A dose escalation trial of adjuvant cyclophosphamide and epirubicin in combination with 5-fluorouracil using G-CSF support for premenopausal women with breast cancer involving four or more positive nodes

BACKGROUND

Dose-dense and dose-intensive regimens have improved the outcome of breast cancer in high-risk women with operable disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-three premenopausal women with Stage 2, 3 breast cancer and > or =4 positive axillary nodes were treated in three successive cohorts with 70 mg/m(2) of epirubicin, 500 mg/m(2) of 5-fluorouracil and G-CSF every 14 days for 12 cycles. Cyclophosphamide (C) was given at 700 mg/m(2), 900 mg/m(2), and 1100 mg/m(2) doses. Patients were evaluated for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in the first four cycles, the primary endpoint of the trial.

RESULTS

No DLTs were seen at C 700 mg/m(2); at C 900 mg/m(2) two of 16 patients experienced febrile neutropenia and poor performance status; at C 1100 mg/m(2), 1 of 31 patients experienced poor performance status. Over 6 months, febrile neutropenia, grade 4 thrombocytopenia, grade 3 anemia and severe fatigue were observed. Clinical congestive heart failure occurred in three patients over 4 years.

CONCLUSION

A dose-intense and dose-dense regimen of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil was delivered with G-CSF without apparent increase in acute toxicity. Cyclophosphamide could be increased to more than twice the standard dose at the cost of more anemia and fatigue.

A tool for assessing adverse events in phase I/II oncology clinical trials

6518

Background: RECIST and NCI's Common Terminology Criteria are accepted systems that have standardized the reporting of oncology clinical trial outcomes. A standard system for attributing causality to Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) is lacking which can impact drug development and patient safety. The objectives of this study were to: 1) understand the clinical reasoning behind causality assessment during phase I/II oncology clinical trials; and, 2) use this information to develop a causality assessment tool for oncology. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with oncologists and trial coordinators at 6 Canadian academic cancer centres. Five main conceptual categories were explored: clinical reasoning; information resources; tools; challenges and concerns; and education. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Individual interview content analysis was followed by thematic analysis across the interview set. A new causality assessment tool was developed based upon the qualitative findings and an analysis of existing generic tools. Results: Thirty-two interviews were conducted between May and August 2006 (65% participation). Half of participants were female, 66% were oncologists and 42% had more than 10 years of clinical trial experience. Data showed that participants use a common strategy to assess causality: they gather information, eliminate alternative explanations, and consider the study drug as the cause of the SAE. Over half cited the quality of information resources as a major factor contributing to uncertainty when assessing causality. Participants expressed the need for a standardized approach to causality assessment in oncology clinical trials. The tool developed in this study guides users to consider 5 statements related to potential alternative etiologies and 4 related to other factors that support a drug-SAE connection. The user is asked for their overall impression using a continuous probability rating scale. Conclusions: Attributing causality to SAEs is complex and uncertain. Clinicians describe using a logical system of reasoning, but have encountered barriers which must be addressed. We have developed and are validating a new tool to assist cancer clinicians in providing higher quality safety data about new cancer drugs early in development.

[Table: see text]

Screening cancer patients for clinical trial eligibility: A randomized study

6529

Background: The overall proportion of cancer patients enrolled into clinical trials is undesirably low. Research suggests many aspects of the recruitment process can be improved. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the benefit of identifying potentially eligible (PE) clinical trial patients for physicians. Methods: Consenting physicians were randomized to 26 weeks of screening support or not, and were then crossed-over to the other strategy for a second 26-week time period. A computer program reviewed new patient consultations to identify PE clinical trial patients. Physicians receiving support were provided with written individualized details of patient eligibility for trials prior to their medical consultation. The primary outcome of interest was the difference, by physician, in the number of patients who were approached for consent to enter a clinical trial. Results: Thirty-six physicians participated in the 52-week study. 5051 consultations were screened in a blinded fashion, 2,376 when physicians had support and 2,675 when they did not. 939 of 2,376 (39.5%) consultations were identified as involving PE patients when physicians were receiving support, and 1,061 of 2,675 (39.7%) when without. The primary outcome of the study, by physician, did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement, with 4.1 patients per physician without vs. 4.7 patients with screening support (p>0.05). Secondary analysis demonstrated that the overall proportion of patients approached with the clinical trial option increased from 149/2,675 (5.6%) to 169/2,376 (7.1%) with screening support (Chi-square, p=0.024) and that the number of patients that entered a clinical trial also increased from 60/2,675 (2.2%) to 83/2,376 (3.5%) (Chi-square, p=0.007). Conclusions: This study suggests that individualized patient screening for clinical trial eligibility may be useful to improve the numbers of patients approached to consider clinical trials. The number of new patients that entered clinical trials remained low, and ongoing research to facilitate improvements is required.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

