A Randomized Phase III Study of Patients With Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma Without Progression After Six Cycles of XELOX (Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin) Followed by Capecitabine Maintenance or Clinical Observation

PURPOSE

Oxaliplatin, a component of the capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) regimen, has a more favorable toxicity profile than cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, oxaliplatin can induce sensory neuropathy and cumulative, dose-related toxicities. Thus, the capecitabine maintenance regimen may achieve the maximum treatment effect while reducing the cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin. This study aimed to compare the survival of patients with advanced GC between capecitabine maintenance and observation after 1st line XELOX chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-three patients treated with six cycles of XELOX for advanced GC in six hospitals of the Catholic University of Korea were randomized 1:1 to receive capecitabine maintenance or observation. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), analyzed using a two-sided log-rank test stratified at a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2020, 32 and 31 patients were randomized into the maintenance and observation groups, respectively. After randomization, the median number of capecitabine maintenance cycles was 6. The PFS was significantly higher in the maintenance group than the observation group (6.3 vs. 4.1 months, P=0.010). Overall survival was not significantly different between the 2 groups (18.2 vs. 16.5 months, P=0.624). Toxicities, such as hand-foot syndrome, were reported in some maintenance group patients. Maintenance treatment was a significant factor associated with PFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 0.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.250-0.890; P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

After 6 cycles of XELOX chemotherapy, capecitabine maintenance significantly prolonged PFS compared with observation, and toxicity was manageable. Maintenance treatment was a significant prognostic factor associated with PFS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02289547.

Survival outcomes of alternate dosing schedule of pemetrexed as maintenance therapy in NSCLC: Single institution experience

BACKGROUND

Maintenance therapy with pemetrexed has shown survival benefit in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The recommended dose schedule is 500 mg/m 2 in 21-day cycles. Prolonged treatment with maintenance pemetrexed can result in cumulative toxicities. We sought to compare treatment outcomes in patients receiving an alternate maintenance schedule in realworld practice.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study investigated patients with advanced stage (IIIB and IV) NSCLC receiving at least two doses of maintenance pemetrexed from May 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016. The objective was to compare time on treatment with maintenance pemetrexed therapy initiated at a standard schedule (q3 weeks) versus an alternate schedule (q4 weeks or longer). Also evaluated were progressionfree survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) differences between the two groups.

RESULTS

129 patients were included, of whom 40 started the alternate schedule no later than cycle 3 of treatment (29 of 40 patients initiated maintenance treatment on the alternate schedule). Average time on maintenance treatment for patients appeared to be longer in the patients who received the alternate schedule regimen (195 vs 263 days, p =0.008). OS trended towards better survival among patients receiving the alternate schedule regimen (11.9 vs 18.1 months, p =0.3). Limiting the analysis to ALK wildtype, the patients showed a similar trend, with median PFS (7.6 vs 11.5 months, p =0.46) and OS (11.9 vs 17.6 months, p =0.38), still favoring the alternate schedule.

CONCLUSIONS

The alternate dosing schedule of maintenance pemetrexed (q4 weeks or longer) is feasible and not detrimental to OS. Future investigations evaluating the optimal administration schedule of maintenance pemetrexed is warranted.

Administration of oral maintenance chemotherapy for 1 year following definitive chemoradiotherapy may improve the survival of patients with stage N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and the optimal maintenance period of oral chemotherapy using S1 following definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (N3-NPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for N3-NPC treatment with maintenance chemotherapy (MC) [chemoradiotherapy (CRT)-MC] or without MC (CRT-non-MC) following definitive CRT between May 2014 and December 2017. Toxicities during MC were recorded. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) were compared between CRT-MC and CRT-non-MC cohorts. The optimal duration of using maintenance S1 (MC-S1) was also analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 304 patients with stage N3-NPC were identified, of whom 56 were treated with CRT-MC and 248 with CRT-non-MC. After a median follow-up of 48 months, significant differences in OS (74.9 vs. 91.7%; P = 0.003), PFS (60.7 vs. 83.7%; P = 0.001) and DMFS (68.8 vs. 85.5%; P = 0.015) were observed between the CRT-non-MC and CRT-MC groups. Skin hyperpigmentation, leukopenia and fatigue were common but not severe (grade 1-2) side effects of MC. The OS, DMFS and PFS were significantly higher for patients who received S1 administration over a period of ≥12 cycles compared with those who received <12 cycles (3-year OS, 100 vs. 87.5%, P = 0.018; 3-year PFS, 93.9 vs. 67.9%, P = 0.006; 3-year DMFS, 97.1 vs. 67.9%, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Using MC-S1 in patients with N3-NPC following definitive chemoradiotherapy achieved superior survival rate compared with the patients with non-MC. The side effects of MC-S1 were mild and tolerable. S1 should be maintained for ≥12 cycles.

