Roy E. Smith

Tamoxifen in treatment of intraductal breast cancer: National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-24 randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND We have shown previously that lumpectomy with radiation therapy was more effective than lumpectomy alone for the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We did a double-blind randomised controlled trial to find out whether lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen was of more benefit than lumpectomy and radiation therapy alone for DCIS. METHODS 1804 women with DCIS, including those whose resected sample margins were involved with tumour, were randomly assigned lumpectomy, radiation therapy (50 Gy), and placebo (n=902), or lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen (20 mg daily for 5 years, n=902). Median follow-up was 74 months (range 57-93). We compared annual event rates and cumulative probability of invasive or non-invasive ipsilateral and contralateral tumours over 5 years. FINDINGS Women in the tamoxifen group had fewer breast-cancer events at 5 years than did those on placebo (8.2 vs 13.4%, p=0.0009). The cumulative incidence of all invasive breast-cancer events in the tamoxifen group was 4.1% at 5 years: 2.1% in the ipsilateral breast, 1.8% in the contralateral breast, and 0.2% at regional or distant sites. The risk of ipsilateral-breast cancer was lower in the tamoxifen group even when sample margins contained tumour and when DCIS was associated with comedonecrosis. INTERPRETATION The combination of lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and tamoxifen was effective in the prevention of invasive cancer.

The Effect on Tumor Response of Adding Sequential Preoperative Docetaxel to Preoperative Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide: Preliminary Results From National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol B-27

PURPOSE The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol B-27 was designed to determine the effect of adding docetaxel after four cycles of preoperative doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) on clinical and pathological response rates and on disease-free and overall survival of women with operable breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Women (N = 2,411) with operable primary breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either four cycles of preoperative AC followed by surgery (group I), or four cycles of AC followed by four cycles of docetaxel, followed by surgery (group II), or four cycles of AC followed by surgery and then four cycles of docetaxel (group III). Clinical and pathologic tumor responses to preoperative therapy were assessed. RESULTS Mean tumor size (4.5 cm) and other key characteristics were evenly balanced among the three treatment arms. Grade 4 toxicity was observed in 10.3% of 2,400 patients during AC treatment, and in 23.4% of 1584 patients during docetaxel treatment. Compared to preoperative AC alone, preoperative AC followed by docetaxel increased the clinical complete response rate (40.1% v 63.6%; P <.001), the overall clinical response rate (85.5% v 90.7%; P <.001), the pathologic complete response rate (13.7% v 26.1%; P <.001), and the proportion of patients with negative nodes (50.8% v 58.2%; P <.001). Pathologic primary breast tumor response was a significant predictor of pathologic nodal status (P <.001). CONCLUSION The addition of four cycles of preoperative docetaxel after four cycles of preoperative AC significantly increased clinical and pathologic response rates for operable breast cancer.

Oxaliplatin Combined With Weekly Bolus Fluorouracil and Leucovorin As Surgical Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II and III Colon Cancer: Results From NSABP C-07

PURPOSE This phase III clinical trial evaluated the impact on disease-free survival (DFS) of adding oxaliplatin to bolus weekly fluorouracil (FU) combined with leucovorin as surgical adjuvant therapy for stage II and III colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients who had undergone a potentially curative resection were randomly assigned to either FU 500 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) bolus weekly for 6 weeks plus leucovorin 500 mg/m2 IV weekly for 6 weeks during each 8-week cycle for three cycles (FULV), or the same FULV regimen with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 IV administered on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of each 8-week cycle for three cycles (FLOX). RESULTS A total of 2,407 patients (96.6%) of the 2,492 patients randomly assigned were eligible. Median follow-up for patients still alive is 42.5 months. The hazard ratio (FLOX v FULV) is 0.80 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.93), a 20% risk reduction in favor of FLOX (P < .004). The 3- and 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 71.8% and 67.0% for FULV and 76.1% and 73.2% for FLOX, respectively. Grade 3 neurosensory toxicity was noted in 8.2% of patients receiving FLOX and in 0.7% of those receiving FULV (P < .001). Hospitalization for diarrhea associated with bowel wall thickening occurred in 5.5% of the patients receiving FLOX and in 3.0% of the patients receiving FULV (P < .01). A total of 1.2% of patients died as a result of any cause within 60 days of receiving chemotherapy, with no significant difference between regimens. CONCLUSION The addition of oxaliplatin to weekly FULV significantly improved DFS in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. FLOX can be recommended as an effective option in clinical practice.

