Patient-reported outcomes during and after definitive chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Limited data describe patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of localised oesophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy(CRT). The phase 2/3 SCOPE-1 trial assessed the effectiveness of CRT±cetuximab. The trial for the first time provided an opportunity to describe PROs from a multi-centre group of patients treated with CRT that are presented here.

METHODS

Patients undergoing CRT±cetuximab within the SCOPE-1 trial (258 patients from 36 UK centres) completed generic-, disease- and treatment-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-OES18, Dermatology Life-Quality Index (DLQI)) at baseline and at 7, 13, 24, 52 and 104 weeks. Mean EORTC functional scale scores (>15 point change significant), DLQI scores (>4 point change significant) and proportions of patients (>15% significant) with 'minimal' or 'severe' symptoms are presented.

RESULTS

Questionnaire response rates were good. At baseline, EORTC functional scores were high (>75%) and few symptoms were reported except for severe problems with fatigue, insomnia and eating-related symptoms (e.g., appetite loss, dysphagia, dry mouth) in both groups(>15%). Functional aspects of health deteriorated and symptoms increased with treatment and by week 13 global quality of life, physical, role and social function significantly deteriorated and more problems with fatigue, dyspnoea, appetite loss and trouble with taste were reported. Recovery occurred by 6 months (except severe fatigue and insomnia in >15% of patients) and maintained at follow-up with no differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CRT for localised oesophageal cancer has a significant detrimental impact on many aspects of HRQL; however, recovery is achieved by 6 months and maintained with the exception of persisting problems with severe fatigue and insomnia. The data suggest that the HRQL recovery after definitive CRT is quicker, and there is little lasting deficit compared with treatment including surgery. These data need to be compared with HRQL data from studies evaluating treatments including surgery for oesophageal cancer.

Feasibility RCT of definitive chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy and surgery for oesophageal squamous cell cancer

Background:

The optimal treatment for localised oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is uncertain. We assessed the feasibility of an RCT comparing neoadjuvant treatment and surgery with definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:

A feasibility RCT in three centres examined incident patients and reasons for ineligibility using multi-disciplinary team meeting records. Eligible patients were offered participation in the RCT with integrated qualitative research involving audio-recorded recruitment appointments and interviews with patients to inform recruitment training for staff.

Results:

Of 375 patients with oesophageal SCC, 42 (11.2%) were eligible. Reasons for eligibility varied between centres, with significantly differing proportions of patients excluded because of total tumour length (P=0.002). Analyses of audio-recordings and patient interviews showed that recruiters had challenges articulating the trial design in simple terms, balancing treatment arms and explaining the need for randomisation. Before analyses of the qualitative data and recruiter training no patients were randomised. Following training in one centre 5 of 16 eligible patients were randomised.

Conclusions:

An RCT of surgical vs non-surgical treatment for SCC of the oesophagus is not feasible in the UK alone because of the low number of incident eligible patients. A trial comparing diverse treatment approaches may be possible with investment to support the recruitment process.

Reporting outcomes of definitive radiation-based treatment for esophageal cancer: a review of the literature

Accurate evaluation of radical radiotherapy requires well designed research with valid and appropriate outcomes. This study reviewed standards of outcome reporting and study design in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of radiation-based therapy for esophageal cancer and made recommendations for future work. Randomized controlled trials reporting outcomes of definitive radiation-based treatment alone or in combination with chemotherapy were systematically identified and summarized. The types, frequency, and definitions of all clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) reported in the methods and results sections of papers were examined. Studies providing a definition for at least one outcome and presenting all outcomes reported in the methods were classified as high quality. From 1425 abstracts, 16 RCTs including 1803 patients were identified. The primary outcome was overall survival in 13 studies, but five different definitions were reported. Outcomes for treatment failure included local, regional, and distant failures, and inconsistent definitions were applied. An observer assessment of dysphagia was reported in seven RCTs but PROs were reported in only one. Only three RCTs were at low risk of bias, with all lacking reports of sequence generation and only a minority reporting allocation concealment. The quality of outcome reporting in RCTs was inconsistent and risked bias. A core outcome set including clinical and PROs is needed to improve reporting of trials of definitive radiation-based treatment for esophageal cancer.

