RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The combination of chemotherapy plus anti HER-2 agents is the mainstay of HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) therapy. We conducted a phase II trial testing activity and safety of trastuzumab and metronomic capecitabine/cyclophosphamide (HEX) as first-line therapy in HER-2 positive ABC.Methods. Patients at first relapse or with synchronous metastasis were treated with trastuzumab (4 mg/kg, biweekly) plus oral capecitabine (1500 mg/daily) and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/daily). Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), secondary endpoints progression-free survival (PFS), clinical benefit rate (CBR; PR + CR + SD for ≥ 24 weeks) and tolerability. Optimal two-stage design was applied. RESULTS: Sixty patients with measurable ABC, tumors scored as +3 for HER-2 or FISH +, untreated for advanced disease were enrolled. Median age was 62.5 years, visceral metastases were present in most patients (57.9%). Median number of cycles was 16 (range 1-98). ORR was 56.7% (95% CI, 44.1-68.4%), with 5 CR (8.3%) and 29 PR (48.3%). Fifteen patients had SD (25%). The CBR was 78.2%. Nine progressions were observed (15%). Median PFS was 11 months. One year PFS was 47.7%. Median OS was 45.9 months. Worst toxicities were grade 3 hand-foot syndrome in 2 pts (3.3%), grade 3 anaemia in 2 pts (3.3%), grade 2 nausea in 2 pts (3.3%) and grade 3-4 diarrhea in 2 pts (3.3%). Cardiac toxicity grade 1 was reported in 1 pt. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of trastuzumab and metronomic oral chemotherapy has clinical activity. The tolerability was excellent and allowed the prolonged delivery of treatment.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administración & dosificación , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Capecitabina/administración & dosificación , Ciclofosfamida/administración & dosificación , Trastuzumab/administración & dosificación , Administración Metronómica , Administración Oral , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Quimioterapia Combinada , Femenino , Humanos , Italia , Persona de Mediana Edad , Supervivencia sin Progresión , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Resultado del TratamientoAsunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas , Albúminas , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Capecitabina/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Paclitaxel/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging has introduced prognostic stage based on anatomic stage combined with biologic factors. We aimed to validate the prognostic stage in HER2-positive breast cancer patients enrolled in the ShortHER trial. METHODS: The ShortHER trial randomized 1253 HER2-positive patients to 9 weeks or 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy. Patients were classified according to the anatomic and the prognostic stage. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was calculated from randomization to distant relapse or death. RESULTS: A total of 1244 patients were included. Compared to anatomic stage, the prognostic stage downstaged 41.6% (n = 517) of patients to a more favorable stage category. Five-year DDFS based on anatomic stage was as follows: IA 96.6%, IB 94.1%, IIA 92.4%, IIB 87.3%, IIIA 81.3%, IIIC 70.5% (P < 0.001). Five-year DDFS according to prognostic stage was as follows: IA 95.7%, IB 91.4%, IIA 86.9%, IIB 85.0%, IIIA 77.6%, IIIC 67.7% (P < 0.001). The C index was similar (0.69209 and 0.69249, P = 0.975). Within anatomic stage I, the outcome was similar for patients treated with 9 weeks or 1 year trastuzumab (5-year DDFS 96.2% and 96.6%, P = 0.856). Within prognostic stage I, the outcome was numerically worse for patients treated with 9 weeks trastuzumab (5-year DDFS 93.7% and 96.3%, P = 0.080). CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic stage downstaged 41.6% of patients, while maintaining a similar prognostic performance as the anatomic stage. The prognostic stage is valuable in counseling patients and may serve as reference for a clinical trial design. Our data do not support prognostic stage as guidance to de-escalate treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EUDRACT number: 2007-004326-25; NCI ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00629278.
