Validation of the Meet-URO score in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving first-line nivolumab and ipilimumab in the Italian Expanded Access Program.

BACKGROUND: The Meet-URO score allowed a more accurate prognostication than the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) for patients with pre-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) by adding the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and presence of bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A post hoc analysis was carried out to validate the Meet-URO score on the overall survival (OS) of patients with IMDC intermediate-poor-risk mRCC treated with first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab within the prospective Italian Expanded Access Programme (EAP). We additionally considered progression-free survival (PFS) and disease response rates. Harrell's c-index was calculated to compare the accuracy of survival prediction. RESULTS: Overall the EAP included 306 patients, with a median follow-up of 12.2 months, median OS was not reached, 1-year OS was 66.8% and median PFS was 7.9 months. By univariable analysis, both the IMDC score and the two additional variables of the Meet-URO score were associated with either OS or PFS (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). The four Meet-URO risk groups (G) had 1-year OS of 92%, 72%, 50% and 21% for G2 (29.1% of patients), G3 (28.8%), G4 (33.0%) and G5 (9.1%), respectively. OS was significantly shorter in each consecutive G (P = 0.001 for G3, P < 0.001 for both G4 and G5 compared to G2). Similarly, Meet-URO Gs 2-5 showed decreasing median PFS and response rates. The Meet-URO score showed the highest c-index for both OS (0.73) and PFS (0.67). Limitations include the post hoc nature of this analysis and the lack of a comparative arm to assess predictive value. CONCLUSION: The Meet-URO score appeared to show better prognostic classification than the IMDC alone in patients with mRCC at IMDC intermediate-poor risk treated with first-line nivolumab and ipilimumab.

Final results from the large sunitinib global expanded-access trial in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We report final results with extended follow-up from a global, expanded-access trial that pre-regulatory approval provided sunitinib to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients, ineligible for registration-directed trials. METHODS: Patients ⩾18 years received oral sunitinib 50 mg per day on a 4-weeks-on-2-weeks-off schedule. Safety was assessed regularly. Tumour measurements were scheduled per local practice. RESULTS: A total of 4543 patients received sunitinib. Median treatment duration and follow-up were 7.5 and 13.6 months. Objective response rate was 16% (95% confidence interval (CI): 15-17). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.4 months (95% CI: 8.8-10.0) and 18.7 months (95% CI: 17.5-19.5). Median PFS in subgroups of interest: aged ⩾65 years (33%), 10.1 months; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ⩾2 (14%), 3.5 months; non-clear cell histology (12%), 6.0 months; and brain metastases (7%), 5.3 months. OS was strongly associated with the International Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium prognostic model (n=4065). The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were thrombocytopenia (10%), fatigue (9%), and asthenia, neutropenia, and hand-foot syndrome (each 7%). CONCLUSION: Final analysis of the sunitinib expanded-access trial provided a good opportunity to evaluate the long-term side effects of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used worldwide in mRCC. Efficacy and safety findings were consistent with previous results.

A randomized, multicenter, phase II study of vandetanib monotherapy versus vandetanib in combination with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine plus placebo in subjects with advanced biliary tract cancer: the VanGogh study.

BACKGROUND: The management of biliary tract cancers (BTCs) is complex due to limited data on the optimal therapeutic approach. This phase II multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of vandetanib monotherapy compared with vandetanib plus gemcitabine or gemcitabine plus placebo in patients with advanced BTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to three treatment groups: vandetanib 300 mg monotherapy (V), vandetanib 100 mg plus gemcitabine (V/G), gemcitabine plus placebo (G/P). Vandetanib (300 mg or 100 mg) or placebo was given in single oral daily doses. Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) was i.v. infused on day 1 and day 8 of each 21-day cycle. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were: objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate, overall survival, duration of response, performance status and safety outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients (mean age 63.6 years) were recruited at 19 centers across Italy. Median (95% confidence intervals) PFS (days) were 105 (72-155), 114 (91-193) and 148 (71-225), respectively, for the V, V/G and G/P treatment groups, with no statistical difference among them (P = 0.18). No statistical difference between treatments was observed for secondary end points, except ORR, which slightly favored the V/G combination over other treatments. The proportion of patients reporting adverse events (AEs) was similar for the three groups (96.6% in V arm, 91.4% in the V/G arm and 89.3% in the G/P arm). CONCLUSIONS: Vandetanib treatment did not improve PFS in patients with advanced BTC. The safety profile of vandetanib did not show any additional AEs or worsening of already known AEs. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT00753675.

