To Treat or Not to Treat Metastatic Cancer Patients with Poor Performance Status: a Prospective Experience

Administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy for patients with metastatic cancer and poor performance status is a daily clinical challenge. Guidelines only help to select a therapeutic regimen but do not offer a clear response whether or not the patients should be treated. We performed a prospective analysis in 139 metastatic patients with performance status > 1 according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale. A decision was considered correct if patients treated with a medical anticancer treatment lived over 3 months or alternatively patients not treated had a survival under 3 months. The predominant tumor type was non-small cell lung cancer. Patients were chemotherapy naive in 87 cases (63 %). A new line of medical anticancer treatment was started in 107 cases (77 %). The median survival of the study population was 11 weeks (range, 1-53). 84 patients (60 %) died within 3 months while 55 patients (40 %) lived more than 3 months after decision. Treatment decisions were considered as appropriate in 81 cases (58 %). No patient was considered as undertreated. The analysis by pathology allowed to identify pathologies where decisions were correct in the majority of the cases (renal, urothelial and small cell lung cancers), pathologies where appropriate and inappropriate decisions were balanced (prostate, ovarian and breast cancers) and pathologies where decisions for treatment were excessive (non-small cell lung cancer and unknown primary). This prospective study was conducted as part of the evaluation of professional practices in our department. Administration of a medical anticancer treatment validated with patients with good performance status may be harmful for patients with poor performance status. The findings resulted in recommendations for daily practice in order to help physicians, especially for the "don't go" decisions. Until the identification of new prognostic factors for survival and/or the development of therapies making sensitive currently chemoresistant diseases, the initiation of a medical anticancer treatment outside standard situations should result from a consensual decision team or the inclusion in a clinical trial.

A phase II study of afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, added to letrozole in patients with estrogen receptor-positive hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer progressing on letrozole

Phase II, open-label study assessing the efficacy and safety of the ErbB family blocker afatinib combined with letrozole in estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who had progressed on letrozole monotherapy. Adult females (N = 28) received oral afatinib (50 [n = 7], 40 [n = 13] or 30 [n = 8] mg/day) plus letrozole 2.5 mg/day in 28-day cycles until disease progression. Primary endpoint was the progression-free rate at or after 16 weeks of afatinib. At 16 weeks, four patients remained on afatinib without progression; two of these were HER2 negative. Fifteen (54 %) patients had a best response of stable disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Median progression-free survival was 60, 107 and 79 days with 50, 40 and 30 mg/day afatinib, respectively. Diarrhea, asthenia, rash, mucosal inflammation and nausea were the most frequent adverse events. In this small, exploratory study, afatinib combined with letrozole was able to induce disease stabilization in 54 % of hormone-refractory MBC patients previously progressing on letrozole.

Clinical trial registration: NCT00708214

Prospective Clinical Utility Study of the Use of the 21-Gene Assay in Adjuvant Clinical Decision Making in Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive Early Invasive Breast Cancer: Results From the SWITCH Study

BACKGROUND

The 21-gene Oncotype DX Recurrence Score assay is a validated assay to help decide the appropriate treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), early-stage breast cancer (EBC) in the adjuvant setting. The choice of adjuvant treatments might vary considerably in different countries according to various treatment guidelines. This prospective multicenter study is the first to assess the impact of the Oncotype DX assay in the French clinical setting.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients with ER+, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative EBC, and node-negative (pN0) disease or micrometastases in up to 3 lymph nodes (pN1mi) were enrolled. Treatment recommendations, physicians' confidence before and after knowing the Recurrence Score value, and physicians' perception of the assay were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 100 patients, 95 were evaluable (83 pN0, 12 pN1mi). Treatment recommendations changed in 37% of patients, predominantly from chemoendocrine to endocrine treatment alone. The proportion of patients recommended chemotherapy decreased from 52% pretest to 25% post-test. Of patients originally recommended chemotherapy, 61% were recommended endocrine treatment alone after receiving the Recurrence Score result. For both pN0 and pN1mi patients, post-test recommendations appeared to follow the Recurrence Score result for low and high values. Physicians' confidence improved significantly.

CONCLUSION

These are the first prospective data on the impact of the Oncotype DX assay on adjuvant treatment decisions in France. Using the assay was associated with a significant change in treatment decisions and an overall reduction in chemotherapy use. These data are consistent with those presented from European and non-European studies.

¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT in staging, restaging, and treatment response assessment of male breast cancer

PURPOSE

Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, with patterns different from those found in women. Most tumors are detected at more advanced stages than in women. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) in staging, restaging, and therapy response assessment.

METHODS

We performed a systematic analysis in the database of Saint-Louis Hospital to identify male patients with BC referred for PET/CT. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT findings considered suspicious for malignancy were compared to biopsy results, further work-up and/or patient follow-up of at least 6 months. Performances of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT were compared to that of conventional imaging (CI) using the McNemar test. The impact of PET/CT on management was evaluated.

RESULTS

During 6 consecutive years, among 12,692 (18)F-FDG-PET/CT oncology studies, 30 were performed in 15 men with BC: 7 examinations for initial staging, 11 for restaging, and 12 for response assessment. Tumors profile was ER+ and one had HER2 overexpression. PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect distant metastases were 100%, 67%, 86%, 100% and 89%, respectively. PET/CT was more informative than CI in 40% of studies (p=0.03; 95% confidence interval: 3.26 - 40%). Findings from (18)F-FDG-PET/CT led to modification in the planned treatment in 13/30 cases (43%).

CONCLUSION

Although all the tumors were ER+, primary lesions and metastases were diagnosed with high sensitivity. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT seems to be a powerful imaging method to perform staging, restaging and treatment response assessment in male patients with BC.

Prospective study of the impact of using the 21-gene recurrence score assay on clinical decision making in women with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer in France

568^

Background: The 21-gene Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) is a validated assay to help inform the appropriate treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), early stage breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. Treatment traditions regarding choice of adjuvant treatment vary significantly in different countries. This prospective multicenter study is the first to assess the impact of using the Oncotype DX assay in the French clinical setting. Methods: A total of 100 consecutive patients with ER+, HER2-negative, node negative or pN1 (mi) breast cancer were enrolled. Overall treatment recommendation change, change from chemoendocrine to endocrine alone and change from endocrine alone to chemoendocrine treatment were recorded. Medical oncologists completed questionnaires regarding their confidence in their recommendation before and after knowing the patient’s RS. A preliminary analysis was conducted on the first 92 evaluable patients with data available at the time of abstract submission. Final data will be presented at the meeting. Results: Prior to Oncotype DX 49% of patients were recommended chemoendocrine treatment and 51% endocrine treatment alone. After having the RS, 26% were recommended chemoendocrine treatment and 74% endocrine treatment alone. The overall reduction in chemotherapy recommendation from 49% to 26% was significant (p<0.001). Of patients originally recommended chemoendocrine treatment, 58% were changed to endocrine treatment alone after having the RS. Of patients originally recommended endocrine treatment, 11% were changed to chemoendocrine treatment after receiving the RS. There was a significant improvement in physician confidence in treatment recommendations (p=0.002) when using Oncotype DX. Conclusions: These are the first prospective data regarding the impact of using Oncotype DX in France. Using Oncotype DX was associated with a significant change in treatment decisions and an overall reduction in chemotherapy use. The data are consistent with those presented from Germany, Spain, the UK and the US.

