Pérdida de respuesta a terapia anti-TNF en enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: experiencia en un hospital de referencia en Lima - Perú / Loss of response to anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: experience in a reference hospital in Lima - Peru

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la respuesta al tratamiento con anti-TNFs en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Materiales y métodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional realizado en el Servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara, de enero 2015 a agosto 2018. Resultados: Se evaluó 31 pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal que recibían terapia de mantenimiento con Infliximab. Doce (38,7%) pacientes (3 con colitis ulcerativa y 9 con enfermedad de Crohn) presentaron pérdida de respuesta a partir de los 6 meses del inicio de la fase de mantenimiento: 2 entre 6-12 meses, 4 entre 12-18 meses y 6 entre 18-24 meses. Como primera medida se duplicó la dosis (10 mg/kg) a los 12 pacientes, obteniendo respuesta en 6 (50%) luego de 12 semanas. De los 6 pacientes restantes, 4 cambiaron a Adalimumab, 1 paciente presentó cáncer de colon y 1 paciente presentó anafilaxia y sarcoidosis. De los pacientes que recibieron Adalimumab, 3 presentaron recidiva endoscópica (75%) a partir de los 6 meses y 1 no respondió a la terapia de inducción y fue sometido a colectomía (25%). Conclusiones: Aproximadamente un tercio de nuestros pacientes presentó pérdida de respuesta a terapia de mantenimiento con Infliximab. El escalamiento de dosis como rescate tuvo éxito en la mitad de los pacientes. El cambio a Adalimumab en pacientes con pérdida de respuesta a un primer fármaco anti-TNF no parece ser efectivo.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the response to treatment with anti-TNFs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Materials and methods: Prospective observational study conducted in the Gastroenterology service of the Guillermo Almenara National Hospital, from January 2015 to August 2018. Results: 31 patients with inflammatory bowel disease who received maintenance therapy with Infliximab were evaluated. Twelve (38.7%) patients (3 with ulcerative colitis and 9 with Crohn's disease) presented loss of response after 6 months of the beginning of the maintenance phase: 2 between 6-12 months, 4 between 12-18 months and 6 between 1824 months. As a first step, the dose was doubled (10 mg/kg) to the 12 patients, obtaining a response in 6 (50%) after 12 weeks. Of the remaining 6 patients, 4 switched to Adalimumab, 1 patient presented colon cancer and 1 patient presented anaphylaxis and sarcoidosis. Of the patients who received Adalimumab, 3 had endoscopic recurrence (75%) after 6 months and 1 did not respond to induction therapy and was subjected to colectomy (25%). Conclusions: Approximately one third of our patients presented loss of response to maintenance therapy with Infliximab. The dose escalation as a rescue therapy was successful in half of the patients. The change to Adalimumab in patients with loss of response to a first anti-TNF drug does not seem to be effective.

Maintenance of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin/carboplatin in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: randomized study of an Asian Gynecologic Oncology Group / 부인종양

Two Cases of Cytomegalovirus Infection Developed in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients / 임상소아혈액종양

A 14 year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on maintenance chemotherapy presented with vision-threatening cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Treatment with intavitreal ganciclovir injection (2 mg/0.1 mL) followed by oral ganciclovir resulted in successful resolution of CMV retinitis. Another 13 year-old boy with ALL on maintenance chemotherapy presented with prolonged fever with no response to antibiotics administration. CMV and real-time PCR revealed positive result and a titer of 2,618,700 copies/mL, respectively. Ganciclovir was used for more than the approved duration of treatment, but viral titer frequently recurred with elevated liver enzymes and fever. In these 2 cases of CMV infection, a high index of suspicion and prompt management is important in children receiving ALL chemotherapy.