Clinical activity of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab according to extended gene mutation status by next-generation sequencing: findings from the CAPRI-GOIM trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with antiepidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) monoclonal antibodies has been restricted to metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows the assessment in a single analysis of a large number of gene alterations and might provide important predictive and prognostic information. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the CAPRI-GOIM trial, 340 KRAS exon 2 wild-type mCRC patients received first-line FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. Tumor samples (182/340, 53.5%) were assessed by NGS to search for mutations in 22 genes involved in colon cancer. RESULTS: Objective responses in the NGS cohort were observed in 104/182 patients [overall response rate (ORR) 57.1%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 52% to 66.4%] with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 9.8 (95% CI 8.7-11.5) months. NGS analysis was successfully completed in all 182 samples. One or more gene mutations (up to five) were detected in 124/182 (68.1%) tumors within 14/22 genes for a total of 206 mutations. KRAS exon 2 mutations were identified in 29/182 (15.9%) samples, defined as wild type by local laboratory assessment. Frequently mutated genes were: TP53 (39.6%), KRAS exons 3/4 (8.8%), NRAS exons 2/3 (7.1%), PIK3CA exons 9/20 (13.2%), BRAF (8.2%). FOLFIRI plus cetuximab treatment determined ORR of 62.0% (95% CI 55.5% to 74.6%) with mPFS of 11.1 (95% CI 9.2-12.8) months in patients with KRAS and NRAS wild-type tumors. Conversely, ORR was 46.6% (95% CI 39.9-57.5%) with mPFS of 8.9 (95% CI 7.4-9.6) months in patients with KRAS or NRAS mutations. Similarly, the subgroup of patients carrying KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, or PIK3CA mutations showed a worse outcome, although this might be due to a prognostic effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that NGS analysis in mCRC is feasible, reveals high level of intra and intertumor heterogeneity, and identifies patients that might benefit of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab treatment.

First-line chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin plus cyclofosfamide in metastatic breast cancer: a case report of early and prolonged response.

The treatment choice for metastatic breast cancer should consider the appropriate balance between efficacy and toxicity of the therapy. We discuss a clinical case with an early response and prolonged to liposomal anthracyclines-based chemotherapy, without cardiotoxicity, enhancing the evidence of safety of liposomal formulation to prevent heart damage. Moreover, the case seems to be of interest for the role of 18F-FDG-PET in clinical response assessment: an early decrease of the standardized uptake value value, even before conventional imaging evaluation, is highly predictive for prolonged clinical response.

High CXCR4 expression correlates with sunitinib poor response in metastatic renal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Almost 30% of the sunitinib-treated patients for metastatic renal carcinoma (mRCC) do not receive a clinical benefit. Convincing evidences demonstrated a cross talk between the VEGF and CXCR4 pathways. It was hypothesized that CXCR4 expression in primary renal cancer could predict sunitinib responsiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this exploratory study sixty-two mRCC patients receiving sunitinib as first-line treatment were evaluated for CXCR4 expression through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlations between CXCR4 expression, baseline patients and tumour characteristics were studied by contingency tables and the chi-square test. Univariable analysis was performed with the log-rank test, and the Cox model was applied for multivariable analysis. RESULTS: The objective response rate of sunitinib first-line therapy was 35.5% (22/62) with a disease control rate (response and stable disease) of 62.9% (39/62). CXCR4 expression was absent/low in 30 (48.4%), moderate in 17 (27.4%), and high in 15 (24.2%) tumors respectively. Low or absent CXCR4 expression predicted response to sunitinib therapy. Moreover, Fuhrman grading and concomitant, CXCR4 and Fuhrman grading, strongly predicted sunitinib first line therapy responsiveness on progression-free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: High CXCR4 expression correlates with sunitinib poor response in metastatic renal cancer.

Neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed at the Antonio Cardarelli hospital (Naples, Italy) between 2006-2009: a single-institution analysis.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, with an incidence of about 5 per 100,000 inhabitants. As no study on NETs has ever been specifically conducted on the population of Campania, we performed a retrospective analysis of all newly diagnosed NETs at the Antonio Cardarelli hospital between 2006-2009. A search of the registry of the Pathology Department of the Antonio Cardarelli hospital was carried out to retrieve available data on all newly diagnosed NET cases. Two hundred and ninety-nine NET tumors were diagnosed at our Institution from January, 2006 to December, 2009. Globally, 121 patients (40% of the population) had a lung NET, while 92 patients (30% of the population) presented a GEP-NET. The most common primary tumor site varied by sex, with female patients being more likely to have a primary NET in the lung, breast or colon, and male patients being more likely to have a primary tumor in the lung. Also, twenty-three cases of breast NETs were identified, and clinical information regarding therapy and response was available for 22 patients. Our study represents a pioneering effort to provide the medical community in Campania with basic information on a large number of patients with different types of NETs. The Antonio Cardarelli hospital could greatly benefit from cooperation with other hospitals in order to become a highly specialized center for NETs in the region and Southern Italy.

The therapy of kidney cancer with biomolecular drugs.

PURPOSE: Over the last few years, targeted agents have assumed a predominant role in treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Our aim is to discuss recent developments on this rapidly evolving topic. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Sunitinib represents front-line standard treatment for the good- and intermediate prognosis groups of patients with clear cell renal carcinoma. Bevacizumab/interferon and pazopanib have also been FDA-approved as first-line agents, while sorafenib has moved toward second-line and later therapy. Temsirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, is recommended as front line therapy for patients in the poor-risk group and is the best front-line choice for patients with non-clear cell histology. Another mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, has shown clinical benefit post-tyrosine kinasis inhibitors failure in a phase III study and is considered the standard of care in this setting. Novel prognostic and efficacy markers might help to define most appropriate therapeutic strategy. Best sequence of use of these effective agents in mRCC patients remains up to the discretion of treating physician. CONCLUSIONS: In light of the considerable advances in understanding the biology of mRCC, several new drugs have been recently developed, with an increasing number of treatment options. Several markers are under evaluation for diagnostic, prognostic and efficacy purposes. A treatment algorithm, based on the best scientific evidence produce so far, is presented and it will evolve as data from ongoing trials will be available.

Concomitant CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression predicts poor prognosis in renal cancer.

CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor implicated in the metastatic process. The CXCR4 ligand, CXCL12, was shown to bind also the CXCR7 receptor, a recently deorphanized chemokine receptor whose signalling pathway and function are still controversial. This study was conducted to determine patients clinic-pathological factors and outcome according to the expressions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression was evaluated in 223 RCC patients through immunohistochemistry; moreover CXCR4 and CXCR7 was detected in 49 others consecutive RCC patients trough RT- PCR. CXCR4 expression was low in 42/223 RCC (18.8%), intermediate in 71/223 (31.9%) and high in 110/223 (49.3%). CXCR7 expression was low in 44/223 RCC patients (19.8%), intermediate in 65/223 (29.1%) and high in 114/223 (51.1%). High CXCR4 and high CXCR7 expression predicted shorter disease free survival. In multivariate analysis, high CXCR4 expression (p= 0.0061), high CXCR7 (p= 0.0194) expression and the concomitant high expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 (p= 0.0235) are independent prognosis factors. Through RT-PCR, CXCR4 was overexpressed in 36/49 and CXCR7 in 33/49 samples correlating with symptoms at diagnosis and lymph nodes status. So we can hypothesize that CXCR4 and CXCR7, singularly evaluated and in combination, are valuable prognostic factors in RCC patients.

Cost analysis of capecitabine vs 5-fluorouracil-based treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

The aim was to evaluate the cost of capecitabine vs conventional combination chemotherapics such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in Italy. The study was a multicenter, retrospective longitudinal treatment-cost analysis. Patients older than 18 years, diagnosis of mCRC and at least 3 completed cycles of chemotherapy with oral capecitabine or 5-FU also in association with other chemotherapic agents were enrolled. Direct healthcare resources attributable to mCRC treatment were quantified using 2007 prices and tariffs. The analysis was conducted from the National Health Service perspective with a 6-month time horizon. A total of 231 patients affected by mCRC (55% males; mean age 63.7+/-10.31 yrs) were studied. Total direct costs per patient per month in capecitabine and 5-FU groups were euro1,001.66 +/- euro434.93 and euro3,172.81 +/- euro1,232.37 respectively (p<0.0001). Oral capecitabine therapy cost the health service less than intravenous therapies.

