Safety and Efficacy of Two Different Doses of Capecitabine in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer in Older Women

DPYD genetic polymorphisms in non-European patients with severe fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Pre-treatment DPYD screening is mandated in the UK and EU to reduce the risk of severe and potentially fatal fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity. Four DPYD gene variants which are more prominently found in Europeans are tested.

METHODS

Our systematic review in patients of non-European ancestry followed PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant articles up to April 2023. Published in silico functional predictions and in vitro functional data were also extracted. We also undertook in silico prediction for all DPYD variants identified.

RESULTS

In 32 studies, published between 1998 and 2022, 53 DPYD variants were evaluated in patients from 12 countries encompassing 5 ethnic groups: African American, East Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and South Asian. One of the 4 common European DPYD variants, c.1905+1G>A, is also present in South Asian, East Asian and Middle Eastern patients with severe fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity. There seems to be relatively strong evidence for the c.557A>G variant, which is found in individuals of African ancestry, but is not currently included in the UK genotyping panel.

CONCLUSION

Extending UK pre-treatment DPYD screening to include variants that are present in some non-European ancestry groups will improve patient safety and reduce race and health inequalities in ethnically diverse societies.

Influence of age on pharmacokinetics of capecitabine and its metabolites in older adults with cancer: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with unpredictable toxicity, especially in older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of capecitabine and its metabolites in younger adults (< 70 years) and older adults (≥ 70 years) receiving capecitabine for solid cancer.

METHODS

Eligible participants receiving capecitabine had 2 venous samples collected on day 14 of cycle 1 and cycle 2 of their treatment. Capecitabine and metabolite concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. A Bayesian estimation approach was used to generate individual estimates of PK parameters for 5-FU. A linear mixed-effect analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used to compare dose-normalised log-transformed PK parameters between age groups. Correlations were determined by linear regression and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the total 26 participants, 58% were male with a median age of 67 years (range, 37-85) with 54% aged < 70 years and 46% aged ≥ 70 years. Participants aged ≥ 70 years, compared to those aged < 70 years, had a greater 5-FU exposure based on area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 17% (90% CI 103-134%; 0.893 vs. 0.762 mg h/L) and 14% increase in maximal concentration, C_max (90% CI 82.1-159%; 0.343 vs. 0.300 mg/L). The 5-FU C_max was positively associated with time up and go (TUG) (Pearson's correlation 0.77, p = 0.01), but not other geriatric assessment domains or severe toxicity.

CONCLUSION

5-FU exposure was significantly increased in older adults compared to younger adults receiving equivalent doses of capecitabine, and is a possible cause for increased toxicity in older adults.

Breast Cancer in Geriatric Patients: Current Landscape and Future Prospects

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women worldwide and more than half are diagnosed above the age of 60 years. Life expectancy is increasing and the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed among older women are expected to increase. Undertreatment, mostly due to unjustifiable fears of advanced-age and associated comorbidities, is commonly practiced in this group of patients who are under-represented in clinical trials and their management is not properly addressed in clinical practice guidelines. With modern surgery and anesthesia, breast surgeries are considered safe and is usually associated with very low complication rates, regardless of extent of surgery. However, oncoplastic surgery and management of the axilla can be tailored based on patients’- and disease-related factors. Most of chemotherapeutic agents, along with targeted therapy and anti-Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) drugs can be safely given for older patients, however, dose adjustment and close monitoring of potential adverse events might be needed. The recently introduced cyclin-D kinase (CDK) 4/6-inhibitors in combination with aromatase inhibitors (AI) or fulvestrant, which changed the landscape of breast cancer therapy, are both safe and effective in older patients and had substituted more aggressive and potentially toxic interventions. Despite its proven efficacy, adjusting or even omitting adjuvant radiation therapy, at least in low-risk older patients, is safe and frequently practiced. In this paper, we review existing data related to breast cancer management among older patients across the continuum; from resection of the primary tumor through adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation and endocrine therapy up to the management of recurrent and advanced-stage disease.

Expert consensus to optimize the treatment of elderly patients with luminal metastatic breast cancer

Most patients diagnosed with luminal metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who are seen in oncology consultations are elderly. MBC in elderly patients is characterized by a higher percentage of hormone receptor (HR) expression and a lower expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The decision regarding which treatment to administer to these patients is complex due to the lack of solid evidence to support the decision-making process. The objective of this paper is to review the scientific evidence on the treatment of elderly patients with luminal MBC. For this purpose, the Oncogeriatrics Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM) and the SOLTI Group appointed a group of experts who have worked together to establish consensus recommendations to optimize the treatment of this population. It was concluded that the chronological age of the patient alone should not guide therapeutic decisions and that a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) should be performed whenever possible before establishing treatment. Treatment selection for the elderly population should consider the patient’s baseline status, the expected benefit and toxicity of each treatment, and the impact of treatment toxicity on the patient’s quality of life and functionality.

Capecitabine in combination with bendamustine in pretreated women with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: results of a phase II trial (AGMT MBC-6)

Background:

Bendamustine, a medication approved for the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has already shown anticancer activity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Here, we present the results of a phase II trial of bendamustine in combination with capecitabine in pre-treated patients with MBC.

Patients and methods:

AGMT MBC-6 is a multicentre, open-label, single-arm phase II study in HER2-negative MBC. All patients were pre-treated with anthracyclines and/or taxans and had measurable disease. Patients received per os 1000 mg/m² capecitabine twice daily on days 1 to 14 in combination with 80 mg/m² bendamustine intravenously on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle for a maximum of eight cycles, followed by a capecitabine maintenance therapy. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR).

Results:

From September 2013 to May 2015, 40 patients were recruited in eight Austrian centres. The median age was 60 years (range 29–77). Twenty-five per cent of patients had triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and 93% showed visceral involvement. With 17 partial and one complete remission, ORR was 46%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1–10.7]. The most common non-haematological adverse events (AEs) of grade 3 were hand-foot syndrome (13%), fatigue (10%), nausea (8%), and dyspnoea (8%). One grade 4 non-haematological AE (hepatic failure) and three grade 4 haematological AEs (neutropenia) were observed. One patient died of restrictive cardiomyopathy, in which a relationship to capecitabine cannot be excluded, but seems unlikely.

Conclusion:

The combination of capecitabine and bendamustine shows promising efficacy and moderate toxicity. Further evaluation of this drug combination is warranted.

The clinical trial AGMT MBC-6 was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, (https://clinicaltrials.gov/; identifier: NCT01891227).

Breast Cancer in Women Over 65 years- a Review of Screening and Treatment Options

Breast cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent in the women greater than 65 years of age. Most tumors are hormone receptor-positive in this group. Breast cancer screening recommendations for older women should be tailored based on life expectancy. Early stage breast cancer should be treated with conservative surgery followed by adjuvant endocrine therapy in HR+ patients. Primary endocrine therapy is a low-risk option for those with limited life expectancy. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be avoided in early stage, low-risk cancers. Evaluation should include comprehensive geriatric assessment. Treatment with less cytotoxic chemotherapy, HER-2 targeted therapies, and other biomarker-driven, molecularly targeted therapies should be sought whenever possible.

