Prognostic role of docetaxel-induced suppression of free testosterone serum levels in metastatic prostate cancer patients

To date, only few data concerning the biologically active, free form of testosterone (FT) are available in metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) and the impact of FT on disease, therapy and outcome is largely unknown. We retrospectively studied the effect of docetaxel on FT and total testosterone (TT) serum levels in 67 mPC patients monitored between April 2008 and November 2020. FT and TT levels were measured before and weekly during therapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were prostate-specific antigen response and radiographic response (PSAR, RR), progression-free survival (PFS), FT/TT levels and safety. Median FT and TT serum levels were completely suppressed to below the detection limit during docetaxel treatment (FT: from 0.32 to < 0.18 pg/mL and TT: from 0.12 to < 0.05 ng/mL, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analyses identified requirement of non-narcotics, PSAR, complete FT suppression and FT nadir values < 0.18 pg/mL as independent parameters for PFS. Prior androgen-receptor targeted therapy (ART), soft tissue metastasis and complete FT suppression were independent prognostic factors for OS. FT was not predictive for treatment outcome in mPC patients with a history of ART.

Conditionally immortalised leukaemia initiating cells co-expressing Hoxa9/Meis1 demonstrate microenvironmental adaptation properties ex vivo while maintaining myelomonocytic memory

Regulation of haematopoietic stem cell fate through conditional gene expression could improve understanding of healthy haematopoietic and leukaemia initiating cell (LIC) biology. We established conditionally immortalised myeloid progenitor cell lines co-expressing constitutive Hoxa9.EGFP and inducible Meis1.dTomato (H9M-ciMP) to study growth behaviour, immunophenotype and morphology under different cytokine/microenvironmental conditions ex vivo upon doxycycline (DOX) induction or removal. The vector design and drug-dependent selection approach identified new retroviral insertion (RVI) sites that potentially collaborate with Meis1/Hoxa9 and define H9M-ciMP fate. For most cell lines, myelomonocytic conditions supported reversible H9M-ciMP differentiation into neutrophils and macrophages with DOX-dependent modulation of Hoxa9/Meis1 and CD11b/Gr-1 expression. Here, up-regulation of Meis1/Hoxa9 promoted reconstitution of exponential expansion of immature H9M-ciMPs after DOX reapplication. Stem cell maintaining conditions supported selective H9M-ciMP exponential growth. H9M-ciMPs that had Ninj2 RVI and were cultured under myelomonocytic or stem cell maintaining conditions revealed the development of DOX-dependent acute myeloid leukaemia in a murine transplantation model. Transcriptional dysregulation of Ninj2 and distal genes surrounding RVI (Rad52, Kdm5a) was detected. All studied H9M-ciMPs demonstrated adaptation to T-lymphoid microenvironmental conditions while maintaining immature myelomonocytic features. Thus, the established system is relevant to leukaemia and stem cell biology.

Prognostic role of docetaxel-induced reduction of free testosterone serum levels in metastatic prostate cancer patients

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Background: We have recently demonstrated that a salvage therapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel is effective in docetaxel-refractory prostate cancer (PC) and interferes with testosterone biosynthesis (Reuter et al.; Oncol Res & Treat. 2018, 41 (suppl.1): p.10). In this study, the impact of docetaxel monotherapy on free and total testosterone serum levels (fT, TT) and the prognostic role of fT and TT were analyzed in mPC patients. Methods: 62 consecutive mPC patients were treated with at least two cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m2 q3w; 50 mg/m2 q2w, or 35 mg/m2 q1w) until disease progression, occurrence of intolerable adverse effects or completion of the planned cycle number. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. FT and TT were measured before and during chemotherapy. Results: At the current analysis (August 31, 2020), the median follow-up time was 21.2 months. Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA reduction) was observed in 42/62 (67.7%) and 12/36 (33.3%) patients with measurable disease exhibited a partial remission (PR). Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 8.1 months (CI 95% 3.6, 12.5) and median overall survival (OS) was 25.7 months (CI 95% 19.4, 32.1). The most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity was leukopenia/neutropenia (29/33.9%). Median fT and TT serum levels were reduced below the detection limit during docetaxel treatment (fT: from 0.34 pg/mL to < 0.01 pg/mL and TT: from 0.12 to < 0.05 ng/mL, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analyses identified PSAR > 50%, fT reduction of 100% and number of organs involved as independent prognostic risk factors for PFS. Furthermore, fT reduction of 100% and FT nadir values < 0.01 pg/mL were independent prognostic risk factors for OS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These data demonstrate that fT is an important prognostic factor for PFS and OS in mPC patients.

Role of free testosterone serum levels during salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in patients with docetaxel-refractory, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

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Background: Carboplatin plus docetaxel (CD) may be effective in mDRPC. Platinum(II)-complexes interfere with steroid biosynthesis and thus lower testosterone levels . In this study, the impact of CD on free and total testosterone (fT, TT) serum levels and the prognostic role of fT and TT were analyzed in mDRPC patients. Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Treatment consisted of at least 2 cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel (35 mg/m2) iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) plus prednisone 2x5 mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. Results: Of the 118 pts. treated since February 2005, 95.8% had bone, 47.5% lymph node, 28.0% liver and 20.3% lung metastases. Median follow-up time was 14.4 months at the time of the current analysis. The objective response rate (ORR) was 46.4% in the 69 pts. with measureable disease (58.5%). Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR ≥ 50%) was observed in 56 (47.9%) patients. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 7.6 months (CI 95% 6.0, 9.1) and median overall survival (OS) was 15.7 months (CI 95% 12.2, 19.2). The most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity was leukopenia/ neutropenia (36.4/28.8%). Median FT serum levels were 0.35 pg/mL before and < 0.18 pg/mL during CD treatment (nadir levels, p < 0.001; detection limit < 0.18 pg/mL). In multivariate analyses, LDH > 2xULN, PSAR≥50% and FT nadir levels below the detection limit ( < 0.18 pg/mL) during CD treatment were associated with longer PFS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that CD may be an important salvage treatment option for mDRPC patients by inhibition of the testosterone biosynthesis.

Retroviral gene therapy in Germany with a view on previous experience and future perspectives

Gene therapy can be used to restore cell function in monogenic disorders or to endow cells with new capabilities, such as improved killing of cancer cells, expression of suicide genes for controlled elimination of cell populations, or protection against chemotherapy or viral infection. While gene therapies were originally most often used to treat monogenic diseases and to improve hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome, the advent of genetically modified immune cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor modified T cells, has contributed to the increased numbers of patients treated with gene and cell therapies. The advancement of gene therapy with integrating retroviral vectors continues to depend upon world-wide efforts. As the topic of this special issue is "Spotlight on Germany," the goal of this review is to provide an overview of contributions to this field made by German clinical and research institutions. Research groups in Germany made, and continue to make, important contributions to the development of gene therapy, including design of vectors and transduction protocols for improved cell modification, methods to assess gene therapy vector efficacy and safety (e.g., clonal imbalance, insertion sites), as well as in the design and conduction of clinical gene therapy trials.

