Laurence H. Baker

Effect of Selenium and Vitamin E on Risk of Prostate Cancer and Other Cancers: The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)

CONTEXT Secondary analyses of 2 randomized controlled trials and supportive epidemiologic and preclinical data indicated the potential of selenium and vitamin E for preventing prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE To determine whether selenium, vitamin E, or both could prevent prostate cancer and other diseases with little or no toxicity in relatively healthy men. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A randomized, placebo-controlled trial (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial [SELECT]) of 35,533 men from 427 participating sites in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico randomly assigned to 4 groups (selenium, vitamin E, selenium + vitamin E, and placebo) in a double-blind fashion between August 22, 2001, and June 24, 2004. Baseline eligibility included age 50 years or older (African American men) or 55 years or older (all other men), a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 4 ng/mL or less, and a digital rectal examination not suspicious for prostate cancer. INTERVENTIONS Oral selenium (200 microg/d from L-selenomethionine) and matched vitamin E placebo, vitamin E (400 IU/d of all rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) and matched selenium placebo, selenium + vitamin E, or placebo + placebo for a planned follow-up of minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 12 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prostate cancer and prespecified secondary outcomes, including lung, colorectal, and overall primary cancer. RESULTS As of October 23, 2008, median overall follow-up was 5.46 years (range, 4.17-7.33 years). Hazard ratios (99% confidence intervals [CIs]) for prostate cancer were 1.13 (99% CI, 0.95-1.35; n = 473) for vitamin E, 1.04 (99% CI, 0.87-1.24; n = 432) for selenium, and 1.05 (99% CI, 0.88-1.25; n = 437) for selenium + vitamin E vs 1.00 (n = 416) for placebo. There were no significant differences (all P>.15) in any other prespecified cancer end points. There were statistically nonsignificant increased risks of prostate cancer in the vitamin E group (P = .06) and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the selenium group (relative risk, 1.07; 99% CI, 0.94-1.22; P = .16) but not in the selenium + vitamin E group. CONCLUSION Selenium or vitamin E, alone or in combination at the doses and formulations used, did not prevent prostate cancer in this population of relatively healthy men. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00006392.

Vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT).

CONTEXT The initial report of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) found no reduction in risk of prostate cancer with either selenium or vitamin E supplements but a statistically nonsignificant increase in prostate cancer risk with vitamin E. Longer follow-up and more prostate cancer events provide further insight into the relationship of vitamin E and prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE To determine the long-term effect of vitamin E and selenium on risk of prostate cancer in relatively healthy men. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 35,533 men from 427 study sites in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico were randomized between August 22, 2001, and June 24, 2004. Eligibility criteria included a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 4.0 ng/mL or less, a digital rectal examination not suspicious for prostate cancer, and age 50 years or older for black men and 55 years or older for all others. The primary analysis included 34,887 men who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: 8752 to receive selenium; 8737, vitamin E; 8702, both agents, and 8696, placebo. Analysis reflect the final data collected by the study sites on their participants through July 5, 2011. INTERVENTIONS Oral selenium (200 μg/d from L-selenomethionine) with matched vitamin E placebo, vitamin E (400 IU/d of all rac-α-tocopheryl acetate) with matched selenium placebo, both agents, or both matched placebos for a planned follow-up of a minimum of 7 and maximum of 12 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prostate cancer incidence. RESULTS This report includes 54,464 additional person-years of follow-up and 521 additional cases of prostate cancer since the primary report. Compared with the placebo (referent group) in which 529 men developed prostate cancer, 620 men in the vitamin E group developed prostate cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; 99% CI, 1.004-1.36, P = .008); as did 575 in the selenium group (HR, 1.09; 99% CI, 0.93-1.27; P = .18), and 555 in the selenium plus vitamin E group (HR, 1.05; 99% CI, 0.89-1.22, P = .46). Compared with placebo, the absolute increase in risk of prostate cancer per 1000 person-years was 1.6 for vitamin E, 0.8 for selenium, and 0.4 for the combination. CONCLUSION Dietary supplementation with vitamin E significantly increased the risk of prostate cancer among healthy men. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006392.

