Eribulin Treatment for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: The UK Experience - A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined real-world data from patients who received eribulin for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) collected from 14 hospitals across the UK. METHODS: Anonymized data were collected retrospectively from patients with MBC who had received eribulin. The data included the hormone-receptor status, histological diagnosis, age, prior chemotherapy, response to eribulin, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Among 577 patients analyzed, the median age was 56 years, and most patients (73%) were estrogen-receptor positive. The median OS was 288 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 261-315), and the PFS was 117 days (95% CI: 105-129). The median OS was higher among older patients (≥65 vs. <65 years: 325 days [95% CI: 264-385] vs. 285 days [95% CI: 252-317]; p = 0.028). The median OS was also higher in patients who received eribulin after fewer prior lines of chemotherapy (≤2 vs. >2 prior: 328 days [95% CI: 264-385] vs. 264 days [95% CI: 229-298]; p = 0.042). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These retrospective data suggest that eribulin can be successfully used in older patients with MBC. Eribulin treatment was more effective in earlier-line settings, which, while predictable, supports consideration of eribulin as a second-line treatment option.

Tumor necrosis is significantly associated with reduced recurrence-free survival after curative resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: The impact of tumor necrosis as a prognostic factor in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GISTs) is still debated. The objective was to determine whether tumor necrosis is an independent risk factor for survival in patients with GISTs. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for primary GIST from March 2003 to October 2018 at two sarcoma referral centers were retrospectively identified. Patients who received neoadjuvant imatinib were excluded. Multivariable Cox regression models were produced, to assess whether tumor necrosis was an independent predictor of either overall or recurrence-free survival. RESULTS: Forty-one out of 195 (21.0%) patients had tumor necrosis. Tumor necrosis was associated with a significantly higher modified National Institute of Health risk score, with 29 out of 41 (70.7%) patients with necrosis classified as high risk, compared to 52 out of 153 (34.0%) without (p < .001). Tumor necrosis was found to be independently predictive of recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 5.26, 95% CI: 2.62-10.56, p < .001) on multivariable analysis. At 5 years, 44.3% of patients with necrosis had either died or developed recurrence, compared to 9.9% of those without. CONCLUSION: Tumor necrosis is an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival in patients with operable GISTs. It should be routinely reported by pathologists, and used by clinicians when counseling patients and deciding on adjuvant therapy.

Evaluation of SDHB, SDHD and VHL gene susceptibility testing in the assessment of individuals with non-syndromic phaeochromocytoma, paraganglioma and head and neck paraganglioma.

OBJECTIVES: Research studies have reported that about a third of individuals with phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL) have an inherited predisposition, although the frequency of specific mutations can vary between populations. We evaluated VHL, SDHB and SDHD mutation testing in cohorts of patients with non-syndromic PPGL and head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). DESIGN: Prospective, observational evaluation of NHS practice. PATIENTS: Individuals with PPGL/HNPGL referred to a supraregional genetics testing service over a 10-year period. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical (age, tumour site, malignancy, etc.), mutation frequencies and characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 501 probands with PPGL (n = 413) or HNPGL (n = 88) were studied. Thirty-one percent of patients with PPGL presented had a pathogenic mutation in SDHB, SDHD or VHL. Mutation detection rates were highest in those with a positive family history (62%), malignancy (53%), multiple tumours (33%) or PGL (44%). Twenty-eight percent of individuals with a single sporadic phaeochromocytoma had a mutation. Overall, 63% of patients with HNPGL had a mutation (92% of those with a family history, 89% of those with multicentric tumours and 34% of those with a single sporadic HNPGL). Penetrance was calculated in 121 SDHB mutation-positive probands and 187 of their mutation-positive relatives. Most relatives were asymptomatic and lifetime penetrance in non-proband SDHB mutation carriers was <50%. CONCLUSIONS: Practice-based evaluations of genetic testing in PPGL reveal high mutation detection rates. Although clinical criteria can be used to prioritize mutation testing, mutations were detected in 'low risk groups' indicating a need for comprehensive and inexpensive genetic testing strategies for PPGL and HNPGL.

Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy provide a survival benefit in maxillofacial osteosarcoma: A systematic review and pooled analysis.

Maxillofacial osteosarcoma (MFOS) is a rare disease that presents and behaves differently to the more commonly seen osteosarcoma (OS) of long bones. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCTx) has been shown to increase survival in OS of long bones, however it is contentious whether it has the same benefit when treating MFOS. The aim of this review was to determine whether neoCTx has a survival benefit for MFOS. Pubmed/Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched. Of the 264 studies identified 18 were included reporting on the effect of neoCTx on survival. Individual data of 222 patients was pooled, and survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and variables were assessed using Cox regression. NeoCTx had no significant effect on disease specific survival (p = 0.28). Margin status, age and grade of tumour had a significant effect on survival. This study did not find a consistent survival benefit for neoCTx over surgery as the primary treatment modality in the management of osteosarcomas of the head and neck.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant strategies in retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Extended surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in retroperitoneal sarcoma, although conflicting data exist on the benefit of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies, particularly with regard to tumour grade and histological type. Experience of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in extremity soft tissue sarcoma can inform treatment strategies, however these data cannot be universally extrapolated to the retroperitoneum where disease biology and anatomical considerations are different. The present review sets a historical context before discussing recent evidence and on-going multi-centre trials in retroperitoneal sarcoma. Promising data on histologically- and molecularly-targeted chemotherapy are discussed and the need for centralisation of retroperitoneal sarcoma services in order to facilitate large international collaborative trials is emphasised.

