Frailty repels the knife: The impact of frailty index on surgical intervention and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of frailty in patients with ovarian cancer on surgical procedures and outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with stage II-IV ovarian cancer from April 2013 to September 2017 was performed. Patients were triaged by laparoscopy to determine primary resectability. The adjusted modified frailty index score (amFI) was calculated and amFI ≥2 classified as high frailty. Clinical outcomes, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. RESULTS: 592 patients met inclusion criteria; amFI of 0, 1 and ≥ 2 was noted in 57%, 29%, and 14%, respectively. Patients with high frailty were less likely to be offered laparoscopic assessment for primary surgery (49% v. 43% v. 28% for amFI = 0, 1, and ≥ 2, p = 0.004), and more likely to have a Fagotti score ≥ 8 (58%, 48%, and 34%, p = 0.04). Only 17% of the high frailty cohort had primary tumor reductive surgery compared to 26% and 34% in patients with amFI = 1 and amFI = 0 (p = 0.02). Furthermore, patients with higher amFI were less likely to undergo any tumor reductive surgery (85% v. 74% v. 59%, p < 0.001). Postoperative complications were more frequent in patients with higher amFI (44% v. 56% v. 64%, p = 0.01). Death within thirty days of treatment initiation was significantly higher in patients with high frailty (0.4% v. 2% v. 9%, p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, high frailty was associated with worse PFS (p = 0.02) and OS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative morbidity, PFS, and OS were worse in patients with high frailty scores. Quantification of frailty may be useful for clinical decision making in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

A multicenter open-label randomized phase II trial of paclitaxel plus EP-100, a novel LHRH receptor-targeted, membrane-disrupting peptide, versus paclitaxel alone for refractory or recurrent ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized open-label phase II study evaluated the safety and clinical activity of EP-100 plus weekly paclitaxel in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer expressing positive LHRH receptor. METHODS: In a limited "run-in" dose escalation phase for EP-100, six patients were treated with ascending dose levels (13 mg/m2, 20 mg/m2, 30 mg/m2). In the randomized phase, patients received weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 intravenously) plus twice weekly EP-100 (30 mg/m2 intravenously; combination arm) or weekly paclitaxel alone (80 mg/m2 intravenously; paclitaxel arm). The primary study endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Forty-four patients were then randomized to either the experimental combination arm (n = 23) or the standard of care paclitaxel monotherapy arm (n = 21). The ORR was 35% (95%CI 16%-57%) for the combination arm and 33% (95% CI 15%-57%) for the paclitaxel arm. An interesting observation from an unplanned analysis was that a subset of patients with target liver lesions showed a greater overall response rate to the combination (69%) compared to paclitaxel alone (16%). The frequency of treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events was similar between treatment arms: 48% vs 43% for the combination and paclitaxel arms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ORR in the EP-100 combination arm was similar to that in the group treated with paclitaxel alone; however, a subset of patients with liver metastases appeared to benefit from the combination. The addition of EP-100 did not appear to augment the adverse event profile of paclitaxel and was well tolerated.

Demcizumab combined with paclitaxel for platinum-resistant ovarian, primary peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer: The SIERRA open-label phase Ib trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of demcizumab (DLL4 targeted IgG2 humanized monoclonal antibody; potent inhibitor of the Notch pathway) in combination with weekly paclitaxel in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC); and to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or maximum administered dose (MAD). METHODS: We conducted a 3 + 3 dose-escalation trial in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant EOC with RECIST v. 1.1 measurable disease and ≤4 prior chemotherapy regimens. Two dosing cohorts (2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) were targeted; however, an intermediate dose level (3.5 mg/kg) was to be evaluated if the 5 mg/kg dose was not tolerable. Demcizumab was administered on days 1 and 15 and paclitaxel, weekly on days 1, 8, and 15 for each of three 28-day cycles: the 3-cycle doublet could be repeated once if safe. Thereafter, paclitaxel was administered until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were observed; however, the intermediate dose level (3.5 mg/kg) was enrolled and expanded based on emerging safety data from other trials in the demcizumab program. The MTD was not reached. The most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) were diarrhea (68%), fatigue (58%), peripheral edema (53%), and nausea (53%). Pulmonary hypertension, grade 2 (n = 2) and grade 1 (n = 1), was observed. Overall response rate (ORR) was 21% (95% CI: 6-45%); clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 42% (95% CI: 20-66%). CONCLUSIONS: Demcizumab in combination with paclitaxel has a manageable toxicity profile and showed activity in patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

First report of hepatic hematoma after presumed Bothrops envenomation.

In Latin America, Bothrops envenomation is responsible for the majority of accidents caused by venomous snakes. Patients usually present local edema, bleeding and coagulopathy. Visceral hemorrhage is extremely rare and considered a challenge for diagnosis and management. We report the first case of hepatic hematoma owing to the bothropic envenomation in a 66-year-old man who was bitten in the left leg. He presented local edema, coagulopathy, and acute kidney injury. Radiological findings suggested hepatic hematoma, with a volume of almost 3 liters. The hepatic hematoma was gradually absorbed without the need for surgical intervention with complete resolution in 8 months.

First report of hepatic hematoma after presumed Bothrops envenomation

ABSTRACTIn Latin America, Bothrops envenomation is responsible for the majority of accidents caused by venomous snakes. Patients usually present local edema, bleeding and coagulopathy. Visceral hemorrhage is extremely rare and considered a challenge for diagnosis and management. We report the first case of hepatic hematoma owing to the bothropic envenomation in a 66-year-old man who was bitten in the left leg. He presented local edema, coagulopathy, and acute kidney injury. Radiological findings suggested hepatic hematoma, with a volume of almost 3 liters. The hepatic hematoma was gradually absorbed without the need for surgical intervention with complete resolution in 8 months.