The prognostic and predictive significance of cytokeratin 5/6 and epidermal growth factor receptor in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer treated with maintenance capecitabine

Background

Capecitabine is the most widely used agent for maintenance chemotherapy in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). However, there are no biomarkers for identifying mTNBC patients who could benefit from capecitabine maintenance.

Methods

The prognostic roles of cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and maintenance therapy were evaluated in mTNBC patients. Both CK5/6 and EGFR were detected using immunohistochemistry. Of 115 patients who achieved disease control, 56 received capecitabine maintenance therapy and 59 underwent observation. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients were evaluated.

Results

The median PFS and OS were longer in the maintenance group than that in the observation group (7.3 versus 5.7 months, P=0.0016; 22.4 versus 17.9 months, P=0.0055). Patients with basal-like TNBC had a poorer survival times than in those with non-basal-like TNBC (P=0.0062). Capecitabine maintenance significantly prolonged the OS of non-basal-like TNBC patients (P=0.0257), while in the basal-like TNBC patients, the difference was not significant (P=0.0541). Multivariate analysis revealed that the prolonged OS was related to age >50 years (P=0.005), presence of visceral metastases (P=0.035), response to initial therapy (P=0.017), maintenance therapy (P=0.033), and CK5/6 and EGFR status (P=0.032). Compared with the observation group, toxicities of all grades were more frequently observed in the maintenance group, including neutropenia, 85.71% vs. 25.87%, P<0.001; thrombocytopenia, 55.36% vs. 11.86%, P<0.001; anemia, 82.14% vs. 52.54%, P= 0.001; nausea 83.47% vs. 11.86%, P<0.001; vomiting 69.64% vs. 8.47%, P<0.001; and hand-foot syndrome (HFS) 32.14% vs. 1.69%, P<0.001.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that patients with non-basal-like TNBC had a better clinical outcome than those with basal-like TNBC, and capecitabine maintenance treatment significantly prolonged PFS and OS in patients with TNBC. Patients with non-basal-like TNBC could benefit from maintenance therapy with capecitabine and CK5/6 and EGFR are biomarkers for TNBC prognosis.

Time-dependent treatment effects of metronomic chemotherapy in unfit AML patients: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To examine the presence of the time-dependent effect of metronomic chemotherapy for the treatment of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were unfit for standard chemotherapy and to reanalyze the data using an appropriate statistical approach in the presence of non-proportional hazards, the restricted mean survival time (RMST).

RESULTS

This was a secondary analysis of a multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial, which was conducted in seven tertiary care hospitals across Thailand. A total of 81 unfit AML patients were randomized into two treatment groups, metronomic chemotherapy and palliative treatment. The hazard ratio of metronomic chemotherapy over palliative treatment was time-dependent. At three landmark time points of 90, 180, 365 days, the restricted mean survival time differences were 13.3 (95% CI 1.9-24.7) days, 28.9 (95% CI 3.3-54.4) days, and 40.4 (95% CI - 1.3 to 82.0) days, respectively. With non-proportional hazards modeling and RMST analysis, we were able to conclude that metronomic chemotherapy is a potentially effective alternative treatment for elderly AML patients who were medically unfit for intensive chemotherapy. In the future clinical trials, non-proportional hazards should be carefully inspected and properly handled with appropriate statistical methods. Trial registration Randomized clinical trial TCTR20150918001; registration date: 15/09/2015. Retrospectively registered.

Maintenance chemotherapy after 6 cycles of platinum-doublet regimen in anthracycline-and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Sequential monotherapy is recommended for anthracycline-and taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC), but combination chemotherapy is considered in patients with visceral crisis. Cisplatin-doublet chemotherapy is a combination regimen for MBC, but prolonged treatment is challenging because of toxicity. We analyzed the role of single-agent maintenance chemotherapy after cisplatin-doublet chemotherapy for MBC.

METHODS

From January 2011 to December 2017, 96 anthracycline- and taxane- resistant MBC patients were retrospectively reviewed, and 49 patients with a sustained clinical benefit during the initial 6 cycles of cisplatin-doublet chemotherapy were enrolled for study. Patients were treated with gemcitabine-cisplatin (gemcitabine, 1,250 mg/m2, intravenously [IV], days 1 to 8; cisplatin 60 mg/m2, IV, day 1) or capecitabine-cisplatin (capecitabine 2,500 mg/m2, orally, days 1 to 14; cisplatin 60 mg/m2, IV, day 1) during the induction period. After 6 cycles, 16 patients were switched to single-maintenance treatment (gemcitabine or capecitabine) and the doublet regimen was continued in 24 patients. Survival outcomes (progression- free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the 49 patients who showed a clinical benefit during cisplatin- doublet therapy, 24 were maintained on the doublet regimen, 16 were switched to single-maintenance treatment, and chemotherapy was suspended until disease progression in nine patients. The single-maintenance chemotherapy group showed superior survival than the chemotherapy holiday and doublet regimen groups (median PFS 15.43 months vs. 8.37 and 10.67 months, respectively, p = 0.008; median OS 43.67 months vs. 22.17 and 22.33 months, respectively, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Patients showing a clinical benefit during 6 cisplatin-doublet chemotherapy cycles may have a sustained survival benefit from single-maintenance chemotherapy.