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Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Genes erbB-2 , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Trastuzumab/uso terapéutico , Adulto , Anciano , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia , PronósticoRESUMEN
AIM: We report the outcomes observed with nivolumab in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with poor prognostic features enrolled in the Italian expanded access program. PATIENTS & METHODS: Nivolumab was available for patients who relapsed after at least one prior systemic treatment in the advanced or metastatic setting. RESULTS: Of 389 patients, 32 (8%) had brain metastasis, 129 (33%) had liver and 193 (50%) had bone metastasis. These subpopulations achieved a disease control rate of 53, 45 and 47%, respectively. Fifty-one patients had G4 tumor, and they showed 23% objective response rate. The safety profile of the subgroups was in line with the expanded access program population. No new safety signals were reported. CONCLUSION: Patients with poor prognostic features may derive relevant benefits from nivolumab.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales/uso terapéutico , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma de Células Renales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Renales/tratamiento farmacológico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Neoplasias Óseas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Óseas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Óseas/secundario , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Encefálicas/secundario , Carcinoma de Células Renales/mortalidad , Carcinoma de Células Renales/secundario , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Italia , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Neoplasias Renales/mortalidad , Neoplasias Renales/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundario , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/mortalidad , Nivolumab , Selección de Paciente , Pronóstico , Estudios Prospectivos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The BALLET study was an open-label, multicenter, expanded access study designed to allow treatment with everolimus plus exemestane in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer progressed following prior endocrine therapy. A post hoc analysis to evaluate if previous chemotherapy in the metastatic setting affects the safety profile of the combination regimen of everolimus and exemestane was conducted on the Italian subset, as it represented the major part of the patients enrolled (54%). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One thousand one hundred and fifty-one Italian patients were included in the present post hoc analysis, which focused on two sets of patients: patients who never received chemotherapy in the metastatic setting (36.1%) and patients who received at least one chemotherapy treatment in the metastatic setting (63.9%). RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and sixteen patients (97.0%) prematurely discontinued the study drug, and the main reasons reported were disease progression (39.1%), local reimbursement of everolimus (31.1%), and adverse events (AEs) (16.1%). The median duration of study treatment exposure was 139.5 days for exemestane and 135.0 days for everolimus. At least one AE was experienced by 92.5% of patients. The incidence of everolimus-related AEs was higher (83.9%) when compared with those that occurred with exemestane (29.1%), and the most commonly reported everolimus-related AE was stomatitis (51.3%). However, no significant difference in terms of safety related to the combination occurred between patients without and with chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. CONCLUSION: Real-life data of the Italian patients BALLET-related cohort were an adequate setting to state that previous chemotherapy did not affect the safety profile of the combination regimen of everolimus and exemestane. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: With the advent of new targeted agents for advanced or metastatic breast cancer, multiple lines of therapy may be possible, and components of the combined regimens can overlap from one line to another. Thus, it is important to assess even the potential of cumulative and additive toxic effects among the drugs. Previous chemotherapy did not affect the safety profile of the combination regimen of everolimus and exemestane. The continuous monitoring of the safety signals of this drug combination from general clinical practice is important, in particular for stomatitis.
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Androstadienos/administración & dosificación , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administración & dosificación , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Everolimus/administración & dosificación , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Androstadienos/efectos adversos , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/clasificación , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/patología , Everolimus/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Italia , Persona de Mediana Edad , Metástasis de la NeoplasiaRESUMEN
AIM: This retrospective analysis focused on the effect of treatment with EVE/EXE in a real-world population outside of clinical trials. We examined the efficacy of this combination in terms of PFS and RR related to dose intensity (5 mg daily versus 10 mg daily) and tolerability. METHODS: 163 HER2-negative ER+/PgR+ ABC patients, treated with EVE/EXE from May 2011 to March 2016, were included in the analysis. The primary endpoints were the correlation between the daily dose and RR and PFS, as well as an evaluation of the tolerability of the combination. Secondary endpoints were RR, PFS, and OS according to the line of treatment. Patients were classified into three different groups, each with a different dose intensity of everolimus (A, B, C). RESULTS: RR was 29.8% (A), 27.8% (B) (p = 0.953), and not evaluable (C). PFS was 9 months (95% CI 7-11) (A), 10 months (95% CI 9-11) (B), and 5 months (95% CI 2-8) (C), p = 0.956. OS was 38 months (95% CI 24-38) (A), median not reached (B), and 13 months (95% CI 10-25) (C), p = 0.002. Adverse events were stomatitis 57.7% (11.0% grade 3-4), asthenia 46.0% (6.1% grade 3-4), hypercholesterolemia 46.0% (0.6% grade 3-4), and hyperglycemia 35.6% (5.5% grade 3-4). The main reason for discontinuation/interruption was grade 2-3 stomatitis. CONCLUSIONS: No correlation was found between dose intensity (5 vs. 10 mg labeled dose) and efficacy in terms of RR and PFS. The tolerability of the higher dose was poor in our experience, although this had no impact on efficacy.
