Initial treatment and changes in adjuvant endocrine therapy for early stage breast cancer

Clinical trials have shown that aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are an important advance in the treatment of early stage breast cancer (ESBC), but practice patterns and the impact of treatment side effects of endocrine therapy in the community setting have not been extensively explored. This retrospective chart review describes practice patterns among patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for ESBC. Charts of 200 patients with confirmed stage I-IIIA breast cancer were reviewed. Patients received first-line treatment with tamoxifen (n=96) or AIs (n=104). Fifty-one patients completed a structured interview regarding symptom burden during therapy. Time to discontinuation or switching from first-line therapy did not vary by drug class (tamoxifen vs. AI). Musculoskeletal symptoms predicted time to switching among AI patients. Tamoxifen patients who switched to AIs tended to do so following clinical guidelines for use of AIs. Interview results showed that more anastrozole than tamoxifen patients cited side effects as the reason for switching.

Single-agent lapatinib for HER2-overexpressing advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on first- or second-line trastuzumab-containing regimens

BACKGROUND

This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lapatinib in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed during prior trastuzumab therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women with stage IIIB/IV HER2-overexpressing breast cancer were treated with single-agent lapatinib 1250 or 1500 mg once daily after protocol amendment. Tumor response according to RECIST was assessed every 8 weeks. HER2 expression was assessed in tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry and FISH.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients were enrolled in the study. Investigator and independent review response rates [complete response (CR) or partial response (PR)] were 7.7% and 5.1%, and clinical benefit rates (CR, PR, or stable disease for >or=24 weeks) were 14.1% and 9.0%, respectively. Median time to progression was 15.3 weeks by independent review, and median overall survival was 79 weeks. The most common treatment-related adverse events were rash (47%), diarrhea (46%), nausea (31%), and fatigue (18%).

CONCLUSIONS

Single-agent lapatinib has clinical activity with manageable toxic effects in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer that progressed on trastuzumab-containing therapy. Studies of lapatinib-based combination regimens with chemotherapy and other targeted therapies in metastatic and earlier stages of breast cancer are warranted.

Phase II Multicenter Study of Bendamustine Plus Rituximab in Patients With Relapsed Indolent B-Cell and Mantle Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Purpose

Bendamustine HCl is a bifunctional mechlorethamine derivative with clinical activity in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study evaluated bendamustine plus rituximab in 67 adults with relapsed, indolent B-cell or mantle cell lymphoma without documented resistance to prior rituximab.

Patients and Methods

Patients received rituximab 375 mg/m2intravenously on day 1 and bendamustine 90 mg/m2intravenously on days 2 and 3 of each 28-day cycle for four to six cycles. An additional dose of rituximab was administered 1 week before the first cycle and 4 weeks after the last cycle. Sixty-six patients (median age, 60 years) received at least one dose of both drugs.

Results

Overall response rate was 92% (41% complete response, 14% unconfirmed complete response, and 38% partial response). Median duration of response was 21 months (95% CI, 18 to 24 months). Median progression-free survival time was 23 months (95% CI, 20 to 26 months). Outcomes were similar for patients with indolent or mantle cell histologies. The combination was generally well tolerated; the primary toxicity was myelosuppression (grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 36%; grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, 9%).

Conclusion

Bendamustine plus rituximab is an active combination in patients with relapsed indolent and mantle cell lymphoma.

Retrospective chart review of severe infusion reactions with rituximab, cetuximab, and bevacizumab in community oncology practices: assessment of clinical consequences

GOALS OF WORK

Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) treatments can result in severe infusion reactions. Managing infusion reactions in the outpatient setting introduces clinical and resource challenges for patients and providers, but there is little information regarding prevention, management, or outcomes of severe infusion reactions. This study represents one of the first attempts to describe the clinical consequences of severe infusion reactions associated with MoAb treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinic staff identified adults treated with rituximab, cetuximab, or bevacizumab who experienced a grade 3 or higher (severe) infusion reaction. Chart reviews from 19 oncology practice sites across the USA captured patient demographics, infusion reaction management procedures, and clinical outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

With an average age of 62 years, the sample comprised of 76 patients who experienced a severe infusion reaction while receiving rituximab (n = 47), cetuximab (n = 24), and bevacizumab (n = 5). The most common pretreatment medications were acetaminophen and antihistamine in the rituximab group and corticosteroids (42%) in the cetuximab group. All cetuximab and the majority of rituximab severe infusion reactions occurred during the first cycle of therapy. Postinfusion reaction management typically included corticosteroids, oxygen, and intravenous fluids. Overall, 22% were hospitalized for a mean of 4 days (range = 2.0 to 6.0 days). Permanent discontinuation of MoAb therapy occurred after the majority of cetuximab (79 to 100%) related severe infusion reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe infusion reactions are intensive events that present a serious challenge to patients and oncology practices. Efforts to prevent or reduce such reactions could be of great benefit.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: which antiemetic for which therapy?