Cardiovascular toxicity following sunitinib therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent data have shown that cardiotoxicity represents a potentially important side-effect in patients treated with sunitinib. We reviewed cardiac adverse events in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who underwent treatment with this agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 175 patients with metastatic RCC treated with sunitinib at eight Italian institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Alterations in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and blood pressure were evaluated. Patients with preexisting cardiac risk factors were specifically scrutinized for increased expression of cardiac changes. RESULTS: Grade 3 hypertension was seen in 17 patients (9.7%); in 12 of these 17, hypertension developed after receiving the third sunitinib cycle. Among these 17 patients, 12 (70.6%) also experienced left ventricular systolic (LVEF) dysfunction; in all, 33 of the 175 patients (18.9%) developed some degree of cardiac abnormality, of which 12 were classified as grade 3 LVEF dysfunction and/or congestive heart failure (CHF) (6.9%). Significant univariate associations for predictors of CHF were history of hypertension (P = 0.008), history of coronary heart disease (P = 0.0005) and prior treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (P = 0.04). Multivariate analysis suggested that a history of coronary artery disease [odds ratio (OR) 18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-160, P = 0.005] and hypertension (OR 3, 95% CI 1.5-80, P = 0.04) was the only significant independent predictors of CHF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing sunitinib, especially those with a previous history of hypertension and coronary heart disease, are at increased risk for cardiovascular events and should be monitored for exacerbations of their hypertension and for evidence of LVEF dysfunction during treatment.

Global Lung Oncology Branch trial 3 (GLOB3): final results of a randomised multinational phase III study alternating oral and i.v. vinorelbine plus cisplatin versus docetaxel plus cisplatin as first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The study compared the efficacy of a first-line treatment with day 1 i.v. vinorelbine (NVBiv) and day 8 oral vinorelbine (NVBo) versus docetaxel (DCT) in a cisplatin-based combination in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, in terms of time to treatment failure (TTF), overall response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), tolerance and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin 80 mg/m2 with NVBiv 30 mg/m2 on day 1 and NVBo 80 mg/m2 on day 8 every 3 weeks, after a first cycle of NVBiv 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and NVBo 60 mg/m2 on day 8 (arm A) or cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and DCT 75 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks (arm B), for a maximum of six cycles in both arms. RESULTS: From 2 February 2004 to 1 January 2006, 390 patients were entered in a randomised study and 381 were treated. The patient characteristics are as follows (arms A/B): metastatic (%) 80.5/84.8; patients with three or more organs involved (%) 45.3/40.8; median age 59.4/62.1 years; male 139/146; squamous (%) 34.2/33.5; adenocarcinoma (%) 41.6/39.3; median TTF (arms A/B in months) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 3.2 (3.0-4.2), 4.1 (3.4-4.5) (P = 0.19); overall response (arms A/B) (95% CI): 27.4% (21.2% to 34.2%), 27.2% (21.0% to 34.2%); median PFS (arms A/B in months) (95% CI): 4.9 (4.4-5.9), 5.1 (4.3-6.1) (P = 0.99) and median OS (arms A/B in months) (95% CI): 9.9 (8.4-11.6), 9.8 (8.8-11.5) (P = 0.58). The median survival for squamous histology was 8.87/9.82 months and for adenocarcinoma 11.73/11.60 months for arms A and B, respectively. Main haematological toxicity was grade 3-4 neutropenia: 24.4% (arm A) and 28.8% (arm B). QoL as measured by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale was similar in both arms. CONCLUSIONS: Both arms provided similar efficacy in terms of response, time-related parameters and QoL, with an acceptable tolerance profile. In the current Global Lung Oncology Branch trial 3, NVBo was shown to be effective as a substitute for the i.v. formulation. This can relieve the burden of the i.v. injection on day 8 and can optimise the hospital's resources and improve patient convenience.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma-Results from the International Expanded Access Program using pemetrexed alone or in combination with a platinum agent.

