Phase 2 study of capecitabine and irinotecan combination chemotherapy (modified XELIRI regimen) in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Am J Clin Oncol. 2011;34:555-560. [PMID: 22101386 DOI: 10.1097/coc.0b013e3181f47ac1]

OncoVee™-MiniPDX-guided anticancer treatment for HER2-negative intermediate-advanced gastric cancer patients: a single-arm, open-label phase I clinical study

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy is the main treatment strategy for patients with advanced HER2-negative gastric cancer (GC); yet, many patients do not respond well to treatment. This study evaluated the sensitivity of a mini patient-derived xenograft (MiniPDX) animal model in patients with HER2-negative intermediate-advanced GC.

METHODS

In this single-arm, open-label clinical study, we consecutively recruited patients with HER2-negative advanced or recurrent GC from September 2018 to July 2021. Tumor tissues were subjected to MiniPDX drug sensitivity tests for screening individualized anti-tumor drugs; appropriate drug types or combinations were selected based on drug screening results. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and safety, and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

A total of 17 patients were screened, and 14 eligible patients were included.The median follow-up time was 9 (2-34) months. The median PFS time was 14.1 (2-34) months, the median OS time was 16.9 (2-34) months, ORR was 42.9% (6/14), and DCR was 92.9% (13/14). The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were fatigue (14 (100%)), anorexia (13 (93%)) and insomnia (12 (86%)), and the most common grade 3 or worse TRAE was fatigue (6 (43%)), and anorexia (6 (43%)). The occurrence rate of myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, abnormal liver enzymes, and other grade 3-4 chemotherapy adverse reactions were relatively low, and no grade 5 treatment-related adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

Screening HER2-negative medium-advanced GC/GJC chemotherapy regimens and targeted drugs based on MiniPDX animal models showed good tumor activity and safety.

OncoVee™-MiniPDX-Guided Anticancer Treatment for Gastric Cancer Patients With Synchronous Liver Metastases: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Background

It is estimated that 35% of gastric cancer patients appear with synchronous distant metastases—the vast majority of patients presenting with metastatic hepatic disease. How to choose the most appropriate drugs or regimens is crucial to improve the prognosis of patients. We conducted this retrospective cohort analysis to evaluate the efficacy of OncoVee™-MiniPDX-guided treatment for these patients.

Methods

Gastric cancer patients with liver metastases (GCLM) were enrolled. Patients were divided into MiniPDX and control group according to their wishes. In the observation group, the OncoVee™-MiniPDX model was conducted to screen the most sensitive drug or regimens to determine the clinical administration. Meanwhile, patients were treated with regular medications in the control group according to the guidelines without the MiniPDX model. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

A total of 68 patients with GCLM were included, with the observation and control groups of 21 and 47 patients, respectively. The baseline characteristics of patients were balanced between these two groups. MiniPDX drug sensitivity tests were associated with the increased use of targeted drugs when compared with the control group (33.3 vs. 0%, p=0.032). Median OS was estimated to be 9.4 (95% CI, 7.9–11.2) months and 7.9 (95% CI, 7.2–8.7) months in the observation and control group, respectively. Both univariate (control group vs. MiniPDX group: HR=2.586, 95% CI= 1.362–4.908, p=0.004) and multivariate regression analyses (Control group vs. MiniPDX group: adjusted HR (aHR)=4.288, 95% CI= 1.452–12.671, p=0.008) showed the superiority of the observation group on OS. Similarly, MiniPDX-based regiments significantly improve the PFS of these cases (median PFS 6.7 months vs. 4.2 months, aHR=2.773, 95% CI=1.532–3.983, p=0.029). ORR and DCR were also improved in MiniPDX group comparing with control group (ORR, 57.14 vs. 25.53%, p=0.029; DCR: 85.71 vs. 68.08%, p=0.035).

Conclusion

OncoVee™-MiniPDX model, which was used to select drugs to guide antitumor treatment, was promising to prolong survival and improve the response rate of patients with GCLM. Further well-designed studies are needed to confirm the clinical benefits of MiniPDX.

Association between MDR1 polymorphisms and XELIRI and XELOX chemoresistance in Saudi patients with colorectal cancer

Multidrug resistance member 1 (MDR1) is located on chromosome 7 and encodes P-glycoprotein, which is universally accepted as a drug resistance biomarker. MDR1 polymorphisms can alter protein expression or function, which has been previously reported to associate with various types of malignancies, such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effects of MDR1 polymorphisms on drug responses of Saudi patients with CRC. DNA samples were obtained from 62 patients with CRC and 100 healthy controls. Genotypes and allele frequencies of MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) G2677T and T1236C were determined using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure. The results showed no significant differences in the genotype distribution and allele frequency of T1236C between patients with CRC and controls. However, G2677T was found to serve a highly significant role in protecting against the progression of CRC. In addition, none of the genotypes in SNPs T1236C and G2677T was found to affect chemoresistance to XELIRI and XELOX. In conclusion, although T1236C in the MDR1 gene is not associated with CRC risk, G2677T protects against the development of CRC. Neither of the MDR1 SNPs tested were associated with the risk of chemoresistance. Therefore, these two SNPs cannot be used as molecular markers for predicting drug response in patients with CRC.

