Clinical relevance of small tumor size (pT1a-b) for patients with HER2-positive, node-negative breast cancer

e22011

Background: Prognosis of patients with node-negative, HER2-positive disease and tumor size ≤ 1 cm is a matter of controversy. We assessed the prognostic role of HER2 overexpression/amplification in a large series of patients with node-negative, pT1a,b breast cancers. Methods: All consecutive patients with pT1a,b pN0 M0 HER2-positive breast cancer who underwent surgery at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) from 1995 to 2006 were identified. No patient received trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting. A matched cohort comparison was done using as variables hormone receptor status (positive vs. negative), age at surgery and year of surgery. Comparison group included patients with HER2-negative breast cancer matched 1:1 for hormone receptor negative group and 1:2 for hormone receptor positive group. We estimated rates of local recurrence, distant metastases, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the hormone receptor positive and hormone receptor negative group. Results: We identified 150 patients with pT1a,b pN0 M0 HER2-positive tumors. The median follow-up was 4.6 years (range 1.0–9.0). In the hormone receptor positive group 5-year DFS was 99% [95% CI: 98%-100%] for HER2-negative and 92% [95% CI: 86%-99%] for HER2-positive disease. In the hormone receptor negative group 5-year DFS was 92% [95% CI: 84%-100%] for HER2-negative and 91% [95% CI: 84%-99%] in HER2-positive disease. Overall, for patients with hormone receptors positive and negative disease, the hazard ratio (HR) associated to HER2 overexpression was 2.4 (95% CI: 0.9–6.5, p=0.09). OS in HER2-positive pT1a,b pN0 M0 breast cancer was similar in hormone receptor positive and negative patients (p=0.93). Conclusions: Node-negative, HER2-positive, pT1a,b breast cancer have a low risk of locoregional and distant recurrence within the first 5 years after diagnosis. In patients with hormone receptor positive, pT1a,b N0 M0 tumors, HER2 overexpression seems to be associated with a dire prognosis (HR=5.2, 95% CI: 1.0–25.9) in terms of DFS.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Vinorelbine, cisplatin, and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (ViFuP regimen) in carcinoma of unknown primary

e20682

Background: Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is rarely encountered in clinical practice, 3–5% of all new cancers, and several types of chemotherapy regimens have not yielded satisfactory results. Methods: We evaluated feasibility and efficacy of combined vinorelbine 20 mg (V) on day 1 and 3, continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 200 mg/m2 days 1–21 and cisplatin (C) 60 mg/ m2 day 1, 21 (ViFuP regimen) therapy in patients (pts) with CUP. Each course was repeated every 21 days for up to six cycles, followed by 5-FU continuous infusion in case of response or clinical benefit. Results: Twenty-six consecutive pts with CUP were enrolled in the study, 14 females and 12 males. Median age was 58 years (range 35–72). All pts are evaluable for response and toxicity. All pts were chemotherapy-naïve with the exception of 2 who had received prior 5-Fu and folinic acid (1 pt) and paclitaxel and adriamicin (1 pt). Objective responses were observed in 27% [6 PR (23%), 1 CR (4%)], while SD in 35% (9) of the pts (overall clinical benefit 52%). Ten patients had PD (38%). The median time to progression TTP was 4.0 months (range 1–98). Data on overall survival will be presented. Toxicity profile was particularly favorable. The most frequent grade 3–4 adverse events were leukopenia (8%), neutropenia (11 %) and anemia (3%). Conclusions: ViFuP was found to be an effective and well tolerated regimen in patients with CUP. Efficacy, control of symptoms and lack of significant alopecia were particularly appreciated. This regimen may be viewed as a standard of care in patients with fair good performance status, alternative to other systemic platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, in cases in which anthracyclines are contraindicated, or when patient's preference leads to the choice of a combination of drugs which does not cause significant alopecia.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

QTc prolongation assessment in anticancer drug development: clinical and methodological issues