AIM: Peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) has rarely been studied. The Expanded Access Program (EAP) provided access to 109 patients with PM. METHODS: This was a nonrandomized, open-label study conducted in chemo-naïve or previously treated patients with PM not amenable to curative surgery. Patients received pemetrexed (PEM) 500 mg/m2 alone or with cisplatin (CIS) 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin (CARBO) AUC 5 every 21 days, supplemented with standard vitamin B(12), folate, and dexamethasone. RESULTS: Response rates (95% CI) for PEM, PEM/CIS, and PEM/CARBO were 12.5% (3.5, 29.0), 20.0% (7.7, 38.6), and 24.1% (10.3, 43.5), respectively. Median survival for PEM was 10.3 months. One-year survival rates for PEM/CIS and PEM were 57.4% (95% CI: 10.3, 100) and 41.5% (95% CI: 4.6, 78.4), respectively, and were not available for PEM/CARBO. Anemia was the most common serious adverse event (6.4%). Neutropenia (34.6%) was the most frequent CTC grade 3 or 4 toxicity reported. CONCLUDING STATEMENT: PEM with or without a platinum agent was both active and well tolerated in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Panitumumab a novel drug in cancer treatment.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the erbB family overexpressed in most of the solid tumors. In cancer cells, the overexpression of EGFR correlates with the development and the progression of tumor. Panitumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks the extracellular domain of the EGFR and has not been associated with the formation of any antibodies directed against it. This review summarizes on the preclinical and clinical development of panitumumab in human solid tumors. As bevacizumab and cetuximab have been approved for colorectal cancer because of their improvements in progression-free survival and overall survival when associated with chemotherapy, panitumumab represents an interesting molecule which needs more phase III studies to validate its efficacy.

Sunitinib: bridging present and future cancer treatment.

Tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) are a heterogeneous group of transmembrane proteins involved in signal transduction. These receptors are expressed in many different cells and regulate cellular growth, differentiation and angiogenesis. Overexpression and/or the structural alteration of different RTKs classes are generally associated to cancer and, when RTKs-mediated signal transduction pathways are abnormally activated, generate cancer growth, angiogenesis and metastatization. Therapeutic intervention targeting RTKs concerns antagonist drugs as little molecules or monoclonal antibodies. Sunitinib malate is a little molecule able to block intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of RTKs, which has both direct anticancer and antiangiogenetic activity. Sunitinib targets selectively vascular endothelial growth factor, KIT, Flt3 and platelet-derived growth factor receptors and the receptor encoded by the ret proto-oncogene. This drug is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal cancer (GIST) resistant to imatinib and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this review, we report preclinical data of sunitinib, even about synergism with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, data relative to phase III trials of sunitinib in the treatment of GIST and RCC, and we try to plan what will be future applications of sunitinib in different types of cancer, even in association to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and monoclonal antibodies.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin, leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide regimen in resected gastric cancer patients: a randomized phase III trial by the Gruppo Oncologico Italia Meridionale (GOIM 9602 Study).

BACKGROUND: This randomized, multicenter, phase III trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of epirubicin, leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide (ELFE regimen) as adjuvant therapy for radically resected gastric cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1996 to June 2001, 228 stage IB-IIIB gastric cancer patients were enrolled. All patients received a total or subtotal gastrectomy with at least a D1 lymphoadenectomy and were randomly assigned to receive surgery alone or surgery followed by chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total number of 630 cycles was delivered with a median number of 5. With a median follow-up of 60 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 48% in the treatment arm and 43.5% in the control arm [hazard ratio (HR) 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.21; P = 0.610); the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 44% in the treatment arm and 39% in the control arm (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.78-0.91; P = 0.305). In node-positive patients, the 5-year OS was 41% in the treatment arm and 34% in the control arm (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.69-1.01; P = 0.068), while the 5-year DFS was 39% in the treatment arm and 31% in the control arm (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.78-0.91; P = 0.051). The most common grade 3-4 toxic effects according to World Health Organization criteria were hematological and gastrointestinal. CONCLUSIONS: In radically resected gastric cancer patients, adjuvant chemotherapy with ELFE regimen does not improve OS over surgery alone.

FOLFIRI regimen in advanced colorectal cancer: the experience of the Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale (GOIM).

PURPOSE: To verify the experience of the GOIM in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer patients with the FOLFIRI combination therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients entered in three consecutive trials of the GOIM (protocols no. 9706, 9901, and 2301) were reported in this analysis. A total of 287 chemotherapy-naive patients were treated with FOLFIRI regimen: Irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on day 1 with LV5FU2 regimen (LV at 100 mg/m(2) administered as a 2-hour infusion before FU at 400 mg/m(2) as an intravenous bolus injection, and FU at 600 mg/m(2) as a 22-hour infusion immediately after 5FU bolus injection on day 1 and 2); the treatment was repeated every 2 weeks. RESULTS: 287 patients entered in these three trials, and 264 (92%) were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 34.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29% to 40%). When only assessable patients were analyzed, overall response rate was 37% (95% CI: 31% to 43%). Median time to progression, median duration of response and survival were 7 months, 10.5 months and 14 months, respectively. All but three patients were evaluable for toxicity which was globally mild; grade 3-4 toxicity was uncommon, and gastrointestinal disturbances were the most common. CONCLUSIONS: FOLFIRI regimen is effective and well-tolerated as first-line treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Further studies needed to evaluate the improvement in results with the addition of new drugs to this combination therapy.

