The role of c-erbB-2 expression on the survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and role of c-erbB-2 overexpression as a predictive/prognostic marker in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). We performed a retrospective study on subjects with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of SCLC. A chart review for demographic and clinical data was performed on patients with SCLC diagnosed between 1998 and 2004. c-erbB-2 overexpression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry performed on archival paraffin-embedded specimens. Sixty-seven patients with SCLC were identified (6 females, 61 males; median age- 56.5 yr, range-34-75) all of whom had adequate tissue specimens available for c-erB-2 testing. Of the 67 specimens, 12 (17.9%) showed c-erbB-2 overexpression. Seventy-five of the cases were positive for c-erbB-2, had extensive disease. The median overall survival of patients with SCLC whose tumors were positive and negative for c-erbB-2 were 8 +/- 0.9 months (95%CI 6.3-9.7) and 11 +/- 1.5 months (95%CI 8.0-14.0), respectively. c-erbB-2 overexpression detected using immunohistochemistry is observed in 17.9% of patients with SCLC and has statistically significant prognostic value. Our findings suggest that c-erbB-2 may be a potential target for site-specific immunotherapy in SCLC. Considering one technique examined, further molecular investigation is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Irinotecan plus cisplatin combination against metastatic gastric cancer: phase II study.

In this phase II study, we aimed to detect efficacy and toxicity of the combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin administered to patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma. On d 1, CPT-11, 100 mg/m2, was administered by intravenous infusion for 90 min, followed by a 2 h infusion of cisplatin, at 70 mg/m2 every 3 wk. Forty-one patients were enrolled into the study. Twenty-eight patients were chemotherapy naive. The total number of chemotherapy cycles administered was 165, and the median number of cycles received was 4 (range, 1-8 cycles). The median follow-up time was 12 mo (range, 4-34 mo). There were 4 complete responses (9.7%) and 14 partial responses (34.2%), which result in a response rate of 43.9% (18 of 41 patients). The median time to progression was 8.0 +/- 0.8 mo with 56% and 13% of patients progression free at 6 and 12 mo, respectively. The median overall survival was 9.0 +/- 1.1 mo, with 68 % and 32% of patients alive at 6 and 12 mo, respectively. Grade 3-4 nausea and vomiting was observed in five patients (12%) and grade 3-4 neutropenia in five patients (12%). Grade 3 infection was observed in only one patient (2%). Grade 2 transient liver dysfunction related to chemotherapy was observed in one patient (2%). Chemotherapy was stopped due to nephrotoxicity in one patient (2%). There was no treatment-related death. In conclusion, administration of CPT-11 and cisplatin in this particular dose every 3 wk is effective and well-tolerated treatment regimen.