Phase I trial evaluating the safety of bevacizumab with concurrent radiotherapy and capecitabine in locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Gastrointestinal injury induced by immunomodulators: A review article

An increasing number of immunomodulators, either anti-inflammatory or immunity-enhancing, have brought about a revolutionary effect in the management of a variety of autoimmune disorders and malignancies. However, their ability to cause gastrointestinal (GI) injury and induce GI symptoms has been increasingly and unexpectedly recognized. GI injury associated with immunomodulators may demonstrate various histologic and endoscopic patterns. Optimal diagnosis and treatment require a multidisciplinary approach. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on its pathogenesis, the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features, and suggested approaches to manage these newly recognized immunomodulator-induced GI adverse effects (AEs). We also reviewed current biomarkers predictive of GI toxicity and potential risk factors to identify susceptible patients. In addition, these immune-mediated AEs were compared with inflammatory bowel disease, a well-documented form of inflammation-driven GI injury. We hope this review will raise awareness and vigilance among clinicians of these entities to increase early diagnosis and rapid referral to specialist care.

Nab-Paclitaxel, Capecitabine, and Radiation Therapy After Induction Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Phase 1 Trial and Imaging-based Biomarker Validation

PURPOSE

Effective consolidative chemoradiation (CRT) regimens are lacking. In this phase 1 trial, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of nab-paclitaxel, capecitabine, and radiation therapy after induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced and borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC and BRPC). Also, we evaluated a computed tomography (CT)-based biomarker of response.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, underwent computed tomography-imaging, received a diagnosis of LAPC or BRPC, and received induction chemotherapy. Standard 3 + 3 study design was used, with 3 escalating nab-paclitaxel dose levels (50, 75, and 100 mg/m²) with concurrent capecitabine and RT in cohort sizes of 3 starting at the lowest dose. Dose limiting toxicity was defined as grade 3 or higher toxicity. Patients were restaged 4 to 6 weeks post-CRT completion, and surgical resection was offered to those with stable/responsive disease. We scored the tumor interface response (IR) postchemotherapy and post-CRT into type I (remained/became more defined) and type II (became less defined). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) from time of CRT were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. P ≤ .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients started and finished on protocol (LAPC = 14, BRPC = 9). No grade 3 and 4 toxicities were reported in level 1 (n = 3) or level 2 (n = 3) initial groups. Two patients in the initial level 3 group developed dose limiting toxicity, establishing level 2 dose as the maximal tolerated dose. Level 2 group was expanded for additional 15 patients (for a total of 23 on trial), 5 of whom developed grade 3 toxicities. Seven patients underwent surgical resection. Median OS and PFS were 21.2 and 8.1 months, respectively. Type I IR was associated with better OS (P = .004) and PFS (P = .03) compared with type II IR.

CONCLUSIONS

We established the maximum tolerated dose for nab-paclitaxel in a consolidative CRT regimen for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Preliminary efficacy results warrant phase 2 trial evaluation. IR may be used for personalized treatment.

Radiation therapy and antiangiogenic therapy: Opportunities and challenges

The importance of tumoral vascularization as a therapeutic target was first described in 1971 by Folkman. Anarchic vascularization in response to tumour hypoxia, especially mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor, represents a major target in the management of many cancers. The contribution of systemic anti-angiogenic treatments including humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, whose effect on vascular normalization and correction of tumour hypoxia has been shown in preclinical studies to be enhancing the effect of radiotherapy. Early trials combining radiotherapy and antiangiogenics with a small number of patients have contradictory results and tend to put into perspective the opportunity that this synergistic association represents. The efficiency found must be tempered by some toxicity described, especially in association with high doses per fraction. The aim of this article is to present the main studies reporting the efficiency and safety of the combination of antiangiogenic drugs and radiotherapy, as well as the expected opportunities.

Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib for the Treatment of Advanced or Recurrent Cervical Cancer: A Single-Arm Meta-Analysis Among Chinese Patients

Background: Although various effective compounds for the second- and third-line treatment of advanced or recurrent cervical cancer improved the overall survival, the optimal regimen remains controversial. Previous studies revealed that apatinib had extensive anti-tumor activities. However, almost all studies on apatinib in recurrent cervical cancer are non-randomized controlled trials with small sample sizes, different first-line treatments, and uncontrolled statistical analysis, which may result in a lack of effective metrics to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib. Here, this meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for relevant studies. Outcomes including overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were extracted for further analysis.

Results: Seven studies involving 243 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. In terms of tumor response, the pooled ORR and DCR were 22.9% and 68.6%, respectively. With regard to survival analysis, the pooled PFS and OS were 5.19 months and 10.63 months, respectively. The most common treatment-related adverse events of apatinib were hand–foot syndrome (all grade: 39.6%, ≥grade III: 7.5%), hypertension (all grade: 34.5%, ≥grade III: 9.2%), and fatigue (all grade: 28.0%, ≥grade III: 5.1%).

Conclusions: In summary, this meta-analysis demonstrated that apatinib has promising efficacy and safety for patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Systematic Review Registration:https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-7-0049/, identifier INPLASY202270049

Combination of Palliative Thoracic Radiotherapy With Bevacizumab for Stage IV Nonsquamous NSCLC: Is There Any Impact of Time Interval on Survival?

Background:

The time interval between palliative thoracic radiotherapy and bevacizumab treatment strongly influences the frequency of adverse events (AEs) when both are concurrently applied to patients with advanced lung cancer. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the optimal time interval between the treatments in these patients.

Methods:

The medical records of patients with stage IV nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase alteration who underwent palliative thoracic radiotherapy and bevacizumab treatment from January 2008 to January 2020 were collected and analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the time interval between treatments: <3 weeks (⩽3W group) and >3 weeks (>3W group). The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the time intervals were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. Adverse events were assessed by the fifth version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

Results:

In total, 72 patients with stage IV NSCLC (⩽3W group, 37 patients; >3W group, 35 patients) who concurrently or sequentially received palliative thoracic radiotherapy and bevacizumab treatment were included in this study. In the >3W and ⩽3W groups, the median PFS (8 vs 6 months, respectively) and OS (15 vs 12 months, respectively) differed significantly. Multivariate analyses findings revealed significantly shorter OS in the latter group. In addition, the frequency of most AEs was marginally higher in the latter group (P > .05).

Conclusions:

The time interval between palliative thoracic radiotherapy and bevacizumab treatment that offers optimal safety is >3 weeks.