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Androstadienos/administración & dosificación , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administración & dosificación , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Everolimus/administración & dosificación , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/clasificación , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Italia/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptores de Estrógenos/genética , Receptores de Progesterona/genética , Estomatitis/inducido químicamente , Estomatitis/genética , Estomatitis/patologíaRESUMEN
TRAP1 is a HSP90 molecular chaperone upregulated in colorectal carcinomas and involved in control of intracellular signaling, cell cycle, apoptosis and drug resistance, stemness and bioenergetics through co-traslational regulation of a network of client proteins. Thus, the clinical significance of TRAP1 protein network was analyzed in human colorectal cancers. TRAP1 and/or its client proteins were quantified, by immunoblot analysis, in 60 surgical specimens of colorectal carcinomas at different stages and, by immunohistochemistry, in 9 colorectal adenomatous polyps, 11 in situ carcinomas and 55 metastatic colorectal tumors. TRAP1 is upregulated at the transition between low- and high-grade adenomas, in in situ carcinomas and in about 60% of human colorectal carcinomas, being downregulated only in a small cohort of tumors. The analysis of TCGA database showed that a subgroup of colorectal tumors is characterized by gain/loss of TRAP1 copy number, this correlating with its mRNA and protein expression. Interestingly, TRAP1 is co-expressed with the majority of its client proteins and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the upregulation of TRAP1 and associated 6-protein signature (i.e., IF2α, eF1A, TBP7, MAD2, CDK1 and ßCatenin) identifies a cohort of metastatic colorectal carcinomas with a significantly shorter overall survival (HR 5.4; 95% C.I. 1.1-26.6; p=0.037). Consistently, the prognostic relevance of TRAP1 was confirmed in a cohort of 55 metastatic colorectal tumors. Finally, TRAP1 positive expression and its prognostic value are more evident in left colon cancers. These data suggest that TRAP1 protein network may provide a prognostic signature in human metastatic colorectal carcinomas.
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Adenocarcinoma/metabolismo , Biomarcadores de Tumor/análisis , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Proteínas HSP90 de Choque Térmico/biosíntesis , Adenocarcinoma/genética , Adenocarcinoma/mortalidad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Análisis por Conglomerados , Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Neoplasias Colorrectales/mortalidad , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Dosificación de Gen , Proteínas HSP90 de Choque Térmico/genética , Humanos , Immunoblotting , Inmunohistoquímica , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Transcriptoma , Regulación hacia ArribaRESUMEN
AIM: To evaluate whether pyrosequencing (PS) improves the KRAS mutational status predictive value. PATIENTS & METHODS: A retrospective analysis of KRAS mutations by PS and direct sequencing (DS) in 192 metastatic colorectal carcinomas (mCRCs), subgrouped in 51 KRAS mutated at PS and 141 KRAS wild-type at DS. RESULTS: DS failed to detect low-frequency KRAS mutations in four out of 51 mCRCs, whereas PS detected 12 additional low-frequency KRAS mutations in 141 mCRCs KRAS wild-type at DS. After reanalyzing by PS 97 KRAS wild-type tumors treated with anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibodies, nine additional mutations were revealed in nonresponders, whereas none of responders exhibited a KRAS-mutated genotype. Of note, KRAS-mutated tumors upon PS showed a worst progression-free survival after EGFR therapy. Finally, PS allowed the detection of additional NRAS, BRAF and exon 20 PIK3CA mutations mostly in KRAS wild-type mCRCs resistant to EGFR therapy. CONCLUSION: PS detection of low-frequency mutations may improve the KRAS predictive value for EGFR therapy selection.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inhibidores , Metástasis de la Neoplasia/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/genética , Proteínas ras/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Alelos , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/administración & dosificación , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Receptores ErbB/inmunología , Femenino , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mutación , Pronóstico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)RESUMEN
Until recently, only therapy with docetaxel and prednisone has been shown to prolong survival in men with hormonorefractory metastatic prostate cancer. With approvals of sipuleucel-T, cabazitaxel, and abiraterone acetate, all based on improvement in overall survival, the scenary for management of men with metastatic prostate cancer has dramatically changed. Abiraterone acetate was developed to specifically inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP)17A1, which is an essential enzyme in the biosynthesis of testosterone. In the phase III, the trial treatment with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone prolongs overall survival relative to prednisone alone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have disease progression after treatment with docetaxel and associated with an acceptable tolerability profile, which was generally similar to that of the placebo plus prednisone group. However, adverse events resulting from elevated mineralocorticoid levels because of CYP17A1 inhibition, fluid retention and oedema, hypokalaemia, hypertension occurred in significantly more in abiraterone acetate plus prednisone than in placebo plus prednisone.
