Benefit of second-line therapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a tri-center propensity score analysis

Background

The level of evidence for palliative second-line therapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (aESCC) is limited. This is the first study that reports efficacy data comparing second-line therapy + active symptom control (ASC) versus ASC alone in aESCC.

Methods

We conducted a tri-center retrospective cohort study (n = 166) including patients with aESCC who had experienced disease progression on palliative first-line therapy. A propensity score model using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was implemented for comparative efficacy analysis of overall survival (OS) in patients with second-line + ASC (n = 92, 55%) versus ASC alone (n = 74, 45%).

Results

The most frequent second-line regimens used were docetaxel (36%) and paclitaxel (18%). In unadjusted primary endpoint analysis, second-line + ASC was associated with significantly longer OS compared with ASC alone [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-0.69, p < 0.0001]. However, patients in the second-line + ASC group were characterized by more favorable baseline features including a better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, a longer first-line treatment duration and lower C-reactive protein levels. After rigorous adjusting for baseline confounders by re-weighting the data with the IPTW the favorable association between second-line and longer OS weakened but prevailed. The median OS was 6.1 months in the second-line + ASC group and 3.2 months in the ASC group, respectively (IPTW-adjusted HR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.24-0.69, p = 0.001). Importantly, the benefit of second-line was consistent across several clinical subgroups, including patients with ECOG performance status ⩾1 and age ⩾65 years. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events associated with palliative second-line therapy were hematological toxicities.

Conclusion

This real-world study supports the concept that systemic second-line therapy prolongs survival in patients with aESCC.

Patterns of care in metastatic pancreatic cancer: patient selection in clinical routine

BACKGROUND

The management of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) is challenging, and the optimal treatment strategy is debated among experts. In an attempt to identify treatment decision criteria and to investigate variations in the first-line management of this disease, we performed an analysis of treatment algorithms among experts in the field of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to identify relevant criteria in the complex process of patient selection and decision making for the management of mPC patients.

METHODS

Experts from the ABCSG (Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group) Pancreatic Cancer Club were contacted and agreed to participate in this analysis. Eight experts from seven centers in Austria provided their decision algorithms for the first-line treatment of patients with mPC. Their responses were converted into decision trees based on the objective consensus methodology. The decision trees were used to identify consensus and discrepancies.

RESULTS

The final treatment algorithms included four decision criteria (performance status, age, comorbidities, and symptomatic disease) and six treatment options: mFOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine mono, 5-FU mono, gemcitabine/erlotinib, and best supportive care (BSC).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified consensus for the treatment of young and fit patients with mFOLFIRINOX. With higher age and reduced performance status, gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel was increasingly used. For patients with Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 4, BSC was the treatment of choice. Among experts, different decision criteria and treatment options are implemented in clinical routine. Despite multiple options in current recommendations, a consensus for specific recommendations was identified.

Benefit of second-line systemic chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer: A propensity score analysis

Whether 2nd-line-chemotherapy (2LCTX) + best-supportive-care (BSC) benefits patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (aBTC) more than BSC alone is unclear. We therefore conducted a propensity-score-based comparative effectiveness analysis of overall survival (OS) outcomes in 80 patients with metastatic, recurrent, or inoperable aBTC, of whom 38 (48%) were treated with BSC + 2LCTX and 42 (52%) with BSC alone. After a median follow-up of 14.8 months and 49 deaths, the crude 6-, 12-, and 18-month Kaplan-Meier OS estimates were 77%, 53% and 23% in the BSC + 2LCTX group, and 29%, 21%, and 14% in patients in the BSC group (p = 0.0003; Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.36, 95%CI:0.20-0.64, p = 0.001). An inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighted (IPTW) analysis was conducted to rigorously account for the higher prevalence of favorable prognostic variables in the 2LCTX + BSC group. After IPTW-weighting, the favorable association between 2LCTX and OS prevailed (adjusted HR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.17-0.95, p = 0.037). IPTW-weighted 6-, 12-, and 18-month OS estimates were 77%, 58% and 33% in the BSC + 2LCTX group, and 39%, 28% and 22% in the BSC group (p = 0.037). Moreover, the benefit of 2LCTX was consistent across several clinically-relevant subgroups. Within the limitations of an observational study, these findings support the concept that 2LCTX + BSC is associated with an OS benefit over BSC alone in aBTC.