Cancer combination therapies by angiogenesis inhibitors; a comprehensive review

Abnormal vasculature is one of the most conspicuous traits of tumor tissue, largely contributing to tumor immune evasion. The deregulation mainly arises from the potentiated pro-angiogenic factors secretion and can also target immune cells' biological events, such as migration and activation. Owing to this fact, angiogenesis blockade therapy was established to fight cancer by eliminating the nutrient and oxygen supply to the malignant cells by impairing the vascular network. Given the dominant role of vascular-endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in the angiogenesis process, the well-known anti-angiogenic agents mainly depend on the targeting of its actions. However, cancer cells mainly show resistance to anti-angiogenic agents by several mechanisms, and also potentiated local invasiveness and also distant metastasis have been observed following their administration. Herein, we will focus on clinical developments of angiogenesis blockade therapy, more particular, in combination with other conventional treatments, such as immunotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and also cancer vaccines. Video abstract.

Opportunities and challenges in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant tumours with a poor prognosis. In recent years, the incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise. Traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer have been improved, first-line and second-line palliative treatments have been developed, and adjuvant treatments have also been used in clinical. However, the 5-year survival rate is still less than 10% and new treatment methods such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy need to be investigated. In the past decades, many clinical trials of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer were launched and some of them showed an ideal prospect in a subgroup of pancreatic cancer patients. The experience of both success and failure of these clinical trials will be helpful to improve these therapies in the future. Therefore, the current research progress and challenges of selected targeted therapies and immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer are reviewed.

Melatonin as an Adjuvant to Antiangiogenic Cancer Treatments

Melatonin is a hormone with different functions, antitumor actions being one of the most studied. Among its antitumor mechanisms is its ability to inhibit angiogenesis. Melatonin shows antiangiogenic effects in several types of tumors. Combination of melatonin and chemotherapeutic agents have a synergistic effect inhibiting angiogenesis. One of the undesirable effects of chemotherapy is the induction of pro-angiogenic factors, whilst the addition of melatonin is able to overcome these undesirable effects. This protective effect of the pineal hormone against angiogenesis might be one of the mechanisms underlying its anticancer effect, explaining, at least in part, why melatonin administration increases the sensitivity of tumors to the inhibitory effects exerted by ordinary chemotherapeutic agents. Melatonin has the ability to turn cancer totally resistant to chemotherapeutic agents into a more sensitive chemotherapy state. Definitely, melatonin regulates the expression and/or activity of many factors involved in angiogenesis which levels are affected (either positively or negatively) by chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, the pineal hormone has been proposed as a radiosensitizer, increasing the oncostatic effects of radiation on tumor cells. This review serves as a synopsis of the interaction between melatonin and angiogenesis, and we will outline some antiangiogenic mechanisms through which melatonin sensitizes cancer cells to treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Apatinib for the treatment of metastatic or locoregionally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy: A multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase 2 study

BACKGROUND

The authors aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with metastatic or locoregionally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

A multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase 2 study was conducted on patients (18-70 years of age) with metastatic or recurrent NPC who had failed chemotherapy. Patients with recurrent disease involving vascular structure invasion were excluded. All enrolled patients received apatinib (500 mg daily) in continuous 4-week cycles until disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point of this study was objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03130270).

RESULTS

Between January 2017 and June 2018, 33 patients were enrolled. At the end of the data collection (May 20, 2020), the 33 patients had completed a total of 261.2 cycles of apatinib. Although 12 patients achieved a partial response, no patient achieved a complete response; thus, the ORR in the 33 patients was 36.4% (95% CI, 19.0%-53.7%). At the end of follow-up (median, 30 months; 95% CI, 24.9-35.1), median OS and median PFS were 16 months (95% CI, 14.6-17.4 months) and 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.6-6.4 months), respectively. The most common adverse events (grade 1/2) were hand-foot syndrome (18 [54.5%]), hypertension (14 [42.4%]), oral ulcer (8 [24.2%]), and proteinuria (4 [12.1%]). Two patients (1 with diabetes and 1 with hypertension) developed cerebral infarction. Grade 3/4 toxicities were uncommon.

CONCLUSIONS

Apatinib shows promising activity, with manageable toxicities, in patients with metastatic or locoregionally recurrent NPC. Further evaluation of apatinib in large-scale studies is warranted.

LAY SUMMARY

Clinical studies on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeted therapy for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are limited. A recent preclinical study that evaluated apatinib in models of NPC showed a high objective response rate and a favorable safety profile. Our data further confirmed good efficacy in patients with lung metastasis. Further studies of the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors or chemotherapy in NPC is warranted.

Antibody therapy in pancreatic cancer: mAb-ye we're onto something?

Pancreatic cancer remains an extremely deadly disease, with little improvement seen in treatment or outcomes over the last 40 years. Targeted monoclonal antibody therapy is one area that has been explored in attempts to tackle this disease. This review examines antibodies that have undergone clinical evaluation in pancreatic cancer. These antibodies target a wide variety of molecules, including tumour cell surface, stromal, immune and embryonic pathway targets. We discuss the therapeutic utility of these therapies both as monotherapeutics and in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy. While antibody therapy for pancreatic cancer has yet to yield significant success, lessons learned from research thus far highlights future directions that may help overcome observed hurdles to yield clinically efficacious results.

Therapeutic Application of Monoclonal Antibodies in Pancreatic Cancer: Advances, Challenges and Future Opportunities

Pancreatic cancer remains as one of the most aggressive cancer types. In the absence of reliable biomarkers for its early detection and more effective therapeutic interventions, pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the Western world in the next decade. Therefore, it is essential to discover novel therapeutic targets and to develop more effective and pancreatic cancer-specific therapeutic agents. To date, 45 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been approved for the treatment of patients with a wide range of cancers; however, none has yet been approved for pancreatic cancer. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the FDA approved anticancer mAb-based drugs, the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials with mAbs in pancreatic cancer and the factors contributing to the poor response to antibody therapy (e.g. tumour heterogeneity, desmoplastic stroma). MAb technology is an excellent tool for studying the complex biology of pancreatic cancer, to discover novel therapeutic targets and to develop various forms of antibody-based therapeutic agents and companion diagnostic tests for the selection of patients who are more likely to benefit from such therapy. These should result in the approval and routine use of antibody-based agents for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients in the future.

