Neoadjuvant therapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with S-1 for borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer

AIM

We evaluated the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (NAC-IMRT) in patients with borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

METHODS

BRPC patients were treated with IMRT (45 Gy/15fr) combined with two courses of S-1 (40 mg/m2 bid) before surgery. Outcomes after NAC-IMRT, surgery, and survival were then evaluated. This single-center retrospective study assessed 26 consecutive patients.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (BR-PV: 7, BR-A: 19) with a median age of 73 years were enrolled from 2016 to 2021. Ten (38%) patients were 75-years-old and above. Twenty-three patients completed NAC-IMRT treatment. The median reductions in tumor size and cancer antigen 19-9 level were 13.6% and 69%, respectively. All 26 patients underwent resection within a median time of 71 days after NAC-IMRT initiation. R0 resection was achieved in 24 patients (92%). The median overall survival (OS) was 28.0 months, and the 1- and 3-year OS rates were 100% and 34%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.5 months, and the 1- and 3-year PFS rates were 50% and 32%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in OS between the patients under and over the age of 75 (29 vs. 20 months, p = 0.86). The 12 patients who completed NAC-IMRT, resection, and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) exhibited a 3-year survival rate of 73%, which was significantly better than that of the patients who did not receive or complete AC (median OS, not reached vs. 19 months, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

NAC-IMRT showed outstanding clinical efficacy with acceptable tolerability in patients with BRPC, including geriatric patients.

Molecular and clinicopathological features of KIT/PDGFRA wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Approximately 10% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) harbor reportedly no KIT and PDGFRA mutations (wild-type GISTs). The clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes of wild-type GISTs based on molecular profiles are unknown. We recruited 35 wild-type GIST patients from the two registry studies of high-risk GISTs between 2012 and 2015 and primary GISTs between 2003 and 2014. Molecular profiling of wild-type GISTs was performed by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. Among 35 wild-type GISTs, targeted NGS analysis detected NF1, SDH, or BRAF mutation: 16 NF1-GISTs with various NF1 mutations, 12 SDH-GISTs (4 with SDHA mutations, 4 with SDHB mutations, and 4 with SDHB-negative staining), and 5 BRAF-GISTs with the V600E mutation. Two GISTs showed no mutations based on our targeted NGS analysis. Additional gene mutations were infrequent in primary wild-type GISTs and found in TP53, CREBBP, CDKN2A, and CHEK2. Most NF1-GISTs were located in the small intestine (N = 12; 75%) and showed spindle cell features (N = 15; 94%) and multiple tumors (N = 6, 38%) with modest proliferation activities. In contrast, SDH-GISTs were predominantly found in the stomach (N = 11; 92%), exhibiting epithelioid cell (N = 6; 50%) and multiple (N = 6, 50%) features. The overall survival of patients with SDH-GISTs appeared to be better than that of BRAF-GISTs (p = 0.0107) or NF1-GISTs (p = 0.0754), respectively. In conclusion, major molecular changes in wild-type GISTs include NF1, SDH, and BRAF. NF1-GISTs involved multifocal spindle cell tumors in the small intestine. SDH-GISTs occurred in young patients and were multifocal in the stomach and clinically indolent.

Ramucirumab plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment for patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with anti-EGFR antibody: JACCRO CC-16

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy in combination with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody is considered a first-line treatment regimen for RAS wild-type and left-sided metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), whereas second-line treatment regimens have not yet been established. Few studies have prospectively evaluated second-line treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody after first-line anti-EGFR antibody therapy for RAS wild-type mCRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This non-randomized phase II trial investigated the clinical outcomes of second-line ramucirumab (RAM) plus fluorouracil, levofolinate, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) after first-line anti-EGFR antibody in combination with doublet or triplet regimen in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC. The primary endpoint was the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. The secondary endpoints were PFS, overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), rate of early tumor shrinkage (ETS), and safety. We hypothesized a threshold 6-month PFS rate of 30% and an expected 6-month PFS rate of 45%. Treatment was considered effective if the lower limit of the 90% confidence interval (CI) of the 6-month PFS rate was >0.30.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients were enrolled in the study. The primary tumor was located on the left side in 86 (95.6%) patients. Twenty (22.0%) patients had received triplet plus cetuximab as previous therapy. Six-month PFS rate was 58.2% (90% CI 49.3% to 66.2%) with a median PFS of 7.0 months (95% CI 5.7-7.6 months). Median OS was 23.6 months (95% CI 16.5-26.3 months). The ORR and ETS rate were 10.7% and 16.9%, respectively, in 83 patients with measurable lesions. The 6-month PFS rate was comparable between patients previously treated with doublet and triplet regimens; however, median PFS was longer for the doublet regimen (7.4 versus 6.4 months, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated prospectively that RAM plus FOLFIRI is an effective second-line treatment after anti-EGFR antibody-containing first-line therapy in RAS wild-type and left-sided mCRC. Furthermore, the results were similar for patients who were previously treated with triplet regimen.

Laparoscopic-assisted robotic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer by Billroth II reconstruction

BACKGROUND

There are several reconstructions in distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and there is no clear definition regarding the method selection. The optimal reconstruction is likely to vary according to the surgical setting, and the optimal reconstruction for robotic distal gastrectomy is urgently needed. In addition, as robotic gastrectomy is getting popular, cost and operative time are pressing issues of robotic gastrectomy.

METHODS

Gastrojejunostomy was planned with Billroth II reconstruction using a linear stapler arranged specifically for a robotic approach. After firing the stapler, the common insertion orifice of the stapler was closed using a 30 cm long non-absorbable barbed suture, and continuously, the afferent loop of the jejunum was lifted to the stomach with the same barbed suture. In addition, we introduced laparoscopic-assisted robotic gastrectomy, using extracorporeally inserted laparoscopic devices from the assistant port. Scissors, clips, and linear staplers were all laparoscopic tools inserted extracorporeally.

RESULTS

Twenty-one gastric cancer patients underwent laparoscopic-assisted robotic distal gastrectomy by Billroth II reconstruction with our modifications. There were no anastomosis-related complications such as leakage, stenosis, or bleeding. There were 2 cases of aspiration pneumonia (Clavien-Dindo grade 2), 1 case of pancreatic juice leakage (grade 3a), and 1 case of delayed gastric emptying (grade 1).

CONCLUSION

We successfully arranged Billroth II reconstruction for robotic distal gastrectomy with fewer operative and postoperative complications. Laparoscopic-assisted robotic gastrectomy using extracorporeally inserted devices, and continuous suturing using a barbed suture will reduce the time and cost of robotic gastrectomy.

A Multicenter, Phase II Trial of Schedule Modification for Nab-Paclitaxel in Combination with Ramucirumab for Patients with Previously Treated Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: The B-RAX Trial (JACCRO GC-09)

BACKGROUND

This study investigated whether schedule modification of bi-weekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) plus ramucirumab (RAM) is efficacious against gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GJC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with unresectable GC or GJC who were previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-containing regimens received nab-PTX (100 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15 and RAM (8 mg/kg) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Based on the incidence of severe adverse events (AEs) during the first cycle, patients were modified to bi-weekly therapy from the second cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in the bi-weekly therapy population. Based on the hypothesis that bi-weekly nab-PTX plus RAM would improve PFS from 4.5 to 7.0 months, 40 patients were required for power of 0.8 with a one-sided α of 0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 81 patients enrolled, 47 patients (58%) were assigned to bi-weekly therapy. Patient characteristics were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1 (19%) and diffuse type (45%). Median PFS was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7-5.6 months) and overall response rate was 25% (95% CI 11-39%). Severe AEs of grade 3 or worse were mainly neutropenia (83%) and hypertension (23%). EQ-5D scores were maintained during the treatment. In patients who continued standard-schedule therapy, median PFS was 2.7 months (95% CI 1.8-4.0 months).

