Clinical validation of a prognostic tool in a population of outpatients treated for incurable cancer undergoing anticancer therapy: PRONOPALL study.

BACKGROUND: In 2008, a study of the characteristics of hospitalised patients led to the development of a prognostic tool that distinguished three populations with significantly different 2-month survival rates. The goal of our study aimed at validating prospectively this prognostic tool in outpatients treated for cancer in terminal stage, based on four factors: performance status (ECOG) (PS), number of metastatic sites, serum albumin and lactate dehydrogenase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PRONOPALL is a multicentre study of current care. About 302 adult patients who met one or more of the following criteria: life expectancy under 6 months, performance status ≥ 2 and disease progression during the previous chemotherapy regimen were included across 16 institutions between October 2009 and October 2010. Afterwards, in order to validate the prognostic tool, the score was ciphered and correlated to patient survival. RESULTS: Totally 262 patients (87%) were evaluable (27 patients excluded and 13 unknown score). Median age was 66 years [37-88], and women accounted for 59%. ECOG PS 0-1 (46%), PS 2 (37%) and PS 3-4 (17%). The primary tumours were: breast (29%), colorectal (28%), lung (13%), pancreas (12%), ovary (11%) and other (8%). About 32% of patients presented one metastatic site, 35% had two and 31% had more than two. The median lactate dehydrogenase level was 398 IU/l [118-4314]; median serum albumin was 35 g/l [13-54]. According to the PRONOPALL prognostic tool, the 2-month survival rate was 92% and the median survival rate was 301 days [209-348] for the 130 patients in population C, 66% and 79 days [71-114] for the 111 patients in population B, and 24% and 35 days for [14-56] the 21 patients in population A. These three populations survival were statistically different (P <0.0001). CONCLUSION: PRONOPALL study confirms the three prognostic profiles defined by the combination of four factors. This PRONOPALL score is a useful decision-making tool in daily practice.

Postoperative irinotecan in resected stage II-III rectal cancer: final analysis of the French R98 Intergroup trial†.

BACKGROUD: The R98 trial explores the addition of irinotecan to a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (5-FU/LV) adjuvant regimen in optimally resected stages II-III rectal cancers. We report the updated long-term results. Disease-free survival (DFS) was the primary end point. PATIENST AND METHODS: Between March 1999 and December 2005, 357 patients were randomized: 178 in 5-FU/LV and 179 in LV5-FU2 + irinotecan arm. The trial was stratified by control arm: Mayo Clinic regimen or LV5-FU2 regimen. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-seven randomized patients were evaluable for efficacy. With a follow-up of 156 months, the DFS was in favour of experimental arm but did not reach statistical significance [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.80, P = 0.154]. The same was observed for overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.87, P = 0.433). The 5-year DFS was 58% in the control arm and 63% in the experimental arm. The 5-year OS was 74% in the control arm and 75% in the experimental arm. Patients allocated to the experimental arm had more grade 3-4 neutropenia when compared with the LV5-FU2 arm (33% versus 6%, P = 0.03), but not when compared with the Mayo Clinic arm (33% versus 36%, P = 0.84). Grade 3-4 diarrhoea tended to be higher in the experimental arm, but analyses stratified by control arm or by radiotherapy failed to show significant differences across strata (test for interaction P = 0.44). CONCLUSION: Even though a benefit of irinotecan in subgroups of patients cannot be excluded, due to early termination and lack of power, the study does not support the addition of irinotecan to 5-FU/LV in routine in patients with resected stage II-III rectal cancer.

Evaluation in usual practice of the bevacizumab-FOLFIRI combination for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer treated in 2006: focus on resected patients and oncogeriatrics: AVASTIN OUEST cohort of the Observatory of Cancer of the Brittany and Pays de la Loire Areas (Observatoire dédié au Cancer Bretagne / Pays de la Loire).

BACKGROUND: In 2006, bevacizumab, a targeted therapy agent was combined with FOLFIRI for the firstline treatment of patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS/RESULTS: A study on a homogenous series of 111 patients from the Brittany and Pays de la Loire areas who received bevacizumab-FOLFIRI as first-line treatment in 2006 showed the following results: 51 responses, 29 stabilisations, 21 progressions and 10 cases of toxicity prior to assessment. Median overall survival (OS) was 25.1 months and median progression-free survival was 10.2 months. Surgery secondary to treatment tripled median OS which reached 59.2 months in resected patients versus 18.8 months in unresected patients. Comparison of patients aged more or less than 70 years showed no differences in terms of benefits or risks. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab-FOLFIRI could be administered as part of a routine care protocol to elderly patients previously evaluated by a geriatric assessment and validated by a multidisciplinary staff.

