Nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, a single institution experience

The Role of Nanoparticles in Therapy of Real-World Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: A Scoping Review

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive and fatal malignancies worldwide, posing a significant global health challenge due to its high mortality rates, late-stage diagnosis, and limited therapeutic efficacy [...].

Conditions for effective use of liposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and leucovorin in unresectable pancreatic cancer after FOLFIRINOX treatment

BACKGROUND

Liposomal irinotecan + fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI + 5FU/LV) is commonly used as a second- or later-line treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and offers survival benefits. However, its efficacy and safety in patients previously treated with FOLFIRINOX, which includes irinotecan, remain unclear. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI + 5FU/LV in patients with unresectable PDAC who received previous FOLFIRINOX therapy and those who did not.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included 42 patients with PDAC who were treated with nal-IRI + 5FU/LV (October 2020-November 2023). Patients were grouped based on prior FOLFIRINOX treatment.

RESULTS

The progression-free survival (PFS) in patients who previously received modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) therapy was shorter than that in patients who did not (2.5 vs. 3.5 months, P = 0.07). When patients with greater than- and less than the cut-off value of irinotecan-free interval (IFI) were classified into the long and short IFI groups, respectively, PFS was significantly longer in the long-IFI group than that in the short IFI group (4.0 vs. 2.1 months, P = 0.01). Moreover, the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) was also a significant predictor of PFS (P = 0.03). Furthermore, both factors were found to be independent factors influencing PFS in the univariate Cox regression analysis (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Nal-IRI + 5FU/LV therapy may be a safe and effective option as a second- or later-line treatment, particularly for patients who have not previously received mFFX therapy. For patients who received prior mFFX exposure, a longer IFI and lower CAR may indicate greater potential benefit, thus aiding in more personalized treatment approaches.

Smug1 alleviates the reproductive toxicity of 5-FU through functioning in rRNA quality control

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent whose incorporation into nucleic acid plays an essential role in its therapeutic efficacy. 5-FU induces severe reproductive toxicity, which has been shown to be reversible. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Since single-strand-selective monofunctional uracil-DNA glycosylase 1 (Smug1) is a key enzyme in the excision of 5-FU, we investigated its potential role in the reversible reproductive toxicity of 5-FU by integrating knockdown, overexpression and LC‒MS/MS approaches. 5-FU treatment increased Smug1 and Dkc1 expression but blocked rRNA maturation in preimplantation embryos. Smug1 knockdown inhibited Dkc1 expression and impaired rRNA maturation, leading to reduced preimplantation embryo development. In contrast, Smug1 overexpression alleviated the inhibitory effects of 5-FU on rRNA and oocyte maturation and partially rescued 5-FU-induced developmental defects in preimplantation embryos. LC‒MS/MS analysis further revealed that overexpression of Smug1 reduced the levels of RNA incorporated 5-FUrd, the metabolite of 5-FU, indicating that Smug1 potentially alleviates reproductive toxicity by excising 5-FU from RNA. Our findings revealed the active involvement of Smug1 in counteracting 5-FU-induced reproductive toxicity and provide valuable references for the development of new strategies to reduce the adverse effects of 5-FU.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of second- or third-line pegylated liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in Spain

Treatment with pegylated nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (folinic acid; 5-FU/LV) has demonstrated remarkable efficacy for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in clinical trials. However, real-world data on the effectiveness of nal-IRI+5-FU/LV is heterogeneous and is lacking in Spain. To assess the effectiveness and safety of nal-IRI+5-FU/LV in real-life PDAC patients in Spain. A multicenter retrospective study was conducted. Patients aged ⩾18 years who had received at least one cycle of nal-IRI+5-FU/LV as second- or third-line therapy for PDAC were included. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) from nal-IRI+5-FU/LV treatment initiation and OS from the diagnosis of metastatic disease (metOS). Overall, 200 evaluable patients were included (⩾3 metastatic sites: 22%; liver/lung metastases: 71.5%/36.9%; and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-1: 87% at nal-IRI+5FU/LV treatment initiation). Patients received a median of four cycles of nal-IRI+5FU/LV for 2.8 months (range 1.4-7.2), and the treatment was received in the second line by 80% of the patients. The median OS was 7.2 months (6- and 12-month OS rates: 58.1% and 28.9%, respectively), with 27.2% of the patients achieving OS ⩾12 months. The median metOS was 17.5 months, with 30.2% of the patients experiencing metOS ⩾ 24 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 months (6- and 12-month PFS rate: 37.6% and 15.3%, respectively). The disease control rate was 35.5%. The median CA 19-9 levels decreased by at least 50% in 28.2% of the cases during treatment. Overall, 36% of the patients experienced at least one grade 3-4 adverse event during treatment, the most common being diarrhea (42.6%) and asthenia (30.9%). This real-world study shows that treatment with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV for advanced or metastatic PDAC affords benefit in terms of survival, radiological and CA 19-9 response, and PFS comparable to that reported in the clinical trial setting with a manageable safety profile.

Head-to-head comparison of treatment sequences in advanced pancreatic cancer-Real-world data from the prospective German TPK clinical cohort study

There are no clear guidelines regarding the optimal treatment sequence for advanced pancreatic cancer, as head-to-head phase III randomised trials are missing. We assess real-world effectiveness of three common sequential treatment strategies by emulating a hypothetical randomised trial. This analysis included 1551 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer from the prospective, clinical cohort study Tumour Registry Pancreatic Cancer receiving FOLFIRINOX (n = 613) or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (GEMNAB; n = 938) as palliative first-line treatment. We used marginal structural modelling to compare overall survival (OS) and time to deterioration (TTD) of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between three common first- to second-line treatment sequences, adjusting for time-varying potential confounding. The sequences were: FOLFIRINOX→GEMNAB, GEMNAB→FOLFOX/OFF and GEMNAB→nanoliposomal irinotecan (NALIRI) + 5-fluorouracil. Outcome was also calculated stratified by patients' prognostic risk according to the Pancreatic Cancer Score. Median OS and TTD of HRQoL independent of risk were 10.7 [8.9, 11.9] and 6.4 [4.8, 7.7] months for FOLFIRINOX→GEMNAB, 8.4 [7.4, 9.7] and 5.8 [4.6, 7.1] months for GEMNAB→FOLFOX/OFF and 8.9 [7.8, 10.4] and 4.6 [4.1, 6.1] months for GEMNAB→NALIRI+5-fluorouracil. Compared to FOLFIRINOX→GEMNAB, OS and TTD were worse for poor-risk patients with GEMNAB→FOLFOX/OFF (OS: HR 2.09 [1.47, 2.98]; TTD: HR 1.97 [1.19, 3.27]) and those with GEMNAB→NALIRI+5-fluorouracil (OS: HR 1.35, [0.76, 2.39]; TTD: HR 2.62 [1.56, 4.42]). Brackets denote 95%-confidence intervals. The estimated real-world effectiveness of the three treatment sequences evaluated were largely comparable. Poor-risk patients might benefit from intensified treatment with FOLFIRINOX→GEMNAB in terms of clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Future randomised trials on sequential treatments in advanced pancreatic cancer are warranted.

Survival predictors in patients with pancreatic cancer on liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin: a multicenter observational study

Background

Approximately half of the patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) receive subsequent lines of chemotherapy. Recently, the liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) regimen is recommended as subsequent lines of chemotherapy. However, little is known about the predictive factors for the nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV regimen, especially in patients with previous irinotecan (IRI) exposure.

Objectives

We investigated the predictive factors associated with nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV treatment in patients with PDAC.

Design

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

Methods

This study included patients with advanced PDAC who received the nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV regimen for palliative purposes.

Results

Overall, 268 patients were treated with nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV. The median overall survival (OS) was 7.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.0-8.8), while the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.6 months (95% CI: 1.9-3.2). An albumin level of<4.0 g/dL, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of ⩾3.5, liver or peritoneal metastasis, and a history of >3 lines of palliative chemotherapy were associated with worse OS. An NLR of ⩾3.5 and liver metastasis were significant predictive factors for worse PFS. Previous exposure to IRI was not a significant predictor. Patients without prior IRI (no-IRI) treatment showed relatively longer OS and PFS compared to IRI responders and nonresponders, but these differences were not significant when compared specifically to the responders (OS: 8.8 vs 8.1 months, p = 0.388; PFS: 3.6 vs 2.6 months, p = 0.126).

