LncRNAs: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets in rectal cancer

According to findings, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have an important function in the onset and growth of various cancers, including rectal cancer (RC). RC offers unique issues in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and results, needing a full understanding of the cellular mechanisms that cause it to develop. This thorough study digs into the various functions that lncRNAs perform in RC, giving views into their multiple roles as well as possible therapeutic consequences. The function of lncRNAs in RC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migratory and infiltrating capacities, epithelial-mesenchymal shift, and therapy tolerance are discussed. Various lncRNA regulatory roles are investigated in depth, yielding information on their effect on essential cell functions such as angiogenesis, death, immunity, and growth. Systemic lncRNAs are currently acknowledged as potential indications for the initial stages of identification of cancer, with the ability to diagnose as well as forecast. Besides adding to their diagnostic utility, lncRNAs offer therapeutic opportunities as actors, contributing to the expanding landscape of cancer research. Moreover, the investigation looks into the assessment and predictive utility of lncRNAs as RC markers. The article also offers insight into lncRNAs as chemoresistance and drug resistance facilitators in the setting of RC.

Beyond the genome: MALAT1's role in advancing urologic cancer care

Urologic cancers (UCs), which include bladder, kidney, and prostate tumors, account for almost a quarter of all malignancies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are tissue-specific RNAs that influence cell growth, death, and division. LncRNAs are dysregulated in UCs, and their abnormal expression may allow them to be used in cancer detection, outlook, and therapy. With the identification of several novel lncRNAs and significant exploration of their functions in various illnesses, particularly cancer, the study of lncRNAs has evolved into a new obsession. MALAT1 is a flexible tumor regulator implicated in an array of biological activities and disorders, resulting in an important research issue. MALAT1 appears as a hotspot, having been linked to the dysregulation of cell communication, and is intimately linked to cancer genesis, advancement, and response to treatment. MALAT1 additionally operates as a competitive endogenous RNA, binding to microRNAs and resuming downstream mRNA transcription and operation. This regulatory system influences cell growth, apoptosis, motility, penetration, and cell cycle pausing. MALAT1's evaluation and prognosis significance are highlighted, with a thorough review of its manifestation levels in several UC situations and its association with clinicopathological markers. The investigation highlights MALAT1's adaptability as a possible treatment target, providing fresh ways for therapy in UCs as we integrate existing information The article not only gathers current knowledge on MALAT1's activities but also lays the groundwork for revolutionary advances in the treatment of UCs.

Total Number of Lymph Nodes in Neck Dissection and Its Relation to Cancer-Positive Lymph Nodes as a Prognostic Indicator in Aerodigestive Tract Cancers: A Multi-Center Study

Objectives Few studies have been conducted on the total number of lymph nodes (LNs) in neck dissection and the lymph node ratio (LNR; number of positive lymph nodes divided by number of excised lymph nodes), or their potential use as a prognostic indicator for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and its treatment. We aimed to measure the number of lymph nodes dissected and the LNR to assess their prognostic value for cancers of the UADT, as well as their effect on overall survival and disease-free survival. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with cancer of the UADT who underwent neck dissection as the primary or secondary modality of their treatment plan at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and the National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through medical records and analyzed to assess prognosis and calculate survival rates in relation to the number of lymph nodes and LNR. Results A total of 121 patients were included: 14 women (11.57%) and 107 men (88.43%). The median age was 60 years and the mean follow-up period was 2.7 years. Of the malignancies, 44.63% were of the oral tongue and 35.54% were laryngeal. A median of 38 lymph nodes were dissected during neck dissections. The distribution of the individual LNRs was characterized by mean values. A mean LNR of 0.04 was considered the cutoff value, an LNR of > 0.04 a high LNR, and an LNR of < 0.04 a low LNR. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates for the cohort showed a three-year overall survival rate of 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77% to 94%) for patients with a low LNR, but 71% (95% CI: 47% to 85%) for patients with a high LNR, which was statistically significant. A similar significant decreasing trend persisted at the four-year follow-up, where the disease-free survival rate was 73% (95% CI: 61% to 82%) for patients with a low LNR compared with 56% (95% CI: 35% to 72%) for patients with a high LNR. Conclusion The number of excised lymph nodes in neck dissections and the LNR might be a good prognostic indicator for overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with cancers of the UADT and may serve as a valuable tool in deciding on different treatment plans.

