Are strong opioids equally effective and safe in the treatment of chronic cancer pain? A multicenter randomized phase IV 'real life' trial on the variability of response to opioids.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines tend to consider morphine and morphine-like opioids comparable and interchangeable in the treatment of chronic cancer pain, but individual responses can vary. This study compared the analgesic efficacy, changes of therapy and safety profile over time of four strong opioids given for cancer pain. PATIENT AND METHODS: In this four-arm multicenter, randomized, comparative, of superiority, phase IV trial, oncological patients with moderate to severe pain requiring WHO step III opioids were randomly assigned to receive oral morphine or oxycodone or transdermal fentanyl or buprenorphine for 28 days. At each visit, pain intensity, modifications of therapy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were recorded. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of nonresponders, meaning patients with worse or unchanged average pain intensity (API) between the first and last visit, measured on a 0-10 numerical rating scale. (NCT01809106). RESULTS: Forty-four centers participated in the trial and recruited 520 patients. Worst pain intensity and API decreased over 4 weeks with no significant differences between drugs. Nonresponders ranged from 11.5% (morphine) to 14.4% (buprenorphine). Appreciable changes were made in the treatment schedules over time. Each group required increases in the daily dose, from 32.7% (morphine) to 121.2% (transdermal fentanyl). Patients requiring adjuvant analgesics ranged from 68.9% (morphine) to 81.6% (oxycodone), switches varied from 22.1% (morphine) to 12% (oxycodone), discontinuation of treatment from 27% ( morphine) to 14.5% (fentanyl). ADRs were similar except for effects on the nervous system, which significantly prevailed with morphine. CONCLUSION: The main findings were the similarity in pain control, response rates and main adverse reactions among opioids. Changes in therapy schedules were notable over time. A considerable proportion of patients were nonresponders or poor responders. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01809106 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01809106?term=cerp&rank=2).

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (ECEUS) for the differentiation of pancreatic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate CEUS for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases and its application in the clinical routine with a focus on the value of CEUS in ductal pancreatic carcinoma and its use for the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All prospective and retrospective studies published in any language by March 6, 2014 were included based on the following criteria: use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (ECEUS) as the imaging methods, use of histology as the reference method and availability of a complete translation. Two authors analyzed the titles and abstracts of the search results to identify all relevant publications. Two independent readers then analyzed the full articles to identify those meeting the inclusion criteria. Details regarding study design, patient characteristics, interventions, and results were then independently extracted by two radiologists and one reviewer with methodological expertise. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were used to obtain overall estimates. RESULTS: 1293 articles were initially identified. 27 studies met the inclusion criteria. CEUS was the index test in 23 studies while ECEUS was the index test in 4 studies. The primary study objective was met by 20 studies with respect to ductal adenocarcinoma. CEUS sensitivity was evaluated in all studies. The pooled estimate of CEUS sensitivity for the diagnosis of ductal adenocarcinoma was 0.89 (95 % CI, 0.85 - 0.92). 15 out of 20 studies examined CEUS specificity. The average specificity was 0.84 (95 % CI, 0.77 - 0.89). The pooled estimate for DOR was 61.12 (95 % CI, 34.81 - 107.32). With regard to the secondary study objective, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.95 (95 % CI, 0.93 - 0.96) from 14 studies and 0.72 (95 % CI, 0.58 - 0.83) from 13 studies, respectively. The pooled DOR was 57.63 (95 % CI, 33.62 - 98.78). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity, specificity, and DOR results show the high value of CEUS for the characterization and differentiation of ductal adenocarinomas from other pancreatic diseases and for cystic pancreatic lesions. For this reason and due to their noninvasive nature, CEUS and ECEUS should be used as the first methods for characterizing neoplastic pancreatic lesions, especially since these are often incidental findings. The methods improve the quality of ultrasound diagnostics and result in faster diagnosis and better disease management.