Cardiac safety assessments are commonly employed in the clinical development of investigational oncology medications. In anti-cancer drug development there has been increasing consideration for the potential of a compound to cause adverse electrocardiographic changes, especially QT interval prolongation, which can be associated with risk of torsades de pointes and sudden death. Irrespective of overt clinical toxicities, QTc assessment can potentially influence decision making at many levels during the conduct of clinical studies, including eligibility for protocol therapy, dose delivery or discontinuation, and analyses of optimal dose for subsequent development. Given the potential for serious and irreversible morbidity from cardiac adverse events, it is understandable that cardiac safety results can have broad impact on study conduct and patient management. The methodologies for risk management of QTc prolongation for non cardiac drugs have been developed out of experiences primarily from drugs used to treat non life-threatening illnesses in a chronic setting such as antibiotics or antihistamines. Extrapolating these approaches to drugs for treating cancer over an acute period may not be appropriate. Few specific guidelines are available for risk management of cardiac safety in the development and use of oncology drugs. In this manuscript, clinical and methodological issues related to QTc prolongation assessment will be reviewed. Discussions about limitations in phase-I design and oncology drug development will be highlighted. Efforts are needed to refine strategies for risk management, avoiding unintended consequences that negatively affect patient access and clinical development of promising new cancer treatments. A thoughtful risk management plan generated by an organized collaboration between oncologists, cardiologists, and regulatory agencies to support a development programme essential for oncology agents with cardiac safety concerns.

Gamma ray spectroscopy at high energy and high time resolution at JET

In fusion plasmas gamma ray emission is caused by reactions of fast particles, such as fusion alpha particles, with impurities. Gamma ray spectroscopy at JET has provided valuable diagnostic information on fast fuel as well as fusion product ions. Improvements of these measurements are needed to fully exploit the flux increase provided by future high power experiments at JET and ITER. Limiting aspects are, for instance, the count rate capability due to a high neutron/gamma background combined with slow detector response and a modest energy resolution due to the low light yield of the scintillators. This paper describes the solutions developed for achieving higher energy resolution, signal to background, and time resolution. The detector design is described based on the new BrLa3 scintillator crystal. The paper will focus on hardware development, including a photomultiplier tube capable of stable operation at counting rate as high as 1 MHz, the magnetic shielding, and the fast digital data acquisition system.

Identification of tyrosine phosphatase 2(256-760) construct as a new, sensitive marker for the detection of islet autoimmunity in type 2 diabetic patients: the non-insulin requiring autoimmune diabetes (NIRAD) study 2

OBJECTIVE

The presence of autoantibodies to islet antigens GAD and/or tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2) in type 2 diabetic patients (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults [LADA]) identifies subjects at high risk to develop insulin dependency. The aim of this study was to dissect humoral anti-IA-2 immune response in Caucasian LADA patients, identifying the most sensitive construct to evaluate IA-2 immunoreactivity and comparing LADA IA-2 epitope specificities to those found in type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed 177 LADA and 978 type 2 diabetic patients with different disease duration, collected in a nationwide Italian survey, the Non-Insulin Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes (NIRAD) study aimed at assessing prevalence and characteristics of autoimmune diabetes in type 2 diabetic patients and 106 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients (53 children, 53 adults). By radioimmunoassay, we analyzed humoral immunoreactivity to seven IA-2 constructs: IA-2(PTP (687-979)), IA-2((761-964)), IA-2((256-760)), IA-2(JM (601-630)), IA-2(IC (605-979)), IA-2(BDC (256-556:630-979)), and IA-2(FL (1-979)).

RESULTS

IA-2((256-760)) fragment was identified as the marker with the highest sensitivity for detection of humoral IA-2 immunoreactivity in LADA patients, identifying IA-2 autoantibodies in approximately 30% of GAD antibody (GADA)-positive LADA patients and in 3.4% of GADA-negative type 2 diabetic patients. LADA IA-2((256-760))A positivity was associated with an increased frequency of autoimmune diabetes HLA-susceptible genotypes and with a higher risk for developing thyroid autoimmunity compared with autoantibody-negative type 2 diabetic patients. At disease diagnosis, adult-onset type 1 diabetic and LADA patients showed a lower IA-2 COOH-terminal immunoreactivity compared with childhood-onset type 1 diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

IA-2 immunoreactivity in LADA patients has thus far been underestimated, and IA-2((256-760)) autoantibody detection may represent a novel diagnostic tool for the identification of islet autoimmunity in these patients.

