Matteo Brighenti

Chemotherapy-associated thromboembolic risk in cancer outpatients and effect of nadroparin thromboprophylaxis: results of a retrospective analysis of the PROTECHT study

BackgroundCancer patients receiving chemotherapy are at increased risk of thrombosis. Nadroparin has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of venous and arterial thrombotic events (TEs) by about 50% in cancer outpatients receiving chemotherapy. The aims of this retrospective analysis were to evaluate the thromboembolic risk and the benefit of thromboprophylaxis according to type of chemotherapy.MethodsCancer outpatients were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous injections of nadroparin or placebo. The incidence of symptomatic TEs was assessed according to the type of chemotherapy. Results were reported as risk ratios with associated 95% CI and two-tailed probability values.Results769 and 381 patients have been evaluated in the nadroparin and placebo group, respectively. In the absence of thromboprophylaxis, the highest rate of TEs was found in patients receiving gemcitabine- (8.1%) or cisplatin-based chemotherapy (7.0%). The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin or carboplatin increased the risk to 10.2%. Thromboprophylaxis reduced TE risk by 68% in patients receiving gemcitabine; with a further decrease to 78% in those receiving a combination of gemcitabine and platinum.ConclusionsThis retrospective analysis confirms that patients undergoing chemotherapy including gemcitabine, platinum analogues or their combination are at higher risk of TEs. Our results also suggest that outpatients receiving chemotherapy regimens including these agents might achieve an increased benefit from thromboprophylaxis with nadroparin. Clinical Trial registration number: NCT 00951574

Immunotherapy options in metastatic renal cell cancer : where we are and where we are going

The treatment of renal cell carcinoma is rapidly changing as a result of recent evidence concerning the efficacy of biological drugs, antiangiogenetic agents and signal-transduction inhibitors. This paper will provide a critical overview of the use of immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma and review the available data concerning the efficacy of interferons, interleukin-2 and other forms of immunological treatment, particularly allogenic transplantation and vaccines. Moreover, it will focus on the new mechanisms of regulation of the immune system with a better understanding of the interaction between host and tumor, the role of T regulatory cells, heat-shock proteins and vaccines. The mechanism of action and the results obtained in renal cell carcinoma using the new molecular targeted drugs will be examined, along with the possibility of using immunotherapy combined with the new biological agents. Future research will not only need to make every effort to optimize the use of the new molecules and to define their efficacy precisely, but also to consider how to integrate these drugs with the traditional immunotherapy.

Gefitinib Plus Interleukin-2 in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Previously Treated with Chemotherapy

The activation of lymphocytes by gefitinib treatment has been described. In this phase II pilot trial, we explored the possible synergism between IL-2 and gefitinib for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. From September, 2003, to November, 2006, 70 consecutive patients with advanced, progressive NSCLC, previously treated with chemotherapy, received oral gefitinib 250 mg daily. The first 39 patients received gefitinib alone (G group). The other 31 also received subcutaneous IL-2 (GIL-2 group): 1 MIU/m2 (Million International Unit/m2)twice a day on Days 1 and 2, once a day on Days 3, 4, 5 every week for four consecutive weeks with a four-week rest period. Median follow-up was 25.2 months. Grade 3–4 toxicity of gefitinib was represented by skin rash (7%), asthenia/anorexia (6%) and diarrhea (7%); patients treated with IL-2 showed grade 2–3 fever (46%), fatigue (21%) and arthralgia (13%). In the GIL-2 group and G-group, we respectively observed: an overall response rate of 16.1% (6.4% complete response) and 5.1% (only partial response); a disease control rate of 41.9% and 41%; a median time to progression of 3.5 (CI 95% = 3.2–3.8) and 4.1 (CI 95% = 2.6–5.7) months; a median overall survival of 20.1 (CI 95% = 5.1–35.1) and 6.9 (CI 95% = 4.9–8.9) months (p = 0.002); and an actuarial one-year survival rate of 54% and 30%. Skin toxicity (p < 0.001; HR = 0.29; CI 95% = 0.16–0.54) and use of IL-2 (p < 0.001; HR = 0.33; CI 95% = 0.18–0.60) were independently associated with improvement of survival. In this consecutive, non-randomized, series of advanced NSCLC patients, the use of IL-2 increased the efficacy of gefitinib.

Role of chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus 5-fluorouracil and chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC).

