A non-randomized comparison of gemcitabine-based chemoradiation with or without induction chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (chemoradiation; CRT) is the standard treatment for locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN). CRT improves local control and overall survival (OS) when compared to radiotherapy (RT) alone. Induction chemotherapy (IC) reduces the risk of distant metastases (DM) and improves OS by 5% with the use of cisplatin/infusional 5 fluorouracil (PF) in meta-analysis. Adding a taxane to PF in the IC regimen confers a better outcome. Sequential treatment (ST) of IC followed by CRT is therefore under active investigation in multiple phase III trials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared the outcome of two cohorts of patients (pts) with LA-SCCHN treated at our institution with CRT (n = 27) or ST (n = 31), respectively. CRT consisted of GEM 100 mg/m²weekly + conventional RT (70 Gy); ST consisted of the same CRT preceded by platinum-based IC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Response to IC: complete 8 (26%), partial 20 (65%), stable 1, progressive 1, not evaluable 1. Median follow up of the surviving pts: for CRT 73 months, for ST 51 months. Median time to distant metastasis (TDM) was for CRT 23.6 months, for ST not reached. Median OS was for CRT 20.2 months, for ST 40.2 months. Cox regression analysis, taking into account age, T and N stage and tumor site, showed a hazard ratio with ST of 1.190 for time to locoregional failure (p = 0.712), 0.162 for TDM (p = 0.002), and 0.441 for overall survival (OS) (p = 0.026).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TDM and OS were found significantly longer in the ST cohort without a reduced locoregional control. Notwithstanding the limitations of a non-randomized single-center comparison, the results are in line with very preliminary data of randomized comparisons suggesting an improved outcome with ST.</p

Low CD10 mRNA Expression Identifies High-Risk Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)

PURPOSE: Optimal management of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is controversial, and many patients are still overtreated. The local death of myoepithelial cells (MECs) is believed to be a pre-requisite to tumor invasion. We thus hypothesized that loss of CD10 expression, a MEC surface peptidase, would signify basement membrane disruption and confer increased risk of relapse in DCIS. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the prognostic value of CD10 in DCIS. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: CD10 expression was evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry using paraffin-embedded samples of normal breast tissue (n = 11); of morphologically normal ducts associated with DCIS (n = 10); and of DCIS without an invasive component (n = 154). RESULTS: CD10 immunostaining was only observed in MECs in normal tissue and in DCIS. Normal tissue showed high mRNA expression levels of CD10, whereas DCIS showed a variable range. After a median follow-up of 6 years, DCIS with CD10 expression below the levels observed in normal tissue (71%) demonstrated a higher risk of local relapse (HR = 1.88; [95CI:1.30-2.70], p = 0.001) in univariate analysis. No relapse was observed in patients expressing high CD10 mRNA levels (29%) similar to the ones observed in normal tissue. In multivariate analysis including known prognostic factors, low CD10 mRNA expression remained significant (HR = 2.25; [95%CI:1.24-4.09], p = 0.008), as did the recently revised Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI) score (HR = 2.03; [95%CI:1.23-3.35], p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The decrease of CD10 expression in MECs is associated with a higher risk of relapse in DCIS; this knowledge has the potential to improve DCIS management

Ductal carcinoma in situ: a challenging disease

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a heterogenous group of lesions with variable malignant potential. Although it is clearly pre-invasive, not all lesions progress to an invasive malignant disease. The significant increase in the frequency of diagnosis is the result of both widespread use of screening mammography and better recognition among pathologists. Treatment is controversial, but for several decades total mastectomy has been considered as the appropriate treatment. The tendency to be less aggressive in terms of surgery has followed the pattern of events observed in the treatment of invasive breast carcinomas. More recently, it has become clear that breastconserving procedures could be applied and selected on the basis of diagnostics and risk factors. When all patients with DCIS are considered, the overall mortality is extremely low, only about 1–2%. On the other hand, breast-conserving surgery is only curative in 75–85%; 50% of the local recurrences have proven to be invasive with a mortality rate of 12–15%. There is no place for axillary node dissection, adjuvant hormonal treatment or chemotherapy in the treatment. Important factors in predicting local recurrence are age, family history, nuclear grade, comedo-type necrosis, tumor size and margin width. With the addition of radiation therapy to excisional surgery, there is a 50% reduction in the overall local recurrence rate. The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI), recently updated, is a tool that quantifies measurable prognostic factors that can be used in the decision-making process of treatment. Recent data from large cohort studies and randomized trials have emerged to guide treatment. DCIS is now understood to have diverse malignant potential and it is unlikely that there will be a single treatment for this wide range of lesions. Advances in molecular biology and gene expression profiling of human breast tumors have been providing important insights into the relationship between DCIS and invasive breast cancer

The socio-economical impact of intravenous (IV) versus subcutaneous (SC) administration of trastuzumab : future prospectives

Trastuzumab was the first targeted therapy for HER2 positive breast cancer. It has become the standard of care for HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer since 2000 and in the adjuvant setting since 2006. Adjuvant it is given for a year and in patients with metastatic disease until progression. The standard mode of administration is intravenous. Recently a subcutaneous form has become available. A phase III study showed that there is no difference between the intravenous and subcutaneous form in terms of safety and efficacy. The patient’s preference however significantly favoured the subcutaneous form. It is estimated that the use of the SC form could contribute to a cost saving between 758 and 2576 euro per annual course. For Belgium alone this could mean an estimated saving of 1.4 to 4.6 million euros per year. The potential benefit of the SC administration for healthcare facilities could be further increased when applied in a LEAN working day-care chemotherapy unit. After reviewing the existing literature we suggest to further validate the potential financial impact of SC trastuzumab compared to the traditional IV form and to introduce a scientific proposal incorporating the benefits of this formulation in a LEAN working healthcare unit

Current view on ductal carcinoma in situ and importance of the margin thresholds : a review

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a heterogeneous group of diseases that differ in biology and clinical behaviour. Until 1980, DCIS represented less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. With the increased utilization of mammography, DCIS now accounts for 15% to 25% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VPNI) is a commonly used tool for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treatment approach. Patient age, tumour size, tumour margins and pathological grade are used in order to stratify patients into three groups pertaining to risk of local recurrence: low-, intermediate- and high risk. Patients in the low-risk subgroup will always be treated with excision alone, while in the highest subgroup mastectomy is the safest option. Just like invasive breast cancer (IBC) there might be a curative dilemma in the intermediate-risk group. Many trials confirm that tumour margins are the most important prognostic factor of local recurrence for DCIS patients treated with breast conserving surgery alone or with breast conserving surgery plus radiotherapy. In this article we focused specifically on the literature concerning margin thresholds

CD10 expression and risk of relapse in DCIS

Abstract: e22053info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe