Prognostic factors in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer treated with multikinase inhibitors - a single Brazilian center experience

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the real-world experience multikinase inhibitors (MKI) in the treatment advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) refractory to radioactive iodine (RAIR) therapy.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of all patients with MKI-treated DTC from 2010 to 2018. Progression free survival (PFS), response rates (RR) and adverse events (AE) profiles were assessed. Clinical parameters were compared between groups with different outcomes (disease progression and death) to identify possible prognostic factors and benefit from treatment.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients received MKI for progressive RAIR DTC. Median PFS was 24 months (10.2-37.7) and median overall survival (OS) was 31 months. Best overall response was complete response in one patient (4.5%), partial response in nine (20.4%), stable disease in twenty-two (50%), and progressive disease (PD) in twelve (27.3%). Seventy-two point 7 percent patients had clinical benefit and AE were mild in most cases (82.7%). Progressive patients were more likely to have FDG positive target lesion than those who did not progress (p = 0.033) and higher maximum SUV on target lesions (p = 0.042). Presence of lung-only metastasis and lower thyroglobulin (Tg) during treatment was associated with stable disease (p = 0.015 and 0,049, respectively). Patients with shorter survival had larger primary tumor size (p = 0.015) and higher maximum SUV on target lesions (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate safety and effectiveness of MKI in patients with advanced RAIR DTC. We were able to identify as possible prognostic markers of better outcomes: absence of FDG uptake on target lesions, lower maximum SUV on PET-CT, presence of lung-only metastasis and lower Tg during treatment.

A systematic review of secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland: where are we?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to describe the epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes of secretory carcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

A comprehensive search of Lilacs, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify all case reports, letter to the editor, and histopathologic reclassifications regarding salivary gland secretory carcinoma published in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 119 studies, which totaled 642 secretory carcinoma diagnoses, with 239 case reports and 403 diagnostic reclassifications, mostly in the United States. The age range was 5 to 87 years, and cases were predominantly in males (58.7%) and mostly affecting the parotid glands (73.7%). The disease usually presents as a slow-growing, painless mass. The main differential diagnosis is acinic cell carcinoma, and the tumor is usually treated with surgery. The prognosis is considered favorable, although there have been reports of local recurrences, distant metastases, and deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important that clinicians become aware of this salivary gland neoplasm and report clinical data, clinical course, management and long-term follow-up. There is an urgent need to conduct more clinical trials, especially on tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors and other potential target therapy modalities.

Successful GaAlAs low-level laser therapy of self-inflicted thermal burns of the palate

Thermal burns of the oral cavity usually arise from ingestion of hot foods or beverages. A 38-year-old female patient presented with two painful ulcerative erythematous patches of the palate. The patient was consulted on the same day lesions appeared. Medical history was unremarkable. Clinically significant self-inflicted injuries may result in wide ulcers in the mouth and usually do not take less than 2 weeks to heal, whereas our patient, treated with low-level laser therapy, had a complete response in day 4, after 2 days of treatment. The fact that multiple lesions were present signaled against the World Health Organization exclusion diagnosis of erythroplakia for red patches. A traumatic ulcer, regardless of its cause of origin, usually heals within 2 weeks, after the source of injury is resolved. A thermal burn in the oral cavity usually takes longer than that to heal, but whenever this time frame is not respected, the suspicion of a potentially malignant disorder should always arise, and a biopsy should be performed. The present case showed two painful thermal burns with great results in terms of speeding up the relieve of symptoms and healing time with soft laser as opposed to the traditional treatment with oral topical corticosteroid.

Secretory carcinoma of salivary glands at the National Cancer Institute: A 20-year retrospective clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular study

OBJECTIVES

This study aim was to review cases of acinic cell carcinoma (the main differential diagnosis of secretory carcinoma) that were diagnosed and treated at the National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA) between 1996 and 2016. The primary objective was to identify underdiagnosed cases of secretory carcinoma via a clinical, immunopathological and molecular reassessment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross sectional study, with retrospective data collection from medical records and histological specimen review, with staining for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and PAS with diastase, immunohistochemistry for S-100, mammaglobin, and DOG-1, and droplet digital RT-PCR for ETV6-NTRK3. The Research Ethics Committee approved this study, and the patients allowed their participation through informed consent.

