Capecitabine Chemotherapy Research Articles

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of 3 Months of CAPOX Followed by 3 Months of Capecitabine and 6 Months of CAPOX/FOLFOX in the Adjuvant Treatment of Low-Risk Stage III Colon Cancer Treated Surgically

Introduction: In the adjuvant treatment of low-risk stage III colon cancer treated surgically, 3 months of CAPOX followed by 3 months of capecitabine is not a common clinical practice. Since there are no data on this practice in the literature, we have no idea how often it is used. However, it should be noted that this application is used in some centers due to the cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin but there are insufficient data in the literature on its efficacy. Methods: The data of patients with colon cancer treated surgically who were followed up in 12 different oncology centers in Turkey between November 2004 and June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The study included 194 patients. The treatment arms were as follows: 3 months of CAPOX followed by 3 months of capecitabine = arm A and CAPOX/FOLFOX (6 months) = arm B. There were 78 patients (40.2%) in arm A and 116 patients (59.8%) in arm B. The median age and sex distribution were similar between the treatment arms. The median follow-up period of all patients was 34.4 months (95% confidence interval, 29.1–39.7). When arm A was compared with arm B, 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 75.3% versus 88.4% and 5-year DFS was 75.3% versus 82.8%, respectively. There were similar DFS outcomes between the treatment arms (p = 0.09). Rates of any grade of neuropathy were numerically lower in arm A, but the difference between the treatment arms was not statistically significant (51.3% vs. 56.9%; p = 0.44). The frequency of neutropenia was similar between the treatment arms. Conclusion: In this study, the efficacy and safety of the 3 months of CAPOX followed by 3 months of capecitabine chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant treatment of low-risk stage III colon cancer treated surgically were proven. This result may also support the discontinuation of oxaliplatin at 3 months while continuing fluoropyrimidines, which is a common clinical practice but lacks sufficient data.

Genetic polymorphisms of DPYD in patients with breast cancer on capecitabine therapy

Objectives: Breast cancer is the primary cause of death in Iraqi women aged 30–54 years. The study examined the relationship between (G > A) (rs3918290) and (rs55886062, T >G) DPYD gene polymorphisms, their haplotypes, and capecitabine serum concentrations in postmenopausal Iraqi women with breast cancer in postmenopausal women. During capecitabine chemotherapy.
 Methods: The study included 200 women: 100 apparently health (45-75 years old) and 100 with breast cancer (40-70 years old). This study, conducted between July and October 2022 at the oncology centre at Imam al-Hussain medical city in Kerbala, Iraq, plasma levels of Capacetabine and 5fu were measured in breast cancer patients who had been taking capecitabine for at least three months. All participants gave informed consent.
 Results: Capecitabine, and 5FU concentrations in breast cancer patients differed significantly, As the results showed, Capecitabine, and 5FU had a significantly higher concentration of them in patients with the TT allele than in those with the CC and CT alleles for the polymorphism (IVS14 + 1G > A) (rs3918290) and in patients with DPYD*13 (rs55886062) with the CC allele rather than the AA and AC alleles. Mutant allele carriers had increased Capecitabine concentrations (p<0.001).
 Conclusion: Ca15.3, serum calcium, and estradiol all exist in bodily serum, making them a potentially useful novel diagnostic biomarker for patients with breast cancer due to their high levels of stability, as well as the biological properties of tumors, such as serum calcium and estrogen.

P-220 S-1 plus oxaliplatin versus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

P-220 S-1 plus oxaliplatin versus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

Extensive metastatic ependymoma with long-term progression-free survival with capecitabine plus temozolomide combination chemotherapy: A case report

ABSTRACT We wanted to present a rare case of metastatic grade 2 spinal ependymoma with an atypical course at the time of diagnosis. Temozolomide plus capecitabine chemotherapy was started in May 2018 on a 30-year-old female patient with sacral ependymoma who had extensive lung metastases at the time of diagnosis. The patient remained in remission for approximately 29 months, and the current chemotherapy was continued until it progressed in November 2020. According to this case report, a combination of temozolomide and capecitabine may be the best treatment option for ependymoma patients.

