Oral Systemic Agents Research Articles

Practice patterns and predictors of treatment intensification in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

76 Background: In recent years, treatment intensification beyond androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with several novel therapies have shown survival benefit in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). Given the rapidly evolving landscape in mCSPC treatment, there is a need to better understand how treatment strategies fit in real-world clinical practice and are combined/sequenced with other available therapies. Methods: Using electronic medical records and administrative data, a population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients aged ≥18 years of age who were newly diagnosed with de novo mCSPC and initiated ADT post-diagnosis between 2010 to 2020 in Alberta, Canada, were included. Treatment intensification was defined as the receipt of apalutamide, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, or chemotherapy (e.g. docetaxel) within 180 days of ADT initiation. Results: A total of 2,515 de novo mCSPC were identified during study period with 2,098 (83%) patients initiating ADT post-diagnosis. Of those, 525 (25%) received intensification beyond ADT. The percentage of patients who were intensified was 3% in 2010-2013 and gradually increased to 67% in 2020. Between 2014-2017, docetaxel was the most common therapy for intensification, but its use decreased considerably in 2018-2020 with abiraterone acetate, apalutamide and enzalutamide becoming increasingly available in the mCSPC setting. Upon progression, 46% and 22% in the intensified group versus 38% and 13% in the ADT-alone group initiated one and two-lines of subsequent therapies respectively. Abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide were the most common subsequent therapy for both the intensified (32% and 31% respectively) and the ADT-alone (56% and 38% respectively) groups. Docetaxel (24%) was used as subsequent therapy among mCSPC patients who were intensified with oral systemic agents. In multivariable logistic regression analyses of patients diagnosed in 2014-2020, significant predictors of intensification were younger age at diagnosis, lower Charlson comorbidity index, greater number of metastatic sites, shorter time to ADT initiation, referral to a specialists/cancer centres, surgery or radiation prior to ADT, and more recent year of diagnosis (all p<0.05). Conclusions: In Alberta, Canada, there has been a considerable increase in the utilization of ADT intensification therapies that correspond with the timing of clinical trial data and approvals of novel agents. Early referral to specialists/cancer centres is warranted to intensify mCSPC treatment beyond ADT and to improve patients’ outcomes. [Table: see text]

Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: A Review of the Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare severe variant of psoriasis that is characterized by the abrupt widespread onset of small pustules accompanied by systemic manifestations of inflammation. It can arise in patients with a history of psoriasis as well as in those without, sometimes due to medication initiation or withdrawal, pregnancy, or infection. Generalized pustular psoriasis is thought to be driven primarily by innate immunity and unrestrained IL-36 cytokine activity. Recent genetic analyses have identified 3 genetic mutations that are associated with GPP-IL36RN, CARD14, and AP1S3-though these mutations only account for a minority of cases. There are many cutaneous pustular diseases that must be ruled out in the evaluation of a patient with suspected GPP, especially acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), and histologic analysis is the cornerstone of diagnosis. Although the quality of evidence to generate treatment recommendations for GPP is limited, management often includes utilization of systemic agents and/or biologics, usually with adjunctive topical treatment. Accumulating evidence suggests that biologic agents, especially infliximab, may be considered as first-line treatment of GPP, especially in severe acute cases, due to their abrupt onset of action and favorable side-effect profiles compared with oral systemic agents.

Revisiting Therapies for Atopic Dermatitis that Failed Clinical Trials.

Multiple pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), and various targeted topical, biologic, and oral systemic agents have subsequently been developed. This review examines the mechanism of action and study designs of agents that have failed trials for AD to identify lessons that may shed light on reasons for their failure. Clinicaltrials.gov was searched for completed, placebo-controlled phase II and III studies assessing agents for AD that did not meet the primary endpoint, specifically reduction of AD severity. PubMed was then searched for further data on the agents identified with known mechanism of actions. Only phase II trials met inclusion criteria. Analyses of the mechanisms of action, study design, and patient demographics of the failed clinical trials for the following agents are presented: apremilast and roflumilast (PDE-4 inhibitors), fevipiprant and temapiprant (CRTH2 inhibitors), and tezepelumab and ustekinumab (monoclonal antibodies). Agents that did not meet their trial endpoints for AD may still hold therapeutic value in certain subpopulation groups or other diseases. Validating phase II trials based off subgroup analyses from previous trials may be warranted as our understanding of the pathophysiology of AD continues to grow.

