Association of Lymphovascular Space Invasion With Locoregional Failure and Survival in Patients With Node-Negative Oral Tongue Cancers

Importance

The indications for adjuvant therapy in resected oral tongue cancers are based on both clinical and pathological factors, with clear evidence for adjuvant radiation in patients with pathologically positive neck lymph nodes, positive margins, and extracapsular extension, but the data for patients with no nodal disease are sparse.

Objective

To investigate determinants of failure and survival in patients with node-negative oral tongue cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Medical records for patients with oral tongue cancer treated with definitive surgery from 2003 to 2013 were reviewed. All patients were cN0 negative and classified as pathologically node-negative (pN0) if a neck dissection was performed. Patients received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) based on standard clinical and pathological determinants.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Kaplan-Meier and multivariable (MVA) logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to identify patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics predictive of locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 180 patients met entry criteria, with a median follow-up time of 4.9 years (range, 0.9-12.5 years); 102 patients (56.7%) were female and 42 patients (23.3%) were younger than 45 years at diagnosis. One hundred fifty-three patients (85%) had T1/T2 tumors, and 112 patients (62%) had elective neck dissections with confirmed pN0. Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) was present in 36 patients (20%). On MVA, LVSI (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.19; P < .01) was associated with worse LRC. Elective neck dissection (odds ratio [OR], 2.99; 95% CI, 1.16-7.73; P = .02) and receipt of RT (OR, 7.74; 95% CI, 2.27-26.42; P < .01) were associated with improved LRC. Three-year LRC rates were significantly lower for patients with LVSI (38.8%; 95% CI, 22.8%, 54.6%) than those without LVSI (81.9%; 95% CI, 74.4%, 87.4%). On MVA, only LVSI (hazard ratio, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.19-4.06; P = .01) and age greater than 44 years (hazard ratio, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.34-14.27; P = .01) were associated with worse OS. Three-year OS rates were significantly lower in patients with LVSI (71.3%; 95% CI, 53.2%-83.4%) than those without LVSI (90.3%; 95% CI, 83.8%-94.3%).

Conclusions and Relevance

Lymphovascular space invasion in patients with node-negative oral tongue cancer treated with upfront definitive surgery is associated with worse LRC and OS. Node-negative oral cavity cancers with LVSI warrant consideration of further adjuvant therapy, which should be further evaluated in a prospective setting.

Visual acuity, oncologic, and toxicity outcomes with 103Pd vs. 125I plaque treatment for choroidal melanoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate outcomes of choroidal melanoma patients treated with ¹²⁵I or ¹⁰³Pd plaque brachytherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From 1993 to 2012, our institution treated 160 patients with ¹⁰³Pd (56.1%) and 125 patients with ¹²⁵I (43.9%) plaque brachytherapy. Tumor outcomes, visual acuity (VA), and toxicity were compared. Multivariate analyses (MVAs) and propensity score analysis were used to help address differences in baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Median followup was longer for ¹²⁵I patients, 52.7 vs. 43.5 months (p < 0.01). At baseline, ¹⁰³Pd patients had lower rates of VA worse than 20/200 (4.4% vs. 16%, p = 0.002), T3-T4 tumors (17.5% vs. 32.8%, p = 0.03), and transpupillary thermotherapy use (3.1% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.001). Both ¹⁰³Pd and ¹²⁵I provided >90% 3-year overall survival and >93% 5-year secondary enucleation-free survival. On MVA, radionuclide was not predictive for tumor outcomes. A higher percentage maintained vision better than 20/40 with ¹⁰³Pd (63% vs. 35%, p = 0.007) at 3 years. MVA demonstrated ¹⁰³Pd radionuclide (odds ratio [OR]: 2.12, p = 0.028) and tumor height ≤5 mm (OR: 2.78, p = 0.017) were associated with VA better than 20/40. Propensity score analysis matched 23 ¹²⁵I with 107 ¹⁰³Pd patients. ¹⁰³Pd continued to predict better VA at 3 years (OR: 8.10, p = 0.014). On MVA for the development of VA worse than 20/200 or degree of vision loss, radionuclide was not significant. Lower rates of radiation retinopathy were seen with ¹⁰³Pd than ¹²⁵I (3 years: 47.3% vs. 63.9%, p = 0.016), with radionuclide significant in MVA.