Patterns of venous thromboembolism risk in patients with localized colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy or active surveillance: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Venous thromoboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and burdensome complication of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the epidemiology of VTE in patients with localized CRC after surgery in curative intent is incompletely understood. In this single-center observational cohort study, we investigate patterns of VTE risk in localized CRC, and define its relationship with baseline risk factors, adjuvant chemotherapy and CRC recurrence.

METHODS

Five-hundred-sixteen patients with stage II/III CRC were included retrospectively at the time of surgery, and followed until the occurrence of VTE, CRC recurrence, or death (median age = 65.1 years, stage II and III: n = 151 (29.5%), n = 361 (70.5%); adjCTX: n = 339 (65.7%)).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 2.7 years, 15 VTEs (2.7%) and 116 recurrences (22.5%) occurred, and 46 patients (8.9%) died. Six-month, 1-year, and 5-year VTE risks were 1.6%, 2.0% and 3.2%, respectively. In competing risk time-to-VTE regression, adjCTX was not associated with an increased risk of VTE (Subdistribution hazard ratio = 0.98, 95% CI:0.33-2.88, p = 0.97). The occurrence of disease recurrence strongly increased the risk of VTE (Multi-state model: Transition hazard ratio (THR) = 13.03, 95% CI:4.39-38.74, p < 0.0001)). Conversely, the onset of VTE did not predict for recurrence (THR = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.62-6.16, p = 0.25).

CONCLUSION

VTE risk is very low in localized CRC and does not appear to be increased by adjuvant chemotherapy. Thus, primary thromboprophylaxis is unlikely to result in clinical benefit in this population. The strongest determinant of VTE risk appears to be disease recurrence.

Benefit of second-line chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer

e15621

Background: Second-line chemotherapy (2LCTX) is increasingly applied in patients (pts) with advanced biliary tract cancer (aBTC), although no randomized trial has so far demonstrated the benefit of this intervention over best supportive care (BSC) alone. In the absence of randomized data, we thus conducted a comparative effectiveness analysis of survival outcomes in aBTC pts treated with BSC±2LCTX. Methods: In this single-center cohort study, we retrospectively included 80 pts with metastatic, recurrent, or inoperable aBTC who completed 1st-line CTX at our department between 2003 and 2016. Thirty-eight of these pts (48%) received 2LCTX+BSC (Fluoropyrimidine (FP) mono: n = 26 (68%), FP-based combination CTX: n = 9 (24%), Others: n = 3 (8%)). Primary endpoint was 18-month overall survival (OS). An inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighted analysis (IPTW) was implemented to rigorously account for imbalances in prognostic variables between the two study groups. Results: During a median follow-up of 14.8 months, we observed 49 deaths. Six-month, 12-month, and 18-month OS estimates were 77%, 53% and 23% in the BSC+2LCTX group, and 29%, 21%, and 14% in patients in the BSC group, for a univariable hazard ratio (HR) for OS of 0.36 (95%CI: 0.20-0.64, p = 0.001). However, pts receiving 2LCTX+BSC had a significantly higher prevalence of favorable prognostic variables, such as a higher Karnofsky Index (p = 0.0001), lower serum bilirubin (p = 0.03), higher hemoglobin (p = 0.002), and higher serum albumin (p = 0.0007). After careful adjustment for these imbalances using IPTW, 2LCTX+BSC was not associated with an OS benefit over BSC alone (Adjusted HR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.30-1.29, p = 0.201). In IPTW analysis, 6-, 12-, and 18-month OS were 51%, 33% and 14% in the BSC+2LCTX group, and 35%, 29%, and 19% in patients in the BSC group. The beneficial association of 2LCTX with OS was highly time-dependent, with IPTW HRs of 0.07 (p = 0.002), 0.42 (p = 0.05), and 0.53 (p = 0.11) after 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Conclusions: Within the limitations of a non-randomized study, our data support the concept that 2LCTX is associated with a short-term OS benefit in pts with aBTC.

The lymphocyte to monocyte ratio in peripheral blood represents a novel prognostic marker in patients with pancreatic cancer

Intra-tumoral macrophages have been involved as important players in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Recently, inflammatory parameters of the systemic inflammatory response have also been proposed as usefully prognostic biomarkers. One of these, the lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) in peripheral blood has been shown as a prognostic factor in hematologic and some solid tumors. In this study we analyzed for the first time the prognostic value of LMR in a large middle European cohort of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients.