Compromiso renal en vasculitis asociadas a anticuerpos anticitoplasma de neutrófilos. Recomendaciones de consenso de las Sociedades Chilenas de Nefrología y Reumatología / Renal involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitides. Recommendations of the Chilean Societies of Nephrology and Rheumatology

Renal involvement is a frequent complication in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)associated vasculitides, adding morbidity and mortality, such as chronic kidney disease and the need for renal replacement therapy. With the aim of reaching a consensus on relevant issues regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with these diseases, the Chilean Societies of Nephrology and Rheumatology formed a working group that, based on a critical review of the available literature and their experience, raised and answered consensually a set of questions relevant to the subject. This document includes aspects related to the clinical diagnosis, the histological characteristics, the therapeutic alternatives to induce and maintain the remission of the disease, relapse surveillance strategies and complementary therapies.

Severe recurrent nocturnal hypoglycemia during chemotherapy with 6-mercaptopurine in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Various endocrine dysfunctions occur during chemotherapy, including hypoglycemia. However, reports of hypoglycemia associated with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) are rare. Herein, we report an 8-year-old boy with severe symptomatic hypoglycemia likely due to 6-MP during chemotherapy. He had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia 3 years previously and was in the maintenance chemotherapy period. Treatment included oral dexamethasone, methotrexate, and 6-MP, of which only 6-MP was administered daily. Hypoglycemic symptoms appeared mainly at dawn, and his serum glucose dropped to a minimum of 37 mg/dL. Laboratory findings showed nothing specific other than increased serum cortisol, free fatty acids, ketone, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. Under the hypothesis of hypoglycemia due to chemotherapy drugs, we changed the time of 6-MP from evening to morning and recommended him to ingest carbohydrate-rich foods before bedtime. Hypoglycemia improved dramatically, and there was no further episode during the remaining maintenance chemotherapy period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this type of hypoglycemia occurring in an Asian child including Korean.

Pemetrexed Continuation Maintenance versus Conventional Platinum-Based Doublet Chemotherapy in EGFR-Negative Lung Adenocarcinoma: Retrospective Analysis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Although targeted therapy and immuno-oncology have shifted the treatment paradigm for lung cancer, platinum-based combination is still the standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy has been approved and increasingly used for patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. However, the efficacy of this strategy has not been proven in patients without driving mutations. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical benefit of pemetrexed continuation maintenance to conventional platinum-based doublet in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-negative lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma who were treated with platinum doublet were retrospectively enrolled. We compared the survival rates between patients received pemetrexed maintenance after four-cycled pemetrexed/cisplatin and those received at least four-cycled platinum doublet without maintenance chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. RESULTS: Forty-one patients received pemetrexed maintenance and 73 received conventional platinum doublet. Median progression-free survival (PFS), which was defined as the time from the day of response evaluation after four cycles of chemotherapy to disease progression or death, was significantly higher in the pemetrexed maintenance group compared to conventional group (5.8 months vs. 2.2 months, p<0.001). Median overall survival showed an increasing trend in the pemetrexed maintenance group (22.3 months vs. 16.1 months, p=0.098). Multivariate analyses showed that pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy was associated with better PFS (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.87). CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy, premetrexed continuation maintenance treatment is associated with better clinical outcome for the patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.

The Role of Consolidation Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The role of consolidation chemoradiation (CCRT) after systemic chemotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is still controversial. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of CCRT in LAPC using systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective clinical trials of LAPC receiving chemotherapy with or without subsequent CCRT were included in the analysis. We systematically searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The primary outcome of interest was 1-year survival. Secondary end-points were median overall survival, progression-free survival, toxicity, and resection rate. RESULTS: Forty-one studies with 49 study arms were included with a total of 1,018 patients receiving CCRT after induction chemotherapy (ICT) and 954 patients receiving chemotherapy alone. CCRT after ICT did not improve 1-year survival significantly in LAPC patients compared with chemotherapy alone (58% vs. 52%). ICT lasted for at least 3 months revealed significantly improved survival of additional CCRT to LAPC patients compared to chemotherapy alone (65% vs. 52%). A marginal survival benefit of consolidation CCRT was noted in studies using maintenance chemotherapy (59% vs. 52%), and fluorouracil-based CCRT (64% vs. 52%), as well as in studies conducted after the 2010 (64% vs. 55%). CONCLUSION: The survival benefit of ICT+CCRT over chemotherapy alone in treating LAPC was noted when ICT lasted for at least 3 months. Fluorouracil-based CCRT, and maintenance chemotherapy were associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para las fases agudas y del mantenimiento de la remision / Efficacy and safety of mesalazine suppositories in adult patients with proctitis or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis for acute phases and maintenance of remission