Randomized trial on adjuvant treatment with FOLFIRI followed by docetaxel and cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid for radically resected gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Some trial have demonstrated a benefit of adjuvant fluoropirimidine with or without platinum compounds compared with surgery alone. ITACA-S study was designed to evaluate whether a sequential treatment of FOLFIRI [irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/LV)] followed by docetaxel plus cisplatin improves disease-free survival in comparison with 5-FU/LV in patients with radically resected gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction were randomly assigned to either FOLFIRI (irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) day 1, LV 100 mg/m(2) as 2 h infusion and 5-FU 400 mg/m(2) as bolus, days 1 and 2 followed by 600 mg/m(2)/day as 22 h continuous infusion, q14 for four cycles) followed by docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) day 1, cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1, q21 for three cycles (sequential arm) or De Gramont regimen (5-FU/LV arm). RESULTS: From February 2005 to August 2009, 1106 patients were enrolled, and 1100 included in the analysis: 562 in the sequential arm and 538 in the 5-FU/LV arm. With a median follow-up of 57.4 months, 581 patients recurred or died (297 sequential arm and 284 5-FU/LV arm), and 483 died (243 and 240, respectively). No statistically significant difference was detected for both disease-free [hazard ratio (HR) 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-1.17; P = 0.974] and overall survival (OS) (HR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.82-1.18; P = 0.865). Five-year disease-free and OS rates were 44.6% and 44.6%, 51.0% and 50.6% in the sequential and 5-FU/LV arm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A more intensive regimen failed to show any benefit in disease-free and OS versus monotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01640782.

Conservative management of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: results of a large retrospective series.

BACKGROUND: To assess the long-term oncological outcome and the fertility of young women with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (ES/EOC) treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients treated with FSS for ES/EOC in two Italian centers were considered for this analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test demographic characteristics and clinical features for the association with overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and fertility. RESULTS: From 1982 to 2010, 240 patients with malignant ES/EOC were treated with FSS in two tertiary centers in Italy. At a median follow-up of 9 years, 27 patients had relapsed (11%) and 11 (5%) had died of progressive disease. Multivariate analysis found only grade 3 negatively affected the prognosis of patients [hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence: 4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-11.7, P=0.0067; HR for death: 7.6, 95% CI: 2.0-29.3, P=0.0032]. Grade 3 was also significantly associated with extra-ovarian relapse (P=0.006). Of the 105 patients (45%) who tried to become pregnant, 84 (80%) were successful. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment can be proposed to all young patients when tumor is limited to the ovaries, as ovarian recurrences can always be managed successfully. Patients with G3 tumors are more likely to have distant recurrences and should be closely monitored.

Screening elderly cancer patients for disabilities: evaluation of study of osteoporotic fractures (SOF) index and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA).

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional tool aimed at detecting multiple age-related problems; the study of osteoporotic fractures (SOF) index is a 3-item instrument designed to measure frailty and pre-frailty status. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the accuracy of the SOF index and CGA in predicting the disability status in elderly cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 70 years with a confirmed diagnosis of a solid or hematologic tumor underwent both CGA and SOF assessment. The sensitivity and specificity of SOF in determining the presence of frailty were analyzed using the CGA as the reference standard. The diagnostic accuracy of SOF < 80% was considered not acceptable. RESULTS: The study involved 400 patients aged ≥ 70 years (median age 77.2, range 70-97).The SOF and CGA classified, respectively, 33.2% and 31.8% of patients as fit, 67.8% and 68.2% as unfit. The SOF showed a sensibility and a specificity of 89.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 84.7-92.5] and 81.1 (73.2-87.5) with an accuracy of 86.5 (82.8-89.7). The negative predictive value (NPV) was 103/133, i.e. 77.4% (95% CI 69.4-84.2). CONCLUSIONS: As the SOF proved to reach the end-point of our study, we support its use as a means of screening elderly cancer patients in everyday clinical practice.

