Pazopanib in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results of a Randomized Phase III Trial.

PURPOSE: Pazopanib is an oral angiogenesis inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-Kit. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study evaluated efficacy and safety of pazopanib monotherapy in treatment-naive and cytokine-pretreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients with measurable, locally advanced, and/or metastatic RCC were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive oral pazopanib or placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival, tumor response rate (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors), and safety. Radiographic assessments of tumors were independently reviewed. RESULTS: Of 435 patients enrolled, 233 were treatment naive (54%) and 202 were cytokine pretreated (46%). PFS was significantly prolonged with pazopanib compared with placebo in the overall study population (median, PFS 9.2 v 4.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.62; P < .0001), the treatment-naive subpopulation (median PFS 11.1 v 2.8 months; HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.60; P < .0001), and the cytokine-pretreated subpopulation (median PFS, 7.4 v 4.2 months; HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.84; P < .001). The objective response rate was 30% with pazopanib compared with 3% with placebo (P < .001). The median duration of response was longer than 1 year. The most common adverse events were diarrhea, hypertension, hair color changes, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting. There was no evidence of clinically important differences in quality of life for pazopanib versus placebo. CONCLUSION: Pazopanib demonstrated significant improvement in PFS and tumor response compared with placebo in treatment-naive and cytokine-pretreated patients with advanced and/or metastatic RCC.

Inhaled Sargramostim (Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor) for COVID-19-Associated Acute Hypoxemia: Results of the Phase 2, Randomized, Open-Label Trial (iLeukPulm).

INTRODUCTION: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a protein produced in the lung, is essential for pulmonary host defense and alveolar integrity. Prior studies suggest potential benefits in several pulmonary conditions, including acute respiratory distress syndrome and viral infections. This trial evaluated the effect of the addition of inhaled sargramostim (yeast-derived, glycosylated recombinant human GM-CSF) to standard of care (SOC) on oxygenation and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19-associated acute hypoxemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, open-label trial of hospitalized adults with COVID-19-associated hypoxemia (oxygen saturation <93% on ≥2 L/min oxygen supplementation and/or PaO2/FiO2 <350) randomized 2:1 to inhaled sargramostim (125 mcg twice daily for 5 days) plus SOC versus SOC alone. Institutional SOC before and during the study was not limited. Primary outcomes were change in the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P(A-a)O2) by day 6 and the percentage of patients intubated within 14 days. Safety evaluations included treatment-emergent adverse events. Efficacy analyses were based on the modified intent-to-treat population, the subset of the intent-to-treat population that received ≥1 dose of any study treatment (sargramostim and/or SOC). An analysis of covariance approach was used to analyze changes in oxygenation measures. The intubation rate was analyzed using the chi-squared test. All analyses are considered descriptive. The study was institutional review board approved. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients were treated (sargramostim, n = 78; SOC, n = 44). The sargramostim arm experienced greater improvement in P(A-a)O2 by day 6 compared to SOC alone (least squares [LS] mean change from baseline [SE]: -102.3 [19.4] versus -30.5 [26.9] mmHg; LS mean difference: -71.7 [SE 33.2, 95% CI -137.7 to -5.8]; P = .033; n = 96). By day 14, 11.5% (9/78) of sargramostim and 15.9% (7/44) of SOC arms required intubation (P = .49). The 28-day mortality was 11.5% (9/78) and 13.6% (6/44) in the sargramostim and SOC arms, respectively (hazard ratio 0.85; P = .76). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 67.9% (53/78) and 70.5% (31/44) on the sargramostim and SOC arms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of inhaled sargramostim to SOC improved P(A-a)O2, a measure of oxygenation, by day 6 in hospitalized patients with COVID-19-associated acute hypoxemia and was well tolerated. Inhaled sargramostim is delivered directly to the lung, minimizing systemic effects, and is simple to administer making it a feasible treatment option in patients in settings where other therapy routes may be difficult. Although proportionally lower rates of intubation and mortality were observed in sargramostim-treated patients, this study was insufficiently powered to demonstrate significant changes in these outcomes. However, the significant improvement in gas exchange with sargramostim shows this inhalational treatment enhances pulmonary efficiency in this severe respiratory illness. These data provide strong support for further evaluation of sargramostim in high-risk patients with COVID-19.

Loss of GM-CSF-dependent instruction of alveolar macrophages in COVID-19 provides a rationale for inhaled GM-CSF treatment.

