Modern insights into hepatic arterial infusion for liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Hepatic Artery Infusion of Floxuridine in Combination With Systemic Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis in Two Centers

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of floxuridine (FUDR) in combination with systemic chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer liver metastases (PCLM).

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively collected clinical data of 347 patients with PCLM who underwent first-line chemotherapy at two Chinese centers between 2012 and 2019. Propensity score matching between patients with and without HAI was performed to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics. Objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) between groups were compared. HAI pump functionality was recorded.

Results

Data of 258 patients (62 patients with HAI and 196 patients without HAI) were used for matching. After 1:1 ratio matching, 62 patients per group were included. The intrahepatic ORR was 66.1% in the HAI group and 22.6% in the non-HAI group (P < 0.001), and the extrahepatic ORR was 25.0 versus 28.9% (P = 0.679). The median OS was significantly longer in HAI group (14.0 versus 10.8 months, P = 0.001). Multivariance COX regression showed HAI led to a decrease in hazard ratio for death by 61.8% (HR = 0.382; 95% CI: 0.252–0.578; P< 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients without EHM, with higher intrahepatic tumor burden and with synchronous liver metastasis benefited more from HAI. Dysfunction of HAI pump occurred in 5.7% of patients during the period of follow-up.

Conclusions

In patients with PCLM, first-line treatment with HAI FUDR plus SCT resulted in higher intrahepatic response and better OS.

Meta-Analysis of Hepatic Arterial Infusion for Liver Metastases From Colorectal Cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential benefits of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in the management of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were comprehensively searched from inception to November 2020. Prospective randomized trials with HAIC vs. systemic chemotherapy (SC) were selected. The overall survival (OS), tumor response rates (RRs), progression-free survival (PFS), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed in the meta-analysis. Subsequently, the heterogeneity between studies, sensitivity, publication bias, and meta-regression analyses were performed. Finally, 18 studies, which contained 1,766 participants (922 in the HAIC group and 844 in the SC group) were included. There was a significantly higher OS rate in the HAIC as palliative treatment group (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.08–0.26; P = 0.000) and HAIC as adjuvant treatment group compared with SC group (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.38–0.87; P = 0.000). The complete and partial tumor RRs were also increased significantly in the HAIC as palliative treatment group (RR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.36–3.22; P = 0.001) and as adjuvant treatment group compared with SC group (RR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.40–3.26; P = 0.000). However, PFS did not differ significantly between the HAIC and SC groups (P > 0.05). Meta-regression analysis showed potential covariates did not influence on the association between HAIC and OS outcomes (P > 0.05). The results of the present study suggested that HAIC may be a potential therapeutic regimen that may improve the outcomes of patients with CRLM. The present meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD 42019145719).

A Translational Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Woodchucks

BACKGROUND

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) are a well-accepted animal model for the investigation of spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As HCC tumors obtain nutrient blood supply exclusively from the hepatic artery, hepatic artery infusion (HAI) has been applied to HCC. However, there is a scarcity of experimental animal models to standardize drug regimens and examine novel agents. The purpose of this study was to establish an HAI model in woodchucks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HAI ports were placed in the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) of 11 woodchucks. The ports were infused with either a vehicle (dextrose 5% in water) or an experimental drug, CBL0137, once a week for 3 wk. Technical success rates, anatomical variation, morbidity and mortality, and tumor responses between groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

The GDA access was feasible and reproducible in all woodchucks (11/11). The average operation time was 95 ± 20 min with no increase in the levels of liver enzymes detected from either infusate. The most common morbidity of CBL0137 therapy was anorexia after surgery. One woodchuck died due to hemorrhage at the gallbladder removal site from hepatic coagulopathy. Significantly higher CBL0137 concentrations were measured in the liver compared with blood after each HAI. Tumor growth was suppressed after multiple CBL0137 HAI treatments which corresponded to greater T cell infiltration and increased tumor cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

HAI via GDA was a feasible and reproducible approach with low morbidity and mortality in woodchucks. The described techniques serve as a reliable platform for the identification and characterization of therapeutics for HCC.

