Alemtuzumab plus CHOP as front-line chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas: a phase II study

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab plus CHOP chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were enrolled. The treatment consisted of classical CHOP plus alemtuzumab (10 mg i.v. on day 1 and 20 mg i.v. on day 2 in the first cycle, then 30 mg i.v. on day 1 in the subsequent cycles) based on 3-week intervals. RESULTS: Thirteen complete responses (65.0%) and three partial responses (15.0%) were confirmed, giving an overall response rate of 80.0%. The estimated event-free survival at 1 year was 43.3%. The most severe hematologic adverse event was neutropenia, which occurred with a grade-4 intensity in 18 patients (90.0%). Also, febrile neutropenia was observed in 11 patients (55.0%). Five patients (25%) experienced cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, while three patients developed CMV diseases, such as pneumonitis or retinitis. There were two treatment-related deaths. Based on the high incidence of the adverse infectious and hematologic events, the current study was closed after 20 of the planned 43 patients had been enrolled. CONCLUSION: The alemtuzumab plus CHOP chemotherapy seemed to produce active antitumor activity in terms of the complete response rates in patients with PTCLs. However, since high infectious and hematologic toxicities were observed, careful monitoring and early treatment are needed to prevent treatment-related mortality.     

Results of a phase III clinical trial: CHOP versus CMED in peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified

We performed a controlled clinical trial to define the use of a brief therapy: CMED (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, methotrexate, and dexamethasone) compared with standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) in the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecific (PTCLu). The end point to the study was to assess efficacy, measured from complete response rate (CRR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival in 217 previously untreated patients with PTCLu. In an intent-to treat analysis all patients were evaluable. CRR was 76% in CMED regimen and 57% in CHOP arm (P < 0.05); actuarial curves at 10 years showed that PFS was 70% and 43%, respectively (P < 0.01); overall survival was 60% and 34%, respectively (P < 0.01). Adjuvant radiotherapy was employed in 48 cases (54% of patients who achieve CR in CMED arm) and 30 patients (47% of patients who achieve CR in CHOP arm). Acute toxicity was mild and well tolerated. Our results showed that the CMED regimen is feasible and effective in PTCLu.     

Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin as first-line treatment in patients with advanced biliary system adenocarcinoma: a prospective multicentre phase II trial

This prospective multicentre phase II study characterises the toxicity and activity of first-line capecitabine and oxaliplatin combination therapy (CAPOX) in advanced biliary system adenocarcinomas. Patients received oxaliplatin (130 mg m(-2), day 1) plus capecitabine (1000 mg m(-2) b.i.d., days 1-14) every 3 weeks. Patients were stratified prospectively into two groups based on location of the primary (gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) versus intrahepatic mass-forming type cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)). Sixty-five patients were evaluable. The response rate in 47 patients with GBC/ECC was 27% (4% complete responses), and in 23 patients (49%) stable disease (SD) was encountered. In 18 patients with ICC, we observed no objective responses, but 6 patients (33%) had SD. Median survival was 12.8 months (95% CI, 10.0-15.6) for patients with GBC or ECC (GBC: 8.2 months; 95% CI, 4.3-11.7; ECC: 16.8 months; 95% CI, 12.7-20.5), and 5.2 months (95% CI, 0.6-9.8) for ICC patients. In both cohorts, therapy was well tolerated. The most common grade 3-4 toxicity was peripheral sensory neuropathy (11 patients). Our data suggest that the CAPOX regimen is a well-tolerated and active treatment option for advanced ECC and GBC but might produce poorer results for ICC.     

Weekly paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer. A multicentre phase II trial

Paclitaxel is a cytotoxic agent with proven antitumour activity in metastatic breast cancer. Weekly administration of paclitaxel has demonstrated sustained efficacy together with a more favourable toxicity profile (e.g. less myelotoxicity) than the 3-weekly administration. This study evaluates the activity and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel (Taxol(R)) as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients (>70 years of age) with hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer. Patients with metastatic breast cancer received 80 mg/m(2) paclitaxel administered weekly on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Additional cycles were given until disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity. A dose increase to 90 mg/m(2) was allowed in the absence of toxicity. 26 Patients received a total of 101 cycles (median 4, range 1-11). 22 patients completed at least two cycles (six administrations). In 23 patients who were evaluable for response, there were 10 partial responses (38%), 9 patients with stable disease (35%), while 4 patients had disease progression (15%). The median duration of response was 194 days (>6 months). Overall treatment was relatively well tolerated, but 8 patients (32%) had to prematurely discontinue treatment because of fatigue. Neuropathy >grade 1 was noted only after five or more cycles in 4 patients. Weekly paclitaxel at this dose and schedule is an effective treatment regimen in the elderly patient with metastatic breast cancer, and is feasible, but yields relevant fatigue in a subset of patients.     

