Phase II trial of chronomodulated infusion of high-dose fluorouracil and l-folinic acid in previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To study tolerability and efficacy of an intensified chronomodulated schedule of fluorouracil (5-FU) and l-folinic acid (l-FA) as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, 5-FU was given near individually determined dose-limiting toxicity in a multicenter phase II trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (68 men and 32 women, median age 62 years, World Health Organization performance status less-than-or-equal 2) with previously untreated and inoperable metastases received chronomodulated daily infusion of 5-FU/l-FA (from 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM with peak at 4:00 AM). 5-FU dose was escalated from 900 to 1,100 mg/m(2)/d with fixed dose of l-FA at 150 mg/m(2)/d for 4 days every 14 days. RESULTS: 5-FU dose escalation was achieved in 66% of the patients. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities mainly consisted of nausea or vomiting (14% of patients and 1.5% of courses), hand-foot syndrome (38% of patients and 8% of courses), mucositis (26% of patients and 4% of courses), and diarrhea (21% of patients and 2.3% of courses). Objective response rate (ORR) was 41% (95% confidence interval, 31.5% to 50.5%). Twenty patients underwent metastases surgery; among these, 12 had a complete resection. Median progression-free survival was 7 months. Median survival was 17 months; 28% of the patients were alive at 2 years and 18.6% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: The ORR achieved with intensified chronomodulated delivery of 5-FU/l-FA was nearly twice as high as that earlier obtained by our cooperative group using less intensive 5-FU/FA chronotherapy.

Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia for peritoneal carcinomatosis: original modeling, clinical tolerance and results study about 30 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The authors' objective is to report their experience of the intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia after a thermal modeling study which has allowed the optimization the intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia circuit and its running parameters and to evaluate the intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia tolerance. Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia is considered more and more as an interesting therapeutic option in cases of some abdominal carcinomatosis, particularly of digestive origin. However, the main technical problem of this treatment is the homogenization of the temperature distribution in the abdominal cavity. METHODOLOGY: A thermal modeling has allowed us to finalize a reliable and well-tolerated intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia technique. The achievement of a physical model of the abdomen has allowed us to make an experimental study of the temperature distribution in a given liquid volume. Two steps were carried out. The first step was the characterization of the model with a thermal study carried out on the physical model and which has led to dynamic data about the heat balance leading to a knowledge model. The second step was the identification of a theoretical model of the thermal behavior which would correlate best with the experimental data. Between January 1995 and January 1998, 30 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were studied. Twenty-six patients underwent maximal cytoreductive surgery with abdominal evisceration, intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia. Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia was carried out for 1 hour, at 42 degrees C, with a flow rate of 0.9 L/min in the 30 patients. The thermal modeling has shown the main purpose of a high flow rate of 0.9 L/min in the homogenization of temperature distribution. RESULTS: The 2 steps are shown to converge. This coherency between the 2 models proves that the thermal aspects of the process have been properly identified. Our initial results have shown that intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia was properly tolerated. Major intraoperative complications occurred for 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental study with thermal modeling results should help to optimize the intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia circuit and its running parameters for human treatment, with an acceptable morbidity in 30 patients.

Phase III multicenter randomized trial of oxaliplatin added to chronomodulated fluorouracil-leucovorin as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To study how adding oxaliplatin (l-OHP) to chronomodulated fluorouracil (5-FU)-leucovorin (LV) affected the objective response rate, as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients from 15 institutions in four countries were randomly assigned to receive a 5-day course of chronomodulated 5-FU and LV (700 and 300 mg/m(2)/d, respectively; peak delivery rate at 0400 hours) with or without l-OHP on the first day of each course (125 mg/m(2), as a 6-hour infusion). Each course was repeated every 21 days. Response was assessed by extramural review of computed tomography scans. RESULTS: Grade 3 to 4 toxicity from 5-FU-LV occurred in