Use of bevacizumab before or after radiotherapy increases the risk of fistula formation in patients with cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Several reports have documented the risk of fistula formation after bevacizumab in patients previously treated with radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of fistula formation with bevacizumab and radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with stage I-IV cervical cancer between January 2013 and December 2018. Patients who had a history of pelvic radiotherapy, who were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy alone, received radiotherapy at another hospital, received concurrent bevacizumab and radiotherapy, or had missing follow-up data or a short follow-up period (<6 months) were excluded. The fistula rates were compared between the groups using the Cox proportional hazards model and propensity score analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 302 patients were included in the study: 249 patients were treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy, and 53 patients were treated with radiotherapy before or after bevacizumab. With a median follow-up of 35.9 (IQR 22.8-53.5) months, the 3 year cumulative fistula incidence rate was significantly higher in the radiotherapy + bevacizumab group than in the radiotherapy group (27.0% vs 3.0%, p<0.001). Bevacizumab administration was significantly associated with fistula formation in the multivariable adjusted model (HR 4.76, 95% CI 1.71 to 13.23) and three propensity score adjusted model (all p<0.05). Biologically equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions for 2 cc of the rectum more than 76 Gy was also associated with fistula formation (HR 4.30, 95% CI 1.52 to 12.18). Additionally, a 10 month interval between radiotherapy and bevacizumab reduced the incidence of fistula formation in the radiotherapy + bevacizumab group (p=0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with cervical cancer treated with pelvic radiotherapy, the addition of bevacizumab substantially increased the risk of fistula formation. Physicians should perform pelvic radiotherapy in combination with bevacizumab with caution; moreover, close monitoring for fistula formation is warranted in these patients.

Palliative Radiotherapy: Inpatients, Outpatients, and the Changing Role of Supportive Care in Radiation Oncology

Palliative radiotherapy is an effective treatment in alleviating many symptoms of advanced cancer. Short courses of radiotherapy provide rapid symptom relief and minimize impact on patients. Patients referred for palliative radiotherapy have many concerns beyond radiotherapy; often, these concerns are not fully addressed in traditional radiotherapy clinics. Discussions of prognosis, patient goals, and concerns are areas for improved collaboration. Innovative, dedicated palliative radiotherapy programs have developed over the past 20 years to provide holistic care to patients referred for palliative radiotherapy and have improved patient-focused outcomes. Advanced radiotherapy techniques may provide opportunities to further improve palliative radiotherapy outcomes.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of stereotactic body radiation therapy combined with gemcitabine plus capecitabine for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, toxicity, and prognostic factors of SBRT combined with gemcitabine plus capecitabine (GEM-CAP) in treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

METHODS

A total of 56 patients with LAPC treated with SBRT combined with GEM-CAP were reviewed from October 2010 to October 2016. The median total prescription dose at five fractions was 40 Gy (30-50 Gy). The patients were subjected to two cycles of GEM-CAP before SBRT. GEM-CAP chemotherapy was then offered for four cycles or until disease tolerance or progression. The primary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

The median OS and PFS from the date of diagnosis was 19 (95% CI 14.6-23.4) and 12 months (95% CI 8.34-15.66), respectively. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 82.1% and 35.7%, whereas the 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 48.2% and 14.3%, respectively. The median carbohydrate antigen 19-9-determined PFS time was 11 months (95% CI 5.77-16.24). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, pre-treatment CA19-9 level, and post-treatment CA19-9 decline were independent prognostic factors (p < 0.05). Acute toxicity was minimal, with two cases (3.6%) experiencing grade 3 duodenal obstruction. No adverse events greater than grade 3 occurred. In late toxicity, three patients (5.4%) developed grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity and two (3.6%) suffered from perforation caused by grade 4 radiation enteritis and intestinal fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of Cyberknife SBRT and GEM-CAP achieved excellent efficacy with acceptable toxicity for LAPC.

Toxicity of locoregional radiotherapy in combination with bevacizumab in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (TOLERAB): Final long-term evaluation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Few data are available concerning the safety of bevacizumab (B) in combination with locoregional radiation therapy (RT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the 5-year late toxicity of concurrent B and RT in non-metastatic breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This multicentre prospective study included non-metastatic breast cancer patients enrolled in phase 3 clinical trials evaluating B with concurrent RT versus RT alone. All patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and normofractionated breast or chest wall RT, with or without regional lymph node RT. B was administered at an equivalent dose of 5 mg/kg once a week for 1 year. The safety profile was evaluated 1, 3 and 5 years after completion of radiotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients were included between November 2007 and April 2010. Median follow-up was 60 months (12-73) and 5-year late toxicity data were available for 46 patients. The majority of tumours were triple-negative (68.8%), tumour size <2cm (41.3%) with negative nodal status (50.8%). Median total dose of B was 15,000mg and median duration was 11.2 months. No grade ≥3 toxicity was observed. Only 8 patients experienced grade 1-2 toxicities: n = 3 (6.5%) grade 1 lymphedema, n = 2 (4.3%) grade 1 pain, n = 1 (2.2%) grade 2 lymphedema, n = 1 (2.2%) grade 1 fibrosis. Five-year overall survival was 93.8%, disease-free survival was 89% and locoregional recurrence-free survival was 93.1%.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent B and locoregional RT are associated with acceptable 5-year toxicity in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. No grade ≥3 toxicity was observed.

Clinical Trials Targeting the Stroma in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the initiation and progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this systematic review, we provide an overview of clinical trials with stroma-targeting agents. We systematically searched MEDLINE/PubMed and the EMBASE database, using the PRISMA guidelines, for eligible clinical trials. In total, 2330 records were screened, from which we have included 106 articles. A meta-analysis could be performed on 51 articles which describe the targeting of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and three articles which describe the targeting of hyaluronic acid. Anti-VEGF therapies did not show an increase in median overall survival (OS) with combined hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.13). Treatment with hyaluronidase PEGPH20 showed promising results, but, thus far, only in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in selected patients with hyaluronic acid (HA)high tumors: An increase in median progression free survival (PFS) of 2.9 months, as well as a HR of 0.51 (95% CI 0.26-1.00). In conclusion, we found that anti-angiogenic therapies did not show an increased benefit in median OS or PFS in contrast to promising results with anti-hyaluronic acid treatment in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. The PEGPH20 clinical trials used patient selection to determine eligibility based on tumor biology, which underlines the importance to personalize treatment for pancreatic cancer patients.

Combining Radiotherapy With Anti-angiogenic Therapy and Immunotherapy; A Therapeutic Triad for Cancer?