Gemcitabine maintenance versus observation after first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a retrospective study

Background

Gemcitabine with platinum is one of the most important first-line treatments for metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). However, continuation of platinum agents results in cumulative toxicities, such as nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and neurotoxicity, which lead to discontinuation of chemotherapy after 4–6 cycles despite a favorable response in the patients. The strategy of maintenance treatment can give clinical benefit to patients, but there is no consensus about maintenance treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of the gemcitabine maintenance (GEM-m) in mUC patients who achieve disease control from first-line gemcitabine with platinum agents.

Methods

A total of 117 patients who showed response to 4–6 cycles of gemcitabine plus cisplatin or carboplatin as the first-line palliative chemotherapy were reviewed between 2014 to 2018. Patients who were treated with GEM-m received a 1,000 mg/m² dose of gemcitabine on day 1 and 8 for 3 weeks until disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity. The patients who are not treated with GEM-m were followed up with regular radiologic evaluation. Statistical analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards method.

Results

Fifty-eight patients (49.6%) received GEM-m. The median cycle of GEM-m was 4 (range, 1–12). Six patients (10.3%) in the GEM-m group showed an objective response. A median overall survival (OS) of 11.8 months and 9.6 months was observed for the GEM-m and non-GEM-m groups, respectively [HR 0.621; 95% CI, 0.39–0.97; P=0.026]. Additionally, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months and 3.3 months in the GEM-m and non-GEM-m groups, respectively [HR 0.612; 95% CI, 0.41–0.91; P=0.009]. Grade 3 or higher neutropenia occurred in 17.2% of patients in the GEM-m and 1.7% in the non-GEM-m group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that GEM-m can be considered in patients who respond to gemcitabine with platinum. Large-scale prospective study should be warranted.

Maintenance chemotherapy using S-1 following definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Patients with N3 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are at high risk for treatment failure. This study aims to assess the efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy (MC) using S-1 (MC-S1), a novel oral fluoropyrimidine agent, following definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (N3-NPC).

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted for all N3-NPC treated with CRT with MC (CRT-MC) or without MC (CRT-non-MC) during 2014-2016. Toxicities with MC were recorded. Overall survival (OS), locoregional failure-free survival (LFFS) and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) were compared between CRT-MC vs. CRT-non-MC cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 130 N3 patients were identified, of whom 21 (16.2%) were treated with CRT-MC, and 109 (83.8%) with CRT-non-MC. Patient characteristics did not significantly differ between the CRT-MC and CRT-non-MC groups, with the exception of the number of cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following IMRT 69 patients achieved a complete response (CR) (CRT-MC: 10; CRT-non-MC: 59), 61 had a partial response (PR) (11 vs. 50), and none maintained stable disease (SD) or developed progression of disease (PD). After a median follow-up of 41 months for surviving patients, a significant differences in OS (76.3% vs. 95.2%, p = 0.046) and DMFS (70.3% vs. 90.5%, p = 0.043) but not LFFS (84.9% vs. 100%, p = 0.091) at 3 years were observed between the CRT-non-MC and CRT-MC groups. Skin hyperpigmentation, leucopenia, fatigue, neutropenia, anorexia and nausea were the common but not severe (grade 1-2) toxicities of MC.

CONCLUSIONS

Using MC-S1 in N3-NPC patients following IMRT achieved superior survival to the CRT-non-MC patients. The toxicities of MC-S1 were mild and tolerable. Further clinical trials are required to evaluate the efficacy of MC-S1 in N3-NPC patients.

[Impact of intensified maintenance therapy on the prognosis of children and adolescents with advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma]

目的

探讨增加维持治疗强度对Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年淋巴母细胞淋巴瘤（Lymphoblastic lymphoma, LBL）患者预后的影响。

方法

回顾性分析接受BFM-NHL-90/-95方案治疗且未做纵隔和中枢预防性放疗的Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年LBL患者的治疗结果。研究分组：1998年至2005年收治的患者于维持治疗阶段，在口服巯基嘌呤和甲氨蝶呤的基础上，定期采用“足叶乙甙+阿糖胞苷”和大剂量甲氨蝶呤交替进行化疗，为强化维持治疗组；其余为非强化维持治疗组。

