A randomized multicenter phase II trial on efficacy of a hydrocolloid dressing containing ceramide with a low-friction external surface for hand-foot skin reaction caused by sorafenib in patients with renal cell carcinoma

9623

Background: Hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) is the most clinically significant and dose-limiting dermatologic toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients who receive sorafenib (SOR). At present, evidence-based management strategy is not completely established. Since HFSR may be attributed to keratinous disorders of the skin and tends to develop in areas on the soles of the feet subject to strong pressure, a hydrocolloid dressing containing ceramide (a protective dressing against pressure ulcer) may prevent the development and worsening of HFSR. The purpose of the study is to investigate the usefulness of this material for HFSR on the soles of the feet in mRCC patients treated with SOR. Methods: Patients with grade 1 HFSR on the soles of the feet were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive a hydrocolloid dressing containing ceramide (Arm A) or 10% urea cream (Arm B). The detailed protocol of this study was presented in ASCO 2011 (Trial in Progress; TPS 233). A hydrocolloid dressing containing ceramide was applied to affected sites on the soles of the feet, but not to the hands. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Grade 2 or 3 HFSR on the soles of the feet in the first 4 weeks. Results: Thirty-three patients were evaluated; 17 patients in Arm A and 16 patients in Arm B. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between two arms. Over the 4 weeks period of this study, the incidence of Grade 2 or 3 HFSR on the soles of the feet was significantly lower in Arm A than Arm B; 5 (29%) patients in Arm A versus 11 (69%) in Arm B, p=0.03. On the other hand, the incidence of HFSR on the hands was similar between two arms. The median time to Grade 2 or 3 HFSR on the soles of the feet was significant longer in Arm A compared with Arm B; not reach (95%CI 13-28+) in Arm A versus 22 days (95%CI 15-27), p=0.03. Regarding the pain levels on the soles, Arm A was superior to Arm B (p=0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that a hydrocolloid dressing containing ceramide with a low-friction external surface is effective in preventing the worsening of HFSR caused by SOR in mRCC patients. Clinical trial information: UMIN000002016.

Baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to predict progression-free survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with first-line sunitinib

e15527

Background: Predicting the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) would be of clinical value in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We tested the hypothesis that serum inflammatory markers are associated with clinical outcome in mRCC patients at favorable or intermediate prognostic risk treated with first-line sunitinib. Methods: Eighty-nine mRCC patients were prospectively monitored at baseline (day 0) during sunitinib treatment. Serum interleukin-6 and 8 levels were determined by CLEIA and ELISA, respectively. A high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured using laser nephelometry. Correlations between baseline interleukin-6, 8, hs-CRP levels and response to sunitinib, and progression-free survival (PFS) were examined. Results: Median PFS was 9.2 months. Clinical benefit rate (CBR; percent complete responses+partial responses +stable disease 24 weeks) was 57.3%. Baseline interleukin-8 (P=0.0240) and hs-CRP (P=0.0060) was associated with CBR. No association between baseline interleukin-6 and 8 with PFS was observed. However, baseline hs-CRP were associated with PFS (P=0.0016; unit risk 1.010; 95% CI 1.004 to 1.017). Conclusions: Baseline serum inflammatory markers could be of clinical interest in sunitinib-treated mRCC patiens to predict outcome. Baseline hs-CRP serum levels warrant further study. Clinical trial information: UMIN000009622.

Acute renal failure as the presenting sign of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is the most frequent coagulation disorder in patients with prostate cancer. However, renal involvement in DIC associated with prostate cancer has rarely been documented. Herein, we present a case of metastatic prostate cancer presenting with acute renal failure (RF) triggered by DIC. An 80 year old man with metastatic prostate cancer was treated with antihormone therapy at an outpatient clinic. He was admitted to our hospital because of severe dyspnea and progressive RF. A hemorrhagic tendency was not clinically evident. Laboratory tests exhibited a significant coagulation disorder, suggestive of DIC. Despite treatment, his RF and dyspnea worsened, and he eventually passed away. An autopsy study revealed hypertensive nephrosclerosis superimposed by fibrin rich thrombi formation involving glomerular capillaries and arterioles characteristic of DIC. Additionally, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was identified, which was presumably secondary to the glomerular endothelial and/or podocyte injury augmented by DIC. Those findings showed that glomerular injury, which was induced and subsequently exacerbated by DIC associated with prostate cancer, highly contributed to the progression of RF in our case. A differential diagnosis of DIC should be considered when a patient with prostate cancer presents with renal dysfunction.

