Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome Associated with Concurrent Bevacizumab,Gemcitabine, and Oxaliplatin for Cholangiocarcinoma

Introduction  

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a rare disorder characterized by altered mental status, seizure, hypertension, and symmetrical white matter edema (leukoencephalopathy) typically in the posterior cerebral hemispheres on brain imaging. It is often linked to certain medication use, in particular, chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we present a case of chemotherapy-related RPLS and review the current literature on this topic.     

Delayed Reversible Posterior Encephalopathy Syndrome Following Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy (RPLS), also known as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, is characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of reversible vasogenic subcortical edema without infarction. The clinical presentation is usually nonspecific and typically involves global encephalopathy, seizures, headache, or visual symptoms. MRI of the brain is essential to the diagnosis of RPLS. Typical findings of RPLS include high-intensity signal on T2-weighted images predominantly in the posterior lobes of the brain that is caused by subcortical white matter vasogenic edema. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences on MRI improve sensitivity and detect subtle peripheral lesions. This clinical radiographic syndrome has been described in a number of medical conditions, with hypertensive encephalopathy, eclampsia, and the use of immunosuppressant drugs (most notably calcineurin inhibitors) being the most common. It has occasionally been reported with cisplatin and rarely with carboplatin. Its occurrence with oxaliplatin is very unusual. An extensive literature search including PUBMED and direct contact with the drug manufacturer yielded only 2 known case reports. Herein, we describe a case that had classic clinical and radiologic features of RPLS. We also briefly describe 2 other patients who have been described to have RPLS with oxaliplatin in the literature.     

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Patients With Cancer

Background.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by neurologic symptoms with typical lesions on neuroimaging and may be associated with chemotherapy and immunosuppressive agents used in patients with cancer. We described the spectrum of PRES at a major cancer center.

Methods.

We reviewed charts of adults with PRES between 2005 and 2011 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for clinical information and outcome.

Results.

We identified 21 women (68%) and 10 men (median cohort age: 58 years). Solid tumors (n = 22, 71%) were more common than hematologic (n = 8) or primary brain malignancies (n = 1). Prior brain irradiation (16%) and central nervous system metastases (10%) were uncommon. There were 55% who received chemotherapy or targeted therapy within the month preceding PRES, including 6 patients who received bevacizumab; PRES followed allogeneic stem cell transplantation in 5 (16%). Presenting symptoms included confusion (71%), seizure (58%), and headache (48%). Maximum systolic and diastolic blood pressures were similar among patients grouped by cancer type, chemotherapy or bevacizumab use, and atypical imaging. Moreover, 37% of patients with both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) had normal CT concurrent with PRES on MRI, and 84% returned to neurologic baseline at a median of 7.5 days (range: 1–167 days) from onset. Successful anticonvulsant taper was achieved in 51%. Chemotherapy rechallenge was attempted in 41% without recurrent PRES. Autopsy revealed nonspecific changes isolated to radiographically affected areas in one of two patients.

Conclusion.

Recent chemotherapy, particularly bevacizumab, is common in cancer patients with PRES. Clinical and radiographic presentations may vary; MRI appears more sensitive than CT. Anticonvulsant taper and chemotherapy rechallenge is often possible.

Implications for Practice:

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is characterized by neurologic symptoms with typical lesions on neuroimaging and may be associated with chemotherapy and immunosuppressive agents used in patients with cancer. Clinical and radiographic presentations are protean, and magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than computed tomography. Recovery is common, and many patients can be successfully rechallenged with the apparently offending chemotherapy agent or regimen.     

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Neurologic Phenomenon in Cancer Patients

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a well-recognized entity associated with a variety of benign and malignant conditions. This syndrome typically manifests itself with headache, visual loss, and seizures. Radiographic abnormalities consist of white matter edema involving the posterior parietal and occipital lobes, manifested as increased T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging. In the last decade, there has been a reported increase in the incidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in cancer patients. The diagnosis can be challenging in this patient population. Early recognition and initiation of appropriate therapy with removal of the causative agent is essential in order to prevent permanent neurologic sequelae.     

Myelodysplastic Syndrome Associated with Bone Marrow Fibrosis

Bone marrow biopsy (BMB) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) frequently reveals a slight alteration in the reticulin stroma which does not have any clinical significance. However, in a minority of cases, full-blown bone marrow fibrosis (BMF) can be found.

Primary MDS patients with BMF show distinct clinico-pathological features and an unfavourable prognosis mainly attributable to complications deriving from pancytopenia and continuous transfusions, while leukemic transformation occurs only rarely. Since BMF may characterize other hematological disorders, primary MDS with BMF should be included in the differential diagnosis particularly with malignant myelofibrosis (MM) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF).

Secondary MDS with BMF represent a variety of preleukemic conditions in subjects treated for previous neoplasias. Unlike the primary forms, they do not form a clearcut clinico-pathological entity.     

