Implant survival after deep infection of an instrumented spinal fusion

This study evaluates the long-term survival of spinal implants after surgical site infection (SSI) and the risk factors associated with treatment failure. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out on 43 patients who had undergone a posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation between January 2006 and December 2008, and who consecutively developed an acute deep surgical site infection. All were appropriately treated by surgical debridement with a tailored antibiotic program based on culture results for a minimum of eight weeks. A 'terminal event' or failure of treatment was defined as implant removal or death related to the SSI. The mean follow-up was 26 months (1.03 to 50.9). A total of ten patients (23.3%) had a terminal event. The rate of survival after the first debridement was 90.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 82.95 to 98.24) at six months, 85.4% (95% CI 74.64 to 96.18) at one year, and 73.2% (95% CI 58.70 to 87.78) at two, three and four years. Four of nine patients required re-instrumentation after implant removal, and two of the four had a recurrent infection at the surgical site. There was one recurrence after implant removal without re-instrumentation. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant risk of treatment failure in patients who developed sepsis (hazard ratio (HR) 12.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6 to 59.9); p < 0.001) or who had > three fused segments (HR 4.5 (95% CI 1.25 to 24.05); p = 0.03). Implant survival is seriously compromised even after properly treated surgical site infection, but progressively decreases over the first 24 months.

First-line trastuzumab plus taxane-based chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: cost-minimization analysis

AIM

To carry out a cost-minimization analysis including a comparison of the costs arising from first-line treatment by trastuzumab plus docetaxel versus trastuzumab plus paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with human epidermal growth receptor 2-postive metastatic breast cancer who were treated at Besançon University Hospital and Saint Vincent private hospital between 2001 and 2010 by first-line therapy containing trastuzumab plus taxane were retrospectively studied. Economic analysis took into account costs related to drugs, hospitalization, and healthcare travel.

RESULTS

Progression-free survival difference between the two treatments was not significant (p = 0.65). First-line treatment by trastuzumab plus taxane was estimated at approximately €68,000 (p = 0.74). The drug costs represented around 70-75% of the total cost, mainly related to the use of trastuzumab.

CONCLUSION

Our economic analysis shows that although the costs of the two trastuzumab plus taxane regimens are similar, they may contribute to the on-going debate about the availability and use of innovative chemotherapy drugs, in particular in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer with new therapies such as trastuzumab-DM1 and pertuzumab.

Discordances in estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and HER2 status between primary breast cancer and metastasis

BACKGROUND

The primary aim of this retrospective study was to investigate intraindividual correlation of estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor (PR) status, and HER2 status between primary breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Secondary aims included patients' characteristics, overall survival, feasibility of histopathological evaluation in the metastatic setting, and predictive factors associated with receptors status discordance.

METHODS

Patients with either biopsy of metastatic relapse or surgery of metastasis were identified. Demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment characteristics, and ER, PR, and HER2 statuses were retrospectively obtained in patients' reports. Receptors statuses were assessed by immunohistochemistry with a positivity cutoff of more than 10% for ER and PR. HER2 was considered as positive if overexpression was scored at 3+ in immunohistochemistry or if amplification ratio was >2 in fluorescent in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

From a cohort of 489 patients with mBC, 269 patients had histopathological samples of metastatic relapse. Histopathological analysis of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of mBC in 235 patients. Discordance in one or more receptors between primary breast cancer and mBC was found in 99 patients (42%). A switch in receptor status was identified for ER in 17% of tumors (p = 4 × 10(-3)), PR in 29% of cancers (p < 4 × 10(-4)), and HER2 in 4% of lesions (p = .16). Exposure to chemotherapy and to anthracycline-based chemotherapy was statistically associated with switches in ER status. Seven (2%) second malignancies and three benign diseases (1%) were diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that discordance in ER and PR receptor expression between the primary breast tumor and the corresponding metastatic lesions is high, whereas HER2 status remains relatively constant. Chemotherapy, and specifically anthracycline-based chemotherapy, was associated with switch in ER status. These results were obtained in a selected population of patients; further studies are warranted to confirm these data and to determine the interest of systematic rebiopsy in the metastatic setting.

