A phase 2 trial of whole-brain radiotherapy combined with intravenous chemotherapy in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: A study was conducted to determine the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of concurrent cisplatin and vinorelbine chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated brain metastases from breast cancer. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with untreated brain metastases from breast cancer were treated with cisplatin (at a dose of 20 mg/m(2)/day, Days 1-5) and vinorelbine (6-mg/m(2) bolus on Day 1 and 6 mg/m(2)/day continuous infusion on Days 1-5) chemotherapy combined with concurrent 30-gray fractionated external-beam radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given at 3-week intervals for a total of 4 cycles. Primary endpoint was the rate of radiologic response of brain metastases. RESULTS: Complete response in the brain was observed in 3 patients, and partial response was noted in 16 patients, yielding a 76% response rate in the brain. The overall systemic response rate was 44%. Progression-free and overall survival were 3.7 months and 6.5 months, respectively. Overall toxicity was acceptable; nonhematologic grade 3-4 events were noted in 5 (20%) patients, and there were no toxic deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin and vinorelbine for brain metastases from breast cancer appears to be active and well tolerated.

Oral moxifloxacin or intravenous ceftriaxone for the treatment of low-risk neutropenic fever in cancer patients suitable for early hospital discharge.

GOALS OF WORK: Patients with low-risk neutropenic fever as defined by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score might benefit from ambulatory treatment. Optimal management remains to be clearly defined, and new oral antibiotics need to be evaluated in this setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cancer patients with febrile neutropenia and a favorable MASCC score were randomized between oral moxifloxacin and intravenous ceftriaxone. All were fit for early hospital discharge. The global success rate was related to the efficacy of monotherapy, as well as to the success of ambulatory monitoring. MAIN RESULTS: The trial was closed prematurely because of low accrual. Ninety-six patients were included (47 in the ceftriaxone arm and 49 in the moxifloxacin arm). A total of 65% were women, 30.2% had lymphoma, 34.4% had metastatic, and 35.4% had non-metastatic solid tumors. The success rates of home antibiotics were 73.9% and 79.2% for ceftriaxone and moxifloxacin, respectively. Seven patients were not discharged, and 14 required re-hospitalization. There were 17% of microbiologically documented infections that were, in most cases, susceptible to oral monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that MASCC is a valid and useful tool to select patients for ambulatory treatments and that oral moxifloxacin monotherapy is safe and effective for the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic fever.

[Prospective study on the quality of care and quality of life in advanced cancer patients treated at home or in hospital: intermediate analysis of the Trapado study]. / Etude prospective de qualité des soins et de qualité de vie chez des patients cancéreux en phase palliative, en hospitalisation ou à domicile: analyse intermédiaire de l'étude Trapado.

The preferences of advanced cancer patients and the impact of cancer management on relatives remain partly unknown. We present the preliminary results of a prospective study evaluating quality of care (QC), quality of life (QoL) and family impact (FI) in advanced cancer patients treated at home or in hospital, depending on their own choice. QC is evaluated using STAS questionnaire, and QoL and symptom control using EORTC QLQ-C30, Spielberger questionnaire and VAS for pain evaluation. FI is evaluated using GHQ28 and semi-structured interviews conducted at days 0, 15, 30, then monthly until death. Intermediate analysis of 52 patients (100 expected) of whom 63 % had chosen home care, 26 % in-hospital care. Actual assignment is home care: 56 %, in-hospital care: 44 %. Place of death is home: 15 %, hospital: 85 %. In the QC study, the two symptoms most frequently rated by nurses are anxiety and pain, in either group. Patient information and communication are also similar in both groups. The QoL and symptom study shows that patients also rate pain as frequent (84 %) but moderate (mean VAS score 2.5/10). However, the most frequent symptom is fatigue (100 %). Anxiety is rated higher at hospital, as well as FI (anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and global score). Palliative care research is sometimes difficult but feasible. In this study, most patients prefer home care. Anxiety and FI seem lower at home. However, re-hospitalisations just before death are frequent and death generally occurs in hospital.

Factors predicting home death for terminally ill cancer patients receiving hospital-based home care: the Lyon comprehensive cancer center experience.

This study aimed to determine factors favoring home death for cancer patients in a context of coordinated home care. A retrospective study was conducted among patients followed up by the home care coordinating unit of the cancer center of Lyon. The main endpoint was place of death. Univariate analysis included general characteristics (age, gender, rural or urban residence, disease), Karnofsky Index (KI), type of care at referral (chemotherapy, palliative care, or other supportive care), and coordinating medical oncologist (MCO) home visits. Significant factors were used in a logistic regression analysis. Of 250 patients, 90 (36%) had home death. Low KI and MCO home visit were correlated with home death (odds ratio, respectively, 2.1 and 3.1). These results indicate that health care support favors home death. A hospital-based home care unit is effective for bridging the gap between community and hospital. MCO home visits offer concrete support to health care professionals, patients, and relatives.