G. Marzocca

Adjuvant epirubicin with or without Ifosfamide for adult soft-tissue sarcoma.

This randomized study compared the efficacy of epirubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy on the disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival of patients with high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas. After curative surgery, 43 of the 88 enrolled patients were assigned to surgery with or without radiotherapy and 45 to surgery plus chemotherapy (26 epirubicin, 19 epirubicin + ifosfamide) with or without radiotherapy. The trial closed prematurely because of poor patient accrual. There was a statistical significant difference in the 5-year disease-free survival of the patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy (69%) and that of those treated with surgery with or without radiotherapy (44%) (p = 0.01). The 5-year survival of the patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy was 72% as against 47% of those treated with surgery with or without radiotherapy (p = 0.06). The power of the study was 0.65 for both the DFI and overall survival. The results of the study suggest a possible advantage of epirubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma at high risk of relapse.

CEA and CA19.9 as Early Predictors of Progression in Advanced/Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy and Bevacizumab

We evaluated the changes of the tumor markers CEA and CA19.9 as early predictors of progression in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients participating in a clinical study and receiving chemotherapy and bevacizumab (Bev). Seventy-two patients had high baseline CEA or CA19.9 serum levels. By ROC analyses, the areas under the curves were 0.83 for variable CEA cutoff values for distinguishing progressive disease (PD) versus stable disease (SD)/partial remission (PR)/complete remission (CR), and 0.80 for variable CA19.9 cutoff values for distinguishing PD versus SD/PR/CR. Rises in CEA and CA19.9 may early signal the occurrence of progression in mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy and Bev.

Bevacizumab and Weekly Docetaxel in Patients with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Previously Exposed to Docetaxel

Background. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of docetaxel (D) and bevacizumab (Bev) in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) previously exposed to D. Methods. Treatment consisted of D 30 mg/m2 i.v. for four consecutive weekly administrations followed by a 2-week rest interval, in addition to Bev 5 mg/kg i.v. every 2 weeks. Results. Forty-three patients were enrolled: a PSA response was observed in 27 patients (62.7%, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.91), and a palliative response was achieved in 31 patients (72.1%, 95%CI: 0.48 to 1.02). After a median followup of 11.3 months, only five patients had died. The regimen was generally well tolerated. Conclusion. Weekly D + biweekly Bev seems to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with metastatic CRPC previously exposed to D-based chemotherapy.

TREATMENT OF ADVANCED COLORECTAL CANCER WITH HIGH-DOSE INTENSITY FOLINIC ACID AND 5-FLUOROURACIL PLUS SUPPORTIVE CARE

This randomised clinical trial, involving patients with advanced colorectal cancer, was carried out to compare the effectiveness of accelerated folinic acid (FA) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with that of the conventional regimen of 5-FU alone. Both regimens were administered with simulataneous supportive care. 185 patients were eligible: 94 were randomly allocated to receive FA 200 mg/m2 i.v. plus 5-FU 400 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1-5 every 3 weeks; and 91 to receive 5-FU 400 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1-5 every 4 weeks. The response rate was 33.3% in the accelerated FA/5-FU and 18.6% in the 5-FU arm (P = 0.045). Median survival was 13.5 months in the FA/5-FU arm and 7.5 months in the 5-FU arm (P = 0.039). Toxicity was mild and slightly more pronounced in the FA/5-FU arm (P = 0.078). This study indicates that, in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, accelerated chemotherapy with FA and 5-FU and simultaneous supportive care is capable of achieving a higher response rate and longer survival than conventional 5-FU alone, without severe toxicity.

Quality of life in advanced colorectal cancer

Colorectal carcinoma is a knowingly chemoresistant neoplasia. Fluorouracil (5-FU) is considered the standard drug for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer and it is known that the action of 5-FU is potentiated by Folinic-acid (FA).