Overall survival according to tumoral clusterin expression in breast cancer

e11579

Background: Clusterin (CLU) is a glycoprotein expressed constitutively in many tissues and involved in various physiopathological processes. Despite CLU expression is dysregulated in many types of cancer, the specific role of CLU in tumorigenesis remains unclear. The identification of several forms of the protein, with multiple roles is an explanation for these conflicting results. Cytoplasmic CLU (cCLU) has a role in breast tumorigenesis, cancer progression and is associated with breast cancer cell lines death in vitro. However contradictory data are reported about prognostic value of cCLU on survival and clinical progression. Our objective was to estimate patient’s overall survival (OS) according to the expression of cCLU. Methods: Histological and clinical data of 158 patients diagnosed with breast cancer were retrospectively recorded. Every patients were treated in a single French university hospital between 1993 and 2001. Histological samples had been reviewed to determine hormonal status, HER2 and clusterin expression. Immunohistochemical techniques were based on standards and recommendations applied at the time of analysis. Tumors were defined as cCLU positive (cCLU +) if its expression was superior to 10%. Overall Survival rates along with standard deviations were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences in OS according to cCLU expression were tested for significance using the log-rank test. Results: Patients had a median age of 56 years (31 – 82 years). Among the 158 patients analyzed, cCLU was overexpressed in 31 patients (19.62%). The histopathologic and clinical characteristics were not statistically different according to clusterin expression even if a trend favouring less favourable tumoural characteristics were observed in cCLU positive tumour. The median follow-up was 14.1 years (11.3 - 19.3). In univariate analysis, cCLU overexpession were not related to OS (HR = 0.86; CI95%: 0.43 - 1.70). Ten-year OS was 76% (± 4) among patients with cCLU - tumors vs 77% (± 7) in patients with cCLU + tumor (p = 0.66). Conclusions: cCLU expression does not seem to be a pronostic factor of overall survival.

Sentinel lymph nodes before chemotherapy: The Besançon experience

1122

Background: It is debatable whether sentinal lymph node (SLN), before chemotherapy in locally breast cancer (LBC) is feasible. Impact on survival and locoregionally recurrence are unknown. Methods: 256 consecutive patients with LBC treated in Franche Comté (France) between 2004 and 2010 by standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively studied. 177 patients underwent axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection after chemotherapy (cohort A) and 79 patients underwent SLN before chemotherapy (cohort B). The aim of this study was designed to confirm the feasible of SLN before neoadjuvant chemotherapy without negative impact of recurrence and survival. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Differences in OS and DFS according ALN exploration were tested for significance using the Log-Rank test. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of median age (respectively 59 and 48 years in cohort A and B), tumor size, histological type, grading score, estrogen receptor, progesteron receptor and human epidermal receptor-2 status. No difference of breast conserving surgery was observed between cohort A and B (56.25 vs. 64.56%, p = 0.21). In cohort B, 38 patients (48.10%) of patients underwent SLN alone. For others patients (n = 41, 51.90%), secondary complete axillary lymphadenectomy was performed in the same time of breast surgery. After a median follow up of 57 months (range: 38-105), there was no significant difference in termsof local and axillary recurrences (1.13 vs. 1.27%), metastatic recurrence (11.30 vs. 11.40%). Five-year DFS (76 vs 81%, p = 0.55) and 5-year OS (91 vs. 97%, p = 0.76) did not differ between patients in cohort A and B. Conclusions: SLN before neoadjuvant chemotherapy is feasible and allows to avoid ALN dissection in nearly 50% of patients without impact on recurrence and survival.

Safety and efficacy of cabazitaxel in the docetaxel-treated patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers and is a leading cause of death. Its initial growth is dependent on androgens; most patients show an initial response to hormonal therapy but will experience disease progression when PC becomes resistant to castration. In 2004, two key randomized controlled trials demonstrated a benefit for docetaxel-based regimens in the treatment of men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Cabazitaxel (XRP6258, TXD258, and RPR116258A), a tubulin-binding taxane drug as potent as docetaxel in cell lines, was the first treatment able to prolong survival for metastatic CRPC in the post-docetaxel setting. This review describes pharmacologic parameters of this agent followed by a review of clinical trials involving cabazitaxel. Other available treatments and the place of cabazitaxel in metastatic CRPC setting are discussed.