Radiotherapy has been used for the treatment of cancer for over a century. Throughout this period, the therapeutic benefit of radiotherapy has continuously progressed due to technical developments and increased insight in the biological mechanisms underlying the cellular responses to irradiation. In order to further improve radiotherapy efficacy, there is a mounting interest in combining radiotherapy with other forms of therapy such as anti-angiogenic therapy or immunotherapy. These strategies provide different opportunities and challenges, especially with regard to dose scheduling and timing. Addressing these issues requires insight in the interaction between the different treatment modalities. In the current review, we describe the basic principles of the effects of radiotherapy on tumor vascularization and tumor immunity and vice versa. We discuss the main strategies to combine these treatment modalities and the hurdles that have to be overcome in order to maximize therapeutic effectivity. Finally, we evaluate the outstanding questions and present future prospects of a therapeutic triad for cancer.

Targeted therapies in pancreatic cancer: Promises and failures

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an incidence rate nearly equal to its mortality rate. The poor prognosis of the disease can be explained by the absence of effective biomarkers for screening and early detection, together with the aggressive behavior and resistance to the currently available chemotherapy. The therapeutic failure can also be attributed to the inter-/intratumor genetic heterogeneity and the abundance of tumor stroma that occupies the majority of the tumor mass. Gemcitabine is used in the treatment of PDAC; however, the response rate is less than 12%. A recent phase III trial revealed that the combination of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin could be an option for the treatment of metastatic PDAC patients with good performance status, although these approaches can result in high toxicity level. Further investigations are required to develop innovative anticancer agents that either improve gemcitabine activity, within novel combinatorial approaches or acts with a better efficacy than gemcitabine. The aim of the current review is to give an overview of preclinical and clinical studies targeting key dysregulated signaling pathways in PDAC.

Pancreatic Cancer: Feasibility and Outcome After Radiochemotherapy with High Dose External Radiotherapy for Non-resected and R1 Resected Patients

Background Non-resected locally advanced and microscopic positive-margin resected (R1) pancreatic adenocarcinoma are associated with a dismal prognosis. The combination of high dose radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy is among the strategies that are used to improve the outcome. The aims of this study were to evaluate the acute and late toxicities and patients' outcome in a retrospective study from a single center. Material and methods From 2009 to 2015, 24 patients, with non-resected locally advanced or R1 resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma, have been treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy, with a median dose of 60 Gy and gemcitabine (50 mg/m² administered bi-weekly). The acute and late toxicities were evaluated during and after the treatment. Results The actuarial overall survival rates were 39% at 24 months and 8.6% at 36 months. The disease-free survival rates were 32.5% at 24 months and 12.2% at 36 months. Acute toxicities were mainly grade 1 (G1) to grade 2 (G2) except for one patient who presented with severe digestive bleeding potentially linked to the treatment. Late toxicities consisted mainly of G1 digestive toxicities. Conclusion This study confirms the feasibility of high dose radiotherapy combined with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. While the outcome remains unsatisfactory, some patients seem to have benefited from this aggressive therapy, which merits to be investigated further.

Evaluation at 3 years of concurrent bevacizumab and radiotherapy for breast cancer: Results of a prospective study

PURPOSE

To determine the 3 years late toxicity among patients with non-metastatic breast cancer who received concurrent bevacizumab and locoregional radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a single-arm, multicentre, prospective study, of the toxicity of adjuvant concomitant association of bevacizumab and radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Toxicity was assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 during the radiotherapy and follow-up clinics at 12 and 36 months after its completion. The study was designed to evaluate the toxicity at one year, 3 years and 5 years.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients were included from October 2007 to August 2010. All of them received concurrent adjuvant radiotherapy and bevacizumab (in 24 cases after primary systemic treatment). All patients received non-fractionated radiotherapy to breast or chest wall with or without irradiation of regional lymph nodes. Early toxicity has been previously reported. Median follow-up was 46.4 months (range: 18-77 months). Median age was 53 years old (range: 23-68 years). The 3-years overall survival was 93% (range: 87-100%). Evaluation of the toxicity at 3 years was available for 67% of the patients. There was a low rate of toxicity: 14% grade 1 pain, 9% grade 1 fibrosis, 2% grade 1 telangiectasia, 2% grade 1 paresis, 7% grade 1 lymphedema and 2% grade 3 lymphedema. No grade 4 toxicity was observed. No patient had a left ventricular ejection fraction below 50% at 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent bevacizumab with locoregional radiotherapy is associated with acceptable 3-years toxicity in patients with breast cancer.

Biological determinants of radioresistance and their remediation in pancreatic cancer

Despite recent advances in radiotherapy, a majority of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC) do not achieve objective responses due to the existence of intrinsic and acquired radioresistance. Identification of molecular mechanisms that compromise the efficacy of radiation therapy and targeting these pathways is paramount for improving radiation response in PC patients. In this review, we have summarized molecular mechanisms associated with the radio-resistant phenotype of PC. Briefly, we discuss the reversible and irreversible biological consequences of radiotherapy, such as DNA damage and DNA repair, mechanisms of cancer cell survival and radiation-induced apoptosis following radiotherapy. We further describe various small molecule inhibitors and molecular targeting agents currently being tested in preclinical and clinical studies as potential radiosensitizers for PC. Notably, we draw attention towards the confounding effects of cancer stem cells, immune system, and the tumor microenvironment in the context of PC radioresistance and radiosensitization. Finally, we discuss the need for examining selective radioprotectors in light of the emerging evidence on radiation toxicity to non-target tissue associated with PC radiotherapy.

Phase I dose escalation study of concurrent palliative radiation therapy with sorafenib in three anatomical cohorts (Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis): The TAP study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To evaluate the tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sorafenib administered concurrently with palliative radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In patients with incurable cancer, sorafenib was escalated independently in three cohorts based on irradiation site: thorax, abdomen or pelvis. Sorafenib was administered days 1-28 and radiotherapy (30Gy in 10 fractions) was delivered days 8-12 and 15-19. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were acute grade 3+ toxicities attributable to radiotherapy.

RESULTS

For the thorax, abdomen and pelvis cohorts, 14, 16 and 4 patients were recruited, and Dose Levels 3, 3 and 2 were reached, respectively. Sorafenib-related systemic toxicity led to significant sorafenib interruption in 10 patients. There were 3 DLTs in total, one per cohort: grade 3 oesophagitis (thoracic), transaminase elevation (abdominal) and grade 5 bowel perforation (pelvic; patient with tumour invading bowel). Grade 2 radiation dermatitis developed in 12 patients. The trial was terminated early as slow accrual and sorafenib-related systemic toxicity prevented efficient evaluation of RT-related DLTs.