Comparative study of low dose of capecitabine versus standard dose in metastatic breast cancer: Efficacy and safety

Background

A lower dose of capecitabine revealed better toxicity profiles and comparable efficacy in treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of lower dose of capecitabine in comparison with the standard dose.

Patients and methods

Patients were enrolled in two groups. Group 1 included 21 patients who received the standard dose of capecitabine (1250 mg/m2 twice daily [BID] for 14 days), while the patients in group 2 (19 patients) received lower dose of capecitabine (850 mg/m2 BID for 14 days) every 3 weeks.

Results

In group 1, dose reduction was reported in 12 (57.1%) patients versus 1 patient in group 2 (5.3%; P = 0.0005). Patients in group 1 reported higher toxicity rates without any significant difference between the groups. The median duration of response was 17 weeks in group 1, while it was 19 weeks in group 2. Disease progression was recorded in 10 (47.6%) patients in group 1 versus 8 (42.1%) patients in group 2 (P = 0.81). The mean time to progression was 8.16 ± 0.63 months and the median was 10.1 months in group 1, while the mean was 8.98 ± 0.75 months and the median was 10 months in group 2 (P = 0.66). The overall survival had a mean of 11.94 ± 0.754 and 11.24 ± 0.665 months, while the median was 13.1 and 13 months in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.9).

Conclusion

A lower dose of capecitabine provides MBC patients with an active therapy that can be continued for prolonged periods to achieve long-term disease control without compromising its antitumor activity.

Preemptive screening of DPYD as part of clinical practice: high prevalence of a novel exon 4 deletion in the Finnish population

Capecitabine is a fluoropyrimidine that is widely used as a cancer drug for the treatment of patients with a variety of cancers. Unfortunately, early onset, severe or life-threatening toxicity is observed in 19-32% of patients treated with capecitabine and 5FU. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of 5FU and a DPD deficiency has been shown to be a major determinant of severe fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity. DPD is encoded by the DPYD gene and some of the identified variants have been described to cause DPD deficiency. Preemptive screening for DPYD gene alterations enables the identification of DPD-deficient patients before administering fluoropyrimidines. In this article, we describe the application of upfront DPD screening in Finnish patients, as a part of daily clinical practice, which was based on a comprehensive DPYD gene analysis, measurements of enzyme activity and plasma uracil concentrations. Almost 8% of the patients (13 of 167 patients) presented with pathogenic DPYD variants causing DPD deficiency. The DPD deficiency in these patients was further confirmed via analysis of the DPD activity and plasma uracil levels. Interestingly, we identified a novel intragenic deletion in DPYD which includes exon 4 in four patients (31% of patients carrying a pathogenic variant). The high prevalence of the exon 4 deletion among Finnish patients highlights the importance of full-scale DPYD gene analysis. Based on the literature and our own experience, genotype preemptive screening should always be used to detect DPD-deficient patients before fluoropyrimidine therapy.

Cost-Effectiveness of Ribociclib for Hormone Receptor-Positive HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

Ribociclib has provided significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, given the high cost of ribociclib, its value must be evaluated based on cost-effectiveness. Thus, we aimed to explore the cost-effectiveness of ribociclib for postmenopausal patients with HR-positive and HER2-negative ABC.

METHODS

A comprehensive Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of ribociclib plus fulvestrant versus placebo plus fulvestrant as first-line treatment for HR-positive, HER2-negative ABC. Variables were estimated based on data from the randomized Phase III MONALEESA-3 trial. Ten-year values were estimated for quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Direct treatment costs were estimated from the perspective of a United States payer. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to confirm the model's robustness.

RESULTS

Ribociclib plus fulvestrant increased the treatment cost by $382,172 and provided 0.47 QALYs, relative to fulvestrant alone, which corresponded to an ICER of $813,132 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses revealed that ribociclib was unlikely to be cost-effective even under the most favorable assumptions. When the cost of ribociclib was <$1,384, there was a >50% chance of cost-effectiveness at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000/QALY. Subgroup analyses also confirmed that ribociclib was not cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

At current drug prices in the United States, ribociclib is unlikely to be cost-effective for treating postmenopausal patients with HR-positive HER2-negative ABC. Despite the clinical benefits of ribociclib, its cost would need to decrease to provide more favorable economic outcomes.

Chemotherapy Options beyond the First Line in HER-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

Despite the recent advances in the biological understanding of breast cancer (BC), chemotherapy still represents a key component in the armamentarium for this disease. Different agents are available as mono-chemotherapy options in patients with locally advanced or metastatic BC (MBC) who progress after a first- and second-line treatment with anthracyclines and taxanes. However, no clear indication exists on what the best option is in some populations, such as heavily pretreated, elderly patients, triple-negative BC (TNBC), and those who do not respond to the first-line therapy. In this article, we summarize available literature evidence on different chemotherapy agents used beyond the first-line, in locally advanced or MBC patients, including rechallenge with anthracyclines and taxanes, antimetabolite and antimicrotubule agents, such as vinorelbine, capecitabine, eribulin, ixabepilone, and the newest developed agents, such as vinflunine, irinotecan, and etirinotecan.

The Evolving Complexity of Treating Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2)-Negative Breast Cancer: Special Considerations in Older Breast Cancer Patients-Part II: Metastatic Disease

Breast cancer is a disease of aging, and the incidence of breast cancer is projected to increase dramatically as the global population ages. The majority of breast cancers that occur in older adults are hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative phenotypes, with favorable tumor biology; yet, because of underrepresentation in clinical trials, less evidence is available to guide the complex care for this population. Providing care for older patients with metastatic breast cancer, with coexisting medical conditions, increased risk of treatment toxicity, and frailty, remains a clinical challenge in oncology. In this review, we provide an overview of the current evidence from clinical trials and subanalyses of older adults with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, highlighting data on the safety and efficacy of oral therapies, including endocrine therapy alone or in combination with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. In addition, we note the significant underrepresentation of older and frail adults in these studies. Current and future directions in research for this special population, in order to address significant knowledge gaps, include the need to improve long-term adherence to hormonal and targeted therapy, prospective clinical trials that capture clinical and biological aging endpoints, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach with integration of geriatric and oncology principles.

Novel Agents for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Finding the Positive in the Negative

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis, and the development of better therapeutics represents a major unmet clinical need. Although the mainstay of treatment of metastatic TNBC is chemotherapy, advances in genomics and molecular profiling have helped better define subtypes of TNBC with distinct biologic drivers to guide the therapeutic development of targeted therapies, including AKT inhibitors for PI3K/AKT-altered TNBC, checkpoint inhibitors for PD-L1-positive TNBC, and PARP inhibitors for BRCA1/2 mutant TNBC. This progress may ultimately convert TNBC from a disease traditionally defined by the absence of therapeutically actionable receptors to one that is defined by the presence of discrete molecular targets with therapeutic implications. Furthermore, antibody drug conjugates have emerged as an important therapeutic strategy to target genomically complex tumors that lack actionable oncogenes but have overexpressed actionable surface receptors such as trop-2. In this article, we discuss promising novel agents for advanced TNBC, some of which have been incorporated into current clinical practice, and others that will likely change the therapeutic landscape and redefine the TNBC terminology in the near future.

