A Comparative Study Evaluating the Quality of Life and Survival Outcomes in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Versus Oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in the Third Line and Beyond Setting for Advanced NSCLC

Introduction

The outcomes in advanced NSCLC have improved owing to the availability of more effective systemic and improved supportive care. This has increased the number of patients who seek treatment in the third line and beyond setting. We conducted this study to compare the quality of life (QoL), toxicity, and outcomes in patients receiving chemotherapy and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in this setting.

Methods

In this phase 3, randomized, open-label study, patients with stage III or IV NSCLC with disease progression on at least two prior lines of chemotherapy, with a life expectancy of at least 3 months, without prior EGFR TKI exposure, and stable brain metastases (if any) were included. Patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy (gemcitabine or docetaxel or paclitaxel or vinorelbine) or an EGFR TKI (erlotinib or gefitinib). The primary end point was the change in QoL at 8 to 10 weeks; the secondary outcomes were safety and overall survival (OS). Patients underwent clinical evaluation at every visit, and toxicity was assessed as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03. A radiological tumor response assessment was done every 8 to 12 weeks from the start of therapy. The QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ C30 and LC13 questionnaires. The change in QoL scores was calculated as the difference between scores at baseline and scores at 8 to 10 weeks (Δ) for each QoL domain. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the mean difference (Δ) for each domain. OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional regression analysis.

Results

A total of 246 patients were enrolled in the study, with 123 in each arm. There was a male predominance with 69.1% male patients in the chemotherapy arm and 70.7% in the EGFR TKI arm. The median age of patients in the chemotherapy arm was 54 years and 55 years in the chemotherapy and EGFR TKI arms, respectively. There was no significant difference in the change in QoL at baseline and the second visit (Δ) in both arms in all domains of EORTC QLQ C30 except cognitive function (p = 0.0045) and LC13 except alopecia (0.01249). The mean Δ Global Health Status was -28 in the chemotherapy arm and -26.8 in the EGFR TKI arm; this was not statistically significant (p = 0.973). The median follow-up was 88.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.04-137.15). On the intention-to-treat analysis, the median PFS was 3.13 months (95% CI: 2.15-4.11) in the chemotherapy arm and 2.26 months (95% CI: 2.1-2.43) in the EGFR TKI arm, with hazard ratio at 1.074 (95% CI: 0.83-1.38) (p = 0.58). There were 120 deaths in each arm. The median OS was 7.63 months (95% CI: 5.96-9.30) in the chemotherapy arm and 7.5 months in the EGFR TKI arm (95% CI: 5.85-9.14); hazard ratio at 1.033 (95% CI: 0.80-1.33) (p = 0.805). The toxicity profile was similar in both arms except for a significantly higher incidence of fatigue (p = 0.043), peripheral neuropathy (0.000), alopecia, hypokalemia (0.037), and pedal edema (0.007) in the chemotherapy arm and dry skin (p = 0.000) and skin rash (p = 0.019) in the EGFR TKI arm.

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in most QoL scales (except cognitive function and alopecia), OS, and PFS of patients with advanced NSCLC receiving an EGFR TKI as compared with chemotherapy TKI in the third-line setting. The toxicity profile is consistent with the known toxicities of the agents.

Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Nab-Paclitaxel as a First-Line Therapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers

INTRODUCTION

Locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic gallbladder cancers (GBC) are treated with either gemcitabine-platinum combinations or gemcitabine alone based on physician discretion. However, the combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and nab-paclitaxel (GCNP) has shown increased response rates and prolonged survival in a phase II trial of biliary tract patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive series of patients diagnosed with locally advanced (liver infiltration > 5 cm, large nodes at porta, abutting duodenum), inoperable, and metastatic biliary tract patients between January 2018 and August 2022 were evaluated for first-line chemotherapy GCNP, in the multidisciplinary joint clinic (MDJC). The primary endpoint was ORR, and the major secondary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS).

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients received GCNP during the specified time period. The median age of the cohort was 52 years (range: 21-79), the majority were females (61.3%), and the majority were GB (81.7%). Response rates were available in 137 patients. Complete response, partial response, and stable disease were seen in 9 (6.3%), 87 (61.3%), and 24 (16.9%), respectively, for an ORR of 67.6% and a clinical benefit rate of 84.5%. The median EFS was 9.92 (95% CI, 7.69-12.14) months. Of the 52 patients in whom GCNP was given with NACT intent for locally advanced GBC, 17 patients underwent surgery (34%).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that GCNP leads to improved response rates, increased chances of resectability, and possibly better survival in patients with GBC.

MR-guided laser thermal ablation of primary and secondary liver tumours

AIM

To test the hypothesis that magnetic resonance (MR)-guided hepatic tumour ablation is (i) safe and feasible, (ii) is associated with favourable patient survival, and (iii) decreases viable tumour.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-five MR-guided laser thermal ablations (LTA) were performed on 35 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n=19), hepatic metastases (n=11, mainly colorectal) and carcinoid liver tumours (n=5).

RESULTS

Mean overall survival was 14.8 months (HCCs 14.6 months, metastases 15.2 months). Near real-time T1-weighted colourized thermal maps correlated moderately with follow-up gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging in predicting ablated tumour area (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.5). There was a significant difference in percentage enhancing pre- and post-LTA (Wilcoxon signed ranks test=0.0001). An average of 50.7% of tumour was ablated by each treatment. In patients with multiple liver tumours ablated tumours grew significantly less than untreated tumours (108%compared with 196% growth, follow-up period 5.8 months, WSRTp=0.07).

