Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma in the UK: insights from the RECCORD registry.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the RECCORD registry was to gather real-world UK data on the use of targeted therapies in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and assess clinical outcomes. Here, demographic and outcome data are presented with the treatment patterns and demographic profile of patients on the registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified at seven UK hospitals with large cancer centres in England (5), Scotland (1) and Wales (1). Anonymised data were collected through an online registry covering demographics, treatments and outcomes. Five hundred and fourteen UK adult patients with metastatic RCC were included in the study for analysis. Patients were included if they were treated for metastatic RCC at one of the seven centres, and started systemic anti-cancer treatment from March 2009 to November 2012 inclusive. In addition to demographic factors, the principal outcome measures were overall survival (OS), time to disease progression and toxicity. RESULTS: The majority of first-line treatment was with sunitinib; first-line use of pazopanib increased as the study progressed. 15.8% of patients received second-line treatment, half of whom were prescribed everolimus. Median OS (from initiation of first-line treatment) was 23.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 18.6-29.1 months), similar to that reported for clinical trials of targeted RCC therapies [Ljungberg B, Campbell SC, Choi HY et al. The epidemiology of renal cell carcinoma. Eur Urol 2011; 60: 615-621; Abe H, Kamai T. Recent advances in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Int J Urol 2013; 20: 944-955; Motzer RJ, Hutson TE, Tomczak P et al. Overall survival and updated results for sunitinib compared with interferon alfa in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 2009; 27: 3584-3590]. OS was significantly longer for those who received second-line treatment after disease progression (33.0 months; 95% CI 30.8-35.2 months) than those who did not (20.9 months; 95% CI 16.4-25.3 months; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: RECCORD is a large 'real-world' database assessing metastatic RCC treatment patterns and outcomes. Treatment patterns changed over time as targeted therapies were approved and became widely available; survival data in RECCORD are consistent with those reported for systemic treatments in clinical trials. Kaplan-Meier analysis of results demonstrated that receiving second-line therapy was a major prognostic factor for longer OS.

Axitinib versus sorafenib in advanced renal cell carcinoma: subanalyses by prior therapy from a randomised phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: In the AXIS trial, axitinib prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) vs sorafenib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) previously treated with sunitinib or cytokines. METHODS: In post hoc analyses, patients were grouped by objective response to prior therapy (yes vs no), prior therapy duration (< vs ⩾median), and tumour burden (baseline sum of the longest diameter < vs ⩾median). PFS and overall survival (OS), and safety by type and duration of prior therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: Response to prior therapy did not influence outcome with second-line axitinib or sorafenib. PFS was significantly longer in axitinib-treated patients who received longer prior cytokine treatment and sorafenib-treated patients with smaller tumour burden following sunitinib. Overall survival with the second-line therapy was longer in patients who received longer duration of prior therapy, although not significant in the sunitinib-to-axitinib sequence subgroup; OS was also longer in patients with smaller tumour burden, but not significant in the cytokine-to-axitinib sequence subgroup. Safety profiles differed modestly by type and duration of prior therapy. CONCLUSIONS: AXIS data suggest that longer duration of the first-line therapy generally yields better outcome with the second-line therapy and that lack of response to first-line therapy does not preclude positive clinical outcomes with a second-line vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted agent in patients with advanced RCC.

The Grb2 binding domain of mSos1 is not required for downstream signal transduction.

Cellular Ras proteins are activated primarily by specific guanine-nucleotide releasing factors such as the Son of Sevenless (Sos) proteins. This activation event is thought to occur in response to plasma membrane localization of a complex containing Sos and a small adapter protein Grb2. We have isolated a dominant mutant allele of mSos1 which transforms Rat1 cells, yet is no longer able to bind Grb2. Biochemical experiments reveal that the subcellular distribution of this truncated Sos protein is not altered with respect to the wild type Sos protein. These data argue against a role for Grb2 in the direct recruitment of Sos proteins to the plasma membrane and suggest that Grb2 may function to overcome negative regulation of Sos by its C terminus.

Stabilization of beta-catenin by genetic defects in melanoma cell lines.