GM-CSF promotes myelopoiesis and inflammation, and GM-CSF blockade is being evaluated as a treatment for COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation. Alveolar GM-CSF is, however, required for monocytes to differentiate into alveolar macrophages (AMs) that control alveolar homeostasis. By mapping cross-species AM development to clinical lung samples, we discovered that COVID-19 is marked by defective GM-CSF-dependent AM instruction and accumulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages. In a multi-center, open-label RCT in 81 non-ventilated COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure, we found that inhalation of rhu-GM-CSF did not improve mean oxygenation parameters compared with standard treatment. However, more patients on GM-CSF had a clinical response, and GM-CSF inhalation induced higher numbers of virus-specific CD8 effector lymphocytes and class-switched B cells, without exacerbating systemic hyperinflammation. This translational proof-of-concept study provides a rationale for further testing of inhaled GM-CSF as a non-invasive treatment to improve alveolar gas exchange and simultaneously boost antiviral immunity in COVID-19. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04326920) and EudraCT (2020-001254-22).

Efficacy of delayed administration of sargramostim up to 120 hours post exposure in a nonhuman primate total body radiation model.

BACKGROUND: High dose ionizing radiation exposure is associated with myelo-depression leading to pancytopenia and the expected clinical manifestations of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of sargramostim (Leukine®, yeast-derived rhu GM-CSF), with regimens delivered at 48, 72, 96, or 120 h after radiation exposure. METHODS: A randomized and blinded nonhuman primate (NHP) study was conducted to assess the effects of sargramostim treatment on ARS. NHPs were exposed to total body radiation (LD83/60 or lethal dose 83% by Day 60) and were randomized to groups receiving daily subcutaneous dosing of sargramostim starting from either 48, 72, 96, or 120 h post-irradiation. Additionally, separate groups receiving sargramostim treatment at 48 h post-irradiation also received prophylactic treatment with azithromycin. Sargramostim treatment of each animal continued until the preliminary absolute neutrophil count (ANC) returned to ≥1000/µL post-nadir for three consecutive days or the preliminary ANC exceeded 10,000/µL, which amounted to be an average of 15.95 days for all treatment groups. Prophylactic administration of enrofloxacin was included in the supportive care given to all animals in all groups. All animals were monitored for 60 days post-irradiation for mortality, hematological parameters, and sepsis. RESULTS: Delayed sargramostim treatment at 48 h post-irradiation significantly reduced mortality (p = .0032) and improved hematological parameters including neutrophil but also lymphocyte and platelet counts. Additional delays in sargramostim administration at 72, 96, and 120 h post-irradiation were also similarly effective at enhancing the recovery of lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts compared to control. Sargramostim treatment also improved the survival of the animals when administered at up to 96 h post-irradiation. While sargramostim treatment at 48 h significantly reduced mortality associated with sepsis (p ≤ .01), the additional prophylactic treatment with azithromycin did not have clinically significant effects. CONCLUSION: In a NHP ARS model, sargramostim administered starting at 48 h post-radiation was effective to improve survival, while beneficial hematological effects were observed with sargramostim initiated up to 120 h post exposure.

Effect of eltrombopag on platelet counts and bleeding during treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Eltrombopag is an oral, non-peptide, thrombopoietin-receptor agonist that stimulates thrombopoiesis, leading to increased platelet production. This study assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once daily eltrombopag 50 mg, and explored the efficacy of a dose increase to 75 mg. METHODS: In this phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adults from 63 sites in 23 countries with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), platelet counts less than 30 000 per muL of blood, and one or more previous ITP treatment received standard care plus once-daily eltrombopag 50 mg (n=76) or placebo (n=38) for up to 6 weeks. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio of eltrombopag:placebo by a validated randomisation system. After 3 weeks, patients with platelet counts less than 50 000 per microL could increase study drug to 75 mg. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving platelet counts 50 000 per microL or more at day 43. All participants who received at least one dose of their allocated treatment were included in the analysis. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00102739. FINDINGS: 73 patients in the eltrombopag group and 37 in the placebo group were included in the efficacy population and were evaluable for day-43 analyses. 43 (59%) eltrombopag patients and six (16%) placebo patients responded (ie, achieved platelet counts >/=50 000 per microL; odds ratio [OR] 9.61 [95% CI 3.31-27.86]; p<0.0001). Response to eltrombopag compared with placebo was not affected by predefined study stratification variables (baseline platelet counts, concomitant ITP drugs, and splenectomy status) or by the number of previous ITP treatments. Of the 34 patients in the efficacy analysis who increased their dose of eltrombopag, ten (29%) responded. Platelet counts generally returned to baseline values within 2 weeks after the end of treatment. Patients receiving eltrombopag had less bleeding at any time during the study than did those receiving placebo (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.26-0.89]; p=0.021). The frequency of grade 3-4 adverse events during treatment (eltrombopag, two [3%]; placebo, one [3%]) and adverse events leading to study discontinuation (eltrombopag, three [4%]; placebo, two [5%]), were similar in both groups. INTERPRETATION: Eltrombopag is an effective treatment for managment of thrombocytopenia in chronic ITP.

