First-line treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: the real-world Italian cohort of the Prostate Cancer Registry.

BACKGROUND: With the availability of multiple treatment options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), new real-world data on disease management and drugs' performance are needed. METHODS: We described characteristics, management and clinical outcomes of patients receiving first-line mCRPC treatment within the Italian cohort of the real-world, prospective, international Prostate Cancer Registry. Patients were enrolled consecutively (2013-2016) in 32 Italian sites and followed for 3 years. RESULTS: 238 patients were included: 157 received first-line abiraterone acetate plus prednisone ("abiraterone" thereafter) and 70 first-line docetaxel; 11 patients receiving other treatments were not considered. Compared with docetaxel-treated patients, those receiving abiraterone were significantly older (age ⩾75: 63.7% vs 38.6%), less frequently had a Gleason score >8 (48.2% vs 67.6%, p<0.005) at initial diagnosis, and more frequently an ECOG score ⩾1 (52.7% vs 36.2%, p<0.05) and comorbidities (76.4% vs 57.1%, p<0.05) at baseline; they reported a lower analgesic use (15.3% vs 30%, p<0.005). In the abiraterone group (median follow-up 22.1 months), median time to progression (TTP) and progression-free survival (PFS) were, respectively, 14.4 months (95% confidence interval, CI, 10.6-18.0) and 13.0 months (95% CI, 9.1-16.8); median overall survival (OS) was not reached, and 3-year OS was 59.1%. In the docetaxel treatment group (median follow-up 25.3 months), median TTP, PFS and OS were, respectively, 8.2 months (95% CI, 6.1-10.3), 8.2 months (95% CI, 5.8-10.3) and 33.2 months (95% CI, 19.2-not estimable). CONCLUSION: This investigation provided valuable information on the overall mCRPC treatment pattern and the effectiveness of first-line abiraterone and docetaxel in a population representative of everyday practice.

Advanced adult esthesioneuroblastoma successfully treated with cisplatin and etoposide alternated with doxorubicin, ifosfamide and vincristine.

The esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that derives from the olfactory cells. In the last 20 years, around 1,000 cases have been described, with an overall survival rate of 60-70% at 5 years. The most common symptoms are nasal bleeding, nasal clogging and, in locally advanced cases, signs/symptoms of intracranic hypertension such as papilla edema, cefalea, and vomiting. The standard treatments are surgery and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used in an adjuvant/neoadjuvant setting and in the metastatic phase, even if its role is still not established with certainty. Here, the case is reported of a young man (38 years old) with a locally advanced esthesioneuroblastoma. Two months before coming to our clinic, he had been treated elsewhere with debulking surgery through bilateral frontal craniotomy. After surgery, MRI showed residual disease in the nasal cavities and in the medial wall of the orbits responsible for blindness and bilateral exophthalmos within a month: a very short time. Octreoscan and whole body CT scan confirmed a locally advanced disease, in the absence of metastases. Chemotherapy was begun with cisplatin and etoposide alternated with doxorubicin, ifosfamide and vincristine with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support after every cycle. Soon after the first cycle, an important reduction of pain and decrease of the exophthalmos and vertigos was observed. No improvement in blindness was seen. The patient is still stable after 24 months of follow up.

Effect of tamoxifen on venous thromboembolic events in a breast cancer prevention trial.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, increases venous thromboembolic events (VTE), but the factors explaining this risk are unclear. Atherosclerosis may induce VTE, or the 2 conditions may share common risk factors. We assessed the effect of tamoxifen on VTE in a breast cancer prevention trial and studied its association with risk factors for VTE. METHODS AND RESULTS: The incidence of VTE was studied in 5408 hysterectomized women randomly assigned to tamoxifen 20 mg/d or placebo for 5 years. There were 28 VTEs on placebo and 44 on tamoxifen therapy (hazard ratio [HR]=1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 2.63), 80% of which were superficial phlebitis, accounting for all of the excess due to tamoxifen within 18 months from randomization. Compared with placebo, the risk of VTE on tamoxifen was higher in women aged 55 years or older, women with a body mass index > or =25 kg/m2, elevated blood pressure, total cholesterol > or =250 mg/dL, current smoking, and a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD). Of the 685 women with a CHD risk score > or =5 who entered the trial, 1 in the placebo arm and 13 in the tamoxifen arm developed VTE (log-rank P=0.0013). In multivariate regression analysis, age > or =60 years, height > or =165 cm, and diastolic blood pressure > or =90 mm Hg had independent detrimental effects on VTE risk during tamoxifen therapy, whereas transdermal estrogen therapy concomitant with tamoxifen was not associated with any excess of VTE (HR=0.64; 95% CI, 0.23 to 1.82). CONCLUSIONS: Women with conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis have a higher risk of VTE during tamoxifen therapy. This information should be incorporated into counseling women on its risk-benefit ratio, particularly in the prevention setting.

Italian randomized trial among women with hysterectomy: tamoxifen and hormone-dependent breast cancer in high-risk women.