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains an important and common toxicity of cancer treatment. Recent guideline revisions have classified chemotherapeutic agents into four categories of emesis risk without the use of preventive agents: high (> 90%), moderate (30%--90%), low (10%-30%), and minimal (< 10%). Currently available antiemetic agents, including corticosteroids, 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)3 receptor antagonists, and neurokinin (NK)-1 antagonists are used alone or in combination depending on the level of emetogenic potential as prophylaxis against the development of CINVduring the acute period (up to 24 hours after chemotherapy) and the delayed period (up to 5 days after treatment). Newer agents, including the second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron (Aloxi) and the NK-1 antagonist aprepitant (Emend), offer additional clinical benefit in highly and moderately emetogenic therapy. However, delayed nausea and vomiting continue to occur frequently in many patients and have an impact on quality of life. Other classes of agents including the benzodiazepines and cannabinoids offer the potential for additional protective benefit. Continued research with new drugs and combinations is necessary to meet this significant unmet need of cancer patients.

Patient-Specific Vaccines Derived from Autologous Tumor Cell Lines as Active Specific Immunotherapy: Results of Exploratory Phase I/II Trials in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma

Seventy-four (74) patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with patient-specific vaccines derived from autologous tumor cell lines. Cryopreserved irradiated tumor cells were injected weekly for 3 weeks, then monthly for 5 months. At a median follow up >6 years, the median event-free survival (EFS) was 4.5 months, with 13 patients alive and progression free 6-12 years later. Median overall survival (OS) was 20.5 months, with 29% 5-year OS. Tumor response rate was 9% among the 35 patients with evaluable disease who received at least 3 injections. Better survival was observed for patients who had minimal rather than clinically evident metastatic disease at the time vaccine therapy was initiated (5-yr OS 47% vs. 13%; p < 0.0001), received granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and/or interferon gamma as an adjuvant (5-yr EFS 26% vs. 0%; p < 0.0001) or received an average of <7 million cells for each of the first 3 injections, compared to those who received 7-11.9 million or >12 million cells per injection (5-yr EFS OS 35% vs. 24%; p = 0.041 and p = 0.034). There was a trend toward better EFS for those who had a positive delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to an intradermal injection of 1 million irradiated tumor cells at baseline, or converted to positive after 3 injections, compared to those whose DTH remained negative (5-yr EFS 39% vs. 18%; p = 0.159). This treatment approach is feasible, produces minimal toxicity, and is associated with longterm survival in a significant proportion of patients.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: clinician and patient perspectives

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common and serious problem encountered by many patients receiving anticancer therapy. Up to three fourths of all cancer patients experience chemotherapy-related emesis. Risk factors include specific chemotherapeutic agents used, female gender, age less than 50 years, and history of nausea or vomiting. Since CINV can complicate or prevent administration of planned therapy, decrease quality of life, and increase healthcare costs, its effective management is essential. Although serotonin receptor antagonists have significantly improved outcomes, next-generation analogs such as palonosetron have shown greater specificity and increased efficacy. Novel agents like the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant are also active, particularly when combined with palonosetron and dexamethasone. In recent years, the greatest advances have been made in the prevention of vomiting (especially acute vomiting), although uncontrolled nausea is still a major concern for many patients. Better treatments are needed for management of delayed CINV and for patients who do not respond to standard antiemetic therapies.