Breast cancer risk following Hodgkin lymphoma radiotherapy in relation to menstrual and reproductive factors

BACKGROUND

Women treated with supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (sRT) for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) at young ages have a substantially increased breast cancer risk. Little is known about how menarcheal and reproductive factors modify this risk.

METHODS

We examined the effects of menarcheal age, pregnancy, and menopausal age on breast cancer risk following sRT in case-control data from questionnaires completed by 2497 women from a cohort of 5002 treated with sRT for HL at ages <36 during 1956-2003.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and sixty women had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer risk was significantly increased in patients treated within 6 months of menarche (odds ratio (OR) 5.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.97-15.46)), and increased significantly with proximity of sRT to menarche (Ptrend<0.001). It was greatest when sRT was close to a late menarche, but based on small numbers and needing reexamination elsewhere. Risk was not significantly affected by full-term pregnancies before or after treatment. Risk was significantly reduced by early menopause (OR 0.55, 95% CI (0.35-0.85)), and increased with number of premenopausal years after treatment (Ptrend=0.003).

CONCLUSION

In summary, this paper shows for the first time that sRT close to menarche substantially increases breast cancer risk. Careful consideration should be given to follow-up of these women, and to measures that might reduce their future breast cancer risk.

Maximising recruitment into randomised controlled trials: the role of multidisciplinary cancer teams

Multidisciplinary cancer teams offer many theoretical benefits, although few have been formally examined. This study evaluated the role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings in recruitment into randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Consecutive MDT patient records were categorised into those with or without a recommendation for a national multicentre RCT. Clinical trial office records identified whether patients were subsequently screened and randomised. In 125 MDT meetings, 350 new patients were discussed, of whom 103 were potentially suitable for a RCT. The MDT recommended 68 patients for the trial, of whom 58 (85%) were screened for trial eligibility. Of the 35 without an MDT trial recommendation, only 23 (66%) were screened (p=0.022). This difference persisted and resulted in a greater proportion of MDT recommended patients being recruited (65% versus 49%; p=0.12). This study demonstrates that trial recommendation by an MDT significantly increases trial screening rates and may improve recruitment.

Quality of life during potentially curative treatment for locally advanced oesophageal cancer

Background

Combination chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery are internationally applied alternative strategies for potential cure of oesophageal cancer. This study compared health-related quality of life (HRQL) between patients selected for chemoradiation and those who had combination treatment including oesophagectomy.

Methods

Patients with stage II or III oesophageal cancer completed HRQL assessments at baseline, at the worst expected HRQL time point and at expected recovery. HRQL was compared between groups using linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, performance status, tumour stage and type, and baseline HRQL.

Results

Some 132 patients began treatment, of whom 51 had chemoradiotherapy and 81 combination treatment including surgery. Patients selected for chemoradiotherapy were older, more likely to have squamous cell cancer and reported poorer HRQL than those selected for surgery. At the worst expected time point after treatment, both groups reported multiple symptoms and poor function, but surgery was associated with a greater reduction in HRQL from baseline than chemoradiotherapy. Recovery of HRQL was achieved within 6 months after chemoradiotherapy, but complete recovery had not occurred 6 months after surgery and there was persistent significant deterioration in some aspects.

Conclusion

The negative treatment-related impact of chemoradiation on short-term HRQL is less than that experienced with combination treatment including surgery. Patients preferring early recovery should consider definitive chemoradiation.

