Yttrium-90 microsphere-selective internal radiation therapy with chemotherapy (chemo-SIRT) for colorectal cancer liver metastases: an in vivo double-arm-controlled phase II trial.

OBJECTIVES: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with yttrium-90 (Y) microspheres has emerged as an effective liver-directed therapy with a favorable therapeutic ratio for treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the objective responses obtained by Y microsphere treatment when combined with contemporary chemotherapy in the front-line (first or second line) setting in patients with CRCLM. METHODS: This study used an in vivo comparison between the right and left liver lobes; systemic chemotherapy was supplied to both liver lobes by virtue of systemic administration, whereas SIRT was administered selectively to the target liver lobe only. Response to treatment was evaluated by serial fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography performed at 4 weeks, 2 to 4 months, and 6 to 8 months. Standard uptake value, anatomic volume, functional tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) calculations were obtained at each time point. RESULTS: A decrease in TLG on fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography imaging was seen in 19 of the 20 patients. The mean decrease in TLG values in the tumors receiving chemo-SIRT and chemo-only treatment were 86.26%±18.57% and 31.74%±80.99% (P<0.01), 93.13%±11.81% and 40.80%±73.32% (P=0.01), and 90.55%±19.75% and 54.91%±38.55% (P<0.01) at 4 weeks, 2 to 4 months, 6 to 8 months posttreatment, respectively. Functional and anatomic tumor volume changes were in concordance with the TLG changes. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that, under near identical conditions in terms of patient and tumor characteristics, the chemo-SIRT combination produced superior objective responses compared with chemo-only treatment in a front-line treatment setting in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.

The first documented case of high-grade synovial cell sarcoma of the rectum.

A patient presented with signs and symptoms of tenesmus, urgency, and rectal bleeding that she had been experiencing over the course of several months. Full endoscopic evaluation showed a 6-cm submucosal mass approximately 10 cm from the dente line projecting as an endoluminal mass with a large broad base. An initial endoscopic resection was attempted but aborted because of significant hemorrhage, and surgical oncology was consulted. After stabilization, the patient underwent a transanal resection of the mass the following day. An endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis stapler resulted in a margin-negative complete resection of what was later determined to be a high-grade synovial cell sarcoma. This case report presents the first known documented case of synovial cell sarcoma of the rectum.

Fractionated radioimmunotherapy with (90) Y-clivatuzumab tetraxetan and low-dose gemcitabine is active in advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase 1 trial.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that the humanized clivatuzumab tetraxetan (hPAM4) antibody targets pancreatic ductal carcinoma selectively. After a trial of radioimmunotherapy that determined the maximum tolerated dose of single-dose yttrium-90-labeled hPAM4 ((90) Y-hPAM4) and produced objective responses in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal carcinoma, the authors studied fractionated radioimmunotherapy combined with low-dose gemcitabine in this disease. METHODS: Thirty-eight previously untreated patients (33 patients with stage IV disease and 5 patients with stage III disease) received gemcitabine 200 mg/m(2) weekly for 4 weeks with (90) Y-hPAM4 given weekly in Weeks 2, 3, and 4 (cycle 1), and the same cycle was repeated in 13 patients (cycles 2-4). In the first part of the study, 19 patients received escalating weekly (90) Y doses of 6.5 mCi/m(2) , 9.0 mCi/m(2) , 12.0 mCi/m(2) , and 15.0 mCi/m(2) . In the second portion, 19 additional patients received weekly doses of 9.0 mCi/m(2) or 12.0 mCi/m(2) . RESULTS: Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia or neutropenia (according to version 3.0 of the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) developed in 28 of 38 patients after cycle 1 and in all retreated patients; no grade >3 nonhematologic toxicities occurred. Fractionated dosing of cycle 1 allowed almost twice the radiation dose compared with single-dose radioimmunotherapy. The maximum tolerated dose of (90) Y-hPAM4 was 12.0 mCi/m(2) weekly for 3 weeks for cycle 1, with ≤9.0 mCi/m(2) weekly for 3 weeks for subsequent cycles, and that dose will be used in future trials. Six patients (16%) had partial responses according to computed tomography-based Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, and 16 patients (42%) had stabilization as their best response (58% disease control). The median overall survival was 7.7 months for all 38 patients, including 11.8 months for those who received repeated cycles (46% [6 of 13 patients] ≥1 year), with improved efficacy at the higher radioimmunotherapy doses. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated radioimmunotherapy with (90) Y-hPAM4 and low-dose gemcitabine demonstrated promising therapeutic activity and manageable myelosuppression in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal carcinoma.

