Experience with Impedance Phlebography Compared with Venography

Venography is a particularly reliable method for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis but is not suitable as a screening test. Impedance phlebography represents another attempt to discover a simple, non-invasive and reliable method of detecting deep venous thrombosis. It does not, however, meet these criteria.     

Treatment with methylnaltrexone is associated with increased survival in patients with advanced cancer

BackgroundMethylnaltrexone (MNTX), a peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist, is FDA-approved for treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC). Preclinical data suggest that MOR activation can play a role in cancer progression and can be a target for anticancer therapy.Patients and methodsPooled data from advanced end-stage cancer patients with OIC, despite laxatives, treated in two randomized (phase III and IV), placebo-controlled trials with MNTX were analyzed for overall survival (OS) in an unplanned post hoc analysis. MNTX or placebo was given subcutaneously during the double-blinded phase, which was followed by the open-label phase, allowing MNTX treatment irrespective of initial randomization.ResultsIn two randomized, controlled trials, 229 cancer patients were randomized to MNTX (117, 51%) or placebo (112, 49%). Distribution of patients' characteristics and major tumor types did not significantly differ between arms. Treatment with MNTX compared with placebo [76 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) 43–109 versus 56 days, 95% CI 43–69; P = 0.033] and response (laxation) to treatment compared with no response (118 days, 95% CI 59–177 versus 55 days, 95% CI 40–70; P < 0.001) had a longer median OS, despite 56 (50%) of 112 patients ultimately crossing over from placebo to MNTX. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that response to therapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.47, 95% CI 0.29–0.76; P = 0.002) and albumin ≥3.5 (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30–0.69; P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for increased OS. Of interest, there was no difference in OS between MNTX and placebo in 134 patients with advanced illness other than cancer treated in these randomized studies (P = 0.88).ConclusionThis unplanned post hoc analysis of two randomized trials demonstrates that treatment with MNTX and, even more so, response to MNTX are associated with increased OS, which supports the preclinical hypothesis that MOR can play a role in cancer progression. Targeting MOR with MNTX warrants further investigation in cancer therapy.Clinical trials numberNCT00401362, NCT00672477.     

Compliance with guidelines and correlation with outcome in patients with advanced germ-cell tumours

PurposeTo evaluate prior compliance with guidelines in patients treated with salvage chemotherapy for advanced germ-cell tumours (GCT).Patients and methodsData concerning the initial management of patients requiring salvage chemotherapy for GCT at Institut Gustave Roussy between 2000 and 2010 were obtained and correlated with recommendations for treatment. Criteria of non-compliance were defined based on guidelines. Compliance with guidelines, predictive factors for non-compliance and the impact on outcome were analysed.ResultsAmong 82 patients treated in the salvage setting, guidelines to initial treatment were followed in only 41 cases (50%). The most common non-compliance criteria were non-adherence to the planned dose (16%), an inappropriate interval between first-line chemotherapy cycles (16%), the lack of post-chemotherapy surgery (16%) and a long interval to post-chemotherapy surgery (48%). Compliance with standard care was better in cancer centres than in other hospitals (private or public) (Odd Ratio (OR): 6.9, P = 0.001). A poor-risk status according to the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) was also predictive of compliance in univariate but not in multivariate analysis. No significant difference in outcome after salvage chemotherapy was observed. Patients relapsing after non-compliant first-line therapy tended to be more easily salvaged, which is consistent with the fact that their initial treatment was inadequate. Some of these relapses were therefore probably not due to true biologically refractory disease.ConclusionGuidelines for first-line treatment are adhered to in only half the patients requiring salvage chemotherapy. As the only predictive factor for non-compliance was the treating centre, centralisation of patients with GCT in well-trained hospitals should be recommended.     

奥沙利铂联合羟基喜树碱治疗晚期胃癌临床分析

背景与目的体外及体内的临床研究显示,奥沙利铂(L-OHP)对多种肿瘤有显著抑制作用并与绝大多数抗癌药物具有相加或协同细胞毒作用.本文旨在观察L-OHP联合羟基喜树碱(HCPT)治疗晚期胃癌的近期疗效和患者耐受性,并与传统的化疗方案进行对比.方法采用非随机的分组方法将43例晚期胃癌患者分为L-OHP+HCPT方案组(治疗组)与Vp-16+CF+5-FU(ELF)方案组(对照组),其中男性28例,女性15例,中位年龄59岁,KPS评分≥60,观察两组的近期疗效和患者耐受性.结果治疗组24例有效率58.3%(14/24),对照组19例有效率42.1%(8/19).治疗组有效率高于对照组,两组差异有显著性(P<0.05).两组不良反应主要是骨髓抑制、恶心、呕吐、口腔炎、周围神经炎、静脉炎、脱发等,均在Ⅰ、Ⅱ度范围内.结论L-OHP联合HCPT方案治疗晚期胃癌疗效较好,不良反应可以耐受.     

Living with secondary breast cancer: coping with an uncertain future with unmet needs

JOHNSTON S.R.D. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care 19 , 561–563 Living with secondary breast cancer: coping with an uncertain future with unmet needs     

Varicella-Zoster Virus Prophylaxis with Low-Dose Acyclovir in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Bortezomib

BackgroundVaricella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is a common complication in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with bortezomib, with an incidence rate of 10%-60%. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of acyclovir prophylaxis in this patient population.Patients and MethodsWe studied 98 consecutive patients with relapsed MM treated with bortezomib. Bortezomib 1.3 mg/m² was given on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle. At first, patients did not receive any VZV prophylaxis, but because of the high incidence of VZV reactivation, VZV prophylaxis with acyclovir was implemented subsequently.ResultsA total of 11 patients treated with bortezomib did not have any VZV prophylaxis, and 4 of these 11 patients (36%) developed VZV reactivation in the form of herpes zoster. No VZV reactivations were observed in the 32 patients who received acyclovir 400 mg 3 times daily or the 55 patients who received acyclovir in a dose reduced to 400 mg once daily during bortezomib treatment.ConclusionVaricellazoster virus reactivation is a common and serious adverse effect of bortezomib treatment. Acyclovir 400 mg once daily is sufficient to protect from VZV reactivation in patients with MM treated with bortezomib.     

Concomitant radiotherapy with chemotherapy in patients with glioblastoma

Glioblastomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive primary brain tumors in adults. Therapeutic strategy is challenging because of radioresistance and chemoresistance explaining the poor prognosis (median survival of 12 months). Standard therapy consisted until recently of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy while the impact of chemotherapy (investigated as adjuvant, neo adjuvant therapy or concomitant with irradiation) was a matter of debate. However a recent phase III study has concluded to the benefit of adjuvant temozolomide administered during and after radiotherapy. This strategy is yet to become a standard.