A phase I dose escalation study of continuous oral capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin and pelvic radiation (XELOX-RT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of continuous oral capecitabine plus oxaliplatin and pre-operative pelvic radiotherapy (XELOX-RT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with clinically unresectable rectal cancer or for whom resection with histologically clear (R0) surgical margins was unlikely received continuous capecitabine (500-825 mg/m2 twice daily, 7 days/week), oxaliplatin 2-h intravenous infusion (130 mg/m2 days 1 and 29) and pelvic radiotherapy (Monday-Friday for 5 weeks, total dose 45 Gy in 25 daily 1.8 Gy fractions). The MTD was the capecitabine dose causing dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs; treatment-related grade 3/4 toxicities) in one-third or more of patients treated per dose level.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients received three dose levels. The MTD was capecitabine 825 mg/m2 twice daily: DLTs occurred in two of six patients (grade 3 diarrhoea, rectal pain with local skin reaction). No DLTs occurred in six patients receiving capecitabine 650 mg/m2 twice daily. Grade 3/4 toxicity was rare, with minimal myelosuppression. Although predominantly a dose-finding study, XELOX-RT showed promising activity. Fourteen patients had histologically confirmed R0 resections and five had a pathological complete response.

CONCLUSIONS

The recommended dose for further study is capecitabine 650 mg/m2 twice daily with oxaliplatin and radiotherapy. XELOX-RT showed promising antitumour activity. Further evaluation is underway.

Gemcitabine plus best supportive care (BSC) vs BSC in inoperable non-small cell lung cancer--a randomized trial with quality of life as the primary outcome. UK NSCLC Gemcitabine Group. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Three hundred patients with symptomatic, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC not requiring immediate radiotherapy were enrolled into this randomized multicentre trial comparing gemcitabine + BSC vs BSC alone. Patients allocated gemcitabine received 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle, for a maximum of six cycles. The main aim of this trial was to compare patient assessment of a predefined subset of commonly reported symptoms (SS14) from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and LC13 scales. The primary end-points were defined as (1) the percentage change in mean SS14 score between baseline and 2 months and (2) the proportion of patients with a marked (> or = 25%) improvement in SS14 score between baseline and 2 months sustained for > or =4 weeks. The secondary objectives were to compare treatments with respect to overall survival, and multidimensional QL parameters. The treatment groups were balanced with regard to age, gender, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and disease stage (40% had metastatic disease). The percentage change in mean SS14 score from baseline to 2 months was a 10% decrease (i.e. improvement) for gemcitabine plus BSC and a 1% increase (i.e. deterioration) for BSC alone (P = 0.113, two-sample t-test). A sustained (> or = 4 weeks) improvement (> or =25%) on SS14 was recorded in a significantly higher proportion of gemcitabine + BSC patients (22%) than in BSC alone patients (9%) (P = 0.0014, Pearson's chi-squared test). The QLQ-C30 and L13 subscales showed greater improvement in the gemcitabine plus BSC arm (in 11 domains) than in the BSC arm (one symptom item). There was greater deterioration in the BSC alone arm (six domains/items) than in the gemcitabine + BSC arm (three QL domains). Tumour response occurred in 19% (95% CI 13-27) of gemcitabine patients. There was no difference in overall survival: median 5.7 months (95% CI 4.6-7.6) for gemcitabine + BSC patients and 5.9 months (95% CI 5.0-7.9) (log-rank, P = 0.84) for BSC patients, and 1 -year survival was 25% for gemcitabine + BSC and 22% for BSC. Overall, 74 (49%) gemcitabine + BSC patients and 119 (79%) BSC patients received palliative radiotherapy. The median time to radiotherapy was 29 weeks for gemcitabine + BSC patients and 3.8 weeks for BSC. Patients treated with gemcitabine + BSC reported better QL and reduced disease-related symptoms compared with those receiving BSC alone. These improvements in patient-assessed QL were significant in magnitude and were sustained.

A short fractionation radiotherapy treatment for poor prognosis patients with high grade glioma

Thirty-two patients prospectively identified as having poor prognosis high grade glioma, with a MRC prognostic score >25, were treated with a short palliative course of radiotherapy. A total dose of 36 Gy in 12 fractions was given to the tumour, including oedema and a 2 cm margin, using parallel pair fields prescribed to the midplane with MV photons. Twenty-eight patients completed treatment as planned, while four failed to complete treatment because of clinical deterioration or death. The median survival for the whole group was 16 weeks, with seven patients surviving for more than 6 months. Approximately two-thirds of the surviving patients remained at home after the completion of treatment. A matched case-control comparison with data from patients in previous MRC studies who had received a 6-week course of treatment shows that, for this group of patients, survival is similar (hazard ratio 1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-1.74). The 95% CI for the difference in median survival time excludes a reduction of more than 7 weeks with the 36 Gy course. This shortened radiotherapy regimen may therefore be satisfactory for most poor prognosis patients. However, patients with performance status 3 gained little benefit from treatment, and it is suggested that this group should have a trial period of assessment at home prior to a decision on treatment.