Worst pattern of invasion and other histopathological features in oral cancer as determinants of prognosis and survival rate: A retrospective cohort analysis

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is a well-recognized malignancy of the head and neck. Studies on patients with early-stage oral cancer have shown that they develop locally recurring and/or regional lymph node metastasis, which results in disease-associated mortality. Thus, early-stage oral cancer does not always present good prognoses. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of using worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) and other histopathological features, such as prognostic factors in OCSCC, and analyze the impact of resection margin status and histopathological prognostic indicators on local recurrence (LR) and overall survival (OS) in patients with OCSCC. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing the charts of 63 patients with OCSCC treated with primary surgery at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2012 and 2019. An author and an experienced pathologist reviewed pathology slides. Associations of histopathological factors, including differentiation, stage, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular extension, perineural invasion (PNI), WPOI and surgical margins, with LR or disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated. Univariate analysis identified WPOI and PNI, and multivariate analysis identified the WPOI as predictive factors for LR and DFS. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified the WPOI and PNI as predictive factors for OS and WPOI as a predictive factor for DFS. Therefore, it may be concluded that WPOI and PNI are significant independent prognostic factors for local tumor control and DFS in patients with OCSCC.

Accuracy of Classifying Lung Carcinoma Using Immunohistochemical Markers on Limited Biopsy Material: A Two-Center Study

Introduction Accurate classification of lung cancer into primary and metastatic carcinomas is critical for treatment approaches. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has always been pivotal in unveiling the diverse cell differentiation lineages present in lung cancer by using specific biomarkers such as TTF1 and p63/p40, which closely reflect the relationship between genotype and phenotype.. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate 57 Tru-Cut biopsies over two years, from 2020-2022. Tumour morphology was evaluated, and IHC for TTF-1, Napsin A, CK-7, P-63, P-40, and CD-56 was performed in two steps. Results Of the lung cancer cases, 58.5% were adenocarcinoma (ADC), 24.5% were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 9.4% were small cell carcinoma, and 7.5% were poorly differentiated carcinoma. TTF1 stain had sensitivity and specificity of 78.9% and 50% in 33 cases of ADC, respectively, while CK7 and Napsin A had 100% sensitivity. P63 stain had 77% sensitivity and 50% specificity in 15 cases of SCC, while P-40 had 100% sensitivity. The CD56 stain was 100% sensitive in five cases of small cell carcinoma. Conclusion IHC staining on small lung biopsies allows accurate sub-classification of poorly differentiated lung cancers; however, there is still significant variability. Surgical resection specimens can be further classified due to architectural features that biopsies lack. Morphological findings would be beneficial in the development of an algorithm for sub-classifying lung carcinoma using a variety of markers.

Outcomes of Non-metastatic Colon Cancer: A Single-Center Experience

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal cancer. In the Saudi Cancer Registry, CRC ranked as the most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women. Data regarding the stage of CRC at presentation and patient demographics and outcomes in Saudi Arabia are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, survival, and mortality rates of patients with non-metastatic CRC in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. 

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2013 and 2017. Patients aged ≥18 years who presented with non-metastatic CRC and underwent curative resection were included. Patients with rectal cancer or metastatic colon cancer were excluded. Data on demographic characteristics, histopathological findings, tumor-node-metastasis stage, biomarkers, and surgical interventions were collected. Recurrence-free survival was defined as the time from surgery to the date of recurrence or death. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata/IC 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA).

Results

Among 260 patients diagnosed with CRC, 82 were included based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among those patients, 65.9% were men and 47.5% were Saudi citizens. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 60.8 years. Fifty-three patients (64.6%) had left-sided colon cancer. The mean tumor diameter was 52.6 mm. Most colon tumors were T3 lesions (71.3%), and 41% of patients did not have lymph node involvement (N0). Most patients (85.1%) underwent open surgery. In the multivariate analysis, only resection margin status and N stage (hazard ratio: 17.7 and 3.7, respectively) were identified as statistically significant factors affecting the recurrence-free survival. The one-, two-, and five-year recurrence-free rates were 80.5%, 66.5%, and 57.1%, respectively, and the one-, two-, and five-year and overall survival rates were 90.3%, 82.5%, and 82.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

We showed significant reductions in recurrence-free and overall survival within the first two years after surgical resection. Further prospective studies are needed to explore predictors.

