Metastatic Porocarcinoma Effectively Managed by Pembrolizumab.

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignancy of the sweat glands. Currently, there is no standard algorithm for its presentations, diagnosis, and management. However, immunotherapy is an emerging option that may be crucial to the treatment of EPC. This report presents a case of a 79-year-old male who had a skin biopsy of an anterior scalp lesion, which revealed EPC. The patient underwent Mohs micrographic surgery to excise the tumor followed by two additional Mohs surgeries for recurrence and adjuvant radiotherapy. A follow-up positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed yet another recurrence at the scalp as well as metastases to the left parotid gland and left submandibular lymph node. The patient was started on immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, and later achieved remission. This report demonstrates the effective management of EPC using immunotherapy with pembrolizumab.

Pathway bifurcations in the cage rearrangement of metallacarboranes: experimental and computational evidence.

Thirteen new metallacarborane complexes of rhodium and iridium with covalently bound cage carbon atoms were synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. Two iridium complexes undergo a polyhedral rearrangement with the formation of more than one isomer. The structures of the new isomers were determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and 11B{1H}-11B{1H} COSY NMR. A full isomerization scheme of the less thermally stable complex was proposed based on DFT calculations. According to this mechanism sequential downhill and uphill bifurcations arise in the reaction pathway. Each bifurcation is responsible for a new product formation.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed CF3-carbenoid C-H functionalization of 6-arylpurines.

An efficient method for the CF3-carbenoid C-H functionalization of 6-arylpurines has been developed. This protocol uses readily available methyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-diazopropionate as a cross-coupling partner and proceeds smoothly under chelation-controlled Rh(iii) catalysis. The reactions provide the corresponding carbene insertion products with high regioselectivity within a few hours and allow the introduction of both the CF3 and carboxylate functions into biologically important purine molecules including nucleoside derivatives.

Stereoselective Alkane Oxidation with meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic Acid (MCPBA) Catalyzed by Organometallic Cobalt Complexes.

Cobalt pi-complexes, previously described in the literature and specially synthesized and characterized in this work, were used as catalysts in homogeneous oxidation of organic compounds with peroxides. These complexes contain pi-butadienyl and pi-cyclopentadienyl ligands: [(tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(benzene)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [(C4Me4)Co(C6H6)]PF6 (1); diiodo(carbonyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt, Cp*Co(CO)I2 (2); diiodo(carbonyl)(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt, CpCo(CO)I2 (3); (tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(dicarbonyl)(iodo)cobalt, (C4Me4)Co(CO)2I (4); [(tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(acetonitrile)(2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [(C4Me4)Co(bipy)(MeCN)]PF6 (5); bis[dicarbonyl(B-cyclohexylborole)]cobalt, [(C4H4BCy)Co(CO)2]2 (6); [(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [Cp*Co(phen)I]PF6 (7); diiodo(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt, [CpCoI2]2 (8); [(cyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [CpCo(bipy)I]PF6 (9); and [(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [Cp*Co(bipy)I]PF6 (10). Complexes 1 and 2 catalyze very efficient and stereoselective oxygenation of tertiary C-H bonds in isomeric dimethylcyclohexanes with MCBA: cyclohexanols are produced in 39 and 53% yields and with the trans/cis ratio (of isomers with mutual trans- or cis-configuration of two methyl groups) 0.05 and 0.06, respectively. Addition of nitric acid as co-catalyst dramatically enhances both the yield of oxygenates and stereoselectivity parameter. In contrast to compounds 1 and 2, complexes 9 and 10 turned out to be very poor catalysts (the yields of oxygenates in the reaction with cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane were only 5%-7% and trans/cis ratio 0.8 indicated that the oxidation is not stereoselective). The chromatograms of the reaction mixture obtained before and after reduction with PPh3 are very similar, which testifies that alkyl hydroperoxides are not formed in this oxidation. It can be thus concluded that the interaction of the alkanes with MCPBA occurs without the formation of free radicals. The complexes catalyze oxidation of alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). For example, tert-BuOOH efficiently oxidizes 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone in 98% yield if compound 1 is used as a catalyst.