En 2006, bevacizumab-FOLFIRI représente la thérapie ciblée administrable dès la première ligne chez les patients porteurs d'un cancer colorectal métastatique non opérable. Une série homogène de 111 patients colligés en région Bretagne et Pays de la Loire ayant reçu du bevacizumab- FOLFIRI en première ligne en 2006 révèle les résultats suivants: 51 réponses, 29 stabilités, 21 progressions et 10 toxicités avant évaluation. La médiane de survie globale (OS) est de 25,1 mois et la médiane de survie sans progression (PFS) de 10,2 mois. Dans le cas d'une chirurgie secondaire, l'OS médian triple de 18,8 mois chez les patients non réséqués versus 59,2 mois ceux réséqués. En comparant les sujets âgés de plus et de moins de 70 ans, aucune différence n'a été mise en évidence en termes de bénéfice ou de risque. Bevacizumab-FOLFIRI pourrait être administré en pratique courante chez les personnes âgées sous couvert d'une évaluation gériatrique et d'une approche multidisciplinaire.

Influence of oxaliplatin on 5-fluorouracil plasma clearance and clinical consequences.

UNLABELLED: The influence of oxaliplatin (OXA) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plasma clearance was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 29 patients with advanced colorectal cancer refractory to prior weekly 8-h 5-FU infusion plus bolus folinic acid (FA), received the same combination plus OXA at 130 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks, OXA plus 5-FU plus FA on day 1, and 5-FU plus FA on days 8 and 15. Steady-state 5-FU concentrations in plasma were measured weekly and 5-FU clearance was calculated. Both before and after the addition of OXA, the 5-FU dose was individually adjusted according to the pharmacokinetic follow-up (target steady-state plasma concentrations 2.5-3 mg/l). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 122 OXA-containing infusions and 338 5-FU plus FA infusions were given and the median number of infusions per patient was 4 (2-9) and 10 (5-28), respectively. 5-FU plasma clearance was significantly decreased on days 8 and 15 when compared with the value on day 1 and with the values before OXA introduction using a direct paired comparison (2.36 and 2.31 l/min, respectively, vs 3.12 and 3.05 l/min; P<10(-5)). Of 25 evaluable patients, 6 had an objective response after the introduction of OXA (24% objective response rate, 95% confidence interval 9.4-45%). CONCLUSION: OXA reduces 5-FU plasma clearance for 15 days. This may be a factor in the synergy between the two drugs. It is not linked to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase inhibition. Implications for drug schedules in clinical practice are discussed.

Humoral hypercalcemia in patients with colorectal carcinoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Humoral hypercalcemia rarely is associated with colorectal carcinoma; to the authors' knowledge only nine cases have been reported to date. METHODS: Two cases of advanced colorectal carcinoma with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) are presented. RESULTS: The two patients had severe hypercalcemia without bone metastases. The diagnosis of HHM was based on findings of hypercalcemia, hypophosphoremia, elevated serum parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), and positive tumor immunoreactivity to monoclonal PTHrP antiserum. One patient had a colonic adenocarcinoma with a neuroendocrine component and the other patient had rectal adenocarcinoma. Immunoreactive PTHrP was found in both tumor components. Bisphosphonate treatment normalized the hypercalcemia within a few days but it recurred in the patients 2 weeks and 3 weeks later, respectively. The prognosis was extremely poor. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge the two cases presented in the current study are the first to be reported with HHM-associated colorectal carcinoma with positive tumor immunoreactivity to PTHrP monoclonal antiserum.

Correlation between uracil and dihydrouracil plasma ratio, fluorouracil (5-FU) pharmacokinetic parameters, and tolerance in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: A potential interest for predicting 5-FU toxicity and determining optimal 5-FU dosage.

PURPOSE: Patients with genetic fluorouracil (5-FU) catabolic deficiencies are at high risk for severe toxicity. To predict 5-FU catabolic deficiencies and toxic side effects, we conducted a prospective study of patients treated for advanced colorectal cancer by high-dose 5-FU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients were treated with weekly infusions of 5-FU and folinic acid. The initial 5-FU dose of 1,300 mg/m(2) was individually adjusted according to a dose-adjustment chart. Plasma concentrations of uracil (U) and its dihydrogenated metabolite, dihydrouracil (UH(2)), were measured before treatment, and the ratio of UH(2) to U was calculated. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were conducted to look for a relationship between the ratio of UH(2) to U and 5-FU metabolic outcome and tolerance. RESULTS: The UH(2)-U ratios were normally distributed (mean value, 2.82; range, 0.35 to 7.13) and were highly correlated to (1) 5-FU plasma levels after the first course of treatment (r =.58), (2) 5-FU plasma clearance (r =.639), and (3) individual optimal therapeutic 5-FU dose (r =.65). Toxic side effects were observed only in patients with initial UH(2)-U ratios of less than 1.8. No adverse effects were noted in patients with UH(2)-U ratios of greater than 2.25. CONCLUSION: The UH(2)-U ratio, easily determined before treatment, could help to identify patients with metabolic deficiency and, therefore, a risk of toxicity.