Use of Cell and Genome Modification Technologies to Generate Improved "Off-the-Shelf" CAR T and CAR NK Cells

The broad success of adoptive immunotherapy to treat human cancer has resulted in a paradigm shift in modern medicine. Modification of autologous and allogenic immune cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) designed to target specific antigens on tumor cells has led to production of CAR T and CAR NK cell therapies, which are ever more commonly introduced into cancer patient treatment protocols. While allogenic T cells may offer advantages such as improved anti-tumor activity, they also carry the risk of adverse reactions like graft-versus-host disease. This risk can be mitigated by use of autologous immune cells, however, the time needed for T and/or NK cell isolation, modification and expansion may be too long for some patients. Thus, there is an urgent need for strategies to robustly produce “off-the-shelf” CAR T and CAR NK cells, which could be used as a bridging therapy between cancer diagnosis or relapse and allogeneic transplantation. Advances in genome modification technologies have accelerated the generation of designer cell therapy products, including development of “off-the-shelf” CAR T cells for cancer immunotherapy. The feasibility and safety of such approaches is currently tested in clinical trials. This review will describe cell sources for CAR-based therapies, provide background of current genome editing techniques and the applicability of these approaches for generation of universal “off-the-shelf” CAR T and NK cell therapeutics.

Preclinical Assessment of Suitable Natural Killer Cell Sources for Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer-Based "Off-the-Shelf" Acute Myeloid Leukemia Immunotherapies

The introduction of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to augment the anticancer activity of immune cells represents one of the major clinical advances in recent years. This work demonstrates that sorted CAR natural killer (NK) cells have improved antileukemia activity compared to control NK cells that lack a functional CAR. However, in terms of viability, effectiveness, risk of side effects, and clinical practicality and applicability, an important question is whether gene-modified NK cell lines represent better CAR effector cells than primary human donor CAR-NK (CAR-dNK) cells. Comparison of the functional activities of sorted CAR-NK cells generated using the NK-92 cell line with those generated from primary human dNK cells demonstrated that CAR-NK-92 cells had stronger cytotoxic activity against leukemia cells compared to CAR-dNK cells. CAR-NK-92 and CAR-dNK cells had similar CD107a surface expression upon co-incubation with leukemia cells. However, CAR-NK-92 cells secreted higher granzyme A and interleukin-17A levels, while CAR-dNK cells secreted more tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and granulysin. In addition, CAR-NK-92 cells revealed a significantly higher potential for adverse side effects against nonmalignant cells. In short, this work shows the feasibility for further development of CAR-NK strategies to treat leukemia.

Final report on serial phase II trials of all-intraperitoneal chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for women with newly diagnosed, optimally cytoreduced carcinoma of Müllerian origin

BACKGROUND

Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy can improve outcomes for women with optimally cytoreduced epithelial ovarian cancer but toxicities are a concern. We conducted 2 phase 2 trials of an IV/IP regimen using carboplatin and paclitaxel without (Trial A) and with bevacizumab (Trial B).

METHODS

Both trials consisted of carboplatin AUC 6 day 1, and paclitaxel 60 mg/m² on days 1,8, 15 of a 21-day cycle; in Trial B, patients received IV bevacizumab 15 mg/kg every cycle starting cycle 2. Chemotherapy was administered IV for cycle 1 and then IP for all subsequent cycles. Primary objectives included safety and tolerability, pathologic CR rate (Trial A), and the rate of completion of IP cycles of therapy (Trial B). Progression-free (PFS), overall survival (OS), and pharmacokinetic analysis were secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

81 patients were treated on both trials (n = 40 and 41 in trials A and B, respectively). Median age for trials A and B was 59 (range, 36-76) and 55 (range, 19-69) years, respectively. 68% and 85% of patients, respectively for A and B, completed at least 4 cycles of treatment in both trials. Treatment with bevacizumab resulted in higher rates of grade 3 fatigue (37 versus 33%) and grade 3-4 diarrhea (22 versus 8%). Median PFS was 23.5 (95%CI 16.2-35.3) and 25 (95%CI 16.4-42.7) months, respectively; median OS was 68 (95%CI 49.5-NR) and 79.7 (95%CI 59.0-79.7) months, respectively for Trial A and B.

CONCLUSIONS

Weekly administered IP carboplatin and IP paclitaxel is tolerable and safe with similar activity with and without concommittant bevacizumab in these 2 trials.

Engineering CAR-T Cells for Improved Function Against Solid Tumors

Genetic engineering T cells to create clinically applied chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has led to improved patient outcomes for some forms of hematopoietic malignancies. While this has inspired the biomedical community to develop similar strategies to treat solid tumor patients, challenges such as the immunosuppressive character of the tumor microenvironment, CAR-T cell persistence and trafficking to the tumor seem to limit CAR-T cell efficacy in solid cancers. This review provides an overview of mechanisms that tumors exploit to evade eradication by CAR-T cells as well as emerging approaches that incorporate genetic engineering technologies to improve CAR-T cell activity against solid tumors.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells: Extending Translation from Liquid to Solid Tumors

Successful translation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells designed to target and eradicate CD19+ lymphomas has emboldened scientists and physicians worldwide to explore the possibility of applying CAR T-cell technology to other tumor entities, including solid tumors. Next-generation strategies such as fourth-generation CARs (CAR T cells redirected for universal cytokine killing, also known as TRUCKs) designed to deliver immunomodulatory cytokines to the tumor microenvironment, dual CAR designs to improve tumor control, inclusion of suicide genes as safety switches, and precision genome editing are currently being investigated. One major ongoing goal is to determine how best to generate CAR T cells that modulate the tumor microenvironment, overcome tumor survival mechanisms, and thus allow broader applicability as universal allogeneic T-cell therapeutics. Development of state-of-the-art and beyond viral vector systems to deliver designer CARs coupled with targeted genome editing is expected to generate more effective off-the-shelf CAR T cells with activity against a greater number of cancer types and importantly solid tumors.

