Treatment and Outcome of Patients with Stage IS Testicular Cancer: A Retrospective Study from the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: Stage IS testicular cancer is defined by the persistence of elevated serum tumor markers, including α-fetoprotein and/or ß-human chorionic gonadotropin, after orchiectomy without radiological evidence of metastatic disease. Current treatment recommendations include cisplatin based chemotherapy up front but the recommendations are based on limited single center series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and pathological characteristics, and long-term outcomes in 110 patients uniformly treated with primary chemotherapy between 1994 and 2016. The primary objective was to evaluate long-term disease-free survival. We also explored factors associated with the need for additional treatment. RESULTS: The elevated prechemotherapy tumor markers were α-fetoprotein in 48% of cases, ß-human chorionic gonadotropin in 14%, and α-fetoprotein and ß-human chorionic gonadotropin in 38%. Median α-fetoprotein and ß-human chorionic gonadotropin values were 71 ng/ml and 80 mIU/ml, respectively. The IGCCCG (International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group) prognostic classification was good in 94% of cases. Mixed nonseminomatous germ cell tumor was found in 78% of cases. Of the patients 103 achieved a complete response to chemotherapy. In 6 patients radiological signs of progressive disease developed during chemotherapy, while 8 experienced relapse after an initial complete response. At a median followup of 108 months 108 patients were alive and disease-free. Five and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 87% and 85%, respectively. The predominance of embryonal carcinoma in the primary tumor was the only factor associated with the probability of needing additional therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Stage IS testicular cancer is more commonly associated with elevated α-fetoprotein, an IGCCCG good prognosis and mixed nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. Treatment with cisplatin based chemotherapy leads to cure in most cases. However, a proportion of patients require the integration of additional therapies, including more frequently when embryonal carcinoma is not predominant.

A randomized phase II/III study of cabazitaxel versus vinflunine in metastatic or locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium (SECAVIN).

BACKGROUND: Despite the advent of immunotherapy in urothelial cancer, there is still a need to find effective cytotoxic agents beyond first and second lines. Vinflunine is the only treatment approved in this setting by the European Medicines Agency and taxanes are also widely used in second line. Cabazitaxel is a taxane with activity in docetaxel-refractory cancers. A randomized study was conducted to compare its efficacy versus vinflunine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase II/III study, following a Simon's optimal method with stopping rules based on an interim futility analysis and a formal efficacy analysis at the end of the phase II. ECOG Performance Status, anaemia and liver metastases were stratification factors. Primary objectives were overall response rate for the phase II and overall survival for the phase III. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included in the phase II across 19 institutions in Europe. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two arms. Three patients (13%) obtained a partial response on cabazitaxel (95% CI 2.7-32.4) and six patients (30%) in the vinflunine arm (95% CI 11.9-54.3). Median progression-free survival for cabazitaxel was 1.9 versus 2.9 months for vinflunine (P = 0.039). The study did not proceed to phase III since the futility analysis showed a lack of efficacy of cabazitaxel. A trend for overall survival benefit was found favouring vinflunine (median 7.6 versus 5.5 months). Grade 3- to 4-related adverse events were seen in 41% patients with no difference between the two arms. CONCLUSION: This phase II/III second line bladder study comparing cabazitaxel with vinflunine was closed when the phase II showed a lack of efficacy of the cabazitaxel arm. Vinflunine results were consistent with those known previously. TRIAL NUMBER: NCT01830231.

