M. André

Introduction of SARS in France, March–April, 2003

We describe severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in France. Patients meeting the World Health Organization definition of a suspected case underwent a clinical, radiologic, and biologic assessment at the closest university-affiliated infectious disease ward. Suspected cases were immediately reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire. Probable case-patients were isolated, their contacts quarantined at home, and were followed for 10 days after exposure. Five probable cases occurred from March through April 2003; four were confirmed as SARS coronavirus by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, serologic testing, or both. The index case-patient (patient A), who had worked in the French hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, was the most probable source of transmission for the three other confirmed cases; two had been exposed to patient A while on the Hanoi-Paris flight of March 22–23. Timely detection, isolation of probable cases, and quarantine of their contacts appear to have been effective in preventing the secondary spread of SARS in France.

Combined Etoposide, Ifosfamide, and Cisplatin in the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma. A French Experience

Introduction: The value of a nonanthracyclin regimen in thymic carcinoma and malignant thymoma is not well defined. These regimens may be useful in some patients, particularly with cardiac diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the response rate, progression free survival, overall survival and toxicity of combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Methods: From October 1995 to April 2001, 18 patients with advanced thymoma or thymic carcinoma were entered on trial, and receive etoposide (100 mg/m2 on days 1–3), ifosfamide (1500 mg/m2 on days 1–3), s and cisplatin (30 mg/m2 on days 1–3). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks for a total of six cycles. Results: Among 16 evaluable patients, there were no complete responses and four partial responses (complete and partial responses rate, 25%; confidence interval [CI] 95, 7–48%). The median follow-up was 32.6 months (range, <9–84 months), and the median overall survival has not yet been reached because more than 50% of patients are still alive. Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates, the 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 93.8 and 78.1%, respectively. The toxicity was predominantly myelosuppresion and alopecia. Conclusions: The combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin regimen has moderate activity in patients with advanced thymic tumors. Our results confirm the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial published in 2001. Response rates appear to be lower to many phase II trials, but survival seems similar.

Targeted therapy for localized non-small-cell lung cancer: a review.

Targeted therapies have markedly improved the management of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their efficacy in localized NSCLC is less well established. The aim of this review is to analyze trials of targeted therapies in localized NSCLC. In patients with wild-type EGFR, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown no efficacy in Phase III trials. Few data are available for EGFR-mutated localized NSCLC, as routine biological profiling is not recommended. Available studies are small, often retrospectives, and/or conducted in a single-center making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Ongoing prospective Phase III trials are comparing adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor administration versus adjuvant chemotherapy. By analogy with the indication of bevacizumab in advanced NSCLC, use of antiangiogenic agents in the perioperative setting is currently restricted to nonsquamous NSCLC. Several trials of adjuvant or neoadjuvant bevacizumab are planned or ongoing, but for the moment there is no evidence of efficacy. Data on perioperative use of biomarkers in early-stage NSCLC come mainly from small, retrospective, uncontrolled studies. Assessment of customized adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy in localized NSCLC (with or without oncogenic driver mutations) is a major challenge.

Tinzaparin and VKA use in patients with cancer associated venous thromboembolism: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION After 6months, little is known about the optimal anticoagulant strategy for an acute episode of VTE in cancer patients. AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND METHODS The objective was to determine the risk of recurrent VTE and anticoagulant-related bleeding at 6months of follow-up and after 6months, in cancer patients who received tinzaparin during at least 3months for an acute episode of VTE. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study from January 2004 to March 2011. RESULTS Two hundred fifty patients were included. Stopping anticoagulation before 6months in patients considered at low risk by physicians (i.e.; patients who had prior cancer surgery) and for another reason than bleeding or death was the only factor associated with a significant increased risk of recurrent VTE (OR 7.2 95%CI, 2.0-25.7; p=0.002). The type of anticoagulation did not influence the risk of recurrent VTE. We found a trend towards an increased risk of recurrent VTE when anticoagulation was stopped because of major bleeding while on anticoagulant therapy and patients with metastatic cancer (OR 2.3, 95%CI, 0.9-5.4; p=0.07; and OR 1.8 95%CI, 1.0-3.3; p=0.07; respectively). No factors were found to increase the risk of major bleeding at 6months and after. The overall mortality was 42.8%. CONCLUSIONS The risk of recurrent VTE was mainly related to early discontinuation of anticoagulation in patients considered at low risk of recurrence (after surgery). When the anticoagulation was stopped before the sixth month, the risk was eight fold higher. After 6month, the risks of recurrent VTE, major bleeding and death were similar in patients with either VKA or tinzaparin when patients were treated according to the guidelines.

Insuffisance cardiaque aiguë sous itraconazole : une complication prévisible ?

INTRODUCTION Itraconazole is an azole derivative used for the treatment of aspergillosis. Cardiac failure is a rare complication of treatment. Most cases occur in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, or taking multiple medications, and a causal relationship is not well-established. CASE REPORT We report the case of a patient, without cardiovascular risk factors, presenting with cardiac failure during treatment with itraconazole. Pre-treatment stress testing and echocardiography were normal. Resolution was complete without sequelae. CONCLUSION Cardiac failure can occur in association with itraconazole despite normal cardiological investigations before treatment.