Shanghai international consensus on diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of colorectal liver metastases (version 2019)

The liver is the most common anatomical site for hematogenous metastases from colorectal cancer. Therefore effective treatment of liver metastases is one of the most challenging elements in the management of colorectal cancer. However, there is rare available clinical consensus or guideline only focusing on colorectal liver metastases. After six rounds of discussion by 195 clinical experts of the Shanghai International Consensus Expert Group on Colorectal Liver Metastases (SINCE) from 29 countries or regions, the Shanghai Consensus has been finally completed, based on current research and expert experience. The consensus emphasized the principle of multidisciplinary team, provided detailed diagnosis approaches, and guided precise local and systemic treatments. This Shanghai Consensus might be of great significance to standardized diagnosis and treatment of colorectal liver metastases all over the world.

Phase II trial of capecitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with adeno- and undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary

BACKGROUND

Carcinomas of unknown primary (CUP) account for approximately 2-5% of all cancer diagnoses. Except for some subsets with favorable prognosis, for most of these patients treatment options are limited, and no standard first-line regimen has been identified. We performed a phase II study with oxaliplatin (OX) and capecitabine (CAP) as first-line treatment for patients with histo-or cytologically proven adeno- or undifferentiated CUP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Protocol treatment in this multicenter trial consisted of CAP 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily orally (days 1-14) and OX 130 mg/m(2) intravenously (day 1), repeated every 21 days at a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was the response rate (RR). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

51 patients with CUP (71% with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma; 41% ECOG performance status (PS) 0, 39% PS 1, 10% PS 2, 55% with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 39% with liver metastases) were enrolled in this study. We observed an objective RR of 11.7% and a median PFS of 2.5 months as well as an OS of 7.5 months with a good toxicity profile.

CONCLUSION

CAP/OX did not reach higher RR compared to a standard regimen with paclitaxel/carboplatin, which discourages further investigation of this schedule in CUP.

COX-2 inhibition and colorectal cancer

Mortality in patients with advanced colorectal cancer(CRC) remains high. Epidemiologic studies show that individuals taking nonselective, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, have a significant reduction in CRC mortality, compared with those not taking these agents. The recent characterization of cyclooxygenase- I and -2 (COX- I and COX-2) isoforms has led to an expanded understanding of how nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help prevent polyp formation. Cyclooxygenase enzymes are required for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins.COX-2 mediates the inflammatory effects of COX activity, is induced by a wide spectrum of growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines, and is overexpressed in numerous premalignant and malignant lesions, including CRC. Treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib has shown promising results in the prevention of CRC, Numerous studies show that this COX-2 selective inhibitor is a potent suppressor of colon polyps both in animal models for familial adenomatous polyposis and in patients with this condition. This has led to the US Food and Drug Administration approval of celecoxib for the treatment of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. The role of celecoxib in cancer treatment is still evolving. Recent studies have identified a potential benefit for adding celecoxib to standard CRC chemotherapy regimens to increase their efficacy and reduce their associated toxicity.

EORTC Cancer in the Elderly Task Force guidelines for the use of colony-stimulating factors in elderly patients with cancer

Increasing age is not, in itself, a contraindication to cancer chemotherapy. Myelosuppression, however, a common adverse consequence of the administration of many standard-dose chemotherapy regimens to both young and elderly patients with cancer, increases with age. The risk of development of febrile neutropenia may contribute to a reluctance to administer chemotherapy in the elderly patient population. We conducted a detailed literature search (1992-2002) to derive evidence-based conclusions on the value of prophylactic colony-stimulating factor (CSF) administration in elderly patients receiving chemotherapy. Sufficient evidence allows us to affirm that prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) reduces the incidence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and infections in elderly patients receiving myelotoxic chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) or urothelial tumours. Lack of available trial data does not allow similar conclusions to be drawn for other cancers studied, but it is likely that similar benefits would accrue from the use of prophylactic G-CSF. There is insufficient evidence to extend this recommendation to include the use of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). There are insufficient data available to allow the evaluation of the impact of prophylactic CSF on the incidence of toxic deaths in elderly patients with cancer and this is a crucial question for geriatric oncology practice. There is no evidence in elderly patients that the delivery of standard-dose chemotherapy on schedule improves efficacy measures. The data show that febrile neutropenic events are more likely to occur during the first and second cycles of chemotherapy, thus prophylactic measures should be considered early in the course of treatment. Furthermore, since systematic dose reduction can impact on outcome, primary prophylactic use of G-CSF for all elderly patients receiving curative myelotoxic chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (CHOP) or CHOP-like) is indicated and we suggest a risk-adapted strategy with primary prophylactic G-CSF administration in high-risk patients. Dose intensification, through dose interval reduction, facilitated by prophylactic G-CSF, improved survival in elderly patients with some specific diseases. There is a need for further well-designed studies to identify the elderly patients who will benefit most from prophylactic G-CSF. To achieve this, we strongly urge the design of and participation in further trials.

Adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer (current expert opinion derived from the Third International Conference: Perspectives in Colorectal Cancer, Dublin, 2001)

This article summarises the progress that has been made in the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer over the last decade. In view of the consequent improvements in recurrence rates and in overall survival, the development of effective adjuvant treatments for colorectal cancer is considered as one of the most important to be made in clinical oncology over the last decade. Treatment recommendations based on evidence-based data and on expert opinions are summarised in this manuscript. However, a consensus cannot be reached on all aspects of treatment because of data that is currently emerging that will influence clinical practice and because of the many ongoing clinical trials. Those involved in the treatment of colorectal cancer should therefore be encouraged to continue to provide optimal patient care and to participate in well designed clinical trials in order to increase the evidence upon which they can base their clinical judgements and in order to make further progress.