Phase II Study of Continued Trastuzumab Plus Irinotecan in Patients with HER2-positive Gastric Cancer Previously Treated with Trastuzumab (HGCSG 1201).

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of irinotecan plus continuous trastuzumab beyond progression in patients with gastric cancer previously treated with trastuzumab plus standard first-line chemotherapy has not been reported. METHODS: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric cancer who were previously treated with trastuzumab received trastuzumab every 3 weeks and irinotecan every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR), and the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), 6-month survival rates, safety, and subgroup analysis by HER2 status. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled in a 3-year pre-planned registration period. This study was prematurely closed due to poor patient accrual. The ORR and disease control rate were 6.7% (95% CI, 0.2-32.0) and 53.3% (95% CI, 26.6-78.7). The median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 2.4 months (95% CI, 0.0-5.2) and 9.7 months (95% CI, 8.2-11.2), respectively. The most frequently reported grades 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (40%), anemia (27%), anorexia (33%), and fatigue (33%). CONCLUSION: With only 16 patients enrolled, the present study has very low power to detect any clinical benefit of trastuzumab plus irinotecan beyond disease progression in patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer who previously received trastuzumab.Trial Identifier: UMIN000007636.

Multicenter, prospective, observational study of chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia in gastrointestinal cancer.

PURPOSE: Dysgeusia is an adverse event caused by chemotherapy. Although retrospective studies have shown zinc administration improves dysgeusia, there have been no prospective studies. The present study examined effects of zinc therapy on dysgeusia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, observational study enrolled patients with dysgeusia during chemotherapy treatment. Patients received no intervention (control), polaprezinc p.o., or zinc acetate hydrate p.o., and serum zinc levels were measured at 0 (baseline), 6, and 12 weeks. Dysgeusia was assessed using CTCAE v5.0 and subjective total taste acuity (STTA) criteria using questionnaires at baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: From February 2020 to June 2021, 180 patients were enrolled from 17 institutes. There were no differences in mean baseline serum zinc levels among the groups (67.3, 66.6, and 67.5 µg/dL in the no intervention, polaprezinc, and zinc acetate hydrate groups, respectively. P = 0.846). The changes in mean serum zinc levels after 12 weeks were - 3.8, + 14.3, and + 46.6 µg/dL, and the efficacy rates of dysgeusia were 33.3%, 36.8%, and 34.6% using CTCAE and 33.3%, 52.6%, 32.7% using STTA in the no intervention, polaprezinc, and zinc acetate hydrate groups, respectively. The STTA scores improved in all groups, with significant improvement observed in the polaprezinc group compared with the no intervention group (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: There was no significant correlation between the degree of serum zinc elevation and improvement in dysgeusia, suggesting that polaprezinc, but not zinc acetate hydrate, was effective in improving chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000039653. Date of registration: March 2, 2020.

Combination therapy of bevacizumab with either S-1 and irinotecan or mFOLFOX6/CapeOX as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (TRICOLORE): Exploratory analysis of RAS status and primary tumour location in a randomised, open-label, phase III, non-inferiority trial.

AIM: The TRICOLORE trial previously demonstrated that S-1 and irinotecan plus bevacizumab was non-inferior, based on progression-free survival (PFS), to 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6)/capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOX) plus bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Overall survival (OS) data were immature at the time of the primary analysis. METHODS: In total, 487 patients from 53 institutions with previously untreated mCRC were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either mFOLFOX6/CapeOX plus bevacizumab (control group) or S-1 and irinotecan plus bevacizumab (experimental group; 3- or 4-week regimen). The final OS data were analysed from follow-up data collected until 30th September 2017. RESULTS: With a median follow-up period of 48.7 months, median survival times were 32.6 and 34.3 months (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-1.10, P = 0.293) and median PFS durations were 10.8 and 14.0 months in the control and experimental groups, respectively (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.71-1.04, P < 0.0001 for non-inferiority). In patients with left-sided RAS wild-type tumours, median PFS durations were 11.4 and 16.9 months in the control and experimental groups, respectively (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: S-1 and irinotecan plus bevacizumab resulted in comparable OS and non-inferior PFS with that of mFOLFOX6/CapeOX plus bevacizumab treatment as first-line chemotherapy for patients with mCRC. We recommend the use of S-1 and irinotecan plus bevacizumab as a standard first-line regimen independent of tumour sidedness or RAS status in mCRC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR: 000007834.

