Adjuvant Abemaciclib Combined with Endocrine Therapy for High Risk Early Breast Cancer: Safety and Patient-Reported Outcomes From the monarchE Study

BACKGROUND

In monarchE, abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) as adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor 2-negative, high risk, early breast cancer demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in invasive disease-free survival versus ET alone. Detailed safety analyses conducted at a median follow-up of 27 months and key patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are presented.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The safety population included all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment (n=5591). Safety analyses included incidence, management, and outcomes of common and clinically relevant adverse events (AEs). Patient-reported health-related quality-of-life, ET symptoms, fatigue, and side effect burden were assessed.

RESULTS

The addition of abemaciclib to ET resulted in higher incidence of Grade≥3 AEs (49.7% vs 16.3% with ET alone), predominantly laboratory cytopenias (e.g., neutropenia [19.6%]) without clinical complications. Abemaciclib-treated patients experienced more serious adverse events (SAEs; 13.3% vs 7.8%). Discontinuation of abemaciclib and/or ET due to AEs occurred in 18.5% of patients, mainly due to Grade1/2 AEs (66.8%). AEs were managed with comedications (e.g., antidiarrheals), abemaciclib dose holds (61.7%), and/or dose reductions (43.4%). Diarrhea was generally low grade (Grade1/2: 77%); Grade2/3 events were highest in the first month (20.5%), most short-lived (≤7 days) and did not recur. Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) were higher with abemaciclib+ET (2.5%) vs ET (0.6%); in the abemaciclib arm, increased VTE risk was observed with tamoxifen vs AIs (4.3% vs 1.8%). PROs were similar between arms, including being 'bothered by side effects of treatment', except for diarrhea. At ≥3 months, most patients reporting diarrhea reported "a little bit" or "somewhat".

CONCLUSION

In patients with high risk EBC, adjuvant abemaciclib+ET has an acceptable safety profile and tolerability is supported by PRO findings. Most AEs were reversible and manageable with comedications and/or dose modifications, consistent with the known abemaciclib toxicity profile.

Preliminary results with non-centrifuged autologous fat graft and percutaneous aponeurotomy for treating Dupuytren's disease

The aim of this study was to describe our experience with treating Dupuytren's disease using needle aponeurotomy and non-centrifuged autologous fat grafting. The study included 17 patients (18 hands). Patients were treated with needle aponeurotomy and non-centrifuged autologous fat graft under general anesthesia. The fat grafts were injected into the surgical area so as to stay in contact with the operated site. An extension splint was used for 1 week postoperatively and the patients received hand therapy for 3 weeks. Before the treatment, the contracture in the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints was a mean of 45.06 ± 13.44 degrees and 36.56 ± 13.09 degrees, respectively. It was 1.61 ± 1.65 and -0.56 ± 3.78 degrees at 3 months, respectively. The difference between these measurements was statistically significant. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. The results were satisfactory and no complications were observed during the follow-up period. Based on the results of the study, percutaneous aponeurotomy with non-centrifuged autologous fat grafting was found to have significantly beneficial effects in the treatment of Dupuytren's disease.

The efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus bevacizumab combination as first-line treatment in elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients

AIM

The optimal treatment in older persons with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is complicated by a lack of general agreement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of bevacizumab plus capecitabine combination in elderly mCRC patients who were not suitable for chemotherapy with irinotecan and oxaliplatin-containing regimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy years and older patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were included in this retrospective study. Bevacizumab was administered at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg on day 1 as an intravenous (IV) infusion over 30-90 min every 21 days, and capecitabine was prescribed at 1000 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1-14 of the same 21-day schedule.