Recommendations From an International Expert Panel on the Use of Neoadjuvant (Primary) Systemic Treatment of Operable Breast Cancer: An Update

Neoadjuvant (primary systemic) treatment is the standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer and a standard option for primary operable disease. Because of new treatments and new understandings of breast cancer, however, recommendations published in 2003 regarding neoadjuvant treatment for operable disease required updating. Therefore, a second international panel of representatives of a number of breast cancer clinical research groups was convened in September 2004 to update these recommendations. As part of this effort, data published to date were reviewed critically and indications for neoadjuvant treatment were newly defined.

Sentinel Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: Results From National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol B-27

PURPOSE Experience with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is limited. We examined the feasibility and accuracy of this procedure within a randomized trial in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS During the conduct of National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trial B-27, several participating surgeons attempted SNB before the required axillary dissection in 428 patients. All underwent lymphatic mapping and an attempt to identify and remove a sentinel node. Lymphatic mapping was performed with radioactive colloid (14.7%), with lymphazurin blue dye alone (29.9%), or with both (54.7%). RESULTS Success rate for the identification and removal of a sentinel node was 84.8%. Success rate increased significantly with the use of radioisotope (87.6% to 88.9%) versus with the use of lymphazurin alone (78.1%, P = .03). There were no significant differences in success rate according to clinical tumor size, clinical nodal status, age, or calendar year of random assignment. Of 343 patients who had SNB and axillary dissection, the sentinel nodes were positive in 125 patients and were the only positive nodes in 70 patients (56.0%). Of the 218 patients with negative sentinel nodes, nonsentinel nodes were positive in 15 (false-negative rate, 10.7%; 15 of 140 patients). There were no significant differences in false-negative rate according to clinical patient and tumor characteristics, method of lymphatic mapping, or breast tumor response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION These results are comparable to those obtained from multicenter studies evaluating SNB before systemic therapy and suggest that the sentinel node concept is applicable following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

International Expert Panel on the Use of Primary (Preoperative) Systemic Treatment of Operable Breast Cancer: Review and Recommendations

Primary systemic therapy (PST) represents the standard of care in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. In addition, there is increasing information on PST in operable breast disease that supports the use of PST in routine practice. However, current regimens and techniques vary. To address this concern, a group of representatives from breast cancer clinical research groups in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States reviewed all available data on prospective randomized trials in this setting. Recommendations are made regarding terminology, indications, regimen, diagnosis before treatment, monitoring of efficacy, tumor localization, surgery, pathologic evaluation, and postoperative treatment.

Oral Uracil and Tegafur Plus Leucovorin Compared With Intravenous Fluorouracil and Leucovorin in Stage II and III Carcinoma of the Colon: Results From National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol C-06

PURPOSE The primary aim of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of oral uracil and tegafur (UFT) plus leucovorin (LV) with the efficacy of weekly intravenous fluorouracil (FU) plus LV in prolonging disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) after primary surgery for colon carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between February 1997 and March 1999, 1,608 patients with stage II and III carcinoma of the colon were randomly assigned to receive either oral UFT+LV or intravenous FU+LV. RESULTS Of the total patients, 47% had stage II colon cancer, and 53% had stage III colon cancer. Median follow-up time was 62.3 months. The estimated hazard ratio (HR) for OS of patients who received UFT+LV versus that of patients who received FU+LV was 1.014 (95% CI, 0.825 to 1.246). The estimated HR for DFS was 1.004 (95% CI, 0.847 to 1.190). Cox proportional hazards model analyses with regard to age (< 60 v > or = 60 years), stage, or number of involved nodes (none v one to three v > or = four nodes) revealed no interaction with OS or DFS. Toxicity was similar in the two groups. In the UFT+LV arm, 38.2% of patients experienced any grade 3 or 4 toxic event compared with 37.8% of patients in the FU+LV arm. Primary quality-of-life end points did not differ between the two regimens, although convenience of care analysis favored UFT+LV. CONCLUSION UFT+LV achieved similar DFS and OS when compared with an intravenous, weekly, bolus FU+LV regimen. The two regimens were equitoxic and generally well tolerated.

Benefit from exemestane as extended adjuvant therapy after 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen: intention-to-treat analysis of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast And Bowel Project B-33 trial.

