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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death and the second most often diagnosed malignancy worldwide. Males have higher incidence of lung cancer and higher mortality. It is hypothesized that the sex differences in survival are primarily driven by a better response of females to treatment. The primary objective of this work is to analyze and describe outcome differences between males and females diagnosed with having lung cancer.Data were obtained from a large hybrid academic-community practice institution and validated with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). The initial cohort included patients aged more than or equal to 18 years diagnosed with having primary malignant lung cancer. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they had an unknown diagnosis date, were missing sex, or had prior history of cancer. Chi-square,A total of 8909 patients from our institution and 725,018 in SEER were analyzed. Male-to-female ratio was 1.0. Females were more likely to undergo surgery and less likely to be treated with immunotherapy. Females had higher rates of documented psychological affections, depression, anxiety, urinary tract infection, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism, while displaying lower rates of acute kidney injury, myocardial infarction, and myocarditis. Paired multivariable models revealed a lower risk of death for females in SEER (hazard ratio for females = 0.84, confidence interval: 0.69-1.02,Female sex was associated with higher surgical rates, lower immunotherapy use rates, higher rates of endocrinologic complications after immunotherapy use, and higher rates of psychological disorders.

Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has pleiotropic effects that extend beyond their impact on bone health, including the disruption of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) signaling through the ErbB2/AKT/ ERK pathway. We performed a retrospective review of patients who received VD supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n [ 134) and those who did not (n [ 112). In our final multivariate model, VD use was associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.88); P [ .026). To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to report a significant improvement in DFS for patients who received VD supplementation concurrently with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy for HER2-positive (HER2 D ) nonmetastatic breast cancer. Background: Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has pleiotropic effects that extend beyond their impact on bone health, including the disruption of downstream VD receptor signaling and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) signaling through the ErbB2/AKT/ERK pathway. In the present study, we examined our institutional experience with patients having nonmetastatic HER2-positive (HER þ ) breast cancer and hypothesized that those patients who received VD supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy would have improved long-term outcomes. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients (n ¼ 308) given trastuzumab-based chemotherapy between 2006 and 2012 at the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (UM/SCCC). We identified 2 groups of patients for comparison—those who received VD supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n ¼ 134) and those who did not (n ¼ 112). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were fitted to overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: More than half of the patients received VD during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (54.5%), with 60% receiving a dose < 10,000 units/wk and 33.3% having aV D deficiency at the start of therapy. In our final multivariate model, VD use was associated with improved DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.88; P ¼ .026], whereas larger tumor size was associated with worse DFS (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.06-11.66; P ¼ .04). There were no differences in OS based on any of

The oxidized glutathione mimetic NOV-002, is a unique anti-tumor agent that not only has the ability to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, survival, and invasion, but in some settings can also ameliorate cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced hematopoietic and immune suppression. However, the mechanisms by which NOV-002 protects the hematopoietic and immune systems against the cytoxic effects of chemotherapy are not known. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the mechanisms of action of NOV-002 using a mouse model in which hematopoietic and immune suppression was induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment. We found that NOV-002 treatment in a clinically comparable dose regimen attenuated CTX-induced reduction in bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), and reversed the immunosuppressive activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which led to a significant improvement in hematopoietic and immune functions. These effects of NOV-002 may be attributable to its ability to modulate cellular redox. This suggestion is supported by the finding that NOV-002 treatment upregulated the expression of superoxide dismutase 3 and glutathione peroxidase 2 in HSPCs; inhibited CTX-induced increases in reactive oxygen species production in HSPCs and MDSCs; and attenuated CTX-induced reduction of the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in splenocytes. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms whereby NOV-002 modulates chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and immune dysfunction, and a stronger rationale for clinical utilization of NOV-002 has the potential to be utilized to reduce chemotherapy-induced hematopoietic and immune suppression.

Summary Background Microtubule-targeted agents are one of the most common classes of chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of breast cancer. Limitations of current microtubule-targeted agents such as primary or secondary resistance of cancer cells and side effects like neuropathy prompted the discovery and introduction of newer more effective drugs. This review aims to provide a summary of the novel halichondrin B analog eribulin mesylate (E7389) and illustrate where it is placed in the treatment arena versus other agents that are approved or are currently in various stages of clinical development. Methods Preclinical and clinical trial (phases I–III) data for eribulin were obtained from scientific journals and meeting abstracts, posters, and oral presentations. The use of current and other emerging microtubule inhibiting agents in breast cancer was also surveyed and briefly reviewed. Results Eribulin mesylate at a dose of 1.4mg/m 2 given on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle increased overall survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Neutropenia, fatigue, alopecia, nausea and anemia were common adverse events (AEs) associated with eribulin in clinical studies. A low incidence of peripheral neuropathy was also associated with eribulin in clinical studies (21–26%). Other emerging microtubule targeted agents, such as vinflunine and larotaxel, also reported efficacy in patients with MBC who had received prior chemotherapy, with grade 3/4 neutropenia being the most common AEs for both agents. Conclusions Eribulin mesylate offers clinical activity in advanced breast cancer through improved overall survival, its favorable side-effect profile and convenience of preparation and administration.

Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the female genital tract is rare. Only, seven cases of primary vulvar LCH have been previously reported in the medical literature. We describe an additional case of LCH in which the disease was confined to the vulva. Case A 33-year-old gravida 0, para 0 Ethiopian woman presented with a nodular lesion on her left vulva. The lesion was biopsied, and the results were consistent with LCH. A metastatic workup did not reveal any evidence of disease beyond the vulva. The patient was initially treated with radiotherapy to the vulva. She was diagnosed with recurrent disease in the vulva 21 months after the completion of radiotherapy. At that time, she underwent a wide local excision. Five months later, we found a lesion on her right labium majus that was consistent with a recurrence. The patient's vulva was treated with a higher dose of radiotherapy than it had been the first time. Six months later the patient again experienced a local recurrence. She underwent a wide radical vulvar excision of diffuse bilateral lesions and was free of disease for approximately 3 months, after which she experienced another recurrence and underwent treatment with thalidomide. Within 2 months of starting thalidomide therapy, the patient experienced resolution of her symptoms and of her vulvar lesions. Conclusion Primary LCH of the vulva is very rare. Its etiology and pathophysiology, as well as the most effective modes of therapy, remain elusive. We propose that thalidomide is a useful alternative for patients with this disease.

Survival modeling techniques are increasingly being used as part of decision modeling for health economic evaluations. As many models are available, it is imperative for interested readers to know about the steps in selecting and using the most suitable ones. The objective of this paper is to propose a tutorial for the application of appropriate survival modeling techniques to estimate transition probabilities, for use in model-based economic evaluations, in the absence of individual patient data (IPD). An illustration of the use of the tutorial is provided based on the final progression-free survival (PFS) analysis of the BOLERO-2 trial in metastatic breast cancer (mBC). An algorithm was adopted from Guyot and colleagues, and was then run in the statistical package R to reconstruct IPD, based on the final PFS analysis of the BOLERO-2 trial. It should be emphasized that the reconstructed IPD represent an approximation of the original data. Afterwards, we fitted parametric models to the reconstructed IPD in the statistical package Stata. Both statistical and graphical tests were conducted to verify the relative and absolute validity of the findings. Finally, the equations for transition probabilities were derived using the general equation for transition probabilities used in model-based economic evaluations, and the parameters were estimated from fitted distributions. The results of the application of the tutorial suggest that the log-logistic model best fits the reconstructed data from the latest published Kaplan–Meier (KM) curves of the BOLERO-2 trial. Results from the regression analyses were confirmed graphically. An equation for transition probabilities was obtained for each arm of the BOLERO-2 trial. In this paper, a tutorial was proposed and used to estimate the transition probabilities for model-based economic evaluation, based on the results of the final PFS analysis of the BOLERO-2 trial in mBC. The results of our study can serve as a basis for any model (Markov) that needs the parameterization of transition probabilities, and only has summary KM plots available.

Introduction Clivatuzumab (hPAM4) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting an epitope in the MUC1 antigen expressed in most pancreatic cancers. Methods Fractionated radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) with 90Y-labeled humanized mAb (90Y-hPAM4) plus Gem as first-line therapy in Stage 3-4 APC with Gem weekly x 4 with 90Y-hPAM4 on wks 2, 3 and 4. 90Y doses were escalated with Gem fixed 200 mg/m2, then Gem increased up to 1000 mg/m2, with 90Y fixed at 12 mCi/m2 for cycle 1. Results Of 100 pts, 10 withdrew early; 90 (73 stage IV) received 1-4 cycles. In Part I, 38 pts received 90Y-hPAM4 weekly x 3 at 6.5, 9, 12, or 15 mCi/m2, with the same cycle repeated 1-3 times in 13 pts. By CT-RECIST, 6 pts (16%) had PRs and 16 (42%) had stabilization (58% disease control). After cycle 1, 52% (13/25) with PET-avid images had >25% SUV reduction, and 33% (9/27) with elevated CA19-9 levels decreased by >50%. The median OS was 7.7 mo., but 11.8 mo. for retreated pts [46% (6/13) survived1 yr.], and with improved efficacy at higher 90Y doses. NCI-CTCv3 Grade 3-4 platelets or ANC developed in 20/38 (53%) after cycle 1 (all reversible to Grade 1) and in all retreated pts (irreversible in 4/9 pts at 12 or 15 mCi/m2). In Part II, 52 pts received increased Gem without evidence of improved efficacy, while 13 pts were retreated with more acceptable toxicity at lower 90Y doses of 6.5 or 9 mCi/m2. No infusion reactions occurred. Infections requiring IV antibiotics occurred at a low rate (bacteremia/sepsis, 7% febrile neutropenia, 4% ascending cholangitis, 3% pneumonia, 2% others 1%). One case of bleeding occurred, due to rectal tumor invasion. Anecdotal reports of good performance and decreased pain medication requirements require further validation. Conclusion Fractionated RAIT with 90Y-hPAM4 combined with low-dose 200 mg/m2 GEM appears promising as treatment regimen for APC. Hematologic toxicity was dose limiting. A 90Y-hPAM4 dose of 12 mCi/m2 for cycle 1 and 6.5 mCi/m2 for cycle 2 have been selected as suitable for further clinical development. PET scans are useful for assessment.