J. Macintyre

A retrospective study of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX in unresectable or borderline-resectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) is superior to gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have a good performance status. We investigated this combination as neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).MethodsIn this retrospective series, we included patients with unresectable LAPC who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX with growth factor support. The primary analysis endpoint was R0 resection rate.ResultsEighteen treatment-naïve patients with unresectable or borderline resectable LAPC were treated with neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX. The median age was 57.5 years and all had ECOG PS of 0 or 1. Eleven (61 %) had tumors in the head of the pancreas and 9 (50 %) had biliary stents placed prior to chemotherapy. A total of 146 cycles were administered with a median of 8 cycles (range 3-17) per patient. At maximum response or tolerability, 7 (39 %) were converted to resectability by radiological criteria; 5 had R0 resections, 1 had an R1 resection, and 1 had unresectable disease. Among the 11 patients who remained unresectable after FOLFIRINOX, 3 went on to have R0 resections after combined chemoradiotherapy, giving an overall R0 resection rate of 44 % (95 % CI 22–69 %). After a median follow-up of 13.4 months, the 1-year progression-free survival was 83 % (95 % CI 59-96 %) and the 1-year overall survival was 100 % (95 % CI 85-100 %). Grade 3/4 chemotherapy-related toxicities were neutropenia (22 %), neutropenic fever (17 %), thrombocytopenia (11 %), fatigue (11 %), and diarrhea (11 %). Common grade 1/2 toxicities were neutropenia (33 %), anemia (72 %), thrombocytopenia (44 %), fatigue (78 %), nausea (50 %), diarrhea (33 %) and neuropathy (33 %).ConclusionsFOLFIRINOX followed by chemoradiotherapy is feasible as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with unresectable LAPC. The R0 resection rate of 44 % in this population is promising. Further studies are warranted.

A phase ii trial of nab-paclitaxel as second-line therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

Objective:nab-Paclitaxel has been shown to disrupt pancreatic cancer stroma and was effective in combination with gemcitabine in a phase I/II trial. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel monotherapy in previously treated pancreatic cancer patients. Methods:In this phase II trial, patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who progressed on gemcitabine-based therapy, received nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was 6-month overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were response rate (by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors), progression-free survival, safety, and toxicity profile. Results:Among 19 patients treated, the median age was 61 years, 9 (47%) were male patients and 18 (95%) had stage-IV disease. The primary endpoint of the study was reached with a 6-month OS of 58% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 33%-76%] and an estimated median OS of 7.3 months (95% CI, 2.8-15.8 mo). The median progression-free survival was 1.7 months (95% CI, 1.5-3.5 mo). One patient had a confirmed partial response and 6 (32%) had stable disease as their best response. Nonhematological toxicities were generally mild with grades 1-2 nausea, anorexia, hypocalcemia, and vomiting occurring in 63%, 47%, 37%, and 26% of patients, respectively. Grades 3-4 neutropenia, neutropenic fever, and anemia occurred in 32%, 11%, and 11% of patients, respectively. Only 2 of 15 available tumors stained positive for secreted protein acid rich in cysteine, and neither of these patients benefited from the therapy. Conclusions:nab-Paclitaxel was well tolerated, and it demonstrated preliminary evidence of activity in a subset of patients who progressed on gemcitabine-based therapy.

Full dose neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX is associated with prolonged survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND The efficacy of FOLFIRINOX for metastatic pancreatic cancer has led to its use in patients with earlier stages of disease. This study retrospectively analyzed a cohort of patients with locally-advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with FOLFIRINOX. METHODS Between 2008 and 2013, 51 treatment-naïve patients with LAPC at a single institution received first-line FOLFIRINOX with neoadjuvant intent, at the full dose as described in the PRODIGE 4/ACCORD 11 study. Combined chemoradiation was administered for those who remained unresectable after maximum response to chemotherapy. The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS), and secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and margin-negative (R0) resection rate, and toxicity profile. RESULTS A total of 429 cycles of FOLFIRINOX were given with a median of 8 cycles (range 2-29) per patient; 66% of cycles were full dose. After chemotherapy, 27 (53%) received chemoradiation. The median OS was 35.4 months (95% CI 25.8-45). Ten (4 borderline resectable and 6 unresectable) patients had successful R0 resections; those who had R0 resections had a significantly longer survival than those who did not (3-year OS rate 67% versus 21%, log rank p = 0.042). Increasing number of full-dose cycles was significantly associated with increased survival. The toxicity profile was similar to previous reports of this regimen. CONCLUSIONS FOLFIRINOX is feasible as neoadjuvant therapy for LAPC. Although the R0 resection rate was only 20%, the median OS of almost 3 years appears promising. Dose intensity and duration were associated with increased survival in this study, arguing against dose attenuated versions of this regimen.

Phase Ib study of drozitumab combined with first-line mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

In this multicenter phase Ib study, drozitumab was given in combination with the mFOLFOX6 regimen and bevacizumab in patients with previously untreated, locally advanced recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer on day 1 of every 14-day cycle. Nine patients were treated at 2 different cohort dose levels of drozitumab. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred at either dose level and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Two patients had a partial response of 4.93 and 4.96 months duration. Cohort 2 dose level is the recommended starting dose level for future trials.

A phase 1 trial of E7974 administered on day 1 of a 21-day cycle in patients with advanced solid tumors

E7974, a synthetic analog of hemiasterlin, interacts with the tubulin molecule and overcomes resistance to other antitubulin drugs (taxanes and vinca alkaloids).

