A. Kirkpatrick

Effects of Concomitant Cisplatin and Radiotherapy on Inoperable Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) has been reported to enhance the cell-killing effect of radiation, an effect whose intensity varies with the schedule of administration. We randomly assigned 331 patients with nonmetastatic inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer to one of three treatments: radiotherapy for two weeks (3 Gy given 10 times, in five fractions a week), followed by a three-week rest period and then radiotherapy for two more weeks (2.5 Gy given 10 times, five fractions a week); radiotherapy on the same schedule, combined with 30 mg of cisplatin per square meter of body-surface area, given on the first day of each treatment week; or radiotherapy on the same schedule, combined with 6 mg of cisplatin per square meter, given daily before radiotherapy. RESULTS Survival was significantly improved in the radiotherapy-daily-cisplatin group as compared with the radiotherapy group (P = 0.009): survival in the radiotherapy-daily-cisplatin group was 54 percent at one year, 26 percent at two years, and 16 percent at three years, as compared with 46 percent, 13 percent, and 2 percent, respectively, in the radiotherapy group. Survival in the radiotherapy-weekly-cisplatin group was intermediate (44 percent, 19 percent, and 13 percent) and not significantly different from survival in either of the other two groups. The survival benefit of daily combined treatment was due to improved control of local disease (P = 0.003). Survival without local recurrence was 59 percent at one year and 31 percent at two years in the radiotherapy-daily-cisplatin group; 42 percent and 30 percent, respectively, in the radiotherapy-weekly-cisplatin group; and 41 percent and 19 percent, respectively, in the radiotherapy group. Cisplatin induced nausea and vomiting in 86 percent of the patients given it weekly and in 78 percent of those given it daily; these effects were severe in 26 percent and 28 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Cisplatin, given daily in combination with the radiotherapy described here to patients with nonmetastatic but inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer, improved rates of survival and control of local disease at the price of substantial side effects.

Randomised trial of two regimens of chemotherapy in operable osteosarcoma: a study of the European Osteosarcoma Intergroup

BACKGROUND A previous trial by the European Osteosarcoma Intergroup (EOI) suggested that a short intensive chemotherapy regimen with doxorubicin and cisplatin might produce survival of operable, non-metastatic osteosarcoma similar to that obtained with complex and longer-duration drug regimens based on the widely used T10 multi-drug protocol. We undertook a randomised multicentre trial to compare these two approaches. METHODS 407 patients with operable, non-metastatic osteosarcoma were randomly assigned the two-drug regimen (six cycles [18 weeks] of doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 on days 1-3 and cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1) or a multi-drug regimen (preoperatively vincristine, high-dose methotrexate, and doxorubicin; postoperatively bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin, vincristine, methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin; this protocol took 44 weeks). Surgery was scheduled for week 9 for the two-drug group and week 7 for the multi-drug group. Analyses of survival and progression-free survival were by intention to treat. FINDINGS Of 407 randomised patients, 391 were eligible and have been followed up for at least 4 years (median 5-6 years). Toxic effects were qualitatively similar with the two regimens. However, 188 (94%) of 199 patients completed the six cycles of two-drug treatment, whereas only 97 (51%) of 192 completed 18 or more of the 20 cycles of the multi-drug regimen. The proportion showing a good histopathological response (> 90% tumour necrosis) to preoperative chemotherapy was about 29% with both regimens and was strongly predictive of survival. Overall survival was 65% at 3 years and 55% at 5 years in both groups (hazard ratio 0.94 [95% CI 0.69-1.27]). Progression-free survival at 5 years was 44% in both groups (hazard ratio 1.01 [0.77-1.33]). INTERPRETATION We found no difference in survival between the two-drug and multi-drug regimens in operable, non-metastatic osteosarcoma. The two-drug regimen is shorter in duration and better tolerated, and is therefore the preferred treatment. However, 5-year survival is still unsatisfactory and new approaches to treatment, such as dose intensification, are needed to improve results.

Phase III Trial of Two Investigational Schedules of Ifosfamide Compared With Standard-Dose Doxorubicin in Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group Study

PURPOSE Single-agent doxorubicin remains the standard treatment for advanced soft tissue sarcomas. Combining doxorubicin with standard-dose ifosfamide has not been shown to improve survival and is associated with a significantly increased toxicity; it is not known whether higher dose single-agent ifosfamide is superior to doxorubicin. PATIENTS AND METHODS This randomized prospective multicenter phase III trial was designed to compare progression-free survival of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma receiving either regimen of standard doxorubicin 75 mg/m2 every 21 days, ifosfamide 9 g/m2 over 3 days continuous infusion, or ifosfamide 3 g/m2 per day in 3 hours over 3 days. The primary end point was progression-free survival. Secondary end points included overall survival, response rate, and toxicity. RESULTS The study included 326 patients. Grade 4 leukopenia, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and encephalopathy were more frequent in the ifosfamide arms. Progression-free survival, overall survival, and response rates were not significantly different between the three arms. An independent data monitoring committee reviewed the interim data and recommended early closure of the trial for futility (ie, no significant difference would be shown). CONCLUSION Single-agent doxorubicin remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Treatment of Brain Metastases of Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Comparing Teniposide and Teniposide With Whole-Brain Radiotherapy—A Phase III Study of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group