PURPOSE Patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer have considerable residual risk for recurrence after completing 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen. In May 2001, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) initiated accrual to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial to evaluate the steroidal aromatase inhibitor exemestane as extended adjuvant therapy in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS Postmenopausal patients with clinical T(1-3)N(1)M(0) breast cancer who were disease free after 5 years of tamoxifen were randomly assigned to 5 years of exemestane (25 mg/d orally) or 5 years of placebo. Our primary aim was to test whether exemestane prolongs disease-free survival (DFS). In October 2003, results of National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) MA.17 showing benefit from adjuvant letrozole in this setting necessitated termination of accrual to B-33, unblinding, and offering of exemestane to patients in the placebo group. RESULTS At the time of unblinding, 1,598 patients had been randomly assigned; 72% in the exemestane group continued on exemestane and 44% in the placebo group elected to receive exemestane. With 30 months of median follow-up, original exemestane assignment resulted in a borderline statistically significant improvement in 4-year DFS (91% v 89%; relative risk [RR] = 0.68; P = .07) and in a statistically significant improvement in 4-year relapse-free survival (RFS; 96% v 94%; RR = 0.44; P = .004). Toxicity, assessed up to time of unblinding, was acceptable for the adjuvant setting. CONCLUSION Despite premature closure and crossover to exemestane by a substantial proportion of patients, original exemestane assignment resulted in non-statistically significant improvement in DFS and in statistically significant improvement in RFS.

Randomized Trial of 3-Hour Versus 24-Hour Infusion of High-Dose Paclitaxel in Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Protocol B-26

PURPOSE Paclitaxel is an active drug for the treatment of breast cancer; however, the appropriate duration of administration is unknown. We assessed and compared the response rate, event-free survival, survival, and toxicity of paclitaxel 250 mg/m(2) delivered every 3 weeks as a 3-hour or 24-hour infusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 563 women with stage IV or IIIB breast cancer were randomized into one of two groups: 279 received 3-hour paclitaxel and 284 received 24-hour paclitaxel. Patients were stratified by age, stage of disease, and prior therapy. RESULTS A significantly higher rate of tumor response occurred in the first four cycles of therapy in patients who received the 24-hour infusion of paclitaxel (51% v 41%, respectively; P =.025). Tumor response over all cycles was also significantly higher in the group that received 24-hour infusion (54% v 44%, respectively; P =.023). There were no significant differences in event-free survival or survival between the two arms of the study (P =.9 and.8, respectively). No treatment by stage or by age interactions were observed. During the first four cycles of therapy, at least one episode of >/= grade 3 toxicity (excluding nadir hematologic values, alopecia, and weight change) occurred in 45% of patients who received the 3-hour paclitaxel infusion and in 50% of those who received the 24-hour paclitaxel infusion. Febrile neutropenia, >/= grade 3 infection, and >/= grade 3 stomatitis were less frequent, and severe neurosensory toxicity was more frequent in those who received the 3-hour paclitaxel infusion. Ten treatment-related deaths occurred in the first four cycles. Age, stage, and prior chemotherapy did not influence the effect of treatment. CONCLUSION When administered as a continuous 24-hour infusion, high-dose paclitaxel results in a higher tumor response rate than when administered as a 3-hour infusion but does not significantly improve event-free survival or survival. Paclitaxel as a 24-hour infusion results in increased hematologic toxicity and decreased neurosensory toxicity.

Response to preoperative multimodality therapy predicts survival in patients with carcinoma of the rectum

3505 Background:Chemoradiation is considered standard treatment for operable rectal cancer but the optimal time to deliver this therapy is unknown. NSABP R-03 trial compared preoperative neoadjuvant to postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation. METHODS Patients were randomized to preoperative therapy (1 cycle of 5-FU[FU] and leucovorin[LV], 2 cycles of FU/LV and concomitant radiation therapy[RT], surgery, 4 cycles FU/LV) or postoperative therapy (surgery, 1 cycle of FU/LV, 2 cycles of FU/LV and concomitant RTX, 4 cycles FU/LV). The endpoints were overall (OS), disease-free (DFS) and relapse-free (RFS) survival. OS, DFS, and RFS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. P-values were calculated using Greenwoods variance estimator. RESULTS From June 1993 to June 1999, 123 patients in the preoperative and 130 patients in the postoperative group were eligible for evaluation. Among the 78 preoperative patients evaluable for response, 25.6% had a complete clinical response (CR), 48.7% had partial (PR), 23.1% stable (SD) and 2.6% progressive but operable disease (PD). In the CR group, OS was 100% as compared to 95% in the PR group and 83% in the SD group (p-value=0.02 for CR vs. other). Corresponding values were 95%, 78%, 66% (p=0.004) for DFS and 95%, 80%, 70% (p=0.01) for RFS. CONCLUSIONS Compared with postoperative adjuvant, preoperative neoadjuvant appears to result in improved OS, DFS and RFS. Complete responders at surgery have a significant improvement in overall, disease-free and relapse-free survival. [Figure: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.