RESULTS

Eighty-three cases of acinic cell carcinoma were diagnosed and treated in the specified period at INCA, of which, seven had their diagnosis changed to secretory carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The present study adds seven cases of secretory carcinoma to the literature, contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiological, histological, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics of this recently described tumor. Also, the use of a comprehensive diagnostic approach, including immunohistochemical and molecular methods, along with classical morphological studies, allowed the reclassification of acinic cell carcinoma to secretory carcinoma.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated in private health care

INTRODUCTION

Outcomes data on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) are scarce with regard to the private health care in Brazil. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics, treatments performed, and the survival of patients with NSCLC in a Brazilian private oncologic institution.

METHODS

Medical charts from patients treated between 1998 and 2010 were reviewed, and data were transferred to a clinical research form. Long-term follow-up and survival estimates were enabled through active surveillance.

RESULTS

Five hundred sixty-six patients were included, and median age was 65 years. Most patients were diagnosed in advanced stages (79.6% III/IV). The overall survival was 19.0 months (95%CI 16.2 - 21.8). The median survival was 99.7, 32.5, 20.2, and 13.3 months for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively (p < 0.0001). Among patients receiving palliative chemotherapy, the median survival was 12.2 months (95%CI 10.0 - 14.4).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes described are favorably similar to the current literature from developed countries. Besides the better access to health care in the private insurance scenario, most patients are still diagnosed in late stages.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Single-Agent Pemetrexed Versus Carboplatin and Pemetrexed in Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 2

Purpose

To compare single-agent pemetrexed (P) versus the combination of carboplatin and pemetrexed (CP) in first-line therapy for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 2.

Patients and Methods

In a multicenter phase III randomized trial, patients with advanced NSCLC, ECOG PS of 2, any histology at first and later amended to nonsquamous only, no prior chemotherapy, and adequate organ function were randomly assigned to P alone (500 mg/m2) or CP (area under the curve of 5 and 500 mg/m2, respectively) administered every 3 weeks for a total of four cycles. The primary end point was overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 205 eligible patients were enrolled from eight centers in Brazil and one in the United States from April 2008 to July 2011. The response rates were 10.3% for P and 23.8% for CP (P = .032). In the intent-to-treat population, the median PFS was 2.8 months for P and 5.8 months for CP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.63; P < .001), and the median OS was 5.3 months for P and 9.3 months for CP (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.83; P = .001). One-year survival rates were 21.9% and 40.1%, respectively. Similar results were seen when patients with squamous disease were excluded from the analysis. Anemia (grade 3, 3.9%; grade 4, 11.7%) and neutropenia (grade 3, 1%; grade 4, 6.8%) were more frequent with CP. There were four treatment-related deaths in the CP arm.

Conclusion

Combination chemotherapy with CP significantly improves survival in patients with advanced NSCLC and ECOG PS of 2.

Hepatic transarterial chemoembolization and retroperitoneal lymph node radiofrequency ablation in the multidisciplinary approach of an overt metastatic leiomyosarcoma

Metastatic leiomyosarcoma has a dismal prognosis, and therapy mainly consists of palliative systemic chemotherapy. A selected subgroup of patients with limited metastatic disease may eventually derive benefit from more aggressive strategies, including resection of isolated metastasis. We report here the successful use of hepatic transarterial chemoembolization and retroperitoneal lymph node radiofrequency ablation in a patient with advanced leiomyosarcoma metastatic to the liver and retroperitoneum.

Survival data in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Combined chemoradiation (CRT) is the standard therapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, the best approach in the elderly population is still poorly defined. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of elderly (≥ 65 years) patients with unresectable, locally advanced NSCLC, diagnosed at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute between 2003 and 2007. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), measured from diagnosis until death. Palliative therapy (PT) included best supportive care radiation therapy (RT; ≤ 40 Gy) and palliative chemotherapy. Among patients treated with radical RT, OS was measured from date of treatment beginning until death (OST). One hundred seventy-one patients were included, with median age of 71 years (range 65-90). Thirty-nine percent received PT, 32 % exclusive RT (>40 Gy), and 29 % CRT (concomitant or sequential). Patients treated with RT and CRT had better OS (median 13.7 months [95 % CI 10.9-16.4] and 15.5 months [95 % CI 13.0-17.9]) than PT (median 4.1 months [95 % CI 3.6-4.6]; p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, RT (HR 0.28 [95 % CI 0.18-0.42]; p < 0.0001) and CRT (HR 0.17 [95 % CI 0.1-0.27]; p < 0.0001) were independently correlated to better survival in comparison with PT. Among patients receiving radical RT, the addition of chemotherapy was correlated to longer OST (median 13.8 [95 % CI 10.6-17.0] vs. 10.8 months [95 % CI 8.6-13.1]; p = 0.018). This benefit was confirmed in the multivariate analysis (HR 0.59 [95 % CI 0.36-0.97]; p = 0.039). Elderly patients with locally advanced NSCLC derived significant survival benefit from radical RT and CRT, suggesting that age should not be a contraindication for these aggressive therapeutic strategies.

