Decrease in treatment intensity predicts worse outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radiochemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Radiochemotherapy (RCT) is an effective standard therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Nonetheless, toxicity is common, with patients often requiring dose modifications. METHODS: To investigate associations of RCT toxicities according to CTCAE version 5.0 and subsequent therapy modifications with short- and long-term treatment outcomes, we studied all 193 patients with HNSCC who received RCT (70 Gy + platinum agent) at an academic center between 03/2010 and 04/2018. RESULTS: During RCT, 77 (41%, 95% CI 34-49) patients developed at least one ≥ grade 3 toxicity, including seven grade 4 and 3 fatal grade 5 toxicities. The most frequent any-grade toxicities were xerostomia (n = 187), stomatitis (n = 181), dermatitis (n = 174), and leucopenia (n = 98). Eleven patients (6%) had their radiotherapy schedule modified (mean radiotherapy dose reduction = 12 Gy), and 120 patients (64%) had chemotherapy modifications (permanent discontinuation: n = 67, pause: n = 34, dose reduction: n = 7, change to other chemotherapy: n = 10). Objective response rates to RCT were 55% and 88% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = 0.003), and 84% and 88% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.468), respectively. Five-year progression-free survival estimates were 20% and 50% in patients with and without radiotherapy modifications (p = < 0.001), and 53% and 40% in patients with and without chemotherapy modifications (p = 0.88), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of radiotherapy dose were associated with impaired long-term outcomes, whereas reductions in chemotherapy intensity were not. This suggests that toxicities during RCT should be primarily managed by modifying chemotherapy rather than radiotherapy.

Critical evaluation of platelet size as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer across multiple treatment settings: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The role of mean platelet volume (MPV) as a predictor of outcomes in various cancer entities including colorectal cancer (CRC) has already been analyzed. However, data on the prognostic and predictive value of MPV in CRC over multiple lines of systemic therapy are missing. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center cohort study, 690 patients with UICC stage II, III or IV CRC receiving adjuvant and/or palliative chemotherapy were included. Primary endpoints in the adjuvant, palliative and best supportive care (BSC) setting were 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), 6-months progression-free survival (PFS), and 6-months overall survival (OS), respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimators, log-rank tests, and uni- and multivariable Cox models were used to analyze RFS, PFS and OS. A cut-off defining patients with low MPV was chosen empirically at the 25th percentile of the MPV distribution in the respective treatment setting. RESULTS: Three-year RFS was 76%. Median 6-month PFS estimates in 1st, 2nd and 3rd line therapy were 59, 37 and 27%, respectively. Median 6-month OS in BSC was 31%. Small platelets as indicated by low MPV did not predict for shorter RFS. In the first 3 palliative treatment lines a consistent association between low MPV and decreased 6-month PFS was not observed. In the BSC setting, patients with low MPV had numerically but not significantly shorter OS. Higher MPV levels did not consistently predict for ORR or DCR across the first 3 palliative treatment lines. CONCLUSION: Small platelets are not predicting CRC outcomes, and thus are hardly useful for influencing clinical decision making.

Combined treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma of the spine.

We report on a 28-year-old male with a single metastasis of an osteosarcoma in the twelfth thoracic vertebra occurring 9 years after initial diagnosis of the primary tumour in the left distal femur and neoadjuvant treatment according to a modified T-10 protocol. After pre-operative second-line combination chemotherapy with doxorubicin, carboplatin and etoposide leading to regression of the primarily inoperable metastasis wide resection of the tumour employing total spondylectomy was done. The duration of response had been 65 months since the end of subsequent postoperative chemotherapy with the same regimen.

A phase II trial of weekly high-dose folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil in combination with epirubicin as salvage chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer.

Twenty-five patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) who had failed from first-line chemotherapy entered into a phase II study employing weekly 5-fluorouracil (FU) 350 mg/m2, folinic acid (FA) 500 mg/m2, and epirubicin (EPI) 35 mg/m2, for a maximum of 18 cycles. Twenty-three patients were evaluable for response. One achieved a complete response and 7 showed a partial response, for an objective response rate of 35%; 7 (31%) patients achieved a stabilization of the disease, while 8 (35%) patients progressed under treatment. The median duration of response was 6 months and median survival amounted to 10.6 months. Side effects were in general mild with grade III leukopenia in 5 patients and grade IV leukopenia in 1 patient. Other toxicity included nausea and vomiting (88%), diarrhea (26%), stomatitis (40%) and alopecia (84%), but all of them mainly restricted to WHO grade I and II. Our results suggest that the combination of high-dose FA, FU, and EPI can be safely administered in the investigated schedule and represents an attractive alternative in the search for second-line therapies that combine effectiveness with acceptable toxicity in the treatment of refractory ABC.