Androgen receptor gene status in plasma DNA associates with worse outcome on enzalutamide or abiraterone for castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multi-institution correlative biomarker study.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to identify biomarkers to guide personalized therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We aimed to clinically qualify androgen receptor (AR) gene status measurement in plasma DNA using multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in pre- and post-chemotherapy CRPC. METHODS: We optimized ddPCR assays for AR copy number and mutations and retrospectively analyzed plasma DNA from patients recruited to one of the three biomarker protocols with prospectively collected clinical data. We evaluated associations between plasma AR and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 73 chemotherapy-naïve and 98 post-docetaxel CRPC patients treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone (Primary cohort) and 94 chemotherapy-naïve patients treated with enzalutamide (Secondary cohort; PREMIERE trial). RESULTS: In the primary cohort, AR gain was observed in 10 (14%) chemotherapy-naïve and 33 (34%) post-docetaxel patients and associated with worse OS [hazard ratio (HR), 3.98; 95% CI 1.74-9.10; P < 0.001 and HR 3.81; 95% CI 2.28-6.37; P < 0.001, respectively], PFS (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.08-4.39; P = 0.03, and HR 1.95; 95% CI 1.23-3.11; P = 0.01, respectively) and rate of PSA decline ≥50% [odds ratio (OR), 4.7; 95% CI 1.17-19.17; P = 0.035 and OR, 5.0; 95% CI 1.70-14.91; P = 0.003, respectively]. AR mutations [2105T>A (p.L702H) and 2632A>G (p.T878A)] were observed in eight (11%) post-docetaxel but no chemotherapy-naïve abiraterone-treated patients and were also associated with worse OS (HR 3.26; 95% CI 1.47-not reached; P = 0.004). There was no interaction between AR and docetaxel status (P = 0.83 for OS, P = 0.99 for PFS). In the PREMIERE trial, 11 patients (12%) with AR gain had worse PSA-PFS (sPFS) (HR 4.33; 95% CI 1.94-9.68; P < 0.001), radiographic-PFS (rPFS) (HR 8.06; 95% CI 3.26-19.93; P < 0.001) and OS (HR 11.08; 95% CI 2.16-56.95; P = 0.004). Plasma AR was an independent predictor of outcome on multivariable analyses in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Plasma AR status assessment using ddPCR identifies CRPC with worse outcome to enzalutamide or abiraterone. Prospective evaluation of treatment decisions based on plasma AR is now required. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT02288936 (PREMIERE trial).

New advances in genitourinary cancer: evidence gathered in 2014.

This review provides updated information published in 2014 regarding advances and major achievements in genitourinary cancer. Sections include the best in prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and germ cell tumors. In the field of prostate cancer, data related to treatment approach of hormone-sensitive disease, castrate-resistant prostate cancer, mechanisms of resistance, new drugs, and molecular research are presented. In relation to renal cancer, relevant aspects in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, immunotherapy, and molecular research, including angiogenesis and von Hippel-Lindau gene, molecular biology of non-clear cell histologies, and epigenetics of clear renal cell cancer are described. New strategies in the management of muscle-invasive localized bladder cancer and metastatic disease are reported as well as salient findings of biomolecular research in urothelial cancer. Some approaches intended to improve outcomes in poor prognosis patients with metastatic germ cell cancer are also reported. Results of clinical trials in these areas are discussed.

Prognostic evaluation of febrile neutropenia in apparently stable adult cancer patients.

UNLABELLED: ` BACKGROUND: Predictive models to identify low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) have been developed with heterogeneous samples, which included stable and unstable patients, solid tumours, acute leukaemia and bone marrow transplantation. These models fail to recognise 5-15% of cases with unexpected complications, and literature specifically addressing apparently stable patients (ASPs) is scarce. METHODS: We reviewed 861 episodes of FN in outpatients with solid tumours, including 692 (80%) episodes with apparent clinical stability. We aimed to investigate the prognosis of this latter group and explore the possibility of stratifying it according to the presenting features. A case-control study was performed and the MASCC index was evaluated. RESULTS: The rates of complications and bacteraemia in ASPs were 7.3% and 6.2%, respectively. The MASCC index yielded a low sensitivity to detect complications (36%). Prognostic factors were identified: ECOG performance status ≥2, chronic bronchitis, chronic heart failure, stomatitis NCI grade ≥2, monocytes <200 mm(-3) and stress hyperglycaemia. CONCLUSION: A very simple assessment is useful to classify the patients with FN according to the risk of complications. A few additional variables may predict the clinical course of the patients. We additionally show that the MASCC index applied to this specific group has a low sensitivity to predict complications.

SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (2020).

The treatment of advanced prostate cancer has evolved due to recent advances in molecular research and new drug development. Dynamic aberrations in the androgen receptor, DNA repair genes, PTEN-PI3K, and other pathways drive the behavior of advanced prostate cancer allowing a better selection of therapies in each patient. Tumor testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 is recommended for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, also considering a broad panel to guide decisions and genetic counseling. In symptomatic metastatic patients, castration should be stared to palliate symptoms and prolong survival. In high-risk or high-volume metastatic hormone-naïve patients, castration should be combined with docetaxel, abiraterone, enzalutamide or apalutamide. Radiotherapy to the primary tumor combined with systemic therapy is recommended in low-volume mHNPC patients. In patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant tumors, risk stratification can define the frequency of imaging. Adding enzalutamide, darolutamide or apalutamide to these patients prolongs metastasis-free and overall survival, but potential adverse events need to be taken into consideration. The choice of docetaxel, abiraterone or enzalutamide for treating metastatic castration-resistant patients depends on previous therapies, with cabazitaxel being also recommended after docetaxel. Olaparib is recommended in BRCA1/BRCA2 mutated castration-resistant patients after progression on at least one new hormonal therapy. Aggressive variants of prostate cancer respond to platinum-based chemotherapy. To optimize treatment efficiency, oncologists should incorporate all of these advances into an overall therapeutic strategy.

Latest progress in molecular biology and treatment in genitourinary tumours.

The management of genitourinary cancer, including bladder, prostate, renal and testicular cancer, has evolved dramatically in recent years due to a better understanding of tumour genetic mutations, alterations in molecular pathways, and to the development of new kinds of drugs such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. In the field of immunotherapy, new drugs focused on stimulating, enhancing and modulating the immune system to detect and destroy cancer, have been recently discovered. Research in oncology moves quickly and new data of great relevance for clinical practice are communicated every year. For this reason, a group of experts, focused exclusively on the treatment of genitourinary tumours and who get together every year in the BestGU conference to assess the latest progress in this field have summarized the most important advances in a single review, along with a critical assessment of whether these results should alter daily clinical practice.

Platelet-lymphocyte and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios are prognostic but not predictive of response to abiraterone acetate in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Recently neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to be inflammatory parameters that confer poorer outcome in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCPRPC). However, these ratios have not been analyzed in patients treated with abiraterone acetate. We explored the relationship between different values of PLR and NLR and survival in mCPRCP treated with abiraterone and their possible relation with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) response. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 101 patients with mCRPC treated with abiraterone from January of 2012 to November of 2015 in two different hospitals. A cut-off value of 5 for NLR and 150 for PLR were used to compare survival by Kaplan-Meier method. Moreover, an association between these cut-off values and the PSA response was analyzed by a χ 2 test. RESULTS: In the case of NLR, the median DFS were 12, 1 months for NLR <5 and 7 months for NLR ≥5, p = 0.061. The median OS were 23.9 months for NLR <5 and 16.3 months for NLR ≥5, p = 0.046. In the case of PLR, the median DFS were 11.8 months for PLR <150 and 10.6 months for PLR ≥150, p = 0.549. The median OS were 27.4 months for PLR <150 and 15.9 months for PLR ≥150, p = 0.005. It was not observed a correlation between the different cut-off values of PLR or NLR and a PSA response ≥25% (p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: It is shown a better prognostic relationship between PLR and NLR low values and OS that is statistically significant in mCPRC patients treated with abiraterone. Furthermore, it was not shown a relation between PLR and NLR values and PSA response.

SEOM clinical guidelines for the management of germ cell testicular cancer (2016).