RESULTS

Eighty-two consecutive patients (47 men, 35 women) were included in the study. The mean age was 75.5 (SD 3.9, range 70-87). Half of the patients were older than 75 years. There were 55 patients (67.1 %) with a good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS: 0-1) and the remaining 27 patients (32.9 %) had a poor ECOG performance status (PS: 2). With a median follow-up period of 18.5 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10 months (95 % CI, 7.8-12.1) and the median OS was 25 months (95 % CI, 18.6-31.3). The main toxicities recorded were non-hematological. Thirty-one patients (37 %) experienced grade 3/4 adverse events, the most common being hand-foot syndrome (9.8 %). No fatal toxicity resulting from this regimen was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the toxicity profile and survival outcomes, the combination regimen of capecitabine and bevacizumab is a potentially feasible treatment option in elderly mCRC patients.

Effect of Intraperitoneal Thymoquinone on Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesions

BACKGROUND

To determine the effect of thymoquinone on adhesion formation in a rat caecotomy/suture model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty wistar rats were randomized into three groups: The control group received saline and the thymoquinone group received 10 mg/kg thymoquinone after cecal caecotomy/suture model. In the sham group the abdominal wall was closed without any abrasion to the cecum. On day 15, adhesions were classified, and histopathological samples were taken.

RESULTS

There were no incisional hernias or wound dehiscences. In comparing adhesion scores, a significant difference was found between the thymoquinone and the control groups (p < 0.05). The grade of inflammation for the thymoquinone and the sham groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in the sham and thymoquinone groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of this study in a rat peritoneal adhesion model, intraperitoneal administered thymoquinone has a strong anti-adhesive effect.

Sigmoid colon torsion: mortality and relevant risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Sigmoid volvulus is an important acute intestinal obstruction, leading to high mortality and requiring urgent operation. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for mortality in patients that were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus at our Department.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The retrospective study included 158 patients, who were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus between January 1994-December 2010, in terms of age, gender, complaints at admission, physical signs, period of symptoms before admission, associated diseases, laboratory and radiological parameters, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality.

RESULTS

The study consisted of 135 men (85.4%) and 23 women (14.6%), with a mean age of 62.54 years. Cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease were present in 34 (21.5%) and 42 (26.6%) patients, respectively. Urgent operation was undertaken in 125, while 33 received elective surgery. Abdominal distension and pain was evident in all the patients. Generalized tenderness was detected in 58.2%, while 70.9% had hyperactive bowel sound with tympanism. Plain radiograph revealed an impression of "omega ans" in all patients, while free air was detected in 11.4% of them. Risk factors for mortality included age (p = 0.008), delayed admission (p = 0.001), cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (p = 0.001), fluid-electrolyte imbalance (p =0.001), presence of necrosis (p = 0.001), and major contamination (p = 0.001). Wound infection and intraabdominal abscess were more common in patients that developed mortality (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Complications like wound infection and intraabdominal abscess are more frequent in the patients with the risk of mortality. Delayed admission results in higher risk of mortality. Mortality rates can be reduced by early admission, preoperative intensive resuscitation, suitable antibiotics, and emergent and viable surgery.  

The effects of curcumin on the liver and remote organs after hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury formed with Pringle manoeuvre in rats

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on ischemia/ reperfusion (IR) injury of the liver and distant organs resulting from liver blood flow arrest.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Totally 40 rats, divided into four groups, each included 10 rats were used. Group I as only laparatomy, Group II laparatomy and curcumin application, Group III hepatic IR; and Group IV as hepatic IR and curcumin application group. Ischemia was generated by hepatoduedonal ligament clamping for 30 minutes and then reperfusion is started. Curcumin capsules were opened and appropriate dose had been created within weighing scales. After calculations, the powder was diluted with saline. Fifteen minutes before the ischemia, curcumin was applied via oral gavage. Blood samples were taken from the animals for biochemical analysis at 60th minutes of the experiment in the first and second groups; 30 minutes after beginning reperfusion in the third and forth groups. Simultaneously, liver, lung and kidney tissues were sampled for biochemical and histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

Plasma malondialdehyde levels were found to be higher (p < 0.001), but total antioxidant activity values were not different in IR group compared with IR + curcumin group (p > 0.05). Biochemical and histopathological evaluation of tissue samples revealed that there were no differences in total antioxidant activity, total oxidant activity and histopathologic scores in IR + curcumin group compared with values of IR group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin did not reduce the effects of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury on the liver and distant organs including kidneys and lungs significantly.

