Joseph Bigley

Randomized comparison of vinorelbine and melphalan in anthracycline-refractory advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE This prospective multicenter randomized trial was performed to compare the effectiveness and safety of intravenous (i.v.) vinorelbine tartrate (Navelbine [NVB]; Burroughs Wellcome Co, Research Triangle Park, NC) with i.v. melphalan (Alkeran [ALK]; Burroughs Wellcome Co) in a heavily pretreated population of patients with anthracycline-refractory advanced breast cancer (ABC). Efficacy end points included time to disease progression (TDP), time to treatment failure (TTF), survival, tumor response rates, and quality of life (QL) and relief of cancer-related symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between August 24, 1990, and December 1, 1992, 183 patients were randomized (2:1) to treatment with NVB (30 mg/m2 weekly) or ALK (25 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) i.v. Patients were stratified by measurable or nonmeasurable-assessable disease and by treatment center. RESULTS Time to disease progression was significantly longer with NVB than with ALK, with a median 12 weeks versus 8 weeks, respectively (P < .001). NVB patients also had significantly longer time to treatment failure than ALK patients, with a median 12 weeks versus 8 weeks, respectively (P < .001). The effect of NVB on survival was also statistically significant (P = .034): 1-year survival rates were 35.7% with NVB and 21.7% with ALK and the median survival rate was 35 weeks and 31 weeks, respectively. In total, 46.5% of NVB patients and 28.2% of ALK patients achieved an objective response or stabilization of disease (P = .06). No intergroup differences were noted in patient-assessed QL and cancer-related symptoms. The most common toxicities were hematologic, including granulocytopenia with NVB and thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia with ALK. Both drugs were generally well tolerated, and no septic deaths were reported. CONCLUSION This randomized trial demonstrates a survival benefit in anthracycline-refractory ABC. NVB was well tolerated and demonstrated activity superior to ALK in anthracycline-refractory ABC, without compromising QL. Based on activity of single-agent NVB in this difficult-to-treat patient population, investigations of NVB in combination with other anticancer drugs are warranted.

Clinical Utility of an Epigenetic Assay to Detect Occult Prostate Cancer in Histopathologically Negative Biopsies: Results of the MATLOC Study

PURPOSE Concern about possible false-negative prostate biopsy histopathology findings often leads to rebiopsy. A quantitative methylation specific polymerase chain reaction assay panel, including GSTP1, APC and RASSF1, could increase the sensitivity of detecting cancer over that of pathological review alone, leading to a high negative predictive value and a decrease in unnecessary repeat biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS The MATLOC study blindly tested archived prostate biopsy needle core tissue samples of 498 subjects from the United Kingdom and Belgium with histopathologically negative prostate biopsies, followed by positive (cases) or negative (controls) repeat biopsy within 30 months. Clinical performance of the epigenetic marker panel, emphasizing negative predictive value, was assessed and cross-validated. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate all risk factors. RESULTS The epigenetic assay performed on the first negative biopsies of this retrospective review cohort resulted in a negative predictive value of 90% (95% CI 87-93). In a multivariate model correcting for patient age, prostate specific antigen, digital rectal examination and first biopsy histopathological characteristics the epigenetic assay was a significant independent predictor of patient outcome (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.81-5.53). CONCLUSIONS A multiplex quantitative methylation specific polymerase chain reaction assay determining the methylation status of GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 was strongly associated with repeat biopsy outcome up to 30 months after initial negative biopsy in men with suspicion of prostate cancer. Adding this epigenetic assay could improve the prostate cancer diagnostic process and decrease unnecessary repeat biopsies.

The Epigenetic promise for prostate cancer diagnosis

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in men and a leading cause of death. Improvements in disease management would have a significant impact and could be facilitated by the development of biomarkers, whether for diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive purposes. The blood‐based prostate biomarker PSA has been part of clinical practice for over two decades, although it is surrounded by controversy. While debates of usefulness are ongoing, alternatives should be explored. Particularly with recent recommendations against routine PSA‐testing, the time is ripe to explore promising biomarkers to yield a more efficient and accurate screening for detection and management of prostate cancer. Epigenetic changes, more specifically DNA methylation, are amongst the most common alterations in human cancer. These changes are associated with transcriptional silencing of genes, leading to an altered cellular biology.

Quantitative analysis of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in malignant glioma

