VITAL phase 2 study: Upfront 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin-C, panitumumab and radiotherapy treatment in nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the anal canal (GEMCAD 09-02).

AIM: VITAL, a phase II single-arm study, aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of panitumumab addition to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin-C (MMC) and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with localized squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCAC). METHODS: Adult, treatment-naïve SCCAC patients (Stage T2-T4, any N, M0) and ECOG-PS ≤2, received panitumumab (6 mg/kg, day 1 and Q2W; 8 weeks), 5-FU (1000 mg/m2 /d, days 1-4 and 29-32), MMC (10 mg/m2 , days 1 and 29) and RT 45 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction) to the primary tumor and mesorectal, iliac and inguinal lymph nodes, plus 10-15 Gy boost dose to the primary tumor and affected lymph nodes. The primary objective was disease free survival rate (DFS) at 3-years (expected 3-year DFS rate: 73.7 ± 12%). RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients (31 women; median age: 59 years; ECOG-PS 0-1:98%; TNM II [29%] (T2 or T3/N0/M0)/IIIA (T1-T3/N1/M0 or T4/N0/M0) [21%]/IIIB (T4/N1/M0 or any T/N2 or N3/M0) [47%]/nonevaluable [4%]) were included. The median follow-up was 45 months. The 3-year DFS rate was 61.1% (95% CI: 47.1, 72.4). The 3-year overall survival rate was 78.4% (95% CI: 65.1, 87.1). Eighteen patients (31.0%) required a colostomy within 2 years posttreatment. Grade 3-4 toxicities were experienced by 53 (91%) patients. Most common grade 3-4 treatment-related events were radiation skin injury (40%) and neutropenia (24%). No toxic deaths occurred. Improved efficacy in colostomy-free survival and complete response rate was observed in human papilloma virus positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Panitumumab addition to MMC-5FU regimen in SCCAC patients increases toxicity and does not improve patients' outcomes. RT plus MMC-5FU remains the standard of care for localized SCCAC patients.

Prevention of oral mucositis secondary to antineoplastic treatments in head and neck cancer by supplementation with oral glutamine.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in the prevention of the incidence of oral mucositis secondary to cancer therapies in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Secondary objectives were to know the incidence of odynophagia, interruptions of treatment and the requirements of analgesia and nasogastric tube. MATERIAL AND METHODS: prospective cohort study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of HNC treated with radiotherapy ± concomitant chemotherapy. We compared 131 patients receiving glutamine orally at a dose of 10 g/8 hours with 131 patients who did not receive it. RESULTS: patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 1.78 times higher of mucositis (95% CI [1.01-3.16], p = 0.047). Regarding odynophagia, patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 2.87 times higher (95% CI [1.62-5.18], p = 0.0003). The 19.8% of patients who did not take glutamine discontinued treatment versus6.9% of patients who took (p = 0.002). Regarding support requirements, 87.8% of patients without glutamine required analgesia versus 77.9% of patients with glutamine (p = 0.03) and nasogastric tube was indicated in 9.9% and 3.1% respectively (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: oral glutamine in patients receiving cancer treatments for HNC prevents the incidence of oral mucositis and odynophagia, and decreases treatment interruptions and the use of analgesia and nasogastric tube.

Prevention of oral mucositis secondary to antineoplastic treatments in head and neck cancer by supplementation with oral glutamine / Prevención de la mucositis oral secundaria a los tratamientos antineoplásicos en el cáncer de cabeza y cuello mediante suplemento con glutamina oral

Objectives: to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in the prevention of the incidence of oral mucositis secondary to cancer therapies in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Secondary objectives were to know the incidence of odynophagia, interruptions of treatment and the requirements of analgesia and nasogastric tube. Material and methods: prospective cohort study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of HNC treated with radiotherapy ± concomitant chemotherapy. We compared 131 patients receiving glutamine orally at a dose of 10 g/8 hours with 131 patients who did not receive it. Results: patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 1.78 times higher of mucositis (95% CI [1.01-3.16], p = 0.047). Regarding odynophagia, patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 2.87 times higher (95% CI [1.62-5.18], p = 0.0003). The 19.8% of patients who did not take glutamine discontinued treatment versus 6.9% of patients who took (p = 0.002). Regarding support requirements, 87.8% of patients without glutamine required analgesia versus 77.9% of patients with glutamine (p = 0.03) and nasogastric tube was indicated in 9.9% and 3.1% respectively (p = 0.02). Conclusion: oral glutamine in patients receiving cancer treatments for HNC prevents the incidence of oral mucositis and odynophagia, and decreases treatment interruptions and the use of analgesia and nasogastric tube

Objetivos: evaluar la eficacia de la glutamina en la prevención de la incidencia de mucositis secundaria a las terapias oncológicas en pacientes con carcinoma de cabeza y cuello. Los objetivos secundarios fueron conocer la incidencia de odinofagia e interrupciones de los tratamientos y los requerimientos de analgesia y sonda nasogástrica. Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo de cohortes de pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de cabeza y cuello tratados con radioterapia ± quimioterapia concomitante. Se compararon 131 pacientes que recibieron glutamina oral a una dosis de 10 g/8 horas con 131 pacientes que no la recibieron. Resultados: los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina tuvieron una hazard ratio 1,78 veces mayor de mucositis (IC 95% [1,01-3,16], p = 0,047). Respecto a la odinofagia, los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina tuvieron una hazard ratio 2,87 veces mayor (IC 95% [1,62-5,18], p = 0,0003]. El 19,8% de los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina interrumpieron el tratamiento versus 6,9% de los pacientes que la tomaron (p = 0,002). En cuanto a los tratamientos de soporte, el 87,8% de los pacientes sin glutamina requirieron analgesia versus 77,9% de los pacientes con glutamina (p = 0,03) y la sonda nasogástrica fue indicada en un 9,9% y 3,1% respectivamente (p = 0,02). Conclusión: la glutamina oral en pacientes que reciben tratamiento por carcinoma de cabeza y cuello, previene la incidencia de mucositis oral y odinofagia y disminuye las interrupciones de tratamientos y el uso de analgesia y sonda nasogástrica