Abstract P1-13-04: Optimal duration of adjuvant chemotherapy for high risk node negative breast cancer patients: 6-year results of the prospective randomized phase III trial PACS 05

BACKGROUND: In 2000, the NIH Consensus meeting concluded that 4 to 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to provide an optimal benefit; So, we underwent a prospective randomized trial comparing 4 and 6 cycles of FEC 100 (JCO 2005; 23: 2686–2693) for high risk node negative breast cancer patients.

METHODS: This study enrolled 18–65 y women with operable breast cancer, without axillary lymph node involvement, or presence of isolated tumor cells, with size superior to 1 cm and another poor prognostic factor: T > 2 cm, HR –, SBR grade II or III, age < 35 y.

After adequate breast surgery and axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel node technique, they were randomized between arm A, 6 cycles of FEC 100, and arm B, 4 cycles, every three weeks. The local regional treatment was completed following usual recommendations. All HR+ patients received hormonal therapy for 5 years. After August 2005, patients with HER2+ tumors were excluded from this study.

The primary end point was PFS at 5 years. This study was powered to detect a 6% difference in favour of 6 cycles.

Between August 2002 and September 2006, 1516 patients were randomized; 1515 are analysed in ITT. Three patients in the B group did not receive any chemotherapy. There is no significant difference between the two arms for tumor and patient characteristics.

RESULTS At a median follow-up of 73 months we observed regarding PFS a low event rate, 197 for the entire population (13%) 91 in arm A median PFS, vs. 106 in arm B median PFS, without any difference between the two groups for DFS, DDFS, local relapse, overall survival. There was no unexpected toxicity. In the arm A we observed more grade III and IV neutropenia, without congestive heart failure.

CONCLUSION At a follow-up of 73 months, we observed a low relapse rate, with no significant difference between the two arms. Duration of FEC100 does not induce different outcomes in this population. Question of length of adjuvant treatment is still open with and without taxanes.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-13-04.

Influence of imatinib interruption and rechallenge on the residual disease in patients with advanced GIST: results of the BFR14 prospective French Sarcoma Group randomised, phase III trial

BACKGROUND

We previously demonstrated that interruption of imatinib mesylate (IM) in responding patients (pts) with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) results in rapid reprogression. The impact of interruption on residual tumour, quality of response and secondary resistance has not been fully investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Within the BRF14 study, 71 non-progressing patients were randomly assigned in the interruption arms after 1, 3 or 5 years. IM was resumed in the case of progressive disease (PD). Tumour status at randomisation, relapse and after IM rechallenge, progression-free survival (PFS) and time to secondary resistance were analysed.

RESULTS

At data cut-off, 51 of 71 patients had restarted IM following documented PD. Eighteen patients (35%) progressed on known lesions only, while 33 patients (65%) had new lesions, with concomitant progression of known lesions in 17 patients. Only 8 (42%) of complete remission (CR) patients and 12 (52%) of partial response (PR) patients at randomisation achieved a new CR and PR. Patients progressing rapidly after interruption had a poorer prognosis. Tumour status at randomisation influenced time to progression after rechallenge.

CONCLUSION

In advanced GIST patients interrupting IM, quality of response upon reintroduction did not reach the tumour status observed at randomisation. Rapid progression after imatinib interruption is associated with poor PFS after reintroduction.

Central depletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in mice results in high bone mass and metabolic phenotype