Mortality and morbidity of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter population-based retrospective study

Administration of effective anticancer treatments should continue during pandemics. However, the outcomes of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic remain unclear. The present retrospective observational study aimed to determine the 30-day mortality and morbidity of curative and palliative anticancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March 1 and June 30, 2020, all adults (n=2,504) with solid and hematological malignancies irrespective of cancer stage and type of anticancer treatments at five large comprehensive cancer centers in Saudi Arabia were included. The 30-day mortality was 5.1% (n=127) for all patients receiving anticancer treatment, 1.8% (n=24) for curative intent, 8.6% (n=103) for palliative intent and 13.4% (n=12) for COVID-19 cases. The 30-day morbidity was 28.2% (n=705) for all patients, 17.9% (n=234) for curative intent, 39.3% (n=470) for palliative intent and 75% (n=77) for COVID-19 cases. The 30-day mortality was significantly increased with male sex [odds ratio (OR), 2.011; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.141-3.546; P=0.016], body mass index (BMI) <25 (OR, 1.997; 95% CI, 1.292-3.087; P=0.002), hormone therapy (OR, 6.315; 95% CI, 0.074-2.068; P=0.001) and number of cycles (OR, 2.110; 95% CI, 0.830-0.948; P=0.001), but decreased with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) of 0-1 (OR, 0.157; 95% CI, 0.098-0.256; P=0.001), stage I-II cancer (OR, 0.254; 95% CI, 0.069-0.934; P=0.039) and curative intent (OR, 0.217; 95% CI, 0.106-0.443; P=0.001). Furthermore, the 30-day morbidity significantly increased with age >65 years (OR, 1.420; 95% CI, 1.075-1.877; P=0.014), BMI <25 (OR, 1.484; 95% CI, 1.194-1.845; P=0.001), chemotherapy (OR, 1.397; 95% CI, 1.089-5.438; P=0.032), hormone therapy (OR, 1.527; 95% CI, 0.211-1.322; P=0.038) and immunotherapy (OR, 1.859; 95% CI, 0.648-4.287; P=0.038), but decreased with ECOG-PS of 0-1 (OR, 0.502; 95% CI, 0.399-0.632; P=0.001), breast cancer (OR, 0.569; 95% CI, 0.387-0.836; P=0.004) and curative intent (OR, 0.410; 95% CI, 0.296-0.586; P=0.001). The mortality risk was lowest with curative treatments. Therefore, such treatments should not be delayed. The morbidity risk doubled with palliative treatments and was highest among COVID-19 cases. Mortality appeared to be driven by male sex, BMI <25, hormonal therapy and number of cycles, while morbidity increased with age >65 years, BMI <25, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and immunotherapy. Therefore, oncologists should select the most effective anticancer treatments based on the aforementioned factors.

Weight Changes in Women Receiving Chemotherapy for Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia

Background

Women with breast cancer (BC) commonly experience weight gain during chemotherapy, although there is conflicting evidence regarding the contributing factors. This study aimed to evaluate body weight changes among women undergoing chemotherapy for non-metastatic BC during the first year after diagnosis, and to determine whether baseline body weight and/or hemoglobin concentration values were associated with weight changes during chemotherapy.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated patients who were treated at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Saudi Arabia) during 2010-2019. A total of 228 women were included based on the following criteria: new diagnosed BC, age of 18-80 years, non-metastatic disease, and initial chemotherapy treatment for BC. The patients’ baseline characteristics, including body weight during the first chemotherapy cycle, were collected from their electronic medical records. Each patient’s weight was then followed at each hospital visit until the last chemotherapy cycle. In addition, data were collected regarding tumor status, menopausal status, chemotherapy regimen, hemoglobin concentration, recurrence status, and death.

Results

The mean patient age was 53.37±10.9 years and 55.7% of the patients were pre-menopausal. The vast majority of patients underwent surgery (96.9%) and most patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (63.6%) or adjuvant radiotherapy (68.9%). The mean number of chemotherapy cycles was 6.29±1.74 (taxane-based: 1.67±1.36 cycles, anthracycline-based: 2.61±1.81 cycles). At the end of chemotherapy, the body weight changes were classified as increased (41.7% of patients, mean increase: 3.39 kg), decreased (35.5% of patients, mean decrease: -4.12 kg), or stable (22.8%). Factors that predicted weight gain after chemotherapy included younger age at diagnosis (p<0.029), pre-menopausal status (p<0.003), and a high number of taxane-based chemotherapy cycles (p<0.029).