Henna Application in the Prevention of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients

AIM

This study investigates the prophylactic effect of henna on the occurrence of hand-foot syndrome (HFS) in patients receiving capecitabine for breast and colorectal cancer.

METHOD

This experimental study was carried out between May 2014 and May 2015. In this self-control experimental study, 52 patients with breast and colorectal cancer were included on the first day of capecitabine treatment and had a minimum follow-up of 3 cycles. One hand/foot of each patient constituted the study hand/foot, whereas the others constituted the control. Henna was administered to the study hand/foot on the first day of treatment and application renewed weekly. Development of grade 1-3 toxicity was set as the termination criterion for study.

RESULTS

Painful skin changes such as rawness, intumescence and bulla formation, blocking the daily activities or self-care were observed in 26.9% of the patients in the 3rd or 4th cycles of treatment. Development time and severity of skin changes over time did not differ significantly between the study and the control hand/foot.

CONCLUSION

Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to conclude on the prophylactic effect of henna in the management of the HFS.

Tolerance-based capecitabine dose escalation after DPYD genotype-guided dosing in heterozygote DPYD variant carriers: a single-center observational study

OBJECTIVE

Certain polymorphisms of the DPYD gene encoding for the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme are associated with fluoropyrimidine-induced toxicity. Dose reductions of the fluoropyrimidine prodrug capecitabine are recommended for patients carrying these DPYD variants to prevent toxicities. Capecitabine dose escalation after an initial genotype-guided dose reduction is advocated when treatment is well tolerated. However, practical guidelines on how to implement these dose escalations are lacking. We implemented a protocol for tolerance-guided capecitabine dosing in DPYD variant carriers and aimed to explore its effect on toxicity of treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients receiving capecitabine-based chemotherapy for different types of solid tumors were identified retrospectively. Capecitabine doses were reduced in case of a DPYD variant (DPYD*2A, c.2846A>T, DPYD*13, or c.1236G>A) and subsequently adjusted on the basis of tolerance. Outcome was evaluated by clinical chart review and dosing characteristics from the hospital pharmacy. Results were compared with a cohort of capecitabine-treated DPYD wild-type patients.

RESULTS

Of 185 patients eligible for analysis, 11 patients were heterozygous for a DPYD variant. A median dose escalation of 8.5% was achieved using the prespecified protocol. One DPYD variant carrier experienced a grade 3 toxicity after a dose escalation. Overall, DPYD variant carriers did not experience more, or more severe toxicities than DPYD wild-type patients. The total prevalence of severe toxicities in the wild-type group was 43.1% and is comparable with the literature.

CONCLUSION

Tolerance-based capecitabine dose escalation did not lead to more toxicity in DPYD variant carriers compared with wild-type patients. Our results can guide future prospective research.

Systemic Therapy of Common Tumours in Older Patients: Challenges and Opportunities. A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology Review Paper

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Decision-making for systemic treatments in older patients with cancer is difficult because of concerns for decreased organ function, risk of toxicity, limited life expectancy due to comorbidities and the lack of evidence available to guide its management in this population. Here, we review the data on the role of systemic agents for the treatment of common malignancies in this age group.

RECENT FINDINGS

Evidence on the use of systemic treatments for older patients with cancer is increasing, especially for newer options including immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted agents that provide comparable benefit in older and younger patients. Nonetheless, the risks for short- and long-term toxicities need to be considered. More research is warranted and represents a unique opportunity to increase the knowledge on cancer treatment for older adults. Healthy, older individuals should be considered for standard systemic treatment options, whereas those at risk based on geriatric assessments require adjusted plans. Geriatric assessments are key for decision-making.

Optimal Systemic Treatment for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Approximately 10-15% of all breast tumors are triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC have a higher risk of relapse and distant metastases compared to other subtypes. The optimal systemic management of TNBC according to national and international guidelines is discussed herein.

SUMMARY

Anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy for patients with TNBC either in the neoadjuvant (NACT) or the adjuvant setting is considered standard of care. Exceptions are small tumors and a low-risk histology, in which chemotherapy can be spared. Dose-dense therapy is more effective in preventing recurrence and increasing survival. The use of nab-paclitaxel instead of a solvent-based taxane can lead to higher pathological complete response (pCR) rates and better outcomes. Platinum agents are effective in increasing pCR when added to anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy at the cost of increased toxicity. Long-term outcome data are lacking. In patients without a pCR, capecitabine leads to improved outcomes.

KEY MESSAGES

The standard treatment approach of TNBC is anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy, preferably within the NACT setting. Dose-dense schedules as well as platinum should be considered in the NACT setting. For patients without a pCR, capecitabine is an option to improve the outcome. The role of nab-paclitaxel is under debate. In case of immunogenic tumors, checkpoint inhibitors are promising new agents that merit further investigation.

Oral Capecitabine-Vinorelbine is Associated with Longer Overall Survival When Compared to Single-Agent Capecitabine in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

Background: Single-agent capecitabine (C) is a moderately effective chemotherapeutic compound in the treatment of patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC). The capecitabine-vinorelbine (CV) combination is also used due to a good tolerability profile, but no studies have demonstrated its superiority over single-agent C. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis to compare overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients with HER2-negative mBC treated with CV vs. single-agent C. Results: Out of 290 patients included in this study, 127 (43.8%) received single-agent C, while 163 (56.2%) patients were treated with CV. Median PFS was similar in patients treated with single-agent C or CV, while CV was associated with significantly longer OS in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) BC. This OS advantage was confirmed at multivariable analysis also after propensity score-based matching of patients according to relevant clinical or tumor characteristics. When compared with single-agent C, CV was associated with higher incidence of G3/G4 and any-grade nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and increased transaminases. Conclusions: While prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings, the potential OS advantage of CV over single-agent C in HR+ mBC patients must be weighed against a significantly higher incidence of AEs.

5-Fluorouracil degradation rate as a predictive biomarker of toxicity in breast cancer patients treated with capecitabine

Capecitabine is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil with a relevant role in the treatment of breast cancer. Severe and unexpected toxicities related to capecitabine are not rare, and the identification of biomarkers is challenging. We evaluate the relationship between dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, thymidylate synthase enhancer region and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms, 5-fluorouracil degradation rate and the onset of G3–4 toxicities in breast cancer patients. Genetic polymorphisms and the 5-fluorouracil degradation rate of breast cancer patients treated with capecitabine were retrospectively studied. Genetic markers and the 5-fluorouracil degradation rate were correlated with the reported toxicities. Thirty-seven patients with a median age of 58 years old treated with capecitabine for stages II–IV breast cancer were included in this study. Overall, 34 (91.9%) patients suffered from at least an episode of any grade toxicity while nine patients had G3–4 toxicity. Homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677TT was found to be significantly related to haematological toxicity (OR = 6.5 [95% IC 1.1–37.5], P = 0.04). Three patients had a degradation rate less than 0.86 ng/mL/106 cells/min and three patients greater than 2.1 ng/mL/106 cells/min. At a univariate logistic regression analysis, an altered value of 5-fluorouracil degradation rate (values < 0.86 or >2.10 ng/mL/106 cells/min) increased the risk of G3–4 adverse events (OR = 10.40 [95% IC: 1.48–7.99], P = 0.02). A multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, comorbidity and CAPE-regimen, confirmed the role of 5-fluorouracil degradation rate as a predictor of G3–4 toxicity occurrence (OR = 10.9 [95% IC 1.2–96.2], P = 0.03). The pre-treatment evaluation of 5-fluorouracil degradation rate allows to identify breast cancer patients at high risk for severe 5-FU toxicity.