Lenalidomide (REV) in asymptomatic late recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) patients with increasing CA 125: A GINECO phase II trial

5018

Background: REV is a thalidomide analogue, with both immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic properties that could confer antitumor effect in ROC. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate REV efficacy as single agent in patients (pts) with asymptomatic late ROC (>6mos) with increasing CA 125, in 2nd or 3rd line. Primary endpoint was to estimate the rate of non-progressive disease at 4 mos. Pts were treated with REV 20 mg daily in oral continuous regimen with systematically recommended anti-thrombotic prophylaxis (ATP). Imagery and CA 125 were performed every 8 weeks. Results: From 05/2009 to 09/2010, 45 pts were included with a median age of 63 years. Pt characteristics were: serous (78%), previous lines (one 73%, two 27%), median platinum-free interval (PFI) (11.3 mos), PFI > 12 mos (42%), measurable disease (73%), and ECOG performance status 0 (84%). Efficacy: Rate of non progressive disease at 4 mos was 38% (95%CI, 23-53), 59 % (95%CI, 36-82) and 24 % (95%CI, 7-41) for the global population, pts relapsing over 12 mos and those relapsing between 6-12 mos, respectively. Results were independent of the number of previous lines. Median progression-free survival was 3.8 mos (95%CI, 2.1-5.6) and 6.4 mos in the subset of pts with PFI > 12 mos. Response evaluation according to CA 125 (Rustin criteria) was: complete response (CR) 2.4%, partial response (PR) 17%, stable disease (SD) 71%. When using RECIST criteria alone, response evaluation was: 9.5% PR and 45% SD. Median duration of biological response was 6.6 mos. REV efficacy will be correlated to immunological parameters (lymphocyte phenotypes and cytokines). Safety: Grade 3-4 toxicity in more than 5% of pts was neutropenia (29%) and thrombo-embolic events (TEE) (11%). TEE occurred only in pts without ATP. Reasons for stopping treatment due to toxicity were TEE (3), allergy (2), arrhythmia (1), dyspnea (1) and neutropenia (1). Conclusions: REV demonstrated encouraging activity in ROC with good tolerability and manageable adverse events. A phase I of REV combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is currently being conducted.

Phase I study of BIBF 1120 with docetaxel and prednisone in metastatic chemo-naive hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients

Background:

BIBF 1120 is an oral, potent, tyrosine kinase inhibitor that simultaneously targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1–3, platelet-derived growth factor receptors α and β, and fibroblast growth factor receptors 1–3, as well as FLT3 and Src. Currently, the molecule is in phase III development for second-line non-small cell lung cancer and first-line ovarian cancer patients.

Methods:

This phase I dose-escalation study assessed the safety and maximum tolerated dose of continuous daily treatment with BIBF 1120 plus standard-dose docetaxel (75 mg m⁻², every 3 weeks) and prednisone (5 mg BID) in patients with metastatic, chemo-naive, hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Secondary objectives were characterisation of BIBF 1120 and docetaxel pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary antitumour activity.

Results:

Patients received BIBF 1120 100 mg BID (n=3), 150 mg BID (n=3), 200 mg BID (n=3), and 250 mg BID (n=12). The most frequent drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea (71.4%), asthenia (61.9%), nausea (28.6%), vomiting (28.6%), and alopecia (23.8%). The maximum tolerated dose was 250 mg BID of BIBF 1120. Overall, reversible grade 3/4 liver enzyme elevations occurred in six of twelve patients at this dose level. Among 19 assessable patients, 13 (68.4%) showed a ⩾50% reduction in prostate serum antigen levels from baseline and among 6 evaluable patients with measurable lesions 1 patient experienced a partial response by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours criteria. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed no interactions between BIBF 1120 and docetaxel/prednisone.

Conclusion:

Based on the overall safety profile, 200 mg BID was the recommended dose for the combination of BIBF 1120 with the standard dose of 75 mg m⁻² of docetaxel and prednisone that might be further investigated in HRPC patients. This combination was well tolerated, with preliminary signs of efficacy and no indication of PK interaction between BIBF 1120 and docetaxel.

The yield of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with clinical stage IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer: a prospective study

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in patients with stage IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer.

METHODS

During 56 mo, 131 consecutive patients with large (>2 cm) breast cancer and clinical stage IIA, IIB, or IIIA (based on clinical examination, mammography, breast MRI, and ultrasonography) underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT. The nuclear physician was unaware of the results of any other procedure (bone scan, chest radiography, liver ultrasound, or thoracoabdominal CT scan).

RESULTS

Of the 131 examined patients, 36 had clinical stage IIA (34 T2N0 and 2 T1N1), 48 stage IIB (20 T3N0 and 28 T2N1), and 47 stage IIIA (29 T3N1, 9 T2N2, and 9 T3N2). (18)F-FDG PET/CT modified staging for 5.6% of stage IIA patients, for 14.6% of stage IIB patients, and for 27.6% of stage IIIA patients. However, within stage IIIA, the yield was specifically high among the 18 patients with N2 disease (56% stage modification). When considering stage IIB and primary operable IIIA (T3N1) together, the yield of (18)F-FDG PET/CT was 13% (10/77); extraaxillary regional lymph nodes were detected in 5 and distant metastases in 7 patients. In this series, (18)F-FDG PET/CT outperformed bone scanning, with only 1 misclassification versus 8 for bone scanning (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

(18)F-FDG PET/CT provided useful information in 13% of patients with clinical T3N0, T2N1, or T3N1 disease. The yield was more modest in patients with stage IIA. The high yield in the case of N2 disease demonstrates that stage IIIA comprises 2 quite distinct groups of patients.

[Evaluating the benefits of mammographic breast cancer screening]

Mammographic breast cancer screening is one of the most popular cancer death preventive programs worldwide, as well as in Hungary. Breast cancer mortality and incidence started to decrease some years after international introduction of the screening program. The role played by mammography in the advantageous turn is not known. Potential points in evaluating the benefits of a screening program are reviewed. We focus on the average lifetime gain, which is 1 to 3 weeks in case of mammography, according to age groups.

Efficacy of trastuzumab in routine clinical practice and after progression for metastatic breast cancer patients: the observational Hermine study

BACKGROUND

The Hermine study observed the use of trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in routine practice, including patients who received trastuzumab treatment beyond progression (TBP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study observed 623 patients for > or = 2 years. Treatment was given according to oncologists' normal clinical practices. Endpoints included duration of treatment, efficacy, and cardiac safety. The TBP subanalysis compared overall survival (OS) in 177 patients who received first-line trastuzumab and either continued trastuzumab for > or = 30 days following progression or stopped at or before progression.

RESULTS

The median treatment duration was 13.3 months. In the first-, second-, and third-line or beyond treatment groups, the median time to progression (TTP) were 10.3 months, 9.0 months, and 6.3 months, and the median OS times were 30.3 months, 27.1 months, and 23.2 months, respectively. Heart failure was observed in 2.6% of patients, although no cardiac-associated deaths occurred. In the TBP subanalysis, the median OS duration from treatment initiation and time of disease progression were longer in patients who continued receiving trastuzumab TBP (>27.8 months and 21.3 months, respectively) than in those who stopped (16.8 months and 4.6 months, respectively). However, the groups were not completely comparable, because patients who continued trastuzumab TBP had better prognoses at treatment initiation. The median TTP was longer in patients who continued trastuzumab TBP (10.2 months) than in those who stopped (7.1 months).

CONCLUSION

The Hermine findings confirm that the pivotal trials of first-line trastuzumab treatment in MBC patients are applicable in clinical practice. The subanalysis suggests that trastuzumab TBP offers a survival benefit to MBC patients treated with first-line trastuzumab.