Survival benefit from combined chemoradiation (CRT) in elderly patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: CRT is the standard therapy in locally advanced NSCLC. Nevertheless, the best approach in the elderly population is still poorly defined. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of elderly (≥ 65 years) patients (pts) with diagnosed stage III (6th AJCC), unresectable, NSCLC, treated at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) between 2003 and 2005. Pts with malignant pleural effusion were excluded. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), measured from diagnosis until death. Prognostic factors were analyzed using log-rank and stepwise Cox model. Palliative therapy (PT) included best supportive care, radiation therapy (RT; ≤ 40 Gy), and palliative chemotherapy. Among pts treated with radical RT, OS was measured from date of treatment beginning until death (OST). Results: One hundred fifteen pts were included. Median age was 71 (range 65-83), 76% were male, 51% had squamous histology, and 82% stage IIIB. Seventy percent had more than 5% weigh loss at diagnosis, 44% had PS 0-1, while 29% and 26% had PS 2 and 3, respectively. Ninety percent were current/former-smokers, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 0 in 66% and 1-2 in 34%. Thirty-six percent received PT, 32% exclusive RT (>40 Gy), and 32% CRT (concomitant or sequential). Post-radiation surgery was not performed in this cohort. The median OS was 9.9 months (ms; 95% CI, 7.2-12.6). Survival was significantly longer among pts with PS 0-1 (p<0.0001) and no weigh loss (p=0.026), while histology (p=0.15), tumor stage (p=0.51), CCI (p=0.37), and age (p=0.54) were not prognostic factors. Pts treated with exclusive RT and CRT had better OS (median 14.3 ms [95% CI, 11.7-16.9] and 17.0 ms [95% CI, 14.1-19.9], respectively) than PT (median 4.1 ms [95% CI, 3.5-4.8]; p<0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, RT (HR 0.25 [95% CI, 0.15-0.42]; p<0.0001) and CRT (HR 0.16 [95% CI, 0.09-0.27]; p<0.0001) were independently associated with better survival in comparison to PT. Among pts receiving radical RT, the addition of chemotherapy was associated with longer OST (median 14.1 vs 10.7 ms; p=0.025). Conclusions: CRT was independently associated with longer survival in elderly pts with locally advanced NSCLC.

A randomized phase III trial of single-agent pemetrexed (P) versus carboplatin and pemetrexed (CP) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and performance status (PS) of 2

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Background: No standard of care exists for patients with advanced NSCLC and PS 2 and clinical practice ranges from supportive care to combination chemotherapy. Methods: In a Brazilian multicenter phase III randomized trial, advanced NSCLC patients, with any histology at first, amended to non-squamous only, PS 2, no prior chemotherapy, and adequate organ function, were randomized to P alone (500 mg/m2) or CP (AUC 5 + same P) administered every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. Stratification factors included stage (IIIB vs. IV); age (≥70 vs. <70); and weight loss (≥5 kg vs. <5kg). The primary endpoint was overall survival and the study was powered to demonstrate an improvement in median survival from 2.9 to 4.3 months based on a prior CALGB trial. Results: A total of 217 patients were enrolled from 8 centers in Brazil and 1 in the US from April 2008 to July 2011. Twelve patients were ineligible and excluded. The 2 arms (P=102; CP=103) were balanced for patient characteristics. 14 patients had squamous and another 12 had unknown histology. The response rates were P = 10% and CP = 24% (p=0.019). In the ITT population, the median PFS was P = 3.0 mo and CP = 5.9 mo (HR=0.46, 95% CI 0.34; 0.63, p<0.001) and median OS was P = 5.6 mo vs. CP = 9.1 mo (HR=0.57, 95% CI 0.41; 0.79, p=0.001). 1-year survival rates were 22% and 39% respectively. Similar results were seen when squamous patients were excluded from the analysis. Grade ¾ anemia (5.5%; 12%) and neutropenia (2.8%; 5.6%) were more frequent in CP. There were 4 treatment-related deaths in the CP arm. 30% of patients in each arm received 2nd line therapy Conclusions: Combination chemotherapy with CP significantly improves survival, with acceptable safety, in eligible patients with advanced NSCLC and PS 2, and represents a new standard.