Eric Francois

Preoperative Radiotherapy With or Without Concurrent Fluorouracil and Leucovorin in T3-4 Rectal Cancers: Results of FFCD 9203

PURPOSE In 1992, preoperative radiotherapy was considered in France as the standard treatment for T3-4 rectal cancers. The present randomized trial compares preoperative radiotherapy with chemoradiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were eligible if they presented a resectable T3-4, Nx, M0 rectal adenocarcinoma accessible to digital rectal examination. Preoperative radiotherapy with 45 Gy in 25 fractions during 5 weeks was delivered. Concurrent chemotherapy with fluorouracil 350 mg/m2/d during 5 days, together with leucovorin, was administered during the first and fifth week in the experimental arm. Surgery was planned 3 to 10 weeks after the end of radiotherapy. All patients should receive adjuvant chemotherapy with the same fluorouracil/leucovorin regimen. The primary end point of the trial was overall survival. RESULTS A total of 733 patients were eligible. Grade 3 or 4 acute toxicity was more frequent with chemoradiotherapy (14.6% v 2.7%; P < .05). There was no difference in sphincter preservation. Complete sterilization of the operative specimen was more frequent with chemoradiotherapy (11.4% v 3.6%; P < .05). The 5-year incidence of local recurrence was lower with chemoradiotherapy (8.1% v 16.5%; P < .05). Overall 5-year survival in the two groups did not differ. CONCLUSION Preoperative chemoradiotherapy despite a moderate increase in acute toxicity and no impact on overall survival significantly improves local control and is recommended for T3-4, N0-2, M0 adenocarcinoma of the middle and distal rectum.

Comparison of Two Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Regimens for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Results of the Phase III Trial ACCORD 12/0405-Prodige 2

PURPOSE Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is considered a standard approach for T3-4 M0 rectal cancer. In this situation, we compared neoadjuvant radiotherapy plus capecitabine with dose-intensified radiotherapy plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS We randomly assigned patients to receive 5 weeks of treatment with radiotherapy 45 Gy/25 fractions with concurrent capecitabine 800 mg/m(2) twice daily 5 days per week (Cap 45) or radiotherapy 50 Gy/25 fractions with capecitabine 800 mg/m(2) twice daily 5 days per week and oxaliplatin 50 mg/m(2) once weekly (Capox 50). The primary end point was complete sterilization of the operative specimen (ypCR). RESULTS Five hundred ninety-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive Cap 45 (n = 299) or Capox 50 (n = 299). More preoperative grade 3 to 4 toxicity occurred in the Capox 50 group (25 v 1%; P < .001). Surgery was performed in 98% of patients in both groups. There were no differences between groups in the rate of conservative surgery (75%) or postoperative deaths at 60 days (0.3%). The ypCR rate was 13.9% with Cap 45 and 19.2% with Capox 50 (P = .09). When ypCR was combined with yp few residual cells, the rate was respectively 28.9% with Cap 45 and 39.4% with Capox 50 (P = .008). The rate of positive circumferential rectal margins (between 0 and 2 mm) was 19.3% with Cap 45 and 9.9% with Capox 50 (P = .02). CONCLUSION The benefit of oxaliplatin was not demonstrated and this drug should not be used with concurrent irradiation. Cap 50 merits investigation for T3-4 rectal cancers.

Clinical Outcome of the ACCORD 12/0405 PRODIGE 2 Randomized Trial in Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE The ACCORD 12 trial investigated the value of two different preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) regimens in T3-4 Nx M0 resectable rectal cancer. Clinical results are reported after follow-up of 3 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between November 2005 and July 2008, a total of 598 patients were randomly assigned to preoperative CT-RT with CAP45 (45-Gy RT for 5 weeks with concurrent capecitabine) or CAPOX50 (50-Gy RT for 5 weeks with concurrent capecitabine and oxaliplatin). Total mesorectal excision was planned 6 weeks after CT-RT. The primary end point was sterilization of the operative specimen, which was achieved in 13.9% versus 19.2% of patients, respectively (P = .09). Clinical results were analyzed for all randomly assigned patients according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS At 3 years, there was no significant difference between CAP45 and CAPOX50 (cumulative incidence of local recurrence, 6.1% v 4.4%; overall survival, 87.6% v 88.3%; disease-free survival, 67.9% v 72.7%). Grade 3 to 4 toxicity was reported in four patients in the CAP45 group and in two patients in the CAPOX50 group. Bowel continence, erectile dysfunction, and social life disturbance were not different between groups. In multivariate analysis, the sterilization rate (Dworak score) of the operative specimen was the main significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.50). CONCLUSION At 3 years, no significant difference in clinical outcome was achieved with the intensified CAPOX regimen. When compared with other recent randomized trials, these results indicate that concurrent administration of oxaliplatin and RT is not recommended.