18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for an early assessment of response to sunitinib in metastatic renal carcinoma: preliminary study

PURPOSE

Sunitinib is a new standard for the treatment of metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). We evaluated the accuracy of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in assessing early response to this antiangiogenic drug, which cannot be obtained with conventional CT.

PROCEDURES

Patients had an FDG-PET/CT at baseline and another one for follow-up at the end of the first cycle (at day 42). For each examination, all lesions were registered and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) was measured. The metabolic response on PET at day 42 was assessed, using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria. Morphologic response on CT at day 84 (after two cycles), using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria, was used as the reference standard. The long-term outcome was assessed by the progression-free survival.

RESULTS

Twelve (12) patients who completed at least two cycles of sunitinib were assessed. The SUV(max) for the lesions with the highest uptake ranged between 2.9 and 11.8 for the 12 patients (mean = 6.3). Early PET/CT findings, after one cycle of sunitinib, were consistent with later CT results in 9 patients of 11 assessable patients: 1 patient progressed on PET and CT, 7 patients had stable disease, and 1 had a partial response. The other 2 patients had a metabolic partial response on PET and stable disease on CT. However, 1 patient achieved a partial response later in follow-up, suggesting that metabolic early changes are an indication of sunitinib activity.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT seems to be an interesting tool for the early evaluation of response to sunitinib in metastatic RCC. Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results and establish a prognostic value for PET/CT.

2007 Standards, Options, and Recommendations: use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA: epoetin alfa, epoetin beta, and darbepoetin) for the management of anemia in children with cancer

The Standards, Options, and Recommendations (SOR) project undertaken by the French National Federation of Cancer Centers (FNCLCC) to develop and disseminate clinical practice guidelines in oncology has now been taken over by the French National Cancer Institute. In 2007, the SOR updated the information related to the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemic children with cancer. Updates were based on a review of the most reliable scientific data available, followed by critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts and validation by independent experts. The literature review identified four randomized trials likely to provide reliable new information on the use of ESA in children. This review confirmed four points: treatment increases hemoglobin levels and decreases the need for blood transfusions; no quality-of-life and no survival benefit has been demonstrated; treatment does not seem associated with significantly more side effects; impact on thromboembolic events and patient quality of life remains unclear. The main result of the study was the elaboration of a new standard of care unavailable at the time of the 2003 version. Systematic administration of ESA is not recommended for the prevention or treatment of anemia in pediatric cancer patients. However, treatment decision must be made on a case-by-case basis and, when treatment is considered, the intravenous route must be preferred. The full French document is available at www.sor-cancer.fr.

[Decision making process in oncology: rationale and delineation of a composite index of relative antitumoral efficacy (In-RATE)]

Over the last decade, the development of new therapeutic options has made more patients benefit from antitumoral strategies including several lines of chemotherapy, the aim of which is a long-term control of the disease progression. In such a context of "chronic" management, the choice of tumor response as a single parameter appears restrictive to assess those new therapeutic options. For that reason, we have recently proposed a composite index of relative efficacy including response rate as well as parameters related to tumour stabilization and duration of the response. The objective of this index, published as the In-RATE is to allow the comparison of two treatments a and b as follows: In-RATE a/b = (response rate a/response rate b) x (time to progression a/time to progression b) x (progression rate b/progression rate a). Values significantly higher or less than 1 suggest the superiority, in terms of efficacy, of treatments a or b, respectively. When retrospectively applied to randomised studies, the In-RATE showed that some results and conclusions based on the response rate as a unique endpoint might be reconsidered, and that a significant difference between protocols could be detected in published reports having concluded to statistical equivalence. This paper reviews the rationale and principle of this work, and discusses the potential clinical applications of the In-RATE.

[Standards & options: recommendations for the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anaemic cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (2007 update)]

INTRODUCTION

Beginning 1998, a working group of specialists convened by the guidelines department (Standards, Option and Recommendations: SOR) of the National French Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNCLCC) published then regularly updated Recommendations relative to the use of ESA(epoetin alfa, epoetin bêta, darbepoetin) in anaemic patients with cancer. This article presents the updated Recommendations set up in 2007.

METHODS

This updating process is based on the methodology developed and used in the "Standards, Options: Recommendations" programme. The methodological approach combines systematic review with the judgement of a multidisciplinary group of experts. On the basis of analysis of literature, the conclusions and their level of evidence are established. Then, the conclusions accompanied by experts' judgement lead to the Recommendations. A Recommendation is a proposal of one or several clinical attitudes intended to improve cancer patient care. Before publication, the RPC-SOR are re-examined by independent reviewers selected according to the same principles as the group of expert writers.

RESULTS

New data, relative to the "use of ESA in anaemic cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy", didn't lead to update the latest Recommendations validated in 2003. However, new data relative to the "use of ESA in anaemic prophylaxis among adult patients with cancer" and to the "use of iron with ESA in cancer patients" were sufficient to generate either major or minor modifications to the initial Recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, it appears relevant to re-examine these Recommendations according to a systematic monitoring process which should be renewed in two years.

Rationale and delineation of a composite index of relative antitumoural efficacy (In-RATE)

Over the last decades, the development of new drugs has allowed cancer patients to experience several lines of chemotherapy, the objective of which is a long term stabilization of the tumour. The objectives of this work was to delineate a composite index of relative antitumoural efficacy (In-RATE) of a regimen over another, including response rate (RR), median time to progression (TTP) and progression rate (PR). When considering two treatments a and b, the In-RATE was defined as RRa/RRb x TTPa/TTPb x PRb/PRa. Values significantly superior or inferior to 1 reveal an advantage for treatment a or b, respectively. The applicability of the In-RATE to published randomized trials in four frequent tumour types (colorectal, non-small cell lung, advanced ovarian and metastatic breast cancers) was suggested to more precisely distinguish the effects of different drugs, and sometimes to detect a significant difference when the published data did not conclude to statistical difference.

[Cost/effectiveness analysis of adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab in patients with HER2 positive early breast cancer]

Trastuzumab (Herceptin), a recombinant, humanised, monoclonal-antibody that targets human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), has been approved as an adjuvant therapy for HER2-positive early breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of this treatment compared with adjuvant therapy alone in the French setting. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using a Markov state transition model. The transition probabilities were estimated from the interim results of the Hera trial. Unit costs data were mainly estimated in a French Oncology Center (Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon). The model estimated that overall mean survival of patients treated with trastuzumab was 20.08 years versus 16.23 in the observation group (3.85 life-years gained). For 1 000 patients with a 10-year follow-up, an adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab would avoid 49.7 loco-regional recurrences, 179.5 distant recurrences and 133.4 deaths. The incremental discounted cost of trastuzumab therapy over a lifetime horizon was estimated at 27594 euro per patient in association with a discounted gain of 2.27 life-years. In accordance with the techniques of economical evaluation, the utilization of trastuzumab as an adjuvant therapy in patients with early HER2 positive breast cancer improves patient survival with an acceptable cost-effectiveness ratio in the French setting (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 12,148 euros /LYG).

