Martin Wernli

Mediastinal Lymph Node Clearance After Docetaxel-Cisplatin Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Prognostic of Survival in Patients With Stage IIIA pN2 Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Phase II Trial

PURPOSE A multicenter, phase II trial investigated the efficacy and toxicity of neoadjuvant docetaxel-cisplatin in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examined prognostic factors for patients not benefiting from surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety patients with previously untreated, potentially operable stage IIIA (mediastinoscopically pN2) NSCLC received three cycles of docetaxel 85 mg/m2 day 1 plus cisplatin 40 mg/m2 days 1 and 2, with subsequent surgical resection. RESULTS Administered dose-intensities were docetaxel 85 mg/m2/3 weeks (range, 53 to 96) and cisplatin 95 mg/m2/3 weeks (range, 0 to 104). The 265 cycles were well tolerated, and the overall response rate was 66% (95% confidence interval [CI], 55% to 75%). Seventy-five patients underwent tumor resection with positive resection margin and involvement of the uppermost mediastinal lymph node in 16% and 35% of patients, respectively (perioperative mortality, 3%; morbidity, 17%). Pathologic complete response occurred in 19% of patients with tumor resection. In patients with tumor resection, downstaging to N0-1 at surgery was prognostic and significantly prolonged event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS; P =.0001). At median follow-up of 32 months, the median EFS and OS were 14.8 months (range, 2.4 to 53.4) and 33 months (range, 2.4 to 53.4), respectively. Local relapse occurred in 27% of patients with tumor resection, with distant metastases in 37%. Multivariate analyses identified mediastinal clearance (hazard ratio, 0.22; P =.0003) and complete resection (hazard ratio, 0.26; P =.0006) as strongly prognostic for increased survival. CONCLUSION Neoadjuvant docetaxel-cisplatin is effective and tolerable in stage IIIA pN2 NSCLC. Resection is recommended only for patients with mediastinal downstaging after chemotherapy.

Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and Fluorouracil; Docetaxel and Cisplatin; and Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and Fluorouracil As Systemic Treatment for Advanced Gastric Carcinoma: A Randomized Phase II Trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research

PURPOSE This randomized phase II trial evaluated two docetaxel-based regimens to see which would be most promising according to overall response rate (ORR) for comparison in a phase III trial with epirubicin-cisplatin-fluorouracil (ECF) as first-line advanced gastric cancer therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Chemotherapy-naïve patients with measurable unresectable and/or metastatic gastric carcinoma, a performance status <or= 1, and adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal function randomly received <or= eight 3-weekly cycles of ECF (epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) on day 1, cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, and fluorouracil [FU] 200 mg/m(2)/d on days 1 to 21), TC (docetaxel initially 85 mg/m(2) on day 1 [later reduced to 75 mg/m(2) as a result of toxicity] and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1), or TCF (TC plus FU 300 mg/m(2)/d on days 1 to 14). Study objectives included response (primary), survival, toxicity, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS ORR was 25.0% (95% CI, 13% to 41%) for ECF, 18.5% (95% CI, 9% to 34%) for TC, and 36.6% (95% CI, 23% to 53%) for TCF (n = 119). Median overall survival times were 8.3, 11.0, and 10.4 months for ECF, TC, and TCF, respectively. Toxicity was acceptable, with one toxic death (TC arm). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in more treatment cycles with docetaxel (TC, 49%; TCF, 57%; ECF, 34%). Global health status/QOL substantially improved with ECF and remained similar to baseline with both docetaxel regimens. CONCLUSION Time to response and ORR favor TCF over TC for further evaluation, particularly in the neoadjuvant setting. A trend towards increased myelosuppression and infectious complications with TCF versus TC or ECF was observed.