Abstract P5-18-22: Long-term survival of patients with HER2 metastatic breast cancer treated by targeted therapies

Purpose: HER2 targeted therapies have substantially improved outcomes of patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Medical records of patients with HER2 positive MBC achieving long survival were reviewed to describe their clinical characteristics and to assess whether curability is possible.

Patients and methods: One thousand and seven hundred patients with MBC were treated between 01/01/2003 and 31/05/2012 in the 5 hospitals from the Franche-Comte region. All 217 patients with HER2 positive MBC region were retrospectively studied.

Results: Among this population of HER2 positive MBC, 56 patients (26%) survived longer than 5 years. The characteristics of these long survivors were the following: median age at diagnosis was 55 years old (range, 33–87); 20 patients (35,7%) were metastatic at presentation; 20 patients (35,7%) had received adjuvant chemotherapy; the median disease-free interval was 17 months; brain, liver, lung, bone metastases were observed in 4 (7%), 19 (34%), 13 (23%), 23 (41%) in cases at occurrence of metastatic disease, respectively; tumours were hormonal receptors positive in 39 cases (70%) of these patients.

A total of 16 (29%), 7 (12,5%), 7 (12,5%) and 26 (46%) cases had received 1, 2, 3 or more lines of chemotherapy at metastatic setting. The proportion of HER2 targeted treatment was 79%, 61%, 50% in first, second and third line, respectively. All patients received trastuzumab or lapatinib for their disease and 18 patients (32%) were given an anthracycline containing regimen.

There were 7 complete response (CR), there were all observed after one line of chemotherapy based on trastuzumab combined with a taxane in all cases. Among these 7 patients, all continued trastuzumab after CR and all RH+ patients received hormonotherapy after CR. Among these 56 patients, 35 (62,5%) were still alive at the date cutoff in 31/05/2012.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with HER2 positive MBC were long survivors. Prospective clinical trials in this subset of patients should take into account this high number of patients with favorable outcome to achieve conclusion in term of survival. Can one consider the curabiblity of some MBC patients with HER2 overexpression?

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-18-22.

First-line bevacizumab plus taxane-based chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: cost-minimisation analysis

AIM

To carry out a cost minimisation analysis including a comparison of the costs arising from first-line treatment by bevacizumab plus docetaxel (BD) versus bevacizumab plus paclitaxel (BP) of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

PATIENT AND METHODS

All consecutive patients with human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative mBC and treated at Besançon University hospital between 2006 and 2010 by a first-line therapy containing bevacizumab plus taxane were retrospectively studied. Economic analysis took into account costs related to drugs, hospitalization and healthcare travel.

RESULTS

Progression-free survival difference between the two treatments was insignificant (p-value=0.31). BP treatment was associated with a higher mean total cost than that of BD treatment, €53,093 ± 34,395 versus €60,196 ± 48,766, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Whereas bevacizumab is recommended for first-line treatment of mBC with paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, our study has shown that BD treatment is the most cost-efficient regimen. It could be an attractive option in France, with a potential cost saving of €24,000,000 per year.

Is extracapsular tumour spread a prognostic factor in patients with early breast cancer?

BACKGROUND

This study searched for extra capsular tumour spread (ECS) as a prognostic factor for recurrence in terms of Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

For this study, from a retrospective database of the Doubs cancer registry, 823 eligible women with node positive breast cancer treated from February 1984 to November 2000 were identified. The following factors were evaluated: ECS, numbers of involved nodes, histological tumour grade, tumour size, status of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and age of patient. A Cox proportional hazards method was used to search for significant factors related to OS and DFS length.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, factors related to DFS length were found to be: tumour grade (aHR 0.76, 95 % CI 0.61-0.96, p = 0.02), ECS status (aHR 0.7, 95 % CI 0.49-0.96, p = 0.03), progesterone (PgR) status (aHR 0.63, 95 % CI 0.44-0.85 p = 0.008), number of nodes involved (aHR 0.75, 95 % CI 0.56-1, p = 0.05). The multivariate analysis for OS found as significant factors: tumour grade (aHR 0.76, 95 % CI 0.61-0.95; p = 0.02) and PgR status (aHR 0.8, 95 % CI 0.56-0.99, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This study might suggest taking into account ECS status in the adjuvant decision-making process.