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important roles in neuronal differentiation/survival, the regulation of food intake, and the pathobiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. BDNF and its receptor are expressed in osteoblasts and chondrocyte. BDNF in vitro has a positive effect on bone; whether central BDNF affects bone mass in vivo is not known. We therefore examined bone mass and energy use in brain-targeted BDNF conditional knockout mice (Bdnf(2lox/2lox)/93). The deletion of BDNF in the brain led to a metabolic phenotype characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, and increased abdominal white adipose tissue. Central BDNF deletion produces a marked skeletal phenotype characterized by increased femur length, elevated whole bone mineral density, and bone mineral content. The skeletal changes are developmentally regulated and appear concurrently with the metabolic phenotype, suggesting that the metabolic and skeletal actions of BDNF are linked. The increased bone development is evident in both the cortical and trabecular regions. Compared with control, Bdnf(2lox/2lox)/93 mice show greater trabecular bone volume (+50% for distal femur, P < 0.001; +35% for vertebral body, P < 0.001) and midfemoral cortical thickness (+11 to 17%, P < 0.05), measured at 3 and 6 months of age. The skeletal and metabolic phenotypes were gender dependent, with female being more affected than male mice. However, uncoupling protein-1 expression in brown fat, a marker of sympathetic tone, was not different between genotypes. We show that deletion of central BDNF expression in mice results in increased bone mass and white adipose tissue, with no significant changes in sympathetic signaling or peripheral serotonin, associated with hyperphagia, obesity, and leptin resistance.

Predictors of severity in deep neck infections admitted to the intensive care unit

A retrospective study was performed on adult patients admitted for surgical drainage of deep neck infections and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during a period of 52 months. Severe infection was defined as septic shock/severe sepsis, mediastinitis, empyema or necrotising fasciitis. Complicated course was defined as ICU stay >8 days, reintubation, tracheostomy, renal replacement therapy, critical illness, myopathy or mortality. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used to assess differences and the significance level was controlled for multiple comparisons applying Bonferroni's correction. Fifty-four patients were studied. Variables associated with severe infection (43%) were abscess location (retropharyngeal [52 vs 7%; P<0.001] or multiple [52 vs 13%; P=0.002]), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II>7 (78 vs 13%; P<0.001), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II>29 (73 vs 21%; P<0.001) and first ICU day Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score>2 (77 vs 21%; P<0.001). Variables associated with complicated course (56%) were: parapharyngeal location (60 vs 8%; P<0.001)], Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II>7 (67 vs 14%; P=0.001), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II>29 (62 vs 18%; P=0.002) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score>2 (68 vs 17%; P<0.001). Serious complications occur frequently in patients with deep neck infections surgically drained and admitted to the ICU. Higher severity scores are associated with both severe infection and a complicated course. Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal locations are associated with severe infection and a complicated course respectively.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among stable chronic disease subjects in primary care in Trinidad, West Indies

The prevalence of COPD in the Caribbean is uncertain. Spirometric indices were assessed at chronic disease clinics in 353 subjects (African, 66; East Indian, 198; 109 male), mean age 56.51 years (non-COPD) vs 59.30 years (COPD). 77 (21.8%) patients had COPD. 33.3% of COPD subjects had chronic cough vs 19.7% of subjects without COPD. A history of at least one chest infection was related to low FEV1 (P=0.005). In subjects presenting with vascular disease the FVC was reduced when compared to other subjects. Prevalence of COPD is 21.8%. A history of chest infections is related to decreased FEV1%.

Essential role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the regulation of serotonin transmission in the basolateral amygdala

Human and animal model studies have linked brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with the etiology of anxiety disorders. This pleiotropic neurotrophin and its receptor, TrkB, promote neuronal survival, differentiation and synaptic plasticity. Here we interrogated the role of BDNF in serotonergic neurotransmission in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a limbic brain region associated with the neurobiology of anxiety. We found that both GABAergic and pyramidal projection neurons in the wild-type BLA contained TrkB receptors. Examination of BDNF(2L/2LCk-Cre) mutant mice with brain-selective depletion of BDNF revealed mild decreases in serotonin content in the BLA. Notably, whole cell recordings in BLA pyramidal cells uncovered significant alterations in 5-HT(2)-mediated regulation of GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in BDNF(2L/2LCk-Cre) mutant mice that result in a hyperexcitable circuit. These changes were associated with decreased expression of 5-HT(2) receptors. Collectively, the results indicate a required role of BDNF in serotonin transmission in the BLA. Furthermore, they suggest a mechanism underlying the reported increase in anxiety-like behavior elicited by perturbed BDNF signaling.

