Freezing of Gait Boot Camp: feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of a community-based group intervention.

AIM: In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of a 6-week, community-based group intervention designed to reduce freezing of gait (FOG) for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Seven people with PD completed 'FOG Boot Camp' provided by the St. Louis Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. We recorded attendance, participant's acceptance of the intervention and adverse events during classes. Pre and post-tests included measures of freezing, balance, motor severity, quality-of-life and gait speed. RESULTS: No falls or injuries occurred and attendance was high. Participants had favorable feedback and showed reduced freezing and improvements in balance and gait. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data suggest the FOG boot camp was feasible, safe and effective.

Practical management of adverse events associated with cabozantinib treatment in patients with renal-cell carcinoma.

Cabozantinib is an oral tyrosine-kinase inhibitor whose targets include VEGFR, MET, and AXL. Cabozantinib is approved for the treatment of patients with advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior antiangiogenic therapy. In the pivotal Phase III trial of second-line RCC, cabozantinib was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival, and antitumor response compared with everolimus. Adverse events (AEs) were common for patients receiving cabozantinib, but were effectively managed with supportive care and dose modifications, as discontinuations of cabozantinib due to an AE were infrequent. This article reviews the management of the more common AEs associated with cabozantinib based on findings from the pivotal study, clinical practice guidelines, and the authors' real-world clinical experience, with support from published literature. We focus on hypertension, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, fatigue, and stomatitis. Effective management of these AEs involves a multimodal strategy that includes patient education, prophylactic and supportive care, and dose modifications. Effective AE management can allow patients to maintain antitumor activity with cabozantinib while mitigating the impact on quality of life.

Design and Rationale of the Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (MaRCC) Registry: A Prospective Academic and Community-Based Study of Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer.

The Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Registry, a large, nationally representative, prospective registry of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), aims to understand real-world treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with mRCC in routine clinical practice across the United States. This observational study is designed to enroll 500 patients with previously untreated mRCC from approximately 60 academic and community treatment sites; as of December 7, 2016, 500 patients have enrolled at 54 sites. Key endpoints include real-world data on reasons for treatment initiation and discontinuation; treatment regimens; disease progression; patient-reported outcomes; and healthcare resource utilization in this patient population.

Optimizing patient adherence to targeted therapies in renal cell carcinoma.

The current standard of care for treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma is sequential therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted agents (i.e., axitinib, bevacizumab, pazopanib, sorafenib, and sunitinib) and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (i.e., everolimus and temsirolimus). To maximize adherence to and persistence with targeted therapy, which should help improve clinical benefit, a clear understanding of the tolerability profiles of these agents and implementation of early, appropriately aggressive adverse event (AE) prevention and management strategies are key. Active and aggressive AE management should improve the quality of life of patients during the course of their treatment. Nurses are in a unique position to educate patients on the potential AEs they may experience and their prevention and management. This article reviews the safety and tolerability of currently available targeted therapies recommended for use in the second-line treatment setting, as well as their management in the context of maximizing clinical outcomes and patient quality of life.

Current practices in the management of adverse events associated with targeted therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma: a national survey of oncologists.

BACKGROUND: Oncologists treating patients with targeted therapies encounter adverse events (AEs) that pose management challenges, lead to dosing inconsistencies, and impact patient quality of life. Oncologists' practices and attitudes in the management of targeted therapy-related AEs in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are poorly understood. We sought to identify unmet needs associated with AE management and understand oncologists' treatment optimization strategies. METHODS: A 24-item online survey was administered in August 2012 to 119 US oncologists treating patients with advanced RCC. The survey solicited responses regarding demographics, practice settings, AE management practice patterns and beliefs, treatment barriers, and patient education. RESULTS: Respondents indicated that between 25% and 50% of patients require dose modification/discontinuation because of AEs. The greatest barrier to optimizing treatment for RCC is the unpredictability of patient responses to treatment (43%). Most respondents (78%) discuss AE management with patients, but only a minority of them proactively reach out to patients (46%). Most practitioners (70%) refer patients to nononcology specialists when faced with unfamiliar AEs, although finding interested physicians (43%) and time constraints (40%) were the most commonly cited barriers to consulting with other specialties. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that many patients require dose modification/discontinuation because of AEs and that nononcologists are a frequently utilized resource to manage these events. There is a need for predictive drug toxicity markers to establish counseling and prevention, along with opportunities for increased education on supportive care techniques to maintain health-related quality of life and consistent dosing.