[State of the art and therapeutic prospects in neuroectodermal tumours and other neuroendocrine pathologies]. / Attualità e prospettive terapeutiche nei tumori neuroectodermici e nelle altre patologie neuroendocrine.

The clinical and biological characteristics of neuroectodermal tumours (NETs) are such that their treatment is necessarily multidisciplinary. Surgery is the first therapeutic choice given that it is the only potentially curative treatment for this type of neoplasm. Medical treatment is mainly indicated in the treatment of metastatic disease and must be separated into three basic options: chemotherapy, immunotheraphy and hormone treatment. Owing to the low proliferative index generally found in NETs, chemotherapy is not very effective as a means of controlling tumour growth. Data in the literature on interferon suggest that it plays a limited role in the treatment of NETs, as do the preliminary results from studies on the association of interferon + chemotherapy. The introduction of somatostatin analogs in clinical practice represents an effective tool in the therapeutic strategy for NETs and has opened new possibilities for the management of other neoplasms. One particularly interesting aspect of the octreotide-mediated antitumour action concerns the blocking of tumour neo-angiogenesis. The majority of non-endocrine tumours also express specific somatostatin receptors and in theory it is possible to hypothesise an antiproliferative action also in tumours without these receptors mediated by the indirect antiproliferative effects of somatostatin.

Biweekly irinotecan or raltitrexed plus 6S-leucovorin and bolus 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal carcinoma: a Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group phase II-III randomized trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this randomised trial was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of a biweekly regimen including 6S-leucovorin-modulated 5-fluorouracil (LFA-5-FU), combined with either irinotecan (CPT-11 + LFA 5-FU) or raltitrexed (Tomudex) (TOM + LFA-5-FU), in advanced colorectal cancer patients, and to make a preliminary comparison of both these experimental regimens with a biweekly administration of LFA-5-FU modulated by methotrexate (MTX + LFA-5-FU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-nine patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma previously untreated for the metastatic disease (34 of them previously exposed to adjuvant 5-FU) were randomly allocated to receive: CPT-11, 200 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, followed on day 2 by LFA, 250 mg/m2 i.v. infusion and 5-FU, 850 mg/m2 s i.v. bolus (arm A); TOM, 3 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, followed on day 2 by LFA, 250 mg/m2 i.v. infusion and 5-FU, 1050 mg/m2 i.v. bolus (arm B); or MTX, 750 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, followed on day 2 by LFA, 250 mg/m2 i.v. infusion and 5-FU, 800 mg/m2 i.v. bolus (arm C). Courses were repeated every two weeks in all arms of the trial. Response rate (RR) was evaluated after every four courses. The sample size was defined to have an 80% power to detect a 35% RR for each experimental treatment, and to show a difference of at least 4% in RR with the standard treatment if the true difference is 15% or more. RESULTS: The RRs were: 34% (95% confidence interval (95%, CI): 21%-48%) in arm A, including 3 complete responses (CRs) and 15 partial responses (PRs), 24% (95% CI: 14%-38%) in arm B, including 2 CRs and 11 PRs, and 24% (95% CI: 14%-38%), with 2 CRs and 11 PRs, in arm C. After a median follow-up time of 62 (range 18-108) weeks, the median time to progression was 38, 25, and 27 weeks for arm A, B, and C, respectively. With 94 patients still alive, the one-year probability of survival was 61%, 54%, and 59%, respectively. WHO grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and diarrhoea affected 46% and 16%, respectively, of patients treated with CPT-11 + LFA 5-FU. Median relative dose intensity over eight cycles (DI8) was 78% for CPT-11 and 82% for 5-FU. Severe toxicities of TOM + LFA-5-FU were neutropenia (16%) and diarrhoea (16%), but median relative DI8 was 93% for TOM, and 82% for 5-FU. CONCLUSIONS: CPT-11 + LFA-5-FU compares favorably in term of activity and toxicity with other combination regimens including CPT-11 and continuous infusional 5-FU. The hypothesis of a RR 15% higher than the MTX + LFA-5-FU treatment can not be ruled out after this interim analysis. The TOM + LFA 5-FU regimen showed a RR and a toxicity profile very close to the MTX + LFA 5-FU combination, and dose not deserve further evaluation in advanced colorectal cancer patients.