A retrospective analysis of 3954 patients in phase 2/3 trials of bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma: towards providing a benchmark for the cardiac safety profile of proteasome inhibition in multiple myeloma.

This retrospective analysis aimed to establish the overall cardiac safety profile of bortezomib using patient-level data from one phase 2 and seven phase 3 studies in previously untreated and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Seven clinically relevant primary [congestive heart failure (CHF), arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cardiac death] and secondary (hypertension, dyspnoea, oedema) cardiac endpoints were defined based on MedDRA v16.0 preferred terms. 2509 bortezomib-treated patients and 1445 patients in non-bortezomib-based control arms were included. The incidence of grade ≥3 CHF was 1·3-4·0% in studies in relapsed/refractory MM and 1·2-4·7% in previously untreated MM (2·0-7·6% all grades), with no significant differences between bortezomib- and non-bortezomib-based arms in comparative studies. Incidences of arrhythmias (1·3-5·9% grade ≥2; 0·6-4·1% grade ≥3), IHD (1·2-2·9% all grades; 0·4-2·7% grade ≥3) and cardiac death (0-1·4%) were low, with no differences between bortezomib-based and non-bortezomib-based arms. Higher rates of oedema (mostly grade 1/2) were seen in bortezomib-based versus non-bortezomib-based arms in one study and a pooled transplant study analysis. Logistic regression analyses of comparative studies showed no impact on cardiac risk with bortezomib-based versus non-bortezomib-based treatment. Bortezomib-based treatment was associated with low incidences of cardiac events.

Tonsillar lymphoma masquerading as obstructive sleep apnea - pediatric case report.

The commonest cause of head and neck malignancy in pediatric patients is lymphoma. A particular case is the tonsillar lymphoma. Even though unilateral tonsillar enlargement represents an ominous sign for neoplasia, clinical manifestations vary and are non-specific. Therefore, a delayed diagnosis is performed which compromises optimal therapy and hinders the prognosis. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy who was initially diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, without reported systemic complaints. Asymmetric tonsillar hypertrophy created the premises for performing a tonsillectomy to rule out malignancy. The pathological evaluation of the resected tonsils revealed a malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with immunophenotypic features consistent with sporadic type Burkitt lymphoma. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the histopathological examination and of the immunohistochemistry testing for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of all asymmetric tonsillar hypertrophy in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Furthermore, immunohistochemical diagnosis is vital for establishing a personalized multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, which dramatically improves the survival rate. We recommend histopathological evaluation in all children with asymmetric tonsillar hypertrophy undergoing tonsillectomy for various reasons. Needless to say, it is better to be cautious and exclude the presence of tonsillar lymphoma, than to confront with the severe consequences of misdiagnosis.

Community-Based Phase IIIB Trial of Three UPFRONT Bortezomib-Based Myeloma Regimens.

PURPOSE: The US community-based, phase IIIB UPFRONT trial was designed to compare three frontline bortezomib-based regimens in transplantation-ineligible patients with myeloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 502) were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to 24 weeks (eight 21-day cycles) of induction with bortezomib-dexamethasone (VD; n = 168; intravenous bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2), days 1, 4, 8, and 11 plus oral dexamethasone 20 mg, days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12 [cycles 1 to 4], or 1, 2, 4, and 5 [cycles 5 to 8]), bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD; n = 167; bortezomib and dexamethasone as before plus oral thalidomide 100 mg, days 1 to 21), or bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP; n = 167; bortezomib as before plus oral melphalan 9 mg/m(2) and oral prednisone 60 mg/m(2), days 1 to 4, every other cycle), followed by 25 weeks (five 35-day cycles) of bortezomib maintenance (1.6 mg/m(2), days 1, 8, 15, and 22). The primary end point was progression-free survival. RESULTS: After 42.7 months' median follow-up, median progression-free survival with VD, VTD, and VMP was 14.7, 15.4, and 17.3 months, respectively; median overall survival was 49.8, 51.5, and 53.1 months, with no significant differences among treatments for either end point (global P = .46 and P = .79, respectively, Wald test). Overall response rates were 73% (VD), 80% (VTD), and 70% (VMP). Adverse events were more common with VTD than VD or VMP. Bortezomib maintenance was feasible without producing cumulative toxicity. CONCLUSION: Although all bortezomib-containing regimens produced good outcomes, VTD and VMP did not appear to offer an advantage over VD in transplantation-ineligible patients with myeloma treated in US community practice.

Effect of cumulative bortezomib dose on survival in multiple myeloma patients receiving bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone in the phase III VISTA study.