Efficacy of different dosing schedules of capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer: a single-institution experience

Purpose Capecitabine is widely used as a single agent on a 21-day cycle in the management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our primary objective was to compare the standard dosing of capecitabine (Arm A: days 1-14 on 21-day cycle) to biweekly dosing (Arm B: days 1-7 and 15-21 on 28-day cycle) using retrospective data analysis. Methods 166 patients with MBC treated with single agent capecitabine at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2014 were considered eligible. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods. KM curves were compared using log-rank tests with Holm's correction for multiplicity. Results Patients were grouped by dose schedule into one of three arms: Arm A (21-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m² orally, twice daily on days 1-14 of 21-day cycle); Arm B (28-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m² orally, twice daily on days 1-7 and 15-21 of 28-day cycle); and Arm C (changeover regimen where patients started on the 21-day cycle, but changed to a 28-day cycle for tolerability). No difference was found in TTF or OS for patients with MBC between those who received capecitabine on either standard dosing (Arm A) and those on a biweekly cycle (Arm B or C). Overall, 41% of patients required dose reduction. Conclusions Our single institution experience showed that alternate dosing of capecitabine (biweekly, 28-day cycle) may be a reasonable alternative to standard 21-day cycle with similar efficacy and fewer dose reductions.

AIPAC: a Phase IIb study of eftilagimod alpha (IMP321 or LAG-3Ig) added to weekly paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Eftilagimod alpha (IMP321), a soluble dimeric recombinant form of LAG-3, is a first-in-class antigen presenting cell activator under clinical development. By stimulating dendritic cells through MHC class II molecules, IMP321 was proven to induce sustained immune responses. Combining active immunotherapy with a standard cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen represents a promising novel strategy that might lead to therapeutic improvements in metastatic breast cancer. Here, we describe the rationale and design of AIPAC (NCT02614833), a double-blind, randomized, multicenter Phase IIb study evaluating IMP321 plus paclitaxel as a first-line chemotherapy compared with paclitaxel plus placebo in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. The primary end point is progression-free survival and key secondary objectives include overall survival, safety, quality of life and objective response rate.

Selection of Optimal Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Early Breast Cancer: ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline Focused Update

Purpose To update key recommendations of the ASCO guideline adaptation of the Cancer Care Ontario guideline on the selection of optimal adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for early breast cancer and adjuvant targeted therapy for breast cancer. Methods An Expert Panel conducted targeted systematic literature reviews guided by a signals approach to identify new, potentially practice-changing data that might translate to revised practice recommendations. Results The Expert Panel reviewed phase III trials that evaluated adjuvant capecitabine after completion of standard preoperative anthracycline- and taxane-based combination chemotherapy by patients with early-stage breast cancer HER2-negative breast cancer with residual invasive disease at surgery; the addition of 1 year of adjuvant pertuzumab to combination chemotherapy and trastuzumab for patients with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer; and the use of neratinib as extended adjuvant therapy for patients after combination chemotherapy and trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. Recommendations Patients with early-stage HER2-negative breast cancer with pathologic, invasive residual disease at surgery following standard anthracycline- and taxane-based preoperative therapy may be offered up to six to eight cycles of adjuvant capecitabine. Clinicians may add 1 year of adjuvant pertuzumab to trastuzumab-based combination chemotherapy in patients with high-risk, early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. Clinicians may use extended adjuvant therapy with neratinib to follow trastuzumab in patients with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. Neratinib causes substantial diarrhea, and diarrhea prophylaxis must be used. Additional information can be found at www.asco.org/breast-cancer-guidelines .

Clinical pharmacology of oncology agents in older adults: A comprehensive review of how chronologic and functional age can influence treatment-related effects

Unique challenges exist when managing older adults with cancer. Associations between cancer and age-related physiologic changes have a direct impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cancer therapies and can affect drug dosing, dose intensity, efficacy, safety and quality of life. The breadth and depth of these issues, however, have not been fully evaluated because the majority of clinical trials have focused on a younger and healthier population. As a consequence, little information is available to support clinicians in making evidence-based decisions regarding treatment with cancer therapies in older adults, especially those over age 75. Prior clinical pharmacology reviews summarized the literature on how age-related physiologic changes can influence and affect conventional and targeted anti-cancer treatments. Our article provides an updated review with expanded information that includes small molecule kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies, hormonal, conventional, and miscellaneous agents. Additionally, our article integrates how functional age, determined by the geriatric assessment (GA), can also influence treatment-related effects and health outcomes. Broadening cancer therapy trials to capture not only chronologic age but also functional age would allow clinicians to better identify subsets of older adults who benefit from treatment versus those most vulnerable to morbidity and/or mortality.

Exome array analysis of adverse reactions to fluoropyrimidine-based therapy for gastrointestinal cancer

Fluoropyrimidines, including 5-fluororacil (5FU) and its pro-drug Capecitabine, are the common treatment for colorectal, breast, neck and head cancers—either as monotherapy or in combination therapy. Adverse reactions (ADRs) to the treatment are common and often result in treatment discontinuation or dose reduction. Factors contributing to ADRs, including genetic variation, are poorly characterized. We performed exome array analysis to identify genetic variants that contribute to adverse reactions. Our final dataset consisted of 504 European ancestry individuals undergoing fluoropyrimidine-based therapy for gastrointestinal cancer. A subset of 254 of these were treated with Capecitabine. All individuals were genotyped on the Illumina HumanExome Array. Firstly, we performed SNP and gene-level analyses of protein-altering variants on the array to identify novel associations the following ADRs, which were grouped into four phenotypes based on symptoms of diarrhea, mucositis, and neutropenia and hand-and-foot syndrome. Secondly, we performed detailed analyses of the HLA region on the same phenotypes after imputing the HLA alleles and amino acids. No protein-altering variants, or sets of protein-altering variants collapsed into genes, were associated with the main outcomes after Bonferroni correction. We found evidence that the HLA region was enriched for associations with Hand-and-Foot syndrome (p = 0.023), but no specific SNPs or HLA alleles were significant after Bonferroni correction. Larger studies will be required to characterize the genetic contribution to ADRs to 5FU. Future studies that focus on the HLA region are likely to be fruitful.

Intermittent Capecitabine Monotherapy with Lower Dose Intensity in Heavily Pretreated Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Aims and Background

The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of a lower dose-intensity capecitabine monotherapy regimen in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

Patients with metastatic breast cancer who had been administered capecitabine monotherapy between June 2003 and August 2004 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Oral capecitabine (828 mg/m2) was given twice daily for three weeks followed by a one-week rest period; this was repeated every four weeks.