结果

187例LBL患者纳入研究，其中强化维持治疗组52例，非强化维持治疗组135例，两组患者的性别、年龄、免疫分型、临床分期、危险度分层、受累部位的差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）；中位随访48（0.5～221）个月，两组患者的5年无事件生存（EFS）率分别为（76.9±5.8）%和（77.9±4.3）%（χ²＝0.249，P＝0.617），5年总生存（OS）率分别为（78.8±5.7）%和（79.8±4.1）%（χ²＝0.353，P＝0.552），差异均无统计学意义；亚组分析结果显示，两组患者在不同临床分期（Ⅲ/Ⅳ期）、免疫分型（T/B-LBL）和危险分层（中/高危）中的EFS、OS率差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。维持治疗期间，强化维持治疗组和非强化维持治疗组患者Ⅲ、Ⅳ级骨髓抑制发生率分别为55.8%和18.5%（χ²＝25.363，P<0.05）。

结论

提高维持治疗强度并未提高Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年LBL患者的长期生存且可增加骨髓抑制等治疗相关不良反应。

Return to work after surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma: report of a case

We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who underwent pleural biopsy to identify the cause of the right pleural effusion. The pathological diagnosis was epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma. The patient worked as a junior high school teacher and strongly hoped for continuing work. Thus, we performed pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) as a curative surgery. The operative findings showed pleural thickening that in the lower lobe of the lung. Thus, peeling of the lower lobe was performed. Pleural biopsy was only performed on the upper and middle lobes. As a result, the operation was limited P/D. The pathological findings showed a small number of mesothelioma cells in the upper and middle lobes. The patient received four courses of cisplatin plus pemetrexed systemic chemotherapy after surgery. Continuous maintenance chemotherapy using pemetrexed has been performed until the time of writing. At present, she has continued her work for 6 years after the operation and has extended her retirement age without recurrence.

Bevacizumab and erlotinib versus bevacizumab for colorectal cancer treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Improving the survival of patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer requires the use of chemotherapy to be managed with minimum adverse effects. Randomized control trials (RCTs) have shown promising results with a combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib to block two important tumor growth pathways, namely vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor. Aim of the Review We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib with bevacizumab alone in the maintenance treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, by examining PFS, OS, overall response rate (ORR), and toxicity. This study performed a systematic review meta-analysis using existing randomized clinical trial. Methods Randomized controlled trials were systematically reviewed from PubMed, Cochrane library, SCOPUS, CRD, and Google scholar databases. After evaluating the quality of studies through the Cochrane checklist, data of the relevant studies were extracted. This meta-analysis included outcomes of overall survival, progression-free survival of the disease through the hazard ratio, and the upper and lower confidence intervals for the third and fourth degree side effects of relative risk. To perform the meta-analysis for both types of survival, two fixed and random effect models were used. Results A total of three trials, providing data of 682 patients who received maintenance treatment, were included in this meta-analysis. Conclusion The combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib significantly increased the overall survival compared to using bevacizumab alone [HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.93]. This combination, effectively increased progression-free survival [HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.7-0.93] too. The side effects of diarrhea and grade III rash were more frequent in the group administered bevacizumab plus erlotinib. The combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib, in the maintenance treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, significantly improved the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients, and the resulting side effects were easily treatable.

[Clinical significance of centralized surveillance of hydatidiform mole]

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of centralized surveillance of hydatidiform mole. Methods: From Feb. 2013 to Feb. 2017 all patients with hydatidiform mole, who underwent suction curettage and were confirmed by histopathology in Dalian Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, were registered centrally for serum hCG monitoring and treatment if necessary. Prophylactic chemotherapy was not administered regardless of risk factors for malignant transformation of hydatidiform mole. The risk factors included age of over 40 years, excessive uterine enlargement for presumed gestational age, a serum hCG level greater than 5 00 000 U/L, large theca lutein ovarian cysts (>6 cm), and a history of previous hydatidiform mole. The centralized surveillance of hydatidiform mole was based on the central pathology review, team cooperation and service improvement. Their treatments and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 407 women of hydatidiform mole were registered with histopathology confirmation, including 70 high-risk hydatidiform moles. The follow-up rate was 97.5% (397/407) . The incidence of post-mole neoplasia was 8.1% (32/397) , which was diagnosed in 22.9% (16/70) of high-risk and in 4.9% (16/327) of low-risk hydatidiform moles, showed statistically significant difference between high-risk and low-risk groups (χ(2)=25.108, P<0.01) . Thirty-two patients with post-mole neoplasia were all at low risk of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) score (range, 0-6) and received complete remission with chemotherapy alone in 31 of them except one treated by hysterectomy. The primary cure rate of single-agent chemotherapy was 60.0% (18/30) . Patients with low-risk or high-risk post-mole neoplasia were both 16. There were no significant differences between the two groups in interval that was end of antecedent pregnancy to start of treatment, the serum level of hCG before treatment, clinical stage or risk factor score (all P>0.05) . Conclusions: The risk of malignant transformation is increased in high-risk hydatidiform mole, however, the high risk factor itself does not affect the prognosis in patients with timely diagnosis and treatment of post-mole neoplasia. Therefore, prophylactic chemotherapy is not recommended to high-risk hydatidiform mole patients. Centralized surveillance of hydatidiform mole is practical in a local hospital of China and could greatly improve the prognosis of post-mole neoplasia.

