Search

ObjectivesTo investigate whether radiotherapy as metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) on oligo-progressive sites in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients during treatment with androgen receptor-targeted therapy (ARTT) may lead to control resistant lesions, prolonging ARTT. We analysed progression free survival, overall survival and prognostic parameters that can identify patients that best suit to this approach.Patients and MethodsRetrospective analysis of a total of 67 lesions in 42 mCRPC patients treated with ablative or palliative RT to oligoprogressive lesions during ARTT. Twenty-eight patients (67%) underwent ARTT with Abiraterone acetate and 14 patients (33%) underwent ARTT with Enzalutamide. Median time between the start of ADT and ARTT beginning was 50.14 months (range 3.37-219 months). We treated 58 lesions (87%) with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and nine lesions (13%) with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). The Kaplan Meier method was used to assess the median overall survival (OS) and the progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsMedian follow-up was 28 months (range 3-82 months). Median OS was 32.5 months (95% CI 25.77-39.16), 1 and 2-year OS were 71.6% and 64.1%, respectively. Median PFS was 19,8 months (95% CI 11.34–28.31), 1 and 2-year PFS were 67.2% and 47.4%, respectively. Median OS for patients that underwent radiotherapy before 6 months from the start of ARTT was 23.4 months (95% CI 2.04-44.89) and 45.5 months (95% CI 31.19-59.8) for patients that underwent radiotherapy after 6 months (p = 0.009).ConclusionLocal ablative radiation therapy directed to progressive metastasis is a non-invasive, well tolerated treatment with efficacy on prolonging clinical benefit of systemic therapies with ARTT. Patients who underwent RT >6 months from the start of ARTT presented a statistically better OS and PFS compared with patients who underwent radiotherapy

Background Some patients experience oligo-progression during androgen receptor targeted therapy (ARTT) treatments. This progression might not indicate a real systemic drug resistance, but a selective monoclonal resistance. With the aim to delay the start of new line treatments we treated oligo-progressive sites with radiotherapy. Methods From June 2011 to Febrary 2019, 29 consecutive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients were submitted to radiotherapy for oligo-progression (1–3 sites) during ARTT for a total of 37 lesions treated. Thirty-one (83.8%) lesions were treated with conformal radiotherapy and 6 (16.2%) with stereotactic radiotherapy. After radiotherapy all patients continued ARTT. Results Median OS (calculated from ARTT start) was 46,6 months (range 4.4–97.5 months), 2 and 3-year OS were 82.8 and 70.7%, respectively. Median PFS was 18,4 months (range 4.4–45.3 months), 2 and 3-year PFS were 38.3 and 8.5%, respectively. Median overall duration of ARTT treatment was 14.8 months (range 4.4–45.3 months) and median duration of ARTT after radiotherapy was 4.6 months (range 1–33.8 months). Patients submitted to radiotherapy > 6 months from the start of ARTT presented a better PFS (p p = 0.101). None patient presented RT and drug related toxicities. Conclusions Radiotherapy of oligoprogressive sites may prolong the duration of disease control under ARTT in mCRPC patients with a possible delay in the start of new line treatment. Patients progressing within 6 months from the start of ARTT did not benefit from this approach. More studies are necessary to confirm our results and to evaluate other prognostic factor in order to select patients with high benefit from this approach.

Background: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas) are mesenchymal neoplasms with variable biological behaviour, ranging from benign to extremely aggressive diseases able to metastasize. No prospective studies are available to define a validate approach to this type of tumours. Case presentation: We present a case report of a 53-year-old woman affected by advanced retroperitoneal PEComa who developed an abdominal disease progression after 40 months of therapy with mTOR inhibitor. The patient underwent cyto-reductive surgery followed by radiotherapy on the residual disease and started chemotherapy with olaratumab plus doxorubicin for seven cycles achieving a partial response so she continued monotherapy with olaratumab for one year with stable disease to quarterly CT evaluation. On September 2019 treatment was definitely interrupted because of marketing authorisation of olaratumab was revoked due to insufficient proof of its medical advantage in phase III trial ANNOUNCE. Currently the patient is still in follow up after 18 months from the interruption of therapy, without a disease progression. Discussion and Conclusion: In our PEComa clinical case, we highlight how a multidisciplinary approach can lead to disease control and a long clinical benefit.

