Lung cancer in Spanish women: The WORLD07 project.

The WORLD07 study was a female-specific database, to prospectively characterise the clinical, histological, molecular and treatment-related features in Spanish women with lung cancer. Data were collected from patients' medical records and patient interviews from October 2007 to December 2012. A total of 2,060 women were analysed: median age, 61.3 years; white, 98.6%; postmenopausal, 80.2%; and no smokers, 55% including never smokers and ex-smokers. A family history of cancer was found in 42.5% of patients, 12.0% of patients had had a previous history of cancer (breast cancer, 39.7%). Most patients (85.8%) were diagnosed of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), most commonly reported with adenocarcinoma (71.4%), which was stage IV at diagnosis in 57.6%. Median overall survival (OS) for the entire population was 24.0 months, with a 1- and 2-year survival rate of 70.7% and 50.0% respectively. Median OS in patients with small-cell lung cancer was 18.8 months versus 25.0 months in patients with NSCLC (p = 0.011). Lung cancer appears to be a biologically different disease in women. By collecting prospective information about characteristics of women with lung cancer attending university hospitals in Spain, we hope to highlight the need to develop strategies based on gender differences and influence future healthcare policy.

Lung Cancer in Never-Smoking Women: A Sub-Analysis of the Spanish Female-Specific Database WORLD07.

The WORLD07 study characterizes lung cancer in Spanish women. This analysis investigated lung cancer features in never-smoking women. Of 2072 women recruited, 2035 were analyzed. Patient characteristics and demographics were similar for current/former smokers and never smokers. Among never smokers, 38.3% were exposed to passive smoking. Non-small-cell lung cancer was the most common type (78.8% of current/former smokers and 96.1% of never smokers) and adenocarcinoma the most common histology (69.1% and 83.4% respectively). There was a high incidence of lung cancer in Spanish never-smoking women and a high proportion (about 50%) had mutant epidermal growth factor receptor.

Spatially preserved multi-region transcriptomic subtyping and biomarkers of chemoimmunotherapy outcome in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transcriptomic subtyping holds promise for personalized therapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). In this study, we aimed to assess intratumoral transcriptomic subtype diversity and to identify biomarkers of long-term chemoimmunotherapy benefit in human ES-SCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed tumor samples from 58 ES-SCLC patients enrolled in two multicenter single-arm phase IIIb studies evaluating front-line chemoimmunotherapy in Spain: n=32 from the IMfirst trial, and n=26 from the CANTABRICO trial. We utilized the GeoMxTM DSP system to perform multi-region transcriptomic analysis. For subtype classification, we performed hierarchical clustering using the relative expression of ASCL1 (SCLC-A), NEUROD1 (SCLC-N), POU2F3 (SCLC-P), and YAP1 (SCLC-Y). RESULTS: Subtype distribution was similar between both cohorts, except for SCLC-P, not identified in the CANTABRICO_DSP cohort. A total of 44% of the patients in both cohorts had tumors with multiple co-existing transcriptional subtypes. Transcriptional subtypes or subtype heterogeneity were not associated with outcomes. Most potential targets did not show subtype-specific expression. Consistently in both cohorts, tumors from patients with long-term benefit (time to progression ³12 months) contained an IFNg-dominated mRNA profile, including enhanced capacity for antigen presentation. Hypoxia and glycolytic pathways were associated with resistance to chemoimmunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that intratumoral heterogeneity, inconsistent association with outcome, and unclear subtype-specific target expression might be significant challenges for subtype-based precision oncology in SCLC. Pre-existing IFNg-driven immunity and mitochondrial metabolism seem correlates of long-term efficacy in this study, although the absence of a chemotherapy control arm precludes concluding that these are predictive features specific for immunotherapy.

Cost-minimisation analysis of rectal cancer neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy based on fluoropyrimidines (capecitabine versus 5-fluorouracil).

