Efficiency of Protective Interventions on Irinotecan-Induced Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Irinotecan is widely used in the treatment of various solid tumors, but the adverse effects from it, especially diarrhea, limit its use. Several clinical trials of prophylactic treatment of irinotecan-induced diarrhea (IID) have been ongoing, and some of the data are controversial. This encouraged us to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of interventions on preventing IID.

METHOD

This systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA statement. We performed literature searches from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The number registered in PROSPERO is CRD42022368633. After searching 1034 articles in the database and references, 8 studies were included in this meta-analysis.

RESULT

The RR of high-grade diarrhea and all-grade diarrhea were 0.31 (I2 = 51%, 95% CI: 0.14-0.69; P = .004) and .76 (I2 = 65%, 95% CI: 0.62-0.93; P < .008) respectively, thus the use of intervention measures for preventing IID is effective, and the risk reduction of high-grade diarrhea was more significant. Subgroup analysis revealed that the monotherapy group (RR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.21-1.13, I2 = 0%) and combination therapy group (RR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.32, I2 = 0%) in the risk of high-grade diarrhea had no significant heterogeneity within the groups, and traditional herbal medicines (Kampo medicine Hangeshashin-to, PHY906 and hot ironing with Moxa Salt Packet on Tianshu and Shangjuxu) were effective preventive measures (RR:0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.60, I2 = 0%). The Jadad scores for traditional herbal medicines studies were 3, and the follow-up duration was only 2 to 6 weeks.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that preventive treatments significantly reduced the risk of high-grade and all-grade diarrhea, confirming the efficacy in the incidence and severity of IID, among which traditional herbal medicines (baicalin-containing) provided a protective effect in reducing the severity of IID. However, the traditional herbal medicines studies were of low quality. Combined irinotecan therapy can obtain better preventive effects than monotherapy of IID. These would be helpful for the prevention of IID in clinical practice.

Irinotecan-Still an Important Player in Cancer Chemotherapy: A Comprehensive Overview

Irinotecan has been used in the treatment of various malignancies for many years. Still, the knowledge regarding this drug is expanding. The pharmacogenetics of the drug is the crucial component of response to irinotecan. Furthermore, new formulations of the drug are introduced in order to better deliver the drug and avoid potentially life-threatening side effects. Here, we give a comprehensive overview on irinotecan’s molecular mode of action, metabolism, pharmacogenetics, and toxicity. Moreover, this article features clinically used combinations of the drug with other anticancer agents and introduces novel formulations of drugs (e.g., liposomal formulations, dendrimers, and nanoparticles). It also outlines crucial mechanisms of tumor cells’ resistance to the active metabolite, ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38). We are sure that the article will constitute an important source of information for both new researchers in the field of irinotecan chemotherapy and professionals or clinicians who are interested in the topic.

Observational study of first-line chemotherapy including cetuximab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: CORAL trial

Objective

We aimed to clarify the clinical practice and outcomes of first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Efficacy and safety were evaluated in each group classified by the European Society for Medical Oncology Guidelines 2012.

Methods

This prospective observational study included patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer from 158 centers in Japan who started first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy from January 2012 to June 2013 and were followed for up to 3 years. The resection rates after chemotherapy were calculated and the overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method for Group 1 (G1, potentially resectable), Group 2 (G2, not resectable and tumor-related symptoms) and Group 3 (G3, not resectable and asymptomatic).

Results

Of 578 patients, 562 were classified into G1 (n = 165), G2 (n = 224) or G3 (n = 173). The resection rate of any site was higher in G1 (57.0%) than in G2 (11.2%) and G3 (11.6%). G1, G2 and G3 showed median overall survivals (95% confidence interval) of 45.9 (38.1–not available), 16.7 (14.5–18.8) and 30.6 (23.2–34.8) months, respectively (P < 0.0001). The common tumor-related symptoms in G2 were pain, fatigue and anorexia, from which 31.7, 22.2 and 14.8% of the patients suffered at baseline.

Conclusions

The expected efficacy and safety of first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy were demonstrated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer under clinical practice in Japan.

Registered clinical trial numbers

UMIN000007275

Parenchyma-Sparing Hepatectomy with Vascular Reconstruction Techniques for Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases with Major Vascular Invasion

Background

Resectability of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) depends on major vascular involvement and is affected by chemotherapy-induced liver injury. Parenchyma-sparing with combined resection and reconstruction of involved vessels may expand the indications and safety of hepatectomy.

Methods

Of 92 patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM, 15 underwent major vascular resection and reconstruction. The reconstructed vessels were the portal vein (PV) in five cases, the major hepatic vein (HV) in nine cases, and the inferior vena cava in six cases.