CONCLUSIONS

Both ¹²⁵I and ¹⁰³Pd achieve excellent tumor control. An increased probability of long-term VA better than 20/40 and reduced risk of radiation retinopathy is associated with ¹⁰³Pd.

Comparison of outcomes in patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus conventionally fractionated radiation: An analysis of the National Cancer Database

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Background: As systemic therapy has improved for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), efforts to improve local control have become critical. While conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) has more recently shown a limited role in LAPC, stereotactic body irradiation (SBRT) is an emerging approach that delivers higher doses of radiation therapy, to small volumes, over a much shorter period of time. With no studies to date comparing SBRT to CFRT for LAPC, we utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to evaluate these two modalities. Methods: Using the NCDB, patients with AJCC clinic cT2-4, N0-1, M0 adenocarcinoma of the pancreas diagnosed from 2004-2013 were analyzed. Radiation therapy delivered at 2 Gy per fraction or less was deemed CFRT, and 4 Gy or more per fraction was considered SBRT to allow inclusion of practice variations. Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression were performed with overall survival (OS) as the primary outcome. Propensity score matching was employed to reduce treatment selection bias. Results: Among 8,450 patients, 7,819 (92.5%) were treated with CFRT, and 631 (7.5%) underwent SBRT. The median dose per fraction and number of fractions for CFRT and SBRT cohorts were 1.8 Gy per fraction in 28 fractions and 8 Gy per fraction in 5 fractions, respectively. Using propensity score matching, 988 patients were matched, with 494 patients in each cohort. Within the propensity-matched cohorts, the median OS was higher with SBRT (13.9 vs. 10.7 months), and 2-year OS of 21.5% and 15.9% for the SBRT and CFRT groups, respectively ( p = 0.0014). Multivariable analysis confirmed SBRT was a significant predictor for OS (Hazard ratio:0.84; 95% confidence interval: 0.75-0.93, p = 0.001). Additionally, pancreatoduodenectomy, low comorbidity index, chemotherapy use, and node negative disease also positively impacted survival. Conclusions: SBRT appears to be associated with an improved OS compared to CFRT for LAPC. Further prospective studies investigating these hypothesis-generating results are warranted.

Nationwide incidence, treatment, and outcomes of patients 80 years and older with rectal adenocarcinomas: Analysis of 5,076 patients

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Background: Elderly patients have been underrepresented in randomized clinical trials of rectal cancer, and the value and tolerance of treatment options in this population remain unclear. We used the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to assess the incidence, treatment patterns, and overall survival (OS) outcomes of patients 80 years or older with newly diagnosed non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinomas. Methods: 5076 patients 80 years and older diagnosed with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinomas from 2004 to 2013 were identified. Univariable and multivariable (MVA) analysis were performed to identify patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics associated with receipt of standard of care therapy (SOCT) and factors predictive of OS. SOCT was defined as surgical resection for Stage I patients and receipt of neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection for Stage II/III patients. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to assess the effect of stage and treatment received on overall survival. Results: At presentation, 935 (18.5%) were TXN0, 1557 (30.8%) were Stage I, 1552 (30.6%) were Stage II, and 1,032 (20.1%) were Stage III. The rates of patients receiving no therapy were: 29.6% for TXN0, 22.6% for Stage I, 16.5% for Stage II, and 12.2% for Stage III. The rates of patients not receiving SOCT were: 22.6% for Stage I, 51.4% for Stage II and 39.4% for Stage III cases. Survival was significantly worse for patients not receiving standard of care therapy: Stage I (52.1% receiving SOCT vs. 7.6% not receiving SOCT; p < 0.01), Stage II (49.8% receiving SOCT vs. 14.5% not receiving SOCT; p < 0.01), and Stage III (47.5% receiving SOCT vs. 10.2% not receiving SOCT; p < 0.01). On MVA of patient, tumor, and treatment variables, receipt of SOCT was associated with improved OS for the entire cohort (p < 0.01) and when examined by stage (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this nationwide sample of patient’s ≥ 80 years old with rectal cancer, there was a high rate of patients receiving no therapy. Those that did receive standard therapy achieved reasonable outcomes, suggesting avoidance of guideline care in this population should not be advised.