Several phase II trials have shown that gemcitabine and fluoropyrimidines have marginal but definite activity in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). We retrospectively analyzed the 193 mRCC patients consecutively seen in our institutions during the last 11 years, of whom 39 were treated with chemotherapy (CT): 16 were treated with CT alone (gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil) and 23 with the same regimen plus low dose of interleukin-2 and interferon-α. The main end point of the analysis was to estimate response rate and time to progression (TTP); the secondary end point was to evaluate overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Overall TTP was 3.2 months (95% confidence interval: 2.22-4.18). Three patients (7.7%) achieved a partial response and 10 (25.6%) stable disease. Median OS was 9.23 months (95% confidence interval: 7.16-11.31) and the 1-year survival rate was 40.6%. Although not statistically significant, the response and disease control rates were better in the pretreated patients (8% vs. 7% and 44% vs. 14%), with a favorable trend for TTP and OS (4.9 vs. 3.2 mo and 12.9 vs. 4.2 mo). Grade 3 to 4 toxicities included hematologic toxicity and depressed mood. OS was strongly influenced by performance status, the presence of brain metastasis, and response after 3 cycles of therapy. In these mRCC patients, both CT and chemoimmunotherapy showed modest but definite activity and a regimen CT-based should be offered to patients with progressive mRCC. The association of these treatments with antiangiogenetic agents should be tested in future trials.

Clinical and molecular predictors of PD-L1 expression in non small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

&NA; Clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics of non–small‐cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) associated with a strong expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1+ in > 5% of cells) have not been well elucidated. Expression of PD‐L1 is a poor prognostic factor, but NSCLCs with higher levels of PD‐L1 have greater benefit when treated with immunotherapy. We have performed a systematic review to synthesize the available evidence regarding clinicopathologic and molecular variables associated with PD‐L1 expression in NSCLC. PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles assessing predictors of PD‐L1 expression in > 5% cells. Data were reported as odds ratio (OR) of events. Fifty‐two studies (for a total of 5066 PD‐L1+ out of 13,279 NSCLC patients) were included in this meta‐analysis. Factors associated with PD‐L1 expression were: smoking status (OR 5.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.8‐10.4; P < .001), male gender (OR 4.8; 95% CI 3.2‐7.2; P < .001), adenocarcinoma histology (OR 2.75; 95% CI, 1.5‐4.8; P < .001), Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild type (OR 4.83; 95% CI, 2.1‐11.1; P < .001), ALK mutation negative (OR 388.6; 95% CI, 222.5‐678.7; P < .001), ROS mutation negative (OR 1904.8; 95% CI, 630‐5757; P < .001), and KRAS wild type (OR 19.8; 95% CI, 7.6‐51.6; P < .001). Conversely higher pT stages (OR 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04‐0.7; P = .01), pN+ stages (OR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17‐0.5; P < .001) are inversely associated with PD‐L1 expression in > 5% cells. Expression of PD‐L1 is more common in male smokers, with adenocarcinoma histology and not carriers of EGFR/ALK/ROS/KRAS mutations. These data could be useful to screening of PD‐L1 expression and to select patients for immunotherapy.

Safety and efficacy of dose-dense chemotherapy with TCF regimen in elderly patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dose-dense TCF in elderly (≥65 years) compared to younger patients. Methods Safety and efficacy data relative to 119 consecutive patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer treated at our institution and enrolled in different phase II trials were retrospectively collected. All patients were treatment-naive and received docetaxel 70 mg/m2 day 1, cisplatin 60 mg/m2 day 1, l-folinic acid 100 mg/m2 days 1-2, followed by 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 bolus days 1-2, and then 600 mg/m2 as a 22-hour continuous infusion days 1-2, every 14 days, plus pegfilgrastim 6 mg on day 3. Sixty patients (50%) aged ≥65 years received the same schedule with a dose reduction by 30%. Results A total of 86% of patients were evaluable for response and all for toxicity. In patients aged ≥65 years, we observed an overall response rate of 51%. Median overall survival was 11.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.3-15.1) and 11.8 months (95% CI 9.2-16.2) in elderly and younger patients, respectively. In the elderly patients, the most frequent grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (13%), leukopenia (7%), thrombocytopenia (18%), anemia (3%), and febrile neutropenia (8%); in the younger patients, neutropenia (56%), leucopenia (31%), thrombocytopenia (22%), anemia (15%), and febrile neutropenia (15%). Conclusions Elderly patients can be safely treated with a dose-dense TCF regimen with a 30% dose reduction achieving similar efficacy results as younger patients with lesser toxicity.

A new modified sunitinib schedule for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC): A pilot study.