Economic impact of prescribing error prevention with computerized physician order entry of injectable antineoplastic drugs

A cost–benefit analysis was carried out to determine the potential economic costs and benefits of pharmaceutical analysis in preventing prescribing errors for full standardized injectable antineoplastic drugs computerized physician order entry, in a pharmaceutical unit (University teaching hospital), compared with theoretical setting with no pharmaceutical analysis. The viewpoint is that of the payer or the French national Public Health Insurance system, and is limited to hospital cost (only direct medical costs related to net cost and net benefit. A decision analysis model was performed to compare two strategies: with pharmaceutical analysis (±pharmacy intervention) and without pharmaceutical analysis. Results are expressed in terms of benefit-to-cost ratio and total benefit. The robustness of the results was assessed through a series of one-way sensitivity analyses. Over 1 year, prescribing error incidence was estimated at 1.5% [1.3–1.7], i.e. 218 avoided prescribing errors. Potential avoidance of hospital stay was estimated at 419 days or 1.9 ± 0.3 days per prescribing error. Cost–benefit analysis could estimate a net benefit-to-cost ratio of 33.3 (€17.34/€0.52) and a total benefit at €16.82 per pharmaceutical analysis or €249,844 per year. The sensitivity analysis showed robustness of results. Our study shows a substantial economic benefit of pharmaceutical analysis and intervention in the prevention of prescribing errors. The clinical pharmacist adds both value and economic benefit, making it possible to avoid additional use of expensive antineoplastic drugs and hospitalization. Computerized physician order entry of antineoplastic drugs improves the relevance of clinical pharmacist interventions, expanding pharmaceutical analysis and also the role of the pharmacist.

SOLTI NeoPARP: A phase II, randomized study of two schedules of iniparib plus paclitaxel and paclitaxel alone as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

1011

Background: Iniparib is an anticancer agent with a mechanism of action still under investigation. A phase 2 randomized neoadjuvant study in patients (pts) with TNBC was designed to explore the activity and tolerability of two schedules of iniparib with weekly paclitaxel (PTX). Here we report the efficacy and safety results from a planned interim analysis (IA). Methods: The trial accrued a total of 141 pts in October 2011, of whom, 74 are included in this IA. All were chemo-naive, histologicallyconfirmed Stage II-IIIA TNBC (IIA 47%; IIB 35%; IIIA 16%) with a median age of 50 yr. Triple negative status was centrally confirmed [ER/PR <10%, HER2 IHC (0+, 1+) or FISH negative]. Pts were randomized (1:1:1) to receive weekly PTX (80 mg/m2, IV, d 1; N=25) alone or in combination with iniparib, either on a once weekly (QW) (11.2 mg/kg, IV, d 1; N=25) or twice weekly (BIW) (5.6 mg/kg, IV, d 1, 4; N=24) schedule. The total planned treatment duration was 12 wks. The IA endpoint is pathological complete response in the breast (pCR) as assessed by independent pathologists. Results: Two/2/3 pts in the PTX/QW/BIW arms, respectively, discontinued due to progressive disease per RECIST. Another 3/2/2 pts, respectively, discontinued due to investigator decision or an adverse event (AE). Thirteen pts presented with Grade 3/4 Treatment Emergent AE: 3 pts in PTX arm (1 neutropenia, 1 presyncope, 1 ALT elevation), 3 in QW arm (1 lymphopenia, 1 hyperkalemia, 1 pulmonary embolism), and 8 in the BIW arm (1 febrile neutropenia, 3 neutropenia, 1 aphonia, 1 syncope, 1 radius fracture and 1 vertigo). Laboratory Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 4% of pts in PTX, 0% in QW and 21% of BIW arms, with 1/2/3 pts, respectively, requiring G-CSF usage. There were 4/7/6 pts in the PTX/QW/BIW arms with PTX dose modifications. Four pts (16%) in PTX arm, 4 pts (16%) in the QW arm and 6 pts (25%) in the BIW arm had confirmed pCR in the breast. Conclusions: In this IA population, the addition of iniparib regardless of the schedule to weekly PTX did not seem to add clinically significant toxicity. pCR rate in the breast is similar across treatment arms at this IA. NCT01204125.