PURPOSE Approximately 60% of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) develop brain metastases. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) gives symptomatic improvement in more than 50% of these patients. Because brain metastases are a sign of systemic progression, and chemotherapy was found to be effective as well, it becomes questionable whether WBRT is the only appropriate therapy in this situation. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a phase III study, SCLC patients with brain metastases were randomized to receive teniposide with or without WBRT. Teniposide 120 mg/m(2) was given intravenously three times a week, every 3 weeks. WBRT (10 fractions of 3 Gy) had to start within 3 weeks from the start of chemotherapy. Response was measured clinically and by computed tomography of the brain. RESULTS One hundred twenty eligible patients were randomized. A 57% response rate was seen in the combined-modality arm (95% confidence interval [CI], 43% to 69%), and a 22% response rate was seen in the teniposide-alone arm (95% CI, 12% to 34%) (P<.001). Time to progression in the brain was longer in the combined-modality group (P=.005). Clinical response and response outside the brain were not different. The median survival time was 3.5 months in the combined-modality arm and 3.2 months in the teniposide-alone arm. Overall survival in both groups was not different (P=.087). CONCLUSION Adding WBRT to teniposide results in a much higher response rate of brain metastases and in a longer time to progression of brain metastases than teniposide alone. Survival was poor in both groups and not significantly different.

Cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic thymoma. A phase II study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.

BACKGROUND Thymomas are rare neoplasms of the mediastinum. The role of chemotherapy in advanced thymomas is not fully established. PATIENTS AND METHODS In the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Lung Cancer Cooperative Group, 16 patients with recurrent or metastatic malignant thymoma were entered over 6 years onto a study of combination chemotherapy that consisted of cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 and etoposide 120 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3, every 3 weeks. RESULTS A median of six courses per patient was administered. Main side effects of treatment were leukopenia, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. Five complete responses and four partial responses were obtained, with a median response duration of 3.4 years. The median progression-free survival and survival times were 2.2 years and 4.3 years, respectively, with a median follow-up duration of 7 years. CONCLUSION The combination of cisplatin and etoposide is highly effective and well tolerated in advanced thymoma. The investigation of this combination in a neoadjuvant setting in unresectable invasive thymoma is warranted.

Maintenance chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer: long-term results of a randomized trial. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE The present study investigates the role of short chemotherapy (five cycles) versus prolonged (12 cycles) chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Six hundred eighty-seven patients with SCLC were registered in a multicenter study to receive five cycles of chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide 1 g/m2 on day 1, doxorubicin 45 mg/m2 on day 1, and etoposide 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 3 and 5 (CDE), every 3 weeks. Four hundred thirty-four nonprogressing patients after five cycles of chemotherapy were randomized either to receive seven further cycles of the same chemotherapy or to follow-up. RESULTS The response rate of 585 assessable patients was 79%, with 36% attaining a complete response. Toxicity was mainly hematologic, with 16 toxic deaths (2.4% of all eligible patients), 13 of which were due to sepsis. Median survival time from registration of all patients was 326 days (396 and 267 days for limited and extensive disease, respectively) with 3.2% of patients alive at 5 years. No difference in survival between the two arms was observed, with the same number of 5-year survivors in both arms. The patients randomized to the maintenance arm had a progression-free survival (PFS) duration approximately 2 months longer than the patients randomized to follow-up (median of 177 days v 114 days from randomization; P = .0004). Among patients with a partial response who were randomized to receive maintenance chemotherapy, 12 achieved a complete response after 12 cycles. More patients in the follow-up arm than in the maintenance arm received subsequent treatment on progression and responded more frequently to that treatment. Twelve patients developed second malignancies (seven non-small-cell lung cancers). CONCLUSION Prolonged chemotherapy does not offer a better chance of cure than short chemotherapy (five cycles) and does not prolong survival in patients with SCLC. Short, combination chemotherapy appears to be a reasonable choice for standard treatment of SCLC and for attempts to improve the cure rate of this disease.