CONCLUSIONS

The primary endpoint for PFS was statistically not met, but modification of nab-PTX plus RAM to a bi-weekly schedule might be a feasible treatment option as second-line treatment for advanced GC/GJC patients, especially elderly patients, with severe AEs during the first cycle.

Long-term results of a phase 2 study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with molecularly targeted agents for locally advanced rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

We previously reported the feasibility and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. Here, we report the results of a long-term follow-up study.

METHODS

This was a multi-institutional, prospective phase 2 study of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with molecularly targeted agents before undergoing total mesorectal excision. Six cycles of modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX6) with bevacizumab were administered to KRAS-mutant patients, and mFOLFOX6 with cetuximab was administered to KRAS-wild-type patients. Here, we report the secondary end points of overall survival, relapse-free survival, and local recurrence rate.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were enrolled in this study. R0 resection was achieved in 98.3% (59/60) patients, and pathological complete response was achieved in 16.7% (10/60) patients. After a median follow-up of 5.4 years, the 5 year overall survival was 81.6%, the 5 year relapse-free survival was 71.7%, and the 5 year local recurrence rate was 12.6%. None of the patients who achieved pathological complete response developed recurrence within 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of molecularly targeted agents in the neoadjuvant setting for locally advanced rectal cancer has an acceptable prognosis.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Surgery with Open Surgery for Remnant Gastric Cancer: A Multi-institutional Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for primary gastric cancer, MIS for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) remains controversial due to the rarity of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of MIS for radical resection of RGC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with RGC who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2020 at 17 institutions were included, and a propensity score matching analysis was performed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of MIS with open surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 327 patients were included in this study and 186 patients were analyzed after matching. The risk ratios for overall and severe complications were 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45, 1.27] and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.29), respectively. The MIS group had significantly less blood loss [mean difference (MD), -409 mL; 95% CI: -538, -281] and a shorter hospital stay (MD, -6.5 days; 95% CI: -13.1, 0.1) than the open surgery group. The median follow-up duration of this cohort was 4.6 years, and the 3-year overall survival were 77.9% and 76.2% in the MIS and open surgery groups, respectively [hazard ratio (HR), 0.78; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.36]. The 3-year relapse-free survival were 71.9% and 62.2% in the MIS and open surgery groups, respectively (HR, 0.71; 95% CI: 0.44, 1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

MIS for RGC showed favorable short- and long-term outcomes compared to open surgery. MIS is a promising option for radical surgery for RGC.

Advantages of minimally invasive surgery for remnant gastric cancer: A multi-institutional cohort study

357

Background: Remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is defined as a cancer arising in the remnant stomach after initial gastrectomy, regardless of the previous disease or surgical procedure. Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for primary gastric cancer, MIS for RGC remains controversial due to the rarity of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of MIS for radical resection of RGC. Methods: We collected the data of patients with RGC who underwent surgery with curative intent between 2005 and 2020 from 17 institutions in Japan, and performed a propensity score (PS) matching analysis to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of MIS with open surgery. Results: A total of 327 patients were included in this study and 186 patients were analyzed after matching. The risk ratios for overall and severe complications were 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45–1.27) and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.32–1.29), respectively. The MIS group had significantly less blood loss (50 ml vs. 361 ml, P<0.001) and a shorter hospital stay (13 days vs. 16 days, P=0.009) than the open surgery group, while the operative time was longer in the MIS group (344 min vs. 273 min, P<0.001). The median follow-up duration of this cohort was 4.6 years, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 77.9% in the MIS group and 76.2% in the open surgery group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; 95% CI: 0.45–1.36). The 3-year relapse-free survival rates were 71.9% in the MIS group and 62.2% in the open surgery group (HR, 0.71; 95% CI: 0.44–1.16). Locoregional recurrence occurred in three patients (3.2%) in the MIS group and four patients (4.3%) in the open surgery group. There were also no differences in the other patterns of recurrence between the groups. Conclusions: MIS for RGC showed favorable short- and long-term outcomes compared to open surgery. MIS is a promising option for radical surgery for RGC.

Modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab versus m-FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as initial treatment of patients with unresectable RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: Survival analysis of the phase II randomized DEEPER trial by JACCRO

120

Background: Triplet regimen, FOLFOXIRI, plus bevacizumab is considered as one of standard first-line treatments in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). On the contrary, FOLFOXIRI plus anti-EGFR antibody has been shown to be a promising regimen with greater depth of response (DpR) in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC from the VOLFI and MACBETH trials (J Clin Oncol 2019, JAMA Oncol 2018). We therefore performed a randomized phase II study, DEEPER trial (JACCRO CC-13) [NCT02515734], to investigate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab (cet) vs. bevacizumab (bev) in combination with modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI in previously untreated mCRC patients with RAS wild-type tumors. We have reported a significantly better DpR of m-FOLFOXIRI plus cet compared to bev as the primary endpoint (Tsuji A, et al. ASCO 2021). Methods: This trial was a randomized phase II trial to evaluate modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI (irinotecan 150 mg/m2, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, 5-FU 2400 mg/m2) plus cet vs. bev as initial treatment in terms of DpR during the entire course as the primary endpoint in 360 patients with RAS wild-type mCRC. The aim of the trial was to show that median DpR of cet arm was more than 12.5% higher than bev arm, with a power of 85% at a significance level of 0.05, in per protocol set (PPS) consisted of patients evaluable for the DpR. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, overall response rate, early tumor shrinkage rate, secondary resection rate, and toxicity. A total of 359 patients were enrolled between July 2015 and June 2019. For the PPS (median age 65y, 64% male, PS0/1: 91%/9%, left/right primary: 84%/16%), 159 and 162 patients were randomly assigned to the cet and bev arms, respectively. Clinical outcomes will be analyzed according to primary tumor sidedness which is included in the stratification factor. Additionally, we will collect data of BRAF status, and analyze the clinical outcomes in mCRC patients with RAS/ BRAF wild-type tumors and/or left-sided tumors. Pre-planned survival analysis will be performed to compare the two treatment arms at the time of 3 years after last patients’ enrollment using a log-rank test. All statistical tests are two-sided, and P values ≤ 0.05 are deemed significant. Statistical analyses will be performed using SAS version 9.4. Clinical trial information: NCT02515734 .

A novel method of anvil placement of circular stapler for esophagojejunostomy in laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: results of consecutive 200 cases

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is still a demanding operation because of technical difficulties, especially of intracorporeal esophago-jejunal anastomosis.

METHODS

We introduced a newly designed method of anvil placement of circular stapling devices (CS) for laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy (EJS). A small incision was made on the anterior wall of the stomach, from which the anvil was inserted into the stomach and proceeded to the thoracic esophagus. Then, the abdominal esophagus was transected by a linear stapler, and the anvil into the esophagus was drawn back to the esophageal stump by pulling out the cotton tape pre-attached to the anvil. Intracorporeal EJS by Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed by CS inserted into the abdominal cavity from the umbilical wound.