Family Strategies to Support Siblings of Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

OBJECTIVE

To describe the strategies families report using to address the needs and concerns of siblings of children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

METHODS

A secondary semantic analysis was conducted of 86 qualitative interviews with family members of children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing HSCT at 4 HSCT centers and supplemented with a primary analysis of 38 additional targeted qualitative interviews (23 family members, 15 health care professionals) conducted at the primary center. Analyses focused on sibling issues and the strategies families use to address these issues.

RESULTS

The sibling issues identified included: (1) feeling negative effects of separation from the patient and caregiver(s); (2) experiencing difficult emotions; (3) being faced with additional responsibilities or burdens; (4) lacking information; and (5) feeling excluded. Families and health care providers reported the following strategies to support siblings: (1) sharing information; (2) using social support and help offered by family or friends; (3) taking siblings to the hospital; (4) communicating virtually; (5) providing special events or gifts or quality time for siblings; (6) offering siblings a defined role to help the family during the transplant process; (7) switching between parents at the hospital; (8) keeping the sibling's life constant; and, (9) arranging sibling meetings with a certified child life specialist or school counselor.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the above strategies and sharing them with other families in similar situations can begin to address sibling issues during HSCT and can improve hospital-based, family-centered care efforts.

Discussing molecular testing in oncology care: Comparing patient and physician information preferences

BACKGROUND

Molecular testing to inform treatment and clinical trial choices is now the standard of care for several types of cancer. However, no established guidelines exist for the type of information physicians should cover during discussions with the patient about the test or its results. The objectives of this study were to identify physician and patient preferences regarding information and who should communicate this information and how to inform guidelines for these conversations.

METHODS

Physicians and patients who participated in discussions regarding molecular testing were asked to choose 8 topics of most relevance out of a list of 18. The McNemar test was used to determine their top preferences. Patients were asked to identify what information they wanted to receive and who should inform them, and physicians were asked to identify the best aid to communication.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients identified 12 preferred topics: the benefits of testing (88%), how testing determines treatment (88%), implications for family (71%), whether a test indicates the seriousness of disease (68%), purpose of the test (64%), incidental findings (56%), explanation of cancer genetics (53%), how the test is done (46%), limitations (44%), explanation of biomarker (42%), risks (42%), and uninformative results (38%). Physicians added cost (59%). Patients preferred receiving information about molecular testing from their nurse or physician (85%), and physicians preferred using a pamphlet (67%) to augment communication.

CONCLUSIONS

The topics identified as important to discuss can inform future guidelines and can contribute to effective communication regarding molecular testing. Cancer 2017;123:1610-1616. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Development of Late Toxicities in Patients with Oral Tongue Cancer Treated with Surgical Resection and Adjuvant Radiation Therapy

Objectives

The late effects of RT are not well reported in patients with oral tongue cancer (OTC). This study reports the incidence of late effects and factors associated with the development of late effects in OTC patients.

Methods

Patients with OTC treated in our institution from 2003 to 2013 were evaluated. The association between RT doses, including mandible maximum and minimum doses and total 3D maximum dose, and late toxicity, defined as development of osteoradionecrosis (ORN), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube dependence for >6 months after treatment, and narcotic dependency >6 months posttreatment were assessed using both univariate and multivariable (MV) analysis.

