Nomogram for predicting development of brain metastasis in patients with inflammatory breast cancer

243

Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is associated with poor prognosis and high rates of distant metastasis. Brain metastasis is particularly important due to its morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to construct a nomogram from clinicopathological factors that could predict the risk of occurrence of brain metastasis in patients with IBC.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 406 patients with IBC, who were seen at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1991 and 2009. Data was collected from IBC registry. Patients were divided in a randomized manner into a training cohort (n = 206) and a validation (n = 200) cohort. A multivariate cox proportional hazards regression analysis of selected prognostic features was performed on the training cohort. The model estimated in the training cohort was cross-validated with the validation cohort. Based on this model a nomogram was constructed to assess 5- and 10-year risk of developing brain metastasis.

Results: A total of 115 (28%) patients developed brain metastasis. Univariate analysis identified menopausal status, progesterone receptor expression, number of distant metastasis, adjuvant taxane-based therapy and age at diagnosis as significant factors associated with brain metastasis (p < 0.05). Subsequent multivariate analysis showed menopausal status and number of metastasis were independently associated with development of brain metastasis (p < 0.05). Nomogram constructed using above model was evaluated for its ability to discriminate among likelihood of occurrence of brain metastasis in patients, using the validation set. The validation set showed good discrimination with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.68.

Conclusions: We have formulated a distinct predictive tool to evaluate 5 and 10-year risk for developing brain metastasis in patients with IBC. This nomogram can be potentially helpful for designing risk adapted therapeutic trials. Identifying patients at high risk for brain metastasis in IBC can help personalize therapy, surveillance, and prognostication.

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Outcome of patients (pts) with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) treated in the era of targeted therapies (TT): A multicenter experience

386

Background: RMC is a rare, highly aggressive primary neoplasm of the kidney that almost exclusively afflicts young black pts with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies, primarily sickle cell trait. The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of RMC pts.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pts diagnosed with RMC at four US institutions between 2000 and 2010. Overall survival (OS) was determined from initial diagnosis to date of death or last follow up (F/U). The time interval from date of metastasis to death or last F/U (OSm) was also determined. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate OS and OSm.

Results: 20 RMC pts were identified. All pts were black; 14 (70%) were males; 18 had sickle cell trait, 1 had sickle thalassemia and 1 not tested. 19 presented with stages III or IV; 7 (35%) had nephrectomy. Nineteen pts had ≥ 2 metastatic sites. Twelve pts had performance status [PS] 0/1; eight pts had PS 2/3. For the OS analysis, data on 16 pts were available and for the OSm analysis, data on 20 pts were available. The median follow up time for the OS analysis was 722 days. Thirteen of 16 pts died with median OS of 421 days [95%CI: 225–546]. Sixteen of 20 pts died in the OSm analysis with median OSm of 378 days [95%CI: 225–487]. Frontline therapy consisted of TT [sunitinib (5), bevacizumab + erlotinib (1), imatinib (2)], chemotherapy (C) [platinum/gemcitabine or taxane (7), gemcitabine/doxorubicin (2)], C + TT [gemcitabine/cisplatinum/bevacizumab (2), imatinib/doxorubicin (1)]. Three pts achieved a partial response (PR) in first-line (2 with C, 1 with C + TT). Twelve pts received second-line systemic therapies; 4 achieved PR (1 with bevacizumab/erlotinib, 2 with C, 1 with C + TT). Among 15 pts who had TT at any time during their treatment course, only 1 pt had PR.

Conclusions: The prognosis of RMC pts remains poor despite initial palliation with systemic therapy. Collaborative multi-institutional efforts are needed to better understand the biology of this disease and improve treatment strategies.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Molecular prognosticators of complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma outcome: a tissue microarray-based study

BACKGROUND

Molecular markers are currently being utilized as sensitive prognosticators of cancer patient outcome. We sought to identify prognostic biomarkers for complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A large (n = 205) clinically annotated tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed and immunostained for several tumor-related markers. Staining was scored via an automated Ariol image analysis system; data were statistically analyzed to evaluate the correlation of clinicopathological and molecular variables with overall survival (OS) and local recurrence.

