Outcomes following infant listing for cardiac transplantation: the impact of strategies introduced to counteract limited donor availability

BACKGROUND

Survival following cardiac transplantation in infancy has improved substantially. There is a growing shortage of donors, the impact of which may be offset by increase in ABO-incompatible transplants, size-mismatching and mechanical support. The authors reviewed their results and outcomes following infant listing for cardiac transplantation over 22 years.

METHODS

Children <12 months at time of listing for cardiac transplant in 1987-2008 were identified using the departmental cardiopulmonary transplant database. Details were obtained from databases and hospital medical records and subdivided into two eras, 1987-1997 and 1998-2008.

RESULTS

In 1987-2008, 49 infants were listed, and 28 (57%) underwent cardiac transplantation (12 in 1987-1997 and 16 in 1998-2008). 15 patients (31%) died on the waiting list, 6 patients were delisted (5 of these because of recovery of cardiac function). There was a decrease in suitable donor offers from a mean of 36 per year in 1996-2000 to 11 per year in 2001-2006 (p=0.008). In 1998-2008, nine listed infants were on mechanical support; there were seven ABO-incompatible transplants, and all transplants were size-mismatched with donors on average 2.7 times heavier than recipients. Waiting times decreased from median 83 to 47 days. Six (21%) of the transplanted patients died, the majority in 1987-1997 and perioperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a fall in suitable donors for infant cardiac transplants over time despite increased demand. However, the introduction of size-mismatching, ABO-incompatible transplants and mechanical support has enabled an increase in the number of transplants to be carried out despite this fall in donor numbers. Outcomes following transplantation have improved over time.

Evaluating the potential of polymer nanoparticles for oral delivery of paclitaxel in drug-resistant cancer

The present study was designed to explore the ability of polymeric nanoparticles to restore drug sensitivity to P-glycoprotein over-expressing cancer cells. A multidrug-resistant cell line 2780 AD and its sensitive parent cell line A2780 were studied in cell culture and as a xenografted tumour model. Paclitaxel was incorporated in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles of average diameter 125 nm stabilised by a positively charged surfactant. The nanoparticulate formulation was shown to be about sevenfold more potent than free paclitaxel against cell line A2780 and the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles alone were nontoxic to the cells at the concentrations required to deliver the drug. Whilst the oral formulation of paclitaxel was not as potent as the free drug in the A2780 xenografts, it showed significant activity against 2780 AD tumours, which are resistant to the maximum tolerated intravenous dose of paclitaxel. The efficacy of orally delivered paclitaxel in this drug-resistant model supports the concept of exploring nanoparticles for improved drug delivery.

Use of two-year disease-free survival (DFS) as a primary endpoint in stage III adjuvant colon cancer trials with fluoropyrimidines with or without oxaliplatin or irinotecan: New data from 12,676 patients from MOSAIC, X-ACT, PETACC-3, NSAPB C-06 and C-07, and C89803

4011

Background: The ACCENT group previously validated DFS with 3 years (yr) median follow-up (f-up) based on 20,898 pts from trials testing 5-FU based regimens (rx) (3yr DFS) as an endpoint to predict overall survival with 5 yr median f-up (5yr OS) (Sargent, JCO 2005). ACCENT further proposed (1) 2yr DFS predicts 5yr OS, (2) a stronger relationship between DFS and OS in stage III pts (Sargent JCO 2007) and (3) 6 or 7 yrs are necessary to demonstrate DFS and OS association in future trials due to extended survival following recurrence (de Gramont ASCO 2008). The relationship between endpoints in more recent trials with oral fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan is unknown. Methods: Concordance between 2 and 3yr DFS, and 5 and 6yr OS was examined in 6 randomized phase III trials from 1997–2002. Individual data for 12,676 pts was analyzed; 2 trials tested oxaliplatin, 2 irinotecan, and 2 oral rx vs 5-FU/LV control. Association between DFS and OS hazard ratios (HRs) via weighted least squares (WLS), and concordance between predicted and actual within-trial HRs, were calculated overall and for stage III pts. Results: Overall association between 3 yr DFS and 5 yr OS HRs was reduced compared to the prior ACCENT analysis (Table). In stage III pts, the association between DFS and OS HRs remained strong. Observed 5 and 6yr OS HRs were predicted accurately by 2yr DFS overall and in stage III pts (within 95% prediction limits in all trials). In all pts, DFS HRs were more highly associated with 6 vs 5yr OS HRs. Conclusions: In recent trials in stage III pts, DFS HRs based on 2yr median f-up are highly predictive of 5 and 6yr OS HRs. In all pts the association between DFS and OS HRs is stronger for 6yr OS, but 7yr follow-up may be required. These data support 3yr DFS as a primary endpoint for modern stage III trials, and indicate that 2yr DFS would also be an appropriate primary endpoint.