[Interests and perspectives of PET-CT for breast cancer: review of the literature]

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a technique of functional imaging whose interest in oncology does not cease growing. This article summarizes the results of the technique in senology. For the initial evaluation of locally advanced breast cancer (extended primitive lesion, axillary lymph nodes...), the FDG-PET makes it possible to evaluate lymph nodes (in particular internal mammary nodes) and to seek remote metastases. The sensitivity of the examination appears nevertheless low for the secondary lesions of small size and for bone metastases of osteoblastic form, for which the performances of the bisphosphonates scintigraphy are higher. For the search of a loco-regional or remote recurrence, the performances of FDG-PET are very interesting, including in the event of normality of the biological assessment. The impact of FDG-PET on the therapeutic strategy is undeniable and seems estimated at least 20%. FDG-PET is not recommended for the characterization of a breast lesion. In addition to the small tumoral size, the causes of false negative are mostly represented by the lobular histological form, by the tumours with low proliferation, the tumours of low grade and the well differentiated lesions. The causes of false positive are mainly in relation with inflammatory and/or infectious phenomena. For similar reasons, FDG-PET cannot replace the anatomy-pathological analysis of the axillary nodes. To evaluate the effectiveness of a neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, FDG-PET seems to be a powerful examination. Nevertheless, the data of the literature appear insufficient to recommend it in current practice. It is the same way for the prognostic interest.

Gemcitabine-oxaliplatin combination in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer: a pilot study on 43 patients

To investigate the efficacy and the safety of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), in patients heavily treated with anthracycline and taxane. A retrospective study including all MBC patients, treated by two different schedules of GemOx between February 2001 and December 2003 in the medical oncology department of Saint-Louis hospital. Forty-three consecutive patients were included. Median involved organs was 2. The median number of regimen of previous metastatic chemotherapy administered was 3. The median number of cycle administered was 5, with a median dose by cycle of 1,000 or 2,000 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine (D1D2 or D1D8 schedule, respectively) and 100 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin. Of the 40 evaluable patients, three achieved a partial response giving an overall response rate of 7.5% and 11 demonstrated stable disease, giving a stabilization rate of 27.5%. Median overall survival in all treated patients was 10.6 months and median progression-free survival in all evaluated patients was 3.0 and 10.5 months for the partial responders. Hematotoxicity was prevalent, sometimes severe, with grades 3 and 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia in 42%, 19%, and 14% of the patients. Grades 3 and 4 peripheral neuropathy were developed by 9% of the patients, but was not limiting. The present study reports the results of two exploratory schedules of the GemOx combination in advanced breast cancer patients. The D1D8 schedule was the most promising and deserves further clinical studies.

Exquisite sensitivity of TP53 mutant and basal breast cancers to a dose-dense epirubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen

BACKGROUND

In breast cancers, only a minority of patients fully benefit from the different chemotherapy regimens currently in use. Identification of markers that could predict the response to a particular regimen would thus be critically important for patient care. In cell lines or animal models, tumor protein p53 (TP53) plays a critical role in modulating the response to genotoxic drugs. TP53 is activated in response to DNA damage and triggers either apoptosis or cell-cycle arrest, which have opposite effects on cell fate. Yet, studies linking TP53 status and chemotherapy response have so far failed to unambiguously establish this paradigm in patients. Breast cancers with a TP53 mutation were repeatedly shown to have a poor outcome, but whether this reflects poor response to treatment or greater intrinsic aggressiveness of the tumor is unknown.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

In this study we analyzed 80 noninflammatory breast cancers treated by frontline (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy. Tumor diagnoses were performed on pretreatment biopsies, and the patients then received six cycles of a dose-dense regimen of 75 mg/m(2) epirubicin and 1,200 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide, given every 14 days. After completion of chemotherapy, all patients underwent mastectomies, thus allowing for a reliable assessment of chemotherapy response. The pretreatment biopsy samples were used to determine the TP53 status through a highly efficient yeast functional assay and to perform RNA profiling. All 15 complete responses occurred among the 28 TP53-mutant tumors. Furthermore, among the TP53-mutant tumors, nine out of ten of the highly aggressive basal subtypes (defined by basal cytokeratin [KRT] immunohistochemical staining) experienced complete pathological responses, and only TP53 status and basal subtype were independent predictors of a complete response. Expression analysis identified many mutant TP53-associated genes, including CDC20, TTK, CDKN2A, and the stem cell gene PROM1, but failed to identify a transcriptional profile associated with complete responses among TP53 mutant tumors. In patients with unresponsive tumors, mutant TP53 status predicted significantly shorter overall survival. The 15 patients with responsive TP53-mutant tumors, however, had a favorable outcome, suggesting that this chemotherapy regimen can overcome the poor prognosis generally associated with mutant TP53 status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that, in noninflammatory breast cancers, TP53 status is a key predictive factor for response to this dose-dense epirubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen and further suggests that the basal subtype is exquisitely sensitive to this association. Given the well-established predictive value of complete responses for long-term survival and the poor prognosis of basal and TP53-mutant tumors treated with other regimens, this chemotherapy could be particularly suited for breast cancer patients with a mutant TP53, particularly those with basal features.

A phase II study of Yondelis (trabectedin, ET-743) as a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion in pretreated advanced breast cancer

Yondelis® (trabectedin, ET-743) is a novel marine-derived anticancer compound found in the ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata. It is currently under phase II/III development in breast cancer, hormone refractory prostate cancer, sarcomas and ovarian cancer. Activity in breast cancer experimental models has been reported, and preliminary evidence of activity in this setting during the phase I programme has also been observed. The present study assessed the activity and feasibility of trabectedin in women with advanced breast cancer previously treated with conventional therapies. Patients with advanced disease previously treated with at least one but not more than two regimens that included taxanes or anthracyclines as palliative therapy were eligible. Trabectedin 1.5 mg m⁻² was administered as a 24-h continuous infusion every 3 weeks. Patients were kept on therapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient refusal. Twenty-seven patients were included between April 1999 and September 2000. Their median age was 54 years (range: 36–67) and 63% of them had two metastatic sites. Twenty-two patients were performance status 1. All patients had previously received anthracyclines, and 23 out of 27 patients had received taxanes. Of 21 patients with measurable disease, three confirmed partial responses, one unconfirmed partial response and two minor responses (49 and 32% tumour shrinkage) were observed; six patients had stable disease. Median survival was 10 months (95% confidence interval: 4.88–15.18). Transient and noncumulative transaminitis was observed in most of the patients. The pharmacokinetic profile of trabectedin in this patient's population is in line with the overall data available with this schedule. The policy of dose adjustments based on the intercycle peaks of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase appears to have a positive impact in the therapeutic index of trabectedin. Trabectedin can induce response and tumour control in previously treated advanced breast cancer, with manageable toxicity, thus warranting further development as a single agent or in combination regimens.

Current issues in adjuvant treatment of stage II colon cancer

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil modulated by folinic acid, combined with oxaliplatin, has now become an accepted standard of care for patients with stage III colon cancer. In contrast, the use of adjuvant therapy for stage II patients remains controversial, and the identification of reliable prognostic factors to aid therapeutic decision making is crucial.

METHODS

The authors critically review the results of clinical trials and meta-analyses investigating the value of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II patients, emphasizing the heterogeneous nature of this population and the difficulty of performing clinical trials with sufficient power to reliably assess treatment efficacy. They also discuss the evidence concerning potential prognostic factors, particularly molecular markers.

RESULTS

Available clinical trial data do not support the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for all stage II patients but suggest that it should be considered, particularly for certain high-risk patients. Recent guidelines advocate considering factors such as tumor differentiation, tumor perforation, number of lymph nodes examined, and T stage when assessing the likely benefit:risk ratio. Microsatellite instability and allelic imbalance seem to be strong predictors of good and poor prognosis, respectively, and in the near future, therapeutic decision-making models are likely to be further refined by the inclusion of such molecular markers.

CONCLUSIONS

There is growing evidence that the prognosis of certain stage II patients with unfavorable prognostic factors can be improved by adjuvant chemotherapy, and increasingly refined tools are now available to define those most likely to benefit. Referral of stage II patients for individual assessment is strongly recommended.

