Iuliana Shapira

Adjuvant Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab for Node-Negative, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND No single standard treatment exists for patients with small, node-negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers, because most of these patients have been ineligible for the pivotal trials of adjuvant trastuzumab. METHODS We performed an uncontrolled, single-group, multicenter, investigator-initiated study of adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab in 406 patients with tumors measuring up to 3 cm in greatest dimension. Patients received weekly treatment with paclitaxel and trastuzumab for 12 weeks, followed by 9 months of trastuzumab monotherapy. The primary end point was survival free from invasive disease. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 4.0 years. The 3-year rate of survival free from invasive disease was 98.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 97.6 to 99.8). Among the 12 relapses seen, 2 were due to distant metastatic breast cancer. Excluding contralateral HER2-negative breast cancers and nonbreast cancers, 7 disease-specific events were noted. A total of 13 patients (3.2%; 95% CI, 1.7 to 5.4) reported at least one episode of grade 3 neuropathy, and 2 had symptomatic congestive heart failure (0.5%; 95% CI, 0.1 to 1.8), both of whom had normalization of the left ventricular ejection fraction after discontinuation of trastuzumab. A total of 13 patients had significant asymptomatic declines in ejection fraction (3.2%; 95% CI, 1.7 to 5.4), as defined by the study, but 11 of these patients were able to resume trastuzumab therapy after a brief interruption. CONCLUSIONS Among women with predominantly stage I HER2-positive breast cancer, treatment with adjuvant paclitaxel plus trastuzumab was associated with a risk of early recurrence of about 2%; 6% of patients withdrew from the study because of protocol-specified adverse events. (Funded by Genentech; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00542451.).

International Society of Geriatric Oncology Chemotherapy Taskforce: Evaluation of Chemotherapy in Older Patients—An Analysis of the Medical Literature

The elderly comprise the majority of patients with cancer and are the recipients of the greatest amount of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data to make evidence-based decisions with regard to chemotherapy. This is due to the minimal participation of older patients in clinical trials and that trials have not systematically evaluated chemotherapy. This article reviews the available information with regard to chemotherapy and aging provided by a task force of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG). Due to the lack of prospective data, the conclusions and recommendations made are a consensus of the participants. Extrapolation of data from younger to older patients is necessary, particularly to those patients older than 80 years, for which data is almost entirely lacking. The classes of drugs reviewed include alkylators, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, taxanes, camptothecins, and epipodophyllotoxins. Clinical trials need to incorporate an analysis of chemotherapy in terms of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of aging. In addition, data already accumulated need to be reanalyzed by age to aid in the management of the older cancer patient.

Brief report: induction of sustained remission in recurrent catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome via inhibition of terminal complement with eculizumab.

OBJECTIVE Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is characterized by histopathologic evidence of small vessel thrombosis, dysfunction of multiple organs occurring over a short period of time, and laboratory confirmation of the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Treatment of CAPS focuses on anticoagulation therapy and on removal of aPL that promote thrombosis by activating endothelial cells, monocytes, and platelets. Studies in animal models support the hypothesis that a more targeted intervention, such as complement inhibition, may be an effective means to prevent aPL-induced thrombosis. Herein we describe use of an inhibitor of complement activation to treat CAPS that was refractory to conventional therapy. METHODS Our patient was a young man who had recurrent CAPS characterized by multiple arterial thromboses in large and small vessels despite maximal anticoagulation, immunosuppression, and plasma exchange therapy. We treated him with eculizumab, an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody that blocks activation of terminal complement. RESULTS Administration of eculizumab, at doses that blocked complement activity, aborted acute progressive thrombotic events, reversed thrombocytopenia, and was associated with no further clinical episodes of thrombosis during >3 years of therapy. CONCLUSION This first report of the use and clinical efficacy of eculizumab, an inhibitor of complement activation, in the treatment of CAPS demonstrates both the importance of complement (specifically, terminal complement components) in the pathogenesis of CAPS and the therapeutic benefit of complement inactivation.