Performance of imaging modalities in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The recent guidelines published in 2011 suggest the use of only one imaging method for the final imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. To evaluate the methods in the context of the available literature evidence, this systematic review aimed at assessing the relative performance of different imaging techniques currently used in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from January 1996 to June 2011, with no language limitation. Eligible trials had to be conducted in patients with suspicion or diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma; compare at least two of the following imaging modalities: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound; have pathological findings as a reference standard. An analysis also including non-comparative studies was performed as a validation of the main comparison results. RESULTS: Of 5,144 screened papers, 16 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria for the comparative analysis and 65 were eligible for the non-comparative analysis. The overall sensitivity and specificity derived by the pooled analysis were 0.78 and 0.77 for computed tomography, 0.84 and 0.84 for magnetic resonance imaging and 0.86 and 0.77 for ultrasound, respectively. In the pair-wise comparisons, ultrasound showed a statistically better specificity than magnetic resonance imaging (0.86 vs. 0.78; p = 0.014) and a statistically better sensitivity than computed tomography (0.88 vs. 0.78; p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The present systematic review did not show an obvious superiority of one imaging method. Since their accuracy is not completely overlapping, the possibility of reaching better performance by combining methods should be considered in future prospective trials.

Biological characteristics and medical treatment of breast cancer in young women-a featured population: results from the NORA study.

BACKGROUND: The present paper described the biological characteristics and clinical behavior of young women in the cohort NORA study PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2000-2002, patients (N > 3500) were enrolled at 77 Italian hospitals. Women aged ≤50 years (N = 1013) were stratified into age groups (≤35, 36-40, 41-45, and 46-50 years). The relationship between age and patient characteristics, cancer presentation, and treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: Younger women more frequently had tumors with ER/PgR-negative(χ(2) = 7.07; P = .008), HER2 amplification (χ(2) = 5.76; P = .01), and high (≥10%) Ki67 labelling index (χ(2) = 9.53; P = .002). Positive nodal status, large tumors, and elevated Ki67 all associated with the choice for chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive patients (P < .0001). At univariate analysis, ER-ve status, chemotherapy and age resulted as the only statistically significant variables (HR = 2.02, P = .004, and >40 versus ≤40, P < .0001, resp.). At multivariate analysis, after adjustment for significant clinical and pathological factors, age remains a significant prognostic variable (HR = 0.93, P = .0021). CONCLUSION. This cohort study suggests that age per sè is an important prognostic factor. The restricted role of early diagnosis and the aggressive behavior of cancer in this population make necessary the application of targeted medical strategies crucial.

Intermittent versus continuous chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer: a randomised 'GISCAD' trial.

BACKGROUND: In advanced colorectal cancer, chemotherapy is usually administered without pauses and until progression but patients can experience cumulative toxicity and cannot tolerate a heavy therapeutic charge. AIM: The aim of the present trial was to evaluate whether an intermittent chemotherapy with levo-leucovorin + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + irinotecan (CPT-11) was at least as effective as the same regimen given continuously, both administered until progression, in patients affected with advanced colorectal cancer and not previously exposed to chemotherapy for metastatic disease. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 337 patients from 27 institutions were randomised between levo-leucovorin, 100/mg/m(2) i.v. + 5-FU; 400 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus + 5-FU; 600 mg/m(2) 22-h continuous infusion, days 1 and 2 + CPT-11; 180 mg/m(2) day 1, administered every 2 weeks 2 months on and 2 months off (arm A) and the same regimen administered continuously (arm B), until progression in both arms. The main end point was overall survival (OS), the secondary progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 41 months, OS was 18 months in arm A and 17 months in arm B [hazard ratio (HR), 0.88]. Also PFS was comparable in the two groups (6 months in both, with HR, 1.03), and even grades 3-4 toxicity (mainly myelosuppression, fever and diarrhoea) was similar. Second-line oxaliplatin-based treatment was administered in a similar percentage (66%) in the two arms. The median chemotherapy-free period (drug holiday) in arm A was 3.5 months. CONCLUSION: Reducing the charge of therapy in this population did not diminish the efficacy of treatment. Further studies with this strategy, including biologicals, are warranted.

The therapeutic efficacy of erdosteine in the treatment of chronic obstructive bronchitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.