Distribution of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A polymorphisms and their role in irinotecan-induced toxicity in patients with cancer

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A1), which affects irinotecan metabolism, has been associated with severe adverse reactions in patients with cancer treated with irinotecan. However, neither large-scale analysis of the distribution of UGT1A1 polymorphisms, nor standardized assessment of how UGT1A1 polymorphisms affect irinotecan treatment has been performed in China. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of UGT1A1 polymorphisms (*28 and *6) in 2,093 Chinese patients with cancer who were treated with irinotecan from more than 15 hospitals in Shandong, to examine how the coexistence of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 alleles may be able to predict toxicities induced by irinotecan in 105 of the patients, and to search for other relevant risk factors. The distribution of the genotypes was as follows: TA6/TA6 (1,601, 76.5%), TA6/TA7 (463, 22.1%) and TA7/TA7 (29, 1.4%) for UGT1A1*28 (n=2,093); and G/G (286, 66.4%), G/A (124, 28.8%) and A/A (21, 4.9%) for UGT1A1*6 (n=431). The most frequent severe hematological toxicity was neutropenia, and the predominant non-hematological toxicities were diarrhea and cholinergic syndrome. In toxicity comparisons, grade 3-4 leukopenia and neutropenia were significantly higher in TA6/TA7 compared with TA6/TA6 (P<0.05). The UGT1A1*6 polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of severe diarrhea and total adverse drug reactions (P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that the UGT1A1*6 genotype was an independent predictor of severe diarrhea. These findings suggested that the UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 genotypes may be associated with irinotecan-induced severe toxicity, and clarified the clinical importance of UGT1A1 polymorphisms, particularly UGT1A1*6, regarding irinotecan therapy in Chinese patients.

Thymidine phosphorylase gene variant, platelet counts and survival in gastrointestinal cancer patients treated by fluoropyrimidines

The predictive value of thymidine phosphorylase gene variants (TP, also called platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor) and thrombocytosis were controversial and worthy of further study in gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) patients. We screened all of the common missense single nucleotide polymorphisms (MAF ≥ 0.1) in fluoropyrimidines (FU) pathway genes (including TP, TS, ENOSF1 and DPD). Three of them were selected and genotyped using Sequenom MassARRAY in 141 GIC patients. TP expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic significance of studied genes and platelet counts in GIC patients. Multivariate analyses indicated in rs11479-T allele carriers, platelet counts negatively correlated to overall survival. In addition, T allele of TP: rs11479 was associated with higher TP expression in cancer tissues. We suggest TP: rs11479 variant combined with platelet counts may be useful prognostic makers in GIC patients receiving first-line FU chemotherapy and thrombopoietin factor should be used with caution in the rs11479 T allele bearing patients.

Non-platinum-based chemotherapy for treatment of advanced gastric cancer: 5-fluorouracil, taxanes, and irinotecan

Despite numerous advances in treatment options, advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains a major public health issue and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Cisplatin is one of the most effective broad-spectrum anticancer drugs for AGC and a doublet combination regimen of either cisplatin-based or 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy is generally used for treatment of patients with AGC. However, there is still no consensus on the best regimen for treating AGC. Recently, various new chemotherapeutic agents, including oral 5FU, taxanes, and irinotecan, have been identified as improving the outcomes for AGC when used as a single agent or in combination with non-platinum chemotherapy. Nonetheless, it is still unclear whether non-platinum-based chemotherapy is a viable treatment option for patients with AGC. Accordingly, this review focuses on the efficacy and tolerability of non-platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with AGC.

S-1-based chemotherapy versus capecitabine-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although both oral fluoropyrimidines were reported effective and safe, doubts exist about whether S-1 or capecitabine is more advantageous in advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC). Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively compare the efficacy and safety of S-1-based chemotherapy versus capecitabine-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for AGC.

METHODS

PubMed/Medline, EmBase, Cochrane library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched for articles comparing S-1-based chemotherapy to capecitabine-based chemotherapy for AGC. Primary outcomes were overall response rate (ORR), time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), progression-free probability, and survival probability. Secondary outcomes were toxicities. Fixed-effects model were used and all the results were confirmed by random-effects model.

