Application of comprehensive molecular genetic profiling in precision cancer medicine, Hungarian experiences.

Recent developments in molecular genetic testing methods (e.g. next-generation sequencing [NGS]-panels) largely accelerated the process of finding the most appropriate targeted therapeutic intervention for cancer patients based on molecularly targetable genetic alterations. In Hungary, a centralized approval system following the recommendation of the National Molecular Tumor Board was launched for the coordination of all aspects of comprehensive genetic profiling (CGP) including patient selection and therapy reimbursement. AIM: The study aims to evaluate the clinical benefit of CGP in our Comprehensive Cancer Center Methods and patients: CGP was introduced into our routine clinical practice in 2021. An NGS-based large (> 500 genes) gene panel was used for cases where molecular genetic testing was approved by the National Molecular Tumor Board. From 2021 until August 2023 163 cases were tested. The majority of them were ECOG 0-1 patients with advanced-stage diseases, histologically rare cancer, or cancers with unknown primary tumours. RESULTS: Seventy-four cases (74 of 163, 45%) had clinically relevant genetic alterations. In 34 patients, the identified variants represented an indication for an approved therapy (approved by the Hungarian authorities, on-label indication), while in 40 cases the recommended therapy did not have an approved indication in Hungary for certain tumour types, but off-label indication could be recommended. Based on our CGP results, 24 patients (24/163; 14.7%) received targeted therapy. Treatment duration was between 1 and 60 months. In total 14 (14/163; 8.5% of the tested cases) patients had a positive clinical response (objective response or stable disease) and were treated for more than 16 weeks. INTERPRETATION: NGS-based CGP was successfully introduced in our institution and a significant number of patients benefited from comprehensive genetic tests. Our preliminary results can serve as the starting point of Drug Rediscovery Protocol (DRUP) studies.

Get reliable laboratory findings - how to recognize the deceptive effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy in the laboratory diagnostics of sarcoidosis?

OBJECTIVES: Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the only biomarker routinely used in the laboratory diagnostics of sarcoidosis, and ACE inhibitor (ACEi) drugs are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide. Taking ACEi can mislead medical teams by lowering ACE activity, delaying diagnosis and giving a false impression of disease activity of sarcoidosis. We aimed to develop a simple method to detect the presence of ACEi drugs in samples, to investigate the ACEi medication-caused interference and consequences in a retrospective study. METHODS: ACE activity and the level of ACE inhibition were determined for 1823 patients with suspected sarcoidosis. These values were compared with the therapeutic information at the first and follow-up visits. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients had biochemical evidence of an ACEi drug effect during diagnostic ACE activity testing. In their case, ACE activity was significantly lower (median(IQR): 4.41 U/L(2.93-6.72)) than in patients not taking ACEi (11.32 U/L(8.79-13.92), p<0.01). In 62 sarcoidosis patients, the ACEi reduced ACE activity to the reference range or below. Only in 40 % of the cases was the medication list recorded in the outpatient chart and only in 3 cases was low ACE activity associated with ACEi use. 67 % of the repeated ACE activity measurements were also performed during ACEi therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the use of ACEi is common in patients with suspected sarcoidosis. The ACE activity lowering effect of ACEi drugs may escape the attention of medical teams which can lead to diagnostic errors and unnecessary tests. Nevertheless, these pitfalls can be avoided by using a method suggested by our team.

Overall survival results from the randomized phase 2 study of palbociclib in combination with letrozole versus letrozole alone for first-line treatment of ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer (PALOMA-1, TRIO-18).