Results

Seventy-six patients with OTC (45% males and 55% females) were treated with definitive surgical resection followed by adjuvant RT. The median follow-up was 4.3 years. Combined late toxicities were reported in 38% of patients. Thirty-four percent of the patients had narcotic dependency and, 3.9% of the patients had ORN of the mandible. Thirteen percent of patients developed PEG tube dependency that was significantly associated with a higher 3D maximum radiation dose on univariate analysis (p < 0.01). On MV analysis, 3D maximum dose remained significantly associated with long-term PEG tube dependency (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with OTC treated with adjuvant RT are at significant risk for development of late toxicities. Increasing maximum dose is associated with long-term PEG tube dependence, and care should be taken to reduce the “hot spot” within radiation treatment plans as much as possible.

Favorable Local Control From Consolidative Radiation Therapy in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Despite Gross Residual Disease, Positive Margins, or Nodal Involvement

PURPOSE

To report the influence of radiation therapy (RT) dose and surgical pathology variables on disease control and overall survival (OS) in patients treated for high-risk neuroblastoma at a single institution.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We conducted a retrospective study of 67 high-risk neuroblastoma patients who received RT as part of definitive management from January 2003 until May 2014.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 26 patients (38.8%) failed distantly; 4 of these patients also failed locally. One patient progressed locally without distant failure. Local control was 92.5%, and total disease control was 59.5%. No benefit was demonstrated for RT doses over 21.6 Gy with respect to local relapse-free survival (P=.55), disease-free survival (P=.22), or OS (P=.72). With respect to local relapse-free survival, disease-free survival, and OS, no disadvantage was seen for positive lymph nodes on surgical pathology, positive surgical margins, or gross residual disease. Of the patients with gross residual disease, 75% (6 of 8) went on to have no evidence of disease at time of last follow-up, and the 2 patients who failed did so distantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma in this series maintained excellent local control, with no benefit demonstrated for radiation doses over 21.6 Gy, and no disadvantage demonstrated for gross residual disease after surgery, positive surgical margins, or pathologic lymph node positivity. Though the limitations of a retrospective review for an uncommon disease must be kept in mind, with small numbers in some of the subgroups, it seems that dose escalation should be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

Clinical Utility of Routine Cardiac Monitoring in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Trastuzumab

BACKGROUND

Trastuzumab targets the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Cardiotoxicity is a potential adverse effect, manifesting as either an asymptomatic decline in left-ventricular ejection fraction or infrequently as largely reversible symptomatic heart failure (HF). Monitoring recommendations differ between product labeling and 2012 guidelines, and the clinical utility of serial cardiac monitoring in patients with metastatic breast cancer remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to describe the frequency of monitoring, incidence of symptomatic or asymptomatic HF, overall effect on treatment, and cost of monitoring for cardiotoxicity.

METHODS

We preformed an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab from January 1, 2009, through January 1, 2014, at an academic medical center.

RESULTS

Out of 154 treatments, 72% were adjuvant, and 28% were metastatic. In the adjuvant setting, a mean of 4.5 (interquartile range [IQR] = 4-5) echocardiograms (echos) over a mean of 11.5 (IQR = 11-12) months were performed. In the metastatic setting, a mean of 3.1 (IQR = 1-5) echos over a mean of 20.2 (IQR = 9-31) months were performed. Symptomatic HF events occurred in 4 adjuvant (3.6%) and 2 metastatic patients (6.5%); 10 patients (6.5%) had a treatment interruption, with 9 (90%) tolerating restart of trastuzumab. Two patients (1.3%) changed treatment as a result of cardiotoxicity. Using population incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer, $13 million could be saved if monitoring were reduced by 1 echo per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the low incidence of clinically significant HF and cost of monitoring, less frequent monitoring may be justified.

