Secular equilibrium assessment in a CaWO4 target crystal from the dark matter experiment CRESST using Bayesian likelihood normalisation

CRESST is a leading direct detection sub-GeVc^-2 dark matter experiment. During its second phase, cryogenic bolometers were used to detect nuclear recoils off the CaWO₄ target crystal nuclei. The previously established electromagnetic background model relies on Secular Equilibrium (SE) assumptions. In this work, a validation of SE is attempted by comparing two likelihood-based normalisation results using a recently developed spectral template normalisation method based on Bayesian likelihood. Albeit we find deviations from SE in some cases we conclude that these deviations are artefacts of the fit and that the assumptions of SE is physically meaningful.

Towards an automated data cleaning with deep learning in CRESST

The CRESST experiment employs cryogenic calorimeters for the sensitive measurement of nuclear recoils induced by dark matter particles. The recorded signals need to undergo a careful cleaning process to avoid wrongly reconstructed recoil energies caused by pile-up and read-out artefacts. We frame this process as a time series classification task and propose to automate it with neural networks. With a data set of over one million labeled records from 68 detectors, recorded between 2013 and 2019 by CRESST, we test the capability of four commonly used neural network architectures to learn the data cleaning task. Our best performing model achieves a balanced accuracy of 0.932 on our test set. We show on an exemplary detector that about half of the wrongly predicted events are in fact wrongly labeled events, and a large share of the remaining ones have a context-dependent ground truth. We furthermore evaluate the recall and selectivity of our classifiers with simulated data. The results confirm that the trained classifiers are well suited for the data cleaning task.

Clinical Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study

Background

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an acute respiratory syndrome caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread worldwide, significantly affecting the outcome of a highly vulnerable group such as cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of COVID-19 infection on outcome and oncologic treatment of cancer patients.

Patient and methods

We retrospectively enrolled cancer patients with laboratory and/or radiologic confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, admitted to our center from February to April 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the clinical data and univariate analyses were performed to investigate the impact of anticancer treatment modifications due to COVID-19 outbreak on the short-term overall survival (OS).

Results

Among 61 patients enrolled, 49 (80%) were undergoing anticancer treatment and 41 (67%) had metastatic disease. Most patients were men; median age was 68 years. Median OS was 46.6 days (40% of deaths occurred within 20 days from COVID-19 diagnosis). Among 59 patients with available data on therapeutic course, 46 experienced consequences on their anticancer treatment schedule. Interruption or a starting failure of the oncologic therapy correlated with significant shorter OS. Anticancer treatment delays did not negatively affect the OS. Lymphocytopenia development after COVID was significantly associated with worst outcome.

Conclusions

COVID-19 diagnosis in cancer patients may affect their short-term OS, especially in case of interruption/starting failure of cancer therapy. Maintaining/delaying cancer therapy seems not to influence the outcome in selected patients with recent COVID-19 diagnosis.

Randomised phase II trial of CAPTEM or FOLFIRI as SEcond-line therapy in NEuroendocrine CArcinomas and exploratory analysis of predictive role of PET/CT imaging and biological markers (SENECA trial): a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Patients with metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) and lung neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are usually treated with in first-line platinum compounds. There is no standard second-line treatment on progression. Accurate biomarkers are needed to facilitate diagnosis and prognostic assessment of patients with NEC.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The SEcond-line therapy in NEuroendocrine CArcinomas (SENECA) study is a randomised, non-comparative, multicentre phase II trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) or capecitabine plus temozolomide (CAPTEM) regimens after failure of first-line chemotherapy in patients with lung NEC and GEP-NEC. Secondary aims are to correlate the serum miRNA profile and primary mutational status of MEN1, DAXX, ATRX and RB-1 with prognosis and outcome and to investigate the prognostic and predictive role of the Ki-67 score and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) or ⁶⁸Ga-PET/CT. The main eligibility criteria are age ≥18 years; metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 lung or GEP-NECs; progression to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. A Bryant and Day design taking into account treatment activity and toxicity was used to estimate the sample size. All analyses will be performed separately for each treatment group in the intention-to-treat population. A total of 112 patients (56/arm) will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive FOLFIRI every 14 days or CAPTEM every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum of 6 months. Patients undergo testing for specific biomarkers in primary tumour tissue and for miRNA in blood samples. MiRNA profiling will be performed in the first 20 patients who agree to participate in the biological substudy.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The SENECA trial, supported by Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), was authorised by the locals Ethics Committee and the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA). Results will be widely disseminated via peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations and reports to relevant authorities.The study is currently open in Italy.

TRAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03387592; Pre-results. EudraCT-2016-000767-17.

PROTOCOL VERSION

Clinical Study Protocol Version 1, 7 November 2016.

Association of high TUBB3 with resistance to adjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer: translational study of ITACA-S

BACKGROUND

No predictive markers for chemotherapy activity have been validated in gastric cancer (GC). The potential value of class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) as biomarker for prognosis and resistance to taxane-based therapy was reported.

