Survival outcome of metastatic adenocarcinoma patients after patient-tailored outpatient chemotherapy guided by fusion imaging

Abstract

13145 Background: We treated 173 patients with metastatic Stage IV adenocarcinoma, including 65 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC), 22 patients with metastatic pancreas cancer (MPC), and 86 patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in an outpatient setting. The metastatic sites included liver (49% of patients), bone (39%), lung (36%), brain (16%), peritoneum (16%), lymph node (14%) and chest wall (8%). Methods: MCRC patients received multiple cycles of Xeloda-based empirical chemotherapy regimens: alone or in combination with Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin or Mitomycin. MPC patients were given cycles of Gemcitabine-based empirical chemotherapy regimens: alone or with Cisplatin, 5-FU or Xeloda. MBC patients received cycles of Taxol-based chemotherapy: alone or with Adriamycin, Carboplatin or Gemcitabine; Xeloda plus Taxotere or Vinorelbine; Gemcitabine plus Taxotere or Vinorelbine; and Adriamycin plus Taxotere. Anatomic imaging/fusion technology with combined anatomic and functional imaging (CT/MRI fused with whole body PET scans) plus serial cancer marker level measurements monitored response to therapy and in patients showing evidence of progression on a given regimen were switched to a different treatment regimen. Results: Kaplan Meier calculated median survival time for all 173 metastatic adenocarcinoma patients was 17 mo (95% CI 13–19 mo); for subgroups medians were 12 mo (9–16 mo), 16 (8–22 mo) and 22 mo (18–42 mo) for MCRC, MPC and MBC patients respectively. The probability of living at 1 yr after initiation of therapy was 61 ± 6% for all patients, 47 ± 6% for MCRC, 59 ± 10% for MPC and 72 ± 5% for MBC patients. Our results indicate that a significant portion of previously treated patients with MCRC, MPC and MBC with liver, lung, and/or brain metastases can achieve objective responses and long-term progression-free survival with an excellent quality of life on patient tailored outpatient treatments guided by fusion imaging. Conclusions: Fusion technology provides a powerful diagnostic tool for timely termination or modification of ineffective treatments. Empirical patient-tailored chemotherapy should be offered to metastatic adenocarcinoma patients as an alternative to the clinical trial and hospice options. No significant financial relationships to disclose.