CONCLUSIONS

The MTD of sorafenib when used with 30Gy in 10 fractions was not established due to sorafenib-related systemic toxicity. Severe radiotherapy-related toxicities were also observed. These events suggest this concurrent combination does not warrant further study.

The clinical application of angiostatic therapy in combination with radiotherapy: past, present, future

Although monotherapy with angiostatic drugs is still far from effective, there is abundant evidence that angiostatic therapy can improve the efficacy of conventional treatments like radiotherapy. This has instigated numerous efforts to optimize and clinically implement the combination of angiostatic drugs with radiation treatment. The results from past and present clinical trials that explored this combination therapy indeed show encouraging results. However, current findings also show that the combination has variable efficacy and is associated with increased toxicity. This indicates that combining radiotherapy with angiostatic drugs not only holds opportunities but also provides several challenges. In the current review, we provide an update of the most recent insights from clinical trials that evaluated the combination of angiostatic drugs with radiation treatment. In addition, we discuss the outstanding questions for future studies in order to improve the clinical benefit of combining angiostatic therapy with radiation therapy.

Irreversible electroporation in locally advanced pancreatic cancer: A call for standardization of energy delivery

Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) is used to treat locally advanced cancers, commonly of the pancreas, liver, kidney, and other soft tissues. Precise eligibility for IRE should be established in each individual patient by a multidisciplinary team based on comprehensive clinical, imaging, and laboratory assessment. Standardization of IRE technique and protocols is expected to improve safety, lead to reproducible outcomes, and facilitate further research into IRE. The present article provides a set of technical recommendations for the use of IRE in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:865-871. © 2016 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Challenges of Using High-Dose Fractionation Radiotherapy in Combination Therapy

Radiotherapy is crucial and substantially contributes to multimodal cancer treatment. The combination of conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CFRT) and systemic therapy has been established as the standard treatment for many cancer types. With advances in linear accelerators and image-guided techniques, high-dose fractionation radiotherapy (HFRT) is increasingly introduced in cancer centers. Clinicians are currently integrating HFRT into multimodality treatment. The shift from CFRT to HFRT reveals different effects on the tumor microenvironment and responses, particularly the immune response. Furthermore, the combination of HFRT and drugs yields different results in different types of tumors or using different treatment schemes. We have reviewed clinical trials and preclinical evidence on the combination of HFRT with drugs, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immune therapy. Notably, HFRT apparently enhances tumor cell killing and antigen presentation, thus providing opportunities and challenges in treating cancer.

Phase I Trial of Consolidative Radiotherapy with Concurrent Bevacizumab, Erlotinib and Capecitabine for Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose

To determine the safety, tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of addition of erlotinib to bevacizumab and capecitabine-based definitive chemoradiation (CRT) in unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Seventeen patients with CT-staged, biopsy-proven unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled between 3/2008 and 10/2010. Prior chemotherapy was permitted. Two patients each were enrolled at dose levels (DLs) 1–4 and 9 patients at DL 5. All patients received 50.4 Gy (GTV only) in 28 fractions with concurrent capecitabine, bevacizumab and erlotinib. Dose of each drug was escalated in 5 DLs using the continual reassessment method. Bevacizumab was escalated from 5mg/Kg q2weeks (DLs 1–4) to 10mg/Kg q2weeks (DL 5); daily erlotinib from 100mg/day (DLs 1–2) to 150 mg/Kg (DLs 3–5); and capecitabine from 400mg/m² twice daily on days of radiation (DL 1) to 650mg/m² (DLs 2–3) to 825 mg/m² (DLs 4–5). Reassessment for potential resection was performed 6–8 weeks later.

Results

Sixteen patients received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy prior to CRT. With a median clinical follow-up of 10 months, no grade 3 toxicities were observed in DLs 1–4. Three (33%) patients at DL 5 developed a grade 3 acute toxicity (2 diarrhea, 1 rash). No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were seen. DL 4 was selected as the MTD; therefore, the recommended doses in combination with radiation are: bevacizumab, 5mg/Kg q2weeks; erlotinib, 150 mg/Kg daily; and capecitabine, 825mg/m² BID. Median survival was 17.4 months. Of the five patients who underwent resection, 4 were originally deemed locally advanced and 1 was borderline resectable. Three patients had excellent pathological response (2 complete response and 20% viable tumor) at surgery, and the 2 patients with complete response are still alive at 61 and 67 months of follow up with no local or distant failures.

Conclusions

This chemoradiation regimen at the recommended dose levels is safe and tolerable for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer and merits further evaluation.

Recent Advances and Prospects for Multimodality Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer

The outcomes for treatment of pancreatic cancer have not improved dramatically in many decades. However, the recent promising results with combination chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease increase optimism for future treatments. With greater control of overt or occult metastatic disease, there will likely be an expanding role for local treatment modalities, especially given that nearly a third of pancreatic cancer patients have locally destructive disease without distant metastatic disease at the time of death. Technical advances have allowed for the safe delivery of dose-escalated radiation therapy, which can then be combined with chemotherapy, targeted agents, immunotherapy, and nanoparticulate drug delivery techniques to produce novel and improved synergistic effects. Here we discuss recent advances and future directions for multimodality therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Treatment of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is increasingly common and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Surgery remains the only possibility for cure. Upwards of 40% of patients present with locally advanced PDAC (LA-PDAC), where management strategies continue to evolve. In this review, we highlight current trends in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection, and other multimodality approaches for patients with LA-PDAC. Despite promising early results, additional work is needed to more accurately and appropriately tailor treatment for patients with LA-PDAC.

Patterns of prescribing radiotherapy and bevacizumab in nationwide practice - analysis of 101 designated cancer care hospitals in Japan

Radiotherapy and bevacizumab are each effective in treating patients with advanced cancer, but their concurrent use may cause serious adverse events (SAEs). Whereas sequential administration can theoretically reduce the risk of SAEs while maintaining the anticancer effects, this hypothesis remains unconfirmed, leading to variations in practice. To elucidate current practices, the patterns of care received by patients in Japan with regard to these two therapies were assessed in a large database of a hospital-based cancer registry linked with insurance claims. This database contained information on 106 057 patients diagnosed with seven major cancers in 2011 and the care they received up to the end of 2012. In total, 335 patients from 101 hospitals in the database were treated with both radiotherapy and bevacizumab. Of these patients, 50.8% had lung cancer, and 51.3% had Stage IV cancer. Of the 335 patients, 75 (22.4%) received these therapies concurrently. In patients treated sequentially, the time from the last dose of bevacizumab to the start of radiotherapy was most frequently 4-5 weeks (12.4%), whereas the time from the end of radiotherapy to the start of bevacizumab was most frequently 1-2 weeks (10.6%). The cumulative proportions of patients in these two groups receiving sequential therapies within 3 weeks were 19.0% and 26.1%, respectively. Many practices appeared to avoid the concurrent use of bevacizumab and radiation, but some provided concurrent therapy. Additional data are required to determine whether the avoidance of concurrent use should become a standard of care.