Conclusion

An NLR of ⩾3.5 and liver metastasis were associated with worse PFS. Prior IRI exposure was not a significant predictive factor for OS and PFS, especially in IRI responders.

Safety and efficacy of liposomal irinotecan as the second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) is a novel regimen for pancreatic cancer, featuring a longer half-life and an increased area under the concentration-time curve. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of nal-IRI as a second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

A systemic literature search was conducted based on articles published before September 26th, 2023 in databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Web of Science. The fixed effects model was used to calculate the pooled mean difference for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), as well as the pooled odds ratio for the overall response rate (ORR) and the risk of adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies, including 3044 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancers, were considered eligible. The use of nal-IRI, combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, resulted in significantly improved PFS (pooled mean difference=1.01 months, 95 % confidence interval [CI]=0.97-1.05, p<0.01) and OS (pooled mean difference=0.29 months, 95 %CI=0.18-0.39, p<0.01), as well as significantly better ORR (pooled odds ratio=2.06, 95 %CI=1.30-3.27, p=0.002) compared to other second-line regimens. Nonetheless, an increased risk of grade 3 or greater neutropenia, anemia, hypokalemia, diarrhea, and vomiting was also noted.

CONCLUSION

Second-line treatments based on nal-IRI exhibited significantly improved PFS, OS, and ORR compared to other available treatments in advanced pancreatic cancer. Further research is necessary to corroborate these findings and define the role of nal-IRI in both first and later lines of therapy.

Impact of previous S-1 treatment on efficacy of liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV) provides survival benefits for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) refractory to gemcitabine-based treatment, mainly gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GA), in current practice. Gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) is another commonly administered first-line regimen before nab-paclitaxel reimbursement; however, the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV for mPDAC after failed GS treatment has not been reported and was therefore explored in this study.

METHODS

In total, 177 patients with mPDAC received first-line GS or GA treatment, followed by second-line nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV treatment (identified from a multicenter retrospective cohort in Taiwan from 2018 to 2020); 85 and 92 patients were allocated to the GS and GA groups, respectively. Overall survival (OS), time-to-treatment failure (TTF), and adverse events were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of the two groups were generally similar; however, a higher median age (67 versus 62 years, p < 0.001) and fewer liver metastases (52% versus 78%, p < 0.001) were observed in the GS versus GA group. The median OS was 15.0 and 15.9 months in the GS and GA groups, respectively (p = 0.58). The TTF (3.1 versus 2.8 months, p = 0.36) and OS (7.6 versus 6.7 months, p = 0.83) after nal-IRI treatment were similar between the two groups. More patients in the GS group developed mucositis during nal-IRI treatment (15% versus 4%, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of second-line nal-IRI +5-FU/LV treatment was unaffected by prior S-1 exposure. GS followed by nal-IRI treatment is an alternative treatment sequence for patients with mPDAC.

A multicenter retrospective observational NAPOLEON2 study of nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and folinic acid in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer

Nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and folinic acid (NFF) is a standard regimen after gemcitabine-based therapy for patients with unresectable or recurrent pancreatic cancer. However, there are limited clinical data on its efficacy and safety in the real-world. We therefore initiated a retrospective and prospective observational study (NAPOLEON-2). The results of the retrospective part were reported herein. In this retrospective study, we evaluated 161 consecutive patients who received NFF as second-or-later-line regimen. The main endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the other endpoints were response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), dose intensity, and adverse events (AEs). The median age was 67 years (range, 38-85 years). The median OS and PFS were 8.1 and 3.4 months, respectively. The objective response and disease control rates were 5% and 52%, respectively. The median relative dose intensity was 81.6% for nanoliposomal irinotecan and 82.9% for fluorouracil. Grade 3 or 4 hematological and nonhematological AEs occurred in 47 and 42 patients, respectively. Common grade 3 or 4 AEs included neutropenia (24%), anorexia (12%), and leukocytopenia (12%). Subanalysis of patients treated with second-line and third-or-later-line demonstrated no statistical significant difference in OS (7.6 months vs. 9.1 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-1.35; p = 0.68). In conclusion, NFF has acceptable efficacy and safety profile even in real-world clinical settings. The prospective study is in progress to validate these findings.

Survival outcome of different treatment sequences in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite some therapeutic advances, improvement in survival rates of unresectable and/or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been minimal over recent decade. We aimed to evaluate the impact of different treatment sequences on clinical outcomes of advanced PDAC at our academic institution.

METHODS

In this single institution retrospective analysis, we assessed characteristics and survival rates of unresectable and/or metastatic pancreatic PDAC patients who started a systemic treatment between 01/2015 and 12/2021. Survival analyses were performed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The number of 285 patients received at least two lines of treatment, but only 137 patients were suitable for third-line treatment. Subgroup analysis showed that thirty-seven patients received A line (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel combined therapy to FOLFIRINOX) therapy, 37 patients received B line (nab-paclitaxel combined therapy to gemcitabine combined therapy to FOLFIRINOX) therapy, 21 patients received C line (nab-paclitaxel combined therapy to gemcitabine combined therapy to oxaliplatin or irinotecan combined therapy) therapy. Survival rates for different treatment lines were significantly different and median overall survival (OS) was 14.00, 18.00, and 14.00 months, respectively (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides real-world evidence for the effectiveness of different treatment sequences and underscores the treatment sequences on survival outcome when considering the entire management in advanced PDAC.

Clinical outcomes of liposomal irinotecan in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan-based chemotherapy: a real-world study

Background

The efficacy of combination chemotherapy beyond the first-line setting remains modest in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC). Evidence from recent clinical studies has shown that liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) resulted in survival benefits in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (APAC) after progression on gemcitabine-based treatment. However, the survival benefits of nal-IRI in the third and later lines, in which limited options are available, have yet to be extensively studied. Also, some studies have shown conflicting results regarding the impact of prior treatment with conventional IRI on patient outcomes following treatment with nal-IRI. Therefore, this real-world study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI plus 5FU-LV in advanced PAC patients who progressed on conventional IRI-containing regimens.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted between November 2016 to December 2022 on 30 patients diagnosed with advanced PAC who completed at least one cycle of nal-IRI plus 5-FU- LV and were previously treated with conventional IRI. Data regarding survival outcomes were retrieved.

Results

Thirty patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 76.7% of the patients received at least two lines of therapy prior to nal-IRI. The median overall duration of nal-IRI treatment was 2.0 months (IQR: 1.3 - 3.9 months). One patient (3.3%) had a partial response, and seven patients (23.3%) had stable disease as their best response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months (95% CI 1.6 - 2.0) and the 6-month PFS rate was 20.0%. The median overall survival (OS) was 5.0 months (95% CI 3.4 - 7.0), and the 6-month OS rate was 36.7%. An interval between conventional IRI and nal-IRI ≥5.5 months was significantly associated with prolonged OS of 10.2 months (95% CI 3.3 - 12.1) versus 4.3 months (95% CI 2.1 - 5.9; p =0.003). Ten patients (33.3%) experienced grade 3 adverse events, most commonly nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and non-neutropenic fever.

Conclusion

Nal-IRI plus 5FU/LV had modest survival benefits and an acceptable safety profile in patients with prior conventional IRI. A longer interval between conventional IRI and nal-IRI was associated with increased survival outcomes.

A real-world analysis on the efficacy and tolerability of liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in Belgium

Background

Currently, nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) + 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/LV) is the only approved second-line treatment for patients suffering from metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). However, also other chemotherapeutic regimens are used in this setting and due to the lack of clear real-world data on the efficacy of the different regimens, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment sequence for mPDAC patients.

Objectives

To provide information on the safe and efficacious use of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV in clinical practice in Belgium, which is needed for healthcare professionals to estimate the risk-benefit ratio of the intervention.

Methods

Medical data of adult patients with mPDAC who were treated with nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV in one of the participating Belgian hospitals were retrospectively collected. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to obtain survival curves to estimate the median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). All other results were presented descriptively.