OBJECTIVES: The current standard treatment for patients with rectal cancer stage II-III is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be performed with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine (CPC) considered to be equivalent therapies. Medication cost is higher for CPC than for 5-FU, however, the administration of continuous 5-FU intravenous infusion is related to other costs such as those associated with outpatient facilities or central venous catheter insertion. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed the direct sanitary costs associated with the treatments and their complications from a hospital perspective. Costs in patients treated with 5-FU or CPC were measured between January 2010 and July 2018 at Mataró Hospital. The aim of this study was to perform a cost-minimisation analysis between the two treatments. We aimed to assess the cost associated with the complications related to each drug and the economic impact of applying the most efficient option. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were analysed: 32 were treated with CPC and 66 with 5-FU. Treatment cost was significantly higher for 5-FU than for CPC (2560.86±99.17 and 563.10±9.52 respectively, P=0.0001). No significant differences were found in the costs associated with treatment complications between groups (148.21±934.91 and 41.41±102.50 euros respectively, P=0.322). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the clinical equivalence shown in the available trials and previous reviews, the most efficient treatment is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with CPC. Complications associated with the treatments did not significantly modify these results. Other studies gave similar results both in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant context, reaffirmed in this study.

RNA-Based Multiplexing Assay for Routine Testing of Fusion and Splicing Variants in Cytological Samples of NSCLC Patients.

The detection of ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK), ROS proto-oncogen1, receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1), ret proto-oncogen (RET), and MET proto-oncogen exon 14 skipping (METΔex14) allows for the selection of specific kinase inhibitor treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multiplex technologies are recommended in this setting. We used nCounter, a multiplexed technology based on RNA hybridization, to detect ALK, ROS1, RET, and METΔex14 in RNA purified from cytological specimens (n = 16) and biopsies (n = 132). Twelve of the 16 cytological samples (75.0%) were evaluable by nCounter compared to 120 out of 132 (90.9%) biopsies. The geometrical mean (geomean) of the housekeeping genes of the nCounter panel, but not the total amount of RNA purified, was significantly higher in biopsies vs. cytological samples. Among cytological samples, we detected ALK (n = 3), METΔex14 (n = 1) and very high MET expression (n = 1) positive cases. The patient with METΔex14 had a partial response to tepotinib, one of the patients with ALK fusions was treated with crizotinib with a complete response. Cell blocks and cytological extensions can be successfully used for the detection of fusions and splicing variants using RNA-based methods such as nCounter.

Combination of gefitinib and olaparib versus gefitinib alone in EGFR mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A multicenter, randomized phase II study (GOAL).

OBJECTIVES: Progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) varies in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) driven byEGFR mutations, suggesting that other genetic alterations may influence oncogene addiction. Low BRCA1 mRNA levels correlate with longer PFS in erlotinib-treated EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. Since the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, olaparib, may attenuate and/or prevent BRCA1 expression, the addition of olaparib to gefitinib could improve outcome in EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GOAL was a multicenter, randomized phase IB/II study performed in two countries, Spain and Mexico. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, treatment-naïve, pathologically confirmed stage IV NSCLC, with centrally confirmed EGFR mutations and measurable disease. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive gefitinib 250 mg daily or gefitinib 250 mg daily plus olaparib 200 mg three times daily in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), response rate, safety and tolerability. RESULTS: Between September 2013, and July 2016, 182 patients underwent randomization, 91 received gefitinib and 91 received gefitinib plus olaparib. There were no differences in gender, age, smoking status, performance status, presence of bone and brain metastases or type ofEGFR mutation. Median PFS was 10.9 months (95 % CI 9.3-13.3) in the gefitinib arm and 12.8 months (95 % CI 9.1-14.7) in the gefitinib plus olaparib arm (HR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.00-1.92; p = 0.124). The most common adverse events were anemia, 78 % in gefitinib plus olaparib group, 38 % in gefitinib arm, diarrhea, 65 % and 60 %, and fatigue, 40 % and 32 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The gefitinib plus olaparib combination did not provide significant benefit over gefitinib alone. The combination's safety profile showed an increase in hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity, compared to gefitinib alone, however, no relevant adverse events were noted.