Irinotecan Plus Oxaliplatin and Leucovorin-Modulated Fluorouracil in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer—A Groupe Tumeurs Digestives of the Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer Study

PURPOSE To evaluate response rate and toxicity of irinotecan and oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (Folfirinox) in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (APA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically proven APA and bidimensionally measurable disease were treated with Folfirinox therapy every 2 weeks, which comprised oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) and irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) plus leucovorin 400 mg/m(2) followed by bolus FU 400 mg/m(2) on day 1, then FU 2,400 mg/m(2) as a 46-hour continuous infusion. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). RESULTS Forty-seven patients were entered, and 46 received treatment. Thirty-five patients (76%) had metastatic disease. A total of 356 cycles were delivered, with a median of eight cycles per patient (range, one to 24 cycles). All patients were assessable for safety. No toxic death occurred. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 52% of patients, including two patients with febrile neutropenia. Other relevant toxicities included grade 3 to 4 nausea (20%), vomiting (17%), and diarrhea (17%) and grade 3 neuropathy (15%; Levis scale). The confirmed response rate was 26% (95% CI, 13% to 39%), including 4% complete responses. Median time to progression was 8.2 months (95% CI, 5.3 to 11.6 months), and median overall survival was 10.2 months (95% CI, 8.1 to 14.4 months). Between baseline and end of treatment, patients had improvement in all functional scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30, except cognitive functioning. Responders had major improvement in global QOL. CONCLUSION With a good safety profile, a promising response rate, and an improvement in QOL, Folfirinox will be further assessed in a phase III trial.

Induction Chemotherapy and Dose Intensification of the Radiation Boost in Locally Advanced Anal Canal Carcinoma: Final Analysis of the Randomized UNICANCER ACCORD 03 Trial

PURPOSE Concomitant radiochemotherapy (RCT) is the standard for locally advanced anal canal carcinoma (LAACC). Questions regarding the role of induction chemotherapy (ICT) and a higher radiation dose in LAACC are pending. Our trial was designed to determine whether dose escalation of the radiation boost or two cycles of ICT before concomitant RCT lead to an improvement in colostomy-free survival (CFS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with tumors ≥ 40 mm, or < 40 mm and N1-3M0 were randomly assigned to one of four treatment arms: (A) two ICT cycles (fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2)/d intravenous [IV] infusion, days 1 through 4 and 29 to 32; and cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) IV, on days 1 and 29), RCT (45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, fluorouracil and cisplatin during weeks 1 and 5), and standard-dose boost (SD; 15 Gy); (B) two ICT cycles, RCT, and high-dose boost (HD; 20-25 Gy); (C): RCT and SD boost (reference arm); and (D) RCT and HD boost. RESULTS Two hundred eighty-three of 307 patients achieved full treatment. With a median follow-up period of 50 months, the 5-year CFS rates were 69.6%, 82.4%, 77.1%, and 72.7% in arms A, B, C, and D, respectively. Considering the 2 × 2 factorial analysis, the 5-year CFS was 76.5% versus 75.0% (P = .37) in groups A and B versus C and D, respectively (ICT effect), and 73.7% versus 77.8% in groups A and C versus B and D, respectively (RT-dose effect; P = .067). CONCLUSION Using CFS as our main end point, we did not find an advantage for either ICT or HD radiation boost in LAACC. Nevertheless, the results of the most treatment-intense arm B should prompt the design of further intensification studies.