471 Background: Oral sunitinib administration at 50 mg daily given for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off treatment (4+2 schedule) is a standard first line for mRCC treatment. About 20% of patients had to discontinue treatment permanently and 50% of patients are forced to reduce the doses due to adverse events [Motzer RJ, J Clin Oncol. 2009]. A meta-analysis showed that increase exposure to sunitinib is associated with improved clinical outcome [Houk BE, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2010]. METHODS This is a pilot study in which consecutive mRCC patients admitted to our hospital who had at least a grade 2 toxicity with sunitinib, were switched to a modified schedule maintaining the same dose-intensity of 4+2 schedule: starting on Monday, 1 tablet (50 mg) a day for 5 consecutive days a week for 5 weeks and 1 tablet per day on days 1, 3 and 5 in the sixth week (28 tablets in 6 weeks), until disease progression. Primary end points were toxicity changes assessment and schedule feasibility, secondary end point was overall progression free survival (PFS). RESULTS Eight nephrectomized patient were enrolled: 6 males; median age 61; 37% good, 50% intermediate and 13% poor MSKCC risk; 3 patient pretreated; 6 clear cell histologies, 1 papillary and 1 undifferentiated histotypes. Median time from start therapy to switch was 7.4 months (range 1.4-16.1). Treatment delays and dose reductions were reduced from 50% to 25% and from 37% to 12% of patients respectively. The table shows the toxicity changes: there were no new toxicities. PFS was 16.3 months (CI 95% 5.6-23.4). CONCLUSIONS This new modified schedule requires and deserves further studies. [Table: see text].

Efficacy of ALK inhibitors on NSCLC brain metastases: A systematic review and pooled analysis of 21 studies

Background Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearranged (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a higher risk of developing brain metastases (BMs) than patients with other NSCLC sub-types. ALK inhibitors have activity in BMs due to ALK+ NSCLC. We performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim of assessing the efficacy of ALK inhibitors on BMs. Material and methods A systematic search of the literature was performed using the databases Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS. Relevant publications reporting activity of ALK inhibitors in NSCLC BMs were retrieved. Data were pooled using the number of events/number of evaluable patients according to fixed or random effect models. Intracranial tumour response was assessed through overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR: ORR + stable disease rate), median progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The primary endpoint was intracranial overall response rate (IC ORR). Results A total of 1,016 patients with BMs from 21 studies were analysed. In patients receiving ALK inhibitors in the first line setting, the pooled IC ORR was 39.17% (95%CI 13.1–65.2%), while the pooled IC ORR observed in further lines was 44.2% (95%CI 33.3–55.1%). Intracranial disease control rate (IC DCR) was 70.3% and 78.2% in naïve and pre-treated patients, respectively. Patients who had not received brain radiation attained an IC ORR of 49.0%. Conclusions Based on these data, ALK inhibitors are effective in both naive and pre-treated patients with similar IC ORR and IC DCR, irrespective of the line of therapy.

Patient performance status and cancer immunotherapy efficacy: a meta-analysis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CKIs) are therapeutic weapons in several advanced malignancies. Performance status is a validated prognostic variable in cancer patients; it possibly affects the efficiency of the immune system. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the predictive role of PS toward treatment with CKIs in cancer patients. Following PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search from PubMed, The Cochrane Library and Embase was performed, from the inception of each database to May 31, 2018. Inclusion criteria were (1) randomized trials comparing CKI with standard therapy for the treatment of patients with solid tumors; (2) information on overall survival (OS) according to PS; (3) full text available; and (4) reported in English language. Data were pooled using HRs for OS according to random effect model. The effect of experimental versus control arms was evaluated in PS = 0 and 1–2 subgroups, and the heterogeneity between the two estimates was assessed using an interaction test. The OS differences between PS = 0 and PS = 1–2 strata were evaluated in all studies and according to predefined subgroups. Eighteen studies were eligible, with 11,354 patients [PS = 0 group 5217 patients (46%); PS = 1–2 group 6137 patients (54%)]. The pooled HR for OS was 0.78 (95% CI 0.69–0.89) in PS = 0 patients. In PS = 1–2 patients, the pooled OS HR was 0.78 (95% CI 0.71–0.86). The OS difference between PS = 0 and PS = 1–2 patients treated with CKI was not significant (P = 0.99). CKI improves survival irrespective of patients’ PS. PS should not guide treatment choice for anticancer immunotherapy.

Modified dose-dense taxotere cisplatin fluorouracil regimen (mTCF-dd) in a large cohort of patients (pts) with metastatic or locally advanced non-squamous gastroesophageal cancer (GEC).

e15552Background: TCF is one of the most effective first-line option in metastatic GEC. We previously reported on the promising and high activity of mTCF-dd (Tomasello G et al: Gastric Cancer 2014 ...