Kara M. Kelly

Should Supplemental Antioxidant Administration Be Avoided During Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

Despite nearly two decades of research investigating the use of dietary antioxidant supplementation during conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, controversy remains about the efficacy and safety of this complementary treatment. Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that the concurrent administration of antioxidants with chemotherapy or radiation therapy reduces treatment-related side effects. Some data indicate that antioxidants may protect tumor cells as well as healthy cells from oxidative damage generated by radiation therapy and some chemotherapeutic agents. However, other data suggest that antioxidants can protect normal tissues from chemotherapy- or radiation-induced damage without decreasing tumor control. We review some of the data regarding the putative benefits and potential risks of antioxidant supplementation concurrent with cytotoxic therapy. On the basis of our review of the published randomized clinical trials, we conclude that the use of supplemental antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiation therapy should be discouraged because of the possibility of tumor protection and reduced survival.

Long-term results of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium protocols for children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (1985–2000)

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Consortium has been conducting multi-institutional clinical trials in childhood ALL since 1981. The treatment backbone has included 20–30 consecutive weeks of asparaginase during intensification and frequent vincristine/corticosteroid pulses during the continuation phase. Between 1985 and 2000, 1457 children aged 0–18 years were treated on four consecutive protocols: 85-01 (1985–1987), 87-01 (1987–1991), 91-01 (1991–1955) and 95-01 (1996–2000). The 10-year event-free survival (EFS)±s.e. by protocol was 77.9±2.8% (85-01), 74.2±2.3% (87-01), 80.8±2.1% (91-01) and 80.5±1.8% (95-01). Approximately 82% of patients treated in the 1980s and 88% treated in the 1990s were long-term survivors. Both EFS and overall survival (OS) rates were significantly higher for patients treated in the 1990s compared with the 1980s (P=0.05 and 0.01, respectively). On the two protocols conducted in the 1990s, EFS was 79–85% for T-cell ALL patients and 75–78% for adolescents (age 10–18 years). Results of randomized studies revealed that dexrazoxane prevented acute cardiac injury without adversely affecting EFS or OS in high-risk (HR) patients, and frequently dosed intrathecal chemotherapy was an effective substitute for cranial radiation in standard-risk (SR) patients. Current studies continue to focus on improving efficacy while minimizing acute and late toxicities.

Common and variant gene fusions predict distinct clinical phenotypes in rhabdomyosarcoma.

PURPOSEWe evaluated the clinical features of the common PAX3-FKHR and variant PAX7-FKHR gene fusions observed in rhabdomyosarcoma.PATIENTS AND METHODSReverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to detect the gene fusions in 34 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma. Clinical data were obtained retrospectively and compared with the molecular results.RESULTSThe PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR gene fusions were present in tumors from 18 and 16 patients, respectively. The group with a PAX7-FKHR fusion was younger (P = .01) and presented more often with an extremity lesion (82% v 22%; P = .001). PAX7-FKHR tumors were more often localized than PAX3-FKHR tumors (P = .03). In patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis, the patterns were different: PAX7-FKHR patients had metastatic disease that involved only bone (n = 2) and distant nodes (n = 2), while the PAX3-FKHR group had multiple sites involved, including bone (n = 7), marrow (n = 7), lungs (n = 3), distant nodes (n = 2), skin (n = 1), and brain ...

Use of Unconventional Therapies by Children With Cancer at an Urban Medical Center

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, modalities, and determinants of use of unconventional therapies among children with cancer receiving conventional treatment at an urban academic medical center in the United States. Patients and Methods We interviewed the parents of patients and/or patients who were receiving or had received conventional therapy for treatment of childhood cancer. Of 78 patients/parents asked, 75 consented to the interview, which included demographic factors, life events, and use of unconventional therapies. All participants also consented to the abstraction of chart data for this study. Results Overall, 84% of respondents reported the use of one or more unconventional therapies. The most commonly used modalities were changes in diet, nutritional and herbal agents, and mind/body treatments. Most users had tried more than one unconventional modality. No difference in use was seen by cancer diagnosis, race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, or educational attainment of the respondent. Of the therapies used, 50% were not reported to the physicians. Of patients reporting use of an unconventional approach, 85% were concurrently enrolled on clinical trials for primary treatment of their cancer. Conclusions The use of unconventional therapies is highly prevalent among children with cancer and is not associated with demographic or clinical factors or participation in clinical trials. The possibility that an unconventional treatment may interact with a protocol treatment underscores the need for more information about the use of such therapies among all patients.

