Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Post-Heart Transplantation: A Case Report

First described in the United States in the late 1990s, West Nile virus (WNV) infection following solid organ transplantation is a rare but life-threatening complication. The many ways in which WNV may be acquired, patient specific risk factors, and variability in clinical severity present challenges to health care providers caring for these patients.

Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from an Unknown Primary Site. Management of 15 Patients

Aims and background

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from an unknown primary site is a rare and ill-defined entity. This work attempts to identify clinical and pathological features of patients with this disease and report the results of an aggressive combined treatment modality.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was performed of medical records of 15 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis with no primary site identified at a single institution between 1989 and 2000. A primary gastrointestinal cancer was ruled out after a thorough endoscopic and radiologic work-up and complete exploratory surgery.

Results

Four women and 11 men were identified; the average age was 49 years. All patients had cytoreductive surgery with peritonectomies; 4 patients underwent a second-look operation. Perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was given to 10 of the 15 patients, and 9 patients received post-cytoreduction chemotherapy given intraperitoneally (1), systemically (7) or both intraperitoneally and systemically (1). Overall median survival from diagnosis was 19.0 months; 1 patient is alive with disease at 21 months; and 3 patients are disease-free at 17, 38, and 60 months from diagnosis. Significant positive predictive factors for survival were a small volume of ascites (P = 0.02), a large number of peritonectomies performed (P = 0.001), second-look cytoreduction (P = 0.003), perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (P = 0.008) and postoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.01), either intraperitoneal or systemic.

Conclusions

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from an unknown primary site is a rare subset of primary peritoneal malignancy. Aggressive treatment may provide prolonged palliation with occasional long-term survival.

Pharmacokinetics of Intraperitoneal Gemcitabine in a Rat Model

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine (2'-2' difluorodeoxycytidine) has been shown to possess a broad spectrum of antitumor activity against various malignancies, particularly pancreatic carcinoma. For cancers occurring within the abdominal cavity, the advantage of intraperitoneal (i.p.) chemotherapy over intravenous (i.v.) chemotherapy is the high drug concentration that can be achieved locally. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of several anticancer agents can be enhanced by hyperthermia. Using a rat model, this study was designed to compare i.p. vs i.v. gemcitabine and to evaluate the effect of hyperthermia on i.p. gemcitabine.

METHODS

In the first phase of this study, 18 Sprague Dawley rats were given a single dose of gemcitabine then randomized into three groups according to dose and route of delivery of chemotherapy (12.5 mg/kg--i.v., 12.5 mg/kg--i.p. or 125 mg/kg--i.p.). In a separate experiment (phase 2), 12 Sprague Dawley rats were given a continuous i.p. perfusion of gemcitabine (12.5 mg/kg in 150 mL total perfusate) and randomized into two groups according to the temperature of the peritoneal perfusate (normothermic or hyperthermic). During the course of both experiments, peritoneal fluid and blood were sampled using a standardized protocol. At the end of the procedure the rats were sacrificed and all urine was extracted. Selected tissue samples were taken from rats in the second phase of the study. The concentration of gemcitabine in all samples was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS

When gemcitabine was delivered at 12.5 mg/kg (phase 1) the area under the curve (AUC) was significantly higher with i.p. administration as compared to i.v. administration (P = 0.001). The AUC ratio (AUC peritoneal fluid/AUC plasma) was 12.5+/-3.2 for i.p. delivery as opposed to 0.2+/-0.2 for i.v. delivery (P = 0.0002). The AUC ratio for i.p. gemcitabine at 125 mg/kg was 26.8+/-5.8. Although there was no significant difference in drug concentrations between samples from the normothermic and hyperthermic groups, all tissue samples (except stomach) in the hyperthermic group exhibited increased gemcitabine concentrations.

CONCLUSION

These experiments demonstrated that the exposure of peritoneal surfaces to gemcitabine is significantly increased with i.p. gemcitabine. Intraabdominal hyperthermia had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of i.p. gemcitabine but there was evidence of increased absorption of gemcitabine in most intraabdominal tissues. Due to the likelihood of a high incidence of microscopic residual disease after resection of a pancreatic carcinoma, clinical studies to evaluate i.p. hyperthermic gemcitabine may be indicated.