Safety and efficacy of panitumumab (pmab) in HPV-positive (+) and HPV-negative (-) recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN): Analysis of the global phase III SPECTRUM trial

5504^

Background: SPECTRUM evaluated the safety and efficacy of pmab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor, with platinum‑based chemotherapy (CT) vs CT alone in patients (pts) with R/M SCCHN. This predefined analysis presents outcomes by tumor HPV status. Methods: All tumor samples were centrally reviewed. HPV status was determined using a validated immunohistochemistry assay to p16INK4A by an independent lab blinded to treatment assignments. Tumor samples were scored positive or negative according to prespecified criteria. Results: Of 657 enrolled pts (ITT), 443 (67%) had samples evaluable for HPV testing. Ninety‑nine (22%) tumors were HPV+ and 344 (78%) were HPV-. HPV+ rates varied by site (37% oropharynx, 19% larynx, 15% oral cavity, and 13% hypopharynx) and geographic region (44% N America, 22% W Europe, 21% Asia Pacific, 19% S America, and 18% E Europe). Demographics were generally balanced except pts with HPV+ vs HPV- tumors were more often non‑smokers (31% vs 14%), had oropharyngeal tumors (47% vs 23%), and had poorly differentiated tumors (30% vs 13%). Efficacy results are shown (Table). Adverse events were generally balanced between HPV+ and HPV- pts. Conclusions: Pts with HPV- R/M SCCHN administered pmab + CT had improved overall survival (OS) and progression‑free survival (PFS), whereas no improvement in OS or PFS was observed in pts with HPV+ tumors. [Table: see text]

Extravasation of liposomal doxorubicin induces irritant reaction without vesicant injury

Anthracycline extravasation is an uncommon but very serious complication. Very few data are available in the literature concerning the consequences and the management of extravasation of liposomal doxorubicin. This report describes the cases of two patients with liposomal doxorubicin extravasation who developed irritant reaction without vesicant or necrotic lesions. It is concordant with other cases described in the literature and suggests that extravasation of liposomal doxorubicin can be relatively well tolerated. The process applied to extravasations of irritant and non-vesicant agents could be used to manage extravasations of liposomal doxorubicin.

Cabazitaxel: a novel microtubule inhibitor

The development of drug resistance is a major obstacle to effective cancer therapy. Several agents are in clinical development with the goal of overcoming resistance. Among them is cabazitaxel, a semisynthetic taxoid that is able to overcome a common mechanism of resistance that limits the efficacy of other chemotherapeutic agents, including the older taxanes. The promise of cabazitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy option for advanced prostate cancer has been confirmed clinically in the phase III TROPIC (Treatment of Hormone-Refractory Metastatic Prostate Cancer Previously Treated with a Taxotere-Containing Regimen) trial. This trial showed that cabazitaxel is the first chemotherapeutic agent to demonstrate a survival benefit in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) since the approval of docetaxel. On this basis, the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency approved cabazitaxel in June 2010 and January 2011, respectively, for the treatment of patients with mCRPC who have previously been treated with docetaxel. The most prevalent toxicity was neutropenia and the use of primary prophylaxis with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is recommended in high risk patients. This article presents the preliminary antitumour activity, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic data of cabazitaxel, and an overview of the current status of clinical development.

Phase II trial of paclitaxel and uracil--tegafur in metastatic breast cancer. TEGATAX trial

This Phase II trial investigated the combination paclitaxel (P) and uracil-tegafur (UFT) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

METHODS

Main eligibility criteria included HER-2 negative MBC, ECOG performance status of 0-2, exposure to 1-2 prior chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting, previous exposure to an anthracycline containing regimen either at metastatic or adjuvant setting. Each 35-day cycle consisted of P at 80 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 and oral UFT at 300 mg/m(2) TID (three time a day) from days 1-28 and oral folinic acid at 90 mg QD (one a day).