K-Ras Mutations and Treatment Outcome in Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Exclusive Fluoropyrimidine Therapy

Purpose: K-Ras mutations predict resistance to anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies. Because combinations of anti-EGFR with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy are promising treatments, we analyzed the effect of K-Ras mutations in patients having received exclusive 5-FU therapy. Experimental Design: This study was conducted on 93 stage IV colorectal cancer patients with unresectable measurable liver metastasis receiving 5-FU-leucovorin (56 men and 37 women; 77 cancer deaths). Liver metastases (n = 93) along with primary tumors (n = 48) were analyzed for K-Ras mutations (codons 12 and 13), p53 mutations (exons 4-9), p53 polymorphism (codon 72), thymidylate synthase (TS) polymorphism (28-bp repeats including G>C mutation), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism (677C>T, 1298A>C), thymidylate synthase (TS) activity, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity, folylpolyglutamate synthase activity, and p53 protein expression. Results: Thirty-six of 93 (38.7%) metastases were K-Ras mutated (30 at codon 12 and 6 at codon 13). Mutated primary tumors (16 of 48) matched perfectly with mutated metastases. The additional analyzed tumor markers were not different between K-Ras mutated and wild-type tumors. The objective response rate was 37%: 44.4% in K-Ras mutated versus 32.1% in wild-type K-Ras metastasis (P = 0.27). Low TS activity in metastasis was the only significant predictor of tumor response (P = 0.047). K-Ras status did not influence specific survival. Conclusions: The present data indicate a perfect concordance of K-Ras mutations between primary and liver metastasis and suggest that any predictive and/or prognostic value of K-Ras mutations in treatments combining anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies with 5-FU should be exclusively linked to the anti-EGFR agent.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy with FOLFOX versus fluorouracil and cisplatin in patients with oesophageal cancer (PRODIGE5/ACCORD17): final results of a randomised, phase 2/3 trial

BACKGROUND Definitive chemoradiotherapy is a curative treatment option for oesophageal carcinoma, especially in patients unsuitable for surgery. The PRODIGE5/ACCORD17 trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the FOLFOX treatment regimen (fluorouracil plus leucovorin and oxaliplatin) versus fluorouracil and cisplatin as part of chemoradiotherapy in patients with localised oesophageal cancer. METHODS We did a multicentre, randomised, open-label, parallel-group, phase 2/3 trial of patients aged 18 years or older enrolled from 24 centres in France between Oct 15, 2004, and Aug 25, 2011. Eligible participants had confirmed stage I-IVA oesophageal carcinoma (adenocarcinoma, squamous-cell, or adenosquamous), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status 0-2, sufficient caloric intake, adequate haematological, renal, and hepatic function, and had been selected to receive definitive chemoradiotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either six cycles (three concomitant to radiotherapy) of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2), leucovorin 200 mg/m(2), bolus fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2), and infusional fluorouracil 1600 mg/m(2) (FOLFOX) over 46 h, or four cycles (two concomitant to radiotherapy) of fluorouracil 1000 mg/m(2) per day for 4 days and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1. Both groups also received 50 Gy radiotherapy in 25 fractions (five fractions per week). Random allocation to treatment groups was done by a central computerised randomisation procedure by minimisation, stratified by centre, histology, weight loss, and ECOG status, and was achieved independently from the study investigators. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Data analysis was primarily done by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00861094. FINDINGS 134 participants were randomly allocated to the FOLFOX group and 133 to the fluorouracil and cisplatin group (intention-to-treat population), and 131 patients in the FOLFOX group and 128 in the fluorouracil and cisplatin group actually received the study drugs (safety population). Median follow-up was 25·3 months (IQR 15·9-36·4). Median progression-free survival was 9·7 months (95% CI 8·1-14·5) in the FOLFOX group and 9·4 months (8·1-10·6) in the fluorouracil and cisplatin group (HR 0·93, 95% CI 0·70-1·24; p=0·64). One toxic death occurred in the FOLFOX group and six in the fluorouracil-cisplatin group (p=0·066). No significant differences were recorded in the rates of most frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse events between the treatment groups. Of all-grade adverse events that occurred in 5% or more of patients, paraesthesia (61 [47%] events in 131 patients in the FOLFOX group vs three [2%] in 128 patients in the cisplatin-fluorouracil group, p<0·0001), sensory neuropathy (24 [18%] vs one [1%], p<0·0001), increases in aspartate aminotransferase concentrations (14 [11%] vs two [2%], p=0·002), and increases in alanine aminotransferase concentrations (11 [8%] vs two [2%], p=0·012) were more common in the FOLFOX group, whereas serum creatinine increases (four [3%] vs 15 [12%], p=0·007), mucositis (35 [27%] vs 41 [32%], p=0·011), and alopecia (two [2%] vs 12 [9%], p=0·005) were more common in the fluorouracil and cisplatin group. INTERPRETATION Although chemoradiotherapy with FOLFOX did not increase progression-free survival compared with chemoradiotherapy with fluorouracil and cisplatin, FOLFOX might be a more convenient option for patients with localised oesophageal cancer unsuitable for surgery. FUNDING UNICANCER, French Health Ministry, Sanofi-Aventis, and National League Against Cancer.