Phylogenetic analysis of dengue virus types 1 and 4 circulating in Puerto Rico and Key West, Florida, during 2010 epidemics

We describe sequences of six strains of dengue virus (DENV): three DENV-1 isolates and two DENV-4 isolates from Puerto Rico, and a DENV-1 strain from Key West, Florida, obtained from blood donors during 2010 epidemics. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Puerto Rico DENV-1 strains constitute a new lineage within genotype V different from those that circulated in Puerto Rico during the past two decades. The newer Puerto Rico DENV-1 strains associated with strains from the Caribbean and South America. The DENV-1 strain from Key West, Florida clustered with a strain isolated from mosquito pools collected in that area and with a number of strains from Nicaragua and Mexico circulating during 2006-2009. The Puerto Rico DENV-4 isolates of genotype II associated with strains that have circulated on the island throughout the 1980s and 1990s and with strains from the Caribbean region and Central America. Introduction and circulation of novel DENV lineages in dengue-endemic regions have the potential to increase the severity of dengue cases.

[Sturge-Weber syndrome -clinical and neuroimaging variability]

Sturge Weber Syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome in which the severity is determined by degree of brain involvement and control of epilepsy. The authors describe and analyse clinical and imaging features of this syndrome, through a retrospective study of 13 patients (8 girls; aged between 15 days and 9 years at first visit). Twelve had facial angioma and one had atrichia corresponding to the area of brain involvement. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 6 cases, hemiplegia in 4, psychomotor delay in 7, and glaucoma in 4. Cerebral abnormalities were found in 10 children, 3 without neurological symptoms. The clinical signs and symptoms vary and there is not always a relationship between the severity of the clinical and neuroimaging abnormalities, which may occur even in the absence of neurological symptoms.

Explored prognostic factors for survival in patients with advanced GIST treated with standard dose imatinib (IM): Results from the BFR14 phase III trial of the French Sarcoma Group

10092

Background: Factors predicting progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients (pts) with advanced GIST treated with 400 mg daily dose IM included in the BFR14 study with a median follow up of 54 months (CI95%:47-61) was investigated evaluating added prognostic factors. Methods: 434 pts were included in this prospective multicenter trial from June 2002 to July 2009. After 1, 3 and 5 yrs of IM 400mg/day, pts free from progression were randomly offered to continue or interrupt (I arm) IM. Prognostic factors for overall survival were investigated in the entire cohort (randomized and not randomized pts) included in the BFR14. Survival was defined from the date of inclusion to the date of death for OS or to the first occurrence of disease progression under imatinib or death for PFS. A multivariate cox model including statistical significant baseline characteristics tested in univariate were included in a backward procedure d to identify independent prognostic factors for PFS then OS. Results: As of January 2012, there were 285 progressions (65%) and 161 deaths (37%). The median PFS of the entire cohort was 29 months (CI95%: 24-33) and the 4 and 5-yrs PFS were 31% and 24% respectively. A low tumour volume at inclusion, PS (0), sex (female), CD34 positivity on tumor cells were the four independent prognostic factors of a higher PFS. The 5-yrs OS was 54% (CI95%: 48-60). A higher OS was independently predicted by gender (female), PS (0), platelets count (<400 giga/L) and CD34 expression on GIST cells. Median PFS and OS were slightly superior in this more recent series as compared to B2222 consistently with the improved outcome of patients with low tumor volume. Conclusions: OS and PFS are predicted by gender, PS and CD34 expression in this large series of pts treated with standard dose IM. The biological significance of CD34 expression on tumor cells has to be explored in GIST.