A prospective investigation of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and quality of life

This prospective study of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) explored the association between the relative grade of neutropenia and symptom burden and quality of life (QOL). Eighty-four adult cancer patients from nine community oncology centers receiving 1 of 13 myelosuppressive chemotherapies were evaluated at days 0, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, and 21 of their respective first cycle. Neutropenia grade (grade 3/4 vs grades 0 to 2) was determined by serial absolute neutrophil count (ANC) measures. Measures of patient-reported outcomes included the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Cancer Care Monitor-Medical Isolation Scale (CCM-MIS), and SF-36. Changes in outcomes from baseline to highest grade of neutropenia were evaluated using mixed model-repeated measures for each of 15 outcomes. Compared with grades 0-2, grade 3/4 neutropenia was associated with greater symptom burden and worse QOL for six measures (P < 0.05). The pattern of differences suggested that measures of symptom distress and social functioning were sensitive to patient changes associated with grade 3/4 neutropenia. Worsening of symptom burden and QOL appears to be associated with severe afebrile neutropenia. A causal relationship between neutropenia and worse symptoms and QOL remains difficult to establish due to the confounding of the effects of neutropenia with other adverse effects of chemotherapy.

Validation of a patient satisfaction questionnaire for anemia treatment, the PSQ-An

BACKGROUND

Treating anemia associated with chemotherapy and many cancers is often necessary. However, patient satisfaction with anemia treatment is limited by the lack of validated instruments. We developed and validated a new treatment-specific patient satisfaction instrument: the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire for Anemia Treatment (PSQ-An). Treatment burden and overall satisfaction scales were designed for ease of use in clinical practice.

METHODS

312 cancer patients (141 breast, 69 gynecological, and 102 non-small cell lung) were targeted to complete the PSQ-An at 4 week intervals. Data from weeks 5 and 9 were analyzed. Patients also completed the MOS SF-36 Global Health assessment and questions concerning resources devoted to anemia treatment. Item reduction used endorsement rates, floor/ceiling effects, and item-item correlations. Factor analysis identified meaningful subscales. Test-retest reliability was assessed. Construct validity was tested, using Pearson's correlations, by comparing subscale scores to Global Health, hemoglobin levels, and resources devoted to anemia treatment.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 92.9% (264/284) at week 5. Most (84.2%) of the patients were female, and the mean (SD) age was 60.2 (+/- 11.8) years. Two distinct subscales were identified measuring treatment burden (7 items) and overall satisfaction (2 items). Test-retest reliability was examined (ICC: 0.45-0.67); both were internally consistent (alpha = 0.83). Both subscales exhibited convergent and divergent validity with independent measures of health. ANOVA results indicated that the PSQ-An Satisfaction subscale discriminated between 5 levels of MOS SF-36 Global Health (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

The PSQ-An is a validated, treatment-specific instrument for measuring satisfaction with anemia treatment for cancer patients. PSQ-An subscales reflect the burden of injection anemia treatment on cancer patients and their assessment of the overall treatment value.

Neutropenia: Etiology and Pathogenesis

Neutropenia is defined as an absolute neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm(3) and can be graded as mild (1000-1500 cells/mm(3)), moderate (500-1000 cells/mm(3)), or severe (<500 cells/mm(3)). Neutropenia can develop as a result of > or =1 pathologic mechanism, including decreased bone marrow production, the sequestering of neutrophils, and increased destruction of neutrophils in the peripheral blood. The clinical result is increased risk for infection. This risk is directly proportional to the severity and duration of neutropenia. Neutropenia is classified according to the etiology as congenital or acquired, with the latter further defined according to the etiology or pathology. Febrile neutropenia is associated with substantial morbidity and even mortality.

Experiencing neutropenia: quality of life interviews with adult cancer patients

Background

Neutropenia is a common toxicity in chemotherapy but detailed information about how neutropenia is associated with changes in patients' quality of life is not readily available. This prospective study interviewed patients with grade 4 neutropenia to provide qualitative information on patients' experience of developing and coping with grade 4 neutropenia during a cycle of chemotherapy.

Methods

A sample of 34 patients who developed grade 4 neutropenia during the first cycle of chemotherapy completed a total of 100 structured clinical interviews. Interviews were transcribed, and 2 raters inductively developed 5 broad categories comprising 80 specific complaint domains nominated by patients. Thirty-five patient-nominated problems were mentioned in 5% or more of the interviews.

Results

Fatigue was the most common physical symptom. Interference in daily routine, negative self-evaluation, negative emotion, and social isolation were other common complaints associated with neutropenia.

Conclusion

Neutropenia is associated with a number of negative experiences among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and these negative experiences have an adverse effect on the patient's quality of life. Oncology nurses can play a key role in helping patients manage adverse effects to maintain their quality of life.