Abstract #1393024: A Rare Case of ACTH-Producing Pituitary Carcinoma in Nelson’s Syndrome

A 55-year-old male with Nelson's Syndrome was originally diagnosed with Cushing’s disease 5 years prior after the identification of a 15 x 13 mm pituitary adenoma and ACTH 174 pg/mL. He had typical symptoms including proximal weakness, easy bruising, abdominal striae, weight gain, and atraumatic vertebral fractures. Pathology following TSRPT at that time showed an ACTH-producing tumor with MIB1 index 20%. He had initial improvement of his Cushing's stigmata but one year later developed proximal muscle weakness, hypokalemia requiring replacement, worsening diabetes, and weight gain. Repeat MRI was negative for new/recurring lesion. One and a half years after initial TSRPT, he started on ketoconazole 400 mg three times daily and cabergoline 1 mg TID as a repeat MRI showed a recurring pituitary lesion measuring 13 x 14 x 9 mm with corresponding ACTH level 159 pg/mL. He underwent radiotherapy with 20 Gy in one fraction and two months later underwent bilateral adrenalectomy with cessation of ketoconazole and cabergoline. Two years later, his ACTH level increased to 1,342 pg/mL and he underwent another fraction of radiotherapy of 20 Gy. A repeat MRI showed a decrease in the size of pituitary lesion. However, eight months later, his ACTH levels peaked at 45,510 pg/mL and he underwent a second TSRPT and a stereotactic radiosurgery series of 54 Gy in 30 fractions over three months. Surgical pathology showed a low-grade neuroendocrine neoplasm without any mitotic figures and an MIB-1 index 15% Two months following the SRS series, his ACTH levels peaked at 188,567 pg/mL. He presented to the ED for abdominal pain and CT Abdomen showed possible metastatic lesions in the liver, one of which was subsequently biopsied and positive for pituitary carcinoma. He is currently undergoing capecitabine chemotherapy and an SRS series to the liver with plans to add temozolomide upon completion of the SRS. A key learning point is to suspect metastatic disease with drastic ACTH increases. PET scan imaging is recommended in a patient with rapid or significant increase in ACTH level with or without progression of a lesion centrally. Additionally, although the original histology did not show carcinoma, the elevated MIB-1 index should raise the suspicion for malignant possibility and therefore, increased surveillance. Functional pituitary carcinoma has the twofold task of treating the excess hormone production and controlling the spread of metastatic disease. Given the rarity of this type of cancer, a multi-disciplinary approach best serves the patient including endocrinology, oncology, (neurological) surgery, and radiation oncology. More data and studies are needed to definitively assess efficacy of chemotherapeutics including capecitabine and temozolomide for these types of tumors.

Risk Factors of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Single-Institution, Retrospective Study

Introduction: This retrospective study was conducted to identify risk factors for developing hand-foot syndrome (HFS) and to determine new strategies for improving quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Between April 2014 and August 2018, we enrolled 165 cancer patients at our outpatient chemotherapy center who were undergoing capecitabine chemotherapy. Variables related to the development of HFS were extracted from the clinical records of patients for use in regression analysis. HFS severity was assessed at the time of completing capecitabine chemotherapy. The degree of HFS was classified in accordance with the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5. Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the development of HFS. Results: Risk factors for the development of HFS included concomitant use of a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20–6.79; p = 0.018), body surface area (BSA) (high) (OR = 12.7, 95% CI = 2.29–70.94; p = 0.004), and albumin (low) (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.20–0.96; p = 0.040). Discussion/Conclusion: Concomitant use of RAS inhibitor, high BSA, and low albumin were identified as risk factors for the development of HFS. The identification of potential risk factors of HFS may assist in the development of strategies that can be used to improve QoL in patients receiving chemotherapy regimens that include capecitabine.

Multi-omics fusion analysis models with machine learning predict survival of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a multicenter prospective observational study.

Multi-omics fusion analysis models with machine learning predict survival of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a multicenter prospective observational study.

Hand-foot syndrome and nail changes caused by capecitabine chemotherapy

The effects of targeted therapy are not limited with cancer cells and, unfortunately, are associated with many and numerous side effects. Dermatological manifestations are one of the most frequently observed, and in severe and/or prolonged they inevitably affect the quality of life of patients. The management of these various side effects is empirical and largely based on expert advice and consensus. Many cytotoxic and biological drugs are the cause of severe dermatological side effects, such as hand-foot syndrome (HFS). An oncological patient with HFS presents relevant symptoms that interfere with daily activities and with adherence to anticancer treatment. Control and treatment of HFRS are the most important goals of improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Below we present the case of a 62-year-old woman undergoing treatment with capecitabine and paclitaxel for breast cancer.

Combining chemotherapy and tislelizumab with preoperative split-course hypofraction radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: study protocol of a prospective, single-arm, phase II trial

IntroductionShort-course radiotherapy (SCRT) with systemic therapy has the potential to further improve the long-term efficacy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To maximise the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy...