Randomized trial of alternating versus sequential radiotherapy/chemotherapy in limited-disease patients with small-cell lung cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group Study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of alternating or sequential schedules of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CDE) chemotherapy and irradiation in patients with previously untreated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 335 eligible patients were randomized between five courses of CDE chemotherapy followed by thoracic irradiation 50 Gy in 20 daily fractions (S) and the same total dose of chemotherapy and irradiation split into four courses of five daily fractions delivered on days 14 to 21 of the second and subsequent chemotherapy courses (A). Patients had a median age of 61 years (range, 33 to 75); 224 (66%) were male; the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was 0 or 1 in 311; and 254 had weight loss less than 10%. RESULTS The overall median survival duration was 15 months, with 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57% to 67%) 1-year, 25% (95% CI, 20% to 30%) 2-year, and 14% (95% CI, 10% to 18%) 3-year survival rates. There was no significant difference between the arms. The median survival time was 14 months in A and 15 months in S. One-year survival was 60% in A (95% CI, 53% to 67%) and 64% in S (95% CI, 57% to 71%); 2-year survival was 26% in A (95% CI, 19% to 33%) and 23% in S (95% CI, 16% to 30%); and 3-year survival was 12% in A (95% CI, 6% to 18%) and 15% in S (95% CI, 9% to 21%). World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 90% of A and 77% of S patients (P < .001) and WHO grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in 33% of A and 20% of S patients (P < .001). Rates of other acute and late toxicities were similar in both arms. Hematologic toxicity compromised treatment dose delivery; less than 50% of A patients received greater than 95% of prescribed chemotherapy and 77% their full radiation course, compared with 60% and 93% for arm S (P < .009). Local relapse was the site of first failure in 60% of all patients and 75% of these suffered an in-field relapse; no difference could be seen between the two arms. CONCLUSION This trial failed to confirm the superiority of an alternating schedule of delivery. For this combination of chemotherapy and irradiation, hematologic toxicity compromised treatment delivery and could have contributed to the overall result. The poor rates of local control are disappointing and require intensification of the radiation therapy strategy.

High-dose epirubicin is not an alternative to standard-dose doxorubicin in the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas. A study of the EORTC soft tissue and bone sarcoma group

The activity and toxicity of single-agent standard-dose doxorubicin were compared with that of two schedules of high-dose epirubicin. A total of 334 chemonaive patients with histologically confirmed advanced soft-tissue sarcomas received (A) doxorubicin 75 mg m(-2) on day 1 (112 patients), (B) epirubicin 150 mg m(-2) on day 1 (111 patients) or (C) epirubicin 50 mg m(-2) day(-1) on days 1, 2 and 3 (111 patients); all given as bolus injection at 3-week intervals. A median of four treatment cycles was given. Median age was 52 years (19-70 years) and performance score 1 (0-2). Of 314 evaluable patients, 45 (14%) had an objective tumour response (eight complete response, 35 partial response). There were no differences among the three groups. Median time to progression for groups A, B and C was 16, 14 and 12 weeks, and median survival 45, 47 and 45 weeks respectively. Neither progression-free (P = 0.93) nor overall survival (P = 0.89) differed among the three groups. After the first cycle of therapy, two patients died of infection and one owing to cardiovascular disease, all on epirubicin. Both dose schedules of epirubicin were more myelotoxic than doxorubicin. Cardiotoxicity (> or = grade 3) occurred in 1%, 0% and 2% respectively. Regardless of the schedule, high-dose epirubicin is not a preferred alternative to standard-dose doxorubicin in the treatment of patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas.

Brain-only metastases of small cell lung cancer; efficacy of whole brain radiotherapy. An EORTC phase II study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of WBRT as a single treatment modality in patients with brain metastases of small cell lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The patients had brain metastases of small cell lung cancer without any sign of tumour outside the brain and were treated with 10 x 3.0 Gy WBRT. Response and neurological functions were evaluated after 6, 18 and 36 weeks. RESULTS Twenty of 22 eligible patients were evaluable for response. In six patients a complete response was seen and in five patients a partial response was seen giving a response rate of 50% (95% CI 28-72%). Response duration was 5.4 months (range 63-260 days) and median survival was 4.7 months (range 14-743 days). In the majority of patients the first site of progression after WBRT was in the central nervous system. Twelve of the patients had stabilization or improvement of the neurological function. CONCLUSION WBRT for brain metastases of small cell lung cancer gives a 50% response rate with stabilization or improvement of neurological function. Response duration and survival are short.

Results of a phase II pilot study of moderate dose radiotherapy for inoperable desmoid-type fibromatosis—an EORTC STBSG and ROG study (EORTC 62991–22998)

BACKGROUND To determine the activity of radiotherapy in patients with inoperable desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) a multicenter prospective phase II trial was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with inoperable progressive disease of primary, recurrent or incompletely resected lesions received a dose of 56 Gy in 28 fractions. Follow-up MRI studies were carried out every 3 months for 2 years and thereafter every 6 months. The primary end point was local control rate at 3 years, estimated by a nonparametric method for interval-censored survival data. Secondary end points were objective tumor response, acute and late toxic effect. RESULTS Forty-four patients (27 F/17 M) were enrolled from 2001 to 2008. Median age was 39.5 years. Main tumor sites included trunk 15 (34.1%) and extremities 27 (61.3%). Median follow-up was 4.8 years. The 3-year local control rate was 81.5% (90% one-sided confidence interval 74% to 100%). Best overall response during the first 3 years was complete response (CR) 6 (13.6%), partial response (PR) 16 (36.4%), stable disease 18 (40.9%), progressive disease 3 (6.8%) and nonassessable 1 (2.3%). Five patients developed new lesions. After 3 years, the response further improved in three patients: (CR 2, PR 1). Acute grade 3 side-effects were limited to skin, mucosal membranes and pain. Late toxic effect consisted of mild edema in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS Moderate dose radiotherapy is an effective treatment of patients with DF. Response after radiation therapy is slow with continuing regression seen even after 3 years.