Prolonged interval in prophylactic heparin flushing for maintenance of subcutaneous implanted port care in patients with cancer

The long-term use of subcutaneous implanted ports for chemotherapy in cancer patients has been associated with the occurrence of thrombosis and infection. In this study, we compared the safety and efficacy of administration of 1000 U of heparin flushes in prolonged interval (every 6 weeks) with standard dose and schedule (500 U every 4 weeks) for port-related infections and thrombosis during periods of non-use. Data were collected retrospectively from patients treated for various cancer types (matched as 2:1 for age, gender, stage of the disease). Patients who had diseases that could cause thrombosis or bleeding in their past medical history, or were taking oral anticoagulants, or had contraindications for heparin usage were excluded. After completing their chemotherapy, 59 patients received prolonged interval, while 30 patients received standard schedule. All patients were followed for at least 1 year. No clinically documented port-related infection or thrombosis has been found in both groups. Also, none of the devices was removed during this time. Prophylactic flushing of central venous ports with 1000 U of heparin in every 6 weeks might be a safe, easy, cheaper, comfortable and effective alternative to standard dose and schedule for preventing thrombosis and infections.

Impact of body mass index on cancer development

PURPOSE

To determine the impact of body mass index (BMI) on cancer in a hospital-based Turkish population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 2015 (1172 females: 423 pre- and 749 postmenopausal; and 843 males) patients with histologically proven cancer who applied to Marmara University Medical School, Medical Oncology Clinic. The control group included 305 healthy caregivers (192 females: 110 pre- and 82 postmenopausal; and 113 males).

RESULTS

Mean BMI of the patients with breast, ovarian and cervical carcinoma was significantly higher than that of the healthy female controls (p<0.001, 0.003, <0.001, respectively). Postmenopausal breast cancer patients had significantly higher BMI than postmenopausal female controls (odds ratio [OR] 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.6; p=0.012), while this was not seen in premenopausal patients. When compared with controls obese postmenopausal female patients had 3.26-fold (95% CI 1.54-6.90) increased risk for breast cancer (p=0.002). Mean BMI of lung, stomach, esophagus, pancreas and head and neck carcinoma patients was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls. Female patients with lung and colorectal carcinoma had higher BMI than female controls.

CONCLUSION

Elevated BMI might be a risk factor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Case-control studies may not show the actual association between BMI and cancers that present with pre-diagnosis weight loss and advanced stage.

Clinical outcome of node-negative (NN) breast cancer (BC) patients

11102

Background: Breast cancer patients (pts) with NN disease have diverse clinical outcomes. An optimal treatment decision- making tool has not been defined for this heterogeneous group. Methods: We identified pts with NN disease who have been treated between 1998–2006 in our department. We recorded the clinical/pathological, treatment characteristics and analyzed their survival outcome. High risk (HR) was defined as having at least one of the following features: age<35 yr-old, pts with grade 3 tumors (tms), ER and PR negative tms, tm size >2 cm. Results: Out of 597 early BC pts, 275 pts with NN disease were identified, 190 pts with HR, 85 with low risk (LR) features.The median age was 51 (26–83). The median follow up was 40 months (4–120 months). 47% pts were premenopausal. 31% pts had breast conserving surgery (BCS).58/29% pts had grade 2/3 tms. 34% pts with BCS or T3 tms received adjuvant radiotherapy. All receptor positive pts received adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET). In the HRNN group, 5% pts had tms>5cm, 51/40% pts had grade 2/3 tms, 43% pts had ER/PR negative tms. In the LRNN group 25/74% pts had grade 1/2 tms, no pt had receptor negative tm. 86%/51% pts received adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in the HR and LRNN groups. 12%/48% pts received adjuvant ET alone in the HR and LRNN groups. 5pt in the HR and 1 pt in the LR group received no adjuvant systemic therapy due to their comorbidities and/or negative receptor status. So far, 14 pts had relapsed (8 from the HR, 6 from the LR group) and 3 pts died due to BC (1 from the HR, 2 from LR group). The 5-yr DFS was %94 in the HR and was %90 in the LR groups. HRNN pts had %98 and LRNN pts had %95 5-yr OS. Conclusion: It seems that prognostic information based merely on clinical/pathological characteristics might not accurately quantify the risk of recurrence and death, so that the decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy in NN breast cancer patients. Prospective evaluation of the performance of the new genomic prognostic tools compared to traditional prognostic factors is needed in order to more clearly define the HR vs LR subsets of NNBC pts.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving second line chemotherapy in Marmara University Hospital

