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PURPOSEGEM20110714 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01528618 ), the first randomized, phase III study of systemic chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), reported significant progression-free survival improvement with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) versus fluorouracil plus cisplatin (FP; hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.68; P < .001). Data from the final analysis of overall survival (OS) are presented here.METHODSFrom February 2012 to October 2015, 362 patients were randomly assigned to receive either GP (gemcitabine 1 g/m2once daily on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2once daily on day 1; n = 181) or FP (fluorouracil 4 g/m2in continuous intravenous infusion over 96 hours and cisplatin 80 mg/m2once daily on day 1; n = 181) once every 21 days. The primary end point was progression-free survival, which has been previously reported; OS was a secondary end point.RESULTSAfter a median follow-up time of 69.5 months with GP and 69.7 months with FP, 148 (81.8%) and 166 (91.7%) deaths occurred in the GP and FP arms, respectively. The estimated hazard ratio for OS was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.90; two-sided P = .004). The median OS was 22.1 months (95% CI, 19.2 to 25.0 months) with GP versus 18.6 months (95% CI, 15.4 to 21.7 months) with FP. The OS probabilities at 1, 3, and 5 years were 79.9% versus 71.8%, 31.0% versus 20.4%, and 19.2% versus 7.8%, respectively. Poststudy therapy was administered in 51.9% and 55.2% of patients in the GP and FP arms, respectively.CONCLUSIONAmong patients with previously untreated advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, those who receive GP have longer OS than those receive FP. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin should be considered a preferred front-line option for these patients.

IntroductionReportedly, activation of the NF-B signaling pathway is related to the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells; however, the underlying mechanism by which NF-B is activated in NPC cells is yet to be addressed. In our present studies, CREB-binding protein (CBP)-mediated acetylation of the NF-B p65 subunit and its effect on activation of NF-B p65 as well as its role in the proliferation of NPC cells were explored.Material and methodsHuman NPC cell lines CNE1 and C666-1 were cultured in vitro. The acetylation (Lys310) and phosphorylation (Ser536) levels of NF-B p65 in NPC cell lines were detected by Western blot. Then, the mRNA levels of CBP, p300, PCAF and GCN5 in NPC cell lines were determined by real-time PCR. Subsequently, the interaction of p65 with CBP in NPC cell lines was detected by a co-immunoprecipitation experiment. Furthermore, an NF-B p65 mutant (at Lys310), NF-B inhibitor and CBP shRNA were used to study the effect of CBP-mediated acetylation of NF-B p65 on the proliferation of NPC cell lines by CCK-8 assay.ResultsNF-B p65 was markedly acetylated at the site of Lys310 in NPC cells. Moreover, the mutation of NF-B p65 at the acetylation site markedly reduced proliferation of human NPC cells. Further investigation revealed that CBP was up-regulated and physically associated with NF-B p65 at the protein level in NPC cells. CBP-mediated NF-B p65 acetylation enhanced its phosphorylation and further contributed to the proliferation of NPC cells.ConclusionsThis study indicated that CBP-mediated NF-B p65 acetylation promotes the proliferation of NPC cells.

6521 Background: GEM20110714, the first randomized, phase III study (NCT01528618) of systemic chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic (R/M) nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), reported significant reduction of disease progression with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) versus fluorouracil plus cisplatin (FP; hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0·44–0·68; P < .001). This study establishes GP as the standard-of-care for first-line treatment of R/M NPC. We present the final overall survival (OS) analysis here. Methods: In this multicenter, open-label study conducted in China, patients who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 and R/M NPC were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive up to six cycles of either GP or FP once every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was PFS, which has been previously reported; OS was a secondary endpoint. The final OS analysis was conducted with the data cutoff date of December 17, 2019. Results: After a median follow-up time of 64.4 months (95% CI, 61.1-67.6), 148 (81.8%) and 165 (91.2%) deaths occurred in the GP and FP arms, respectively. The estimated hazard ratio for OS was 0.723 (95% CI, 0.578 to 0.904; two-sided P = .004). The median OS was 22.1 months with GP versus 18.6 months with FP. The OS probabilities at 1, 3, and 5 years were 79.9% vs. 71.8%, 31.0% vs. 20.4%, and 18.5% vs. 7.6%, respectively. Un-predefined subgroup analyses based on baseline characteristics were consistent with the primary OS analysis. Postdiscontinuation systemic therapy use was similar: GP, 52%; FP, 57%. No new safety signals emerged. Conclusions: In patients with R/M NPC, GP is the first regimen to show significant improvement in OS in a phase III randomized study compared with a traditional chemotherapy regimen (i.e. FP). GP should be considered the standard treatment option for these patients. Clinical trial information: NCT01528618 .