A multicenter evaluation of intensified, ambulatory, chronomodulated chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin as initial treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. International Organization for Cancer Chronotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (LV), and oxaliplatin (I-OHP) was shown to be both more active against metastatic colorectal carcinoma and better tolerated if the drug delivery rate was chronomodulated according to circadian rhythms rather than constant. This allowed the authors to intensify the three-drug chronotherapy regimen and to assess its activity as the initial treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma patients in ten centers from four countries. METHODS: Patients with previously untreated and inoperable measurable metastases from colorectal carcinoma received a daily administration of chronomodulated 5-FU (700 mg/m2/day, peak delivery rate at 04:00 hours), LV (300 mg/m2/day, peak delivery rate at 04:00 hours), and 1-OHP (25 mg/m2/day, peak delivery rate at 16:00 hours) for 4 days every 14 days. Intrapatient escalation of 5-FU dose was performed if toxicity was less than World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 2. RESULTS: Of 90 enrolled patients, 35 had a WHO performance status of 1 or 2; 49 had metastases in > or = 2 organs. The liver was involved in 79 patients, 30 of whom had clinical hepatomegaly. The main dose-limiting toxicities were WHO modified Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea (41% of patients, 8.2% of courses), stomatitis (30% of patients, 5.1% of courses), and Grade 2 cumulative peripheral sensory neuropathy (19% of patients after 12 courses). Two patients died with severe gastrointestinal toxicity. Using the intent-to-treat method, the overall objective response rate was 66% (95% confidence limits, 56-76%). Surgical removal of previously inoperable metastases was successful in 31 patients (34%). Histologic necrosis of metastases was >90% in 7 patients and complete in 1 patient. The median progression free survival and survival durations were 8.4 months (range, 5.9-10.9 months) and 18.5 months (range, 13.2-23.8 months), respectively, with 38% of the patients alive at 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The objective response rate appeared to be approximately 3-fold as high as that achieved with current 5-FU-based regimens and translated into an approximately 50% increase in median survival. The hypothesis that this intensified, ambulatory, chronotherapy regimen can increase survival currently is being investigated in a multicenter randomized study conducted by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Chronotherapy Study Group.

An immunohistochemical study of the simultaneous expression of bcl-2 and p53 oncoproteins in epithelial tumors of the colon and rectum.

OBJECTIVE: Bcl-2 and p53 genes may participate in a common pathway for regulation of apoptosis. The aims of this study were (1) to study the immunohistochemical expression of the bcl-2 oncoprotein in colorectal tumors, (2) to correlate it with that of p53 protein overexpression, and (3) to compare it with histopathologic prognostic factors, such as TNM classification and grade. DESIGN: Prospective study of expression of bcl-2 and p53 oncogenes in colorectal tumors. We examined 6 colorectal hyperplastic polyps, 33 adenomas, and 61 carcinomas. SETTING: Regional academic medical center. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study with bcl-2 and p53 antibodies was performed on frozen sections of colorectal tumors. The levels of bcl-2 and p53 expression were evaluated using a semiquantitative grading system. Two-color immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the intracellular colocalization of bcl-2 and p53 in all tumors with a strong positivity for both antigens. RESULTS: Bcl-2 was expressed in 28 (85%) of the 33 adenomas, whereas p53 was expressed in only one adenoma, which had areas of in situ carcinoma. Bcl-2 and p53 were each expressed in 43 (70.4%) of the 61 carcinomas. Thirty-one (50%) of the colorectal carcinomas coexpressed the two oncoproteins. There was no correlation between the number of cells expressing bcl-2 and the number expressing p53 in a given carcinoma. No correlation was observed between the expression of bcl-2 or p53 and the established prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Abnormal bcl-2 oncoprotein expression appears earlier than p53 accumulation in colorectal carcinogenesis. This study suggests that there is more than one sequence and mechanism of bcl-2 and p53 gene deregulation in colorectal carcinomas.

In vitro chronopharmacology of recombinant mouse IL-3, mouse GM-CSF, and human G-CSF on murine myeloid progenitor cells.

Circadian changes in in vitro pharmacodynamic effects of recombinant mouse interleukin-3 (rmIL-3), rm granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF), and recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) were investigated in 418 male B6D2F1 mice. Seven distinct experiments were staggered from July to December 1991. All mice were standardized for 3 weeks with a lighting schedule consisting of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark (LD12:12). In each experiment, bone marrow was sampled from separate groups of nine to 10 mice each every 4 hours for 24 hours. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Cosinor. This latter method computes the probability of rhythm detection and its parameters. Femoral myeloid progenitors were quantified using the colony-forming units granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) assay in the presence or absence of recombinant CSFs. For each CSF, the number of colonies is a function of circadian time of bone marrow exposure (ANOVA and Cosinor; p < 0.0001) with the values at peak time being double those found at the trough. Peak CSF efficacy occurred at 3 hours after light onset (HALO, early rest span) irrespective of CSF type or dose. Furthermore, in the absence of any added CSF, the number of clusters varied significantly according to sampling time, with a similar peak at 3 HALO (ANOVA and Cosinor; p < 0.001). Further in vivo chronopharmacologic experiments are needed to assess the relevance of these in vitro rhythms in bone marrow responsiveness to hematopoietic growth factors.