Uncoupling the Oncogenic Engine

Inhibition of oncogenic signaling and correction of aberrant metabolic processes may be key paradigms to eliminate cancer cells. The high incidence of activating RAS mutations and hyperactivated ERK1/2 signaling observed in many human tumors and the lack of effective targeted therapies to elicit long-term inhibition of the RAS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway add to the importance of discovering novel strategies to treat malignancies characterized by elevated RAS-ERK1/2 signaling. In this review, we describe connections between oncogenic signaling and cancer cell metabolism and how these links may be exploited for novel modern molecular medicine approaches. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6060-4. ©2017 AACR.

Prognostic value of free testosterone (FT) levels during chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in metastatic castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (mDRPC)

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Background: Carboplatin plus docetaxel (DC) may be effective in mDRPC. Platinum(II)-complexes interfere with steroid biosynthesis lowering testosterone levels by inhibiting the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1,2) and 17α hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17A1). Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Treatment consisted of at least two cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) plus prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. Free testosterone levels were measured before (n = 77) and during DC chemotherapy (n = 69). Results: Of the 100 pts. treated since February 2005, 96% had bone metastases, 45% had lymph node, 27% liver and 21% lung involvement. At the time of the current analysis, the median follow-up was 13.6 months, 93 pts. had died and 97 had progressive disease. The objective response rate was 36.5% in the 63 pts. with measureable disease. Response of prostate-specific antigen (≥50%) was observed in 50% of patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 6.9 months (CI 95% 5.5, 8.3) and median OS was 15.4 months (CI 95% 11.5, 19.4). The most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity was leukopenia/ neutropenia (40/32%). Median free testosterone levels were 0.61 pg/ml before and < 0.18 pg/ml during carboplatin/docetaxel treatment (nadir levels, p < 0.001; detection limit < 0.18 pg/ml). Median serum androgene levels (T+DHT) were 0.1 ng/ml before and below the detection limit of < 0.05 ng/ml during DC treatment. In multivariate analyses, LDH, PSA response, free testosterone nadir levels below the detection limit ( < 0.18 pg/mL) during DC treatment were associated with longer OS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel may be an important salvage treatment option for DRPC patients.

Whole gut microbiome composition of damselfish and cardinalfish before and after reef settlement

The Pomacentridae (damselfish) and Apogonidae (cardinalfish) are among the most common fish families on coral reefs and in the aquarium trade. Members of both families undergo a pelagic larvae phase prior to settlement on the reef, where adults play key roles in benthic habitat structuring and trophic interactions. Fish-associated microbial communities (microbiomes) significantly influence fish health and ecology, yet little is known of how microbiomes change with life stage. We quantified the taxonomic (16S rRNA gene) composition of whole gut microbiomes from ten species of damselfish and two species of cardinalfish from Lizard Island, Australia, focusing specifically on comparisons between pelagic larvae prior to settlement on the reef versus post-settlement juvenile and adult individuals. On average, microbiome phylogenetic diversity increased from pre- to post-settlement, and was unrelated to the microbial composition in the surrounding water column. However, this trend varied among species, suggesting stochasticity in fish microbiome assembly. Pre-settlement fish were enriched with bacteria of the Endozoicomonaceae, Shewanellaceae, and Fusobacteriaceae, whereas settled fish harbored higher abundances of Vibrionaceae and Pasteurellaceae. Several individual operational taxonomic units, including ones related to Vibrio harveyi, Shewanella sp., and uncultured Endozoicomonas bacteria, were shared between both pre and post-settlement stages and may be of central importance in the intestinal niche across development. Richness of the core microbiome shared among pre-settlement fish was comparable to that of settled individuals, suggesting that changes in diversity with adulthood are due to the acquisition or loss of host-specific microbes. These results identify a key transition in microbiome structure across host life stage, suggesting changes in the functional contribution of microbiomes over development in two ecologically dominant reef fish families.

Efficient generation of gene-modified human natural killer cells via alpharetroviral vectors

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in tumor immunotherapy with their unique capability of killing transformed cells without the need for prior sensitization and without major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/peptide restriction. However, tumor cells can escape NK cell cytotoxicity by various tumor immune escape mechanisms. To overcome these escape mechanisms, NK cells can be modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), enhancing their tumor-specific cytotoxicity. To determine the most efficacious method to modify human NK cells, we compared different retroviral vector systems, retroviral pseudotypes, and transduction protocols. Using optimized transduction conditions, the highest transduction levels (up to 60%) were achieved with alpharetroviral vectors. Alpharetroviral-modified primary human NK cells exhibited no alteration in receptor expression and had similar degranulation activity as untransduced NK cells, thus demonstrating that alpharetroviral modification did not negatively affect NK cell cytotoxicity. Transduction of NK cells with an alpharetroviral vector containing a CD19 CAR expression cassette selectively enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity towards CD19-expressing leukemia cells, achieving nearly complete elimination of leukemia cells after 48 h. Taken together, alpharetroviral vectors are promising tools for NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy applications.

KEY MESSAGES

Efficient modification of human NK cells using alpharetroviral vectors. Anti-CD19-CAR-NK cells exhibited improved cytotoxicity towards CD19(+) leukemia cells. Alpharetroviral vectors are promising tools for immunotherapy applications using NK cells.

Cetuximab Reconstitutes Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Secretions and Tumor-Infiltrating Capabilities of sMICA-Inhibited NK Cells in HNSCC Tumor Spheroids

Immunosuppressive factors, such as soluble major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related peptide A (sMICA) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β₁), are involved in tumor immune escape mechanisms (TIEMs) exhibited by head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) and may represent opportunities for therapeutic intervention. In order to overcome TIEMs, we investigated the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytokine release and retargeted tumor infiltration of sMICA-inhibited patient NK cells expressing Fcγ receptor IIIa (FcγRIIIa, CD16a) in the presence of cetuximab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). Compared to healthy controls, relapsed HNSCC patients (n = 5), not currently in treatment revealed decreased levels of circulating regulatory NK cell subsets in relation to increased cytotoxic NK cell subpopulations. Elevated sMICA and TGF-β₁ plasma levels correlated with diminished TNFα and IFN-γ release and decreased NKG2D (natural killer group 2 member D)-dependent killing of HNSCC cells by NK cells. Incubation of IL-2-activated patient NK cells with patient plasma containing elevated sMICA or sMICA analogs (shed MICA and recombinant MICA) significantly impaired NKG2D-mediated killing by down-regulation of NKG2D surface expression. Of note, CD16 surface expression levels, pro-apoptotic and activation markers, and viability of patient and healthy donor NK cell subpopulations were not affected by this treatment. Accordingly, cetuximab restored killing activity of sMICA-inhibited patient NK cells against cetuximab-coated primary HNSCC cells via ADCC in a dose-dependent manner. Rapid reconstitution of anti-tumor recognition and enhanced tumor infiltration of treated NK cells was monitored by 24 h co-incubation of HNSCC tumor spheroids with cetuximab (1 μg/ml) and was characterized by increased IFN-γ and TNFα secretion. This data show that the impaired NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance in relapsed HNSCC patients could be reversed by the re-establishment of ADCC-mediated effector cell activity, thus supporting NK cell-based immunotherapy in combination with antineoplastic monoclonal mAbs.

Salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in patients (pts) with castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (DRPC): Associations of patient and disease characteristics with overall survival (OS)

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Background: Our recent data suggest that carboplatin is effective in combination with docetaxel (DC) in docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (DRPC). Platinum(II)-complexes interfere with steroid biosynthesis lowering testosterone levels by inhibiting the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1,2) and 17α hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17A1). Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Treatment consisted of at least two cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day one every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, and 15 plus prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. Free testosterone levels were measured before (n=59) and during DC chemotherapy (n=52). Results: Of the 82 pts treated since February 2005, 95.1% had bone, 42.7% had lymph node, 26.8% liver, and 18.3% lung involvement. At the current analysis, the median follow-up time was 15.6 months. The objective response rate was 40.8% and the disease control rate 63.3% in the 49 pts with measureable disease. Response of prostate-specific antigen (greater than or equal to 50%) was observed in 3 out of /82 (47.6%) pts. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months (CI 95% 6.0, 7.8) and median OS was 18.0 months (CI 95% 12.7, 23.3). The most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity was leukopenia/neutropenia (42.7/37.8%). Median free testosterone (fT) was 0.745 pg/ml before and less than 0.18 pg/ml during DC treatment (nadir levels, p=0.009; detection limit less than 0.18 pg/ml) and median serum androgene (T+DHT=TA) was 0.19 ng/ml and below the detection limit of less than 0.05 ng/ml (p<0.001). In multivariate analyses, lactate dehydrogenase, PSA response, and fT and TA nadir levels were associated with longer OS (p<0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel may be an important second-line treatment option for DRPC patients by inhibiting the testosterone biosynthesis.

Effectiveness of abiraterone as salvage therapy in patients with docetaxel- and castration-resistant prostate cancer (mDCPC) that progressed during second-line chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel (DC)

e16064

Background: Our recent data have shown that carboplatin AUC5 on d1 plus docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv on d1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks (q4w) is an effective salvage therapy in mDRPC. Patients (pts) who have progressive disease during DC treatment survive only ~7 months and many are symptomatic. We have demonstrated that high free testosterone (FT) serum levels during DC treatment have a negative prognostic value for PSA response and overall survival in these pts. In this study the impact of abiraterone treatment and other subsequent salvage regimens after DC failure was analyzed. Methods: DC failure was defined as disease progression during DC treatment according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 74 consecutive DRPC pts were treated with at least 2 cycles DC until disease progression. At the time of the current analysis 69 pts have progressed and 43 pts received one or more subsequent therapies (1-3). Results: Overall survival (OS) of all 69 pts who have progressed during DC treatment was 8.0 months (CI 95% 3.7, 12.3). 43 pts received subsequent salvage therapies including mitoxantrone-prednisone-etoposide (MPE) (n=10), cabazitaxel (n=13), docetaxel-oxaliplatin (n=8), abiraterone (n=15), enzalutamide (n=5) and doxorubicin-ketokonazol (n=5). OS of these 43 pts was 14.6 months (CI 95% 11.0, 18.2).In pts receiving abiraterone as salvage treatment, OS after DC was 21.8 months versus 11.9 months (CI 95% 9.0, 14.8) in pts receiving other regimens (HR 0.17, CI 95% 0.07, 0.42; p<0.001). Responses of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥30% and ≥50%) were only frequently observed in pts receiving abiraterone (8/15, 53.3% and 4/15, 26.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate for the first time that testosterone is an important prognostic factor for PSA response and OS in mDRPC patients receiving DC chemotherapy and that targeting testosterone after DC failure prolongs post-DC survival.

Prognostic value of free testosterone (FT) levels during salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in metastatic castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (mDRPC)

e16024

Background: Recent data suggest that carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel (DC) may be effective in mDRPC. Carboplatin, docetaxel and steroids interfere with testosterone biosynthesis and/or metabolism. In this study the impact of DC treatment on testosterone blood levels was analyzed. Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined as disease progression during docetaxel treatment according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 74 consecutive DRPC patients (pts.) were treated with at least 2 cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 plus docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) every 4 weeks and prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. FT levels were measured before (n=51) and during DC chemotherapy (n=41). Results: Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA) was observed in 36/74 (48.6%) pts. At the current analysis the median follow-up time was 16.6 months and 56/74 pts. had died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months (CI 95% 5.9, 7.9) and median overall survival (OS) was 18.6 months (CI 95% 12.4, 24.7). Median nadir FT levels were 2.8 pmol/L before and below the RIA detection limit of 0.6 pmol/L during DC treatment (p=0.008). While only 4/51 pts. had FT levels <0.6 pmol/L before DC treatment (all under abiraterone therapy), 28/41 pts. had nadir FT values <0.6 pmol/L during DC chemotherapy (p<0.0001). Median FT levels <0.9 pmol/L during DC treatment were associated with a higher PSA response rate (hazard ratio HR 0.19; CI 0.05, 0.78, p=0.021) and a higher OS (HR 0.34; CI 0.15, 0.81, p=0.015). FT remained statistically prognostic in multivariable analyses. The DC regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/ neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (41.9/37.8%). Conclusions: These data demonstrate for the first time that FT is an important prognostic factor for PSAR and OS in mDRPC pts. during chemotherapy.

Comparison of testing approaches for Clostridium difficile infection at a large community hospital

Multiple diagnostic approaches are available for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI); current guidelines support two-step testing (2ST) as the preferred approach. We retrospectively evaluated the impact of switching from toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to 2ST, and then to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), on CDI rates, test utilization and CDI treatment at a 900-bed tertiary care community teaching hospital. All inpatients tested for CDI between December 2008 and February 2011 were included. A positive toxin EIA or PCR was diagnostic of CDI; 2ST was performed using glutamate dehydrogenase EIA, followed by PCR if positive. Repeat tests within 8 weeks on the same patient were considered part of the same testing episode. Data were collected electronically and studied in aggregate from 9725 unique inpatients tested for CDI, representing 20 836 individual tests. PCR detected 41% more patients with CDI than toxin EIA (p <0.0001), and 15% more than 2ST (p 0.02), corresponding to higher hospital-onset and community-onset CDI rates. The number of CDI tests performed per patient decreased by 48% with PCR (p <0.0001) compared with toxin EIA. For patients with CDI, time to the first positive test result was shortest with PCR. For patients without CDI, a negative PCR, but not 2ST, was associated with 22% fewer CDI treatment days, compared with toxin EIA (p <0.0001). Compared with both toxin EIA and 2ST, PCR detected more CDI patients faster and with less frequent testing, and negative PCR results were associated with less empirical CDI treatment.

