ADXS11-001 LM-LLO as specific immunotherapy in cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-known cause of cervical cancer. Therapeutic cancer vaccines are part of the current therapeutic options for HPV-associated cancers. Axalimogen filolisbac (ADXS11-001) is an immunotherapy based on live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes-listeriolysin O (Lm-LLO), designed by biological engineering to secrete an antigen-adjuvant fusion protein, composed of a truncated fragment of LLO fused to HPV. The proposed mechanism of action is that Lm-based vectors infect antigen-presenting cells (APC) and secrete HPV-LLO fusion proteins within the APC cytoplasm, these proteins are processed and presented to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), thus generating a new population of CTLs specific to HPV antigens. These HPV-specific CTLs destroy HPV infected cells. ADXS11-001 has demonstrated safety results in phase I-II studies in women with cervical cancer and is being assessed in clinical trials in patients with HPV-positive anal canal and head and neck cancers.

Immunotherapy treatment against cervical cancer

ABSTRACT Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynecological tumors and an important health problem, especially in developing countries. The vast majority of patients in early stages are cured of the disease with surgical treatment and with concomitant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced stages. However, in patients with recurrent, persistent, or metastatic cervical CC, the effectiveness of treatment is limited, except for the combination of chemotherapy based on platinum doublets plus bevacizumab, the treatment that has achieved the best results to date. Programmed cell death-1/PD ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors could be a novel and cutting-edge therapeutic option to improve clinical outcomes in this group of patients. Thus far, there are a few Phase I/II clinical trials that have assessed the usefulness of pembrolizumab and nivolumab in this group of patients; these include the KEYNOTE 028, KEYNOTE 158, and CHECKMATE 358 trials, in which clinical benefit has been proven with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in recurrent, persistent, or metastatic CC, as second-line treatment. There are also some ongoing trials that could provide further evidence on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway as a therapeutic target in CC. In this review, we will focus on the usefulness of these PD-1/PDL1 inhibitors in CC, as well as on trials that are still in the recruitment phase, to confirm their effectiveness in this clinical setting.

Human papilloma virus in patients with epidermoid head and neck carcinoma: a prognostic factor?

BACKGROUND: The three most important prognostic factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are tumor size, nodular histological condition and tumor origin. Recently, human papilloma virus (HPV), particularly HPV-16, has been acknowledged as a prognostic factor. HPV+ patients have better survival than HPV-. This has created a controversy because other factors may influence the prognosis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether HPV has prognostic value in patients with HNSCC. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective evaluation of patients with HNSCC and the following variables were analyzed: survival, tumor location, stage, general condition according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, treatment and HPV association identified by PCR. We used a descriptive analysis of simple frequencies and central tendency and dispersion measures according to the type of variables. We used descriptive analysis for overall survival with Kaplan- Meier and Cox regression with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: There were 179 patients included: 119 (66.5%) were male. Average age of patients was 64 years; 34% of the tumors were located in the oral cavity and 33% were located in the larynx. Factors associated with survival were ECOG (RR = 11.3; 2.6-48), clinical stage (RR = 7.8; 1.7-34), age >70 years (RR = 3.5, 1.4-8.5) and nonsurgical treatment (RR = 2.3; 1.4-3.8). Average overall survival for patients with HPV16 was 22 months vs. 28 months in those with other types of viruses. HPV infection was not associated with the prognosis in this series. CONCLUSIONS: ECOG at the time of the diagnosis and clinical stage were the most significant prognostic factors in this series. HPV did not show any prognostic value.