A phase Ib study of combined VEGFR and mTOR inhibition with vatalanib and everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Vatalanib is an oral vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), whereas everolimus inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Combination therapy with VEGFR and mTOR inhibitors has not been well tolerated to date but may have efficacy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A phase Ib study of vatalanib and everolimus was performed in patients with advanced solid tumors to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and tolerability of the combination. A dose-expansion cohort of 20 patients with metastatic RCC was studied to further define toxicity and preliminary efficacy in patients with RCC. RESULTS: We evaluated 32 patients over 3 dose levels and a dose-expansion cohort. The most common toxicities of any grade were proteinuria, fatigue, hypertriglyceridemia, nausea, and vomiting. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) included severe hypertension, diarrhea, neutropenia, mucositis, and fatigue. The MTD for the combination was vatalanib 1000 mg daily and everolimus 5 mg daily. In all patients, median overall survival (OS) was 16.3 months. In patients with RCC, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, and OS was 16.5 months. OS was significantly better in treatment-naive patients (25.1 months) compared with patients who had received previous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy (6.3 months). Seven of 24 (29.2%) evaluable patients demonstrated a partial response, and an additional 15 patients exhibited stable disease. Long-term tolerability (> 1 year) was demonstrated in 19% of patients. CONCLUSION: Relevant doses of vatalanib and everolimus were achieved in combination, with expected toxicities. A substantial number of patients with RCC achieved an objective response in the treatment-naive setting, with prolonged tolerability and survival. Further comparative phase II/III studies of specifically targeted VEGF and mTOR inhibitor combinations may be warranted in patients with RCC.

Clinical pharmacology of an atrasentan and docetaxel regimen in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate potential pharmacokinetic interactions between docetaxel and atrasentan as part of a phase I/II clinical trial. METHODS: Patients with prostate cancer were treated with intravenous docetaxel (60-75 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks and oral atrasentan (10 mg) daily starting on day 3 of cycle 1 and then given continuously. The pharmacokinetics of both drugs were evaluated individually (cycle 1, day 1 for docetaxel; day 21 for atrasentan) and in combination (cycle 2, day 1 for both drugs). Pharmacogenomics of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were also explored. RESULTS: Paired pharmacokinetic data sets for both drugs were evaluable in 21 patients. Atrasentan was rapidly absorbed and plasma concentrations varied over a fourfold range at steady state within a typical patient. The median apparent oral clearance of atrasentan was 17.4 L/h in cycle 1 and was not affected by docetaxel administration (p = 0.9). Median systemic clearance of docetaxel was 51.1 L/h on the first cycle and significantly slower (p = 0.01) compared with that obtained during co-administration of atrasentan, 61.6 L/h. Docetaxel systemic clearance in cycle 1 was 70.0 L/h in patients homozygous for a variant allele in AAG compared with 44.5 L/h in those with at least one wild-type allele (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphism in AAG may explain some inter-patient variability in docetaxel pharmacokinetics. The systemic clearance of docetaxel is increased by approximately 21 % when given concomitantly with atrasentan; however, atrasentan pharmacokinetics does not appear to be influenced by docetaxel administration.

A double-blind, randomized, neoadjuvant study of the tissue effects of POMx pills in men with prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy.

