Chemotherapy For High-risk Stage Research Articles

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer.

533 Background: Although clinical guidelines recommend consideration of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage II colon cancer, the impact on recurrence risk and cancer related survival is unclear. Furthermore, among Medicare patients, adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with improved survival. We examine the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on recurrence risk and overall survival in a diverse cohort. Methods: 6,095 patients who underwent surgery for stage II-III colon cancer (2006-2007) were randomly selected from facilities reporting to the National Cancer Data Base for additional abstraction of tumor information, 5 year recurrence and survival. Death or second cancer within 6 months were excluded. Patients were classified as high or low risk using standard pathologic factors. Multivariate Cox regression with propensity score weighting was performed to compare recurrence risk and overall survival. Results: Of 3,423 patients with stage II colon cancer, 26.9% (n = 883) received chemotherapy compared to 76.2% (n = 1,839) of stage III patients. Among stage II patients, 47.8% (n = 1,636) had at least one high risk feature and 30.8% (n = 481) of these received chemotherapy. Five year recurrence rate in stage II patients was 13% (n = 392), greater in high risk compared to non-high risk patients (13.3% vs 9.3% p < 0.0001) and 24.4% (n = 874) in stage III patients. Chemotherapy did not improve recurrence risk in stage II patients regardless of risk status (High risk: hazard ratio [HR] 1.37; 95% CI 0.96 - 1.97; Non-high risk: HR 1.39; 95% CI 0.91 - 2.11). Chemotherapy was associated with a significant improvement in recurrence risk in stage III patients (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.63 - 0.96). However, chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival in both high (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.51 - 0.92) and non-high risk stage II patients (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.55 - 1.04), and also in stage III patients (HR 0.47; 95% CI 0.41 - 0.54). Conclusions: Adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with a lower recurrence rate among stage II colon cancer patients. The observed survival benefit associated with chemotherapy is likely attributable to non-oncologic factors such as patient selection. Decision-making regarding chemotherapy use in this cohort should be carefully approached.

Clinical Observation of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Risk Stage II Colorectal Cancer: A Report of 24 Cases

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the systemic chemotherapy before the start of local chemotherapy or radiotherapy. At present, neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the high-risk phase II (AJCC TNM stage II period, including T3N0M0 and T4N0M0) treatment of colon cancer reported less. The authors discussed the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 24 patients with high-risk stage II colorectal cancer. Method: Forty-eight patients with stage II colorectal cancer were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, the postoperative complications, the side effects of chemotherapy drugs and the effect of chemotherapy drugs on the tumor were observed. The quality of life, survival time and tumor recurrence or metastasis was compared between the two groups. Result: 1) The incidence of complications in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group was 20.8%, the incidence of adjuvant chemotherapy was 25%, and the overall complication rate was 22.9%. P values were greater than 0.05. 2) Through the comparison of the two groups of toxic and side effects, after SPASS software analysis, obtained P > 0.05, the two groups were not statistically significant. 3) After 3 - 4 courses of preoperative chemotherapy, CR (complete remission) and PD (disease progression) patients were 0 cases, PR (partial remission) was 11 (45.8%), NC/SD (no change) was 13 (54.2%). 4) Through the comparison of the quality of life of the two groups of patients, from the function, symptoms and the overall situation to statistics, P value 0.05, This comparison makes sense. 5) The 1-year survival rate was 100% (24/24) in the control group, with a 3-year survival rate of 92% (22/24) and a 5-year survival rate of 75% (9/12). All survival rates in the experimental group were 100% (24/24). 6) There were no recurrence or metastasis cases in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, and 2 cases of recurrence and 1 case of metastasis in the adjuvant chemotherapy group were compared with the recurrence or metastasis after tumor operation. The chi-square test is not statistically significant. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plays a role in patients with high-risk second-stage colon cancer, the experimental group benefited significantly, especially in quality of life and survival time. At the same time, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is also a safe treatment.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and prognostic factors in stage II colon cancer--Izmir Oncology Group Study.