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of irofulven and cisplatin administered in a 30-min infusion every two weeks to patients with advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

To determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose, safety and pharmacokinetics of irofulven combined with cisplatin in advanced solid tumor patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cisplatin and irofulven were given sequentially i.v. over 30 min on day 1 and 15 every 4 weeks. Four dose levels (DL) were explored: irofulven (mg/kg)/cisplatin (mg/m2): DL1: 0.3/30; DL2: 0.4/30; DL3: 0.4/40; DL4: 0.5/40. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) included dosing omission and delay > 1 week. MTD was the DL with DLT in 2/2 or > or = 2/6 patients during cycle 1-2.

RESULTS

Between March 2002 and April 2003, 33 patients were treated. DLT occurred in 1/6 patients in DL1 (hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia); 1/6 in DL2 (thrombocytopenia); 2 heavily pretreated patients out of 6 patients in DL3 (neutropenic infection, thrombocytopenia, stomatitis); 2/3 in DL4 (asthenia, blurred vision). Three DLT occurred in 12 additional patients treated at DL2. No toxic deaths occurred; grade 4 toxicity and grade 3 non-hematological toxicity were infrequent. Six patients reported grade 1-2 visual events. Antitumor activity was observed over a broad spectrum of tumor types in all DLs: 1 partial response in bulky sarcoma (DL1); 1 clinical response in endometrial carcinoma (DL1); 2 partial responses not confirmed due to discontinuation (ovarian DL2, renal DL4); 8 stabilizations > 3 months; PSA response: 3/9 prostate cancer patients. Irofulven showed rapid elimination and high interpatient variability. Platinum and irofulven pharmacokinetics did not suggest drug-drug interactions.

CONCLUSION

Irofulven with cisplatin was adequately tolerated and substantial evidence of antitumor activity was observed. The recommended dose is irofulven 0.4 mg/kg and cisplatin 30 mg/m2.

Follicular dendritic cell tumor of the mediastinum: expression of fractalkine and SDF-1α as mast cell chemoattractants

Follicular dendritic cell tumor (FDCT) is a rare tumor mainly located in laterocervical lymph nodes. We report one case of mediastinal FDCT associated with a history of bullous skin disease and clinically obvious immunosuppression. This tumor was characterized by heavy mast cell infiltration. Mast cells were in close relationship with tumor cells as demonstrated by ultrastructural examination and their presence are probably related with the strong expression of mast cell chemoattractants as fraktalkine and stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha by tumor cells. The long follow-up period of more than 17 years allowed to us assess the relatively indolent evolution of this tumor characterized by three slowly growing local recurrences without metastasis.

Prospective, double-blind, randomized trial of equimolar mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen to prevent pain induced by insertion of venous access ports in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

To assess the efficacy of equimolar mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen (EMNO) to prevent pain induced by venous access ports (VAPs) implantation in cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a randomized, double-blind study on an adult population not knowing the effects of EMNO, cancer patients were randomly assigned to breath via a facial mask, EMNO or a placebo mixture comprising 50% oxygen and 50% nitrogen. The primary end-point was the patients' assessment of the severity of pain evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0 to 100) and the proportion of patients suffering pain in each group. The secondary criteria were side effects, tolerability of EMNO, and the level of satisfaction of both the patients and the medical team.

RESULTS

Eighty-three adults (42 in the EMNO group and 41 in the placebo group) were included. VAPs were implanted in the jugular vein in 95% of patients. In the placebo group, 78% of the patients declared that they found VAP implantation painful vs. 34% in the EMNO group (p=0.001). The severity of the pain was reduced by 50% in the EMNO group in comparison with placebo (p=0.0125). Although the median time to perform implantation was strictly identical in both groups (20 min), the estimated duration of surgery seemed longer to patients in the control group. Patient and investigator satisfaction indexes were >90% in both groups.

CONCLUSION

EMNO provides an effective solution for the prevention of pain during placement of VAPs.

Prognostic significance of a combined clinicopathologic score for response to primary systemic therapy in locally advanced breast cancer

The response to chemotherapy is one of the best indicators of prognosis in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). The pathologic response (pR) of 108 LABC patients was analysed and compared with their clinical response (cR). Our aim was to define a new combined clinicopathologic response score (cpR) and to explore its correlation with survival data. The 108 stage IIB to IIIB breast carcinomas were first treated with high-dose anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Standard criteria were used to assess cR. Pathologic analysis of surgical specimens allowed the definition of 5 types of pR. Three groups of combined clinicopathologic response were defined. Twenty-two patients (20%) had complete or almost complete pR. Most patients (88, 81%) had partial cR. This large group of partial cR was very heterogeneous, ranging from pR1 to pR5 and from cpR1 to cpR3. In univariate analysis, pR and cpR both strongly correlated with EFS. cR, pR and cpR all correlated with OS. Subgroups of incomplete pathologic responses were not prognostically different. In multivariate analysis, only cpR correlated strongly with both EFS and OS (p<0.002), identifying good (20%), intermediate (61%) and poor (19%) prognosis patients. In conclusion, in 108 stage IIB to IIIB breast cancer patients initially treated by high-dose chemotherapy, combined grading of clinical and pathologic responses in a single score allowed accurate prediction of outcome.

Decision making process in oncology practice: Is the information available and what should it consist of?

In terms of systemic chemotherapy, the oncologist is often faced with the difficulty to discriminate between several options, at least according to evidence-based medicine. The aim of the present report was to assess to what extent the efficacy-related parameters required for the decision making process are reported in clinical trials. The analysis was restricted to lung, breast, colorectal and ovarian cancers. It included 135 phase II trials published in 1999, and 79 phase III trials published between 1991 and 2000. Response duration was mentioned in one-half and one-fourth of phases II and III trials, respectively. Only one-half of the trials reported time to progression (TTP). Finally, 28% of phase II and 44% of phase III trials reported RR, TTP and progression rates. The study indicates that the information available from reported clinical trials needs to be upgraded and homogenised in order to improve the decision making process in oncology.

[Association of taxanes and radiotherapy: preclinical and clinical studies]

Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) stabilized microtubules against depolymerization, and inhibit their function. Their radiosensitizing properties have been discovered more than 10 years ago; they synchronized tumor cells in G2/M phase, the most radiosensitive portion of the cell cycle. Other radiosensitizing mechanisms have been also discussed, as reoxygenation, promotion of radio-apoptosis and antiangiogenic cooperation. Many phase I and II studies have been performed, essentially in bronchus and head and neck carcinomas. In lung cancer, paclitaxel was delivered weekly at a dose of 60 mg/m2. Many studies combined cisplatin or carboplatin with paclitaxel, demonstrating that this combination is feasible and efficient. Only one phase III trial was reported; after two cycles of chemotherapy for inoperable lung cancers, radiotherapy was delivered, with or without paclitaxel radiosensitization: a benefit in disease-free survival was observed for the combination arm. In head and neck carcinomas, conomitant association of cisplatin, paclitaxel and radiation was feasible and showed promising results. Clinical trials with docetaxel are in progress.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of irofulven administered weekly or biweekly in advanced solid tumor patients