Phase II study of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab in advanced pancreatic cancer.

ObjectiveLittle progress has been made in the treatment of pancreatic cancer (PC). This study evaluated the clinical activity of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab (GOC) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic PC. MethodsThe study primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Eligible, chemotherapy-naive PC patients were treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 over 100 min) on day 1, oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) on day 2, every 2 weeks, and weekly cetuximab, (loading dose of 400 mg/m2 on cycle 1 day 1 and 250 mg/m2 thereafter). It was expected that GOC treatment would extend the median PFS from 5.8 to 7.54 months, a relative increase of 30%, compared with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (historical control). ResultsA total of 41 evaluable patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 24%. Median PFS time was 6.9 months and median overall survival (OS) was 11.3 months. Patients with locally advanced disease had longer median PFS (12.4 vs. 4.7 mo) and OS (15.7 vs. 6.4 mo) compared with patients with metastatic disease. The most common grade 3 to 4 toxicities included neutropenia (32%), infection (with normal or grade 1 to 2 neutropenia, in 24%), neuropathy (17%), fatigue (15%), and rash (7%). Five patients (12%) discontinued study treatment without evidence of progression. Rash was not a significant prognostic factor affecting PFS or OS. ConclusionsGOC is a feasible combination with an acceptable toxicity profile. However, GOC did not significantly extend PFS in the overall patient population to consider it for further development.

Oxaliplatin induced disseminated intravascular coagulation: A case report and review of literature.

Oxaliplatin in combination with a fluoropyrimide is a treatment option for colorectal cancer patients in the adjuvant and metastatic settings. Very few hematological emergencies have been reported associated with Oxaliplatin. These include autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia. We present a case report of a patient who developed hematuria and disseminated intravascular coagulation while receiving the second cycle of FOLFOX and bevacizumab for metastatic colon cancer.

Sustained response to FOLFOX and Bevacizumab in metastatic bronchial carcinoid – A case report and review of the literature

A 65 year old male with bronchial carcinoid developed diffuse liver metastases seventeen months after curative resection of a solitary liver metastasis. Treatment with modified (m) FOLFOX 6 (5-FU, 400mg/m 2 bolus infusion, followed by Leucovorin 400 mg/m 2 and Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m 2 given in “Y” over 2 hours followed by 5 FU 2,400 mg/m 2 continuous infusion over 46 hours) plus Bevacizumab and Octreotide were given after progression on Octreotide alone. It resulted in sustained partial response. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case demonstrating activity of FOLFOX and Bevacizumab in metastatic bronchial carcinoid. The response and clinical benefit of FOLFOX with Bevacizumab in this case of metastatic bronchial carcinoid suggest that this treatment is active and should be further studied in patients with metastatic and unresectable bronchial carcinoid tumors.

The nab -paclitaxel/gemcitabine regimen for patients with refractory advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

The phase III MPACT trial for metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) showed improved overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and response rates (RRs) for first-line nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) and gemcitabine (the AG combination) compared to gemcitabine monotherapy. The safety and efficacy of the AG combination has not been systematically studied as second-line therapy or beyond for metastatic PC. We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed between September 2010 and August 2014 with advanced refractory PC that received combination treatment with AG at our institution. Demographic and survival data were extracted from the registry. Patients received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle with subsequent dose modifications based on tolerance. Data on 59 patients was available; the median age was 61; 55% were male; 56% received AG as second line therapy and 44% received it as third-line or beyond. Five (10%) patients had a confirmed partial response (PR), 23 (47%) had stable disease (SD) and 21 (43%) had disease progression as their best response. Among the 31 (52%) patients who received prior gemcitabine, 18 (58%) had clinical benefit; 3 had a PR and 15 had SD. The median OS was 3.9 months and the median progression-free survival was 3 months. Toxicity was similar to what was reported in the MPACT trial. This retrospective analysis suggests that AG is active in PC patients previously treated with either fluoropyrimidine-based therapy or gemcitabine-based therapy with manageable toxicities.

The value of tissue protein expression as a predictor of efficacy for first- or second-line therapy (tx) in metastatic ductal pancreas cancer (PDAC) in patients (pts) receiving either gemcitabine (G)-based tx or 5FU (F)-based tx.

460 Background: No validated biomarkers exist to direct treatment decisions in PDAC. Decisions regarding tx choices are based on age, organ function, and performance status. Defining predictors of efficacy to F (alone or in combination) or G (alone or in combination) in PDAC are urgently needed. Histologic subtype by immunohistochemistry (IHC); pancreatobiliary type (PB), intestinal type (I), gastric type (Ga) and intestinal/gastric type (I/G); may predict benefit to G or F. Methods: Charts of PDAC pts from 2 institutions from 2007 to 2013 having both pathology specimen and a qualifying tx (FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, Capecitabine or G or G and nab-paclitaxel) were reviewed. IHC phenotypes were defined by staining >25% CDX2 = I, >25% MUC5 = Ga, >25% CDX2 and MUC5 = I/G, >25% MUC1 = PB. Results: 51 pts were identified. 4 cases had Stage II disease without recurrence after adjuvant tx and were excluded. 5 tumors were PB, 1 I, 3 I/G, 38 Ga. 41 (87%) had Ga or I/G type. Due to lack of statistical power for t...