First-line Chemotherapy (first-line + chemotherapy)

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Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Ifosfamide, etoposide, cytarabine, and dexamethasone as salvage treatment followed by high-dose cyclophosphamide, melphalan, and etoposide with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for relapsed or refractory lymphomas

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
P. Schütt
Abstract High-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) with autologous stem cell transplantation is considered to be the treatment of choice for relapsed high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients, but the optimal treatment has not yet been defined. We evaluated a salvage treatment regimen consisting of conventional cycles with ifosfamide, etoposide, cytarabine, and dexamethasone (IVAD) followed by two cycles of HD-CT consisting of cyclophosphamide, melphalan, and etoposide (CMV) with autologous stem cell support in patients with relapsed or refractory NHL (n = 59) and HL (n = 16). Response to IVAD was complete remission (CR) in 16 patients (21%), partial remission (PR) in 39 patients (52%), stable disease (SD) in 18 patients (24%), and progressive disease (PD) in two patients (2.7%). Of 70 patients treated with HD-CT, 41 patients (59%) showed a CR, 20 patients a PR (29%), eight patients a SD (11%), and one patient a PD (1.4%). The 5-yr overall survival for the entire group of patients was 29%, and for patients with NHL and HL 25%, and 38%, respectively. The respective event-free survival probabilities at 5 yr were 22%, 16%, and 31%. Seven treatment-related deaths due to septicemia (three), cardiac arrhythmia (one), pneumonia (one), pneumonitis (one), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (one) were observed. In multivariate analysis, an International Prognostic Index of ,2 and resistant disease to first-line chemotherapy were poor independent prognostic factors for the subgroup of patients with NHL. In conclusion, these results indicate that IVAD/CMV is feasible as a salvage therapy for lymphoma patients. This treatment is currently evaluated with the addition of rituximab. [source]


Clinical outcome of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after induction chemotherapy for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 9 2004
MOTOTSUGU MURAMAKI
Abstract Background: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) following induction chemotherapy has been considered a critical component in the comprehensive management of advanced non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT). The objectives of the present study were to review the clinical outcome of patients who underwent RPLND and to evaluate the probability of necrosis alone, based on some readily available clinical data for these patients. Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with NSGCT were treated with first-line chemotherapy at our institution between January 1993 and September 2002. Twenty-four of these patients, who underwent RPLND with normal values of tumor markers after induction chemotherapy, were included in the study. The cause-specific survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan,Meier method. Various predictive factors for the histology were analyzed using multivariate analysis. Results: The pathological findings at resection were necrosis alone in 62.5% of cases, teratoma in 25.0%, and viable cancer in 12.5%. The cause-specific 3-year survival rate of patients who underwent complete and incomplete resection was 100% and 50.0%, respectively. Among several clinical factors, prechemotherapy tumor size less than 50 mm was found to be an independent predictor of necrosis alone (hazard ratio = 4.45, P= 0.04). Conclusion: Metastatic tumor size before chemotherapy appears to be one of the most important factors for the prediction of necrosis alone in the resected specimens of RPLND. The prognosis of patients might be influenced by the degree to which resection has been completed. [source]


Prospective cytomegalovirus monitoring during first-line chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 7 2010
Saveria Capria
Abstract Little is known about the incidence and clinical impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients with acute myeloid leukemia at the time of diagnosis and during chemotherapy. The aims of the present study were to assess prospectively the incidence of active CMV infection in 69 consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukemia and to describe the outcomes of treatment. pp65 antigenemia was monitored at diagnosis, post-induction and post-consolidation chemotherapy, and whenever CMV reactivation was suspected. Patients with pp65 antigenemia received pre-emptive anti-CMV treatment. Fifty-nine patients achieved complete remission. Baseline CMV serology results were available for 56 of the 59 patients: 52 patients (93%) were IgG positive. The overall incidence of pp65 antigenemia in patients in complete remission after chemotherapy was 35% (21/59): 9 patients after induction and 12 post-consolidation. Sixteen of the 21 pp65-positive patients received anti-CMV treatment: 15 as pre-emptive therapy and 1 for interstitial CMV pneumonitis. Five patients received no anti-CMV treatment and did not develop CMV disease. Patients with pp65 antigenemia had more hospital admissions (2.57 vs. 2.16; P,=,0.009), while patients with >10 pp65-positive cells had more clinical complications (8/9 vs. 2/12; P,=,0.002). In conclusion, patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy should be monitored for active CMV infection. CMV reactivation in these patients was associated with an increased number of hospital admissions, and high levels of pp65 antigenemia were associated with more clinical complications. Controlled studies are needed to assess the relevance of pre-emptive anti-CMV therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy. J. Med. Virol. 82: 1201,1207, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Benign pineal cysts in children with bilateral retinoblastoma: A new variant of trilateral retinoblastoma?

PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 7 2006
Maja Beck Popovic MD
Abstract Purpose Patients with hereditary retinoblastoma (Rb) develop in 4%,8% a malignant midline tumor called trilateral Rb (TRb). We report in this study on benign pineal cysts observed in patients investigated for TRb. Patients and Methods Between September 1990 and December 2001, 172 patients were screened for TRb. Ninty-five had bilateral, 77 unilateral disease. The median age at diagnosis of Rb was 7 months (range 1,26). Treatment included enucleation, local treatment with cryotherapy or photocoagulation, first-line chemotherapy (CT), thermo-chemotherapy (TCT), Ruthenium plaque, and, rarely, external beam radiation (EBR). Results TRb was found in 5/95 patients (5.3%) with bilateral disease. Interestingly, five other patients (5.3%) presented a pineal cyst on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). No cysts were recorded in the 77 patients with unilateral disease. This difference was statistically significant (P,<,0.05). The median age at diagnosis of the pineal cyst was 26 months (range 16,80), much younger than reported in literature for healthy children. Four of five patients with TRb died of the disease, while all the patients with pineal cysts remained stable and asymptomatic during a median follow-up of 41 months (range 37,54). Conclusions This report describes benign cystic lesions of the pineal gland in patients with hereditary Rb, suggesting a benign variant of TRb. Underlying possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Results for 79 patients with neuroblastoma detected through mass screening at 6 months of age in a single institute

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2006
NOBUHIRO NISHIO
Abstract Background: In Japan, mass screening for neuroblastoma has been performed at 6 months of age to improve the prognosis of this condition for more than 20 years. In recent years, most neuroblastomas detected by mass screening were considered to have favorable biological features and sometimes tend to regress spontaneously. Methods: The authors established non-treated observation criteria in 1997 and criteria for observation of residual tumor after first-line chemotherapy in 1999, and have made an effort to reduce the intensity of medical treatment for neuroblastoma. The authors examined outcomes of 79 patients who were found in the Shizuoka neuroblastoma mass screening at 6 months of age and who received medical treatment or underwent observation in Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan, between December 1981 and December 2004. Results: A total of 77 patients survived but the remaining two patients died from complications of medical treatment. None of the patients died due to progression of neuroblastoma. In the cases, non-treated observation was performed in 17. Of those, 12 patients are now under non-treated observation. Of their tumors, two have disappeared, nine have become smaller and another one has not change in size. Observation of residual tumor after first-line chemotherapy was performed in 15 cases, and three disappeared and the other 12 cases became smaller. Medical treatment-related complications were observed in 20 of 67 patients who received medical treatment, and 18 of the 20 patients were seen before establishing non-treated observation criteria. Conclusion: Non-treated observation and observation of residual tumor after first-line chemotherapy were useful to reduce medical treatment-related complications. [source]


Prognostic significance of Fas (CD95/APO-1) positivity in patients with primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
Bulent Eser
Abstract Fas (CD95/APO-1) is a protein that is mainly related to apoptosis of lymphoid cells. The increment of Fas expression is associated with long-term survival in various malignancies. However, there are limited studies regarding the effect of Fas expression on the course and prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of immunohistochemical Fas expression on the prognosis of nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A total of 63 patients with primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed in the Erciyes University Department of Hematology between 1990 and 2003 were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 55 years old (range 19,102 years old). The median follow-up period was 19 months (2,132 months). Histopathological sections were stained immunohistochemically and evaluated by light microscopy for Fas, bcl-2, and p53. Clinical and laboratory parameters including Fas, bcl-2, and p53 positivity, age, sex, performance status, clinical stage, presence of B symptoms, bone marrow involvement, extranodal involvement, and lactic dehydrogenase levels were evaluated to compare overall survival. Complete remission was obtained in 28 patients (44.4%) after first-line chemotherapy. Fas positivity, male gender, good performance status, clinical stage I-II, absence of B symptoms, normal lactic dehydrogenase value, and absence of bone marrow involvement were favorable prognostic factors for complete remission in statistical analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that positive Fas expression and ECOG performance status were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Also, Fas-positive patiens had significantly prolonged progression-free survival. Immunohistochemical Fas positivity was a favorable prognostic factor for complete remission and overall and progression-free survival in primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Am. J. Hematol. 81:307,314, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Phase II study of irinotecan in combination with capecitabine as a first-line chemotherapy in Asian patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma

ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Tony MOK
Abstract Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly fatal malignancies in Asia but treatment options are limited. Methods: This multinational, nonrandomized phase II trial using the combination of irinotecan (Campto or CPT-11) and capecitabine (Xeloda) was conducted to determine efficacy and safety of this combination in Asian patients with advanced inoperable HCC. The starting dose was irinotecan 200 mg/m2 every 3 weeks followed by capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily for 14 days followed by a 7-day rest. The primary endpoint was tumor response rate, based on response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria. Secondary objectives included the safety and tolerability of the treatment combination, time to progression, duration of overall response, tumor growth control rate (complete response, partial response plus stable disease) and overall survival. Results: Of the 63 recruited patients, 47 were evaluable. Of these, three (6.4%) achieved a partial response (lasting 2.2, 3.4 and 8.0 months, respectively). The median overall survival was 4.5 months. Grade 4 diarrhea was reported in four patients. Hematologic grade 4 laboratory abnormalities observed in patients while on study treatment included neutropenia (5.2%) and anemia (1.7%). Seven patients (12.1%) had grade 4 elevations in their total bilirubin. Both irinotecan and capecitabine were generally well tolerated, with manageable and reversible toxicities. Conclusion: Combination therapy with irinotecan and capecitabine has limited efficacy in the treatment of advanced-stage HCC. Further investigation of this combination is not warranted. [source]


Association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism and MDM2 SNP309 with clinical outcome of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

CANCER, Issue 4 2008
Ji-Youn Han MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of p53 codon 72 (Arg72Pro) and MDM2 SNP309 (309T>G) affect p53 expression and the clinical outcome of patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. A total of 148 NSCLC patients, previously enrolled in 2 different prospective clinical trials, were genotyped for the p53 Arg72Pro and MDM2 309T>G polymorphisms. Immunohistochemical staining of p53 protein was performed on 61 tumor samples. Genotypes were correlated with p53 expression, clinicopathologic factors, tumor response, and survival. Multivariate logistic or Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for possible confounding variables. RESULTS. The distribution of sex, age, performance status, stage, tumor histology, and smoking habit was not significantly different among polymorphism variants. However, a significant association was observed between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and primary resistance to chemotherapy. Patients with the Pro/Pro variant were more likely to be resistant to first-line chemotherapy, especially the irinotecan plus cisplatin regimen, than those with Arg/Arg or Arg/Pro variants (60% vs 27%, P = .014). In multivariate analysis, the Pro/Pro genotype was strongly predictive for shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.952, P = .01). The p53 overexpression was associated with MDM2 SNP309. The TT genotype showed more p53 overexpression than TG or GG genotypes (P = .036). In multivariate analysis, the MDM2 TT genotype was independently predictive for longer survival (HR = 1.742, P = .032). CONCLUSIONS. The p53 72Pro/Pro variant was predictive for primary resistance to chemotherapy and shorter progression-free survival. The MDM2 SNP309 was associated with less p53 overexpression and prognostic for worse survival. Genotyping these polymorphisms may be useful for predicting the clinical outcome of advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source]


Randomized phase 2 study of irinotecan plus cisplatin versus gemcitabine plus vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy with second-line crossover in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