Conclusions

Chemotherapy for BC did not lead to significant changes in body weight among women in Saudi Arabia. Weight gain in this setting was significantly associated with younger age, pre-menopausal status, and a high number of taxane-based chemotherapy cycles.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer in a Saudi Academic Hospital

Background

The global incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has increased significantly over the past decades. In Saudi Arabia, it is the third most common cancer among adults. This study aims to review the clinical and histopathological characteristics of TC in Saudi Arabia and analyze the size trend over the years.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all differentiated and poorly differentiated TC patients following up at a tertiary care center in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. All patients 11 years and older, diagnosed between 2004 - 2018, and with sufficient histopathological data were included.

Follicular and poorly differentiated TC were categorized and tumor stage was allocated. We performed descriptive and size trend analysis.

Results

We had a total of 285 patients who qualified for inclusion. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.6 years, and 81.05% of patients were females. Papillary TC comprised 88.07% of these neoplasms, and most patients (89.12%) were at Stage I. Only papillary TC showed a gender difference in the age of the diagnosis. In men, the mean age at diagnosis of papillary TC was 46.98 ± 15.4 years, while in female patients, it was 39.02 ± 12.8 years (p-value = 0.0001).

We did not find a trend toward smaller tumours in the more recent years in comparison to the early years (r = -0.083, p-value = 0.168).

Conclusions

TC is diagnosed at a younger age and larger sizes in Saudi Arabia in comparison to other countries. A gender difference was only noted with papillary TC in regard to the age of diagnosis. There was no trend toward smaller sizes of TC over the years.

The outcomes of renal cell carcinoma in a single tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia

Background:

Amidst an era of rising malignancies worldwide, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the 7^th most commonly detected, owing to 144,000 cancer-related deaths annually. Demographic knowledge of such cases in Saudi Arabia is poorly portrayed. According to the 2014 Saudi Cancer Registry, RCC has rated the 10^th most common malignancy among males, posing a significant disease burden. Global studies have depicted a great discrepancy of 15 folds in the incidence of RCC among different countries, which is commonly attributed to variations in each countries development. We aimed to assess the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients who underwent nephrectomy in our health-care facility.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study done at a tertiary care facility of all cases of RCC as per the pathology department database for the period of 2007–2017. The OS and DFS were statistically determined using Stata/SE 15.0.

Results:

Overall, 109 RCC patients were included in the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 53.8 (range: 24–89) years. Demographic data revealed a total of 71 (65.14%) males included in the study and 38 (34.86%) females. The OS at 2 years and 5 years was noted to be 95.3% and 92.6%, respectively. The DFS was found to be 90.8% at 2 years and 85.4% at 5 years. On multivariate analysis of the results, step-wise model was utilized to eliminate irrelevant variables affecting the OS, with a probability to eliminate variables with P > 0.2. Metastasis (M) was found to be a relevant variable (hazards ratio [HR]: 52.25 [P = 0.003]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.75–728.88). On multivariate analysis of the DFS, variables were found to be significant which include gender (HR: 0.15 [P = 0.063]; 95% CI: 0.02–1.105), nationality (HR: 16.1 [P = 0.034]; 95% CI: 1.24–209.13), age at diagnosis (HR: 0.93 [P = 0.031]; 95% CI: 0.87–0.99), and pathological stage (T) (HR: 7.89 [P = 0.003]; 95% CI: 1.98–31.36).

Conclusions:

Our results revealed a notable discrepancy in the 5-year OS and the 5-year DFS as compared to studies in the literature. However, our study was limited to a single center and the majority of our patients were diagnosed at a rather early stage. With the rising number of RCC cases worldwide and in Saudi, this further necessitates extensive disease surveillance for trends in all parameters.