Pharmacokinetics of Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil During Hepatic Artery Chronomodulated Infusion: A Translational European OPTILIV Study

The combination of hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin with intravenous cetuximab has safely achieved prolonged survival in colorectal cancer patients with extensive liver metastases and prior treatment. Systemic exposure to the drugs or their main metabolites was determined during the first course of chronomodulated triplet HAI in 11 patients and related to toxicities after one or three courses. Consistent trends were found between the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values of irinotecan, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38; a bioactive metabolite), total oxaliplatin and platinum ultrafiltrate (P-UF), on the one hand, and subsequent leukopenia severity, on the other hand. Moreover, the maximum plasma concentration (C _max) and the AUC of P-UF significantly predicted grades of diarrhoea (p = 0.004 and 0.017, respectively) and anaemia (p = 0.001 and 0.008, respectively) after the first course. Systemic drug exposure helps explain both the adverse events and the low rate of extrahepatic progression-a usual drawback of HAI chemotherapy-thus supporting upfront testing of the regimen. Systems optimization of chronomodulated HAI delivery could further reduce adverse events.

Pharmacogenetic determinants of outcomes on triplet hepatic artery infusion and intravenous cetuximab for liver metastases from colorectal cancer (European trial OPTILIV, NCT00852228)

Background:

The hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil with intravenous cetuximab achieved outstanding efficacy in previously treated patients with initially unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer. This planned study aimed at the identification of pharmacogenetic predictors of outcomes.

Methods:

Circulating mononuclear cells were analysed for 207 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 34 pharmacology genes. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms passing stringent Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test were tested for their association with outcomes in 52 patients (male/female, 36/16; WHO PS, 0–1).

Results:

VKORC1 SNPs (rs9923231 and rs9934438) were associated with early and objective responses, and survival. For rs9923231, T/T achieved more early responses than C/T (50% vs 5%, P=0.029) and greatest 4-year survival (46% vs 0%, P=0.006). N-acetyltransferase-2 (rs1041983 and rs1801280) were associated with up to seven-fold more macroscopically complete hepatectomies. Progression-free survival was largest in ABCB1 rs1045642 T/T (P=0.026) and rs2032582 T/T (P=0.035). Associations were found between toxicities and gene variants (P<0.05), including neutropenia with ABCB1 (rs1045642) and SLC0B3 (rs4149117 and rs7311358); and diarrhoea with CYP2C9 (rs1057910), CYP2C19 (rs3758581), UGT1A6 (rs4124874) and SLC22A1 (rs72552763).

Conclusion:

VKORC1, NAT2 and ABCB1 variants predicted for HAI efficacy. Pharmacogenetics could guide the personalisation of liver-targeted medico-surgical therapies.

Novel mouse models of hepatic artery infusion

BACKGROUND

The liver has unique anatomy in that most blood flow to normal hepatocytes is derived from the portal venous system, whereas liver tumors obtain their nutrient blood supply exclusively from the hepatic artery. The focused arterial delivery of anticancer agents to liver tumors has been performed for decades; however, preclinical models to standardize drug regimens and examine novel agents have been lacking. The purpose of this study was to establish preclinical hepatic artery infusion (HAI) models in a mouse and to evaluate the safety and delivery capability of the models.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were used to develop models of HAI via the hepatic artery (HA), superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (SPDA), or lienogastric artery (LGA). Success rates, distribution of perfusion, and associated morbidity and mortality were analyzed between groups.

RESULTS

All three models were feasible and reproducible in mice, and there was no statistical difference on body weight change between models. The HA model had a 13.3% mortality from acute liver failure, and the SPDA model demonstrated duodenal and pancreatic toxicity. SPDA and LGA routes had the highest success rates (96.7% and 91.4%, respectively) with low mortality, better drug delivery, and preserved physiologic liver function compared with the HA model.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal route of HAI was mouse breed specific; SPDA access in BALB/c mice, and the LGA access in C57BL/6 mice. The described techniques serve as a reproducible platform for the identification and characterization of therapeutics for diverse metastatic liver tumors.

