Hormonal prostate cancer therapies and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

Therapeutic intervention for prostate cancer mostly relies on eliminating circulating androgen or antagonizing its effect at the cellular level. As the use of endocrine therapies grows, an under-reported incidence of cardiovascular toxicities occurs in prostate cancer patients. In this review, we summarize data of clinical studies, investigating the cardiovascular and metabolic alterations associated with the use of old and new endocrine drugs (gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] agonists and antagonists, androgen receptor inhibitors, 17α-hydroxylase/c-17,20-lyase [CYP17] inhibitor) in prostate cancer. To date, studies looking for links between cardiovascular complications and hormone-mediated therapies in prostate cancer have reached conflicting results. Several confounding factors, such as age of patients and related cardiovascular liability, other comorbidities, and use of concomitant drugs, have to be carefully evaluated in future clinical trials. Further research is needed given the continuous advancements being made in prostate cancer treatment.

Palonosetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in glioblastoma patients treated with temozolomide: a phase II study.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a side effect related to administration of the adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) in patients affected by glioblastoma. After chemoradiotherapy, adjuvant TMZ is administered as an oral multiple-day regimen, and TMZ-associated CINV may interfere with the continuation of chemotherapy, with potentially negative consequences on clinical efficacy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of palonosetron for prevention of CINV-induced by adjuvant TMZ. METHODS: From March 2007 to August 2008, 33 patients with confirmed glioblastoma and eligible for adjuvant treatment with TMZ were enrolled in the study. All patients with responding or stable disease after concomitant radiotherapy plus daily TMZ (75 mg/m(2)) received a single i.v. bolus 0.25 mg of palonosetron 30 min before the beginning of adjuvant TMZ (150-200 mg/m(2)/day for five consecutive days every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with complete response (CR), defined as no emetic episodes and no rescue medication during the overall phase (0-168 h). Secondary endpoints included CR during the 0-120 h and 0-168 h phases and complete control (CC; CR and no more than mild nausea) during the 0-120 h, 120-168 h, and 0-168 h phases. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study (median age 57.6 years, 23 male and 10 female, median Karnofsky Performance Status = 80). Each patient was receiving fixed doses of dexamethasone (range 2-8 mg/day). CR in the 0-120 h, 120-168 h, and 0-168 h phases was seen in 91% of patients. CC was observed in 88%, 91%, and 88% of cases during the 0-120 h, 120-168 h, and 0-168 h phases, respectively. Anti-emetic prophylaxis with palonosetron was well tolerated and the most frequent adverse event was grade 1-2 headache reported by seven patients (21%). CONCLUSION: A single dose of palonosetron before the initiation of multiple oral doses of TMZ, in patients on treatment with steady doses of dexamethasone, provides a high protection against CINV throughout the overall phase (0-168 h). The pharmacological profile of palonosetron, compared to first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, may have an impact on its clinical efficacy.

[Analysis of the European Consensus on the treatment of opioid-induced constipation analgesic drugs.] / Analisi del consensus europeo sul trattamento della stipsi indotta da farmaci analgesici oppiacei.

Until recently, conclusive data on clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapy of the opioid-induced constipation (OIC) were not available. Lately, some phase II and III prospective studies, evaluating the efficay of several old and new laxatives in cancer and non-cancer patients, make their mechanisms of action easier to understand and lead healthcare institutions to determine homogeneous guidelines for OIC, with the use of diagnostic and treatment algorithms. On May 2018, management recommendations from a panel of 7 European experts on OIC was published on United European Gastroenterology Journal. They discussed on different aspects of OIC: (a) definitions and diagnostic criteria; (b) pathophysiology; (c) clinical evaluation; (d) patient reported outcome measures; (e) initial standard laxatives; (f) specific treatments; (g) pragmatic recommendations. Later, a multi-disciplinary panel consisting of experts in neurogastroenterology, oncology and palliative medicine gave their external input. This statement will help clinicians to harmoniously treat OIC, according to clear guidelines, resulted from phase II and III prospective studies. Nevertheless, the constipation is rarely due to opioids consumption alone. More often, different factors contribute to induce constipation, including diet, immobility, other drugs, pain during evacuation, comorbidities, gastrointestinal obstacles, especially in advanced cancer patients. Therefore, management of OIC always needs to be tailored to the individual patient based on their overall clinical picture.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as third-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of urothelial tract: results of a phase II study.

Until the recent approval of vinflunine, no standard second-line chemotherapy existed for advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Few data exist about third-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Although administered in up-front regimens, anthracyclines were never evaluated beyond second-line treatment. This study assessed the activity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with advanced TCC previously treated with two chemotherapy regimens. From May 2005 to June 2009, 23 patients with metastatic TCC were recruited: median age was 62 years (49-76 years) with a median ECOG PS of 1. Patients received PLD 35 mg/m(2) every 21 days. All patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. No patient showed complete response. Three patients (13 %) had partial response; seven patients (30 %) showed stable disease for a disease control rate of 43 %. The median time to progression (TTP) was 4.1 months with a median survival time (MST) of 6.3 months. Treatment was well tolerated: no patient developed grade 4 toxicities. This is the first study which evaluated the role of anthracyclines as third-line chemotherapy in metastatic TCC. Despite its manageable profile of toxicity, PLD showed modest activity. Beyond second-line chemotherapy, supportive care still represents the best therapeutic option for patients with metastatic TCC.