Chronomodulated versus fixed-infusion-rate delivery of ambulatory chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and folinic acid (leucovorin) in patients with colorectal cancer metastases: a randomized multi-institutional trial.

BACKGROUND: In a previous phase II trial, circadian (chronomodulated) delivery of fluorouracil (5-FU), folinic acid (FA; leucovorin), and oxaliplatin (1-OHP; a new platinum complex with no renal and minor hematologic toxic effects) produced an objective response rate of 58% in 93 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. PURPOSE: To determine whether chronomodulated drug delivery affects therapeutic activity, we again tested this regimen in another trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer, this time comparing chronomodulated with constant-rate drug delivery. METHODS: Seven European centers participated in this trial. Ninety-two patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled and assigned to a treatment schedule by central randomization. Treatment courses consisted of the daily administration of 5-FU (600 mg/m2 per day), FA (300 mg/m2 per day), and 1-OHP (20 mg/m2 per day) for 5 days and were repeated every 21 days (16-day intermission) in ambulatory patients with the use of a programmable in-time pump. Drug delivery was kept constant over a 5-day period in schedule A (47 patients). It was chronomodulated in schedule B (maximum delivery of 5-FU and FA infusions at 0400 hours and maximum delivery of 1-OHP at 1600 hours; 45 patients). A risk of partial chemical inactivation of 1-OHP by its 2-hour exposure to the basic pH of the 5-FU solution in the catheter was documented in schedule A. RESULTS: Severe stomatitis (grade 3 or 4, World Health Organization [WHO] grading system), the dose-limiting toxic effect of 5-FU, occurred in five times as many patients on schedule A than on schedule B (89% versus 18%; chi 2 = 46; P < .001). The cumulative dose-limiting toxicity of schedule B was peripheral sensitive neuropathy (WHO grade 2). This side effect was reversible following 1-OHP withdrawal. Higher doses of 5-FU were administered in schedule B (median: 700 mg/m2 per day) compared with schedule A (median: 500 mg/m2 per day) (P < .0001; Mann-Whitney U test). On schedule B, 24 of 45 patients (53%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 38%-68%) exhibited an objective response compared with 15 of 47 patients (32%; 95% CI = 18%-46%) on schedule A (chi 2 = 4.3; P = .038). The median progression-free survival was, respectively, 11 and 8 months (P = .19; logrank). The median survival was 19 months (95% CI = 14.8-23.2) on schedule B and 14.9 months (95% CI = 12.1-17.8) on schedule A (P = .03; logrank). CONCLUSION: This ambulatory treatment modality was both more effective and less toxic if drug delivery was chronomodulated rather than constant over time. IMPLICATION: The respective roles of 1-OHP dose and schedule and circadian peak time of drug delivery are being investigated with regard to the high activity of this three-drug, chronomodulated chemotherapeutic regimen.

Dosing time optimizes sustained-release ketoprofen treatment of osteoarthritis.

A double-blind randomized parallel-group trial was undertaken to evaluate the influence of the dosing time of sustained-release ketoprofen (SRK) on its acceptability and efficacy. The SRK was prescribed for 2 weeks (200 mg once a day) to 117 outpatients with osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip. One group received SRK in the morning (at 8 a.m.) and the other group in the evening (at 8 p.m.). The principal aim of the trial concerned the acceptability, whereas efficacy was its secondary aim. The principal trial criterion was defined as the number of spontaneous recordings of adverse effects. Results showed clearly that the acceptability of SRK in the SRK morning group was worse than that in the evening group (39% of patients with one or more adverse effects in the SRK morning group versus 19% in the evening group; p = 0.019). It is important to stress the difference concerning the number of adverse effects (48 for SRK morning group versus 23 for SRK evening group; p = 0.0234). The analgesic efficacy seemed to be similar, but one criterion was statistically significant: The duration of analgesic efficacy was more important for the SRK evening group than for the morning group (9.37 and 5.47 h, respectively; p = 0.001). To increase its acceptability, evening administration of SRK seems to be preferred over morning administration in osteoarthritis. However, other trials of the same type, assessing other antiinflammatory agents, are necessary before a general extrapolation of such results can be undertaken.

[Amyloid disease and extreme macroglossia. Apropos of a case]. / Maladies amyloïdes et macroglossie extrême. A propos d'un cas.