Tamoxifen improves outcome in women with breast cancer and reduces the incidence of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast tumors in prevention trials. Tamoxifen use is associated with an increased risk of potentially serious adverse events, principally endometrial cancer and venous thromboembolic events and, therefore, detailed knowledge of the effects of tamoxifen is important. With more cases of breast cancer being found as the follow-up time increases, it is now possible to perform more detailed analysis of the Italian Randomized Trial of Tamoxifen. Women with hysterectomy (N = 5408) were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg tamoxifen per day (N = 2700) or placebo (N = 2708). After a median of 81.2 months of follow-up, 79 case subjects (34 in the tamoxifen arm and 45 in the placebo arm) were diagnosed with breast cancer. We were able to identify a group of women at increased risk of ER+ breast cancers (high-risk group) on the basis of baseline as well as reproductive and hormonal characteristics (height, age at menarche, parity, age at first birth, and oophorectomy). Tamoxifen administered to women in the high-risk group showed statistically significantly reduced incidence of breast cancer (tamoxifen, 3 and placebo, 15; P =.003), but no such effect was seen in the low-risk group (tamoxifen, 31 and placebo, 30; P =.89). The positive effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer among high-risk women is most marked for ER+ tumors (tamoxifen, 1 and placebo, 11; P =.002). Chemoprevention of breast cancer with tamoxifen appears to be effective in women at high risk of ER+ tumors but not among women at low risk, who may well be protected naturally by late age at menarche or early first pregnancy, or artificially by removal of the ovaries. Tamoxifen could be offered as a preventive agent to women identified at high-risk of breast cancer because of hormone-related risk factors. Such a strategy would greatly reduce the numbers of women who would need to take tamoxifen to obtain the same absolute reduction in breast cancer. These findings are exploratory and need to be confirmed in other randomized trials.

Topical Application of a Galenical Formulation for the Management of Everolimus-Induced Mucositis in Patients with Metastatic Cancer: a Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Stomatitis is a common and potentially dose-limiting adverse event of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor therapy. To minimize dose reductions or treatment delays that may affect therapeutic outcomes, management includes patient education, pain management strategies, and drug treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a topically-applied galenical preparation to minimize the impact of everolimus-associated oral mucositis in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Patients receiving everolimus plus exemestane for advanced breast cancer or everolimus alone for advanced renal cancer were eligible for inclusion. All patients were advised on procedures to maintain good oral hygiene and directed to use a dexamethasone-containing galenical preparation at the first signs of mucositis. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, and after cycles one, two, and three to evaluate the presence, duration, and intensity of oral mucositis. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients included in the study (mean age 66 years; 16% male), mucositis developed in 10.5%, 47.4%, and 52.6% of patients after the first, second, and third cycles of everolimus, respectively. The median time to development of mucositis was 18.0 days, and the median time to mucositis resolution was 30.0 days. After the first, second, and third cycles of therapy, 5.3%, 10.5%, and 10.5% of patients required interruption of everolimus therapy; however, no dosage reductions for mucositis were necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education and the provision of an effective galenical preparation can minimize the effect of mTOR inhibitor-related mucositis.

Identification of polymorphic variants associated with erlotinib-related skin toxicity in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients by DMET microarray analysis.

PURPOSE: Erlotinib is a targeted agent commonly used in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). However, drug-related skin toxicity often may affect the quality of life of cancer patients and lead to treatment discontinuation. Genetic polymorphisms in drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes play a major role in the interindividual variability in terms of efficacy and toxicity of erlotinib treatment. The aim of our study was to identify genetic determinants in adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion genes influencing skin rash (SR) by the novel drug-metabolizing enzyme and transporter (DMET) microarray Affymetrix platform in aNSCLC patients. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 34 erlotinib-treated aNSCLC patients were genotyped by DMET Plus chip: 23 patients experienced SR (cases), while 11 patients did not (controls). Peripheral blood DNA was genotyped. Genotype association was analyzed by Fisher's exact test, and the toxicity-associated gene sets underwent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Seven SNPs in six genes (CYP27B1, MAT1A1, CHST1, CYP4B1, ADH6, and SLC22A1) were associated with the occurrence of SR or with a protective effect. Specifically, the rs8176345 in CYP27B1 gene was significantly correlated with SR (p = 0.0003, OR 55.55, 95% CI 2.7036-1141.1707). The IPA on SR-related genes highlighted the role of a variety of canonical pathways including 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 biosynthesis, S-adenosyl-L-methionine biosynthesis, and methionine degradation I (to homocysteine) in SR development. CONCLUSION: Although exploratory, this study indicates rs8176345 in CYP27B1 gene as significantly correlated with erlotinib-induced SR in aNSCLC patients probably through a mechanism mediated by vitamin D3 and inflammation at skin level.

[Value-based cancer care. From traditional evidence-based decision making to balanced decision making within frameworks of shared values]. / La decisione oncologica basata sui valori Dal tradizionale processo decisionale oncologico evidence-based a scelte basate su valori bilanciati e condivisi.