Signal transduction by beta-catenin involves its posttranslational stabilization and downstream coupling to the Lef and Tcf transcription factors. Abnormally high amounts of beta-catenin were detected in 7 of 26 human melanoma cell lines. Unusual messenger RNA splicing and missense mutations in the beta-catenin gene (CTNNB1) that result in stabilization of the protein were identified in six of the lines, and the adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor protein (APC) was altered or missing in two others. In the APC-deficient cells, ectopic expression of wild-type APC eliminated the excess beta-catenin. Cells with stabilized beta-catenin contained a constitutive beta-catenin-Lef-1 complex. Thus, genetic defects that result in up-regulation of beta-catenin may play a role in melanoma progression.

Binding of GSK3beta to the APC-beta-catenin complex and regulation of complex assembly.

The adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC) is mutated in most colon cancers. The APC protein binds to the cellular adhesion molecule beta-catenin, which is a mammalian homolog of ARMADILLO, a component of the WINGLESS signaling pathway in Drosophila development. Here it is shown that when beta-catenin is present in excess, APC binds to another component of the WINGLESS pathway, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta), a mammalian homolog of Drosophila ZESTE WHITE 3. APC was a good substrate for GSK3 beta in vitro, and the phosphorylation sites were mapped to the central region of APC. Binding of beta-catenin to this region was dependent on phosphorylation by GSK3 beta.

Loss of beta-catenin regulation by the APC tumor suppressor protein correlates with loss of structure due to common somatic mutations of the gene.

The mutation cluster region in the APC gene defines a region of approximately 660 bp, in which the vast majority of its somatic mutations are found. These mutations disrupt the polypeptide chain, typically eliminating five of the seven repeated sequences of 20 amino acids (aa) each in the central region of the APC protein. To examine the relationship between loss of this structure and loss of function, we constructed APC deletion mutants that progressively truncated the protein across the mutation cluster region. The mutants were tested for their association with beta-catenin and their ability to down-regulate it in SW480 cells. The binding of beta-catenin to APC fragments required the inclusion of only a single 20-aa repeat sequence, whereas down-regulation required the presence of at least three of these repeat sequences, and those including the second repeat exhibited the highest activity. The mutation of three conserved serine residues in the second repeat greatly reduced the activity of an otherwise highly active APC fragment. Thus, the repeated 20-aa sequence is directly implicated in beta-catenin turnover. The elimination of at least five of these seven repeats due to somatic mutations suggests that loss of beta-catenin regulation by APC is selected for during tumor progression.

Induction of a beta-catenin-LEF-1 complex by wnt-1 and transforming mutants of beta-catenin.

Signal transduction by beta-catenin involves its posttranslational stabilization and import to the nucleus where it interacts with transcription factors. Recent implications for beta-catenin signaling in cancer prompted us to examine colon cancer cell lines for the expression of LEF-1, a transcription factor that binds to beta-catenin. The analysis of several cell lines revealed the expression of LEF1 mRNA and a constitutive association of the LEF-1 protein with beta-catenin. In contrast to the colon cells, PC12 and 293 cells did not contain a beta-catenin-LEF-1 complex, even though both proteins were detected in cell lysates. In these cells, the association of endogenous LEF1 and beta-catenin was induced by stimulation with the wnt-1 proto-oncogene. The complex formed following transient stimulation with wnt-1 and also persisted in cells stably expressing wnt-1. Ectopic overexpression of beta-catenin in 293 cells also induced the assembly of the beta-catenin-LEF-1 complex and activated gene transcription from a LEF-1-dependent promotor. Expression of mutant oncogenic forms of beta-catenin identified in cancer cells resulted in higher levels of transcriptional activity. The results suggest that a cancer pathway driven by wnt-1, or mutant forms of beta-catenin, may involve the formation of a persistent transcriptionally active complex of beta-catenin and LEF1.

Beta-catenin gene analysis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The molecular mechanisms involved in the development of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are not yet well understood. Evidence of recent studies suggests that aberrant beta-catenin signalling may participate in the neoplastic transformation and that it is implicated in the development of several tumours. Beta-catenin is a component of the catenin family and plays a crucial role in cadherin mediated cell adhesion. However, it has recently been shown that beta-catenin is also involved in other functions such as intracellular signalling and the regulation of gene transcription. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of mutation in exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene in 20 OSCC cell lines. DNA was extracted using Qiagen Qiamp DNA minikit and a region encompassing the exon 3 of beta-catenin gene was amplified using a single PCR assay. The PCR products were analysed by SSCP and direct sequencing to detect any mutation of the gene. Most of the cell lines examined showed, by immunofluorescence, a beta-catenin delocalization. SSCP and sequence analysis of the PCR products did not show any mutation of the beta-catenin gene in any of the cell lines. In conclusion, although aberrant expressions or abnormal localization of beta-catenin have been detected in several OSCC cells, it appears that this finding has no relationship with beta-catenin gene mutations.