Effect of five years of imatinib on cure for patients with advanced GIST: Updated survival results from the prospective randomized phase III BFR14 trial

10095

Background: We previously demonstrated that interruption of imatinib (IM) after 1, 3, and 5 yrs in responding patients (pts) with advanced GIST is associated with rapid relapse but reintroduction of IM allowed tumor control in almost all pts. Here, we examined the outcome of patients randomized in the interruption arm (I arm), and notably the characteristics of those not yet progressing. Methods: This prospective multicenter BFR14 study was initiated in June 2002 and closed for inclusion in July 2009. Seventy-one non-progressing patients were randomized in the I arm after 1 (N=32), 3 (N=25) and 5 years (N=14) of IM 400 mg/day. IM (same dose) was reintroduced in case of progressive disease (PD). Results: The median follow-up (FU) from randomization was 74, 48 and 22 months for pts randomized at 1, 3 and 5 yrs of IM treatment respectively. Updated survival data (January 2012) are summarized in the table. Out of the 3 pts not progressing in the I arm at 1 yr, 1 pt had refused to stop IM and 1 pt had a localized GIST with small residual disease at inclusion. Out of the 3 pts not progressing in the I arm at 3 yrs, 1 pt had refused to stop IM and 2 pts were included after complete resection of both primary tumor and metastases with a small residual disease. The FU of pts randomized at 5 yrs was short but out of the 5 non progressive pts, 2 are considered in PD on functional imaging (January 2012), 2 had a locally advanced GIST subsequently operated during IM and before randomization, and 1 had no target lesion at inclusion (resection of synchronous metastases). Conclusions: All but one pts with residual masses under IM and randomized in the I arm have relapsed. Six out of 7 patients not yet progressing in the I arm had reached complete remission following surgery at inclusion or before randomization (initial resection/debulking of metastases). [Table: see text]

Prospective web-based collection of sarcoma cases diagnosed and treated in France: Experience of the NetSarc network of the French Sarcoma Tumor Boards

10056

Background: The management of sarcomas, as for all rare tumors, is hampered by the limited dissemination of medical knowledge. Management within a specialized multidisciplinary sarcoma tumor board (STB) improves compliance to clinical practice guidelines. Since 2010, a national network with a dedicated system for referral, gathering the 26 regional STBs, is supported by the French NCI. Its objectives are to monitor the management of sarcomas and give equal access to expertise and innovative treatments to all patients with sarcoma. We report here the first experience of a web-based data collection from these STBs. Methods: The expected incidence of sarcoma in France is 6.1/105/year, ie 4000 new cases per year. A website collecting all files discussed in the 26 STBs was generated from Jan 2010 ( www.netsarc.org ). The prospective collection of clinical data, STB decision and patient follow-up was implemented in the national database (40 items). Results: 7472 patients were accrued during 2 years, 6202 (83%) had sarcoma, 2860 (46%) were new cases, representing 36% of expected incident cases. The number of new cases discussed in STB increased between 2010 and 2011 (+38%). Patients were referred to the STB (2010-2011; % of cases) prior 1) to biopsy (9%-15%), 2) to first surgery (34%-39%), 3) to adjuvant treatment (35%-34%), after treatment (14%-8%) and at time of relapse (8%-4%). 15% had a metastases at initial diagnosis. The R0+R1 resection rates for primary surgery were 55% vs 42% within vs outside the STB centers of NetSarc. 8% of declared patients were proposed to inclusion into a clinical trial. Conclusions: This web-based tool enabled the description of the activity of the STB at the national level. Clinical practices improved between 2010 and 2011, but 64% of new cases of sarcoma were not discussed in the referent STB prior to surgery. The yearly follow-up of the database will help to monitor evolution of clinical practices.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus in circulating blood components from blood donors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Current nucleic acid tests (NAT) for blood donor screening use plasma as the test sample and, consequently, cannot detect virions bound to blood cells of infected donors. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and infectious virions have been detected in association with the cellular components of blood of patients with active liver disease; however, studies comparing HCV viral loads in whole blood and plasma have generated contradictory results. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of HCV in different compartments of the peripheral blood from HCV-infected blood donors, which may differ from that observed in patients with HCV-associated liver disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hepatitis C virus-positive donor specimens were identified by NAT and antibody testing. HCV RNA was extracted from samples of whole blood and their corresponding components (RBC and plasma). Viral RNA was quantified by real-time qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

