ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We present our data comparing retrospectively the efficacy of abiraterone and cabazitaxel in patients who progress after docetaxel treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 56 patients diagnosed with hormone‑refractory metastatic prostate cancer who were previously treated with abiraterone therapy at four oncology centers in Turkey. RESULTS: With abiraterone, the patients had a median progression‑free survival (PFS) of 5.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI) for hazard ratio (HR) (4.4–7.4)) and an overall survival of 13.4 months (95% CI for HR (5.5–21.3)). When we compared the disease‑free survival (DFS) of reference patients treated with cabazitaxel as a second‑line treatment with those receiving second‑line abiraterone therapy, there was no significant difference. (PFS = 5.9 months with cabazitaxel vs. 6.7 months with abiraterone, P = 0.213). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that in our experience abiraterone acetate is an effective agent in metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) regardless of the line of treatment.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Introduction of trastuzumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of HER‑2, is a cornerstone in the treatment of HER‑2+ breast carcinoma. However, many cancers that have an initial response to trastuzumab will progress some time later. After progression on trastuzumab‑based first‑line treatment, there are several options. Although TDM‑1 (Trastuzumab emtansine) has prolonged progression‑free survival (PFS) and overall survival in patients previously treated with trastuzumab and taxane, it is still not available in Turkey. Patients may be switched to lapatinib (an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting both HER‑1 and HER‑2), or they may re‑challenge with trastuzumab. There is no clear definition of the patients who should be switched to lapatinib. AIM: In this study, we investigated the factors predicting the efficacy of lapatinib. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Totally, 94 patients treated with lapatinib for metastatic breast carcinoma was included in our study. Retrospective data including pathology, treatments and treatment results, metastatic sites, and laboratory tests were collected. RESULTS: Progression‑free survival was 9.1 months. Histologic subtypes other than invasive ductal carcinoma and liver metastasis were inversely related with PFS. Overall survival was 22.1 months, and patients with histologic subtypes other than invasive ductal carcinoma and who progress with brain metastasis had a worse prognosis. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should give attention to histologic subtype and metastatic sites when choosing patients for lapatinib treatment.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the pathological complete response rates in a group of locally advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after treatment with induction folinic acid and 5‑florouracil (FOLFOX) chemotherapy and the relationship between the complete response and positron emission tomography‑computed tomography (PET‑CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The files of 239 patients who were diagnosed with rectal cancer between January 2008 and January 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Of these, there were 24 locally advanced rectal cancer patients who met the following criteria: They were administered CRT after receiving four courses induction oxaliplatin, FOLFOX and they underwent PET‑CT for staging and for the evaluation of their response to FOLFOX treatment. Of these 24 patients, 20 operable patients were included in the study. RESULTS: The pathological complete response was obtained in seven patients (35%) who were operated on and then given induction four courses FOLFOX chemotherapy and CRT. We determined that age, gender, clinical stage at diagnosis and PET‑CT before and after induction chemotherapy were not predictive of the pathological complete response to tumor fluorodeoxyglucose uptake activity. CONCLUSION: The rates of pathological complete response were increased in locally advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent short‑term induction chemotherapy. Although the PET‑CT has retained its importance in predicting pathological complete response, there is still a need for studies with a larger number of patients and long‑term follow‑ups.