Outcomes from treatment of metastatic renal-cell carcinoma following failure of first-line anti-VEGF/VEGFR therapy: real-life evidence on the change of the treatment paradigm.

Recently approved agents for post-vascular endothelial growth factor/post-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF/VEGFR) inhibitors treatment of metastatic renal-cell carcinomas (mRCC), such as axitinib, nivolumab, and cabozantinib were shown to improve prognosis and substituted everolimus in this setting. We studied practice patterns, efficacy, and tolerability of these agents in a real-world series of Greek patients. We included patients with mRCC who received everolimus, axitinib, or nivolumab after progression on first-line anti-VEGF/VEGFRs therapy. Patients were stratified into three groups. Group A received nivolumab with or without cabozantinib at some point in their disease. Group B received axitinib but without nivolumab or cabozantinib. Group C received only everolimus among the four approved agents. Overall, 131 patients were included in the analysis. Everolimus and nivolumab were mainly used in the second line, while axitinib and cabozantinib were mostly used in the third and fourth lines. Median overall survival (OS) from first-line initiation was 8.7 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4-not reached], 3.6 (95% CI, 2-6), and 2.1 years (95% CI, 1.4-2.6) for Group A, B, and C, respectively ( P < 0.001). Median OS from the initiation of second-line therapy was 3.5, 2.7, and 1.3 years, respectively ( P < 0.001). There was no impact of first-line agent or treatment timing on survival. International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium risk stratification was associated with OS. Toxicities observed were within expected frequencies. Grade ≥3 events were rare. Adoption of modern standards in everyday treatment of mRCC results in prolongation of survival. Real-world datasets are the new landmarks of survival for future research.

High incidence of pulmonary toxicity of weekly docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: results of a dose-finding study.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum tolerated doses (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of the weekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine as first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable stage III(B) or IV NSCLC were enrolled onto the study. Escalated doses of gemcitabine (starting dose 700 mg/m(2) per week) and docetaxel (starting dose 30 mg/m(2) per week) were given on a weekly basis for three consecutive weeks in cycles of 4 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients received a total of 94 chemotherapy cycles. At the doses of docetaxel 40 mg/m(2) per week and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) per week, the MTD had not yet been reached. However, the study was prematurely closed because of a high incidence of severe pulmonary adverse events. Six (23%) patients developed fever and pulmonary dysfunction (severe dyspnea, hypoxia in association with diffuse interstitial pneumonitis), which was fatal in two of them. No risk factors were identified contributing to these pulmonary adverse events; four patients had a low absolute number of peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocytes. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in five (19%) patients and grade 3/4 anemia in two (8%). CONCLUSION: The weekly administration of gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with advanced NSCLC is associated with a high incidence of severe pulmonary toxicity, which does not seem to be dose-related. The regimen cannot be used outside a clinical protocol.

A dose escalation study of docetaxel and oxaliplatin combination in patients with metastatic breast and non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of docetaxel in combination with oxaliplatin (L-OHP) as first-line treatment of patients with advanced breast (ABC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients (26 with NSCLC and 26 with ABC), who had not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease, were enrolled. The patients' median age was 64 years, and 42 (71%) had a performance status (WHO) 0-1. Docetaxel was given as a 1-hour infusion after standard premedication on day 1 and L-OHP as a 2 to 6-hour infusion on day 2 every 3 weeks. Doses were escalated at increments of 10 mg/m2. RESULTS: The DLT1 was reached at the doses of docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and L-OHP 80 mg/m2. The addition of rhG-CSF permitted further dose escalation (DLT2: docetaxel 90 mg/m2 and L-OHP 130 mg/m2). The dose-limiting events were grade 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, grades 3 or 4 diarrhea and grade 3 fatigue. Out of 239 delivered cycles, grades 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 22 (9%) cycles with 5 (2%) neutropenic febrile episodes. There was one septic death. Grades 3 or 4 fatigue was observed in seven (13%) patients and grades 3-4 diarrhea in five (10%). Out of 42 patients evaluable for response, seven (27%) patients with ABC and five (19%) patients with NSCLC experienced a partial response. CONCLUSION: The combination of docetaxel and oxaliplatin is a feasible and well-tolerated regimen. The recommended doses for future phase II studies are 75 mg/m2 for docetaxel on day 1 and 70 mg/m2 for L-OHP on day 2 without rhG-CSF support and 85 mg/m2 and 130 mg/m2, respectively, with rhG-CSF support.