Abstract OT1-1-08: Clinical outcomes among ErbB2+ MBC patients treated with lapatinib-capecitabine after trastuzumab progression: Role of early switch to lapatinib (TYCO study)

Background: Lapatinib in combination with capecitabine is a standard of care treatment for ErbB2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who have progressed after anthracyclines, taxanes and trastuzumab treatment. Results from the lapatinib pivotal trial showed that the addition of lapatinib to capecitabine increased median time to progression (TTP) even among heavily pre-treated patients (median of 4 prior lines of therapy). A post-hoc exploratory sub-group analysis of this trial suggested that earlier administration of lapatinib-capecitabine in MBC patients who progress after trastuzumab may produce better clinical outcomes. The TYCO study was designed to evaluate if early initiation of lapatinib-capecitabine in patients with ErbB2+ MBC who have progressed on trastuzumab-containing regimen improves TTP in comparison with a delayed start of the therapy.

Trial design: TYCO is an international, multicenter, prospective, observational study in 269 ErbB2+ MBC patients whose disease has progressed after treatment with trastuzumab in the metastatic setting. Two cohorts will be compared; Group 1: patients receiving lapatinib-capecitabine just after the first trastuzumab progression, and Group 2: patients receiving lapatinib-capecitabine after two or more lines of treatment after first trastuzumab progression. The study duration is of 12 months with data collection at baseline and approximately every 3 months thereafter.

Major Eligibility Criteria: 1. Females ≥18y with confirmed ErbB2+ MBC who have progressed after a previous trastuzumab-containing regimen,2. Pts eligible for standard therapy with lapatinib-capecitabine at approved conventional doses, as per local approved label.3. Pts eligible to start standard treatment with Lapatinib-capecitabine at conventional doses, or receiving standard treatment with Lapatinib-capecitabine at conventional doses, for no longer than 10 weeks from the start of the treatment to the date of inclusion in the study;

Aims: Primary objective of this study is to determine if early switch to lapatinib-capecitabine in patients with ErbB2+ metastatic breast cancer who have progressed on trastuzumab containing regimen improves time to disease progression as determined by treating physician either clinically or radiologically. Secondary objectives include overall response rate and overall survival.

Statistical Methods: Kaplan-Meier plots will be used to describe the median TTP after start of lapatinib-capecetabine. Cox proportional hazard model will be developed to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (and 95% confidence intervals) comparing TTP for the two treatment group using propensity score methods (trimmed sample, adjustment for the continuous propensity score measure, and doubly robust adjustment) to adjust for potential confounding by indication that may arise due to the non-randomised design.

Present and Target Accrual: Enrollment began in February 2010, and as per May 2012, 266 patients have been included from Turkey, Venezuela, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

The effects of ellagic acid on the liver and remote organs' oxidative stress and structure after hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury caused by pringle maneuver in rats

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of ellagic acid (EA) on the liver and remote organs against the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODS

Forty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four groups each containing 10 rats. Group I with laparotomy only, Group II with laparatomy and ellagic acid application, Group III with hepatic ischemia-reperfusion and Group IV with hepatic ischemia-reperfusion and ellagic acid application. Hepatic ischemia was induced by pringle's manoeuvre for 30 minutes followed by 30 minutes reperfusion period. After induction of ischemia, EA was applied via oral gavage at a dose of 85 mg/kg. Blood samples were taken from the animals for biochemical analysis at 60th minute of the experiment in all groups. Simultaneously, liver, lung and kidney tissues were sampled for biochemical analyses and histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

The administration of EA reduced serum malonyldialdehid levels (p<0.05) and liver's oxidative stress index compared with the non-use EA groups (p0.05). The use of EA did not exert significant protective effects against the effects of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury on the kidney and lung.

CONCLUSION

In our experiments ellagic acid reduced the liver oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, no significant histological improvement was found with EA. There were no significant protective effects on the remote organ injuries induced by ischemia-reperfusion (Tab. 3, Fig. 7, Ref. 37).

Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in triple negative metastatic breast cancer previously treated with a taxane/anthracycline chemotherapy; multicenter experience

This study was aimed to establish clinical efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine and cisplatin combination in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer progressing after anthracycline and taxane based chemotherapies.Thirty-three patients who were given cisplatin and gemcitabine for triple negative and metastatic breast cancer were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 141 cycles were administered with a median 4 cycles per patient. Median follow-up time was 14 months (range, 2-36 months). Objective response rate was 27.3%. Total clinical benefit of the combination was 48.4%. The estimated median progression free survival and median overall survival were 5 months and 14 months, respectively. The most common Grade 3 and 4 toxicity were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia observed in 10 (27.7%) and 9 (24.9%) patients, respectively. The combination of the gemcitabine and cisplatin after taxane/anthracycline is well tolerated and seems to be effective with acceptable toxicity profile.

Elective bladder preservation with multimodality treatment for bladder cancer

PURPOSE

To observe the outcome of maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in medically inoperable patients with bladder cancer.

METHODS

This study included 30 patients with stage T 2-4 bladder cancer. The patients were first treated with TURBT, and then received 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine.

RESULTS

Median follow up was 28.9 months. Radiologically, complete and partial response rates were 60 and 36.7%, while cystoscopically they were 40 and 30%, respectively. Local progression (4 cases) and distant metastasis (11 cases) were noted. Median overall survival and progressionfree survival were 32 and 21 months, respectively. One -and 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 97.60% and 83.49%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The multimodal treatment performed in this study was well tolerated and achieved a high rate of bladder preservation in selected patients with bladder cancer.

The prevalence and significance of autoantibodies in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: are they correlated with clinicopathological features?

PURPOSE

It is well known that an association exists between the pathogenesis of lymphomas and autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are detected at higher frequency in lymphoproliferative diseases, but neither the precise role of the immune system nor the cause of this is comprehensively understood. In this study we evaluated the presence and significance of some autoantibodies for patients with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

150 patients with NHL who had either newly diagnosed disease, or active disease being under chemotherapy or were disease-free during follow-up, were analyzed. The frequency of autoantibodies and the relationship between autoantibodies and several clinicopathological factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients (50%) had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Thirty-two patients (21.4%) were newly diagnosed, 81 (54%) had active disease and were receiving chemotherapy and 37 (24.6%) were disease-free and followed-up. Fifty-one patients (34%) had stage IV disease. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were found in 7 (4.7%) patients, perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) in 10 (6.7%), anti dsDNA in 1 (0.7%), anti ssDNA in 16 (10.7%), anti Jo-1 in 3 (2%), anti-scleroderma antibody (anti Scl-70) in 4 (2.7%), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in 85 (56.7%) patients. No c7horbar;ANCA positivity was found. The mean levels of anti Jo-1 (p=0.028), anti ssDNA (p=0.014), c-ANCA (p=0.015), ANA (p=0.026) and RF (p=0.046) were significantly higher in cases with DLBCL compared to patients with non-DLBCL. In addition, in patients with newly diagnosed NHL the mean levels of anti Scl- 70 (p=0.023), anti Jo-1 (p7equals;0.017), and RF (p=0.046) were significantly higher than the other patient groups. No significant correlation was detected between the presence of autoantibodies and other clinicopathological factors.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the frequency of autoantibodies is high in NHL patients, especially in DLBCL and newly diagnosed cases. Autoantibodies may be helpful for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, but regular and long follow-up is needed in NHL patients with high levels of autoantibodies.