Factors Associated With Complete Remission After Rituximab Therapy for Pemphigus

Rituximab has emerged as a front-line therapy for pemphigus, but prognostic factors for achieving complete remission off therapy (CROT) with oral systemic agents remain unknown. To describe rates of CROT and relapse and identify prognostic factors for achieving CROT after rituximab therapy for pemphigus. A single-center, retrospective, cohort study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania including 112 patients with pemphigus treated with rituximab with at least 12 months' clinical follow-up after the start of rituximab therapy. Multivariate regression analysis of factors predictive of CROT and Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease relapse were conducted. The study included patients treated with rituximab from March 15, 2005, until December 19, 2016. Data analysis was performed from December 2017 to June 2018. The primary study outcome was CROT after 1 cycle. Secondary study outcomes included rate of CROT or the composite end point of CROT or complete remission on minimal therapy after 1 or more cycle, and median time to relapse. Multivariate regression analysis for prognostic variables for CROT, including age, sex, pemphigus subtype, body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), disease duration, and dosing regimen, was performed. A total of 112 patients with pemphigus with median 37.8 months (range, 12.1-130.7) follow-up after rituximab therapy were identified. Of these, 65 were women (58.0%). At the time of first rituximab infusion, median age was 52.3 years (range, 20.0-89.3). Including patients who received multiple cycles of rituximab, 79 patients (70.5%) achieved CROT after a median time of 10.5 months (range, 2.0-49.8), and 36 of 72 patients (50.0%) subsequently experienced relapse after a median of 23.3 months (interquartile range, 10.8-50.4 months). Considering only the first cycle of rituximab, 54 patients (48.2%) achieved CROT. Controlling for age, sex, pemphigus subtype, BMI, and disease duration, patients who received lymphoma vs rheumatoid arthritis dosing were 2.70-fold more likely to achieve CROT (odds ratio [OR], 2.70; 95% CI, 1.03-7.12; P = .04). Increasing age was associated with significant increases in achieving CROT (Wald test for trend, P = .01), whereas BMI greater than or equal to 35 was associated with a 0.14 OR (95% CI, 0.03-0.63; P = .01) for achieving CROT, regardless of the dosing regimen. In multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in CROT rates with sex (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.42-2.50; P = .97), pemphigus subtype (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.09-1.51; P = .17), or disease duration (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00; P = .09). Lymphoma dosing and older age may be associated with CROT and BMI greater than or equal to 35 may be a negative prognostic factor for CROT after rituximab therapy for pemphigus. These findings help inform clinical expectations and merit evaluation in future prospective clinical trials.

Rationale, objectives and design of PURE, a prospective registry of patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in Canada and Latin America

BackgroundTreatment options for the management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis include phototherapy, oral systemic agents, and biologic therapy. Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets IL-17A, is the first IL-17 antagonist approved for this patient population. Long-term observational data are required for establishing the true population-based benefit-risk ratio of approved treatments. PURE is a multinational registry that will assess the real-world safety and effectiveness of secukinumab and other approved therapies in the management of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.MethodsThis is a multinational (Canadian and Latin American), prospective, observational study of adult patients with moderate to severe psoriasis that initiate treatment with secukinumab or other approved therapies as per local standard of care. A total of 2500 patients (1250 per cohort) will be recruited in the practices of hospital and community dermatologists. Decision regarding treatment must have been reached prior to and independent of patient enrollment in the study. The study includes a 5-year follow-up with recommended assessments at Baseline, 3 and 6 months post-Baseline, and every 6 months thereafter. The primary objective of the study is safety. Secondary outcome measures relate to effectiveness (Investigator’s Global Assessment -IGA mod 2011-, Psoriasis Areas and Severity Index, Body Surface Area), patient reported outcomes (Dermatology Life Quality Index, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool, Psoriasis Symptom Diary, and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire), and healthcare resource utilization.DiscussionThis is the first observational study in Canada and Latin America assessing the real-world safety and effectiveness of secukinumab in the management of moderate to severe psoriasis. The extensive clinical, patient-reported and health economic outcomes collected will allow the comprehensive evaluation of this new treatment in comparison to other approved therapies.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02786186; date of registration: May 30, 2016.

