Detecting Prostate Cancer Using Pattern Recognition Neural Networks With Flow Cytometry-Based Immunophenotyping in At-Risk Men.

Current screening methods for prostate cancer (PCa) result in a large number of false positives making it difficult for clinicians to assess disease status, thus warranting advancements in screening and early detection methods. The goal of this study was to design a liquid biopsy test that uses flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis to detect PCa. Numerous myeloid and lymphoid cell populations, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells, were measured from 156 patients with PCa, 123 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 99 male healthy donor (HD) controls. Using pattern recognition neural network (PRNN) analysis, a type of ANN, PCa detection compared against HD resulted in 96.6% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.97. Detecting patients with higher risk disease (⩾Gleason 7) against lower risk disease (BPH/Gleason 6) resulted in 92.0% sensitivity, 42.7% specificity, and an AUC of 0.72. This study suggests that analyzing flow cytometry immunophenotyping data with PRNNs may prove to be a useful tool to improve PCa detection and reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies performed each year.

Efficacy of Split Schedule Versus Conventional Schedule Neoadjuvant Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC; 70 mg/m2) is standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC). Many patients (pts) cannot receive cisplatin because of renal impairment, and administration of cisplatin 35 mg/m2 on day 1 + 8 or 1 + 2 (i.e., split schedule) is a commonly used alternative. In this retrospective analysis, we compared complete (pT0) and partial (

Intratumor Heterogeneity: Novel Approaches for Resolving Genomic Architecture and Clonal Evolution.

High-throughput genomic technologies have revealed a remarkably complex portrait of intratumor heterogeneity in cancer and have shown that tumors evolve through a reiterative process of genetic diversification and clonal selection. This discovery has challenged the classical paradigm of clonal dominance and brought attention to subclonal tumor cell populations that contribute to the cancer phenotype. Dynamic evolutionary models may explain how these populations grow within the ecosystem of tissues, including linear, branching, neutral, and punctuated patterns. Recent evidence in breast cancer favors branching and punctuated evolution driven by genome instability as well as nongenetic sources of heterogeneity, such as epigenetic variation, hierarchal tumor cell organization, and subclonal cell-cell interactions. Resolution of the full mutational landscape of tumors could help reconstruct their phylogenetic trees and trace the subclonal origins of therapeutic resistance, relapsed disease, and distant metastases, the major causes of cancer-related mortality. Real-time assessment of the tumor subclonal architecture, however, remains limited by the high rate of errors produced by most genome-wide sequencing methods as well as the practical difficulties associated with serial tumor genotyping in patients. This review focuses on novel approaches to mitigate these challenges using bulk tumor, liquid biopsies, single-cell analysis, and deep sequencing techniques. The origins of intratumor heterogeneity and the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic consequences in breast cancer are also explored. Mol Cancer Res; 15(9); 1127-37. ©2017 AACR.

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to Jejunum: An Unusual Case Presentation.

The small intestine is a very uncommon and peculiar site for metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We present a clinical presentation of insidious and unusual development of a jejunal metastasis while having stable disease in a remainder of metastatic sites, in a patient undergoing immunotherapy with nivolumab. Due to the extreme rarity of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the lumen of the small bowel, it is easy to overlook and misdiagnose symptoms of this pathologic entity, particularly when the remainder of metastatic disease responds well to ongoing therapy.

Perceptions of Primary Care Among Breast Cancer Survivors: The Effects of Weight Status.

BACKGROUND: Obese breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are impacted by diminished quality of life (QOL), multiple comorbid conditions, and poor disease outcomes. Despite national guidelines recommending a healthy weight to improve QOL and outcomes posttreatment, support and education are not routinely provided to BCSs in primary care. To fill this gap, we assessed perceptions of primary care received among BCSs by weight status. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were administered to early-stage BCSs (N = 188) from 2 New Jersey cancer centers between May 2012 and July 2013. Sociodemographics, medical history, functional health status, perceived satisfaction with one's primary care provider (PCP), and PCP involvement in follow-up care were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 82% of overweight BCSs and 30% of obese BCSs reported not being told by their doctor that they were overweight or obese, despite these conditions being highly prevalent (35% and 35%, respectively). Obese BCSs were more likely than healthy weight BCSs to be African American, have a higher comorbidity score, poorer functional health, and greater satisfaction with their PCPs. CONCLUSION: The PCP-patient encounter may represent an opportunity for PCPs to correct misperceptions and promote weight reduction efforts among BCSs, thus improving QOL and disease outcomes.

