Evaluation of a novel skin care product for the management of chemotherapy-related dermatologic toxicities: A quasi-experimental study.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the efficacy of a novel skincare product for the management of chemotherapy-related dermatological toxicities. METHODS: A monocentric, prospective, interventional, open-label, pretest-posttest, single-group study with cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (n = 100) was set up. All enrolled patients applied the emollient daily to their face and body for three weeks. The severity of the skin reactions was evaluated by a researcher using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 at baseline and end of the trial. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the frequency and severity of skin symptoms (Numerical rating scale, NRS), quality of life (QoL; Skindex-16 and Dermatology Life Quality Index), Patient Benefit Index (PBI), and treatment satisfaction. PROs were collected at baseline, weekly, and at the end of the trial. RESULTS: According to the CTCAE and NRS, the novel emollient significantly improved the severity and frequency of xerosis and pruritus (Ps ≤ .001). A significant reduction in the NRS score for frequency of erythema was measured (p < .001). The frequency and severity of burning and pain did not change. Regarding the patients' QoL, no beneficial effect of the skin care product was measurable. 44% of the patients experienced at least one patient-relevant treatment benefit. 87% of the patients were satisfied with the emollient and would recommend it. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the novel emollient significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced skin toxicity, more specifically xerosis and pruritus without hampering patient's QoL. Future research is needed to make definite conclusions using a study design including a control group and a long-term follow-up.

Patient outcome in the Belgian medical need program on bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma.

Bevacizumab (BEV) has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGB). Given the unmet need for active therapeutic options in rGB patients, a medical need program was initiated by the Belgian competent authorities. Between November 2010 and February 2013, a total of 313 patients with rGB initiated treatment with BEV administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. All patients had failed prior treatment with at least radiation therapy and temozolomide and the majority of patients (70 %) were treated with corticosteroids at baseline. Patients received a median of 6 BEV administrations (range 1-53). Overall, BEV was well tolerated. During BEV treatment the WHO-Performance Score (WHO-PS) improved in 59 patients (19 %) and stabilized for at least 6 weeks in an additional 139 (44 %) patients. Corticosteroid treatment could be stopped in 16 % or reduced in dose in 32 % of patients. The best objective tumor response rate using RANO criteria (investigator's assessment) was 3.5 % CR, 22 % PR, 38 % SD and 37 % PD. The median and 6-month PFS were 13 weeks (95 % CI 12.7-14) and 27.3 % (95 % CI 22.3-32.5), median and 6-month OS rates were 26 weeks (23-29) and 52 % (46.4-58.6), respectively. WHO-PS (0-1 vs. 2-3) and baseline steroid use were significantly correlated with PFS and OS. Our observations support the use of BEV as a monotherapy for patients with rGB who have no alternative treatment options. Optimal benefit from BEV treatment is likely to be obtained when treatment is initiated before the performance status deteriorates to two or less.

Non-hodgkin lymphoma after treatment with extended dosing temozolomide and radiotherapy for a glioblastoma: a case report.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent, used for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. This case report describes the development of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient treated with extended-dose temozolomide and radiotherapy. In addition to the possible mutagenic effect of temozolomide - as described for all alkylating agents - there might have been an immunosuppressive effect of TMZ. The pathological appearance of the lymphoma as well as the presence of a grade 3 lymphopenia early in treatment supports this hypothesis. As the use of TMZ increases, the awareness that TMZ may induce secondary malignancies should increase as well.

Nonadherence to imatinib treatment in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors: the ADAGIO study.

AIM: To determine imatinib nonadherence rates in patients with gastrointestinal tumors (GIST) over 90 days. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective 90-day observational, open-label, multicenter study was carried out of 28 evaluable GIST patients on imatinib. Nonadherence behavior was measured using a 4-item patient interview. Clinicians, patients, and collaterals rated perceived patient adherence on a 0-100 VAS scale. RESULTS: Nonadherence rates in the 4 weeks prior to baseline and follow-up were 29% (95% CI=26-32) and 24% (95% CI=21-27, p>0.05). Mean VAS ratings of perceived adherence ranged from 95.2 ± 10.2 to 97.3 ± 4.8 (p>0.05 for time and source of rating). Correlations between perceptions of and actual adherence behavior were negative. CONCLUSION: In this first study on imatinib nonadherence in GIST patients, rates were similar to those observed in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, higher than clinically expected and exceeding meta-analytic estimates for cancer. Nonadherence rates were consistent across the 90-day period. Nonadherence behavior should be assessed by clinicians.

A multicenter cohort study of dose-dense temozolomide (21 of 28 days) for the treatment of recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma or oligoastrocytoma.

Dose-dense temozolomide schedules deplete O6-methylguanine methyltransferase and may overcome chemoresistance. This multicenter cohort study enrolled 19 patients (15 anaplastic astrocytoma, 4 anaplastic oligoastrocytoma) who received temozolomide (100 mg/m2/day for 21 consecutive days every 28-day cycle) at first recurrence, either until disease progression or 12 cycles. Six-month progression-free survival was 56%, comparing favorably with historic controls treated with the standard 5-day temozolomide schedule. Median survival was 12.9 months (95% CI: 3.7, 22 months). Among 15 evaluable patients, 2 had a complete or partial response, and 10 had stable disease. Grade 3 and 4 lymphopenia occurred in 53% and 47% of patients, respectively.

Temozolomide for the treatment of recurrent supratentorial glioma: results of a compassionate use program in Belgium.

Temozolomide (TMZ) has demonstrated activity and acceptable toxicity for the treatment of recurrent high-grade gliomas in prospective phase II studies. Limited information is available on TMZ when prescribed outside a clinical trial. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the activity and safety of TMZ that was prescribed for the treatment of recurrent glioma in the context of a compassionate use program in Belgium. Data were obtained on 117 adult patients (from five hospitals) who received TMZ as first or second line chemotherapy. The recommended starting dose of TMZ was 200 mg/m2 x5d q28d for chemonaive patients and 150 mg/m2 x5d q28d for pre-treated patients. Toxicity was generally mild. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent treatment related adverse event (grade 3/4 in 17% of patients). Its occurrence was correlated with a starting dose of 200 mg/m2/d and stresses the need to monitor toxicity. The overall objective response rate (complete and partial response) was 29 and 34% of patients achieved an objective disease stabilization. The median progression-free survival was 104 days (95% CI: 85-123) and the median overall survival was 215 days (95% CI: 161 269). In multivariate analysis a 'deep localization' of the glioma (as opposed to a cortico-subcortical localization) and 'the preceding history of a low-grade glioma' were respectively identified as a negative and positive independent prognostic variable for survival. No significant difference in terms of response or median survival was observed between patients with anaplastic astrocytoma or oligo-astrocytoma and chemonaive glioblastoma multiforme. This retrospective study indicates that the reported activity and toxicity profile of TMZ for the treatment of patients with recurrent glioma is reproducible outside the setting of a prospective clinical trial.