Pomegranates slow prostate cancer xenograft growth and prolong prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling times in single-arm human studies. Pomegranates' effects on human prostate tissue are understudied. We hypothesized that orally administered pomegranate extract (POMx; Pom Wonderful) would lower tissue 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidative stress biomarker. Seventy men were randomized to two tablets, POMx or placebo, daily up to four weeks before radical prostatectomy. Tissue was analyzed for intraprostatic urolithin A, a pomegranate metabolite, benign and malignant 8-OHdG, and cancer pS6 kinase, NF-κB, and Ki67. Primary endpoint was differences in 8-OHdG, and the study was powered to detect 35% reduction. POMx was associated with 16% lower benign tissue 8-OHdG (P = 0.095), which was not statistically significant. POMx was well tolerated with no treatment-related withdrawals. There were no differences in baseline clinicopathological features between arms. Urolithin A was detected in 21 of the 33 patients in the POMx group versus 12 of the 35 in the placebo group (P = 0.031). Cancer pS6 kinase, NF-κB, Ki67, and serum PSA changes were similar between arms. POMx before surgery results in pomegranate metabolite accumulation in prostate tissues. Our primary endpoint in this modest-sized short-term trial was negative. Future larger longer studies are needed to more definitively test whether POMx reduces prostate oxidative stress, as well as further animal testing to better understand the multiple mechanisms through which POMx may alter prostate cancer biology.

Management of adverse events associated with the use of everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In April 2009, an expert group of 11 physicians and clinical nurses met to discuss the management of selected adverse events associated with the use of everolimus for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Everolimus is an orally administered inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin that recently received approval from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of advanced RCC that has progressed on or after treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy, and from the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of advanced RCC after failure of sorafenib or sunitinib. Before the approval of everolimus, no standard therapy existed for the treatment of mRCC after failure of VEGF-targeted therapy. RECORD-1 (Renal Cell cancer treatment with Oral RAD001 given Daily) was the pivotal multicenter, phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of everolimus that led to approval for patients with disease progression on or after treatment with VEGF-targeted agents. Safety data from RECORD-1 were reviewed by these clinicians, all of whom had experience using everolimus in patients with mRCC. Adverse events discussed were non-infectious pneumonitis, infections, stomatitis and metabolic abnormalities. RESULTS: The outcome of this discussion is summarised here. Guidance for management of these adverse events is provided. Both clinicians and patients should be aware of the potential side-effects of everolimus and understand that these side-effects are manageable with standard care to optimise patient benefit.

Sunitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: recommendations for management of noncardiovascular toxicities.

The multitargeted tyrosine-kinase inhibitor sunitinib has emerged as one of the standards of care for good- and intermediate-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Although generally associated with acceptable toxicity, sunitinib exhibits a novel and distinct toxicity profile that requires monitoring and management. Fatigue, diarrhea, anorexia, oral changes, hand-foot syndrome and other skin toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, myelotoxicity, and hypertension seem to be the most common and clinically relevant toxicities of sunitinib. Drug dosing and treatment duration are correlated with response to treatment and survival. Treatment recommendations for hypertension have been published but, currently, no standard guidelines exist for the management of noncardiovascular side effects. To discuss the optimal management of noncardiovascular side effects, an international, interdisciplinary panel of experts gathered in November 2009. Existing literature on incidence, severity, and underlying mechanisms of side effects as well as on potential treatment options were carefully reviewed and discussed. On the basis of these proceedings and the thorough review of the existing literature, recommendations were made for the monitoring, prevention, and treatment of the most common noncardiovascular side effects and are summarized in this review. The proactive assessment and consistent and timely management of sunitinib-related side effects are critical to ensure optimal treatment benefit by allowing appropriate drug dosing and prolonged treatment periods.