Although adjuvant chemotherapy is a standard treatment in stage III colon cancer, its benefit is not as clear for stage II patients. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to evaluate the survival of patients with low-risk stage II colon cancer, the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage II colon cancer patients, and prognostic factors in stage II disease. One hundred and seventeen patients who were diagnosed with stage II colon cancer between January 2006 and December 2011 were included in the study. Patients were stratified into two groups as being low-risk and high-risk according to risk factors for stage II disease. Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy were administered to the patients with risk factors. Ninety-four patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy due to high risk factors and 23 were monitored without treatment. Median follow-up time was 43 months. In terms of disease free survival and overall survival, adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide a statistically significant difference. Univariate analysis demonstrated that bowel obstruction was the major risk factor for shortened disease-free survival, while bowel perforation and perineural invasion were both negative prognostic factors for overall survival. The recommendation of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer is not clear. In our study, it was found that adjuvant chemotherapy did not contribute to survival in high-risk stage II patients. Due to the fact that prognosis of stage II patients is good, many more patients will be needed for statistically significant differences in survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy containing 5 fluorouracil is being used to high-risk stage II patients although it is not a standard treatment approach.

Therapeutic Potential of SOX2 Inhibition for Embryonal Carcinoma

Some nonseminomatous germ cell tumors are resistant to any type of chemotherapy. Control of embryonal carcinoma cells is crucial to manage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. We established SOX2 targeting therapy in an embryonal carcinoma model. SOX2 expression was evaluated in a series of testicular germ cell tumor tissue samples. The antitumor effect of SOX2 knockdown was analyzed in vitro and in vivo using an embryonal carcinoma model. In testicular germ cell tumor tissue SOX2 was expressed in the foci of embryonal carcinoma but negative in seminoma and yolk sac tumors. In an embryonal carcinoma model SOX2-siRNA induced apoptotic cell death in vitro and significant growth suppression in vivo. This study shows the therapeutic potential of SOX2 silencing for embryonal carcinoma. However, further improvements are needed in SOX2-siRNA delivery to the tumor.

Preplanned initial safety analysis of ACTS-CC 02 trial: A large randomized phase III trial of SOX versus UFT/LV as adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage III colon cancer.

572 Background: The ACTS-CC 02 trial is designed to verify the superiority of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy of S-1/Oxaliplatin (SOX) for patients with anyT, N2 colon cancer compared with UFT/Leucovorin (UFT/LV), which is one of standard adjuvant chemotherapies in Japan. To date, there have been no reported phase III trials evaluating SOX as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. This report presents initial safety data obtained from 50 patients who received SOX in the trial. Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for anyT, N2 colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive either SOX (100 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin on day1, and 80 to 120 mg/day according to body surface area (BSA) of S-1 on days 1-14, every 21 days, 8 courses) or UFT/LV (300 to 600 mg/day according to BSA of UFT and 75 mg/day of LV on days 1-28, every 35 days, 5 courses). Data were collected from initial consecutive 50 patients assigned to the SOX group and analyzed when they were considered evaluable for safety as planned in the protocol. This ongoing trial is designed to accrue 1200 patients. As of September 15, 2011, 319 patients have been accrued. Results: Of 50 patients assigned to receive SOX, 48 were evaluable for safety. The median number of treatment courses was 5 (range: 1-8). The relative dose intensity of S-1 was 83.8% and that of oxaliplatin was 86.6%. Grade 3 adverse events were neutropenia (14.6%), thrombocytopenia (2.1%), ALT elevation (2.1%), diarrhea (8.3%), fatigue (2.1%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (2.1%). Grade 4 adverse effects were not observed. Conclusions: In this initial safety analysis, the incidence and severity of adverse events with SOX were acceptable in patients with high risk stage III colon cancer after curative resection. Enrollment of patients is ongoing.