Results

A total of 56 patients [median age at diagnosis: 69 years (range 43 years), 57.1% male] were included. Patients received a median of 5 (range 49 cycles) nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV cycles, extended over 10 weeks (range 130.8 weeks). The median start dose for nal-IRI was 70 mg/m² (range 49.24 mg/m²) and chemotherapy dose reduction and delay occurred in, respectively, 42.8% and 37.5% of the patients. The median OS was 6.8 months (95% CI: 5.6-8.4 months) with a 6-month survival rate of 57.4% and a 1-year survival rate of 27.8% in the overall study population. The median OS for patients treated with nal-IRI as second-line therapy or as later-line treatment was, respectively, 6.8 months (95% CI: 5.9-7.0 months) and 5.6 months (95% CI: 4.2-no upper limit). In the overall study population, a median PFS of 3.1 months (95% CI: 2.4-4.6 months) and a disease control rate of 48.3%, comprising 30.4% stable disease, 16.1% partial and 1.8% complete response, was observed. The median PFS for patients treated with nal-IRI as second-line therapy was 3.9 months (95% CI: 2.8-4.8 months) while this was 2.4 months (95% CI: 1.9-9.1 months) for those that received nal-IRI in a later-line treatment. In terms of safety, gastrointestinal problems occurred most (64.3% of the patients) and from all reported treatment emergent adverse events, 39.2% were grade 3 or 4.

Conclusion

Nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV is a valuable, effective, and safe sequential treatment option following gemcitabine-based therapy in patients with mPDAC.

Trial details

Retrospective study on the efficacy and tolerability of liposomal irinotecan (NALIRI); ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0509506 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05095064?term=naliri&draw=2&rank=2).

The role of nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin in the continuum of care of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The NAPOLI-I trial showed better outcome of nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) compared to 5-FU/LV in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (advPDAC) progressed to gemcitabine-based therapy. This study aims to explore the real-world efficacy and safety of 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective multicenter analysis including advPDAC patients receiving 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI after failure of gemcitabine-based therapy. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate analyses by Cox regression.

RESULTS

A total of 296 patients (median age 64.4 years, ECOG PS ≥1 in 56% of cases) were treated at 11 Italian institutions between 2016 and 2018. 34% of them underwent primary tumor resection, and 79% received gemcitabine-nabpaclitaxel as first line. 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI was administered as second-line in 73% of cases. Objective response and disease control rate were 12% and 41%, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated with dose reductions in 50% of patients but no one permanent discontinuation; the commonest grade ≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (14%) and diarrhea (12%). Median PFS and OS from 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI initiation was 3.2 and 7.1 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These real-world data confirm the 5-FU/LV-nal-IRI efficacy and safety in advPDAC patients progressed to gemcitabine-based therapy, with outcomes comparable to NAPOLI-1, even in a less-selected population and with more modern therapeutic algorithm.

Roles of lncRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis, treatment, and the development of drug resistance

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, primarily due to its late diagnosis, high propensity to metastasis, and the development of resistance to chemo-/radiotherapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are intimately involved in the treatment resistance of pancreatic cancer cells via interacting with critical signaling pathways and may serve as potential diagnostic/prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in PDAC.

DATA SOURCES

We carried out a systematic review on lncRNAs-based research in the context of pancreatic cancer and presented an overview of the updated information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNAs-modulated pancreatic cancer progression and drug resistance, together with their potential value in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of PDAC. Literature mining was performed in PubMed with the following keywords: long non-coding RNA, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer up to January 2022. Publications relevant to the roles of lncRNAs in diagnosis, prognosis, drug resistance, and therapy of PDAC were collected and systematically reviewed.

RESULTS

LncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, HOTTIP, and PVT1, play essential roles in regulating pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance, thus may serve as potential diagnostic/prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in PDAC. They participate in tumorigenesis mainly by targeting miRNAs, interacting with signaling molecules, and involving in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional lncRNAs play essential roles in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance and have potential values in diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and treatment of PDAC.

Prior irinotecan exposure does not preclude benefit to liposomal irinotecan in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Subgroup analyses of the NAPOLI-1 study identified that among patients who were irinotecan naïve prior to entering the clinical trial, a survival benefit was observed between the study arm and control arm. This treatment benefit was not observed among those previously exposed to irinotecan. This study sought to understand the impact of prior exposure to irinotecan on clinical outcomes among patients treated with liposomal irinotecan in the real-world setting.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study utilized a nationwide electronic health record (EHR)-derived deidentified database. Data for adult patients with mPDAC treated with liposomal irinotecan-based regimens between January 2016 and October 2020 were analyzed. Patient characteristics, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed. Cox proportional hazard methods were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs). HRs were adjusted for demographics and relevant clinical covariates.

RESULTS

Six hundred and seventy-five patients with mPDAC treated with a liposomal irinotecan-based regimen were included. The unadjusted OS HR was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1-1.6, p < 0.001) and unadjusted PFS was HR 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2-1.7, p < 0.001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the adjusted OS HR was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.8-1.3, p = 0.8836) and the adjusted PFS HR was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.8-1.4, p = 0.5626).

CONCLUSIONS

Prior irinotecan was not found to be a significant predictor of patient outcomes in those later treated with liposomal irinotecan. Thus, the results may inform the rationale for utilizing liposomal irinotecan combination therapy following prior irinotecan exposure in mPDAC, in particular where the prior irinotecan exposure was more distant in time.

Formulation Development of Doxycycline-Loaded Lipid Nanocarriers using Microfluidics by QbD Approach

Liposomes have been used to improve therapeutic efficacy of drugs by increasing their bioavailability and altering biodistribution. The loading capacity of small molecules in liposomes remains a critical issue. Besides, the manufacturing process of liposomes requires multi-step procedures which hinders the clinical development. In this study, we developed a promising lipid-based nanocarriers (LN) delivery system for hydrophilic charged compounds using doxycycline (Doxy) as a model drug. This Doxy-loaded lipid nanocarrier (LN-Doxy) was fabricated by microfluidic technology. Design of experiments (DoE) was constructed to outline the interactions among the critical attributes of formulation, the parameters of microfluidic systems and excipient compositions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was furthered used for the optimization of LN-Doxy formulation. The LN-Doxy developed in this study showed high drug to lipid ratio and uniform distribution of particle size. Compared to Doxy solution, this LN-Doxy has reduced in vitro cellular toxicity and significant therapeutic efficacy which was verified in a peritonitis animal model. These results show the feasibility of using microfluidic technology combined with QbD approach to develop the LN formulation with high loading efficiency for ionizable hydrophilic drugs.

Systemic Therapy for Patients With Pancreatic Cancer: Current Approaches and Opportunities for Novel Avenues Toward Precision Medicine

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis with a 5-year overall survival of 11%. The disease is usually diagnosed at advanced stages, and systemic chemotherapy is the standard-of-care treatment for the majority of patients with PDAC. Although novel treatment options, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have achieved substantial progress leading to practice-changing results, with FDA approvals for several solid tumors so far, the progress achieved for PDAC is relatively limited. Recent studies uncovered potential therapeutic targets for patients with PDAC, and potential therapeutic opportunities are currently being further examined. Herein, we review recent advances in systemic therapy regimens, including cytotoxic agents, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and novel therapeutic options for managing patients with PDAC. We also elaborate on molecular profiling to guide treatment and existing therapeutic opportunities that may further advance the clinical care of patients with this devastating disease.

Second-line and third-line therapy with nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) in pancreatic cancer: a single-center experience and review of literature

Background

Prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer is still extremely poor. First-line palliative therapies with FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel have been established in the last decade. In the second-line, 5-FU/LV in combination with nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) after gemcitabine has been shown to be effective. However, the use of nal-IRI as third-line therapy after FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine-based chemotherapies is still controversial. In this study, we report about the use of 5-FU/LV + nal-IRI in a daily practice and analyze whether nal-IRI is an option as third-line therapy after FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel.

Methods

This is a single center retrospective analysis of patients with irresectable pancreatic cancer who were treated with 5-FU/LV and nal-IRI from 2017 to 2021 as second- or third-line palliative treatment. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity were analyzed, and multivariate analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors.