Results

One-hundred and two patients were assessed. Median follow-up of patients was 16.4 months. One hundred patients (98%) had been pretreated with either anthracyclines or taxanes, 81 patients (79%) with both anthracyclines and taxanes. Response rate was 17% (95% CI, 9-24%), and clinical benefit rate was 41% (95% CI, 32-51%). Median time-to-treatment failure was 4.9 months, and median overall survival time was 24.3 months. This regimen was well tolerated. The most frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse event was hand-foot syndrome (6%). Other grade 3 or 4 adverse events were seen in only 1%-3% of patients.

Conclusions

Intermittent capecitabine monotherapy with lower dose intensity achieved a high tumor control rate with low toxicity in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients.

Capecitabine in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Aims and background

Capecitabine is the reference treatment for anthracycline-and/or taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study examined its efficacy, tolerability and impact on the quality of life of elderly patients with MBC.

Materials and methods

Between January 2002 and December 2009, 75 consecutive elderly patients with MBC received first-line chemotherapy with capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days every 3 weeks. Endpoints were efficacy, tolerability and clinical-benefit response measured every 3 cycles.

Results

Median age was 76 years (range 65–88); median ECOG performance status was 1 (range 0–2); 51 patients (68%) had received adjuvant chemotherapy and all patients had received hormonal therapy. Median exposure was 6 cycles. After 3 cycles, 11 patients (14.7%) had a partial response, one patient experienced a complete response, and 49 patients (65.3%) had stable disease, amounting to a disease control rate of 81.3%. Stable disease was maintained in 45 patients (60%) after 6 cycles, in 21 patients (28%) after 9 cycles, and in 13 patients (17.3%) after 12 cycles. A clinical-benefit response was experienced by 42 patients (56%), indicating a positive impact on quality of life. Treatment was well tolerated, the most common grade 3 events being diarrhea (12%) hand-foot syndrome (8%), and mucositis (8%). Adverse events were managed with dose adjustments and supportive therapy when required.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that capecitabine is active and well tolerated in elderly patients with MBC. This dosing regimen warrants further study in the first-line setting for patients with less aggressive MBC who are not candidates for combination therapy.

Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Purpose

Currently, there is little information regarding optimal treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in elderly patients. In this retrospective study, we examined a cohort of elderly patients with MBC receiving a range of treatments, in terms of demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes.

Methods

Patients aged 65 years and older, and diagnosed with MBC between 2003 and 2015, were identified from the databases of three academic hospitals in South Korea. A total of 161 cases were eligible for inclusion. We assessed clinicopathologic features, treatment patterns, and outcomes, using the available electronic medical records. Based on age at MBC diagnosis, patients were divided into three groups: 65 to 69, 70 to 74, and ≥75 years.

Results

Most patients had received active treatment according to biologic subtype as in younger patients, although frequent dose modifications were observed during chemotherapy. The median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 30.3 months; age (≥70 years), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (≥2), triple-negative cancer, and number of metastatic sites (≥2) were significant poor prognostic factors for OS in multivariate analyses. All types of systemic treatments according to biologic subtype conferred more prolonged OS in patients receiving treatment. Patients aged ≥75 years were more likely to have a poor ECOG PS and advanced comorbidity, and tended to receive less intensive treatments compared to the other age groups.

Conclusion

Elderly patients with MBC should not be excluded from receiving standard treatments prescribed for younger patients. Future research plans for elderly patients, especially aged ≥75 years with breast cancer, should include a geriatric assessment for identifying individuals at risk for treatment-related toxicity. Overall, this analysis will provide a better understanding of this population and help guide clinical care in real-world practice.

A review of capecitabine-based adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer in the Chinese population

In China, the treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer (AGC) faces unique challenges. Chinese patients may harbor more unfavorable prognostic factors than western populations and, in comparison with other Asian populations such as Japan and South Korea, a higher proportion of Chinese patients are diagnosed with AGC due to inadequate early diagnosis of the malignancy. This review summarizes the use of combination chemotherapy regimens with capecitabine as adjuvant therapy in the Chinese AGC population. Based on the available domestic data in China, the review concludes that capecitabine-based chemotherapy regimens, especially XELOX, offer good efficacy following radical gastrectomy in patients with AGC, with a low incidence of adverse events, acceptable tolerance, greater patient convenience and a lower overall cost than other regimens.

Predictors of Hand-Foot Syndrome and Pyridoxine for Prevention of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a common adverse effect of capecitabine treatment.

Objective

To compare the incidence and time to onset of grade 2 or greater HFS in patients receiving pyridoxine vs placebo and to identify biomarkers predictive of HFS.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-center, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial conducted at National Cancer Centre Singapore assessed whether oral pyridoxine could prevent the onset of grade 2 or higher HFS in 210 patients scheduled to receive single-agent capecitabine chemotherapy for breast, colorectal, and other cancers.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to receive concurrent pyridoxine (200 mg) or placebo daily for a maximum of 8 cycles of capecitabine, with stratification by sex and use in adjuvant or neoadjuvant vs palliative setting. Patients were withdrawn from the study on development of grade 2 or higher HFS or cessation of capecitabine.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary end point was the incidence of grade 2 or higher HFS in patients receiving pyridoxine. Secondary end points included the time to onset (days) of grade 2 or higher HFS and identification of biomarkers predictive of HFS, including baseline folate and vitamin B12 levels, as well as genetic polymorphisms with genome-wide arrays.

Results

In this cohort of 210 patients (median [range] age, 58 [26-82] years; 162 women) grade 2 or higher HFS occurred in 33 patients (31.4%) in the pyridoxine arm vs 39 patients (37.1%) in the placebo arm (P = .38). The median time to onset of grade 2 or higher HFS was not reached in both arms. In univariate analysis, the starting dose of capecitabine (odds ratio [OR], 1.99; 95% CI, 1.32-3.00; P = .001), serum folate levels (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.47; P = .001), and red blood cell folate levels (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44; P = .003) were associated with increased risk of grade 2 or higher HFS. In multivariate analyses, serum folate (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12-1.52; P < .001) and red blood cell folate (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.49; P = .001) were the only significant predictors of grade 2 or higher HFS. Grade 2 or higher HFS was associated with 300 DNA variants at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8), including a novel DPYD variant (rs75267292; P = 1.57 × 10-10), and variants in the MACF1 (rs183324967, P = 4.80 × 10-11; rs148221738, P = 5.73 × 10-10) and SPRY2 (rs117876855, P < 1.01 × 10-8; rs139544515, P = 1.30 × 10-8) genes involved in wound healing.

Conclusions and Relevance

Pyridoxine did not significantly prevent or delay the onset of grade 2 or higher HFS. Serum and red blood cell folate levels are independent predictors of HFS.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00486213.

Pharmacokinetics of Chemotherapy in the Older Patient

Background

The number of individuals aged 65 years and older is growing rapidly, and the majority of cancers are diagnosed in this age group. Age-related changes in physiology can affect chemotherapy pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in older patients.