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Androstenoles/uso terapéutico , Antineoplásicos Hormonales/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Próstata/tratamiento farmacológico , Esteroide 17-alfa-Hidroxilasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Androstenos , Androstenoles/farmacología , Antineoplásicos Hormonales/farmacología , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Humanos , Masculino , Prednisona/administración & dosificación , Neoplasias de la Próstata/enzimología , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Schwannomas are degenerate peripheral nerve sheath tumors that very rarely occur in the retroperitoneum. They are usually benign than malignancy is very rare and is usually observed in patients with von Recklinghausen disease. We report a case of female adult patient who presented with vague abdominal discomfort. The preoperative diagnosis was difficult and the treatment was complete surgical excision. The patient is with no evidence of recurrence more than four years after surgery.
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Neurilemoma , Neoplasias Retroperitoneales , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neurilemoma/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Retroperitoneales/diagnósticoRESUMEN
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Italy is divided into 20 regions. As a consequence of local autonomy, following marketing authorization by the Italian Medicines Agency, each drug for hospital use is not immediately available, because its approval needs to undergo further steps that can be different among regions. The Italian Society of Medical Oncology conducted the present study to describe the impact of the existence of sub-national pharmaceutical formularies on the disparity of access to new anti-cancer drugs among patients treated in different Italian regions. METHODS: The availability of 8 new anti-cancer drugs at a regional level and the coherence of regional authorizations compared with national authorizations approved by the Italian Medicines Agency were analyzed as of April 2009. RESULTS: Fourteen regions and autonomous province of Trento have a regional pharmaceutical formulary. In most cases, the regional pharmaceutical formularies include the eight analyzed drugs, with therapeutic indications coherent with national marketing authorization indications. Five drugs (bevacizumab, trastuzumab, rituximab, erlotinib, sunitinib) were included in all the existing regional pharmaceutical formularies, without restrictions, whereas three drugs (cetuximab, sorafenib, pemetrexed) were found to have restrictions in some regions. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of multiple hierarchical levels of drug evaluation creates a potential element of disparity in the access to pharmacological therapies for Italian citizens.
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Antineoplásicos/provisión & distribución , Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos , Disparidades en Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Farmacopeas como Asunto , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos/legislación & jurisprudencia , Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos/estadística & datos numéricos , Formularios Farmacéuticos como Asunto , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Humanos , Italia , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Farmacopeas como Asunto/normas , Sociedades MédicasRESUMEN
Autologous stem cell transplantation is considered the best post-induction therapy for multiple myeloma (MM). Therefore, therapy for myeloma should be chosen not only on the basis of efficacy, but also taking into account their impact on the hematopoietic stem cell compartment. We describe the case of a MM patient in which a successful mobilization of peripheral stem cells was obtained with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and G-CSF, after two failed attempts in the framework of Total Therapy 2. The patient underwent an autologous transplantation, showing a rapid and complete post-transplant hematological recovery. Our experience suggests that bortezomib is an effective anti-myeloma agent without negative impact on stem cell mobilization, even in patients with a previous history of failed harvest.
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Antineoplásicos Alquilantes/administración & dosificación , Ácidos Borónicos/administración & dosificación , Ciclofosfamida/administración & dosificación , Factor Estimulante de Colonias de Granulocitos/administración & dosificación , Movilización de Célula Madre Hematopoyética , Cadenas Ligeras de Inmunoglobulina , Mieloma Múltiple/terapia , Trasplante de Células Madre de Sangre Periférica , Pirazinas/administración & dosificación , Adulto , Bortezomib , Humanos , Masculino , Trasplante AutólogoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Topotecan is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and has been demonstrated to be active in brain metastases from small cell lung cancer (SCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan at a dosage of 1.5 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks in patients with brain metastases from various neoplasms. RESULTS: Among the 19 patients enrolled, objective responses were observed in 2 out of 3 patients affected by brain metastases from SCLC. Stable disease was observed in 8 more patients (4 breast, 3 non-SCLC and 1 colon). According to the Simon two-step design, patient accrual was stopped because of the low response rate observed in the first 19 patients treated (early stopping rule). The G 3/4 haematological toxicity was severe, with 37% neutropenia, 21% thrombocytopenia and 16% anaemia, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data do not support the use of topotecan in patients with brain metastases, except for SCLC. In addition, the haematological toxicity prevents the use of this regimen in elderly and poor performance status patients.