Rituximab Maintenance Strategy in Advanced Follicular Lymphoma: Facts and Controversies

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal CD20 antibody used in the treatment of CD20 positive non-Hodgkin lymphomas and has revolutionized treatment approach to these hematologic malignancies in the last decade. The main aim of this review is to present data on the use of rituximab in the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL). We will focus on rituximab maintenance strategies in the first and second line treatment. This approach has improved the outcome in FL patients with better progression-free survival in all patients and better overall survival in relapsed setting. Regardless of good results, this strategy has generated controversies in medical community in the range from the lack of overall survival benefit in first line setting, adverse effects of possible overtreatment and toxicities to its unknown role in the era of novel agents. The existing data suggest that rituximab maintenance should be a rational therapeutic option for all patients with FL responding to fi rst line therapy and transplant-ineligible patients responding to reinduction.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation with BCVAC regimen followed by maintenance chemotherapy for children with very high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the recommended treatment for children with very high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but it requires adequate institutional infrastructure, experience, and expertise, especially for alternative donor HSCT. We review our experience with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT), followed by post-APBSCT maintenance chemotherapy for children with very high risk ALL. Between August 1997 and November 2012, our institute was not successful with HLA-haploidentical HSCT. Thus, if patients lacked HLA-matched allogeneic donors or cord blood donors, we treated them with HDCT and APBSCT with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and cyclophosphamide, followed by post-APBSCT maintenance chemotherapy with vincristine, oral prednisolone, methotrexate, and 6-mercaptopurine.Ten patients underwent HDCT and APBSCT due to relapse, biphenotype leukemia, Philadelphia translocation, MLL rearrangement, hypodiploidy, and initial white blood cell count above 20.0 × 109/L. At a median 7.4 years from HDCT to APBSCT, overall survival (OS) was 70.0% ± 14.5% and event-free survival (EFS) was 70.0% ± 14.5%. Adverse events were tolerable, without treatment-related mortality.This historical analysis may be a useful reference when allogeneic HSCT including alternative donor HSCT cannot be performed for children with very high risk ALL.

Delayed response to maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy in metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a case report

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is an aggressive tumor originating in the epithelium of the bile duct, often associated with distant dissemination. The prognosis is poor and treatment is challenging due to low response rate to standard chemotherapy and lack of targeted therapies.

Case presentation

Here we report the case of a 74-year-old white woman affected by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with metastatic involvement of spleen, lung, peritoneum, and intra-abdominal lymph nodes. As first-line chemotherapy, she was given cisplatin-gemcitabine chemotherapy. The treatment was well tolerated with the exception of grade 1 constipation and a single episode of grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurring after the fourth course. After the first three courses of chemotherapy a computed tomography scan evaluation demonstrated no change; her CA19-9 levels were slightly decreased. However, after the sixth course of chemotherapy a computed tomography scan revealed a dimensional enlargement of the lung metastases; her CA19-9 levels increased. She was then treated with gemcitabine alone. After 2 months of gemcitabine monotherapy a significant regression of lung and spleen metastases, as well a CA19-9 level reduction, occurred. Eight months after the start of gemcitabine monotherapy no signs of progression were reported.

Conclusions

Treatment of metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with gemcitabine as maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy could be continued until clear evidence of disease progression since delayed responses are possible.

Prolonged Temozolomide Maintenance Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

The impact of prolonging temozolomide (TMZ) maintenance beyond six cycles in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) remains a topic of discussion. We investigated the effects of prolonged TMZ maintenance on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective single-center cohort study, we included patients with GBM who were treated with radiation therapy with concomitant and adjuvant TMZ. For analysis, patients were considered who either completed six TMZ maintenance cycles (group B), continued with TMZ therapy beyond six cycles (group C), or stopped TMZ maintenance therapy within the first six cycles (group A). Patients with progression during the first six TMZ maintenance cycles were excluded.

RESULTS

Clinical data from 107 patients were included for Kaplan-Meier analyses and 102 for Cox regressions. Median PFS times were 8.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.1-12.4) in group A, 13.7 months (95% CI 10.6-17.5) in group B, and 20.9 months (95% CI 15.2-43.5) in group C. At first progression, response rates of TMZ/lomustine rechallenge were 47% in group B and 13% in group C. Median OS times were 12.7 months (95% CI 10.3-16.8) in group A, 25.2 months (95% CI 17.7-55.5) in group B, and 28.6 months (95% CI 24.4-open) in group C. Nevertheless, multivariate Cox regression for patients in group C compared with group B that accounted for imbalances of other risk factors showed no different relative risk (RR) for OS (RR 0.77, p = .46).

