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Purpose: Five percent to 9% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) develop in patients with a germline BRCA1/2 or PALB2 (g BRCA/PALB2 +) mutation. Phase IB data from a trial that used cisplatin, gemcitabine, and veliparib treatment demonstrated a high response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS) in this population. We designed an open-label, randomized, multicenter, two-arm phase II trial to investigate cisplatin and gemcitabine with or without veliparib in g BRCA/PALB2 + PDAC., Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had untreated g BRCA/PALB2+ PDAC with measurable stage III to IV disease and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1. Treatment for patients in arm A consisted of cisplatin 25 mg/m 2 and gemcitabine 600 mg/m 2 intravenously on days 3 and 10; treatment for patients in arm B was the same as that for patients in arm A, and arm A also received veliparib 80 mg orally twice per day on days 1 to 12 cycled every 3 weeks. The primary end point was RRs of arm A and arm B evaluated separately using a Simon two-stage design. Secondary end points were progression-free survival, DCR, OS, safety, and correlative analyses., Results: Fifty patients were evaluated by modified intention-to-treat analysis. The RR for arm A was 74.1% and 65.2% for arm B ( P = .55); both arms exceeded the prespecified activity threshold. DCR was 100% for arm A and 78.3% for arm B ( P = .02). Median progression-free survival was 10.1 months for arm A (95% CI, 6.7 to 11.5 months) and 9.7 months for arm B (95% CI, 4.2 to 13.6 months; P = .73). Median OS for arm A was 15.5 months (95% CI, 12.2 to 24.3 months) and 16.4 months for arm B (95% CI, 11.7 to 23.4 months; P = .6). Two-year OS rate for the entire cohort was 30.6% (95% CI, 17.8% to 44.4%), and 3-year OS rate was 17.8% (95% CI, 8.1% to 30.7%). Grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicities for arm A versus arm B were 13 (48%) versus seven (30%) for neutropenia, 15 (55%) versus two (9%) for thrombocytopenia, and 14 (52%) versus eight (35%) for anemia., Conclusion: Cisplatin and gemcitabine is an effective regimen in advanced g BRCA/PALB2 + PDAC. Concurrent veliparib did not improve RR. These data establish cisplatin and gemcitabine as a standard approach in g BRCA / PALB2 + PDAC.

