BOLERO-5: a phase II study of everolimus and exemestane combination in Chinese post-menopausal women with ER + /HER2- advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The global BOLERO-2 trial established the efficacy and safety of combination everolimus (EVE) and exemestane (EXE) in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER +), HER2-, advanced breast cancer (ABC). BOLERO-5 investigated this combination in a Chinese population (NCT03312738). METHODS: BOLERO-5 is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo controlled, phase II trial comparing EVE (10 mg/day) or placebo (PBO) in combination with EXE (25 mg/day). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) per investigator assessment. Secondary endpoints included PFS per blinded independent review committee (BIRC), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), pharmacokinetics, and safety. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients were randomized to EVE + EXE (n = 80) or PBO + EXE (n = 79). By investigator assessment, treatment with EVE + EXE prolonged median PFS by 5.4 months (HR 0.52; 90% CI 0.38, 0.71), from 2.0 months (PBO + EXE; 90% CI 1.9, 3.6) to 7.4 months (EVE + EXE; 90% CI 5.5, 9.0). Similar results were observed following assessment by BIRC, with median PFS prolonged by 4.3 months. Treatment with EVE + EXE was also associated with improvements in ORR and CBR. No new safety signals were identified in BOLERO-5, with the incidence of adverse events in Chinese patients consistent with the safety profile of both drugs. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety results of BOLERO-5 validate the findings from BOLERO-2, and further support the use of EVE + EXE in Chinese post-menopausal women with ER + , HER2- ABC. NCT03312738, registered 18 October 2017.

Final Results of RIGHT Choice: Ribociclib Plus Endocrine Therapy Versus Combination Chemotherapy in Premenopausal Women With Clinically Aggressive Hormone Receptor-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: A head-to-head comparison of efficacy between a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy (ET) versus combination chemotherapy (CT) has never been reported in patients with clinically aggressive hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II trial, pre/perimenopausal women with clinically aggressive HR+/HER2- ABC were randomly assigned 1:1 to first-line ribociclib (600 mg once daily; 3 weeks on, 1 week off) plus letrozole/anastrozole and goserelin or investigator's choice of combination CT (docetaxel plus capecitabine, paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, or capecitabine plus vinorelbine). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Among 222 patients randomly assigned to ribociclib plus ET (n = 112) or combination CT (n = 110), 150 (67.6%) had symptomatic visceral metastases, 41 (18.5%) had rapid disease progression per investigator's judgment, and 31 (14.0%) had symptomatic nonvisceral disease. Overall, 106 (47.7%) patients had investigator-assessed visceral crisis. The median follow-up time was 37.0 months. At data cutoff, 31.3% (ribociclib arm) and 15.5% (CT arm) of patients had completed study treatment and transitioned to post-trial access. The median PFS was 21.8 months (ribociclib plus ET; [95% CI, 17.4 to 26.7]) and 12.8 months (combination CT; [95% CI, 10.1 to 18.4); hazard ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.87]; P = .003. The overall response rates and the median time to response in the ribociclib versus CT arms, respectively, were 66.1% and 61.8% and 4.9 months and 3.2 months (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.55 to 1.06]). Lower rates of symptomatic adverse events were observed in the ribociclib versus CT arm. CONCLUSION: First-line ribociclib plus ET showed a significant PFS benefit, similar response rates, and better tolerability over combination CT in patients with clinically aggressive HR+/HER2- ABC.

Efficacy and Safety of Ceritinib 450 mg/day with Food and 750 mg/day in Fasted State in Treatment-Naïve Patients with ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results from the ASCEND-8 Asian Subgroup Analysis.