Resolving uncertainty in the spatial relationships between passive benzene exposure and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Background

Benzene is a known occupational carcinogen associated with increased risk of hematologic cancers, but the relationships between quantity of passive benzene exposure through residential proximity to toxic release sites, duration of exposure, lag time from exposure to cancer development, and lymphoma risk remain unclear.

Methods

We collected release data through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) from 1989 to 2003, which included location of benzene release sites, years when release occurred, and amount of release. We also collected data on incident cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry (GCCR) for the years 1999–2008. We constructed distance-decay surrogate exposure metrics and Poisson and negative binomial regression models of NHL incidence to quantify associations between passive exposure to benzene and NHL risk and examined the impact of amount, duration of exposure, and lag time on cancer development. Akaike’s information criteria (AIC) were used to determine the scaling factors for benzene dispersion and exposure periods that best predicted NHL risk.

Results

Using a range of scaling factors and exposure periods, we found that increased levels of passive benzene exposure were associated with higher risk of NHL. The best fitting model, with a scaling factor of 4 kilometers (km) and exposure period of 1989–1993, showed that higher exposure levels were associated with increased NHL risk (Level 4 (1.1–160 kilograms (kg)) vs. Level 1: risk ratio 1.56 [1.44–1.68], Level 5 (>160 kg) vs. Level 1: 1.60 [1.48–1.74]).

Conclusions

Higher levels of passive benzene exposure are associated with increased NHL risk across various lag periods. Additional epidemiological studies are needed to refine these models and better quantify the expected total passive benzene exposure in areas surrounding release sites.

A phase II study of bortezomib added to rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone in patients with previously untreated indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Bortezomib-containing combinations are active in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) although peripheral neuropathy can limit their dose intensity. Based on our phase I findings, we conducted a phase II trial of bortezomib in combination with R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) with a modified dose of vincristine. Patients with untreated indolent NHL received bortezomib (1·6 mg/m(2) ) on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle for up to 8 cycles and R-CHOP with a 1·5 mg cap of vincristine. Patients achieving a complete response (CR) received maintenance rituximab, and remaining patients received maintenance rituximab and bortezomib. The primary endpoint was CR rate; secondary survival analyses were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Among 29 eligible patients, NHL morphologies included follicular (n = 20), marginal zone (n = 5) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (n = 4). Nineteen patients had CR (66%) and 10 had partial response (34%), yielding a 100% overall response rate. With a median follow-up of 48·7 months, the 4-year progression-free and overall survivals were 83% and 93%. Twenty-two patients experienced peripheral neuropathy of any grade, and two had grade 3 neuropathy. The combination of bortezomib with R-CHOP is effective for indolent NHL, and we plan to evaluate therapies incorporating novel proteasome inhibitors in future studies in NHL.

Clinical outcomes in elderly patients with human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with definitive chemoradiation therapy

BACKGROUND

The benefit of combined chemoradiation in elderly patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) must be balanced with the potential for higher toxicity rates. We performed a retrospective review of our institutional experience.

METHODS

Patients 70 years or older with p16-positive oropharyngeal SCC treated with definitive chemoradiation from 2005 to 2013 were evaluated. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and locoregional failure-free survival were calculated.

RESULTS

Twenty-one eligible patients had a follow-up of 22.4 months. Estimated 5-year OS, DFS, and locoregional failure-free survival were 76.0%, 40%, and 95%, respectively. There was 1 death from acute toxicity, and 50% had unplanned hospitalizations. Sixty percent had late toxicity, and 6-month feeding tube dependence was 25%.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with HPV-positive locally advanced SCC of the oropharynx treated with definitive chemoradiation had good OS but high rates of acute and long-term toxicity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 846-851, 2015.