An open-label safety study of lapatinib plus trastuzumab plus paclitaxel in first-line HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent data support the hypothesis that combining lapatinib and trastuzumab with taxane chemotherapy may offer added clinical benefit to patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study examined the safety of the triplet combination in first-line HER2-positive MBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled into three sequential cohorts; the last two cohorts were added by protocol amendment following review of safety data from cohort 1. Patients in cohort 1 received lapatinib (1000 mg/day) plus paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2) per week, 3 of every 4 weeks); cohort 2 received lapatinib (1000 mg/day) plus paclitaxel (70 mg/m(2) per week, 3 of every 4 weeks); and cohort 3 received lapatinib (750 mg/day) plus paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2) per week, 3 of every 4 weeks). All received standard trastuzumab dosing. The primary objective was assessment of dose-limiting toxicities, safety, and tolerability of this combination. RESULTS: The most frequent adverse events (AEs) for all cohorts were diarrhea (89%), rash (79%), fatigue (73%), alopecia (63%), nausea (63%), and vomiting (40%). In cohorts 1 and 2, the incidence of grade 3 diarrhea was 62% and 50%, respectively; in cohort 3, the incidence was 25% (with prophylactic loperamide). Dehydration was the most frequent serious AE (10%). Across cohorts, overall response rate was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The dose-limiting toxicity of paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and lapatinib in first-line HER2-positive MBC was diarrhea. Of the triplet combinations tested, the cohort receiving 750 mg/day dose of lapatinib had the lowest incidence of diarrhea; therefore, this dose should be used in further studies on the treatment of MBC.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes of dose-dense chemotherapy for breast cancer in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of dose-dense chemotherapy during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study in which women were identified from the international Cancer and Pregnancy Registry at Cooper Medical School at Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. A chart analysis was completed and Fisher's exact test and independent t test were used in comparing patient outcomes. RESULTS: Ten women received dose-dense chemotherapy, received every 2 weeks, and 99 women received conventional chemotherapy, received with at least 3-week intervals, for breast cancer during pregnancy. Birth weight, gestational age at delivery, rate of growth restriction, congenital anomalies, and incidence of maternal and neonatal neutropenia were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In the small cohort of women in our registry, dose-dense chemotherapy does not appear to increase the risk of fetal or maternal complications.

Phase 2 trial of maintenance bevacizumab alone after bevacizumab plus pemetrexed and carboplatin in advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The authors performed a phase 2 study of bevacizumab plus pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by maintenance bevacizumab in patients with advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer. METHODS: Previously untreated patients with advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg, pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) and carboplatin at an area under the concentration-time curve of 6 intravenously on day 1 every 21 days. Responding or stable patients who completed 6 cycles then received bevacizumab maintenance every 21 days until disease progression. RESULTS: In total, 43 patients (40 who were evaluable for response) were entered on the study. Treatment-related grade 3/4 toxicities were low and included febrile neutropenia (2%), neutropenia (28%), anemia (18%), thrombocytopenia (11%), hypertension (7%), epistaxis (5%), venous thrombosis (8%), dyspnea (7%), rectovaginal fistula (2.3%), infusion reaction (2%), and cerebrovascular event (2%). One patient died from complications of venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular accident after Cycle 2. Minimal clinically significant toxicity occurred during maintenance bevacizumab. Two complete responses (5%) were observed, and 17 patients (42%) had a partial response. Fifteen patients (38%) displayed disease stability. The overall disease control rate was 85%. At a median follow-up of 15.8 months, the median progression-free survival was 7.1 months (95% confidence interval, 5.9-8.3 months), and the median overall survival was 17.1 months (95% confidence interval, 8.8-25.5 months). CONCLUSIONS: Combined bevacizumab, pemetrexed, and carboplatin followed by maintenance bevacizumab was well tolerated and displayed remarkable activity in patients with previously untreated, advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Maintenance therapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer - the role of pemetrexed.

Over the last several years, we have greatly enhanced our understanding of tumor biology and have now integrated novel and molecular-targeted therapies into front-line treatment for locally advanced and metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite all the recent advances, the improvement in survival outcomes for these patients has been measured in weeks compared to historical controls. Clinical researchers continue to search for the silver bullet that will allow oncologists to treat lung cancer as a chronic illness and prolong life well beyond the statistical barrier of 1 year for these patients. In that vein, maintenance therapy is emerging as a new treatment option in the metastatic setting. However, there is much controversy over the validity and cost-effectiveness of this modality. Recently, a phase III trial of pemetrexed maintenance versus best supportive care in the setting of metastatic NSCLC following non-progression after 4 cycles of platinum-based doublet therapy showed significant survival outcomes of the treatment group. This article will review the current available treatment options in metastatic NSCLC, including maintenance regimens, with particular attention paid to the recent pemetrexed study.

Restrictive eligibility limits access to newer therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer: the implications of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 4599.

