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G Bisagni,
A Musolino,
M Panebianco,
A De Matteis,
F Nuzzo,
A Ardizzoni,
S Gori,
T Gamucci,
R Passalacqua,
R Gnoni,
G Moretti, C Boni
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approach for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is still controversial. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in combination with docetaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for MBC. The feasibility of bevacizumab maintenance therapy in this setting was also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this single-arm, multicenter phase II study, patients received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg and docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, plus capecitabine 900 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1-14 every 21 days. Treatment was administered for up to 6 cycles, then bevacizumab continued until progressive disease. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end points were tumor response rate, overall survival, and toxicity. RESULTS: Seventy-nine eligible patients were treated with bevacizumab in combination with docetaxel plus capecitabine. The overall response rate was 61 %, with a complete response rate of 8 % and a median duration of response of 10 months. At a median follow-up of 28 months, the median PFS was 11 months. Fifty-two (65 %) patients received bevacizumab maintenance therapy for a median duration of 7 months (range 1 to 33+). Neutropenia was the most common grade 3-4 toxicity (28.1 % of patients), and two fatal adverse events occurred (septic shock and gastrointestinal perforation). CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab in combination with docetaxel and capecitabine demonstrates significant activity and quite acceptable toxicity profile as first-line treatment of MBC. Subsequent maintenance therapy with bevacizumab is feasible for a long period of stable disease. Results deserve confirmation.
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 02/2013; · 2.83 Impact Factor
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T De Pas,
G Rosati,
G Spitaleri, C Boni,
A Tucci,
S Frustaci,
R Scalamogna,
D Radice,
S Boselli,
F Toffalorio,
C Catania,
C Noberasco,
A Delmonte,
F Vecchio,
F de Braud
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: Ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination is an active regimen for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) but is burdened by high toxicity. A phase II trial was designed to assess the activity of continuous infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination.
Thirty-four chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced STS were treated with ifosfamide (13 g/m(2)/12 days as continuous infusion) and doxorubicin (75 mg/m(2) on day 8) every 28 days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
The major toxicity was hematological: grade 3/4 neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 63, 30 and 12% of patients, respectively. The disease control rate was 68% and the median time to progression was 7.1 months. Among leiomyosarcomas, 2 partial responses and 4 stable diseases were observed.
Our study confirms that the ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination has a very low non-hematological toxicity profile. This regimen attained a high disease control rate with moderate activity. Further investigation into leiomyosarcoma is warranted.
Chemotherapy 01/2011; 57(3):217-24. · 1.82 Impact Factor
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C Bengala,
F Bertolini,
N Malavasi, C Boni,
E Aitini,
C Dealis,
S Zironi,
R Depenni,
A Fontana,
C Del Giovane,
G Luppi,
P Conte
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ABSTRACT: Advanced biliary tract carcinoma has a very poor prognosis, with chemotherapy being the mainstay of treatment. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor of VEGFR-2/-3, PDGFR-beta, B-Raf, and C-Raf, has shown to be active in preclinical models of cholangiocarcinoma.
We conducted a phase II trial of single-agent sorafenib in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma. Sorafenib was administered at a dose of 400 mg twice a day. The primary end point was the disease control rate at 12 weeks.
A total of 46 patients were treated. In all, 26 (56%) had received chemotherapy earlier, and 36 patients completed at least 45 days of treatment. In intention-to-treat analysis, the objective response was 2% and the disease control rate at 12 weeks was 32.6%. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.3 months (range: 0-12 months), and the median overall survival was 4.4 months (range: 0-22 months). Performance status was significantly related to PFS: median PFS values for ECOG 0 and 1 were 5.7 and 2.1 months, respectively (P=0.0002). The most common toxicities were skin rash (35%) and fatigue (33%), requiring a dose reduction in 22% of patients.
Sorafenib as a single agent has a low activity in cholangiocarcinoma. Patients having a good performance status have a better PFS. The toxicity profile is manageable.