Efficacy and tolerability of anthracycline-based therapy in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Although diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be cured with rituximab and anthracycline-based therapy, within the elderly population there are additional factors to consider in selecting a treatment regimen including comorbid conditions, decreased drug metabolism, decreased hematologic reserve, reduced performance status, and regimen-related toxicity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with DLBCL aged ≥ 65 years at time of diagnosis treated with either an anthracycline-containing regimen (ACR; n = 59) or a non-ACR (n = 13) to assess factors that led to treatment selection, tolerability, and outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean age was 73 years in the ACR and 77 years in the non-ACR group (P = .009), and median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at diagnosis was 60% in the ACR group and 45% in the non-ACR group (P < .001). With an ACR, elderly DLBCL patients had a median overall survival of 28 months and a 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 64%. After an ACR, 14 patients [24%] (out of 59 total patients) had a decrease in LVEF, 7 patients [15%] (% is based off of those who we had the data collected, so this is out of 45 with this specific data) required a dose reduction of the anthracycline, and 15 patients [33%] (% is based off of those who we had the data collected, so this is out of 45 with this specific data) could not complete the regimen as planned. Hospitalization due to toxicity occurred in 20 patients [44%] (% is based off of those who we had the data collected, so this is out of 45 with data) of patients in the ACR group and 3 patients [75%] (% is based off of those who we had the data collected, so this is out of 4 with this specific data) in the non-ACR group, and was the only predictor of overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study suggest that elderly patients with DLBCL experience meaningful PFS with ACRs, but a third experience toxicity requiring therapy modification. Future studies should examine larger patient populations and define treatments with outcomes similar to ACR that also decrease toxicity and hospitalization in the elderly DLBCL population.

The 21-gene recurrence score and locoregional recurrence in breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

Although the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay has been validated to assess the risk of distant recurrence in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients, the relationship between RS and the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine if RS is associated with LRR in breast cancer patients and whether this relationship varies based on the type of local treatment [mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy (BCT)].

METHODS

163 consecutive estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients at our institution had an RS generated from the primary breast tumor between August 2006 and October 2009. Patients were treated with lumpectomy and radiation (BCT) (n = 110) or mastectomy alone (n = 53). Patients were stratified using a pre-determined RS of 25 and then grouped according to local therapy type.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 68.2 months. Patients who developed an LRR had stage I or IIA disease, >2 mm surgical margins, and received chemotherapy as directed by RS. While an RS > 25 did not predict for a higher rate of LRR, an RS > 24 was associated with LRR in our subjects. Among mastectomy patients, the 5-year LRR rate was 27.3 % in patients with an RS > 24 versus 10.7 % (p = 0.04) in those whose RS was ≤ 24. RS was not associated with LRR in patients who received BCT.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy for tumors that have an RS > 24 are at high risk of LRR and may benefit from post-mastectomy radiation.

18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters as imaging biomarkers in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, is visual analysis of PET and contrast enhanced CT better than the numbers?

PURPOSE

This study was designed to seek associations between positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) parameters, contrast enhanced neck computed tomography (CECT) and pathological findings, and to determine the potential prognostic value of PET/CT and CECT parameters in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

36 OCSCC patients underwent staging PET/CT and 30/36 of patients had CECT. PET/CT parameters were measured for the primary tumor and the hottest involved node, including maximum, mean, and peak standardized uptake values (SUV max, SUV mean, and SUV peak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), standardized added metabolic activity (SAM), and normalized standardized added metabolic activity (N SAM). Qualitative assessment of PET/CT and CECT were also performed. Pathological outcomes included: perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, nodal extracapsular spread, grade, pathologic T and N stages. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit for each parameter and outcome adjusting for potentially confounding variables. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used for progression free survival (PFS), locoregional recurrence free survival (LRFS), overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS).

