Sexual life of male patients with advanced renal cancer treated with angiogenesis inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects patients mainly ∼60 years of age and who may have an active sex life. The objective of the study was to investigate possible sexual disorders in a male population with advanced RCC treated with a molecular targeted therapy (MTT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight male patients with a stabilized advanced RCC on MTT were proposed a personal interview about their sexual life, filled in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) auto-questionnaire, and were reassessed if the treatment was modified. RESULTS: This is the first evaluation of sexual life while on MTT. For 64% of the patients (median age 59 years, treatment duration 12 months), the quality of their sexual life was considered important. The scores of the IIEF were reduced from 30% to 60% in erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction. The erectile dysfunction was more severe in the MTT population compared with age-stratified general or urological populations. The disorders were reversible in a few cases after treatment interruption. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on MTT for an advanced RCC experience a decline of sexual activity. Onco-urologists should systematically inform, screen, initiate management, and refer patients to sexual medicine physicians.

Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Thalidomide has been reported to yield anti-tumor activity in cancer. We performed a phase II trial of this drug in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma to determine its efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with proven metastatic renal cell cancer, measurable progressive disease and a performance status of 0-2 were enrolled in this study. Thalidomide was given daily at a starting dose of 400 mg, followed by a 400 mg increment to 800 mg and then to 1200 mg with 6-12 weeks at each dose level. The response rate at 6 months was the primary end point. Toxicity, overall survival, tumor vascularization depicted on color Doppler ultrasonography and serum vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were secondary end points. RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled. Two partial responses were observed (5%) and disease remained stable in nine patients after 6 months. Median survival was 10 months. Toxicity was high, with frequent manifestations of fatigue, constipation and lethargy. The incidence of neuropathy detected on electromyography (EMG) attained 70% at 6 months, and 100% in patients on thalidomide for 12 months. Nine patients developed venous thromboembolism during the first 12 weeks of treatment, and three of them experienced pulmonary embolism. One unexpected (and unexplained) death occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Despite undisputed, albeit marginal, activity in renal cell cancer, high-dose thalidomide cannot be recommended using this schedule since the level of toxicity is high.

Epidemiological studies of spectrin mutations related to hereditary elliptocytosis and spectrin polymorphisms in Benin.

We studied an African population in Benin and discovered an unexpectedly high frequency (1.6%) of hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) among the 1447 subjects studied. In approximately two-thirds of HE individuals we identified molecular defects, primarily those in erythrocyte alpha-spectrin (dupL154, L260P and L207P mutations), as well as a novel mutation of erythrocyte beta-spectrin (beta-W2061R mutation). We also identified the genetic basis of a previously identified protein polymorphism of the alpha III domain of spectrin (R1331I mutation). The genetic background of HE in the African population was studied using a number of polymorphisms of the alpha-spectrin gene, including the alpha III domain polymorphism. These studies suggest that the HE mutations appear to have originated from separate genetic backgrounds in this population.