UNLABELLED: Erdosteine, a drug approved for the treatment of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases, has been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic bronchitis or COPD (CB/COPD) in several studies, although marked differences in the perception of its usefulness still remain. AIM: to test the available evidence for the efficacy of erdosteine in adults with stable or exacerbated CB/COPD. METHODS: Meta-analysis of individual patient data from both published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing erdosteine with placebo/mucolytics, given for up to 10 days in association with standard therapy (RCTs used for regulatory drug approval). Individual patient data were provided by the manufacturer of erdosteine, Edmond Pharma (Milano, Italy). Endpoints were symptom scores (cough frequency and intensity, sputum viscosity and purulence, difficulty to expectorate, catarrh rhonchi at auscultation, dyspnoea), a cumulative global efficacy index (cGEI), and an overall physician efficacy assessment (OA). RESULTS: individual data from 1046 patients from 15 RCTs (12 on exacerbated and 3 on stable CB/COPD) were obtained. Erdosteine induced a significant reduction of cGEI vs comparators (-1.02; 95% CI: from -1.60 to -0.44; p=0.0006), both placebo and mucolytics. On individual symptoms, it positively impacted on cough frequency (-0.19; 95% CI: from -0.34 to -0.03) and intensity (-0.30; 95% CI: from -0.44 to -0.17), sputum viscosity (-0.28; 95% CI: from -0.49 to -0.07), difficulty to expectorate (-0.24; 95% CI: from -0.40 to -0.08), and catarrh ronchi at auscultation (-0.35; 95% CI: from -0.60 to -0.10). The effects on dyspnoea were only significant vs placebo, whereas sputum purulence was not significantly modified. The OA also favoured erdosteine, doubling the chance of success compared with placebo and mucolytics: OR (odds ratio) 2.06; (95% CI: from 1.27 to 3.33). The treatment with erdosteine was well tolerated. Adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal, were reported by 10.2% of patients compared to 11.0% in the reference groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with erdosteine is associated with a significant benefit in terms of symptom amelioration both vs placebo and mucolytics in patients with CB/COPD. Although with some limitations (e.g. not fully validated scores) this review reinforces the use of erdosteine, in combination with standard therapy, in respiratory diseases characterized by increased expectoration, namely acute CB/COPD exacerbations.

KRAS codon 61, 146 and BRAF mutations predict resistance to cetuximab plus irinotecan in KRAS codon 12 and 13 wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: KRAS codons 12 and 13 mutations predict resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) in metastatic colorectal cancer. Also, BRAF V600E mutation has been associated with resistance. Additional KRAS mutations are described in CRC. METHODS: We investigated the role of KRAS codons 61 and 146 and BRAF V600E mutations in predicting resistance to cetuximab plus irinotecan in a cohort of KRAS codons 12 and 13 wild-type patients. RESULTS: Among 87 KRAS codons 12 and 13 wild-type patients, KRAS codons 61 and 146 were mutated in 7 and 1 case, respectively. None of mutated patients responded vs 22 of 68 wild type (P=0.096). Eleven patients were not evaluable. KRAS mutations were associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS, HR: 0.46, P=0.028). None of 13 BRAF-mutated patients responded vs 24 of 74 BRAF wild type (P=0.016). BRAF mutation was associated with a trend towards shorter PFS (HR: 0.59, P=0.073). In the subgroup of BRAF wild-type patients, KRAS codons 61/146 mutations determined a lower response rate (0 vs 37%, P=0.047) and worse PFS (HR: 0.45, P=0.023). Patients bearing KRAS or BRAF mutations had poorer response rate (0 vs 37%, P=0.0005) and PFS (HR: 0.51, P=0.006) compared with KRAS and BRAF wild-type patients. CONCLUSION: Assessing KRAS codons 61/146 and BRAF V600E mutations might help optimising the selection of the candidate patients to receive anti-EGFR moAbs.