Multicenter phase II study of lapatinib in patients with brain metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Brain metastases develop in one third of patients with advanced HER2+ breast cancer. Effective therapy for patients with central nervous system (CNS) progression after cranial radiation is extremely limited and represents a major clinical challenge. Lapatinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2 inhibitor, was associated with regressions of CNS lesions in a small phase 2 trial. The current study was done to further evaluate the CNS activity of lapatinib. The study was later amended to allow patients who progressed on lapatinib the option of receiving lapatinib plus capecitabine. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eligible patients had HER2+ breast cancer, progressive brain metastases, prior trastuzumab, and cranial radiotherapy. The primary end point was CNS objective response, defined as >or=50% volumetric reduction of CNS lesion(s) in the absence of increasing steroid use, progressive neurologic signs and symptoms, or progressive extra-CNS disease. RESULTS: Two-hundred and forty-two patients entered the study. CNS objective responses to lapatinib were observed in 6% of patients. In an exploratory analysis, 21% of patients experienced a >or=20% volumetric reduction in their CNS lesions. An association was observed between volumetric reduction and improvement in progression-free survival and neurologic signs and symptoms. Of the 50 evaluable patients who entered the lapatinib plus capecitabine extension, 20% experienced a CNS objective response and 40% experienced a >or=20% volumetric reduction in their CNS lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the modest CNS antitumor activity of lapatinib. Additional responses were observed with the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine. Further studies of lapatinib-based regimens for CNS metastases from HER2+ breast cancer are warranted.

Boosting Abscopal Response to Radiotherapy with Sargramostim: A Review of Data and Ongoing Studies.

Drug development in oncology today routinely focuses on approaches that utilize the patients' immune system to destroy the malignancy. Combinatorial approaches of antineoplastic agents, both new and old, are being incorporated in the armamentarium of cancer treatments. The overarching goal of therapy remains the achievement of a complete and durable response with long term remission or cure. One approach in advancing treatment is aimed at strategies that improve immunological memory to induce long lasting immunity against the tumor. Although radiation therapy has not traditionally been thought to elicit an immunological effect, an increasing number of reports document the induction of an immune response against a tumor that kills cancer cells distant to the original site of treatment after local irradiation to a tumor. This phenomenon is called an abscopal effect. Since radiation alone is rarely associated with such a response, it is being combined with immuno-oncology drugs in an attempt to enhance response. One such strategy combines sargramostim, a recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhu GM-CSF), with radiotherapy. GM-CSF is a cytokine secreted by multiple cells types that promotes maturation of dendritic cells and enables the presentation of tumor-associated antigens to generate a T-cell response. This review article discusses the outcomes of clinical trials and case reports examining the efficacy and safety of combining radiation therapy with this immunomodulatory agent. We will also examine future studies and challenges facing the translation of this therapeutic approach.

A phase III randomized comparison of lapatinib plus capecitabine versus capecitabine alone in women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed on trastuzumab: updated efficacy and biomarker analyses.

PURPOSE: Lapatinib is a small molecule, dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). Initial results of a phase III trial demonstrated that lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to capecitabine alone in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that progressed following prior therapy including trastuzumab. Updated efficacy and initial biomarker results from this trial are reported. METHODS: Women with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline-, taxane-, and trastuzumab-containing regimens were randomized to lapatinib 1,250 mg/day continuously plus capecitabine 2,000 mg/m(2) days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle or capecitabine 2,500 mg/m(2) on the same schedule. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP) as determined by an independent review panel. Relationship between progression-free survival (PFS) and tumor HER2 expression and serum levels of HER2 extracellular domain (ECD) were assessed. RESULTS: 399 women were randomized. The addition of lapatinib prolonged TTP with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.43-0.77; P < 0.001) and provided a trend toward improved overall survival (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.55-1.12, P = 0.177), and fewer cases with CNS involvement at first progression (4 vs. 13, P = 0.045). Baseline serum HER2 ECD did not predict for benefit from lapatinib. CONCLUSION: The addition of lapatinib to capecitabine provides superior efficacy for women with HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer progressing after treatment with anthracycline-, taxane-, and trastuzumab-based therapy. Biomarker studies could not identify a subgroup of patients who failed to benefit from the addition of lapatinib to capecitabine.

