Sara Erridge

Dose-Dense Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial

PURPOSE Radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide is the standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status may be an important determinant of treatment response. Dose-dense (DD) temozolomide results in prolonged depletion of MGMT in blood mononuclear cells and possibly in tumor. This trial tested whether DD temozolomide improves overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase III trial enrolled patients older than age 18 years with a Karnofsky performance score of ≥ 60 with adequate tissue. Stratification included clinical factors and tumor MGMT methylation status. Patients were randomly assigned to standard temozolomide (arm 1) or DD temozolomide (arm 2) for 6 to 12 cycles. The primary end point was OS. Secondary analyses evaluated the impact of MGMT status. RESULTS A total of 833 patients were randomly assigned to either arm 1 or arm 2 (1,173 registered). No statistically significant difference was observed between arms for median OS (16.6 v 14.9 months, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; P = .63) or median PFS (5.5 v 6.7 months; HR, 0.87; P = .06). Efficacy did not differ by methylation status. MGMT methylation was associated with improved OS (21.2 v 14 months; HR, 1.74; P < .001), PFS (8.7 v 5.7 months; HR, 1.63; P < .001), and response (P = .012). There was increased grade ≥ 3 toxicity in arm 2 (34% v 53%; P < .001), mostly lymphopenia and fatigue. CONCLUSION This study did not demonstrate improved efficacy for DD temozolomide for newly diagnosed GBM, regardless of methylation status. However, it did confirm the prognostic significance of MGMT methylation. Feasibility of large-scale accrual, prospective tumor collection, and molecular stratification was demonstrated.

Cilengitide combined with standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter (CENTRIC EORTC 26071-22072 study): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND Cilengitide is a selective αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin inhibitor. Data from phase 2 trials suggest that it has antitumour activity as a single agent in recurrent glioblastoma and in combination with standard temozolomide chemoradiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (particularly in tumours with methylated MGMT promoter). We aimed to assess cilengitide combined with temozolomide chemoradiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter. METHODS In this multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study, we investigated the efficacy of cilengitide in patients from 146 study sites in 25 countries. Eligible patients (newly diagnosed, histologically proven supratentorial glioblastoma, methylated MGMT promoter, and age ≥18 years) were stratified for prognostic Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis class and geographic region and centrally randomised in a 1:1 ratio with interactive voice response system to receive temozolomide chemoradiotherapy with cilengitide 2000 mg intravenously twice weekly (cilengitide group) or temozolomide chemoradiotherapy alone (control group). Patients and investigators were unmasked to treatment allocation. Maintenance temozolomide was given for up to six cycles, and cilengitide was given for up to 18 months or until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. The primary endpoint was overall survival. We analysed survival outcomes by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00689221. FINDINGS Overall, 3471 patients were screened. Of these patients, 3060 had tumour MGMT status tested; 926 patients had a methylated MGMT promoter, and 545 were randomly assigned to the cilengitide (n=272) or control groups (n=273) between Oct 31, 2008, and May 12, 2011. Median overall survival was 26·3 months (95% CI 23·8-28·8) in the cilengitide group and 26·3 months (23·9-34·7) in the control group (hazard ratio 1·02, 95% CI 0·81-1·29, p=0·86). None of the predefined clinical subgroups showed a benefit from cilengitide. We noted no overall additional toxic effects with cilengitide treatment. The most commonly reported adverse events of grade 3 or worse in the safety population were lymphopenia (31 [12%] in the cilengitide group vs 26 [10%] in the control group), thrombocytopenia (28 [11%] vs 46 [18%]), neutropenia (19 [7%] vs 24 [9%]), leucopenia (18 [7%] vs 20 [8%]), and convulsion (14 [5%] vs 15 [6%]). INTERPRETATION The addition of cilengitide to temozolomide chemoradiotherapy did not improve outcomes; cilengitide will not be further developed as an anticancer drug. Nevertheless, integrins remain a potential treatment target for glioblastoma. FUNDING Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Portal imaging to assess set-up errors, tumor motion and tumor shrinkage during conformal radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Purpose : To investigate patient set-up, tumor movement and shrinkage during 3D conformal radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and methods : In 97 patients, electronic portal images (EPIs) were acquired and corrected for set-up using an off-line correction protocol based on a shrinking action level. For 25 selected patients, the orthogonal EPIs (taken at random points in the breathing cycle) throughout the 6–7 week course of treatment were assessed to establish the tumor position in each image using both an overlay and a delineation technique. The range of movement in each direction was calculated. The position of the tumor in the digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) was compared to the average position of the lesion in the EPIs. In addition, tumor shrinkage was assessed. Results : The mean overall set-up errors after correction were 0, 0.6 and 0.2 mm in the x (left–right), y (cranial–caudal) and z (anterior–posterior) directions, respectively. After correction, the standard deviations (SDs) of systematic errors were 1.4, 1.5 and 1.3 mm and the SDs of random errors were 2.9, 3.1 and 2.0 mm in the x -, y - and z -directions, respectively. Without correction, 41% of patients had a set-up error of more than 5 mm vector length, but with the set-up correction protocol this percentage was reduced to 1%. The mean amplitude of tumor motion was 7.3 (SD 2.7), 12.5 (SD 7.3) and 9.4 mm (SD 5.2) in the x -, y - and z -directions, respectively. Tumor motion was greatest in the y -direction and in particular for lower lobe tumors. In 40% of the patients, the projected area of the tumor regressed by more than 20% during treatment in at least one projection. In 16 patients it was possible to define the position of the center of the tumor in the DRR. There was a mean difference of 6 mm vector length between the tumor position in the DRR and the average position in the portal images. Conclusions : The application of the correction protocol resulted in a significant improvement in the set-up accuracy. There was wide variation in the observed tumor motion with more movement of lower lobe lesions. Tumor shrinkage was observed. The position of the tumor on the planning CT scan did not always coincide with the average position as measured during treatment.

