Multimodal Therapy of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus With Distant Metastasis: A Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: Because of the rarity of the condition, studies concerning the management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus with distant metastasis are scarce. The available studies indicate poor outcomes with exclusive chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary treatment on overall survival among patients presenting with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single French institution between 2000 and 2014. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with histologically proven, newly diagnosed, or recurrent metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anus were included. INTERVENTIONS: Study interventions included multimodal therapy combining systemic chemotherapy and local ablative treatment to remove all metastases through surgery, radiofrequency ablation, or radiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was overall survival. RESULTS: Fifty patients (median age, 62 years; men/women: 8/42) fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 39 were available for Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Forty had metastatic relapse after previous treatment of localized disease, and 10 presented with synchronous metastasis. P16 status was not available. Patients received at least 1 chemotherapy regimen, including 5-fluorouracil-mitomycin C (n = 22), cisplatin-5-fluorouracil (n = 20), or 5-fluorouracil alone (n = 3). Thirteen also had surgical metastasectomy, 11 had radiotherapy, and 6 had radiofrequency ablation. Median overall survival was 20.0 months (95% CI, 18.2-21.8 mo), and median time to failure of strategy was 6.0 months (95% CI, 2.9-9.1 mo). Overall response rate was 56% (95% CI, 40%-73%). Outcomes from the 5-fluorouracil-mitomycin C and cisplatin regimens did not statistically differ. Patients treated with multimodal therapy had a median overall survival of 22.0 months (95% CI, 15.3-28.6 mo) versus 13.0 months (95% CI, 9.5-16.5 mo; p = 0.002). Median time to failure of strategy was 10.0 months (95% CI, 4.2-15.7 mo) versus 5.0 months (95% CI, 2.8-7.2; p = 0.007). After 2 years, 40% of patients with multimodal treatment and 20% of those without ablative treatment were alive. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its retrospective design and modest sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the anus outcomes are poor, but first-line chemotherapy can enable good response rates. Other treatment modalities, including surgery, radiotherapy, and thermoablation, should be considered, because they may provide a survival advantage. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A336.

Effectiveness and Tolerability of Maintenance Capecitabine Administrated to Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Treated with First-Line FOLFIRINOX.

OBJECTIVE: Treating metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) remains a challenging issue. Maintenance therapy is a growing concept used in different types of cancer. Our retrospective analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of early maintenance capecitabine administrated to patients with MPC treated with first-line FOLFIRINOX. METHODS: 103 patients treated for MPC between November 2009 and July 2014 were retrospectively identified in our institution. Among them, 30 patients initially treated with a minimum of 4 and no more than 8 cycles of FOLFIRINOX, without signs of progression (every 14 days), received maintenance therapy with capecitabine until progression. Upon first progression (first progression-free survival, PFS1), patients were retreated with FOLFIRINOX or another scheme until second progression (second progression-free survival, PFS2). RESULTS: Median OS was 17 months. Survival rates were 73% at 1 year (95% CI 0.59-0.91) and 25% at 2 years (95% CI 0.13-0.50). Median PFS1 was 5 months. Twenty-nine patients experienced disease progression during capecitabine treatment (96.7%). After disease progression, median PFS2 was 10 months. Considering the interval between the starting date of FOLFIRINOX treatment and second disease progression, the median time to treatment failure is 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance with capecitabine seems effective without compromising FOLFIRINOX efficacy and allows obtaining very promising OS and PFS.

Efficacy of FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Metastatic Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: FOLFOX (5-Fluorouracile and oxaliplatin) exhibits promising activity in advanced well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcome of metastatic enteropancreatic NETs patients treated with FOLFOX. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients treated with FOLFOX for NETs of enteropancreatic or unknown origin among those referred to our Regional Multidisciplinary Tumor Board. RESULTS: Among 48 patients, most often pancreatic NETs (n=33, 68.8%), the median Ki67 index was 10%. The median number cycle of FOLFOX was 6 and median follow-up was 34.8 months. Disease control rate (DCR) was 83.3%. Median PFS and OS were 12.6 and 29.4 months respectively. Median chemotherapy break was 14.1 months. No significant difference was observed between PFS and the following criteria: Ki67 index, primary tumor site, alkaline phosphatase levels, primary tumor surgery and 18F-FDG PET positivity. CONCLUSION: FOLFOX exhibits a high DCR and a short duration of treatment with a relative long chemotherapy break in patients with metastatic enteropancreatic NETs.

Mitomycin and 5-fluorouracil for second-line treatment of metastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the anal canal.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the anal canal are rare and there is no international consensus on their second-line management. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin in combination with radiotherapy is the standard for locally advanced forms but its efficacy in metastatic stage has never been evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a retrospective analysis of patients treated with 5-FU and mitomycin from 2000 to 2017 in our institution for a metastatic SCC of the anal canal after failure of platinum-based regimen. The main outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), response rate, and toxicity. RESULTS: Nineteen patients, 15 women and four men, with a median age of 57 years were identified (range, 40-79 years). Patients received a median of three cycles (1-7) of mitomycin 5-FU. A dose reduction was necessary in six patients (31.6%), one patient had to discontinue treatment following toxicity and no death was due to treatment toxicity was reported. An objective response was observed in five patients (26.4%, 95% CI 6.6-46.2) including one complete response, six patients (31.6%, 95% CI 10.7-52.5) showed tumor stabilization. Median PFS and OS were 3 months [95% CI 1-5] and 7 months [95% CI 2.2-11.8]. Responder had a median duration of response of 4 months [95% CI 1.8-6.1] and one patient had 23 months duration of response. No significant difference was noted for PFS and OS for patients previously treated with mitomycin and 5-FU at a local stage. CONCLUSION: Mitomycin and 5-FU regimen provides tumor control with acceptable tolerance. It is an option for patients with metastatic SCC of the anal canal after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. [Correction added on 9 October 2019, after first online publication: '5-FU' was inadvertently removed from the Results and Conclusion and has now been added to the text.].