Spectrum of MMACHC mutations in Italian and Portuguese patients with combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type

Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) and homocystinuria, cblC type (MIM 277400) is the most frequent inborn error of vitamin B(12). The recent identification of the disease gene, MMACHC, has permitted preliminary genotype-phenotype correlations. We studied 24 Italian and 17 Portuguese patients with cblC defect to illustrate the spectrum of mutations in a southern European population and discuss the impact that mutation identification has on routine diagnostic procedures. Since the metabolic defect raises the serum levels of homocysteine, we also tested if variants in MTHFR-playing a key role in homocysteine remethylation pathway-could act as genetic modifier in cblC defect. We found that the c.271dupA (accounting for 55% of the MMACH alleles in our cohort) followed by c.394C>T (16%) and c.331C>T (9%) were the most frequent mutations. In our study we also identified a novel mutation (c.544T>C). On the other hand, the MTHFR genotype did not appear to influence age at onset, the clinical phenotype and outcome of patients with cblC defect. This study shows that mutation screening for the most common MMACH mutations occurring in early-onset forms (c.271dupA and c.331C>T) seems to have a high diagnostic yield in a southern European population with cblC defect. Although the identification of the gene defect per se does not predict completely time and severity of disease appearance, our data corroborate the importance of a molecular testing to offer accurate prenatal diagnosis to couples at high risk of having affected children.

Hearing impairment in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: the inaudible and noiseless foot of time

AIM OF THE STUDY

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are at high risk of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is known to increase this risk, but little is known about other potential causes. We evaluated the impact of several risk factors on SNHL development in CDH survivors not treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

METHODS

All high-risk CDH survivors consecutively treated between 1999 and 2005 were included. SNHL was diagnosed based on formal assessment with standard audiologic tests. Patients with and without SNHL were compared for patient-related and treatment-related risk factors. Subsequently, a logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with SNHL development.

MAIN RESULTS

Out of 87 CDH survivors, 82 had a formal audiologic evaluation and 40 (49%) had SNHL. Patients with SNHL had significantly lower gestational age (P = .045); higher prevalence of sepsis (P < .001); older age at audiologic examination (P < .001); more episodes of hypocapnia (P = .045); higher prevalence of inhaled nitric oxide use (P = .005); longer mechanical ventilation (P = .009); and longer aminoglycosides (P = .006), furosemide (P = .004), and pancuronium bromide (P = .001) treatments. On logistic regression analysis, the only variable independently associated with the development of SNHL was patient's age at audiologic follow-up (P = .012).

CONCLUSIONS

Several risk factors were associated with SNHL development at univariate analysis. After logistic regression, only age at evaluation remained independently associated with SNHL. Routine audiologic follow-up is advocated in all CDH patients. Further studies are needed to define if other (genetic) factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of SNHL in patients with CDH.

Length of gestation and gender are associated with HLA genotypes at risk for Type 1 diabetes (Italian DIABFIN 3)

AIM

The aim of this study, which is part of the ongoing DIABFIN project, was to correlate HLA class II genotypes, classified for their effect on susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes (T1D), with various risk factors during pregnancy and the neonatal period.

METHODS

Cord blood was collected from 4349 neonates; 1.0% were at high HLA risk (HR), 9.0% at moderate HLA risk (MR), and 90.0% at low HLA risk (LR) for T1D. Information about the mother's pregnancy, type of delivery, the neonates' clinical features at birth, and family history for autoimmune diseases were collected.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were found between the different HLA risk categories and length of gestation, even when adjusted for sex, weight and length at birth of the neonate, birth order and mother's age (adjusted P = 0.007). The male : female ratio tended to increase from the LR to the HR category, from 1.00 and 1.21, respectively, in the LR and MR groups, to 1.62 in the HR group (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Length of gestation is inversely correlated with HLA risk categories for T1D. The higher the HLA risk for T1D, the shorter the gestational age, especially in male neonates.