Results

Twenty-nine patients receiving 5-FU/LV and nal-IRI were included in the analysis. The majority of patients (n=19) received 5-FU/nal-IRI as third-line therapy after pre-exposition to FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. Median OS and PFS were 9.33 months (95% CI: 3.37, 15.30) and 2.90 months (95% CI: 1.64, 4.16), respectively. Furthermore, patients receiving nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV as third-line treatment also showed some benefits, with no OS difference compared to second-line patients (9.33 vs. 10.27 months; HR: 1.85; 95% CI: 0.64, 5.41; P=0.253). Adverse effects were similar to reported trials.

Conclusions

In our study, the use of 5-FU/nal-IRI in unselected patients with advanced pancreatic cancer showed similar OS, PFS and tolerance as randomized prospective phase II/III trials. Interestingly, the use of 5-FU/nal-IRI seemed to be beneficial in third-line therapy, despite a pre-exposure to non-liposomal irinotecan.

Real-World Data Validation of NAPOLI-1 Nomogram for the Prediction of Overall Survival in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

The nomogram derived from the pivotal phase III NAPOLI-1 study demonstrated a significant ability to predict median overall survival (OS) in gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treated with liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil and leucovorin (nal-IRI+5-FU/LV). However, the NAPOLI-1 nomogram has not been validated in a real-world setting and therefore the applicability of the NAPOLI-1 nomogram in daily practice remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the NAPOLI-1 nomogram in a multicenter real-world cohort.

METHODS

The NAPOLI-1 nomogram was applied to a previously established cohort of metastatic PDAC patients treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV in nine participating centers in Taiwan. Patients were divided into three risk groups according to the NAPOLI-1 nomogram. The survival impact of relative dose intensity at 6 weeks (RDI at 6 weeks) in different risk groups was also investigated.

RESULTS

Of the 473 included patients, the median OSs of patients classified as low (n = 156), medium (n = 186), and high (n = 131) risk were 10.9, 6.3, and 4.3 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). The survival impact of RDI at 6 weeks remained significant after stratification by risk groups, adjustment with Cox regression, inverse probability weighting, or propensity score matching.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the usefulness of the NAPOLI-1 nomogram for risk stratification in gemcitabine-refractory metastatic PDAC treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV in daily practice. We further showed that the RDI at 6 weeks is an independent prognostic factor beyond the NAPOLI-1 nomogram.

Second-line treatment options for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this review was to characterize the second- and later-line (≥2L) treatment landscape for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

METHODS

This systematic literature review (PROSPERO: CRD42021279753) involved searches of MEDLINE® and Embase to identify results from prospective studies of ≥2L treatment options for metastatic pancreatic cancer published from 2016 to 2021. Publications were screened according to predetermined eligibility criteria; population-level data were extracted using standardized data fields. Publication quality was assessed according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). The data were analyzed descriptively, grouped by drug class.

RESULTS

Sixty publications were identified, including 23 relating to comparative trials. GRADE assessment found that, of these 23 trials, 83% reported high or moderate-quality evidence. Of the publications relating to comparative trials, nine (three trials) reported favorable results: the pivotal phase 3 NAPOLI-1 trial for liposomal irinotecan; a phase 3 trial of non-liposomal irinotecan within the FOLFIRINOX regimen; and a phase 2 trial of eryaspase plus chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of unmet need for ≥2L treatment options for mPDAC remains high. Irinotecan-based regimens currently offer the greatest promise. Investigations into paradigm-changing agents and combination approaches continue.

Nanotechnology in Lung Cancer Therapeutics: A Narrative Review

To date, cancer continues to be one of the biggest challenges for medical science. Nanotechnology has enabled us to overcome some of the limitations of conventional treatment in lung cancer therapeutics. Recently, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved certain nanomedicines for clinical administration against lung cancer. This article presents a narrative review of approved nanomedicines in lung cancer with a special focus on the results of recently concluded and ongoing clinical trials. The limitations associated with using nanomaterials as anti-lung cancer therapeutic agents and the possible mechanisms to overcome these limitations are also discussed.

Topoisomerase I poisons-induced autophagy: Cytoprotective, Cytotoxic or Non-protective

Topoisomerase I inhibitors represent a widely used class of antineoplastic agents that promote both single-stranded and double-stranded breaks in the DNA of tumor cells, leading to tumor cell death. Topotecan and irinotecan are the clinically relevant derivatives of the parent drug, camptothecin. As is the case with many if not most anticancer agents, irinotecan and topotecan promote autophagy. However, whether the autophagy is cytotoxic, cytoprotective, or non-protective is not clearly defined, and may depend largely upon the genetic background of the tumor cell being investigated. This review explores the available literature regarding the nature of the autophagy induced by these clinically utilized topoisomerase I inhibitors in preclinical tumor models with the goal of determining whether the targeting of autophagy might have potential as a therapeutic strategy to enhance the antitumor response and/or overcome drug resistance.

Liposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and leucovorin after gemcitabine-based therapy in Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: additional safety analysis of a randomized phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) was recently authorized in Japan for unresectable pancreatic cancer after disease progression following chemotherapy. Physicians now consider certain aspects of nal-IRI safety profile as slightly different from conventional irinotecan. This report aims to explore additional aspects of the nal-IRI safety in Japanese phase 2 study.

METHODS

We analyzed the incidence, time to first onset, and time to resolution for adverse events that require special attention and other selected toxicities in the nal-IRI combination group (n = 46).

RESULTS

Leukopenia/neutropenia (76.1%/71.7%), diarrhea (58.7%) and hepatic dysfunction (41.3%) were the most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events, with a median time to onset of 21.0 days (range: 8, 97), 9.0 days (1, 61) and 22.0 days (2, 325), respectively, and a median time to resolution of 8.0 days (95% confidence intervals: 8, 9), 4.0 days (4, 8) and 40.0 days (9, -), respectively. Eight patients experienced Grade ≥ 3 diarrhea and their symptoms were well controlled by dose modification except one patient who had drug withdrawal. The median time to resolution for Grade ≥ 3 and Grade ≤ 2 diarrhea was 17.5 days (95% confidence intervals: 1, 31) and 4 days (3, 7), respectively. Anorexia occurred in 28/46 patients (60.9%) with a median time to onset of 4.0 days (range: 2, 132) and a median time to resolution of 12.0 days (95% confidence intervals: 6, 26).

CONCLUSIONS

We explored safety profile of nal-IRI combination regimen recognized as effective and tolerable treatment for Japanese unresectable pancreatic cancer patients. Although the treatment-emergent adverse events occurred were controllable, patients with prolonged toxicities should be closely managed.

The impact of starting dose with or without subsequent dose escalation of liposomal irinotecan on treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) improves survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after progression to gemcitabine-based therapy. Few studies have examined whether the starting dose and dose escalation of nal-IRI in subsequent treatment cycles may influence patient outcomes and toxicity profiles. A total of 667 patients who received nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV for PDAC treatment between August 2018 and November 2020 at nine medical centers in Taiwan were included and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were allocated to the standard starting dose (SD), reduced starting dose (RD) without escalation, and RD with escalation of nal-IRI groups for comparison of survival outcome and safety. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to adjust for possible confounding variables. Nal-IRI was prescribed at SD, RD without escalation, and RD with escalation in 465 (69.7%), 147 (22.0), and 55 (8.2%), respectively. RD with escalation patients had significantly longer treatment cycles (6, range 2-25) than SD (5, range 1-42, P<0.001) and RD without escalation patients (4, range 1-26, P<0.001). The median overall survival (OS) of the patients were as follows: SD, 6.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-6.7); RD with escalation, 7.6 months (95% CI, 6.1-9.2); and RD without escalation, 3.6 months (95% CI, 2.6-4.5). After PSM to adjust for potential confounders, RD without escalation patients still had the poorest OS compared to the other two groups (P<0.001), while the OS difference between SD and RD with escalation patients was insignificant (P=0.10). SD patients had higher incidences of ≥ grade 3 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia than the other two groups. Administering nal-IRI at RD followed by dose escalation in subsequent treatment cycles is safe and does not compromise survival outcomes in selected patients with PDAC receiving nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV.