Activity of continuous infusion plus pulse interleukin-2 with famotidine in patients with metastatic kidney cancer or melanoma previously treated with interleukin-2.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells generated by high-dose continuous infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2) are able to nonspecifically lyse melanoma and kidney cancer cells. In vitro famotidine enhances cytotoxicity of LAK against tumor cells, possibly by increasing IL-2 uptake at the IL-2 receptor on lymphocytes. Outpatient IL-2 regimens typically have response rates of 15% or less, with most patients eventually experiencing progressive disease. Second-line therapy is, therefore, needed. We treated 11 patients (6 with metastatic melanoma; 5 having metastatic kidney cancer) who had previously experienced progressive disease on prior IL-2 regimens, with a combination of famotidine 20 mg intravenously (i.v.) twice per day and continuous-infusion IL-2 18 MIU/M2/24 hours x 72 hours, followed 24 hours later by a pulse IL-2 dose (18 MIU/M2 over 15 minutes). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. Patient characteristics were: 9 males, median age 63 years (range, 57-75), median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status: 1; most common metastatic sites: lungs, lymph nodes, and soft tissue/subcutaneous (s.c.); median number of cycles received: 4; most common toxicities were fever, nausea/emesis, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia. Five (5) patients (3 with melanoma, 2 with kidney cancer) have had partial responses. Two (2) patients with kidney cancer have been converted to complete responders with resection of residual disease, remaining without relapse at 5+ and 20+ months. Responding sites are lungs, lymph nodes, abdominal mass, and s.c. Median duration of response was 9.5 months. Median survival was 12 months. This combination has activity in patients with metastatic kidney cancer or melanoma who have received prior IL-2.

Continuous infusion interleukin-2 and famotidine in metastatic kidney cancer.

Infusional interleukin-2 (IL-2) is able to elicit lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK) cytotoxicity against kidney cancer in vitro and in vivo. Famotidine may be able to augment LAK cytotoxicity against neoplastic cells. Fifteen (15) patients were treated with continuous-infusion IL-2 (9-18 MIU/m2/24 hours) for 72 hours and famotidine 20 mg intravenously twice per day. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. These patients had a median age of 60 years (range, 29-72), had a median performance status of 1 (range, 0-1), and had metastatic sites, including lung, bone, lymph node, and liver. The most common toxicities of this regimen were hypophosphatemia, fever, nausea/emesis, rigors, elevated creatinine, and hypomagnesemia. One (1) complete and 6 partial responses have been seen (47% response rate). The median duration of response is 9 months. The median survival for all patients is 20 months. Five (5) patients are alive at a median of 36+ months. This combination of infusional IL-2 with famotidine is active in metastatic kidney cancer.

Correlation between development of pulmonary edema and response of pulmonary metastases of metastatic melanoma and kidney cancer to high-dose continuous-infusion interleukin-2.

The administration of high-dose continuous intravenous infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2) is able to induce the presence of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. LAK are able to nonspecifically lyse tumor cells. They are also able to lyse endothelial cells, which accounts for, at least in part, the capillary leak syndrome seen as one of the toxicities with this therapy. A pulmonary manifestation of capillary leak syndrome is the presence of pulmonary edema. We postulated that capillary leak may also be a mechanism by which LAK could conceivably reach pulmonary metastases or could be a reflection of damage of endothelial cells in vasculature supplying metastases and that capillary leak syndrome may actually correlate with the response of pulmonary metastases. We examined our database of patients with lung metastases treated with high-dose continuous infusion IL-2 (18 MIU/m(2)/day for 3 days) regimens. Eighteen patients had the following characteristics: melanoma (11), renal cancer (7), median age of 67 years (range, 28-79 years), and males (15). All patients were treated by oncology nurses on either the stem cell transplant unit or oncology ward. Pulmonary edema was defined as the presence of pleural fluid on a chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, and/or as noted on a physical examination by at least 2 observers. No patients required endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, or an intensive care unit transfer. The median number of cycles received was 6 (range, 1-13). All 8 responding patients (6 patients with melanoma, 2 patients with kidney cancer) manifested pulmonary edema during interleukin-2 therapy. Four patients with pulmonary edema were nonresponders. The presence of pulmonary edema correlated with the response to therapy (p = 0.01). The median duration of response of pulmonary nodules was 5 months (range, 1-16 months). There is a correlation between the development of pulmonary edema and the response of pulmonary metastases in patients with melanoma and kidney cancer treated with high-dose continuous infusion interleukin-2.

Administration of high-dose continuous infusion interleukin-2 to patients age 70 or over.

High-dose bolus or continuous infusion interleukin-2-based therapy can cause capillary leak syndrome. Significant cardiovascular/hemodynamic events, including myocardial infarction, hypotension, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrhythmia, have been described with such therapy. Concern over the toxicity of highdose interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy has led to some clinicians excluding patients 70 years of age or over. We have treated 15 patients 70 years of age or over having an Eastern Conference Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, with therapy based on continuous infusion IL-2 18 MIU/sq m/24 hours for 72 hours. All patients underwent a pretreatment evaluation of cardiac status with a low-level stress or adenosine stress test. Cycles were typically repeated every 3 weeks for 4 cycles, then every 3-4 weeks thereafter. Patients were treated by oncology nurses in either the stem cell transplant (intermediate unit) or the oncology inpatient unit. Patient characteristics were: median age, 72 years (range, 70-83 years); tumor types: melanoma (10), kidney cancer (5); most common sites of disease: lung (11), lymph nodes (6), subcutaneous (3), liver (2); prior therapy included: none (8), outpatient IL-2 (5), other immunotherapy (4). Median number of cycles received: 3 (1-10). Most common toxicities were: fever, rigors, nausea, emesis, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia. Three patients required the use of dopamine for blood pressure support. Two patients declined further therapy. There were no treatment-related deaths. No patients required endotracheal intubation or transfer to an intensive care unit. One complete and 8 partial responses (60% response rate) have been seen. Responding sites include the lung, lymph node, intact kidney primary, and liver. Median survival has not been reached at over 14 months (range 3+-26+ months). Patients who are 70 years of age and older with an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 are able to tolerate high-dose continuous infusion IL-2-based therapy and may respond to such treatment.