PURPOSE: Palbociclib is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor, approved in combination with endocrine therapy for the treatment of women and men with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer (HR+/HER2- ABC). In the phase 2, open-label, PALOMA-1 trial, palbociclib plus letrozole significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) versus letrozole alone (hazard ratio, 0.488; 95% CI 0.319‒0.748; P = 0.0004; median PFS, 20.2 vs 10.2 months, respectively) in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/HER2- ABC. Here, we present the final overall survival (OS) and updated safety results. METHODS: Postmenopausal women with ER+/HER2- ABC were randomized 1:1 to receive either palbociclib (125 mg/day, 3/1 schedule) plus letrozole (2.5 mg/day, continuous) or letrozole alone (2.5 mg/day, continuous). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed PFS; secondary endpoints included OS and safety. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients were randomized. At the data cutoff date of December 30, 2016 (median duration of follow-up, 64.7 months), the stratified hazard ratio for OS was 0.897 (95% CI 0.623-1.294; P = 0.281); median OS in the palbociclib plus letrozole and letrozole alone arms was 37.5 and 34.5 months, respectively. The median time from randomization to first subsequent chemotherapy use was longer with palbociclib plus letrozole than letrozole alone (26.7 and 17.7 months, respectively). The most frequently reported adverse event in the palbociclib plus letrozole arm was neutropenia (any grade, 75%; grade 3 or 4, 59%). CONCLUSIONS: Palbociclib plus letrozole treatment led to a numerical but not statistically significant improvement in median OS. Pfizer Inc (NCT00721409).

[Paclitaxel containing chemotherapeutic regimens in first line and reintroduced palliative treatment of metastatic cervical cancer]. / Paklitaxeltartalmú kemoterápiás kombináció metasztatikus cervixtumor elso vonali és reindukciós palliatív kezelésében.

INTRODUCTION: The paclitaxel-carboplatin doublet is an alternative choice in the first line treatment of metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer according to international guidelines. METHOD: The history of seven patients treated with paclitaxel-platinum in the last three years in the Petz Aladár Hospital is reported. A case report, supporting the efficacy of the combination in emergency and in reintroduced settings is presented as well. RESULTS: The average progression-free survival was 10 months. All patients were alive at the time of the submission of the article. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the efficacy of the paclitaxel-carboplatin AUC 5 and the paclitaxel-cisplatin combinations in the treatment of metastatic cervical cancer. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(24): 974-977.

[Stereotactic body radiotherapy of liver metastasis: early experience]. / Májáttétes betegek sztereotaxiás ablatív sugárkezelésével (SABRT) elért elsõ eredményeink.

Recently the prevalence of oligometastatic patients is increasing. A common site of distant spread is the liver. The standard of care is curative surgical resection, however, the resecability rate is only 10-20%. Alternatively, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) may be used. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABRT) makes it possible to deliver curative radiation dose without radiation injury to the healthy liver tissue. We delivered SABRT to three patients with inoperable hepatic metastases. The primary tumors were rectal (2) and lung (1). The dose was 3x20 Gy every other day. We observed one grade 1 side effect. All the metastases showed complete remission and no local recurrence or late side effect occurred during the one year of follow-up. One patient is tumor-free, one has stable disease, in one patient two new hepatic metastases appeared and receives chemo-biological therapy. SABRT of liver metastases is safe and highly effective. It can be expected that in the near future it will become one of the standard treatments of hepatic tumors.

[Does the sidedness determine the first line treatment of irresectable metastatic colorectal cancer?] / Meghatározza-e az oldaliság az irreszekábilis metasztatikus colorectalis carcinoma elso vonalbeli kezelését?

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Median life expectancy of non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer may surpass three years. However, several points of the treatment strategy are subject of ongoing debate. Optimal sequence of targeted agents is not elucidated either. Based on retrospective analyses of six clinical studies and a metaanalysis, the superiority of anti-EGFR agents such as cetuximab and panitumumab over anti-VEGF bevacizumab has been proposed in the treatment of left sided tumours. METHOD: The results of the six major clinical trials were analysed. Insufficiencies of the meta-analysis are pointed: the lack of homogeneity among control groups, the omission of later lines of therapy, the inconsistency between progression free and overall survival benefit and the high proportion of excluded patients. RESULTS: The trials confirm the worse prognosis of right sided versus left sided colorectal cancers. CONCLUSION: To date the data are not strong enough to support the preference of any of the available targeted agents at the first line setting in the treatment of left sided metastatic RAS and BRAF wild type colorectal cancers. Several trials suggest that anti-EGFR treatment has no additional benefit as compared to chemotherapy alone in the treatment of right-sided tumours. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(9), 340-344.

Efficacy and safety of palbociclib in combination with letrozole as first-line treatment of ER-positive, HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer: expanded analyses of subgroups from the randomized pivotal trial PALOMA-1/TRIO-18.