Germline Mutations in the CDKN2B Tumor Suppressor Gene Predispose to Renal Cell Carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Familial renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is genetically heterogeneous and may be caused by mutations in multiple genes, including VHL, MET, SDHB, FH, FLCN, PTEN, and BAP1. However, most individuals with inherited RCC do not have a detectable germline mutation. To identify novel inherited RCC genes, we undertook exome resequencing studies in a familial RCC kindred and identified a CDKN2B nonsense mutation that segregated with familial RCC status. Targeted resequencing of CDKN2B in individuals (n = 82) with features of inherited RCC then revealed three candidate CDKN2B missense mutations (p.Pro40Thr, p.Ala23Glu, and p.Asp86Asn). In silico analysis of the three-dimensional structures indicated that each missense substitution was likely pathogenic through reduced stability of the mutant or reduced affinity for cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, and in vitro studies demonstrated that each of the mutations impaired CDKN2B-induced suppression of proliferation in an RCC cell line. These findings identify germline CDKN2B mutations as a novel cause of familial RCC. SIGNIFICANCE: Germline loss-of-function CDKN2B mutations were identified in a subset of patients with features of inherited RCC. Detection of germline CDKN2B mutations will have an impact on familial cancer screening and might prove to influence the management of disseminated disease.

A comprehensive next generation sequencing-based genetic testing strategy to improve diagnosis of inherited pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

CONTEXT: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are notable for a high frequency of inherited cases, many of which present as apparently sporadic tumors. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish a comprehensive next generation sequencing (NGS)-based strategy for the diagnosis of patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma by testing simultaneously for mutations in MAX, RET, SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, TMEM127, and VHL. DESIGN: After the methodology for the assay was designed and established, it was validated on DNA samples with known genotype and then patients were studied prospectively. SETTING: The study was performed in a diagnostic genetics laboratory. PATIENTS: DNA samples from 205 individuals affected with adrenal or extraadrenal pheochromocytoma/head and neck paraganglioma (PPGL/HNPGL) were analyzed. A proof-of-principle study was performed using 85 samples known to contain a variant in 1 or more of the genes to be tested, followed by prospective analysis of an additional 120 samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the ability to use an NGS-based method to perform comprehensive analysis of genes implicated in inherited PPGL/HNPGL. RESULTS: The proof-of-principle study showed that the NGS assay and analysis gave a sensitivity of 98.7%. A pathogenic mutation was identified in 16.6% of the prospective analysis cohort of 120 patients. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive NGS-based strategy for the analysis of genes associated with predisposition to PPGL and HNPGL was established, validated, and introduced into diagnostic service. The new assay provides simultaneous analysis of 9 genes and allows more rapid and cost-effective mutation detection than the previously used conventional Sanger sequencing-based methodology.

The genetics of phaeochromocytoma: using clinical features to guide genetic testing.

Phaeochromocytoma is a rare, usually benign, tumour predominantly managed by endocrinologists. Over the last decade, major advances have been made in understanding the molecular genetic basis of adrenal and extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma (also referred to as adrenal phaeochromocytoma (aPCA) and extra-adrenal functional paraganglioma (eFPGL)). In contrast to the previously held belief that only 10% of cases had a genetic component, currently about one-third of all aPCA/eFPGL cases are thought to be attributable to germline mutations in at least nine genes (NF1, RET, SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, TMEM127, MAX and VHL). Recognition of inherited cases of aPCA/eFPGL is critical for optimal patient management. Thus, the identification of a germline mutation can predict risks of malignancy, recurrent disease, associated non-chromaffin tumours and risks to other family members. Mutation carriers should be offered specific surveillance programmes (according to the relevant gene). In this review, we will describe the genetics of aPCA/eFPGL and strategies for genetic testing.

A differential response to sunitinib: sustained systemic response paralleled by intra-dural progression in the spine. Should standard response criteria be reviewed?

Orally available tyrosine kinases have revolutionized the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. These agents have impressive response rates compared with interferon and also have a cytostatic effect. We describe a case of a patient treated predominantly with continuous sunitinib who had a good partial response to sunitinib in the lungs, liver, adrenal gland, and lymph nodes but dural progression. We describe prolonged sustained response achieved by continuing sunitinib despite dural progression. This case demonstrates that standard treatment criteria may need reviewing.

Cisplatin-associated thrombosis.

The discovery of cisplatin has made arguably the biggest contribution to cancer medicine, providing the basis for the chemotherapy treatment of many malignancies. In addition to well-documented toxicities such as neurotoxicity, cisplatin-induced vascular toxicity is becoming an increasing concern, with some authors describing it in up to 12% of patients. Given the efficacy of cisplatin, vascular toxicity represents a significant survivorship issue. We describe different manifestations of cisplatin-associated thrombosis and its putative pathophysiology.