CONCLUSION

MR- guided LTA of primary and secondary liver tumours is safe, feasible, and significantly decreased amount of enhancing or viable tumour. MR-guided LTA produces a better survival in patients with HCC than would be expected in untreated patients, and has a mean survival in patients with metastases at least equal to the longest median survival in untreated patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser thermal ablation of renal tumours

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided laser thermal ablation (LTA) of inoperable renal tumours is a safe, tolerable and potentially effective treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nine patients (aged 56-81 years) with malignant renal tumours underwent percutaneous LTA under MRI guidance in a 0.5 T open magnet. Real-time colour thermal mapping was used to monitor tumour ablation, and the follow-up was with gadolinium-enhanced MRI at 6 weeks and (where appropriate) 3-4 months after the procedure. Tumour volume and percentage tumour enhancement before and after ablation were compared. The percentage of tumour ablated on real-time T1-weighted thermal maps was compared with that on gadolinium-enhanced follow-up MRI.

RESULTS

The mean (range) follow-up was 16.9 (3-32) months after the first ablation. The mean tumour size did not change significantly, but the mean percentage of viable tumour decreased significantly from 73.7% before to 29.5% after ablation (P = 0.012, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test). Thermal maps correlated moderately well with follow-up MRI in predicting the extent of tumour ablation (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.55). There were two minor and one major complication.

CONCLUSION

In this pilot study of patients unsuitable for surgery, MRI-guided LTA of renal tumours was safe, feasible (being well tolerated by the patient) and significantly reduced enhancing tumour volume by a mean of 45%.

Magnetic resonance angiography: the state of the art

Three-dimensional contrast magnetic resonance angiography has rapidly advanced over recent years. It is now a highly accurate and safe method of diagnosing vascular abnormalities of the thoracic, abdominal and peripheral vessels. We describe techniques for the examination of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, the renal arteries and the lower limb vessels together with strategies to improve their diagnostic accuracy.

The value of MnDPDP enhancement during MR guided laser interstitial thermoablation of liver tumors

Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided thermal ablation procedures are feasible in modern open low field strength MR scanners. The compromises for rapid imaging in this configuration worsen liver lesino conspicuity. To overcome this, we utilize liver-specific contrast Mangafodipir Trisodium (MnDPDP) to improve lesion recognition and targeting and allow a longer contrast-assisted window. Three observers assessed pre- and post-contrast MR scans of 14 liver ablation patients. They assessed the number of lesions, ease of puncture planning, conspicuity of lesions, gallbladder, vessels, and surrounding bowel. There was a significant improvement in lesion conspicuity and ease of puncture planning when MnDPDP was used. In two of the observers, there was also a significant improvement in the number of lesions seen and in bowel conspicuity. No significant difference was shown in the detection of the gallbladder or vessels. We conclude that the liver-specific contrast agent MnDPDP improves the overall accuracy and safety of MR-guided thermal ablation of liver tumors facilitating this procedure at lower field strengths. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:37-41.

The value of MnDPDP enhancement during MR guided laser interstitial thermoablation of liver tumors

Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided thermal ablation procedures are feasible in modern open low field strength MR scanners. The compromises for rapid imaging in this configuration worsen liver lesino conspicuity. To overcome this, we utilize liver-specific contrast Mangafodipir Trisodium (MnDPDP) to improve lesion recognition and targeting and allow a longer contrast-assisted window. Three observers assessed pre- and post-contrast MR scans of 14 liver ablation patients. They assessed the number of lesions, ease of puncture planning, conspicuity of lesions, gallbladder, vessels, and surrounding bowel. There was a significant improvement in lesion conspicuity and ease of puncture planning when MnDPDP was used. In two of the observers, there was also a significant improvement in the number of lesions seen and in bowel conspicuity. No significant difference was shown in the detection of the gallbladder or vessels. We conclude that the liver-specific contrast agent MnDPDP improves the overall accuracy and safety of MR-guided thermal ablation of liver tumors facilitating this procedure at lower field strengths. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:37-41.

Emergency cranial computed tomography in the management of acute febrile encephalopathy in children

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the influence of emergency cranial computed tomography on the management of acute febrile encephalopathy in children.

METHODS

A retrospective study in children with acute febrile encephalopathy who underwent emergency cranial computed tomography within 12 hours of admission to the paediatric intensive care unit. All scans were evaluated by two independent radiologists.

RESULTS

Thirty nine children were included. Fourteen scans were abnormal and two had clinically insignificant incidental findings. Four children with focal neurological signs had scans demonstrating extra-axial collections. None required neurosurgical intervention. Clinically, raised intracranial pressure was present in 10 patients. Only five had cerebral oedema on computed tomography; these five children died. Emergency cranial computed tomography influenced subsequent management in no child without focal neurological signs and in only one child with focal neurology.

CONCLUSION

Emergency cranial computed tomography in acute febrile encephalopathy in children without focal neurological signs has little influence on subsequent management. Where cranial computed tomography is thought to be necessary, it should be carried out when the child's clinical condition has been stabilised.

Omental cake--cause?

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Epigastric pain and a left upper quadrant mass in an elderly woman

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