Retrospective study of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer after transurethral resection of the prostate compared with retropubic radical prostatectomy at the same institution

BACKGROUND

Radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer after transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) is technically difficult because of periprostatic adhesion and changes in the form of the prostate. The advantages of laparoscopic RP (LRP) over retropubic RP (RRP) include a less invasive operation through a small wound, a clearer field of vision, and reduced blood loss, and, therefore, LRP may represent the optimal method for RP after TUR-P. The present study compared clinical, oncological, and pathological outcomes between LRP and RRP after TUR-P at our institution.

METHODS

Twenty patients underwent TUR-P for benign prostatic hyperplasia, followed by LRP (12 patients) or RRP (8 patients) after localized prostate cancer was diagnosed at our institution from November 1998 through December 2006. Median patient age was 67.5 years (range, 52-73 years). The median duration of follow-up was 96 months (range, 60-144 months). Operative time, volume of blood loss, duration of indwelling urethral catheter use, degree of urinary incontinence, pathological findings, oncological outcomes, and complications were compared between LRP and RRP.

RESULTS

No significant difference in operative time or amount blood loss was recognized between LRP and RRP. Urinary incontinence in the early and late postoperative periods was significantly more severe after LRP than after RRP. Oncological outcomes and results of pathological examinations were comparable between LRP and RRP.

CONCLUSION

We found no significant differences in clinical, pathological, and oncological outcomes, except for urinary incontinence, between LRP and RRP.

Granuloma-forming interstitial pneumonia occurring one year after the start of everolimus therapy

We experienced a case of interstitial lung disease (ILD) that occurred one year after the start of everolimus therapy for renal cell carcinoma. The pathological features included interstitial pneumonia with granuloma formation. Everolimus is known to cause ILD; however, its pathology is unclear. Granuloma-forming interstitial pneumonia associated with everolimus is uncommon, although it may be one of the pathological patterns associated with everolimus-induced ILD. This is a slow-onset case of everolimus-induced ILD in a patient with renal cell carcinoma. Physicians should thus be aware of the potential for the development of ILD at any time during the administration of everolimus therapy.

[A case of late recurrence of urothelial carcinoma in an ileal conduit after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion for bladder cancer]

Recurrence of urothelial cancer in an ileal conduit after radical cystectomy is rare. A 79-year-old man suffered bladder cancer (UC cTisN0M0 G2＞3) and underwent total cystectomy with ileal conduit. He had recurrence of the right renal pelvis carcinoma 6 years after the total cystectomy, and was treated by right radical nephroureterectomy (pT3 G2＝3). The patient had another episode of recurrence in the ileal conduit 13 years after the initial operation. The entire ileal conduit (UC, G3, ew (-)) was resected and left cutaneous ureterostomy was performed. This case suggests that long-term follow-up is necessary after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit for urinary diversion.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity predicts increase in blood pressure and onset of hypertension

BACKGROUND

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) predicts longitudinal increases in blood pressure (BP) and new onset of hypertension in individuals with normal BP.