Systemic chemotherapy with FOLFOX in metastatic grade 1/2 neuroendocrine cancer.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) comprise a heterogeneous group of malignancies with various clinical presentations and evolution. NETs are often diagnosed at a late stage, when they are already metastatic. Treatment is currently based on traditional chemotherapies, such as streptozocin, with serious side effects. The favorable toxicity profile of the combination of 5-fluorouracil with oxaliplatin, together with its significant antitumor activity in several gastrointestinal malignancies, led to the evaluation of its efficacy and tolerability in patients with advanced grade 1/2 (G1/G2) NETs. The endpoints of the study were tumor response (according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and symptom improvement. From January, 2013 to January, 2015, during our Regional Multidisciplinary Tumor Board dedicated to NETs (RENATEN network), FOLFOX was recommended for the treatment of metastatic NETs as first-line therapy or after failure of other therapies. The inclusion criteria were metastatic, well-differentiated G1/G2 NETs, progressing within the last 3 months. Cases with previous antitumor therapy were allowed. The patients received modified FOLFOX-6 and were assessed every 3 months by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examinations. A total of 31 patients were included. The median follow-up was 20 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 15-27]. Nine patients (29%) exhibited a partial response, and 13 (41%) achieved stable disease; the disease control rate was 70%. A total of 9 patients exhibited disease progression. The control rate was 78% for pancreatic and 65% for extrapancreatic NETs. The median OS was not reached; the 1- and 2-year OS rates were 89 and 70%, respectively (Fig. 1). No significant difference in OS was observed between the <5 and 5-20% Ki-67 subgroups (P=0.41) (Fig. 2A) or according to primary tumor location (P=0.71) (Fig. 2B). The median PFS was 14.1 months (95% CI: 9.3-24.1), with no significant difference in PFS between the Ki-67 subgroups (P=0.26) (Fig. 3A) or by primary tumor location (P=0.995) (Fig. 3B). The median time to treatment failure was 14.72 months (95% CI: 10.0-not estimable). No unusual toxicity or toxicity-related deaths were reported. Finally, 7 of 9 patients who achieved a partial response benefited from a break in treatment of ≥3 months. The median duration of this break was 9.2 months (range, 3-42 months). Of the 13 patients with stable disease, 12 may have also benefited from a chemotherapy break. The median break duration was 10 months (range, 0.5-26 months).

Results of age-dependent anal canal cancer treatment: a single centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Information concerning management of anal canal cancer among the elderly is scarce and much less abundant than for younger subjects. POPULATION AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 115 patients treated for anal epidermoid cancer between 2000 and 2010. The population was divided according to age (<70 years and ≥70 years). RESULTS: Of the 115 patients, 81 (70.4%) were <70 years old and 34 were ≥70 years (29.6%). Tumour characteristics were identical between the two groups and median follow-up was 62 months. Elderly patients had a less favourable performance status (p=0.001) and fewer had received radiochemotherapy (61.8% vs 82.5%, p=0.004). Treatment-related grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicity was observed more often among elderly subjects. The results at 5 years were less favourable for overall, disease-specific, and disease-free survival (respectively p=0.002, p=0.001, and p=0.001). For patients treated with a curative intent, at 5 years there was no difference between the two groups in terms of overall survival (p=0.2). However, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the younger group for disease-free survival and metastasis-free survival. CONCLUSION: If radiochemotherapy can be delivered to elderly subjects with a good general status, the effects appear less favourable than in younger patients.

Phase II trial evaluating a docetaxel-capecitabine combination as treatment for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel is a well-recognized drug in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), either alone or combined with estramustine. In this indication, a Phase II trial was conducted investigating a docetaxel-capecitabine combination. METHODS: Forty-six patients presenting with documented HRPC were enrolled in the study. The treatment regimen consisted of docetaxel (D) at a dose of 35 mg /m2/week (intravenously, 3 consecutive weeks) plus oral capecitabine (C) at a dose of 625 mg/m2 twice daily (Days 5-18) every 28 days for 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was the biological response defined as a reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level > or =50%. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, safety, and quality of life. RESULTS: Thirty of 44 assessable patients (68.2%) achieved a biological response, 14 of whom (31.8%) normalized their PSA value. The median overall survival time was 17.7 months (95% confidence interval, 15.8 to not reached). Four treatment cycles were completed by 87% of the patients. Hematologic toxicity was mild. The main Grade 3-4 toxicities were cutaneous toxicity (13.1%) and changes in nails (6.5%). Physical functioning and role scales were higher before treatment (P = .02 and P = .003, respectively), fatigue and diarrhea were more frequent during and after treatment (P = .0003 and P = .03, respectively), and pain was lower during and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrated the high efficacy of the DC combination in patients with HRPC, and the associated good tolerability. This combination offers a new alternative to the docetaxel-estramustine combination. Further randomized trials are warranted.