Sex differences in patients who have cancer with mild anemia: symptom burden and quality of life

The same criterion for mild anemia (10 < hemoglobin [Hgb]<12 g/dL) has been used for male and female patients. Mild anemia is associated with greater symptom burden and reduced quality of life (QOL). We compared male and female patients who have mild anemia with each other and with their respective normal groups. Patients (N = 3553) from a community oncology database were sorted by sex and Hgb level into 3 anemic and 2 normal groups: men with 10 </= Hgb <12 g/dL, men with 12 </= Hgb <14 g/dL, women with 10 </= Hgb <12 g/dL, men with Hgb >/= 14 g/dL, and women with Hgb >/= 12 g/dL. Patients receiving chemotherapy (< 30 days) and/or growth factor (< 60 days) were excluded. Each case provided same-day scores on the Cancer Care Monitor, a validated measure of symptom burden, functioning, and health-related QOL comprising 7 scales. Compared with respective normal groups, male and female patients with mild anemia showed greater symptom burden, lower functioning, and worse QOL (P <0.05). Compared with normal men and women, patients with mild anemia showed clinically significant differences in terms of effect size (Cohen's d, 0.11- 0.91). Men with 10 </= Hgb <12 g/dL were significantly more impaired and had worse QOL than men with 12 </= Hgb <14 g/dL or women with 10 </= Hgb <12 g/dL. Impact of mild anemia on QOL is significant, and treating men and women by the same standards (Hgb level < 12 g/dL) is likely incorrect. Mild anemia may be undertreated, especially for men with 12 </= Hgb <14 g/dL.

A randomized comparison of every-2-week darbepoetin alfa and weekly epoetin alfa for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with breast, lung, or gynecologic cancer

An important clinical question is the relative efficacy of the most common dosages of darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp; Amgen Inc.; Thousand Oaks, CA) 200 microg every 2 weeks (Q2W) and epoetin alfa (Procrit; Ortho Biotech Products, LP; Raritan, NJ) 40,000 U weekly (QW) for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia. We designed three concurrent randomized, open-label, multicenter, identical trials (with the exception of tumor type criteria of breast, gynecologic, or lung cancer) of darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia to validate the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire for Anemia (PSQ-An) treatment tool and to compare the efficacies and safety profiles of these two agents. In each trial, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either darbepoetin alfa at a dose of 200 microg Q2W or epoetin alfa at a dose of 40,000 U QW for up to 16 weeks. The PSQ-An was assessed for validity, feasibility, and reliability. Secondary clinical endpoints were analyzed using the primary analysis set. Both individual trial analyses and a protocol-specified combined analysis of data from all three trials were conducted. Overall, 312 patients (157 darbepoetin alfa; 155 epoetin alfa) were randomized and received study drug. Baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment groups in each trial and overall. The PSQ-An was valid, feasible, and reliable. In general, no difference between treatment groups was observed for hemoglobin- and transfusion-based endpoints in each individual trial or in the combined analysis. From exploratory analyses, achievement and maintenance of a hemoglobin target range (11-13 g/dl) were similar in both groups. No differences in safety were observed. With the PSQ-An, formal comparisons of the impact of anemia therapies on patients and caregivers can be made in future prospective studies. Further, darbepoetin alfa (200 microg Q2W) and epoetin alfa (40,000 U QW) appear to achieve comparable clinical and hematologic outcomes.

First and subsequent cycle use of pegfilgrastim prevents febrile neutropenia in patients with breast cancer: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study

PURPOSE

We evaluated the efficacy of pegfilgrastim to reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia associated with docetaxel in breast cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned to either placebo or pegfilgrastim 6 mg subcutaneously on day 2 of each 21-day chemotherapy cycle of 100 mg/m(2) docetaxel. The primary end point was the percentage of patients developing febrile neutropenia (defined as body temperature >/= 38.2 degrees C and neutrophil count < 0.5 x 10(9)/L on the same day of the fever or the day after). Secondary end points were incidence of hospitalizations associated with a diagnosis of febrile neutropenia, intravenous (IV) anti-infectives required for febrile neutropenia, and the ability to maintain planned chemotherapy dose on time. Patients with febrile neutropenia were converted to open-label pegfilgrastim in subsequent cycles.