Phase 1 Trial of Sorafenib and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

To determine the maximally tolerated dose of sorafenib delivered before, during, and after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in hepatocellular carinoma (HCC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eligible patients had locally advanced Child-Pugh class A HCC, showed Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1, and were ineligible for standard local-regional therapies. Sorafenib was dose escalated in 2 strata: (1) low effective irradiated liver volume (veff) < 30% and (2) high veff 30%to 60%. Sorafenib (400 mg daily = dose level 1) was administered for 12 weeks, with 6 fractions SBRT delivered weeks 2 and 3, and escalation to full dose (400 mg twice daily) after 12 weeks as tolerated. Standard 3 + 3 cohorts with dose escalation of sorafenib were planned.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients (4 low veff, median dose 51 Gy; 12 high veff, median dose 33 Gy) were treated at 2 sorafenib dose levels. Of those patients 75% were had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, and 63% had main branch portal vein invasion. In the low veff stratum, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 4 patients treated with SBRT and sorafenib 400 mg. Inb the high veff stratum: 2 of 3 evaluable patients treated with sorafenib 400 mg experienced DLT (grade 3 large bowel bleed and grade 4 bowel obstruction 51 and 27 days, respectively, after SBRT). One of 6 evaluable patients at dose level -1 (200 mg once daily) experienced a grade 3 tumor rupture at week 5. Median overall survival and in-field local progression have not been reached. Worsening of Child-Pugh liver function class was seen in 6 of 12 patients in the high veff stratum.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant toxicity was observed in the high veff stratum, and concurrent SBRT with sorafenib is not recommended outside a clinical trial.

Gastrointestinal Toxicities With Combined Antiangiogenic and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Combining the latest targeted biologic agents with the most advanced radiation technologies has been an exciting development in the treatment of cancer patients. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an ablative radiation approach that has become established for the treatment of a variety of malignancies, and it has been increasingly used in combination with biologic agents, including those targeting angiogenesis-specific pathways. Multiple reports have emerged describing unanticipated toxicities arising from the combination of SBRT and angiogenesis-targeting agents, particularly of late luminal gastrointestinal toxicities. In this review, we summarize the literature describing these toxicities, explore the biological mechanism of action of toxicity with the combined use of antiangiogenic therapies, and discuss areas of future research, so that this combination of treatment modalities can continue to be used in broader clinical contexts.

CT perfusion as an imaging biomarker in monitoring response to neoadjuvant bevacizumab and radiation in soft-tissue sarcomas: comparison with tumor morphology, circulating and tumor biomarkers, and gene expression

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of CT perfusion in monitoring response to neoadjuvant antiangiogenic and radiation therapy in resectable soft-tissue sarcomas and correlate the findings with tumor size, circulating and tumor biomarkers, and gene expression.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This phase II clinical trial included 20 patients (13 men and 7 women; mean age, 55 years) with soft-tissue sarcomas who were undergoing treatment with the antiangiogenic drug bevacizumab followed by bevacizumab, radiation, and surgical resection. The patients underwent CT perfusion and diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT at baseline, at 2 weeks after bevacizumab therapy, and after completion of bevacizumab and radiation therapy. Multiple CT perfusion parameters (blood flow, blood volume, mean transit time, and permeability) were correlated with tumor size, circulating and tumor biomarkers, and gene expression.

RESULTS

Two weeks after bevacizumab therapy, there was substantial fall in blood volume (31.9% reduction, p = 0.01) with more pronounced reduction in blood flow, blood volume, and permeability after treatment completion (53-64% reduction in blood flow, blood volume, and permeability; p = 0.001), whereas tumor size showed no significant change (p = 0.34). Tumors with higher baseline blood volume and lower baseline tumor size showed superior response to bevacizumab and radiation (p = 0.05). There was also an increase in median plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and placental-derived growth factor concentration after bevacizumab therapy paralleled by a decrease in tumor perfusion depicted by CT perfusion, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.4). The baseline tumor microvessel density (MVD) correlated with blood flow (p = 0.04). At least 20 different genes were differentially expressed in tumors with higher and lower baseline perfusion.

CONCLUSION

CT perfusion is more sensitive than tumor size for monitoring early and late response to bevacizumab and radiation therapy. CT perfusion parameters correlate with MVD, and the gene expression levels of baseline tumors could potentially predict treatment response.

Phase 1 trial of bevacizumab with concurrent chemoradiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with exploratory functional imaging of tumor hypoxia, proliferation, and perfusion

PURPOSE

A phase 1 trial was completed to examine the safety and feasibility of combining bevacizumab with radiation and cisplatin in patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) treated with curative intent. Additionally, we assessed the capacity of bevacizumab to induce an early tumor response as measured by a series of biological imaging studies.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

All patients received a single induction dose of bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) delivered 3 weeks (±3 days) before the initiation of chemoradiation therapy. After the initial dose of bevacizumab, comprehensive head and neck chemoradiation therapy was delivered with curative intent to 70 Gy in 33 fractions with concurrent weekly cisplatin at 30 mg/m(2) and bevacizumab every 3 weeks (weeks 1, 4, 7) with dose escalation from 5 to 10 to 15 mg/kg. All patients underwent experimental imaging with [(18)F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (FLT-PET) (proliferation), [(61)Cu]Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) PET (Cu-ATSM-PET) (hypoxia), and dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT) (perfusion) at 3 time points: before bevacizumab monotherapy, after bevacizumab monotherapy, and during the combined therapy course.

RESULTS

Ten patients were enrolled. All had stage IV HNSCC, all achieved a complete response to treatment, and 9 of 10 remain alive, with a mean survival time of 61.3 months. All patients experienced grade 3 toxicity, but no dose-limiting toxicities or significant bleeding episodes were observed. Significant reductions were noted in tumor proliferation (FLT-PET), tumor hypoxia (Cu-ATSM-PET), and DCE-CT contrast enhancement after bevacizumab monotherapy, with further decreases in FLT-PET and Cu-ATSM-PET during the combined therapy course.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of bevacizumab into comprehensive chemoradiation therapy regimens for patients with HNSCC appears safe and feasible. Experimental imaging demonstrates measureable changes in tumor proliferation, hypoxia, and perfusion after bevacizumab monotherapy and during chemoradiation therapy. These findings suggest opportunities to preview the clinical outcomes for individual patients and thereby design personalized therapy approaches in future trials.