High Prevalence of Somatic Oncogenic Driver Alterations in Patients With NSCLC and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Actionable somatic molecular alterations are found in 15% to 20% of NSCLC in Europe. NSCLC is a tumor observed in patients with germline TP53 variants causing Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), but its somatic molecular profile is unknown. METHODS: Retrospective study of clinical and molecular profiles of patients with NSCLC and germline TP53 variants. RESULTS: Among 22 patients with NSCLC and LFS (n = 23 lung tumors), 64% were women, median age was 51 years, 84% were nonsmokers, 73% had adenocarcinoma histological subtype, and 84% were diagnosed with advanced-stage disease. These patients harbored 16 distinct germline TP53 variants; the most common was p.R158H (5/22; three in the same family). Personal and family histories of cancer were reported in 71% and 90% of patients, respectively. In most cases (87%, 13/15), lung cancer was diagnosed with a late onset. Of the 21 tumors analyzed, somatic oncogenic driver mutations were found in 19 of 21 (90%), EGFR mutations in 18 (exon 19 deletion in 12 cases, L858R in three cases, and G719A, exon 20 insertion, and missing mutation subtype, each with one case), and ROS1 fusion in one case. A PI3KCA mutation was concurrently detected at diagnosis in three EGFR exon 19-deleted tumors (3/12). The median overall survival was 37.3 months in 14 patients treated with EGFR inhibitors; seven developed resistance, five (71%) acquired EGFR-T790M mutation, and one had SCLC transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Driver oncogenic alterations were observed in 90% of the LFS tumors, mainly EGFR mutations; one ROS1 fusion was also observed. The germline TP53 variants and lung cancer carcinogenesis driven by oncogenic processes need further evaluation.

Equity, barriers and cancer disparities: study of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology on the access to oncologic drugs in the Spanish Regions.

PURPOSE: The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) has conducted a study on the access to oncologic drugs across the 17 Spanish Regions with the aim of identifying potential heterogeneities and making proposals for eliminating the barriers identified at the different levels. METHODS: An Expert Panel made up of medical oncologists designed a survey on certain indications approved for 11 drugs in the approach of breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer and support treatment. This survey was sent to 144 National Health System (NHS) hospitals. RESULTS: 77 hospitals answered the survey. The information modules analysed were: scope of the Commission that establishes binding decisions related to drug access; conditions, stages and periods of drug application, approval and administration processes; barriers to accessing drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows variability in drug access. The SEOM makes proposals addressed to reducing the differences identified and homogenizing drug access conditions.

Lung Cancer in Women with a Family History of Cancer: The Spanish Female-specific Database WORLD07.

BACKGROUND: The WORLD07 project is a female-specific database to prospectively analyze the characteristics of Spanish women with lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed and compared lung cancer features in women with and without a family history of cancer/lung cancer. RESULTS: Two thousand and sixty women were included: 876 had a family history of cancer (lung cancer, 34%) and 886 did not, with no significant differences between groups, except for smoking status (p=0.036). We found statistically significant correlations between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and smoking status in patients with a family history of cancer (r=-0.211; p<0.001) and lung cancer (r=-0.176; p<0.001). Longer median overall survival was observed in women with a family history of cancer and lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Among Spanish women with lung cancer, a greater proportion were current smokers in those with a family history of cancer/lung cancer. There was a significant correlation between the presence of EGFR mutation and smoking.

Three-arm randomized study of two cisplatin-based regimens and paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase III trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Group--EORTC 08975.

PURPOSE: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel plus cisplatin (arm A) versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin (arm B) and arm A versus paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (arm C) in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (3-hour infusion, day 1) or gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8) both combined with cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (day 1) or paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (3-hour infusion, day 1) combined with gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8). Primary end point was comparison of overall survival for B versus A and C versus A. Secondary end points included response rate and duration, progression-free survival, toxicities, quality of life [QoL], and cost of treatment. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty patients (arm A, 159; arm B, 160; arm C, 161 patients) were enrolled; all baseline characteristics were balanced. Median survival times were as follows: arm A, 8.1 months; arm B, 8.9 months; arm C, 6.7 months. Response rates were 31.8% for arm A, 36.6% for arm B, and 27.7% for arm C. Other than myelosuppression (B v A, P <.005), no statistically or clinically significant differences were observed for secondary end points. The average treatment costs were 25% higher in arm C as compared with arms A and B. CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine plus cisplatin and paclitaxel plus gemcitabine do not increase overall survival in patients with advanced NSCLC as compared with paclitaxel plus cisplatin. Treatment was well tolerated, and most QoL parameters were similar, but costs associated with the nonplatinum arm were highest.