Phase II Study of Crizotinib in East Asian Patients With ROS1-Positive Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose Approximately 1% to 2% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harbor a c-ros oncogene 1 ( ROS1) rearrangement. Crizotinib, an inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), ROS1, and MET, has shown marked antitumor activity in a small expansion cohort of patients with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC from an ongoing phase I study. We assessed the efficacy and safety of crizotinib in the largest cohort of patients with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC. Patients and Methods This phase II, open-label, single-arm trial enrolled East Asian patients with ROS1-positive (assessed through validated AmoyDx assay [Amoy Diagnostics, Xiamen, China] at three regional laboratories) advanced NSCLC who had received three or fewer lines of prior systemic therapies. Patients were to receive oral crizotinib at a starting dose of 250 mg twice daily and continued treatment until Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1-defined progression (by independent radiology review [IRR]), unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) by IRR. Results In the efficacy and safety analyses, 127 patients were included, with 49.6% still receiving treatment at data cutoff. ORR by IRR was 71.7% (95% CI, 63.0% to 79.3%), with 17 complete responses and 74 partial responses. ORRs were similar irrespective of the number of prior lines of therapy, and responses were durable (median duration of response, 19.7 months; 95% CI, 14.1 months to not reached). Median progression-free survival by IRR was 15.9 months (95% CI, 12.9 to 24.0 months). No new safety signals associated with crizotinib were reported. Conclusion This study demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit and durable responses with crizotinib in East Asian patients with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC. Crizotinib was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous reports.

Antisense therapy directed to protein kinase C-alpha (Affinitak, LY900003/ISIS 3521): potential role in breast cancer.

As our understanding of the biology of cancer increases, the attempts to target specific molecules associated with the promotion of cancer are accelerating. One of the targets currently being studied as an important tumor-promoting factor is protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha). To specifically block PKC-alpha, antisense oligonucleotides have been developed, including LY900003 (Affinitak, ISIS-3521; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN), which is currently in clinical development. Although its single-agent activity in breast cancer is modest, its potential role may be in concert with traditional chemotherapy. This is a review of the pharmacology and current status of the clinical development of LY900003 and its potential role in treating patients with breast cancer.

Long-term survival in phase II trials of gemcitabine plus cisplatin for advanced transitional cell cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess long-term survival and prognostic indicators of survival in patients with advanced urothelial cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survival data from three previously published phase II trials of gemcitabine/cisplatin were updated. Baseline hemoglobin, performance status, and presence of visceral metastases, which are known prognostic factors with other regimens, were examined. Survival curves were constructed by the Kaplan-Meier method and significance assessed using the log-rank statistic. Cox's Proportional Hazards Model was used to construct univariate and multivariate survival models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall median survival of 121 included patients was 13.2 (11.0 to 14.9) months and estimated 4 year survival was 13 +/- 6%. In a univariate analysis, the presence of visceral metastases and a hemoglobin < 12.5 mg/dl had significant adverse prognostic implications (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively). Performance status was not a significant predictor of survival, perhaps due to the fact that only 14% of patients had a performance status of 2. In a multivariate analysis, only the absence of visceral metastases retained its prognostic importance with an estimated 24% 4-year survival in such patients. These results lend further evidence for the clinical benefit of this regimen in advanced transitional cell cancer.

Phase II proof-of-concept study of pazopanib monotherapy in treatment-naive patients with stage I/II resectable non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Patients with early-stage, resectable, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are at risk for recurrent disease, and 5-year survival rates do not exceed 75%. Angiogenesis inhibitors have shown clinical activity in patients with late-stage NSCLC, raising the possibility that targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway in earlier-stage disease may be beneficial. This proof-of-concept study examined safety and efficacy of short-term, preoperative pazopanib monotherapy in patients with operable stage I/II NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients scheduled for resection received oral pazopanib 800 mg/d for 2 to 6 weeks preoperatively. Tumor response was measured by high-resolution computed tomography, permitting estimation of change in tumor volume and diameter. Gene-expression profiling was performed on 77 pre- and post-treatment lung samples from 34 patients. RESULTS: Of 35 patients enrolled, 33 (94%) had clinical stage I NSCLC and two (6%) had clinical stage II NSCLC. Median treatment duration was 16 days (range, 3 to 29 days). Thirty patients (86%) achieved tumor-volume reduction after pazopanib treatment. Two patients achieved tumor-volume reduction > or = 50%, and three patients had partial response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Pazopanib was generally well tolerated. The most common adverse events included grade 2 hypertension, diarrhea, and fatigue. One patient developed pulmonary embolism 11 days after surgery. Several pazopanib target genes and other angiogenic factors were dysregulated post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Short-duration pazopanib was generally well tolerated and demonstrated single-agent activity in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Several target genes were dysregulated after pazopanib treatment, validating target-specific response and indicating a persistent pazopanib effect on lung cancer tissue. Further clinical evaluation of pazopanib in NSCLC is planned.