Study protocol of HGCSG1404 SNOW study: a phase I/II trial of combined chemotherapy of S-1, nab-paclitaxel and oxaliplatin administered biweekly to patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) regimen has become a standard therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Moreover, the S-1 plus oxaliplatin regimen is now a standard treatment. Nab-paclitaxel was developed for chemotherapy of gastric cancer in Japanese clinical practice. Nab-paclitaxel, created with albumin-bound paclitaxel particles, has high transferability to tumour tissues and does not cause hypersensitivity reactions because of a different chemical composition compared with docetaxel and paclitaxel. A combination of S-1, nab-paclitaxel and oxaliplatin (which we named 'SNOW regimen') can be a promising triplet therapy for advanced gastric cancer. Although we have to pay attention to chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, we aim to investigate the recommended dose of this regimen in a phase I study. Furthermore, we will investigate its efficacy and toxicity in a phase II study. METHODS: The phase I study is a dose-escalation study using a standard 3 plus 3 design, followed by expansion cohorts. The SNOW regimen involves 28-day cycles with escalated doses of nab-paclitaxel (100-175 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15) and fixed doses of oxaliplatin (65 mg/ m2 on days 1 and 15) and S-1 (80 mg/m2/day on day 1 to 14). The primary endpoints are assessment of dose limiting toxicities and determination of maximum tolerated dose to investigate the recommended dose in the subsequent phase II study. In the phase II study, the primary endpoint is objective response rate. Secondary endpoints are assessment of safety, progression-free survival, disease control rate, overall survival and time to treatment failure. Adverse events were monitored and graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. DISCUSSION: Triplet therapies for advanced gastric cancer patients have been evaluated in clinical trials. The SNOW regimen can be a promising new triplet therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is performed at institutes that participate in Hokkaido Gastrointestinal Cancer Study Group (HGCSG) and registered as UMIN000016788 . Registrated 16 March 2015.

Open-label, randomized, comparative, phase III study on effects of reducing steroid use in combination with Palonosetron.

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of a single administration of dexamethasone (DEX) on day 1 against DEX administration on days 1-3 in combination with palonosetron (PALO), a second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in non-anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) moderately-emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). This phase III trial was conducted with a multi-center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority design. Patients who received non-AC MEC as an initial chemotherapy were randomly assigned to either a group administered PALO (0.75 mg, i.v.) and DEX (9.9 mg, i.v.) prior to chemotherapy (study treatment group), or a group administered additional DEX (8 mg, i.v. or p.o.) on days 2-3 (control group). The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate. The CR rate difference was estimated by logistic regression with allocation factors as covariates. The non-inferiority margin was set at -15% (study treatment group - control group). From April 2011 to March 2013, 305 patients who received non-AC MEC were randomly allocated to one of two study groups. Overall, the CR rate was 66.2% in the study treatment group (N = 151) and 63.6% in the control group (N = 154). PALO plus DEX day 1 was non-inferior to PALO plus DEX days 1-3 (difference, 2.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.8%-12.8%; P-value for non-inferiority test = 0.0004). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of complete control rate (64.9 vs 61.7%) and total control rate (49.7% vs 47.4%). Anti-emetic DEX administration on days 2-3 may be eliminated when used in combination with PALO in patients receiving non-AC MEC.

Randomized controlled trial on the skin toxicity of panitumumab in Japanese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: HGCSG1001 study; J-STEPP.

AIM: We planned a randomized, open-label trial to evaluate differences between pre-emptive and reactive skin treatment for panitumumab (Pmab)-associated skin toxicities in Japanese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS & METHODS: Patients receiving third-line Pmab-containing regimens were randomized to pre-emptive or reactive treatment. The primary end point was the cumulative incidence of ≥grade 2 skin toxicities during 6 weeks. Retrospectively, a dermatologist reviewed skin toxicities, in a blinded manner. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients were enrolled (pre-emptive: 47, reactive: 48). The primary end point was achieved (21.3 and 62.5% [risk ratio: 0.34; p < 0.001], for pre-emptive and reactive treatment, respectively). A similar trend was observed in central review. CONCLUSION: Pre-emptive skin treatment could reduce the severity of Pmab-associated skin toxicities in Japanese metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Technical difficulty according to location, and risk factors for perforation, in endoscopic submucosal dissection of colorectal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely accepted treatment for colorectal tumors, but is technically more difficult and has a higher risk of complications such as perforation than gastric ESD. Few studies have investigated the factors associated with technical difficulty and perforation in colorectal ESD. This study aimed to evaluate the technical difficulty according to location, and the risk factors for perforation, in colorectal ESD. METHODS: This retrospective study included 134 consecutive colorectal tumors treated by ESD in 122 patients at the Division of Endoscopy of Hokkaido University Hospital and the Department of Gastroenterology of Kitami Red Cross Hospital from November 2011 to February 2013. To evaluate the technical difficulty of performing ESD for colorectal tumors at specific locations, the en bloc R0 resection rate, specimen diameter, procedure speed, and procedure time were compared among tumor locations using the χ (2) test or analysis of variance. Risk factors for perforation were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The en bloc R0 resection rate was 86.6 % (116/134), the mean tumor diameter was 27.1 mm, and the mean procedure time was 63.5 min. The mean speed of procedures was significantly slower in the sigmoid colon (24.7 min/cm(2)) than in other areas. Perforation occurred in nine cases (6.7 %). Submucosal fibrosis was the only factor independently associated with perforation (odds ratio 5.684, 95 % confidence interval 1.307-24.727). CONCLUSIONS: ESD was slower for sigmoid colon tumors than for tumors in other areas, suggesting that ESD was technically more difficult in the sigmoid colon than in other colorectal areas. Submucosal fibrosis was independently associated with perforation during colorectal ESD.