METHODS

baPWV was measured using a semiautomated device in 2,496 participants (27-84 years) without hypertension who visited our hospital for a yearly health check-up. They were followed up for 4 years with the endpoint being development of hypertension.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (median, 733 days; actual follow-up, 5,215 person-years), hypertension developed in 698 participants (133.8/1,000 person-years). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that risk for hypertension was increased across the tertiles of baseline baPWV. The hazard ratio (first tertile as reference) was 2.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55-2.64) and 3.49 (95% CI 2.66-4.57) in the second and third tertiles, respectively, after adjustment for possible risk factors. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis adjusted for known risk factors, where baPWV was used as a continuous variable, also indicated that the baseline value of baPWV independently predicted new onset of hypertension (P < 0.001). Furthermore, baseline baPWV was significantly associated with a longitudinal increase in BP after adjustment for known risk factors in multiple regression analysis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first evidence that baPWV is an independent predictor of longitudinal increases in BP as well as of new onset of hypertension.

Efficacy of transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-BT) for huge bladder cancer

There are no guidelines regarding whether to perform either a radical transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-BT) or a total cystectomy after TUR biopsy for huge bladder cancer, and this decision is entrusted to each institution. Of 439 patients in whom TUR-BT was performed from 2005 through 2009, the weight of the total resected volume was > 50 g in 6 patients, and among these 6 patients the following variables were compared: operating time, weight of resected volume, transfusion volume, presence or absence of hydronephrosis, preoperative urinary cytology, serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA) level, intraoperative bladder compliance, and histopathological findings. The median age, operating time, weight of resected volume, transfusion volume, and length of follow-up were 72 years, 300 minutes, 88 g, 202 mL, 16 months, respectively. The serum CYFRA level in patients with muscle-invasive cancer (11.8 ng/mL) was higher than that in patients with non-muscle-invasive cancer (5.06 ng/mL). All patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer survived without recurrence. Although the mean length of follow-up was only 16 months (5-59 months), the 1 patient who was followed up for 59 months had no recurrence. In cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, all patients, except for a relatively recent patient, have died. In cases without muscle invasion, lymph node metastasis, distal metastasis, or preoperative renal dysfunction accompanied by hydronephrosis, with favorable bladder compliance, we believe that radical TUR-BT should be actively performed to preserve the bladder. A second TUR-BT should be performed in cases of non-muscle-invasive cancer without G3 components to treat the huge bladder cancer.

Advanced carcinoma of the prostatic urethra in a patient with marked response to chemotherapy, leading to preservation of the bladder

We performed transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) for a 66-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Pathological examination diagnosed poorly differentiated urothelial carcinoma of the urethra with broad prostatic permeation. Random bladder biopsies showed no malignancy, but a second TUR-P revealed urothelial carcinoma in the prostate and bladder neck. Computed tomography (CT) showed lymph node metastases from para-aortic to right/left external iliac and left obturator nodes, so clinical stage T3N2M0 carcinoma of the prostatic urethra was diagnosed. Given the presence of lymph node metastases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy using cisplatin 70 mg/m(2), ifosfamide 1.2 g/m(2) and docetaxel 70 mg/m(2) (PIT) was considered. After chemotherapy, CT showed complete response (CR) of all lymph nodes. Local control in the bladder was considered to be good, so total prostatectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was selected instead of total cystoprostatectomy. Pathological findings of surgical specimens showed no residual carcinoma in the prostatic urethra or lymph nodes, although prostatic adenocarcinoma was recognized. No recurrences or metastases have been encountered as of 3 years and 5 months since surgery.

Percolation Theory and the Role of Maize Starch as a Disintegrant for a Low Water-Soluble Drug

The objective of the present work is to investigate the presence or absence of a critical concentration of maize starch according to the percolation theory for a truly ternary system with respect to a minimum disintegration time. The results of this study show that the application of percolation theory is not limited to the study of binary systems. In this work it is shown how it can be used to analyze the behavior of binary and ternary systems for caffeine and mefenamic acid formulations containing a starch-based disintegrant. The percolation threshold p(c) can be described by the volumetric ratio of the disintegrant to the drug substance being equal to p(c) = 0.2 (v/v) in in which both components have similar average particle sizes. In addition, the behavior of the disintegration time in the neighborhood of the percolation threshold can be mathematically modeled with the basic equation of the percolation theory yielding a critical exponent q = 0.28 +/- 0.06.