A combination of hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin improves pain and inflammation among early stage breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy: results of a pilot study

PURPOSE

Breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapies face risks of relapse, increased rates of cardiovascular events, and toxicities of therapy such as aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS). C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation, is associated with breast cancer outcomes. We evaluated whether the olive-derived polyphenol hydroxytyrosol combined with omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin would reduce CRP and musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant hormonal therapies.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This prospective, multicenter, open-label, single arm, clinical trial enrolled post-menopausal breast cancer patients (n = 45) with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) taking predominantly aromatase inhibitors to receive a combination of hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin for 1 month. CRP, other inflammation-associated cytokines, and pain scores on the Brief Pain Inventory were measured before therapy, at the end of therapy and 1 month after completion of therapy.

RESULTS

CRP levels declined during the therapy [from 8.2 ± 6.4 mg/L at baseline to 5.3 ± 3.2 mg/L (p = 0.014) at 30 days of treatment], and remained decreased during the additional 1 month off therapy. Subjects with the highest baseline CRP levels had the greatest decrease with the therapy. Pain scores also decreased during the therapy. There were no significant adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin reduced inflammation as indicated by a reduction in CRP and reduced pain in patients with aromatase-induced musculoskeletal symptoms. Longer studies comparing this combination to other anti-inflammatories in larger groups of patients with clinical outcome endpoints are warranted.

Two biomarker-directed randomized trials in European and Chinese patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer: the BRCA1-RAP80 Expression Customization (BREC) studies

BACKGROUND

In a Spanish Lung Cancer Group (SLCG) phase II trial, the combination of BRCA1 and receptor-associated protein 80 (RAP80) expression was significantly associated with outcome in Caucasian patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The SLCG therefore undertook an industry-independent collaborative randomized phase III trial comparing nonselected cisplatin-based chemotherapy with therapy customized according to BRCA1/RAP80 expression. An analogous randomized phase II trial was carried out in China under the auspices of the SLCG to evaluate the effect of BRCA1/RAP80 expression in Asian patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligibility criteria included stage IIIB-IV NSCLC and sufficient tumor specimen for molecular analysis. Randomization to the control or experimental arm was 1 : 1 in the SLCG trial and 1 : 3 in the Chinese trial. In both trials, patients in the control arm received docetaxel/cisplatin; in the experimental arm, patients with low RAP80 expression received gemcitabine/cisplatin, those with intermediate/high RAP80 expression and low/intermediate BRCA1 expression received docetaxel/cisplatin, and those with intermediate/high RAP80 expression and high BRCA1 expression received docetaxel alone. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-nine patients in the SLCG trial and 124 in the Chinese trial were assessable for PFS. PFS in the control and experimental arms in the SLCG trial was 5.49 and 4.38 months, respectively [log rank P = 0.07; hazard ratio (HR) 1.28; P = 0.03]. In the Chinese trial, PFS was 4.74 and 3.78 months, respectively (log rank P = 0.82; HR 0.95; P = 0.82).

CONCLUSION

Accrual was prematurely closed on the SLCG trial due to the absence of clinical benefit in the experimental over the control arm. However, the BREC studies provide proof of concept that an international, nonindustry, biomarker-directed trial is feasible. Thanks to the groundwork laid by these studies, we expect that ongoing further research on alternative biomarkers to elucidate DNA repair mechanisms will help define novel therapeutic approaches.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT00617656/GECP-BREC and ChiCTR-TRC-12001860/BREC-CHINA.

Initial safety results of an open-label phase II trial of erlotinib in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)

18038

Background: Erlotinib is an orally selective and reversible inhibitor of HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase. Erlotinib has demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, in terms of longer survival, better quality of life and delayed symptom progression. The TargeT trial is a large open-label, non-randomized, phase II study carried out in 101 Spanish institutions. Methods: Eligibility criteria included stage IIIB-IV previously treated patients (p) with confirmed NSCLC. Patients harboring mutations in EGFR gene or p unsuitable for chemotherapy were also allowed to enter the study and received erlotinib as first line treatment. Subjects were treated with 150 mg/day po until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Dose reductions were allowed. Primary end-point was time to progression. Results: By the time of this analysis, data from 1,522 p were available. Median age: 65 y (range 26–95); most p were male (71.9%); active/former a smoker (78.3%). Around half of the p had adenocarcinoma histology, including bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (53%) and 81.8% exhibited stage IV. ECOG PS 0/1/2 were (%) 21/54/25. The % p receiving erlotinib as 1st/2nd/3rd-line treatment were 29/38/33. Safety data were available for 1,255 p. 6.9% p did not experience any adverse event. As expected most common adverse events were rash (any grade: 61%; gr. 3/4: 11%), and diarrhea (any gr.: 31%; gr. 3/4: 4%) 5.6% p withdrew prematurely the trial due to AE. Erlotinib-related AEs leading to treatment discontinuation were cutaneous toxicity in 21 p (17 gr. 3/4), diarrhea in 6 p (4 gr. 3/4), hepatic toxicity in 1 p, cholestasis in 1 p, and interstitial pneumonitis in 1 p. No unexpected toxicities were reported. 10% of p had dose reductions mainly due to rash and diarrhea. Response rate in these p was 18.7%; time to progression 3.8 months (95% CI: 3.5–4.2); and overall survival 6.0 months (95% CI: 5.5–6.4). Conclusions: These initial interim safety results of erlotinib in real-life clinical setting in a large number of unselected patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer confirm the favorable toxicity profile and good tolerability of erlotinib.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Erlotinib as single agent in patients (p) with advanced or metastatic NSCLC: A multivariate analysis in a prospective study

