Histological pattern of Merkel cell carcinoma sentinel lymph node metastasis improves stratification of Stage III patients.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is used to stage Merkel cell carcinoma, but its prognostic value has been questioned. Furthermore, predictors of outcome in sentinel lymph node positive Merkel cell carcinoma patients are poorly defined. In breast carcinoma, isolated immunohistochemically positive tumor cells have no impact, but in melanoma they are considered significant. The significance of sentinel lymph node metastasis tumor burden (including isolated tumor cells) and pattern of involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma are unknown. In this study, 64 Merkel cell carcinomas involving sentinel lymph nodes and corresponding immunohistochemical stains were reviewed and clinicopathological predictors of outcome were sought. Five metastatic patterns were identified: (1) sheet-like (n=38, 59%); (2) non-solid parafollicular (n=4, 6%); (3) sinusoidal, (n=11, 17%); (4) perivascular hilar (n=1, 2%); and (5) rare scattered parenchymal cells (n=10, 16%). At the time of follow-up, 30/63 (48%) patients had died with 21 (33%) attributable to Merkel cell carcinoma. Patients with pattern 1 metastases had poorer overall survival compared with patients with patterns 2-5 metastases (P=0.03), with 22/30 (73%) deaths occurring in pattern 1 patients. Three (10%) deaths occurred in patients showing pattern 5, all of whom were immunosuppressed. Four (13%) deaths occurred in pattern 3 patients and 1 (3%) death occurred in a pattern 2 patient. In multivariable analysis, the number of positive sentinel lymph nodes (1 or 2 versus >2, P<0.0001), age (<70 versus ≥70, P=0.01), sentinel lymph node metastasis pattern (patterns 2-5 versus 1, P=0.02), and immune status (immunocompetent versus suppressed, P=0.03) were independent predictors of outcome, and could be used to stratify Stage III patients into three groups with markedly different outcomes. In Merkel cell carcinoma, the pattern of sentinel lymph node involvement provides important prognostic information and utilizing this data with other clinicopathological features facilitates risk stratification of Merkel cell carcinoma patients who may have management implications.

A phase I clinical trial of a ribozyme-based angiogenesis inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 for patients with refractory solid tumors.

PURPOSE: This study intended to determine the maximum tolerated dose, safety, pharmacokinetic variables, clinical response, and pharmacodynamic markers of daily s.c. administration of Angiozyme. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with refractory solid tumors were enrolled in a dose escalation and expanded cohort design. Dose escalation involved cohorts of patients at doses of 10, 30, 100, or 300 mg/m(2)/d for 29 days. A second component enrolled 15 additional patients at a daily dose of 100 mg/m(2). Patients were eligible to continue on therapy until disease progression. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were enrolled and 28 were evaluable (range, 29-505 days; median, 89.5 days). A maximum tolerated dose was not defined by toxicity but rather by the maximal deliverable dose of 300 mg/m(2)/d. Grade 1 to 2 injection site reactions were the most common toxicities. One patient in the 300 mg/m(2) group experienced a reversible grade 3 injection site reaction. Angiozyme showed dose-dependent plasma concentrations with good bioavailability. Surrogate markers showed Angiozyme localization in tumor biopsies and a significant increase in serum von Willebrand factor antigen, a marker for endothelial cell dysfunction. Although Angiozyme-reactive antibody production was noted for some patients, no antibody-related adverse events were noted. Seven of 28 (25%) evaluable patients had stable disease for >or =6 months, with the longest treatment duration of > or =16 months. Two patients (nasopharyngeal carcinoma and melanoma) showed minor responses. CONCLUSION: Angiozyme was well tolerated with satisfactory pharmacokinetic variables for daily s.c. dosing. Results have provided the basis for subsequent clinical trials of this first-of-class biologically targeted therapeutic.

A combination of p40, GATA-3 and uroplakin II shows utility in the diagnosis and prognosis of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.

Recently developed antibodies against uroplakin II and ΔNp63 (p40) show utility in diagnosing primary bladder urothelial carcinoma, although application in metastatic bladder cancer and patient outcomes has been less well defined. We evaluated these antibodies by immunostain intensity and H-score, in conjunction with GATA-3 immunoreactivity, in 89 patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma and 35 paired metastasis. The maintenance of immunoreactivity in metastatic lesions and the association to disease recurrence and survival was assessed. Bladder urothelial carcinoma showed immunoreactivity for GATA-3 in 99% (88/89), p40 in 87% (77/89) and uroplakin II in 80% (71/89) of cases, with a positive correlation between GATA-3 and uroplakin II H-score (0.44; p < 0.0001). All lesions were positive for at least one marker, reinforcing the use of these markers as a panel. In 35 patients with paired lymph node metastasis, uroplakin II and GATA-3 were retained in 90% and 75% of patients, respectively, suggesting these markers may have relatively high sensitivity in diagnosing metastatic urothelial carcinoma. High intensity p40 immunostain (3+), however, was significantly associated with reduced patient survival (p = 0.03). These results suggest that whereas GATA-3 and uroplakin II may be most useful in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma metastasis, p40 may be additionally suited as a prognostic marker.

Propylthiouracil-induced chemical hypothyroidism with high-dose tamoxifen prolongs survival in recurrent high grade glioma: a phase I/II study.

BACKGROUND: High-dose tamoxifen has had disappointing results as a palliative therapy in recurrent glioma. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a thyroid hormone modulated naturally occurring antagonist of tamoxifen-induced cytotoxicity. Thyroid function was suppressed to reduce IGF-1 levels in glioma patients and high-dose tamoxifen administered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Propylthiouracil was used to induce chemical hypothyroidism in 22 patients with recurrent glioma. Tamoxifen was started within one month and given in escalating doses from 40 mg twice a day up to 80 mg 3 times a day. No significant toxicity developed. RESULTS: Eleven out of 22 patients became hypothyroid. No patients experienced symptoms of clinical hypothyroidism. Median survival was significantly longer in the hypothyroid group (10.1 months versus 3.1 months); p = 0.03. There was a significant decrease in blood levels of IGF-1 (p = 0.02). in hypothyroid patients. CONCLUSION: Patients treated for recurrent high-grade gliomas with high-dose tamoxifen had significantly longer survival when chemical hypothyroidism was induced with propylthiouracil.