A prospective randomised phase-II trial with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine plus sunitinib in advanced pancreatic cancer: a study of the CESAR Central European Society for Anticancer Drug Research-EWIV

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common malignant tumours and is still associated with a poor prognosis in advanced disease. To improve the standard therapy with gemcitabine, we initiated a prospective randomised phase-II trial with gemcitabine (GEM) versus gemcitabine plus sunitinib (SUNGEM) based on data of in vitro trials and phase-I data for the combination treatment. The rational of adding sunitinib was its putative antiangiogenic mechanism of action.

METHODS

A total of 106 eligible patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic PDAC without previous system therapy were randomised to receive GEM at a dosage of 1.000mg/m(2) d1, 8, 15 q28 versus a combination of SUNGEM at a dosage of GEM 1.000mg/m(2) d1+8 and sunitinib 50mg p.o. d1-14, q21d. The primary end-point was progression free survival (PFS), secondary end-points were overall survival (OS), toxicity and overall response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

The confirmatory analysis of PFS was based on the intend-to-treat (ITT) population (N=106). The median PFS was 13.3 weeks (95% confidence interval (95%-CI): 10.4-18.1 weeks) for GEM and 11.6 weeks for SUNGEM (95%-CI: 7.0-18.0 weeks; p=0.78 one-sided log-rank). The ORR was 6.1% (95%-CI: 0.7-20.2%) for GEM and for 7.1% (95%-CI: 0.9-23.5%) for SUNGEM (p=0.87). The median time to progression (TTP) was 14.0 weeks (95%-CI: 12.4-22.3 weeks) for GEM and 18.0 weeks (95%-CI: 11.3-19.3 weeks) for SUNGEM (p=0.60; two-sided log-rank). The median OS was 36.7 weeks (95%-CI: 20.6-49.0 weeks) for the GEM arm and 30.4 weeks (95%-CI: 18.1-37.6 weeks) for the SUNGEM (p=0.78, one-sided log-rank). In regard to toxicities, suspected SAEs were reported in 53.7% in the GEM arm and 71.2% in the SUNGEM arm. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was statistically significantly higher in the SUNGEM arm with 48.1% versus 27.8% in the GEM arm (p=0.045, two sided log-rank).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination SUNGEM was not sufficient superior in locally advanced or metastatic PDAC compared to GEM alone in regard to efficacy but was associated with more toxicity.

REBECA: a phase I study of bevacizumab and whole-brain radiation therapy for the treatment of brain metastasis from solid tumours

BACKGROUND

Brain metastases (BMs) are associated with a poor prognosis. Standard treatment comprises whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). As neo-angiogenesis is crucial in BM growth, combining angiogenesis inhibitors such as bevacizumab with radiotherapy is of interest. We aimed to identify the optimal regimen of bevacizumab combined with WBRT for BM for phase II evaluation and provide preliminary efficacy data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicentre single-arm phase I study with a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, patients with unresectable BM from solid tumours received three cycles of bevacizumab at escalating doses [5, 10 and 15 mg/kg every 2 weeks at dose levels (DL) 0, 1 and 2, respectively] and WBRT (30 Gy/15 fractions/3 weeks) administered from day 15. DL3 consisted of bevacizumab 15 mg/kg with WBRT from day 15 in 30 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks. Safety was evaluated using NCI-CTCAE version 3. BM response (RECIST 1.1) was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging at 6 weeks and 3 months after WBRT.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were treated, of whom 13 had breast cancer. There were no DLTs. Grade 1-2 in-field and out-field toxicities occurred for five and nine patients across all DLs, respectively, including three and six patients (including one patient with both, so eight patients overall) of nine patients in DL3. One patient experienced BM progression during treatment (DL0). At the 3-month post-treatment assessment, 10 patients showed a BM response: one of three treated at DL0, one of three at DL1, two of three at DL2 and six of seven at DL3, including one complete response. BM progression occurred in five patients, resulting in two deaths. The remaining patient died from extracranial disease progression.

CONCLUSION

Bevacizumab combined with WBRT appears to be a tolerable treatment of BM. DL3 warrants further efficacy evaluation based on the favourable safety/efficacy balance. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01332929.

Radiotherapy associated with concurrent bevacizumab in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

The purpose of this multicenter prospective and descriptive study was to determine late toxicities and outcomes among patients with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving concurrent bevacizumab (BV) and radiation therapy (RT) in the clinical trials. Early and late toxicities were assessed and evaluation was available for 63 patients (pts) at 12 months. Acute radiation dermatitis was observed in 48 (76%): grade 1 for 27, grade 2 for 17 and grade 3 for 4 pts. Grade 2 acute oesophagitis was observed in one patient (2%). Little toxicity was described 1 year after the completion of RT: 7 pts (12%): grade 1-2 pain, 3 (5%) presented grade 1 fibrosis, and 2 pts (4%) - telangiectasia. One patient (2%) experienced grade 1 dyspnoea. Five grade 1-2 lymphoedema occurred. Only one patient experienced a LEVF value less than 50% one year after the end of RT. In conclusion, the concurrent BV with locoregional RT provides acceptable toxicities.

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer: the role of definitive chemoradiotherapy

At the time of diagnosis, around 20% of patients with pancreatic cancer present at a resectable stage, 50% have metastatic disease and 30% have locally advanced tumour, non-metastatic but unresectable because of superior mesenteric artery or coeliac encasement. Despite advances in chemoradiotherapy and improved systemic chemotherapeutic agents, patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer suffer from high rates of distant metastatic failure and from local progression, with a median survival time ranging from 5 to 11 months. In the past 30 years, modest improvements in median survival have been attained for these patients treated by chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy protocols. The optimal therapy for patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma remains controversial. This review aims to evaluate the role of radiotherapy for these patients.

Phase I dose escalation study of capecitabine and erlotinib concurrent with radiation in locally advanced pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The median survival of locally advanced nonoperable disease is approximately 9 months. 5-FU-based chemoradiotherapy has been the standard treatment. However, the survival benefit of this approach is modest. To improve the efficacy of 5-FU-based chemoradiation therapy, we evaluated the safety and feasibility of the combination of capecitabine and erlotinib with radiotherapy in this group of patients.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A traditional "3 + 3" dose escalation design was adopted in the study. A total of four dose levels were designed. For safety purpose, a minus I dose level (-I) was also planned. The -I level consisted of capecitabine 600 mg/m² and erlotinib 50 mg daily, and the remaining four dose levels were as follows: level I: capecitabine 600 mg/m² bid (twice daily); level II: 700 mg/m² bid; level III: 825 mg/m² bid; and level IV: 925 mg/m² bid. Erlotinib was administered at 100 mg daily at all dose levels. Erlotinib and capceitabine were given continuously Monday through Friday concurrent with radiotherapy (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions).