Impaired degradation of Ca(2+)-regulating second messengers in myeloid leukemia cells. Implications for the regulation of leukemia cell proliferation.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate are Ca(2+)-regulating second messenger molecules which are generated via the cleavage of inositol lipids. We have previously shown that these species are autonomously generated in HL60 myeloid leukemia cells and that they may play a role in signalling the continuous proliferation of this cell line. Here we show that the activity of the 5-phosphomonoesterase (5-PME) enzyme which cleaves and inactivates these second messengers was strikingly reduced in HL60 cells compared to normal granulocytes or macrophages. Induction of differentiation of HL60 cells along the monocyte/macrophage or granulocytic pathways did not result in a significant increase in 5-PME activity. The activity of this enzyme was also low in extracts of bone marrow mononuclear cells from four patients with myeloid leukemia. A lesion in the 5-PME pathway may therefore result in the conservation of Ca(2+)-regulating second messengers in the HL60 cell line and in some myeloid leukemia cells. It is plausible that this lesion may co-operate with the autonomous cleavage of inositol lipids in the signalling of leukemic cell proliferation.

Granulocytic differentiation of HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells is preceded by a reduction in levels of inositol lipid-derived second messengers.

We have labeled HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells to isotopic equilibrium with [1-3H]glycerol or myo-[2-3H]inositol in order to determine the molar ratios of glycerol lipid species and of inositol-containing lipids and water-soluble compounds, respectively. The cellular content of diacylglycerol (DAG) and of inositol phosphates (IPs) declined significantly following induction of granulocytic differentiation by dimethylsulfoxide. Changes in levels of these compounds preceded the withdrawal of induced cells from the proliferative cycle. Because DAG and IPs are important biochemical second messengers in the regulation of cell proliferation, these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the constitutive generation of these compounds may contribute to the deregulated proliferation of HL60 cells and that their reduced production may be associated with the cessation of proliferation which precedes morphological differentiation of these cells.

Induction of macrophage-like differentiation of HL60 human myeloid leukemia cells by phorbol myristate acetate triggers an early decline in inositol lipid breakdown.

We have studied the metabolism and cellular levels of inositol lipids and their breakdown products, the inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol (DAG), in HL60 human myeloid leukemia cells. Changes in these species during phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation to a macrophage-like phenotype were quantitated by isotopic labeling techniques. The slow, autonomous breakdown of inositol lipids detectable in uninduced cells was almost completely abolished between 3 and 6 h of PMA addition. The intracellular levels of the inositol phosphates were detectably reduced 1 h after PMA addition and continued to decline during the next 24 h. Also consistent with the reduced breakdown of inositol lipids, the molar ratio of these species showed a small but significant increase relative to other membrane lipids 24 h following PMA addition. However, the cellular DAG content increased gradually after PMA addition, presumably due to the cessation of cell proliferation and reduced utilization of DAG as a precursor for lipid synthesis. The results here suggest that the slow, autonomous generation of inositol lipid-derived second messengers may contribute to the stimulation of proliferation of HL60 cells and that the rapid PMA-induced inhibition of this pathway may precede the triggering of cellular differentiation in this system.

Loss of hMLH1 expression correlates with improved survival in stage III-IV ovarian cancer patients.

Pre-clinical data suggest a relationship between DNA MisMatch Repair (MMR) system failure, particularly the inactivation of genes hMLH1 and hMSH2, and resistance to drugs like cisplatin and carboplatin. We studied the correlation between loss of hMLH1 expression in tumour cells and clinical outcome in 38 patients with ovarian cancer, who underwent cisplatin-based chemotherapy. 19 patients (56%) showed loss of hMLH1 expression (Group A) while 15 patients (44%) showed normal hMLH1 expression (Group B). 4 patients were not evaluable for hMLH1 expression. The 2 groups of patients were similar for clinical characteristics, response to chemotherapy and time to progression. Group A patients showed a median survival of 55 months whereas Group B patients had a median survival of 12 months (P=0.014). Loss of hMLH1 expression was the only independent predictor of survival in the multivariate analysis. Our observations suggest a relationship between loss of hMLH1 and improved survival in advanced ovarian cancer.