British Journal of Cancer 11/2009; 102(1):68-72. · 5.04 Impact Factor
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G Lelli,
S Cataldo,
I Carandina,
B Urbini,
F Bonetti,
M Marzola,
G Biasco,
M A Pantaleo,
A Brandes,
C Calandri,
E Ravaioli,
O Nanni, C Boni,
C Banzi,
F Negri,
A Panetta,
F DI Fabio,
D Turci
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ABSTRACT: We carried out a multicentric retrospective study on cetuximab + chemotherapy in pre-treated refractory patients outside clinical protocols, by registering the main clinical and pathological parameters. We evaluated 144 pre-treated patients. Cetuximab was administered usually in combination with irinotecan (93.8%). A 45% disease control rate (complete plus partial responses plus stable disease) was obtained in 55 patients and was related to absence of weight loss (p<0.0001) and high grade (> or =2) skin toxicity (p<0.0001). Median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months (95%CI 2.7-5.3) and median overall survival (OS) was 11.8 months (95%CI 8.5-15.1). Performance status < or =1, no weight loss and high grade (>or =22) skin toxicity were related both to a longer TTP (p=0.035, p=0.035, p=0.0017) and OS (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, p=0.006). According to multivariate analysis, the absence of weight loss was related to longer TTP (HR 0.331, p=0.004) and OS (HR 0.176, p<0.0001), and EGFR over-expression (3+) to longer TTP (HR 0.402, p=0.020).
Journal of chemotherapy (Florence, Italy) 07/2008; 20(3):374-9. · 1.08 Impact Factor
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Annals of Oncology 04/2006; 17 Suppl 2:ii88-90. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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G Cocconi,
B Di Blasio, C Boni,
G Bisagni,
E Rondini,
M A Bella,
F Leonardi,
L Savoldi,
C Vallisneri,
R Camisa,
P Bruzzi
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ABSTRACT: The role of anthracyclines has been extensively studied in adjuvant chemotherapy, but much less in the primary chemotherapy of early breast carcinoma. This study, comparing CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) with the rotational anthracycline-containing regimen CMFEV (CMF plus epirubicin and vincristine) administered as primary chemotherapy, demonstrated a significant increase in clinical complete response in premenopausal women. We report the long-term results.
Two hundred and eleven patients with stage I or II palpable breast carcinoma and a tumour diameter of >2.5 cm were randomised to receive CMF or CMFEV for four cycles before surgery. After surgery, the patients in both arms received adjuvant CMF for three cycles.
In the study population as a whole, there was a non-significant 20% reduction in mortality and relapse rates in the CMFEV arm. However, the effect of the experimental regimen was only found in premenopausal patients, especially in terms of relapse-free survival (P=0.07) and locoregional relapse-free survival (P=0.0009), thus mirroring the effect on response rates. After 10 years, the proportions of premenopausal patients free from locoregional relapse as a first event in the CMF and CMFEV groups were 68% and 97%, respectively. No relevant differences were found in postmenopausal patients.
The overall results of this study showed that the greater activity of the experimental anthracycline-containing combination over CMF as primary chemotherapy in premenopausal patients translated into long-term effects in the same subgroup.
Annals of Oncology 09/2005; 16(9):1469-76. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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F Di Costanzo,
A Sobrero,
S Gasperoni,
L Dogliotti,
L Frassineti,
A Falcone,
R Lionetto,
P Bruzzi,
G Luppi,
L Gallo, [......],
A Comandone,
D Turci,
M Marzola,
U Folco,
E Pfanner,
M Mestriner, C Boni,
C Galli,
M Tonato,
R Rosso
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ABSTRACT: To determine whether the addition of leucovorin to the combination 5-fluorouracil plus levamisole prolongs disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with radically resected colon cancer (Dukes' B(2-3) and C).
Patients (1703) were accrued between March 1992 and February 1995 in a large-scale clinical trial within five Italian cooperative groups. After stratification for center, patients were randomized as follows: arm A, 5-fluorouracil [450 mg/m(2) intravenous (i.v.) bolus on days 1-5] and levamisole (150 mg orally for 3 days, every 14 days for 6 months) versus arm B, 6-S-leucovorin (100 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus on days 1-5) followed by 5-fluorouracil (370 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus on days 1-5), plus levamisole (as arm A), every 4 weeks for six cycles.
After a median follow-up of 6.4 years no significant difference was seen for either disease-free survival (58% versus 60%, not significant) or 5-year overall survival (68% versus 71%, not significant), respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicity (World Health Organization grade 3/4) was more frequent in arm B (8% versus 18%, not significant).
In this trial the schedules used showed no statistically significant differences in terms of disease-free survival or overall survival in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Annals of Oncology 10/2003; 14(9):1365-72. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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G V Scagliotti,
F De Marinis,
M Rinaldi,
L Crinò,
C Gridelli,
S Ricci,
E Matano, C Boni,
M Marangolo,
G Failla,
G Altavilla,
V Adamo,
A Ceribelli,
M Clerici,
F Di Costanzo,
L Frontini,
M Tonato
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate whether two commonly used newer platinum-based regimens offer any advantage over vinorelbine-cisplatin (reference regimen) in response rate for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Chemotherapy-naive patients were randomized to receive gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 2 every 21 days (GC arm), or paclitaxel 225 mg/m(2) (3-hour infusion) then carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve of 6 mg/mL x min), both on day 1 every 21 days (PCb arm), or vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2)/wk for 12 weeks then every other week plus cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) day 1 every 28 days (VC arm).