BACKGROUND: Palbociclib is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6. In the randomized, open-label, phase II PALOMA-1/TRIO-18 trial, palbociclib in combination with letrozole improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with letrozole alone as first-line treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, advanced breast cancer (20.2 months versus 10.2 months; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.488, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.319-0.748; one-sided p = 0.0004). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was the most common adverse event (AE) in the palbociclib + letrozole arm. We now present efficacy and safety analyses based on several specific patient and tumor characteristics, and present in detail the clinical patterns of neutropenia observed in the palbociclib + letrozole arm of the overall safety population. METHODS: Postmenopausal women (n = 165) with ER+, HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer who had not received any systemic treatment for their advanced disease were randomized 1:1 to receive either palbociclib in combination with letrozole or letrozole alone. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, consent withdrawal, or death. The primary endpoint was PFS. We now analyze the difference in PFS for the treatment populations by subgroups, including age, histological type, history of prior neoadjuvant/adjuvant systemic treatment, and sites of distant metastasis, using the Kaplan-Meier method. HR and 95 % CI are derived from a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: A clinically meaningful improvement in median PFS and clinical benefit response (CBR) rate was seen with palbociclib + letrozole in every subgroup evaluated. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was the most common AE with palbociclib + letrozole in all subgroups. Analysis of the frequency of neutropenia by grade during the first six cycles of treatment showed that there was a downward trend in Grade 3-4 neutropenia over time. Among those who experienced Grade 3-4 neutropenia, 71.7 % had no overlapping infections of any grade and none had overlapping Grade 3-4 infections. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of clinical benefit seen with the addition of palbociclib to letrozole in improving both median PFS and CBR rate is consistent in nearly all subgroups analyzed, and consistent with that seen in the overall study population. The safety profile of the combination treatment in all subgroups was also comparable to that in the overall safety population of the study.

[Effective systemic palliative chemotherapy for intracranial metastases of breast cancer]. / Emlotumor intracranialis metasztázisainak eredményes szisztémás palliatív kemoterápiája.

The authors present the history of two patients. The first patient, a 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with locally invasive triple negative breast cancer with pulmonary and cerebral metastases. Complete radiological remission of the clinically asymptomatic cerebral metastases was detected under systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin-docetaxel (75 mg/m2). Later, the patient received whole brain radiotherapy and a second line of chemotherapy. The overall survival was 20 months from the diagnosis of cerebral metastases with conservation of partial autonomy. The second patient, a 57-year-old woman was diagnosed as having hormone sensitive lobular breast cancer with leptomeningeal, lymphonodular and multiple osseal metastases. Before the appearance of the lymphonodular metastasis the patient received intrathecal methotrexate chemotherapy for the leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Her neurological symptoms completely disappeared. At the onset of the lymphonodular metastasis systemic chemotherapy with ifosfamide (1000 mg/m2, D1-3) - etoposide (100 mg/m2, D1-3) was started allowing complete clinical remission of the lymphadenomegaly and stability of the asymptomatic neurological status. The overall survival was 13 months from the diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis with conservation of autonomy. The two cases support potential efficacy of systemic chemotherapy for intracranial metastases of breast cancer. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(45), 1809-1813.

[Effective palliative chemotherapy in a patient with collecting duct carcinoma of a unilateral kidney associated with anuria. Case report]. / Féloldali vese gyujtocsatornás daganatának eredményes palliatív kemoterápiás kezelése anuria mellett.

The case of a 54-year-old woman is presented. She underwent right sided unilateral nephrectomy for metastatic bilateral renal tumour of the Bellini collecting ducts. Progression of the contralateral tumour resulted in acute complete anuric renal failure. Haemodialysis was started along with palliative gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2))-cisplatine (70 mg/m(2)) chemotherapy. In parallel, renal function was improving and dialysis could be stopped at the end of the chemotherapy line comprising 6 cycles. Half a year later the patient was lost of uncontrolled local and pulmonary progression. The potentially nephrotoxic cisplatine chemotherapy associated to complex supportive treatment improved the renal function by controlling diffusely infiltrative tumour growth and allowed a survival benefit over one year with active household keeping capacity.

The cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor palbociclib in combination with letrozole versus letrozole alone as first-line treatment of oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer (PALOMA-1/TRIO-18): a randomised phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Palbociclib (PD-0332991) is an oral, small-molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 4 and 6 with preclinical evidence of growth-inhibitory activity in oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells and synergy with anti-oestrogens. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of palbociclib in combination with letrozole as first-line treatment of patients with advanced, oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. METHODS: In this open-label, randomised phase 2 study, postmenopausal women with advanced oestrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer who had not received any systemic treatment for their advanced disease were eligible to participate. Patients were enrolled in two separate cohorts that accrued sequentially: in cohort 1, patients were enrolled on the basis of their oestrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative biomarker status alone, whereas in cohort 2 they were also required to have cancers with amplification of cyclin D1 (CCND1), loss of p16 (INK4A or CDKN2A), or both. In both cohorts, patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via an interactive web-based randomisation system, stratified by disease site and disease-free interval, to receive continuous oral letrozole 2.5 mg daily or continuous oral letrozole 2.5 mg daily plus oral palbociclib 125 mg, given once daily for 3 weeks followed by 1 week off over 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. Accrual to cohort 2 was stopped after an unplanned interim analysis of cohort 1 and the statistical analysis plan for the primary endpoint was amended to a combined analysis of cohorts 1 and 2 (instead of cohort 2 alone). The study is ongoing but closed to accrual; these are the results of the final analysis of progression-free survival. The study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00721409. FINDINGS: Between Dec 22, 2009, and May 12, 2012, we randomly assigned 165 patients, 84 to palbociclib plus letrozole and 81 to letrozole alone. At the time of the final analysis for progression-free survival (median follow-up 29.6 months [95% CI 27.9-36.0] for the palbociclib plus letrozole group and 27.9 months [25.5-31.1] for the letrozole group), 41 progression-free survival events had occurred in the palbociclib plus letrozole group and 59 in the letrozole group. Median progression-free survival was 10.2 months (95% CI 5.7-12.6) for the letrozole group and 20.2 months (13.8-27.5) for the palbociclib plus letrozole group (HR 0.488, 95% CI 0.319-0.748; one-sided p=0.0004). In cohort 1 (n=66), median progression-free survival was 5.7 months (2.6-10.5) for the letrozole group and 26.1 months (11.2-not estimable) for the palbociclib plus letrozole group (HR 0.299, 0.156-0.572; one-sided p<0.0001); in cohort 2 (n=99), median progression-free survival was 11.1 months (7.1-16.4) for the letrozole group and 18.1 months (13.1-27.5) for the palbociclib plus letrozole group (HR 0.508, 0.303-0.853; one-sided p=0.0046). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was reported in 45 (54%) of 83 patients in the palbociclib plus letrozole group versus one (1%) of 77 patients in the letrozole group, leucopenia in 16 (19%) versus none, and fatigue in four (4%) versus one (1%). Serious adverse events that occurred in more than one patient in the palbociclib plus letrozole group were pulmonary embolism (three [4%] patients), back pain (two [2%]), and diarrhoea (two [2%]). No cases of febrile neutropenia or neutropenia-related infections were reported during the study. 11 (13%) patients in the palbociclib plus letrozole group and two (2%) in the letrozole group discontinued the study because of adverse events. INTERPRETATION: The addition of palbociclib to letrozole in this phase 2 study significantly improved progression-free survival in women with advanced oestrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer. A phase 3 trial is currently underway. FUNDING: Pfizer.

[New option in the management of cancer pain in Hungary: short acting oral opioid therapy]. / Új lehetoség a daganatos fájdalom csillapításában Magyarországon: rövid hatású major analgetikumok.

Short acting oral morphine has recently been registered again in Hungary. Short acting oral morphine has two essential indications: dose titration at initiation of major analgesic therapy and treatment of breakthrough pain appearing beside round the clock major analgesic therapy. The clinical management of short acting oral morphine is summarised in this article.

Adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab improves survival in the adjuvant treatment of HER-positive breast cancer, although combined therapy with anthracycline-based regimens has been associated with cardiac toxicity. We wanted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new nonanthracycline regimen with trastuzumab. METHODS: We randomly assigned 3222 women with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer to receive doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel every 3 weeks (AC-T), the same regimen plus 52 weeks of trastuzumab (AC-T plus trastuzumab), or docetaxel and carboplatin plus 52 weeks of trastuzumab (TCH). The primary study end point was disease-free survival. Secondary end points were overall survival and safety. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 65 months, 656 events triggered this protocol-specified analysis. The estimated disease-free survival rates at 5 years were 75% among patients receiving AC-T, 84% among those receiving AC-T plus trastuzumab, and 81% among those receiving TCH. Estimated rates of overall survival were 87%, 92%, and 91%, respectively. No significant differences in efficacy (disease-free or overall survival) were found between the two trastuzumab regimens, whereas both were superior to AC-T. The rates of congestive heart failure and cardiac dysfunction were significantly higher in the group receiving AC-T plus trastuzumab than in the TCH group (P<0.001). Eight cases of acute leukemia were reported: seven in the groups receiving the anthracycline-based regimens and one in the TCH group subsequent to receiving an anthracycline outside the study. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab significantly improved disease-free and overall survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer. The risk-benefit ratio favored the nonanthracycline TCH regimen over AC-T plus trastuzumab, given its similar efficacy, fewer acute toxic effects, and lower risks of cardiotoxicity and leukemia. (Funded by Sanofi-Aventis and Genentech; BCIRG-006 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00021255.).

Adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in node-positive breast cancer: 10-year follow-up of the phase 3 randomised BCIRG 001 trial.

BACKGROUND: We compared standard adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy with anthracycline-taxane combination chemotherapy in women with operable node-positive breast cancer. Here we report the final, 10-year follow-up analysis of disease-free survival, overall survival, and long-term safety. METHODS: BCIRG 001 was an open label, phase 3, multicentre trial in which 1491 patients aged 18-70 years with node-positive, early breast cancer and a Karnofsky score of 80% or more were randomly assigned to adjuvant treatment with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) or fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. Randomisation was stratified according to institution and number of involved axillary lymph nodes per patient (one to three vs four or more). Disease-free survival was the primary endpoint and was defined as the interval between randomisation and breast cancer relapse, second primary cancer, or death, whichever occurred first. Efficacy analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. BCIRG 001 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00688740. FINDINGS: Enrolement took place between June 11, 1997 and June 3, 1999; 745 patients were assigned to receive TAC and 746 patients were assigned to receive FAC. After a median follow-up of 124 months (IQR 90-126), disease-free survival was 62% (95% CI 58-65) for patients in the TAC group and 55% (51-59) for patients in the FAC group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·80, 95% CI 0·68-0·93; log-rank p=0·0043). 10-year overall survival was 76% (95% CI 72-79) for patients in the TAC group and 69% (65-72) for patients in the FAC group (HR 0·74, 0·61-0·90; log-rank p=0·0020). TAC improved disease-free survival relative to FAC irrespective of nodal, hormone receptor, and HER2 status, although not all differences were significant in these subgroup analyses. Grade 3-4 heart failure occurred in 26 (3%) patients in the TAC group and 17 (2%) patients in the FAC group, and caused death in two patients in the TAC group and four patients in the FAC group. A substantial decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (defined as a relative decrease from baseline of 20% or more) was seen in 58 (17%) patients who received TAC and 41 (15%) patients who received FAC. Six patients who received TAC developed leukaemia or myelodysplasia, as did three patients who received FAC. INTERPRETATION: Our results provide evidence that the initial therapeutic outcomes seen at the 5-year follow-up with a docetaxel-containing adjuvant regimen are maintained at 10 years. However, a substantial percentage of patients had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, probably caused by anthracycline therapy, which warrants further investigation. FUNDING: Sanofi.

Ewing Sarcoma of the Larynx with Thyroid Cartilage Destruction: A Case Report.

Ewing sarcoma of the larynx is extremely rare, only a few number of cases have been reported. In this report, we describe a case of extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma of the larynx with thyroid cartilage destruction. Laryngoscope, 134:4577-4581, 2024.

Single-agent metronomic versus weekly oral vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: The randomized Tempo Breast study.