7180

Background: Erlotinib is the first orally available selective EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor that improves survival in 2nd and 3rd line therapy for NSCLC. This non-randomised, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of erlotinib in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Methods: Patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic NSCLC or patients that were not suitable for first line conventional chemotherapy, stage IIIB/IV, PS 0–2 were enrolled to receive erlotinib 150 mg/day until disease progression or withdrawal. The primary endpoint of the study was time to progression (TTP) in the intent to treat (ITT) population. A multivariate analysis (Cox-model) was performed. Results: 416 patients were enrolled from June 04 to March 05. Demographics: M 78%/F 22%; median age 64 y [range 28–100]; stage IV 91.6%; PS 0/1/≥2: 65 (16%)/227 (55%)/105 (25%); adeno histology 178p (43%), SCC 121p (29%), BAC 3p (0.7%), LLC 2p (20%), other 29p (7%); smoking status: yes 349 p (84%) no 62 p (15%). 1st line: 60p (14.4%); 2nd line 181p (43.5%) and ≥ 3rd line 175p (42%). 230 patients had measurable disease and were evaluable for response: 1CR, 30 PR (ORR: 13.4%), 98 SD, and 101 PD. Toxicity was predictable (mainly rash, and diarrhoea). In the ITT population the median TTP was 3.2 m [95% CI 2.8–3.6]. For evaluable population median TTP was 4.6 m in 1st line, 3.23 m in 2nd line, and 2.8 m in 3rd line. Exploratory analysis showed that ORR was associated with gender, smoking history, previous treatment and histology. The multivariate analysis for TTP showed that no smoking history (p < 0.005), adeno histology (p < 0.0001), and erlotinib as 1st line treatment (p < 0.02) correlated with better TTP. Conclusions: Erlotinib is an active and very well tolerated treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC untreated or that have previously failed to conventional chemotherapy. Our data suggest that non smoking history, adeno histology and erlotinib as 1st line treatment are associated with better TTP. The study is ongoing.

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Phase II study of weekly irinotecan (CPT-11) as second-line treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer

This phase II trial studied the antitumor effect and toxicity of weekly irinotecan (CPT-11, 125 mg/m(2) 60 min iv infusion, weekly for 4 wk plus 2 wk rest) as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) resistant or refractory to prior 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy. Sixty-nine patients with adenocarcinoma (57% in the colon and 43% in the rectum) were enrolled. The median number of treatment cycles received per patient was 4 (range, 1-6). Overall response rate was 18% (95% CI, 9-26), with 4 complete responses (6%) and 8 partial responses (12%), and a median duration of response of 8.1 mo (95% CI, 4.2-12.1). Stable disease was observed in 19 patients (28%). The median time to disease progression was 5.2 mo (95% CI, 4.3-6.1), and the median overall survival was 13.3 mo (95% CI, 9.8-16.8 months). The toxicity profile was favorable: grade 3/4 delayed diarrhea was observed in 10 patients (14.5%) in one cycle each, and grade 3/4 neutropenia in 6 patients (8.7%) and 6 cycles (3.3%). No febrile neutropenia or infection was documented. Grade 3/4 nausea and vomiting were reported in 1 (1.4%) and 7 patients (10.1%), respectively. In conclusion, this phase II trial showed a response rate and a toxicity profile of weekly CPT-11 in line with the results of prior phase II studies.

Sequential doxorubicin and docetaxel as first-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer: a GEICAM-9801 phase II study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity profile of the sequential administration of doxorubicin and docetaxel as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-one patients received a total of 436 cycles of chemotherapy: 236 of doxorubicin (75 mg/m2) and 200 of docetaxel (100 mg/m2 every 21 days). The first 35 patients received doxorubicin every 14 days with G-CSF support, and in the other 46 cases doxorubicin was administered every 21 days without G-CSF.