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: El presente dictamen presenta la evaluación de tecnología de la eficacia y seguridad de los supositorios de mesalazina para su uso en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para las fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión. Aspectos Generales: La colitis ulcerativa (CU) es la condición inflamatoria crónica más común de las enfermedades gastrointestinales. Frecuentemente se desarrolla entre los 15 y 25 años y 55 y 65 años, aunque no excluye la población fuera de estos rangos de edad. Esta enfermedad genera inflamación a nivel de la mucosa del colon, siendo variable la extensión de la inflamación y pudiendo llegar a afectar también el área del recto. Se caracteriza por fases de relapso y remisión. Tecnología Sanitaria de Interés: Mesalazina (Canasa®/Mesacron®/Pentasa®/Salofalk®/Asacol®) es un medicamento anti-inflamatorio de acción tópica compuesto químicamente por el ácido 5 aminosalicílico o 5-ASA. Tiene dos vías de administración, oral y rectal, siendo los supositorios rectales, la forma de presentación de interés de esta evaluación de tecnología. METODOLOGÍA: Estratégia de Búsqueda: Se realizó una estrategia de búsqueda sistemática de la evidencia científica con respecto a la eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina para pacientes con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa en fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión. Para la búsqueda primaria se revisó la información disponible por entes reguladoras y normativas como la Administración de Drogas y Alimentos (FDA), y la Dirección General de Medicamentos y Drogas (DIGEMID). Posteriormente, se buscaron guías de práctica clínica a través de los metabuscadores: Translating Research into Practice (TRIPDATABASE), The National Guideline of Clearinghouse (NGC), y Health Systems Evidence (HSE). Seguidamente, se realizó una búsqueda dentro de la información generada por grupos internacionales que realizan revisiones sistemáticas, evaluaciónes de tecnologías sanitarias y guías de práctica clínica, tales comoHealth Technology Assesment (HTA), la Biblioteca de Cochrane, el Instituto Nacional de la Salud y Excelencia en Cuidado (NICE), la Agencia Canadiense de Drogas y Tecnologías en Salud (CADTH), y el Consorcio Escocés de Medicinas (SMC). Adicionalmente se revisaron las bases National Library of Medicine (Pubmed-Medline), LILACS, EMBASE, OVID, y complementando la búsqueda con la página de ensayos clínicos www.clinicaltrials.gov, para identificar estudios primarios en elaboración o que no hayan sido publicados aún. RESULTADOS: Tras la búsqueda se encontró evidencia que sustenta la eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para las fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión.RESULTADOS: Tras la búsqueda se encontró evidencia que sustenta la eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para las fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión. Sinopsis de la Evidencia: Se encontró evidencia acerca de la eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para las fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión. CONCLUSIONES: La presente evaluación de tecnología evalúa la evidencia disponible a Febrero del 2016 para el uso de supositorios de mesalazina para pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis para las fases agudas y del mantenimiento de la remisión. - Se ha encontrado evidencia que sustenta la eficacia y seguridad de supositorios de mesalazina, la cual está basada en dos guías de práctica clínica y dos revisiones sistemáticas de buena calidad metodológica. Cabe resaltar que esta eficacia ha sido demostrada únicamente para la población de pacientes con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa, mas no en otras áreas del colon en fases aguda. Sin embargo, para la fase del mantenimiento de la remisión no se ha encontrado evidencia directa que evalúe el potencial beneficio de supositorios de mesalazina. , El Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación ­ IETSI, aprueba el uso de supositorios de mesalazina en pacientes adultos con proctitis o proctosigmoiditis ulcerativa para el tratamiento de fases aguda y del mantenimiento de la remisión. El presente Dictamen Preliminar tiene una vigencia de dos años a partir de la fecha de publicación.