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, patients with high (≥ median) tumor SUV max (OR 6.3), SUV mean (OR 6.3), MTV (OR 19.0), TLG (OR 19.0), SAM (OR 11.7) and N SAM (OR 19.0) had high pathological T-stage (T3/T4) (p<0.05). Ring/heterogeneous pattern on CECT qualitative assessment was associated with worse DMFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

High PET/CT parameters were associated with pathologically advanced T stage (T3/T4). Qualitative assessment of CECT has prognostic value. PET/CT parameters did not predict clinical outcome.

Total skin electron therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma using a modern dual-field rotational technique

PURPOSE

To report our experience with rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and to examine response by disease stage and race.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We reviewed our outcomes for 68 CTCL patients who received RTSEI (≥ 30 Gy) from 2000 to 2013. Primary outcomes were complete clinical response (CCR), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards, OS and RFS were compared across tumor stages at time of RTSEI with further racial subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

Median age at diagnosis and at time of radiation was 52 and 56 years, respectively. Median follow-up was 5.1 years, 49% were African American, and 49% were female. At time of treatment, 18, 37, and 13 patients were T stage 2, 3, and 4, respectively. At 6 weeks after RTSEI, overall CCR was 82% (88%, 83%, and 69% for T2, T3, and T4, respectively). Median RFS was 11 months for all patients and 14, 10, and 12 months for stage T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Tumor stage was not associated with RFS or CCR. Maintenance therapy after RTSEI was associated with improved RFS in both crude and multivariable analysis, controlling for T stage. Median OS was 76 months (91 and 59 months for T3 and T4, respectively). With the exception of improved OS in African Americans compared with whites at stage T2, race was not associated with CCR, RFS, or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

These results represent the largest RTSEI clinical outcomes study in the modern era using a dual-field rotational technique. Our observed response rates match or improve upon the standard set by previous outcome studies using conventional TSEI techniques, despite a large percentage of advanced CTCL lesions in our cohort. We found that clinical response after RTSEI did not seem to be affected by T stage or race.

Abstract 922: Evaluating markers of cisplatin sensitivity and survival in small cell lung cancer

Background: Molecular characterization of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can lead to improved outcome through the identification of tumor subtypes with differential clinical outcome and response to treatment. We characterized SCLC cell lines and patient samples by a combination of a genome-wide and a custom expression panel to assess expression changes associated with cisplatin sensitivity, in the case of cell lines, and overall survival, in terms of SCLC patients.Method: SCLC cell lines (H69, H128, H146, H526, H187, H209, D53, DMS153, and DMS114) and 79 archival samples of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor samples were employed. Sensitivity to cisplatin, and PARP inhibitor, veliparib was determined by MTS assay. In order to identify expression profiles characteristic of sensitive and insensitive cell lines, gene expression for untreated and treated cells was obtained from Illumina microarray gene expression and NanoString platforms. Comparisons of expression were performed between treated cell lines and controls using a combination of ANOVA and empirical variance distributions to assess sensitivity. Prognostic impact of differentially expressed genes in cell lines was assessed in patients using gene expression obtained by NanoString and protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Kaplan Meier Method, Logrank test, and Cox proportional hazard model were employed for testing differences in survival. Additionally, a quantile survival analyses was performed to identify patient subgroups associated with early and/or late changes in expression.Results: Unsupervised analysis of the Illumina probesets identified a 23 gene panel with differential expression between cell lines with differing platinum sensitivity: Sensitive - GLS, UBEC2, HACL1, MSI2 and LOC100129585; insensitive - CENPE, CRYGS, FAM83D, FLJ44342, GNA12, LOC88523, LRDD, N4BP2L2, SLC35A3, SPC25; shared - AURKA, CENPA, DLGAP5, HMMR, KIF20B, LOC100129585, LOC100131735, RBMX, SFRS3. Unsupervised analysis of expression data from Illumina and nCounter NanoString showed considerable concordance in cluster patterns. The Cox regression models of gene expression on overall survival identified LOC100131735 as a predictive marker and, SLC35A3, SPC25, DLGAP5 and UBE2C genes as prognostic biomarkers. Concomitantly high expression of SLC35A3 and GLS genes characterized SCLC with prolonged survival (Logrank p=0.025) while a trend toward reduced risk of death (HR: 0.798; 95%CI, 0.375-1.700, p=0.559) was observed with high GLS protein expression.Conclusions: Our use of both cell line and patient SCLC data has provided evidence of markers characteristics of cisplatin insensitivity that also show a relation with poor overall survival in patients. Additional studies to fully understand the mechanisms underlying such markers are currently underway. Supported through the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar Award and NIH 5K23CA164015 grant to TK Owonikoko

