STELLAR-303: randomized phase III study of zanzalintinib + atezolizumab in previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have limited treatment options following standard-of-care therapy. VEGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have demonstrated clinical activity in mCRC in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly in patients without liver metastases. The TKI zanzalintinib (XL092) targets VEGFR, MET and TAM kinases, proteins that are involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and immunosuppression. Zanzalintinib has immunomodulatory properties that may enhance response to ICIs. Presented is the design of STELLAR-303, a global, phase III, open-label, randomized study evaluating zanzalintinib plus atezolizumab versus regorafenib in patients with non-MSI-H mCRC who progressed during/after or are refractory/intolerant to standard-of-care therapy. The primary end point is overall survival in patients without liver metastases.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05425940 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body, most often to the liver, lungs and abdomen. People with mCRC that has worsened after initial treatment have limited options. Zanzalintinib is a novel oral investigational drug that can slow or stop cancer growth. It works by blocking certain proteins that play important roles in the development, growth and spread of cancer. Zanzalintinib may also help improve the effectiveness of another class of cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which work by activating the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Here, we describe the design of STELLAR-303, an ongoing study that is comparing the effects of combining zanzalintinib and an ICI drug called atezolizumab with an approved treatment for mCRC called regorafenib. About 900 participants with mCRC will be enrolled in the study worldwide. To be included in the study, participants must have mCRC that worsened after previous therapies and must not have a high level of microsatellite instability, which is a specific feature of some mCRCs. Participants will be randomly given one of the two treatments. The main goal of the study is to evaluate zanzalintinib plus atezolizumab compared with regorafenib by measuring the length of time participants are alive after starting treatment, specifically in patients with mCRC that has not spread to the liver. Additionally, the study will look at the side effects with each treatment. The study is currently seeking participants.

Oncoplastic approaches to breast conservation.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer many aspects of her physical, emotional, and sexual wholeness are threatened. The quickly expanding field of oncoplastic breast surgery aims to enhance the physician commitment to restore the patient's image and self-assurance. By combining a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment with oncoplastic surgery, successful results in the eyes of the patient and physician are significantly more likely to occur. As a way to aid oncoplastic teams in determining which approach is most suitable for their patient's tumor size, tumor location, body habitus, and desired cosmetic outcome we present a review of several oncoplastic surgical approaches. For resections located anywhere in the breast, the radial ellipse segmentectomy incision and circumareolar approach for segmental resection are discussed. For resections in the upper or central breast, crescent mastopexy, the batwing incision, the hemibatwing incision, donut mastopexy, B-flap resection, and the central quadrantectomy are reviewed. For lesions of the lower breast, the triangle incision, inframammary incision, and reduction mastopexy are discussed. Surgeons who are interested in adding oncoplastic breast conserving therapies to their skill sets are encouraged to implement these surgical techniques where applicable and to seek out breast fellowships or enhanced training when appropriate.

Invasive local recurrence increased after radiation therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ.

BACKGROUND: It is thought that equal numbers of invasive and noninvasive recurrences develop after conservative treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ. We analyzed our data to see if this was true. METHODS: A prospective database of 878 conservatively treated patients with ductal carcinoma in situ was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 551 excision patients, there were 88 recurrences. Thirty-five percent were invasive. Among 327 excision plus radiotherapy patients, there were 59 recurrences. Fifty-three percent were invasive. In an attempt to predict which patients develop invasive recurrences, prolonged time to recurrence was the only statistically significant factor. CONCLUSIONS: The median time to local recurrence for irradiated patients was more than twice as long when compared with nonirradiated patients, during which there is more time for local recurrence to progress to invasion. Irradiated patients had more breast scarring, making diagnosis by palpation and mammography harder. Irradiated patients develop invasive recurrences at a statistically higher rate than nonirradiated patients. Follow-up evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging should be considered.

Acute arterial occlusion after ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of a common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with a wide, short neck.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) has emerged as the preferred treatment modality for pseudoaneurysms occurring as a result of percutaneous femoral arterial interventions. UGTI is safe and effective, with few complications. Native arterial thrombosis has been rarely reported in the literature following UGTI and has usually been attributed to excessive thrombin injection. We report a case of femoral arteria thrombosis occurring following UGTI of a 4 cm postcatherization pseudoaneurysm with a wide, short neck successfully treated by surgical intervention. The large size of the neck of this pseudoaneurysm likely contributed to the development of this complication.

The effect of systemic anticoagulation in patients undergoing angioaccess surgery.

The benefit of intravenous heparin as an anticoagulant to avoid thrombotic complications during angioaccess surgery for hemodialysis is unknown. We prospectively randomized 115 consecutive patients referred to our institution for permanent hemodialysis access to receive systemic anticoagulation or no anticoagulation during angioaccess surgery. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, procedure time, complications, and patency were recorded in accordance with standards recommended by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Of the 115 patients randomized, 58 received no anticoagulation and 57 received systemic anticoagulation with intravenous heparin. Arteriovenous fistulas were created in 84 patients and 31 arteriovenous grafts were inserted. Operative times were longer for grafts compared to fistulas, but there were no significant differences in operative times between patients receiving anticoagulation and those not (p = 0.31). Perioperative bleeding complications were more common in patients receiving heparin (p = 0.008). The primary 30-day patency was 84% for patients receiving heparin and 86% for those not (p = 0.79). The 3-month functional patency was 68% for both groups (p = 0.99). Age, gender, operative time, and incidence of bleeding complications had no impact on patency. In our experience, systemic anticoagulation for angioaccess surgery is associated with an increased incidence of bleeding complications and offers no advantage in terms of early patency.

Emergent laparoscopic reduction of acute gastric volvulus with anterior gastropexy.

Gastric volvulus is characterized by abnormal rotation of the stomach around an axis made by two fixed portions. Symptoms of gastric volvulus range from anemia and weight loss to severe epigastric or chest pain associated with nonproductive vomiting or upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Ischemia, necrosis, and perforation will occur if this condition remains untreated. We report a case of a 92-year-old patient with acute gastric volvulus treated with laparoscopic reduction and anterior gastropexy. We suggest that the laparoscopic approach to gastric volvulus is safe and feasible and should be considered. High-risk and elderly patients can particularly benefit from minimally invasive access. Anterior gastropexy palliates the symptoms and can be considered a definitive treatment in this patient population.