Phase II Study of Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin in First- and Second-Line Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE To determine the efficacy and tolerability of combining oxaliplatin with capecitabine in the treatment of advanced nonpretreated and pretreated colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-three nonpretreated patients and 26 patients who had experienced one fluoropyrimidine-containing regimen for advanced colorectal cancer were treated with oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) on day 1 and capecitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) bid on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks. Patients with good performance status (World Health Organization grade 0 to 1) were accrued onto two nonrandomized parallel arms of a phase II study. RESULTS The objective response rate was 49% (95% confidence interval [CI], 33% to 65%) for nonpretreated and 15% (95% CI, 4% to 35%) for pretreated patients. The main toxicity of this combination was diarrhea, which occurred at grade 3 or 4 in 35% of the nonpretreated and 50% of the pretreated patients. Grade 3 or 4 sensory neuropathy, including laryngopharyngeal dysesthesia, occurred in 16% of patients on both cohorts. Capecitabine dose reductions were necessary in 26% of the nonpretreated and 45% of the pretreated patients in the second treatment cycle. The median overall survival was 17.1 months and 11.5 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Combining capecitabine and oxaliplatin yields promising activity in advanced colorectal cancer. The main toxicity is diarrhea, which is manageable with appropriate dose reductions. On the basis of our toxicity experience, we recommend use of capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) at an initial dose of 1,250 mg/m(2) bid in nonpretreated patients and at a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) bid in pretreated patients.

Prognostic factors affecting long-term outcomes in patients with resected stage IIIA pN2 non-small-cell lung cancer: 5-Year follow-up of a phase II study

The aim was to investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant docetaxel–cisplatin and identify prognostic factors for outcome in locally advanced stage IIIA (pN2 by mediastinoscopy) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In all, 75 patients (from 90 enrolled) underwent tumour resection after three 3-week cycles of docetaxel 85 mg m−2 (day 1) plus cisplatin 40 or 50 mg m−2 (days 1 and 2). Therapy was well tolerated (overall grade 3 toxicity occurred in 48% patients; no grade 4 nonhaematological toxicity was reported), with no observed late toxicities. Median overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) times were 35 and 15 months, respectively, in the 75 patients who underwent surgery; corresponding figures for all 90 patients enrolled were 28 and 12 months. At 3 years after initiating trial therapy, 27 out of 75 patients (36%) were alive and tumour free. At 5-year follow-up, 60 and 65% of patients had local relapse and distant metastases, respectively. The most common sites of distant metastases were the lung (24%) and brain (17%). Factors associated with OS, EFS and risk of local relapse and distant metastases were complete tumour resection and chemotherapy activity (clinical response, pathologic response, mediastinal downstaging). Neoadjuvant docetaxel–cisplatin was effective and tolerable in stage IIIA pN2 NSCLC, with chemotherapy contributing significantly to outcomes.

Reduced dose of subcutaneous cladribine induces identical response rates but decreased toxicity in pretreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

PURPOSE To study the efficacy and the safety of cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, 2-CDA) administered as 24-hour infusions or as subcutaneous bolus injections at two different doses to patients with relapsing or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this non randomised 2-cohort study, 20 patients with pretreated CLL received cladribine at a dose of 0.7 mg/kg/cycle as continuous i.v. infusions over seven days (group 1) and 35 patients were treated at a reduced dose of 0.5 mg/kg/cycle given as s.c. bolus injections for five days (group 2). After two cycles of four week duration, response was assessed. In the case of progressive disease, therapy was discontinued, otherwise a maximum of four additional cycles were administered until best response. RESULTS A total of 130 cycles were administered (group 1: 41, group 2: 89). Patient characteristics in both groups were comparable. The median dose intensities were 0.172 mg/kg per week and 0.123 mg/kg per week for groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < or = 0.0001). The overall response rate for all 55 patients was 38% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 25%-52%), with 5% CR and 33% PR. Response was similar in both patient groups (35% in group 1, 40% in group 2). No association between cladribine dose intensity and response rate was found, and there was no difference between patients relapsing after or refractory to previous therapies (11 of 24 vs. 10 of 31). Median remission duration was six months in both groups. Toxicity, in particular infections (all WHO grades, 34% in group 1 versus 7% in group 2) and myelosuppression (grade 1-4 neutropenia, 72% versus 41% of cladribine cycles) were statistically significantly more frequent in group 1. CONCLUSION Cladribine is active in heavily pretreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemias. Dose reduction by 29% led to similar response and remission duration, but to a significant decrease of myelotoxicity and risk of infection. Cladribine administered as s.c. bolus injections at 0.5 mg/kg per cycle is safe and this dose level should not be exceeded in this patient population.

