Larysa Sanchez

Daratumumab: a first-in-class CD38 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Daratumumab is a human monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a cell surface protein that is overexpressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Preclinical studies have shown that daratumumab induces MM cell death through several mechanisms, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and apoptosis. Given the encouraging efficacy and acceptable safety profile of daratumumab demonstrated in clinical trials, daratumumab has emerged as a novel treatment option for myeloma and became the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for the treatment of MM.

Elotuzumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Elotuzumab is one of the first two monoclonal antibodies that gained FDA approval for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). It targets SLAMF7, which is highly expressed in normal plasma and MM cells as well as natural killer (NK) cells. Elotuzumab demonstrated significant anti-myeloma activity in preclinical studies, and its mechanisms of action include mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, enhancing cytotoxicity of NK cells, and inhibiting MM cell interaction with bone marrow stromal cells. In clinical trials, elotuzumab in combination with immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors has demonstrated an excellent efficacy and safety profile in treating MM.

A phase IIb trial of vorinostat in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to previous lenalidomide‐containing regimens

Clinical trials of vorinostat, a Class I/II histone deacetylase inhibitor, in combination with proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents have shown activity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This phase IIb, open‐label, single‐institution study evaluated the efficacy of vorinostat in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in lenalidomide‐refractory patients. Patients were considered lenalidomide‐refractory if they had no clinical response (

In-Hospital Mortality and Post-Transplantation Complications in Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Population-Based Study

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) has improved survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is increasingly used in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare in-hospital complications and mortality after auto-HSCT in younger (< age 65) versus elderly (> age 65) MM patients utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Over a 3-year period (2008 to 2010), 2209 patients with MM were admitted to US hospitals for auto-HSCT. The median age was 59 years, with 1650 patients (74.7%) younger than age 65 and 559 patients (25.3%) 65 or older. Overall, in-hospital mortality in MM patients after auto-HSCT was rare (1.5%) and there was no significant difference in mortality between elderly and younger patients. Elderly patients did have a significantly increased mean length of stay (18.6 days + 10.8 days [SD] versus 16.8 days + 7.2 days [SD], P < .001) and mean total hospital charges (

Gastric adenocarcinoma: clinicopathologic differences among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. A single Institution's experience over 14 years.

161,117 + 

Predictors of recurrence in stage I/II colorectal cancer: Analysis of a single institution’s experience for over 24 years.

105,008 [SD] versus

Perceived competency and knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care among physicians at an academic institution.

151,192 + 

Embolic stroke as the initial presentation of an intracardiac metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung

78,342 [SD] , P = .018) compared with younger patients. Elderly patients were significantly more likely than younger patients to develop major in-hospital post-transplantation complications such as severe sepsis (odds ratio [OR], 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40 to 5.21; P = .003), septic shock (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.43 to 6.71; P = .004), pneumonia (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.46; P = .024), acute respiratory failure (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.70 to 6.96; P = .001), endotracheal intubation requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.06 to 4.55; P = .035), acute renal failure (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.38 to 3.33; P = .001), and cardiac arrhythmias (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.52 to 2.79; P <.001). These data may help guide informed consent discussions and provide a focus for future studies to reduce treatment-related morbidity in elderly MM patients undergoing auto-HSCT.

Bronchial-oesophageal fistula: a rare initial presentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Background Gastriccancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and has significant ethnic and socioeconomic differences in distribution. The aim of this study was to compare clinicopathologic characteristics and survival between Hispanics (H) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) with gastric cancer. Methods We reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer between 1999 and 2013 at our institution. A total of 638 patients were studied. Demographics, tumor characteristics and survival rate were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis. Results There were 101 H and 537 NHW. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years in H and 69 years in NHW. At diagnosis, 48 (48%) of H patients had stage IV disease compared with 195 (36%) of NHW (P<0.03). H were more likely to have distal cancers and poorly differentiated tumors compared to NHW (44% vs. 15%, P<0.0001; 70% vs. 50%, P<0.0002, respectively). There was a significant difference in median overall survival between the two groups, being 51 months for H (95% CI: 34.6-66.9) and 99 months for NHW (95% CI: 77.3-120.7) P<0.0001. In multivariate analysis, age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02-1.03, P<0.0001), poor differentiation (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.43, P<0.02), ethnicity (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07-2.55, P<0.02), and stage (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.77-2.15, P<0.0001) were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions H patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer at a younger age, to present with advanced disease at diagnosis, and had shorter overall survival compared to NHW.

Post-gastrectomy complications and mortality in elderly patients with gastric cancer: A population-based study.

534 Background: Surgical resection remains a mainstay of treatment for localized colorectal cancer (CRC). However, up to 35% of patients (pts) develop recurrence with a significant decrease in overall survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and specific predictors of recurrence for stage I/II CRC Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 2310 pts diagnosed with stage I/II CRC at our institution between 1990 and 2013, with a minimum follow up of 24 months. Tumor characteristics and recurrence data were studied. Cox regression was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the 2310 pts, recurrence was identified in 276 (12%) pts, of which 88 (32%) pts had early recurrence ( < 1 year). Median time of recurrence was 625 days. 210 (76%) pts had local recurrence while 66 (24%) pts had distal recurrence, with liver being the main site of distant metastasis. Males had a higher recurrence rate than females (16% vs. 7%, p < 0.0001). When comparing recurrence pts (R) with non...