PRODIGE: A phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial of thromboprophylaxis using dalteparin low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma

2011

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs in 20–30% of patients with malignant glioma per year of survival. We have conducted an RCT testing the efficacy and safety of long-term dalteparin for the prevention of VTE in newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Methods: Adults with newly diagnosed malignant glioma were randomized to receive dalteparin 5,000 anti-Xa units or placebo, both subcutaneously daily for 6 months starting within the first month after surgery. Patients were allowed to continue study medication for up to 12 months. Because of the poor prognosis of malignant glioma it was determined apriori that the primary outcome was 6-month VTE-free survival. In order to detect a 60% VTE hazard reduction with LMWH with 80% power, 512 patients were required. Results: Recruitment began October 2002 and was closed in May 2006 because of expiration of study medication and no further re-supply. Of the 563 patients screened at 15 centers, 174 were excluded. Of the 389 eligible patients approached for consent, 186 were randomized: 99 to LMWH, 87 to placebo. Twenty-one patients developed objectively confirmed VTE during the first 6 months: 9 on LMWH and 12 on placebo (11% and 17% respectively; HR=0.7, 95% CI: 0.37–1.5, p=0.3). Over the 12 months there were 5 (5.1%) major bleeds with LMWH and 1 (1.2%) with placebo (HR=4.0, 95%CI: 0.5–34, p=0.2). All major bleeds were intracranial. Twelve-month mortality was 48% for LMWH and 45% for placebo (HR=1.2, 95%CI: 0.7–1.9, p=0.5). Conclusions: Although there was a trend in favor of the LMWH reducing VTE this was not statistically significant, likely as a result of low power. There was also a trend for increased intracranial bleeding with LMWH. Our study confirms the high incidence of thromboembolism in these patients; however, the role of long-term anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis remains unclear. Supported in part by a grant in aid from Pfizer Inc. and the Ontario Cancer Research Network. The PRODIGE steering committee thanks Terri Finch for superb administrative support.

Pfizer

Long-term persistence with orlistat and sibutramine in a population-based cohort

OBJECTIVE

Orlistat and sibutramine are widely prescribed antiobesity agents that are approved for 2 years of continuous use. Previous 1-4-year randomized, placebo-controlled trials of these drugs have reported average weight losses of <5 kg, significant adverse effects and attrition rates of up to 60%. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term persistence with orlistat and sibutramine therapy outside a clinical trial setting.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS

Population-based administrative data from British Columbia, Canada, were used to create an inception cohort of orlistat and sibutramine users and determine the 2-year persistence with therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Persistence with therapy at 2 years. Drug discontinuation was defined as the failure to refill a prescription within 120 days. Patients discontinuing therapy were censored at the 60-day mark.

RESULTS

Nearly 17 000 users of orlistat and 3500 users of sibutramine were identified. For both orlistat and sibutramine, 1-year persistence rates were <10% and 2-year persistence rates were 2%.

CONCLUSION

This population-based, retrospective cohort analysis demonstrated very poor long-term persistence rates with orlistat and sibutramine and discontinuation rates that were much higher than those reported in clinical trials.