Long Term Complete Response of Unresectable Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer after CCRT and Gemcitabine Chemotherapy / 대한췌담도학회지

Locally advanced or metastatic disease accounts for two thirds of total patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients with pancreatic cancer are assessed as resectable, potentially resectable (borderline) or unresectable according to pre-operative examinations. The chances of resectability may be enhanced by using neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. This case report presents a locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma that was identified to be unresectable during surgical exploration. After receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the patient was re-evaluated, identified as unresectable and received gemcitabine maintenance chemotherapy. Herein, we report the case of a patient with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma who achieved a complete response lasting for more than 32 months after receiving concurrent chmoradiotherapy followed by gemcitabine maintenance chemotherapy.

Long Term Complete Response of Unresectable Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer after CCRT and Gemcitabine Chemotherapy / 대한췌담도학회지

Locally advanced or metastatic disease accounts for two thirds of total patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients with pancreatic cancer are assessed as resectable, potentially resectable (borderline) or unresectable according to pre-operative examinations. The chances of resectability may be enhanced by using neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. This case report presents a locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma that was identified to be unresectable during surgical exploration. After receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the patient was re-evaluated, identified as unresectable and received gemcitabine maintenance chemotherapy. Herein, we report the case of a patient with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma who achieved a complete response lasting for more than 32 months after receiving concurrent chmoradiotherapy followed by gemcitabine maintenance chemotherapy.

Physical, Psychological and Social Symptoms, Activity and Education of Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Receiving Maintenance Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the physical, psychological and social symptoms of ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) children and adolescents receiving maintenance chemotherapy to build a basic data set to produce effective nursing intervention and ultimately help their early return to school and social adaptation. METHODS: Fifty ALL children and adolescents between 4 and 18, who were receiving maintenance chemotherapy were surveyed on days 2, 7, and 28. For younger children, between the age of 4 and the 3rd year in elementary school, their primary caregivers answered the survey and those between the 4th year in elementary school and the age of 18 answered the survey themselves. RESULTS: During maintenance chemotherapy, ALL children and adolescents experience diverse physical, psychological and social symptoms. On days 7 and 28, physical and social symptoms were greater than physical symptoms. Physical symptoms were greatest on day 2 and the most psychological and social symptoms were observed on day 7. During the maintenance chemotherapy period, 40% of the children and adolescents could not attend regular educational institutions. CONCLUSION: Since each point in the maintenance chemotherapy period shows different symptomatic characteristics, nursing intervention can be provided appropriately for each specific point to help the patients' social adaptation and early return to school.

Impacto da parada completa do tratamento de primeira-linha de pacientes com câncer colorretal metastático: revisão sistemática e meta-análise de estudos randomizados / The impact of complete chemotherapy stop on the overall survival of patients with advanced colorectal cancer in first line setting: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Introdução: A duração da quimioterapia de primeira linha e seu impacto na sobrevida global dos pacientes com câncer colorretal metastático (CCRm) são controversos e, até o momento, estudos não conseguiram definir um claro padrão. Métodos: Revisão sistemática dos principais bancos de dados da literatura médica (MEDLINE, EMBASE e Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), bem como trabalhos apresentados em congressos internacionais de oncologia (Sociedade Americana [ASCO] e Européia de Oncologia Clínica [ESMO]), em busca dos ensaios clínicos aleatorizados que compararam a sobrevida global (SG) dos pacientes com CCRm que receberam quimioterapia de primeira linha de forma contínua até progressão da doença versus parada completa de tratamento após um número fixo de ciclos de indução. O desfecho primário foi SG e os desfechos secundários incluíram desfechos de progressão do tipo tempo-para-evento, intervalo livre de quimioterapia, qualidade de vida e toxicidade. Uma meta-análise dos Hazard Ratios (HR) reportados para a SG foi realizada. Os estudos incluídos foram avaliados quanto às suas metodologias e análises de subgrupo foram realizadas quando heterogeneidades metodológicas foram encontradas. Análise de sensibilidade foi realizada quanto ao risco de viés, avaliado pela escala de Jadad, e quando teste de inconsistência de Higgins (I2) maior que 35% (heterogeneidade) foi encontrado. Resultados: A busca inicial resultou em 251 ensaios, dos quais 6 foram elegíveis e 5 forneceram dados suficientes para a meta-análise de SG (N = 3.061). A SG dos pacientes que receberam quimioterapia de forma contínua até progressão não foi estatisticamente diferente daqueles para quem foi oferecido parada completa de tratamento (HR = 0,93, IC95% = 0,84-1,03; I² = 12%; p = 0,15). Os resultados foram semelhantes quando analisados somente estudos classificados como de boa qualidade bem como nos subgrupos separados quanto ao momento de aleatorização (antes versus após terapia de...

