Chronic fatigue in childhood cancer survivors is associated with lifestyle and psychosocial factors; a DCCSS LATER study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with chronic fatigue (CF) in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were included from the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (DCCSS) LATER cohort, a nationwide cohort of CCS (≥5 years after diagnosis) and siblings as controls. Fatigue severity was assessed with the 'fatigue severity subscale' of the Checklist Individual Strength ('CIS-fatigue'). CF was defined as scoring ≥35 on the 'CIS-fatigue' and having fatigue symptoms for ≥6 months. Twenty-four parameters were assessed, categorized into assumed fatigue triggering, maintaining and moderating factors. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to investigate the association of these factors with CF. RESULTS: A total of 1927 CCS participated in the study (40.7% of invited cohort), of whom 23.6% reported CF (compared with 15.6% in sibling controls, P < 0.001). The following factors were associated with CF: obesity [versus healthy weight, odds ratio (OR) 1.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30-2.87], moderate physical inactivity (versus physical active, OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.67-3.34), poor sleep (yes versus no, OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.54-2.68), (sub)clinical anxiety (yes versus no, OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.10-2.19), (sub)clinical depression (yes versus no, OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.20-3.59), pain (continuous, OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.33-1.66), self-esteem (continuous, OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.92-0.98), helplessness (continuous, OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.08-1.19), social functioning (continuous, OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-0.99) and female sex (versus male sex, OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.36-2.37). CONCLUSION: CF is a prevalent symptom in CCS that is associated with several assumed maintaining factors, with lifestyle and psychosocial factors being the most prominent. These are modifiable factors and may therefore be beneficial to prevent or reduce CF in CCS.

Late endocrine effects after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with nonmalignant diseases.

The number of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for nonmalignant diseases has increased in recent years. Endocrine complications are common after HSCT for malignant diseases, while little is known about long-term prevalence and risk factors in children transplanted for nonmalignant diseases. We retrospectively evaluated gonadal function, near adult height and thyroid function in 197 survivors of pediatric HSCT for hemoglobinopathies (n = 66), inborn errors of immunity/metabolism (n = 74) and bone marrow failure disorders (n = 57); median follow-up was 6.2 years (range 3.0-10.5). Gonadal dysfunction occurred in 55% of (post)pubertal females, was still present at last assessment in 43% and was more common after busulfan- than treosulfan-based conditioning (HR 10.6, CI 2.2-52.7; adjusted for HSCT indication). Gonadal dysfunction occurred in 39% of (post)pubertal males, was still present at last assessment in 32% and was less common in those who were prepubertal compared to (post)pubertal at HSCT (HR 0.11; CI 0.05-0.21). Near adult height was more than 2 SDS below mean parental height in 21% of males and 8% of females. Hypothyroidism occurred in 16% of patients; 4% received thyroxin treatment. In conclusion, endocrine complications, especially gonadal dysfunction, are common after pediatric HSCT for nonmalignant conditions. In females, treosulfan seems less gonadotoxic than busulfan. Careful long-term endocrine follow-up is indicated.

Health-related quality of life in Dutch adult survivors of childhood cancer: A nation-wide cohort study.

AIM: To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Dutch adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and to identify risk factors of impaired HRQOL. METHODS: Adult CCS (age >18, diagnosed <18, ≥5 years since diagnosis) from the Dutch LATER registry completed the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) to measure HRQOL and provided sociodemographic characteristics. Age-adjusted mean SF-36 scale scores of CCS were compared to the Dutch general population for men and women separately using t-tests, with effect size d. Multivariate logistic regression models were built to identify sociodemographic and cancer-related risk factors for impaired physical and mental HRQOL. RESULTS: Both male and female CCS (N = 2301, mean age = 35.4 years, 49.6% female) reported significantly (p ≤ .005) worse HRQOL than the general population on almost all scales of the SF-36 (-.11 ≤ d ≤ -.56). Largest differences were found on vitality and general health perceptions. Significant risk factors (p ≤ .05) for impaired physical HRQOL were female sex, older age at diagnosis, not having a partner, low educational attainment, disease recurrence and exposure to radiotherapy, specifically to lower extremity radiation. Odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.6 to 3.7. Significant risk factors for impaired mental HRQOL were age 26-35 years, male sex, not having a partner and low educational attainment. ORs ranged from 1.3 to 2.0. CONCLUSION: Adult CCS had worse HRQOL than the general population. CCS most at risk were those with low educational attainment and without a partner. Adult CCS could benefit from routine surveillance of their HRQOL. Special attention for CCS' vitality and health perceptions and beliefs is warranted.

Permanent diffuse alopecia after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood.

Permanent alopecia after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is distressing and few studies have investigated this late effect. The aim of the study was to assess the percentage of patients with alopecia and investigate risk factors for alopecia. Patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT before age 19 years, from January 1990 to January 2013, who were at least 2 years after transplant and in follow-up in our clinic were included. Alopecia was defined as clinically apparent decreased hair density. Possible risk factors considered for alopecia after HSCT included: gender, age, diagnosis, donor type, conditioning regimen: cranial irradiation (TBI/cranial radiotherapy) and/or chemotherapy, which chemotherapeutic agents were used and acute/chronic GvHD. The percentage of permanent alopecia in our cohort was 15.6% (41/263 patients). All patients had diffuse alopecia except for one with alopecia totalis. In multivariate analysis, a conditioning regimen with busulphan and busulphan plus fludarabine (odds ratio (OR) 5.7 (confidence interval (CI): 2.5-12.7) and OR 7.4 (CI: 3.3-16.2), respectively, was the main risk factor and associated with alopecia independent of acute/chronic GvHD. Neither TBI nor other alkylating chemotherapy, including treosulfan, was associated with alopecia. In conclusion, permanent alopecia after HSCT is associated with busulphan and GvHD and occurs in 16% of patients.