PURPOSE: Previous report from the ASCEND-8 trial showed consistent efficacy with less gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged (ALK+) advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with ceritinib 450-mg with food compared with 750-mg fasted. In this subgroup analysis, we report outcomes in Asian patients of the ASCEND-8 trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Key efficacy endpoints were blinded independent review committee (BIRC)-assessed overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) evaluated per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Other efficacy endpoints were investigator-assessed ORR and DOR; BIRC- and investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and disease control rate; overall survival (OS). Safety was evaluated by frequency and severity of adverse events. RESULTS: At final data cutoff (6 March 2020), 198 treatment-naïve patients were included in efficacy analysis, of which 74 (37%) comprised the Asian subset; 450-mg fed (n=29), 600-mg fed (n=19), and 750-mg fasted (n=26). Baseline characteristics were mostly comparable across study arms. At baseline, more patients in 450-mg fed arm (44.8%) had brain metastases than in 750-mg fasted arm (26.9%). Per BIRC, patients in the 450-mg fed arm had a numerically higher ORR, 24-month DOR rate and 24-month PFS rate than the 750-mg fasted arm. The 36-month OS rate was 93.1% in 450-mg fed arm and 70.9% in 750-mg fasted arm. Any-grade GI toxicity occurred in 82.8% and 96.2% of patients in the 450-mg fed and 750-mg fasted arms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Asian patients with ALK+ advanced/metastatic NSCLC treated with ceritinib 450-mg fed showed numerically higher efficacy and lower GI toxicity than 750-mg fasted patients.

Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment through mTOR Inhibition and Chemotherapy as Induction Therapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The CAPRA Study.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cellular functions by integrating intracellular signals and signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME). The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is activated in 70% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and associated with poor prognosis. This phase I-II study investigated the effect of mTOR inhibition using weekly everolimus (30 mg for dose level 1, 50 mg for dose level 2) combined with weekly induction chemotherapy (AUC2 carboplatin and 60 mg/m2 paclitaxel) in treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced T3-4/N0-3 HNSCC. Patients received 9 weekly cycles before chemoradiotherapy. Objectives were safety and antitumor activity along with tissue and blood molecular biomarkers. A total of 50 patients were enrolled. Among 41 evaluable patients treated at the recommended dose of 50 mg everolimus weekly, tolerance was good and overall response rate was 75.6%, including 20 major responses (≥50% reduction in tumor size). A significant decrease in expression of p-S6K (p-value: 0.007) and Ki67 (p-value: 0.01) was observed in post-treatment tumor tissue. Pro-immunogenic cytokine release (Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-ß) was observed in the peripheral blood. The combination of everolimus and chemotherapy in HNSCC was safe and achieved major tumor responses. This strategy favorably impacts the TME and might be combined with immunotherapeutic agents.

Prospective observational study on Pazopanib in patients treated for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma in countries in Asia Pacific, North Africa, and Middle East regions: PARACHUTE study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical effectiveness and safety data of pazopanib in patients with advanced or mRCC in real-world setting from Asia Pacific, North Africa, and Middle East countries are lacking. METHODS: PARACHUTE is a phase IV, prospective, non-interventional, observational study. Primary endpoint was the proportion of patients remaining progression free at 12 months. Secondary endpoints were ORR, PFS, safety and tolerability, and relative dose intensity (RDI). RESULTS: Overall, 190 patients with a median age of 61 years (range: 22.0-96.0) were included. Most patients were Asian (70%), clear-cell type RCC was the most common (81%), with a favourable (9%), intermediate (47%), poor (10%), and unknown (34%) MSKCC risk score. At the end of the observational period, 78 patients completed the observational period and 112 discontinued the study; 60% of patients had the starting dose at 800 mg. Median RDI was 82%, with 52% of patients receiving < 85%. Of the 145 evaluable patients, 56 (39%) remained progression free at 12 months, and the median PFS was 10 months (95% CI: 8.48-11.83). 19% of patients (21/109) were long-term responders (on pazopanib for ≥18 months). The best response per RECIST 1.1 was CR/PR in 24%, stable disease in 44%, and PD in 31%. Most frequent (> 10%) TEAEs related to pazopanib included diarrhoea (30%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (15%), and hypertension (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Results of the PARACHUTE study support the use of pazopanib in patients with advanced or mRCC who are naive to VEGF-TKI therapy. The safety profile is consistent with that previously reported by pivotal and real-world evidence studies.