RESULTS

Between March 2003 and December 2007, 31 patients were enrolled. Median age was 66 years (range 44-78). All tumours were HER-2 negative and 7% were triple negative (ER, PgR, HER-2). The majority of patients had visceral disease (81%). All patients had received an anthracycline containing regimen and 74% had a previous docetaxel containing treatment. Median of 4 and 3 cycles of P and UFT were administered with a relative dose intensity of 85.3% and 94.3%, respectively. Twelve (40%)(95% CI: 22.5-57.5) confirmed ORR were observed. Stable and progression disease were reported in 43% and 17% of cases. Median Response duration was 8.4 month (95% CI: 4.9-11.7), median Time to progression was 9.5 months (95% CI: 6.6-13.8) and median Overall Survival was 23.5 months (95% CI: 16.8-37.2). Thirteen pts (43%) experienced a grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs): One death occurred related to the study drugs (febrile neutropenia). Chemotherapy was discontinued due to toxicity in 30% of pts

CONCLUSIONS

Accrual was closed in January 2008 due to concerns regarding the degree and accumulative nature of AEs. Nonetheless, the ORR is encouraging and warranted further studies with adapted doses and schedules.

Discordance in early breast cancer for tumour grade, estrogen receptor, progesteron receptors and human epidermal receptor-2 status between core needle biopsy and surgical excisional primary tumour

The aim of the present study was to compare the tumour grade, Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesteron Receptor (PgR) and Human Epidermal Receptor-2 (HER-2) status in the core needle biopsy (CNB) with those observed in the subsequent excisional primary tumour (EPT). All patients diagnosed with an early breast cancer in our University Hospital Center between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006 were included but exclusion criteria of patients with large tumour requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cases with more than one tumour (multicentricity/multifocality tumours). Histological tumour grade assessed according to Nottingham Grading System (SBRm), ER, Pgr and HER-2 tumoural status were assessed twice in CNB and in EPT. A total of 175 patients were assessed. The concordance between CNB and EPT for Grade, ER, PgR and HER2 status were 75.4% (p > 0.00001), 84% (p > 0.00002), 78.3% (p = 0.002) and 98.3% (p = 0.486) respectively. In conclusion CNB can be used with confidence for HER2 determination. For grade, PgR and ER due to substantial discordance results from CNB should be used with caution.

[Apathy in Parkinson's disease]

INTRODUCTION

Apathy is a behavioural syndrome due to dysfunction of the process that gives rise to actions induced by external or personal stimuli. Apathy is very common in Parkinson's disease, with a prevalence that ranges between 16-48%. Three subtypes of apathy are currently accepted, which are anatomically and functionally different: cognitive, emotional and due to a deficit in auto-activation. Each of these subtypes is involved to a variable degree in the apathy of Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis is desupported by clinical, diagnostic and neuropsychological tests. The evaluation of the apathy must be done simultaneously along with with depression cognitive deficit.

CONCLUSIONS

Apathy has become a very important symptom to bear in mind in Parkinson's disease patients as it has significant repercussions on the quality of life of the patient. It is very important to do a differential diagnosis with the depression and the cognitive deficit since the therapeutic approach is different. Specific scales to measure this symptom should be included in the evaluation protocols of cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.

Nadolol plus isosorbide mononitrate alone or associated with band ligation in the prevention of recurrent bleeding: a multicentre randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous clinical trials suggest that adding non-selective beta-blockers improves the efficacy of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) in the prevention of recurrent bleeding, but no study has evaluated whether EBL improves the efficacy of beta-blockers + isosorbide-5-mononitrate. The present study was aimed at evaluating this issue in a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) and to correlate changes in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) during treatment with clinical outcomes

