Gemcitabine and concurrent radiation as a salvage treatment of chest wall recurrence in breast cancer

11027

Background: Chest wall recurrences are seen despite postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For patients with unresectable lesions who have previously received radiotherapy no standard treatment is available. We devised a protocol of low dose gemcitabine as radiosensitizer concurrent with low dose of radiation and conducted this study with the objectives to document the efficacy and toxicity of this protocol. Methods: From January 2003 to August 2005, 48 patients were included in this study. A histopthological or cytological evidence of chest wall recurrence was required. Females between 18–70 years, with previous modified radical mastectomy, post operative radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy were included. Patients with metastatic disease were excluded. Written informed consent was obtained. A dose of 150 mg / m2 of gemcitabine in 200 ml of normal saline was infused in 2 hour on day 1, 8, 15 and 22 of radiation. Radiation was delivered 2 hours after the completion of infusion. Conventional fractionation was used to deliver a total dose of 36 Gy given in 3.5 weeks. RECIST and RTOG criteria were used. Results: Twenty recurrences were related to the scar, 10 to the involved internal mammary lymph node region invading sternum and ribs and 18 were associated with the soft tissue masses outside the scar area. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Complete response was seen in 6 (12.5 %) patients, (95 % CI, 13.87_37.16), partial response was seen in 30 (62.5 %) (95 % CI, 44.92 -71.40) with an over all response rate of 75 % (95 % CI, 70.57—91.40) Stable disease was seen in 9 (18.8 %) patients and disease progression in 3 (6.3 %) patients. Grade I skin reaction was seen in 15 (31.2 % ) patients grade II in 11 ( 22.9 % ) and grade III in 3 ( 6.3 % ) patients. No systemic toxicity was seen. Conclusions: Low dose gemcitabine and concurrent radiotherapy is a reasonable salvage treatment in chest wall recurrence in breast cancer patients who have previously received adjuvant chemotherapy and full dose of radiotherapy. This approach has acceptable toxicity.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phase II feasibility of concurrent docetaxel and post mastectomy radiation after four cycles of AC chemotherapy in patients with high risk operable breast cancer: A trial of the Cancer Research Group Pakistan

10684

Background: Sequential use of docetaxel after four cycles of AC chemotherapy delays the postoperative radiation and can compromise loco-regional control. This delay can be avoided by starting radiotherapy concurrent with the docetaxel. We evaluated the feasibility of concurrent docetaxel and radiation therapy to chest wall and peripheral lymphatics after four cycles of AC chemotherapy. The preliminary results were reported in ASCO 2005 (Abstract 858). Methods: Females between 18–50 years, T2-T3 lesions, four or more positive nodes and hormone receptor negative tumors were eligible. Patients were enrolled after MRM. Four cycles of AC at 60/600 mg/m2 were followed by four cycles of docetaxel at 75mg/m2 every 21-days. Concurrent radiation to chest wall and peripheral lymphatics was started with the third cycle of docetaxel. A dose of 50 Gy in 5 weeks or equivalent was delivered. Successful completion of treatment in 18 out of 20 or 25 out of 30 patients was chosen as an index of feasibility. CTC version 2.0 of NCI and RTOG/EORTC Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Scheme was used. Results: All the 30 enrolled patients successfully completed the planned treatment. Radiation was completed within 6 months of surgery in 27(90%) of the patients. Febrile neutropenia was seen in 5(16.7%). Grade-3 neutropenia and diarrhea in 8(26.7%) and 6(20%) respectively. Grade-3 dermatitis in the radiated area was seen in 2(6.7%) and grade-2 in 5(16.7%). Late toxicity included grade-2 skin atrophy and telangiectasia in radiated area in 6(20%) each. At a median follow up of 20 months (range 9–25 months) two local recurrences and two systemic relapses have been seen. Conclusion: This treatment schedule is feasible and safe in patients with high-risk operable breast cancer. It allows delivery of post mastectomy radiation within 6 months of surgery in patients undergoing sequential AC-docetaxel chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with bulky residual disease

15030

Background: The combination of docetaxel and cisplatin as an alternative to the gold standard carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy has not been explored in our patients. Docetaxel is more potent of the taxanes, therefore, this combination might yield a better outcome. This phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel and cisplatin combination in epithelial ovarian cancer with bulky residual disease. Methods: Thirty-two new patients were enrolled between November 2003 and August 2005. Eligible patients had histopatholgically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer, were older than 18 years and had FIGO stage IIC-IV cancer with bulky residual disease after primary cytoreductive surgery. Patients had a KPS >70 with adequate marrow and hepatic function. Patients with creatinine clearance by Cockroft-Gault formula of >60 ml/min were included. Written informed consent was obtained. Patients with diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, or cardiac co morbidity were excluded. Docetaxel and cisplatin were given at a dose of 75 mg/m2 each on day-1 of a 21-day cycle. Dexamethasone 8 mg was given thrice before and thrice after and tropisetron 5mg was given one hour before and 12 hours after chemotherapy. Docetaxel was given in 250 ml of NaCl in one-hour followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 in 1L of NaCl in 3 hours with pre and post hydration. NCI toxicity criteria version 2.0 and RECIST was used for evaluation. Results: Thirty patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Final evaluation revealed CR in 12 (40%) (95% CI, 22.7–59.4%), PR in 14 (46.6%) with an ORR of 86.6% (95% CI, 69.3–96.2%). Three (10%) had SD and 1 (3.33) had PD. Grade 2 toxicity included alopecia 18 (60%), vomiting 6 (20%), diarrhea 7 (23.3%) and stomatitis in 5 (16%). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia were seen in 12 (40%) and 9 (30%) respectively. Sensory neuropathy of grade 1 and 2 was seen in 4 (13.3%) and 2 (6.7%) respectively. Conclusion: Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy is an effective and safe regimen in epithelial ovarian cancer with bulky residual disease. It gives a high overall response rate and has a manageable toxicity profile.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Patterns of atrial fibrillation at a regional hospital in Saudi Arabia

The objective of this retrospective study was to report on the clinical presentation, etiology, and laboratory tests of both chronic and acute atrial fibrillation (AF) admitted to the cardiology unit of a teaching hospital in southern Saudi Arabia. We studied 219 records; 132 (60.3%) and 87 (39.7%) had documented chronic AF (group 1), and acute AF (group 2) respectively. The mean age (SD) was significantly higher in group 1 (64.6 [SD 19.4] vs 52.9 [SD 15.6]) (P<0.001). Palpitation, dizziness and syncope were the most frequent symptoms in acute AF, while dyspnea was the most common presentation in the chronic type. On the other hand, heart failure and embolic complications were reported significantly in group 1, but the frequency of acute respiratory problems and acute myocardial infarction was similar in both groups. The most common causes of both types of AF were rheumatic valvular diseases (26%), IHD (24.2%), hypertension (23.7%), and lung diseases (13.2%); however, in 28 patients (12.8%) no cause was detected. The echocardiography findings of chamber dilatation, valve lesions, and depressed left ventricular function were significantly frequent in group 1 (P<0.01). Although rheumatic valvular diseases are still common in Saudi Arabia, ischemic heart disease and hypertension are emerging as important causes of AF in this developing nation, and therefore require prevention and control.