PURPOSE

We performed a Phase I and pharmacokinetic study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of irofulven (6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene; MGI-114, MGI PHARMA, Inc.), administered in intermittent weekly schedules in patients with advanced solid tumors.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Three schedules were tested: A, days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks; B, days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks; C, days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks. Drugs were administered as 5- and 30-min (schedules B and C) infusions. Dose levels of 10, 12, and 14 mg/m(2)/week were explored.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine patients received 256 cycles. Fifteen of 74 patients evaluable for maximum tolerated dose experienced 16 dose-limiting toxicities (5 of 17 patients on schedule A, 2 of 25 on schedule B, and 8 of 32 on schedule C), principally treatment delay for thrombocytopenia. Schedule A was considered unsuitable because of frequent thrombocytopenia and treatment discontinuations. Twenty-three percent of the overall population (22 patients with grade 1-2, and 1 patient with grade 3), including 37% of patients on dose level 3, experienced unexpected dose-limiting visual toxicity, which included color perception and visual field alterations linked to retinal cone cell toxicity; the visual toxicity had an early onset, was mostly reversible, and was related to higher dose per infusion. Safety profiles were similar for 5- and 30-min infusions. The relationships between dose and area under the plasma concentration-time curve and maximum plasma concentration were linear for both 5- and 30-min infusions in the 78 patients evaluated for pharmacokinetics. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve and clearance were comparable between infusion durations. Responses included one complete (ovarian), one partial (renal), and seven disease stabilizations lasting >4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend doses of 18 mg/m(2)/infusion for schedule B and 24 mg/m(2)/infusion for schedule C, limited to 0.55 mg/kg and a total dose of 50 mg/infusion, administered over 30-min.

Characterization and Multiparameter Analysis of Visual Adverse Events in Irofulven Single-Agent Phase I and II Trials

PURPOSE

Irofulven (6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene) is a novel agent, derived from illudin S, with potent apoptotic effects in preclinical models. In the Phase I trial evaluating intermittent weekly schedules, visual symptoms were dose limiting. The aim of this analysis was to better characterize the visual adverse events of irofulven and provide treatment guidelines.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Clinical data from 277 patients entered in single-agent Phase I to II clinical trials who received irofulven on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks; days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks; or days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks were included in this multiparameter analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 74 patients (27%) experienced visual symptoms. The most frequently reported symptoms were flashing lights (12% of patients), blurred vision (9%), and photosensitivity (8%). Grade 3 toxicity was observed in 12 patients (4%). The incidence and severity of visual events were dose dependent, with no grade 3 visual events occurring at doses < or =0.50 mg/kg and grade 1 to 2 events in only 12% and 8% of patients, at doses of < or =0.50 mg/kg and < or =20 mg/m2, respectively. Grade 1 to 2 toxicity was reversible in most patients. Abnormal electroretinogram and abnormal visual fields were noted after irofulven treatment in 24 of 39 patients (62%) and 15 of 26 patients (58%), respectively. All but 1 patient who had electroretinogram assessment received doses >0.50 mg/kg. Clinical examination and visual field assessment were found to be better correlated with symptoms and appear to be more appropriate for surveillance of irofulven retinal symptoms than electroretinograms.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of retained antitumor activity and reversibility of grade 1 and 2 visual symptoms at lower doses, it appears that an irofulven dose of < or =0.50 mg/kg or < or =20 mg/m2, not to exceed 50 mg in a single dose, given as a 30-minute infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks or days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks minimizes the frequency and severity of visual symptoms.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of the multitargeted antifolate pemetrexed in combination with oxaliplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

This phase I and pharmacokinetic study of pemetrexed in combination with oxaliplatin was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics in patients with metastatic solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pemetrexed was administered as a 10- min i.v. infusion followed 30 min later by oxaliplatin as a 2- h infusion, once every 21 days. Up to two previous chemotherapy regimens were allowed. Vitamin B(12) supplementation and folic acid were not included in this study.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were treated in six escalating dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicities at dose level 6 (pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) plus oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2)) were febrile neutropenia, grade 3-4 diarrhea and grade 3 paresthesia. The MTD was not reached. The most common toxicity was neutropenia, with grade 3-4 occurring in 61% of patients. The pharmacokinetics of this pemetrexed-oxaliplatin combination are consistent with those following single-agent administration. Five responses (all partial) were observed over a broad range of solid tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

This pemetrexed-oxaliplatin combination (without vitamin supplementation) every 21 days can be administered using full therapeutic doses of each agent with acceptable tolerability and no overlapping toxicity. The recommended regimen for phase II studies is pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) plus oxaliplatin 120 mg/m(2).

[Clinical practice guidelines: Standards, Options and Recommendations for first line medical treatment of patients with ovarian neoplasms (summary report)]

CONTEXT

The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, which started in 1993, is a collaboration between the French Federation of Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French Regional Cancer Centers, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

To update clinical practice guidelines for first line medical treatment of patients with ovarian neoplasms in collaboration with the French Society for Gynaecologica Oncology.

METHODS

The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts. The CPGs are defined following the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. Once the guideline has been developed, the document is submitted for review by independent reviewers.

RESULTS

This article is a summary version of the full document presenting the clinical practice guidelines with algorithms. After surgery, most patients with ovarian neoplasms need adjuvant medical treatment. These guidelines concern the initial medical treatment (chemotherapy, hormone treatment and immunotherapy) and potential consolidation treatment. To complete the indications, two alternative treatment strategies are taken into account: no treatment and radiotherapy. This updated version concerns the indications and the modalities of chemotherapy. The main modifications are: 1) first-line chemotherapy for ovarian neoplasm can be taxane-platinum or carboplatine alone; 2) poly-chemotherapy is no longer a standard; 3) for early stages, except for stage IA grade I non-clear-cell tumours, adjuvant chemotherapy should be preferred to no treatment; 4) chemotherapy is standard for all stage III tumours, irrespective of the surgical result; 5) for stage IA G2-3 to IIA tumours, complete surgical staging and determination of the histological grade are standards.

Phase II study of ecteinascidin-743 in advanced pretreated soft tissue sarcoma patients

PURPOSE

A multicenter phase II study evaluating efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) in pretreated advanced soft tissue sarcoma patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received ET-743 1,500 microg/m(2) (24-hour intravenous infusion) every 3 weeks (group 1, 26 patients with one to two prior single agents or one previous combination chemotherapy; group 2, 28 patients with three or more prior single agents or two or more previous combination chemotherapies). Results Patients (30 women, 24 men) had a median age of 48 years (range, 22 to 71 years); 41% had leiomyosarcoma (eight of 22 of uterine origin), a median of two involved organs (range, one to four), and 93% had documented progressive disease at study entry. Patients received a median of three cycles (range, one to 20); 28% received six or more cycles. Fifty-two patients were assessable for response (WHO criteria): two partial responses, four minor responses, and nine with stable disease (> or = 6 months). Three patients were rendered tumor free after surgery. Median progression-free survival was 1.9 months (range, 0.69 to 17.90 months); 24% of patients were progression free at 6 months. Median survival was 12.8 months, with 30% of patients alive at 2 years. Four patients withdrew because of treatment-related toxicity. Two treatment-related deaths occurred (renal failure and febrile neutropenia, and rhabdomyolysis and decompensated cirrhosis, respectively) that were probably related to protocol eligibility violations. Reversible grade 3 to 4 AST or ALT occurred in 50% of patients and grade 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 61% of patients, with six episodes of febrile neutropenia. Nausea, vomiting, and asthenia were prevalent but mild and manageable.

CONCLUSION

With a 4% overall response rate (95% CI, 0.5 to 12.8) and an 11% rate of third-party-verified tumor regression (overall response rate + minor response), ET-743 has a 24% 6-month disease progression control rate, confirming evidence of antitumoral activity and a manageable safety profile in patients experiencing disease progression with pretreated soft tissue sarcoma.

Single-agent capecitabine: a reference treatment for taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer?

The treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer that has progressed despite previous anthracycline- and taxane-based therapy is a challenge for oncologists. Several agents, including vinorelbine, gemcitabine, pemetrexed, and particularly capecitabine, have been evaluated in this setting, either alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents. The efficacy of many of these agents has not yet been clearly established in this setting, as the majority have been evaluated in a limited number of patients and predominantly in single-center trials. Furthermore, some agents with clinically meaningful activity are often associated with significant toxicity, particularly myelosuppression and neuropathy, while less toxic agents/regimens often exchange improved tolerability for reduced activity. Capecitabine, an oral chemotherapeutic, is the agent that has been evaluated most extensively in this setting. A large, phase II trial (n = 163) conducted in North America demonstrated a disease control rate of 63%, including an objective response rate of 20%, median time to disease progression of 3.0 months, and median survival of approximately 1 year. Adverse events were typically mild to moderate in intensity and could be controlled with treatment interruption or, if necessary, dose adjustment to each individual's tolerable dose. Data recently reported from three other large trials in taxane-pretreated patients have revealed similar efficacy and tolerability. Together, these four trials show that single-agent capecitabine, in a population of 500 patients, consistently produced clinically meaningful efficacy, including median survival of approximately 1 year, with a favorable safety profile. Myelosuppression and alopecia were particularly rare. In addition, the oral administration of capecitabine, which enables convenient, patient-oriented therapy, makes it an attractive treatment for patients. Based primarily on the results of the pivotal trial, capecitabine received regulatory approval as treatment for anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated (paclitaxel-pretreated in the U.S.) metastatic breast cancer. In light of the confirmatory results of subsequent large trials, capecitabine is now considered a reference treatment in this setting, as no other agent has consistently demonstrated such high efficacy in as large a patient population.

Chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer-report of a European expert panel

The anthracyclines doxorubicin and epirubicin, and the taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel, are effective chemotherapeutic agents for the first-line and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and their clinical use is widespread. However, for women whose disease has progressed despite receiving these drugs, treatment options are limited. These women often have a good performance status, and may survive for many months or even years, so they should be given the opportunity to benefit from further chemotherapy. The goals of chemotherapy in these patients are to obtain maximum control of symptoms, prevent serious complications, and increase survival without diminishing quality of life. Several agents are used for this purpose, including fluorouracil, docetaxel (in patients who have already received paclitaxel), vinorelbine, and mitomycin c, but because data from controlled trials are limited, a standard regimen has not yet been established. Moreover, these agents may be inconvenient to administer and can be associated with adverse events requiring hospitalisation. Therefore, there is a clear need for additional therapeutic options for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ideally, agents should have a convenient method of administration, eg, oral, and should be suitable for home-based rather than hospital-based therapy. Treatment should control disease in at least 20-30% of patients with an acceptable side-effect profile. Novel oral therapies have now been developed and are being used increasingly in patients whose disease has progressed following taxane therapy.

Oxaliplatin-related side effects: characteristics and management

Oxaliplatin is the only third-generation platinum derivative to have found a place in routine cancer therapy. It is particularly useful therapy for advanced colorectal cancer and has shown scheduling flexibility in combination with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid. Oxaliplatin has a unique pattern of side effects unrelated to those observed with other therapeutic platinum derivatives. During the course of oxaliplatin clinical trials, the adverse events most often cited were hematologic toxicity, gastrointestinal tract toxicity, and a neurolopathy unlike that observed with other platinum derivatives. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 41.7% of patients in the phase III clinical trial that used the FOLFOX-4 regimen, and thrombocytopenia is a rare event sometimes observed after multiple cycles of therapy. Nausea and vomiting is usually mild to moderate and readily controlled with standard antiemetics. Grade 1/2 diarrhea may occur but studies have shown that 5-fluorouracil contributes significantly more to gastrointestinal toxicity than does single-agent oxaliplatin. Nephrotoxicity has not been reported in any of the oxaliplatin trials, allowing administration of oxaliplatin without hydration. Oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity consists of a rapid-onset acute sensory neuropathy and a late-onset cumulative sensory neuropathy that occurs after several cycles of therapy. In about three fourths of patients, neurotoxicity is reversible with a median time to recovery of 13 weeks after treatment discontinuation. To date, oxaliplatin has proven to be a safe and effective therapy for colorectal cancer and side effects have been easy to manage with appropriate awareness from patients and care providers.

Docetaxel in advanced gastric cancer

Standard chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer remains undefined. Two of the most popular regimens-ECF [epirubicin-cisplatin-5-fluorouracil (5-FU)] and PELF (cisplatin-epirubicin-5-FU-leucovorin)-have been shown to be active, but each has limitations. Phase II trials show that single-agent docetaxel is an active agent in advanced gastric cancer, producing overall response rates (ORRs) of 17.5-24%. Docetaxel has also been shown to lack cross-resistance with other drugs in gastric cancer, and is likely to be at least additive to cisplatin and 5-FU. Phase II results of docetaxel combinations in advanced gastric cancer are encouraging. Docetaxel-cisplatin has yielded response rates similar to those achieved by ECF and PELF. Adding 5-FU to docetaxel-cisplatin has achieved an ORR of 52 versus 45% for docetaxel-cisplatin in a randomized phase II trial. Docetaxel-based regimens demonstrate acceptable tolerability despite predictable hematotoxicity. Neutropenia, the major toxicity, is manageable by dose modification or by using prophylactic granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Several phase III trials are now ongoing, including a large-scale trial of docetaxel-cisplatin-5-FU versus cisplatin-5-FU. Results will show whether docetaxel improves overall response and survival, as suggested in the phase II setting.

Combination of topotecan and oxaliplatin in inoperable hepatocellular cancer patients

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (UHCC) is considered a chemoresistant disease. Moreover, because the liver underlies the disease, it decreases the tolerance to anticancer agents. Topotecan has shown some clinical activity in UHCC using the 5 days every 3 weeks schedule but is limited by severe hematotoxicity. Oxaliplatin is a diamino-cyclo-hexane-platin that exhibits in vitro synergy with topotecan. Thirteen UHCC patients received topotecan (0.5-1.5 mg/m(2) /d days 1-5) and oxaliplatin (85-110 mg/m(2) /d, day 1) every 21 days. All patients had liver biology within normal limits; 11 had World Health Organization performance status less than 2. Seven patients had received previous chemotherapy. Nine patients without cirrhosis received a median number of six cycles (range: 3-12). The main dose-limiting toxicity was severe thrombocytopenia observed in three patients and 4% of cycles. One objective response and eight stabilizations were observed. Conversely, among 4 patients with cirrhosis receiving a median number of 2.5 cycles (range: 1-6), severe thrombocytopenia occurred in 2 patients and 25% of cycles. Three patients with progressive disease and one with stabilization were observed. Overall, the median duration of stabilizations was 27 weeks (range: 16-97 weeks). Four of seven patients treated with 1 mg/m(2) /d or more topotecan experienced severe toxicity. These results warrant a phase II study of this combination in noncirrhotic patients with UHCC. The recommended doses for further studies should be 0.5 mg/m(2) /d to 0.75 mg/m(2) /d of topotecan with 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin.