RESULTS

After entire treatment the overall response rate was 65% (18 complete responses). With a median follow-up of 19 months (range, 1-48 months), the median time to progression was 11.3 months and the median survival time was 31 months. As expected, febrile neutropenia was the most important toxicity and it appeared in 26 cycles (6%) and 19 patients (23%). In the patients that received doxorubicin every 14 days, the febrile neutropenia incidence was higher during docetaxel treatment, especially after its first administration.

CONCLUSIONS

The dose and schedule of doxorubicin and docetaxel used in this trial seems to be active in first-line treatment of patients with MBC. The toxicity profile appears to be better than observed with concomitant schedules.

Superior efficacy of letrozole versus tamoxifen as first-line therapy for postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: results of a phase III study of the International Letrozole Breast Cancer Group

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of tamoxifen with that of letrozole, an oral aromatase inhibitor, with tamoxifen as first-line therapy in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nine hundred seven patients were randomly assigned letrozole 2.5 mg once daily (453 patients) or tamoxifen 20 mg once daily (454 patients). Patients had estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive tumors, or both receptors were unknown. Recurrence during adjuvant antiestrogen therapy or within the following 12 months or prior endocrine therapy for advanced disease precluded enrollment. One prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease was allowed. The primary end point was time to progression (TTP). Secondary end points included overall objective response rate (ORR), its duration, rate and duration of clinical benefit, time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival, and tolerability.

RESULTS

TTP was significantly longer for letrozole than for tamoxifen (median, 41 v 26 weeks). Treatment with letrozole reduced the risk of progression by 30% (hazards ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.82, P =.0001). TTP was significantly longer for letrozole irrespective of dominant site of disease, receptor status, or prior adjuvant antiestrogen therapy. Similarly, TTF was significantly longer for letrozole (median, 40 v 25 weeks). ORR was higher for letrozole (30% v 20%; P =.0006), as was the rate of clinical benefit (49% v 38%; P =.001). Survival data are currently immature and not reported here. Both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Letrozole was significantly superior to tamoxifen in TTP, TTF, ORR, and clinical benefit rate. Our results support its use as first-line endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.

Open comparative trial of formestane versus megestrol acetate in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with tamoxifen

The aim of the trial was to compare efficacy and safety of the aromatase inhibitor formestane (250 mg i.m. given every 2 weeks) with the progestin megestrol acetate (160 mg administered orally once daily), as second-line therapy in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with tamoxifen. A total of 547 patients were enrolled. Analyses revealed no statistically significant or clinically relevant difference between treatments with respect to time endpoints. In the intent-to-treat analysis, the median values for time to failure and overall survival for formestane were 169 and 561 days, respectively. The corresponding values for megestrol acetate were 169 days and 597 days, respectively. Overall response rates were comparable for formestane and megestrol acetate (16.3% vs 20.3%). Formestane was better tolerated than megestrol acetate. In the megestrol acetate group, cardiovascular events, weight increase, and vaginal haemorrhage were significantly more frequent than in the formestane group. Thus, formestane is a suitable alternative to progestins in patients previously treated with tamoxifen.

Results of a pilot study of 40 patients using high-dose therapy with hematopoietic rescue after standard-dose adjuvant therapy for high-risk breast cancer

The study was designed to determine the toxicity, feasibility, and effectiveness of high-dose cyclophosphamide (6 g/m2), thiotepa (500 mg/m2) and carboplatin (800 mg/m2 (CTCb) with hematopoietic rescue as consolidation after standard-dose adjuvant chemotherapy treatment of primary high-risk breast cancer. From October 1991 to September 1994, 40 patients with stage II or III breast cancer involving 10 or more nodes were treated with CTCb after six cycles of adjuvant therapy with an anthracycline-containing regimen. Bone marrow (BM) was used as the source hematopoietic stem cell in the first 23 patients and G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in the other 17. No therapy-related deaths occurred, but three life-threatening Complications were recorded which resolved: bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage, veno-occlusive disease of the liver and pulmonary thromboembolism. PBPC result in faster hemopoietic reconstitution with significantly lower transfusion requirements. With a median follow-up of 35 months (23-59) actuarial event-free survival for the study patients at 3 years is 72% (CI 95%: 66-81%). Even in patients over 50-60 years, CTCb is a relatively well tolerated regimen which appears, after a median follow-up of nearly 3 years, to decrease relapse frequency as compared with historical series, although a definite role of HDT in the treatment of high-risk primary breast cancer needs confirmation in prospective randomized trials.