Methods

We review the literature regarding the impact of age on the pharmacokinetics of commonly used chemotherapy drugs and discuss age-related changes in physiology and pharmacology that can affect chemotherapy tolerance in older patients.

Results

The data on age-related changes in chemotherapy pharmacokinetics are conflicting. While a few studies report age-related differences in chemotherapy pharmacokinetics, most found no significant difference or subtle differences in pharmacokinetics with aging. A difference in pharmacodynamics was commonly seen, however, with older patients at increased risk of myelosuppression and toxicity from age-related decline in organ function. The majority of these studies were performed in a small cohort of patients, thus limiting the generalizability of these results.

Conclusions

Additional studies are needed to address the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cancer therapies in the older patient. Multicenter pharmacokinetic studies of adequate sample size, which include a thorough evaluation of physiologic factors and geriatric assessment parameters, would provide further insight into the factors affecting treatment tolerance. These studies would also help to guide appropriate chemotherapy dosing and interventions in order to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity in the older patient.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Trastuzumab Plus Capecitabine With or Without Pertuzumab in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Experienced Disease Progression During or After Trastuzumab-Based Therapy

Purpose To assess the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus capecitabine with or without pertuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer who experienced disease progression during or after trastuzumab-based therapy and received a prior taxane. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned to arm A: trastuzumab 8 mg/kg → 6 mg/kg once every 3 weeks plus capecitabine 1,250 mg/m² twice a day (2 weeks on, 1 week off, every 3 weeks); or arm B: pertuzumab 840 mg → 420 mg once every 3 weeks plus trastuzumab at the same dose and schedule as arm A plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m² on the same schedule as arm A. The primary end point was independent review facility-assessed progression-free survival (IRF PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival (OS) and safety. Hierarchical testing procedures were used to control type I error for statistical testing of IRF PFS, OS, and objective response rate. Results Randomly assigned (intent-to-treat) populations were 224 and 228 patients in arms A and B, respectively. Median IRF PFS at 28.6 and 25.3 months' median follow-up was 9.0 v 11.1 months (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.02; P = .0731) and interim OS was 28.1 v 36.1 months (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.90). The most common adverse events (all grades; incidence of ≥ 10% in either arm and ≥ 5% difference between arms) were hand-foot syndrome, nausea, and neutropenia in arm A, and diarrhea, rash, and nasopharyngitis in arm B. Conclusion The addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab and capecitabine did not significantly improve IRF PFS. An 8-month increase in median OS to 36.1 months with pertuzumab was observed. Statistical significance for OS cannot be claimed because of the hierarchical testing of OS after the primary PFS end point; however, the magnitude of OS difference is in keeping with prior experience of pertuzumab in metastatic breast cancer. No new safety signals were identified.

Efficacy and safety of vinorelbine-capecitabine oral metronomic combination in elderly metastatic breast cancer patients: VICTOR-1 study

PURPOSE

Elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer are expected to derive similar benefits from chemotherapy as younger patients, but are more likely to experience therapy-related toxicity. Data from the VICTOR-1 study showed that metronomic therapy with vinorelbine and capecitabine was effective and well tolerated in patients with metastatic breast cancer. This analysis determined the efficacy and safety of the metronomic combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine in a subgroup of VICTOR-1 study patients aged ≥70 years.

METHODS

Eighteen of the 32 patients enrolled in VICTOR-1 were aged ≥70 years. Objective response and clinical benefit rates were calculated and toxicity was determined using the NCI-CTCAE criteria.

RESULTS

All patients had at least 1 comorbidity (4 had 2 comorbidities), and 77.7% were taking concomitant medication. Eight patients (44%) had received ≥1 chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease and most (78%) had ≥2 metastatic sites. Grade 1-2 adverse events occurred in 45.8% of cycles, whereas the incidence of grade 3 and grade 4 events was very low (1.5% and 0.7%, respectively). Median time to progression was 10.5 months (range 1-40). The objective response rate was 33% and the clinical benefit rate was 67%.

CONCLUSIONS

The all-oral metronomic combination of vinorelbine and capecitabine had an acceptable efficacy profile and appears to be better tolerated than standard treatment schedules in elderly metastatic breast cancer patients (age ≥70 years).

Breast Cancer in Women Older Than 80 Years

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence that rises dramatically with age. The average age at diagnosis of breast cancer is 61 years, and the majority of woman who die of breast cancer are age 65 years and older. Major improvements in public health and medical care have resulted in dramatic increases in longevity. The oldest old (those age 80 years and older) are a rapidly expanding group and now comprise 9 million members of the US population. The treatment of individuals who are age 80 years and older is complex and involves clearly defining the goals and value of treatment while also weighing risks, such as the potential effects of treatment on functional loss and quality of life. Limited evidence-based treatment guidelines exist for the caring of this older cohort of patients with breast cancer. Data from clinical trials that enroll primarily younger patients lack the information needed to estimate the likelihood of toxicities that can be life changing in older adults. Clinicians who make treatment recommendations should place the available evidence in the context of the patient's life expectancy and geriatric assessment results that include an evaluation of a patient's functional status, comorbidities, cognition, social support, nutritional status, and psychological state. Furthermore, these decisions should be placed in the context of the patient's goals for treatment, preferences, and values. This review summarizes the current literature and focuses on the role of geriatric assessment in treatment recommendations for patients age 80 years and older with early and metastatic breast cancer.

A randomized phase III study evaluating pegylated liposomal doxorubicin versus capecitabine as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer: results of the PELICAN study

Purpose

The PELICAN trial evaluates for the first time efficacy and safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) versus capecitabine as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods

This randomized, phase III, open-label, multicenter trial enrolled first-line MBC patients who were ineligible for endocrine or trastuzumab therapy. Cumulative adjuvant anthracyclines of 360 mg/m² doxorubicin or equivalent were allowed. Left ventricular ejection fraction of >50 % was required. Patients received PLD 50 mg/m² every 28 days or capecitabine 1250 mg/m² twice daily for 14 days every 21 days. The primary endpoint was time-to-disease progression (TTP).

Results

210 patients were randomized (n = 105, PLD and n = 105, capecitabine). Adjuvant anthracyclines were given to 37 % (PLD) and 36 % (capecitabine) of patients. No significant difference was observed in TTP [HR = 1.21 (95 % confidence interval, 0.838–1.750)]. Median TTP was 6.0 months for both PLD and capecitabine. Comparing patients with or without prior anthracyclines, no significant difference in TTP was observed in the PLD arm (log-rank P = 0.64). For PLD versus capecitabine, respectively, overall survival (median, 23.3 months vs. 26.8 months) and time-to-treatment failure (median, 4.6 months vs. 3.7 months) were not statistically significantly different. Compared to PLD, patients on capecitabine experienced more serious adverse events (P = 0.015) and more cardiac events among patients who had prior anthracycline exposure (18 vs. 8 %; P = 0.31).

Conclusion

Both PLD and capecitabine are effective first-line agents for MBC.