METHODS

We analyzed GC samples of patients enrolled in the Intergroup Trial of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach (ITACA-S), a randomized adjuvant study comparing 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) and docetaxel-based sequential chemotherapy. TUBB3 was quantitated by selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry and patients were stratified using a threshold of 750 attomoles per microgram (amol/µg). Cox proportional modeling and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to assess the impact of TUBB3 expression on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

Patients with TUBB3 protein levels >750 and <750 amol/µg were 21.9% and 78.1%, respectively, and were well-balanced between treatment arms. TUBB3 protein levels were not prognostic. Whereas no survival differences according to the 2 arms were observed in the subgroup with low TUBB3 expression (5-year OS 47% vs 40%; p = 0.44), patients with high TUBB3 had a clinically meaningful poorer OS when receiving docetaxel-based versus 5-FU/LV chemotherapy (5-year OS 31% vs 54%; p = 0.09), with a statistically significant interaction between TUBB3 and treatment (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The quantification of TUBB3 might be considered as a negative predictive biomarker of benefit from taxane-based therapy in GC. Studies are needed to evaluate its role in the neoadjuvant setting.

Rechallenge for Patients With RAS and BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer With Acquired Resistance to First-line Cetuximab and Irinotecan: A Phase 2 Single-Arm Clinical Trial

Importance

Based on a small retrospective study, rechallenge with cetuximab-based therapy for patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were previously treated with the same anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-based regimen might be efficacious. Recent data suggest the role of liquid biopsy as a tool to track molecular events in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Objective

To prospectively assess the activity of cetuximab plus irinotecan as third-line treatment for patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC who were initially sensitive to and then resistant to first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based therapy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Multicenter phase 2 single-arm trial conducted from January 7, 2015, to June 19, 2017. Liquid biopsies for analysis of ctDNA were collected at baseline. Main eligibility criteria included RAS and BRAF wild-type status on tissue samples; prior first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based regimen with at least partial response, progression-free survival of at least 6 months with first-line therapy, and progression within 4 weeks after last dose of cetuximab; and prior second-line oxaliplatin- and bevacizumab-based treatment.

Interventions

Biweekly cetuximab, 500 mg/m2, plus irinotecan, 180 mg/m2.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Overall response rate according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Secondary end points included progression-free survival and overall survival and, as an exploratory analysis, RAS mutations in ctDNA.

Results

Twenty-eight patients (9 women and 19 men; median age, 69 years [range, 45-79 years]) were enrolled. Six partial responses (4 confirmed) and 9 disease stabilizations were reported (response rate, 21%; 95% CI, 10%-40%; disease control rate, 54%; 95% CI, 36%-70%). Primary end point was met because lower limit of 95% CI of response rate was higher than 5%. RAS mutations were found in ctDNA collected at rechallenge baseline in 12 of 25 evaluable patients (48%). No RAS mutations were detected in samples from patients who achieved confirmed partial response. Patients with RAS wild-type ctDNA had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with RAS mutated ctDNA (median progression-free survival, 4.0 vs 1.9 months; hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.18-0.98; P = .03).

Conclusions and Relevance

This is the first prospective demonstration that a rechallenge strategy with cetuximab and irinotecan may be active in patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC with acquired resistance to first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based therapy. The evaluation of RAS mutational status on ctDNA might be helpful in selecting candidate patients.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02296203.

Abstract CT088: Efficacy of anti-EGFR rechallenge in RAS and BRAF wt metastatic colorectal cancer: Clinical and translational results of the phase II CRICKET study by GONO

Introduction CRICKET (NCT02296203) trial was designed to investigate the activity of the rechallenge with cetuximab (cet) and irinotecan (iri) as third-line treatment in RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC patients (pts) with acquired resistance to 1st-line cet- and iri-based therapy. Recent data highlighted the clonal evolution and heterogeneity of acquired resistance to anti-EGFR treatments, and suggested the role of liquid biopsy as a reliable tool to track molecular events in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and to properly inform treatment choices.

Materials and Methods: The primary endpoint was response rate (RR) according to RECIST v1.1. Setting p0 = 5%, and p1 = 20%, with 1-sided-α and β errors of 0.05 and 0.20, 27 patients were required. Null hypothesis would have been rejected if RECIST response had been observed in at least 4 patients. Main eligibility criteria included: RAS/RAF wild-type status in tissue samples; acquired resistance to 1st-line cet and iri-based regimen with at least RECIST partial response (PR), 1st-line PFS ≥6 months, and progression (PD) within 4 weeks after the last administration of cet; 2nd-line bevacizumab and oxaliplatin-based regimen. 3rd-line cet + iri was administered until PD. Liquid biopsies were collected at the rechallenge baseline. ctDNA was analyzed with ddPCR for specific RAS and BRAF mutations (mut), and then by means of ultra-deep next-generation sequencing (NGS) with Ion Torrent S5 XL (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA).

Results: Between January 2015 and June 2017, 28 pts were enrolled in 9 centers. The primary endpoint was met. Six pts had PRs (RR: 21.4%) that were not confirmed in two consecutive evaluations in two cases, and 9 achieved disease stabilization (Disease Control Rate: 53.6%). Three patients were not evaluable for RECIST response. RAS mut were found in liquid biopsies collected at the rechallenge baseline in 12 (48%) out of 25 evaluable patients. No BRAF or PI3KCA mut were found. As shown in table 1, no RAS mut were detected in samples from patients who achieved a confirmed PR.