Ethics of Mandatory Research Biopsy for Correlative End Points Within Clinical Trials in Oncology

Clinical investigators in oncology are increasingly interested in using molecular analysis of cancer tissue to understand the biologic bases of response or resistance to novel interventions and to develop prognostic and predictive biomarkers that will guide clinical decision making. Some scientific questions of this nature can only be addressed, or may best be addressed, through the conduct of a clinical trial in which research biopsies are obtained from all participants. However, trial designs with mandatory research biopsies have raised ethical concerns related to the risk of harm to participants, the adequacy of voluntary informed consent, and the potential for misunderstanding among research participants when access to an experimental intervention is linked to the requirement to undergo a research biopsy. In consideration of the ethical and scientific issues at stake in this debate, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B Ethics Committee proposes guidelines for clinical trials involving mandatory research biopsies. Any cancer clinical trial that requires research biopsies of participants must be well designed to address the scientific question, obtain the biopsy in a way that minimizes risk, and ensure that research participants are fully informed of the risks, rationale, and requirements of the study, as well as of treatment alternatives. Further guidelines and discussions of this issue are specified in this position paper. We feel that if these principles are respected, an informed adult with cancer can both understand and voluntarily consent to participation in a clinical trial involving mandatory research biopsy for scientific end points.

Transcription factors TFE3 and TFEB are critical for CD40 ligand expression and thymus-dependent humoral immunity

TFE3 and TFEB are broadly expressed transcription factors related to the transcription factor Mitf. Although they have been linked to cytokine signaling pathways in nonlymphoid cells, their function in T cells is unknown. TFE3-deficient mice are phenotypically normal, whereas TFEB deficiency causes early embryonic death. We now show that combined inactivation of TFE3 and TFEB in T cells resulted in a hyper–immunoglobulin M syndrome due to impaired expression of CD40 ligand by CD4+ T cells. Native TFE3 and TFEB bound to multiple cognate sites in the promoter of the gene encoding CD40 ligand (Cd40lg), and maximum Cd40lg promoter activity and gene expression required TFE3 or TFEB. Thus, TFE3 and TFEB are direct, physiological and mutually redundant activators of Cd40lg expression in activated CD4+ T cells critical for T cell–dependent antibody responses.

Beliefs and attitudes towards participating in genetic research - a population based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundBiobanks have the potential to offer a venue for chronic disease biomarker discovery, which would allow for disease early detection and for identification of carriers of a certain predictor biomarker. To assess the general attitudes towards genetic research and participation in biobanks in the Long Island/Queens area of New York, and what factors would predict a positive view of such research, participants from the NSLIJ hospital system were surveyed.MethodsParticipants were recruited at six hospital centers in the NSLIJ system during the summers of 2009 and again in 2011 (n = 1,041). Those who opted to participate were given a questionnaire containing 22 questions assessing demographics, lifestyle and attitudes towards genetic research. These questions addressed individual participant’s beliefs about the importance of genetic research, willingness to participate in genetic research themselves, and their views on informed consent issues.ResultsRespondents took a generally positive view of genetic research in general, as well as their own participation in such research. Those with reservations were most likely to cite concerns over the privacy of their medical and genetic information. Those who were married tended to view genetic research as important, while those in the younger age group viewed it as less important. Prior blood donation of respondents was found to be a predictor of their approval for genetic research. Demographic factors were not found to be predictive of personal willingness to participate in genetic research, or of approval for the opt-out approach to consent.ConclusionsWhile respondents were generally inclined to approve of genetic research, and those who disapproved did not do so based on an underlying moral objection to such research, there is a disconnect between the belief in the importance of genetic research and the willingness of individuals to participate themselves. This indicates a continued concern for the ways in which genetic materials are safeguarded once they are collected. Also indicated was a general lack of understanding about the various consent processes that go along with genetic research, which should be addressed further to ensure the successful continuation of biobanks.

A critical analysis of prognostic factors in North American patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

To define the clinicopathologic and prognostic features of patients with human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type‐1 (HTLV‐1)‐associated adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in North America, standard criteria were used to identify patients with ATLL.