Survival of Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background Lung cancer is estimated to be 12% of all new cases of cancer. It is one of the most common cancers in men and women, and it is the main cause of cancer-related death in the United States of America. More than 90% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients are elderly, with a current or past history of smoking. In Saudi Arabia, lung cancer incidence is low as compared to the global incidence. In 2013, the age-standardized ratio (ASR) was 1.8 per 100,000 for females and 5.5 per 100,000 for males. In our study, we aimed to assess the outcomes of SCLC at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods This retrospective cohort study included all patients aged 14 years and older with a diagnosis of SCLC from 2007 to 2017 using electronic medical records at KAUH. Data analysis was performed using Stata SE, version 15.0 (StataCorp LLC, TX). The primary outcome of this study was the survival of patients diagnosed with SCLC. Survival was defined as the time the patient lived in months from the date of pathological diagnosis to the date of the last follow-up or death. We included all variables in a univariate and multivariate analysis to determine the hazard ratio for each variable. Results In our study, we initially collected 193 lung cancer cases diagnosed during the period of 2007 to 2017 at KAUH, which was then narrowed to 22 after the selection of only SCLC cases. Data obtained showed 20 males (90.91%) and two females (9.09%), the median age of diagnosis was 64 years, and 45% of patients are active smokers, 9% are ex-smokers, and the smoking status of 41% of patients is unknown. Our data showed an overall median survival of 6.4 months (interval=11). Conclusion We observed that more than half of our patients who received chemotherapy showed improvement and a higher survival rate than those who didn't. In addition, 19% who received radiation therapy showed improvement and a higher survival rate than those who didn't. Future efforts to address the major issues that surround SCLC survivors, and to formulate a comprehensive survivorship care plan are required to develop better outcomes in survival and to improve the overall quality of life to pretreatment levels.

Assessing knowledge on preventive colorectal cancer screening in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Context

According to the Saudi Cancer Registry's 2014 Cancer Incidence Report, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading form of malignant cancer among Saudi men and ranks third among women. Raising awareness about CRC risk factors could lead to a significant decline in incidence of disease.

Aims

To assess CRC awareness and evaluate the main barriers that might prevent individuals' participation in screening.

Settings and Design

A self-administered survey was conducted over two days as part of a CRC awareness campaign in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in March, 2018.

Methods and Materials

The survey addressed issues regarding knowledge of CRC and available screening methods. The survey also examined barriers that might make one reluctant to undergo preventative screening. Stata/SE 15.0 was used for all statistical analyses.

Statistical Analyses

Continuous variables were described with frequencies and percentages. Stepwise linear regression models were constructed to predict CRC knowledge and barriers.

Results

Out of 422 participants, 50.2% were men. Most respondents were between 15-35 years old (65.8%). Multivariate analysis revealed that gender was a significant predictor of CRC knowledge. Furthermore, the variables of education and family history of CRC significantly predicted subjects' awareness of colonoscopic screenings. The most common barriers for seeking screening included fear of the procedure, absence of clinical symptoms, and fear of the results.

Conclusions

Our results highlight deficits in public CRC knowledge and their awareness of preventative measures. These shortcomings were found to be mainly related to education level. Specific barriers affecting screening decisions were also identified; intensive efforts on awareness to overcome these obstacles will be required.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Cytology for the Diagnosis of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancers

OBJECTIVE

Although cytology testing is considered a valuable method to diagnose tumors that are difficult to access such as hepato-biliary-pancreatic (HBP) malignancies, its diagnostic accuracy remains unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of cytology testing for HBP tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective study of all cytology samples that were used to confirm radiologically detected HBP tumors between 2002 and 2016. The cytology techniques used in our center included fine needle aspiration (FNA), brush cytology, and aspiration of bile. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios were calculated in comparison to histological confirmation.

RESULTS

From a total of 133 medical records, we calculated an overall sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 74%, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.30, and a positive likelihood ratio of 2.9. Cytology was more accurate in diagnosing lesions of the liver (sensitivity 79%, specificity 57%) and biliary tree (sensitivity 100%, specificity 50%) compared to pancreatic (sensitivity 60%, specificity 83%) and gallbladder lesions (sensitivity 50%, specificity 85%). Cytology was more accurate in detecting primary cancers (sensitivity 77%, specificity 73%) when compared to metastatic cancers (sensitivity 73%, specificity 100%). FNA was the most frequently used cytological technique to diagnose HBP lesions (sensitivity 78.8%).

CONCLUSION

Cytological testing is efficient in diagnosing HBP cancers, especially for hepatobiliary tumors. Given its relative simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and paucity of alternative diagnostic methods, cytology should still be considered as a first-line tool for diagnosing HBP malignancies.