METHODS

158 patients with cirrhosis, admitted because of variceal bleeding, were randomised to receive nadolol+isosorbide-5-mononitrate alone (Drug: n = 78) or combined with EBL (Drug+EBL; n = 80). HVPG measurements were performed at randomisation and after 4-6 weeks on medical therapy.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 15 months. One-year probability of recurrent bleeding was similar in both groups (33% vs 26%: p = 0.3). There were no significant differences in survival or need of rescue shunts. Overall adverse events or those requiring hospital admission were significantly more frequent in the Drug+EBL group. Recurrent bleeding was significantly more frequent in HVPG non-responders than in responders (HVPG reduction >or=20% or <or=12 mm Hg). Among non-responders recurrent bleeding was similar in patients treated with Drugs or Drugs+EBL.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding EBL to pharmacological treatment did not reduce recurrent bleeding, the need for rescue therapy, or mortality, and was associated with more adverse events. Furthermore, associating EBL to drug therapy did not reduce the high rebleeding risk of HVPG non-responders. ISRCTN26221020.

The detection of brain ischaemia in rats by inductive phase shift spectroscopy

Ischaemia in the brain is an important clinical problem that is often monitored and studied with expensive devices such as MRI and PET, which are not readily available in low economical resource parts of the world. We have developed a new less expensive tool for non-invasive monitoring of ischaemia in the brain. This is a first feasibility study describing the concept. The system is based on the hypothesis that electromagnetic properties of the tissue change during ischaemia and that measuring the electromagnetic properties of the bulk of the brain with non-contact means can detect these changes. The apparatus we have built and whose design we describe here consists of two electromagnetic coils placed around the head. The system measures the bulk change in time of the phase difference between the electromagnetic signal on the two coils in a range of frequencies. A mathematical model simulating the device and the measurement is also introduced. Ischaemia was induced in the brain of rats by occlusion of the right cerebral and carotid arteries. Experimental subjects were monitored for 24 h. Inductive phase shift measurements were made at five frequencies in the range of 0.1-50 MHz eight times during the observation period. An ex vivo estimation of the percentage of necrosis in the ischemic subjects at t = 24 h was done. The mathematical model was also applied to the experimental tested situation. The results of both experiments and theory show significant phase shifts increase as a function of frequency and ischaemia time. The theoretical and experimental results suggest that the tested technique has the potential to detect the processes and level of ischaemia in the brain by non-invasive, continuous, bulk volumetric monitoring with a simple and inexpensive apparatus.

A dose-escalating study of XRP6258 in combination with capecitabine, in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) progressing after anthracycline and taxane therapy: Preliminary results

1053

Background: Cabazitaxel (X), a new taxoid showed activity in taxane resistant MBC. Capecitabine (C) is approved in MBC pts pretreated with anthracycline and taxane. Methods: A standard 3+3 escalation scheme explored doses of combined intravenous X (Day (D)1) with oral C twice daily (D1to14), every 3 weeks (q3w). The study objectives were the identification of dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), recommended dose (RD) of the combination, assessment of safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and activity at the RD in an expanded cohort. Results: 32 MBC pts pretreated with taxane and anthracycline were enrolled and treated (15 in the dose escalation part and 17 at the RD). Data for the first 25 pts, are available so far: median age 52 [34–74], ECOG-PS 0/1: 15/10, in first or second line chemotherapy, median of 3 (1–7) organs involved (mainly: bone, liver, lymph nodes). In the escalation part, X+C were administered at 3 dose levels (DL) (Table). DL2 was defined as the RD and the expansion cohort was initiated. PK analysis did not show any drug-drug interaction with this schedule of administration. Overall, out of the 25 pts (125cy), the main Gr3–4 toxicities (N pts) were asthenia (4), hand-foot syndrome (4), neutropenia (15), febrile neutropenia (1), neutropenic infection (1), no toxic death. Efficacy was observed at each DL with a total of 1 complete response, 4 partial responses (PR) and 16 stabilizations (including 3 unconfirmed PR). Conclusions: X was safely combined to C. X at 20 mg/m2 D1 + C at 1000 mg/m2 twice a D (D1–14), q3w is the RD. Updated results for efficacy and safety will be presented.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

[Experimental models in Alzheimer's disease]

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and (it accounts for 60-80 %). The certain diagnosis is made thanks to the brain patients study. Since 1970 there have been developed experimental models that have done a deep approach of this disease and new therapeutic researching.