RESULTS

Five randomized controlled trials and five cohort studies with 821 patients were included. We found equivalent ORR (38.3% vs. 39.1%, odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-1.24, P = 0.59), TTP (harzad ratio [HR] 0.98, 95% CI 0.82-1.16, P = 0.79), OS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.87-1.13, P = 0.91), progression-free probability (3-month OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.62-1.68, P = 0.94; 6-month OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.88-2.04, P = 0.18) and survival probability (0.5-year OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.61-1.31, P =0.57; 1-year OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.70- 1.33, P = 0.84; 2-year OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.61-2.17, P = 0.66). Equivalent grade 3 to 4 hematological and non-hematological toxicities were found except hand-foot syndrome was less prominent in S-1-based chemotherapy (0.3% vs. 5.9%, OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.56, P = 0.003). There're no significant heterogeneity and publication bias. Cumulative analysis found stable time-dependent trend. Consistent results stratified by study design, age, regimen, cycle, country were observed.

CONCLUSION

S-1-based chemotherapy was associated with non-inferior antitumor efficacy and better safety profile, compared with capecitabine-based therapy. We recommended S-1 and capecitabine can be used interchangeably for AGC, at least in Asia.

SLCO1B1 and SLC19A1 gene variants and irinotecan-induced rapid response and survival: a prospective multicenter pharmacogenetics study of metastatic colorectal cancer

Background

Rapid response to chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (response within 12 weeks of chemotherapy) may increase the chance of complete resection and improved survival. Few molecular markers predict irinotecan-induced rapid response and survival. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in solute carrier genes are reported to correlate with the variable pharmacokinetics of irinotecan and folate in cancer patients. This study aims to evaluate the predictive role of 3 SNPs in mCRC patients treated with irinotecan and fluoropyrimidine-containing regimens.

Materials and Methods

Three SNPs were selected and genotyped in 137 mCRC patients from a Chinese prospective multicenter trial (NCT01282658). The chi-squared test, univariate and multivariable logistic regression model, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to evaluate correlations between the genotypes and rapid response. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the associations between genotypes and survival outcomes. Benjamini and Hochberg False Discovery Rate correction was used in multiple testing

Results

Genotype GA/AA of SNP rs2306283 of the gene SLCO1B1 and genotype GG of SNP rs1051266 of the gene SLC19A1 were associated with a higher rapid response rate (odds ratio [OR] =3.583 and 3.521, 95%CI =1.301-9.871 and 1.271-9.804, p=0.011 and p=0.013, respectively). The response rate was 70% in patients with both genotypes, compared with only 19.7% in the remaining patients (OR = 9.489, 95%CI = 2.191-41.093, Fisher's exact test p=0.002). Their significances were all maintained even after multiple testing (all p_c < 0.05). The rs2306283 GA/AA genotype was also an independent prognostic factor of longer progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio = 0.402, 95%CI = 0.171-0.945, p=0.037). None of the SNPs predicted overall survival.

Conclusions

Polymorphisms of solute carriers’ may be useful to predict rapid response to irinotecan plus fluoropyrimidine and PFS in mCRC patients.

Trial Registry

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01282658

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01282658

Helicobacter pylori: gastric cancer and extragastric intestinal malignancies

The greatest challenge in Helicobacter pylori-related diseases continues to remain prevention of gastric cancer. New evidence supports the beneficial effect of H. pylori eradication not only on prevention of gastric cancer but also on the regression of preneoplastic conditions of the gastric mucosa. Concerning early detection of gastric cancer there are still no adequate means and there is urgent need to define appropriate markers, for example, by genome-wide research approaches. Currently, the best available method is the "serologic" biopsy based on pepsinogen I and the pepsinogen I/II ratio for identification of patients with severe gastric atrophy at increased risk for gastric cancer development. The treatment of early gastric cancer by endoscopic techniques can be performed safely and efficiently, but patients need meticulous follow-up for detection of metachronous lesions. In case of advanced disease, laparoscopically assisted surgical procedures are safe and favorable compared to open surgery. Two phase III trials support the role of adjuvant systemic treatment with different regimens. Unfortunately, there is still only slow progress in the development of palliative treatment regimens or modification of the existing therapy protocols. There is accumulating evidence for a role of H. pylori infection also in colorectal carcinogenesis. Seropositive individuals are at higher risk for the development of colorectal adenomas and consequently adenocarcinomas of this anatomical region. This phenomenon can partly be attributed to the increase of serum gastrin as response to atrophic changes of the gastric mucosa.

Caplri (XelIri) Regimen for Advanced and Metastatic Colorectal or Esophogastric Cancer

The complexity of cancer chemotherapy requires pharmacists be familiar with the complicated regimens and highly toxic agents used. This column reviews various issues related to preparation, dispensing, and administration of antineoplastic therapy, and the agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.