RESULTS

Multivariable analysis identified older age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.62, P < 0.0001], nonextremity location (HR 2.95, P = 0.001), high tumor grade (HR 2.5, P = 0.02), and increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 expression (HR 1.74, P = 0.04) as predictors for poor OS. Similarly, older age (HR 1.51, P = 0.008), nonextremity location (HR 4.09, P = 0.001), and increased MMP2 expression (HR 6.28, P = 0.006) were all found to correlate with shorter local recurrence-free interval. High nuclear p53 expression was associated with shorter STS local recurrence-free interval, with a trend toward significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Data presented indicate that a clinically annotated TMA can be utilized to identify STS-related prognostic markers. Specifically, MMP2 and nuclear p53 should be further evaluated for their potential inclusion in complex karyotype STS staging systems.

Zoledronic acid for the prevention of bone loss in patients with previously untreated lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy

e20611

Background: Treatment of lymphoma with alkylating agents and steroids causes bone loss and increased fracture risk. In addition, over half of all untreated lymphoma patients are osteopenic or osteoporotic at diagnosis. Pamidronate reduces bone loss and risk of vertebral fractures in lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT). However, the effects of the more potent bisphosphonate (BP) zoledronic acid (ZA) in this setting are unknown. Therefore, we report on a phase III trial evaluating the effect of ZA on bone mineral density (B) in patients with newly-diagnosed lymphoma undergoing CT. Methods: In total, 72 patients will be randomized to either the control arm [calcium carbonate (1,200 mg orally/day) plus vitamin D (400 IU orally/day)], or the BP arm [calcium carbonate and vitamin D as in the control arm plus ZA (4 mg IV at baseline and at 6 months)]. The primary endpoint is the absolute change in B of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) at baseline and 12 months. Results: Thus far, 112 patients have been screened for enrollment. Twenty-seven patients (24.1%) failed screening due to periodontal disease, a predetermined exclusion criterion of the study. To date, 14 patients in the control arm and 9 patients in the BP arm have completed the one-year follow up period including baseline and one-year B evaluations. Comparing patients in the control arm to those in the BP arm, the average absolute change in B at the LS was -0.048 g/cm2 vs. 0.0093 g/cm2 (p=0.005), at the left FN was -0.039 g/cm2 vs. 0.0074 g/cm2 (p=0.01), and at the right FN was -0.043 g/cm2 vs. 0.0211 g/cm2 (p<0.001), respectively. There have been no therapy-related serious adverse events or skeletal fractures in either arm. Conclusions: ZA in combination with calcium carbonate and vitamin D improves the B of patients with lymphoma undergoing CT. Given the incidence of below-average pre-treatment B and the known deleterious effects of lymphoma therapy on bone density, baseline B evaluation is warranted in all lymphoma patients. The high rate of periodontal disease in this patient population emphasizes the need for careful dental evaluation prior to BP therapy given the well-described, albeit rare, risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw from ZA.

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Soluble syndecan-1 (sCD138) as a prognostic factor independent of mutation status in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Syndecan-1 (sCD138) is a transmembrane heparan sulfate-bearing proteoglycan expressed in epithelial cells as well as hematopoietic cells that demonstrate plasmacytoid differentiation. Higher levels of sCD138 correlate with poor outcome in myeloma. We examined the association of circulating sCD138 levels in plasma with clinical behavior in 104 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. sCD138 levels were significantly higher in patients (median, 52.8 ng/ml; range, 13.4-252.7 ng/ml) than in healthy control subjects (median, 19.86; range, 14.49-33.14 ng/ml) (P < 0.01). Elevated sCD138 (>median, 52.8 ng/ml) was associated with significantly shorter survival (P = 0.0004); this association was independent of IgVH mutation status, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-M) level, and treatment history. Patients with mutated IgVH but high sCD138 levels (>52.8 ng/ml) had significantly shorter survival than those with mutated IgVH and lower levels of sCD138. Similarly, patients with unmutated IgVH but high sCD138 levels had significantly shorter survival than those with lower sCD138 levels and unmutated IgVH (P = 0.007). In a multivariate Cox regression model, only Rai stage, beta2-M, and sCD138 remained predictors of survival. These data suggest that sCD138 when combined with beta2-M and Rai stage, may replace the need for testing IgVH mutation status.