RESULTS

Nine hundred twenty-eight patients received placebo (n = 465) or pegfilgrastim (n = 463). Patients receiving pegfilgrastim, compared with patients receiving placebo, had a lower incidence of febrile neutropenia (1% v 17%, respectively; P < .001), febrile neutropenia-related hospitalization (1% v 14%, respectively; P < .001), and use of IV anti-infectives (2% v 10%, respectively; P < .001). The percentage of patients receiving the planned dose on time was similar between patients receiving pegfilgrastim and patients who initially received placebo (80% and 78%, respectively), as would be expected of the study design. Pegfilgrastim was generally well tolerated and safe, and the adverse events reported were typical of this patient population.

CONCLUSION

First and subsequent cycle use of pegfilgrastim with a moderately myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimen markedly reduced febrile neutropenia, febrile neutropenia-related hospitalizations, and IV anti-infective use.

Managing the toxicity of hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is an established treatment modality for a variety of neoplastic, hematologic, and immunologic disorders. Fueled in part by remarkable technologic advances, the number of both autologous and allogeneic transplants has increased dramatically over the past decade. Peripheral blood stem cells have largely replaced bone marrow as the source of hematopoietic progenitors in autologous transplants, and their use in the allogeneic setting has increased substantially. Less toxic transplants, in the form of non-myeloablative conditioning regimens, are being actively investigated, with the promise of expanding indications and age limits for allogeneic transplant. A successful global infrastructure allowing sharing of HLA-typing information has led to increased availability of non-sibling, HLA-matched, unrelated donor transplants for many patients who lack a suitable sibling donor. Finally, umbilical cord blood transplants are being investigated in both children and adult patients. The ability to transplant more individuals with broader indications owes much to a concurrent improvement in supportive care agents and techniques. Although regimen-related mortality and morbidity have decreased, stem cell transplants continue to pose multiple potential complications. A careful proactive assessment to identify, treat, and, hopefully, prevent adverse events is essential to a successful transplant. This review is intended to summarize some of the toxicities of hematopoietic stem cell transplant in a systematic, organ-based fashion and to review the treatment options available for each of these side effects.

Breast tumor contamination of PBSC harvests: tumor depletion by positive selection of CD34(+) cells

BACKGROUND

Positive selection of CD34(+) cells may reduce or eliminate tumor cells contaminating PBSC harvests of breast cancer (BrCa) patients. However, to assess tumor purging accurately methods may be needed that are of higher sensitivity than standard immunocytochemistry (ICC) assays.

METHODS

BrCa-cell depletion, resulting from CD34(+) cell selection, was evaluated using a novel, highly sensitive assay based upon immunomagnetic enrichment with ICC detection in 36 BrCa patients undergoing highdose chemotherapy with autologous PBSC support.

RESULTS

The prevalence of BrCa-cell contamination was significantly lower (P = 0.0078) in selected CD34(+) cell fractions (17/35, 49%) from apheresis collections compared with CD34(-) cell fractions (25/35, 71%). In 8/34 (24%) patients, BrCa cells were detected in CD34(-) cell fractions, but not in paired CD34(+) cell fractions. Significantly lower total numbers (P < 0.0005) of BrCa cells were enumerable in CD34(+) cell fractions compared with corresponding apheresis harvests. The median total BrCa-cell content of selected CD34(+) cell fractions with measurable contamination was 22 BrCa cells (range, 6-73 BrCa cells), compared with 3297 BrCa cells (range, 10-98 400 BrCa cells) in apheresis harvests. The median log depletion of BrCa cells achieved by positive CD34(+) cell selection in specimens with detectable contamination both before and after selection was 2.2 (range, 1.7-4.0). Total pre-selection BrCa cell number was significantly predictive (P = 0.004) of residual detectable post-selection contamination.

DISCUSSION

Positive CD34(+) cell selection is an effective tumor purging strategy. The prevalence of PBSC contamination in BrCa patients is substantially higher than formerly appreciated.