A pharmacodynamic study of rapamycin in men with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Given discrepancies between preclinical and clinical observations of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition in prostate cancer, we sought to determine the pharmacodynamic effects of the mTOR/TORC1 inhibitor rapamycin in men with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Rapamycin was given at 3 or 6 mg orally for 14 days before radical prostatectomy in men with multifocal Gleason sum > or =7 prostate cancer; 10 untreated control subjects were included. The primary outcome was inhibition of phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 in posttreatment radical prostatectomy versus pretreatment biopsy tumor tissue, evaluated using a Simon two-stage design for pharmacodynamic efficacy. RESULTS: Thirty-two subjects were accrued: 20 at 3 mg, 2 at 6 mg, and 10 controls. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed at 3 mg; however, two of two men enrolled at 6 mg experienced dose-limiting toxicities including thrombocytopenia and fever with grade 3 stomatitis. Adverse events observed at 3 mg included stomatitis, rash, ileus, and neutropenia. Pharmacodynamic studies showed tumor S6 phosphorylation inhibition in 50% of 10 evaluable rapamycin-treated men with sufficient paired tissue [median 58% inhibition (P = 0.049) versus 2% inhibition in controls (P = 0.75)] with no significant effect on AKT activity. We observed no change in Ki-67 or caspase-3 cleavage but noted a reduction in cytoplasmic p27 staining with increased nuclear localization with rapamycin treatment. Prostate tissue rapamycin concentrations were 3- to 4-fold higher than blood. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 mg daily, rapamycin successfully and safely inhibited prostate cancer S6 phosphorylation and achieved relatively high prostate tissue concentrations. No effect on AKT phosphorylation, tumor proliferation, or apoptosis was observed.

Management of mTOR inhibitor side effects.

Although surgery remains the primary curative treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), systemic therapy also is indicated in the advanced disease setting. This article reviews the role of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic RCC. A case study is presented to illustrate side-effect management issues commonly encountered by oncology nurses in clinical practice.

A phase I-II study of docetaxel and atrasentan in men with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The primary aims of this phase I-II study were to determine the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of the combination of docetaxel and the endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan as first-line treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were treated with docetaxel at doses ranging from 60 to 75 mg/m(2) every 21 days, with daily oral atrasentan 10 mg starting on day 3. Patients were treated until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were enrolled over three docetaxel dose levels (8 at 60 mg/m(2), 19 at 70 mg/m(2), and 4 at 75 mg/m(2)) including dose expansion at 70 mg/m(2). The maximum tolerated dose of docetaxel was 70 to 75 mg/m(2). Drug-related grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia (50-63%) and febrile neutropenia (16-25%); other grade 1-2 toxicities included fatigue, peripheral edema, diarrhea, headache, rhinitis, anorexia, and nausea. Confirmed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) responses were observed in 23% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 10-41%]; the rate of >30% declines in PSA was 35% (95% CI, 19-55%). Median overall survival was 17.6 months (95% CI, 13.0-23.2) and median progression-free survival was 4.2 months (95% CI, 2.3-5.8). Significant declines in bone alkaline phosphatase and serum N-telopeptides were observed with therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum tolerated dose of every-3-week docetaxel with 10 mg atrasentan is 70 to 75 mg/m(2). Overall survival and progression-free survival are comparable to that seen with docetaxel and prednisone, whereas the rates of PSA decline are slightly lower than expected. A phase III study of this combination with prednisone has been initiated and is ongoing.

Improving outcomes with novel therapies for patients with newly diagnosed renal cell carcinoma.

With the approval of sunitinib and sorafenib, 2 new multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the natural history and prognosis of patients with this disease has significantly improved. These drugs were approved based upon clinical data demonstrating robust, unprecedented response rates in one case and dramatic prolongation of progression-free survival in the other. In both cases, these results were seen in study patients in whom standard therapy had failed and who, on average, carried substantial disease burden. Important challenges today include integrating these therapies with other standard therapeutic options and into other advanced-stage RCC patient populations. This article addresses current data and practice patterns regarding the clinical use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with advanced-stage RCC, including dose modifications and alternative dosing, the current role of debulking nephrectomy, and use in patients with indolent disease. Finally, a summary of the more common side effects and management strategies for these is also discussed. Ultimately, more clinical data is needed to address the chronic use of these agents alone, in combination with other agents, with radiation therapy, and in sequence.