Economic evaluation of three two-drug chemotherapy regimens in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: During the 1990s, a number of new cytotoxic agents with clinically relevant activity in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and with a more favourable therapeutic index than drugs already in use, became available. Given the high prices of these new drugs and the large number of patients affected, it is important to compare the relative benefits and costs of these treatments with the existing regimens before treatment policy decisions are changed. PURPOSE: An economic evaluation of three different regimens of chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC was performed from the perspective of the Dutch health insurance system using tariffs valid for 2002. The economic evaluation was integrated into a phase III clinical trial in which the reference regimen cisplatin-paclitaxel was compared with two experimental regimens: cisplatin-gemcitabine and gemcitabine-paclitaxel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unit costs were applied to resource use data collected prospectively on case report forms during the trial. The average total (uncensored) cost per patient was determined for each of the treatment groups. The principal outcome measure for the economic evaluation was the estimated mean survival time per treatment group. This outcome was then incorporated into incremental cost-effectiveness ratios based on costs corrected for censoring. The impact of uncertainty was assessed by bootstrap techniques, and the analysis and interpretation of the data focused on the bivariate density of differences in outcomes and costs in the incremental cost-effectiveness plane. The final results were summarised by the derivation of cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. RESULTS: The estimated mean survival time was equivalent in the two cisplatin-based regimens with largely overlapping confidence intervals. There was a 99% probability that cisplatin-gemcitabine is the least costly regimen of the two and a 72% probability that this regimen reduces costs while at the same time improving survival. Compared with cisplatin-paclitaxel, the gemcitabine-paclitaxel regimen engendered a borderline significant reduction in mean survival time combined with an almost 90% probability of an increase in costs. CONCLUSION: The two cisplatin-based regimens are equivalent in terms of survival, but cisplatin-gemcitabine may reduce costs by approximately 2000 Euros patient compared with cisplatin-paclitaxel. Gemcitabine-paclitaxel is a dominated option with higher costs and a reduction in mean survival time compared with cisplatin-paclitaxel.

European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) 08957 phase II study of topotecan in combination with cisplatin as second-line treatment of refractory and sensitive small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the activity and toxicity of a combined regimen of topotecan and cisplatin in "sensitive" (s) and "refractory" (r) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients treated previously. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with measurable SCLC and progressive disease after one first-line regimen were eligible for the study. Patients were enrolled in two separate groups: r group (patients who failed first-line treatment <3 months from treatment discontinuation) and s group (patients who responded to first-line treatment and progressed >or=3 months after treatment discontinuation). Cisplatin was given i.v. at the dose of 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, and topotecan was administered as a daily i.v. infusion at the dose of 0.75 mg/m(2) from day 1 to 5, every 3 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 110 eligible (68 s and 42 r) patients were enrolled from 24 institutions. The main patient characteristics were as follows: median age 60 (s) and 55 (r) years, median performance status 1 for both (s) and (r). Seventy-four percent (s) and 67% (r) had extensive stage disease, including 22% and 36%, respectively, with brain metastases. A total of 398 chemotherapy courses were administered [median 4 (s) and 3 (r) per patient]. The most frequent and serious toxicity was myelosuppression. Grade IV neutropenia occurred in 62% (s) and 49% (r) of patients, with a 19% (s) and 15% (r) incidence of febrile neutropenia, and grade IV thrombocytopenia in 54% (s) and 44% (r). Most of these toxicities occurred during the first chemotherapy course and led to topotecan dose reduction and/or delay in the following courses. Grade III-IV nonhematological toxicity was uncommon. Five deaths possibly related to toxicity occurred among s patients only. Objective responses have been documented in 20 s patients, 19 partial responses and 1 complete response, (29.4% response rate; 95% confidence interval, 19-42), whereas, among r patients, 10 partial responses have been observed (23.8% response rate; 95% confidence interval, 12-39). Median survival for s and r was 6.4 and 6.1 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cisplatin and topotecan, at this dose and schedule, shows activity and promising results in patients with refractory SCLC, with reversible myelosuppression being the main side effect. Additional development of this regimen, using better-tolerated schedules, is warranted in patients with refractory SCLC.