RESULTS

A total of consecutive 200 gastric cancer patients underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy using this method. There was no operative mortality. Anastomotic complications occurred in 12 cases (6.0%): 9 cases of stenosis (4.5%) and 3 cases of bleedings (1.5%). Anastomotic leakage was not observed. As for non-anastomotic complications, there occurred 2 pulmonary complications (1.0%), 3 pancreatic leakages (1.5%), and 8 bowel obstructions due to internal hernia (4.0%). With a median follow-up period of 47.1 months, 5-year overall survival for assessable patients (n = 193) was 60.3% (95% CI 52.6-67.2). The total rate of peritoneal recurrence was 9.8%.

CONCLUSION

Our new method of anvil placement for laparoscopic EJS with CS is safe and feasible with favorable survival outcomes. It eliminates the need for suturing, and will promote the clinical application of laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

CLINICAL TRIALS

UMIN000046119.

Poor association between dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase ( DPYD ) genotype and fluoropyrimidine‐induced toxicity in an Asian population

OBJECTIVE

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) genotype is closely associated with fluoropyrimidine (FP)-induced toxicities in Caucasian population and European Medicines Agency now recommends DPYD genotype-based FP dosing strategy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The current study aimed to investigate their impact on FP-related toxicities in an Asian population using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data set from 1364 patients with colon cancer.

RESULTS

Among 82 variants registered in the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium, 74 DPYD variants were directly genotyped in GWAS cohort; however, only 7 nonsynonymous DPYD variants (CPIC variants) were identified and none of the four recurrent DPYD variants (DPYD*2A, c.2846A>T, c.1679T>G, c.1236G>A) were included. Seven CPIC variants were investigated for their association with the incidence of FP-related toxicities; however, none of these variants revealed a significant correlation with FP-related toxicities.

CONCLUSION

These data suggested that the DPYD genotype registered in CPIC plays a minor role in FP-related toxicities in an Asian population.

Mesenteric closure after laparoscopic total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction is effective for prevention of internal hernia: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Internal hernia (IH) is one of the critical complications after gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, which can be prevented by closing mesenteric defects. However, only few studies have investigated the incidence of IH after laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer till date. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of defect closure for the prevention of IH after LTG.

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective cohort study collected data from 714 gastric cancer patients who underwent LTG with Rou-en-Y reconstruction between 2010 and 2016 in 13 hospitals. We evaluated the incidence of postoperative IH by comparing closure and non-closure groups of Petersen's defect, jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defect, and transverse mesenteric defect.

RESULTS

The closure group for Petersen's defect included 609 cases, while the non-closure group included 105 cases. The incidence of postoperative IH in the closure group for Petersen's defect was significantly lower than it was in the non-closure group (0.5% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.001). The closure group for jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defect included 641 cases, while the non-closure group included 73 cases. The incidence of postoperative IH in the closure group of jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defect was significantly lower than that in the non-closure group (0.8% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.004). Out of 714 patients, 41 underwent retro-colic reconstruction. No patients in the transverse mesenteric defect group developed IH.

CONCLUSION

Mesenteric defect closure after LTG with Roux-en-Y reconstruction may reduce postoperative IH incidence. Endoscopic surgeons should take great care to prevent IH by closing mesenteric defects.

Final Analysis of 3 Versus 6 Months of Adjuvant Oxaliplatin and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Therapy in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer: The Randomized Phase III ACHIEVE Trial

PURPOSE

The phase III ACHIEVE trial conducted in Japan was one of six prospective studies included in the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Therapy collaboration, which explored whether 3 months of adjuvant fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) therapy would be noninferior to 6 months of treatment in patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer. We report the final analyses of survival and long-term safety.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either 3 or 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy (modified [m]FOLFOX6 or CAPOX, as selected by the treating physician). Random assignment was stratified according to number of involved lymph nodes, center, regimen, primary site, and age. The primary end point was disease-free survival, assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population. Overall survival (OS) was a secondary end point.

RESULTS

The modified intention-to-treat population comprised 1,291 patients: 641 in the 6-month treatment group and 650 in the 3-month treatment group. Median follow-up for this analysis was 74.7 months. Five-year OS rates were comparable: 87.0% in the 3-month treatment group and 86.4% in the 6-month treatment group (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.20; P = .51). Subgroup analysis of OS did not reveal a significant interaction between baseline characteristics and treatment duration. Peripheral sensory neuropathy lasting longer than 5 years was more common in the 6- compared with 3-month treatment group (16% v 8%, respectively), and in those receiving mFOLFOX6 compared with CAPOX (14% v 11%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In Asian patients, shortening adjuvant therapy duration from 6 to 3 months did not compromise efficacy and reduced the rate of long-lasting peripheral sensory neuropathy. In this setting, 3 months of CAPOX therapy is an appropriate adjuvant treatment option.

A phase Ⅱ, non-randomized, prospective trial of biweekly nab-paclitaxel in combination with ramucirumab for patients with previously treated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer: B-RAX trial (JACCRO GC-09)

306

Background: The combination of paclitaxel (PTX) plus ramucirumab (RAM) has been the standard regimen for advanced gastric cancer (GC) or gastro-esophageal junction cancer (GJC) patients (pts) who were treated with fluoropyrimidine-containing regimen. In a phase 2 trial, it was showen that nab-PTX plus RAM has promising activity (objective response rate [ORR], 55 %; median progression free survival [PFS], 7.6 months) [Bando H, et al. Eur J Cancer 2018] and is, therefore, a treatment option. However, high incidence of myelosuppression led to discontinuation of the nab-PTX. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate whether schedule modification to biweekly nab-PTX plus RAM therapy is safe and effective. Methods: Pts with GC or GJC treated with fluoropyrimidine-containing regimen were enrolled and received nab-PTX (100 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 and RAM (8 mg/kg) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The treatment schedule of pts with severe myelosuppression during the first cycle was modified to biweekly therapy from the second cycle. The primary endpoint was PFS in modified pts. Secondary endpoints included ORR, disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. The exploratory analysis evaluated PFS and OS in pts who continued standard-schedule therapy. Based on the hypothesis that biweekly nab-PTX plus RAM therapy would improve PFS from 4.5 months to 7.0 months, 40 pts were required for a power of 0.8 with a one-sided α of 0.05. Results: Of the 81 pts who were enrolled, 76 pts received standard nab-PTX plus RAM in the first cycle and 47 pts (58%) were modified to the bi-weekly therapy. Pts characteristics in the modified pts were as follows: median age, 70 years; male, 72%; ECOG PS 0, 81%; and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or signet ring cell carcinoma, 45%. The median relative dose intensities of the entire period and after modification were 66% and 60%, respectively. In the modified pts, median PFS was 4.7 months (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 3.7–5.6), median OS was 13.9 months (95% CI: 9.1–16.9), ORR was 25% (95% CI: 11–39), and DCR was 75% (95% CI: 61–89). Tumor shrinkage was observed in 61% of the pts (n = 36) with measurable lesion. In pts who could continue standard-schedule therapy, median PFS was 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.8–4.0) and median OS was 8.0 months (95% CI: 5.6–14.7). Severe (Grade >3) adverse events after modification were neutropenia (55%), anemia (13%), hypertension (17%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (13%). Conclusions: Our study could not meet the primary endpoint for PFS. However, PFS in pts with standard-schedule therapy was numerically lower than that in the modified pts. The modification to biweekly schedule might be considered to be a treatment option for GC/GJC pts with severe myelosuppression in second-line nab-PTX plus RAM therapy. Clinical trial information: jRCTs031180061.