Six hundred twelve patients were randomized to treatment (205 GC, 204 PCb, and 203 VC). Overall response rates for the GC (30%) and PCb (32%) arms were not significantly different from that of the VC arm (30%). There were no differences in overall survival, time to disease progression, or time to treatment failure. Median survival for the GC, PCb, and VC groups was 9.8, 9.9, and 9.5 months, respectively. Neutropenia was significantly higher on the VC arm (GC 17% or PCb 35% v VC 43% of cycles, P <.001), as was thrombocytopenia on the GC arm (GC 16% v VC 0.1% of cycles, P <.001). Alopecia and peripheral neurotoxicity were most common on the PCb arm, as was nausea/vomiting on the VC arm (P <.05).
Efficacy end points were not significantly different between experimental and reference arms, although toxicities showed differences. These findings suggest that chemotherapy in NSCLC has reached a therapeutic plateau.
Journal of Clinical Oncology 11/2002; 20(21):4285-91. · 18.37 Impact Factor
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M Colozza,
G Bisagni,
A M Mosconi,
S Gori, C Boni,
R Sabbatini,
A Frassoldati,
R Passalacqua,
A Rosa Bian,
C Rodinò,
E Rondini,
R Algeri,
S Di Sarra,
V De Angelis,
G Cocconi,
M Tonato
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: We compared a relatively short regimen of monochemotherapy with epirubicin versus polychemotherapy with CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) as adjuvant treatment for stage I and II breast cancer patients. 348 patients with oestrogen receptor negative (ER-) node negative and ER- or ER+ node-positive with <10 nodes were accrued. CMF was given intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 8, every 4 weeks, for six courses; epirubicin was given weekly for 4 months. Postmenopausal patients received tamoxifen for 3 years. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and event-free survival (EFS). Outcome evaluation was performed both in eligible patients and in all randomised patients according to the intention-to-treat principle. 8 randomised patients were considered ineligible. At a median follow-up of 8 years, there was no difference in OS (Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.11, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.77-1.61, P=0.58), EFS (HR=1.14, 95% CI: 0.78-1.64, P=0.48), and RFS (HR=1.14, 95% CI: 0.8-1.64, P=0.48) between the two arms for all of the patients. At 8 years, the RFS percentages (+/-Standard Error (S.E.)) were 65.4% (+/-4%) in the CMF arm and 62.7% (+/-4%) in the epirubicin arm; for EFS these were 64.2% (+/-4%) for CMF and 60.8% (+/-4%) for epirubicin, respectively. A significant difference in RFS (P=0.015) was observed in patients with 4-9 positive nodes in favour of the CMF arm. Toxicity in the two arms was superimposable except for more frequent grade 3 alopecia in the epirubicin-treated patients (P=0.001). Overall, at a median follow-up of 8 years, there were no differences between the two arms in terms of OS, EFS and RFS.
European Journal of Cancer 11/2002; 38(17):2279-88. · 5.54 Impact Factor
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[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: To determine whether a prolonged 12-day continuous infusion allows the administration of high-dose ifosfamide (IFO) with an acceptable toxicity profile when combined with full-dose doxorubicin (Adriamycin; ADM) as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.
Escalating doses of continuous infusion IFO (8-15 g/m2) given on days 1 to 12 in combination with ADM 75 mg/m2 given on day 8 and prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support were administered every 4 weeks to 35 chemonaïve patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.
The maximum tolerated dose was IFO 15 g/m2. Hematological toxicity was the main dose-limiting toxicity and was dose dependent. Furthermore, thrombocytopenia was cumulative. Grade 4 (WHO) neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were recorded in 48% and 14% of courses, respectively. Eight patients experienced febrile neutropenia. A partial response was observed in 16 out of 30 assessable patients [53%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 25-63]; median time to progression was 25 weeks (range 4-91).
This study proved that a prolonged 12-day continuous infusion allows an increase in the total IFO dose that can be safely combined with ADM. A multicentric phase II study by the Italian Sarcoma Group to assess its antitumor activity is currently ongoing in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.