[Clinical impact of addition of bevacizumab to the first-line chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer].

BACKGROUND: Combination regimens containing bevacizumab(BV)are regarded as one of the standard first-line chemotherapy (1stCTx) regimens in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, some patients cannot be treated with BV because of the short interval from the palliative operation or other reasons. We present a study of some patients who were treated with add-on BV in the middle of the 1stCTx before disease progression(referred to as "midway BV" regimen hereafter), and here, we report the efficacy of the midway BV regimen as observed in our patients. RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 74 mCRC patients, who were undergoing 1stCTx treatment at our hospital from January 2010 to September 2012. We divided the patients into 3 groups, depending on when BV was introduced in their regimen: 40, 25, and 9 patients were respectively included in the "no-BV" group (patients who were treated without BV in the 1stCTx), BV group(patients treated with BV from the 1st cycle in the 1stCTx), and the midway-BV group (patients who were initially treated without BV and then received add-on BV). The response rates of patients in the no-BV, BV, and midway-BV groups were 27.5%, 44.0%, and 55.6%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and median survival time of patients in the no-BV, BV, and midway-BV groups were, respectively, 9.7 months, 9.3 months, and 12.8 months, and 20.3 months, 22.2 months, and N. R. CONCLUSION: Although few cases were analyzed and there might be many confounding factors, our study suggests that midway BV is potentially useful for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are not initially treated with BV in the first cycle of the 1stCTx regimen.

Phase II study of combined chemotherapy with irinotecan and S-1 (IRIS) plus bevacizumab in patients with inoperable recurrent or advanced colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, a study comparing the effectiveness and safety of irinotecan plus S-1 (IRIS) with those of a combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as second-line treatment in patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer demonstrated that IRIS was non-inferior to FOLFIRI. We previously reported that IRIS is also effective as first-line treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria included inoperable recurrent colorectal cancer with a confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, age ≥20 years, and no history of prior chemotherapy. S-1 (40-60 mg twice daily) was given orally on Days 1 to 14, and irinotecan (100 mg/m(2)) and bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) were given intravenously on Days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was safety. The secondary endpoints included overall response (OR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 52 eligible patients were enrolled from October 2007 through March 2009. In safety analysis, the incidences of grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were as follows: neutropenia, 27%; hypertension, 21%; and diarrhea, 17%. The overall response rate was 57.7%. Median progression-free survival was 16.7 months. CONCLUSION: IRIS plus bevacizumab is a well-tolerated, highly effective chemotherapeutic regimen that is easy to administer.

[A case of sigmoid colon cancer with temporary dysarthria associated with irinotecan].

A40 -year-old woman visited our hospital with adenocaricinoma of the sigmoid colon with multiple liver metastases and ovarian metastasis. Because of a stenosis of the primary tumor, she underwent a colostomy before chemotherapy. 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan and leucovorin(FOLFIRI)was selected as first-line chemotherapy. At the start of chemotherapy, just after the end of irinotecan and leucovorin administration, the patient developed dysarthria. There were no neurological abnormalities or hematological abnormalities. The treatment was temporarily discontinued, and the dysarthria completely disappeared within 90 minutes. 5-fluorouracil was administered after the disappearance of dysarthria. Within 60 minutes of the administration of irinotecan and leucovorin at the second chemotherapy treatment, the patient developed dysarthria again. The patient had no neurological or hematological abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)showed no abnormalities. The treatment was stopped and dysarthria disappeared within 60 minutes as it did the first time. At each time, no treatment for dysarthria was performed. This patient refused to continue irinotecan because of dysarthria. Therefore, chemotherapy without irinotecan was continued for the third time onward. In the previous literature, 8 cases of dysarthria caused by irinotecan were reported as a rare toxicity. In all cases, dysarthria was temporary and reversible. Because the mechanism of dysarthria is unclear, specific treatment and precaution for dysarthria is not recommended. Since dysarthria is reversible, however, irinotecan might be continued until progression.