Clinical decision making in oncology is based so far on the evidence of efficacy from high-quality clinical research. Data collection and analysis from experimental studies provide valuable insight into response rates and progression-free or overall survival. Data processing generates valuable information for medical professionals involved in cancer patient care, enabling them to make objective and unbiased choices. The increased attention of many scientific associations toward a more rational resource consumption in clinical decision making is mirrored in the Choosing Wisely campaign against the overuse or misuse of exams and procedures of little or no benefit for the patient. This cultural movement has been actively promoting care solutions based on the concept of "value". As a result, the value-based decision-making process for cancer care should not be dissociated from economic sustainability and from ethics of the affordability, also given the growing average cost of the most recent cancer drugs. In support of this orientation, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has developed innovative and "complex" guidelines based on values, defined as "evidence blocks", with the aim of assisting the medical community in making overall sustainable choices.

Targeted therapy in renal carcinoma: a case of long-term effect with complete control of toxicity.

Although advances in imaging techniques have allowed earlier diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in recent decades, one-third of patients who have undergone radical resection of organ-confined disease will eventually develop metastases. The treatment of metastatic RCC was revolutionized by the advent of targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We have followed seven patients with metastatic RCC who were treated with first-line pazopanib at our center. The case of one of these patients is described here in detail. The patient was first diagnosed with RCC in 1999 and metastases were detected in 2006 and 2012. Treatment with pazopanib at the standard dose of 800 mg/day for 29 months led to a partial response that persisted over time. Side effects (hypertension and painful mucositis) were successfully managed with supportive care at our oral therapy clinic. Early management of adverse events using a multidisciplinary approach is paramount to the favorable outcome of treatment with pazopanib and other targeted agents.

Improvement of quality of life in third-line chemotherapy with lapatinib in a case of metastatic breast cancer.

We describe a case of a 72-year-old patient suffering from metastatic breast cancer. The disease had progressed slowly and was almost asymptomatic for a significant time. Toxicity, following third-line treatment with lapatinib, was not significant, and side effects were well controlled. The case is an excellent example of a chronic neoplastic disease in a patient who could be defined as "long-surviving".

Tamoxifen for the prevention of breast cancer: late results of the Italian Randomized Tamoxifen Prevention Trial among women with hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Initial findings of the Italian Randomized Tamoxifen Prevention Trial found no reduction in risk of breast cancer with tamoxifen use, whereas the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Breast Cancer Prevention Trial showed that tamoxifen treatment reduces risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Here we present an extended follow-up of the Italian trial. METHODS: From October 1, 1992, to December 31, 1997, 5408 otherwise healthy women who had undergone hysterectomy were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to tamoxifen (20 mg daily) or placebo for 5 years. Rates of breast cancer and other events in the two groups were compared by the use of risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: After 11 years of follow-up, 136 women (74 placebo, 62 tamoxifen) developed breast cancer (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.60 to 1.17; annual rates were 2.48 and 2.07 per 1000 women-years, respectively). The rates of breast cancer in the two study groups were similar among women who had had bilateral oophorectomy and among women at low risk for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) disease but were much lower in the tamoxifen group among women at high risk (placebo, 6.26 per 1000 women-years, tamoxifen, 1.50 per 1000 women-years; RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.59). During the treatment period, women in the tamoxifen group reported more hot flashes (RR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.57 to 2.00), vaginal discharge (RR = 3.44, 95% CI = 2.90 to 4.09), and urinary disturbances (RR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.23 to 1.89) but fewer headaches (RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50 to 0.94) than women in the placebo group. Hypertriglyceridemia (RR = 4.33, 95% CI = 1.96 to 9.53), thromboembolic events (RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.02 to 2.62), and cardiac arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation (RR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.01 to 2.98) were also more frequent in the tamoxifen group than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate selection of women at high risk for HR+ disease may improve the risk-benefit ratio of tamoxifen intervention.

Maintenance hormone therapy with letrozole after first-line chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Maintenance hormone therapy after first-line chemotherapy is routinely used by many clinicians in advanced breast cancer patients with potentially hormone-sensitive tumors, although there are insufficient evidences in the literature to support this practice. We investigated the effects of the third-generation aromatase inhibitor letrozole as a maintenance therapy in postmenopausal patients who had responded or had stable disease with first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (median age 62 years, range 31-80) were recruited and received letrozole, 2.5 mg/day starting within 8 weeks since the last cycle of chemotherapy. Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor status was positive in 81% of the patients, unknown in 19%; 57% of the patients had visceral disease. First-line chemotherapy included anthracyclines and/or taxanes in 74% of cases. RESULTS: The median time to progression (TTP) from starting letrozole was 18.5 months. A shorter TTP was found in patients with abnormal CA 15-3 levels at the start of maintenance letrozole (median TTP, 9.9 months: p = 0.01), or with levels increasing >25% from baseline during the first 6 months of letrozole therapy (median TTP, 8.2 months: p < 0.0001). Response status improved during letrozole in 15.5% of patients who had obtained less than a complete response to chemotherapy. Maintenance treatment was well tolerated and had no significant impact on quality of life scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in support of the common clinical practice of maintenance hormone therapy after chemotherapy in suitably selected patients with advanced breast cancer.