CONCLUSION

Our data do not support a general extension of TMZ maintenance therapy beyond six cycles. The Oncologist 2017;22:570-575 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Radiation therapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) maintenance therapy is still the standard of care in patients below the age of 65 years in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. However, in clinical practice, many centers continue TMZ maintenance therapy beyond six cycles. The impact of this continuation is controversial and has not yet been addressed in prospective randomized clinical trials. We compared the effect of more than six cycles of TMZ in comparison with exactly six cycles on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by multivariate analysis and found a benefit in PFS but not OS. Thus, our data do not suggest prolonging TMZ maintenance therapy beyond six cycles, which should be considered in neurooncological practice.

Prospective Randomized Phase II Parallel Study of Vinorelbine Maintenance Therapy versus Best Supportive Care in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Maintenance strategy has been used to improve survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated whether switch maintenance therapy with vinorelbine improved progression free survival (PFS) after first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus carboplatin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this single blind, parallel, phase 2, randomized trial, patients with NSCLC pathology, age >18 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) score of 0-2, and advanced stage (IIIB and IV) were treated with up to 6 cycles of gemcitabine 1250 mg/m² (day 1 and 8) plus carboplatin AUC 5 (day 1) every 3 weeks. Patients who did not show progression after first-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive switch maintenance with vinorelbine (25 mg/m², day 1, 15) or the best supportive care until disease progression.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were registered, of whom 34 had a non-progressive response to first-line chemotherapy and randomly received maintenance vinorelbine (n=19) or best supportive care (n=15). The hazard ratio of PFS in the vinorelbine group relative to the best supportive care group was 1.097 (95% confidence interval = 0.479-2.510; P-value =0.827). There was no significant difference between the overall survival for the two groups (P=0.068).

CONCLUSION

Switch maintenance strategies are beneficial, but defining the right candidates for treatment is a problem. Moreover, the trial designs do not always reflect the real-world considerations. Switch maintenance therapy with vinorelbine, though had tolerable toxicity, did not improve PFS in patients with NSCLC. Therefore, other agents should be considered in this setting.

Metronomic Chemotherapy: Seems Prowess to Battle against Cancer in Current Scenario

INTRODUCTION

Metronomic chemotherapy is an emerging method of chemotherapy. Metronomic 'lowdose' chemotherapy regimen induces tumour dormancy and reduces cancer resistance against anticancer drugs. It tends to improve overall success rate of cancer chemotherapy than conventional cyclical regimen.

AIM

The aim of this systemic review was to provide comprehensive data of metronomic chemotherapy trials, regimens used and it's outcome in cancer therapeutics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty chemotherapy trial data were searched sequentially from web. The main sources were official website of Clinical trial forum, USA and Clinical Trial Registry India (CTRI). Evidence on efficacy and safety of such metronomic chemotherapy trials was gathered from various data published in Medline, New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Lancet Oncology and other journals with high credentials. As a result of our search, out of 50 trials including breast -15(30%), colon-, 5(10%) ovarian -5(10%), prostate-5(10%) and others including haematologic, soft tissue and nervous system malignancies -20 (50%). Twenty seven trials showed favourable, 20 trials showed equivocal outcome and 3 trials reported unfavourable outcome. Overall comparison showed definitive statistical significance for using metronomic regimen (p-0.05).

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that metronomic chemotherapy regimen seems convincing beneficial to induce tumour remission and survival at a higher than conventional regimen. More metanalyses are needed to frame common metronomic chemotherapeutic regimen.

Positive Interaction between Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation and Maintenance Sunitinib for Untreated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Standard Chemotherapy: A Secondary Analysis of CALGB 30504 (ALLIANCE)

BACKGROUND

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has become a standard option for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The Cancer and Leukemia Group B 30504 trial was a randomized phase II study of the effect of sunitinib versus placebo in ES-SCLC patients responding to platinum-based systemic therapy. The study required preenrollment brain imaging. PCI was provided at the discretion of treating physicians. We performed a secondary analysis of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B trial to determine the impact of PCI on patients with ES-SCLC.

METHODS

Fisher's exact test and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were conducted to identify the differences between patients receiving PCI and patients not receiving PCI. Kaplan-Meier analyses described progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients in the PCI and non-PCI groups.