Colposcopists' agreement on cervical biopsy site

OBJECTIVE

To determine the inter-observer agreement among colposcopists on the most abnormal area of the cervix from which a biopsy would be obtained and whether any attributes predict agreement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty cervigrams were reviewed and 72 colposcopists from five countries indicated the site to biopsy and whether an ECC should be obtained. Prior to the study, six Canadian colposcopists met to achieve consensus on the most diseased area for biopsy. Consensus was also reached on whether an ECC was indicated. For each cervigram, percent agreement was determined between each study colposcopist and the consensus. Data were analyzed to determine the attributes associated with the consensus response.

RESULTS

The percent overall agreement of the colposcopists with the consensus diagnoses had a mean of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65-0.75). The use of ECC was most common in Canada (15% of cases). The following factors were assessed by multivariate analysis to determine their influence on individual agreement with the consensus recommendation for the site to biopsy: country, duration of practice (less than or greater than 1 year), professional group (nurse, family doctor, pathologist, gynecologist, gynecologic oncologist), expert status (recognized national/international expert vs colposcopist), and gender. No factor was significantly associated.

CONCLUSION

This international study was feasible and the level of inter-observer agreement among colposcopists on the location of the most severe lesions in cervical images is good.

Outcomes for systemic therapy in women with ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

To describe the association of systemic therapy delivery with overall survival for ovarian cancer.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study included all newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients treated from 1996 to 2002 in Ontario, Canada. Hospitalization and surgical billing databases were used. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the importance of hospital volume of first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, hospital type, prescribing physician volume and that physician's specialty on overall survival.

RESULTS

There were 2502 women who received systemic therapy as part of their management. The three management strategies were surgery followed by chemotherapy (64.9%), chemotherapy followed by interval surgery (14.4%) and chemotherapy alone (20.6%). There has been a shift over time to chemotherapy followed by interval surgery from 5.5% in 1996 to 26% in 2001. Rates for surgery followed by chemotherapy have remained constant. Of those treated with first line chemotherapy, approximately 66.25% of women receive combination chemotherapy and 20% of patients receive single agent platinum. When potential confounders were taken into account (age, comorbidity, and metastatic versus nonmetastatic disease) factors involved in the delivery of systemic therapy were not associated with survival. Survival was improved for those that are younger, with no comorbidities, no metastasis and surgery followed by chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

In Ontario, multimodality therapy with surgery followed by chemotherapy is associated with improved survival.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children<5 years of age in rural Mozambique

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children<5 years of age living in a rural area of southern Mozambique.

METHODS

As part of the clinical management of children admitted to Manhiça District Hospital, prospective surveillance for invasive bacterial disease was conducted from June 2001 to May 2003. The level of antibiotic resistance of the isolates was also analysed.

RESULTS

Pneumococcus was the most commonly isolated bacterium, accounting for 212 episodes. The estimated crude incidence rate of IPD in the study area among children<5 years of age was 416/100,000 per child-year at risk. The youngest age group (<3 months) had the highest incidence (779/100,000). Cases were detected during both rainy and dry seasons. The most common clinical diagnosis was pneumonia, made in 146/212 (69%) of the episodes of IPD. The overall case fatality rate was 10%, being highest among children with pneumococcal meningitis (5/9=56%). Pneumococcal isolates were highly susceptible to penicillin (86% susceptible and 14% with intermediate resistance) and chloramphenicol (98% susceptible). In contrast, up to 37% of the isolates tested were non-susceptible to cotrimoxazole.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence rates of IPD and associated mortality shown in this study highlight the need for pneumococcal vaccines in rural Africa, which must be effective in infants and young children.

Evidence for biogeographic patterning of mitochondrial DNA sequences in Eastern horse populations

Equine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny reconstruction reveals a complex pattern of variation unlike that seen in other large domesticates. It is likely that this pattern reflects a process of multiple and repeated, although not necessarily independent, domestication events. Until now, no clear geographic affiliation of clades has been apparent. In this study, amova analyses have revealed a significant non-random distribution of the diversity among equine populations when seven newly sequenced Eurasian populations were examined in the context of previously published sequences. The association of Eastern mtDNA types in haplogroup F was highly significant using Fisher's exact test of independence (P = 0.00000). For the first time, clear biogeographic partitioning has been detected in equine mtDNA sequence.