Prognostic factors in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine alone or gemcitabine plus cisplatin: retrospective analysis of a multicenter study

PURPOSE

The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer has limited impact on overall survival (OS). Patients eligible for chemotherapy should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyse prognostic factors for OS in advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated with first-line palliative chemotherapy with gemcitabine alone or gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 343 locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who were treated with gemcitabine or gemcitabine plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy between December 2000 and June 2011. Fifteen potential prognostic variables were chosen for analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with OS. Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to determine prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Among the 15 variables of univariate analysis, 6 were identified to have prognostic significance: stage (p<0.001), cholestasis (p=0.02), weight loss, prior pancreatectomy, serum CEA level (p<0.001) and serum CA19-9 level (p>0.001). In addition, age, chemotherapy and liver metastasis were of borderline significance (p=0.06). Multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) included the 6 significant prognostic factors of univariate analysis and showed that stage was independent prognostic factor for OS, as were weight loss, and serum CEA level.

CONCLUSION

Stage, weight loss, and serum CEA level were identified as important prognostic factors for OS in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. These findings may also facilitate pretreatment prediction of OS and can be used for selecting patients for treatment.

Efficacy, safety and prognostic features of resected colon carcinoma treated in "real world" practice: a retrospective cohort-study

PURPOSE

Treatment outcomes and prognostic features of a specific cancer generally come from prospective randomized studies. It seems reasonable to ask the question whether the results of prospective randomized studies entirely reflect the results of the population treated in "real world" practice. Therefore we performed a retrospective cohort analysis in order to find out the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as the prognostic factors of our patient population treated in daily practice, and compared these findings with those defined in the prospective studies.

METHODS

Data of patients with high risk stage II and all stage III colon cancers treated with adjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 190 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The rates of T2, T3, and T4 tumors were 4.2, 77.9, and 17.9%, respectively. Over 35% of the patients had stage II disease. Of the 5- fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy group (n=141), 15% had a dose reduction because of toxicity and 73% were given the total planned dose and cycles, whereas these rates were 18.5 and 66% for oxaliplatin+5-FU treated group, respectively (p=0.66 and 0.44, respectively). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 5-year cancer-specific overall survival (OS) for all patients were 69.4 and 73%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, cancer-specific OS showed significant correlation with T stage (p=0.015) and with perineural invasion (p=0.024). Also patients ≥ 65 years old had significantly lower OS (p= 0.003)

CONCLUSION

This study is the fi rst to report the efficacy of adjuvant treatment in a curatively resected Turkish colon carcinoma population treated in "real world" practice. Our study showed that the treatment results and the prognostic parameters of Turkish colon carcinoma patients treated in "real world" practice are not different from those of selected patients treated in randomized prospective studies.

Is there any correlation among adiponectin levels in serum, tumor tissue and normal tissue of the same patients wih breast cancer?

PURPOSE

Adiponectin is secreted from adipose tissue and is characterized by hyperinsulinemia which is related with obesity. Although serum adiponectin levels in patients with breast cancer have been studied previously, adiponectin levels in the serum, tumor and normal tissue of the same patients have not been simultaneously investigated. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the relationship among serum, tumor and normal tissue adiponectin levels in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with breast cancer who were operated at the Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Department of Surgery, between February 2008 and June 2008, were analyzed. Their serum adiponectin levels, tumor tissue and normal breast tissue adiponectin levels were compared. The correlation between postoperative histopathological parameters, insulin resistance parameters and adiponectin levels was also examined.

RESULTS

The mean adiponectin levels in tumor tissue, normal breast tissue and serum were 56 ± 9.6 ng/ml, 56 ± 10 ng/ml and 43.5 ± 3.1 ng/ml, respectively. The serum adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with tumor tissue adiponectin levels (p=0.001, r=-0.43). When tumor tissue adiponectin levels were increased, serum adiponectin levels were decreased. O n the other hand, there was a positive correlation between normal breast tissue adiponectin levels and tumor tissue adiponectin levels (p=0.0001, r= 0.850). The tumor tissue adiponectin level was inversely correlated with tumor stage (p=0.037 , r= -0.29). Moreover, in early-stage and low grade tumors, both tumor tissue and normal tissue adiponectin levels were high compared with those of advanced stage or high grade tumors (p=0.027, r= -0.32 and p=0.004, r= -0.408, respectively). In the subgroup analyses, no significant relationship was found between insulin resistance parameters and adiponectin levels (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that serum adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with tumor tissue adiponectin levels, but no relationship between normal breast tissue and tumor tissue adiponectin levels was demonstrated. Adiponectin levels in breast tumor tissue increase while serum adiponectin levels decrease. Adiponectin might play an important role in the prevention of tumor progression by decreasing tissue neovascularization.

