advanced NSCLC patients with the following inclusion criteria from the medical records: 1) Patients who were diagnosed by October 2010 and treated with gefitinib after July 2002: 2) Performance status (PS) 0 – 2, 3) PR, CR, or long SD (6 months or more) by gefitinib treatment : 4) Patients who had not received curative surgical operation or curative radiation therapy. Primary objective is to evaluate survival time of the patients who responded to gefitinib and clarify the relationship between clinical factors and survival time. We also conducted “Dynamic Treatment Regimen Analysis (DTRA)” to explore key treatment regimen and sequence of regimens contributing to long-term survival. Results: The medical records of total of 275 patients were extracted. 44% (122/275) were EGFR mutation examined and 93% (114/122) has shown the EGFR mutation positive. The mean age was 65 years, 72% (198/275) were women, 66% (182/275) were non-smokers, and 90% (247/275) had adenocarcinoma histology. 20% (54/275) and 21% (58/275) underwent re-administration and beyond PD administration of gefitinib respectively. Median survival time (MST) was 615 day (95% C.I; 519-691). 10% patients survived for more than 5 years. The multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that sex (p=0.0108) and gefitinib re-administration (p=0.0012) were significant independent factors for long-term OS. Grade 3/4 interstitial lung disease, skin, diarrhea, and liver dysfunction were observed in 1.5%, 4.4%, 1.1%, and 13.1% of the patients, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that sex and gefitinib re-administration, may have significant affects on OS in long survivors after responding gefitinib treatment.

Phase II tailored S-1 regimen study of first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced and recurrent non-small cell lung cancer

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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a novel oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) formulation (S-1), administered according to a tailored dose regimen based on body surface area (BSA) and creatinine clearance (Ccr), in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer who were 75 years or older. Pharmacokinetic analysis was also performed to evaluate the adequacy of the tailored S-1 dose. Methods: S-1 was administered orally for 28 days, followed by 14 days, in 23 patients who received a tailored dose of S-1, adjusted on the basis of individual creatinine clearance (Ccr) and body surface area (BSA). In 8 of the patients pharmacokinetic study were performed on the 5 times points on seventh day after S-1 administration. Results: Of the 23 patients enrolled in this study, 2 (8.7%) had a partial response and 14 (60.9%) had stable disease. The disease control rate was 69.6% (16/23) (95% confidence interval, 50.8-88.4%). Grade 3/4 hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were minor. In the pharmacokinetic study group the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) of 5-FU at all 5 times points after administration of the tailored S-1 dose regimen were similar to the values reported in a previous study describing cancer patients with normal renal function who received a standard dose of S-1 (80 mg/m2/day). Conclusions: Our results suggest that tailored S-1 monotherapy is safe and therapeutically useful as first-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced and recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer.

Adjuvant capecitabine treatment for stage III colon cancer in Japanese patients (KSCC0803)

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Background: Capecitabine was approved in Japan in 2007 for the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer based on Japanese clinical trial data in advanced and recurrent colorectal and breast cancers as well as data from the Phase III X-ACT trial. For the current study, we aimed to clarify compliance and tolerability of adjuvant treatment with capecitabine in Japanese patients. The study was entered in the UMIN clinical trial registry (UMIN000001444) by the Kyushu Study Group of Clinical Cancer (KSCC). Ethical approval was granted by the institutional review board of each hospital involved.

Methods: Based on completion rates from the X-ACT trial we enrolled 97 patients with R0 stage III colon cancer who had histologically confirmed disease and had undergone curative resection (3D2 lymph node dissection). Patients were given oral capecitabine therapy (2,500 mg/m2/day; days 1–14 q3w; eight cycles) within 8 weeks of surgery. The proportion of patients completing eight cycles of treatment per protocol was the primary endpoint, and adverse event (AE) rate was analyzed as a secondary endpoint.

Results: Treatment completion in the total patient population was 66.0% (64/97 patients; 95% CI: 55.7–75.3%) and in the per protocol population (PPP) was 70.3% (64/91; 95% CI: 59.8–79.5%). AEs leading to treatment discontinuation included hand-foot syndrome (HFS; n=7), hematotoxicity (n=5) and increased hepatic activity (n=4). Grade 3/4 AEs of note included HFS (22.7%), neutropenia (7.2%), diarrhea (2.1%), and increased bilirubin (0.0%). Of note, any treatment delay >3 weeks in the current trial was considered a withdrawal. In the X-ACT trial, delays of any duration were permitted. Using the X-ACT criteria the completion rate for the PPP in this study was 80.2%, comparable to the figure reported in X-ACT.