First-line treatment with hepatic arterial infusion plus capecitabine vs capecitabine alone for elderly patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of HAI fluoropyrimidine (FUDR)/capecitabine or single capecitabine as first-line treatment for elderly patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). Fifty-one elderly patients with liver-only CLMs were eligible for enrollment. Patients were divided into HAI FUDR /capecitabine group and single capecitabine group randomly. The primary endpoint was median survival time (MST), defined as the time from the date of catheter implantation to the date of death or the date of the last follow-up. The secondary endpoint was objective antitumor response and adverse events. The HAI pump was implanted before chemotherapy. All patients received a 3-week cycle of oral capecitabin. In Group A, the RR and DCR were both 95.8%. In Group B, the RR and DCR were 48.1% and 81.5%, respectively. There was significant difference between the RRs of the 2 groups (P < 0.001). But there was no significant difference between the DCRs of the 2 groups (P = 0.053). There was a statistical difference between the MSTs of the 2 groups (18.5 vs.13 months, P = 0.0312). HAI FUDR combined with oral capecitabine as the first-line treatment for elderly patients with CLMs has promising efficacy and safety.

Early tumour response as a survival predictor in previously- treated patients receiving triplet hepatic artery infusion and intravenous cetuximab for unresectable liver metastases from wild-type KRAS colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Early tumour shrinkage has been associated with improved survival in patients receiving cetuximab-based systemic chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer (LM-CRC). We tested this hypothesis for previously treated LM-CRC patients receiving cetuximab (500 mg/m²) and triplet hepatic artery infusion (HAI) within European trial OPTILIV.

METHODS

Irinotecan (180 mg/m²), 5-fluorouracil (2800 mg/m²) and oxaliplatin (85 mg/m²) were given as chronomodulated or conventional delivery. Patients were retrospectively categorised as early responders (complete or partial RECIST response after three courses) or non-early responders (late or no response). Prognostic factors were determined using multivariate logistic or Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Response was assessed in 57 of 64 registered patients (89%), who had previously received one to three prior systemic chemotherapy protocols. An early response occurred at 6 weeks in 16 patients (28%; 9 men, 7 women), aged 33-76 years, with a median of 12 liver metastases (LMs) (2-50), involving five segments (1-8). Ten patients had a late response, and 31 patients had no response. Grade 3-4 fatigue selectively occurred in the non-early responders (0% versus 26%; p = 0.024). Early tumour response was jointly predicted by chronomodulation-odds ratio (OR): 6.0 (1.2-29.8; p = 0.029)-and LM diameter ≤57 mm-OR: 5.3 (1.1-25.0; p = 0.033). Early tumour response predicted for both R0-R1 liver resection-OR: 11.8 (1.4-100.2; p = 0.024) and overall survival-hazard ratio: 0.39 (0.17-0.88; p = 0.023) in multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Early tumour response on triplet HAI and systemic cetuximab predicted for complete macroscopic liver resection and prolonged survival for LM-CRC patients within a multicenter conversion-to-resection medicosurgical strategy. Confirmation is warranted for early response on HAI to guide decision making. Protocol numbers: EUDRACT 2007-004632-24 NCT00852228.

Conversion to resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer with hepatic artery infusion of combined chemotherapy and systemic cetuximab in multicenter trial OPTILIV

BACKGROUND

Systemic chemotherapy typically converts previously unresectable liver metastases (LM) from colorectal cancer to curative intent resection in ∼15% of patients. This European multicenter phase II trial tested whether hepatic artery infusion (HAI) with triplet chemotherapy and systemic cetuximab could increase this rate to 30% in previously treated patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants had unresectable LM from wt KRAS colorectal cancer. Main non-inclusion criteria were advanced extra hepatic disease, prior HAI and grade 3 neuropathy. Irinotecan (180 mg/m(2)), oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) and 5-fluorouracil (2800 mg/m(2)) were delivered via an implanted HAI access port and combined with i.v. cetuximab (500 mg/m(2)) every 14 days. Multidisciplinary decisions to resect LM were taken after every three courses. The rate of macroscopic complete resections (R0 + R1) of LM, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were computed according to intent to treat.