Conclusion:  Rechallenge with cet + iri is active in some RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC patients with acquired resistance to 1st-line iri- and cet-based therapy. Candidate patients' selection may be improved by treating only those who do not bear any RAS mut or other less frequent resistance mechanisms in ctDNA at the rechallenge baseline.

Partially funded by Merck Serono SpA.

Table 1PatientsRAS status on ctDNAObjective Response#1Wild-typeConfirmed PR#2KRAS G12DPD#3Wild-typeConfirmed PR#4Wild-typePD#5KRAS G12DSD#6Wild-typePD#7Wild-typeSD#9Wild-typeConfirmed PR#10Wild-typeUnconfirmed PR#11Wild-typePD#12KRAS G12DPD#13KRAS G12VPD#15NRAS Q61LSD#16Wild-typeSD#17KRAS G12V/ Q61HPD#18KRAS G12VPD#19Wild-typeConfirmed PR#21KRAS G12DSD#22KRAS G12VSD#23KRAS G12VPD#24KRAS G12DUnconfirmed PR#25KRAS G12DSD#26Wild-typeSD#27Wild-typePD#28Wild-typeSD

Citation Format: Daniele Rossini, Chiara Cremolini, Marzia Del Re, Sara Lonardi, Adele Busico, Eleonora Rofi, Silvio Ken Garattini, Emiliano Tamburini, Emanuela Dell'Aquila, Domenico Corsi, Francesca Bergamo, Carlo Barone, Gianluca Masi, Francesca Pucci, Monica Cattaneo, Filippo Pietrantonio, Federica Perrone, Giuseppe Tonini, Daniele Santini, Alfredo Falcone. Efficacy of anti-EGFR rechallenge in RAS and BRAF wt metastatic colorectal cancer: Clinical and translational results of the phase II CRICKET study by GONO [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT088.

Capecitabine and Mitomycin c May be an Effective Treatment Option for Third-line Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Aims and Background

We evaluated the activity in terms of time to progression (TTP) of mitomycin C and capecitabine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who progressed after 2 lines of chemotherapy.

Methods

Patients with advanced colorectal cancer undergoing third-line chemotherapy after failure of 5-FU with CPT-11 or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens were treated with capecitabine and mitomycin C.

Results

Sixty-one patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 55 years (range, 26-78 years) and the male:female ratio 21: 40. We observed partial remissions in 5 patients (8%), stable disease in 25 patients (40%) and progression of disease in 31 patients (52%). Median TTP was 3 months and median survival was 6 months. Global toxicity was mild and entirely acceptable. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity occurred in 12 patients and grade 3-4 nonhematological toxicity in 5 patients.

Conclusions

The combination of capecitabine and mitomycin C could represent an effective and manageable treatment option for colorectal cancer patients failing previous chemotherapy regimens.

Compliance and Outcomes in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Alternating Chemoradiotherapy in Clinical Practice

Background and Aims

To evaluate the feasibility in clinical practice of alternating chemo-radiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer patients.

Patients and Methods

From August 1993 to April 1998 at the Division of Medical Oncology of Parma, 48 consecutive patients were observed, and 38 (79%) started the Merlano chemo-radiotherapy. The characteristics of the patients were: males (32, 84%); median age, 57 years; PS <2 (32, 84%). The primary sites were the oropharynx (18, 47%), oral cavity (8, 21%), hypopharynx (7, 19%), larynx (5, 13%); stage IV disease was present in 29 (76%) patients. Twenty-five (66%) patients were married, and 24 (63%) resided outside of the city.

Results

The compliance was very low: 21 patients (55%) performed all the programmed cycles of chemotherapy, whereas only 5 patients (13%) performed the chemo-radiotherapy at full doses without any delay. The objective responses were 3 (8%) complete and 21 (55%) complete plus partial responses. Failures were 2 (5%) stable disease and 2 (5%) progressive disease, and the response was not assessable in 10 (26%). The median duration of the response was 8 months. The median overall survival and the time to progression were 18 and 13 months, respectively; the 5-year overall and relapse-free survival were 36% and 26%, respectively. Nine (24%) patients were still alive as of August 30, 2001, 8 (21%) of them without progression. Twenty-six patients (68%) died with a local-regional relapse. One patient (3%) died for a second cancer. Grade 3–4 hematologic toxicity was leukopenia (n = 25, 66%) and thrombocytopenia (n = 9, 24%); grade 3–4 non-hematologic toxicity was diarrhea (n = 3, 8%) and mucositis (n = 2, 5%). Two patients (5%) died for intestinal infarction and perforation possibly related to treatment.

Conclusions

Compliance to the chemo-radiotherapy was very poor. The response rate was lower than that reported in clinical trials, whereas overall survival was comparable. The alternating chemo-radiotherapy is a very complex treatment that cannot be easily applied in clinical practice; a careful selection of patients is mandatory not only considering oncologic and medical criteria, but also the level of awareness of the patient and his family.

