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Background. The use of anthracyclines in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is limited by cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity mostly in elderly women with comorbidities. The aim of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet®) and cyclophosphamide in elderly women as HER2 negative first-line MBC treatment. Methods. 84 elderly women >70 years of age (median age 78 years) with MBC HER2 negative were enrolled. Performance Status in 58 patients was ECOG-0 and in 26 patients was ECOG-1. Results. The drug was well tolerated, with overall response rates were >40%, median overall survival was 16.2 months (95%CI:14.6-18.8) and median progression free survival was 5.8 months (95%CI:4.4-8.6). Hematologic toxicity with neutropenia was the most frequent adverse event, but the treatment was well tolerated maintained a manageable cardiotoxicity. Conclusion. Non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin may represent a valid therapeutic option in first-line for elderly patients with HER/2 negative MBC improving survival, anti-tumor response rate and decreases cardiotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most frequent and aggressive primary tumors in the central nervous system, representing >60% of all brain tumors in adults. Despite treatment, prognosis remains poor with most if not all patients experiencing disease recurrence and a 2-year survival rate of 27%. At present, no confirmed standard treatment exists for recurrent glioblastoma. Regorafenib is one of the few options available, based on results from the REGOMA trial. In the present study, a real-life retrospective investigation on the role of regorafenib in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (>60 years old) from two main Oncological Units in South Italy (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy and Ospedale Civile San Giovanni di Dio, Frattamaggiore, Naples, Italy), was performed. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), whereas progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate and disease control were secondary endpoints. Survival was then analyzed according to age, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and methylated methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) status. A total of 56 patients met the eligibility criteria. The intention to treat population median PFS (mPFS) was 4.1 months and median OS (mOS) was 6.8 months. Age did not appear to have a significant influence on mPFS. mOS in MGMT-methylated patients was improved compared with that of the unmethylated group (7.7 months vs. 5.6 months). Both mOS and mPFS were longer in IDH-mutant patients. The present study was one of the first real life analyses of regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma. The results were in line with the REGOMA trial. Age did not appear to be a prognostic factor, thus suggesting that treatment choice should not be different in elderly. MGMT methylation appeared to influence OS. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first report of regorafenib activity in older patients and, while the results were statistically significant, these should be confirmed in further studies., Competing Interests: MF: Advisory boards for MSD and Merck Serono. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Fasano et al.)

Background: The use of anthracyclines in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is limited by cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity mostly in elderly women with comorbidities. The aim of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet®) and cyclophosphamide in elderly women as HER2 negative first-line MBC treatment., Methods: 84 elderly women >70 years of age (median age 78 years) with MBC HER2 negative were enrolled. Performance Status in 58 patients was ECOG-0 and in 26 patients was ECOG-1., Results: The drug was well tolerated, with overall response rates were >40%, median overall survival was 16.2 months (95%CI:14.6-18.8) and median progression free survival was 5.8 months (95%CI:4.4-8.6). Hematologic toxicity with neutropenia was the most frequent adverse event, but the treatment was well tolerated maintained a manageable cardiotoxicity., Conclusion: Non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin may represent a valid therapeutic option in first-line for elderly patients with HER/2 negative MBC improving survival, anti-tumor response rate and de-creases cardiotoxicity.