Reporting time-to-event endpoints and response rates in 4 decades of randomized controlled trials in advanced colorectal cancer

What is the Current Effectiveness of Olaparib for Breast Cancer Patients with a BRCA Mutation? A Systematic Review

Background:

The Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib, acts against cancer cells in people with breast cancer pre-disposition gene mutations (BRCAm). Despite US and EU approval as a therapy for ovarian cancer patients with BRCAm, but research into olaparib therapy for breast cancer patients with BRCAm is in its infancy.

Objective:

As no systematic review has yet been undertaken to synthesise clinical trials looking at olaparib as a therapy for breast cancer patients with BRCAm, this systematic review aims to establish the current effectiveness of olaparib as a treatment for these patients.

Methods:

CINAHL, MEDLINE, Royal College of Nursing, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Internurse, Embase, Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched, supplemented by a grey literature search, hand searching and cross-referencing. Authors independently reviewed and graded the studies also using Kmetet al. scoring system.

Results:

One long-term case study and six clinical trials were included. Heterogeneity prevented statistical meta-analysis, meaning only narrative synthesis was possible. The overall clinical benefit of olaparib appears to be greater and longer lived in BRCAm carriers compared to BRCAwt, and also when compared to standard chemotherapy treatments.

Conclusion:

Implications for nursing: nurses working in this field should be aware that the most compelling results were found in the subset of patients who harbour a BRCA mutation, meaning that olaparib should be regarded as a clinically effective potential therapy for these patients. Larger, longer-term trials including comparator arms are required to demonstrate benefits including overall survival, adverse effects and quality of life.

Time-to-Treatment-Failure and Related Outcomes Among 1000+ Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Comparisons Between Older Versus Younger Patients (Alliance A151711)

INTRODUCTION

Time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) is the interval from chemotherapy initiation to premature discontinuation. We evaluated TTF based on age.

METHODS

Pooled analyses were conducted with first-line chemotherapy trials for advanced NSCLC (CALGB 9730, 30203, and 30801). Comparisons among patients who were 65 years and older and 70 years and older were performed for TTF (primary endpoint), reasons for early chemotherapy cessation, grade 3+ adverse events, and overall survival.

RESULTS

Among 1006 patients, 460 (46%) were older than 65 years of age. One hundred forty-five older patients (32% of this age cohort) completed all six planned chemotherapy cycles as did 170 (32%) younger patients. Median TTF was 2.9 months (95% confidence interval: 2.7- 3.2) in older patients and 3 months (95% confidence interval: 2.9-3.5) in younger patients; adjustment for performance status and stratification by chemotherapy by trial yielded no statistically significant age-based difference in TTF. However, reasons for early chemotherapy cessation differed between age groups (multivariate p = 0.004). Older patients were less likely to discontinue from cancer progression (41% versus 55%) and more likely from toxicity or patient choice (16% and 15%, respectively) compared to younger patients (13% and 6%, respectively). Older patients were more likely to experience grade 3+ adverse events (86% versus 79%) with no statistically significant difference in survival. An age cutpoint of 70+ years showed no difference in TTF, a lower trend of early cessation due to cancer progression, and somewhat shorter older patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

TTF was comparable between older and younger patients; but different, age-based, and potentially modifiable reasons account for it.

Age-dependent improvement in median and long-term survival in unselected population-based Nordic registries of patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) trials, median survival has increased from 6 months to above 20 months during the previous decades. Uncertainty exists in how this survival improvement has translated to the general mCRC population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Survival data from patients with synchronous mCRC were collected from the Norwegian (1980-2008), Swedish (1996-2008) and Danish (2001-09) cancer registries.

RESULTS

A total of 29 628 patients were identified. From 1980-1985 to 2006-2008, median survival increased from 5 to 10 months for Norwegian patients. Three-year survival increased from 7% to 21% and 5-year survival from 4% to 9%. For patients <60 years, median survival was doubled to 16 months, 3-year survival increased fourfold up to 28% and 5-year survival threefold up to 14%. Similar improvements were seen in Sweden and Denmark. In all countries, the improved outcome was seen especially for younger patients and much less for patients >75 years of age.

CONCLUSION

An increase in median and long-term survival over time was found in unselected population-based registries of patients with synchronous mCRC. The improved outcome in survival was especially seen in younger patients, raising concerns over our ability to adapt available treatment options for elderly patients.