Phase III Randomized, Intergroup Trial Assessing Imatinib Mesylate At Two Dose Levels in Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Expressing the Kit Receptor Tyrosine Kinase : S0033

PURPOSE To assess potential differences in progression-free or overall survival when imatinib mesylate is administered to patients with incurable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) at a standard dose (400 mg daily) versus a high dose (400 mg twice daily). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with metastatic or surgically unresectable GIST were eligible for this phase III open-label clinical trial. At registration, patients were randomly assigned to either standard or high-dose imatinib, with close interval follow-up. If objective progression occurred by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, patients on the standard-dose arm could reregister to the trial and receive the high-dose imatinib regimen. RESULTS Seven hundred forty-six patients with advanced GIST from 148 centers across the United States and Canada were enrolled onto this trial in 9 months. With a median follow-up of 4.5 years, median progression-free survival was 18 months for patients on the standard-dose arm, and 20 months for those receiving high-dose imatinib. Median overall survival was 55 and 51 months, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in objective response rates, progression-free survival, or overall survival. After progression on standard-dose imatinib, 33% of patients who crossed over to the high-dose imatinib regimen achieved either an objective response or stable disease. There were more grade 3, 4, and 5 toxicities noted on the high-dose imatinib arm. CONCLUSION This trial confirms the effectiveness of imatinib as primary systemic therapy for patients with incurable GIST but did not show any advantage to higher dose treatment. It appears reasonable to initiate therapy with 400 mg daily and to consider dose escalation on progression of disease.

Randomized trial comparing cisplatin with cisplatin plus vinorelbine in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE Cisplatin has played a major role in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This randomized trial was performed by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) to determine whether the combination of vinorelbine and cisplatin has any advantage with regard to response rate, survival, and time to treatment failure over single-agent cisplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS Between October 1993 and April 1995, 432 patients with advanced stage NSCLC were randomized to receive arm I (cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) or arm II (cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 4 weeks and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 weekly). All patients were chemotherapy-naive, had performance status (PS) 0 or 1, and had adequate hematologic, renal, and hepatic function. RESULTS Four hundred fifteen patients were eligible and assessable. On arm I (cisplatin), there was a 12% partial response rate. Arm II (cisplatin and vinorelbine) had a 26% response rate (2% complete responses and 24% partial responses, P = .0002). There was a statistically significant advantage with regard to progression-free survival (median, 2 v 4 months; P = .0001) and overall survival (median, 6 v 8 months; P = .0018) for the cisplatin and vinorelbine arm. One-year survival was 20% for cisplatin alone and 36% for the combination arm. There was more hematologic toxicity on arm II of the study (81% grades 3 and 4 granulocytopenia v 5% on arm I). Other toxicities, such as renal insufficiency, ototoxicity, and nausea and vomiting, and neuropathy were similar. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that the combination of cisplatin and vinorelbine is a superior treatment when compared with single-agent cisplatin in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Cisplatin and vinorelbine is the new standard for SWOG against which new therapies will be evaluated.

Comparison of continuously infused 5-fluorouracil with bolus injection in treatment of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.

In a randomized series of 70 patients with with colo rectal adenocarcinoma, a comparison of systemic 5‐fluorouracil chemotherapy administered as a continuous 120‐hours infusion vs. intravenous bolus injection daily for 5 days demonstrated superiority of prolonged intravenous infusion. The most striking advantage of prolonged infusion of 5‐FU was the absence of myelotoxicity. Fifteen of the 34 patients treated with infusion and 8 of the 36 patients treated by bolus injection developed objective tumor responses. The difference in response rate at least in part is explainable by unequal distribution of patients with different characteristics between the two treatment groups.

Phase II evaluation of adriamycin in human neoplasia

Four hundred and seventy‐two patients with disseminated neoplasia were treated with two or more doses of adriamycin. The initial dose for “good risk” patients was 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, and for “poor risk” patients was 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Objective remissions were seen in 118/472 patients, with best results noted in lymphomas (21/48), sarcomas (21/64), and carcinoma of the breast (16/50). Eighty‐nine per cent of remissions occurred within three courses. Hematopoietic toxic effects were seen in 73% of patients; nausea, vomiting, and/or stomatitis were observed in 43%. Changes in electrocardiograms were seen in 42/472 patients after cumulative doses of adriamycin ranging from 45 mg/m2 to 600+mg/m2. Irreversible congestive heart failure occurred in two patients after cumulative doses of 555 mg/m2 and 825 mg/m2, respectively. It is concluded that adriamycin is an active agent, most remissions occur promptly, and significant cardiotoxic reactions appear to be cumulative.

Efficacy and Safety of Trabectedin in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Liposarcoma or Leiomyosarcoma After Failure of Prior Anthracyclines and Ifosfamide: Results of a Randomized Phase II Study of Two Different Schedules