Molecular Testing to Optimize and Personalize Decision Making in the Management of Colorectal Cancer

Recent improvements in our understanding of the biology of colorectal cancer have led to the identification of several important prognostic and predictive markers of disease-associated risk and treatment response for the individual patient. Proper utilization of these biomarkers can enable physicians to tailor therapeutic strategies to maximize the likelihood of response and minimize treatment toxicity. In the management of colorectal cancer, tremendous progress has been made in the development of strategies for immune checkpoint inhibition; in refinement of agents and approaches used in targeted therapy; and in techniques for molecular subtyping of tumor samples that have identified patient subgroups with clinically relevant cellular differences potentially affecting clinical management and treatment outcome. In this article, we discuss several of the commonly tested markers in colorectal cancer-including microsatellite instability, RAS/RAF, DPD, HER2, UTG1A1, TS, and Immunoscore-and highlight their prevalence, prognostic and predictive value, and current role in the overall treatment paradigm.

Neoadjuvant Treatment for Surgically Resectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The curative surgical resection of metastatic disease in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer with a limited tumor burden is standard of care. However, the role for neoadjuvant medical therapy and the ideal composition of that therapy are not established. Several neoadjuvant medical therapies, including standard advanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy regimens-such as folinic acid, fluorouracil (5-FU), and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX); folinic acid, 5-FU, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI); and folinic acid, 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI)-have been evaluated, as has the addition of the biologic agents bevacizumab, panitumumab, and cetuximab. Those patients who are immediate surgical candidates do not seem to benefit from a neoadjuvant medical approach and should proceed directly to surgical resection. Those patients who are not surgical candidates at presentation can in some instances achieve a conversion of disease to a curable state with systemic therapy. Here, we review the studies that have explored different treatment regimens, therapeutic sequencing, and biologic inclusions for the treatment of these patients, with neoadjuvant intent. We also describe how we have established our own treatment paradigm for the management of potentially curable metastatic colorectal cancer.

Biweekly gemcitabine and paclitaxel in patients with relapsed or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Purpose:

We conducted a Phase II, clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a biweekly gemcitabine and paclitaxel (GEMTAX) regimen as second-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic unresectable, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The primary endpoint was response rate.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with recurrent unresectable or metastatic platinum refractory SCCHN, who had performance status ≤2 and adequate organ function, were eligible. Gemcitabine (3000 mg/m² intravenous) and paclitaxel (150 mg/m² intravenous) was given on days 1 and 15of 4 weeks cycle, until patients had disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Results:

Disease control (partial response [PR] + complete response [CR] + stable disease [SD]) was noted in 19 patients (54%) and overall response (CR + PR) was noted in 8 patients (23%). However, the most frequent response outcomes were progressive disease in 16 patients (46%) and SD in 11 patients (31%). The most frequent Grade 3–4 adverse events were lymphopenia in 38 patients (75%), anemia in 20 patients (39%), and infection in 16 patients (31%). Median progression-free survival was 3.6 months; median overall survival was 6.3 months.

Conclusion:

The biweekly GEMTAX regimen has statistically significant grade 3 and 4 adverse events and has meaningful clinical activity as a second-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN who have received prior chemotherapy. This regimen may particularly be a useful treatment option in patients who progressed in less than 6 months of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with high-dose cisplatin and/or have recurrent/metastatic platinum refractory SCCHN.

Nab-paclitaxel: potential for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer

Advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a deadly disease and is considered incurable. For the past two decades, gemcitabine remained the major chemotherapeutic drug with modest clinical benefit. Many chemotherapy and targeted agents were combined with gemcitabine but failed to demonstrate improvement in pancreatic cancer (PC) survival. Taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) were introduced in the clinic as anti-microtubule agents and showed activity against PC cells in vitro; however, clinical efficacy was limited. Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) is an albumin-bound paclitaxel that has shown clinical activity in advanced breast and lung cancer. Recently, nab-paclitaxel was tested in a large Phase III clinical trial in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of advanced PC. The data showed that the addition of nab-paclitaxel improved the response rate (7% in gemcitabine alone versus 23% in combination), progression-free survival (from 3.7 months to 5.5 months), and overall survival from 6.7 months to 8.5 months, compared to single agent gemcitabine. Through this review, we provide the preclinical and clinical progress in the development of nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of metastatic PC.