Safety and efficacy of everolimus (EVE) plus exemestane (EXE) in postmenopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: final results from EVEREXES.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to collect clinical safety, tolerability, and efficacy data with the use of everolimus (EVE) combined with exemestane (EXE) in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). METHODS: The EVEREXES trial initiated in 2012, provided early access to the first dual blockade treatment with EVE + EXE in patients with HR+, HER2 - ABC in Asia and other emerging growth countries. Postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2 - ABC who had documented recurrence or progression, following a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor therapy, were treated with EVE (10 mg/day) + EXE (25 mg/day) orally. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients received ≥ 1 dose of study medication. At the end of the study, all patients ceased the treatment. Disease progression (66.0%) was the primary reason of discontinuation. The most common AEs (≥ 20%) were stomatitis, decreased appetite, hyperglycemia, rash, aspartate aminotransferase increased, anemia, alanine aminotransferase increased, cough, and fatigue. No new safety concerns were identified in the current study. Median progression-free survival (PFS) in the Asian subset was similar to that of the overall population (9.3 months in both groups). Confirmed overall response rate (ORR) was achieved for 19.6% of the patients. Efficacy of EVE + EXE across subgroups (prior CT, line of treatment, and presence of visceral metastases) was maintained. CONCLUSION: The safety and efficacy results from EVEREXES trial are consistent to data previously reported in BOLERO-2. These results support that EVE + EXE could be a viable treatment option for the postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2 - ABC in Asian region.

Real-life experience of ceritinib in crizotinib-pretreated ALK+ advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Here we report our experience of ceritinib in crizotinib-pretreated patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a French temporary authorisation for use (TAU) study. The French TAU study included crizotinib-pretreated patients with advanced ALK+ or ROS proto-oncogene 1 positive (ROS1+) tumours. Patients received oral ceritinib (750 mg·day-1 as a starting dose) and best tumour response (as evaluated by the investigator) and safety were reported every 3 months. A total of 242 TAUs were granted from March 12, 2013 to August 05, 2015. Of the 242 patients, 228 had ALK+ NSCLC and 13 had ROS1+ NSCLC. The median age of ALK+ patients (n=214) was 58.5 years, 51.9% were female, 70.8% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-1 and 50.0% had brain metastases. Of the 149 efficacy evaluable ALK+ NSCLC patients, 5.4% had a complete response (CR), 47.0% had a partial response (PR) and 22.8% had stable disease (SD). At September 05, 2015, the median duration of ceritinib treatment (n=182) was 3.9 months but 5.5 months for patients (n=71) with a follow-up of ≥12 months. Higher objective response rate (ORR) was observed for patients with ECOG PS 0 to 1 (55.0% versus 42.4%) and those receiving prior crizotinib for >5 months (51.6% versus 36.1%). Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 118 of 208 patients (56.7%), the most common being diarrhoea (22.1%) and hepatic toxicity (19.7%). Ceritinib (750 mg·day-1) demonstrated efficacy similar efficacy to ASCEND-1, ASCEND-2 and phase 3 ASCEND-5 trials with manageable safety in crizotinib-pretreated patients with ALK+ NSCLC.

A prospective observational study on the evaluation of everolimus-related adverse events in metastatic renal cell carcinoma after first-line anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy: the AFINITE study in France.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to describe the occurrence of stomatitis and noninfectious lung disease in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with second-line everolimus in a real-world setting. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted in France by physicians with experience of treatment of patients with mRCC. Patients aged ≥18 years who received everolimus after first-line antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy were included in the study. The primary safety assessments were occurrence of stomatitis (in terms of severity, event dates, and therapeutic management) and noninfectious pneumonitis (in terms of detection methodology, severity, event dates, and therapeutic management). RESULTS: Between September 2010 and August 2012, 284 patients were enrolled at 77 centers, of whom, 274 received everolimus therapy. Most patients had mRCC of clear cell histology (88%), and most of them (84%) received first-line sunitinib. In total, 40% of patients experienced treatment-related stomatitis, and 15% of patients experienced noninfectious lung disease. Most of them had a single episode. The incidence of grade 3 stomatitis and noninfectious lung disease were 8 and 3%, respectively. Mean time to the first episode was 27 days for stomatitis and 72 days for noninfectious lung disease from treatment initiation. Stomatitis and noninfectious lung disease resulted in treatment discontinuations in 2 and 7% of patients, respectively. The primary first-episode treatment was mouthwash (86%) for stomatitis and corticosteroids (65%) for noninfectious lung disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that stomatitis and noninfectious lung disease are commonly associated with everolimus use. Both adverse events were rarely severe and were managed easily and efficiently.

Clinical Benefit of Everolimus as Second-Line Therapy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: The French Retrospective SECTOR Study.

