Clinical case series of nine patients with tuberculousmeningitis in the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, AP Vojvodina, Serbia 2001-2010

AIM

To determine immediate risk factors of developing tuberculous meningitis, to assess the practical importance of clinical signs and findings in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when opting for the specific therapy, and to predict the outcome of disease in relation to the beginning of treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective clinical case series of nine patients with tuberculous meningitis who were treated from April 2001 until November 2010 at the Department of Infectious Diseases in Novi Sad, Serbia was presented. Data of patients' medical records and presentation of clinical and laboratory features, neuroradiologicalfindings and outcome were used.

RESULTS

The factors of immediate risk/predisposition for the development of tuberculous meningitis were found in two (22.2%) patients. The duration of symptoms prior to admission was 9 days on average (from 3 to 20 days). The most frequent symptoms on admission were headache and fever in eight (88.9%) patients, whereas two patients (22.2%) were presented with stiff neck and photophobia. Consciousness was preserved in six patients (66.7%), two patients were somnolent and one was in coma. Two(22.2%) patients had concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis. Neuroradiological signs of the disease were present in two patients.

CONCLUSION

The duration of symptoms before admission, clinical examination and CSF analysis can be helpful in identifying patients who are at high risk of developing tuberculous meningitis.

A phase II trial of bevacizumab and capecitabine combination in metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-containing regimens

14555

Background: This is a phase II study combination of capecitabine plus bevacizumab for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of both irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-containing regimens. Methods: The dose of capecitabine was 1000 mg/m2, administered twice daily for 14 days every 3 weeks. Bevacizumab was given at a dose of 5mg/kg on day 1 as i.v. infusion every 3 weeks. Treatment was repeated until the occurrence of disease progression or unaccepted toxicity. Results: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled. Of 28 patients, the overall response rate was 14.3% and the disease control rate was 42.9%. With a median follow-up period of 7 months, median time to progression and overall survival duration were 3 months and 14 months, respectively. The 1-year survival rate of all patients was 60.7%. The most common treatment-related grade 3/4 hematological toxicities included leukopenia/neutropenia in 4 patients and thrombocytopenia in 3 patients. Nonhematologic toxicities attributable to bevacizumab included bleeding in 3 patients, hypertension in 4 patients, thromboses in 3 patients, proteinuria in 5 patients, and gastrointestinal perforation in 1 patient. Conclusions: This drug regimen was well tolerated and combination of bevacizumab and capecitabine shows potential as third line chemotherapy in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

EGFR expresion in liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer EGFR negative primary tumour and response to systemic chemotherapy

20104

Background: To evaluate expresion of EGFR in liver metastases in patients with colorectal carcinoma EGFR immunohistochemistry (IHC) negative primary tumor and to evaluate response to systemic chemotherapy in this group of patients. Methods: A group of 19 patients with IHC negative EGFR in primary tumor with synchronous liver metastasis were analysed. All patients received irinotecan and/or oxaliplatin based chemotherapy regimen in combination with oral fluoropyrimidines - capecitabine. Results: 10 pts. had EGFR IHC positive expresion in liver metastases. EGFR IHC negative liver metastases were present in 9 pts. In patients with EGFR IHC negative liver metastases 2 pts. had PR, 1 pts. had SD and 6 pts. had PD after chemotherapy. In patients with EGFR IHC positive liver metastases 3 pts. had PR, 2 pts. had SD and 5 pts. had PD after chemotherapy. All pts. with PR were underwent to surgery and/or RFA. Pts. with SD and PD received cetuximab with previous systemic chemotherapy. PFS in this group of pts. is 4,1 month. Conclusions: This study is ongoing. At this moment the results do not support routine determination of EGFR status on distant metastatic sites in patients with colorectal carcinoma and for response to chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.