Background: The impact of the duration of chemotherapy on the overall survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is controversial and studies have failed to define a clear standard. Methods: We systematically searched medical literature databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), as well as oncology conferences proceedings (American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO] and European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO] annual meetings) for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared the overall survival (OS) of mCRC patients who received first-line chemotherapy continuously until disease progression versus those who were offered complete treatment stop after a fixed number of cycles. The primary study endpoint was OS. The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival, chemotherapy-free interval, quality of life and rate of toxicities. A meta-analysis of reported Hazard Ratios for survival was performed. The studies included were evaluated for their methodologies and subgroup analyzes were performed when methodological heterogeneity was found. Sensitivity analysis was performed when relevant heterogeneity was found (defined as I²>35%). Results: We retrieved 251 trials, of which 6 were eligible and 5 were included in the pooled analysis of overall survival (N = 3,061). The overall survival between continuously delivered chemotherapy and complete stop was not statistically different (HR= 0.93, 95%IC = 0.84 to 1.03; p=0,15; I² = 12%). The results were similar when we analyzed separately only trials classified as high quality by Jadad scale and according to the following subgroups: trials that performing randomization before versus after induction therapy and according to the use of monoclonal antibody (yes or no). The median chemotherapy free interval in the complete-stop group was 3.9 months (3.6 - 4.3 months). Chemotherapy administered until progression was associated with more...

Outcomes of adults with Ph-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the significance of minimal residual disease / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To better understand predictive factors and role of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT)in the post-remission therapy for adult Ph-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Outcomes of 86 adult patients with B-ALL who received auto-HSCT in our center from January 1996 to February 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall survival (OS)and disease free survival (DFS)at 5 years for the cohort were (63.8 ± 5.6)% and (60.9 ± 5.6)%, respectively. The cumulative non-relapse mortality (NRM)and relapse at 5 years were (4.70 ± 0.05)% and (34.40 ± 0.31)%. For DFS, age ≥ 35 years, high lactate dehydrogenase at diagnosis, high initial WBC count, blast cell proportion ≥ 5% on 15th day of the first induction therapy, complete remession (CR)1 to HSCT interval >6 months and CD34⁺ cells in graft ≥ 3.8 × 10⁶/kg were the poor prognostic factors. CR1 to HSCT interval >6 months was the independently undesirable factors in COX regression model. For 34 patients who had results of minimal residual disease (MRD), positive pretransplantation MRD (MRD≥0.01%), positive post-induction MRD or MRD positive again during the chemotherapy indicated poor prognosis, and the last one was the independent adverse prognostic factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Auto-HSCT combined with post-transplantation maintenance chemotherapy could be an optional approach for adult B-ALL patients. MRD plays a significant role in the treatment choice for adult Ph-negative B-ALL patients.</p>

