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.     

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     

Costs associated with complications are lower with capecitabine than with 5‐fluorouracil in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND:

Capecitabine, an oral alternative to 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), has equal clinical efficacy and a favorable safety profile; however, its use may be limited because of unit cost concerns. In this study, the authors measured the cost of chemotherapy‐related complications during treatment with capecitabine‐ and 5‐FU–based regimens.

METHODS:

Patients with CRC who received at least 1 administration of capecitabine or 5‐FU during 2004 and 2005 were identified from the Thomson MarketScan research databases. Monthly frequency and cost for 23 complications were recorded. Logistic regression was used to predict complication probability. General linear models were used to predict monthly complication cost and total monthly expenditure.

RESULTS:

In total, 4973 patients with CRC met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Although the most frequently observed complications were the same between capecitabine and 5‐FU (nausea and vomiting, infection, anemia, neutropenia, diarrhea), each was observed with greater frequency in 5‐FU–based regimens. The mean predicted monthly complication cost was significantly higher (by 136%) with 5‐FU monotherapy than with capecitabine monotherapy (difference, $601; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], $469‐$737). In addition, the mean predicted monthly complication cost for 5‐FU+oxaliplatin was higher than the cost with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (difference, $1165; 95% CI, $892‐$1595). When acquisition, administration, and complication costs were taken into consideration, there were no significant differences in the total cost between capecitabine regimens and 5‐FU regimens.

CONCLUSIONS:

Capecitabine compared well with 5‐FU–based therapy in patients with CRC and was associated with lower complication rates and associated costs. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

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.     

再放疗并同步使用Docetaxel在鼻咽癌放疗后复发病人中的应用

目的:不能手术切除的鼻咽癌放疗后再复发的病人,其治疗困难,化疗疗效差,而单独再放疗只能挽救一小部分病人,本文探讨再放疗并同步使用多西紫彬醇(Docetaxel)在鼻咽癌首次放疗后复发病人中可行性及毒副反应,并评价其疗效。方法:对11例鼻咽癌足量放疗后经组织病理学证实复发、而无法行手术及腔内放疗的患者进行了同步放化疗。放疗采用三维适形放疗,外照射鼻咽部,分次量为1.8Gy,总剂量为36Gy-39.6Gy。化疗采用Docetaxel,15mg/m2,每周一次,静脉滴注。结果:10%、33%的患者分别出现Ⅲ度、Ⅳ度皮肤反应,18%、10%的病人分别出现Ⅲ度、Ⅳ度黏膜反应,18%患者出现Ⅲ度恶心呕吐,27%的患者出现Ⅲ度-Ⅳ度白细胞下降,10%患者出现Ⅲ度血小板下降。1例患者因严重的黏膜反应致使治疗延迟2周。治疗结束后,9例(82%)患者达到CR,2例(18%)达到PR,反应率为100%。结论:对于放疗后局部复发的鼻咽癌患者,采用同步放化疗,3D-CRT同时每周使用Docetaxel是可行的,其毒性反应在可以接受的范围内,短期疗效显著。     

Tracheobronchial aspergillosis in a patient with AIDS treated with aerosolized amphotericin B combined with itraconazole

Summary. The clinical features of a tracheobronchial infection due to Aspergillus flavus in an AIDS patient with a normal neutrophil count is described. Diagnosis was made by culture and microscopic examination of biopsies obtained from bronchial vegetations seen at bronchoscopy. Radiographic examination of the neck revealed the presence of large endoluminal fungal masses. Initially the patient was treated with a combination of itraconazole, flucytosine and aerosolized amphotericin B, then only with itraconazole plus aerosolized amphotericin B. A good therapeutic response was observed.
Zusammenfassung. Das klinische Bild einer tracheobronchialen Infektion, verursacht durch Aspergillus flavus bei einem AIDS-Patienten mit normaler Leukozytenzahl, wird vorgestellt. Die Diagnose wurde mikroskopisch und kulturell aus Biopsiematerial von Bronchialbelägen gestellt. Im Nacken-Röntgenbild waren endoluminale Pilzmassen nachweisbar. Der Patient wurde anfänglich mit einer Kombination von Itraconazol. Flucytosin und Amphotericin B-Aerosol behandelt, später nur mit Itraconazol und Amphotericin B-Aerosol. Der Patient sprach gut auf diese Therapie an.     

Protothecosis successfully treated with amikacin combined with tetracyclines

Summary We report a case of protothecosis in an 18-year-old female student caused by Prototheca zopfii successfully treated with amikacin combined with tetracyclines. Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine Protothecose, verursacht durch Prototheca zopfii, bei einer 18-j?hrigen Studentin berichtet, die erfolgreich mit Amikacin in Kombination mit Tetracyclinen behandelt wurde.     

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.     

手助腹腔镜诊治不明来源腹部巨大肿瘤临床体会

[目的]探讨手助腹腔镜诊治不明来源腹部巨大肿瘤的可行性和优越性。[方法]回顾性分析2例手助腹腔镜诊治不明来源腹部巨大肿瘤病例的临床资料。[结果]2例成功手术。术后病理诊断分别为十二指肠间质瘤和肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤，肿瘤大小分别为25．Ocm×20．0cm×l5．Ocm及15．5cm×12cm×10cm，无严重并发症，均治愈出院。[结论]术前准备充分，遵守肿瘤手术原则，手助腹腔镜诊治部分不明来源的腹部巨大肿瘤应是安全可行的，并保留了微创外科的优点。     

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.     

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.     

Improved survival in patients with breast rhabdoid tumors with multi-agent adjuvant chemotherapy combined with irradiation

Purpose  Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) have poor prognoses. Breast MRT is extremely rare; only three cases have been documented, with a mean prognosis of 7 months. Multi-agent chemotherapy with mastectomy and irradiation, as used in this case, may extend survival in breast MRT. Patient and methods  A 68-year-old woman who underwent a standard mastectomy was diagnosed with breast MRT. Postoperatively she received six cycles of cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil followed by oral administration of doxifluridine and anastrozole, after which no metastasis was detected. About 8 months postoperative, magnetic resonance imaging revealed cervical bone metastasis, and local irradiation and nine doses of “basic chemotherapy” consisting of biweekly paclitaxel and anastrozole were administered. About 4 months later, multiple lung metastases were revealed, and four doses of “basic chemotherapy” with added pirarubicin hydrochloride were administered. Four months after that, multiple large liver metastases were discovered, and five doses of “basic chemotherapy” with added carboplatin were administered. Results  The 19-month survival period of our case was almost three times that of reported breast MRT patients. Conclusion  Multi-agent chemotherapy combined with irradiation may be associated with the relatively long survival of the present case.     

Pseudomembranous colitis associated with chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil

Pseudomembranous colitis is frequently associated with antibiotics and more rarely with chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil. The objective of this study is to show that it is possible to confuse this infection with chemotherapy associated toxicity. We present a 54 year old woman who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer and in the first cycle of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil developed pseudomembranous colitis. We detected the toxin B of Clostridium difficile in stools and we began early antibiotic treatment. Thus, in patients with post chemotherapy neutropenia and diarrhoea that develop negatively, we have to rule out this infection.     

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.