Effectiveness of abiraterone as salvage therapy in patients with docetaxel- and castration-resistant prostate cancer (mDCPC) that progressed during second-line chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel (DC)

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Background: Our recent data have shown that carboplatin AUC5 on d1 plus docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv on d1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks (q4w) is an effective salvage therapy in mDRPC. Patients (pts) who have progressive disease during DC treatment survive only ~7 months and many are symptomatic. We have demonstrated that high free testosterone (FT) serum levels during DC treatment have a negative prognostic value for PSA response and overall survival in these pts. In this study the impact of abiraterone treatment and other subsequent salvage regimens after DC failure was analyzed. Methods: DC failure was defined as disease progression during DC treatment according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 74 consecutive DRPC pts were treated with at least 2 cycles DC until disease progression. At the time of the current analysis 67 pts have progressed and 41 pts received one or more subsequent therapies (1-3). Results: Overall survival (OS) of all 67 pts who have progressed during DC treatment was 7.1 months (CI 95% 1.8, 12.3). 41 pts received subsequent salvage therapies including mitoxantrone-prednisone-etoposide (MPE) (n=10), cabazitaxel (n=10), docetaxel-oxaliplatin (n=8), abiraterone (n=15) and doxorubicin-ketokonazol (n=5). OS of these 41 pts was 14.6 months (CI 95% 11.0, 18.3).In pts receiving abiraterone as salvage treatment, OS after DC was 21.8 months (CI 95% 7.2, 36.5) versus 11.9 months (CI 95% 9.0, 14.8) in pts receiving other regimens (HR 0.302, CI 95% 0.11, 0.8; p=0.016). Responses of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥30% and ≥50%) were only observed in pts receiving abiraterone (8/15, 53.3% and 4/15, 26.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate for the first time that testosterone is an important prognostic factor for PSA response and OS in mDRPC patients receiving DC chemotherapy and that targeting testosterone after DC failure prolongs post-DC survival.

Prognostic value of free testosterone (FT) levels during salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in metastatic castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (mDRPC)

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Background: Recent data suggest that carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel (DC) may be effective in mDRPC. Carboplatin, docetaxel and steroids interfere with testosterone biosynthesis and/or metabolism. In this study the impact of DC treatment on testosterone blood levels was analyzed. Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined as disease progression during docetaxel treatment according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 74 consecutive DRPC patients (pts.) were treated with at least 2 cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 plus docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) every 4 weeks and prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. FT levels were measured before (n=50) and during DC chemotherapy (n=43). Results: Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA) was observed in 35/74 (47.3%) pts. At the current analysis the median follow-up time was 16.0 months and 54/74 pts. had died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months (CI 95% 5.3, 8.4) and median overall survival (OS) was 18.6 months (CI 95% 12.4, 24.7). Median nadir FT levels were 2.8 pmol/L before and below the RIA detection limit of 0.6 pmol/L during DC treatment (p=0.011). While only 4/50 pts. had FT levels <0.6 pmol/L before DC treatment (all under abiraterone therapy), 27/43 pts. had nadir FT values <0.6 pmol/L during DC chemotherapy (p<0.001). FT levels <1 pmol/L during DC treatment were associated with a higher PSA response rate (hazard ratio HR 0.09; CI 0.02, 0.81, p=0.032) and FT levels <0.6 pmol/L with a higher OS (HR 0.45; CI 0.18, 0.98, p=0.045). FT remained statistically prognostic in multivariable analyses. The DC regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/ neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (41.9/37.8%). Conclusions: These data demonstrate for the first time that FT is an important prognostic factor for PSAR and OS in mDRPC pts. receiving chemotherapy.

Hormonal impact of salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in patients with castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (DRPC)

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Background: Recent data suggest that carboplatin may be effective in combination with docetaxel in DRPC. Platinum(II)-complexes interfere with steroid biosynthesis lowering testosterone levels by inhibiting CYP11A1, HSD3B1,2 and CYP17A1. Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 68 consecutive DRPC pts were treated with at least two cycles of carboplatin (C) AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel (D) at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) plus prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG recommendations. Free testosterone levels were measured before (n=42) and during DC chemotherapy (n=36). Results: Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA) was observed in 32/68 (47.1%) patients. At the time of the current analysis (9/30/11) the median follow-up time was 13.6 months, 42/68 patients had died and 48/68 had progressive disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 7.5 months (CI 95% 5.4, 9.6) and median overall survival (OS) was 18.6 months (CI 95% 11.7, 25.5). This regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (45.6/39.7%). Median free testosterone levels were 0.935 pg/ml before and 0.185 pg/ml during DC treatment (nadir levels, p<0.001; detection limit <0.18 pg/ml). Median serum androgene levels (T+DHT) were 0.26 ng/ml before and below the detection limit of <0.05 ng/ml during DC treatment (median nadir levels). While free testosterone levels before DC treatment were associated with lower PSAR (HR 6.32 CI 1.60, 25,0; p=0.009), free testosterone nadir levels <0.18 pg/ml during DC treatment were associated with higher PFS (HR 0.126 CI 0.04, 0.46, p=0.002) and OS (HR 0.07 CI 0.01, 0.59; p=0.014). Conclusions: These data suggest that carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel may be an important second-line treatment option for DRPC patients by inhibiting the testosterone biosynthesis.

Hormonal impact of salvage chemotherapy with carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel in patients with castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (DRPC)

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Background: Recent data suggest that carboplatin may be effective in combination with docetaxel in DRPC. Platinum(II)-complexes have been shown to interfere with testosterone biosynthesis by inhibiting the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1,2) and 17a hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17A1).

Methods: Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 68 consecutive DRPC pts were treated with at least two cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) plus prednisone 2x5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. Free testosterone levels were measured before (n=42) and during DC treatment (n=36).