Evidence that inositol phospholipids, but not choline phospholipids, are a potential source of growth-regulating second messenger molecules in HL60 leukaemia cells.

Diacylglycerol is a potent second messenger which is generated via the cleavage of inositol- or choline-containing phospholipids and is involved in the transduction of proliferative signals. We have previously obtained evidence that the constitutive breakdown of inositol lipids may contribute to signalling the continuous proliferation of HL60 leukaemia cells (Porfiri E., Hoffbrand A. V. & Wickremasinghe R. G. (1991) Blood 78, 1069-1077). In order to assess the role of choline lipids as potential sources of growth-regulating second messengers, we have studied the pathways of constitutive breakdown of radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine in intact HL60 cells. Neither exponentially growing HL60 cells nor HL60 cells which had been induced to cease proliferation by treatment with dimethyl-sulphoxide degraded choline lipids via phospholipase C- or phospholipase D-catalysed pathways. Both pathways were, however, activated by phorbol myristate acetate irrespective of proliferation status. The data here suggest that, unlike inositol lipids, choline lipids are not a source of second messenger molecules with potential roles in the regulation of HL60 cell proliferation.

DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) inactivation in hematological malignancies.

DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Cancer) is a putative tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome band 18q21. Allelic deletions of one DCC locus have been found in more than 70% of colorectal carcinomas. Loss of DCC expression has been detected in 80% of all colorectal cancers and in many other types of tumor. DCC is expressed in normal bone marrow and peripheral lymphocytes, nevertheless DCC expression was absent or greatly reduced in 30% of acute leukemias and in 25% of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemias (CML). DCC encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein closely related to the adhesion molecules of the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (N-CAM) family. Glycoproteins of this family function like cell surface receptors and are involved in the regulation of many functions including cell recognition and cell differentiation. Highly specialized adhesion molecules participate in the regulation of hemopoiesis by mediating the interactions of hemopoietic cells with the components of the bone marrow microenvironment. Therefore, loss of DCC, as well as loss or alteration of other adhesion receptors, could contribute to leukemogenesis by impairing the interactions of the hemopoietic cells with the bone marrow microenvironment.

Metastatic tumors of the adrenals.

Adrenals are a common site of metastasis for many solid tumors. Adrenal metastases, and related symptoms of adrenal failure, are usually overlooked in clinical practice. This is probably due to the functional compensation of the adrenal glands and to the fact that signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are aspecific, and often masked by symptoms of the neoplastic disease. In some tumors in which adrenal involvement is particularly frequent, adrenal evaluation should be an essential part of the preoperative diagnostic work-up. In case of demonstration of metastatic involvement the patient could be spared a useless resection of the primary tumor. However, in selected patients, even after the demonstration of an adrenal metastasis, radical surgery could still be considered for tumors with favorable biological behaviour. In patients with widespread disease, if clinical indicators of possible adrenal involvement are present an adequate palliative therapy should be started, thus ameliorating the quality of life of the patients.

Moderate chemo-radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: results in 21 patients with advanced disease and low performance status.

Twenty-one patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and low performance status (Karnofsky: 40-60) were treated with moderate doses of chemo-radiotherapy. Seven patients (33%) had partial response and a median survival time of 10 months; 5 patients (24%) had stable disease and a median survival time of 5 months; 9 patients (43%) had progression of disease and a median survival time of 6 months. Median survival time for the whole group was 7 months. Toxicity related to treatment was minimal and posttreatment performance status was: stable in 10 patients and improved in 5 responsive patients. We conclude that this therapeutic strategy has some efficacy in this category of patients although it failed to show substantial benefit in terms of survival.

Phase II trial with alternating two drug schedules, CAP/MEC', for advanced (stage III Mo/M1) non-small-cell lung cancer.