Data from 474 consecutive patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were evaluated retrospectively. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. To further evaluate the prognostic significance of the LMR, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were calculated.

Increased LMR at diagnosis was significantly associated with well-established prognostic factors, including high tumor stage and tumor grade (p<0.05). In univariate analysis, we observed that an increased LMR was a significant factor for better CSS in PC patients (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.57–0.85; p<0.001). In multivariate analysis including age, Karnofsky Index, tumor grade, tumor stage, administration of chemotherapy, LMR and surgical resection, we confirmed increased LMR as an independent prognostic factor for CSS (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.66–0.99; p=0.04).

In conclusion, we identified LMR as an independent prognostic factor in PC patients. Our results indicate that the LMR might represent a novel and useful marker for patient stratification in PC management.

Evaluation of uric acid as a prognostic blood-based marker in a large cohort of pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Recently, chemical blood parameters gain more attraction as potential prognostic parameters in pancreatic cancer (PC). In the present study we investigated the prognostic relevance of the uric acid (UA) level in blood plasma at the time of diagnosis for overall survival (OS) in a large cohort of patients with PC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 466 consecutive patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were evaluated retrospectively. Overall survival (OS) was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. To further evaluate the prognostic significance of the UA level, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were calculated.

RESULTS

None of the clinicopathological parameters (tumour grade, clinical stage, age, CA19-9 level, Karnofski Index (KI) or surgical resection) except gender was associated with UA level. In univariate analysis we observed the elevated UA level (<5.1 versus ≥5.1 mg/dl, p = 0.017) as poor prognostic factor for OS. In the multivariate analysis that included age, gender, tumour grade, tumour stage, surgical resection, CA19-9 level, the KI and UA level we confirmed the UA level as independent prognostic factor for OS (HR = 1.373%; CI = 1.077-1.751; p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we identified the UA level at time of diagnosis as an independent prognostic factor in PC patients. Our results indicate that the UA level might represent a novel and useful marker for patient stratification in PC management.

The preoperative lymphocyte to monocyte ratio predicts clinical outcome in patients with stage III colon cancer

BACKGROUND

Inflammation has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. The lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) could be shown to be prognostic in haematologic neoplasia. In this study, we analysed the LMR with clinical outcome in stage II and III colon cancer patients.

METHODS

Three hundred and seventy-two patients with stage II and III colon cancer were included in this retrospective study. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox-regression analyses were calculated for time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Including all patients, the elevated preoperative LMR was significantly associated with increased TTR and OS in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.29-0.76, P=0.002; HR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.31-0.83, P=0.007; respectively). In subanalyses, the association was limited to patients with stage III (HR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.22-0.72, P=0.002), in contrast to patients with stage II (HR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.28-1.66, P=0.397). When the subgroup of patients with 'high-risk' LMR≤2.83 was analysed, no benefit of adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy could be found (HR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.60-1.63; P=0.953).

CONCLUSION

The LMR might be an independent prognostic marker for TTR in stage III colon cancer patients. Our results further suggest that high-risk patients based on the LMR do not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Independent validation of our findings is warranted.

External validation of the derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic marker on a large cohort of pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

With growing evidence on the role of inflammation in cancer biology, the presence of a systemic inflammatory response has been postulated as having prognostic significance in a wide range of cancer types. The derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), which represents an easily determinable potential prognostic marker in daily practise and clinical trials, has never been externally validated in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients.

METHODS

Data from 474 consecutive PC patients, treated between 2004 and 2012 at a single centre, were evaluated retrospectively. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. To evaluate the prognostic relevance of dNLR, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied.

RESULTS

We calculated by ROC analysis a cut-off value of 2.3 for the dNLR to be ideal to discriminate between patients' survival in the whole cohort. Kaplan-Meier curve reveals a dNLR≥2.3 as a factor for decreased CSS in PC patients (p<0.001, log-rank test). An independent significant association between high dNLR≥2.3 and poor clinical outcome in multivariate analysis (HR = 1.24, CI95% = 1.01-1.51, p = 0.041) was identified.

CONCLUSION

In the present study we confirmed elevated pre-treatment dNLR as an independent prognostic factor for clinical outcome in PC patients. Our data encourage independent replication in other series and settings of this easily available parameter as well as stratified analysis according to tumor resectability.

Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts clinical outcome in patients with stage II and III colon cancer

AIM/ BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a combined indicator of inflammation and immunology, is as yet unidentified regarding the clinical outcome of stage II and III colon cancer patients. We evaluated the effect of NLR on time-to-recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) in selected patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 504 patients with stage II and III colon cancer were included in this retrospective study. Preoperative NLR with a cut-off level of 4 was associated with TTR and OS.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, elevated NLR was significantly associated with decreased TTR (p=0.001) and remained significant in multivariate analysis (p=0.006). Patients with NLR >4 showed a median TTR of 62.2 months. In contrast, patients with NLR ≤ 4 had a median TTR of 92.6 months.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that preoperative NLR may be an independent prognostic marker for TTR in stage II and III colon cancer patients.

A derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts clinical outcome in stage II and III colon cancer patients

Background:

Inflammation has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Recently, the derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (absolute count of neutrophils divided by the absolute white cell count minus the absolute count of neutrophils; dNLR) has been shown to influence clinical outcome in various cancer entities. In this study, we analysed the dNLR with clinical outcome in stage II and III colon cancer patients.

Methods:

Three-hundred and seventy-two patients with stage II and III colon cancer were included in this retrospective study. Kaplan–Meier curves and multivariate Cox proportion analyses were calculated for time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS).

Results:

In univariate analysis, the elevated preoperative dNLR was significantly associated with decreased TTR (hazard ratio (HR) 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57–3.6, P<0.001) and remained significant in multivariate analysis. Patients with dNLR >3 had a median TTR of 83 months, and patients with dNLR ⩽3 showed a median TTR of 132 months. In OS analysis, a dNLR >2.2 was significantly associated with decreased OS in univariate (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.11–3.08, P=0.018) and multivariate analysis. Patients with dNLR >2.2 showed a median OS of 121 months, and patients with dNLR ⩽2.2 had a median OS of 147 months.

Conclusion:

The dNLR may be an independent prognostic marker for TTR and OS in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. Independent validation of our findings is warranted.

Successful use of sorafenib after bortezomib failure in metastatic follicular thyroid cancer - a case report

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine malignancy in developed countries. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), which includes papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), composes more than 90% of all TC cases. When DTC recurs or metastasizes to distant sites despite the use of local and radiotherapeutic treatment modalities, the currently effective treatment options are limited.

CASE REPORT

A then 40-year-old female Caucasian patient was diagnosed with FTC and underwent surgery and postoperative radioactive iodine therapy. The patient developed metastatic disease, and palliative first-line treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was initiated. After 3 months, the patient suffered progressive pulmonary metastatic disease. Treatment with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib was started, and after 3 months of therapy, tumor restaging demonstrated partial remission. The treatment is ongoing, and the current progression-free survival is 16 months. With the exception of mild diarrhea and hand-foot syndrome, the therapy was well tolerated, and no grade 3/4 adverse toxicities occurred.

CONCLUSION

In our single case of metastatic FTC, sorafenib showed clinically meaningful antitumor activity accompanied by good tolerability. This case report supports the use of this drug as a potential treatment option for advanced/metastatic FTC.

Preoperative oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and external beam radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed, primary operable, cT₃NxM0, low rectal cancer: a phase II study

PURPOSE

In patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), preoperative chemoradiation is known to improve local control, and down-staging of the tumor serves as a surrogate for survival. Intensification of the systemic therapy may lead to higher downstaging rates and, thus, enhance survival. This phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of preoperative capecitabine and oxaliplatin in combination with radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with LARC of the mid and lower rectum, T₃NxM0 staged by MRI received radiotherapy (total dose 45 Gy) in combination with oral capecitabine (825 mg/m² twice a day on radiotherapy days; weeks 1-4) and oxaliplatin 50 mg/m² intravenously (days 1, 8, 15, and 22). Efficacy was evaluated as rate of tumor down-categorization at the T level.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients were enrolled (19 women, 40 men; median age of 61 years) and all were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. Down-categorization at the T level was observed in 53% with pathological complete response in 6 patients (10%). Actual total radiotherapy, oxaliplatin and capecitabine doses received were 97%, 90%, and 93% of the protocol-specified preplanned doses, respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicity was observed in 15 patients (25%). The most frequent was diarrhea (12%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative chemoradiation with capecitabine and oxaliplatin is feasible in patients with MRI-proven cT₃ LARC. The only clinically relevant toxicity was diarrhea. Overall, efficacy of the multimodality treatment was good, but not markedly exceeding that of 5-FU- or capecitabine-based chemoradiation approaches.