“Misura” Project: A Retrospective Survey on the Use of 5fluorouracil in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer in 24 Italian Clinical Centers

The “Misura” project is a retrospective survey, with the aim to evaluate how 5FU is used in the treatment of colorectal cancer in clinical practice in Italian oncology departments. Twenty-four centers participated. Patients seen in the second half of 1998 with colorectal cancer and treated with 5FU were analyzed. Observed patients were 664, 45.9% of patients presented metastatic disease. Biochemical modulation with folinic acid and bolus 5FU was the most used schedule (59%). The De Gramont (LV 5FU2) regimen, alone or with other cytotoxic drugs, was the second most chosen schedule (14%). The most frequent side effect observed was gastrointestinal toxicity. No hematological toxicity was demonstrated in 68.8% of patients. Cutaneous toxicity occurred in 21.1% of patients. 5FU is widely used independently by the stage of disease. In palliative treatment a variety of schedules were administered by the Italian centers, lacking a standard therapy. There are very few surveys investigating oncology clinical practice. A larger survey on this issue is auspicable.

Pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: analysis of prognostic factors affecting survival

Background

Pulmonary metastasectomy is considered a standard procedure in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Different prognostic factors including multiple metastatic nodules, the presence of extra-pulmonary metastases and BRAF mutation status have been associated with poor survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate which factors influenced survival in CRC patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy by studying primary tumors and pulmonary metastases.

Methods

All patients treated for primary CRC who presented pulmonary metastases in a 10-year period were considered (group A). A control group treated for primary CRC who did not develop any pulmonary or extra-pulmonary metastases was taken for comparison (group B). Different prognostic factors including gender, age, tumor location, histological type, inflammatory infiltrate, BRAF, CDX2 and extra-pulmonary metastases were analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and patients' survival after pulmonary metastasectomy were also considered.

Results

Fifty-four patients were evaluated in group A and twenty-three in group B. In group A, BRAF immunohistochemistry did not significantly differ between primary tumors and pulmonary metastases; no difference of BRAF expression was found between group A and B. Even the expression of CDX2 was not significantly different in primary tumors and metastases. Similarly, in group B CDX2 did not significantly differ from primary CRC of group A. The most significant prognostic factor was the presence of extra-pulmonary metastases. Patients with extra-pulmonary metastases experienced a significant shorter survival compared to patients with pulmonary metastases alone (P=0.001 with log-rank test vs. P=0.003 with univariate Cox regression). Interestingly, patients with right pulmonary metastases presented a significant longer survival than those with left pulmonary metastases (P=0.027 with log-rank test vs. 0.04 with univariate Cox regression).

Conclusions

The main prognostic factor associated with poor survival after lung resection of CRC metastases is a history of extra-pulmonary metastases. BRAF and CDX2 did not have a significant role in this small series of patients.

Models of coronal heating, turbulence and fast reconnection

Coronal heating is at the origin of the EUV and X-ray emission and mass loss from the sun and many other stars. While different scenarios have been proposed to explain the heating of magnetically confined and open regions of the corona, they must all rely on the transfer, storage and dissipation of the abundant energy present in photospheric motions, which, coupled to magnetic fields, give rise to the complex phenomenology seen at the chromosphere and transition region (i.e. spicules, jets, 'tornadoes'). Here we discuss models and numerical simulations which rely on magnetic fields and electric currents both for energy transfer and for storage in the corona. We will revisit the sources and frequency spectrum of kinetic and electromagnetic energies, the role of boundary conditions, and the routes to small scales required for effective dissipation. Because reconnection in current sheets has been, and still is, one of the most important processes for coronal heating, we will also discuss recent aspects concerning the triggering of reconnection instabilities and the transition to fast reconnection.

Everolimus in combination with octreotide long-acting repeatable in a first-line setting for patients with neuroendocrine tumors: an ITMO group study

BACKGROUND

Preclinical and clinical studies suggest synergistic activity between somatostatin analogues and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors. The activity and safety of everolimus was assessed in combination with octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of gastroenteropancreatic and lung origin.

METHODS

This was a phase 2, multicenter trial using a Simon's 2-stage minimax design. Treatment-naive patients with advanced well-differentiated NETs of gastroenteropancreatic tract and lung origin received everolimus 10 mg daily, in combination with octreotide LAR 30 mg every 28 days. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients (median age, 60.5 years) were enrolled. Primary tumor sites were: pancreas (14 patients), lung (11 patients), ileum (9 patients), jejunum and duodenum (2 patients), and unknown (14 patients). Thirteen patients (26%) had carcinoid syndrome. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were mostly grade 1 or 2; the only grade 4 AE was mucositis in 1 patient, whereas grade 3 AEs included skin rash in 1 case (2%), stomatitis in 4 cases (8%), and diarrhea in 11 cases (22%). The ORR was 18%; 2% of patients had a complete response (CR), 16% a partial response (PR) and 74% achieved stable disease (SD). All CRs and all PRs as well as 92% of SDs had a duration ≥ 6 months. The clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD) was 92%. At a median follow-up of 277 days, median time to progression and overall survival were not reached.

CONCLUSIONS

The everolimus-octreotide LAR combination was active and well tolerated in these previously treated patients with advanced NETs, suggesting a possible role as first-line treatment in patients with NET.