Oral mucositis is a common unpreventable complication associated with chemoradiation therapy. Shuanghua Baihe tablets have been approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration for treating recurrent oral mucosa ulceration. This study assessed whether Shuanghua Baihe tablets could prevent oral mucositis during chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 11 hospitals in China between January 22, 2014, and September 21, 2015. Eligible patients (N=240, 18-70 years old) with pathologically diagnosed locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomly assigned (computer-block randomization; 1:1) to receive Shuanghua Baihe tablets or a placebo (4 tablets, 3 times a day, for 7 weeks) at the initiation of chemoradiation therapy. Administration of Shuanghua Baihe tablets could be ended if grade 3 or higher oral mucositis developed and patients were unwilling to continue taking the drug. The primary endpoints were oral mucositis incidence and latency.The incidence of oral mucositis during this study was significantly lower in the Shuanghua Baihe group (85.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 78.6%-91.4%) than in the placebo group (96.6%; 95% CI, 93.4%-99.9%; P=.0028). The median latency period was 28 days in the Shuanghua Baihe group and 14 days in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.12-0.23; P.0001). Compared with placebo, Shuanghua Baihe tablets significantly reduced the oral mucositis severity scores recorded by the investigators (Oral Mucositis Score, 24.0 [range, 0.0-67.8] vs 57.5 [range, 0.0-98.0]; P.0001), full-time nurses (Oral Assessment Guide score, 462.0 [range, 392.0-664.7] vs 520.4 [range, 392.0-714.0]; P.0001), and patients (score for soreness of mouth and throat, 4.0 [range, 0-10] vs 6.0 [range, 0-10]; P.0001). No serious adverse events were observed, and the incidence of mild or moderate gastrointestinal adverse events associated with Shuanghua Baihe tablets was 3.3%. The short-term response rate was similar in patients receiving Shuanghua Baihe tablets and those receiving placebo during chemoradiation therapy during this study.Shuanghua Baihe tablets reduced the occurrence, latency, and severity of oral mucositis in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer during chemoradiation therapy treatment.

Background The effect of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT)-guided dose-painting intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unclear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of such combination. Methods From 2012 to 2014, 213 patients with stage III-IVB NPC received chemoradiotherapy by PET/CT-guided DP-IMRT (group A, n = 101) or CT-based IMRT (group B, n = 112). In group A, subvolume GTVnx-PET (gross tumor volume of nasopharynx in PET images) was defined within GTVnx (gross tumor volume of nasopharynx) as the SUV50%max isocontour; the dose to GTVnx-PET was escalated to DT 75.2 Gy/32 and 77.55 Gy/33 Fx, respectively, for patients with T1-2 and T3-4 disease, respectively. In group B, PGTVnx was irradiated at DT 70.4–72.6 Gy/32–33 Fx in 2.2 Gy per fraction. Results Complete response rates were 99.0% (100/101) and 92.9% (104/112) in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.037). Compared with CT-based IMRT, FDG-PET/CT guided DP-IMRT significantly improved 3-year local failure-free survival (LFFS, 98.8% vs. 91.3%; P = 0.032), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS, 97.2 vs. 91.2%; P = 0.049), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, 92.9% vs. 87.4%; P = 0.041), disease free survival (DFS, 87.9% vs. 82.4%; P = 0.02), and overall survival (OS, 91.8% vs. 82.6%; P = 0.049). No statistically significant differences in acute and late toxic effects were observed. Multivariate analysis showed that dose painting (PET/CT-guided DP-IMRT vs CT-based IMRT without DP) was a significant independent prognostic factor for LFFS and DFS. Conclusion FDG-PET/CT guided DP-IMRT plus chemotherapy is associated with a considerable survival benefit, without increasing toxicity in patients with locoregional advanced NPC. Further randomized trials are needed to fully assess the role of PET/CT-guided DP-IMRT.

Summary Background Outcomes are poor for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and no well established first-line chemotherapy is available for the disease. We compared the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus fluorouracil plus cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial, patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma were recruited from 22 hospitals in China. Key inclusion criteria were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, adequate organ function, and measurable lesions according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either gemcitabine (1 g/m 2 intravenously on days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (80 mg/m 2 intravenously on day 1), or fluorouracil (4 g/m 2 in continuous intravenous infusion over 96 h) and cisplatin (80 mg/m 2 on day 1 given intravenously) once every 3 weeks for a maximum of six cycles. The randomisation was done centrally via an interactive phone response system using block randomisation with a size of six. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by the independent image committee in the intention-to-treat population. Safety analyses were done in patients who received at least one cycle of study drug. This study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01528618. Findings Between Feb 20, 2012, and Oct 30, 2015, 362 patients were randomly assigned to a group (181 to the gemcitabine [plus cisplatin] group and 181 to the fluorouracil [plus cisplatin] group). Median follow-up time for progression-free survival was 19·4 months (IQR 12·1–35·6). The median progression-free survival was 7·0 months (4·4–10·9) in the gemcitabine group and 5·6 months (3·0–7·0) in the fluorouracil group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·55 [95% CI 0·44–0·68]; p vs 15 [9%]; vs 23 [13%]; p=0·0251), thrombocytopenia (24 [13%] vs three [2%]; p=0·0007), and mucosal inflammation (0 vs 25 [14%]; Interpretation Gemcitabine plus cisplatin prolongs progression-free survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The results establish gemcitabine plus cisplatin as the standard first-line treatment option for this population. Funding Sun Yat-Sen University Clinical Research 5010 Programme, Chinese National Natural Science Foundation project (grant numbers 81372502 and 81201917), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program numbers 2012AA02A501 and 2012AA02A502), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong (grant number S2013010016564).