Synovial and plasma glucosamine concentrations in osteoarthritic patients following oral crystalline glucosamine sulphate at therapeutic dose

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the synovial and plasma glucosamine concentrations in osteoarthritic patients following oral administration of crystalline glucosamine sulphate at the therapeutic dose of 1500mg once-a-day for 14 days.

DESIGN

Twelve osteoarthritic patients (six males and six females) received 14 consecutive once-daily oral administrations of crystalline glucosamine sulphate soluble powder (1500mg), in an open fashion. Plasma and synovial fluid were collected simultaneously from the same patient, at baseline and, at steady state (3h after the last dose). Glucosamine was determined in plasma and synovial fluid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Median endogenous glucosamine concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid were 52.0ng/ml (0.29microM) and 36.5ng/ml (0.21microM), respectively (P=0.001), and varied substantially among patients (41-121ng/ml and <10-67ng/ml, respectively). Three hours after the last dose, glucosamine concentrations resulted increased from baseline in all patients with median increases of 20.5 and 21.5 folds in plasma and synovial fluid, respectively, the difference being not statistically significant (P=0.11). In plasma, the median post-treatment value was 1282ng/ml (7.17microM) and ranged from 600 to 4061ng/ml (3.35-22.7microM). The median post-treatment synovial glucosamine concentration was 777ng/ml (4.34microM), i.e., significantly lower than in plasma (P=0.001), and ranged from 577 to 3248ng/ml (3.22-18.1microM). Plasma and synovial glucosamine concentrations were highly correlated and were in the 10microM range.

CONCLUSIONS

Glucosamine is bioavailable both systemically and at the site of action (the joint) after oral administration of crystalline glucosamine sulphate in ostaeoarthritis patients. Steady state glucosamine concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid were correlated and in line with those effective in selected in vitro studies.

Endoscopic treatment of colloid cysts of the third ventricle: long-term results in a series of 6 consecutive cases

AIM

Colloid cysts of the third ventricle represent 0.5-2% of all intracranial tumors. Several surgical approaches have been proposed for the treatment of these lesions and endoscopy is the most recent one, but the best treatment still remains controversial. We decided to treat colloid cysts with endoscopic approach since 1999. In this paper we present our results in 6 consecutive cases admitted at our institution from 1999 to 2004.

METHODS

There were 4 males and 2 females. The mean age was 51.6 (range 29-77). All the cysts were symptomatic. The presenting symptom was headache in 4 patients, gait disturbance in 2, altered vision in 2, mental status change in 2, urinary incontinence in 2, loss of consciousness in 2 and short-term memory loss in 1 patient. All the endoscopic procedures were performed via a right precoronal burr hole, with a rigid endoscope.

RESULTS

The removal was radiologically complete in 4 cases and incomplete in 2. Overall outcome was good in all cases, with an improvement of colloid cyst-related hydrocephalus in all the patients. There was no surgical mortality. The mean follow-up period was 52.5 months. No tumor recurrences were observed. Complications occurred in only one patient: a septic ventriculitis, venous thrombosis of the right leg and pulmonary embolism developed, but completely resolved during the hospitalization time.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic approach for the removal of colloid cysts of the third ventricle represents a safe procedure, and can be considered a very good option for the treatment of these lesions.

The Hammersmith functional score correlates with the SMN2 copy number: a multicentric study

Previous studies showed that SMN2 copy number correlates inversely with the disease severity. Our aim was to evaluate SMN2 copy numbers and the Hammersmith functional motor scale in 87 patients with SMA II in order to establish whether, within SMAII, the number of copies correlates with the severity of functional impairment. Our results showed a relative variability of functional scores, but a significant correlation between the number of SMN2 genes and the level of function.