Pazopanib in locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results of a randomized phase III trial.

PURPOSE Pazopanib is an oral angiogenesis inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-Kit. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study evaluated efficacy and safety of pazopanib monotherapy in treatment-naive and cytokine-pretreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult patients with measurable, locally advanced, and/or metastatic RCC were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive oral pazopanib or placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival, tumor response rate (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors), and safety. Radiographic assessments of tumors were independently reviewed. Results Of 435 patients enrolled, 233 were treatment naive (54%) and 202 were cytokine pretreated (46%). PFS was significantly prolonged with pazopanib compared with placebo in the overall study population (median, PFS 9.2 v 4.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.62; P < .0001), the treatment-naive subpopulation (median PFS 11.1 v 2.8 months; HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.60; P < .0001), and the cytokine-pretreated subpopulation (median PFS, 7.4 v 4.2 months; HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.84; P < .001). The objective response rate was 30% with pazopanib compared with 3% with placebo (P < .001). The median duration of response was longer than 1 year. The most common adverse events were diarrhea, hypertension, hair color changes, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting. There was no evidence of clinically important differences in quality of life for pazopanib versus placebo. CONCLUSION Pazopanib demonstrated significant improvement in PFS and tumor response compared with placebo in treatment-naive and cytokine-pretreated patients with advanced and/or metastatic RCC.

A phase II study of sequential neoadjuvant gemcitabine and paclitaxel, radiation therapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil and surgery in locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of sequential neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemoradiation, and surgery in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 29 patients who received paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 3000 mg/m2 2 weeks apart. Two weeks later, patients received cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 1000 mg/m2/d continuous infusion for 4 days with concurrent radiotherapy in 15 fractions to a total dose of 4000 cGy. After 6 weeks, cisplatin and 5-FU were repeated at the above doses. After 4 to 6 weeks, patients were restaged and underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: All 29 patients completed the prescribed gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and radiation therapy. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 1 patient and 4 patients received growth factor support. After neoadjuvant treatment, 1 patient refused surgery, 23 underwent R0 resection (82%), while 5 developed progressive disease. Four patients developed anastomotic leaks (17%). Four patients had complete pathologic responses (14%) and 4 (14%) had only residual microscopic disease. Nine patients remain alive at a median follow-up of 48 months. Three-year survival for the entire cohort was 36%. CONCLUSION: This regimen was associated with a high rate of compliance and induction therapy had an acceptable toxicity profile. The R0 resection rate and 3-year survival data are similar to recently reported studies. While active, gemcitabine and paclitaxel induction therapy was associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications, but no increase in survival. Patterns of failure continue to demonstrate the need for regimens incorporating greater emphasis on systemic therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.

A report on serious pulmonary toxicity associated with gemcitabine-based therapy.

BACKGROUND: Serious pulmonary toxicity (SPT) has recently been noted with gemcitabine-based therapy (G). However, the incidence of SPT has not been fully evaluated. This retrospective review estimates the incidence of, and the factors influencing, SPT with G. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pulmonary toxicity was defined as dyspnea, interstitial pneumonitis, lung disorder, lung edema, lung fibrosis, pneumonia, respiratory disorder, and respiratory distress syndrome. Patients were identified from 2 worldwide Lilly databases--the clinical trial database (CTD) and the safety database (SD). Events designated as serious and possibly/probably related to therapy by the primary physician were independently evaluated and confirmed. Serious pulmonary toxicity events were categorized as dyspnea or other SPT events. RESULTS: Of the 91 patients identified by the investigator in the CTD as having G-related SPT, 32 had G-related SPT per the independent reviewers. Based on the 4448 patients treated with G in the CTD, the incidences of dyspnea and other SPT events were 0.45% and 0.27%, respectively. Of the 295 patients identified by the investigator in the SD as having G-related SPT, 167 had G-related SPT per the independent reviewers. Based on an estimated 217,400 patients treated with commercial G worldwide, the crude incidences of dyspnea and other SPT events were 0.02% and 0.06%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SPT associated with G is uncommon. Incidences from the CTD for dyspnea and other SPT are 0.45% and 0.27%, respectively. Incidences from the SD for dyspnea and other SPT are 0.02% and 0.06%, respectively. The influence of other factors, such as anticancer therapies, on these incidences needs to be better understood.