Advances in the Use of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herbal supplement used to treat liver and biliary disorders. Silymarin, a mixture of flavanoid complexes, is the active component that protects liver and kidney cells from toxic effects of drugs, including chemotherapy. Although milk thistle has not significantly altered the course of chronic liver disease, it has reduced liver enzyme levels and demonstrated anti-inflammatory and T cell—modulating effects. There is strong preclinical evidence for silymarins hepatoprotective and anticarcinogenic effects, including inhibition of cancer cell growth in human prostate, skin, breast, and cervical cells. Milk thistle is considered safe and well-tolerated, with gastrointestinal upset, a mild laxative effect, and rare allergic reaction being the only adverse events reported when taken within the recommended dose range. More clinical trials of rigorous methodology, using standardized and well-defined products and dosages, are needed to evaluate the potential of silymarin against liver toxicity, chronic liver disease, and human cancers.

Erwinia asparaginase after allergy to E. coli asparaginase in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Escherichia coli asparaginase is an important component of treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, hypersensitivity develops in up to 30% of patients. We assessed the nadir enzyme activity and tolerability of Erwinia asparaginase, an alternative preparation, in E. coli asparaginase‐allergic patients.

Long-term outcome of a pediatric-inspired regimen used for adults aged 18–50 years with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

On the basis of the data suggesting that adolescents and young adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved outcomes when treated on pediatric protocols, we assessed the feasibility of treating adult patients aged 18–50 years with ALL with the DFCI Pediatric ALL Consortium regimen utilizing a 30-week course of pharmacokinetically dose-adjusted E. coli L-asparaginase during consolidation. Between 2002 and 2008, 92 eligible patients aged 18–50 years were enrolled at 13 participating centers. Seventy-eight patients (85%) achieved a complete remission (CR) after 1 month of intensive induction therapy. With a median follow-up of 4.5 years, the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the patients achieving a CR was 69% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56–78%) and the 4-year overall survival (OS) for all eligible patients was 67% (95% CI 56–76%). The 4-year DFS for the 64 patients who achieved a CR and were Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph−) was 71% (95% CI 58–81%), and for all 74 Ph− patients the 4-year OS was 70% (95% CI 58–79%). We conclude that a pediatric-like treatment strategy for young adults with de novo ALL is feasible, associated with tolerable toxicity, and results in improved outcomes compared with historical regimens in young adult patients with ALL.

The low incidence of secondary acute myelogenous leukaemia in children and adolescents treated with dexrazoxane for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: A report from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium

BACKGROUND Dexrazoxane reduces the risk of anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity. In a study of children with Hodgkin lymphoma, the addition of dexrazoxane may have been associated with a higher risk for developing second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) including acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We determined the incidence of SMNs in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who were treated with dexrazoxane. METHODS Between 1996 and 2010, the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium conducted three consecutive multicentre trials for children with newly diagnosed ALL. In the first (1996-2000), high risk patients were randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin (30mg/m(2)/dose, cumulative dose 300mg/m(2)) preceded by dexrazoxane (300mg/m(2)/dose, 10 doses), or the same dose of doxorubicin without dexrazoxane, during induction and intensification phases. In subsequent trials (2000-2005 and 2005-2010), all high risk and very high risk patients received doxorubicin preceded by dexrazoxane. Cases of SMNs were collected prospectively and were pooled for analysis. The frequency and 5-year cumulative incidence (CI) of SMNs were determined for patients who had received dexrazoxane. FINDINGS Among 553 patients treated with dexrazoxane (1996-2000, N=101; 2000-2005, N=196; and 2005-2010, N=256), the number of SMNs observed by protocol was 0 (median follow-up 9.6years), 0 (median follow-up 5.2years), and 1 (median follow-up 2.1years). The only SMN was a case of AML, which developed in a patient with MLL-rearranged ALL 2.14years after initial diagnosis. The overall 5-year CI of SMNs for all 553 patients was 0.24±0.24%. INTERPRETATION In a large population of children with high risk ALL who received dexrazoxane as a cardioprotectant drug, the occurrence of secondary AML was a rare event.

Impact of hemochromatosis gene mutations on cardiac status in doxorubicin-treated survivors of childhood high-risk leukemia

Doxorubicin is associated with progressive cardiac dysfunction, possibly through the formation of doxorubicin‐iron complexes leading to free‐radical injury. The authors determined the frequency of hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations associated with hereditary hemochromatosis and their relationship with doxorubicin‐associated cardiotoxicity in survivors of childhood high‐risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Minimal disease detection in patients with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays that detect fusion genes resulting from consistent chromosomal translocations have been used to detect minimal residual disease, primarily in hematologic malignancies. Molecular assays have been developed recently that detect the PAX3‐FKHR or PAX7‐FKHR fusion transcript resulting from the t(2;13) or t(1;13) translocation consistently observed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Because of the tumors propensity to disseminate widely, our aim was to determine whether or not reverse transcriptase‐PCR assays could detect submicroscopic disease in bone marrow or peripheral blood specimens.