A multicenter phase 2 trial of ramucirumab plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment for patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with combination chemotherapy with anti-EGFR antibody: JACCRO CC-16

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Background: Ramucirumab (RAM) plus FOLFIRI has been considered as the standard care of second-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there have been few data which prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of RAM or other anti-VEGF drugs plus FOLFIRI after anti-EGFR antibody therapy in RAS wild-type mCRC. We therefore investigated the efficacy and safety of RAM plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC previously treated with oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy with anti-EGFR antibody. Methods: The JACCRO CC-16 was a multicenter, phase 2 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAM (8 mg/kg) plus FOLFIRI (irinotecan 150 mg/m2, bolus 5-FU 400 mg/m2, infusional 5-FU 2400 mg/m2) in mCRC patients with RAS wild-type tumors and ECOG PS 0 or 1, after first-line doublet or triplet plus anti-EGFR antibody therapy. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. The secondary endpoints included PFS, overall survival, objective response rate (ORR), early tumor shrinkage (ETS), and safety. We hypothesized a threshold 6-month PFS rate of 30% and an expected 6-month PFS rate of 45% for the protocol treatment. A sample size of 74 patients was required (one-sided α, 0.05; β, 0.2). Results: A total of 92 patients were enrolled between October 2018 and December 2020. Ninety-one patients, excluding one ineligible patient, were analyzed as the full analysis set: median age 66.0-y (range, 29–84), 46% female, 81% ECOG PS 0, 40% with primary tumor, 95% left-sided (rectum, sigmoid or descending colon) primary tumors, 70%/42% with liver/lung metastases. In prior first-line treatment, 19 (21%) patients were treated with triplet plus anti-EGFR antibody. The median number of treatment cycles was 10 (range, 1–56). Primary endpoint was met; at data cut-off, with 76 events, 6-month PFS rate was 58.2% (95% CI; 47.4-67.6). The median PFS was 7.0 months. The ORR, disease control rate, and ETS were 10.7%, 86.9%, and 16.9%, respectively. In the safety population of 92 patients, any grade adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (75%), hypertension (59%), proteinuria (34%), and diarrhea (33%). Grade 3-4 AEs were neutropenia (48%), hypertension (27%), proteinuria (4%), diarrhea (3%), and febrile neutropenia (3%). No treatment-related death was observed. Conclusions: This is the first prospective study to demonstrate that RAM plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment has favorable PFS rate and tolerability after anti-EGFR antibody containing chemotherapy in RAS wild-type mCRC patients. Clinical trial information: jRCTs061180002.

Phase II Study of Third-Line Panitumumab Rechallenge in Patients with Metastatic Wild-Type KRAS Colorectal Cancer Who Obtained Clinical Benefit from First-Line Panitumumab-Based Chemotherapy: JACCRO CC-09

BACKGROUND

Regorafenib and trifluridine/tipiracil are standard third-line chemotherapies for colorectal cancer patients, but their efficacy is limited. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody rechallenge has been reported to be promising for patients who have obtained clinical benefit from first-line cetuximab-based chemotherapy. Moreover, panitumumab showed non-inferior efficacy to cetuximab.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of third-line panitumumab rechallenge in patients with metastatic KRAS exon 2 wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer who obtained clinical benefit from first-line panitumumab-based chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective, multicenter, phase II trial conducted from October 2013 to August 2017. Major eligibility criteria included KRAS exon 2 wild-type and achievement of complete response, partial response, or continued stable disease for at least 6 months in first-line panitumumab-based therapy. Irinotecan plus panitumumab treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity was observed. The primary endpoint was the 3-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Their median age was 66.5 years, and the 3-month PFS rate was 50.0% (95% confidence interval 30.0-70.0). The median PFS and overall survival were 3.1 months and 8.9 months, respectively. The response rate and disease control rate were 8.3% and 50.0%, respectively. Common grade 3/4 adverse events were acneiform rash (17%), hypomagnesemia (13%), and dry skin (13%). No treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

Irinotecan plus panitumumab rechallenge is a promising third-line treatment regimen in patients with metastatic wild-type KRAS colorectal cancer.

CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFICATION

UMIN000015916.

Large-Scale Prospective Genome-Wide Association Study of Oxaliplatin in Stage II/III Colon Cancer and Neuropathy

IMPORTANCE

The severity of oxaliplatin (L-OHP)-induced peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) exhibits substantial interpatient variability, and some patients suffer from long-term, persisting PSN.

OBJECTIVE

To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicting L-OHP-induced PSN using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

A large prospective GWAS including 1,379 patients with stage II/III colon cancer who received L-OHP-based adjuvant chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6/CAPOX) under the phase II (JOIN/JFMC41) or the phase III (ACHIVE/JFMC47) trial.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

First, GWAS comparison of worst grade PSN (grade 0/1 vs. 2/3) was performed. Next, to minimize the impact of ambiguity in PSN grading, extreme PSN phenotypes were selected and analyzed by GWAS. SNPs that could predict time to recovery from PSN were also evaluated. In addition, SNPs associated with L-OHP-induced allergic reactions (AR) and time to disease recurrence were explored.

RESULTS

No SNPs exceeded the genome-wide significance (p < 5.0 × 10^-8) in either GWAS comparison of worst grade PSN, extreme PSN phenotypes, or time to recovery from PSN. Association study focusing on AR or time to disease recurrence also failed to reveal any significant SNPs.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Our results highlight the challenges of utilizing SNPs for predicting susceptibility to L-OHP-induced PSN in daily clinical practice.

Intrahepatic bile duct rupture associated with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis presenting hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor

A 67-year-old man with a low-grade fever was found to have a 25-mm diameter tumor of the left hepatic umbilical portion. The tumor was accompanied by occlusion of the left portal vein. Positron emission tomography using fluorodeoxyglucose showed that the tumor had abnormally high metabolic activity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the left hepatic duct segmental narrowing. There was a mild elevation in serum IgG4 (206 mg/dL). Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was suspected. Instead of planned hepatectomy, the patient was forced to undergo emergency surgery for biliary panperitonitis caused by intrahepatic bile duct rupture. Intraoperative ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic tumor-like thickened Glissonean sheath and needle biopsy was performed. Histologic examination confirmed fibrous tissue with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration without neoplastic proliferation. He was diagnosed with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) presenting hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor. After his general condition improved, he underwent left hepatectomy. Macroscopic findings showed extreme fibrosis of the Glissonean sheath of the umbilical portion, and diffuse granular lesion aggregated in the left lateral segment. Microscopic examination confirmed chronic cholangitis and dense portal fibrosis in the umbilical portion and diffuse xanthogranulomatous inflammation. This is the first case report of spontaneous rupture of the intrahepatic bile duct in patient with IgG4-SC.

Comparative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Gastrectomy and Open Gastrectomy for Scirrhous Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective

A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus open gastrectomy (OG) for scirrhous gastric cancer (GC) as a unique subtype also known as type 4 gastric cancer or linitis plastica.

