ABSTRACT
AIM: In this prospective multicenter real-life observational cohort study, we investigated the acceptance, adherence and safety of regorafenib, in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: A total of 136 patients were recruited at six oncological hospital sites in southern Italy. The adherence to the treatment was measured with patient-completed medication diaries, physician interviews and pill counts. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant improvement of therapy adhesion by the acceptance questionnaire. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, the level of acceptance, the educational level and the concomitant usage of oral medications influenced the adherence to the treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients' level of education, concomitant other oral medications and patients' general clinical condition may influence the adherence to regorafenib.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Phenylurea Compounds/therapeutic use , Pyridines/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Colorectal Neoplasms/mortality , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Medication Adherence , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis , Phenylurea Compounds/administration & dosage , Phenylurea Compounds/adverse effects , Pyridines/administration & dosage , Pyridines/adverse effects , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of the FOLFOX-4 regimen as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer after radical surgery. Fifty-four patients (1 stage Ib, 6 stage II, 22 stage IIIa, 14 stage IIIb and 11 stage IV) received 8-12 cycles of FOLFOX-4 (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2), Day 1; leucovorin 100 mg/m(2) i.v., Days 1 and 2; 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus, Days 1 and 2 and 600 mg/m(2) in 22 h i.v. continuous infusion, Days 1 and 2; every 14 days). Toxicity was recorded at each cycle according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria. Disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Thirty-eight patients (70.4%) completed the prescribed number of cycles of chemotherapy. The toxicity was mild. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 57% of patients, thrombocytopenia and anemia in 2% of cases. Peripheral neuropathy was experienced by 46% of the patients (grade 4 in 2% of cases). Five patients experienced grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. After a median follow-up of 33.1 months, 17 patients relapsed and 17 succumbed to the disease. The mean observed DFS and OS were 49.7 months (range 40.7-58.8) and 57.9 months (range 49.6-66.2), respectively. At univariate analysis, females and patients who had received <8 cycles of chemotherapy had a significantly worse probability of DFS and OS. The Cox model showed gender to be independent of the factors affecting DFS. Adjuvant FOLFOX-4 is feasible and well-tolerated in patients radically resected for gastric cancer. Receiving <4 months of adjuvant FOLFOX-4 could be detrimental to prognosis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This is a phase I study investigating the toxicity and the potential efficacy of thalidomide and oral cyclophosphamide in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), previously treated with docetaxel-based regimens. METHODS: Two dose levels of thalidomide (100 and 200 mg every day) were studied. Patients were accrued to each dose level in cohorts of 3 starting from dose 1 level (100 mg). Thalidomide was started on day 1 at the assigned dose and continued for four consecutive weeks; oral cyclophosphamide (50 mg for day) was given for four consecutive weeks (1 cycle) starting on the same day initiating thalidomide. Toxicity was evaluated every two weeks; changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated every cycle. Treatment was planned for four cycles. RESULTS: Sixteen men were treated. Ten patients in cohort 1, and 6 in cohort 2 were enrolled respectively. Grade 1-2 constipation, peripheral neuropathy and fatigue were the most common side effects, noted in 6 (37.5%), 5 (31.25%) and 3 (19%) patients, respectively. Three patients stopped the treatment at level 2, during the first cycle, for toxicity. Those three patients were evaluable only for toxicity. The MTD was 100 mg thalidomide. Thirteen patients completed two cycles. Two patients (15%) had a >50% decrease in PSA, while in one patient (8%) the PSA decrease was less of 50%. Overall PSA decrease was of 23%. CONCLUSIONS: The oral combination of thalidomide and cyclophosphamide is well tolerated and appears to be associated with biochemical response in this population. Future phase II trials, in pre-treated and untreated patients, are needed to evaluate clinical efficacy of this regimen in HRPC.