Treatment-related Acute Myeloid Leukemia Following Capecitabine Chemotherapy: A case report

Treatment-related Acute Myeloid Leukemia Following Capecitabine Chemotherapy: A case report

HERIZON: A phase 2 study of HER-Vaxx (IMU-131), a HER2-targeting peptide vaccine, plus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic or advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma— Overall survival analysis.

289 Background: Active immunization with the B-lymphocyte stimulating HER2 vaccine, HER-Vaxx (IMU-131), has shown clinical response correlated with HER2-specific antibodies (Wiedermann et. al., Clinical Cancer Research, 2021). The HER-Vaxx HERIZON study is based on the landmark ToGA study (Bang et. al., The Lancet, 2010) and included patients with HER2/neu over-expressing metastatic or advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma who were naïve to HER2 therapy. Methods: Thirty-six patients were randomized to either HER-Vaxx plus standard chemotherapy or standard chemotherapy alone. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). HER-Vaxx plus chemotherapy treated patients received 50 µg dose of HER-Vaxx by intra-muscular injection at Days 0, 14, 35, 77 and every 63 days until disease progression. Both groups received chemotherapy starting at Day 0 and then every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles or until disease progression. Standard chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin + 5FU or capecitabine, or oxaliplatin + capecitabine. Statistical analysis pre-specified a 1-sided false positive probability of 0.10. Results: Of 36 patients randomized (19 treated with HER-Vaxx plus chemotherapy and 17 with chemotherapy alone), 32 patients had a survival event (15 and 17 respectively) at the time of final analysis. All patients received oxaliplatin + capecitabine chemotherapy. Analysis showed a 42% survival benefit for patients treated with HER-Vaxx plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone. This translated into an OS HR of 0.580 (80% 2-sided CI: 0.362, 0.927) with a statistically significant p-value of 0.066. The median OS for patients receiving HER-Vaxx plus chemotherapy was 13.9 (7.5, 14.3) months, compared to 8.3 (6.0, 9.6) months in patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Median duration of response was 30 vs 19 weeks in favor of the HER-Vaxx arm. There was no difference in safety between the two treatment arms, indicating HER-Vaxx does not add toxicity to standard chemotherapy. HER-Vaxx induced persistent HER2 specific antibodies which correlated with clinical response. Additional response parameters including DOR and biomarker data will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that in patients with HER2 over-expressing gastric/GEJ cancer active HER2 immunization with HER-Vaxx is safe and provides relevant clinical benefit over standard of care chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02795988 .

Assessment of Tolerability, Response and Complications of Concurrent Chemoradiation With Capecitabine and Cisplatin in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer; A Single Arm Study.

To evaluate the feasibility, tolerance and efficacy of cisplatin+capecitabine as a proposed combination in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). MIBC patients with stage T2-T4aN0M0 participated in this single-arm clinical trial. After maximal TURBT, 66Gy/33 daily fractions of radiation were administered with concurrent chemotherapy of cisplatin (35 mg/m2) and capecitabine (625 mg/m2). The primary endpoint was treatment tolerability, defined as receiving capecitabine+cisplatin combination for at least 5 weeks during radiation therapy. The secondary endpoints included complete response (CR) and acute toxicity rates. This study included 19 MIBC patients from 2018 to 2019. Eighteen patients (94.7%, 95%CI: 75.4-99.0) completed the planned treatment course. Only one patient (5.26%, 95%CI: 0.9-24.6) discontinued the treatment due to grade-3 GI toxicity. Among those who completed the treatment, CR was seen in 12 patients (66.7%, 95% CI=44.4-88.9) with no grade ≥ 3 toxicities. The most common grade-2 side effects during therapy were renal complications (57.9%), and the only grade-2 complication after therapy was urinary-related (11.1%). The median follow-up was 31 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 31 months. The 2-year OS was 78% (95% CI 58.4-97.6), Cystectomy-free survival was 61% (95% CI: 37.5-84.5), and the median OS after recurrence was 13 months. Distant metastases were the first type of recurrence in most patients with a recurrence, which occurred in 7 (36.8%) patients. Median metastasis-free survival (MFS) was 30 months, and 2-year MFS was 66% (95% CI:45-87). The promising tolerability rate seen with concurrent cisplatin+capecitabine in this study was comparable to the available literature. Thus, this combination concurrently with radiation warrants further studies in the context of chemoradiotherapy of MIBC.