The therapeutic sc"enario of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) has noticeably increased, ranging from the most studied molecular target therapies to those most recently introduced, up to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The most recent clinical trials with an ICI-based combination of molecular targeted agents and ICI show how, by restoring an efficient immune response against cancer cells and by establishing an immunological memory, it is possible to obtain not only a better radiological response but also a longer progression-free and overall survival. However, the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remains of fundamental importance, especially in patients who, for clinical characteristics, tumor burden and comorbidity, could have greater benefit from the use of TKIs in monotherapy rather than in combination with other therapies. However, to use these novel options in the best possible way, knowledge is required not only of the data from the large clinical trials but also of the biological mechanisms, molecular pathways, immunological mechanisms, and methodological issues related to both new response criteria and endpoints. In this complex scenario, we review the latest results of the latest clinical trials and provide guidance for overcoming the barriers to decision-making to offer a practical approach to the management of mRCC in daily clinical practice. Moreover, based on recent literature, we discuss the most innovative combination strategies that would allow us to achieve the best clinical therapeutic results.

Introduction: Paraganglioma (PGL) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Currently, the malignancy is defined as the presence of metastatic spread at presentation or during follow-up. Several gene mutations are listed in the pathogenesis of PGL, among which succinate dehydrogenase (SDHX), particularly the SDHB isoform, is the main gene involved in malignancy. A 55-year-old male without evidence of catecholamine secretion had surgery for PGL of the urinary bladder. After 1 year, he showed a relapse of disease and demonstrated malignant PGL without evidence of catecholamine secretion with a germline heterozygous mutation of succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB). After failure of a second surgery for relapse, he started medical treatment with sunitinib daily but discontinued due to serious side effects. Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine (CVD) chemotherapeutic regimen stopped the disease progression for 7 months. Conclusion: Malignant PGL is a very rare tumor, and SDHB mutations must be always considered in molecular diagnosis because they represent a critical event in the progression of the oncological disease. Currently, there are few therapeutic protocols, and it is often difficult, as this case demonstrates, to decide on a treatment option according to a reasoned set of choices.

Background.Renal cell carcinoma accounts for about 2-3% of all malignant tumors. The prevalence of brain metastases from RCC is less than 20% of cases. Traditionally, whole brain radiotherapy as well as the latest stereotactic radiosurgery improves both survival and local tumor control. These treatments also allow stabilization of clinical symptomatology. However, validated treatment guidelines for RCC patients with brain metastases are not yet available on account of the frequent exclusion of such patients from clinical trials. Moreover, limited data about the sequential use of three therapies, changing the class of agent, have been published up to now.Case Report.We report the case of a patient with metastatic RCC who developed disease progression after sunitinib and everolimus as first-line and second-line therapy, respectively. Thus, he underwent a multimodality treatment with pazopanib, as third-line therapy, to control systemic disease and radiosurgery directed on the new brain metastasis. To date, the patient is still receiving pazopanib, with progression-free survival and overall survival of 43 and 103 months, respectively.Conclusion.In a context characterized by different emerging options, with no general consensus on the optimal treatment strategy, the use of pazopanib in pretreated patients could be a suitable choice.