Malignant mesothelioma: new insights into a rare disease.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the pleura associated with exposure to asbestos. Its incidence is anticipated to increase over the next 10years in both Europe and the developing nations. In advanced disease, chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment, especially platinum-containing regimens. Most efforts are directed toward improving standard first-line therapy or developing effective second-line therapy, which is still not yet standardized 10years after the first-line standard of care was established. This review focuses on the systemic management of MPM in patients who are not considered suitable for surgical approaches, and it discusses some questions that remain open such as the benefits of administering a maintenance treatment, whether it is better to give cisplatin or carboplatin as first-line therapy, the role of new drugs as second-line therapy, and the treatment of the elderly population. It also summarizes the results from clinical trials that have evaluated new treatments as first- or second-line therapy, which are based on the understanding of mesothelioma biology, such as antiangiogenic drugs, immunotherapies and growth factors agents.

Adjuvant treatment in resected non-small cell lung cancer: current and future issues.

The cornerstone of treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been surgical resection. In the last five years two phase III trials have provided evidence of adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for completely resected stage II-IIIA patients. We review the evidence supporting adjuvant therapy in early-stage NSCLC; we discuss new issues surrounding adjuvant therapy such as treatment in the elderly-unfit population, treatment toxicity and its influence on outcomes, the importance of histology and gender in adjuvant treatment; and we discuss the future landscape of early-stage NSCLC research, namely, therapeutic strategies exploiting pharmacogenomic and gene-expression profiling, in an attempt to customize the treatment.

Brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Should we change the current standard?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common sources of brain metastases, with an incidence that varies widely from 4% to 48% according to different studies. In addition, asymptomatic metastases occur in up to 33% of patients with metastatic RCC, further complicating the decision-making process in this poor prognosis population. The purpose of this review is to cover in depth the present state of knowledge on the diagnosis and management of patients with brain metastases from RCC, in order to assess whether the current standard should be challenged. The existing systems to predict response and survival will be reviewed, as well as the available therapeutic options regarding local treatment and systemic therapy, all within the context of updated data from clinical trials. In this regard, the role of novel targeted agents for the treatment of brain metastases from RCC, such as the multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors sunitinib and sorafenib, will be updated and discussed.

SEOM guidelines for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare malignant tumour. Asbestos is the principal aetiological agent of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) (≈80% of cases). The incidence of MPM is still increasing and will peak within the next 10 years. There are three main histological types of MPM: epithelial (≈60%), sarcomatous and mixed. There is no standard approach for patients with MPM. Surgery (radical extra-pleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication) may be part of the initial treatment for carefully selected patients, generally combined with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and/or adjuvant radiotherapy, and should only be performed by experienced thoracic surgeons as part of a multidisciplinary team. Radiotherapy could be used as prophylaxis to reduce the incidence of recurrence at sites of diagnoses or therapeutic instrument insertion, in a multimodal treatment to improve locoregional control and to palliate symptoms. Based on the better compliance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, lower rate of surgical morbidity and the possibility to select the optimal patients to be submitted to surgery, a neoadjuvant strategy is a better option than adjuvant chemotherapy, although there is no standard optimal sequence and types of treatment for multimodal therapy. In patients with no resectable disease, chemotherapy is the best option with platinum and pemetrexed or raltitrexed. At this time there is no widely approved salvage therapy.