14588

Background: With the development of oxaliplatin and irinotecan, multiple effective regimens are now available in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), both as first- and second-line treatment options. Exposure to all of the active drugs is effective in prolonging overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP). There are limited studies, if any, analyzing the outcome of second line chemotherapy in metastatic CRC in Turkey. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the outcome of second-line treatments in metastatic CRC patients. Methods: Among 173 patients with metastatic CRC who were given first line chemotherapy 106 (47 female, 59 male) were administered second line treatment after progression. All patients histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma with ECOG performance score of 2 or lower, and received second line therapy for metastatic CRC after experienced disease progression during or following treatment with first-line therapy were entered the study. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically after each three-cycle period, and chemotherapy was changed or stopped if the cancer has progressed. Age, gender, grade, chemotherapy type (combination vs single agent), lymphatic, vascular, and perineural invasion, were analyzed as prognostic factors. Results: At a median follow up of 10 (range 1–40) months from the start of second line chemotherapy median TTP and OS time were 5 and 16 months respectively. Median age was 62 years (range 27–89). After second line therapy 16% of the patient had objective response rate (0.9% complete responses plus 15.1% partial responses), 37.7% had stable disease resulting in a tumor control rate of 53.7%, and 46.2% had progressive disease. One-year progression free survival and OS rates were 15 % and 53.5%, respectively. No difference was seen in the survival of patients received combination or single agent second line chemotherapy (p=0.14). Overall, over 12% of the patients suffered from grade 3 or 4 adverse effects. In multivariate analysis histological grade (p=0.015) was the only independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: The survival outcome and adverse effects of second line treatments in Turkish patients in our department with metastatic CRC is consistent with the worlds’ literature.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Outcome of rectal carcinoma patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in Marmara University Hospital

13584

Background: Surgical resection is the cornerstone of curative therapy for rectal cancer. Relapse rate following potentially curative resection is high in patients with stage II/III disease. Thus, chemoradiotherapy is the standard adjuvant treatment in resected stage II/III rectal carcinoma. There are limited studies, if any, analyzing the outcome of rectal cancer patients with stage II/III who received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after curative resection in Turkey. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the treatment outcome, and the prognostic significance of various parameters in these patients. Methods: 106 patients with stage II/III rectal cancer treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy since 1997 until present were analyzed retrospectively. Patients received 5-fluorouracil (370–425mg/m2/day × 5days) and calcium leucovorin (20mg/m2/day × 5days), q4weeks, two courses before and two courses after radiotherapy. The 5-fluorouracil dose was reduced to, 225mg/m2/day given continuously as protracted short-term infusion during radiotherapy. 45–50.4 Gy radiotherapy was given to the pelvic region. Patients were followed-up every 3 months for the first 2 years and every 6 months thereafter. Age, gender, T stage, N stage, histological grade, lymphatic, vascular, and perineural invasion were analyzed as prognostic factors. Results: The median follow-up was 34 months. Median age was 59.5 years. Forty-four percent of the patients were node-negative. Lymphatic, vascular, and perineural invasion rate were 50.5%, 47.3%, and 32.3% respectively. Five-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 68.8% and 72.2%, respectively. Median survival time and median disease free-survival time were not reached at the time of analysis. In multivariate Cox regression analysis; T stage (p: 0.022), nodal stage (0.019), presence of lymphatic invasion (p: 0.0001), and the presence of vascular invasion (p:0.01) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: The adjuvant treatment outcome in Turkish patients in our department with stage II/III rectal cancer is similar to those reported in the Western studies.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.