RESULTS

A total of 85 patients received maintenance therapy (41 received placebo and 44 received sunitinib). Patient characteristics were balanced between the PCI and non-PCI groups. The patients receiving PCI plus sunitinib had a nonsignificant 2.7-month improvement in PFS (5.0 months versus 2.3 months, p = 0.14, hazard risk [HR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-1.18) trending toward improved OS (8.9 months versus 5.4 months, p = 0.053, HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.22-1.03). PCI was associated with a trend toward improved median PFS (2.9 months versus 2.2 months, p = 0.096, HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.45-1.07) but not median OS (8.3 months in the PCI group versus 8.7 months in the non-PCI group, p = 0.76, HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.67-1.71). The patients receiving placebo had no improvement in PFS or OS with PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Trends toward improved PFS and OS were seen in patients receiving PCI and sunitinib, thus supporting the need for further prospective research evaluating the integration of maintenance systemic therapy and PCI for patients with ES-SCLC. Improved outcomes for patients with ES-SCLC after induction chemotherapy may require PCI, thoracic radiotherapy, and maintenance systemic therapy to achieve control of both intracranial and extracranial disease.

Pemetrexed Continuation Maintenance in Patients with Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Review of Two East Asian Trials in Reference to PARAMOUNT

PURPOSE

A recent phase III study (PARAMOUNT) demonstrated that pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy is a new treatment paradigm for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of patients enrolled in PARAMOUNT were Caucasian (94%). We reviewed efficacy and safety data from two clinical trials, which enrolled East Asian (EA) patients, to supplement data from PARAMOUNT on pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study S110 was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial in never-smoker, chemonaïve, EA patients (n=31) with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (n=27). Study JMII was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, post-marketing, clinical trial in Japanese patients (n=109) with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. PARAMOUNT was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

RESULTS

In EA patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy was 4.04 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22 to 5.29 months) in study S110 and 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 5.2 months) in study JMII. The median PFS for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in PARAMOUNT was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 4.6 months). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients in studies S110 and JMII did not lead to any unexpected safety events, and was consistent with PARAMOUNT's safety profile.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy and safety data in the EA trials were similar to those in PARAMOUNT despite differences in patient populations and study designs. These data represent consistent evidence for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

Insertion of totally implantable central venous access devices by surgeons

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the results for the insertion of totally implantable central venous access devices (TICVADs) by surgeons.

Methods

Total 397 patients, in whom TICVADs had been inserted for intravenous chemotherapy between September 2008 and June 2014, were pooled. This procedure was performed under local anesthesia in an operation room. The insertion site for the TICVAD was mainly in the right-side subclavian vein. In the case of breast cancer patients, the subclavian vein opposite the surgical site was used for insertion.

Results

The 397 patients included 73 males and 324 females. Primary malignant tumors were mainly colorectal and breast cancer. The mean operation time was 54 minutes (18-276 minutes). Operation-related complications occurred in 33 cases (8.3%). Early complications developed in 15 cases with catheter malposition and puncture failure. Late complications, which developed after 24 hours, included inflammation in 6 cases, skin necrosis in 6 cases, hematoma in 3 cases, port malfunction in 1 case, port migration in 1 case, and intractable pain at the port site in 1 case.

Conclusion

Insertion of a TICVAD under local anesthesia by a surgeon is a relatively safe procedure. Meticulous undermining of the skin and carefully managing the TICVAD could minimize complications.

Maintenance chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC: a population-based assessment of eligibility

BACKGROUND

Maintenance chemotherapy has been incorporated into treatment paradigms for advanced NSCLC. Eligibility criteria include stable disease/partial response and PS 0-1 after a first line platinum doublet. In practice, maintenance can be difficult to deliver due to patient factors and preferences. We propose to examine the proportion of patients eligible for maintenance and factors associated with the delivery of subsequent lines of chemotherapy.

METHODS

The BC Cancer Agency provides care to a population of 4.5 million. A retrospective review was conducted of all referred Stage IIIB/IV patients in 2009 who received first line systemic therapy. Baseline characteristics, PS and response after first line and subsequent systemic therapy details were recorded. Patients were deemed potentially maintenance eligible or not based on clinical trial criteria; however maintenance therapy was not delivered to these patients as it was not yet available.

RESULTS

330 patients were identified; 98 were potentially maintenance eligible. The reason for maintenance ineligibility in n = 232; no upfront doublet (n = 41), PS ≥ 2 (n = 38), progressive disease (PD) (n = 53), PS ≥ 2 and PD (n = 62), PS ≥ 2 and unknown response (n = 35), PD and unknown PS (n = 3). Further chemotherapy (2nd line or beyond) was administered in maintenance eligible 68% vs ineligible 56%. Reasons for no further chemotherapy were predominantly decline in PS and brain metastasis. Median OS: 7 m for 1st line only versus 16.8m for ≥ 2 nd line (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our population based study, 30% of advanced NSCLC patients were eligible to receive maintenance chemotherapy based on the clinical trial criteria. Despite a good initial PS and disease control only 68% of maintenance eligible patients received subsequent therapy. A clear survival benefit was seen with ≥ 2 nd line treatment. Maintenance therapy or initiation of early second line therapy should be considered for advanced NSCLC patients to improve survival outcomes.

