Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab for Treatment-Naïve Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase II Trial by the Spanish Multidisciplinary Melanoma Group (GEM-1402).

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab (nivo) plus ipilimumab (ipi) as a first-line therapy with respect to the 12-month overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) who are not eligible for liver resection. METHODS: This was a single-arm, phase II trial led by the Spanish Multidisciplinary Melanoma Group (GEM) on nivo plus ipi for systemic treatment-naïve patients of age > 18 years, with histologically confirmed MUM, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-PS 0/1, and confirmed progressive metastatic disease (M1). Nivo (1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks) and ipi (3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks) were administered during four inductions, followed by nivo (3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks) until progressive disease, toxicity, or withdrawal. The primary end point was 12-month OS. OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rate were evaluated every 6 weeks using RECIST (v1.1). Safety was also evaluated. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models comprising relevant clinical factors were used to evaluate the potential association with response to treatment and survival. Cytokines were quantified in serum samples for their putative role in immune modulation/angiogenesis and/or earlier evidence of involvement in immunotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients with a median age of 59 years (range, 26-84 years) were enrolled. Overall, 78.8%, 56%, and 32% of patients had liver M1, extra-liver M1, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Stable disease was the most common outcome (51.9%). The primary end point was 12-month OS, which was 51.9% (95% CI, 38.3 to 65.5). The median OS and PFS were 12.7 months and 3.0 months, respectively. PFS was influenced by higher LDH values. CONCLUSIONS: Nivo plus ipi in the first-line setting for MUM showed a modest improvement in OS over historical benchmarks of chemotherapy, with a manageable toxicity profile.

Precisión del diagnóstico en medicina interna e influencia de un sistema informático en el razonamiento clínico / The accuracy of the diagnosis in internal medicine and the influence of a computerised system on clinical reasoning

INTRODUCCIÓN: El contacto inicial entre paciente y médico es clave para plantear un diagnóstico diferencial. Este proceso está basado en la experiencia y en la recuperación de patrones almacenados en el cerebro. Un problema importante es la limitación de la memoria, por lo que un sistema electrónico de sugerencia de posibilidades podría ser de utilidad. OBJETIVOS: Conocer la precisión diagnóstica de un grupo de internistas interaccionando con un sistema informático de apoyo al diagnóstico (SIAD). Conocer el grado de acuerdo entre los clínicos y el SIAD en su capacidad para enumerar un correcto diagnóstico inicial. Pacientes y MÉTODO: estudio prospectivo realizado en un hospital general en Málaga, en el que se mide la precisión diagnóstica para clínicos y SIAD en una muestra de 50 pacientes. RESULTADOS: La precisión diagnóstica de los clínicos fue del 60% y la del SIAD, del 72% (diferencia no significativa). La concordancia entre ambos fue baja (kappa = 0,33). CONCLUSIÓN: Los clínicos y el SIAD tienen similar precisión diagnóstica inicial, pero una baja concordancia, lo que puede evidenciar un comportamiento operativo diferente

INTRODUCTION: The first contact between a physician and a patient is a key moment to establishing a differential diagnosis. This process is based on experience and recovery of patterns stored in the brain. One important problem is the limitation of memory, thus a computerised system that suggests possibilities could be of use in establishing a differential diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a group of internists working with an Electronic Diagnostic Reminder Tool (EDRT). To measure the agreement between clinicians and the EDRT in the initial diagnostic work. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective study was conducted in a general hospital in Málaga, Spain. The diagnostic accuracy of clinicians and the EDRT was recorded on a sample of 50 PATIENTS: RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy for clinicians was 60%, and for the EDRT it was 72%, with a low agreement (kappa = 0.33). CONCLUSIÓN: Clinicians and the EDRT have a similar diagnostic accuracy, but a low level of concordance, showing a different operational behaviour

Bevacizumab plus low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

AIM: To retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab plus low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and prior treatment with platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy were included. Treatment consisted of bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks plus oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response rates (RR) were determined according to RECIST criteria and by monitoring the CA 125 serum tumor marker according to Rustin's criteria. The endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), RR, overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were treated; 79% were platinum resistant and 21% were platinum sensitive. The median number of previous treatments was 4 (range 1-8). Seventy-nine percent of patients had received more than 2 previous lines of treatment. Eighty-one percent of patients had received gemcitabine, 76% liposomal doxorubicin, and 50% topotecan. A median of 8 (range 1-70) cycles of bevacizumab were administered. The overall RR was a complete response (CR) in 3 patients (8.1%), a partial response (PR) in 12 (32.4%), and stable disease (SD) ≥6 months in 3 (8.1%). The median PFS and OS were 4.5 and 10.7 months, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of patients were progression free for at least 6 months. In an exploratory analysis there was a significant relation of prior platinum response and performance status with the risk of progression. Grade 3-4 toxicities included anemia (1), hypertension (2), hematuria (1), arterial thrombosis in the leg (1), dyspnea (1), and intestinal fistulae (1). There were no cases of gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) or treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: The combination of bevacizumab and metronomic cyclophosphamide was active and well-tolerated in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy improves the negative prognosis of c-erbB-2 overexpressing advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of c-erb-B2 overexpression on disease-free survival (DFS) and local relapse in patients with advanced cervical cancer (CC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment. METHODS: A total of 136 patients with advanced CC (FIGO stage: IB2-IIA [12]; IIB [34]; IIIB [71]; IVA [19]; including both epidermoid [86] and adenocarcinoma [14]) were analyzed to determine c-erb-B2 levels by immunohistochemistry (c-erb-B2 antibody; Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). Only c-erb-B2+++ biopsies were considered positive. All patients received pelvic radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy with 2 different regimens: 48 patients were treated with tegafur (800 mg/d orally) and 88 with tegafur (same doses) plus 5 cycles of weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m/wk intravenously. RESULTS: A total of 32 (23.5%) biopsies were considered c-erb-B2-positive. Three-year and 5-year DFS were 61% and 58% for c-erb-B2-negative patients and 36% and 36% for c-erB2-positive patients, respectively (P = 0.02). Patients were stratified in 4 groups according to their c-erb-B2 status and whether they received cisplatin. The group of patients with c-erb-B2 overexpression that did not receive platinum treatment had a higher rate of pelvic relapse (P < 0.0001), associated with a decreased DFS (P = 0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: c-erb-B2 overexpression may imply a poor prognosis for patients with advanced CC. Treatment with cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy improved outcome in these patients.

A phase II trial of fixed-dosed rate gemcitabine in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: a GEICO (Grupo Español de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario) Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Gemcitabine has well-recognized activity in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Fixed-dose rate (FDR) delivery has been proposed as a more rationale way to administer gemcitabine, to avoid saturation of the enzyme that catalyzes its intracellular transformation into the active metabolites, difluorodeoxycitidine biphosphate, and triphosphate. Our aim was to assess clinical activity of gemcitabine delivered by FDR infusion in patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) over 120 minutes on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks, and up to 6 cycles were delivered. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included in the study. Among 41 patients evaluable for response, 9 clinical responses (1 complete response and 8 partial responses) were observed, achieving a global response rate of 22%. Grade 3 to 4 hematological toxicity consisted of anemia (15% of patients), neutropenia (24%), and thrombopenia (10%). One patient died due to septic shock. The main grade 3 to 4 nonhematological toxicity was asthenia (7 patients, 17%). CONCLUSION: Activity of gemcitabine administered by FDR infusion in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer seems similar to that achieved using 30-minute infusions, with higher toxicity.

Errores en oncología y seguridad del paciente / Medical errors in oncology and patient safety

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