Advanced stage gastric cancer and neoadjuvant chemotherapy: our experience in surgical resectability

BACKGROUND

In the last years the incidence of gastric cancer is changed as the complementary therapy to surgical treatment especially about the advanced stage gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have analyzed the patients treated at Unit of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation of University Hospital of Parma from 1/1/2009 to 30/9/2012. The cases surgically treated after neoadiuvant therapy were compared to patients not treated with neoadiuvant therapy.The choice to neoadiuvant therapy was decided on locally advanced disease and low comorbidity.

RESULTS

The cases surgically treated were 93, in 9 cases were treated with neoadiuvant therapy. The histotype in neoadiuvant cases was an intestinale type 3 cases, a diffuse type 3 cases and no classificable sec. Lauren 3 cases. The average of number of lymphnodes removed was 22.5 in total gastrectomy and 15.7 nodes in partial gastrectomy. On RECIST criteria the response to neoadiuvant chemotherapy were in 2 cases a partial response and in the others 7 cases the disease remained stable.

CONCLUSION

In our experience as in literature, the neoadiuvant therapy can reduce staging, increases the R0 resection, should proposed in young patients with low comorbidity.

Everolimus in combination with octreotide LAR as the first-line treatment for advanced neuroendocrine tumors: A phase II trial of the I.T.M.O. (Italian Trials in Medical Oncology) group

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Background: Everolimus has shown antitumor activity in patients (pts) with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We aimed to assess efficacy and safety of everolimus in combination with octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) in patients with well differentiated NETs of gastroenteropancreatic and of lung origin. Methods: We performed a phase II, multicenter trial using a Simon two-stage minmax design. Pts with advanced well differentiated, previously untreated NETs of the gastroenteropancreatic tract and of the lung received octreotide LAR 30 mg every 28 days in conjunction with everolimus 10 mg per day continuously. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 50 pts (58% males) were enrolled. The median age was 60.5 years (range 25-76). Primary tumor site was pancreas in 14 (28%), unknown in 14 (28%), lung in 11 (22%), ileum in 9 (18%) and jejunum and duodenum in 2 (4%) of pts. 13 (26%) pts had carcinoid syndrome. The ORR, calculated on the ITT population, was 20.0% (95% CI 8.9-31.1): 2 patients (4%) had a complete response (CR), 8 (16%) a partial response (PR). Thirty-six patients (72%) achieved stable disease (SD). All CR and all PR as well as 91.7% of SD had a duration ≥ 6 months. Clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD) was 92%. At a median follow-up of 277 days, the median time to progression (TTP) was 16.3 months (95% CI 10.7-20.1). Overall survival could not be assessed. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were mostly of grade 1 or 2; the only grade 4 AE was mucositis in 1 patient, while grade 3 AEs included skin rash in 1 case, stomatitis in 4 cases (8%) and diarrhea in 11 cases (22%). Conclusions: Everolimus in combination with octreotide LAR has shown to be active and well tolerated in advanced NETs and, in this study, not only in primary pancreatic tumors. Compared to other clinical trials with everolimus in NETs, the observed ORR in this study was higher. Aknowledgements: The Authors thank the Italian Trials in Medical Oncology (I.T.M.O.) group and Novartis Pharma for the support provided. Clinical trial information: 2008-007153-13.

Long-term results of preoperative 5-fluorouracil-oxaliplatin chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

AIM

To evaluate the activity, safety and long-term survival of patients after preoperative oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with resectable, T3-4 and/or nodal involvement rectal adenocarcinoma were treated with oxaliplatin 60 mg/m(2) weekly and 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/m(2)/d infused continuously for five days, over a period of five weeks, and radiotherapy (45 Gy/25 fractions). The primary end-point was pathological complete response (ypCR). Safety, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were secondary end-points.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients were treated. Grade 1-2 diarrhea was the most common adverse event. The ypCR rate was 16.7% (95% confidence interval=7.7-25.7%). After a median follow-up of 73.5 months, 23 patients (34.8%) had experienced relapse. Five-year actuarial RFS and OS rates were 64% and 73%, respectively. Five-year actuarial RFS was 91.7% in the ypCR group versus 57.8% in non-ypCR cases.

CONCLUSION

Long-term local control and survival after this very well-tolerated regimen appear encouraging.

Analysis of risk factors for complications in 262 cases of laparoscopic colectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to critically review the experience of our unit to identify all the risk factors that can predict the intra-operative and post-operative complications, early and late, that are related to the procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 293 patients who had undergone laparoscopic colectomy at the General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit of the University Hospital of Parma between January 2001 and September 2009. Preoperative tumour staging was performed for all patients by pancolonoscopic examination, performed preferably by the operating surgeon, thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT, and, for rectal neoplasia, with further input from endoscopic ultrasound and/or pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The parameters evaluated for each patient included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), ASA score, preoperative blood tests, associated comorbidities, cancer, others surgical procedures, operative time, laparotomy conversion rate, intra- and post-operative complications, any returns to the operating theatre, length of hospital stay and mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 293 laparoscopic colectomy procedures were performed in our unit between January 2001 and September 2009; we analysed 262 of the 293 cases treated, since the data were incomplete and not correctly stored for 31 cases. The overall rate of intra- and post-operative complications was 22.9% (60/262). In 40 cases (40/262, 15.26%), the complications were surgical, and in the other 20 cases (7.63%) they were medical; mortality rate of 0.38% (1/262).