Promoter hypermethylation of the DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) has been associated with an enhanced response to chloroethylating and methylating agents in patients with malignant glioma. The purpose of this study was to compare three distinct yet related indices for measuring AGT to determine if these assays could be used interchangeably when AGT status is to be used to guide chemotherapeutic decisions. Real-time methylation-specific PCR (MSP), assessed as the ratio of methylated AGT copies to internal β-actin control, was used to quantitate AGT hypermethylation in 32 glioma samples. Data were compared with AGT enzyme activity as well as immunohistochemical detection of AGT protein from the same samples. Hypermethylation of the AGT promoter was detected in 19 of 31 (61%) samples evaluable by MSP. Low-level AGT, defined as <20% nuclear AGT staining by immunohistochemistry, was found in 10 of 32 samples (31%), whereas 12 of 32 (38%) had low levels of AGT activity. Correlation of immunohistochemistry to AGT activity was statistically significant (P = 0.014) as was the correlation of immunohistochemistry to MSP (P = 0.043), whereas MSP compared with AGT activity (P = 0.246) was not significant. Cross-tabulation of immunohistochemistry and MSP data based on prognostic groups, where good prognosis was represented by an immunohistochemistry of <20% and an MSP ratio >12, showed no significant relationship (P = 0.214), suggesting that one assay cannot be used interchangeably for another. The observed discordance between respective measures of AGT based on prognosis supports further standardization of AGT assays designed to guide therapeutic practice. The data also suggest that consideration be given to the large population of AGT-expressing cells within samples when therapeutic strategies based on tumor methylation are used. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(10):2531–9]

Prostate Cancer Detected by Methylated Gene Markers in Histopathologically Cancer-Negative Tissues from Men with Subsequent Positive Biopsies

The goal of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate the ability of a newly developed refinement of a quantitative methylation-specific PCR assay to detect prostate cancer in histopathologically negative biopsy samples collected from men who were later positively diagnosed during a follow-up biopsy procedure. Biomarkers tested in the assay included the much-studied glutathione-S-transferase P1 gene and others reported to be frequently methylated in prostate cancer. Core biopsy tissue from subjects with serial negative biopsies served as a negative control to assess assay specificity. As a positive control, biopsy core tissue from patients histopathologically diagnosed with prostate cancer was used to gauge true marker sensitivity in known cancer-containing specimens. Testing was completed in 971 archived paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 264 men screened for prostate cancer. More samples were initially tested, but due to the advanced age of the paraffinized tissue, DNA quality for quantitative methylation-specific PCR analysis was insufficient in 34% of the available blocks. The glutathione-S-transferase P1 gene has been confirmed as a powerful indicator of the presence of prostate cancer cells. A sensitivity of 52% was observed in the “potentially false-negative first biopsies,” with a corresponding specificity of 85% and the sensitivity in biopsy tissue cores containing histopathologically confirmed prostate cancer was 95%. An even higher sensitivity can be reached with RAR-2β (84%) and APC (72%), with respective specificities of 48% and 50%. Gene methylation was detected in initial, negative biopsy tissue in men who were later diagnosed with prostate cancer. Testing for methylation in histopathologically negative biopsies could improve the early detection of prostate cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(10):2717–22)

Multicenter phase II study of weekly oral vinorelbine for stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE We initiated a large multicenter phase II trial in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate the activity and safety of an oral gelatin-based formation of vinorelbine. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-three centers participated in this uncontrolled phase II study, which accrued patients between August 1991 and March 1992. Eligible patients had previously untreated measurable or assessable stage IV NSCLC, age more than 18 years, and Karnofsky performance status > or = 70%. The treatment plan initially was to administer 100 mg/m2/wk of oral vinorelbine or 80 mg/m2/wk for patients who had received prior radiation therapy. After the observation of grade IV granulocytopenia in six of the first 25 patients, subsequent doses were reduced by 40 mg (one capsule) in all patients. RESULTS One hundred sixty-two patients were treated: 138 with measurable and 24 with assessable disease. One hundred two patients were men and 60 women. The mean age was 62 years (range, 36 to 83). The overall response rate was 14.5% for patients with measurable disease (95% confidence interval, 9.3% to 21.7%). The median time to treatment failure (TTF) for all patients was 9 weeks. The median survival time was 29 weeks; the 1-year survival rate was 22%. Toxicities included grade 3 or 4 neutropenia in 40%, which was dependent on the vinorelbine dose. Other toxicities included mild to moderate nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and stomatitis. The mean dose intensity of vinorelbine was 53 mg/m2. CONCLUSION Oral vinorelbine administered once weekly is an active agent in stage IV NSCLC. The median survival time of 29 weeks is similar to that achieved with single-agent intravenous vinorelbine and more aggressive cisplatin-based combinations. Further studies of this compound in the palliative-intent care setting appear to be indicated.

A tissue biopsy-based epigenetic multiplex PCR assay for prostate cancer detection

BackgroundPSA-directed prostate cancer screening leads to a high rate of false positive identifications and an unnecessary biopsy burden. Epigenetic biomarkers have proven useful, exhibiting frequent and abundant inactivation of tumor suppressor genes through such mechanisms. An epigenetic, multiplex PCR test for prostate cancer diagnosis could provide physicians with better tools to help their patients. Biomarkers like GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 have demonstrated involvement with prostate cancer, with the latter two genes playing prominent roles in the field effect. The epigenetic states of these genes can be used to assess the likelihood of cancer presence or absence.ResultsAn initial test cohort of 30 prostate cancer-positive samples and 12 cancer-negative samples was used as basis for the development and optimization of an epigenetic multiplex assay based on the GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 genes, using methylation specific PCR (MSP). The effect of prostate needle core biopsy sample volume and age of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples was evaluated on an independent follow-up cohort of 51 cancer-positive patients. Multiplexing affects copy number calculations in a consistent way per assay. Methylation ratios are therefore altered compared to the respective singleplex assays, but the correlation with patient outcome remains equivalent. In addition, tissue-biopsy samples as small as 20 μm can be used to detect methylation in a reliable manner. The age of FFPE-samples does have a negative impact on DNA quality and quantity.ConclusionsThe developed multiplex assay appears functionally similar to individual singleplex assays, with the benefit of lower tissue requirements, lower cost and decreased signal variation. This assay can be applied to small biopsy specimens, down to 20 microns, widening clinical applicability. Increasing the sample volume can compensate the loss of DNA quality and quantity in older samples.

