A RARE INFECTIOUS COMPLICATION AFTER ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION IN AN ONCOLOGICAL PATIENT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

An endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of a mediastinal lymph node was performed in a cancer patient. Shortly after this procedure, a streptococcus salivarius endocarditis was diagnosed. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature of endocarditis following ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in the absence of cardiac risk factors

High-Dose Lanreotide in the Treatment of Poorly Differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), including poorly differentiated carcinomas (NECs), are rarely encountered. The majority of these tumors do not secrete excess hormones, but functioning NETs produce large amounts of vasoactive peptides and may cause carcinoid syndrome. Synthetic somatostatin analogs (SSAs) have been widely used in NETs for control of hormonal syndromes. Here, we present a case of poorly differentiated, grade 3 pancreatic NEC associated with carcinoid syndrome, for which adequate symptom control was achieved for 2 years and 4 months using the long-acting SSA lanreotide Autogel®. In February 2009, a 55-year-old woman presented with episodes of flushing, diarrhea and epigastric pain. Imaging techniques revealed the presence of a metabolically active mass expressing somatostatin receptors in the hilar area of the liver. Histopathological examination confirmed the malignant nature of the mass, which was identified as a poorly differentiated grade 3 pancreatic NEC (TNM staging: T4NxM0). Therapeutic options were limited for the patient because of the extent of the primary mass involving the celiac axis, severe gastrointestinal toxicity experienced as a side effect of chemotherapy with cisplatin-etoposide and, later in the course of the disease, extensive liver metastases and carcinoid heart syndrome. Along with a palliative debulking surgery and right portal vein embolization, biotherapy with a high dose of lanreotide Autogel (120 mg/14 days) contributed to alleviation of symptoms caused by hormone overproduction, even after the development of liver metastases. These results suggest that patients with poorly differentiated NECs who exhibit signs of carcinoid syndrome can benefit from treatment with somatostatin analogs

Randomized phase II trial comparing axitinib with the combination of axitinib and lomustine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Axitinib is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with high affinity and specificity for the family of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. It has previously demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a small cohort of patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGB). We conducted a non-comparative randomized phase II clinical trial investigating axitinib monotherapy versus axitinib plus lomustine (LOM) in patients with rGB. Primary endpoint was 6 month progression-free survival (6mPFS). Patients who progressed on axitinib-monotherapy were allowed to cross-over. Between August 2011 and July 2015, 79 patients were randomized and initiated axitinib monotherapy (n = 50; AXI) or axitinib plus lomustine (n = 29; AXILOM). Median age was 55y [range 18-80], 50M/28F. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between study arms. Nineteen patients in the AXI-arm crossed-over at the time of progression. Treatment was generally well tolerated. AXILOM patients were at higher risk for grade 3/4 neutropenia (0 vs. 21%) and thrombocytopenia (4 vs. 29%). Best Overall Response Rate (BORR) in the AXI-arm was 28 vs. 38% in the AXILOM-arm. 6mPFS was 26% (95% CI 14-38) versus 17% (95% CI 2-32) for patients treated in the AXI versus AXILOM-arms, respectively. Median overall survival was 29 weeks (95% CI 20-38) in the AXI-arm and 27.4 weeks (95% CI 18.4-36.5) in the AXILOM-arm. MGMT-promoter hypermethylation and steroid treatment at baseline correlated significantly with PFS and OS. We conclude from these results that axitinib improves response rate and progression-free survival in patients with rGB compared to historical controls. There is no indication that upfront combination of axitinib with LOM improves results (European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) Study Number: 2011-000900-16).SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Patient outcome in the Belgian medical need program on bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma

Bevacizumab (BEV) has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGB). Given the unmet need for active therapeutic options in rGB patients, a medical need program was initiated by the Belgian competent authorities. Between November 2010 and February 2013, a total of 313 patients with rGB initiated treatment with BEV administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. All patients had failed prior treatment with at least radiation therapy and temozolomide and the majority of patients (70 %) were treated with corticosteroids at baseline. Patients received a median of 6 BEV administrations (range 1–53). Overall, BEV was well tolerated. During BEV treatment the WHO-Performance Score (WHO-PS) improved in 59 patients (19 %) and stabilized for at least 6 weeks in an additional 139 (44 %) patients. Corticosteroid treatment could be stopped in 16 % or reduced in dose in 32 % of patients. The best objective tumor response rate using RANO criteria (investigator’s assessment) was 3.5 % CR, 22 % PR, 38 % SD and 37 % PD. The median and 6-month PFS were 13 weeks (95 % CI 12.7–14) and 27.3 % (95 % CI 22.3–32.5), median and 6-month OS rates were 26 weeks (23–29) and 52 % (46.4–58.6), respectively. WHO-PS (0–1 vs. 2–3) and baseline steroid use were significantly correlated with PFS and OS. Our observations support the use of BEV as a monotherapy for patients with rGB who have no alternative treatment options. Optimal benefit from BEV treatment is likely to be obtained when treatment is initiated before the performance status deteriorates to two or less. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Health-related quality of life in patients with a germline BRCA mutation and metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving maintenance olaparib

BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer often have a detriment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In the randomized, double-blind, phase III POLO trial progression-free survival was significantly longer with maintenance olaparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, than placebo in patients with a germline BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutation (gBRCAm) and metastatic pancreatic cancer whose disease had not progressed during first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The prespecified HRQoL evaluation is reported here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive maintenance olaparib (300 mg b.i.d.; tablets) or placebo. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30-item module at baseline, every 4 weeks until disease progression, at discontinuation, and 30 days after last dose. Scores ranged from 0 to 100; a ≥10-point change or difference between arms was considered clinically meaningful. Adjusted mean change from baseline was analysed using a mixed model for repeated measures. Time to sustained clinically meaningful deterioration (TSCMD) was analysed using a log-rank test. RESULTS: Of 154 randomized patients, 89 of 92 olaparib-arm and 58 of 62 placebo-arm patients were included in HRQoL analyses. The adjusted mean change in Global Health Status (GHS) score from baseline was <10 points in both arms and there was no significant between-group difference [-2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.27, 2.33; P = 0.31]. Analysis of physical functioning scores showed a significant between-group difference (-4.45 points; 95% CI -8.75, -0.16; P = 0.04). There was no difference in TSCMD for olaparib versus placebo for GHS [P = 0.25; hazard ratio (HR) 0.72; 95% CI 0.41, 1.27] or physical functioning (P = 0.32; HR 1.38; 95% CI 0.73, 2.63). CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL was preserved with maintenance olaparib treatment with no clinically meaningful difference compared with placebo. These results support the observed efficacy benefit of maintenance olaparib in patients with a gBRCAm and metastatic pancreatic cancer. CLINCALTRIALS.GOV NUMBER: NCT02184195.status: publishe

Health-related quality of life in patients with a germline BRCA mutation and metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving maintenance olaparib

Background: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer often have a detriment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In the randomized, double-blind, phase III POLO trial progression-free survival was significantly longer with maintenance olaparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, than placebo in patients with a germline BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutation (gBRCAm) and metastatic pancreatic cancer whose disease had not progressed during first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The prespecified HRQoL evaluation is reported here. Patients and methods: Patients were randomized to receive maintenance olaparib (300 mg b.i.d.; tablets) or placebo. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30-item module at baseline, every 4 weeks until disease progression, at discontinuation, and 30 days after last dose. Scores ranged from 0 to 100; a ≥10-point change or difference between arms was considered clinically meaningful. Adjusted mean change from baseline was analysed using a mixed model for repeated measures. Time to sustained clinically meaningful deterioration (TSCMD) was analysed using a log-rank test. Results: Of 154 randomized patients, 89 of 92 olaparib-arm and 58 of 62 placebo-arm patients were included in HRQoL analyses. The adjusted mean change in Global Health Status (GHS) score from baseline was <10 points in both arms and there was no significant between-group difference [-2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.27, 2.33; P = 0.31]. Analysis of physical functioning scores showed a significant between-group difference (-4.45 points; 95% CI -8.75, -0.16; P = 0.04). There was no difference in TSCMD for olaparib versus placebo for GHS [P = 0.25; hazard ratio (HR) 0.72; 95% CI 0.41, 1.27] or physical functioning (P = 0.32; HR 1.38; 95% CI 0.73, 2.63). Conclusions: HRQoL was preserved with maintenance olaparib treatment with no clinically meaningful difference compared with placebo. These results support the observed efficacy benefit of maintenance olaparib in patients with a gBRCAm and metastatic pancreatic cancer. ClincalTrials.gov number: NCT02184195