485 Background: Currently there are no biomarkers to predict either toxicity or activity of targeted therapy in mRCC. The aim of this study was to correlate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes encoding for efflux transporters and metabolizing enzymes with sunitinib toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients (pts). Methods: We conducted an observational, retrospective analysis of 60 Caucasian pts who received sunitinib for mRCC from 2 Italian institutions. Correlation between adverse events (AE, according to CTCAE v.4.0) and 4 polymorphisms in 3 genes (ABCB1 [1236C>T, 3435C>T], CYP3A5*3 6986A>G, CYP3A4*1B-392A>G) was analyzed. SNPs were detected in blood samples using pyrosequencing technique. Association between SNPs and toxicities was evaluated using the Chi Square test. Results: 60pts (median age: 61 years; male: 63.3%) with mRCC (clear cell: 85%, other histologies: 15%) were treated with sunitinib (83.3% as first-line). The most common AE (any-grade) reported were: hypertension (85%), asthenia (83.3%), hypothyroidism (65%), anemia (61.6%), nausea/vomiting (60%), stomatitis (58.3%), diarrhoea (48.3%), neutropenia (48.3%), thrombocytopenia (46.7%), leukopenia (46.7%), hypertriglyceridemia (45%), hyperglycaemia (38.4%), hypercholesterolemia (35%), and hand-foot syndrome (35%). Treatment was discontinued and sunitinib dose was reduced due to AE in 28.3% and 61.7% of pts, respectively. The G/A-variant in CYP3A5*3 was associated with thrombocytopenia (any grade, p=0.03); homozygous C/C alleles in ABCB1 1236C>T significantly correlated with leukopenia (any grade, p=0.01), while the C/C genotype in ABCB1 3435C>T was associated with hypertension (grade≥3, p=0.05); hypertriglyceridemia showed a trend towards increased prevalence in the presence of the C allele (grade≥3, p=0.08). Conclusions: Polymorphisms in ABCB1 and CYP3A5*3 are predictive of toxicity, as hypertension, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in pts with mRCC treated with sunitinib. This analysis could support the selection of the more appropriate drug to the individual patient.

2Debioclinic, Charenton-Le-Pont. France Summary Purpose: Oxaliplatin (L-OHP), a new platinum analogue, is an active drug in colorectal and ovarian cancer. In this phase II study we explored tolerability and activity of oxaliplatin as a single agent in metastatic breast carcinoma patients. Patients and methods: Fourteen anthracycline pretreated advanced breast cancer patients were enrolled. Oxaliplatin was given at 130 mg/m2 on day 1 and repeated every three weeks. Analysis of toxicity, response rate and survival was performed. Results: The median number of courses per patient was four (range 2-6). The median administered dose-intensity was 43.3 mg/m2/week (range 32.5-43.3) which represents 100% of projected dose-intensity. No severe toxicity was encountered. Three patients developed acute transient laryngeal symptoms. Three patients displayed a partial response (21%), (95% confidence interval (CI): 0%-43%), two stable disease (14%) and nine progressed (64%). Response lasted five, four and five months respectively. Median survival was 12 months. Conclusions: In this limited experience, oxaliplatin appeared to be well tolerated and moderately active in advanced anthracycline-pretreated breast cancer patients. Combination chemotherapy with other active drugs such as 5-fluorouraci l (5-FU), anthracyclines and taxanes should represent the next step of development of this new drug.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in man. The treatment of localized PC includes surgery or radiation therapy. In case of relapse after a definitive treatment or in patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, the standard treatment includes the androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). By reducing the levels of Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) under the castration threshold, the ADT acts on the androgen receptor (AR), even if indirectly. The effects of the ADT are usually temporary and nearly all patients, initially sensitive to the androgen ablation therapy, have a disease progression after a 18-24 months medium term. This is probably due to the selection of the cancer cell clones and to their acquisition of critical somatic genome and epigenomic changes. This review aims to provide an overview about the genetic and epigenetic alterations having a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and in the disease progression toward the castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We focused on the role of the androgen receptor, on its signaling cascade and on the clinical implications that the knowledge of these aspects would have on hormonal therapy, on its failure and its toxicity.

The importance of evaluating patient's quality of life (QoL) in clinical practice and research is recognized clearly in oncology. In the advanced phase of disease such an evaluation represents an endpoint as important as survival. Quality of life is both a subjective and multidimensional concept evaluated mainly by validated questionnaires. In colorectal trials involving advanced stage disease the effects of different chemotherapy treatments on QoL were evaluated. Almost all the studies found no deterioration in QoL during chemotherapy. The European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Chronotherapy Study Group utilized three different approaches to assess QoL. The first centered on the stability of QoL during a 6mon treatment period in patients undergoing chronotherapy. The second centered on research of the biological and clinical determinants of QoL involving features of the circadian activity rhythm and patient survival and the relationship between QoL and patient performance status, response to therapy, and psychosocial variables as well as drug-induced toxicity. The third centered on the clinical effectiveness of psychological intervention on patients undergoing chronotherapy to improve psychosocial status during treatment. This papers reviews the results of EORTC Chronotherapy Group studies on QoL.