Prognostic Value of Splenic Artery Invasion in Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy after Distal Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after distal pancreatectomy (DP) in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and to identify the prognostic factors for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients who underwent curative DP followed by adjuvant CRT between 2000 and 2011. There were 31 men and 31 women, and the median age was 64 years (range, 38 to 80 years). Adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered to the tumor bed and regional lymph nodes with a median dose of 50.4 Gy (range, 40 to 55.8 Gy). All patients received concomitant chemotherapy, and 53 patients (85.5%) also received maintenance chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 24 months. RESULTS: Forty patients (64.5%) experienced relapse. Isolated locoregional recurrence developed in 5 patients (8.1%) and distant metastasis in 35 patients (56.5%), of whom 13 had both locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 37.5 months and 15.4 months, respectively. On multivariate analysis, splenic artery (SA) invasion (p=0.0186) and resection margin (RM) involvement (p=0.0004) were identified as significant adverse prognosticators for DFS. Also, male gender (p=0.0325) and RM involvement (p=0.0007) were associated with a significantly poor OS. Grade 3 or higher hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities occurred in 22.6% and 4.8% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant CRT may improve survival after DP for pancreatic body or tail adenocarcinoma. Our results indicated that SA invasion was a significant factor predicting inferior DFS, as was RM involvement. When SA invasion is identified preoperatively, neoadjuvant treatment may be considered.

Insertion of Totally Implantable Central Venous Access Devices by Surgeons

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results for the insertion of totally implantable central venous access devices (TICVADs) by surgeons. METHODS: Total 397 patients, in whom TICVADs had been inserted for intravenous chemotherapy between September 2008 and June 2014, were pooled. This procedure was performed under local anesthesia in an operation room. The insertion site for the TICVAD was mainly in the right-side subclavian vein. In the case of breast cancer patients, the subclavian vein opposite the surgical site was used for insertion. RESULTS: The 397 patients included 73 males and 324 females. Primary malignant tumors were mainly colorectal and breast cancer. The mean operation time was 54 minutes (18-276 minutes). Operation-related complications occurred in 33 cases (8.3%). Early complications developed in 15 cases with catheter malposition and puncture failure. Late complications, which developed after 24 hours, included inflammation in 6 cases, skin necrosis in 6 cases, hematoma in 3 cases, port malfunction in 1 case, port migration in 1 case, and intractable pain at the port site in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Insertion of a TICVAD under local anesthesia by a surgeon is a relatively safe procedure. Meticulous undermining of the skin and carefully managing the TICVAD could minimize complications.

Oral Maintenance Chemotherapy with 6-Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Ineligible for Transplantation

For decades, maintenance chemotherapy has failed to improve the cure rate or prolong the survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), other than those with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Immediately after the first complete remission following consolidation therapy was obtained, oral maintenance chemotherapy (daily 6-mercaptopurine and weekly methotrexate) was given and continued for two years in transplant-ineligible AML patients. Leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were studied and compared between these patients and the historical control group who did not receive maintenance therapy. Consecutive 52 transplant-ineligible AML patients were analyzed. Among these patients, 27 received oral maintenance chemotherapy. No significant difference was found in the patients' characteristics between the maintenance and the control groups. The median OS was 43 (95% CI, 19-67) and 19 (95% CI, 8-30) months in the maintenance and the control groups, respectively (P = 0.202). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of maintenance therapy was an independent prognostic factor for better OS (P = 0.021) and LFS (P = 0.024). Clinical benefit from maintenance chemotherapy was remarkable in older patients (> or = 60 yr) (P = 0.035), those with intermediate or unfavorable cytogenetics (P = 0.006), those with initial low blast count in peripheral blood (P = 0.044), and those receiving less than two cycles of consolidation therapy (P = 0.017). Maintenance oral chemotherapy as a post-remission therapy can prolong the survival of patients with AML who are not eligible for transplantation, particularly older patients, those with intermediate or unfavorable cytogenetics, those with initial low blast count, and those receiving less than two cycles of consolidation therapy.