Purpose: Docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (DCF) is a standard first-line three-drug chemotherapy regimen for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma and is associated with significant toxicity. We examined the safety and efficacy of a modified DCF (mDCF) regimen in a randomized multicenter phase II study., Patients and Methods: Previously untreated patients with metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive either mDCF (fluorouracil 2,000 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] over 48 hours, docetaxel 40 mg/m2 IV on day 1, cisplatin 40 mg/m2 IV on day 3, every 2 weeks) or parent DCF (docetaxel 75 mg/m2, cisplatin 75 mg/m2, and fluorouracil 750 mg/m2 IV over 5 days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, every 3 weeks). The study had 90% power to differentiate between 6-month progression-free survival of 26% and 43%, with type I and II error rates of 10% each. An early stopping rule for toxicity was included, defined as grade 3 to 4 adverse event rate > 70% in the first 3 months., Results: From November 2006 to June 2010, 85 evaluable patients were enrolled (male, n = 61; female, n = 24; median age, 58 years; Karnofsky performance status, 90%; GEJ, n = 28; gastric, 57). mDCF (n = 54) toxicity rates included 54% grade 3 to 4 toxicity (22% hospitalized) within the first 3 months and 76% grade 3 to 4 toxicity over the course of treatment. The DCF arm (n = 31) closed early because of toxicity, with rates of 71% grade 3 to 4 toxicity (52% hospitalized) within 3 months and 90% grade 3 to 4 toxicity over the course of treatment. Six-month PFS was 63% (95% CI, 48% to 75%) for mDCF and 53% (95% CI, 34% to 69%) for DCF. Median overall survival was improved for mDCF (18.8 v 12.6 months; P = .007)., Conclusion: mDCF is less toxic than parent DCF, even when supported with growth factors, and is associated with improved efficacy. mDCF should be considered a standard first-line option for patients with metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified administration schedule of docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (mDCF) with bevacizumab in patients with advanced gastroesophageal malignancies., Patients and Methods: Previously untreated patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg, docetaxel 40 mg/m², fluorouracil 400 mg/m², leucovorin 400 mg/m² on day 1, fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m²/d × 2 days intravenous continuous infusion beginning on day 1, and cisplatin 40 mg/m² on day 3. The primary objective was to improve 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) from 43% (historical DCF control) to 63% with the addition of bevacizumab. The target accrual was 44 patients to have 10% type I and II error rates., Results: In total, 44 eligible patients with cancer were enrolled from October 2006 to October 2008: 22 gastric, 20 gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and two esophagus. In 39 patients with measurable disease, the confirmed response rate was 67% (95% CI, 50% to 81%). Six-month PFS was 79% (95% CI, 63% to 88%), and median PFS was 12 months (95% CI, 8.8 to 18.2 months). With 26-month follow-up, median overall survival (OS) was 16.8 months (95% CI, 12.1 to 26.1 months), and 2-year survival was 37%. Treatment-related grade 3 to 4 toxicity was as follows: neutropenia without fever (50%), fatigue (25%), venous thromboembolism (39%), and nausea, vomiting, mucositis, neuropathy, and febrile neutropenia less than 10% each. In subset analysis, diffuse gastric cancer had significantly worse PFS and OS, and the response rate in proximal/GEJ tumors was 85% (95% CI, 62% to 97%)., Conclusion: mDCF with bevacizumab appears tolerable and has notable patient outcomes in patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Six-month PFS was 79%, surpassing our predefined efficacy end point, and median and 2-year OS were 16.8 months and 37%, respectively.

Purpose: Two nonoperative approaches (one without fluorouracil) using induction chemotherapy and then definitive chemoradiotherapy developed at two centers were compared in patients with localized esophageal cancer (LEC). The primary end point was to assess whether any approach would achieve a >or= 77.5% 1-year survival rate, surpassing the historical 66% rate from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) protocol 9405., Patients and Methods: In a multi-institutional cooperative group setting, patients with LEC who had unresectable cancer, were unwilling to undergo surgery, or were medically unfit for surgery were randomly assigned to receive either induction with fluorouracil, cisplatin, and paclitaxel and then fluorouracil plus paclitaxel with 50.4 Gy of radiation (arm A) or induction with paclitaxel plus cisplatin and then the same chemotherapy with 50.4 Gy of radiation (arm B). Safety and survival rates were assessed., Results: A total of 84 patients were randomly assigned (arm A, n = 41; arm B, n = 43), and 72 were assessable (arm A, n = 37; arm B, n = 35). The median survival time was 28.7 months for patients in arm A and 14.9 months for patients in arm B (18.8 months for patients in RTOG 9405). The 1-year survival rate of 75.7% in arm A was close to, but did not meet or surpass, the 77.5% goal. The 2-year survival rate was 56% for arm A and 37% for arm B. Grade 3 (arm A = 54%, arm B = 43%) and grade 4 toxicities (arm A = 27%, arm B = 40%) were frequent. Treatment-related death occurred in 3% of patients in arm A and 6% of patients in arm B., Conclusion: Both arms of RTOG 0113 were associated with high morbidity, and the study did not meet its 1-year survival end point.