Application of short-course radiotherapy with total neoadjuvant therapy in the treatment of middle and low rectal cancer

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of short-course radiotherapy with total neoadjuvant therapy (SCRT-TNT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced middle and low rectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. A of 126 patients with locally advanced middle and low rectal cancer who were treated in the Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery of Fujian Cancer Hospital from September 2016 to March 2020 were enrolled, including 73 males and 53 females, with a mean age of (56.5±9.8) (23-77) years. Based on neoadjuvant regimen (nCRT treatment was performed before December 2018 and SCRT-TNT treatment was carried out after January 2019), patients were divided into nCRT group (n=68) and SCRT-TNT group (n=58). There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, distance from tumor to anal verge, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and clinical TNM stage between the two groups (all P>0.05). Patients in both groups received pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The radiotherapy dose of nCRT group was 50Gy/25 times/5 weeks. Patients in nCRT group received oral capecitabine chemotherapy during radiotherapy and underwent surgery 6-8 weeks after chemoradiation. However, patients in SCRT-TNT group received CapeOX regimen (oxaliplatin+capecitabine) for 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy, followed by short-course radiotherapy (25Gy/5 times/5 days), then underwent a radical surgery two weeks after completion of consolidation chemotherapy (4 cycles). The adverse reactions, perioperative safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy were compared and analyzed between the two groups. Results: Both groups completed neoadjuvant therapy as planned. Patients in nCRT group and SCRT-TNT group had similar incidence of adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, however, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of surgical complications, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative length of hospital stay (all P>0.05). A total of 119 patients underwent total mesenterectomy (TME), including 64 patients in the nCRT group and 55 patients in the SCRT-TNT group, all with R0 resection. The pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 10.9% (7/64) in the nCRT group and 25.5% (14/55) in the SCRT-TNT group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.038). Two years after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in local recurrence rate and overall survival rate between the two groups (both P>0.05). However, the clinical metastasis rate of SCRT-TNT group was significantly lower than that of nCRT group (20.3% vs 9.1%), with a statistically significant difference (P<0. 05). Conclusion: SCRT-TNT do not increase the adverse reactions of radio chemotherapy and perioperative risks in the treatment of locally advanced middle and low rectal cancer, and the tumor regression effect is good, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Cutaneous Manifestations of Breast Cancer Patients in Combination with Capecitabine and Lapatinib Chemotherapy

The combination of chemotherapy with lapatinib and capecitabine in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer is quite effective. The combination of these two agents increases the risk of dermatological toxicities. A woman, 38 years old, HER2 positive breast cancer with a combination of chemotherapy agents between lapatinib and capecitabine gives an overview of skin toxicities such as acneiform eruptions, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), and paronychia. Therapy, in this case, aims at clinical improvement. The combination of lapatinib and capecitabine has a side effect profile like each drug. Combined use of the two agents increases the incidence of skin side effects, including acneiform eruptions, PPE, and paronychia, compared to monotherapy. Early awareness of the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents is needed for early treatment to prevent the worsening of the condition and discontinuation of chemotherapeutic agents due to drug side effects.

ODP041 Hearing Loss Reveals Dopamine-secreting Metastatic Paraganglioma

Abstract Background Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells in extra-adrenal parasympathetic or sympathetic tissues. Frequently they produce catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine which cause adrenergic symptoms. Rarely, paragangliomas produce only dopamine. These tumors carry a worse prognosis than other types of paragangliomas, especially when associated with loss of SDH-B. Case A 41 year old African American female with developmental delay, allergic rhinitis, OSA, and obesity presented to a primary care clinic for evaluation of hearing loss and left ear pain. Patient was treated for acute otitis media but symptoms failed to resolve. She was referred to audiology where she was found to have a mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss on the left. Despite using hearing aids, a year later the patient presented to an ENT clinic with several weeks of worsening left aural fullness and decreased hearing. On otoscopy, a mass was visualized in the middle ear. CT scan identified a lytic lesion at the jugular foramen extending into the middle ear; MR of the inner auditory canal was concerning for a paraganglioma. PET CT revealed widely metastatic disease including FDG avid cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes, pulmonary nodules, hepatic lesions, and sclerotic lesions in the vertebral column and right humerus. Biopsy of an hepatic lesion confirmed metastatic paraganglioma with loss of SDH-B. Labs were consistent with dopamine excess. A 24 hour urine dopamine was 1020 mcg/24 hour (normal 65-400) with plasma dopamine elevated at 191 pg/mL (normal &amp;lt;30). A 24 hour urine norepinephrine level was mildly elevated at 85 mcg/24 hours (normal 15-80) but plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were both normal. The patient denied any history of palpitations, flushing, headaches, or chest pain. She was briefly started on doxazosin but this was later discontinued as metanephrines and normetanephrines were not significantly elevated. The tumor was not amenable for surgery. Ultimately after discussion with oncology, the patient opted to proceed with temozolomide and capecitabine chemotherapy. Discussion It is important to recognize differences in treating dopamine secreting paragangliomas compared with other catecholamine producing tumors. Preoperative alpha blockade is not routinely recommended as it may cause hypotension and postoperative cardiovascular collapse. While chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide–dacarbazine–vincristine has historically been used for metastatic paragangliomas, temozolomide is now showing benefit in cases with SDH-B mutation. Sources cited: Foo, S. H., et al. "Dopamine-secreting phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas: clinical features and management." Singapore Med J 51.5 (2010): e89-e93. Hadoux, J., Favier, J., Scoazec, J. -Y., et al (2014),SDHB mutations are associated with response to temozolomide in patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Int. J. Cancer, 135: 2711-2720. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28913. Presentation: No date and time listed