High-dose continuous infusion plus pulse interleukin-2 and famotidine in metastatic kidney cancer.

High-dose continuous infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2) regimens generate a higher degree of lymphokine activated killer cell (LAK) cytotoxicity when tested against tumor cells in vitro and a higher rebound lymphocytosis in vivo than do bolus IL-2 regimens. Lymphocytes initially activated by continuous infusion IL-2 have increased cytotoxicity against cancer cells when they are subsequently pulsed with additional IL-2. Famotidine may enhance LAK cytolytic ability. Six patients with kidney cancer have been treated with a combination of famotidine 20 mg intravenous bid and continuous infusion IL-2 (18 MIU/sq m/24 hours) for 72 hours, followed by a 24-hour rest, then IL-2 18 MIU/sq m over 15-30 minutes. The most common metastatic sites were the lung, lymph node, and bone. Median number of cycles received = 5 (range, 3-8). The most common toxicities were fever, rigors, nausea/emesis, hypophosphatemia, hypotension, elevated creatinine, and metabolic acidosis. There were no treatment-related deaths, and no patients required intensive care admission. Two partial responses (33% response rate) have been seen. Median survival has not been reached at greater than 8 months. The combination of high-dose continuous infusion plus pulse IL-2 and famotidine is active in metastatic kidney cancer. An accrual of additional patients is needed to better assess the response rate.

Repeated cycles with 72-hour continuous infusion interleukin-2 in kidney cancer and melanoma.

While high-dose bolus inpatient interleukin-2 is generally given on 8-week cycles, continuous infusion interleukin-2 could potentially allow for more rapidly repeated cycles. Fourteen (14) patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1, having either kidney cancer (6) or melanoma (8), have been treated with continuous infusion (CIV) interleukin-2 (IL-2) 18 MIU/m(2)/24 hours for 72 hours. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks up to 4 cycles, then every 3-4 weeks for 2 cycles, then every 6-8 weeks, until progression or intolerable toxicity. All patients received famotidine 20 mg intravenously (i.v.) twice per day during the 72-hour infusions. Patient characteristics included a median ECOG performance status of 1; median age = 63 (range: 25-79); most common metastatic sites: lung (9), bone (5), lymph nodes (5), and the liver (3). No patients with metastatic kidney cancer underwent a nephrectomy prior to interleukin-2. Median number of cycles received = 5 (1-9). No patients required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. There have been no treatment-related deaths. Most common toxicities have been rigors, fever, nausea/emesis, and the reversible elevation of creatinine. One complete response and three partial responses (67% response rate; 95% confidence interval: 30%-90%) have been seen in kidney cancer, and two partial responses (25% response rate; 95% confidence interval: 7%-60%) have occurred in melanoma. Median survival has not been reached at >9+ months. Responding sites include the liver, bone, lung, lymph node and subcutaneous sites. Inpatient 72-hour continuous infusion interleukin-2 at this dose and schedule is well tolerated by patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 and has activity in kidney cancer and melanoma.

High-dose continuous infusion plus pulse interleukin-2 and famotidine in melanoma.

High-dose, continuous infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2) regimens generate greater Lymphokine Activated Killer cell (LAK) cytotoxicity in vitro and a higher rebound lymphocytosis in vivo than do bolus IL-2 regimens. Lymphocytes initially activated by continuous infusion IL-2 then subsequently pulsed with IL-2 have increased cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Famotidine may enhance the lysis of tumors by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Fourteen patients with melanoma were treated with famotidine 20 mg intravenously twice per day and continuous infusion IL-2 (18 MIU/sq m/24 hours) for 72 hours, followed by a 24-hour rest, then IL-2 18 MIU/sq m over 15-30 minutes for 1 dose (12 patients) or daily for 3 doses (2 patients). Most common toxicities were fever, nausea/emesis, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and rigors. Nine partial responses (64% response rate; 95% Confidence Interval: 39%-84%) have been seen. Median survival has not been reached at greater than 10 months. Two patients responding to therapy showed an increase in detectable CD 56(+) cells in serial subcutaneous or lymph node biopsies, while 1 patient undergoing progression of disease had no such infiltrate. High-dose, 72-hour continuous infusion plus pulse interleukin-2 with famotidine has activity in melanoma. CD 56(+) cells may play a role in responding patients.