Efficacy and Safety of Cetuximab plus Radiotherapy in Cisplatin-Unfit Elderly Patients with Advanced Squamous Cell Head and Neck Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Concurrent platinum-based chemoradiation currently represents the standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer (HNC), but it induces a significant toxicity, in particular among elderly patients. Elderly and unfit patients have been underrepresented in clinical trials and there is a need for tailored guidelines. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical data of HNC patients treated at the Operative Oncology Unit of the San Giovanni di Dio Hospital in Frattamaggiore (Naples, Italy) was performed. At study entry, a comprehensive assessment including absolute contraindications for cisplatin use, as well as comorbidities, socioeconomic status, BMI, and weight loss, was performed. The treatment included high-dose radiotherapy plus weekly cetuximab (initially at a dose of 400 mg/m2of body surface area and thereafter at 250 mg weekly during the whole radiotherapy). The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of this schedule in a series of patients aged older than 69 years. RESULTS: Between May 30, 2013, and March 30, 2015, sixty-four patients (age range, 69-87 years; median age, 73.7 years; male/female ratio, 46/18) were treated. The overall response rate was 67% in this series of patients. The disease control rate was 76%. Disease progression was recorded in 25% of the patients. The median duration of loco-regional control was 17 months (range, 15.8-17.7 months). PFS was 14.8 months (range, 13.9-15.5 months). The overall survival was 34 months, with a median follow-up of 41.0 months (range, 31.1-36.8 months). The main grade 3/4 adverse events were acne rash in 52% and radiation dermatitis in 32% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Cetuximab plus radiotherapy appears to be feasible and active in elderly patients unsuitable for cisplatin treatment. The treatment was supported by a favorable toxicity profile.

A new schedule of fotemustine in temozolomide-pretreated patients with relapsing glioblastoma.

In the present study we investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a new biweekly schedule of fotemustine (FTM) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, after at least one previous treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months; secondary objectives were clinical response, overall survival, disease-free survival, and toxicity. Forty patients (median age 52.8 years; median Karnofsky Performance Status at progression 90) underwent second-line chemotherapy with FTM. Selected patients were previously treated with a standard radiotherapy course with concomitant temozolomide (TMZ). After tumor relapse or progression proven by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), all patients underwent chemotherapy with FTM, given intravenously at dose of 80 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks for five consecutive administrations (induction phase), and then every 4 weeks at 80 [DOSAGE ERROR CORRECTED] mg/m(2) as maintenance. A total of 329 infusions were administered; the median number of cycles administered was 8. All patients completed the induction phase, and 29 patients received at least one maintenance infusion. Response to treatment was assessed using MacDonald criteria. One complete response [2.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0-10%], 9 partial responses (22.5%, 95% CI: 15-37%), and 16 stable diseases (40%, 95% CI: 32-51%) were observed. Median time to progression was 6.7 months (95% CI: 3.9-9.1 months). Progression-free survival at 6 months was 61%. Median survival from beginning of FTM chemotherapy was 11.1 months. The schedule was generally well tolerated; the main toxicities were hematologic (grade 3 thrombocytopenia in two cases). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report specifically dealing with the use of a biweekly induction schedule of FTM. The study demonstrates that FTM has therapeutic efficacy as single-drug second-line chemotherapy with a favorable safety profile.

Concomitant cetuximab and radiation therapy: A possible promising strategy for locally advanced inoperable non-melanoma skin carcinomas.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) include a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from the epidermis, comprising squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), Merkel cell carcinoma and more rare entities, including malignant pilomatrixoma and sebaceous gland tumours. The treatment of early disease depends primarily on surgery. In addition, certain patients present with extensive local invasion or metastasis, which renders these tumours surgically unresectable. Improving the outcome of radiotherapy through the use of concurrent systemic therapy has been demonstrated in several locally advanced cancer-treatment paradigms. Recently, agents targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have exhibited a consolidated activity in phase II clinical trials and case series reports. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to and completely inhibits the EGFR, which has been revealed to be up-regulated in a variety of SCCs, including NMSCs. The present review aimed to summarize the role of anti-EGFR agents in the predominant types of NMSC, including SCC and BCC, and focuses on the cetuximab-based studies, highlighting the biological rationale of this therapeutic option. In addition, the importance of the association between cetuximab and radiotherapy for locally advanced NMSC is discussed.

Protracted low dose of oral vinorelbine and temozolomide with whole-brain radiotherapy in the treatment for breast cancer patients with brain metastases.

PURPOSE: The management of brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC) needs to be improved, and new therapeutic strategies are urgently requested. In this view, we have evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of concurrent low protracted dose of temozolomide (TMZ), metronomic oral vinorelbine (VNB), and radiotherapy in BC women with previously untreated BM. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with newly diagnosed BM were treated with TMZ orally administered at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) during whole-brain radiotherapy, followed by 4 weeks off-therapy and a subsequent administration of oral 70 mg/m(2) VNB fractionated in days 1, 3, and 5, weekly for three consecutive weeks plus TMZ at 75 mg/m(2) on days 1-21, all every 4 weeks for up to 12 additional cycles. The primary end point was the evaluation of the objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Three complete responses and 16 partial responses have been achieved with an ORR of 52 % (95 % CI 38-67 %) that exceeded the target activity per study design. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 8 and 11 months, respectively. The schedule appeared to be well tolerated, and side effects were generally mild. The functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) analysis showed a significant positive change during the study. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the treatment was safe and a significant number of objective responses were observed with a significant improvement in quality of life demonstrated by FACT-B. On the basis of the present results, a large randomized trial is warranted in BC patients with previously untreated BM.