KRAS and BRAF Mutational Status in Primary Colorectal Tumors and Related Metastatic Sites: Biological and Clinical Implications

BackgroundKRAS and BRAF mutations in primary colorectal tumors (PT) are predictive of nonresponse to anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The question of primary resistance to anti-EGFR treatment as a result of the presence of KRAS or BRAF mutations only in metastases has been raised but not resolved.MethodsWe analyzed the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF in 64 new patients with mCRC and performed a systematic review of published data from 285 patients.ResultsA total of 285 and 95 matched PT/metastases were available for the analysis of the KRAS and the BRAF status, respectively. An identical mutational pattern of KRAS in PT and the matching metastases were reported in all the cases but 14 (5%). In six cases (2%), KRAS was mutated in the PT and wild type in the metastatic site, whereas in eight cases (3%), KRAS was wild type in the PT and mutated in the metastatic site. An identical mutational pattern of BRAF in PT and the matching metastases was reported in all but two cases (3%). In one case (1.5%), BRAF was mutated in the PT and wild type in the metastatic site, whereas in one case (1.5%), BRAF was wild type in the PT and mutated in the metastatic site.ConclusionsThe acquisition by metastases of a KRAS or a BRAF mutation that was not present in the PT is a rare event, occurring in 5% of cases of mCRC. This is not a frequent mechanism of primary resistance to anti-EGFR treatments in mCRC.

High-dose radiation therapy and neoadjuvant plus concomitant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in patients with locally advanced squamous-cell anal canal cancer: Final results of a phase II study

PURPOSE To analyse toxicity and response to a new scheme of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and concomitant radiochemotherapy (RT-CT) for locally advanced anal canal squamous-cell carcinoma (ACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty patients with an ACC > 40 mm and/or with lymph node involvement were included (1 T1, 52 T2, 14 T3, 13 T4, 18 N0, 30 N1, 32 N2-N3). Two cycles of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and CDDP were delivered as neoadjuvant CT and two during RT-CT. Pelvic (+/- inguinal) RT delivered 45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy. Involved fields were boosted after a one to two month gap (15-20 Gy). The median follow-up was 29 months. RESULTS One patient died of a pulmonary embolism on day 4. All patients received the entire treatment, with reduced 5-FU doses in 27% of the cases because of acute toxicity. Sixty-four grade 3 and five grade 4 toxicities were observed. No toxic death occurred. Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were, respectively, 10% and 51% after neoadjuvant CT, 67% and 28% after RT-CT and 93% and 5% after treatment completion (including 4 abdomino-perineal resections). The three-year actuarial overall, tumour-specific, colostomy-free, relapse-free, disease-free and event-free survivals were 86%, 88%, 73%, 70%, 67% and 63%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Tolerance was good. After neoadjuvant CT, most of the patients were objective responders. After treatment completion, all but five achieved CR. The long-term results confirm the durability of local control and low toxicity on the sphincter. An ongoing phase III intergroup trial analyses the impact of neoadjuvant CT, and the benefit of a high-dose boost irradiation, on local control and colostomy-free survival.

Cetuximab shows activity in colorectal cancer patients with tumors for which FISH analysis does not detect an increase in EGFR gene copy number.

BackgroundEGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene gain assessed by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) has been shown to be predictive of response to EGFR-targeted therapies in patients with non–small cell lung cancer. The aim or our study was to relate the EGFR gene copy number to therapeutic results in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with a cetuximab-containing regimen.MethodsForty-seven patients with metastatic CRC treated with a cetuximab-containing regimen between August 2004 and September 2006 were included in our study. EGFR status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and by FISH on fixed paraffin-embedded sections of tumor specimens.ResultsBy IHC (n = 47), 39 patients (83%) had EGFR-positive tumors. EGFR gene copy gain was detected in 8 (19.5%) of 41 tumors. Neither EGFR expression assessed by IHC nor EGFR gene copy gain assessed by FISH were statistically significantly correlated with objective response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Of the 33 patients whose tumors were FISH negative, 8 patients (24.2%) had a partial response, and 10 (30.3%) had stable disease.ConclusionsEGFR FISH analysis does not seem to be a sufficiently robust test for selecting candidate CRC patients for cetuximab therapy.