BACKGROUND: Real-world data of everolimus after vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The retrospective, noninterventional SECTOR (SECond line with afiniTOR) study (N = 165) assessed outcomes of second-line everolimus after initial VEGFR-TKI (TKI-everolimus, n = 144) and of third-line VEGFR-TKI after everolimus (TKI-everolimus-TKI, n = 59) in patients with mRCC. The primary end point was duration of everolimus therapy for both populations. RESULTS: Median duration was 4.0 months (range, 0.0-33.0 months) for second-line everolimus and 18.0 months (range, 2-78 months) for sequential VEGFR-TKI and everolimus. Median overall survival (OS) for this sequence was 36.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.0-56.0 months) and was longer for patients who received a first-line TKI for ≥ 9 months (not reached) than for < 9 months (28.0 months; P < .001). During second-line everolimus treatment, commonly reported adverse events (all grades) were fatigue (n = 66, 40.7%), anemia (n = 58, 35.8%), and stomatitis (n = 41, 25.3%). Median duration from initiation of first-line TKI to the end of the third-line TKI was 24.0 months (95% CI, 19.0-29.0 months). Median OS for this sequence was 41.0 months (95% CI, 25.0-57.0 months) and was significantly longer for patients who received the first-line TKI for ≥ 9 months (37.5 months) than for < 9 months (19.0 months; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: These results reflect clinical use of sequential TKI-everolimus and TKI-everolimus-TKI and provide additional evidence that everolimus could be an option in second-line therapy in mRCC. Results of the CheckMate-025 (Nivolumab versus Everolimus in Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma) and METEOR (Metastatic RCC Phase 3 Study Evaluating Cabozantinib versus Everolimus) studies might change the treatment landscape.

Multiparameter Phase I trials: a tool for model-based development of targeted agent combinations--example of EVESOR trial.

Optimal development of targeted drug combinations is one of the future challenges to be addressed. Computerization and mathematical models able to describe biological phenomena and to simulate the effects of changes in experimental conditions may help find solutions to this issue. We propose the concept of 'multiparameter trials', where biological, radiological and clinical data required for modeling purpose are collected and illustrated by the ongoing academic EVESOR trial. The objective of the model-based work would be the determination of the optimized doses and dosing schedules of everolimus and sorafenib, offering the maximization of the predicted modeled benefit/toxicity ratio in patients with solid tumors. It may embody the 'proof of concept' of model-based drug development of anticancer agent combinations.

Efficacy and Safety of Sequential Use of Everolimus in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Previously Treated With Bevacizumab With or Without Interferon Therapy: Results From the European AVATOR Study.

BACKGROUND: Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. It gained approval based on the results of the RECORD-1 (Regulation of Coagulation in Orthopedic Surgery to Prevent Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism 1) trial, which included patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) whose disease progressed after receiving vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting angiogenesis that is approved in patients with mRCC. The sequence of everolimus second-line therapy after failure of bevacizumab ± interferon (IFN) first-line therapy has not yet been studied. METHODS: AVAstin(®) followed by afiniTOR(®) (AVATOR) was a noninterventional retrospective multicenter European observational study of 42 unselected patients with mRCC who were previously or currently treated with everolimus after failure of bevacizumab ± IFN. The primary end point was everolimus progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were related to the overall survival (OS) of patients receiving the drug sequence and everolimus treatment and safety. RESULTS: Exploring the duration of second-line everolimus treatment, 63.8% of patients received at least 3 months of everolimus and 28.8% received at least 8 months of treatment. At the time of data analysis, 15 patients (36%) were still receiving everolimus, 40% had stopped because of progressive disease, and 24% had discontinued treatment for other reasons. Patients receiving everolimus after bevacizumab experienced a median PFS of 17 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5 [not reached]). Median OS was not reached with everolimus second-line therapy. At 32 months after the start of first-line therapy, 53.3% of patients were still alive. All grades of common adverse events (AEs) were consistent with the known safety profile of everolimus. CONCLUSION: The AVATOR-studied sequence displayed a longer than expected median PFS. Further prospective exploratory studies need to be performed to confirm these encouraging results in a larger cohort of patients.

Benchmarking effects of mTOR, PI3K, and dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma models developing resistance to sunitinib and sorafenib.