Sixty-eight evaluable patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (48), large cell carcinoma (2) and adenocarcinoma (18) of the lung were treated with a six-drug regimen delivering two monthly alternated combinations. The combinations were cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (CAP) and methotrexate, etoposide and CCNU (MEC'). Following a minimum of two courses, the overall response rate was 22% (confidence limits, 12% to 32%) (15/68, 2 complete responses and 13 partial responses); 47% (32/68) had stable disease and 31% (21/68) had progressive disease. The responses lasted a median of 3 months (range, 1-15 months). The actuarial median survival was 11 months in responsive patients, 10 months in stable disease patients, and 5 months in progressive patients. The overall median survival obtained was 9 months (range, 2-28+ months). Toxicity was minimal, and subjective tolerance of the treatment appeared good. However, this alternating program did not improve response rate or survival.

Results of a combined chemo-radiotherapeutic program in 61 patients affected by small cell lung cancer.

Sixty-one patients affected by small cell lung cancer (SCLC) entered in the study. Eighteen had limited disease and 43 extensive disease. Treatment consisted of: induction chemotherapy with 3 courses of CAV (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine) in limited disease patients or 2 courses of CAV plus 2 courses of DDP-VP16 (cisplatin, etoposide) in extensive disease patients, followed by chest radiotherapy and CNS prophylaxis in responsive patients. Subsequently, responders and stable patients received maintenance chemotherapy by the alternation of cycles of CAV, DDP-VP16 and C'MP (CCNU, methotrexate, procarbazine), which lasted 1 year or until relapse. Four of 17 limited disease patients (23%) obtained a CR and 11 (65%) a PR; their median survival was 11 months (range, 2+-36+). One of the 7 extensive disease patients (3%) achieved a CR and 19 (51%) a PR; their median survival was 6 months (range, 1-22). Median duration of response was 12 months for CR and 5 months for PR. Responders (CR and PR) survived 11.5 months versus 3.5 months for failures (P less than 0.05); 3/61 (5%) showed long-term survival, in the absence of disease. The overall median survival was 7 months (range, 1-36+). The main toxic effects were myelosuppression and vomiting (WHO grade 3). From our results, this program does not offer further substantial gains in patients with SCLC.

[The inoperable non-microcytoma lung cancer. Results of chemotherapeutic and chemoradiotherapeutic treatment]. / Il carcinoma polmonare non-microcitoma, inoperabile. Risultati del trattamento chemioterapico e chemioradioterapico.

The cases of 36 patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancers and similar anatomoclinical features were retrospectively analysed on the basis of treatment received (21 combined chemical and radiation therapy, 15 chemotherapy). The results showed 7 PR (partial response) 5 S (stable) 9 P (progression) in the group given combined chemical and radiation treatment; 2 PR, 7 S and 6 P in the group given chemotherapy alone. The patients with the best Performance Status produced the best PR figures (6/9) and the longest mean survival (10 months). Analysis of 9 patients in each group indicated that the length of survival is not affected by the timing or doses of drug treatment. Altogether the data support the view that no treatment has any influence on the prognosis for inoperable lung cancers.

The effects and effectiveness of electromotive drug administration and chemohyperthermia for treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Preliminary studies show that device assisted intravesical therapies appear more effective than passive diffusion intravesical therapy for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in specific settings, and phase III studies are now being conducted. Consequently, we have undertaken a non-systematic review with the objective of describing the scientific basis and mechanisms of action of electromotive drug administration (EMDA) and chemohyperthermia (CHT). METHODS: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane Library were searched to source evidence for this non-systematic review. Randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses were evaluated. Publications regarding the scientific basis and mechanisms of action of EMDA and CHT were identified, as well as clinical studies to date. RESULTS: EMDA takes advantage of three phenomena: iontophoresis, electro-osmosis and electroporation. It has been found to reduce recurrence rates in NMIBC patients and has been proposed as an addition or alternative to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in the treatment of high risk NMIBC. CHT improves the efficacy of mitomycin C by three mechanisms: tumour cell cytotoxicity, altered tumour blood flow and localised immune responses. Fewer studies have been conducted with CHT than with EMDA but they have demonstrated utility for increasing disease-free survival, especially in patients who have previously failed BCG therapy. CONCLUSIONS: It is anticipated that EMDA and CHT will play important roles in the management of NMIBC in the future. Techniques of delivery should be standardised, and there is a need for more randomised controlled trials to evaluate the benefits of the treatments alongside quality of life and cost-effectiveness.