Impressive and Prolonged Response with Lenvatinib in a Highly Pretreated Patient with Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cancer: A Case Report

Clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) can occur in young people and could be associated with an aggressive behavior. While for the first-line treatment in metastatic disease, there is an agreement to rely on an immunotherapy (IO)-based combination regimen, no standard second-line regimens exist. Generally, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are employed, even in sequence, although no trials have demonstrated yet the best succession. Herein, we present the case of a 39-year-old male, with a very aggressive ccRCC with somatic VHL mutation and distant metastases at diagnosis. He was treated with four different lines of therapies, including TKIs, with progressive multiple tumor deposits. Lenvatinib alone as the fifth line was able to induce a remarkable and prolonged tumor shrinkage with manageable toxicities

The impact of electronic versus paper-based data capture on data collection logistics and on missing scores in thyroid cancer patients

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of data capture on the time and help needed for collecting patient-reported outcomes as well as on the proportion of missing scores. Methods In a multinational prospective study, thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries completed a validated questionnaire measuring quality of life. Electronic data capture was compared to the paper-based approach using multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 437 patients were included, of whom 13% used electronic data capture. The relation between data capture and time needed was modified by the emotional functioning of the patients. Those with clinical impairments in that respect needed more time to complete the questionnaire when they used electronic data capture compared to paper and pencil (ORadj 24.0; p = 0.006). This was not the case when patients had sub-threshold emotional problems (ORadj 1.9; p = 0.48). The odds of having the researcher reading the questions out (instead of the patient doing this themselves) (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) and of needing any help (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) were lower when electronic data capture was used. The proportion of missing scores was equivalent in both groups (ORadj 0.4, p = 0.42). Conclusions The advantages of electronic data capture, such as real-time assessment and fewer data entry errors, may come at the price of more time required for data collection when the patients have mental health problems. As this is not uncommon in thyroid cancer, researchers need to choose the type of data capture wisely for their particular research question

Use of lenvatinib in the treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: a multidisciplinary perspective for daily practice

Background: Most thyroid cancers of follicular origin have a favorable outcome. Only a small percentage of patients will develop metastatic disease, some of which will become radioiodine refractory (RAI-R). Important challenges to ensure the best therapeutic outcomes include proper, timely, and appropriate diagnosis; decisions on local, systemic treatments; management of side effects of therapies; and a good relationship between the specialist, patients, and caregivers. Methods: With the aim of providing suggestions that can be useful in ev eryday practice, a multidisciplinary group of experts organized the following document, based on their shared clinical experience with patients with RAI-R differentiat ed thyroid cancer (DTC) undergoing treatment with lenvatinib. The main areas covered are patient selection, initiation of therapy, follow-up, and management of adverse events. Conclusions: It is essential to provide guidance for the management of RAI-R DTC patients with systemic therapies, and especially lenvatinib, since compliance and adherence to treatment are fundamental to achieve the best outcomes. Whil e the therapeutic landscape in RAI-R DTC is evolving, with new targeted therapies, immunotherapy, etc., lenvatinib is expected to remain a first-line treatment and mainstay of therapy for several years in the vast majority of patients and settings. The guidance herein covers baseline work-up and initiation of systemic therapy, relevance of symptoms, multidisciplinary assessment, and patient education. Practical information based on expert experience is also given for the starting dose of lenvatinib, follow-up and monitoring, as well as the management of adverse events and discontinuation and reinitiating of therapy. The importance of patient engagement is also stressed

Thrombotic Events during Lenvatinib Treatment: A Single Institution Experience

Lenvatinib is the standard treatment for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). Thromboembolic (TE) side effects are quite rare (1–3% of treated patients) in clinical trials. Nevertheless, patients with predisposing factors are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular adverse events. Reduction of lenvatinib starting dose and cardiologic counselling to provide appropriate supportive therapies are usually recommended for high-risk patients. From 2016 to 2022, we analyzed a series of 16 patients who were consecutively treated at our institution. All except one patient received a reduction in their dosage after two cycles of therapy because of toxicities, and four patients (25%) suffered from TE. The observed incidence in our patient sample seemed to be higher than expected. We hypothesized that our patient sample might be at higher risk probably because of the heavy prior loco-regional treatments performed

Electroporation in Head-and-Neck Cancer: An Innovative Approach with Immunotherapy and Nanotechnology Combination

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy that arises in the head-and-neck district. Traditional treatment could be insufficient in case of recurrent and/or metastatic cancers; for this reason, more selective and enhanced treatments are in evaluation in preclinical and clinical trials to increase in situ concentration of chemotherapy drugs promoting a selectively antineoplastic activity. Among all cancer treatment types (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), electroporation (EP) has emerged as a safe, less invasive, and effective approach for cancer treatment. Reversible EP, using an intensive electric stimulus (i.e., 1000 V/cm) applied for a short time (i.e., 100 μs), determines a localized electric field that temporarily permealizes the tumor cell membranes while maintaining high cell viability, promoting cytoplasm cell uptake of antineoplastic agents such as bleomycin and cisplatin (electrochemotherapy), calcium (Ca2+ electroporation), siRNA and plasmid DNA (gene electroporation). The higher intracellular concentration of antineoplastic agents enhances the antineoplastic activity and promotes controlled tumor cell death (apoptosis). As secondary effects, localized EP (i) reduces the capillary blood flow in tumor tissue (“vascular lock”), lowering drug washout, and (ii) stimulates the immune system acting against cancer cells. After years of preclinical development, electrochemotherapy (ECT), in combination with bleomycin or cisplatin, is currently one of the most effective treatments used for cutaneous metastases and primary skin and mucosal cancers that are not amenable to surgery. To reach this clinical evidence, in vitro and in vivo models were preclinically developed for evaluating the efficacy and safety of ECT on different tumor cell lines and animal models to optimize dose and administration routes of drugs, duration, and intensity of the electric field. Improvements in reversible EP efficacy are under evaluation for HNSCC treatment, where the focus is on the development of a combination treatment between EP-enhanced nanotechnology and immunotherapy strategies

Ovarian Cancer Radiosensitivity: What Have We Understood So Far?