CANCER, Issue 2 2008
Ji-Youn Han MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. The current study was performed to compare the nonplatinum-based combination of gemcitabine and vinorelbine (GV) with the combination of irinotecan and cisplatin (IP) as first-line chemotherapy with second-line crossover in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. Patients were randomly assigned to received either irinotecan at a dose of 65 mg/m2 plus cisplatin at a dose of 30 mg/m2 (Arm A) or gemcitabine at a dose of 900 mg/m2 plus vinorelbine at a dose of 25 mg/m2 (Arm B), each of which was administered on Days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks as the first-line therapy followed by crossover at the time of disease progression. RESULTS. A total of 146 patients were enrolled (75 patients in Arm A and 71 patients in Arm B); 138 patients were evaluable for tumor response and toxicity. During first-line therapy, IP was found to result in more grade 2+ nausea and vomiting (toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]) (41% vs 12%; P = .0001) and alopecia (36% vs 10%; P = .0003). Pneumonitis was noted only with GV therapy (7% vs 0%; P = .058). During second-line therapy, IP was found to result in more grade 3 diarrhea (17% vs 2%; P = .039) and GV featured more cases of grade 3+ neutropenia (78% vs 40%; P = .0003). IP tended to generate more tumor responses (38% vs 26% as first-line therapy, and 30% vs 13% as second-line therapy) compared with GV. IP also demonstrated a favorable trend in median progression-free survival (4.6 months vs 3.8 months as first-line therapy and 4.5 months vs 2.6 months as second-line therapy) and overall survival (15.9 months vs 13.1 months; P = .3), but this difference was not statistically significant. The majority of patients who were refractory to IP also failed to respond to GV in the second-line setting. CONCLUSIONS. The platinum-based IP regimen appeared to be superior to the GV combination in terms of response rate. However, given the similar survival and better tolerability of the nonplatinum GV regimen, either treatment sequence would appear to be acceptable for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source]


Randomized phase II trial of two different schedules of docetaxel plus cisplatin as first-line therapy in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

CANCER, Issue 4 2007
Se Hoon Park MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. There is increasing interest in the use of a weekly administration of docetaxel as a way of reducing its hematologic toxicity. The purpose of the current randomized study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of docetaxel plus cisplatin combination on 2 schedules in patients with previously untreated, advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. Consenting patients with advanced NSCLC were randomized to receive first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on Day 1, plus 3-weekly (75 mg/m2 on Day 1) or weekly (35 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, and 15 of a 4-week cycle) docetaxel, for up to 6 cycles. RESULTS. Of 86 patients accrued, 41 patients were treated with 3-weekly and 43 with weekly docetaxel plus cisplatin. The most frequent grade 3/4 toxicity in the 3-weekly arm was neutropenia (56% of patients). In those receiving the weekly regimen, the frequent grade 3/4 toxicities were fatigue (44%) and nausea/vomiting (35%). The overall response rate was 40% with the 3-weekly and 39% with the weekly arm (P = .74). The median progression-free survival was 4.3 months in the 3-weekly arm and 3.9 months in the weekly arm (P = .08) and the median survival was 10.3 and 10.0 months, respectively (P = .76). Quality of life data showed no relevant difference between the arms. CONCLUSIONS. The weekly schedule of docetaxel plus cisplatin combination as first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC, while feasible, has no clear advantage over the standard 3-weekly regimen. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source]


Phase I study of dexamethasone, methotrexate, ifosfamide, l -asparaginase, and etoposide (SMILE) chemotherapy for advanced-stage, relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma and leukemia

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008
Motoko Yamaguchi
Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, and aggressive NK-cell leukemia are rare, and their standard therapy has not been established. They are Epstein,Barr virus-associated lymphoid malignancies, and tumor cells express P-glycoprotein leading to multidrug resistance of the disease. Patients with stage IV, relapsed or refractory diseases have a dismal prognosis, with survival measured in months only. To develop an efficacious chemotherapeutic regimen, we conducted a dose-escalation feasibility study of a new chemotherapeutic regimen, SMILE, comprising the steroid dexamethasone, methotrexate, ifosfamide, l -asparaginase, and etoposide. The components of SMILE are multidrug resistance-unrelated agents and etoposide. Etoposide shows both in vitro and in vivo efficacy for Epstein,Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorders. Eligible patients had newly diagnosed stage IV, relapsed or refractory diseases after first-line chemotherapy, were 15,69 years of age, and had satisfactory performance scores (0,2). Four dose levels of methotrexate and etoposide were originally planned to be evaluated. At level 1, six patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, were enrolled. Their disease status was newly diagnosed stage IV (n = 3), first relapse (n = 2), and primary refractory (n = 1). All of the first three patients developed dose-limiting toxicities, and one of them died of sepsis with grade 4 neutropenia. A protocol revision stipulating early granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration was made. Two out of three additional patients developed dose-limiting toxicities that were all manageable and transient. For the six enrolled patients, the overall response rate was 67% and the complete response rate was 50%. Although its safety and efficacy require further evaluation, we recommend a SMILE chemotherapy dose level of 1 for further clinical studies. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1016,1020) [source]