Background

Although data on the efficacy and safety of LG as an alternative to OG are emerging, the applicability of LG to scirrhous GC remains unclear.

Methods

Patients with clinical type 4 GC undergoing gastrectomy at 13 hospitals from 2005 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. As the primary endpoint, we compared overall survival (OS) between the LG and OG groups. To adjust for confounding factors, we used multivariate Cox regression analysis for the main analyses and propensity-score matching for sensitivity analysis. Short-term outcomes and recurrence-free survival were also compared.

Results

A total of 288 patients (LG, 62; OG, 226) were included in the main analysis. Postoperative complications occurred in 25.8% and 30.1%, respectively (P = 0.44). No significant difference in recurrence-free survival was observed (P = 0.72). The 5-year OS rates were 32.4% and 31.6% in the LG and OG groups, respectively (P = 0.60). The hazard ratio (LG/OG) for OS was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-1.43) in the multivariate regression analysis. In the sensitivity analyses after propensity-score matching, the hazard ratio for OS was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.58-1.45).

Conclusions

Considering the hazard ratios and 95% CIs for OS, LG for scirrhous GC was not associated with worse survival than that for OG.

Efficacy and Long-term Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy of 3 vs 6 Months of Oxaliplatin-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer: The ACHIEVE Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial

Question

Can a shortened course of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy reduce peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) without compromising efficacy in patients with stage III colon cancer?

Findings

In this phase 3 randomized clinical trial of 1313 patients, 3 months of adjuvant therapy significantly reduced the rate of any grade of PSN at 3 years, compared with 6 months of treatment. The incidence of any grade of PSN lasting for 3 years was significantly lower for the chemotherapy drug capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) than for the drug modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6); these treatment outcomes were consistent with those of the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy (IDEA) Collaboration.

Meaning

A 3-month chemotherapy regimen of CAPOX may be the most appropriate treatment option for colon cancer, particularly in low-risk patients.

Importance

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with debilitating peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) for patients with stage III colon cancer.

Objective

To assess disease-free survival (DFS) and long-lasting PSN in patients treated with 3 vs 6 months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An open-label, multicenter, phase 3 randomized clinical trial of 1313 Asian patients with stage III colon cancer was conducted investigating the noninferiority of 3 vs 6 months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. From August 1, 2012, to June 30, 2014, participants were randomized to the 2 treatment groups. Data were analyzed from July 2017 to June 2018.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to receive 3 or 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. The choice of chemotherapy regimen, with the drugs modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX), was at the discretion of the treating physician.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was DFS. Secondary end points included the evaluation of PSN for up to 3 years and overall survival.

Results

Of the 1313 patients (651 were women and mean age was 66 [range, 28-85] years) enrolled and randomized, 22 were not treated because 10 were unable to begin treatment within 2 weeks of enrollment, 7 withdrew their consent, and 5 were not treated for various other reasons. Of 1291 patients treated (650 in the 3-month arm and 641 in the 6-month arm), 969 (75%) received the chemotherapy drug CAPOX. The hazard ratio (HR) for DFS of the 3-month arm compared with the 6-month arm was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.76-1.20). Hazard ratios were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.71-1.60) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.68-1.20) for the drugs mFOLFOX6 and CAPOX, and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.53-1.24) and 1.07 (95% CI, 0.81-1.40) for patients with low-risk disease (TNM classification stages T1-3 and N1) and high-risk disease (stages T4 or N2), respectively. The rates of any grade of PSN lasting for 3 years in the 3-month vs 6-month treatment arms were 9.7% vs 24.3% (P < .001). Incidence of PSN lasting for 3 years was significantly lower for patients treated with CAPOX than for patients treated with mFOLFOX6 in both the 3-month (7.9% vs 15.7%; P = .04) and 6-month arms (21.0% vs 34.1%; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

The incidence of long-lasting PSN was significantly lower for 3 months than for 6 months of therapy, and significantly lower for treatment with the drug CAPOX than with mFOLFOX6. Since the shortened therapy duration did not compromise outcomes, a 3-month course of CAPOX may be the most appropriate treatment option, particularly for patients with low-risk disease.

Trial Registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000008543

Clinicopathological characteristics and impact on efficacy of three versus six months of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-onset colon cancer: ACHIEVE and ACHIEVE-2 trials

60

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality have decreased since the 1970s but several data such as the SEER CRC registry show that the incidence of early onset colon cancer (eoCC, age 20-49) and RC keep increasing. There is limited results suggesting eoCC may have different behaviors compared to traditional CC (tCC, age ≥ 50). Methods: Individual patient data of 1,805 high-risk stage II/III colon cancer (CC) patients (pts) as the modified ITT population in ACHIEVE and ACHIEVE-2 trials were investigated. Clinicopathological features and treatment-related data were assessed by age group. Disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox multivariable models adjusted by trials, regimen, T and N. Results: Of the 1,805 pts, eoCC were 155 pts (8.6%). Using 5% difference between age groups as clinically meaningful cutoff, eoCC had similar gender (female, 52 vs 48%), PS (PS = 1, 1 vs 4%), risk group (high-risk, 43 vs 42%) and T stage (T4, 30 vs 30%) as tCC, while eoCC were less likely right-sided colon primary (32 vs 39%), had N1 disease (48 vs 54%), and treated by FOLFOX (16 vs 23%). Overall, eoCC significantly had a worse DFS than tCC (3y-DFS, 75 vs 82%; Adjusted Hazard Ratio = 1.40: 95% Confidence Interval, 1.00-1.95: p= 0.0478); in addition, similar DFS were observed among tCC pts (age 50-69 vs >70). eoCC experienced less neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and stomatitis, but had more diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting. There were 38 and 297 pts with an initial relapse in eoCC and tCC, respectively. Of those, peritoneal metastases were more frequently seen in eoCC (n = 13, 34%) than in tCC (n = 63, 21%) (p = 0.097), whereas liver and lung metastases were similar between the two groups. Impact on DFS of 3 versus 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy in eoCC (3y-DFS, 75% vs 76%) is similar to that in tCC (83% vs 81%). Conclusions: eoCC had unique characteristics; the difference in DFS between eoCC and tCC were potentially due to a different metastatic spread. eoCC had a different adverse event profile compared to tCC. No impact on DFS of treatment duration in eoCC was suggested. Clinical trial information: UMIN000013036.