Results

All PV reconstructions were direct anastomoses. The HV was reconstructed with an autologous inferior mesenteric venous patch or an external iliac vein interposition graft. Total hepatic vascular exclusion was performed for six patients. Of nine patients with HV reconstruction, three had tumors involving all three major HVs, in whom the left HV was reconstructed as an only vein after extended right hepatectomy. In another six patients, multiple bilobar tumors or tumors in the liver that had chemotherapy-induced injury involved one or two HVs. Parenchyma-sparing by reconstruction of the HV was performed to secure the residual liver function. The patients with vascular reconstruction had an operative time of 462 ± 111 min and a blood loss of 1278 ± 528 mL. No complication classified as Clavien–Dindo 3 or more developed. The median hospital stay was 17 days (range 8–26 days). The cumulative 5-year survival rate for all the patients was 54.6 %, with no significant difference according to vascular reconstruction.

Conclusion

Parenchyma-sparing hepatectomy combined with vascular reconstruction is a useful option to avoid major hepatectomy among various procedures for resection of CRLM with major vascular invasion.

Effectiveness and safety of monoclonal antibodies for metastatic colorectal cancer treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of chemotherapy (CT) for select cases of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) has been well established in the literature, however, it provides limited benefits and in many cases constitutes a treatment with high toxicity. The use of specific molecular biological treatments with monoclonal antibodies (MA) has been shown to be relevant, particularly for its potential for increasing the response rate of the host to the tumour, as these have molecular targets present in the cancerous cells and their microenvironment thereby blocking their development. The combination of MA and CT can bring a significant increase in the rate of resectability of metastases, the progression-free survival (PFS), and the global survival (GS) in MCRC patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of MA in the treatment of MCRC.

METHODS

A systematic review was carried out with a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials comparing the use of cetuximab, bevacizumab, and panitumumab in the treatment of MCRC.

RESULTS

Sixteen randomised clinical trials were selected. The quality of the evidence on the question was considered moderate and data from eight randomised clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis. The GS and PFS were greater in the groups which received the MA associated with CT, however, the differences were not statistically significant between the groups (mean of 17.7 months versus 17.1 months; mean difference of 1.09 (CI: 0.10-2.07); p = 0.84; and 7.4 versus 6.9 months. mean difference of 0.76 (CI: 0.08-1.44); p = 0.14 respectively). The meta-analysis was not done for any of the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The addition of MA to CT for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer does not prolong GS and PFS.

Poor nutritional status before and during chemotherapy leads to worse prognosis in unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between host nutritional status prior to first-line chemotherapy and therapeutic effect, and, whether these nourishment indexes could become factors that predict long-term convalescence in unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer or not. Summary of Background Date: It has previously been reported that postoperative complications and long-term prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies may be affected by their nutritional status. But, there is little information regarding the relationship between prognosis, nutritional status and immunocompetence in unresectable progressive or recurrent colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Ninety patients who had measurable target lesions underwent resection for primary colorectal cancer in our institution, between April 2007 and March 2013. The indicators of host nutritional status was body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS). The indicators of host immunocompetence was total lymphocyte counts, total neutrophil counts, granulocytes/lymphocytes ratio (G/L ratio).

RESULTS

The median overall survival (OS) was 32.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 10.9 months. The relative change of target lesions were associated with BW, BMI and OPNI. Furthermore, there was strong correlation between the change ratio of the serum CEA level before and after chemotherapy administration and BMI. BW, BMI, serum albumin level, OPNI and GPS were significantly associated with overall survival (OS).

CONCLUSION

Poor nutritional status and suppressive immunocompetence is associated with ineffective chemotherapy.

Inflammation-based prognostic scores and nutritional prognostic index in patients with locally-advanced unresectable colorectal cancer

Background

Unresectable colorectal cancer has a poor prognosis. However, some patients survive intensive chemotherapy, and complete resection of primary and metastatic tumors may even be possible. In the present study, we examined the prognostic factors associated with survival after intensive chemotherapy in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 61 patients diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced colorectal cancer between January 2004 and December 2013. Among the prognostic parameters, we found that the prognoses of patients with abnormal performance status (PS) of 2 or 3, high Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) of 1 or 2, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >5, and low prognostic nutritional index (PNI) <40 were poor. Thus, we scored each patient according to our scoring system (abnormal PS, 2 or 3 = +1; high GPS, 1 or 2 = +1; high NLR, >5 = +1; and low PNI, <40 = +1). If the patient showed abnormalities in every parameter, the score would be +4.

Results

Sixteen patients had a score of 0, 17 scored +1, 10 scored +2, 17 scored +3, and one scored +4. The median survival time (MST) of the 61 patients was 9 months. Patients were divided into two groups, a low-score group (0 and +1) and a high-score group (+2, +3, and +4). The MST of the 33 patients in the low-score group was significantly longer than that of the 28 patients in the high-score group (15 months versus 4 months, P < 0.001). Also, conversion chemotherapy was performed in 4.9% (3/61) of patients. And these 3 patients were in a low-score group.