RESULTS

The patient population consisted of 42 men and 22 women, aged 33-76 years, with a median of 10 LM involving a median of six segments. Up to 3 extrahepatic lesions of <1 cm were found in 41% of the patients. A median of six courses was delivered. The primary end point was met, with R0-R1 hepatectomy for 19 of the 64 previously treated patients, 29.7% (95% confidence interval 18.5-40.9). Grade 3-4 neutropenia (42.6%), abdominal pain (26.2%), fatigue (18%) and diarrhea (16.4%) were frequent. Objective response rate was 40.6% (28.6-52.3). Median PFS and OS reached 9.3 (7.8-10.9) and 25.5 months (18.8-32.1) respectively. Those with R0-R1 hepatectomy had a median OS of 35.2 months (32.6-37.8), with 37.4% (23.6-51.2) alive at 4 years.

CONCLUSION

The coordination of liver-specific intensive chemotherapy and surgery had a high curative intent potential that deserves upfront randomized testing.

PROTOCOL NUMBERS

EUDRACT 2007-004632-24, NCT00852228.

Current management of colorectal liver metastases

SUMMARY 

Colorectal cancer is common worldwide and is predicted to become more so in the coming years. The liver is the most common site of metastasis and management is increasingly complex. A multidisciplinary team approach to management is essential, and is associated with better outcomes. Patients with irresectable liver metastases can still benefit from the involvement of a liver specialist, as high secondary resection rates can be achieved with combination chemotherapy, incorporating novel biological therapies and liver-directed local and locoregional treatments. The application of an enhanced recovery model to perioperative care, alongside improvements in the assessment of patient fitness for surgery, should help to mitigate the challenges presented by an older population with increased comorbidity undergoing increasingly complex treatment.

Surgical management of colorectal liver metastases: a European perspective

The treatment of colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver is increasingly complex as a result of changes in the patient population, advances in preoperative staging, changing definitions of resectability, advances in surgical technique and the expanding chemotherapeutic armamentarium. Management of these patients within a multidisciplinary team is increasingly important and associated with better outcomes. In patients with irresectable hepatic metastases, high secondary resection rates can be achieved with multiagent chemotherapy when managed in conjunction with a liver specialist. Perioperative mortality rates are reducing but morbidity remains high, and enhanced recovery could help reduce morbidity. Despite the advancing age and comorbidity of the patient population, multimodal management is likely to lead to further improvements in perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Surgery for colorectal liver metastases

Half of all patients with colorectal cancer develop metastatic disease. The liver is the principal site for metastases, and surgical resection is the only modality that offers the potential for long-term cure. Appropriate patient selection for surgery and improvements in perioperative care have resulted in low morbidity and mortality rates, resulting in this being the therapy of choice for suitable patients. Modern management of colorectal liver metastases is multimodal incorporating open and laparoscopic surgery, ablative therapies such as radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation and (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. The majority of patients with hepatic metastases should be considered for resectional surgery, if all disease can be resected, as this offers the only opportunity for prolonged survival.

Interventionally implanted port catheter systems for hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer: a phase II-study (NCT00356161)

BACKGROUND

Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy requires the implantation of a transcatheter application system which is traditionally performed by surgery. This procedure, but particularly the adjacent drug application via pump or port is often hampered by specific complications and device failure. Interventionally implanted port catheter systems (IIPCS) facilitate the commencement of HAI without need for laparatomy, and are associated with favorable complication rates. We here present an evaluation of the most important technical endpoints associated with the use of IIPCS for HAI in patients with primary liver cancers.

METHODS

70 patients (pts) with hepatocellular (HCC, n=33) and biliary tract cancer (BTC, n=37) were enrolled into a phase II -study. Of those, n=43 had recurrent disease and n=31 suffered from liver-predominant UICC-stage IVb. All pts were provided with IIPCSs before being treated with biweekly, intraarterial chemotherapy (oxaliplatin, 5-Flourouracil, folinic acid). The primary objective of the trial was defined as evaluation of device-related complications and port duration.