A retrospective analysis of women's chances to become pregnant after completion of chemotherapy: a single center experience

PURPOSE

With the improvement in anticancer therapies, the survival of women with malignancies has increased and infertility may affect the quality of life of premenopausal women, who experience temporary or permanent amenorrhea due to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to review the rate of pregnancies among women with malignancy previously treated with chemotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively recorded 317 women younger than 40 years of age who were treated with chemotherapy (and a number of them with additional radiotherapy/RT) due to several malignancies between 2007-2010. The patients who got pregnant after stopping chemotherapy and during followup were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among women with breast cancer (n=116), malignant lymphoma (n=85), ovarian cancer (n=26) and colon cancer (n=90), 20 got pregnant after a median 22.9 months (range 10.7-96.5) from the end of chemotherapy. Childbearing was uneventful and newborns were healthy.

CONCLUSION

Women who had previously received chemotherapy for malignancy can get pregnant and deliver healthy newborns.

Mitomycin-C in combination with fluoropyrimidines in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer after oxaliplatin and irinotecan failure

PURPOSE

To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of mitomycin-C (MMC) in combination with fluoropyrimidines as salvage 3rd -or 4th-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients.

METHODS

All patients in this study had previously failed oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Patients were treated with MMC (6 mg/m(2) intravenously/i.v.) on day 1 in combination with either oral UFT (500 mg/m(2)) and oral leucovorin (LV) (30 mg) on days 1-14 every 3 weeks (group A) or infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by deGramont regimen with i.v. LV (200 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 2, every 2 weeks (group B).

RESULTS

Thirty-nine MCRC patients were analyzed. Twenty-two of them were in group A and 17 in group B. Thirty-three were evaluable for clinical efficacy. The clinical benefit in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population was 30.8%. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 6 months (95% confidence interval/ CI 4-8) and median overall survival (OS) 9 months (95% CI 6.5-11.5). Median PFS was 3 months (95% CI 2.4-3.6) in group A and 7 months (95% CI 5.1-8.9) in group B (p=0.009). Median OS was 7 months (95% CI 4.3-9.7) in group A and 12 months (95% CI 5.4-18.6) in group B (p=0.422). The combination of MMC and fluoropyrimidines was generally well tolerated. The most common severe toxicities were nausea and vomiting, neutropenia, hepatotoxicity and diarrhea.

CONCLUSION

MMC in combination with fluoropyrimidines is safe and active in heavily-pretreated MCRC patients. This combination remains a viable option in these patients. However, better therapies are urgently needed.

Is there a cut-off value for standardized uptake values in positron emission tomography for predicting response to treatment and survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer? Single center experience

PURPOSE

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important imaging technique for the diagnosis and staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we evaluated the standardized uptake values (SUV) of PET in NSCLC patients to determine whether there was a cut-off value for predicting response to treatment and survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 149 patients with locally advanced NSCLC. All the patients were staged by PET-computerized tomography (CT) after diagnosis. 18fluoro-2-deoxyribose (FDG) was used as the PET tracer. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect whether any prognostic factors were related to response to treatment.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 60 years and the median follow-up time 10.3 months. One-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 31% and 58.7%, respectively. The median OS was 15.4 months. Stage, sex and response to treatment were important factors for OS and PFS. We defined a cut-off value for SUVmax (the highest standardized uptake value for all cross sectional areas) as 10.8 by using ROC analysis. Multivariate analysis identified response to treatment as the most significant (p<0.05) prognostic factor for OS. Logistic regression analysis showed that SUVmax and weight loss were important for response to treatment.

CONCLUSION

Multivariate analysis indicated that whilst response to treatment was an important factor for predicting survival, the SUVmax was also significant for determining response to therapy and a cut-off value for SUVmax was defined as 10.8.