The impact of drug administration sequence and pharmacokinetic interaction in a phase I study of the combination of docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Our objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of two administration sequences of docetaxel and gemcitabine in cancer patients, and to describe the pharmacokinetics of both drugs. Patients were treated in a 4-weekly schedule at two dose levels: gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15, and docetaxel 85 or 100 mg/m2 on day 15 (levels I and II). The protocol was amended to a 3-weekly schedule, testing gemcitabine 800 or 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, with docetaxel 85 mg/m2 on day 8 given initially (dose levels IIIa and IV). At the recommended dose, an extra cohort of patients initially received gemcitabine (dose level IIIb). Eleven patients were treated with the 4-week schedule; 29% of cycles were delayed predominantly because of hematological toxicity. Four patients developed dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), predominantly hematological. In the 3-week schedule, 14 patients were treated. At level IV, three of four patients developed DLTs, defining the MTD. With the reverse sequence, three patients received a total of 10 cycles. Overall, nine partial remissions were observed. We conclude the recommended dose for phase II studies is gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, combined with docetaxel 85 mg/m2 on day 8, on a 3-weekly schedule. Gemcitabine distribution is significantly altered upon docetaxel administration.

Phase I pharmacokinetic and sequence finding study of the combination of docetaxel and methotrexate in patients with solid tumours.

This phase I study was performed to assess the feasibility and possible enhanced antitumour activity of the sequential administration of methotrexate (MTX) and docetaxel (D) in patients with solid tumours. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction of the two agents. A total of 22 patients were enrolled, a total of six dose levels were investigated. MTX (days 1+15) 30, 40 and 50 mg/m(2)+D (day 2 or day 1) 75 and 85 mg/m(2) with supportive care measures. Both haematological and non-haematological toxicities were significant, preventing dose escalation above MTX 40 mg/m(2)+D 75 mg/m(2). Four partial responses were documented, three in patients with breast cancer, one in a patient with urothelial cell cancer. Pharmacokinetic data did not give an explanation for the significant toxicity as they revealed no interaction of D and MTX kinetics. Methotrexate and 7-OH MTX kinetics seemed to be independent of the administration of D and the moment of D administration appeared not to influence MTX kinetics. The sequential administration of MTX and D results in significant toxicity without any evidence of a clinical benefit.

Management of intermediate-prognosis germ-cell cancer: results of a phase I/II study of Taxol-BEP.

The standard chemotherapy regimen in metastatic germ-cell cancer is bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP). Chemotherapy studies testing cisplatin dosage and the substitution of ifosfamide for bleomycin have not shown this to be superior to BEP. Paclitaxel (Taxol) has demonstrated promising activity as a second-line treatment in patients with relapsing or cisplatin-refractory germ-cell cancer. Hence, the potential of incorporating paclitaxel in first-line chemotherapy should be investigated. We assessed the feasibility of the addition of paclitaxel to BEP (T-BEP) in a phase I/II study in patients with intermediate- or poor-prognosis germ-cell cancer or with carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). Paclitaxel was investigated at dose levels of 75, 125, 175 and 200 mg/m2 given as a 3 hr infusion on day 1, before the start of BEP. BEP comprised etoposide at a dose of either 120 mg/m2 on days 1, 3 and 5 or 100 mg/m2 on days 1-5. To deliver the highest possible dose of paclitaxel into BEP, all patients received filgrastim (G-CSF). Thirty patients were entered, 14 of whom had intermediate- (n = 7) or poor- (n = 7) prognosis germ-cell cancer. Paclitaxel up to 200 mg/m2 and BEP at 360 mg/m2 was well tolerated. There was minimal neurosensory and no neuromotor toxicity with the use of 4 T-BEP cycles. More pronounced myelotoxicity and diarrhea at the higher dose level of etoposide resulted in a recommended dose level for multicenter phase II/III testing of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and BEP 500 mg/m2. Of the 13 evaluable patients with intermediate- or poor-prognosis germ-cell cancer, all achieved complete response. With a median follow-up of 18 months, none of these patients has relapsed. We conclude that T-BEP is a well-tolerated induction regimen that should be further tested for its therapeutic potential. A randomized phase II/III study of T-BEP vs. BEP has been started as an EORTC trial in patients with intermediate-prognosis disease.

Pituitary insufficiency and regression of acromegaly caused by pituitary apoplexy following cerebral angiography.

Pituitary apoplexy as a complication of cerebral angiography has been described in only a few case reports. Some studies have reported the clinical resolution of active acromegaly after pituitary apoplexy. We present a patient with active acromegaly due to a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary macroadenoma, who developed anterior and posterior pituitary insufficiency following cerebral angiography. Furthermore, a significant reduction in tumour size was accompanied by normalization of mean 24 h in GH insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein 3 levels.