Atezolizumab (atezo) in platinum-treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC): Safety analysis from an expanded access study

4532

Background: A majority of mUC pts progress on standard platinum-based chemo regimens. Atezo (anti–PD-L1) was approved in the US for mUC in the post-platinum setting. Here we report the preliminary safety results from an expanded access program conducted to grant access to atezo, prior to commercial availability, to a broader range of mUC pts than are typically eligible for Phase I-III studies. Methods: From Nov 2015-Aug 2016, this study (NCT02589717) enrolled mUC pts who progressed during or following platinum. Atezo was given 1200 mg IV q3w, and pts could be treated post RECIST v1.1 PD until lack of clinical benefit (per investigator). Safety and clinical activity were key endpoints. PD-L1 expression on immune cells (IC) was assessed with the VENTANA SP142 IHC assay on the first 73 pts prior to protocol amendment omitting this requirement. This study was ended early following FDA approval of atezo. Results: 218 pts were enrolled at 36 sites in the US, with 214 treated pts comprising the safety/efficacy population (Table). Median treatment duration was 9 wks (range 3-26), corresponding to a median of 3 doses of atezo (range 1-8). Overall, 89% of pts had an AE. Treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) occurred in 46% (any Gr) and 7% (Gr3-4) of pts; 2 treatment-related Gr 5 AEs were seen (ileus; acute respiratory failure). TRAEs ≥ 5% were fatigue, decreased appetite and anemia. TRAEs leading to dose interruption or discontinuation occurred in 11% and 6% of pts, respectively. Investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1 ORR was 15% (95% CI: 9, 23), and disease control rate (ORR + SD) was 49% (95% CI: 40, 59). Additional clinical data will be reported. Conclusions: In this expanded access study, atezo was administered to > 200 mUC pts. Overall, atezo was safe and tolerable, supporting its use in a wider platinum-based population. Clinical trial information: NCT02589717. [Table: see text]

Atezolizumab (atezo) in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC): A 2-year clinical update from a phase Ia study

290

Background: Atezo (anti–PD-L1) has demonstrated safety and efficacy in a broad range of cancers and is approved in the United States for mUC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Here we report long-term results in mUC from Phase Ia study NCT01375842 (PCD4989g). Methods: Previously treated mUC patients received atezo 15 mg/kg or 1200 mg IV q3w. Enrollment in this Phase Ia expansion cohort initially required PD-L1–selected status and later opened to patients regardless of PD-L1 expression on tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The primary endpoint was safety/tolerability. Secondary endpoints included investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1 ORR (confirmed), DOR and OS. Results: 95 patients were safety evaluable (Table). Median age was 66 years, 76% were male and 80% had primary bladder tumors. 61% had ECOG PS 1. 52% received ≥ 3 prior systemic therapies for mUC (70% platinum). Median treatment duration was 3 months (range: 0-32 months); 24% were treated for ≥ 1 year. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 66% (all Grade) and 8% (Grade 3-4) of patients. No treatment-related deaths were reported. In 94 objective response–evaluable patients (follow-up ≥ 12 weeks), the ORR was 27% (95% CI: 18, 37%), and the CR rate was 10%; the SD rate was 19%. mDOR was 22.1 months (95% CI: 12.1, NE months) in all patients; 56% of responses (7/9 CRs and 7/16 PRs) were ongoing at the December 15, 2015 data cutoff. With a 24-month median follow-up duration (range: 1+ to 32 months), the 1-year OS rate was 47% (95% CI: 36, 58%), and the 2-year rate was 29% (19, 40%); mOS is in the Table. Updated clinical data with further follow-up and analyses by PD-L1 status will be presented. Conclusions: Long-term treatment with atezo was well tolerated, without new safety signals in heavily pre-treated mUC patients. The durability of responses, including CRs, along with extended OS, confirm atezo as a new standard for previously treated mUC patients. Clinical trial information: NCT01375842. [Table: see text]