Need for Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Cancer Patients: A Surrogate Marker for Poor Outcome

Background. Cancer patients have an increased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are used extensively in the US, and more than 40 000 are inserted annually. The impact on survival of cancer patients receiving IVC filters has not been studied. Methods. A retrospective study examined 206 consecutive cancer patients with VTE to compare the effects of IVC filter placement with anticoagulation (AC) therapy on overall survival (OS), as measured from the time of VTE. Patients were classified into 3 treatment groups: AC (n = 62), IVC filter (77), or combination IVC filter + AC (67). Results. Treatment groups did not differ with respect to age, sex, or albumin levels. Median OS was significantly greater in patients treated with AC (13 months) compared with those treated with IVC filters (2 months) or IVC + AC (3.25 months; P < .0002). IVC patients were 1.9 times more at risk of death than AC only (hazard ratio = .528; 95% confidence interval = .374 to .745). Multivariate analysis revealed that performance status and type of thrombus were not confounders and had no effect on OS. Conclusion. The need for the insertion of an IVC filter projected markedly reduced survival. Patients requiring an IVC filter rather than AC as initial therapy face a 2-fold increase in risk of death. Whether or not this therapeutic procedure has a positive impact on outcome in cancer patients is uncertain. Complications resulting from thrombosis were also analyzed in this cohort. A prospective randomized trial at our institution is addressing this issue.

Abstract S1-04: A phase II study of adjuvant paclitaxel (T) and trastuzumab (H) (APT trial) for node-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer (BC)

Background: Four large randomized phase III trials have reported significant improvements in disease-free (DFS) and overall survival for H administered with adjuvant polychemotherapy for HER2-positive high-risk BC. With the success of HER2-targeting, limiting chemotherapy is both reasonable and feasible, particularly for smaller, node-negative tumors. However data are limited. Methods: APT is a single arm three-stage, multicenter, phase II study of TH. Patients (pts) with HER2-positive BC (IHC 3 + and/or FISH amplified at > 2.0) with negative nodes (a single axillary lymph node micrometastasis was allowed) and tumor size Results: 410 pts were enrolled from September 2007 to September 2010 and 406 began protocol therapy. The median age was 55 (range 24-85 years). Sixty-three percent had ER+ tumors. Three percent of tumors were T1mi; T1a; 20% T1b; 41% T1c, and 9% T2 ≤ 3cm. Six pts had a nodal micrometastasis. 356 pts (88%) completed all 52 wks of therapy, with 24 and 6 pts discontinuing due to protocol-specified or other toxicities, respectively. 358 (89%) completed all 12 weeks of combined TH therapy. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities included: neuropathy (4%), neutropenia (4%), transaminitis (3%), leukopenia (2%), fatigue (2%), and hypersensitivity reactions (2%). Reversible symptomatic CHF (grade 3 left ventricular systolic dysfunction) occurred in 2 patients (0.5%). Because of the limited number of events, the Data Safety Monitoring Board approved release of study results with 1316 PYFU and a median follow-up of 3.2 years. A total of 8 DFS events have been observed: 2 pts with metastatic disease, 2 with ipsilateral axillary recurrences, 3 with new contralateral BC (all HER2-), and 1 patient who died after diagnosis of primary ovarian cancer. Conclusion: This represents the first report of TH as adjuvant therapy for node-negative HER2-positive BC. The regimen appears well tolerated and few recurrences have been observed in the study population to date. An updated analysis of efficacy, including estimates of 3-year DFS, will be presented in December when a total of 1520 PYFU in this cohort is anticipated. Based on these early data, the TH regimen may be an acceptable treatment approach for low risk HER2-positive breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr S1-04.

Management of acute anemia in a Jehovah's Witness patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with polymerized bovine hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Management of severe symptomatic anemia is exceptionally challenging when blood transfusions cannot be administered. Use of hemoglobin (Hb)‐based oxygen carriers as “bridging treatment” can be an option.