PURPOSE: To evaluate first-generation rapamycin analogs (everolimus, temsirolimus, and rapamycin) and second-generation drugs inhibiting mTOR kinase (AZD-8055), PI3K (BKM-120) or both (BEZ-235 and GDC-0980) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells characterized for acquired resistance to sorafenib or sunitinib. METHODS: Anti-proliferative (MTT assay) and cell signaling (Western blot) effects of rapamycin analogs (1-20 µM) and second-generation drugs (0.03-20.0 µM) were assessed in human HCC SK-HEP1, RCC 786-0, and sorafenib- (SK-Sora) or sunitinib-resistant (786-Suni) cells. RESULTS: In SK-HEP1 cells displaying high PTEN and Bcl2 expression, rapamycin analogs had poor anti-proliferative effects. However, SK-Sora cells were more sensitive to rapamycin analogs (≥1 µM) than SK-HEP1 cells. In 786-0 cells, lacking PTEN and Bcl2 expression, ≥1 µM rapamycin analogs blocked mTORC1 signaling, transiently activated Akt, and inhibited cell proliferation. Protracted sunitinib exposure in 786-Suni cells yielded an increase in p27 expression and a decreased sensitivity to rapamycin analogs, although mTORC1 function could be inhibited with rapamycin analogs. Second-generation drugs induced more potent growth inhibition than rapamycin analogs at concentrations >0.03 µM in parental cells, SK-Sora, and 786-Suni cells. Growth inhibitory concentrations of these new drugs also blocked mTORC1 downstream targets. CONCLUSIONS: Rapamycin analogs inhibited mTORC1 downstream targets and yielded anti-proliferative effects in HCC and RCC cells. Second-generation drugs also appeared to be potent inhibitors of mTORC1 signaling; however, they appeared to be far more potent in inhibiting cellular proliferation in parental HCC and RCC cells and in cells developing resistance to sorafenib or sunitinib.

Home-based zoledronic acid infusion therapy in patients with solid tumours: compliance and patient-nurse satisfaction.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore patient and nurse satisfaction, compliance with best practice, technical feasibility and safety of home infusion of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZOL). METHODS: This was a prospective 1-year survey of home ZOL therapy (4 mg Zometa, 15-min i.v., every 3-4 weeks) in patients with bone metastases secondary to a solid malignancy. A physician questionnaire, nurse satisfaction/feasibility questionnaire and patient satisfaction questionnaire were administered at several time-points. RESULTS: Physician participation rate was 56.5% (87/154). Physicians enrolled 818 patients visited by 381 predominantly community nurses. Of the 788 case report forms received, 763 met inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics were as follows: median age, 68 years (30-95); M/F, 40/60; ECOG-PS 0 or 1, 78.6%; and primary tumour site, breast (55.2%), prostate (28.4%), lung (7.2%) or other (9.4%). Nurse satisfaction rates were high: organisation of home ZOL therapy, 90.9%; ease of infusion, 96.7%; patient-nurse relationship, 97.5%; and relationship with hospital staff, 73%. Patient satisfaction was also very high (95.3%). The main reasons were quality of the nurse-patient relationship (57.6%), less travel/waiting (68.8%), home environment (52.9%) and less disruption to daily routine (36.6%). ZOL therapy was well tolerated, the discontinuation rate due to adverse events (including deaths whether related to diseases progression or not) was 33.6%. The incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw was 0.6% and of fractures, 0.2%. Practitioner compliance with best practice was 76.7-83.7% for recommended and/or tolerated dosage, 73% for dental hygiene checks at inclusion and 48-56% thereafter, 66% for pre-infusion hydration, and often undocumented for calcium/vitamin D supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Home ZOL therapy was well tolerated. Both patient and nurse satisfaction were very high. However, better compliance with best practice should be encouraged.

Mitotic index and benefit of adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.

PURPOSE: We have evaluated whether the mitotic index could predict the benefit of adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer who are eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy according to Saint Gallen guidelines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 937 patients from a single institution were included in two randomized trials that compared adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy with no chemotherapy. These patients account for 83% of the overall population included in these trials. The first trial included premenopausal patients with node-negative disease, and the second one included postmenopausal patients, regardless of lymph node status. The treatment benefit was assessed according to the number of mitoses per field (x400). RESULTS: The mitotic index was assessable in 888 patients (94%). All the patients presented as either node-positive or an average-risk breast cancer according to 2003 Saint Gallen consensus conference guidelines. The 5-year overall survival rates were 91% and 87% for patients treated or not with adjuvant chemotherapy (P = .09). In patients with low/medium mitotic index (< three mitoses/field; n = 450), the 5-year overall survival rate was 95% for patients treated or not with adjuvant chemotherapy (P = .56). In patients with high mitotic index (>/= three mitoses/field; n = 438), the 5-year overall survival rates were 86% and 79% for patients treated or not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, respectively (P = .02). CONCLUSION: A high mitotic index is associated with the efficacy of adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy in daily practice.