Comparison of fluconazole with oral polyenes in the prevention of fungal infections in neutropenic patients

The goal of this prospective randomized single-center study was the comparison of safety and efficacy of high-dose oral/intravenous fluconazole (400 mg daily) (group A) with oral nystatin plus miconazole inhalations (group B) in the prevention of fungal infections on a hemato-oncological isolation Ward. Of 157 patients admitted to the isolation ward during the study period only 90 (57%) were eligible for randomization; 22 (14%) had a fungal infection at admission. Of the 90 randomized patients, 89 were evaluable, 43 in group A and 46 in group B. The age, sex, diagnosis, planned therapy and risk factors for fungal infections at admission as well as the duration of neutropenia were in the same proportions in both groups. Oral thrush and mucocutaneous candidiasis were prevented in all patients of both groups, and 29 patients (32%: 17 in group A, 12 in group B) were discharged after successful prophylaxis (NS). Empiric amphotericin B was given according to predetermined criteria to 45 patients (51%: 23 group A, 22 group B; NS). Fluconazole significantly delayed the time before the start of intravenous amphotericin B. It was begun after a median of 10 days (0–45 days, range) of neutropenia below 0.5x109 granulocytes/l in group A and 7.5 days (0–26, range) in group B (P<0.05). The duration of successful prophylaxis was significantly longer in group A (26 days median) than in group B (21 days, median) (P<0.05). Systemic fungal infection was documented in 3 patients (1 group A, 2 group B; NS). Colonisation with Candida persisted for more than 14 days or occurred de novo after admission in 1 patient in group A and in 7 patients in group B (NS). Oral nystatin had to be discontinued because of oral intolerance in 3 patients and fluconazol had to be stopped because of increased liver values in one patient. Compliance was worse (P<0.01) in group B; 82% of the planned dose was given in group B compared to 99% in group A. Both regimens successfully prevented oral fungal complications. Fluconazole was better tolerated and delayed the need for empiric amphotericin B. Neither approach cancelled the need for the empiric use of amphotericin B nor prevented fungal infections or colonization. Systemic fungal infections occur probably independently of oral or mucocutaneous candidiasis.

Weekly treatment with a combination of bortezomib and bendamustine in relapsed or refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Bendamustine was designed as a bifunctional anticancer compound combining an alkylating and an antimetabolite function. It shows unique mechanisms of action and incomplete cross resistance to other alkylating agents, antimetabolites, and anthracyclines [1]. Bendamustine is efficacious in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma [2]. Trials testing various combinations add to the data with the single drug, combining it with mitoxantrone and rituximab [3], fludarabine [4], or rituximab [5,6]. Besides its established role in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is active in patients with lymphomas, notably mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) [7–9]. Because bendamustine and bortezomib are both active in the treatment of patients with indolent NHL and appear not to be cross-resistant with prior therapy, we initiated a dose finding study using a combination of the two drugs. Since the optimal dosage and administration of bendamustine is still a matter of debate [2], and in search of a more patientfriendly treatment regimen, we opted for a weekly schedule, based on the data and dose recommendations by Schöffski et al. [10] and Papandreou et al. [11] with the primary objective of feasibility. Secondary objective was to determine response rates of this regimen. Patients with symptomatic relapsed or refractory (no tumor response on the preceding regimen and continuous need for treatment) indolent NHL according to WHO classification (FL, marginal zone lymphoma, MCL, small lymphocytic lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM)), stage Ann Arbor III or IV, or B-CLL, Binet B or C qualified for this open, single center trial. Further inclusion criteria were age 18 years, measurable disease, Karnofsky performance status score 50%, life expectancy of 3 months, platelet count 506 10/L, hemoglobin 75 g/L, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 0.756 10/L, and adequate liver function (aspartate aminotransferase 52.56 upper limit of normal (ULN), alanine aminotransferase 52.56ULN, total bilirubin 526 ULN). Candidates for high-dose therapy with stem cell support and patients with another malignancy within the past 5 years, or exposed to the experimental drugs within 8 weeks before screening were excluded. On Days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of a 35-day cycle patients received intravenous bolus bortezomib 1.6 mg/m for a maximum of three cycles. Bendamustine was administered as 30-min. IV infusion on Days 1, 8, and 15 before bortezomib [12]. Dose escalation was started at 60 mg/m bendamustine (level 0) with 80 mg/m as the first escalation step (level 1). Four patients were treated per dose level. Without dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), the bendamustine dosage was escalated. If there was one event of DLT in four patients, another two patients were treated at the same level. If 41 DLT event was observed in these six patients, dose escalation was stopped and the previous level defined the maximal tolerated dose (MTD). No intra-personal dose