The role of HER2/neu, estrogen, and progesterone receptor status in the risk and survival of breast cancer leptomeningeal metastasis

11512

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a dreaded complication of breast cancer with a median survival of approximately 4 months from the time of LM diagnosis. HER2/neu (HER2), estrogen (ER), and progesterone (PR) receptor status are routinely used to determine prognosis and guide treatment. There is emerging data regarding the influence of these receptors on the risk and prognosis of parenchymal brain metastasis. However, the role of these receptors in LM is unknown. We performed a retrospective analysis of 61 patients with breast cancer to determine the risk and survival of LM as a function of receptor status. Methods: Of patients with breast cancer evaluated in our department for possible LM between 2003 and 2006, those requiring CSF analysis were included in this study. Of these 61 patients, 27 were diagnosed with LM and 34 were found to be negative for LM, based on analysis of CSF and MRI. Information regarding HER2 receptor status was unavailable in 3 patients (1 with LM) due to technical issues with the assay. ER, PR, and survival data were available for all patients. Odds ratio of developing LM was calculated based on each receptor status. The Fisher exact test was used to determine significance. For the 27 patients with LM, receptor status was used to stratify survival from the time of LM diagnosis using Kaplan-Meyer analysis; significance was evaluated using the log-rank test. Results: The odds ratios of developing LM in patients with positive HER2, ER, and PR were 1.89, 0.32, and 0. 825, respectively. P values were 0.378, 0.056, and 0.799. In the 27 patients with LM, survival from the time of LM diagnosis was not significantly different when stratified by receptor status; p values were 0.983, 0.317, and 0.625 respectively. Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis suggests that HER2/neu-positive and ER-negative breast cancer may be associated with a higher risk of LM, although this approached statistical significance only for ER. For patients with confirmed LM, there were no significant differences in survival based on receptor status, although there was a trend favoring ER-positive disease. Larger studies are needed to clarify the role of these receptors in the risk and prognosis of breast cancer LM.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Epoetin-alpha compared to standard of care decreases number of packed red blood cell transfusions in patients receiving hyper-CVAD for acute lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and Burkitt’s lymphoma

7075

Background: Anemia is common in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), and Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) treated with chemotherapy and is associated with poor cancer control. Studies have shown that mild correction of anemia is associated with a significant improvement in quality of life. The current standard of care (SOC) for treatment of anemia in ALL, LL, BL is packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions. Objectives: To evaluate if EPO 1)decreases number/frequency of transfusions, and 2) adversely influences the complete remission (CR) rate. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed ALL, LL, or BL receiving hyper-CVAD were randomized to EPO vs SOC within 14 days of starting chemotherapy. EPO dose was 40,000 units SQ weekly and escalated to 60,000 units after 4 weeks if indicated. Both arms received PRBC transfusions as per guidelines. Patients were considered evaluable if they had been on the study for at least 5 weeks. Results: 46 of 70 patients were evaluable: 16 ALL, 4 BL, and 3 LL on EPO (total 23) and 20 ALL, 1 BL, 2 LL in the SOC arm (total 23). The 2 groups were comparable in baseline hemoglobin and number of courses of chemotherapy completed. Median baseline erythroepoietin level was 299 (r 12–10,532) in the EPO arm vs. 104 (r 7–491; p=0.02) in the SOC arm. Time to neutrophil and platelet recovery was comparable in both arms. All patients with ALL (both arms) achieved a CR. One patient with LL on the EPO arm had no response to chemotherapy while all patients with BL and LL on the SOC arm achieved a CR. Conclusions: 1) EPO significantly decreased the frequency and number of PRBC transfusions in patients with ALL, LL, and BL on hyper-CVAD. 2) EPO does not affect recovery of other cell lines. 3) Use of EPO does not appear to have an adverse impact on CR rates in patients with ALL.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[Table: see text]

Osteopenia and osteoporosis in untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: An important and potentially treatable survivorship issue in lymphoma

9055

Background: Alkylating agents and steroids can cause premature osteoporosis, increasing the risk of vertebral and hip fracture. The bisphosphonate pamidronate every 3 months can reduce bone loss and the risk of new vertebral fractures in lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy.(Kim et al., 2004 Am J Med) We are conducting a randomized study of the more potent bisphosphonate zoledronic acid in untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients to study chemotherapy induced bone loss. Methods: During the accrual period, we report the baseline bone mineral density (BMD) characteristics for screened untreated NHL patients. Exclusion criteria included bone fractures, BMD T-scores worse than -2.0, CrCl < 60 mL/min, dental problems, prior bisphosphonate or significant steroid use. Patients accrued to the study were randomized to receive either: 1) oral calcium and vitamin D (Ca+D) or 2) Ca+D and 4 mg zoledronic acid IV at baseline and at 6 months. Results: Patient characteristics: 59 males and 55 females with median age 63 (range: 18–87). Lymphoma types: B-cell n=111, T-cell 3; follicular (FL) 56, diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) 33, mantle cell 8, and others, totaling 114 patients. Of untreated NHL individuals screened for baseline BMD to date 11/114 (10%) had osteoporosis and 62/114 (54%) had osteopenia or osteoporosis. The lowest BMD was a T-score of -4.4. Other bone, dental, and endocrine abnormalities excluded some patients from treatment randomization. Patients with T scores < -2.0 were considered for off-study treatment with bisphosphonates. Osteopenia and osteoporosis were common across lymphoma subtypes: FL 25/56 (45%), DLBCL 20/33 (61%), mantle cell 6/8 (75%), and marginal zone 5/6 (83%). The low rate of osteopenia/osteoporosis of 25% for Burkitt/Burkitt-like lymphoma may reflect fast lymphoma kinetics without associated increase in bone loss. Conclusions: Baseline testing of BMD revealed osteopenia or osteoporosis in the majority of untreated NHL patients. This widely available and non-invasive test should be considered in untreated NHL patients. Our ongoing clinical trial will address the potential role of zoledronic acid in preserving bone density for survivors of NHL. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00352846