硼替佐米联合CHOP方案治疗血管免疫母细胞性T细胞淋巴瘤14例

目的 探讨硼替佐米联合CHOP方案治疗血管免疫母细胞性T细胞淋巴瘤(AITL)的有效性及安全性.方法 14例AITL患者应用硼替佐米(2mg/m2第1天)联合CHOP方案治疗,每21 d为1个疗程,对疗效、安全性及生存情况进行分析.结果 14例患者中初治12例,难治2例.12例患者治疗有效,其中完全缓解6例,部分缓解6例.14例患者3年预计生存率为55％,中位无进展生存时间9.4个月,3年预计无进展生存率为38％.Ⅲ～Ⅳ级中性粒细胞减少(6例)为最常见的血液学毒性;非血液学毒性均为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,主要包括周围神经毒性(8例),恶心、呕吐(6例),腹泻(4例),感染(4例).结论 硼替佐米联合CHOP方案治疗AITL可在不增加治疗相关不良反应的同时,提高治疗缓解率,改善预后,可用于AITL的诱导及挽救治疗.     

Mitoxantrone, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy as first-line treatment in stage IV breast cancer

Fifty patients with Stage IV breast cancer were entered into a prospective Phase II trial of combination chemotherapy that consisted of mitoxantrone (10 mg/m2), methotrexate (40 mg/m2), and 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2) given in a 3-weekly schedule. Objective response to treatment was seen in 18 of 48 assessable patients (38%). Responses were seen predominantly in the lung and pleura and the node and soft tissue sites of disease. The median duration of response was 7 months. Toxicity from treatment consisted predominantly of reversible leukopenia. Other toxicities such as nausea and alopecia occurred in less than one half of the patients in the study group. The combination was well-tolerated, and appears to be moderately effective.     

Analysis of factors influencing inclusion of 102 patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin's lymphoma in a randomized trial for first-line chemotherapy

BackgroundData on factors influencing inclusion of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients in randomized clinical trials (RCT) are limited and, for the present study they were analyzed in a RCT for III/IV HL.Patients and methodsAll patients with stage III/IV HL referred to the Saint-Louis Hospital between January 2003 and May 2007 were studied. A Groupe d'Etudes des Lymphomes de l'Adulte/European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer RCT, to compare ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) with increased-dose BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone), was open for recruitment. Noninclusion criteria and physician's reasons for non-recruitment were prospectively recorded. The reasons for patient's refusal were collected retrospectively. Logistic regression analyses were carried out in order to identify factors predicting inclusion.ResultsA total of 102 patients were diagnosed, among whom 51% were included. Seven patients were ineligible, 22 refused to participate, and 21 were not enrolled due to the physician's decision. Main reasons for patients’ refusal were standard treatment preference and concerns about experimental arm toxicity, mainly infertility risk. Conditions that could hamper accurate follow-up and toxicity concerns accounted for most of the physicians’ reasons. Adverse prognostic factors [B symptoms (odds ratio, OR = 5.35) and international prognostic score ≥3 (OR = 2.69)] were independently associated with inclusion.ConclusionDespite an attractive protocol, only 51% of patients were included. It highlights concerns about selection of patients and the difficulty to obtain informed consent with better prognostic profile patients.     

Lenalidomide in combination with gemcitabine as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas: A Sarah Cannon Research Institute phase II trial

Objectives: To evaluate the 6-mo overall survival, safety and tolerability of lenalidomide in combination with standard gemcitabine as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Methods: Eligibility included: previously untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with metastases incurable by surgery/radiation therapy; ECOG PS 0–2; adequate organ function; prophylactic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Patients received lenalidomide 25 mg PO (days 1–21) and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m² IV (days 1, 8 and 15) each 28-day cycle, with response evaluations every eight weeks. Results: Between 5/2009–4/2010, 72 patients (median age 64 years; 68% male; 42% ECOG PS 0) were enrolled in this multicenter, community-based study. Six-month OS was 37% (95% CI 26–48%). Median PFS and OS were 2.3 (95% CI 1.9–3.5) and 4.7 (95% CI 3.4–5.7) months, respectively. Eight partial responses (11%) were documented. Thirty-nine patients (54%) experienced thrombocytopenia (2 patients, 3% grade 4). Hematologic toxicities resulted in dose modifications for the majority of patients. Twenty patients (28%) developed VTEs during treatment. Conclusions: The observed 6-month OS (37%) of lenalidomide with gemcitabine does not suggest improvement compared with historical results with gemcitabine alone. Toxicities and dose modifications likely limited dose intensity. Further development of this regimen in pancreas cancer is not recommended.     

Oral fludarabine in combination with doxorubicin and dexamethasone as first-line therapy for nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas: early results of a prospective multicenter study

Purpose  

Nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have particularly poor prognoses. Few data enabling establishment of an accepted standard treatment modality for PTCLs are available. We hypothesized that fludarabine-based regimens are tolerable and effective in treatment for nodal PTCLs. Therefore, this study was to analyze the toxicity of, response rate for, and outcome of treatment for nodal PTCLs with oral fludarabine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (FAD).