A phase II, randomized trial of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy comparing a three-drug combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) versus paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: the Snap-02 Italian Collaborative Study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and tolerability of the regimen containing paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) in the neo-adjuvant treatment of locally advanced squamous cell cervical cancer are unknown. The TIP regimen (TP plus ifosfamide) showed high efficacy but high toxicity and it is used as an internal control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 154 patients were randomized to TP (paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) + cisplatin 75 mg/m(2); n = 80) or TIP (TP + ifosfamide 5 g/m(2); n = 74), three cycles, followed by radical surgery. Pathological response to chemotherapy was classified as optimal [no residual tumor (complete response) or residual disease with < or = 3 mm stromal invasion (PR1)] or suboptimal response. RESULTS: Patient characteristics (TP/TIP): stage IB2 (56%/64%), IIA (18%/14%), IIB (20%/19%), III-IVA (5%/4%) and median age (42 years/45 years). The optimal response rate in the TP group was 25%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 16% to 37% and 43%, 95% CI = 31% to 55% in the TIP group. Grades 3-4 leukopenia (6%/53%) and neutropenia (26%/76%) were significantly more frequent on TIP. CONCLUSION: TP performance was below expectation since the lower 95% confidence limit of the optimal response rate failed to reach the prespecified minimum requirement of efficacy, i.e. 22%. The TIP regimen confirmed its activity but was associated with higher haematological toxicity than TP.

Variations in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene impact on survival of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) cytokine is thought to counteract tumor angiogenesis/metastasis. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-1RA gene (rs4251961 T/C and rs579543 C/T) influence IL-1RA circulating levels with highest production in carriers of the homozygous rs4251961 T/T and rs579543 T/T genotypes. A total of 180 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were categorized as high IL-1RA producers if they were carriers of at least one of the rs4251961 T/T or rs579543 T/T genotypes (T/T carriers). Median survival times were 35.8 months (95% confidence interval: 29.7-43.7 months) and 28.6 months (95% confidence interval: 25.6-30 months) in 56 T/T carriers and in 124 non-T/T carriers, respectively. The favorable association between T/T carriers' status and survival was significant in the multivariate analysis (P=0.018). Also, T/T carriers and non-T/T carriers were prevalent among patients with Karnofsky performance status 90-100 and 70-80, respectively (P=0.002). These findings encourage additional studies in this field and the evaluation of a recombinant-IL-1RA for anticancer activity.

Impact of recent legislative bills regarding clinical research on Italian ethics committee activity.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The present work assessed the impact of two decrees on ethics committees in Italy, aimed at bringing the national laws on the conduct of clinical trials into line with the rest of the EC, and regulating and facilitating not-for-profit research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospectively collected data from an Italian multicentre study were examined with respect to the ethics review process. Administrative and time elements of the review process were audited. Main outcome measures were time between the application submission and the ethics committee definitive opinion, type and number of application submission forms, number of ethics committees that refused fee exemption, and time between the ethics committee approval and the administrative authorisation. RESULTS: A total of 134 local research ethics committees (LRECs) were approached. Application submission procedures and application forms varied greatly; paper submission was mandatory. The median time from submission to approval was 72 days. Only two LRECs refused the fee exemption. The median time from LREC approval to administrative agreement was 50 days and only 9.6% of local authorities came to a verbal agreement with the sponsor. CONCLUSIONS: Italian LRECs are still not sufficiently efficient in complying with the Directive 2001/20/EC requirement (60 days). Better coordination of LRECs work is needed although the optimal level of coordination between them is still not known. In the meantime, national guidelines are needed concerning the application of Directive 2001/20/EC. The behaviour of Italian LRECs towards not-for-profit research was excellent although only the fee exemption was requested.

Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy and concurrent cisplatin: a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Chemoradiotherapy is the current standard of care for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of induction chemotherapy (CHT) followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this single-arm, phase II study, patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with 3 cycles of induction CHT with cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m(2) continuous infusion on days 1-4) followed by 3 cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) on days 1, 22 and 43) and concurrent radiotherapy up to 70 Gy. The primary endpoint was objective response. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were enrolled, and all completed both induction treatment and subsequent chemoradiotherapy. Objective response rates were 79.4% (95% CI 62.1-91.3) and 85.3% (95% CI 68.9-95.0) after induction CHT and chemoradiation, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated and toxicity was manageable. At a median follow-up of 29 months, 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates are 80.0% (95% CI 0.64-0.95) and 54.0% (95% CI 0.36-0.73), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Induction CHT with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy is a feasible and active regimen for patients with stage IIB-IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This regimen resulted in excellent locoregional disease control and overall survival.

Evaluation of serum HER2 extracellular domain in early breast cancer patients: correlation with clinicopathological parameters and survival.

BACKGROUND: We explored the correlation between serum human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) extracellular domain (ECD) and tissue HER2 status, their relationship with clinicopathological parameters and their impact on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival in early breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective trial included patients with stage I-III breast cancer. Serum HER2 ECD levels were measured by two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays before surgical treatment. Tissue HER2 status was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all tumors; FISH assay was utilized in HER2 2+ tumors by IHC. RESULTS: From May 2000 to July 2005, 256 consecutive stage I-III breast cancer patients were included in this study. High serum HER2 ECD levels (>or=15 ng/ml) were reported in 23 patients (9.0%) and HER2-positive status in tumor tissue was observed in 42 patients (16.4%) with a concordance of 87.1%. High HER2 ECD levels were significantly associated with high histological grade (P = 0.003), stage III (P = 0.008), lymph node involvement (P = 0.035) and negativity of both estrogen (P = 0.016) and progesterone (P = 0.007) receptors. At multivariate analysis, high serum HER2 ECD levels were a significant independent prognostic factor of worse DFS (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant association was observed between high serum HER2 ECD levels and worse DFS in early breast cancer patients.

Adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer: do the St Gallen recommendations influence clinical practice? Results from the NORA study.

BACKGROUND: The NORA study is a prospective longitudinal cohort study aiming at investigating treatment in patients with early breast cancer. Here, we present the impact of the St Gallen recommendations on clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared adjuvant strategies in patients enrolled in 2000-2002 to those in 2003-2004 to verify the impact of the 2003 St Gallen recommendations. RESULTS: The use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) doubled: 65/629 patients (10.3%) vs 100/458 patients (21.8) (P < 0.0001). Following chemotherapy, AIs were administered in 8.5% of the retrospective cohort and in 15.1% of the prospective one (P < 0.0001). The use of taxanes plus hormones dropped (P = 0.0026), but not when used as single agents. A marked increase was observed in the use of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (46.3% vs 65.2%), mainly three-drug regimens (33.3% vs 46.6%). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the St Gallen recommendations have had a major impact on clinical practice.

Venous thromboembolism predicts poor prognosis in irresectable pancreatic cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the outcomes associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) among irresectable pancreatic cancer patients. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of consecutive irresectable cancer patients, treated and followed up in clinical trials between December 2001 and December 2004 in order to evaluate the prognostic impact of symptomatic VTE on clinical outcomes, such as response to treatment, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Among 227 irresectable pancreatic cancer patients, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) < or = 2, 59 (26.0%) patients developed a VTE. A synchronous VTE occurred in 28 (12.3%) patients, while a VTE during chemotherapy was observed in 15 (6.6%) patients, and 16 (7.0%) patients experienced both events. Presence of synchronous VTE was associated with a higher probability of not responding to treatment (odds ratio 2.98, 95% CI 1.42-6.27, P = 0.004), but showed no effect on both PFS and OS at least at multivariate analysis. Occurrence of a VTE during chemotherapy showed a statistically significant effect on PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.59, 95% CI 1.69-3.97, P < 0.0001) and OS (HR 1.64, 95%CI 1.04-2.58, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the occurrence of VTE may be associated with a reduced response rate and a shorter PFS and OS among patients with irresectable pancreatic cancer. In these patients the development of VTE may reflect the presence of a biologically more aggressive cancer that in turn leads to a worse prognosis.