Results: Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA) was observed in 32/68 (47.1%) patients. At the time of the current analysis the median follow-up time was 13.6 months and 43/68 patients had died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 7.5 months (CI 95% 5.4, 9.5) and median overall survival (OS) was 18.6 months (CI 95% 12.3, 24.9). In PSAR, PFS was 15.7 versus 4.8 months in PSANR (p<0.001; hazard ratio HR 0.19, CI 0.09, 0.39) and OS was 25.6 versus 8.1 months (p<0.001; HR 0.21 CI 0.10, 0.42). This regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (39.7/33.8%). Median free testosterone levels were 0.935 pg/ml before and 0.185 pg/ml during DC treatment (nadir; p<0.001). While free testosterone levels before DC treatment were associated with lower PSAR (HR 6.32 CI 1.60, 25,0; p=0.009), free testosterone nadir levels <0.18 pg/ml during DC treatment were associated with higher PFS (HR 0.126 CI 0.04, 0.46, p=0.002) and OS (HR 0.07 CI 0.008, 0.53; p=0.01).

Conclusions: These data suggest that DC may be an important second-line treatment option for DRPC patients by inhibiting the testosterone biosynthesis.

Paraxial and nonparaxial polynomial beams and the analytic approach to propagation

We construct solutions of the paraxial and Helmholtz equations that are polynomials in their spatial variables. These are derived explicitly by using the angular spectrum method and generating functions. Paraxial polynomials have the form of homogeneous Hermite and Laguerre polynomials in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates, respectively, analogous to heat polynomials for the diffusion equation. Nonparaxial polynomials are found by substituting monomials in the propagation variable z with reverse Bessel polynomials. These explicit analytic forms give insight into the mathematical structure of paraxially and nonparaxially propagating beams, especially in regard to the divergence of nonparaxial analogs to familiar paraxial beams.

Modulation of anthracycline-induced cytotoxicity by targeting the prenylated proteome in myeloid leukemia cells

Deregulation of Ras/ERK signaling in myeloid leukemias makes this pathway an interesting target for drug development. Myeloid leukemia cell lines were screened for idarubicin-induced apoptosis, cell-cycle progression, cell-cycle-dependent MAP kinase kinase (MEK-1/2) activation, and Top2 expression. Cell-cycle-dependent activation of MEK/ERK signaling was blocked using farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) BMS-214,662 and dual prenyltransferase inhibitor (DPI) L-778,123 to disrupt Ras signaling. Idarubicin caused a G2/M cell-cycle arrest characterized by elevated diphosphorylated MEK-1/2 and Top2α expression levels. The FTI/DPIs elicited distinct effects on Ras signaling, protein prenylation, cell cycling and apoptosis. Combining these FTI/DPIs with idarubicin synergistically inhibited proliferation of leukemia cell lines, but the L-778,123+idarubicin combination exhibited synergistic growth inhibition over a greater range of drug concentrations. Interestingly, combined FTI/DPI treatment synergistically inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and nearly completely blocked protein prenylation. Inhibition of K-Ras expression by RNA interference or blockade of its post-translational prenylation led to increased BMS-214,662-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that nearly complete inhibition of protein prenylation using an FTI + DPI combination is the most effective method to induce apoptosis and to block anthracycline-induced activation of ERK signaling.

Carboplatin plus weekly docetaxel as salvage chemotherapy in docetaxel-resistant and castration-resistant prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

There is no proven, effective, standard second-line chemotherapy for castration- and docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer (DRPC). Recent data suggest that carboplatin may be effective in combination with docetaxel in this setting; however, the optimal docetaxel/carboplatin-based regimen is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We identified 43 consecutive patients with DRPC treated with carboplatin (AUC5 d1) and docetaxel (35 mg/m(2) d1, 8, 15 q4w i.v.) as a second-line or subsequent salvage chemotherapy until discontinuation of therapy due to disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS

Decreased prostate-specific antigen (> or =50% PSA) was observed in 22/43 (51.2%, 95% CI, 35.5, 66.7%) patients, with > or =90% reduction in 12/43 patients (27.9%). At the time of analysis, the median follow-up time for all patients was 10.4 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 6.5 months (95% CI 4.1, 8.9), and median overall survival (OS) was 15.8 months (95% CI 12.1, 18.5). In PSA responders, PFS was 9.5 (95% CI 8.2, 19.0) months versus 3.3 (95% CI 2.6, 4.0) months in PSA non-responders (P < 0.0001; hazard ratio (HR) 0.108) and OS was 24.4 months (95% CI 19.5, 29.4) versus 7.8 (95% CI 5.2, 10.3) months (P = 0.001; HR 0.232). Established prognostic factors were associated with survival. This regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (41.9/39.5%).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that weekly docetaxel plus carboplatin may be an important therapeutic second-line treatment option for patients with DRPC.

A tagging-via-substrate approach to detect the farnesylated proteome using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with Western blotting

Prenylation is a post-translational modification critical for the proper function of multiple physiologically important proteins, including small G-proteins, such as Ras. Methods allowing rapid and selective detection of protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation are fundamental for the understanding of prenylated protein function and for monitoring efficacy of drugs such as farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs). Although the natural substrates for prenyltransferases are farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyltransferase has been shown to incorporate isoprenoid analogues into protein substrates. In this study, protein prenyltransferase targets were labeled using anilinogeraniol, the alcohol precursor to the unnatural farnesyl pyrophosphate analogue 8-anilinogeranyl diphosphate in a tagging-via-substrate approach. Antibodies specific for the anilinogeranyl moiety were used to detect the anilinogeranyl-modified proteins. Coupling this highly effective labeling/detection method with two-dimensional electrophoresis and subsequent Western blotting allowed simple, rapid analysis of the complex farnesylated proteome. For example, this method elucidated the differential effects induced by two chemically distinct FTIs, BMS-214,662 and L-778,123. Although both FTIs strongly inhibited farnesylation of many proteins such as Lamins, NAP1L1, N-Ras, and H-Ras, only the dual prenylation inhibitor L-778,123 blocked prenylation of Pex19, RhoB, K-Ras, Cdc42, and Rap1. This snapshot approach has significant advantages over traditional techniques, including radiolabeling, anti-farnesyl antibodies, or mass spectroscopy, and enables dynamic analysis of the farnesylated proteome.

Stage-for-stage comparison of definitive chemoradiotherapy, surgery alone and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for oesophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) has been proposed as an alternative therapy for selected patients with oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of dCRT, surgery alone, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (CS) in patients with oesophageal cancer.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and managed by a multidisciplinary team were staged by computed tomography and endoluminal ultrasonography. Those deemed unsuitable for surgery on the grounds of performance status, bulky local disease or personal choice received dCRT. The primary outcome measure was overall survival measured from date of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 417 patients, 173 received dCRT, 126 underwent surgery alone and 118 received CS. The incidence of grade III/IV toxicity after dCRT and CS was 39.3 and 60.2 per cent respectively. Operative morbidity rates were 42.9 and 44.4 per cent after surgery alone and CS respectively. Thirty-day mortality rates were zero, 7.9 and 0.8 per cent after dCRT, surgery alone and CS respectively. Overall 2-year survival rates were 44.3, 56.2 and 42.4 per cent (P = 0.422).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the need for a randomized trial of dCRT versus CS for resectable oesophageal cancer.