Marine-Inspired Drugs and Biomaterials in the Perspective of Pancreatic Cancer Therapies

Despite its low prevalence, pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest, typically characterised as silent in early stages and with a dramatically poor prognosis when in its advanced stages, commonly associated with a high degree of metastasis. Many efforts have been made in pursuing innovative therapeutical approaches, from the search for new cytotoxic drugs and other bioactive compounds, to the development of more targeted approaches, including improved drug delivery devices. Marine biotechnology has been contributing to this quest by providing new chemical leads and materials originating from different organisms. In this review, marine biodiscovery for PC is addressed, particularly regarding marine invertebrates (namely sponges, molluscs, and bryozoans), seaweeds, fungi, and bacteria. In addition, the development of biomaterials based on marine-originating compounds, particularly chitosan, fucoidan, and alginate, for the production of advanced cancer therapies, is also discussed. The key role that drug delivery can play in new cancer treatments is highlighted, as therapeutical outcomes need to be improved to give further hope to patients.

Impact of first-line FOLFIRINOX versus Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel chemotherapy on survival in advanced pancreatic cancer: Evidence from the prospective international multicentre PURPLE pancreatic cancer registry

BACKGROUND

First-line palliative chemotherapy regimens in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have not been compared in head-to-head phase III randomised controlled trials (RCT). Data on optimum first-line treatment and subsequent sequencing is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To compare overall survival (OS) between first-line treatment regimens in a real-world population to determine if an optimal therapeutic sequence is associated with survival benefit.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collated data from the Australasian PURPLE pancreatic cancer registry was undertaken.

FINDINGS

From 2016 to 2020, of 1551 pancreatic cancer patients, 615 received palliative-intent chemotherapy. Patients with early-stage resected disease without recurrence (n = 369), radiotherapy alone (n = 43), received supportive care alone (n = 458) or had less than 3 months follow-up (n = 66) were excluded. Median OS was comparable between patients receiving first-line Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel (n = 376) and those receiving FOLFIRINOX (n = 73) (11.3 versus 12.3 months, P = 0.37), with 38% proceeding to second-line chemotherapy which was associated with longer mOS compared to first-line treatment alone (17.4 versus 8.2 months, P &lt; 0.001). With second-line treatment following prior FOLFIRINOX (n = 29) or Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel (n = 101), mOS did not differ significantly (17.3 versus 15.9 months, P = 0.92), respectively, whilst median progression-free survival was longer with prior FOLFIRINOX (5.2 versus 2.9 months, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference in overall survival between either first-line chemotherapy choice, despite patients receiving FOLFIRINOX being younger, fitter, and more likely to have localised disease. However, FOLFIRINOX was associated with delayed progression. In the absence of phase III RCT data, clinicians should be comfortable using either Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel or FOLFIRINOX as first-line therapy in advanced PDAC.

Predictive value of albumin combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for efficacy and safety profiles in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma receiving liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin

Liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV) treatment has demonstrated survival benefits but noticeable side effects in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that is refractory to gemcitabine-based therapy. This study aimed to explore whether combining albumin with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), herein known as the albumin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio score (ANS), could be utilized as a simple tool to predict survival and safety profiles in such patient groups. We retrospectively enrolled 434 consecutive PDAC patients treated with nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV between 2018 and 2020 at nine medical centers in Taiwan. Patients were divided into three groups: ANS 0 (high albumin and low NLR), ANS 1 (low albumin or high NLR), and ANS 2 (low albumin and high NLR), for comparison. The median overall survival times for the ANS 0, 1, and 2 groups were 8.7 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.0-10.3 months), 5.2 months (95% CI, 4.3-6.0 months), and 2.6 months (95% CI, 1.9-3.3 months), respectively. The ANS was found to be an independent variable for overall survival and time-to-treatment failure in multivariate analyses. Patients in the ANS 2 group had significantly higher incidences of grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events than those in the other two groups. The present study showed that the ANS was an independent prognosticator in PDAC patients receiving nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV therapy. The ANS can be a simple predictor of survival outcome and safety profiles in PDAC patients treated with nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV.

Treatment Effect and Safety of Nanoliposomal Irinotecan with Fluorouracil and Folinic Acid after Gemcitabine-Based Therapy in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter, Prospective Observational Study

Although the combination of nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (nal-IRI/FF) exhibited survival benefits in gemcitabine-refractory patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) in the phase III NAPOLI-1 trial, there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of this regimen in real-world settings in Japan. This multicenter, prospective observational study enrolled patients with APC who received nal-IRI/FF after a gemcitabine-based regimen from July 2020 to June 2021. We collected and analyzed clinical data and conducted survival and multivariate analyses. Thirty-one (78%) of the 40 patients had metastases. Nal-IRI/FF was the second-line therapy in 36 patients (90%). The median duration was 3.2 months. The disease control rate was 57%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 4.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8−5.5) and 7.4 months (95% CI: 5.1−10.6), respectively. Common ≥grade 3 toxicities included neutropenia (28%) and fatigue (23%). Fatigue led to treatment discontinuation in 6 out of 10 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 4 was a significant risk factor for a short OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.21−7.85, p = 0.02). In conclusion, nal-IRI/FF is an appropriate treatment option for APC following gemcitabine-containing regimens.

Dosing Pattern and Early Cumulative Dose of Liposomal Irinotecan in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Real-World Multicenter Study

Introduction

This multicenter, real-world cohort study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early cumulative dose administration and dosing pattern of liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI+5-FU/LV) in patients with gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

Material and Methods

The electronic medical records of mPDAC patients treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV in nine participating centers were manually reviewed. To accommodate to the NAPOLI-1 study population, only patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score of 0–1 were included. The survival impact of the relative 6-week cumulative dose and dosing pattern (standard vs. reduced starting dose, with and without further dose modification) were investigated.

Results

Of the 473 included patients, their median overall survival (mOS) was 6.8 [95% CI, 6.2–7.7] months. The mOS of patients who received a relative 6-week cumulative dose of &gt;80%, 60%–80%, and &lt;60% were 7.9, 8.2, and 4.3 months, respectively (p&lt;0.0001). Their survival impact remained significant after covariate adjustment using Cox regression. The mOS was 8.0–8.2 months in patients with a standard starting dose with and without early dose modification, and 9.3 and 6.7 months in those who had a reduced starting dose with and without escalation in the subsequent treatment, respectively. The incidence of grade 3–4 neutropenia and diarrhea was 23.3% and 2.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results support the use of nal-IRI+5-FU/LV in gemcitabine-refractory mPDAC and suggest that a lower starting dose followed by a re-escalation strategy could achieve clinical outcomes comparable to those with standard starting doses in real-world practice.

Effect of previous conventional irinotecan treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer being treated with liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested the suboptimal efficacy of liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI+5-FU/LV) in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan. This study investigated the effect of conventional irinotecan treatment in mPDAC patients receiving nal-IRI+5-FU/LV by analyzing a population-based dataset.

METHODS

We reviewed 667 consecutive mPDAC patients treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV between August 2018 and November 2020 at Taiwanese medical centers. Eighty-six patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan were matched to 86 patients not treated with conventional irinotecan, following propensity matching for age, sex, performance status, metastatic organ site, pre-treatment carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level, lines of prior chemotherapy treatment, and time from first-line treatment to nal-IRI+5-FU/LV therapy.

RESULTS

The median overall survival and time-to-treatment failure were 4.8 and 2.6 vs 4.1 and 2.1 months, respectively, for patients who were and were not previously treated with conventional irinotecan. The tumor response and disease control rates were 5.8% and 32.6% vs 5.8% and 37.2%, respectively, for patients previously treated and not treated with conventional irinotecan. No significant differences were observed in survival times and tumor response rates between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous conventional irinotecan treatment does not compromise the efficacy of subsequent nal-IRI+5-FU/LV treatment in mPDAC patients.