Recommendations and expert opinion on the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer in Spain

Adjuvant chemotherapy is the current standard in the management of patients with localised colon cancer (CC) following curative resection. The use of oxaliplatin plus 5 fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) or oxaliplatin plus capecitabine-based (XELOX) regimens, both approved in Europe as adjuvant treatment for stage III CC, has improved prognosis in this stage, but questions on their usefulness in high-risk stage II or elderly CC patients and on the role of some prognostic biomarkers are still pending. In April 2010, a consensus meeting on adjuvant CC treatment based on a revision of the most recent literature was held in Spain. The panel considered the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II CC patients to be justified. Additionally, the more convenient administration of oral fluoropyrimidines vs. IV continuous infusion 5-FU would make XELOX a more suitable alternative for the patient. A more cautious decision should be taken when prescribing oxaliplatin treatment in patients aged ≥70.

6117 POSTER Use of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in High-risk Stage II Colonic Cancer Patients in the Netherlands 2000-2009

6117 POSTER Use of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in High-risk Stage II Colonic Cancer Patients in the Netherlands 2000-2009

RISK ADAPTED MANAGEMENT WITH ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH HIGH RISK CLINICAL STAGE I NONSEMINOMATOUS GERM CELL TUMOR

We propose that patients with high risk, clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors receive 2 cycles of chemotherapy initially, instead of undergoing surgery or observation. A total of 59 patients with high risk, clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor received risk adapted adjuvant chemotherapy. Until June 1987, 20 patients were treated with 2 courses of adjuvant cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin at 3-week intervals. After June 1987 another 39 patients were treated with 2 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. Long-term results with this treatment strategy have been excellent with limited morbidity. Adjuvant chemotherapy may be of particular value in patients with compromised followup.

Short-course adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis: a Medical Research Council report.

This United Kingdom Medical Research Council (UK-MRC) study prospectively evaluated efficacy and long-term toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCTT). Eligible patients were those identified by the local histopathologist as having features confirmed in MRC surveillance studies to indicate an approximate 50% risk of relapse. Central histopathology review was undertaken. Chemotherapy consisted of two courses of cisplatin 100 mg/m2, bleomycin 30 mg weekly x 3, and etoposide 120 mg/m2 x 3, every 21 days (BEP). One hundred fourteen eligible cases were enrolled. Median time of follow-up was 4 years, with 93 patients followed-up for at least 2 years. There have been two relapses, including one patient who did not have a germ cell tumor (GCT), according to the reference histopathologist. This patient is alive with active disease, the other has died. There was one death after a cerebrovascular accident during treatment. Assessment of fertility, lung function, and audiometry pretreatment and more than 9 months posttreatment indicated no clinically significant changes. A mean decrease in transfer factor coefficient (KCO) of 15% of the predicted value was noted, but no patient had symptomatic respiratory dysfunction. There have been only two relapses among 114 cases of high-risk stage I NSGCTT treated with two courses of adjuvant BEP chemotherapy. The 95% confidence interval (CI) excludes a true relapse rate of more than 5%. Of 104 patients confirmed on histopathology review to have GCT, there has been only one relapse. Adjuvant chemotherapy is free from significant long-term toxicity, offering an effective alternative to surveillance or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) followed by surveillance, and may be preferred by some patients.

Pilot Study to Evaluate Impact of a Policy of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for High Risk Stage 1 Malignant Teratoma on Overall Relapse Rate of Stage 1 Cancer Patients

A total of 41 patients with stage 1 malignant teratoma of the testis treated from January 1986 to June 1990 was entered into a pilot study of 2 courses of adjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Of the patients 22 had a high or intermediate risk of relapse according to the Medical Research Council (United Kingdom) prognostic factor analysis and surveillance was instituted for 19 patients with a low relapse risk. The overall relapse rate in this group of patients (median followup 2 years) was 9.7% (5% in the adjuvant group and 16% in the surveillance group), which was significantly better than the 35% rate in the historical series treated by surveillance from 1980 to 1985 and equaled or was possibly better than that reported from adjuvant retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Justification for consideration of 1 course of adjuvant treatment for such cases is reviewed, and the need for examination of such an approach in a neoadjuvant setting with either lymph node dissection or surveillance is examined.