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Neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: practice patterns and predictors of outcome in the UK

OBJECTIVE

To review the UK neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) service and identify predictors of outcome.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of the national cohort.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

718 neonates received ECMO for respiratory failure between 1993 and 2005.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Diagnoses were: 48.0% meconium aspiration syndrome (97.1% survivors), 15.9% congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH; 57.9% survivors), 15.9% sepsis (62.3% survivors), 9.5% persistent pulmonary hypertension (79.4% survivors), 5.6% respiratory distress syndrome (92.5% survivors) and 5.1% congenital lung abnormalities (24.3% survivors). The overall survival rate of 79.7% compared favourably with the worldwide Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry. Over the period of review, pre-ECMO use of advanced respiratory therapies increased (p<0.001), but ECMO initiation was not delayed (p = 0.61). The use of veno-venous (VV) ECMO increased (p<0.001) and average run time fell (p = 0.004). Patients treated with VV ECMO had a survival rate of 87.7% compared with 73.4% in the veno-arterial (VA) ECMO group; only 42.4% of those needing conversion from VV to VA ECMO survived. In non-CDH neonates, lower birth weight, lower gestational age, older age at ECMO and higher oxygenation index (OI) were associated with increased risk of death. In CDH neonates, lower birth weight and younger age at ECMO were identified as risk factors for death.

CONCLUSION

The UK neonatal ECMO service achieves good outcomes and with overall survival rate reaching 80% compares favourably with international results. Advanced respiratory therapies are used widely in UK ECMO patients. Identification of higher OI and older age at ECMO as risk factors in non-CDH neonates reinforces the importance of timely referral for ECMO.

Two different first-line 5-fluorouracil regimens with or without oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (LV) are standard first-line treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The aim of this multicentre, open-label, phase IIIb study was to assess the addition of oxaliplatin to two different 5-FU regimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with previously untreated mCRC were randomised to arm A [two-weekly oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) + either continuous intravenous infusion (CIV) of 5-FU without LV or two-weekly bolus and CIV 5-FU + LV (LV5FU2)] or arm B (5-FU CIV or LV5FU2 alone). Irinotecan monotherapy was planned on progression.

RESULTS

A total of 725 patients were enrolled. After a fixed follow-up of 2 years for each patient, 2-year survival rates were 27.3% and 24.8% in arms A and B, respectively (hazard ratio 0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.10). The addition of oxaliplatin significantly improved response rates (54.1 versus 29.8%; P < 0.0001) and median progression-free survival (7.9 versus 5.9 months; P < 0.0001). The most common grade 3-4 toxic effects were neutropenia (arm A, 33%; arm B, 5%), diarrhoea (arm A, 14%; arm B, 8%), and fatigue (arm A, 9%; arm B, 8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite improved rates of tumour control, these results failed to demonstrate a survival benefit from the addition of oxaliplatin to infused 5-FU and lend further support to the use of sequential monotherapy in some patients with mCRC.

In vitro evaluation of cancer-specific NF-kappaB-CEA enhancer-promoter system for 5-fluorouracil prodrug gene therapy in colon cancer cell lines

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcription factor with high transcriptional activity in cancer cells. In this study, we developed a novel enhancer–promoter system, κB4-CEA205, in which the basal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) promoter sequence (CEA205) was placed downstream of the four tandem-linked NF-κB DNA-binding sites (κB4). In combination with a κB4 enhancer, the transcriptional activity of the CEA promoter was significantly enhanced (three- to eight-fold) in cancer cell lines but not in normal cells. In cancer cell lines, the transcriptional activity of κB4-CEA205 was comparable with that of the SV40 promoter. We also constructed vectors in which the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) cDNA was under the control of CEA205, κB4, κB4-CEA205 and CMV promoters, respectively. TP protein and enzyme activity were detected at comparable levels in κB4-CEA205- and CMV-driven TP cDNA-transfected cancer cell lines (H630 and RKO). The κB4-TP and CEA205-TP-transfected cell lines, respectively, only demonstrated negligible and low levels of TP protein and enzyme activity. Both CMV- and κB4-CEA205-driven TP cDNA transiently transfected cells were 8- to 10-fold sensitised to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) prodrug, 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouradine (5′-DFUR), in contrast to only 1.5- to 2-fold sensitised by the κB4- and CEA205-driven TP cDNA-transfected cells. The bystander killing effect of CMV- and κB4-CEA205-driven TP cDNA-transfected cells was comparable. This is the first report that indicates that the NF-κB DNA-binding site could be used as a novel cancer-specific enhancer to improve cancer-specific promoter activity in gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy.

A nurse-/pharmacy-led capecitabine clinic for colorectal cancer: Results of a prospective audit and retrospective survey of patient experiences

Oral chemotherapy agents provide patients with choice and home-based therapy but demand greater emphasis on patient support and education to minimise toxicities. To meet this demand, a nurse-/pharmacy-led clinic was established at the Beatson Oncology Centre in 2003 for the provision of oral capecitabine to metastatic colorectal cancer patients to provide a controlled and supportive environment. We conducted a prospective audit of 52 patients attending the clinic from March 2003 to June 2004 and a retrospective survey of patient experiences to assess clinic effectiveness. Of 52 patients, 79% completed at least 3 cycles of treatment (mean 3.5). Capecitabine was well tolerated. The dose was reduced on at least one occasion in 15 (29%) patients and 17 (30%) patients experienced at least one delay. Patient satisfaction, indicated by questionnaire responses (n=27), was high. Most patients (> or =85%) thought that the service provision was useful and well organised. The results indicate that a nurse-/pharmacy-led clinic for the provision of home-based oral capecitabine is safe, effective and acceptable to most patients. The success of this clinic can provide a model for use in other centres and in other types of cancer, such as breast cancer, where oral chemotherapy is a treatment option.