Pemetrexed Continuation Maintenance in Patients with Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Review of Two East Asian Trials in Reference to PARAMOUNT / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: A recent phase III study (PARAMOUNT) demonstrated that pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy is a new treatment paradigm for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of patients enrolled in PARAMOUNT were Caucasian (94%). We reviewed efficacy and safety data from two clinical trials, which enrolled East Asian (EA) patients, to supplement data from PARAMOUNT on pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study S110 was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial in never-smoker, chemonaive, EA patients (n=31) with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (n=27). Study JMII was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, post-marketing, clinical trial in Japanese patients (n=109) with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. PARAMOUNT was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. RESULTS: In EA patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy was 4.04 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22 to 5.29 months) in study S110 and 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 5.2 months) in study JMII. The median PFS for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in PARAMOUNT was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 4.6 months). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients in studies S110 and JMII did not lead to any unexpected safety events, and was consistent with PARAMOUNT's safety profile. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety data in the EA trials were similar to those in PARAMOUNT despite differences in patient populations and study designs. These data represent consistent evidence for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

ADALIMUMAB FOR MAINTENANCE THERAPY FOR ONE YEAR IN CROHN?S DISEASE: results of a Latin American single-center observational study / Adalimumabe na terapia de manutenção por um ano na doença de Crohn: resultados de um estudo observacional unicêntrico Latinoamericano

Context Adalimumab is a fully-human antibody that inhibits TNF alpha, with a significant efficacy for long-term maintenance of remission. Studies with this agent in Latin American Crohn’s disease patients are scarce. Objectives The objective of this study was to outline clinical remission rates after 12 months of adalimumab therapy for Crohn’s disease patients. Methods Retrospective, single-center, observational study of a Brazilian case series of Crohn’s disease patients under adalimumab therapy. Variables analyzed: demographic data, Montreal classification, concomitant medication, remission rates after 1, 4, 6 and 12 months. Remission was defined as Harvey-Bradshaw Index ≤4, and non-responder-imputation and last-observation-carried-forward analysis were used. The influence of infliximab on remission rates was analyzed by Fischer and Chi-square tests (P<0.05). Results Fifty patients, with median age of 35 years at therapy initiation, were included. Remission rates after 12 months of therapy were 54% under non-responder-imputation and 88% under last-observation-carried-forward analysis. After 12 months, remission on patients with previous infliximab occurred in 69.23% as compared to 94.59% in infliximab-naïve patients (P = 0.033). Conclusions Adalimumab was effective in maintaining clinical remission after 12 months of therapy, with an adequate safety profile, and was also more effective in infliximab naïve patients. .

Contexto O adalimumabe é um anticorpo monoclonal totalmente humano que inibe o TNF alfa, com eficácia documentada na manutenção da remissão clínica na doença de Crohn. Estudos com pacientes latinoamericanos são escassos nesse cenário. Objetivos O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as taxas de remissão clínica após 12 meses de terapia com adalimumabe em portadores de doença de Crohn. Métodos Estudo retrospectivo unicêntrico observacional de uma série de casos de pacientes brasileiros portadores de doença de Crohn tratados com adalimumabe. Variáveis analisadas: dados demográficos, classificação de Montreal, medicações concomitants, taxas de remissão após 1, 4, 6 e 12 meses. Remissão foi definida como índice de Harvey-Bradshaw ≤4 e foram utilizadas as análises de imputação de não-resposta e última observação considerada. A influência do infliximab prévio foi analisada pelo teste de Fischer e qui-quadrado (P<0.05). Resultados Cinquenta pacientes, com media de idade de 35 anos no início da terapia foram incluídos. As taxas de remissão após um ano foram de 54% (análise imputação de não-resposta) e 88% (análise de última observação considerada. A remissão clínica ocorreu em 69.23% dos pacientes com infliximab prévio e 94.59% nos virgens de infliximab (P = 0.033). Conclusão O adalimumabe foi efetivo na manutenção da remissão clínica após 1 ano, com adequado perfil de segurança com eficácia maior nos pacientes virgens de infliximab. .