Purpose: We update Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial 8911 (USA Intergroup 113), a comparison of chemotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone for patients with localized esophageal cancer. The relationship between resection type and between tumor response and outcome were also analyzed., Patients and Methods: The chemotherapy group received preoperative cisplatin plus fluorouracil. Outcome based on the type of resection (R0, R1, R2, or no resection) was evaluated. The main end point was overall survival. Disease-free survival, relapse pattern, the influence of postoperative treatment, and the relationship between response to preoperative chemotherapy and outcome were also evaluated., Results: Two hundred sixteen patients received preoperative chemotherapy, 227 underwent immediate surgery. Fifty-nine percent of surgery only and 63% of chemotherapy plus surgery patients underwent R0 resections (P = .5137). Patients undergoing less than an R0 resection had an ominous prognosis; 32% of patients with R0 resections were alive and free of disease at 5 years, only 5% of patients undergoing an R1 resection survived for longer than 5 years. The median survival rates for patients with R1, R2, or no resections were not significantly different. While, as initially reported, there was no difference in overall survival for patients receiving perioperative chemotherapy compared with the surgery only group, patients with objective tumor regression after preoperative chemotherapy had improved survival., Conclusion: For patients with localized esophageal cancer, whether or not preoperative chemotherapy is administered, only an R0 resection results in substantial long-term survival. Even microscopically positive margins are an ominous prognostic factor. After a R1 resection, postoperative chemoradiotherapy therapy offers the possibility of long-term disease-free survival to a small percentage of patients.

Purpose: Bevacizumab improves survival in several solid tumor malignancies when combined with chemotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy in the treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma., Patients and Methods: Forty-seven patients with metastatic or unresectable gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma were treated with bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on day 1, irinotecan 65 mg/m2, and cisplatin 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, every 21 days. The primary end point was to demonstrate a 50% improvement in time to progression over historical values. Secondary end points included safety, response, and survival., Results: Patient characteristics were as follows: median age 59 years (range, 25 to 75); Karnofsky performance status 90% (70% to 100%); male:female, 34:13; and gastric/GEJ, 24:23. With a median follow-up of 12.2 months, median time to progression was 8.3 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 9.9 months). In 34 patients with measurable disease, the overall response rate was 65% (95% CI, 46% to 80%). Median survival was 12.3 months (95% CI, 11.3 to 17.2 months). We observed no increase in chemotherapy related toxicity. Possible bevacizumab-related toxicity included a 28% incidence of grade 3 hypertension, two patients with a gastric perforation and one patient with a near perforation (6%), and one patient with a myocardial infarction (2%). Grade 3 to 4 thromboembolic events occurred in 25% of patients. Although the primary tumor was unresected in 40 patients, we observed only one patient with a significant upper gastrointestinal bleed., Conclusion: Bevacizumab can be safely given with chemotherapy even with primary gastric and GEJ tumors in place. The response rate, time to disease progression (TTP), and overall survival are encouraging, with TTP improved over historical controls by 75%. Further development of bevacizumab in gastric and GEJ cancers is warranted.

Purpose: To establish evidence of activity, or lack thereof, of cetuximab-based therapy in patients with refractory colorectal cancer with tumors that do not demonstrate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC)., Patients and Methods: Pharmacy computer records were reviewed to identify all patients who received cetuximab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in a nonstudy setting during the first 3 months of cetuximab's commercial availability. Medical records of these patients were then reviewed to identify colorectal cancer patients who had experienced failure with a prior irinotecan-based regimen and who had a pathology report indicating an EGFR-negative tumor by IHC. Pathology slides from these patients were reviewed by a reference pathologist to confirm EGFR negativity, and computed tomography scans during cetuximab-based therapy were reviewed by a reference radiologist. Response rates were reported using WHO criteria., Results: Sixteen chemotherapy-refractory, EGFR-negative colorectal cancer patients who received cetuximab in a nonstudy setting were identified. Fourteen of these patients received cetuximab plus irinotecan, and two received cetuximab monotherapy. In the 16 patients, four major objective responses were seen (response rate, 25%; 95% CI, 4% to 46%)., Conclusion: Colorectal cancer patients with EGFR-negative tumors have the potential to respond to cetuximab-based therapies. EGFR analysis by current IHC techniques does not seem to have predictive value, and selection or exclusion of patients for cetuximab therapy on the basis of currently available EGFR IHC does not seem warranted.