Phase II study of combined treatment with irinotecan and S-1 (IRIS) in patients with inoperable or recurrent advanced colorectal cancer (HGCSG0302).

OBJECTIVES: This phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 plus irinotecan (IRIS regimen) in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: The response rate was the primary endpoint. Safety, progression-free survival time, and median survival time were secondary endpoints. The subjects were untreated patients with inoperable advanced colorectal cancer. Irinotecan was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m² (on days 1 and 15). S-1 (40 mg/m²) was administered for 2 weeks (on days 1 to 14) and followed by a 2-week rest. RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled. Four patients had grade 4 neutropenia, and six patients had grade 3 diarrhea. No other serious hematologic or nonhematologic adverse reactions occurred, and all patients received IRIS safely on an outpatient basis. The response rate was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.1-68.5%). Median progression-free survival was 8.6 months (95% CI, 5.3-11.9), and median survival time was 23.4 months (95% CI, 15.9-30.8). CONCLUSIONS: IRIS produced a high response rate and could be given safely. IRIS may become a first-line treatment for inoperable or recurrent advanced colorectal cancer.

Retrospective cohort study on the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab with chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer patients: the HGCSG0801 study.

OBJECTIVE: After approval of bevacizumab in Japan, post-marketing surveillance studies reported on safety. However, few reports have shown the efficacy of bevacizumab as used in daily practice. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer patients in daily practice. METHODS: All unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients who began receiving bevacizumab in participating facilities from June 2007 to October 2008 were retrospectively analyzed for safety and efficacy. Adverse events were assessed by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Response Evaluation in Solid Tumors criteria, version 1.0, was used for the tumor response rate. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients from 17 institutions were assessed. Grade 3 or higher adverse events related to bevacizumab included gastrointestinal perforation in 3, thrombosis in 7, hypertension in 30 and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2. Response rates were 62.5, 30.1 and 11.8% overall among patients receiving bevacizumab as first-, second- and third-line or greater therapy. Median progression-free survival was 14.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.8-18.1], 7.8 (95% CI: 6.5-9.1) and 6.0 (95% CI: 4.6-7.3) months, and median overall survival was 32.5 (95% CI: 24.6-40.3), 16.4 (95% CI: 14.4-18.5) and 11.8 (95% CI: 8.6-15.0) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The general cohort of patients in HGCSG0801 showed a similar efficacy and safety profile of bevacizumab as seen in clinical trials. Although the sample size was small and there were several study limitations, these results suggest that colorectal cancer patients in Japan might safely receive and benefit from bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy in daily practice, as is seen in patients in other countries.

[A case of sigmoid colon cancer with lymphangitis carcinomatosa successfully treated with chemotherapies including molecular targeting drugs].

A 51-year-old man was referred to our hospital with adenocarcinoma of sigmoid colon with multiple lymph node metastasis. At the time of admission, he had dyspnea, and computed tomography (CT) showed typical signs of lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lung. Combination of mFOLFOX6 and bevacizumab was started. After start of the therapy, CT revealed an improvement in lymphangitis carcinomatosa. 8 months later, the tumor assessment became progressive disease. FOLFIRI was started as the second-line chemotherapy, but the patient did not respond. Then, dyspnea emerged again, and CT indicated the lymphangitis carcinomatosa had become worse. So as the third-line chemotherapy, combination of irinotecan and cetuximab was started. Dyspnea immediately disappeared, and CT showed an improvement of lymphangitis carcinomatosa. In the previous literature, malignant tumor cases which accompany lymphangitis carcinomatosa might always have a poor course. Our case dramatically responded to the chemotherapy including molecular targeting drug and showed a long survival. So we conclude that aggressive chemotherapy including a molecular targeting drug may be recommended in a case of colorectal cancer which accompanies lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lung.

[Second-line chemotherapy for colorectal cancer].

For the current metastatic colorectal cancer, FOLFIRI or FOLFOX is chosen as first-line chemotherapy. Second-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy is commonly used after first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Of course, FOLFOX becomes the second-line if FOLFIRI becomes primary therapy. It is important that these regimens combine molecular targetting agents such as Bevacizumab or Cetuximab. The addition of these new agents offers a chance to further enhance the activity of conventional chemotherapy.