Safety analysis of the randomized phase II study of FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab versus FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as the first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer with RAS wild-type tumors: The DEEPER trial (JACCRO CC-13)

86

Background: Triplet regimens, FOLFOXIRI, combined with bevacizumab (bev) or panitumumab have been shown to be superior in terms of early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DpR) compared to doublet regimen plus bev or triplet regimen in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), in the TRIBE trial ( N Engl J Med 2014) or VOLFI trial ( J Clin Oncol 2019), respectively. There have been few studies which directly compared cetuximab (cet) with bev when combined with triplet regimen. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy and safety of bev vs. cet in combination with FOLFOXIRI in previously untreated mCRC patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Methods: This trial was a randomized phase II trial to evaluate modified (m)-FOLFOXIRI (irinotecan 150 mg/m2, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, 5-FU 2400 mg/m2) plus cet vs. bev as first-line treatment in terms of the DpR during the entire course as the primary endpoint in 360 patients with RAS wild-type mCRC (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02515734). The experimental arm with cet was considered to be active if the difference of median DpR was over 12.5% compared with the bev arm, under the conditions of significance level of 0.05 and power of 0.85. Secondary endpoints included the ETS at week 8, progression-free survival, overall survival, secondary resection rate, and toxicity. Results: A total of 359 patients were enrolled between July 2015 and June 2019. For the safety analysis set (median age 65y, 64% male, PS0/1:91%/9%, left/right primary:83%/17%), 173 and 175 patients were randomly assigned to the cet and bev arms, respectively, some patients were excluded for the safety analysis due to the violation of inclusion criteria (6 for cet arm and 5 for bev). On the cutoff date of September 2020, median number of cycles administered was 10 (range, 1-51) for the cet arm and 12 (range, 1-51) for the bev arm. The incidence of severe adverse events (AEs) was 25.4% (44/173) for the cet arm and 25.7% (45/175) for the bev arm, respectively. The following AEs of grade 3-4 were observed more frequently in the cet arm compared to the bev arm: oral mucositis (9.2% vs. 2.3%), diarrhea (12.1% vs. 8.0%), dermatitis acneiform (12.1% vs. 0%), and hypomagnesemia (4.0% vs. 0%). The treatment-related death occurred in 2 patients of the cet arm, while no patients in the bev arm. The rate of treatment discontinuation due to AEs of any cause was comparable between the cet and bev arms (7% vs. 9%). Conclusions: This safety analysis indicated that both regimens of m-FOLFOXIRI plus cet or bev were tolerable in RAS wt mCRC patients although some frequent severe AEs were observed. Clinical trial information: UMIN000018217.

Phase 2 study of irinotecan plus cetuximab rechallenge as third-line treatment in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: JACCRO CC-08

BACKGROUND

Regorafenib or trifluridine/tipiracil as third-line treatment have limited efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

METHODS

This Phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of irinotecan plus cetuximab rechallenge as third-line treatment in KRAS wild-type mCRC patients who achieved clinical benefit with first-line cetuximab-containing therapy. The primary endpoint was 3-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. A sample size was calculated; 30 patients with a 3-month PFS rate of 45% deemed promising and 15% unacceptable. Patients with greater and less than the cut-off value of cetuximab-free intervals (CFIs) were classified into the long and short CFI groups, respectively, in subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

Among 34 eligible patients who received treatment at least once, 3-month PFS rate was 44.1% (95% confidence interval, 27.4-60.8%). The median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 2.4 and 8.2 months, respectively. The response and disease control rates were 2.9 and 55.9%, respectively. PFS and OS were significantly longer in the long- than in the short CFI group.

CONCLUSIONS

Irinotecan plus cetuximab rechallenge as third-line treatment for KRAS wild-type mCRC was safe and had promising activity, especially in those with a long CFI, warranting further investigation in a Phase 3 randomised trial.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000010638.

Oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy duration (3 versus 6 months) for high-risk stage II colon cancer: the randomized phase III ACHIEVE-2 trial

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy may be associated with debilitating peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) in patients with high-risk stage II colon cancer. This open-label, multicenter, randomized phase III trial was conducted as a prospective pooled analysis to investigate the non-inferiority of 3 versus 6 months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 12 February 2014 to 31 January 2017, 525 Asian patients with high-risk stage II colon cancer were randomly assigned to 3- and 6-month treatment arms. The treatment consisted of either modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) or capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin (CAPOX). The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary end points were treatment compliance and safety.

RESULTS

Of the 525 randomized patients, 11 were not treated. Among the 514 participating patients (255 in the 3-month arm; 259 in the 6-month arm), 432 (84%) received CAPOX, and 184 (36%) presented with T4 as a high-risk factor for recurrence. The 3-year DFS rate was 88.2% in the 3-month arm and 87.9% in the 6-month arm [hazard ratio (HR), 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-1.87]. With CAPOX, the 3-year DFS rate was 88.2% in the 3-month arm and 88.4% in the 6-month arm (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.65-1.96). The discontinuation rate in the 3- and 6-month arms was 10% and 31% for mFOLFOX6 (P = 0.0193), and 15% and 35% for CAPOX (P < 0.0001), respectively. The incidence of grade ≥2 PSN was significantly lower in the 3-month arm than in the 6-month arm (16% and 43%, respectively, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Three months of combination therapy presented significantly less grade ≥2 PSN than the respective 6-month regimen. The shortened therapy duration did not affect the 3-year DFS rate, suggesting that a 3-month course of CAPOX can be an effective treatment option.

CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000013036 and Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, jRCTs031180128.

Changes in the sexual function of male patients with rectal cancer over a 2-year period from diagnosis to 24-month follow-up: A prospective, multicenter, cohort study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This prospective study aimed to identify long-term changes in sexual function of men with rectal cancer from point of diagnosis to 24 months postoperatively.

METHODS

Male patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were prospectively enrolled. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire scores were collected at diagnosis; first follow-up; and 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Missing values were managed via multiple imputations using the propensity score method. Paired t tests were applied to examine changes in IIEF scores over time.

RESULTS

This study analyzed 115 patients. For erectile function, there were no significant changes in scores from the point of diagnosis to first treatment (9.4 vs. 9.8 as mean scores; p = .227). Scores deteriorated postoperatively and recovered until 12 months post-surgery, but did not improve significantly from 12 months to 24 months post-surgery (8.7 vs. 8.2 as mean scores; p = .440). This pattern of change was observed in all other domains: orgasmic function, sexual desire, orgasmic satisfaction, and overall satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual function was not influenced by a rectal cancer diagnosis. Sexual function deteriorated following surgery and recovered until 12 months post-surgery; however, it did not significantly improve from 12 months to 24 months postoperatively.

Conversion to complete resection with mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab or cetuximab based on K-RAS status for unresectable colorectal liver metastasis (BECK study): Long-term results of survival

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

To investigate the long-term outcome and entire treatment course of patients with technically unresectable CRLM who underwent conversion hepatectomy and to examine factors associated with conversion to hepatectomy.

METHODS

Recurrence and survival data with long-term follow-up were analyzed in the cohort of a multi-institutional phase II trial for technically unresectable colorectal liver metastases (the BECK study).

RESULTS

A total of 22/12 patients with K-RAS wild-type/mutant tumors were treated with mFOLFOX6 + cetuximab/bevacizumab. The conversion R0/1 hepatectomy rate was significantly higher in left-sided primary tumors than in right-sided tumors (75.0% vs 30.0%, P = .022). The median follow-up was 72.6 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate in the entire cohort was 48.1%. In patients who underwent R0/1 hepatectomy (n = 21), the 5-year RFS rate and OS rate were 19.1% and 66.3%, respectively. At the final follow-up, seven patients had no evidence of disease, five were alive with disease, and 20 had died from their original cancer. All 16 patients who achieved 5-year survival underwent conversion hepatectomy, and 11 of them underwent further resection for other recurrences (median: 2, range: 1-4).

CONCLUSIONS

Conversion hepatectomy achieved a similar long-term survival to the results of previous studies in initially resectable patients, although many of them experienced several post-hepatectomy recurrences. Left-sided primary was found to be the predictor for conversion hepatectomy.