Modulation of the Fas signaling pathway by IFN-gamma in therapy of colon cancer: phase I trial and correlative studies of IFN-gamma, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin

Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (FUra/LV) cytotoxicity by IFN-gamma in colon carcinoma cells is dependent on FUra-induced DNA damage, the Fas death receptor, and independent of p53 and RNA-mediated FUra toxicity, which occurs in normal gastrointestinal tissues. This provides a rationale for enhancing the selective action of FUra/LV by IFN-gamma in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Based on results from our preclinical studies we designed a Phase I trial combining FUra (370 mg/m2) and LV (200 mg/m2), i.v. bolus daily x 5 days, with escalating doses of IFN-gamma (10-100 micro g/m2) s.c. on days 1, 3, and 5, every 28 days. Twenty-five patients with carcinomas were enrolled; 6 patients received IFN-gamma on days 1 and 3 only. The dose-limiting toxicity, stomatitis, occurred most frequently at 100 micro g/m2 IFN-gamma. Minor response or SD was observed in 2 of 9 patients and in 4 of 12 patients at dose levels of < or =50 micro g/m2 and > or =75 micro g/m2 IFN-gamma, respectively. Three evaluable chemonaive patients demonstrated partial response (2) or complete response (1). Serial plasma samples revealed peak FUra concentrations of >100 micro M; at 100 micro g/m2 IFN-gamma plasma concentrations >5 units/ml persisted for 6.5 h and >1 unit/ml for 28.5 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters of IFN-gamma correlated with a 2-3-fold up-regulation of Fas expression at 24 h in CD15+ cells in peripheral blood samples. Furthermore, clinically relevant IFN-gamma concentrations up-regulated Fas expression and sensitized HT29 colon carcinoma cells in vitro to FUra/LV cytotoxicity. On the basis of the modulation of Fas signaling, FUra/LV combined with IFN-gamma has shown activity in a Phase I trial in colorectal carcinoma and warrants additional evaluation in Phase II.

Clinical experience with edrecolomab: a monoclonal antibody therapy for colorectal carcinoma

Edrecolomab (monoclonal antibody 17-1A) is a murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes the human tumor-associated antigen Ep-CAM (otherwise known as 17-1A). It is being developed for the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer. In a study of 189 patients with resected stage III colorectal cancer, treatment with edrecolomab resulted in a 32% increase in overall survival compared with no treatment (P<0.01) and decreased the tumor recurrence rate by 23% (P<0.04). In terms of safety, edrecolomab was well tolerated. Based on these study results, edrecolomab is currently under investigation in large multicenter phase III studies both as monotherapy and in combination with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for the treatment of stage III colon cancer. Although these studies are still ongoing, an interim analysis of safety data indicated that the combination of edrecolomab with chemotherapy is well tolerated. In addition, edrecolomab monotherapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile compared with chemotherapy. Edrecolomab is also currently being tested in large multicenter adjuvant phase III studies in stage II/III rectal cancer and stage II colon cancer. Edrecolomab represents a novel therapeutic approach and has the potential to become a treatment of choice as monotherapy in stage II colon cancer and in combination with chemotherapy in stage II/III rectal and stage III colon cancer.

Short-term autologous tumor cell lines for the active specific immunotherapy of patients with metastatic melanoma

We established short-term cell lines for 108/170 (64%) patients with metastatic melanoma. Tumor cell numbers were expanded to 10(8), then cells were irradiated, aliquoted, and cryopreserved for clinical use. Vaccines have been used to treat 69 patients with clinical follow up for 33 who had measurable metastatic disease at the time vaccine therapy was initiated (METS), and 33 who had no evidence of disease (NED) at the time of vaccine therapy following surgical resection of metastases. The protocol called for a baseline test of delayed tumor hypersensitivity (DTH), three weekly injections, a repeat of the DTH test, then monthly injections for an additional 5 months. Objective tumor responses were noted in 3/26 (12%) patients who received a minimum of three vaccinations, one complete, and two partial, with survivals of 36, 46+, and 78+ months. Only 6/64 (9.4%) had a positive DTH (>10 mm) at baseline, including three METS, all of whom progressed within 4 months and died within a year, and three who are still NED after more than 5 years. Conversion of DTH from negative to positive was documented in 18/44 (41%) patients who were tested at week 0 and 4. At a median follow up of greater than 5 years, the median overall survival (OS) was 40 months for "NED" with a 5-year survival rate of 39%, and 8.6 months with a 5-year survival rate of 10% for "METS" The 18 patients who had conversion of their DTH had a median event-free survival (EFS) of 15.8 months and 5-year EFS of 32% compared to 4.2 months and 9% for the 26 non-converters (P=0.012, two-tailed, log-rank test). Among patients who were NED when treatment started, the 12 patients whose DTH converted had a median overall survival of 61.4 months with 5-year survival of 63% compared to 9.7 months and 0% for the 13 non-converters (P=0.0026). This treatment approach is feasible, produces minimal toxicity, and is associated with long-term survival in a significant subset of patients.