Defining the optimal sequence for the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that presents in varying forms, and a growing number of therapeutic options makes it difficult to determine the best choice in each particular situation. When selecting a systemic treatment, it is important to consider the medication administered in the previous stages, such as acquired resistance, type of progression, time to relapse, tumor aggressiveness, age, comorbidities, pre- and post-menopausal status, and patient preferences. Moreover, tumor genomic signatures can identify different subtypes, which can be used to create patient profiles and design specific therapies. However, there is no consensus regarding the best treatment sequence for each subgroup of patients. During the SABCC Congress of 2014, specialized breast cancer oncologists from referral hospitals in Europe met to define patient profiles and to determine specific treatment sequences for each one. Conclusions were then debated in a final meeting in which a relative degree of consensus for each treatment sequence was established. Four patient profiles were defined according to established breast cancer phenotypes: pre-menopausal patients with luminal subtype, post-menopausal patients with luminal subtype, patients with triple-negative subtype, and patients with HER2-positive subtype. A treatment sequence was then defined, consisting of hormonal therapy with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant, and mTOR inhibitors for pre- and post-menopausal patien ts; a chemotherapy sequence for the first, second, and further lines for luminal and triple-negative patients; and an optimal sequence for treatment with new antiHER2 therapies. Finally, a document detailing all treatment sequences, that had the agreement of all the oncologists, was drawn up as a guideline and advocacy tool for professionals treating patients with this disease.

A comparison of toxicity profiles between the lower and standard dose capecitabine in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) bid × 14 days every 21 days (14/21) has been reported to have similar efficacy but more favorable toxicity profile than the approved dosage of 1250 mg/m(2). However, a dose-toxicity relationship of capecitabine in breast cancer patients has not been fully elucidated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare a safety profile between capecitabine starting dose of 1000 and 1250 mg/m(2) bid. Studies were identified using PubMed, ASCO, and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium abstract databases through December 2015. Eligible trials included phase II/III trials of capecitabine monotherapy at 1000 or 1250 mg/m(2) bid (14/21) for breast cancer patients that reported adequate safety data for all (grade 1-4) or high (grade 3-4) grade hand foot syndrome (HFS), diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or anemia, as well as dose reductions, treatment discontinuation or treatment-related deaths. The summary incidence was calculated using random-effects models. A total of 4833 patients from 34 trials were included. 1218 and 3615 patients were treated with capecitabine 1000 and 1250 mg/m(2) bid, respectively. A significantly lower incidence of dose reduction (15.9 vs. 39.0 %; P = 0.007), high-grade HFS (12.0 vs. 19.0 %; P = 0.01), diarrhea (5.3 vs. 9.1 %; P = 0.01), and neutropenia (1.8 vs. 7.3 %; P < 0.01), and all-grade neutropenia (5.8 vs. 25.4 %; P = 0.01) was seen in capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) compared to 1250 mg/m(2). Capecitabine monotherapy at 1000 mg/m(2) bid (14/21) has a clinically meaningful and significantly better toxicity profile compared to 1250 mg/m(2) bid (14/21).

Pharmacokinetics of Selected Anticancer Drugs in Elderly Cancer Patients: Focus on Breast Cancer

Background: Elderly patients receiving anticancer drugs may have an increased risk to develop treatment-related toxicities compared to their younger peers. However, a potential pharmacokinetic (PK) basis for this increased risk has not consistently been established yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to systematically review the influence of age on the PK of anticancer agents frequently administered to elderly breast cancer patients. Methods: A literature search was performed using the PubMed electronic database, Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and available drug approval reviews, as published by EMA and FDA. Publications that describe age-related PK profiles of selected anticancer drugs against breast cancer, excluding endocrine compounds, were selected and included. Results: This review presents an overview of the available data that describe the influence of increasing age on the PK of selected anticancer drugs used for the treatment of breast cancer. Conclusions: Selected published data revealed differences in the effect and magnitude of increasing age on the PK of several anticancer drugs. There may be clinically-relevant, age-related PK differences for anthracyclines and platina agents. In the majority of cases, age is not a good surrogate marker for anticancer drug PK, and the physiological state of the individual patient may better be approached by looking at organ function, Charlson Comorbidity Score or geriatric functional assessment.

Clinical relevance of DPYD variants c.1679T>G, c.1236G>A/HapB3, and c.1601G>A as predictors of severe fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data

BACKGROUND

The best-known cause of intolerance to fluoropyrimidines is dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency, which can result from deleterious polymorphisms in the gene encoding DPD (DPYD), including DPYD*2A and c.2846A>T. Three other variants-DPYD c.1679T>G, c.1236G>A/HapB3, and c.1601G>A-have been associated with DPD deficiency, but no definitive evidence for the clinical validity of these variants is available. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the clinical validity of c.1679T>G, c.1236G>A/HapB3, and c.1601G>A as predictors of severe fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity.

METHODS

We did a systematic review of the literature published before Dec 17, 2014, to identify cohort studies investigating associations between DPYD c.1679T>G, c.1236G>A/HapB3, and c.1601G>A and severe (grade ≥3) fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity in patients treated with fluoropyrimidines (fluorouracil, capecitabine, or tegafur-uracil as single agents, in combination with other anticancer drugs, or with radiotherapy). Individual patient data were retrieved and analysed in a multivariable analysis to obtain an adjusted relative risk (RR). Effect estimates were pooled by use of a random-effects meta-analysis. The threshold for significance was set at a p value of less than 0·0167 (Bonferroni correction).

FINDINGS

7365 patients from eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. DPYD c.1679T>G was significantly associated with fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity (adjusted RR 4·40, 95% CI 2·08-9·30, p<0·0001), as was c.1236G>A/HapB3 (1·59, 1·29-1·97, p<0·0001). The association between c.1601G>A and fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity was not significant (adjusted RR 1·52, 95% CI 0·86-2·70, p=0·15). Analysis of individual types of toxicity showed consistent associations of c.1679T>G and c.1236G>A/HapB3 with gastrointestinal toxicity (adjusted RR 5·72, 95% CI 1·40-23·33, p=0·015; and 2·04, 1·49-2·78, p<0·0001, respectively) and haematological toxicity (adjusted RR 9·76, 95% CI 3·03-31·48, p=0·00014; and 2·07, 1·17-3·68, p=0·013, respectively), but not with hand-foot syndrome. DPYD*2A and c.2846A>T were also significantly associated with severe fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity (adjusted RR 2·85, 95% CI 1·75-4·62, p<0·0001; and 3·02, 2·22-4·10, p<0·0001, respectively).

INTERPRETATION

DPYD variants c.1679T>G and c.1236G>A/HapB3 are clinically relevant predictors of fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity. Upfront screening for these variants, in addition to the established variants DPYD*2A and c.2846A>T, is recommended to improve the safety of patients with cancer treated with fluoropyrimidines.

FUNDING

None.

Low-dose capecitabine plus trastuzumab as first-line treatment in patients 75 years of age or older with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Single-agent chemotherapy is considered a good and safe treatment option for elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). We investigated the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus low-dose capecitabine in elderly patients with previously untreated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive AGC.