High titer of autoantibodies to GAD identifies a specific phenotype of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to define heterogeneity of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes based on characterization of GAD antibodies (GADAs).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients enrolled in a nationwide survey, the Non Insulin Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes (NIRAD) Study, have been screened for GADAs and IA-2 antibodies (IA-2As) and further characterized for GADA titer, antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and HLA DRB1-DQB1 polymorphisms.

RESULTS

Of 4,250 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients, 4.5% had either GADAs and/or IA-2As. Patients with autoimmune diabetes showed a clinical phenotype significantly different from that of type 2 diabetes, including higher fasting glucose and A1C, lower BMI and uric acid, lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, and higher frequency of TPO antibodies. More interestingly, analysis of GADA titers showed a bimodal distribution that identified two subgroups of patients with high (>32 GADA arbitrary units) and low (< or =32 GADA arbitrary units) GADA titers. Compared with those with low GADA titers, patients with high GADA titers had more prominent traits of insulin deficiency and a profile of more severe autoimmunity resulting in higher A1C, lower BMI, a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components (P < 0.02 for all), a higher prevalence of IA-2As, TPO antibodies (P < 0.003 for both), and DRB1*03-DQB1*0201 (50 vs. 26.8%, P = 0.001), and a decreasing frequency of DQB1*0602 and DRB1*0403 (from type 2 to low and to high GADA titer autoimmune diabetes; P < 0.001 for trend for both comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

GADA titers identify two subgroups of patients with adult-onset autoimmune diabetes having distinct clinical, autoimmune, and genetic features.

Low-frequency subthalamic oscillations increase after deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease

This work is the second of a series of papers in which we investigated the neurophysiological basis of deep brain stimulation (DBS) clinical efficacy using post-operative local field potential (LFP) recordings from DBS electrodes implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with Parkinson's disease. We found that low-frequency (1-1.5Hz) oscillations in LFP recordings from the STN of patients with Parkinson's disease dramatically increase after DBS of the STN itself (log power change=0.93+/-0.62; Wilcoxon: p=0.0002, n=13), slowly decaying to baseline levels after turning DBS off. The DBS-induced increase of low-frequency LFP oscillations is highly reproducible and appears only after the delivery of DBS for a time long enough to induce clinical improvement. This increase of low-frequency LFP oscillations could reflect stimulation-induced modulation of network activity or could represent changes of the electrochemical properties at the brain-electrode interface.

Intradiploic frontal epidermoid cyst in a patient with repeated head injuries: is there a causative relationship?

Epidermoid cysts are rare disontogenetic tumoral lesions in the cranial compartment (1% of all intracranial tumors) and are usually located in relation to the cranial sutures; the intradiploic location is the less frequent. We report a clinical case in which the post-traumatic etiology of a frontal intradiploic epidermoid is considered. The histological findings revealed the presence of an epidermoid tumor associated with a typical foreign body inflammatory reaction, after repeated head traumas at the site of the tumour. This is the first case in whom the association between this tumoral lesion and a tissue inflammatory reaction due to foreign bodies is demonstrated.

Octreotide promotes apoptosis in human somatotroph tumor cells by activating somatostatin receptor type 2

Somatostatin analogs currently used in the treatment of acromegaly and other neuroendocrine tumors inhibit hormone secretion and cell proliferation by binding to somatostatin receptor type (SST) 2 and 5. The antiproliferative pathways coupled to these receptors have been only partially characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of octreotide and super selective SST2 (BIM23120) and SST5 (BIM23206) analogs on apoptotic activity and apoptotic gene expression in human somatotroph tumor cells. Eight somatotroph tumors expressing similar levels of SST2 and SST5 evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot analyses were included in the study. In cultured cells obtained from these tumors, octreotide induced a dose-dependent increase of caspase-3 activity (160+/-20% vs basal at 10 nM) and cleaved cytokeratin 18 levels (172+/-25% vs basal) at concentrations higher than 0.1 nM. This effect was due to SST2 activation since BIM23120 elicited comparable responses, while BIM23206 was ineffective. BIM23120-stimulated apoptosis was dependent on phosphatases, since it was abrogated by the inhibitor orthovanadate, and independent from the induction of apoptosis-related genes, such as p53, p63, p73, Bcl-2, Bax, BID, BIK, TNFSF8, and FADD. In somatotroph tumors, both BIM23120 and BIM2306 caused growth arrest as indicated by the increase in p27 and decrease in cyclin D1 expression. In conclusion, the present study showed that octreotide-induced apoptosis in human somatotroph tumor cells by activating SST2. This effect, together with the cytostatic action exerted by both SST2 and SST5 analogs, might account for the tumor shrinkage observed in acromegalic patients treated with long-acting somatostatin analogs.