Acute Gastrointestinal Toxicity Results from a Multi-Institution, Phase 2, Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 3D-Conformal Radiotherapy (3DCRT) Versus Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) for Locally-Advanced Rectal Cancer (TRI-LARC).

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The primary aim of this trial was to compare the incidence of grade 2 or above acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity for patients undergoing 3DCRT versus IMRT in the preoperative setting for locally-advanced rectal cancer. Secondary objectives included quality of life and other acute and late toxicity. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> The trial was designed to have 80% power to detect a difference between a hypothesized 37% acute toxicity rate in the 3DCRT arm (Bosset et al, 2006) and 20% in the IMRT arm, with a sample size of 120 per arm, and a 0.05 two-sided level of significance. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 or over scheduled to receive pre-operative pelvic chemo-radiotherapy for histologically-confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma. Exclusion criteria included prior pelvic radiotherapy, inflammatory bowel disease, hip replacements, and previous bowel surgery. Prescription dose was 50.4 Gray in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks with concurrent 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine chemotherapy. Participants were centrally randomized 1:1 to receive 3DCRT or IMRT. Each individual radiotherapy volume and plan was reviewed centrally to ensure compliance with the trial's RTQA specifications. Toxicity was graded and reported according to CTCAE version 4.0 (National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute). Acute toxicity was assessed weekly during radiotherapy, and at 2- and 4-weeks post-treatment. <h3>Results</h3> 94 patients were enrolled. 77% were male and median age was 59.4. Two participants from the 3DCRT arm did not complete radiotherapy as planned and were excluded from analysis. 25 (56%) of participants from the 3dCRT arm and 23 (49%) from the IMRT arm experienced acute grade 2 or above GI toxicity (p=.670). Rates for grade 3 GI toxicity were 8 (18%) and 5 (11%) for 3dCRT and IMRT, respectively (p=.494). Grade 3 GI events included diarrhea (n=11), nausea (n=2), intestinal obstruction (n=1), oral mucositis (n=1), and rectal pain (n=1). The study closed early due to absence of evidence of a difference between arms at the interim analysis. <h3>Conclusion</h3> No significant difference in rates of acute GI toxicity with IMRT versus 3DCRT for locally advanced rectal cancer was seen. Although IMRT can reduce dose to organs at risk, it appears to be similarly safe in terms of acute GI toxicity to deliver this treatment with 3DCRT.

Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Changes in CRP Levels in Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Capecitabine

Colorectal cancer has a high incidence, morbidity, and mortality, where the incidence is often associated with inflammation. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) has an anti-inflammatory effect that has been widely studied, especially the phenol components in the form of hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal, which have anti-inflammatory properties. C - reactive protein is an acute inflammatory protein that is expressed in the presence of tissue damage. CRP levels themselves run parallel to the progression of malignancy, and elevated CRP is a predictor of poor prognosis. This study was conducted to determine the effect of EVOO on changes in CRP levels in colorectal cancer patients undergoing capecitabine chemotherapy. This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The subjects of the study were 30 colorectal cancer patients who would undergo capecitabine chemotherapy. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: the group receiving 30 ml of EVOO per day and the group receiving a placebo (corn oil). Plasma CRP levels will be assessed at the start of the study and after two cycles of chemotherapy. The median age in the EVOO group was 45.5 (28-58), and in the placebo group, 55 (26-59). Nineteen samples (33%) were late-stage cancer that had metastasized. The median BMI of research subjects was 19.7 (14.8-31.2), and the mean performance status score was 77.6 ± 5.6. CRP levels after treatment had no significant difference (p=0.218) in the EVOO and placebo groups. In the EVOO group, there was a decrease in serum CRP levels from 19.8 ± 19.4 to 14.8 ± 15, while in the placebo group from 25.8 ± 26 to 22 ± 20.5. EVOO can significantly reduce CRP levels, but in comparison with a placebo did not show a statistically significant difference.