Reproductive and developmental toxicities of 5-fluorouracil in model organisms and humans

Chemotherapy, as an important clinical treatment, has greatly enhanced survival in cancer patients, but the side effects and long-term sequelae bother both patients and clinicians. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the clinical treatment of various cancers, but several studies showed its adverse effects on reproduction. Reproductive toxicity of 5-FU often associates with developmental block, malformation and ovarian damage in the females. In males, 5-FU administration alters the morphology of sexual organs, the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones and the progression of spermatogenesis, ultimately reducing sperm numbers. Mechanistically, 5-FU exerts its effect through incorporating the active metabolites into nucleic acids directly, or inhibiting thymidylate synthase to disrupt the function of DNA and RNA, leading to profound effects on cellular metabolism and viability. However, some studies suggested that the toxicity of 5-FU on reproduction is reversible and certain drugs used in combination with 5-FU during chemotherapy could protect reproductive systems from 5-FU damage both in females and males. Herein, we summarise the recent findings and discuss underlying mechanisms of the 5-FU-induced reproductive toxicity, providing a reference for future research and clinical treatments.

Interaction of a conical carbon scaffold with the thio-substituted model of fluorouracil towards approaching the drug delivery purposes

A representative FeN4-doped conical carbon (C) scaffold was investigated for participating in interactions with the thio-substituted fluorouracil (SFU) anticancer drug by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In this regard, all possible relaxation configurations of SFU at the doped tip of C scaffold were examined, in which three models were obtained including one horizontal relaxation configuration (FC1) and two vertical relaxation configurations (FC2 and FC3). The results indicate the highest stability and strength for FC1 model. Examining formations and strengths of interactions showed two medium strength interactions in each of FC1, FC2, and FC3 models. Moreover, the evaluated electronic molecular orbitals features indicated availability of sensor function for the proposed C scaffold towards the interacting SFU substance. As a consequence, the models were determined to work in dual functions of sensor and carrier towards drug delivery purpose of SFU anticancer drug.

A real-world analysis of nanoliposomal-irinotecan with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid as third- or later-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background:

Nanoliposomal encapsulation of irinotecan (nal-IRI) with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) has shown a survival benefit for gemcitabine-pretreated patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPAC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nal-IRI with 5-FU/LV for use beyond second-line treatment after standard frontline therapy for mPAC.

Method:

This multicenter, retrospective, non-comparative observational study included mPAC patients who received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV as third- or later-line therapy after disease progression on first-line FOLFIRINOX (FFX) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel.

Results:

In all, 128 patients who received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV beyond second-line treatment between October 2017 and July 2021 were analyzed. Most patients (82%) received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV as a third-line treatment. The median overall survival (OS) was 4.9 months and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.4 months. Patients with better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status experienced significantly longer OS (ECOG 0, 8.7 months; ECOG 1, 4.8 months; ECOG 2, 2.9 months; p < 0.001) and PFS (3.9 months; 2.1 months; 1.5 months; p = 0.019). Patients who had not been previously treated with FFX or had a time to progression of 7 months or more on FFX experienced longer OS and PFS than those who did not (6.1 months and 5.6 versus 4.1 months, p = 0.053; 3.6 months and 2.4 versus 2.1 months, p = 0.002). The most common adverse events were neutropenia (56%) and anemia (51%).

Conclusion:

Our real-world data indicated that nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV can be effective not only as second-line therapy, but also as third-line or later-line treatment in selected patients. Nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV may be particularly beneficial for the survival of patients that maintain good general condition or those with favorable prior experience to irinotecan.

Liposomal irinotecan pre-emptive dose reduction in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: 667 patients' experience within a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) is currently the standard second-line treatment for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after previous failed gemcitabine-based therapy. This population-based study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV and the association of pre-emptive nal-IRI dosing with treatment outcomes in patients with PDAC.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled a total of 667 consecutive patients with PDAC who received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV treatment between August 2018 and November 2020 at 9 medical centers in Taiwan. Patients were allocated into groups according to pre-emptive nal-IRI dosing (⩾75%, 50-74%, <50%) for comparison of treatment efficacy and safety.

RESULTS

The median overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) were 5.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.3-6.5] and 2.8 months (95% CI, 2.6-3.0), respectively. The median OS was 6.5 months (95% CI, 5.7-6.7), 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.4-6.5), and 4.1 months (95% CI, 2.7-5.6), respectively, among the ⩾75%, 50-74%, and <50% pre-emptive nal-IRI dosing groups, whereas the median TTF of the three groups was 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.6-3.4), 2.6 months (95% CI, 2.3-2.9), and 1.9 months (95% CI, 1.6-2.2), respectively. Pre-emptive nal-IRI dosing <50% was an independent negative prognostic factor for OS and TTF in multivariate analyses. The most common severe adverse events were neutropenia (22.9%), anemia (21.1%), and hypokalemia (15.4%). Patients in the <50% pre-emptive nal-IRI dosing group had a significantly lower incidence of neutropenia and non-neutropenic infection than those in the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results support the use of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV as standard clinical practice for treating patients with PDAC based on this large population-based study. Our findings encourage physicians to provide adequate doses of nal-IRI in order to achieve better outcomes without compromising safety profiles.

Berberine Improves Irinotecan-Induced Intestinal Mucositis Without Impairing the Anti-colorectal Cancer Efficacy of Irinotecan by Inhibiting Bacterial β-glucuronidase

Irinotecan (CPT11), a broad-spectrum cytotoxic anticancer agent, induces a series of toxic side-effects. The most conspicuous side-effect is gastrointestinal mucositis, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. A growing body of evidence indicates that bacteria β-glucuronidase (GUS), an enzyme expressed by intestinal microbiota, converts the inactive CPT11 metabolite SN38G to the active metabolite SN38 to ultimately induce intestinal mucositis. We sought to explore the potential efficacy and underlying mechanisms of berberine on CPT11-induced mucositis. Our study showed that berberine (50 mg/kg; i. g.) mitigated the CPT11-induced loss of mucosal architecture, ulceration, and neutrophil infiltration. Meanwhile, berberine improved mucosal barrier function by increasing the number of globlet cells, protecting trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), reducing permeability and increasing tight junction proteins expression. LC-MS analysis showed that berberine decreased the content of SN38 in feces, which correlated with decreases in both GUS activity and GUS-producing bacteria. Further molecular docking and Lineweaver-Burk plots analyses suggested that berberine functions as a potential non-competitive inhibitor against GUS enzyme. Of note, berberine maintained the anti-tumor efficacy of CPT11 in a tumor xenograft model while abrogating the intestinal toxicity of CPT11. Overall, we identified for the first time the remission effects of berberine on intestinal mucositis induced by CPT11 without impairing the anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of CPT11 partially via inhibiting bacterial GUS enzyme.

Nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil and folinic acid as a second-line treatment option in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

According to the NAPOLI-1 trial, nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/LV) showed improved overall survival compared to fluorouracil alone for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who were previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy. In that trial, Asian patients had frequent dose modification due to haematological toxicity. There has been limited information on the clinical benefits and toxicity of this regimen in real-world settings. In this study, we assessed real-world experience of nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer after gemcitabine failure.

METHODS

We conducted a single institution, retrospective analysis of response, survival and safety in patients who had been treated with nal-IRI with 5-FU/LV. Patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy received nal-IRI (80 mg/m2) with 5-FU/LV every 2 weeks. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to obtain median progression free survival and median overall survival. The hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using a stratified Cox regression model. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify the effects of clinical factors.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV between January 2015 and December 2020. The median age was 67 years, and males were 58.8%. A total of 40 (78.4%) and 11 (21.6%) patients had received one and two lines of prior chemotherapy before enrollment, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 2.8 months (95% CI 1.8-3.7) and median overall survival was 7.0 months (95% CI 6.0-7.9). Chemotherapy doses were reduced or delayed in 33 (64.7%) patients during the first 6 weeks and median relative dose intensity was 0.87. Thirty-six (70.6%) patients experienced grade 3 or 4 adverse events, most commonly neutropenia (58.8%). Most non-haematologic adverse events were under grade 2. Since the start of first-line chemotherapy, median overall survival was 16.3 months (95% CI 14.1-18.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV seems to be effective, with manageable toxicities, following gemcitabine-based treatment in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV following gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel is a feasible sequential treatment option in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered.