CONCLUSIONS

Rectal resection is significantly associated with a greater number of intra- and post-operative complications than the other surgical procedures examined. The laparoscopic approach maintains its benefits even in patients with known preoperative comorbidities and constitutes a feasible procedure even in patients who are obese and/or with ASA status > or = III.

Survival of benthic foraminifera under hypoxic conditions: results of an experimental study using the CellTracker Green method

We present results of an experimental study, in which benthic foraminiferal faunas have been kept under strongly hypoxic conditions. Sixteen short sediment cores from a 35m deep site in the Adriatic Sea were incubated for a maximum of 69days. Some of the cores were air-bubbled and remained well oxygenated throughout the experiment. The other cores were bubbled with nitrogen; the overlying waters of these cores became strongly hypoxic, whereas the sediment remained virtually without oxygen. Live foraminifera have been inventoried with the CellTracker Green method. Our results show that all dominant taxa survive strongly hypoxic conditions. Nouria polymorphinoides and Nonionella turgida show a clear tendency to move to the sediment surface in the nitrogen-bubbled cores, whereas Bulimina spp. and Eggerella scabra do not show such a migrational response. We suggest that this is a response to the concentration of nutritional resources at the sediment-water interface.

A combination of gefitinib and FOLFOX-4 as first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer patients. A GISCAD multicentre phase II study including a biological analysis of EGFR overexpression, amplification and NF-kB activation

Interesting activity has been reported by combining chemotherapy with cetuximab. An alternative approach for blocking EGFR function has been the development of small-molecule inhibitors of tyrosine kinase domain such as gefitinib. We designed a multicentre phase II study in advanced colorectal cancer combining gefitinib+FOLFOX in order to determine the activity and to relate EGFR expression and gene amplification and NF-kB activation to therapeutic results. Patients received FOLFOX-4 regimen plus gefitinib as first-line treatment. Tumour samples were analysed for EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemical analysis and for EGFR gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) and NF-kB activation. Forty-three patients were enrolled into this study; 15 patients experienced a partial response (response rate=34.9%), whereas other 12 (27.9%) had a stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.8 months and median overall survival (OS) was 13.9 months. We did not find any relationship with EGFR overexpression, gene amplification, while NF-kB activation was associated with a resistance to therapy. Gefitinib does not seem to increase the activity of FOLFOX in advanced colorectal cancer even in patients overexpressing EGFR or with EGFR amplification. Furthermore, while NF-kB activation seems to predict resistance to chemotherapy as demonstrated ‘in vitro’ models, gefitinib does not overcome this mechanism of resistance, as reported for cetuximab.

Adjuvant treatment of high-risk, radically resected gastric cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cisplatin, and epidoxorubicin in a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Promising findings obtained using a weekly regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), epidoxorubicin, leucovorin (LV), and cisplatin (PELFw) to treat locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer prompted the Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer (GISCAD) to investigate the efficacy of this regimen as adjuvant treatment for high-risk radically resected gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

From January 1998 to January 2003, 400 gastric cancer patients at high risk for recurrence including patients with serosal invasion (stage pT3 N0) and/or lymph node metastasis (stage pT2 or pT3 N1, N2, or N3), were enrolled in a trial of adjuvant chemotherapies; 201 patients were randomly assigned to receive the PELFw regimen, consisting of eight weekly administrations of cisplatin (40 mg/m2), LV (250 mg/m2), epidoxorubicin (35 mg/m2), 5-FU (500 mg/m2), and glutathione (1.5 g/m2) with the support of filgrastim, and 196 patients were assigned to a regimen consisting of six monthly administrations of a 5-day course of 5-FU (375 mg/m2 daily) and LV (20 mg/m2 daily, 5-FU/LV). Disease-free and overall survival were estimated and compared between arms using hazard ratios (HRs) and Kaplan-Meier estimates. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rates were 52% in the PELFw arm and 50% in the 5-FU/LV arm. Compared with the 5-FU/LV regimen, the PELFw regimen did not reduce the risk of death (HR = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 to 1.29) or relapse (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.75 to 1.29). Less than 10% of patients in either arm experienced a grade 3 or 4 toxic episode. Neutropenia (occurring more often in the PELFw arm) and diarrhea and mucositis (more prevalent in the 5-FU/LV arm) were the most common serious side effects. Nevertheless, only 19 patients (9.4%) completed the treatment in the PELFw arm and 85 (43%) patients completed the treatment in the 5-FU/LV arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found no benefit from an intensive weekly chemotherapy in gastric cancer. The extent of toxicity experienced by the patients in the adjuvant setting suggests that, in gastric cancer, chemotherapy may be more safely administered preoperatively.