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Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/secundario , Topotecan/uso terapéutico , Adulto , Anciano , Antineoplásicos/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Carcinoma de Células Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Pequeñas/secundario , Femenino , Humanos , Infusiones Intravenosas , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Topotecan/efectos adversosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: We performed this phase III study to compare the irinotecan, leucovorin (LV), and fluorouracil (FU) regimen (FOLFIRI) versus the oxaliplatin, LV, and FU regimen (FOLFOX4) in previously untreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 360 chemotherapy-naive patients were randomly assigned to receive, every 2 weeks, either arm A (FOLFIRI: irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on day 1 with LV 100 mg/m(2) administered as a 2-hour infusion before FU 400 mg/m(2) administered as an intravenous bolus injection, and FU 600 mg/m(2) as a 22-hour infusion immediately after FU bolus injection on days 1 and 2 [LV5FU2]) or arm B (FOLFOX4: oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) on day 1 with LV5FU2 regimen). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four and 172 patients were assessable in arm A and B, respectively. Overall response rates (ORR) were 31% in arm A (95% CI, 24.6% to 38.3%) and 34% in arm B (95% CI, 27.2% to 41.5%; P = .60). In both arms A and B, median time to progression (TTP; 7 v 7 months, respectively), duration of response (9 v 10 months, respectively), and overall survival (OS; 14 v 15 months, respectively) were similar, without any statistically significant difference. Toxicity was mild in both groups: alopecia and gastrointestinal disturbances were the most common toxicities in arm A; thrombocytopenia and neurosensorial were the most common toxicities in arm B. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities were uncommon in both arms, and no statistical significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in ORR, TTP, and OS for patients treated with the FOLFIRI or FOLFOX4 regimen. Both therapies seemed effective as first-line treatment in these patients. The difference between these two combination therapies is mainly in the toxicity profile.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias Colorrectales/tratamiento farmacológico , Adulto , Anciano , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administración & dosificación , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efectos adversos , Camptotecina/administración & dosificación , Camptotecina/análogos & derivados , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Fluorouracilo/administración & dosificación , Humanos , Infusiones Intravenosas , Leucovorina/administración & dosificación , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Compuestos Organoplatinos/administración & dosificación , Análisis de Supervivencia , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Platinum-based chemotherapy is the gold standard in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although with relevant toxic effects. Both docetaxel (DCT) and gemcitabine (GEM) have shown activity as single agent in advanced NSCLC with a different toxicity profile and a lack of cross-resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2000 to May 2001, 47 consecutive patients were enrolled in a multicenter phase II trial. Main inclusion criteria included untreated patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC, age=70 years, stage IIIB/IV, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) 0-2, measurable disease, adequate hematologic, cardiac, hepatic and renal functions, and written informed consent. Treatment schedule consisted of DCT at the dosage of 50 mg/m(2) with conventional steroid premedication and GEM at the dosage of 2,000 mg/m(2). Both drugs were administered every 2 weeks without prophylactic use of growth factors. RESULTS: Enrolled patients included 40 males and seven females with a median age of 65 years, and a median PS 1. There were 26 squamous carcinomas, 13 adenocarcinomas, and eight others, 13 stage IIIB and 34 stage IV. A total of 371 cycles were administered. Overall 18 partial responses were observed (38.3%); 14 patients were considered as stable disease and 13 showed progressive disease. Two treatment-not related deaths occurred before the first disease evaluation was performed. Median duration of response was 6 months (range 2-10) and median duration of survival was 10.5 months (range 1-25+). One year survival probability was 38% (95% CI 25-54%). In a statistical analysis responses were independent to histology or stage. Grade 3-4 toxicity, according NCI criteria, was mild with neutropenia in eight patients (17%), anemia in two patients (4%). Asthenia affected two patients and mucositis occurred in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the biweekly combination of DCT and GEM is active and well tolerated and can be administered without G-CSF primary prophylaxis reducing treatment costs. It should be considered as a promising alternative to more toxic platinum-based regimens.