Radiotherapy has been increasingly considered as an active treatment to combine with other approaches (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, and novel target-based drugs) in ovarian cancers to palliate symptoms and/or to prolong chemotherapy-free intervals. This narrative review aimed to summarize the current knowledge of the radiosensitivity/radioresistance of ovarian cancer which remains the most lethal gynecological cancer worldwide. Indeed, considering the high rate of recurrence in and out of the radiotherapy fields, in the era of patient-tailored oncology, elucidating the mechanisms of radiosensitivity and identifying potential radioresistance biomarkers could be crucial in guiding clinical decision-making

Corrigendum: Optimizing the use of lenvatinib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma

: [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.979519.]

The first real-world study on the role of carbon ion radiotherapy for oligo-metastatic, persistent, or recurrent (MPR) ovarian/fallopian tube cancer

Introduction: In the multidisciplinary management of oligometastatic, persistent, or recurrent (MPR) ovarian cancer, radiotherapy (RT) is becoming a more and more worthwhile treatment to potentially improve the chronicity of the disease. Particle beam RT has proved to be effective in several gynecological malignancies, but so far no data are available for ovarian cancer. Material and Methods: This is a real-world, retrospective, bi-institutional, single-arm study aimed to assess the effectiveness and the safety of carbon ion RT (CIRT) in this setting. The co-first endpoints are 1-year and 2-year actuarial local control (LC) rates and the objective response rate (ORR) defined on a “per lesion” basis. The secondary endpoint was toxicity. Actuarial outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method while potential predictors were explored using the Log-rank test. Bi-variable logistic regression was employed in the analysis of factors predicting the complete response on a per-lesion basis. Results: 26 patients accounting for a total of 36 lesions underwent CIRT with a total median dose of 52.8 Gy[RBE] (range: 39–64 Gy[RBE]). Five patients received CIRT for re-irradiation. No concomitant systemic therapies were administered during CIRT. Within 12 months after the treatment, 17 lesions (47 %) achieved complete response while 18 (50 %) obtained a partial response with an ORR of 97 %. The achievement of a complete response is related to the dose per fraction (>4.2 Gy[RBE], p = 0.04) and total dose (>52,8 Gy[RBE], p = 0.05). The 1-year LC was 92 % and the 2-year LC was 83 %, according to the achievement of a CR (p = 0.007) and GTV ≤ 14 cm3 (p = 0.024). No grade > 3 toxicities were recorded both in naïve and re-irradiated patients. PARP-i and anti-VEGF seemed not to exacerbate the risk of severe toxicities. Conclusions: CIRT was effective and safe in MPR ovarian cancers, even in the case of re-irradiation. Largest cohort studies and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these data

The impact of electronic versus paper-based data capture on data collection logistics and on missing scores in thyroid cancer patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of data capture on the time and help needed for collecting patient-reported outcomes as well as on the proportion of missing scores. Methods: In a multinational prospective study, thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries completed a validated questionnaire measuring quality of life. Electronic data capture was compared to the paper-based approach using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 437 patients were included, of whom 13% used electronic data capture. The relation between data capture and time needed was modified by the emotional functioning of the patients. Those with clinical impairments in that respect needed more time to complete the questionnaire when they used electronic data capture compared to paper and pencil (ORadj 24.0; p = 0.006). This was not the case when patients had sub-threshold emotional problems (ORadj 1.9; p = 0.48). The odds of having the researcher reading the questions out (instead of the patient doing this themselves) (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) and of needing any help (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) were lower when electronic data capture was used. The proportion of missing scores was equivalent in both groups (ORadj 0.4, p = 0.42). Conclusions: The advantages of electronic data capture, such as real-time assessment and fewer data entry errors, may come at the price of more time required for data collection when the patients have mental health problems. As this is not uncommon in thyroid cancer, researchers need to choose the type of data capture wisely for their particular research question.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The Interplay between Age and Viral Status in EBV-Related Nasopharyngeal and HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Background. The aim of this work was to analyze the interplay between age and viral status on the outcomes in loco-regionally advanced oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and different chemotherapy combinations. Methods. A retrospective (2006–2017) analysis was performed on non-metastatic loco-regionally advanced oropharyngeal (both HPV+ and HPV−) and EBV+ nasopharyngeal cancer patients (young: <65 years vs. elderly: ≥65 years) treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. The impact of age and viral status on overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were studied with multivariable models, which were adjusted for smoking, stage, comorbidities, chemotherapy dose intensity and treatment strategy. Results. We analyzed 324 patients (146 HPV+ oropharynx, 63 HPV−, 115 nasopharynx). Elderly patients had more comorbidities, and received less intensive treatments when compared to younger subjects. Although OS and DFS were shorter in older patients, after adjustment for stage, smoking, comorbidities, treatment strategy and dose intensity, no significant differences in terms of survival were observed according to age (65 vs. 50 years of age: HR 1.89, 95% CI 0.45–7.84 for HPV+ OPC; HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.29–2.89 for HPV− OPC; HR 1.99, 95% CI 0.9–4.39 for NPC; p = 0.395). Conclusions. Several potential age-related (comorbidities, treatment intensity) and disease-related (stage) confounding factors play a prognostic role with differential impacts on both virus and non-virus-related tumors. In HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer and in EBV+ nasopharyngeal cancer patients, age should be considered as the expression of an array of host- and tumor-related features rather than an independent prognostic factor