Survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib: expanded access programme data from Belgium (the TRUST study)

Erlotinib has been shown to prolong progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report here on effectiveness data on the subsample of 261 patients from 40 centres in Belgium involved in the TRUST study. Median age was 63 years. Most (69.0%) were male and current/former smokers (84.7%); with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1 (74.3%), stage IV disease (75.1%) and adenocarcinoma by histology (54.0%). Erlotinib was administered mainly as second- (47.1%) or third-line treatment (48.3%). Response rate was 6.5%; disease control rate 58.3%. Median PFS was 2.2 months. Better PS (P = 0.0384), stage IIIB disease (P = 0.0018) and presence of rash (P < 0.0001) were associated with longer PFS. OS rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 26.4%, 10.9% and 6.4% respectively. Median OS was 5.9 months. Female gender (P = 0.007), better PS (P < 0.0001), stage IIIB disease (P = 0.0355) and presence of rash (P < 0.0001) were associated with longer OS. The findings confirm the therapeutic benefit of erlotinib in a broad range of patients in a sample from a country with a historically high lung cancer morbidity and mortality burden. Several determinants of PFS and OS are identified.

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) treatment (Rx) of ≥2 years in patients (pts) with metastatic bone disease (MBD) or multiple myeloma (MM): Six-month results from the LOTUZ study

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Background: The bisphosphonate (BP) ZOL is frequently used to prevent skeletal-related events (SRE) in cancer pts. However, data are limited on its use beyond 2 years. LOTUZ is among the first studies to examine Rx and outcomes in pts with ZOL Rx for >2y. We report 6-month results. Methods: Prospective (18m), multicenter (50), pharmacoepidemiologic study. Baseline (0m) and 6m data available on 205 pts (of 298 enrolled), all free from osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) at 0m. Prior to ZOL Rx, 27.8% had non-ZOL BP Rx. Mean pre-enrollment BP duration was 42 mo (23–145) with 38 mo (23–80) for ZOL. Results: Mean age: 64 y (38–88); M/F: 29/71%; 67.8% with MBD vs 32.2% MM. 89.3% continued ZOL RX 0–6m; 90% with dose 4mg. From 0–6m, 10 pts (4.8%) developed ONJ (4 with MM, 6 with MBD): 5 mild, 3 moderate, 2 severe (median BP duration: 38.4, 46.5, and 34.8 months, respectively). Five pts with ONJ continued on ZOL RX 0–6m (3 mild, 2 moderate). 4/10 pts with ONJ had baseline dental conditions or procedures, 8/10 at 6m (only 1/10 at neither). SREs and pain levels remained constant 0–6m compared to 6m prior to baseline (see Table ). Conclusions: Beyond 2y, 90% of pts were continued on ZOL. SREs did not increase, but ONJ was diagnosed in 10/205 pts 0–6m, of which 5 were on ZOL RX beyond 24m. Long-term data are needed to better understand the risk/benefit of long-term ZOL Rx. [Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

[Assay for detection of ciguatoxin using an immunoenzyme technic]

The ELISA method has been used to detect possible anticiguatoxin antibodies in the tissues of toxic fishes. Thin lamellae of toxic fish muscles have been brought into contact on the one hand with antibodies obtained after immunization of the rabbit and the mouse by a human serumalbumine ciguatoxin conjugate and on the other hand with human sera of ciguatera convalescent. These various antibodies have been recognized by peroxydase labelled anti-rabbit, -mouse and -human antibodies. It has been not possible to show off specific antibodies of the ciguatoxin in the various immune sera tested by this immuno-enzymatic method.