Biologics and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) in the Australasian psoriasis population

Background/Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic condition that may require long-term treatment for disease control. This analysis utilizes data from the Australasian Psoriasis Registry with particular attention to the impact of biologic therapy on DLQI, and the differences between the biologics in terms of DLQI score change.Methods: A retrospective review of patients enrolled in the Australasian Psoriasis Registry from April 2008 to August 2016 was conducted. All subjects from the registry that had DLQI and Psoriasis Assessment Severity Index (PASI) scores recorded at a baseline time point of treatment commencement, in addition to week 12 and 24 post commencement were included in the study. A window of ±3 weeks was permitted at these time points. Multivariate linear regression analysis was undertaken to identify significant predictors associated with change in DLQI.Results: Significant predictors of reduction in DLQI and PASI score from baseline to week 24 include use of adalimumab, infliximab, secukinumab and ustekinumab. Other therapies, including etanercept and oral systemic agents did not show significant change. Each class of biologic showed significant reductions in DLQI score, with IL-12/23 blockade showing the greatest reduction. Significant predictors of lack of reduction in DLQI score include a baseline PASI score <16, and history of diabetes, alcoholism or uveitis.Conclusions: Patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are treated with biologics show the greatest reduction in DLQI score, compared with other treatments. Australian dermatologists are prescribing biologics when patients qualify for them in keeping with current guidelines.

Sweet's syndrome--a comprehensive review of an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis.

Sweet's syndrome (the eponym for acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is characterized by a constellation of clinical symptoms, physical features, and pathologic findings which include fever, neutrophilia, tender erythematous skin lesions (papules, nodules, and plaques), and a diffuse infiltrate consisting predominantly of mature neutrophils that are typically located in the upper dermis. Several hundreds cases of Sweet's syndrome have been published. Sweet's syndrome presents in three clinical settings: classical (or idiopathic), malignancy-associated, and drug-induced. Classical Sweet's syndrome (CSS) usually presents in women between the age of 30 to 50 years, it is often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection and may be associated with inflammatory bowel disease and pregnancy. Approximately one-third of patients with CSS experience recurrence of the dermatosis. The malignancy-associated Sweet's syndrome (MASS) can occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with an established cancer or individuals whose Sweet's syndrome-related hematologic dyscrasia or solid tumor was previously undiscovered; MASS is most commonly related to acute myelogenous leukemia. The dermatosis can precede, follow, or appear concurrent with the diagnosis of the patient's cancer. Hence, MASS can be the cutaneous harbinger of either an undiagnosed visceral malignancy in a previously cancer-free individual or an unsuspected cancer recurrence in an oncology patient. Drug-induced Sweet's syndrome (DISS) most commonly occurs in patients who have been treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, however, other medications may also be associated with DISS. The pathogenesis of Sweet's syndrome may be multifactorial and still remains to be definitively established. Clinical and laboratory evidence suggests that cytokines have an etiologic role. Systemic corticosteroids are the therapeutic gold standard for Sweet's syndrome. After initiation of treatment with systemic corticosteroids, there is a prompt response consisting of dramatic improvement of both the dermatosis-related symptoms and skin lesions. Topical application of high potency corticosteroids or intralesional corticosteroids may be efficacious for treating localized lesions. Other first-line oral systemic agents are potassium iodide and colchicine. Second-line oral systemic agents include indomethacin, clofazimine, cyclosporine, and dapsone. The symptoms and lesions of Sweet's syndrome may resolved spontaneously, without any therapeutic intervention; however, recurrence may follow either spontaneous remission or therapy-induced clinical resolution.