Testicular cancer represents the most common malignancy in males aged 15-34 years and is considered a model of curable neoplasm. Maintaining success, reducing treatment burden, and focusing on survivorship are then key objectives. Inguinal orchiectomy is the first recommended maneuver that has both diagnostic and therapeutic aims. Most patients are diagnosed with stage I disease (confined to the testicle). Close surveillance and selective, short-course adjuvant chemotherapy are accepted alternatives for these cases. In patients with more advanced disease (stages II and III), 3-4 courses of cisplatin-based chemotherapy (according to IGCCCG risk classification) followed by the judicious surgical removal of residual masses represent the cornerstone of therapy. Poor-risk patients and those failing a first-line therapy should be referred to specialized tertiary centers. Paclitaxel-based conventional chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy plus autologous hematopoietic support can cure a proportion of patients with relapsing or refractory disease.

Synchronous versus metachronous brain metastasis from testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT): an analysis from the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group data base.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) are a rare event. Prognostic is poor and there is not much evidence on optimal management of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of case records of germ cell tumor patients within the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group data base from 1994 to 2012 was conducted. RESULTS: Thirty-three out of 6,200 cases (0.5 %). Nineteen patients (57 %) group 1: synchronous, 13 (40 %) group 2: metachronous and only one developed brain metastasis during cisplatin-based chemotherapy (excluded from the analysis). Median serum BHCG levels at initial diagnosis was higher in group 1, whereas elevated AFP serum levels were more common in group 2. Histology in the primary tumor: chorionic carcinoma for group 1 versus embryonal carcinoma for group 2. Mainly solitary brain metastasis in group 2 (54 versus 21 %, respectively). The median overall survival from the diagnosis of central nervous system involvement was 16 months for group 1 (CI 95 % 13.9-18) and 23 months (95 % CI 0-165) for group 2 (log rank p = 0.84). Long-term survivors were practically identical in the two groups (38.9 % group 1 versus 38.5 % group 2). Regardless of the timing of brain metastasis, those patients that achieved complete response to the treatment had better survival (log rank p 0.003). CONCLUSION: Although some distinctive clinical characteristics have been found between patients with synchronous versus metachronous brain metastasis from TGCT, the timing of brain metastasis did not seem to have prognostic influence, but due to the retrospective nature of the analysis and the results should be interpreted with caution.

Adjuvant therapy with bemiparin in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer: results from the ABEL study.

INTRODUCTION: The haemostatic system plays an important role in the process of cancer development and spread. Anticoagulants, mainly low molecular weight heparins, could prolong survival in cancer patients, particularly in patients with lung cancer, beyond prevention of thromboembolic events. METHODS: In a multicenter, investigator-initiated, open-label, randomized, sequential study, 38 patients with newly-diagnosed, limited-stage small-cell lung cancer were randomized to receive standard chemoradiotherapy or the same therapy plus 3,500 IU daily of bemiparin for a maximum of 26 weeks. The primary outcome was progression-free survival. RESULTS: The study was terminated early due to slow recruitment. Median progression-free survival was 272 days with chemoradiotherapy alone and 410 days in the bemiparin group; hazard ratio, 2.58 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-5.80); p=0.022. Median overall survival was 345 days with chemoradiotherapy alone and 1133 days in the bemiparin group; hazard ratio, 2.96 (95% CI, 1.22-7.21); p=0.017. The rate of tumor response was similar in both study arms. There was no significant between-group difference in the rates of major bleeding. Toxicity related with the experimental treatment was minimal. CONCLUSION: The addition of bemiparin to first line therapy with chemoradiotherapy significantly increases survival in patients with newly-diagnosed, limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. (Funded by the Instituto Científico y Tecnológico, University of Navarra. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00324558).

Coexistence of two rare sarcomas: primary leiomyosarcoma of bone and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver.

A 33-year-old woman sought medical attention for a painful swelling of the left ankle. Plain radiographs revealed an osteolytic lesion involving the left distal tibia. An excisional biopsy provided the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma in the tibia. A staging work-up was performed and an abdominal CT showed 4 liver hypodense lesions in both lobes with peripheral contrast enhancement. A liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver. No association between these two entities has been described before. This case introduces the importance of the pathological confirmation of apparent metastatic lesions in low grade sarcomas and provides a review of the literature of both tumours.