A case of extreme macroglossia was observed in a patient with amyloid disease and dysglobulinaemia. A medial diamond-shaped glossectomy was required to reduce the size of the tongue. The details of the surgical and anaesthetic procedure are presented. This type of surgery, greatly appreciated by the patient, can only be undertaken after careful preparation. The reported cases are rare and the indication for surgery is difficult due to the unpredictable nature of the local and general clinical course of the disease.

Oxaliplatin activity against metastatic colorectal cancer. A phase II study of 5-day continuous venous infusion at circadian rhythm modulated rate.

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a non-nephrotoxic third generation platinum complex with proven antitumoral activity and minimal haematological toxicity. Circadian scheduling has allowed significant increases in L-OHP dosage and dose intensity and decreases in its toxicities. This phase II trial has tested the antitumour activity of a 5-day circadian schedule of continuous venous infusion of L-OHP against metastatic colorectal cancer. Initial dose was 150 mg/m2/course. An intrapatient dose escalation scheme by 25 mg/m2/course was planned up to 200 mg/m2/course, according to toxicity criteria. The delivery rate of L-OHP was sinusoidally modulated along the 24-h time scale, and was highest at 1600 h. A programmable-in-time ambulatory pump was used, so that all patients could receive their treatment at home. 29 of 30 patients registered were eligible. 25 had failed previous chemotherapy. Three objective responses were observed (response rate: 10%), in patients progressive while on chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid. Toxicity was moderate. Dose-limiting toxicities were diarrhoea and peripheral sensitive neuropathy. The latter adverse effect appeared to be cumulative. L-OHP, as delivered under this circadian schedule, exhibits clinical antitumour activity against metastatic colorectal cancer. These results, which await further confirmation, support the place of L-OHP in combination regimens including 5-fluorouracil.

Acceptability and efficacy of two associations of paracetamol with a central analgesic (dextropropoxyphene or codeine): comparison in osteoarthritis.

A double-blind randomized parallel group trial was undertaken to compare the acceptability and efficacy of 2 forms of analgesic treatment, DI-Antalvic (Houde Laboratories, Puteaux, France) (30 mg dextropropoxyphene and 400 mg paracetamol per capsule) and Efferalgan-Codeine (UPSA Laboratories, Rueil Malmaison, France) (30 mg codeine and 500 mg paracetamol per tablet) prescribed for 1 week at doses of 6 capsules/day and 6 tablets/day, respectively, in 141 outpatients with active osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. The principal aim of the trial was concerned with acceptability, with efficacy as its secondary aim. The principal trial criterion was defined as overall assessment of acceptability by the patient at the end of the trial (success or failure) or by treatment dropouts because of an adverse effect (failure). Comparability of the groups was confirmed before any treatment regarding the physical characteristics of the patients, characteristics of osteoarthritis, and the initial level of pain and functional consequences of pain. Results show that the analgesic efficacy of the treatment was similar, but that the acceptability of Efferalgan-Codeine was significantly worse than that of DI-Antalvic: 53% failure with Efferalgan-Codeine versus 29% failure with DI-Antalvic (P = .005). Other trials of the same type would seem necessary (comparison of lower doses, other types of pain) before being able to generally extrapolate such findings.

[Chronopharmacology of fractionated heparin (nadroparin) administrated by subcutaneous route at prophylactic doses in healthy volunteers]. / Chronopharmacologie d'une héparine fractionnée (nadroparine) administrée par voie sous-cutanée à dose prophylactique chez le voluntaire sain.

This study evaluated the effect of injection time on pharmacodynamic of a single subcutaneous bolus of nadroparine (7500 anti-Xa IC U) evaluated by anti-Xa activity (Hepaclot and Heptest) and by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT by auto PTT reagent). 10 healthy male volunteers were studied at 4 different 24 hours periods with 4 different injection times (6 am, 12 am, 6 pm, 12 pm) and with a one week wash-out period between each period. No chronopharmacological variation of the anti-Xa activity evaluated by Hepaclot was found. However the anti-Xa activity evaluated by Heptest was higher at the sixth hour after 12 am injection (p = 0.0022). No difference on APTT values was observed whatever the injection time. So the injection time of nadroparine has a weak influence on anti-Xa activity and no effect on APTT; Before to conclude on the lack of chronopharmacological effect of nadroparine, it seems necessary to evaluate such a possibility with higher dosage, with sick and older subjects.

Circadian dynamics of coagulation and chronopathology of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Future therapeutic implications for the treatment of these disorders?