Purpose: Preclinical studies indicate that the cyclin-dependent kinase and protein kinase C inhibitor 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) potentiates the cytotoxic effects of fluorouracil (FU). We designed a phase I clinical trial of FU in combination with UCN-01., Patients and Methods: FU was administered as a weekly 24-hour infusion. Doses were escalated in successive cohorts according to a modified Fibonacci design. UCN-01 was administered once every 4 weeks, immediately after disconnection from FU, at a dose of 135 mg/m(2) over 72 hours in cycle 1 and 67.5 mg/m(2) over 36 hours in subsequent cycles. FU and UCN-01 pharmacokinetics were obtained on all patients, and thymidylate synthetase (TS) activity was measured in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction., Results: We escalated the weekly FU dose to 2,600 mg/m(2) in combination with once a month infusions of UCN-01. Dose-limiting toxicity included arrhythmia and syncope. Other toxicities included hyperglycemia, headache, and nausea and vomiting. The mean maximal plasma concentration of UCN-01 was 33.5 micromol/L. There was significant interpatient variability, which correlated with plasma concentrations of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. FU was rapidly cleared and the dose had no effect on the area under the curve of UCN-01. Changes in TS expression were detectable in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells after administration of UCN-01 but did not correlate with toxicity or activity. We observed no objective response, although seven patients had stable disease, six of whom had received prior fluoropyrimidines., Conclusion: The combination of weekly infusions of FU and monthly UCN-01 can be administered safely and warrants further study in phase II trials. The recommended phase II dose of FU in combination with monthly UCN-01 is 2,600 mg/m(2).

Purpose: To improve our understanding of the entity of small-cell carcinoma (SmCC) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract., Methods: A MEDLINE search was done, using the terms "small cell carcinoma" or "oat cell carcinoma" combined with "gastrointestinal" or with any of the GI sites, for the period 1970 to 2003. The 138 eligible reports identified in this way were reviewed for clinical data., Results: To date, approximately 544 cases of GI SmCC have been reported. The disease represents 0.1% to 1% of all GI malignancies, with the esophagus being the most common primary site. A majority of patients present with overt distant metastases. Systemic symptoms are common; ectopic hormonal secretion may occur. By light microscopy, GI SmCCs are essentially indistinguishable from primary pulmonary SmCC. The presence of non-SmCC components is common. Data from molecular analysis of the disease has identified some similarities to pulmonary SmCC. Chemotherapy represents the main treatment option, with modest impact on survival. In locoregional disease, the literature suggests that treatment be initiated using chemoradiotherapy and then, if metastatic disease is still excluded, surgical resection be considered. The disease is highly aggressive, and survival is in the range of several weeks for untreated patients and of 6 to 12 months for those receiving therapy., Conclusion: SmCC of the GI tract is a rare and lethal disease. Although there are many similarities to pulmonary SmCC, some differences between the two entities are suggested. While chemotherapy can achieve significant palliation, surgery may have a potential impact on long-term survival of patients with locoregional disease.

Purpose: To define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of paclitaxel when given as a weekly 96-hour infusion with cisplatin and radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer., Patients and Methods: Thirty-four patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer and three patients with local recurrence or positive resection margins were treated. Weekly paclitaxel doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 mg/m(2), given as a continuous 96-hour infusion, were administered with weekly cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2) on day 1, weeks 1 to 6, and concurrent radiation (50.4 Gy). Plasma paclitaxel steady-state levels were measured., Results: Dose-limiting toxicity, defined as a treatment break longer than 2 weeks for toxicity, occurred in one patient in the 80-mg/m(2)/wk dose level. Major causes for any (including < or = 2 weeks) treatment breaks were mediport complications and neutropenic fever, which occurred mostly at that dose level. At a paclitaxel dose of 60 mg/m(2)/wk, myelosuppression, mostly neutropenia, was relatively mild and transient; stomatitis, esophagitis, diarrhea. and peripheral neuropathy were uncommon and usually of grade 2 or less. Therefore, the MTD was established at 60 mg/m(2)/wk. The mean steady-state concentration of paclitaxel at the MTD was 17.2 nmol/L. Complete (R0) resection was possible in 16 (73%) of 22 patients who underwent subsequent surgery, and the pathologic complete response rate was 24%., Conclusion: Weekly, 96-hour infusion of paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2)/wk, given with concurrent cisplatin and radiotherapy, is a safe and tolerable regimen for patients with localized esophageal cancer. Preliminary efficacy data are encouraging. This regimen is the basis of ongoing Radiation Therapy Oncology Group phase II randomized trials in esophageal and gastric cancers.

