Cabazitaxel schedules in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a review.

Cabazitaxel (25 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) is the standard second-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer previously treated with docetaxel. It is associated with a risk of neutropenic complications, which may be a barrier to its use in daily clinical practice, particularly in frail elderly patients. Here the authors reviewed key studies conducted with cabazitaxel (TROPIC, PROSELICA, AFFINITY, CARD and the European compassionate use program) and pilot studies with adapted schedules. Based on this review, the use of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor from cycle 1 appears crucial to maximize the benefit-risk ratio of cabazitaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Preliminary data with alternative schedules look promising, especially for frail patients. Results of the ongoing Phase III CABASTY trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02961257) are awaited.

Toxicity of locoregional radiotherapy in combination with bevacizumab in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (TOLERAB): Final long-term evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few data are available concerning the safety of bevacizumab (B) in combination with locoregional radiation therapy (RT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the 5-year late toxicity of concurrent B and RT in non-metastatic breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicentre prospective study included non-metastatic breast cancer patients enrolled in phase 3 clinical trials evaluating B with concurrent RT versus RT alone. All patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and normofractionated breast or chest wall RT, with or without regional lymph node RT. B was administered at an equivalent dose of 5 mg/kg once a week for 1 year. The safety profile was evaluated 1, 3 and 5 years after completion of radiotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were included between November 2007 and April 2010. Median follow-up was 60 months (12-73) and 5-year late toxicity data were available for 46 patients. The majority of tumours were triple-negative (68.8%), tumour size <2cm (41.3%) with negative nodal status (50.8%). Median total dose of B was 15,000mg and median duration was 11.2 months. No grade ≥3 toxicity was observed. Only 8 patients experienced grade 1-2 toxicities: n = 3 (6.5%) grade 1 lymphedema, n = 2 (4.3%) grade 1 pain, n = 1 (2.2%) grade 2 lymphedema, n = 1 (2.2%) grade 1 fibrosis. Five-year overall survival was 93.8%, disease-free survival was 89% and locoregional recurrence-free survival was 93.1%. CONCLUSION: Concurrent B and locoregional RT are associated with acceptable 5-year toxicity in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. No grade ≥3 toxicity was observed.

Safety and efficacy of 2-weekly cabazitaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 2-weekly cabazitaxel schedule in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the period October 2013 to February 2016, 43 patients with mCRPC were treated with cabazitaxel (16 mg/m2 , on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle) together with prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The safety profile and efficacy (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] response; biological, clinical or radiological progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]) of the treatment were analysed. RESULTS: All patients had received prior docetaxel and 79.1% abiraterone acetate. At inclusion, 46.5% were aged >70 years and 27.9% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2. Six patients stopped treatment because of toxicity. Grade ≥3 toxicities were: asthenia (16.3%); neutropenia (11.6%); thrombocytopenia (9.3%); diarrhoea (7%), anaemia (4.7%), febrile neutropenia (4.7%) and haematuria (2.3%). In all, 52.4% achieved a ≥30% PSA response and 40.5% had a ≥50% PSA response. The median OS was 15.2 months. CONCLUSION: This prospective pilot study suggests that cabazitaxel 16 mg/m² given 2-weekly has a manageable toxicity profile in docetaxel- and abiraterone acetate-pretreated patients with mCRPC. A prospective phase III trial comparing this regimen with the standard cabazitaxel regimen is planned to confirm these results.