METHODS

We review all the papers published about experimental models in AD, and all the new therapeutical approaches base don them using the database Pubmed.

RESULTS

Animal models aim to replicate the symptoms, the lesions or the cause(s) of AD. It has been described many experimental models in AD. There are animal models based on the metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) (human APPwild type wt- o the mutants forms), other based on Presenilin (PS) (transgenic mice that overexpress the form wild-type or the mutant ones), the double mutants PS/APP that develop the lesions earlier. There are other based on tau protein (tau-JNPL3) or the triple transgenic PS/APP/tau. There are also lines with altered expression of neprilysin, the main degrading enzyme of Abeta and also models based on APOE. Other models are rats, chick embryo, dog, primates and cetacean, cell culture of mature hippocampic neurons and the effects of the Abeta oligomers in them (soluble toxic species).

CONCLUSIONS

Experimental models in AD have supposed a key tool in order to know deeply about neurodegenerative diseases, over all AD. Besides they allow us design new therapeutic approaches.

Ixabepilone: A New Active Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Ixabepilone (BMS247550) is a semisynthetic derivative of the natural product that optimizes the properties observed with epothilone B. This compound has some similarities with taxanes in targeting and stabilizing microtubules, but it also has major differences. Interestingly, ixabepilone was evaluated in patients with well-characterized resistance to taxanes and was able to overcome the overexpression of multidrug resistance and was unaffected by mutations in the β-tubulin genes. The interest in ixabepilone was clinically confirmed in Phase II and III clinical studies, which have demonstrated a strong activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to taxanes and in patients suffering from other types of chemoresistant tumors.

Clinical trial: a randomized controlled study on prevention of variceal rebleeding comparing nadolol + ligation vs. hepatic venous pressure gradient-guided pharmacological therapy

BACKGROUND

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) monitoring of therapy to prevent variceal rebleeding provides strong prognostic information. Treatment of nonresponders to beta-blockers +/- nitrates has not been clarified.

AIM

To assess the value of HVPG-guided therapy using nadolol + prazosin in nonresponders to nadolol + isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) compared with a control group treated with nadolol + ligation.

METHODS

Cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were randomized to HVPG-guided therapy (n = 30) or nadolol + ligation (n = 29). A Baseline haemodynamic study was performed and repeated within 1 month. In the guided-therapy group, nonresponders to nadolol + ISMN received nadolol and carefully titrated prazosin and had a third haemodynamic study.

RESULTS

Nadolol + prazosin decreased HVPG in nonresponders to nadolol + ISMN (P < 0.001). Finally, 74% of patients were responders in the guided-therapy group vs. 32% in the nadolol + ligation group (P < 0.01). The probability of rebleeding was lower in responders than in nonresponders in the guided therapy group (P < 0.01), but not in the nadolol + ligation group (P = 0.41). In all, 57% of nonresponders rebled in the guided-therapy group and 20% in the nadolol + ligation group (P = 0.05). The incidence of complications was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients treated to prevent variceal rebleeding, the association of nadolol and prazosin effectively rescued nonresponders to nadolol and ISMN, improving the haemodynamic response observed in controls receiving nadolol and endoscopic variceal ligation. Our results also suggest that ligation may rescue nonresponders.

[Efficacy and safety of ixabepilone (BMS-247550), a novel epothilone B analogue]

The epothilones are a new class of non-taxane tubulin polymerization agents obtained by natural fermentation of the myxobacteria Sorangium cellulosum. The cytotoxic activities of the epothilones, like those of the taxanes, have been linked to stabilization of microtubules, but they also have important differences. Among the epothilone family, ixabepilone (BMS247550) is a semisynthetic derivative of the natural product epothilone B. Ixabepilone was evaluated in vivo in a panel of human and rodent tumour models, the majority of which were chosen because of their known, well-characterized resistance to paclitaxel, and seems able to overcome the over-expression of multidrug resistance and to be unaffected by mutations in the beta tubulin gene. The interest of ixabepilone was clinically confirmed in clinical studies of phase II which demonstrated a strong activity at the patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to taxanes and in patients suffering of other types of chemoresistant tumors.