RESULTS

Implantation of port catheters was successful in all patients. Mean treatment duration was 5.8 months, and median duration of port patency was not reached. Disease-progression was the most common reason for treatment discontinuation (44 pts., 63%), followed by chemotherapy-related toxicity (12 pts., 17%), and irreversible device failure (5 pts., 7%). A total of 28 port complications occurred in 21 pts (30%). No unexpected complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

HAI via interventionally implanted port catheters can be safely applied to patients with primary liver tumors far advanced or/and pretreated.

A GFP-labeled human colon cancer metastasis model featuring surgical orthotopic implantation

Colorectal cancer has become a major disease threatening human health. To establish animal models that exhibit the characteristics of human colorectal cancer will not only help to study the mechanisms underlying the genesis and development effectively, but also provide ideal carriers for the screening of medicines and examining their therapeutic effects. In this study, we established a stable, colon cancer nude mouse model highly expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) for spontaneous metastasis after surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI). GFP- labeled colon cancer models for metastasis after SOI were successfully established in all of 15 nude mice and there were no surgery-related complications or deaths. In week 3, primary tumors expressing GFP were observed in all model animals under fluoroscopy and two metastatic tumors were monitored by fluorescent imaging at the same time. The tumor volumes progressively increased with time. Seven out of 15 tumor transplanted mice died and the major causes of death were intestinal obstruction and cachexia resulting from malignant tumor growth. Eight model animals survived at the end of the experiment, 6 of which had metastases (6 cases to mesenteric lymph nodes, 4 hepatic, 2 pancreatic and 1 mediastinal lymph node). Our results indicate that our GFP-labeled colon cancer orthotopic transplantation model is useful with a high success rate; the transplanted tumors exhibit similar biological properties to human colorectal cancer, and can be used for real-time, in vivo, non-invasive and dynamic observation and analysis of the growth and metastasis of tumor cells.

Hepatic arterial infusion but not systemic application of cetuximab in combination with oxaliplatin significantly reduces growth of CC531 colorectal rat liver metastases

PURPOSE

Systemic chemotherapy still represents the gold standard in the treatment of irresectable colorectal liver metastases. Modern anticancer agents like the monoclonal antibody cetuximab have improved the outcome of patients in clinical studies. As hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) is capable to potentially increase the anticancer effect of cytostatics, we herein studied whether HAI of cetuximab (CE) as a single agent or in combination with oxaliplatin (OX) exerts increased anticancer effects compared to the systemic application (SYS) of the drugs.

METHODS

WAG/Rij rats were randomized to eight groups and underwent 10 days after subcapsular hepatic tumor implantation either HAI or SYS of CE, OX, or the combination of both agents (CE + OX). Saline-treated animals served as controls. Tumor volume was measured at days 10 and 13 using three-dimensional ultrasound. On day 13, liver and tumor tissue was sampled for histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTS

In controls, the tumor volume significantly increased from day 10 to 13. Application of OX alone via HAI or SYS did not inhibit tumor growth compared to controls. SYS of CE or CE + OX did also not reduce tumor growth. In contrast, HAI of CE and CE + OX significantly inhibited tumor growth. HAI of CE significantly reduced tumor vascularization as measured by the number of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1-positive cells and significantly increased the number of apoptotic tumor cells as measured by the cellular caspase-3 expression.

CONCLUSION

HAI of CE and CE + OX reduces tumor growth of colorectal rat liver metastases involving the inhibition of angiogenesis and induction of tumor cell apoptosis.