Hepatitis C virus was present in all blood components from infected donors from which RNA could be amplified. For the majority of samples, plasma (34/46) had the highest detectable concentration of HCV RNA, and RBC (37/46) had the lowest. Specimens with negative NAT and positive antibody assays also produced qRT-PCR negative results.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that including the RBC fraction in the tested sample will not increase assay sensitivity. Although 10% of the specimens had a higher viral load in whole blood, there was no significant overall increase in sensitivity to justify changes in the specimen format. Thus, plasma specimens are well suited for blood donor screening for HCV.

[Surgery and postoperative radiation therapy in primary retroperitoneal sarcomas: experience of the cancer centre Alexis-Vautrin]

PURPOSE

Surgical resection remains the standard treatment for patients with resectable retroperitoneal sarcomas. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the outcomes of patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analysed data of 50 patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma who underwent curative-intent resection from 1975 to 2008. External beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy were delivered postoperatively. Demographics, surgical, pathological variables and chemo/radiation therapy were analysed as prognosis factors.

RESULTS

There were 22 males and 28 females (mean age 54 ± 13 years). Surgery required visceral resections in 30 patients. There were 16 leiomyosarcomas, 25 liposarcomas and eight other sub-types. Twenty-one patients had clear surgical margins. Twenty-eight patients received postoperative external beam radiotherapy (median 45 Gy) and 15 received chemotherapy. At the end of the follow-up (median 55 months), local recurrence occurred in 39% (n=14) among R0/R1 resection group (n=36). Postoperative external beam radiotherapy tends to increase the time of local recurrence from surgery (27 vs. 13 months, P=0.05). The overall survival rates were 81%, 55% and 46% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Although R0 resection (P=0.01), well tumour differentiation (P=0.004) and postoperative external beam radiotherapy (P=0.02) significantly influenced overall survival in univariate analysis, only R0 resection was an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

We confirm the pre-eminence of radical surgery with negative margins as major prognostic factor and the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy.

Polymerase chain reaction-based tests for pan-species and species-specific detection of human Plasmodium parasites

BACKGROUND

There is still a need to improve the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for malaria to detect submicroscopic asexual stage Plasmodium infections during the early phase and chronic, asymptomatic phase of infection when the parasite burden is very low.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The inhibitory effect of hemoglobin (Hb) on PCR limits the volume of blood that can be used in the PCR-based detection of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium parasites. We lysed red blood cells with saponin to reduce the Hb concentration in extracted nucleic acid and, as a result, significantly increased the volume of blood that can be tested by PCR. The analytical sensitivity of the PCR was determined using whole blood spiked with ring-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites, and its clinical sensitivity by testing blood film-positive and blood film-negative samples from individuals living in an endemic area in Ghana.

RESULTS

We have developed a pan-Plasmodium PCR that detects all five human Plasmodium species with the highest analytical sensitivity of two P. falciparum parasites/mL of whole blood and species-specific PCR tests that distinguished between the five human Plasmodium species. Pan-Plasmodium PCR detected 78 of 78 (100%) blood film-positive and 19 of 101 (18.81%) blood film-negative samples from asymptomatic individuals living in Ghana. Pan-Plasmodium PCR was equally sensitive with samples collected as anticoagulated whole blood and clotted blood and in blood collected by finger stick into capillaries.

CONCLUSION

We have developed PCR tests with the highest reported sensitivity to date for pan-Plasmodium diagnosis and species-specific diagnosis and detected blood film-negative asymptomatic infections in individuals living in malaria-endemic countries.