BACKGROUND: In a previous randomized phase II trial evaluating carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab in patients naive to chemotherapy with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), median survival ranged from 53 weeks to 76 weeks. Sudden life-threatening hemoptysis occurred in 6 of 66 patients receiving chemotherapy and bevacizumab; 4 episodes were fatal, all in patients with squamous cell histology. Squamous histology and bevacizumab therapy were the only factors associated with life-threatening hemorrhage. ECOG 4599 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 4599), a randomized phase III trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin with or without bevacizumab ultimately excluded patients with squamous histology as well as brain metastases, ongoing therapeutic anticoagulation/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antecedent hemoptysis, and performance status (PS) of 2. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis during a defined period to determine the proportion of patients with newly evaluated advanced NSCLC seen at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) who would have been eligible for ECOG 4599. We reviewed new thoracic oncology patient visits (n = 260) at FCCC scheduled with 6 medical oncologists from March 1, 2002, through August 8, 2002. RESULTS: Forty-five patients had histology that made them ineligible (8 mesothelioma, 6 small-cell, 5 mixed histology, and 26 non-lung cancers). Of the remaining 215 patients with NSCLC, 8 had incomplete charts for review and 7 had stage I, 8 stage II, and 43 stage III NSCLC. Of the remaining 149 patients, 33 had received chemotherapy previously. Of the remaining 116, only 34 (29.3%) were eligible. Of 82 ineligible patients, 21 (25.6%) had PS > or = 2, 20 (24.3%) had central nervous system (CNS) metastases, 11 (13.4%) had squamous histology, 9 (10.9%) had therapeutic anticoagulation, and 21 (25.6%) had > or = 2 criteria (11 PS > or = 2/squamous histology; 3 PS > or = 2/CNS involvement; 2 PS > or = 2/anticoagulation, 2 CNS metastasis/anticoagulation, 2 PS > or = 2/squamous histology/anticoagulation, 1 PS > or = 2/squamous histology/CNS metastasis). Of 34 eligible patients, only 6 (17.6%) enrolled in the trial. CONCLUSION: Based on the data reviewed, > 70% of patients who might otherwise have been eligible for standard advanced NSCLC trials were not candidates for ECOG 4599. Outcome with respect to this study must be interpreted in the context of eligibility restrictions.

Response to temozolomide in second-line treatment of recurrent nonsmall cell lung carcinoma: case report.

Almost all patients with stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who show an initial response to chemotherapy will eventually relapse. For patients with a good performance status at relapse, second-line chemotherapy is a standard treatment option. A case of recurrent NSCLC described herein profiles a patient previously treated with cisplatin, irinotecan, and radical thoracic radiation for stage IIIb NSCLC. The patient showed a complete response to first-line therapy that lasted for approximately 17 months. When new adenopathy was discovered, therapy with the oral chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide was initiated. After 2 treatment cycles, a near complete response was obtained and she remained free from disease progression during all subsequent treatment cycles with temozolomide. The patient remained free from disease progression for a total of 15 months when she was treated for dehydration and a computed tomography (CT) scan showed new small bilateral pleural effusions and enlarging subcarinal, right hilar, and left infrahilar lymph nodes. The patient died 21 months after her first treatment cycle with temozolomide, most likely because of progressive disease.

Randomized phase I trial of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor plus chemotherapy: potential role as mucosal protectant.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) when administered with fluorouracil (FU) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 81) received KGF by intravenous (IV) bolus on days 1 to 3, followed by FU 425 mg/m2/d IV bolus plus leucovorin 20 mg/m2/d IV on days 4 to 8. KGF dose levels were 1, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/kg/d. A randomized, placebo-controlled design was employed (2:1 randomization of KGF to placebo). Oral mucositis was assessed by examination on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 28. In addition, patients provided daily assessments of oral symptoms using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Skin and oral events occurred in 13 of 18 patients (eight patients, grade 1; four patients, grade 2; and one patient, grade 3) treated with 60 and 80 microg/kg of KGF and three of 11 patients treated with 40 microg/kg (grade 1). These symptoms were dose limiting in three cases (ie, in two of 10 patients treated with 80 microg/kg and in one of eight patients treated with 60 microg/kg). The frequency of grade 2 to 4 mucositis was 43% in patients treated with KGF, compared with 67% in patients treated with placebo (P =.06). Patient self-assessments of oral pain and clinical assessments of mucositis showed good correlation (Kendall's tau = 0.75). CONCLUSION: KGF is generally well tolerated when administered IV at doses up to 40 microg/kg/d for 3 days before a 5-day course of FU plus leucovorin. A clinically meaningful biologic effect was also suggested in that patients treated with the epithelial growth factor KGF had a lower rate of grade 2 to 4 mucositis than did patients treated with placebo.