INTRODUCTION: Single-agent oral vinorelbine is a standard of care for hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC) that has progressed on endocrine therapy. Metronomic administration may offer a better balance of efficacy and safety than standard regimens, but data from previous trials are scarce. METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, phase II trial, patients were randomized to oral vinorelbine administered on a metronomic (50 mg three times weekly) or weekly (60 mg/m2 in cycle 1, increasing to 80 mg/m2 if well tolerated) schedule. Treatment was continued until disease progression or intolerance. The primary endpoint was disease control rate (DCR, the proportion of patients with a best overall confirmed response of CR, PR, or stable disease lasting 6 months or more). RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-three patients were randomized and treated. The DCR was 63.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.0-73.8) with metronomic vinorelbine and 72.8% (95% CI: 61.8-82.1) with weekly vinorelbine. Weekly vinorelbine was also associated with longer progression-free survival (5.6 vs 4.0 months) and overall survival (26.7 vs 22.3 months) than metronomic vinorelbine, but was associated with more adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized phase II trial, single-agent metronomic oral vinorelbine was effective and well tolerated as first-line chemotherapy for patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative ABC. Formal comparisons are not done in this phase II study and one can simply observe that confidence intervals of all endpoints overlap. When deciding for a chemotherapy after failure of endocrine therapy and CDK 4/6 inhibitors, oral vinorelbine might be an option to be given with either schedule. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EudraCT 2014-003860-19.

Health-related quality of life with adjuvant docetaxel- and trastuzumab-based regimens in patients with node-positive and high-risk node-negative, HER2-positive early breast cancer: results from the BCIRG 006 Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to describe and compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with node-positive and high-risk node-negative HER2-positive early breast cancer receiving adjuvant docetaxel and trastuzumab-based or docetaxel-based regimens alone. METHODS: Eligible patients (n = 3,222) were randomly assigned to either four cycles of adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of docetaxel (AC→T) or one of two trastuzumab-containing regimens: adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel plus trastuzumab administered for 1 year (AC→TH) or six cycles of docetaxel plus carboplatin combined with trastuzumab administered for 1 year (TCH). The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and BR-23 were administered at baseline, the start of cycle 4 (mid), and the end of chemotherapy (EOC), as well as at 6, 12, and 24 months after chemotherapy. RESULTS: Compliance rates for the EORTC questionnaires were acceptable at 72%-93% of eligible patients out to the 12-month assessment. Systemic side effect (SE) change scores were significantly improved for TCH-treated patients compared with AC→TH and AC→T at EOC, suggesting improved tolerability. Physical functioning (PF) was only slightly worse at midpoint for those receiving TCH, compared with patients who were just starting on taxane in an AC→TH regimen, but was otherwise similar between arms. All treatment arms recovered from the deterioration in SE, PF, and Global Health Scale scores by 1 year and median future perspective change scores continued to improve throughout treatment and follow-up. CONCLUSION: HRQL outcomes for adjuvant docetaxel and trastuzumab-based regimens are favorable and support TCH as a more tolerable treatment option.

[Fertility preservation in female cancer patients.] / Daganatos nobetegek termékenységének megorzése.

In Hungary, an average of 2066 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with cancer each year according to data from the National Cancer Registry. Approximately two-thirds of these patients require gonadotoxic treatment for their disease, which could potentially reduce their chances of future conception and childbirth. Currently, there are no professional guidelines on fertility preservation in Hungary, however, it is important to inform patients about their options. In our previous paper, we presented the gonadotoxic effects of oncotherapies and the currently available fertility preservation techniques. This second paper provides current treatment methods and recommends fertility preservation techniques in different cancer types. The success of an oncofertility program relies heavily on the effective communication and collaboration between oncologists and reproductive specialists involved in fertility preservation. This paper may be the first step in elaborating a guideline towards improving access to oncofertility services and ultimately improving the quality of life for young cancer survivors in Hungary. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(29): 1134-1145.