El virus del papiloma humano como factor pronóstico en pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de cabeza y cuello / Human papilloma virus in patients with epidermoid head and neck carcinoma: a prognostic factor

Introducción: Los tres principales factores pronóstico en pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de cabeza y cuello (CECyC) son tamaño del tumor, estado histológico ganglionar y origen del tumor. Se ha reconocido al virus del papiloma humano, sobre todo la variedad 16 (VPH-16), como factor pronóstico, sin embargo, resulta controversial que los pacientes VPH+ tengan mejor supervivencia que los VPH−. El objetivo del presente es conocer si la infección por VPH tiene valor pronóstico en pacientes con CECyC. Material y métodos: Evaluación retrospectiva de pacientes con CECyC. Se analizó supervivencia, localización tumoral, estado general (ECOG), tipo de tratamiento y asociación a VPH identificado por PCR en tejido tumoral. Análisis descriptivo de frecuencias simples, medidas de tendencia central y dispersión, de acuerdo con el tipo de variables. Análisis descriptivo para supervivencia con Kaplan-Meier y regresión de Cox, con intervalo de confianza de 95%. Resultados: Se incluyeron 179 pacientes, 119 (66.5%) hombres; promedio de edad de 64 años; 34% de los tumores se localizó en cavidad oral y 33% en laringe. Factores asociados con supervivencia: ECOG (RR = 11.3, 2.6-48), estadio clínico (RR = 7.8, 1.7-34), edad mayor a 70 años (RR = 3.5, 1.4-8.5) y tratamiento no quirúrgico (RR = 2.3, 1.4-3.8). La mediana de supervivencia para pacientes con VPH-16 fue de 22 meses versus 28 meses de quienes tuvieron otros tipos virales. La infección por VPH no se asoció con el pronóstico. Conclusiones: El ECOG en el momento del diagnóstico y la etapa clínica fueron los factores pronóstico más importantes en esta serie; el VPH no mostró valor pronóstico.

BACKGROUND: The three most important prognostic factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are tumor size, nodular histological condition and tumor origin. Recently, human papilloma virus (HPV), particularly HPV-16, has been acknowledged as a prognostic factor. HPV+ patients have better survival than HPV-. This has created a controversy because other factors may influence the prognosis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether HPV has prognostic value in patients with HNSCC. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective evaluation of patients with HNSCC and the following variables were analyzed: survival, tumor location, stage, general condition according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, treatment and HPV association identified by PCR. We used a descriptive analysis of simple frequencies and central tendency and dispersion measures according to the type of variables. We used descriptive analysis for overall survival with Kaplan- Meier and Cox regression with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: There were 179 patients included: 119 (66.5%) were male. Average age of patients was 64 years; 34% of the tumors were located in the oral cavity and 33% were located in the larynx. Factors associated with survival were ECOG (RR = 11.3; 2.6-48), clinical stage (RR = 7.8; 1.7-34), age >70 years (RR = 3.5, 1.4-8.5) and nonsurgical treatment (RR = 2.3; 1.4-3.8). Average overall survival for patients with HPV16 was 22 months vs. 28 months in those with other types of viruses. HPV infection was not associated with the prognosis in this series. CONCLUSIONS: ECOG at the time of the diagnosis and clinical stage were the most significant prognostic factors in this series. HPV did not show any prognostic value.

[Hormonal therapy in metastatic breast cancer]. / Hormonoterapia en cáncer de mama metastásico.

The primary objective in metastatic breast cancer is tumor control and symptom palliation. Factors to be considered are: efficacy, tolerance and quality of life as well as patient preferences. In the Hormone Receptor Positive Group, Hormonal treatment is the best choice because of it's effectiveness and good toxicity profile. Endocrine therapy has two main targets: the first one is to block estrogen production. In premenopausal women this can be through ovarian ablation. In postmenopausal women this is achieved by blocking the peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogens by blocking the enzyme known as aromatase. The other option is to block the action of the estrogen on it's receptor with the group of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM). This class of drugs can be used in pre and postmenopausal women. Treatment should be tailored according to patient characteristics and menopausal status.

[Breast cancer with metastases to orbits. Case report]. / Cáncer de mama con metástasis hacia las orbitas. Reporte de un caso.

We report the case of a 69 year-old patient that suffered breast cancer with metastasis to orbits. Diagnostic process and medical treatment are described.