[Table: see text]

Studying the right cell in acute myelogenous leukemia: dynamic changes of apoptosis and signal transduction pathway protein expression in chemotherapy resistant ex-vivo selected "survivor cells"

We hypothesized that studying protein expression in cells surviving in vitro chemotherapy ("survivor cells", SV), could provide more important insight into the biology of drug-resistant AML cells than analysis of the bulk population of leukemic cells. Leukemia-enriched samples from 79 patients with new or relapsed AML were cultured for four days +/- cytarabine (5-10 microM). Early apoptotic cells were removed to yield purified SV. Expression of BCL2, bax, PKC alpha, ERK2 and pERK2 proteins was measured using laser scanning cytometry. The SV population was enriched for CD34+ stem cells. Protein expression patterns in SV differed considerably from those in controls; culture and reanalysis of protein expression revealed stability, reversion, or new patterns of change. Patterns of pairs or triads of proteins were nonrandomly distributed and appeared at statistically unlikely frequencies, suggesting preferential adoption of certain patterns. The patterns of change were highly predictive of remission attainment, relapse, and survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. We conclude that in vitro SV cells have protein expression patterns distinct from those of the bulk population of leukemic cells and that these patterns are predictive of outcome. Analysis of SV cells may be more informative than analysis of the bulk population of leukemia cells.

Cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination of adult cancer patients

6079

Background: Despite recommendations to immunize all patients at increased risk from underlying immunosuppressive disease against influenza, many insurance plans do not cover the vaccine. We analyzed the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating adult cancer patients against influenza from the perspective of a third-party payer. Methods: We developed a decision-analytic model using epidemiological, vaccine effectiveness, resource utilization, cost, and utility data from published sources, supplemented with data collected from our institutional accounting system. Two strategies were compared: vaccination of adult cancer patients against influenza, and no vaccination. The cost-effectiveness analysis included charges (inflated to 2005 US$) for vaccination, influenza-related hospitalizations, physician and emergency visits, and the average wholesale price for prescription drugs and influenza vaccine. The base-case patient for the model was assumed to be a 67-year-old cancer patient (the median age at initial cancer diagnosis - all sites - for the 1998–2002 SEER population) with active disease. Results: The effectiveness of the no vaccination strategy was 4.665 QALYs at a cost of $95.23. The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine was 4.672 QALYs at a cost of $70.73. Thus, the vaccination strategy provided an incremental effectiveness of 0.007 QALYs over the no vaccination strategy at a reduction in cost of $24.50. Based on these gains, we estimate that vaccination of all adult cancer patients could potentially save third-party payers over $87 million in addition to gains in clinical benefits. The model was not sensitive to plausible changes in cancer survival, incidence of influenza, vaccine effectiveness, vaccine price, and risk of influenza-related hospitalization. Conclusions: Influenza vaccine is cost-effective for adult cancer patients. Health plans should expand their coverage to include the vaccine for adult patients with cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prognostic quantification of non-small cell lung cancer metastases to the lung

