Cardiac safety results from a phase II, open-label, multicenter, pilot study of two docetaxel-based regimens plus bevacizumab for the adjuvant treatment of subjects with node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Adding antiangiogenic therapy to standard chemotherapy has improved response rates and progression-free survival in metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients. This phase II study evaluated cardiac safety of bevacizumab with/without trastuzumab with two docetaxel-based regimens in early BC. METHODS: 127 women with non-metastatic node-positive or high-risk node-negative BC were enrolled. Women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative BC (n = 93) received docetaxel/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (TAC) + bevacizumab, while women with HER2-positive disease (n = 34) received docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab (TCH) + bevacizumab, every 3 weeks for six cycles. Maintenance therapy with bevacizumab alone or bevacizumab plus trastuzumab, respectively, was given every 3 weeks for 52 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate cardiac safety, as measured by the incidence of ≥ grade 3 clinical congestive heart failure (CHF); the secondary objective was assessment of safety and toxicity. RESULTS: At least one cardiac adverse event (AE; CHF, cardiomyopathy, or left ventricular dysfunction) was reported in 26.1% of TAC (n = 92) and 17.6% of TCH subjects (n = 34); there were no cardiac deaths. ≥ Grade 3 clinical CHF was observed in 4.3% in the TAC plus bevacizumab stratum and 0% in the TCH plus bevacizumab stratum. A ≥ grade 3 treatment-emergent AE (any kind) related to study treatment was observed in 59.8% in the TAC with bevacizumab and 52.9% in the TCH plus bevacizumab stratum. CONCLUSION: Adding bevacizumab to a docetaxel-based regimen with trastuzumab did not appear to increase cardiotoxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00446030, registered March 8, 2007.

Randomized placebo-controlled phase II trial of perifosine plus capecitabine as second- or third-line therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: In a multicenter, double-blind phase II trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of perifosine plus capecitabine (P-CAP) with placebo plus capecitabine (CAP) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had progressed after as many as two prior therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 38) not previously treated with capecitabine received P-CAP (perifosine 50 mg orally once daily, days 1 to 21 and CAP 825 mg/m(2) orally twice daily, days 1 to 14) or CAP (825 mg/m(2) orally twice daily, days 1 to 14) in 21-day cycles until disease progression. The primary end point was time to progression (TTP). Secondary end points included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), safety, and tolerability. RESULTS: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to P-CAP and 18 to CAP. Median TTP (27.5 v 10.1 weeks; P < .001) and median OS (17.7 v 7.6 months; P = .0052) were improved in patients receiving P-CAP versus CAP. ORR was 20% v 7% in the P-CAP and CAP groups, respectively, and one patient in the P-CAP group had a complete response. A subset analysis of fluorouracil-refractory patients showed a median TTP of 17.6 v 9.0 weeks (P < .001) and median OS of 15.1 v 6.5 months (P = .0061). Toxicities, including diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and hand-foot syndrome, were manageable. CONCLUSION: P-CAP showed promising clinical activity compared with CAP in previously treated patients with mCRC. A phase III trial is underway comparing P-CAP with CAP in patients with refractory mCRC.

A phase II trial of docetaxel with bevacizumab as first-line therapy for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (TORI B01).

INTRODUCTION: Addition of the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab to paclitaxel significantly improves response rates and progression-free survival for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). To assess the activity of docetaxel plus bevacizumab, a multicenter phase II trial was conducted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with measurable first-line HER2/neu-negative MBC were eligible. This trial began as a 2-arm study with a docetaxel-alone arm. When bevacizumab became widely available, it was converted to a 1-arm open-label trial of docetaxel/bevacizumab. Patients enrolled in the docetaxel-alone arm were permitted to cross over to docetaxel/bevacizumab. Patients received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously (I.V.) every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. RESULTS: From March 2005 to September 2006, 76 patients were enrolled. Of the 7 patients who were randomized to docetaxel alone, 6 crossed over to docetaxel/bevacizumab (included in the safety analysis only). Two patients were found to be ineligible before receiving drug. Efficacy data are based on the 67 patients who were originally enrolled in the docetaxel/bevacizumab arm and received at least 1 dose of study medication. The confirmed objective response rate is 51% (34 of 67) with 9% complete responses (6 of 67) and 42% partial responses (28 of 67). Nine additional patients (13%) had stable disease lasting >or= 6 months. With a median follow-up of 21.7 months, the median time to progression is 9.3 months, and median overall survival is 26.3 months. Common grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (33%), leukopenia/lymphopenia (25%), fatigue (22%), infection (17%), pain (16%), and hypertension (9%). CONCLUSION: Docetaxel/bevacizumab was generally well tolerated with manageable toxicity and promising efficacy results.

A randomized phase IIIB trial of chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and panitumumab compared with chemotherapy and bevacizumab alone for metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Panitumumab, a fully human antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, is active in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This trial evaluated panitumumab added to bevacizumab and chemotherapy (oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based) as first-line treatment for mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned within each chemotherapy cohort to bevacizumab and chemotherapy with or without panitumumab 6 mg/kg every 2 weeks. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) within the oxaliplatin cohort. Tumor assessments were performed every 12 weeks and reviewed centrally. RESULTS: A total of 823 and 230 patients were randomly assigned to the oxaliplatin and irinotecan cohorts, respectively. Panitumumab was discontinued after a planned interim analysis of 812 oxaliplatin patients showed worse efficacy in the panitumumab arm. In the final analysis, median PFS was 10.0 and 11.4 months for the panitumumab and control arms, respectively (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.52); median survival was 19.4 months and 24.5 months for the panitumumab and control arms, respectively. Grade 3/4 adverse events in the oxaliplatin cohort (panitumumab v control) included skin toxicity (36% v 1%), diarrhea (24% v 13%), infections (19% v 10%), and pulmonary embolism (6% v 4%). Increased toxicity without evidence of improved efficacy was observed in the panitumumab arm of the irinotecan cohort. KRAS analyses showed adverse outcomes for the panitumumab arm in both wild-type and mutant groups. CONCLUSION: The addition of panitumumab to bevacizumab and oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy results in increased toxicity and decreased PFS. These combinations are not recommended for the treatment of mCRC in clinical practice.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with bone marrow involvement. A case report and review of the literature.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, also referred to as inflammatory fibrosarcoma, is a rare tumor composed of myofibroblastic spindle cells of uncertain etiology and disputed nosology. We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the omentum with involvement of the bone marrow in an 18-year-old man. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies of the abdominal mass and bone marrow were consistent with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Additionally, fluorescence in situ hybridization using a probe specific for the ALK gene showed disruption of the gene. The literature is reviewed with emphasis on the ability of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor to recur, metastasize, and cause mortality.