Conclusions: Our results confirm those of previous global phase III studies and show that capecitabine is well tolerated in both global and Japanese-only populations, with similar high completion rates in both.

[Table: see text]

Diffuse pollution by persistent organic pollutants as measured in plastic pellets sampled from various beaches in Greece

Plastic pellets found stranded on beaches are hydrophobic organic materials and thus, they are a favourable medium for persistent organic pollutants to absorb to. In the present study, plastic pellets are used to determine the diffuse pollution of selected Greek beaches. Samples of pellets were taken from these beaches and were analyzed for PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, and PAHs. The observed differences among pellets from various sampling sites are related to the pollution occurring at each site. Plastic pellets collected in Saronikos Gulf beaches demonstrate much higher pollutant loading than the ones collected in a remote island or close to an agricultural area. Based on data collected in this study and the International Pellet Watch program, pollution in Saronikos Gulf, Greece, is comparable to other heavily industrialized places of the world. The present study demonstrates the potential of pellet watch to be utilized as a detailed-scale monitoring tool within a single country.

FGF-2 stimulates periodontal regeneration: results of a multi-center randomized clinical trial

The efficacy of the local application of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in periodontal regeneration has been investigated. In this study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 253 adult patients with periodontitis. Modified Widman periodontal surgery was performed, during which 200 µL of the investigational formulation containing 0% (vehicle alone), 0.2%, 0.3%, or 0.4% FGF-2 was administered to 2- or 3-walled vertical bone defects. Each dose of FGF-2 showed significant superiority over vehicle alone (p < 0.01) for the percentage of bone fill at 36 wks after administration, and the percentage peaked in the 0.3% FGF-2 group. No significant differences among groups were observed in clinical attachment regained, scoring approximately 2 mm. No clinical safety problems, including an abnormal increase in alveolar bone or ankylosis, were identified. These results strongly suggest that topical application of FGF-2 can be efficacious in the regeneration of human periodontal tissue that has been destroyed by periodontitis.

Effects of porcine 25 kDa amelogenin and its proteolytic derivatives on bone sialoprotein expression

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Amelogenins are hydrophobic proteins that are the major component of developing enamel. Enamel matrix derivative has been used for periodontal regeneration. Bone sialoprotein is an early phenotypic marker of osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we examined the ability of porcine amelogenins to regulate bone sialoprotein transcription.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To determine the molecular basis of the transcriptional regulation of the bone sialoprotein gene by amelogenins, we conducted northern hybridization, transient transfection analyses and gel mobility shift assays using the osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells.

RESULTS

Amelogenins (100 ng/mL) up-regulated bone sialoprotein mRNA at 3 h, with maximal mRNA expression occurring at 12 h (25 and 20 kDa) and 6 h (13 and 6 kDa). Amelogenins (100 ng/mL, 12 h) increased luciferase activities in pLUC3 (nucleotides -116 to +60), and 6 kDa amelogenin up-regulated pLUC4 (nucleotides -425 to +60) activity. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor inhibited amelogenin-induced luciferase activities, whereas the protein kinase A inhibitor abolished 25 kDa amelogenin-induced bone sialoprotein transcription. The effects of amelogenins were abrogated by 2-bp mutations in the fibroblast growth factor 2 response element (FRE). Gel-shift assays with radiolabeled FRE, homeodomain-protein binding site (HOX) and transforming growth factor-beta1 activation element (TAE) double-strand oligonucleotides revealed increased binding of nuclear proteins from amelogenin-stimulated ROS 17/2.8 cells at 3 h (25 and 13 kDa) and 6 h (20 and 6 kDa).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that porcine 25 kDa amelogenin and its proteolytic derivatives stimulate bone sialoprotein transcription by targeting FRE, HOX and TAE in the bone sialoprotein gene promoter, and that full-length amelogenin and amelogenin cleavage products are able to regulate bone sialoprotein transcription via different signaling pathways.