The prognostic value of functional tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases undergoing 90Y selective internal radiation therapy plus chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Functional tumor volume (FTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) are measures of metabolic activity of tumors determined by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT images. These parameters could potentially have clinical value in response to treatment evaluation and disease prognostication. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between functional tumor parameters (FTV and TLG) and clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) undergoing (90)Y-resin microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) (SIR-Spheres®, Sirtex Medical Limited, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia). METHODS: FDG PET/CT studies of 20 patients with unresectable CRCLM who underwent (90)Y SIRT under a phase II clinical trial were analyzed. FTV and TLG were calculated using PET VCAR (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) on pretreatment and 4-week posttreatment scans. The effects of pretreatment and posttreatment functional tumor activity on patient survival were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: The median survival in the study group was 14.8 months (range 2.0-27.7 months). The median survival for patients with pretreatment FTV values of above and below 200 cc were 11.2 and 26.9 months, respectively (p < 0.05). The median survival for patients with 4-week posttreatment FTV values of above and below 30 cc were 10.9 and 26.9 months, respectively (p < 0.05). The median survival for patients with pretreatment TLG values of above and below 600 g were 11.2 and 26.9 months, respectively (p < 0.05). The median survival for patients with 4-week posttreatment TLG values of above and below 100 g were 10.9 and 26.9 months, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment and posttreatment FTV and TLG showed very strong association with survival. These values can be useful quantitative criteria for patient selection and disease prognostication when (90)Y SIRT is contemplated in patients with CRCLM.

Treatment of advanced pancreatic carcinoma with 90Y-Clivatuzumab Tetraxetan: a phase I single-dose escalation trial.

PURPOSE: Humanized antibody hPAM4 specifically binds a mucin glycoprotein expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinomas. This phase I study evaluated a single dose of (90)Y-clivatuzumab tetraxetan ((90)Y-labeled hPAM4) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-one patients (4 stage III; 17 stage IV) received (111)In-hPAM4 for imaging and serum sampling before (90)Y-hPAM4. Study procedures evaluated adverse events, safety laboratories, computed tomography (CT) scans, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, and immunogenicity (HAHA). RESULTS: (111)In-hPAM4 showed normal biodistribution with radiation dose estimates to red marrow and solid organs acceptable for radioimmunotherapy and with tumor targeting in 12 patients. One patient withdrew before (90)Y-hPAM4; otherwise, 20 patients received (90)Y doses of 15 (n = 7), 20 (n = 9), and 25 mCi/m(2) (n = 4). Treatment was well tolerated; the only significant drug-related toxicities were (NCI CTC v.3) grade 3 to 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia increasing with (90)Y dose. There were no bleeding events or serious infections, and most cytopenias recovered to grade 1 within 12 weeks. Three patients at 25 mCi/m(2) encountered dose-limiting toxicity with grade 4 cytopenias more than 7 days, establishing 20 mCi/m(2) as the maximal tolerated (90)Y dose. Two patients developed HAHA of uncertain clinical significance. Most patients progressed rapidly and with CA19-9 levels increasing within 1 month of therapy, but 7 remained progression-free by CT for 1.5 to 5.6 months, including 3 achieving transient partial responses (32%-52% tumor diameter shrinkage). CONCLUSION: (90)Y-Clivatuzumab tetraxetan was well tolerated with manageable hematologic toxicity at the maximal tolerated (90)Y dose, and is a potential new therapeutic for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Preoperative Y-90 microsphere selective internal radiation treatment for tumor downsizing and future liver remnant recruitment: a novel approach to improving the safety of major hepatic resections.

BACKGROUND: Extended liver resections are being performed more liberally than ever. The extent of resection of liver metastases, however, is restricted by the volume of the future liver remnant (FLR). An intervention that would both accomplish tumor control and induce compensatory hypertrophy, with good patient tolerability, could improve clinical outcomes. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer presented with a large liver mass. Subsequent biopsy indicated poorly differentiated carcinoma with necrosis suggestive of squamous cell origin. A decision was made to proceed with pre-operative chemotherapy and Y-90 microsphere SIRT with the intent to obtain systemic control over the disease, downsize the hepatic lesion, and improve the FLR. A surgical exploration was performed six months after the first SIRT (three months after the second). There was no extrahepatic disease. The tumor was found to be significantly decreased in size with central and peripheral scarring. The left lobe was satisfactorily hypertrophied. A formal right hepatic lobectomy was performed with macroscopic negative margins. CONCLUSION: Selective internal radiation treatment (SIRT) with yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres has emerged as an effective liver-directed therapy with a favorable therapeutic ratio. We present this case report to suggest that the portal vein radiation dose can be substantially increased with the intent of inducing portal/periportal fibrosis. Such a therapeutic manipulation in lobar Y-90 microsphere treatment could accomplish the end points of PVE with avoidance of the concern regarding tumor progression.

Phase II study of low-dose topotecan in myelodysplastic syndromes: a Hoosier Oncology Group (HOG) study.

Topotecan has demonstrable activity in high-risk MDS and CMMoL. However, the significant toxicity of topotecan administered at a dose of 2mg/m2 i.v. daily for 5 days as a continuous infusion limits its use in older patients. Therefore, we studied topotecan 1.5mg/m2 per day i.v. over 2 h for three consecutive days in 20 patients with high-risk MDS (12 RAEB; 4 RAEB-T; 4 CMMoL). Cycles were given every 4-6 weeks. Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. Only one patient achieved a durable complete remission (CR). There were three deaths within the first cycle of therapy. Severe myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. Grades 3-4 infections were documented in four patients. We conclude that topotecan administered at this dose and schedule has no clinically significant activity.