Conclusions

This new prognostic scoring system may help to select patients with unresectable advanced colorectal cancer who are able to survive through intensive chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases, focusing on conversion hepatectomy and long-term survival

BACKGROUND

Eight years have passed since the introduction of chemotherapy (chemo) and targeted therapy regimens for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness of chemo and targeted therapy in facilitating conversion hepatectomy and improving long-term survival in Japanese patients with CRLM.

METHODS

A total of 199 patients with CRLM were treated between May 2005 and August 2012. Initial therapies for these patients included straightforward hepatic resection (n = 48; 24 %), induction chemotherapy (n = 148; 74 %), and radiofrequency ablation (n = 3; 2 %).

RESULTS

In 56 of 137 patients (40.1 %) with initially unresectable CRLM, 7.5 courses of chemo and targeted therapy downsized and converted tumors to resectable tumors. The 5-year cumulative overall survival (OS) rate and the median survival time were significantly higher for the resectable CRLM than for the unresectable CRLM (54.6 vs. 5.3 % and 77.3 vs. 21.3 months, respectively; P < .0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that conversion hepatectomy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.19; P < .001) and responder to chemo and targeted therapy (HR 0.46; P < .01) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Multivariate analysis also revealed that left-sided colon or rectal cancer (odds ratio [OR] 8.4; P < .05), H1/H2 metastases (OR 7.3; P < .05), no extrahepatic metastases (OR 52.6; P < .001), and responder to chemo and targeted therapy (OR 6.1; P < .05) were significant predictors of conversion hepatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

A chemo and targeted therapy can facilitate conversion hepatectomy and allow for an excellent prognosis in patients with initially unresectable CRLM.

Liver angulometry: a simple method to estimate liver volume and ratios

OBJECTIVES

Volumetry is standard method for evaluating the volumes of the right liver (RL), left liver (LL), left lateral segments (LLS), total liver (TL) and future liver remnant (FLR). The aim of this study was to report a simple technique based on measurements of liver angles (angulometry) that can be used to predict liver ratios.

METHODS

Fifty computed tomography (CT) scans obtained in subjects with normal liver were studied. Four CT scan levels were preselected: level 1 passed by the upper part of the hepatic veins; level 2 passed by the left portal vein branch division; level 3 passed by the right portal vein branch division, and level 4 passed by the gallbladder bed. Left and right tangent lines passing the liver edges were drawn and joined to the centre of the vertebra defining the TL angle. Two lines through, respectively, the plane of the middle hepatic vein and the left portal branches determined the angles of the RL, LL and LLS. Volumetric and angulometric data obtained on levels 2 and 3 in 50 different subjects were compared.

RESULTS

Level 2 CT scans represented the most accurate way of obtaining angulometric measurements. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) angles of the TL and LL were 134 ± 12 ° and 55 ± 12 °, respectively. The mean ± SD percentages of the TL represented by the LL in angulometry and volumetry were 38 ± 7% and 36 ± 6%, respectively (non-significant difference). The mean ± SD percentages of the TL represented by the LLS in angulometry and volumetry were 25 ± 4% and 20 ± 3%, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean ± SD overestimation of the percentage of the TL represented by the LLS in angulometry was 2.7 ± 7.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Angulometry is a simple and accurate technique that can be used to estimate the ratio of the FLR to TL volume on one or two CT (or magnetic resonance imaging) slices. It can be helpful for clinicians, especially before right or extended right hepatectomy and after right portal vein occlusion techniques.

Prognostic relevance of KRAS and BRAF mutations in Japanese patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Mutations of the KRAS or BRAF genes are now recognized as prognostic markers for colorectal cancer (CRC). They are also important predictive markers for resistance to the monoclonal antibodies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, KRAS and BRAF mutations were analyzed using a direct sequence method in 254 Japanese CRC patients, and the associations between KRAS or BRAF mutations and clinicopathological characteristics or outcome were evaluated.

RESULTS

KRAS and BRAF mutations were detected in 33.5 and 6.7 % of all patients, respectively. Consistent with previous reports, BRAF mutations were significantly correlated with the anatomical site of the tumor (P < 0.001), tumor grade (P = 0.001) and high frequency of microsatellite instability (P < 0.001). BRAF mutations were correlated with poor overall survival in the full patient cohort (P = 0.009). KRAS mutations were significantly correlated with poor recurrence-free survival (P = 0.03), particularly in patients with stage II CRC (P = 0.007). Cox regression analysis showed that KRAS mutations were a negative predictor of recurrence-free survival in patients with stage II CRC.

CONCLUSION

KRAS mutation status could be a novel biomarker for predicting disease recurrence in Japanese patients with stage II CRC.