Microbiota-Host-Irinotecan Axis: A New Insight Toward Irinotecan Chemotherapy

Irinotecan (CPT11) and its active metabolite ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN38) are broad-spectrum cytotoxic anticancer agents. Both cause cell death in rapidly dividing cells (e.g., cancer cells, epithelial cells, hematopoietic cells) and commensal bacteria. Therefore, CPT11 can induce a series of toxic side-effects, of which the most conspicuous is gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Studies have shown that the gut microbiota modulates the host response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Targeting the gut microbiota influences the efficacy and toxicity of CPT11 chemotherapy through three key mechanisms: microbial ecocline, catalysis of microbial enzymes, and immunoregulation. This review summarizes and explores how the gut microbiota participates in CPT11 metabolism and mediates host immune dynamics to affect the toxicity and efficacy of CPT11 chemotherapy, thus introducing a new concept that is called "microbiota-host-irinotecan axis". Also, we emphasize the utilization of bacterial β-glucuronidase-specific inhibitor, dietary interventions, probiotics and strain-engineered interventions as emergent microbiota-targeting strategies for the purpose of improving CPT11 chemotherapy efficiency and alleviating toxicity.

Report from the 21st Annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference; Calgary, Alberta; 20-21 September 2019

The 21st annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WCGCCC) was held in Calgary, Alberta, 20-21 September 2019. The WCGCCC is an interactive multi-disciplinary conference attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and allied health care professionals such as dietitians and nurses participated in presentation and discussion sessions to develop the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancers.

Investigating the Application of Liposomes as Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Chemotherapy is the routine treatment for cancer despite the poor efficacy and associated off-target toxicity. Furthermore, therapeutic doses of chemotherapeutic agents are limited due to their lack of tissue specificity. Various developments in nanotechnology have been applied to medicine with the aim of enhancing the drug delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. One of the successful developments includes nanoparticles which are particles that range between 1 and 100 nm that may be utilized as drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer as they overcome the issues associated with chemotherapy; they are highly efficacious and cause fewer side effects on healthy tissues. Other nanotechnological developments include organic nanocarriers such as liposomes which are a type of nanoparticle, although they can deviate from the standard size range of nanoparticles as they may be several hundred nanometres in size. Liposomes are small artificial spherical vesicles ranging between 30 nm and several micrometres and contain one or more concentric lipid bilayers encapsulating an aqueous core that can entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Liposomes are biocompatible and low in toxicity and can be utilized to encapsulate and facilitate the intracellular delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as they are biodegradable and have reduced systemic toxicity compared with free drugs. Liposomes may be modified with PEG chains to prolong blood circulation and enable passive targeting. Grafting of targeting ligands on liposomes enables active targeting of anticancer drugs to tumour sites. In this review, we shall explore the properties of liposomes as drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Moreover, we shall discuss the various synthesis and functionalization techniques associated with liposomes including their drug delivery, current clinical applications, and toxicology.

Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Liposomal Irinotecan

Background

The NAPOLI-1 trial demonstrated that liposomal irinotecan in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) prolonged survival with a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy. Real-world data on clinical outcomes associated with liposomal irinotecan in NAPOLI-1-based regimens is needed to further substantiate this.

Methods

This real-world, retrospective chart review study included patients with mPDAC who received NAPOLI-1-based regimens from six academic centers in the United States. Liposomal irinotecan initiation defined the index date. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed with Kaplan-Meier methodology.

Results

There were 374 patients evaluated; median age was 68 years, and 51% were female. Among 326 patients with baseline ECOG information, approximately 74% had ECOG score <2. Liposomal irinotecan was administered as a doublet with 5-FU in a NAPOLI-1-based regimen in the first line (1L; 16%), 2L (42%), and 3L+ (42%) of the metastatic setting. For patients treated in 1L, 2L, and 3L+, median [95% confidence interval (CI)] OS was 8.0 [5.1, 11.2], 7.3 [5.3, 8.8], and 4.6 [4.0, 5.7] months, and median [95% CI] PFS was 4.2 [2.2, 6.6], 3.0 [2.6, 3.7], and 2.0 [1.7, 2.2] months, respectively.

Conclusions

Patients in a real-world setting treated with NAPOLI-1-based liposomal irinotecan doublet regimens at academic centers were older with poorer performance status compared to trial patients yet had similar outcomes and efficacy. Furthermore, liposomal irinotecan was frequently used in the 3L+ setting where no treatment has been approved and provided clinical benefit.

Efficacy and tolerability of the combination of nano-liposomal irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: post-approval clinic experience

Background

Nano-liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) is the regimen of choice in the 2^nd line setting for advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC). However, real-world data is limited. Our objectives were to elicit the real-word effectiveness and safety of this combination as an advanced line of therapy in pancreatic cancer patients and analyze the impact of prior lines of therapy on survival outcomes with this regimen.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 58 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic PAC, who were treated with at least one dose of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV following cancer progression on prior therapies between August 2015 and December 2018 at the Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Results

Median OS was 5.4 (range, 4.2-7) months. Disease control rate (DCR) was highest (84%) for patients given nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV as 2^nd line agent after progression on a 1^st line gemcitabine-based regimen. However, no significant survival difference was observed between those given nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV after 1^st line or beyond the 2^nd line (P=0.17). Among those given nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV as 2^nd line, use of gemcitabine-inclusive chemotherapy as the 1^st line agent did not impact survival (P=0.68). Prior irinotecan exposure and baseline CA 19-9 level did not affect the overall survival (OS) but patients with a higher CA 19-9 level had a significant risk of progression (HR =3.2, P=0.02). Grade 3/4 toxicities were reported in only 19% patients.

Conclusions

Our report suggests that nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV offers a modest survival benefit with a tolerable safety profile as an advanced line of treatment in patients with advanced PAC.

Clinical outcomes of liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan-containing chemotherapy

Introduction

Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) has shown clinical benefit in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPAC) who progressed on gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. However, its role in patients with mPAC previously treated with conventional irinotecan-containing chemotherapy has not been appropriately investigated.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, patients with mPAC who received nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV after conventional irinotecan-containing regimen between January 2017 and March 2020, were identified from two referral cancer centers in South Korea. The ratio of time to progression (TTP) with nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV to TTP with conventional irinotecan (TTPr) was analyzed with respect to the duration and cumulative dose of conventional irinotecan treatment.

Results

In total, 35 patients treated with nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV after the irinotecan-containing regimen were analyzed. The median age was 58 years and 16 (46%) patients were male. The median duration of conventional irinotecan therapy was 4.6 months at a median cumulative dose of 1230 mg. The objective response rate of nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV was 2.9%, and stable disease was achieved in 11 (31.4%) patients. During the median follow-up of 9.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.8-10.5] months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 2.0 (95% CI: 1.4-2.6) months and 4.4 (95% CI: 3.6-5.7) months, respectively. The 6-month PFS and OS rates were 16.3% and 37.5%, respectively. The median TTPr was 0.41 (range, 0.07-2.07), showing a negative correlation with the cumulative dose of prior irinotecan therapy (R = -0.37, p = 0.041). A tentative negative correlation between TTPr and duration of prior irinotecan therapy was observed (R = -0.35, p = 0.062). The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (20%) and fatigue (8.6%).

Conclusion

Nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV showed modest effectiveness and manageable toxicities for patients with mPAC previously treated with conventional irinotecan-containing chemotherapy. The cumulative dose of prior conventional irinotecan therapy may be inversely correlated with the effectiveness of nal-IRI plus 5-FU/LV.

Nanoliposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI)-based chemotherapy after irinotecan -based chemotherapy in patients with pancreas cancer

BACKGROUND

Nanoliposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI) is a preferred second-line treatment for metastatic pancreas cancer. It is unclear, however, whether patients who had received irinotecan derive benefit.

METHODS

Medical records of metastatic pancreas cancer patients who had received irinotecan and then Nal-IRI were reviewed. The primary endpoint was overall survival after the initiation of Nal-IRI (an a priori threshold of >4 months defined success); adverse events and quotes from the medical record on decision-making were also recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty four patients met eligibility criteria with a median age of 65 years (range: 36, 80 years). The median overall survival from initiation of Nal-IRI was 5.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3, 5.6 months). An exploratory comparison, based on no cancer progression with irinotecan versus progression, showed improved survival with Nal-IRI in the former group: 6.1 months (95% CI: 5.1, 9.3 months) versus 4.3 months (95% CI: 2.3, 4.8 months); p = 0.0006. Nal-IRI adverse events occurred as expected. Qualitative data illustrate several themes, including "limited treatment options," which appeared to drive the decision to prescribe Nal-IRI.