This analysis, using data from the bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) arm of the Phase III VISTA study, investigated whether increased cumulative bortezomib dose could improve overall survival (OS) in transplant-ineligible patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma. Median cumulative bortezomib dose received by the 340 patients was 39 mg/m(2); this was selected as the cut-off for defining the dose groups to be compared for OS. Patient characteristics were well balanced between dose groups except for age. OS was significantly longer in the higher (≥39 mg/m(2)) versus lower (<39 mg/m(2)) cumulative bortezomib dose group (median 66.3 vs. 46.2 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.533, P < 0.0001; age-adjusted HR 0.561, P = 0.0002). To overcome confounding effects of early discontinuations/deaths, which were more common in the lower cumulative dose group (27 vs. 4% of patients discontinued due to adverse events (AEs) in the lower and higher cumulative dose groups, respectively), a landmark analysis was conducted at 180 days, eliminating patients who died or discontinued before this time from the analysis. OS from this landmark remained significantly longer in the higher dose group (median 60.4 vs. 50.3 months; HR 0.709, P = 0.0372). Thus, higher cumulative bortezomib dose, reflecting prolonged treatment duration and/or dose intensity, appears associated with improved OS. Approaches to achieve higher cumulative doses could include subcutaneous bortezomib administration, dose/schedule modifications, continuing therapy in responding patients, and proactive AE management.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of bortezomib re-treatment in patients with multiple myeloma.

INTRODUCTION: Bortezomib is administered for a finite course; thus, patients might remain sensitive to bortezomib-based therapy at relapse. We report a meta-analysis of bortezomib-based retreatment in relapsed/refractory myeloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review identified studies of bortezomib-based retreatment in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Proportions of bortezomib-refractory patients and additional prognostic factors were extracted and used in weighted stratified analyses of TTP and OS. Random-effect pooled estimates were calculated for overall response rate (ORR) and rates of common AEs. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies (n = 1051 patients) were identified. Bortezomib was administered intravenously in all studies. Across studies in which data were available, pooled, weighted average ORR was 39.1% (95% confidence interval, 30.8%-47.4%), and pooled, weighted average median TTP and OS were 7.5 and 16.6 months, respectively. Patients with fewer previous therapies (≤ 4) and relapsed (not refractory) patients achieved higher ORRs, of 43.4% and 57.2%, respectively. Random-effects meta-regression analysis confirmed that relapsed patients were associated with a higher ORR by 28 to 41 percentage points versus refractory patients. In relapsed patients, median TTP and OS were 8.5 and 19.7 months, respectively. Common Grade 3/4 AEs included thrombocytopenia (35%), neutropenia (15%), anemia (14%), pneumonia (10%), and peripheral neuropathy (3%). CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, bortezomib retreatment is well tolerated and appears efficacious in relapsed patients. In an era of new and emerging treatment options for relapsed and/or refractory myeloma, these data indicate that bortezomib retreatment might be a highly effective option in previously treated patients.

Cardiovascular events among 1090 cancer patients treated with sunitinib, interferon, or placebo: a comprehensive adjudicated database analysis demonstrating clinically meaningful reversibility of cardiac events.

PURPOSE: To define cardiovascular (CV) risk and reversibility of cardiac events in patients who received sunitinib versus comparator treatment (interferon-alfa or placebo). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective adjudication of comprehensive CV adverse events (AEs) from two phase 3 trials. Components of the comprehensive CV AE end-point comprised hypertension, symptomatic and asymptomatic left ventricular ejection fraction decreases (SD-LVEF; AD-LVEF) and extent of reversibility, heart-failure symptoms, thromboembolic events, dysrhythmia and CV death. Three cardiologists and one oncologist, blinded to treatment allocation, adjudicated suspected CV AEs in the pooled trial database (N=1090). RESULTS: Incidence rates (IR) for sunitinib versus Interferon-alfa (IFN-α)/placebo were hypertension: 6.9 versus 2.6 (hazard ratio (HR), 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.4-4.0); SD-LVEF: 0.4 versus 0.2 (HR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0-6.2); AD-LVEF: 1.1 versus 0.8 (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3-3.4); and composite CV AE end-point: 10.1 versus 4.8 (HR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.0-3.1), however reversibility, not previously quantified, was found to be clinically meaningful. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension and SD-LVEF/AD-LVEF were significantly higher with sunitinib versus IFN-α/placebo. Among patients who experienced a cardiac event, symptomatic and asymptomatic instances of decreased cardiac dysfunction were adjudicated as reversible in 47 of 83 (56%) and 17 of 30 (57%), respectively. Among sunitinib-treated patients, many were able to resume sunitinib dosing following resolution of events, a finding that is important for clinical care. In comparator groups, symptomatic and asymptomatic instances were adjudicated as reversible in 4 of 6 (66.7%) and 11 of 21 (52%), respectively. Thromboembolic, dysrhythmic and/or CV deaths were not significantly higher in sunitinib-treated patients.

Burden of anemia in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in French secondary care.