Citation Format: Taofeek Kunle Owonikoko, Guojing Zhang, Gabriel L. Sica, Zhengjia Chen, Jeffrey M. Switchenko, Sungjin Kim, Anthony A. Gal, Suresh S. Ramalingam, Xingming Deng, Michael R. Rossi, Jeanne Kowalski, Fadlo R. Khuri. Evaluating markers of cisplatin sensitivity and survival in small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 922. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-922

Poly (ADP) ribose polymerase enzyme inhibitor, veliparib, potentiates chemotherapy and radiation in vitro and in vivo in small cell lung cancer

Poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) plays a key role in DNA repair and is highly expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We investigated the therapeutic impact of PARP inhibition in SCLC. In vitro cytotoxicity of veliparib, cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide singly and combined was determined by MTS in 9 SCLC cell lines (H69, H128, H146, H526, H187, H209, DMS53, DMS153, and DMS114). Subcutaneous xenografts in athymic nu/nu mice of H146 and H128 cells with relatively high and low platinum sensitivity, respectively, were employed for in vivo testing. Mechanisms of differential sensitivity of SCLC cell lines to PARP inhibition were investigated by comparing protein and gene expression profiles of the platinum sensitive and the less sensitive cell lines. Veliparib showed limited single-agent cytotoxicity but selectively potentiated (≥50% reduction in IC₅₀) cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide in vitro in five of nine SCLC cell lines. Veliparib with cisplatin or etoposide or with both cisplatin and etoposide showed greater delay in tumor growth than chemotherapy alone in H146 but not H128 xenografts. The potentiating effect of veliparib was associated with in vitro cell line sensitivity to cisplatin (CC = 0.672; P = 0.048) and DNA-PKcs protein modulation. Gene expression profiling identified differential expression of a 5-gene panel (GLS, UBEC2, HACL1, MSI2, and LOC100129585) in cell lines with relatively greater sensitivity to platinum and veliparib combination. Veliparib potentiates standard cytotoxic agents against SCLC in a cell-specific manner. This potentiation correlates with platinum sensitivity, DNA-PKcs expression and a 5-gene expression profile.

A model and nomogram to predict tumor site origin for squamous cell cancer confined to cervical lymph nodes

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to develop a multifactorial statistical model to predict the specific head and neck (H&N) tumor site origin in cases of squamous cell carcinoma confined to the cervical lymph nodes ("unknown primaries").

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was analyzed for patients with an H&N tumor site who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2011. The SEER patients were identified according to their H&N primary tumor site and clinically positive cervical lymph node levels at the time of presentation. The SEER patient data set was randomly divided into 2 data sets for the purposes of internal split-sample validation. The effects of cervical lymph node levels, age, race, and sex on H&N primary tumor site were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Multivariate logistic regression models and an associated set of nomograms were developed based on relevant factors to provide probabilities of tumor site origin.

RESULTS

Analysis of the SEER database identified 20,011 patients with H&N disease with both site-level and lymph node-level data. Sex, race, age, and lymph node levels were associated with primary H&N tumor site (nasopharynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx) in the multivariate models. Internal validation techniques affirmed the accuracy of these models on separate data.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of epidemiologic and lymph node data into a predictive model has the potential to provide valuable guidance to clinicians in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma confined to the cervical lymph nodes.