Emerging growth factor receptor antagonists for ovarian cancer treatment

Has time to chemotherapy from primary debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer an impact on survival? - A population-based nationwide SweGCG study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate if time to start chemotherapy (TTC) after primary debulking surgery (PDS) impacted relative survival (RS) in advanced epithelial ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer (EOC).

METHODS

Nationwide population-based study of women with EOC FIGO stages IIIC-IV, registered 2008-2018 in the Swedish Quality Register for Gynecologic Cancer, treated with PDS and chemotherapy. TTC was categorized into; ≤21 days, 22-28 days, 29-35 days, 36-42 days and > 42 days. Relative survival (RS) was estimated using the Pohar-Perme estimate of net survival. Multivariable analyses of excess mortality rate ratios (EMRRs) were estimated by Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 1694 women were included. The median age was 65.0 years. Older age and no residual disease were more common in TTC >42 days than 0-21 days. The RS at 5-years was 37.9% and did not differ between TTC groups. In the R0 (no residual disease) cohort (n = 806), 2-year RS was higher in TTC ≤21 days (91.6%) and 22-28 days (91.4%) than TTC >42 days (79.1%). TTC >42 days (EMRR 2.33, p = 0.026), FIGO stage IV (EMRR 1.83, p = 0.007) and non-serous histology (EMRR 4.20, p < 0.001) were associated with 2-year worse excess mortality compared to TTC 0-21 days, in the R0 cohort. TTC was associated with 2-year survival in the R0 cohort in FIGO stage IV but not in stage IIIC. TTC was not associated with RS in patients with residual disease.

CONCLUSIONS

For the entire cohort, stage IV, non-serous morphology and residual disease, but not TTC, influenced 5-year relative survival. However, longer TTC was associated with a poorer 2-year survival for those without residual disease after PDS.

Lactate dehydrogenase 5: identification of a druggable target to reduce oxaluria

Excessive excretion of oxalate in the urine results in the formation of calcium oxalate crystals and subsequent kidney stone formation. Severe forms of hyperoxaluria, including genetic forms and those that result from ethylene glycol poisoning, can result in end-stage renal disease. Therapeutic interventions are limited and often rely on dietary intervention. In this issue of the JCI, Le Dudal and colleagues demonstrate that the lactate dehydrogenase 5 inhibitor (LDH5) stiripentol reduces urinary oxalate excretion. Importantly, stiripentol treatment of a single individual with primary hyperoxaluria reduced the urinary oxalate excretion. Together, these results support further evaluation of LDH5 as a therapeutic target for hyperoxaluria.