Adjuvant treatment of high-risk, radically resected gastric cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cisplatin, and epidoxorubicin in a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Promising findings obtained using a weekly regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), epidoxorubicin, leucovorin (LV), and cisplatin (PELFw) to treat locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer prompted the Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer (GISCAD) to investigate the efficacy of this regimen as adjuvant treatment for high-risk radically resected gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

From January 1998 to January 2003, 400 gastric cancer patients at high risk for recurrence including patients with serosal invasion (stage pT3 N0) and/or lymph node metastasis (stage pT2 or pT3 N1, N2, or N3), were enrolled in a trial of adjuvant chemotherapies; 201 patients were randomly assigned to receive the PELFw regimen, consisting of eight weekly administrations of cisplatin (40 mg/m2), LV (250 mg/m2), epidoxorubicin (35 mg/m2), 5-FU (500 mg/m2), and glutathione (1.5 g/m2) with the support of filgrastim, and 196 patients were assigned to a regimen consisting of six monthly administrations of a 5-day course of 5-FU (375 mg/m2 daily) and LV (20 mg/m2 daily, 5-FU/LV). Disease-free and overall survival were estimated and compared between arms using hazard ratios (HRs) and Kaplan-Meier estimates. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rates were 52% in the PELFw arm and 50% in the 5-FU/LV arm. Compared with the 5-FU/LV regimen, the PELFw regimen did not reduce the risk of death (HR = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 to 1.29) or relapse (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.75 to 1.29). Less than 10% of patients in either arm experienced a grade 3 or 4 toxic episode. Neutropenia (occurring more often in the PELFw arm) and diarrhea and mucositis (more prevalent in the 5-FU/LV arm) were the most common serious side effects. Nevertheless, only 19 patients (9.4%) completed the treatment in the PELFw arm and 85 (43%) patients completed the treatment in the 5-FU/LV arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found no benefit from an intensive weekly chemotherapy in gastric cancer. The extent of toxicity experienced by the patients in the adjuvant setting suggests that, in gastric cancer, chemotherapy may be more safely administered preoperatively.

Cisplatin, epirubicin, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (PELF) is more active than 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and methotrexate (FAMTX) in advanced gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), doxorubicin and methotrexate (FAMTX) and cisplatin, epirubicin, leucovorin and 5-FU (PELF) have both been reported to be superior to the combination 5-FU, doxorubicin and mitomycin C (FAM) in advanced gastric carcinoma. On the basis of the presence and dose intensity of the included agents, we hypothesised that PELF would be superior to FAMTX.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred patients with untreated advanced gastric carcinoma were randomised to receive PELF or FAMTX for a maximum of six cycles or until disease progression.

RESULTS

The complete response (CR) rates to PELF and FAMTX were, respectively, 13% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 6% to 20%] and 2% (95% CI 0% to 5%; P = 0.003), and the objective response rates [CR plus partial response (PR) rates] 39% (95% CI 29% to 49%) and 22% (95% CI 13% to 30%; P = 0.009), thus significantly favouring the PELF combination. The survival rates after 12 months (30.8% versus 22.4%) and 24 months (15.7% versus 9.5%) were also higher among patients receiving PELF, but these differences were not statistically significant. The toxicities were qualitatively different but quantitatively similar. Both regimens seem to be feasible provided that careful patient monitoring is assured.

CONCLUSIONS

PELF is significantly more active than FAMTX and deserves further research in the adjuvant setting.

Factors influencing hospital infection control policies in Italian hospitals

A study was undertaken to determine the resources available in Italian hospitals for the control of nosocomial infections and the factors favouring a successful approach. During January-May 2000 a questionnaire about infection control was sent to the hospital health director of all Italian National Health System hospitals treating acute patients and with more than 3500 admissions in 1999. An active programme was defined as a hospital infection control committee (HICC) meeting at least four times in 1999, the presence of a doctor with infection control responsibilities, a nurse employed in infection control and at least one surveillance activity and one infection control guideline issued or updated in the past two years. There was a response rate of 87.5% (463/529). Almost fifteen percent (69/463) of hospitals had an active programme for Infection Control and 76.2% (353/463) had a HICC. Seventy-one percent (330/463) of the hospitals had a hospital infection control physician and 53% (250/463) had infection control nurses. Fifty-two percent (242/463) reported at least one surveillance activity and 70.8% (328/463) had issued or updated at least one guidance document in the last two years. The presence of regional policies [odds ratio (OR) 8.7], operative groups (OR 4.2), at least one full-time nurse (OR 4.6) and a hospital annual plan which specified infection control (OR 2.1) were statistically associated with an active programme in the multivariate analysis.

Modulation of fluorouracil by methotrexate, leucovorin, and cisplatin (M-FLP) in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase II study of the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research (GOIRC)

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of biomodulation of 5-fluorouracil by leucovorin, methotrexate, and platinum in patients with advanced measurable disease. Thirty-five patients with histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with methotrexate (100 mg/m2 in 500 ml 5% dextrose in a 2-hour infusion, day 1), 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2/day, i.v. in continuous infusion from days 2 to 5) plus 1-leucovorin (7.5 mg/m2 given per os every 6 hours, from days 2 to 5) and platinum (60 mg/m2 i.v., day 2), every 28 days. Four partial responses (12%; exact 95% confidence interval: 1-23%) were obtained in 34 evaluable patients with a median survival time of 49 weeks (range, 20-77 weeks). Ten (29%) of 34 patients had stable disease. Median time to treatment failure from the beginning of therapy was 11 weeks (range, 4-59 weeks) and median survival time was 20 weeks (range, 4-77 weeks). The most common grade III-IV toxicities were diarrhea (15%), stomatitis (41%), and vomiting (17%). Hematologic toxicity was mild. There were no therapy-related deaths. In conclusion, this trial did not report an increase or improvement in response rate and survival rates, and this regimen cannot be recommended as effective therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Usefulness of latero-orbital electrodes in detecting interictal epileptiform activity--a study of 60 patients with complex partial seizures

OBJECTIVES

The use of latero-orbital (Lo) electrodes is a routine practice in any EEG laboratory to evaluate eye motion, but there are no data about their usefulness in revealing interictal epileptiform abnormalities.