METHODS

Patients aged 75 years or older with tumors having HER2 overexpression defined as either immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ or IHC 2+ and in situ hybridization-positive were eligible for inclusion. Patients received capecitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) orally twice daily on days 1-14 and trastuzumab (8 mg/kg for cycle 1, followed by 6 mg/kg) intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Twenty patients were enrolled. The median age was 79 years (range 75-91). Nine patients (45 %) had ECOG performance status 2. Median PFS was 5.2 months (95 % CI 1.9-8.4 months), and median overall survival was 9.3 months (95 % CI 4.0-14.6 months). The confirmed response rate was 40 % (95 % CI 19-64 %) with disease control rate of 80 %. Grade 3-4 toxicities were anorexia (10 %), fatigue (5 %), stomatitis (5 %), and anemia (5 %). No treatment-related deaths or symptomatic congestive heart failure were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose capecitabine plus trastuzumab is effective and well tolerated in elderly patients with HER2-positive AGC.

Efficacy of capecitabine monotherapy as the first-line treatment of metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Capecitabine is a potent and safe agent that can be used after anthracycline and taxane treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine monotherapy as a first-line treatment in human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2)-negative patients with MBC.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

In this single-center trial, a total of 109 HER2-negative patients with MBC who received capecitabine monotherapy as first-line treatment between 2003 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out for progression-free survival (PFS) and for overall survival (OS). Two-sided p values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Median PFS was 7.0 ± 0.67 (confidence interval (CI) 5.6-8.3) months and median OS was 30 ± 4.1 (CI 21.8- 38.1) months. First-line capecitabine treatment for HER2-negative MBC was more effective in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive patient population compared to the ER-negative group (median PFS 9 vs 4 months (p = 0.002), median OS 33 vs 21 months (p = 0.01)). Indeed, the overall response rate in the ER-negative group was 16%, while this was calculated as 38% for ER-positive cases. While most of our patient population was treated with a higher dose (1250 mg/m2), the observed grade 3-4 toxicities were lower compared to some previously reported phase II and phase III capecitabine studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Capecitabine monotherapy is an effective and safe regimen for ER-positive, HER2-negative patients with MBC. Its low toxicity profile compared to other intravenous cytotoxic agents and the ease of its oral administration make this agent a preferable option for both physicians and patients.

Approach and Management of Breast Cancer in the Elderly

Breast cancer is the mostly commonly diagnosed cancer in women both in the United States and worldwide. Although advanced age at diagnosis is associated with more favorable tumor biology, mortality rates are comparatively higher in older adults, possibly attributed to advanced stage at presentation. There are minimal specific treatment-based guidelines in elderly patients with cancer, mostly attributable to their limited inclusion on clinical trials. In addition to the existing evidence from clinical trials and retrospective studies, practitioners need to take into consideration functional status, social support, patient preference, presence of comorbidities, and life expectancy when selecting optimal treatment.

Impact of hand-foot skin reaction on treatment outcome in patients receiving capecitabine plus erlotinib for advanced pancreatic cancer: a subgroup analysis from AIO-PK0104

BACKGROUND

Drug-induced skin toxicity may correlate with treatment efficacy in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or biological agents. The correlation of the capecitabine-associated hand-foot skin reaction (HFS) on outcome parameters in pancreatic cancer (PC) has not yet been investigated.

METHODS

Within the multicentre phase III AIO-PK0104 trial, patients with confirmed advanced PC were randomly assigned to first-line treatment with either capecitabine plus erlotinib (150 mg/day, arm A) or gemcitabine plus erlotinib (150 mg/day, arm B). A cross-over to either gemcitabine (arm A) or capecitabine (arm B) was performed after failure of the first-line regimen. Data on skin toxicity were correlated with efficacy study endpoints using uni- and multivariate analyses. To control for guarantee-time bias (GTB), we focused on subgroup analyses of patients who had completed two and three or more treatment cycles.

RESULTS

Of 281 randomised patients, skin toxicity data were available for 255 patients. Median time to capecitabine-attributed HFS was two cycles, 36 of 47 (77%) HFS events had been observed by the end of treatment cycle three. Considering HFS during first-line treatment in 101 patients treated with capecitabine for at least two cycles within the capecitabine plus erlotinib arm, time to treatment failure after first- and second-line therapy (TTF2) and overall survival (OS) both were significantly prolonged for the 44 patients (44%) with HFS compared to 57 patients without HFS (56%) (TTF2: 7.8 vs. 3.8 months, HR 0.50, p = 0.001; OS: 10.4 vs. 5.9 months, HR 0.55, p = 0.005). A subgroup analysis of 70 patients on treatment with capecitabine for at least three cycles showed similar results (TTF2: 8.3 vs. 4.4 months, HR 0.53, p = 0.010; OS: 10.4 vs. 6.7 months, HR 0.62, p = 0.056).

CONCLUSION

The present subgroup analysis from AIO-PK0104 suggests that HFS may serve as an independent clinical predictor for treatment outcome in capecitabine-treated patients with advanced PC.

A randomized phase 2 study comparing EC or CMF versus nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for nonfrail elderly patients with moderate to high-risk early breast cancer (ICE II-GBG 52)

BACKGROUND

Although greater than 40% of breast cancers occur in patients aged ≥65 years, these individuals are frequently undertreated. Taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy is considered the treatment of choice but to the authors' knowledge has only limited evidence in elderly patients.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥65 years with a Charlson comorbidity index ≤2 and pT1/2 pN0/1 disease and either human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, hormone receptor-negative, grade 3 (according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3.0]), high uPA/PAI-1 or any stage pT3/4 pN2/3 breast cancer were randomized to receive 4 cycles of adjuvant epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) (epirubicin at a dose of 90 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide at a dose of 600 mg/m(2) intravenously [iv] on day 1 every 3 22 days) or 6 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) (cyclophosphamide at a dose of 500 mg/m(2), methotrexate at a dose of 40 mg/m(2), and 5-fluorouracil at a dose of 600 mg/m(2) iv on days 1 plus 8 every 29 days) versus 6 cycles of nab-paclitaxel and capecitabine (nPX) (nab-paclitaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) iv on days 1, 8, and 15 every 21 days with 1 week of rest every 6 weeks plus capecitabine at a dose of 2000 mg/m(2) orally on days 1-14 every 21 days). Primary endpoints were treatment discontinuations and overall frequency of adverse events.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 198 patients (6.6%) discontinued EC/CMF and 69 of 193 patients (35.8%) discontinued nPX (P<.001) with 1 and 5 deaths observed during treatment, respectively. Grade 3 to 5 adverse events were more frequent among patients treated with EC/CMF (90.9%) than among those treated with nPX (64.8%) (P<.001), with hematological toxicities being more frequent with EC/CMF (88.4% vs 22.3%; P<.001), but nonhematological toxicities (hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, mucositis, fatigue, sensory neuropathy, thromboembolisms, and metabolic disorders) being more frequent with nPX (58.5% vs 18.7%; P<.001). None of the geriatric scores (Charlson comorbidity index, Vulnerable Elders Survey [VES-13], Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL], and G8) independently predicted grade 3 to 5 toxic events or treatment discontinuations. No differences in survival between the treatment groups were observed after 22.8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with EC/CMF, treatment with nPX led to more treatment discontinuations and nonhematological toxicities in elderly patients with moderate or high-risk breast cancer.