The chemotherapy of metastatic gastric adenocarcinomas with hypersecretion of alpha-fetoprotein or beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin: report of two cases

The chemotherapy of advanced gastric adenocarcinomas (GAs) is based on agents such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and anthracyclins. Reproducible objective response rates are reported as approximately 40%. However, the median survival remains short, not exceeding 10 months. Amongst GA, a subset of tumours with increased plasma alpha-fetoprotein (alphaFP) and/or beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (betaHCG) levels form a well-defined histopathological entity. This subgroup has been associated with poor prognosis, due to the presence of poorly differentiated and rapidly proliferating cells. No specific chemotherapy has been proposed for this particular form of GA. We report two cases of patients with GA and hypersecretion of alphaFP and/or betaHCG. Despite bulky liver metastases and resistance to two standard chemotherapy regimens, both patients exhibited sensitivity to chemotherapy combining bleomycin, oxaliplatin and etoposide. These results suggest that patients with this particular subset of GA may benefit from chemotherapy regimens similar to those given to germ-cell tumour patients.

[Impact of [18F]-FDG-PET on medical decision making in oncology: evaluation by the referring physicians during the opening year]

The first study evaluating directly by the referring physician the clinical impact of [18F]-FDG-PET on modification of patient's management was performed only recently in California by means of a questionnaire. We have used the same methodology to evaluate this clinical impact during the opening year of our PET centre in France. A questionnaire was sent to the referring physician of each of the 476 patients who had at least one routine FDG-PET examination during the year 2000. Of 348 responses (response rate = 73%), the disease was upstaged in 26% of the cases and down-staged in 9%. Intermodality management changes (change from a scheduled therapeutic modality for a different one) were reported in 37% of the cases and intramodality changes in 9%. Those modification rates were respectively 38% and 7% in recurrence of colorectal cancer (153 patients), 47% and 7% in lung cancer (118 patients), 16% and 23% in lymphoma (43 patients), 25% and 6% in the staging of head and neck cancers (32 patients). When comparing with the corresponding studies performed in California, there were no significant differences between the rates of intermodality management changes. In contrast, intramodality management changes were less frequent in our survey, except for lymphoma. Globally, the clinical impact of FDG PET was similar with a higher response rate in our study (73% versus 35%); it was above the mean rate derived from a recent meta-analysis in more than 5,000 patients.

Brief communication: use of the multitargeted antifolate pemetrexed (Alimta) in genitourinary cancer

Pemetrexed (Alimta, LY231514) is a novel, multitargeted antifolate that is broadly active in a wide variety of solid tumors, including genitourinary malignancies. This agent has also shown clinically relevant activity in combination with other agents, including gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN). Further investigation is warranted in advanced disease and adjuvant settings.

Multicentre phase II study of oxaliplatin as a single-agent in cisplatin/carboplatin +/- taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer patients

BACKGROUND

This multicentre phase II open-label study evaluated safety and antitumour activity of oxaliplatin in cisplatin or carboplatin (cis/carboplatin) +/- taxane-pretreated advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight patients received oxaliplatin 130 mg/M2 intravenously every 3 weeks, 94% having a performance status (PS) 0-1. All were pretreated with cis/carboplatin and 21 (44%) with paclitaxel. The median number of involved organs was two, 18 (38%) had liver metastasis, 23 (48%) were platinum-resistant and 14 (29%) were taxane-resistant. Forty-two patients were evaluable for a response, 18 (43%) were platinum-resistant and 11 (26%) were taxane-resistant.

RESULTS

A total of 253 cycles was administered (median: 5.5/patient). Median cumulative oxaliplatin dose was 666 mg/m2. National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria toxicity analysis showed that seven patients (15%) had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, two patients (4%) had grade 3 neutropenia, and one patient had grade 3 anaemia. Eleven patients (23%) experienced grade 3 neurosensory toxicity. Of the 29 patients with peripheral neuropathy at the end of treatment, 55% had recovered or improved 1 month later. Eleven objective responses (two complete) were obtained in the 42 evaluable patients [ORR 26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14% to 42%], with 10/24 (42%, 95% CI 22% to 63%) in platinum-sensitive, and 1 of 18 (5.6%, 95% CI 0% to 27%) in platinum-resistant patients. Median response duration was 9.2 months (95% CI 6.6% to 11.8%), and median progression-free and overall survival in all treated patients were 4.3 months (95% CI 3.0% to 5.7%) and 15.0 months (95% CI 11.1% to 18.8%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Oxaliplatin has a good safety profile and is active in cis/carboplatin +/- paclitaxel-pretreated AOC patients.

Oxaliplatin plus vinorelbine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: final results of a multicenter phase II study

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin and vinorelbine are both active agents against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In a previous phase I trial, we showed that oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2, day 1) and vinorelbine (26 mg/m2/day, days 1 and 8) can be safely combined when given every 21 days. We completed the evaluation of this new platinum-based doublet in advanced NSCLC patients in a multicenter phase II study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight chemotherapy-naïve patients (22 men and six women: median age 58 years, range 33-70), including 20 with stage IV disease, received this out-patient combination, with 5-hydroxytryptamine-3-receptor agonists as the only prophylactic measure.

RESULTS

A total of 117 cycles were given, for a median of three per patient (range 1-8). Of 26 eligible patients, nine achieved a partial response (WHO criteria), giving an objective response rate of 35% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17% to 56%]. The median progression free survival was 5.0 months (95% CI 3.1 to 6.9), median overall survival was 9.8 months (95% CI 2.2 to 17.5) and the 1-year survival rate was 37%. Neutropenia was the principal toxicity, grade 4 occurring in 11 patients (39%) and 25 cycles (22%). Four patients (14%) experienced one episode of febrile neutropenia each. Acute oxaliplatin-related neurosensory toxicity was prevalent, but was mild to moderate in the majority of patients (82%) and reversible. Grade 1/2 vomiting (65% of patients) and diarrhea (32% of patients) were easily managed.

CONCLUSIONS

The oxaliplatin-vinorelbine doublet is a safe and active out-patient combination. It may represent an interesting alternative in the management of patients with NSCLC, and serve as a new doublet to which other active agents could be added.

[18F]-FDG positron imaging in clinical management of lymphoma patients

[18F]-FDG is a glucose analogue labelled with a short-lived positron emitter. During the past decade, it has been proposed to detect in vivo lymphoma lesions with PET, a new non-invasive imaging modality. We aimed at reviewing the current experience with FDG in several clinical settings of lymphoma. Due to the lack of specificity of FDG for lymphoma, histology remains compulsory to establish the diagnosis. Nevertheless, in the case of AIDS, FDG imaging has been proposed to differentiate lymphoma and opportunistic infections in brain lesions. To explore lymphoma extension, FDG-PET highlights more lesions than CT or the clinical examination and results in upstaging 13% of cases. It could also be used for selecting a site for biopsy when the location considered first clinically is difficult to access. Staging lymphoma with FDG-PET also provides baseline images for subsequent evaluation of therapy, which is one of the most promising indications: a negative scan predicts response to therapy and subsequent remission with a predictive value of 89%, and a positive scan either reflects resistance or predicts relapse with a predictive value of 83%. The current achievement of FDG imaging is the early detection of recurrence or of viable tissue in residual masses that remain several months after treatment. Both its sensitivity (84%) and its specificity (95%) overwhelm the values of conventional imaging, mainly CT and gallium-67 scintigraphy. When PET, as a new clinical imaging modality, is not yet widely demanded by clinicians and/or the number of FDG examinations is less than 500 per year, a 'hybrid' gamma-camera or CDET can be an alternative to dedicated PET. For 3 years, we have been using FDG-CDET in the 2D mode without attenuation correction, and obtained the following accuracy in a total of 40 examinations that could be evaluated: 85% for assessment of chemotherapy and 92% to detect recurrences and evaluate residual masses. Our preliminary results also stress the interest in FDG examination in childhood lymphoma, with the same indications as in adults.