Purpose: To identify the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of weekly irinotecan combined with cisplatin and radiation in esophageal cancer., Patients and Methods: Nineteen patients with clinical stage II to III esophageal squamous cell or adenocarcinoma were treated on this phase I trial. Induction chemotherapy with weekly cisplatin 30 mg/m2 and irinotecan 65 mg/m2 was administered for four treatments during weeks 1 to 5. Radiotherapy was delivered weeks 8 to 13 in 1.8-Gy daily fractions to a dose of 50.4 Gy. Cisplatin 30 mg/m2 and escalating-dose irinotecan (40, 50, 65, and 80 mg/m2) were administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 of radiotherapy. DLT was defined as a 2-week delay in radiotherapy for grade 3 to 4 toxicity., Results: Minimal toxicity was observed during chemoradiotherapy, with no grade 3 or 4 esophagitis, diarrhea, or stomatitis. DLT caused by myelosuppression was seen in two of six patients treated at the 80-mg/m2 dose level, thus irinotecan 65 mg/m2 was defined as the recommended phase II dose. Dysphagia improved or resolved after induction chemotherapy in 13 (81%) of 16 patients who reported dysphagia before therapy. Only one patient (5%) required a feeding tube. Six complete responses (32%) were observed, including four pathologic complete responses in 15 patients selected to undergo surgery (27%)., Conclusion: Cisplatin, irinotecan, and concurrent radiotherapy can be administered on a convenient schedule with relatively minimal toxicity and an acceptable rate of complete response in esophageal cancer. Further phase II evaluation of this regimen is ongoing. A phase III comparison to fluorouracil or taxane-containing chemoradiotherapy should be considered.

Purpose: To compare the local/regional control, survival, and toxicity of combined-modality therapy using high-dose (64.8 Gy) versus standard-dose (50.4 Gy) radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with esophageal cancer., Patients and Methods: A total of 236 patients with clinical stage T1 to T4, N0/1, M0 squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma selected for a nonsurgical approach, after stratification by weight loss, primary tumor size, and histology, were randomized to receive combined-modality therapy consisting of four monthly cycles of fluorouracil (5-FU) (1,000 mg/m(2)/24 hours for 4 days) and cisplatin (75 mg/m(2) bolus day 1) with concurrent 64.8 Gy versus the same chemotherapy schedule but with concurrent 50.4 Gy. The trial was stopped after an interim analysis. The median follow-up was 16.4 months for all patients and 29.5 months for patients still alive., Results: For the 218 eligible patients, there was no significant difference in median survival (13.0 v 18.1 months), 2-year survival (31% v 40%), or local/regional failure and local/regional persistence of disease (56% v 52%) between the high-dose and standard-dose arms. Although 11 treatment-related deaths occurred in the high-dose arm compared with two in the standard-dose arm, seven of the 11 deaths occurred in patients who had received 50.4 Gy or less., Conclusion: The higher radiation dose did not increase survival or local/regional control. Although there was a higher treatment-related mortality rate in the patients assigned to the high-dose radiation arm, it did not seem to be related to the higher radiation dose. The standard radiation dose for patients treated with concurrent 5-FU and cisplatin chemotherapy is 50.4 Gy.