Impact of high-risk features on disease-free survival (DFS) in patients (pts) with high-risk stage II colon cancer (CC) in ACHIEVE-2 trial as part of the IDEA collaboration

4011

Background: The IDEA collaboration for high-risk stage 2 colorectal cancer patients (pts) demonstrated that for CAPOX, 3 months was non-inferior to 6 months treatment, while for FOLFOX, 6 months was superior to 3 months treatment. We investigated the impact of high risk features on disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: ACHIEVE-2, one of the 4 IDEA studies (SCOT, TOSCA, ACHIEVE-2, HORG), was an open-label, multicenter randomized trial for high-risk stage II colon cancer. High risk features are defined as one or more: T4, inadequate nodal harvest < 12, poorly differentiated, clinical sign of obstruction and perforation or vascular invasion. The association of high risk features with DFS were measured by Cox regression analyses. Results: Between 2014 and 2017, ACHIEVE-2 enrolled 525 pts, out of whom 514 pts were the modified ITT (mITT) population; 432 received CAPOX (84.0%) and 82 did mFOLFOX6 (16.0%). High-risk features included 35.8% of T4, 12.8% of inadequate nodal harvest, 11.5% of poorly differentiated, 19.3% of obstruction, 6.4% of perforation and 87.5% of vascular invasion; 47.3% had one features, 35.2% had two, 14.6% had three, and 2.9% had four or more. With a median follow-up of 36.1 months, 3-year DFS rates were 88% in both arms, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.12 (95% CI, 0.67-1.87, p=0.67). In multivariate analysis, T4 (HR 3.77 [2.18-6.53], p< 0.0001) and inadequate nodal harvest (HR 2.98 [1.59-5.59], p= 0.0006) remained independent significant negative prognostic factors. The 3-year DFS rates in T4 and Non-T4 diseases were 78% and 94% (p<0.0001), while 3-year DFS rate in pts with inadequate and adequate nodal harvest were 77% and 90% (p=0.0059). No interaction was observed between treatment duration and T4 or inadequate nodal harvest. Conclusions: Our findings indicated the relative impact of high risk features on DFS varies across factors; T4 and inadequate nodal harvest < 12 were more significant than the others. Our results must be interpreted within the combined analysis as well as within the reproducibility of results across the 4 trials. Clinical trial information: 000013036 .

Association of postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with disease-free survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: ACHIEVE phase III randomized clinical trial

4069

Background: ACHIEVE, as part of the IDEA collaboration, was a multicenter trial randomizing patients with stage 3 resected colon cancer to either 3 versus 6 months of adjuvant FOLFOX/CAPOX. We previously reported that the hazard ratios (HRs) in disease-free survival (DFS) of 3 versus 6 months duration according to risk stage (low-risk [T1-3 and N1] or high-risk [T4 or N2]) and regimen (FOLFOX or CAPOX) as well as in overall population were consistent with those observed in the whole IDEA. This study aimed to clarify the significance of post-operative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on DFS in stage 3 colon cancer. Methods: Eligibility included post-operative serum CEA value of ≤10 ng/ml at registration in the ACHIEVE trial, which enrolled 1313 patients between 2012 and 2014, out of whom 1291 pts were the modified ITT (mITT) population and used in this study. The cutoff values of CEA analyzed for prognostic analyses were the median value (1.8 ng/ml) in the mITT, the upper limit of normal (ULN) level (5.0 ng/ml), and the half of ULN (2.5 ng/ml). The association of post-operative CEA with DFS were measured by Cox regression analyses. Results: Of the 3 cutoff values, the ULN (5.0 ng/ml) was associated with DFS more strongly than the median (1.8 ng/ml) or half of ULN (2.5 ng/ml), with a HR of 1.75 (95%CI, 1.24-2.46) (Table). The 99 patients (7.7%) were identified as the CEA > ULN and 1192 (92.3%) as < ULN. In univariate analysis, regimen (CAPOX or FOLFOX), ECOG PS (0 or 1), T factor (T1-3 or T4), N factor (N1 or N2-3) and CEA ( < ULN or > ULN) were significantly associated with DFS. Multivariate Cox regression identified CEA > ULN as an independent poor risk factor (HR = 1.45; 95%CI, 1.03-2.05). Shorter DFS in patients with CEA > ULN than in those with CEA < ULN was consistently observed in each subgroup of baseline factors, including treatment duration, regimen, age, gender, PS, T-stage, N-stage, no of lymph nodes examined, and tumor location; no interaction was observed between CEA and these factors. Conclusions: Post-operative serum CEA is also a strong prognostic factor for DFS in stage 3 colon cancer. Clinical trial information: 000008543 . [Table: see text]

[Vitamin K deficiency caused by nutritional malabsorption accompanying afferent loop obstruction:a case report]

This case involves a 73-year-old man who visited a clinic because he was experiencing dyspnea on exertion and acid reflux. He was diagnosed with anemia and referred for a medical check-up and treatment by his primary care physician. Iron deficiency anemia and prolonged prothrombin time were confirmed with a blood test and an abdominal enhanced CT revealed marked expansion of the afferent loop after a gastrectomy. The medical check-up revealed abnormal blood coagulation due to afferent loop obstruction, which resulted in vitamin K deficiency. He was supplemented with vitamin K, and surgery was performed for the afferent loop obstruction. Postoperatively, his anemia, nutritional status, serum vitamin K levels, and prothrombin time improved steadily. In conclusion, nutrient malabsorption may occur in cases of afferent loop obstruction and abnormal blood coagulation due to vitamin K deficiency.

Linear or circular stapler? A propensity score-matched, multicenter analysis of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy following totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Presently, there is no consensus as to what procedure of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy (EJS) in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) is best to reduce postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the superiority of linear stapled reconstruction in terms of anastomotic-related complications for EJS in TLTG.

METHODS

We collected data on 829 consecutive gastric cancer patients who underwent TLTG reconstructed by the Roux-en-Y method with radical lymphadenectomy between January 2010 and December 2016 in 13 hospitals. The patients were divided into two groups according to reconstruction method and matched by propensity score. Postoperative EJS-related complications were compared between the linear stapler (LS) and the circular stapler (CS) groups.

RESULTS

After matching, data from 196 patients in each group were analyzed. The overall incidence of EJS-related complications was significantly lower in the LS group than in the CS group (4.1% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.008). The incidence of EJS anastomotic stenosis during the first year after surgery was significantly lower in the LS group than in the CS group (1.5% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.011). The incidence of EJS bleeding did not differ significantly between the groups, although no bleeding was observed in the LS group (0% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.123). The incidence of EJS leakage did not differ significantly between the groups (2.6% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.771).

CONCLUSION

The use of linear stapled reconstruction is safer than the use of circular stapled reconstruction for intracorporeal EJS in TLTG because of its lower risks of stenosis.

[A Case of Type 1A Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Manifested by Oxaliplatin Administration of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a Gastric Cancer Patient]

Herein, we report the manifestation of type 1A Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease(CMT)in a 54-year-old female gastric cancer patient caused by oxaliplatin(L-OHP)of neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing S-1 plus L-OHP(G-SOX). In this case, peripheral sensory neuropathy(PSN)appeared in both upper limbs immediately after the administration of L-OHP. Subsequently, we observed sensory neuropathy of gloves-socks type in both the upper and lower limbs and motor neuropathy in both lower limbs, which caused the patient to be unable to sit up. Physical examination revealed upside-down champagnebottle- like mild atrophy in both lower limbs and hollow feet in both legs, as well as the disappearance of deep tendon reflexes in both lower limbs. In her family history, her eldest daughter had undergone Achilles tendon elongation surgery for suspected CMT at the age of 3 years. Considering these, she was suspected to have CMT and was finally diagnosed with type 1A CMT based on genetic testing. In anti-cancer treatments that cause PSN(not just by L-OHP), possible involvement of occult peripheral nerve disease like CMT should be considered when more rapid and untypical PSN appears after the administration of anti-cancer drugs.