Workload and resource implications of upper gastrointestinal cancer surgical centralisation in South East Wales

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine whether one specialist unit could manage all patients diagnosed with oesophagogastric cancer in Gwent and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trusts over a 6-month period with regard to workload, resource and training opportunities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients diagnosed with oesophagogastric (OG) cancer in Gwent and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trusts and referred to the regional South East Wales Upper GI multidisciplinary team over the 6-month period from 1 July to 31 December 2005 were studied prospectively and compared with the previous 6-month caseload at Cardiff and Vale.

RESULTS

Out-patient workload increased from 160 new (33 OG cancers) and 533 follow-up patients (161 OG cancers) between 1 January and 30 June 2005, to 290 new (68 OG cancers, 106% increase) and 865 follow-up patients (230 OG cancers, 43% increase) between 1 July, and 31 December 2005. The number of patients undergoing radical surgery increased from 14 to 23 (D2 gastrectomy 8 versus 13; oesophagectomy 6 versus 10). Cancer-related workload in the latter period generated 118 intermediate equivalents (IEs) of operative work for two specialist surgeons and one SpR occupying 38% of the total time available on 104 scheduled operating lists, compared with 64 IEs in the previous 6 months, representing an 84% increase in cancer-related operative training opportunities.

CONCLUSIONS

Centralisation of oesophagogastric cancer surgery is feasible and desirable if national guidelines are to be satisfied, and this strategy has significant positive implications for surgical training and audit.

Phase II multicenter open-label study of karenitecin in previously treated epithelial ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

The topoisomerase I agents are established as a therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer. Karenitecin, an analog of topotecan with solubility and pharmacologic advantages, was tested in a phase II trial in previously treated patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer. The drug was administered intravenously over 1 h at a dose of 1.0 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days every 21 days. Patients were treated until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or voluntary withdrawal. Response was evaluated according to modified RECIST criteria. Twenty-seven patients were entered into the study. One patient was inevaluable for not receiving any treatment. Of the 26 evaluable patients, there were two partial responses and one complete response for a total response rate of 12%. This response rate was insufficient to justify accrual to the second stage. The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicities were neutropenia (19%) and gastrointestinal (15%). Karenitecin is a well-tolerated topoisomerase compound but has minimal activity in extensively pretreated ovarian cancer with the dose-schedule employed.

Prognostic significance of failure to cross esophageal tumors by endoluminal ultrasound

Failure to intubate and cross esophageal tumors by endosonography is reported in as many as 30% of cases and is thought to be associated with an especially poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to audit the above in a large consecutive case series of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) examinations for esophageal cancer performed in a regional specialist cancer network with particular reference to outcome. A consecutive series of 411 patients underwent EUS examination by a specialist radiologist over a period of 9 years. Forty (10%) of patients required dilation, and there was total failure to cross the tumor in 12 patients (2.9%). Failure to traverse the primary tumor was associated with a diagnosis of squamous cell cancer (8 of 12 patients, 66%, rho = -0.182, P = 0.011). Limited staging information was obtained in 7 of these patients, which altered the computed tomography stage in 5 patients (71%, 3 upstaged, 2 downstaged). Six patients received definitive chemoradiotherapy, two patients surgery and four patients palliative chemotherapy. The median and 5-year survival in patients whose tumors were not crossed was 10 months and 28%, respectively, compared with 24 months and 24%, respectively in patients whose tumors were fully assessed. Failure to cross esophageal tumors in practice was far less common than the literature suggests, and esophageal tumor luminal stenosis should no longer be considered a limitation of endosonography.

Prospective cohort comparison of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients with oesophageal cancer

Background

Chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are common neoadjuvant treatments for resectable T3 N0–1 M0 oesophageal carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these therapies in consecutive cohorts of patients.

Methods

Between January 1998 and December 2001, 88 patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (two cycles of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), prior to 45 Gy in 25 F concurrent radiotherapy with cisplatin and 5-FU). From 2002, 117 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (76 patients had two cycles of cisplatin and 41 had four cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU). The primary outcome measure was survival, and analysis was by intention to treat.

Results

Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 56 per cent (40 patients) and 10 per cent (seven patients) respectively in the chemoradiotherapy group, compared with 47 per cent (46 patients) and 1 per cent (one patient) in the chemotherapy group (P = 0·008). The cumulative 5-year survival rate by intention to treat was 35 per cent after chemoradiotherapy versus 21 per cent after chemotherapy (P = 0·188). The cumulative corrected 5-year survival rate after completed treatment was 44 per cent for chemoradiotherapy compared with 25 per cent for chemotherapy (P = 0·032).

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy should remain an option for patients with satisfactory performance status.

Prospective comparison of transthoracic versus transhiatal esophagectomy following neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer

Transthoracic esophagectomy (TT) has been championed as a better cancer operation than transhiatal esophagectomy (TH) because the approach facilitates meticulous wide tumor excision and lymphadenectomy. However, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRTS) and chemotherapy (CS) have been reported to improve outcomes, and we aimed to compare outcomes after multimodal therapy related to the operative approach. One hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients were studied prospectively. All patients were staged with computed tomography and endoluminal ultrasound, and treatment decisions were related to stage and performance status. One hundred and nineteen TT (median age 58 years, 92 male, 54 CRTS, 65 CS) were performed compared to 32 TH (median age 57 year, 27 male, 14 CRTS, 18 CS). Primary outcome measure was survival. Post-operative morbidity and mortality were 54% and 4%, respectively, after TT compared with 59% and 6% after TH (chi2 0.239 df 1, P=0.625). Recurrent cancer was no less frequent after TT (52%) than after TH (37.5%, chi2 2.151 df=1, P=0.142). Cumulative uncorrected 5-year survival was 34% after TT compared with 53% after TH (log rank 1.44, df=1, P=0.2298). Median survival was also similar in lymph node positive patients (TT vs. TH, 23 months vs. 22 months, respectively, log rank 0.25, df=1, P=0.6199). Despite the fact that patients receiving multimodal therapy and a TH esophagectomy were less fit, operative morbidity, mortality and recurrence were similar, and survival did not differ significantly when compared with multimodal TT esophagectomy.