Weekly 5-fluorouracil and high-dose folinic acid in combination with epidoxorubicin as first-line therapy in advanced breast cancer: a phase II study.

A total of 25 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated weekly with i.v. 5-fluorouracil at 350 mg/m2, folinic acid at 500 mg/m2, and epidoxorubicin at 35 mg/m2 as first-line chemotherapy for a maximum of 18 cycles. In all, 24 patients were evaluable for response. Overall, 1 patient achieved a complete response and 11 patients showed a partial response, for an objective response rate of 50%; the median duration of response was 18.3+ months and median survival amounted to 18.8+ months. Side effects were generally mild, with grade II leukopenia occurring in 10 patients and grade III leukopenia, in 1 patient. Other toxicity included nausea and vomiting (82%), diarrhea (48%), stomatitis (48%), and alopecia (92%), all of which were mainly restricted to WHO grades I and II. Our results suggest that leucovorin modulation of 5-fluorouracil can safely be incorporated into combination chemotherapy with epidoxorubicin on the investigated schedule. The observed response rate appears comparable with that obtained with other first-line regimens.

Prednimustine combined with mitoxantrone and 5-fluorouracil for first and second-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer.

A total of 60 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with a combination of prednimustine (P: 110 mg/m2, days 1-5), mitoxantrone (M: 12 mg/m2, day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (F: 500 mg/m2, day 1) (PMF). Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. In all 53 patients were evaluable for response. A total of 12 subjects had failed prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. In response to PMF treatment we observed 21 partial remissions and 3 complete remissions, amounting to a total response rate of 45%. The median duration of response was 39 weeks, and median survival was 56 weeks. Dose-limiting side effects were leukopenia (40 cases) and thrombocytopenia (11 patients). Nausea and vomiting was experienced by 93% of subjects; in 56% of cases it reached WHO stage II-III. Alopecia occurred in 18% of our patients. Our results suggest that PMF represents an active regimen in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and yields a response rate of 45%. Considering that the majority of our patients had not received prior chemotherapy, the question remains open as to whether a 45% response rate outweighs the observed toxicity.

4'-O-tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin in advanced breast cancer: a phase II study.

In a phase II study, 35 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin (THP-DXR) (70 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1); treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Eight patients had failed prior chemotherapy for advanced disease. A total of 34 patients were evaluable for response. After a median of 10 treatment courses (range, 3-15), objective tumor response was seen in 59% (20 of 34 patients) (95% confidence limits, 42%-75%). In all, 17 partial remissions and 3 complete remissions were observed; stable disease occurred in 13 patients. The median duration of response was 42+ weeks (range, 21 - 77+ weeks). The dose-limiting side effects were leukopenia (26 patients, WHO grade III-IV) and thrombocytopenia (9 patients, WHO grade II-IV). Nausea/vomiting was experienced by 34 patients; in 18, it reached WHO grade II-III. Other treatment-related side effects included alopecia (WHO grade II-III) in 26 patients and stomatitis and diarrhea (WHO grade I-III) in 9 patients. At cumulative doses of THP-DXR of at least 700 mg/m2 (range, 700-1,050 mg/m2), no signs of congestive heart failure were observed. We conclude that THP-DXR is effective for first- and second-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer and that side effects are manageable.

Combination therapy of 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose folinic acid in patients with advanced breast cancer: a phase I-II study (preliminary results).

Previous clinical studies have suggested that 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin (THP) as well as 5-fluorouracil/high-dose folinic acid (5-FU/HDFA) are active and well-tolerated drugs in breast cancer treatment. This phase I-II study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of THP in combination with 5-FU/HDFA as a weekly schedule and to examine the activity and safety of this drug regimen in patients with advanced breast cancer. 5-FU and HDFA were set at doses of 350 mg/qm i.v. and 500 mg/qm i.v., respectively, whereas the THP dose has been escalated in increments of 5 mg/qm i.v. beginning at a dose level of 10 mg/qm until reaching of MTD in at least four patients in one dose level. For determination of MTD the first six cycles of each patient have been taken into account. Up to July 1990, 21 patients previously not treated with chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer were entered into the study; the latest patient entered at 35 mg/qm THP dose level. A total of 270 cycles have been administered so far. Anemia and leukopenia was limited to ECOG grades I and II. Other toxicities were mild or moderate. No acute or subacute cardiotoxicity has been observed. Up to July 1990, MTD had not been reached. In the second part of the study, at least another 14 patients have to be entered in a dose level one below the MTD to evaluate the activity and safety of this regimen in a phase II trial.