Temozolomide Versus Procarbazine, Lomustine, and Vincristine in Recurrent High-Grade Glioma

PURPOSE Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent licensed for treatment of high-grade glioma (HGG). No prospective comparison with nitrosourea-based chemotherapy exists. We report, to our knowledge, the first randomized trial of procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) versus TMZ in chemotherapy-naive patients with recurrent HGG. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred forty-seven patients were randomly assigned to PCV (224 patients) or TMZ (sub-random assignment: TMZ-5 [200 mg/m(2) for 5 days, 112 patients] or TMZ-21 [100 mg/m(2) for 21 days, 111 patients]) for up to 9 months or until progression. The primary outcomes were survival (PCV v TMZ) and 12-week progression-free survival (PFS; TMZ-5 v TMZ-21). This study is registered as ISRCTN83176944. RESULTS Percentages of patients completing 9 months of treatment in the PCV, TMZ-5, and TMZ-21 arms were 17%, 26%, and 13%, respectively. Major toxicity was similar across all three groups. With a median follow-up time of 12 months and 382 deaths, there was no clear survival benefit when comparing PCV with TMZ (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.11; P = .350). For TMZ-5 versus TMZ-21, 12-week PFS rates were similar (63.6% and 65.7%, respectively; P = .745), but TMZ-5 improved overall PFS (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.82; P = .023), survival (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.75; P = .056), and global quality of life (49% v 19% improved > 10 points at 6 months, respectively; P = .005). CONCLUSION Although TMZ (both arms combined) did not show a clear benefit compared with PCV, comparison of the TMZ schedules demonstrated that the 21-day schedule was inferior to the 5-day schedule in this setting. This challenges the current understanding of increasing TMZ dose-intensity by prolonged scheduling.

The accuracy of meningioma grading: a 10‐year retrospective audit

Although descriptive classifications of meningioma subtypes are well established, there has been inconsistency in the categorization of meningiomas into benign, atypical and anaplastic groups. The aim of this study was to reassess the incidence of atypical (grade II) meningiomas over a 10‐year period by applying the World Health Organization (WHO) 2000 classification system. A secondary aim was to determine if grade II and III tumours were becoming more common. Sections of 314 meningiomas resected between 1994 and 2003 were retrieved from the archives of the Western General Hospitals neuropathology unit in Edinburgh. They were reassessed and graded by using the WHO 2000 classification system. The reviewers were blind to the original classification and grading. There was a gradual increase in the numbers of meningiomas being resected annually over the 10‐year period. On reclassification, 78% of the meningiomas were classified as grade I, 20.4% as grade II and 1.6% as grade III. With regard to grade II meningiomas classified by using the WHO 2000 classification system, 38.1% had originally been classified as grade I prior to 2000, whereas 13.6% had originally been classified as grade I after 2000. In most cases, reclassification was due to formal counts of mitotic figures. Atypical meningiomas are diagnosed more frequently under the current WHO classification system than they were under the previous classification systems. Although the current WHO (2000) classification is more prescriptive than its predecessors, interobserver variability is likely to remain because of the subjective nature of some of the criteria.

Radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas: long-term efficacy and toxicity

BACKGROUND Radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas is an effective treatment but remains controversial due to toxicity concerns. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective audit of patients referred for radiotherapy during 1974-2003 was conducted, the case records were examined and data linkage to cancer registry and hospital discharge records was performed to assess the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and late effects (hormone deficiency, reduced vision, second cancer and stroke). RESULTS Three hundred and eighty-five patients had radiotherapy (median 45 Gy). The OS was 74% and 49%, PFS was 97% and 96%, at 10 and 20 years, respectively. No specific factors influenced local control. Additional hormone deficiencies occurred in 19% (ACTH) and 26% (TSH). Actuarial rate optic neuropathy at 10 years was 0.8%. Seventy-eight patients had a stroke, a RR for a matched Scottish population of 1.45 (CI 1.05-1.18, p=0.03) men and 2.22 (1.56-3.08, p<0.01) women. Four intra-cranial tumours were identified; 20-year actuarial risk 1.9% (CI 0-2.6%), a RR of 5.65 (0.53-20.77, p=0.10) men and 9.94 (0.94-36.56, p=0.04) women. CONCLUSIONS This treatment is effective with good local control rates at 20 years. A significant proportion developed hypo-pituitarism. The risk of optic neuropathy was low but risk of stroke increased, particularly in women who had slight increased risk of intra-cranial tumours.