A prospective randomised phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with stage II colon cancer

The purpose of this trial was to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in stage II colon cancer. Patients with stage II colon cancer were randomised to either adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU/LV (100 mg m⁻² LV+450 mg m⁻² 5-FU weekly, weeks 1–6, in 8 weeks cycles × 7) or surveillance only. Five hundred patients were evaluable for analyses. After a median follow-up of 95.6 months, 55 of 252 patients (21.8%) have died in the 5-FU/LV arm and 58 of 248 patients (23.4%) in the surveillance arm. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the two treatment arms (hazard ratios, HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61–1.27, P=0.49). The relative risk for tumour relapse was higher for patients on the surveillance arm than for those on the 5-FU/LV arm; however, this difference was not statistically significant (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.45–1.06, P=0.09). Consequently, disease-free survival (DFS) was not significantly different between the two trial arms. In conclusion, results of this trial demonstrate a trend to a lower risk for relapse in patients treated with adjuvant 5-FU/LV for stage II colon cancer. However, in this study with limited power to detect small differences between the study arms, adjuvant chemotherapy failed to significantly improve DFS and OS.

Healing by design: The influence of an artistic design on the well being of cancer patients—A 10 years follow up

18615

Background: The style of the surrounding in which cancer patients, who experience physical as well as high psychological distress are treated, can help them to acquire a sense of security, to reduce their anxiety and depression. Inspired by this model the famous artist F. Hundertwasser created the redesign of the oncological ward with the aim to generate an atmosphere of security by utilizing bright, warm and vivid colours, light and plants. The aim of this study was to investigate in a prospective manner whether the artistic redesign have an influence on the welfare of cancer patients using standardized questionnaires pre and immediately post reconstruction and in a follow up 10 years later. Methods: A total of 261 patients were interviewed (93 before the redesign, 81 immediately and 87 ten years after redesign) to assess the influence of depression (Zerssen Depression Scale, PD-S) quality of life (Spitzer Index)and perceptions of the ward design (semi-structured interview) on wellbeing (Zerrsen Mood Scale, Bf-S). Results: A factor analysis of the semi-structured interview yielded four factors assessed with a MANOVA showing that patients interviewed after redesign reported more positive effects of the ward design (F2;227 = 484.274; p < 0.001). In addition, they were more content with treatment and medical care (F2;227 = 20.103; p < 0.001), more positive in their emotions and thoughts regarding illness (F2;227 = 8.600; p = 0.003) and placed greater importance on the fixtures (F2;227 = 6.067; p = 0.003) than the patients interviewed before the redesign. In a regression analysis depression, the “impact of ward design”, quality of life, gender, “emotions and thoughts regarding illness”, age and education predicted wellbeing with an “R” of 0.0469 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results provide important aspects for the discussion if the physical surroundings in which cancer patients are treated serve as a potentially positive factor in the “healing process”.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A prospective randomised trial to study the role of levamisole and interferon alfa in an adjuvant therapy with 5-FU for stage III colon cancer

The purpose of this trial was to examine the efficacy of the addition of levamisole (LEV) or interferon alfa (IFN) to an adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with stage III colon cancer. According to a 2 × 2 factorial study design, 598 patients were randomly assigned to one of four adjuvant treatment arms. Patients in arm one received 5-FU weekly for 1 year, patients in arm two 5-FU plus LEV, in arm three 5-FU plus IFN and patients in arm four 5-FU, LEV and IFN. The relative risk of relapse and the relative risk of death were significantly higher for patients treated with LEV compared with those without LEV treatment (HR 1.452, 95% CI 1.135–1.856, P=0.0028; HR 1.506, 95% CI 1.150–1.973, P=0.0027, respectively). No significant impact on survival was observed for therapy with IFN in the univariate analysis. The addition of LEV to adjuvant 5-FU significantly worsened the prognosis of patients with stage III colon cancer. Interferon alfa had no significant influence on survival when combined with adjuvant 5-FU, but increased the toxicity of therapy substantially.