The aim of this phase I study was to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), administered as a 5-day chronomodulated infusion in combination with 1-folinic acid (FA) to ambulatory metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Consecutive cohorts of 6 patients were given 5-FU and FA infusions from 10.00 p.m. to 10.00 a.m. with peak delivery at 4.00 a.m. by means of a multichannel programmable pump. The FA dose was always the same (150 mg/m2/d). For the first cohort, the 5-FU dose level was 600 mg/m2/d at the first course, escalated by 100 mg/m2 for each subsequent cohort. Intrapatient dose was also escalated by 100 mg/m2 if toxicity was less than grade 2. The courses were repeated every 3 weeks. Thirty-four patients (17 previously treated) received a total of 154 courses. Dose-limiting toxicity consisted of stomatitis and diarrhoea. No significant haematological, cutaneous or cardiac toxicity was encountered. The MTD of 5-FU was reached at the fourth level (first course at 900 mg/m2/d equal to 4500 mg/m2/course) with 5-FU increased to 1100 mg/m2/d (5500 mg/m2/course) in 4 patients. The received 5-FU dose intensity (DI) over the first 3 courses at this level was 1318 mg/m2/week. Thirty-three patients were assessed for response. An objective response was achieved in 1 out of the 13 previously-treated and in 8 out of the 20 previously-untreated patients. The chronomodulated infusion of 5-FU at a dose of 900 mg/m2/d, together with FA at 150 mg/m2/d for 5 days, was safely delivered to out-patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The low toxic profile and activity of this regimen in previously untreated patients deserves further exploration for the treatment of 5-FU-sensitive tumours.

L-OHP®/5-FU/FA CM combination partially circumvented 5-FU resistance in patients (pts) with ACC ( Cancer 1992, 69, 893). L-OHP® delivered as q 3 wks CM or bolus showed a 10% (14/138) overall response rate (ORR) in ACC pts with proven progressive disease (PD) while getting 5-FU/FA treatment. The non-cross resistance and/orsynergy of L-OHP® with 5FU/FA was assessed in 25 pts with acquired resistance (20 with CT scan-proven [PD]—and 5 with median 5 months [2.5–12] disease stabilisation [ST]) while on 5-day (d) CM 5-FU (700–1000 mg/sqm/d)/FA (300 mg/sqm/d) (peak delivery at 4.00 h) (FF). LOHP ® (20 to 25 mg/sqm/d, peak at 16.00 h) was added to this schedule in 2nd (12 pts) or 3rd line (13 pts) (FFL) according to 2 different schedules: 5d q 3 wks (14 pts) or 4 d q 2 wks (11 pts). Selection criteria: Pretreated ACC, no other intercurrent chemotherapy between the 2 schedules, measurable lesion. PT Characteristics M/F = 10/15, median age = 59, colon/ŕectum = 14/11, PS 0-1 vs 2–3 = 22/3, nb of sites FFL (CM) Treatment 17l cycles, median = 7 (1–15), time to exposition = 5 mo (1–9), 5-FU DI = median 1072 mg (831–1580), L-OHP® DI = median 35.7 mg (24–43). Toxicity (per pt) grade 3–4: nausea-vomiting = 25%, diarrhea = 16%, mucositis = 8%. No gr 3–4 hematotoxicity. No renal or auditive toxicity was observed. No toxic death. Efficacy 7 PR (29.2%), 5 minor reponses (21%), 4 SD (17%) and 8 PD (33%). One pt too early. Duration of response was 8.5 mo, disease-free progression 5.8 mo and median survival 12 mo. Conclusion Addition of L-OHP® can reversed FF resistance to CM 5-FU/FA in one third of pts. This further suggests a synergistic and/or modulatory effect between 5-FU and L-OHP®.