Chemo-immune cell therapy by intratumoral injection of adoptive NK cells with capecitabine in gastric cancer xenograft model.

Gastric cancer is one of the most commonly known malignancies and is the fifth cancer-related death globally. Whereas natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in tumor elimination; therefore, adoptive NK cell therapy has become a promising approach in cancer cytotherapy. Hence, this study investigated the chemo-immune cell therapy in MKN-45 derived xenograft gastric cancer model. Three groups of animals have received the following treatments separately: activated NK cells, capecitabine, the combination of capecitabine and activated NK cells, and one was considered as the control group. Morphometric properties of tumor samples were evaluated at the end of the study. NK cells infiltration was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of hCD56. Mitotic count and treatment response was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The proliferation ratio to apoptosis was determined by IHC assessment of Ki67 and caspase 3. The results indicated that the NK cell therapy could effectively decrease the mitotic count in pathology assessment, but the tumor was not completely eradicated. In combination with metronomic chemotherapy (MC) of capecitabine, NK cell therapy demonstrated a significant difference in tumor morphometric properties compared to the control group. The proliferation ratio to apoptosis was also in line with pathology data. Although NK cell therapy could effectively decrease the mitotic count in vivo, the obtained findings indicated lesser potency than MC despite ex vivo activation. In order to enhance NK cell therapy effectiveness, suppressive features of the tumor microenvironment and inhibitory immune checkpoints blockade should be considered.

Efficacy and Risk Factors of Pyrrotinib in Second- and Third-Line Treatments for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer.

A study to examine the efficacy and risk factors associated with pyrrotinib in the second- and third-line treatment of advanced breast cancer with Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- (HER2-) positive cells was conducted. Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed as the primary endpoint, and the objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety were secondary endpoints. Across all the patients, the ORR was 48.57%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 94.29%. In the follow-up period, the median PFS was 15 months, and second-line treatment had significantly longer PFS than third-line treatment (P = 0.027). The OS among all the patients was up to 28 months, but the median OS has not yet been reached. Diarrhea (69.57%) was the most important AE, mainly in grades 1 and 2. According to the COX regression analysis, brain metastasis was a risk factor for PFS, while second-line treatment and capecitabine chemotherapy were relevant to a longer PFS correlation among patients. In the second- and third-line treatment, pyrrotinib is still highly effective and safe. Pyrrotinib is a potential ideal salvage treatment plan for patients who failed in first-line treatments.

Real-world outcomes of cisplatin, capecitabine, and gemcitabine with either epirubicin (PEXG) or docetaxel (PDXG) as first-line palliative treatment in metastatic or unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

First-line palliative chemotherapy regimens in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma include triplet chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, and the doublet of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine. Use of triplet chemotherapy in real-world populations is limited by tolerability and nab-paclitaxel is not universally available. Regimens using the combination of cisplatin, capecitabine, gemcitabine, and either epirubicin or docetaxel may be better tolerated, more widely available, and similarly effective, but no published real-world data exist. A retrospective cohort review of patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with first-line palliative cisplatin, capecitabine, gemcitabine, and either epirubicin or docetaxel chemotherapy at Auckland City Hospital between July 1, 2013 and July 30, 2020. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were rates of grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity, rate of febrile neutropenia, number of cycles received, and reasons for discontinuation. Eighty-eight patients were included. Median age was 66years (range 39-79), 28.4% had unresectable, locally advanced disease and 71.6% metastatic disease. Median OS was 8.5months. Patients stopped treatment due to disease progression (53.4%), completing 12 cycles (19.3%), or toxicity (10.2%). Grade 4 neutropenia was experienced by 21.6%; 10.2% had febrile neutropenia. There were four treatment-related deaths. This retrospective study in a real-world population demonstrates that chemotherapy with cisplatin, capecitabine, and gemcitabine with epirubicin (PEXG) or docetaxel (PDXG) had similar effectiveness to more commonly used combination regimens. PDXG/PEXG are viable alternatives to nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in countries that have restricted drug funding.