[Successful Administration of Alternate-Day, Low-Dose S-1 in a Patient with Recurrent Esophageal Cancer with a Poor Compliance Profile]

A 79-year-old woman had recurrence in the mediastinal lymph node 6 months after curative resection of advanced esophageal cancer(pStage Ⅲ). After radiation therapy and 12 courses of chemotherapy with docetaxel, new recurrent tumors progressed in the mediastinum and apical region of the left lung, and her performance status(PS)deteriorated to grade 3. Alternate-day, low-dose S-1 chemotherapy was started at a dose of 60mg/day. Tumors decreased in size within 6 months, and her PS improved from grade 3 to 0. She had been treated for 33 months without severe adverse events until disease progression. So far, we have experienced in clinical practices that the alternate-day S-1 administration was tolerable for patients who were unfit for the standard daily administration. Alternate-day, low-dose S-1 administration may be a sustainable and effective option in S-1 chemotherapy in patients with recurrent esophageal cancer with impaired PS.

JOIN trial: treatment outcome and recovery status of peripheral sensory neuropathy during a 3-year follow-up in patients receiving modified FOLFOX6 as adjuvant treatment for stage II/III colon cancer

Purpose

Adjuvant FOLFOX therapy is an established standard-of-care for resected colon cancer. Peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) is regarded as the major toxicity issue related to FOLFOX therapy. There have been a few reports on the recovery status from PSN thereafter. JOIN trial investigated the tolerability and efficacy of adjuvant modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) in Japanese patients with stage II/III colon cancer.

Methods

Twelve cycles of mFOLFOX6 were given to patients with stage II/III curatively resected colon cancer. Treatment outcomes, including disease-free survival (DFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and recovery status of PSN during 3-year follow-up, were investigated.

Results

Of the 882 patients enrolled from 2010 to 2012, 864 were eligible for the efficacy analyses. Three-year DFS, RFS, and OS were favorable in 92.1, 92.8, and 97.4% of stage II patients; 76.4, 77.9, and 93.8% of stage IIIA/B; and 61.6, 62.7, and 85.9% of stage IIIC, respectively. The cumulative incidence of PSN during treatment was 47.8% in grade 1 (G1), 30.3% in G2, and 5.8% in G3. For those with G3 PSN during treatment, there was gradual recovery in 1.1% of patients at 12 months after enrollment, 0.5% at 24 months, and 0.2% at 36 months. However, G1 or G2 residual PSN after 3 years was observed in 21.0% (18.7%, G1; 2.3%, G2).

Conclusions

Adjuvant mFOLFOX6 therapy was effective and well tolerated in patients with stage II/III colon cancer. Most patients recovered from G3 PSN related to oxaliplatin, but approximately 20% of patients had G1 or G2 PSN at 3-year follow-up.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00280-019-03957-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Randomised phase II trial of mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab versus mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab as first-line treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (ATOM trial)

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy with biologics followed by liver surgery improves the resection rate and survival of patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). However, no prospective study has compared the outcomes of chemotherapy with bevacizumab (BEV) versus cetuximab (CET).

METHODS

The ATOM study is the first randomised trial comparing BEV and CET for initially unresectable CRLM. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive mFOLFOX6 plus either BEV or CET. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Between May 2013 and April 2016, 122 patients were enrolled. Median PFS was 11.5 months (95% CI 9.2-13.3 months) in the BEV group and 14.8 months (95% CI 9.7-17.3 months) in the CET group (hazard ratio 0.803; P = 0.33). Patients with a smaller-number but larger-sized metastases did better in the CET group. In the BEV and CET groups, the response rates were 68.4% and 84.7% and the resection rates were 56.1% and 49.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although CET achieved a better response rate than BEV for patients with a small number of large liver metastases, both biologics had similar efficacy regarding liver resection and acceptable safety profiles. To achieve optimal PFS, biologics should be selected in accordance with patient conditions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT01836653), and UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR number UMIN000010209).

Clinical verification of circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) as novel pretreatment predictor and tool for quantitative monitoring of treatment response in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): A biomarker study of the DEEPER trial

TPS3621

Background: A randomized phase II trial, DEEPER (JACCRO CC-13) [NCT02515734], is on-going to evaluate FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab (cet) vs. FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (bev) in terms of depth of response as primary endpoint in 360 mCRC patients (pts) with RAS wild-type tumors, PS0-1, and no previous chemotherapy. This is a head-to-head comparative trial of 2 key monoclonal antibodies in mCRC treatment; therefore, it would be of interest to perform the biomarker study for developing novel predictors of cet or bev. The clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis has been largely validated for monitoring during treatment and companion diagnostics after chemotherapy. However, there are few published results regarding ctRNA in cancer treatment. Use of ctRNA from liquid biopsies would enhance tumor profiling through the trending of actionable biomarkers not found in ctDNA, and allow for patient monitoring by measuring dynamic changes in levels of gene expressions. Methods: This study will enroll pts with willing to undergo biopsies of both tissue and blood among participants of the DEEPER trial. The estimated number is 250. The main purpose is to find novel predictors for efficacy of cet or bev in mCRC using liquid biopsies, which are performed to obtain ctDNA and ctRNA at 6 time points: pre-treatment, 8 weeks after treatment start, beginning of maintenance phase in FOLFOXIRI-regimen, progression, before and 8 weeks after 2nd-line treatment. The tissue samples collected before chemotherapy will be used for analyzing intra-tumoral genetic alterations. Associations between analytes in blood/tissue and the clinical outcomes of each treatment (with cet or bev) will be assessed using Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan-Meier curves, and log-rank tests in univariate analyses. We will evaluate on whether transcriptomic analysis in ctRNA could predict treatment efficacy more accurately compared to genomic analysis in ctDNA, and verify the clinical utility of ctRNA testing in mCRC treatment. Accrual will continue until the DEEPER trial is completed. Clinical trial information: UMIN000018412.

A Randomized Phase II Study of S-1 Adjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Hochu-ekki-to, a Japanese Herbal Medicine, for Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: The KUGC07 (SHOT) Trial

Objectives: A multicenter randomized phase II study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41) for reducing adverse reactions and increasing compliance with S-1 adjuvant therapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: The eligibility criteria were pathological stage II/III after R0 resection. Patients received adjuvant therapy with S-1 alone (group S) or S-1 with TJ-41 (group ST) for 1 year. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of S-1. Secondary endpoints were adverse events, relative dose intensity, relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results: We randomly assigned 56 patients to group ST and 57 patients to group S. The completion rates of S-1 were 54.5 and 50.9%, the median relative dose intensities were 89.2 and 71.9%, and adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 45.5 and 54.5% in groups ST and S, respectively. There was no significant difference in 3-year OS or RFS between the two groups.

Conclusions: TJ-41 does not increase relative dose and completion rate of S-1 significantly. J-41 may reduce toxic effects, but our findings do not support routine use of TJ-41 after gastrectomy.