Eribulin in Patients with Liposarcoma and Leiomyosarcoma: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and heterogenous malignancies with a poor prognosis in advanced disease stages. Eribulin is used in metastatic liposarcoma (LPS) patients, who have failed first-line chemotherapy and has been approved for use in patients with LPS in the USA and Europe due to its efficacy in this histological subtype in a phase 3 trial. We have evaluated efficacy and tolerability of eribulin in LPS and leiomyosarcoma (LMS) patients in the routine clinical setting at our department. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center analysis, efficacy and safety of eribulin were retrospectively evaluated in advanced LPS and LMS patients at the Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna. RESULTS: A total of 32 adult patients treated with eribulin were identified and included in this analysis. Overall response rate was 9.4% for all patients, with one patient with LPS and two patients with LMS showing a partial response. Disease control rate (partial response plus stable disease) for all patients was 50% (LPS: 47.1%; LMS 53.3%). No statistically significant difference in median progression-free survival and overall survival was detected between patients with LPS and LMS (p = 0.807 and p = 0.519, respectively). Patients with LMS (n = 2) had received fewer previous therapy lines than patients with LPS (n = 14) (≤ previous treatment lines, p < 0.001). Toxicity was generally manageable, and grade 3 + 4 events were rare. CONCLUSION: The activity and tolerability of eribulin in LPS as in well in LMS patients in the routine clinical setting is comparable to outcomes reported in published phase 3 trials.

Chemotherapy With Eribulin Following Potentially Curative Surgery in Patients With Localized Liposarcoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and heterogenous malignancies with high recurrence rates following resection and a poor prognosis in advanced stages. Eribulin is used in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma patients, who have failed first line chemotherapy and has been approved for patients with pretreated advanced liposarcoma (LPS) in the United States and Europe following the publication of data of a phase III trial. In addition, no data are available for eribulin as postoperative treatment after potentially curative surgery. We, thus, retrospectively evaluated efficacy and tolerability of adjuvant eribulin in patients with LPS not suitable for intensive chemotherapy in the routine clinical setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective single center analysis, efficacy and safety of eribulin were retrospectively evaluated in five high risk LPS patients. RESULTS: Eribulin as treatment was administered to five patients with LPS following surgical resection. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 12.3 months and 44.3 months, respectively. Toxicity was generally manageable, and grade 3+4 events were rare. CONCLUSION: Postoperative eribulin may be feasible in selected high risk LPS patients, who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy regimens. Further prospective trials, however, are needed.

D-dimer levels over time after anticoagulation and the association with recurrent venous thromboembolism.

INTRODUCTION: D-dimer measured shortly after discontinuation of anticoagulation by an immunoturbidimetric assay predicts the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). We assessed the performance of this assay over time and its association with recurrent VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed 556 patients with a first VTE for a median of 9.6 years. The study end point was recurrent VTE. D-dimer was measured 3 weeks, and 3, 9, and 15 months after discontinuation of anticoagulation in plasma using an immunoturbidimetric assay (INNOVANCE D-Dimer). To estimate the effect of longitudinal D-dimer on the recurrence risk, we used a dynamic prediction Cox model with landmark times (3 weeks, and 3, 9, 15 months) as a stratification factor. RESULTS: 135 patients had recurrent VTE. D-dimer levels varied between patients but without a consistent pattern. Levels increased slightly over time [0.7% increase (95% CI: 0.5-0.9; p < 0.001)/month]. D-dimer levels were positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) [2% (95% CI: 1.1-2.9; p < 0.001) increase/1 unit BMI increase], and were 14.8% (95% CI: 5.1-25.3; p = 0.002) higher in women than in men. The recurrence risk with doubling D-dimer levels was higher after 3 weeks, 3, 9 and 15 months [hazard ratios 1.4 (1.06-1.84), 1.37 (1.06-1.77), 1.31 (1.04-1.65) and 1.26 (1.01-1.57), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a first VTE, immunoturbidimetric D-dimer levels are associated with the risk of recurrence at multiple times points from 3 weeks up to 15 months after discontinuation of oral anticoagulation.

MicroRNA Signatures in Plasma of Patients With Venous Thrombosis: A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and potentially fatal disease, but its pathophysiology is incompletely understood. microRNAs (miR) dysregulate hemostatic proteins and influence thrombotic pathology by posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Consensus in defining VTE-related miR clusters and functionally relevant miR has not been reached. We aimed to generate a miR database in patients at high thrombotic risk of VTE and explored their biological functions by seeking information on their messenger RNA targets. METHODS: By high-throughput screening (Affymetrix miRNA Microarray), we identified 159 miR in venous blood of male patients who had two unprovoked VTE and in age-matched male controls. RESULTS: Of the 159 miR, 41 were significantly higher expressed in patients compared to controls. Six miR (hsa-miR-6798-3p, hsa-miR-6789-5p hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-6765-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-4734) were modulated ≥ 5.0-fold higher. Higher expression levels of 4 of these miR (hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-6765-5p, and hsa-miR-6816-5p; primers were unavailable for hsa-miR-6798-3p and hsa-miR-4734) were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 10 independent patients and 10 control samples. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified 23 altered miR including hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-6765-5p and hsa-miR-4734 as the main regulators of messenger RNAs involved in the pathology of VTE. Seven messenger RNA targets including thrombomodulin and four targets related to platelet function had a direct relationship to 4 identified miR. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence of distinct, independently validated miR signatures in patients with VTE and identified a subset of miR as main regulators of messenger RNA involved in disorders related to pathophysiologic processes in venous thrombosis development.

Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) With Initially Localized and Metastatic Bone Sarcomas: A Retrospective Single Center Analysis of Side Effect Management.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ewing sarcoma (ES) and osteosarcomas (OSA) are the most common bone tumor types in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Therapy management of these tumors consists of preoperative chemotherapy, operation, and postoperative chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of EURAMOS-A and EURO E.W.I.N.G. protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 31 patients between 18 and 39 years of age with ES and OSA treated at the Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology. Patients with ES were treated according the EURO E.W.I.N.G protocol, whereas patients with OSA according to the EURAMOS-1 protocol. RESULTS: Most frequent tumor sites for ES were thorax and pelvis, each 33%. Eight patients had initially localized disease (67%). A median of 3 cycles of full dose chemotherapy could be administered. Nine patients had a dose reduction (75%). Most common reason for dose reduction was prolonged aplasia (67%). Overall response rate (ORR) was 33%. For OSA patients, the most frequent tumor site was the lower extremity (58%). Sixteen patients (84%) had initially localized disease. A median of only 9 cycles of EURAMOS-1 in full dose could be administered. Most common reason for dose reduction was elevated methotrexate level (53%) and ORR was 90%. CONCLUSION: The two studied protocols were well-tolerated in the AYA patients included in this study. Dose reductions instead of dose delays should be considered when side effects occur.

Differential Effects of Clopidogrel With or Without Aspirin on Platelet Reactivity and Coagulation Activation: A Randomized Trial in Healthy Volunteers.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is standard in acute coronary syndrome but confers a bleeding risk. To compare effects of clopidogrel single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) with clopidogrel-based DAPT on hemostatic system activation we conducted a randomized clinical trial in 44 volunteers (clopidogrel (d1: 600 mg, d2-6: 150 mg) ± aspirin (100 mg)). Multiple electrode aggregometry-adenosine diphosphate (MEA-ADP) and MEA-arachidonic acid (MEA-AA) triggered aggregometry, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), beta thromboglobulin, p-selectin, thromboxane B2 , d-Dimer, prothrombin fragment 1.2 (f1.2), and a phospholipid-dependent clotting time were measured in venous blood. Changes are described by mean differences (Δmean (95% confidence interval (CI)) or geometric mean ratios (95% CI)). DAPT and SAPT comparably and significantly decreased MEA-ADP at 2 hours (-60% vs. -63%; P = 0.35, Δmean -4.9, 95% CI -15.4 to 5.5). At 24 hours (-59% vs. -47%, P = 0.04, Δmean -11.1, 95% CI -21.7 to -0.4]) and 8 days (-61% vs. -53%, P = 0.04, Δmean -11.3, 95% CI -22.0 to -0.6). Both treatments significantly reduced VASP and MEA-AA after 2 hours and 8 days. DAPT inhibited MEA-AA significantly stronger at 2 hours (-77% vs. -30%; P < 0.0001, Δmean -39.6, 95% CI -54.2 to -25.0), at 24 hours (-80% vs. -27%, P < 0.0001, Δmean -47.8, 95% CI -62.3 to -33.3), and 8 days (-79% vs. -27%, P < 0.0001, Δmean -48.9, 95% CI -62.5 to -35.4). Neither treatment significantly influenced beta thromboglobulin or p-selectin. DAPT abolished and SAPT reduced thromboxane B2 after 24 hours and 8 days. The d-Dimer was reduced by DAPT (0.94, 95% CI 0.89-1.00, P = 0.04) at 2 hours but not after 24 hours and 8 days. SAPT did not decrease d-Dimer. Neither treatment affected f1.2. DAPT and SAPT comparably affect platelet and coagulation activation in venous blood.

Risk of venous thromboembolism during rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of thrombosis and bleeding. Data on the risks during rehabilitation are inconsistent, and thromboprophylactic strategies are heterogeneous. We aimed to evaluate the thrombotic risk and bleeding events of SCI patients during rehabilitation. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospital record data of 263 consecutive SCI patients admitted at a rehabilitation clinic. 78 patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) at the primary center, without acute trauma or lower extremity paresis, less than one month rehabilitation, or reasons for long-term therapeutic anticoagulation, were excluded. All patients received pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis throughout rehabilitation. Primary endpoint was objectively diagnosed VTE; secondary endpoint was bleeding. RESULTS: Of 185 patients, 162 (88%) were men; mean age was 47.8 years. 94 patients were tetraplegic, 91 paraplegic. During a mean (±SD) time of 5.1±2.1 months, VTE was diagnosed in 8 patients. After excluding five patients with VTE detected within 2 days after admission, the probability of developing VTE after 6 months of rehabilitation was 2% (95% CI 0-4.4%). Only high D-Dimer upon admission was associated with risk of VTE (adjusted HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-4.1). Of 24 bleedings, 14 (64%) occurred at the heparin injection site. Two patients had major bleeding and five had clinically relevant non major bleeding. CONCLUSION: SCI patients are at risk of VTE and bleeding during rehabilitation. Strategies need to be developed to identify these patients in order to initiate adequate anticoagulation. Direct oral anticoagulants, which have a favourable risk-benefit profile and are convenient, should be explored.