CONCLUSION

Nal-IRI might be considered in pancreas cancer patients who had received irinotecan, particularly in the absence of disease progression with the latter.

Liposomal Irinotecan: A Review in Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI; Onivyde^®; also known as pegylated liposomal irinotecan) has been developed with the aim of maximising anti-tumour efficacy while minimising drug-related toxicities compared with the conventional (non-liposomal) formulation of this topoisomerase 1 inhibitor. In combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV), nal-IRI is the first agent to be specifically approved for use in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who have progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy. In the pivotal, phase III NAPOLI-1 trial, intravenous administration of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV to gemcitabine-pretreated patients with mPDAC (as a second-line treatment in approximately two-thirds of cases) was associated with a significant ≈ 2-month median overall survival advantage compared with 5-FU/LV alone. Moreover, adding nal-IRI to 5-FU/LV extended survival with a manageable safety profile and without adversely affecting health-related quality of life, thereby producing significant and clinically meaningful gains in quality-adjusted survival relative to 5-FU/LV alone. Complementing the observed efficacy and safety of nal-IRI in NAPOLI-1 are an increasing number of real-world studies, which provide evidence of the effectiveness of this combination therapy in the treatment of mPDAC that has progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy in contemporary clinical practice in Europe, the USA and East Asia. Thus, nal-IRI, in combination with 5-FU/LV, is the first regimen specifically approved for use as a second- or subsequent-line therapy in gemcitabine-pretreated patients with mPDAC and, as such, represents a valuable treatment option in this setting.

Comparison of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in elderly versus younger patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: Analysis of a multicentre, prospective, non-interventional study

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC) ranks among the deadliest malignancies worldwide. In the MPACT study, first-line nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P/G) demonstrated activity (median overall survival [OS], 8.7 months) and tolerability in patients with metastatic PC (mPC). However, the clinical evidence of nab-P/G in the elderly (>70 years), who account for the majority of patients with mPC, is limited. This is the first prospective, multicentre, non-interventional study evaluating the tolerability and effectiveness of nab-P/G in younger (≤70 years) versus elderly (>70 years) patients with mPC in the daily clinical routine.

METHODS

Eligible patients with mPC were treated with nab-P/G and observed until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary objectives were safety and tolerability of nab-P/G, and the secondary objectives were efficacy and real-life dosing.

RESULTS

A total of 317 patients with mPC (median age, 70 years) were recruited, of which 299, aged ≤70 (n = 162) and >70 (n = 137) years, were eligible for analysis. Baseline characteristics and the safety profile were comparable between the groups. However, fatigue (22.8% versus 13.0%) and decreased appetite (8.8% versus 1.2%) were more frequent in elderly patients. Younger versus elderly patients equally benefited in terms of objective response rate (36% versus 48%), median progression-free survival (5.6 versus 5.5 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.03; p = 0.81) and OS (10.6 versus 10.2 months; HR = 0.89; p = 0.4). In addition, the median treatment duration (5 versus 4 cycles), relative dose intensity (70% versus 74%) or reasons for treatment discontinuation were similar. Most patients (56.2% versus 47.4%) benefited from a second-line therapy.

CONCLUSION

This prospective real-world analysis confirms the feasibility and tolerability of nab-P/G treatment and reveals OS data similar for younger patients and elderly patients aged >70 years. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV REGISTRATION

NCT02555813.

AUSTRIAN NIS REGISTRY

NIS005071.

Real-world outcomes associated with liposomal irinotecan dose reductions in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Aim: This study sought to understand the association between liposomal irinotecan dose reductions (DRs) and clinical outcomes among patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Materials & methods: A retrospective study of adult patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with liposomal irinotecan in the Flatiron Health database was conducted to assess treatment and clinical outcomes. Results: DRs occurred in 28.4% of the 320 patients in the study. Patients with DRs had longer overall survival (7.7 [95% CI: 6.2-10.2]) vs 3.6 [3.2-4.1] months) and time to discontinuation (4.2 [3.0-4.9] vs 1.4 [1.0-1.5] months) than patients without DRs. Results were consistent in a validation analysis requiring three cycles of treatment. Conclusion: Liposomal irinotecan DRs were associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with patients without DRs.

The economic burden of metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Objectives: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a costly disease with a limited life-expectancy as it generally presents as an advanced, metastatic disease. Though current literature suggests cost varies by first line treatment, there is limited real-world knowledge about the economic burden of pancreatic cancer. This study describes the economic burden of pancreatic cancer patients overall and by observed first line treatments.

METHODS

The IBM MarketScan databases were used to identify adult metastatic PC patients from January 1, 2010 through 3/31/2017. Those without other primary cancers, pregnancy, or prior PC treatment, and with 6 months of continuous enrollment prior to PC were included. Treatment patterns and healthcare utilization and expenditures were measured during the variable-length follow-up period. Continuous measures were presented as per patient per month (PPPM).

RESULTS

A total of 6,360 patients met all inclusion criteria. Almost half (46.8%) of patients were untreated. Gemcitabine alone (15.6%) and FOLFIRINOX (11.4%) were the most commonly observed first line regimens. Treated patients incurred $17,513 PPPM (Gemcitabine alone) to $27,889 PPPM (FOLFIRINOX) during follow-up. Untreated patients incurred the highest unadjusted ($30,777 PPPM) and adjusted ($20,392 PPPM) cost.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastatic PC patients incur a high economic burden driven by high utilization of healthcare resources, which varies by first line treatment. Also, the high proportion of untreated patients is alarming as these patients may be the most expensive of all patients. There is an unmet need in these patients for effective treatments that also reduce their economic burden.

Comparing real-world evidence among patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with liposomal irinotecan

There are questions surrounding the real-world effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatments for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This literature review compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of available real-world evidence (RWE) for liposomal irinotecan in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), a treatment regimen indicated for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who previously progressed on gemcitabine-based therapy.

A targeted literature search was conducted in the PubMed Central® and Embase® databases to identify available RWE regarding patients with mPDAC receiving liposomal irinotecan published within the last 5 years (January 2014–September 2019). Data were extracted for prior lines of therapy, performance status, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), duration of exposure, and adverse events.

Six studies met inclusion criteria. A comparison of baseline patient characteristics and results with the included evidence reveals a clinically fragile, real-world patient population in terms of age (range: 61–68), prior lines of therapy with 34–61% of patients receiving ⩾2 lines of lines of prior therapy and performance status [49.8–100% of patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0–1]. Studies observed wide OS (range: 5.3–9.4 months) and similar PFS (range: 2.3–4.1 months), with two studies measuring duration of exposure (7.3 weeks, 3.1 months). Patients analyzed by RWE studies tended to be older with significant disease progression, poor performance status, and more heavily pretreated compared with the phase III registrational trial (NAPOLI-1). Despite this, patients treated with liposomal irinotecan + 5-FU/LV therapy had similar outcomes as those in NAPOLI-1.

Soluble HLA-G expression levels and HLA-G/irinotecan association in metastatic colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan-based strategy

We here explore the soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (sHLA-G) expression level as clinical biomarker in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). To this aim the sHLA-G protein was measured in plasma samples of 40 patients with mCRC treated with the FOLFIRI (irinotecan (CPT-11) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV)) regimen. The results suggest a link between HLA-G levels and irinotecan (CPT-11) pharmacokinetic, leading to hypothesize a molecular interaction between sHLA-G and CPT-11. This interaction was confirmed experimentally by fluorescence spectroscopy. HLA-G is known to exist in a number of polymorphs that affect both the protein expression levels and its peptide-binding cleft. The interaction between HLA-G polymorphs and CPT-11 was explored by means of computational modelling, confirming the hypothesis that CPT-11 could actually target the peptide binding cleft of the most common HLA-G polymorphs.