Breast cancer with synchronous metastases: trends in survival during a 14-year period.

PURPOSE: Although new drugs were approved during the 1990s for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, it is not clear whether their use has changed the outcome of patients in daily practice. This study sought to determine whether survival has improved over time for breast cancer patients who had metastases at diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 724 patients have been treated in three French cancer centers for an initially metastatic breast cancer between 1987 and 2000; 343 were diagnosed between 1987 and 1993, and 381 were diagnosed between 1994 and 2000. Tumor characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of these patients were compared by chi(2) test, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Characteristics were not different between the patients diagnosed from 1987 to 1993 and those diagnosed from 1994 to 2000. Ten percent of patients treated from 1987 to 1994 and 58% of patients treated from 1994 to 2000 have received either a taxane or a new aromatase inhibitor. The 3-year overall survival rates were 27% for patients treated from 1987 to 1993 and 44% for patients treated from 1994 to 2000 (P <.001). The treatment period (1994 to 2000 v 1987 to 1993) was a prognostic factor in multivariate analysis (relative risk, 0.6; P <.001). CONCLUSION: The survival of breast cancer patients presenting with metastases at diagnosis has improved over time. This study strongly suggests that this improvement is related to treatment.

[Management of emesis in cancer patients]. / Prise en charge des nausées et des vomissements chez les patients cancéreux.

Nausea and vomiting are often seen in cancer patients. They can be acute (induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy...), or chronic in patients with advanced disease. A high percentage of patients (70% to 80%) suffer from chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. The incidence and severity of these symptoms depend of the nature of chemotherapy, doses, other drugs used in association, and psychological status of the patients. International guidelines have improved the management of nausea and vomiting, with the use of new drugs like setrons. Despite this, optimal care of refractory and delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy is still a matter of debate. Chronic nausea and vomiting concern more than 50% of patients in palliative situation. The origin is often multifactorial. Management consists in aetiologic and symptomatic treatment in order to improve the patients' quality of life.

[Overview of epidermal growth factor inhibitors (with the exclusion of ZD1839 and C225)]. / Panorama des inhibiteurs du récepteur du facteur de croissance épidermique (à l'exclusion du ZD1839 et du C225).

The road of EGFR is an important road of initiation and progression disease. These receptors are highly expressed in the majority of tumours and this expression is associated with a poor prognostic, more aggressiveness, a poor response to treatment, and poor survival. Inhibition of EGFR is an interesting therapeutic approach. Out of ZD1839 and C225 many EGFR inhibitive agents are being evaluated in phase I, II and III trials. These agents that target the extracellular ligand-binding of the receptor include monoclonal antibodies (C225, EMD7200...) and complex ligand-toxins, others that target the intracellular ligand-binding of the receptor include small molecule tyrosine inhibitors (OS1774, ZD1839...). The results of phase I and II trials of the majority of these new agents are encouraging with a higher therapeutic index and lower toxicity than cytotoxic agents. It is necessary to confirm these results with phase II and III trials witch are now underway particularly for OS1774, EMD7200, ABX-EGF, PKI166, MD447 and ICR62.

[Epidermal growth factor receptor and chemoprevention of epithelial tumor: rationale and development methods]. / Récepteur du facteur de croissance épidermique et chimioprévention des cancers épithéliaux: rationnel et voies de développement.

Among the many pathways dysregulated during the carcinogenic process, REGF seems to be one of the most promising pathways to target in order to achieve chemopreventive and anticancer effects. Indeed, chemoprevention, the use of natural or synthetic compounds in order to reverse, suppress or prevent the carcinogenic process, aims at the cellular level at regulating the growth and sensitivity to apoptosis of premalignant and malignant clones. REGF activation leads to uncontrolled cellular proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis and invasion. Furthermore, REGF is frequently overexpressed in many epithelial tumors. This review will focus on the rationale and the ongoing research areas related to chemopreventive approaches targeting REGF.