Etoposide-induced cell cycle delay and arrest-dependent modulation of DNA topoisomerase II in small-cell lung cancer cells

As an approach to the rational design of combination chemotherapy involving the anti-cancer DNA topoisomerase II poison etoposide (VP-16), we have studied the dynamic changes occurring in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell populations during protracted VP-16 exposure. Cytometric methods were used to analyse changes in target enzyme availability and cell cycle progression in a SCLC cell line, mutant for the tumour-suppressor gene p53 and defective in the ability to arrest at the G1/S phase boundary. At concentrations up to 0.25 microM VP-16, cells became arrested in G2 by 24 h exposure, whereas at concentrations 0.25-2 microM G2 arrest was preceded by a dose-dependent early S-phase delay, confirmed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Recovery potential was determined by stathmokinetic analysis and was studied further in aphidicolin-synchronised cultures released from G1/S and subsequently exposed to VP-16 in early S-phase. Cells not experiencing a VP-16-induced S-phase delay entered G2 delay dependent upon the continued presence of VP-16. These cells could progress to mitosis during a 6-24 h period after drug removal. Cells experiencing an early S-phase delay remained in long-term G2 arrest with greatly reducing ability to enter mitosis up to 24 h after removal of VP-16. Irreversible G2 arrest was delimited by the induction of significant levels of DNA cleavage or fragmentation, not associated with overt apoptosis, in the majority of cells. Western blotting of whole-cell preparations showed increases in topoisomerase II levels (up to 4-fold) attributable to cell cycle redistribution, while nuclei from cells recovering from S-phase delay showed enhanced immunoreactivity with an anti-topoisomerase II alpha antibody. The results imply that traverse of G1/S and early S-phase in the presence of a specific topoisomerase II poison gives rise to progressive low-level trapping of topoisomerase II alpha, enhanced topoisomerase II alpha availability and the subsequent irreversible arrest in G2 of cells showing limited DNA fragmentation. We suggest that protracted, low-dose chemotherapeutic regimens incorporating VP-16 are preferentially active towards cells attempting G1/S transition and have the potential for increasing the subsequent action of other topoisomerase II-targeted agents through target enzyme modulation. Combination modalities which prevent such dynamic changes occurring would act to reduce the effectiveness of the VP-16 component.

Radiotherapy and the management of the axilla in early breast cancer

The role of radiotherapy in the management of the axilla in early breast cancer is examined. A few, carefully selected, clinically node-negative postmenopausal women may require no intervention to the axilla. Otherwise, surgical clearance is the preferred sole management of the axilla, resulting in an excellent level of local control and providing optimal information for the use of systemic adjuvant therapy. Axillary radiotherapy can also provide equivalent levels of long-term control in the clinically node-negative axilla, but the chronic disabling syndrome of brachial plexopathy is documented at all radiation doses that can sterilize microscopic disease, irrespective of the radiotherapy technique. A combination of radiotherapy and axillary surgery results in an increased morbidity rate compared with either alone. Women who receive radiotherapy to the breast alone are not at risk of brachial plexopathy.

BW12C perturbs normal and tumour tissue oxygenation and blood flow in man

The effects of escalating doses of BW12C on normal tissue and tumour blood flow and pO2 in patients were studied. BW12C infusion resulted in a significant reduction in median subcutaneous tissue pO2, and an increase in the proportion of hypoxic values (< or = 2.5 mmHg). In 8 of 9 patients with accessible tumours there was a significant reduction in pO2 during BW12C infusion, but no effect on the proportion of hypoxic values. A rapid decline in normal tissue pO2 in the first 10 min was associated with an increase in skin red cell flux and a reduction of normal subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and tumour red cell flux of 30-50%, that was maintained throughout a subsequent 1-h infusion of BW12C. Tumour perfusion, as measured by dynamic computed tomography, was slightly reduced in five out of six patients studied during BW12C infusion. BW12C reduces both subcutaneous tissue and tumour pO2 in patients. Both haemoglobin modification and reduction in blood flow are probably associated with this effect.