Does HER2/neu expression affect adjuvant treatment choices in routine clinical practice?

10667

Background: HER2/neu (HER2) amplification is a recognized independent prognostic and predictive factor. We retrospectively examined the correlation between HER2 expression and adjuvant therapy in patients (pts) with early breast cancer (EBC) at our Institution (IOSI). Materials and Methods: From January 2003, 326 consecutive pts with EBC have been treated at IOSI and all clinical and pathological data have been prospectively collected into a specifically designed data base (CARMA). HER2 expression was assessed by the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein antibody (NCL-L-CB11) in 309 pts (95%). FISH was not routinely performed. Endocrine responsiveness (ER+) is defined as Er and/or PgR expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: Overall, 58 pts (19%) had HER2+ disease. FISH was performed in 15 pts (24%) with doubtful antibody overexpression (2+) and did not confirm HER2 amplification in 4 cases (27%). Nodal involvement was not assessed in 1 HER2+ (2%) and in 12 HER2- pts (5%) due to advanced age. Menopausal status did not differ in HER2 positive and negative pts (29% and 27% premenopausal pts, respectively). The distribution of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) according to tumour characteristics in HER2 positive and negative pts was as follows: An anthracycline-containing regimen was chosen in 88% of HER2+ pts receiving adjuvant CT as compared to 70% of HER2- pts. Outside of a clinical trial adjuvant Tamoxifen was given to 57% of HER2+/ER+ pts as compared to 75% of HER2−/ER+ pts. Conclusions: Overall, HER2+ pts showed less endocrine responsiveness (64% versus 88%) and more extensive nodal involvement (43% versus 30% with >3 positive nodes) as compared to HER2− pts. A greater proportion of HER2+ women received adjuvant CT, irrespective of other prognostic and predictive factors. In particular, a significant higher proportion of HER2+ pts with minimal nodal involvement (1–3 positive nodes) and ER+ disease received CT as compared to the equivalent HER2- subset (45% versus 26%, respectively).

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

No consensus exists regarding further therapy for the management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In this phase II study, the combination of Vinorelbine with 5-Fluorouracil and folinic acid (FLN regimen) was evaluated in patients with progressive or resistant disease after hormone therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four patients were treated with Vinorelbine at a dose of 20 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 3, folinic acid (FA), 100 mg/m2 i.v. and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), 350 mg/m2 i.v. as a short infusion on days 1 to 3. The therapy was given in an out-patient setting, every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

All of the 34 eligible patients were evaluable for toxicity and 30 for activity. A total of 127 cycles was administered (91% at full dose). Among thelS5 patients with measurable disease, four had a partial response (26.6%; C.I. 95%, 28.3% to 65.7%) and four achieved stable disease. In 14 patients (47%) a clinical benefit was documented. Six out of 15 patients with bone-only involvement had stable disease (40%). The median duration of stabilization and partial response was 16 weeks (range 4-24 weeks). The most common toxicity was hematological: Grade 4 (NCI-CTC scale) in five patients at re-cycle. Other toxicities were of low incidence and easy to manage.

CONCLUSION

The encouraging results obtained with the FLN regimen in terms of clinical benefit and its predictable and manageable toxicity support the palliative role of this chemotherapeutic strategy in hormone-refractory prostate patients.