METHODS

In 60 consecutive patients (27 men, 33 women, mean age 36.8 years, range 17-72) with complex partial seizures, we prospectively evaluated the utility of Lo electrodes in comparison with anterior temporal (AT) electrodes, for the detection of interictal epileptiform discharges (SW).

RESULTS

No epileptiform abnormality was seen in 4/60 patients. Both AT and Lo electrodes were significantly superior to 10-20 electrodes for detection of both patients and foci. Indeed, the standard 10-20 system alone allowed the detection of only 39 independent epileptiform foci in 35/56 (63%) patients, while AT and Lo electrodes were necessary for detection of 23 epileptiform foci in the remaining 21/56 (37%) patients. Importantly, there was no statistically significant difference in detection between AT and Lo electrodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Recordings from Lo electrodes are comparable to those from AT electrodes and are useful for localizing interictal temporal spiking activity. Lo electrodes may be substituted for basal electrodes in the day-to-day evaluation of patients with complex partial seizures.

Cisplatin-gemcitabine combination in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study

PURPOSE

The nucleoside analog, gemcitabine, has shown activity as a single agent in the treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its combination with cisplatin in preclinical models suggested synergy between the two drugs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of the cisplatin-gemcitabine combination in advanced NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight consecutive previously untreated NSCLC patients entered the trial from January to June 1994. The median age was 60 years (range, 37 to 70) and performance status (PS) was 0 or 1; 22 patients had unresectable stage III disease (21 stage IIIB and one stage IIIA) and 26 had stage IV disease. Gemcitabine 1 g/m2 was administered weekly (days 1, 8, and 15) followed by a 1-week rest and cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 2 of each 28-day cycle. Survival and response were determined in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle in all enrolled patients.

RESULTS

Of 48 assessable patients, one (stage IV) had a complete response (CR) and 25 achieved a partial response (PR). The overall response rate was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40% to 68%). Thrombocytopenia was the main side effect, with 52% of patients experiencing grade III to IV toxicity, which was usually short-lived and responsible for the omission of gemcitabine administration on day 15 in 50% of chemotherapy courses. The median survival time was 61.5 weeks (95% CI, 40 to 71).

CONCLUSION

The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin induced a high response rate in both stage IIIB and IV NSCLC, with modest side effects. The regimen deserves further careful evaluation in a phase III prospective randomized trial.

Photic-induced epileptic negative myoclonus: a case report

We present the first documented case of photic-induced epileptic negative myoclonus. A 17-year-old girl had experienced two generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) while watching television. The only EEG abnormality was a photoparoxysmal response (PPR), which was sometimes accompanied by loss of postural tone in both arms. Valproate was effective in abolishing photosensitivity. Negative myoclonus should be included among the ictal phenomena accompanying PPR.

Physiological stimuli to atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in normal humans

We tested the response of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels to the following physiological stimuli: postural changes; head-out water immersion; and physical exercise. Plasma ANP (p-ANP) levels were assessed by a specific, sensitive radio-immunoassay. Plasma ANP rose significantly when posture shifted from upright to recumbent for 1 h, but fell again to basal values after 10 min standing. Circadian variations did not affect the posture study. Head-out water immersion produced a prompt and remarkable (sevenfold) increase in p-ANP, with a plateau reached after 1 h and held until the end of the experiment (2 h). Plasma ANP levels were measured in 10 normal subjects performing supine treadmill exercise at 50% of maximum aerobic capacity for 30 min. Plasma ANP rose from baseline supine values after 15 min exercise, and remained elevated during the following 15 min exercise. During the recovery phase ANP showed a trend towards baseline values, with a 38% decrease attained after 30 min. We propose that the above tests could be used as ANP-stimulating manoeuvres in physiological and clinical conditions in man.

[Diagnostic accuracy of double contrast examination in the detection of gastric polyps (author's transl)]

Gastric polyps have been found in 2.9% of 4322 consecutive routine double contrast examination of upper gastro-intestinal tract. In 559 patients, endoscopically verified, sensitivity of radiological test was 96% and specificity 96.3%. An agreement index (K-index) was evaluated in a sample of 84 cases. The index value was 0.9 among 2 different radiologists with a similar, high experience and 0.8 among 2 radiologists with different degree of experience in double contrast examination. Our results demonstrate the validity of the double contrast study of the stomach as preliminary to endoscopy.

[Multi-institution, multidisciplinary radiology and endoscopy trial of the diagnostic accuracy of the double contrast examination of the stomach surface]

In 12 X-ray and gastroenterology departments 1570 patients, clinically suspected to have a gastric pathology, have been examined by double contrast (surface) examination of the stomach followed by gastroscopy. Diagnostic accuracy was 93% in respect of endoscopic data, assumed correct by hypothesis. On the basis of a cost and benefit evaluation, made according to the well known criteria, a wider routine use of the double contrast technique is proposed.