Cancer chronotherapeutics: experimental, theoretical, and clinical aspects

The circadian timing system controls cell cycle, apoptosis, drug bioactivation, and transport and detoxification mechanisms in healthy tissues. As a consequence, the tolerability of cancer chemotherapy varies up to several folds as a function of circadian timing of drug administration in experimental models. Best antitumor efficacy of single-agent or combination chemotherapy usually corresponds to the delivery of anticancer drugs near their respective times of best tolerability. Mathematical models reveal that such coincidence between chronotolerance and chronoefficacy is best explained by differences in the circadian and cell cycle dynamics of host and cancer cells, especially with regard circadian entrainment and cell cycle variability. In the clinic, a large improvement in tolerability was shown in international randomized trials where cancer patients received the same sinusoidal chronotherapy schedule over 24h as compared to constant-rate infusion or wrongly timed chronotherapy. However, sex, genetic background, and lifestyle were found to influence optimal chronotherapy scheduling. These findings support systems biology approaches to cancer chronotherapeutics. They involve the systematic experimental mapping and modeling of chronopharmacology pathways in synchronized cell cultures and their adjustment to mouse models of both sexes and distinct genetic background, as recently shown for irinotecan. Model-based personalized circadian drug delivery aims at jointly improving tolerability and efficacy of anticancer drugs based on the circadian timing system of individual patients, using dedicated circadian biomarker and drug delivery technologies.

The oncosurgery approach to managing liver metastases from colorectal cancer: a multidisciplinary international consensus

An international panel of multidisciplinary experts convened to develop recommendations for the management of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim was to address the main issues facing the CRC hepatobiliary multidisciplinary team (MDT) when managing such patients and to standardize the treatment patients receive in different centers. Based on current evidence, the group agreed on a number of issues including the following: (a) the primary aim of treatment is achieving a long disease-free survival (DFS) interval following resection; (b) assessment of resectability should be performed with high-quality cross-sectional imaging, staging the liver with magnetic resonance imaging and/or abdominal computed tomography (CT), depending on local expertise, staging extrahepatic disease with thoracic and pelvic CT, and, in selected cases, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with ultrasound (preferably contrast-enhanced ultrasound) for intraoperative staging; (c) optimal first-line chemotherapy-doublet or triplet chemotherapy regimens combined with targeted therapy-is advisable in potentially resectable patients; (d) in this situation, at least four courses of first-line chemotherapy should be given, with assessment of tumor response every 2 months; (e) response assessed by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (conventional chemotherapy) or nonsize-based morphological changes (antiangiogenic agents) is clearly correlated with outcome; no imaging technique is currently able to accurately diagnose complete pathological response but high-quality imaging is crucial for patient management; (f) the duration of chemotherapy should be as short as possible and resection achieved as soon as technically possible in the absence of tumor progression; (g) the number of metastases or patient age should not be an absolute contraindication to surgery combined with chemotherapy; (h) for synchronous metastases, it is not advisable to undertake major hepatic surgery during surgery for removal of the primary CRC; the reverse surgical approach (liver first) produces as good an outcome as the conventional approach in selected cases; (i) for patients with resectable liver metastases from CRC, perioperative chemotherapy may be associated with a modestly better DFS outcome; and (j) whether initially resectable or unresectable, cure or at least a long survival duration is possible after complete resection of the metastases, and MDT treatment is essential for improving clinical and survival outcomes. The group proposed a new system to classify initial unresectability based on technical and oncological contraindications.

Objective response and time to progression on sequential treatment with sunitinib and sorafenib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are often treated sequentially with targeted agents, although the optimal strategy is not known. A retrospective, registry-based study has been carried out to assess correlation between clinical response and progression-free survival in patients with mRCC treated sequentially with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sunitinib and sorafenib. Data on 218 mRCC patients treated with sunitinib and sorafenib who completed therapy with both TKIs were obtained from a database of mRCC patients. Standard nonparametric methods were used to assess correlation between response, PFS and length of treatment on the two agents. A strong correlation between responses to first- versus second TKI was observed (p < 0.001). No significant association was noted between the duration of therapy with the two TKIs (p = 0.056), although there was a weak statistically significant correlation between progression-free survival times in the subgroup patients who discontinued treatment because of disease progression. In conclusion, the duration of response on first TKI is of limited value in selecting mRCC patients for sequential TKI therapy. There is a strong correlation between the types of tumour response on the first- versus the second TKI.