Arterial thromboembolic disorders are the leading cause of death in most of the advanced nations. The study of epidemiologic relationship of these disorders to biological rhythms may lead to a better understanding and perhaps a better treatment. Chronoepidemiologic studies demonstrated a morning peak for arterial thromboembolic disorders (cerebral and myocardial infarctions) and sudden cardiac deaths. These variations might be explained partially by circadian variations in hemostasis. Indeed chronophysiologic studies have shown that hemostatic variables follow circadian rhythms. The level of platelet aggregation and that of blood coagulation have been found to be increased in the morning whereas fibrinolytic activity is lower at this time of the day. The facts suggest a chronotherapeutic approach in thromboembolic disorders.

Good clinical practices in phase I studies.

In France, official guidelines for good clinical practices in clinical trials were issued in 1987. In December 1988, a law was passed that fixed the requirements for carrying out experiments in healthy subjects. It will be completed by official guidelines for the structures in which experiments on healthy subjects (and patients as well, when the investigation would not benefit the health of the patients) may be conducted. Hence a battery of recent legal instructions precisely state what good clinical practices are in the setting of phase I studies. Of particular importance are: subject recruitment and selection methods and procedures; specific competence of the investigator, in particular to interpret the pre-trial data; necessary and sufficient facilities to guarantee the subjects' safety; careful quality control to check all laboratory procedures; necessity of written standard operating procedures.

[Value of the peroperative association of echography, extemporaneous cytology and immediately available insulin blood levels of the portal vein. Apropos of 2 cases of insulinoma]. / Intérêt de l'association per-opératoire de l'échographie, de la cytologie extemporanée et des dosages d'insulinémie portale avec résultats immédiats. A propos de deux cas d'insulinome.

The authors report two cases of insulinoma managed by per-operative ultrasound and cytology, together with immediate portal vein insulin levels. They stress the value of these per-operative exploratory techniques which reduce the number of pre-operative invasive examinations while ensuring a greater efficacy in the localization and treatment of these tumors.

[Subclavian and axillary arteritis in Horton's disease and rhizomelic pseudopolyarthritis. 10 cases]. / Artérites sous-clavières et axillaires au cours de la maladie de Horton et de la pseudopolyarthrite rhizomélique. 10 observations.

Ten patients aged from 60 to 73 years presenting with Horton's disease or polymyalgia rheumatica had arteritis of the upper limbs. Asymptomatic abolition of pulse in the upper limbs (1 case) or claudication at rest or exercise (9 cases) and/or Raynaud's phenomenon (5 cases) preceded (4 cases) or accompanied (1 case) the discovery of giant cell arteritis, or complicated the reduction or discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy. Diagnosis rested on the regular association of an inflammatory syndrome with multiple arterial tapered stenoses and/or arterial thrombosis in the post-vertebral subclavian, axillary or brachial arteries and, chiefly, on the demonstration (in 7 cases) of a giant cell granuloma at biopsy of the temporal artery. Corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg/24 h in 8 cases and 0.5 mg/kg/24 h in 2 cases) initially combined with anticoagulants in 4 cases resulted in rapid regression of ischaemic and systemic signs in all patients, thus avoiding surgical revascularization of the upper limbs.

[Biological rhythm and thromboembolic disease. Physiological, epidemiological and pharmacological aspects]. / Rythmes biologiques et maladie thromboembolique. Aspects physiologiques, épidémiologiques et pharmacologiques.

Arterial and venous thromboembolic disorders are the leading cause of death in most of the advanced nations. The study of physiologic, epidemiologic and pharmacologic relationships of these disorders to biological rhythms, may lead to a better understanding and perhaps a better treatment. Chronophysiologic studies have shown that hemostatic variables follow circadian rhythms. The level of platelets aggregation and of blood coagulation has been found to be increased in the morning and decreased at night, whereas fibrinolytic activity is lower in the morning than in the evening. Chronoepidemiologic studies demonstrated a morning peak for arterial thromboembolic disorders and an evening peak for cerebral bleedings. These facts might partially be explained by circadian variations in hemostasis and suggest a chronotherapeutic approach in thromboembolic disorders. Unfractionated heparin, because of its antithrombotic effect, is one of the major drugs used to treat this disease. However, with such a treatment venous thrombosis recurs or bleeding complications occur yet in about 30% of patients. Chronopharmacologic studies indicate that anticoagulant effect of heparin is minimum in the morning and maximum at night, following the physiologic circadian variation of blood coagulation. Such results suggest that the heparin doses should be modulated as a function of administration times in order to increase its effectiveness and to minimize both bleeding risk and thrombosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate such a proposal.