BACKGROUND: Arthritic disorders can be the cause of hospitalizations, especially among individuals 60 years and older. The objective of this study is to investigate associations between health care resource utilization in arthritis patients with and without concomitant anemia in a secondary care setting in France. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized data on secondary care activity in 2001 from the Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information database. Two cohorts were defined using ICD-10 codes: patients with an arthritis diagnosis with a concomitant diagnosis of anemia; and arthritis patients without anemia. Health care resource utilization for both populations was analyzed separately in public and private hospitals. Study outcomes were compared between the cohorts using standard bivariate and multivariable methods. RESULTS: There were 300,865 hospitalizations for patients with arthritis only, and 2,744 for those with concomitant anemia. Over 70% of patients with concomitant anemia were in public hospitals, compared with 53.5% of arthritis-only patients. Arthritis patients without anemia were younger than those with concomitant anemia (mean age 66.7 vs 74.6, public hospitals; 67.1 vs 72.2, private hospitals). Patients with concomitant anemia/arthritis only had a mean length of stay of 11.91 (SD 14.07)/8.04 (SD 9.93) days in public hospitals, and 10.68 (SD 10.16)/9.83 (SD 7.76) days in private hospitals. After adjusting for confounders, the mean (95% CI) additional length of stay for arthritis patients with concomitant anemia, compared with those with arthritis only, was 1.56 (1.14-1.98) days in public and 0.69 (0.22-1.16) days in private hospitals. Costs per hospitalization were €;480 (227-734) greater for arthritis patients with anemia in public hospitals, and €;30 (-113-52) less in private hospitals, than for arthritis-only patients. CONCLUSIONS: Arthritis patients with concomitant anemia have a longer length of stay, undergo more procedures, and have higher hospitalization costs than nonanemic arthritis patients in public hospitals in France. In private hospitals, concomitant anemia was associated with modest increases in length of stay and number of procedures; however, this did not translate into higher costs. Such evidence of anemia-related health care utilization and costs can be considered as a proxy for the clinical significance of anemia.

Pooled analysis of GI tolerability of 21 randomized controlled trials of celecoxib and nonselective NSAIDs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability of celecoxib and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at approved doses in patients with common musculoskeletal conditions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, pooled analysis of studies selected from the Pfizer Corporate Clinical Trials Registry. Study selection criteria were: (1) Data available as of October 31, 2004; (2) Randomized, parallel-group study design and planned treatment duration of >or= 2 weeks; (3) At least one nonselective NSAID (naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac) as a comparator; (4) At least one arm with 200 mg or 400 mg celecoxib per day; (5) Patients with osteoarthritis (OA), adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Data were pooled by treatment and by subject from the safety analysis population of each included study. Joint primary end points were the combined incidence of tolerability-related GI adverse events (AEs) (abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhea, and flatulence), and time to study discontinuation due to any GI AE. RESULTS: In all, 21 studies met the selection criteria. Across the safety analysis populations of the included studies, 7797 patients received celecoxib total daily dose 200 mg/day, 6653 received celecoxib total daily dose 400 mg/day, 2953 received naproxen, 499 received ibuprofen, and 5643 received diclofenac. Tolerability-related GI AEs were reported by significantly fewer celecoxib-treated patients (16.0%) than by those treated with naproxen (24.3%), ibuprofen (24.2%), or diclofenac (19.9%) (p < 0.0001 vs. each comparator). Time to study discontinuation due to any GI AE was significantly longer for celecoxib than for naproxen (p < 0.0001), ibuprofen (p = 0.002), or diclofenac (p = 0.048). In the RA subpopulation (n = 2857), there was no significant difference between the celecoxib and naproxen or ibuprofen groups in incidence of tolerability-related GI AEs and GI AEs. LIMITATIONS: The limitations are inherent to the retrospective analysis design. CONCLUSIONS: In this pooled analysis of celecoxib at approved doses in OA, RA, and AS, fewer celecoxib-treated patients in the overall population had tolerability-related GI AEs than patients treated with naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac. In addition, celecoxib-treated patients had a significantly longer time to study discontinuation due to GI AEs.

Long-term efficacy and safety of celecoxib in Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may play an important role in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The efficacy and safety of celecoxib (200 mg bid), a COX-2 selective inhibitor, were assessed in patients > or =50 years with established mild-to-moderate AD to determine whether treatment was effective in retarding deterioration of cognitive function. METHODS: This was a 52-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The primary efficacy end points were the change from baseline to week 52 in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Behavior (ADAS-cog) composite score and the week 52 Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus (CIBIC+). RESULTS: At 52 weeks, change in ADAS-cog scores from baseline was similar for placebo and celecoxib 200 mg bid groups (5.00 and 4.39, respectively). CIBIC+ scores were also similar (4.83 and 4.92). Two extension studies were conducted but were terminated early based on these efficacy results. Safety data from all 3 studies indicated that celecoxib was generally well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: Celecoxib 200 mg bid did not slow the progression of AD in this study, and the occurrence of adverse events was as expected for an elderly population with a complex chronic medical condition.