Phase II study of carboplatin and adriamycin as second line chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer

A total of 25 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with carboplatin and Adriamycin (CA) following symptomatic relapse after initial therapy, or because of static or progressive disease during primary treatment. Nine patients had disease within the thorax, and 16 had extensive metastases at relapse. The overall response rate to CA was 64% (20% complete response: CR; 44% partial response: PR). Survival from presentation in 22 of the patients who have died was 6-36 months (median 13 months), and the median survival from the commencement of CA was 23 weeks (range 1 week-11.5 months). The duration of CR was 4-8 months, and of PR 2-7 months. Hospital admission was required following 12% of cycles for management of the complications of treatment. The increasing use of first line regimens of short duration means that reassessment should be made of the activity of further therapy at relapse.

The influence of carbogen breathing on tumour tissue oxygenation in man evaluated by computerised p02 histography

Tumour tissue oxygenation has been measured in man during carbogen breathing (95% O2, 5% CO2) using a commercially available polarographic electrode system (Eppendorf p02 histograph). At least 200 tumour measurements in each of 17 patients with accessible tumours were taken before, and subsequently continuously after the commencement of carbogen breathing for periods of 10 to 30 min. In 12 out of 17 patients studied there was a significant increase in median tumour p02 during the first 10 min of carbogen breathing (range 9 to 1800%). There was an initial rapid increase in tumour p02 which was maintained until 8 to 12 min, but then decreased throughout the subsequent treatment period. Although there was a reduction in the proportion of point measurements < or = 10 mmHg in 11 out of 13 patients, during carbogen breathing, measured points of < or = 2.5 mmHg were only eliminated in three out of 11 tumours. The time course has implications for the planning of clinical trials utilising radiotherapy with carbogen breathing.

DNA damaging and cell cycle effects of the topoisomerase I poison camptothecin in irradiated human cells

This study addressed the potential radiosensitizing and DNA-damaging actions of the DNA topoisomerase I poison camptothecin (CPT) on SV40 transformed normal (MRC5CVI) and ataxia-telangiectasia (AT5BIVA) fibroblast cell lines. In both cell lines CPT induced a dose-dependent delay of cells in S phase, followed by a dose-dependent trapping in G2/M phase. Acute X-irradiation produced patterns of G2/M arrest and S-phase delay similar to those observed for CPT in the MRC5CVI cell line, but no S phase delay was observed in the AT5BIVA cell line consistent with the ataxiatelangiectasia phenotype of this cell line. X-irradiation of CPT-treated cells resulted in additive prolongation of S phase delay in MRC5CVI cultures and additive effects for cell killing in both cell lines. The potential for topoisomerase I-DNA cross-linking by CPT was not altered by 24h pretreatment with CPT, or by acute X-irradiation. Hypersensitivity of AT5BIVA to CPT was not attributable to elevated levels of complex trapping. These findings suggest that in a rapidly proliferating human tumour there is unlikely to be synergistic therapeutic gain when the two agents are used concurrently, and that previously reported radiosensitization by CPT is restricted to G0 phase cells.

Phase I study of BW12C in combination with mitomycin C in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer

The effect of combining the oxyhemoglobin-modifying drug BW12C with mitomycin C was investigated in a Phase I study of 18 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. The dose of BW12C was increased from 20 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg to modify the hemoglobin-oxygen saturation curve by up to 48%. The period of maximum modification was then prolonged for up to 3 hr by a maintenance infusion of 4-6 mg/kg/hr. Pharmacokinetics of BW12C and mitomycin C were performed in all patients. Peak levels of BW12C increased from 139 micrograms/ml to 378 micrograms/ml. Plasma half life was independent of dose, with an average of 3.3 hr. BW12C was well tolerated with no severe side effects. Three patients had objective tumour responses.