Dicentric Translocation (9;12) Presenting as Refractory Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia

A 66-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a Philadelphia chromosome positive common B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a dic(9;12) involving the der(9)t(9;22), a rearrangement so far not observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient was treated for the acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but showed refractory disease and died 6 months after initial diagnosis. This case suggests that, in the combination of t(9;22) and dic(9;12), the known poor prognostic feature of t(9;22) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia may outweigh the favorable outcome reported in patients with dic(9;12).

Treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcomas using a combined strategy of high-dose ifosfamide, high-dose doxorubicin and salvage therapies

Having determined in a phase I study the maximum tolerated dose of high-dose ifosfamide combined with high-dose doxorubicin, we now report the long-term results of a phase II trial in advanced soft-tissue sarcomas. Forty-six patients with locally advanced or metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas were included, with age <60 years and all except one in good performance status (0 or 1). The chemotherapy treatment consisted of ifosfamide 10 g m−2 (continuous infusion for 5 days), doxorubicin 30 mg m−2 day−1 × 3 (total dose 90 mg m−2), mesna and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. A median of 4 (1–6) cycles per patient was administered. Twenty-two patients responded to therapy, including three complete responders and 19 partial responders for an overall response rate of 48% (95% CI: 33–63%). The response rate was not different between localised and metastatic diseases or between histological types, but was higher in grade 3 tumours. Median overall survival was 19 months. Salvage therapies (surgery and/or radiotherapy) were performed in 43% of patients and found to be the most significant predictor for favourable survival (exploratory multivariate analysis). Haematological toxicity was severe, including grade ⩾3 neutropenia in 59%, thrombopenia in 39% and anaemia in 27% of cycles. Three patients experienced grade 3 neurotoxicity and one patient died of septic shock. This high-dose regimen is toxic but nonetheless feasible in multicentre settings in non elderly patients with good performance status. A high response rate was obtained. Prolonged survival was mainly a function of salvage therapies.

Flow cytometric monitoring of parasitaemia during treatment of severe malaria by exchange transfusion

thrombocytopenic (PLT 60 x 109/1) and neutropenic (PMN 0.690 x 109/l); transaminases were at the upper normal level and her K.I. was 80%. In the following weeks the transfusional requirement did not change, nor did the number of reticulocytes or neutrophils ; however, this patient also displayed progressive increase of platelet count (at present about 140 x 109/l). In uitro growth of haemopoietic precursors was still absent and bone marrow biopsy did not reveal any significant increase in cellularity. No adverse effects have been noted. The transaminase levels decreased, no new infectious processes occurred, while the K.I. slightly improved. Unlike other reports (7, 8), erythropoiesis did not improve in our patients treated with acycloguanosine. Nonetheless, the constant and long-lasting platelet count increase in both cases is not likely to be just a coincidence, although there is no evidence that their marrow impairment was caused by B19 parvovirus. Unfortunately serologic assays have been performed long after the onset of the disease, therefore a definite relationship cannot be proved. Taking into account both the efficacy and lower cost of acycloguanosine in comparison with highdose i.v. immunoglobulins, together with its lack of relevant toxicity, treatment with this drug should be recommended in patients not responding to conventional therapy, although more studies are necessary to establish the exact role of this new therapeutic approach in aplastic anaemia.