A Grave Outcome of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient Receiving Avastin (Bevacizumab) for Metastatic High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

A 45-year-old female developed neurological symptoms and elevated diastolic blood pressure while on bevacizumab (Avastin) and gemcitabine for recurrent carboplatin-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A brain MRI diagnosed our patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. We are discussing her presenting symptoms in this paper as well as the management and the outcome. We emphasize the importance of keeping this rare but very serious complication in all patients receiving bevacizumab.Key Words: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, Bevacizumab     

The Metabolic Syndrome is Associated with More Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze any association between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) andrisk of prostate cancer (PCa) and cancer grade among men undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. Materialsand Methods: 50 patients with MetS and 50 patients without MetS who undervent radical prostatectomy (RP)were included in the study. Age at biopsy, height, weight, digital rectal examination (DRE), pre-biopsy PSAlevels, prostate volume, histopathologic diagnosis after surgery and gleason scores were collected data from allpatients. Histologic material obtained at biopsy was given a Gleason score; tumours with a Gleason score ≥7were considered high grade and <7 were considered low grade. Results: The mean age at the time of biopsy was63.7±5.94 in patients with MetS and 61.6±6.14 in patients without MetS. Men with MetS had significantly lowerPSA levels (p=0.01) (7.21±2.74 and 8.81±2.72, respectively). Also, the men with MetS had higher RP tumor grade(p=0.04). Conclusions: Men with MetS undergoing RP have lower PSA levels and have significantly higher gradePCa. We must be careful for screening PCa in patients with MetS. Although the patients had lower PSA levels,they may have high grade disease.     

Leukoencephalopathy associated with intra-arterial ACNU in patients with gliomas

Summary Thirty cases of gliomas treated by surgery, radiotherapy and intra-arterial (IA) ACNU were reviewed with a focus on the late side-effect known as leukoencephalopathy. All cases were classified into three groups; remission (10 cases), regrowth (15 cases) and leukoencephalopathy (5 cases) from their outcome. The average total doses of IA ACNU were 49.8 mg/sqm body surface area in the remission group, 157.3 mg/sqm in the regrowth group and 203.1 mg/sqm in the leukoencephalopathy group. There were significant differences in the total IA ACNU doses between the remission group and both regrowth and leukoencephalopathy groups, while no significant differences were noticed in the dose of radiation given. There was a correlation between the total dose of IA ACNU and the occurrence of leukoencephalopathy. An autopsy of a typical case of leukoencephalopathy revealed various degrees of myelin breakdown and thickening of arterial walls, which probably manifested progressive dementia accompanied by urinary incontinence and gait disturbance.     

Clinicopathological Features of Endometrial Carcino-ma Associated with Lynch Syndrome in China

Background and objective To study the clinicopathoiogical characteristics of Lynch syn＆ome-associated endometrial carcinoma in China.Methods Twenty-seven patients who fulfilled the Amsterdam Criteria Ⅱ were classified as having Lynch syndrome-associated endometrial carcinoma (Group A), and 331 patients without a family history of cancer were classified as having sporadic endometrial carcinoma (Group B).Results There were 81 malignancies in 27 Lynch syndrome-associated endometrial carcinoma families, including colorectal cancer (CRC, 24.7%), endometrial carcinoma (21.0%), liver (12.3%), stomach (9.9%), lung (6.2%), and breast (6.2%) cancers. Mean age at time of diagnosis was 49.7 years in Group A and 56.3 years in Group B (P=0.004). Second primary cancers occurred in 33.3% of patients in Group A and 5.1% in Group B (P<0.0001). "Ihe most common second primary cancers were colorectal cancer (44%) and ovarian cancer (22%). The percentage of obese patients was higher in Group A (P=0.013). There was no difference between the two groups in incidence of diabetes mellitns or hypertension or in histological type and FIGO stage. The 5-year survival rates for Group A and B were 96.2% and 79.6%, respectively. Prognosis for Group A was better than for Group B (P=0.045).Conclusion Some clinicopathologicai features of Lynch syndrome-associated endometrial carcinoma, such as early onset and multiple primary carcinomas, are similar in the Chinese and American/European populations. However, the Chinese population had a unique family cancer distribution that included lung and breast cancers. An increased number of grade 1 endometrioid tumors and a better prognosis imply better biobehavior in Chinese Lynch syndrome-associated endometrial carcinoma. Obesity may be a co-contributing factor for development of Lynch syndrome associated endometrial cancer in China.     

Molecular Subtypes of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Are Associated With Outcome During Pazopanib Therapy in the Metastatic Setting

Background

We previously described 4 molecular subtypes of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC), named ccrcc1-4 (Beuselinck et al, 2015). These have both prognostic and predictive value for patients treated with first-line sunitinib, with distinctive objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The ccrcc2 and ccrcc3 tumors have the best outcomes, followed by ccrcc1 and then ccrcc4. We hypothesized that these molecular subtypes would show similar outcomes with first-line pazopanib treatment.