Influence of targeted basic surgical training lists on SHO operative experience in the EWTD era

Presented at the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, Edinburgh, May 2006.

Staining of Chlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies: A suitable method for identifying infected human monocytes by flow cytometry

Persistence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) in the joint is the most frequent cause of reactive arthritis following urogenital tract infection. The resulting changes of host cell antigen- and cytokine-expression are not precisely understood. We developed and evaluated a direct cytometric approach to visualize in vitro C. trachomatis-infected monocytes. Infectious elementary bodies (EBs) of C. trachomatis serovar K were labelled by incubation with 5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE). Afterwards, human peripheral blood monocytes were cultured with the CFSE-labelled EBs and analysed by flow cytometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to demonstrate intracellular uptake and viability of CFSE-labelled C. trachomatis by the determination of gene expression. Labelling EBs with CFSE may become a valuable tool for studying the interaction between C. trachomatis and the host cell.

Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-receptor-signaling in renal cell carcinoma

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Combined data for a variety of immunotherapies resulted in an overall chance of partial (PR) or complete remission (CR) of only 12.9%. There is a clear need for novel, more effective therapies to prevent relapse, control metastases and improve overall survival. Improved understanding of RCC disease biology has led to the introduction of molecularly targeted treatment strategies in these cancers. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene inactivation is observed in most clear cell renal carcinoma, resulting in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) over-expression and driving the malignant phenotype. This review discusses the efficacy of novel therapies targeting the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) (e.g. anti-VEGF antibodies, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors), some of which were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Evaluation Agency (FDA/EMEA) and represent the new treatment standards in RCC patients.

Targeting the RAS Signaling Pathway in Malignant Hematologic Diseases

Molecularly targeting signaling pathways that are involved in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies may lead to more specific and efficacious therapies. Activation of the RAS signal transduction cascade is a common feature in the molecular pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies. A number of novel agents targeting RAS signaling have been developed over the past decade. This review will focus on these agents, which include inhibitors of RAS post-translational modification (farnesyl transferase (FTase)-, geranylgeranyl transferase-I (GGTase-I)-, isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (ICMTase)-inhibitors, statins, bisphosphonates), and inhibitors of RAF and MEK activity. Although some of these inhibitors (e.g. FTase, RAF and MEK inhibitors) were developed to specifically inhibit RAS signaling, it has become clear that RAS may not be the only critical target of these compounds. This review provides a background on RAS signaling in hematologic malignancies and discusses opportunities to exploit aberrant cancer cell signaling in order to develop better treatment options for patients suffering from these diseases.

Prognostic significance of body mass indices for patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the role of body mass index (BMI) in a Western population on outcomes after esophagectomy for cancer. Two hundred and fifteen consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer of any cell type were studied prospectively. Patients with BMIs > 25 kg/m were classified as overweight and compared with control patients with BMIs below these reference values. Ninety-seven patients (45%) had low or normal BMIs, 86 patients (40%) were overweight, and a further 32 (15%) were obese. High BMIs were associated with a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma (83%vs. 14%, P = 0.041). Operative morbidity and mortality were 53% and 3% in overweight patients compared with 49% (P = 0.489) and 8% (P = 0.123) in control patients. Cumulative survival at 5 years was 27% for overweight patients compared with 38% for control patients (P = 0.6896). In a multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.492, 95% CI 1.143-1.948, P = 0.003), T-stage (HR 1.459, 95% CI 1.028-2.071, P = 0.034), N-stage (HR 1.815, 95% CI 1.039-3.172, P = 0.036) and the number of lymph node metastases (HR 1.008, 95% CI 1.023-1.158, P = 0.008), were significantly and independently associated with durations of survival. High BMIs were not associated with increased operative risk, and long-term outcomes were similar after R0 esophagectomy.

Targeting EGF-receptor-signalling in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

Despite significant advances in the use of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), prognosis has improved little over the past 30 years. There is a clear need for novel, more effective therapies to prevent relapse, control metastases and improve overall survival. Improved understanding of SCCHN disease biology has led to the introduction of molecularly targeted treatment strategies in these cancers. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed at much higher levels in SCCHN tumours than in normal epithelial tissue, and EGFR expression correlates with poor prognosis. Therefore, much effort is currently directed toward targeting aberrant EGFR activity (e.g. cell signalling) in SCCHN. This review discusses the efficacy of novel therapies targeting the EGFR (e.g. anti-EGFR antibodies and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors) that are currently tested in SCCHN patients.

Interactions of doctors with the pharmaceutical industry

OBJECTIVE

To assess the opinions and practice patterns of obstetrician-gynaecologists on acceptance and use of free drug samples and other incentive items from pharmaceutical representatives.

METHODS

A questionnaire was mailed in March 2003 to 397 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who participate in the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network.

RESULTS

The response rate was 55%. Most respondents thought it proper to accept drug samples (92%), an informational lunch (77%), an anatomical model (75%) or a well-paid consultantship (53%) from pharmaceutical representatives. A third (33%) of the respondents thought that their own decision to prescribe a drug would probably be influenced by accepting drug samples. Respondents were more likely to think the average doctor's prescribing would be influenced by acceptance of the items than theirs would be (p<0.002). Respondents who distributed drug samples to patients indicated doing so because of patients' financial need (94%) and for their convenience (76%) and less so as a result of knowledge of the efficacy of the sample product (63%). A third (34%) of respondents agreed that interactions with industry should be more strictly regulated.

CONCLUSION

Obstetrician-gynaecologists largely indicated that they would act in accordance with what they think is proper regarding accepting incentive items from pharmaceutical representatives. Although accepting free drug samples was considered to be appropriate more often than any other item, samples were most commonly judged to be influential on prescribing practices. The widely accepted practice of receiving and distributing free drug samples needs to be examined more carefully.

Molecularly targeted therapies in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemias

Although there has been significant progress in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment in younger adults during the last decade, standard induction therapy still fails to induce remission in up to 40% of AML patients. Additionally, relapses are common in 50-70% of patients who achieve a complete remission, and only 20-30% of patients enjoy long-term disease-free survival. The natural history of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is variable, with about half of the patients dying from cytopenic complications, and an additional 20-30% transforming to AML. The advanced age of the majority of MDS patients limits the therapeutic strategies often to supportive care. To address these shortcomings, much effort has been directed toward the development of novel treatment strategies that target the evolution and proliferation of malignant clones. Presented here is an overview of molecularly targeted therapies currently being tested in AML and MDS patients, with a focus on FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors, farnesyltransferase inhibitors, antiangiogenesis agents, DNA hypomethylation agents, and histone deacetylase inhibitors.