A phase I trial of vinorelbine in combination with mitoxantrone in patients with refractory solid tumors

Vinorelbine (Navelbine®) is a unique semi-synthetic vinca-alkaloid with a favorable safety profile that has demonstrated significant antitumor activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, advanced breast cancer, advanced ovarian cancer and Hodgkins disease. The most common dose-limiting toxicity is neutropenia, while other reported toxicities are minimal. Mitoxantrone (Novantrone®) is an anthracene derivative that has demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, acute leukemia, and lymphoma. Mitoxantrone also has a very favorable toxicity profile with significantly less nausea and vomiting, alopecia, and stomatitis as compared with anthracyclines. The dose-limiting toxicity for mitoxantrone is leukopenia. The study was designed to determine the safety and maximally tolerated dose of IV vinorelbine used in combination with a fixed dose of mitoxantrone for the treatment of patients with refractory solid tumors. Vinorelbine was administered on days 1 and 8 of the treatment regimen as a short IV infusion. The starting dose was 15 mg/m2. Mitoxantrone was administered as a 20-min infusion on day 1 only at a fixed dose of 10 mg/m2. Seventeen patients with solid malignancies were entered in the study. For personal reasons, one patient decided to discontinue the treatment after day 1 of cycle 1. Therefore, 16 patients were evaluable for toxicity. The main toxicity was myelosuppression which was dose-limiting and resulted in dose reductions and delays. The use of G-CSF had a minimal overall impact on this regimen. Stable disease was observed in three cases. In patients previously treated with chemotherapy, the maximally tolerated dose was defined as vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2 on day 1 without growth factor support. These doses can be recommended for phase II study of the regimen as salvage treatment.

Phase I Trial of High-Dose Infused Zidovudine Combined with Leucovorin plus Fluorouracil

This phase I trial evaluated a high-dose, short-term infusion of zidovudine (AZT) following oral leucovorin (LV) and bolus 5-fluorouracil (FUra). Thirteen patients with metastatic cancer received 30 cycles of therapy. Plasma monitoring demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in peak plasma levels of AZT through the range of dose levels, from 104.3 +/- 8.7 microM at the 1.5 g/m2 dose of AZT to 1312.6 +/- 165.9 microM at the 11.0 g/m2 dose. While AZT did not potentiate the usual clinical toxicities of LV plus FUra, an unexpected finding of symptomatic hypotension during the AZT infusion was the dose-limiting toxicity in this trial. One partial response was observed in a previously untreated patient with metastatic colorectal cancer. The maximal tolerated dose of AZT, 7.0 g/m2 over 2 hr, is recommended for future phase II evaluation of this novel combination.

Phase II study of 5-fluoruracil leucovorin and azidothymidine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

The primary objective of this study was to determine the response rate of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to combined therapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, and intravenous azidothymidine (AZT), a thymidine nucleoside analog. By itself, AZT has limited antineoplastic efficacy. However, experimental studies indicate that 5-FU enhances the antitumor activity of AZT by inhibiting synthesis of normal thymidine nucleotides with which AZT competes for incorporation into nucleic acids. A phase I study defined the maximum tolerated dose of AZT as 7 g/m2 with hypotension during the infusion being the dose-limiting toxicity. A phase II study was performed with oral leucovorin (100 mg p.o. hourly for 4 h prior to 5-FU and 4 h and 8 h after 5-FU), bolus 5-FU (400 mg/m2) followed 1 h later by a 2-h infusion of AZT (7 g/m2). Treatment was given weekly for 4 weeks followed by a 1-week break, which constituted a cycle of therapy. Responses were evaluated after every two cycles. Patients continued on therapy as long as they tolerated treatment and did not have progressive disease. Of 15 evaluable patients who had received no chemotherapy there was 1 complete response and 4 partial responses (a 33% response rate), whereas only 1 of 6 patients who had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy had a partial response (17%). An additional 10 patients had stable disease lasting 2–14 months. Therapy was well tolerated with the only one instance each of grade 3 nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and hypotension. Approximately 50% of treatments were accompanied by mild hypotension, which was easily corrected by increasing the rate of normal saline infusion. There was no difficulty administering this regimen in the outpatient setting. While the overall response rate (29%) is comparable to that seen with combinations of 5-FU and leucovorin alone, in most reported series a considerably higher dose of 5-FU was utilized than in this study. Since patients in the present study experienced relatively little 5-FU toxicity, increasing the dose of 5-FU in this regimen would appear to be feasible and might result in a higher response rate.