17080

Background: Lung is the most frequent organ site of metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet the impact of these metastases on the natural history of the disease has not been well elucidated. Part of the difficulty of evaluating the prognosis of lung metastases in NSCLC patients is the effect of metastases to other organ sites. Here we have studied the survival of patients with lung as the solitary or dominant site of metastases and correlated it with number and maximal size of tumors. Methods: Data from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Tumor Registry during 1998 to 2002 was interrogated. Of 1280 patients registering as new patients, 87 were evaluable as having lung as the only site of metastases on initial staging evaluation. Excluding 13 patients who had bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) or BAC features on histology, the remaining 74 patients’ baseline CT scans were reviewed and scored for 1) the maximal linear measurement of the largest lung tumor and 2) the number of lung nodules that were growing and consistent with lung metastases. Results: In non-BAC patients with lung only metastases, an inverse correlation is seen between maximal linear measurement of a patient’s largest lung metastasis on baseline staging and their subsequent survival. A similar inverse correlation is seen between the number of lung metastases and survival. When patients with subsequent development of other metastatic sites are excluded from the analysis, these correlations are strengthened. Also, in BAC patients with lung only metastases, a trend toward longer survival with fewer metastases was seen, but only 13 patients were evaluable. Formal statistical analysis of these results is pending. Conclusions: The number and size of lung metastases from NSCLC appear to be independent predictors of survival. This might be explained by lead-time bias where fewer lesions represent an earlier stage of metastatic disease, however, increasing number and size of metastases may also be multiplying the source for further metastatic spread of disease. This interpretation of data may justify the local therapy of individual lung metastases in oligometastatic disease by surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, or radiofrequency ablation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prognostic role of promoter hypermethylation of death-associated protein (DAP) kinase and p16 genes in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

7216

Background: Promoter hypermethylation is an epigenetic mechanism of gene silencing commonly observed in malignancies. Prior studies suggest that hypermethylation of DAP kinase and p16, genes involved in apoptosis and cell cycle regulation, respectively, are associated with poorer survival in NSCLC patients. In this study we investigate the prognostic role of DAP kinase and p16 promoter hypermethylation in a large cohort of early-stage NSCLC patients. Methods: Pathologic stage I and II NSCLC patients who underwent complete surgical resection between 1/97 and 12/01 at our institution and did not receive adjuvant therapy were identified. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were retrieved, and p16 and DAP kinase promoter methylation status was determined by methylation specific PCR. Two-sided statistical analyses were performed to determine associations between methylation status, clinicopathologic characteristics, and survival. Results: DAP kinase and p16 methylation status was observed in 36.3% (97 of 267) and 36.4% (95 of 261) cases, respectively. Subject characteristics: 55% female, 77% former/current smokers, 81% stage I, 19% stage II, 61% adenocarcinoma, 29% squamous carcinoma, 63% performance status (PS) 0, 37% PS 1,93% < 5% weight loss. Recurrent NSCLC and death occurred in 21.3% and 38% of cases, respectively. No significant associations were observed between DAP kinase methylation status and subject characteristics. P16 methylation was associated with moderate/high grade (p = 0.03). A higher frequency of p16 methylation was observed in ever vs never smokers (39% vs 28%, p = 0.17). Preliminary analyses do not demonstrate significant associations between methylation status and overall survival (p16 p = 0.13; DAP kinase p = 0.56) or disease-free survival (p16 p = 0.36; DAP kinase p = 0.71). Conclusions: In this relatively large cohort of early-stage NSCLC patients, we did not detect significant associations between p16 and DAP kinase promoter methylation and clinical outcome. Further subset analyses stratified by gender and histology will be performed. The prognostic role of these biomarkers in NSCLC remains unclear.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Identification of putative oncogenes in lung adenocarcinoma by a comprehensive functional genomic approach

Amplification and overexpression of putative oncogenes confer growth advantages for tumor development. We used a functional genomic approach that integrated simultaneous genomic and transcript microarray, proteomics, and tissue microarray analyses to directly identify putative oncogenes in lung adenocarcinoma. We first identified 183 genes with increases in both genomic copy number and transcript in six lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Next, we used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to identify 42 proteins that were overexpressed in the cancer cells relative to normal cells. Comparing the 183 genes with the 42 proteins, we identified four genes - PRDX1, EEF1A2, CALR, and KCIP-1 - in which elevated protein expression correlated with both increased DNA copy number and increased transcript levels (all r > 0.84, two-sided P < 0.05). These findings were validated by Southern, Northern, and Western blotting. Specific inhibition of EEF1A2 and KCIP-1 expression with siRNA in the four cell lines tested suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis. Parallel fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses of EEF1A2 and KCIP-1 in tissue microarrays from patients with lung adenocarcinoma showed that gene amplification was associated with high protein expression for both genes and that protein overexpression was related to tumor grade, disease stage, Ki-67 expression, and a shorter survival of patients. The amplification of EEF1A2 and KCIP-1 and the presence of overexpressed protein in tumor samples strongly suggest that these genes could be oncogenes and hence potential targets for diagnosis and therapy in lung adenocarcinoma.