International comparisons of survival from lung cancer: pitfalls and warnings.

Population-based survival data can provide valuable comparative data on outcome but should be interpreted with caution. Differences in data collection and analysis, patient and tumor characteristics and treatment options can have an impact on reported results. Ideally, data from the whole population, including clinical-only diagnoses, should be reported and the methods of case identification described. The relative survival rates should preferably be given. Data on patient characteristics such as age, sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation should be described, together with tumor details such as pathology and clinical stage. Whenever possible, details on the use of treatments should be reported.

Cilengitide combined with standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and methylated O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter: Key results of the multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled, phase III CENTRIC study.

LBA2009 Background: Cilengitide (CIL) is a selective αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin inhibitor. In a phase II study in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, CIL added to standard temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) was well tolerated and appeared to confer improved survival in patients with glioblastoma and methylated MGMT gene promoter (Stupp et al. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:2712-8). METHODS This multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, phase III study randomized (1:1) patients (≥ 18 years) with newly diagnosed, histologically proven supratentorial glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV) and centrally determined MGMT gene promoter methylation. Treatment consisted of CIL 2000 mg twice weekly i.v. plus standard TMZ/RT→TMZ (concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide and radiotherapy; Stupp et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:987-96) or standard TMZ/RT→TMZ alone. CIL was to be administered for ≥ 18 months, or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) per investigator read and safety. RESULTS 272 patients received CIL plus TMZ/RT→TMZ, and 273 were treated with TMZ/RT→TMZ alone (intention-to-treat population). 54% and 52% of patients were male, and 42% and 44% had ECOG-PS ≥ 1, respectively. 75% of patients of both arms were ≥ 50 years old. Overall, baseline characteristics were well balanced across treatment arms. Median OS was 26.3 months in both arms (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.02 [95%CI: 0.81-1.29], p = 0.86). Median PFS per investigator read was 13.5 months in the CIL arm and 10.7 months in the control arm (HR = 0.93 [95%CI: 0.76-1.14], p = 0.48). Treatment was generally well tolerated and the known safety profile of CIL was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS CIL failed to prolong PFS or OS in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and methylated MGMT gene promoter. The previously reported safety profile of CIL in addition to standard therapy was confirmed. CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION NCT00689221.

Interim results from the CATNON trial (EORTC study 26053-22054) of treatment with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide for 1p/19q non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma: a phase 3, randomised, open-label intergroup study

BACKGROUND The role of temozolomide chemotherapy in newly diagnosed 1p/19q non-co-deleted anaplastic gliomas, which are associated with lower sensitivity to chemotherapy and worse prognosis than 1p/19q co-deleted tumours, is unclear. We assessed the use of radiotherapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide in adults with non-co-deleted anaplastic gliomas. METHODS This was a phase 3, randomised, open-label study with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and had newly diagnosed non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma with WHO performance status scores of 0-2. The randomisation schedule was generated with the electronic EORTC web-based ORTA system. Patients were assigned in equal numbers (1:1:1:1), using the minimisation technique, to receive radiotherapy (59·4 Gy in 33 fractions of 1·8 Gy) alone or with adjuvant temozolomide (12 4-week cycles of 150-200 mg/m2 temozolomide given on days 1-5); or to receive radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide 75 mg/m2 per day, with or without adjuvant temozolomide. The primary endpoint was overall survival adjusted for performance status score, age, 1p loss of heterozygosity, presence of oligodendroglial elements, and MGMT promoter methylation status, analysed by intention to treat. We did a planned interim analysis after 219 (41%) deaths had occurred to test the null hypothesis of no efficacy (threshold for rejection p<0·0084). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00626990. FINDINGS At the time of the interim analysis, 745 (99%) of the planned 748 patients had been enrolled. The hazard ratio for overall survival with use of adjuvant temozolomide was 0·65 (99·145% CI 0·45-0·93). Overall survival at 5 years was 55·9% (95% CI 47·2-63·8) with and 44·1% (36·3-51·6) without adjuvant temozolomide. Grade 3-4 adverse events were seen in 8-12% of 549 patients assigned temozolomide, and were mainly haematological and reversible. INTERPRETATION Adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy was associated with a significant survival benefit in patients with newly diagnosed non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma. Further analysis of the role of concurrent temozolomide treatment and molecular factors is needed. FUNDING Schering Plough and MSD.

Adjustment and support needs of glioma patients and their relatives: serial interviews

To understand factors influencing the process of adjustment to a diagnosis of glioma.