First-line therapy and methylation status of CHFR in serum influence outcome to chemotherapy versus EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors as second-line therapy in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

The potential differential effect of first-line treatment and molecular mechanisms on survival to second-line chemotherapy or EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been fully investigated. In particular, CHFR is frequently methylated in NSCLC and may influence outcome. We analyzed the outcome of second-line chemotherapy or EGFR TKIs in 179 of 366 patients who had been treated in an ERCC1 mRNA-based customized cisplatin trial and correlated the results with CHFR methylation status. CHFR methylation in circulating DNA was examined by methylation-specific assay. A panel of seven human EGFR wild-type NSCLC cell lines was characterized for their sensitivity to sequential treatment with cisplatin and erlotinib, and the results were correlated with CHFR. Patients who had received first-line docetaxel/cisplatin attained an overall survival of 19.2 months when treated with second-line EGFR TKIs, in comparison with 10.7 months when treated with second-line chemotherapy (P = 0.0002). However, for patients who had received first-line docetaxel/gemcitabine, overall survival was 14.8 months with EGFR TKIs and 10.8 months with chemotherapy (P = 0.29). For patients with unmethylated CHFR overall survival to EGFR TKIs was 21.4 months, and 11.2 months for those with treated with chemotherapy (P = 0.0001). In the only lung tumor cell line not expressing CHFR, pretreatment with cisplatin was antagonistic to erlotinib, while it was synergistic in the other six lines. Second-line EGFR TKIs improved survival in patients receiving first-line cisplatin-based treatment. Unmethylated CHFR predicts increased survival to EGFR TKIs.

Can we customize chemotherapy? Individualizing cytotoxic regimens in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer remains a fatal disease with a median survival of < 1 year. A critical challenge is to develop predictive markers for customizing platinum-based treatment. The first studies focused on the excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) gene in this difficult task. Several layers of evidence indicate that ERCC1 mRNA expression could be a predictive marker for cisplatin alone or in combination with certain drugs such as etoposide, gemcitabine, and 5-fluorouracil but not in combination with antimicrotubule drugs. Several retrospective studies demonstrated an impressive survival advantage for gemcitabine plus cisplatin but not for other combinations in tumors with low ERCC1 expression. A customized phase III ERCC1-based trial met the primary endpoint of improvement in response but not in survival, leading us to hypothesize that docetaxel might not be the most appropriate partner for cisplatin in the presence of low ERCC1 levels or for gemcitabine in the presence of high ERCC1 levels. A phase II study demonstrated the feasibility of combining carboplatin, gemcitabine, docetaxel, and vinorelbine according to ERCC1 and ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 expression levels. These findings highlight the importance of continual learning, and decision-making strategies for customizing treatment should reflect the limitations of our knowledge.

Incidence of contralateral germ cell testicular tumors in South Europe: report of the experience at 2 Spanish university hospitals and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The crude and cumulative incidence of contralateral germ cell testicular tumors (GCTTs) is between 1% to 5% and 3% to 6% at 10 to 15 years in previously reported studies. To evaluate the real incidence of a second GCTT in a southern European population the medical records of 623 patients with GCTT successfully treated between 1976 and 1993 at 2 university hospitals were reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients had been treated with standard treatment strategies according to disease stage and diagnosis year. Contralateral biopsy at GCTT diagnosis was not performed in any patient. Only those with a survival of 1 year or greater were included. In addition to the imaging and biochemical (tumor markers) procedures used to diagnose disease relapse, physical examination of the contralateral testis and/or testicular ultrasound was done yearly. RESULTS: At a median followup of 8.6 years (range 2 to 19.7) 6 patients (1%) had a contralateral GCTT, which was synchronous in 1 and metachronous in 5. The cumulative risk of a contralateral GCTT was 1.2% (95% CI 0.1% to 2.3%) at 15 years and it did not depend on the treatment for the first GCTT. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of contralateral GCTT in our series was lower than expected compared with other published series. This finding mirrors the lower incidence of GCTT in the general population in our country than in other areas with a higher incidence of contralateral GCTT. Therefore, contralateral testicular biopsy at initial diagnosis is not mandatory in our experience.