RESULTS

A total of 18 patients were consented. Fifteen patients were enrolled and completed therapy. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. The most frequent side effects were lymphopenia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances, and skin rashes. The majority of the toxicities were grade 1 and 2. No objective response was observed. The median progression-free survival was 0.59 years (95 % CI 0.31-1.1), and the median overall survival was 1.1 years (95 % CI 0.62-1.59).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of capecitabine and erlotinib with radiotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer is well tolerated and feasible at the dose level of capecitabine 925 mg/m² bid and erlotinib 100 mg daily.

Clinical potential of bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic and locally advanced cervical cancer: current evidence

The addition of bevacizumab to established therapies for metastatic and locally advanced cervical cancer is an area of evolving research and a potential strategy toward improving historically suboptimal outcomes for women with advanced disease. Bevacizumab, when added to first-line chemotherapy, has now been shown to improve overall survival among women with metastatic cervical cancer, and recent Phase II data suggests it is safe and effective for patients with locally advanced disease treated with curative intent. Here we review the rationale and current evidence for bevacizumab in clinical practice, with an emphasis on the emerging role of bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic and locally advanced cervical cancer.

Do anti-angiogenic cancer therapies increase risk of significant weight loss?

INTRODUCTION

Angiogenesis is important in many disease states such as cancer. Anti-angiogenic cancer drugs are in broad use for the treatment of cancers. However, currently most of these anticancer drugs result in some adverse effects in the patient.

AREAS COVERED

In this paper, we review evidence on the association between anti-angiogenic therapies and weight loss. We report on basic experiments and clinical trials that measure weight loss with anti-angiogenic cancer therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

Few strong associations are found between anti-angiogenic cancer therapies and weight loss, with the exception of some multikinase inhibitors in clinical trials. Anti-angiogenic cancer therapies appear safe in relation to weight loss, but the result needs to be established by further clinical trials.

Genetic determinants and potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States, carrying a 5-year survival rate of approximately 5%, which is the poorest prognosis of any solid tumor type. Given the dismal prognosis associated with PDAC, a more thorough understanding of risk factors and genetic predisposition has important implications not only for cancer prevention, but also for screening techniques and the development of personalized therapies. While screening of the general population is not recommended or practicable with current diagnostic methods, studies are ongoing to evaluate its usefulness in people with at least 5- to 10-fold increased risk of PDAC. In order to help identify high-risk populations who would be most likely to benefit from early detection screening tests for pancreatic cancer, discovery of additional pancreatic cancer susceptibility genes is crucial. Thus, specific gene-based, gene-product, and marker-based testing for the early detection of pancreatic cancer are currently being developed, with the potential for these to be useful as potential therapeutic targets as well. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the genetic basis for PDAC with a focus on germline and familial determinants. A discussion of potential therapeutic targets and future directions in screening and treatment is also provided.

Effect of bevacizumab on angiogenesis and growth of canine osteosarcoma cells xenografted in athymic mice

Objective-To investigate the effects of bevacizumab, a human monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, on the angiogenesis and growth of canine osteosarcoma cells xenografted in mice. Animals-27 athymic nude mice. Procedures-To each mouse, highly metastasizing parent osteosarcoma cells of canine origin were injected into the left gastrocnemius muscle. Each mouse was then randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups: high-dose bevacizumab (4 mg/kg, IP), low-dose bevacizumab (2 mg/kg, IP), or control (no treatment). Tumor growth (the number of days required for the tumor to grow from 8 to 13 mm), vasculature, histomorphology, necrosis, and pulmonary metastasis were evaluated. Results-Mice in the high-dose bevacizumab group had significantly delayed tumor growth (mean ± SD, 13.4 ± 3.8 days; range, 9 to 21 days), compared with that for mice in the low-dose bevacizumab group (mean ± SD, 9.4 ± 1.5 days; range, 7 to 11 days) or control group (mean ± SD, 7. 2 ± 1.5 days; range, 4 to 9 days). Mice in the low-dose bevacizumab group also had significantly delayed tumor growth, compared with that for mice in the control group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results indicated that bevacizumab inhibited growth of canine osteosarcoma cells xenografted in mice, which suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors may be clinically useful for the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs. Impact for Human Medicine-Canine osteosarcoma is used as a research model for human osteosarcoma; therefore, bevacizumab may be clinically beneficial for the treatment of osteosarcoma in humans.

Phase II study of induction fixed-dose rate gemcitabine and bevacizumab followed by 30 Gy radiotherapy as preoperative treatment for potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Eighty percent of patients with resected pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC) experience treatment failure within 2 years. We hypothesized that preoperative fixed-dose rate (FDR) gemcitabine (GEM) combined with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab (BEV) and accelerated 30 Gy radiotherapy (RT) would improve outcomes among patients with potentially resectable PDC.

METHODS

This phase II trial tested induction FDR GEM (1,500 mg/m(2)) plus BEV (10 mg/kg IV) every 2 weeks for three cycles followed by accelerated RT (30 Gy in 10 fractions) plus BEV directed at gross tumor volume plus a 1-2 cm vascular margin. Subjects underwent laparoscopy and resection after day 85. Therapy was considered effective if the complete pathologic response rate exceeded 10 % and the margin-negative resection rate exceeded 80%.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine subjects were enrolled; 29 had potential portal vein involvement. Two grade 4 (3.4%) and 19 grade 3 toxicities (32.8%) occurred. Four subjects manifested radiographic progression, and 10 had undetected carcinomatosis. Forty-three pancreatic resections (73%) were performed, including 19 portal vein resections (44%). Margin-negative outcomes were observed in 38 (88%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 75-96), with one complete pathologic response (2.3%; 95% CI 0.1-12). There were seven (6 grade 3; 1 grade 4) wound complications (13%). Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 16.8 months (95% CI 14.9-21.3) and 19.7 months (95% CI 16.5-28.2) after resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Induction therapy with FDR GEM and BEV, followed by accelerated BEV/RT to 30 Gy, was well tolerated. Although both effectiveness criteria were achieved, survival outcomes were equivalent to published regimens.