Carcinoma of unknown primary site treated with Carboplatin + Paclitaxel + bevacizumab + erlotinib and its maintenance chemotherapy

About 3% of all cancer patients suffer from carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUP). In spite of its rarity, we will encounter them. While CUPs manifest a wide variety of clinical presentations, they have often resulted in poor prognosis. Although platinum/taxane combination chemotherapy, e.g. carboplatin (CBDCA) + paclitaxel (PTX) is widely used for patients suffering from CUP, the response rate is only about 30–40% and the median overall survival (OS) is only 9 months, which means that improvement is needed. Among the new regimens, the combination of CBDCA, PTX, bevacizumab (BEV) and erlotinib is thought to be highly promising. Herein, we report a case with CUP treated with this regimen and his maintenance therapy. Our patient was a 75-year-old man who was admitted with a left neck lump. CT revealed systemic massive lymphadenopathy. In spite of various investigations for primary origin, he was diagnosed with CUP and treated with CBDCA + PTX + BEV + erlotinib (AUC 6 + 175 mg/m² + 15 mg/kg + 150 mg). Since the evaluation of the efficacy indicated partial response, maintenance chemotherapy (BEV and erlotinib) was performed. Chemotherapy was continued for 9 months until the patient was in a progressive disease state with meningeal dissemination. He died 12 months after the initiation of chemotherapy, which is a longer period than the previously reported OS. Of note, according to our case, CBDCA + PTX + BEV + erlotinib and its maintenance chemotherapy are feasible and well tolerated for CUP.

Efficacy and safety of maintenance pemetrexed in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer following pemetrexed plus cisplatin induction treatment: A cross-trial comparison of two phase III trials

OBJECTIVES

Two phase III trials of advanced NSCLC patients were compared to examine relative efficacy and safety of differing treatment regimens. The JMDB trial investigated first-line pemetrexed-cisplatin (pemetrexed 500mg/m(2) plus cisplatin 75mg/m(2) every 21 days; maximum: 6 cycles). The PARAMOUNT phase III trial compared maintenance pemetrexed versus placebo after patients with nonsquamous NSCLC completed 4 cycles of first-line pemetrexed-cisplatin without disease progression.

METHODS

Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox methods, and toxicity rates were compared between the PARAMOUNT arms and a selected homogeneous population from JMDB: 346 patients with disease and prior treatment characteristics matching the PARAMOUNT population.

RESULTS

Outcomes for the PARAMOUNT placebo arm were similar to the JMDB homogeneous group (median PFS: 5.6 versus 6.2 months, p=0.117, HR=1.16; median OS: 14.0 versus 14.2 months, p=0.979, HR=1.00). The PARAMOUNT maintenance pemetrexed group had statistically superior efficacy compared with the JMDB homogeneous group (median PFS: 7.5 versus 6.2 months, p<0.00001, HR=0.66; median OS: 16.9 versus 14.2 months, p=0.003, HR=0.75). Patients who received pemetrexed maintenance (median 4 cycles, range 1-44) following 4 cycles of pemetrexed-cisplatin exhibited a higher incidence of drug-related serious adverse events compared with JMDB patients (median 6 cycles of pemetrexed-cisplatin) (10.6% versus 2.9%); grade 3/4 fatigue and renal toxicity were also higher in the pemetrexed arm of PARAMOUNT.

CONCLUSIONS

The across-trial comparison of a relevant JMDB study population with the two arms of the PARAMOUNT study supported the efficacy of the pemetrexed continuation maintenance strategy and suggested the results are not influenced by limiting the pemetrexed-cisplatin induction treatment to four cycles. Although longer exposure to pemetrexed-cisplatin or maintenance pemetrexed increased some toxicities, the overall incidence remained low, underscoring the relative safety of these treatment regimens.

Improving Outcomes in Advanced Lung Cancer: Maintenance therapy in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Systemic chemotherapy has remained the traditional treatment for metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), enhancing survival rate at 1 year to 29%. The median survival had plateaued at around 10 months until early 2008, and in an attempt to enhance survival in advanced disease, maintenance chemotherapy trials were initiated which had recently demonstrated prolongation of survival by an additional 2-3 months in patients who had performance status (PS) 0-1 and well-preserved organ functions. Suitable patients with any degree of clinical benefit are treated with 4-6 cycles, and then one of the active agents is continued until best response, or toxicity (continued maintenance), or changed to a cross non-resistant single agent (switch maintenance). The article briefly reviews the evolution of systemic therapy and describes key randomised trials of maintenance therapy instituting chemotherapy and targeted agents in an attempt to improve outcomes in advanced metastatic NSCLC, based on certain clinical features, histology, and genetics.