Cetuximab and chemotherapy as initial treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of cetuximab plus irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and sought associations between the mutation status of the KRAS gene in tumors and clinical response to cetuximab. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-positive colorectal cancer with unresectable metastases to receive FOLFIRI either alone or in combination with cetuximab. The primary end point was progression-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 599 patients received cetuximab plus FOLFIRI, and 599 received FOLFIRI alone. The hazard ratio for progression-free survival in the cetuximab-FOLFIRI group as compared with the FOLFIRI group was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.99; P=0.048). There was no significant difference in the overall survival between the two treatment groups (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.07; P=0.31). There was a significant interaction between treatment group and KRAS mutation status for tumor response (P=0.03) but not for progression-free survival (P=0.07) or overall survival (P=0.44). The hazard ratio for progression-free survival among patients with wild-type-KRAS tumors was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94), in favor of the cetuximab-FOLFIRI group. The following grade 3 or 4 adverse events were more frequent with cetuximab plus FOLFIRI than with FOLFIRI alone: skin reactions (which were grade 3 only) (in 19.7% vs. 0.2% of patients, P<0.001), infusion-related reactions (in 2.5% vs. 0%, P<0.001), and diarrhea (in 15.7% vs. 10.5%, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: First-line treatment with cetuximab plus FOLFIRI, as compared with FOLFIRI alone, reduced the risk of progression of metastatic colorectal cancer. The benefit of cetuximab was limited to patients with KRAS wild-type tumors. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00154102.)

New European initiatives in colorectal cancer screening: Budapest Declaration. Official appeal during the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the Auspices of the United European Gastroenterology Federation, the European Association for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy and the Hungarian Society of Gastroenterology.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common newly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of death in the European Union (EU). CRC is an enormous health and economic burden. Early detection and prevention have the possibility of reducing this burden significantly. Many cancer-associated deaths can be avoided through early detection by high-quality colorectal screening programs followed by appropriate treatment. Under the auspices of the United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF), the European Association for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, the Hungarian Society of Gastroenterology and the Hungarian College of Gastroenterology, the 'Budapest Declaration' (2011) was an accepted official scientific program during the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Budapest Declaration follows the Munich Declaration (2001), the Brussels Declaration (2007), the Transatlantic Declaration (2009), the Barcelona Declaration (2010), the written declaration of CRC screening, a joint initiative with European Parliamentarians coordinated by the UEGF, and finally, the 'European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis'. The 'Budapest Declaration' together with previous declarations aims to urge the national and supranational healthcare decision makers to launch new Europe-wide initiatives to establish high-quality CRC programs to achieve optimal efficiency in CRC screening. In case of implementation of the proposals, actions and conditions recommended, we can achieve that one of the basic principles of the EU - the chance of equal access - be realized in member states with respect to the prevention of CRC and reduction of cancer-related mortality. To better achieve this goal, we propose to establish an UEGF joint committee, with one participant representing each EU member state to coordinate and supervise the implementation of CRC screening.

Motesanib, or open-label bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, as first-line treatment for HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a crucial role in angiogenesis, and is a valid target in metastatic breast cancer. Motesanib is an investigational oral inhibitor of VEGF receptors. We aimed to determine whether treatment with motesanib plus paclitaxel is better than placebo plus paclitaxel in patients with HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: Between Dec 1, 2006, and July 4, 2008, patients with untreated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned (using a randomisation list created by personnel not associated with the study) in a 1:1:1 ratio to paclitaxel (90 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 3 weeks) plus either masked motesanib 125 mg orally once per day (n=91), masked placebo orally once per day (n=94), or open-label bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle (n=97), after stratification according to adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (taxane-containing regimens vs other regimens vs none), number of metastatic sites (<3 vs ≥3), and hormone receptor status (positive vs negative). Placebo was provided as a replica of motesanib 25 mg tablets. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) based on the population as assigned to treatment. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00356681. FINDINGS: ORRs for the motesanib group and the placebo group did not differ significantly (49%vs 41%; absolute difference 8% [95% CI -6 to 22]; p=0.31). The ORR in the bevacizumab group (52%) was similar to that in the motesanib group. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events included diarrhoea (18 of 92 patients in the motesanib group, none of 89 patients in the placebo group, and four of 96 patients in the bevacizumab group), fatigue (11, eight, and six), hypertension (11, one, and seven), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (ten, seven, and 19). More patients in the motesanib group had serious adverse events than did those in the placebo or bevacizumab groups (34, 26, and 21 patients, respectively); the most common of these in the motesanib group were gastrointestinal in nature. INTERPRETATION: Data from this trial do not support the further investigation of motesanib at this dose and schedule in this population. FUNDING: Amgen.