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of trabectedin in a phase II, open-label, multicenter, randomized study in adult patients with unresectable/metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma after failure of prior conventional chemotherapy including anthracyclines and ifosfamide. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to one of two trabectedin regimens (via central venous access): 1.5 mg/m(2) 24-hour intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks (q3 weeks 24-hour) versus 0.58 mg/m(2) 3-hour IV infusion every week for 3 weeks of a 4-week cycle (qwk 3-hour). Time to progression (TTP) was the primary efficacy end point, based on confirmed independent review of images. RESULTS Two hundred seventy patients were randomly assigned; 136 (q3 weeks 24-hour) versus 134 (qwk 3-hour). Median TTP was 3.7 months versus 2.3 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.734; 95% CI, 0.554 to 0.974; P = .0302), favoring the q3 weeks 24-hour arm. Median progression-free survival was 3.3 months versus 2.3 months (HR, 0.755; 95% CI, 0.574 to 0.992; P = .0418). Median overall survival (n = 235 events) was 13.9 months versus 11.8 months (HR, 0.843; 95% CI, 0.653 to 1.090; P = .1920). Although somewhat more neutropenia, elevations in AST/ALT, emesis, and fatigue occurred in the q3 weeks 24-hour, this regimen was reasonably well tolerated. Febrile neutropenia was rare (0.8%). No cumulative toxicities were noted. CONCLUSION Prior studies showed clinical benefit with trabectedin in patients with sarcomas after failure of standard chemotherapy. This trial documents superior disease control with the q3 weeks 24-hour trabectedin regimen in liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas, although the qwk 3-hour regimen also demonstrated activity relative to historical comparisons. Trabectedin may now be considered an important new option to control advanced sarcomas in patients after failure of available standard-of-care therapies.

Dose response evaluation of adriamycin in human neoplasia.

Because patients treated with 60–90 mg/m2 every three to four weeks reach cardiotoxic doses of 550 mg/m2 within 36 weeks, prolonged treatment with Adriamycin is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine whether lower doses could be given over longer periods without loss of efficacy. Good risk patients treated with 75, 60, or 45 mg/m2 had remission rates of 25, 27, and 19%; poor risk patients treated with 50 and 25 mg/m2 had remission rates of 16 and 12% respectively. Although a dose response was identified, there were no statistically significant differences in remission rates, durations of remission, or toxicities in the dose schedules studied. Irreversible congestive heart failure occurred in five patients with cumulative doses of 240–390 mg/m2. Unless rapid remission induction is urgent, we recommend 60 mg/m2 X four doses and measurement of myocardial function if treatment is to continue.

Malignant melanoma and central nervous system metastases. Incidence, diagnosis, treatment and survival

One hundred and twenty‐two patients with clinically advanced, histologically confirmed, cutaneous malignant melanoma, seen at Wayne State University over a 12 year period were reviewed. The incidence of central nervous system metastases (CNS) diagnosed clinically was 46% and at autopsy 75%. Meningeal involvement was suspected clinically in 10.6% and found at autopsy in 52%. Motor dysfunction, mental confusion, cranial nerve disturbance, as well as headache, were the most common manifestations. EEG was found to be extremely sensitive in predicting and confirming CNS metastases even before clinical manifestation. Accuracy increased by performing an EEG serially or combining it with a brain scan. Best therapeutic results were noted after surgery for solitary CNS metastases. Palliative radiotherapy was effective in 37% of patients. Mean survival after neurological diagnosis was 4.0 months, but it varied depending on the site of the initial primary and the presence or absence of other visceral involvement. Concomitant liver metastases carried the worst prognosis. Patients with head, neck or trunk primaries who develop lung or liver metastases should be examined carefully and tested periodically with EEG. Persistent EEG abnormalities should strengthen the clinical suspicion of an underlying CNS metastases and may be an indication for further studies and possible therapy.

Evaluation of cancer information on the Internet

The Internet is a massively expanding body of information, with an estimated 320 million Web pages available. In 1997 an estimated 24 million North Americans used the Internet, and Internet use has been estimated to double each year. Even prior to the advent of the Internet as a source of medical information, patients have become more informed regarding their care, seeking increased amounts of information regarding their diagnoses and primarily wanting more information regarding their treatment options. In the past, these patients would rely heavily on health professionals for this information, through conversations or from pamphlets, videos, or books available to physicians for office distribution. Some resourceful patients may have ventured into medical libraries and some may have navigated through Index Medicus. Even the accessibility of MEDLINE searches in libraries and public institutions provided patients chiefly with peer-reviewed medical articles. We are living in a time of exponential expansion in accessibility to medical information. Data that previously would have required hours of research in a medical library now can be found easily by anyone with access to the Internet. This has enhanced the medical professional’s ability to gain extensive knowledge of research findings from many different medical specialties. However, medical professionals are not the only ones searching the Internet for such information. Our patients have the same capability that we have to research a medical topic thoroughly via the Internet. However, of concern is the quality of this newly gained knowledge. The free flow of information on the Internet permits anyone with good computer skills and a modem to establish a Web site with whatever information they wish to share. In this respect, the Internet becomes the great equalizer: experts, specialists, authorities, professionals, alternative therapy promoters, interested lay people, charlatans, and hucksters all may set up sites containing information regarding specific topics of interest. As physicians, we are concerned whether medical information 381