A Two-cohort Phase I Study of Weekly Oxaliplatin and Gemcitabine, Then Oxaliplatin, Gemcitabine, and Erlotinib During Radiotherapy for Unresectable Pancreatic Carcinoma

Gemcitabine is a potent radiosensitizer. When combined with standard radiotherapy (XRT) the gemcitabine dose must be reduced to about 10% of its conventional dose. Oxaliplatin and erlotinib also have radiosensitizing properties. In vitro, oxaliplatin and gemcitabine have demonstrated synergy. We aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of oxaliplatin and gemcitabine with concurrent XRT, then oxaliplatin, gemcitaibine and erlotinib with XRT in the treatment of locally advanced and low volume metastatic pancreatic or biliary cancer

Paraneoplastic Leukocytosis and Thrombocytosis as Prognostic Biomarkers in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background and Objectives: Search for inexpensive laboratory markers have identified associations between blood counts and lung cancer outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of paraneoplastic leukocytosis (p-Leukocytosis) and paraneoplastic thrombocytosis (p-Thrombocytosis) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We also studied their relation to the expression of commonly detected molecular markers. 
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review on 571 consecutive NSCLC patients over a 10 year period. Blood counts were recorded at the time of cancer diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare overall survival (OS) between patients with and without p-Leukocytosis (or) p-Thrombocytosis (p-Leuko/Thrombocytosis). Cox regression was used to determine if leukocytosis/thrombocytosis was a predictor of OS in NSCLC.
Results: Patients with p-Leukocytosis and p-Thrombocytosis had a significantly poorer survival compared patients with normal blood counts (P<0.001). In a multivariate survival analysis, both continued to correlate even when adjusted for histology, gender, stage and chemotherapy (P<0.01, 0.03 respectively). Stage I and II NSCLC with p-Leuko/Thrombocytosis did not perform poorly compared to stage I/II NSCLC patients without paraneoplasia. Patients with the combined leukothrombocytosis syndrome did not have worse outcomes compared to those with either paraneoplastic syndrome alone. 
Conclusions: p-Leuko/Thrombocytosis is an accessible laboratory parameter of prognostic value in NSCLC. Evidence of p-Leuko/Thrombocytosis portends poor survival. The role of various cytokines in tumor pathobiology provides a rationale for identifying cytokine factors responsible for the paraneoplasia and administering anti-cytokine therapies alongside traditional chemotherapy in an attempt to improve survival outcomes in these subset of patients

Reverse translation of phase I biomarker findings links the activity of angiotensin-(1–7) to repression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α in vascular sarcomas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In a phase I study of angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)], clinical benefit was associated with reduction in plasma placental growth factor (PlGF) concentrations. The current study examines Ang-(1–7) induced changes in biomarkers according to cancer type and investigates mechanisms of action engaged <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Plasma biomarkers were measured prior to Ang-(1–7) administration as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours after treatment. Tests for interaction were performed to determine the impact of cancer type on angiogenic hormone levels. If a positive interaction was detected, treatment-induced biomarker changes for individual cancer types were assessed. To investigate mechanisms of action, <it>in vitro</it> growth assays were performed using a murine endothelioma cell line (EOMA). PCR arrays were performed to identify and statistically validate genes that were altered by Ang-(1–7) treatment in these cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Tests for interaction controlled for dose cohort and clinical response indicated a significant impact of cancer type on post-treatment VEGF and PlGF levels. Following treatment, PlGF levels decreased over time in patients with sarcoma (P = .007). Treatment of EOMA cells with increasing doses of Ang-(1–7) led to significant growth suppression at doses as low as 100 nM. PCR arrays identified 18 genes that appeared to have altered expression after Ang-(1–7) treatment. Replicate analyses confirmed significant changes in 8 genes including reduction in PlGF (<it>P</it> = .04) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression (<it>P</it> < .001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ang-(1–7) has clinical and pre-clinical activity for vascular sarcomas that is linked to reduced HIF-1α and PlGF expression.</p