BACKGROUND:Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes can alter gene expression and activity and affect response to cancer treatment and, correspondingly, survival. The present study was designed to evaluate the utility of the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala SNPs, measured in pretreatment biopsy samples, as predictors of response to radiotherapy in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study included 75 consecutive patients with stage II-IVA-B NPC. XRCC1 Arg399Glu and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala SNPs were identified from paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens via Sanger sequencing. Expression of p53 and pAkt protein was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Potential relationships between genetic polymorphisms and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by using a Cox proportional hazards model, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test. RESULTS:Multivariate analysis showed that carriers of the ERCC1 8092 Ala/Ala genotype [hazard ratio (HR) 1.882; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.031-3.438; P = 0.039] and heavy smokers (≥20 pack-years) carrying the XRCC1 Arg/Arg genotype (HR 2.019; 95% CI 1.010-4.036; P = 0.047) had significantly lower PFS rates. Moreover, combined positive expression of p53 and pAkt led to significantly increased PFS in subgroups carrying the XRCC1 Gln allele (HR 7.057; 95% CI 2.073-24.021; P = 0.002) or the ERCC1 Cys allele (HR 2.568; 95% CI 1.056-6.248; P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS:The ERCC1 Cys8092Ala polymorphism is an independent predictor of response to radiotherapy for NPC, and the XRCC1 Arg399Glu mutation combined with smoking status seems to predict PFS as well. Our results further suggest a possible correlation between these genetic polymorphisms and p53 protein status on survival.

6007Background: There are no well-established first-line chemotherapy regimens for recurrent or metastatic (R/M) NPC. Several small phase II trials suggest that GP has promising efficacy and accept...

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of MIH and radiotherapy alone or combined on metastatic breast cancer and the underlying mechanisms.A murine 4T1 metastatic breast cancer model was established and randomly assigned into four treatment groups: C (control), R (radiotherapy), MIH, and MIH+R. Tumour volume, lung metastasis, the expression of Bax and MMP-9, T cell subsets, serum cytokine levels, and mouse survival were evaluated.Group MIH + R showed significantly reduced tumour volume, lung metastasis, improved survival and increased Bax expression compared to group R or MIH (P0.05). MMP-9 expression in the primary tumour tissue was significantly increased in group R compared to the other groups (P0.05), which could be brought down by combined MIH treatment. Group MIH +R showed significantly higher CD4(+) T cell percentage as well as CD4(+)/CD8(+) cell ratio than group R (P0.05). Group MIH+R showed significantly higher serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-2 than group R (P0.05).MIH not only promotes the tumour-cell killing effect of radiotherapy through Bax-mediated cell death, but also improves cellular immunity in mice under radiotherapy and decreases the potential of radiotherapy to enhance MMP-9 expression, which leads to significant improvement in lung metastasis and overall survival of mice under combined treatment of MIH and R. This study is the first to have explored the effect of combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy on tumour metastasis and the underlying mechanisms. It provides insights into the application of MIH as an adjuvant to radiotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Background Codon 72 (Arg/Pro), the most frequently studied single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of p53 to date, is associated with the ability of the gene to induce cell apoptosis. The PI3K/Akt pathway plays an essential role in the transcriptional activation function of p53, and is an important factor in radiotherapy resistance. The present study was designed to evaluate the prediction of response to radiotherapy based on p53 codon 72 SNP and pAkt expression in biopsy specimens of locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) before treatment. Materials and methods In total, 75 consecutive patients with locoregional NPC were enrolled. The p53 codon 72 SNP was identified from retrospectively collected paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens using Sanger sequencing. Expression patterns of p53, p21, 14-3-3σ, and pAkt proteins were investigated using immunohistochemical analyses. The effects of genetic polymorphisms and protein expression on progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model, Kaplan–Meier method, and log-rank test. Results The p53 codon 72 Pro/Pro carriers showed lower risk of disease progression (local recurrence and distant metastases) (HR: 0.300; 95% CI: 0.092–0.983; p=0.047). However, this association between the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and PFS was not significant in the pAkt-positive subgroup. No association was observed between protein expression of p53, p21 or 14-3-3σ and p53 codon72 polymorphisms. Notably, positive expression of p53 protein appeared to be correlated with poorer PFS among patients diagnosed as local regional lymph node metastasis (N+) before treatment (p=0.032). Conclusions The p53 codon 72 Pro/Pro genotype may be an effective independent prognostic marker for better outcome in patients with locoregional NPC. Based on the current findings, we hypothesize that pAkt weakens the predictive value of p53 codon 72 SNP in NPC. A combination of positive p53 protein expression and local regional lymph node metastasis may additionally be predictive of high risk of disease progression.