Annals of Oncology 02/2002; 13(1):161-6. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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C Boni,
G Bisagni,
L Savoldi,
G Moretti,
E Rondini,
M Sassi,
A Zadro,
T De Pas,
V Franciosi,
A Pazzola,
R Vignoli,
M C Banzi,
V Pajetta
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and the toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine with ifosfamide and cisplatin (GIP) in chemonaive patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eighty chemonaive patients with Stage IIIB-IV NSCLC were treated with the combination of gemcitabine 1 g/m(2) on Days 1 and 8, ifosfamide 2 g/m(2) on Day 1 and cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) on Day 2. Cycles were administered on an outpatient basis every 3 weeks. Hematologic toxicity was the main side effect; Grade III-IV thrombocytopenia was observed in 54 (67%) patients and Grade III-IV leucopenia in 44 (55%) patients, with 4 episodes of febrile neutropenia and 1 toxic death. Thirteen patients received platelet transfusions and 38 were transfused with packed red cells. All patients were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 54% (95% confidence interval 43 to 65%) with 1 complete response. In patients with Stage IIIB and IV disease, response rates were 58% and 52%, respectively. Median time to progression was 40 weeks (range 0-114) and median overall survival was 12 months (16.6 months for stage IIIB and 10.4 months for stage IV). Median and minimum follow-up were 19 and 12 months, respectively. The GIP combination shows a response rate and overall survival of clinical interest. Hematologic toxicity was the main toxic effect, especially in patients with low performance status. This regimen will be tested in a Phase III randomized trial.
International Journal of Cancer 10/2000; 87(5):724-7. · 5.44 Impact Factor
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A de Gramont,
A Figer,
M Seymour,
M Homerin,
A Hmissi,
J Cassidy, C Boni,
H Cortes-Funes,
A Cervantes,
G Freyer,
D Papamichael,
N Le Bail,
C Louvet,
D Hendler,
F de Braud,
C Wilson,
F Morvan,
A Bonetti
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ABSTRACT: In a previous study of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, the LV5FU2 regimen, comprising leucovorin (LV) plus bolus and infusional fluorouracil (5FU) every 2 weeks, was superior to the standard North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Mayo Clinic 5-day bolus 5FU/LV regimen. This phase III study investigated the effect of combining oxaliplatin with LV5FU2, with progression-free survival as the primary end point.
Four hundred twenty previously untreated patients with measurable disease were randomized to receive a 2-hour infusion of LV (200 mg/m(2)/d) followed by a 5FU bolus (400 mg/m(2)/d) and 22-hour infusion (600 mg/m(2)/d) for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks, either alone or together with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-hour infusion on day 1.
Patients allocated to oxaliplatin plus LV5FU2 had significantly longer progression-free survival (median, 9.0 v 6.2 months; P =.0003) and better response rate (50.7% v 22.3%; P =.0001) when compared with the control arm. The improvement in overall survival did not reach significance (median, 16.2 v 14.7 months; P =. 12). LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin gave higher frequencies of National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 neutropenia (41. 7% v 5.3% of patients), grade 3/4 diarrhea (11.9% v 5.3%), and grade 3 neurosensory toxicity (18.2% v 0%), but this did not result in impairment of quality of life (QoL). Survival without disease progression or deterioration in global health status was longer in patients allocated to oxaliplatin treatment (P =.004).
The LV5FU2-oxaliplatin combination seems beneficial as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer, demonstrating a prolonged progression-free survival with acceptable tolerability and maintenance of QoL.
Journal of Clinical Oncology 09/2000; 18(16):2938-47. · 18.37 Impact Factor
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C. Boni,
G. Bisagni,
L. Savoldi,
G. Moretti,
E. Rondini,
M. Sassi,
A. Zadro,
T. De Pas,
V. Franciosi,
A. Pazzola,
R. Vignoli,
M.C. Banzi,
V. Pajetta
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and the toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine with ifosfamide and cisplatin (GIP) in chemonaive patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eighty chemonaive patients with Stage IIIB-IV NSCLC were treated with the combination of gemcitabine 1 g/m2 on Days 1 and 8, ifosfamide 2 g/m2 on Day 1 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on Day 2. Cycles were administered on an outpatient basis every 3 weeks. Hematologic toxicity was the main side effect; Grade III-IV thrombocytopenia was observed in 54 (67%) patients and Grade III-IV leucopenia in 44 (55%) patients, with 4 episodes of febrile neutropenia and 1 toxic death. Thirteen patients received platelet transfusions and 38 were transfused with packed red cells. All patients were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 54% (95% confidence interval 43 to 65%) with 1 complete response. In patients with Stage IIIB and IV disease, response rates were 58% and 52%, respectively. Median time to progression was 40 weeks (range 0–114) and median overall survival was 12 months (16.6 months for stage IIIB and 10.4 months for stage IV). Median and minimum follow-up were 19 and 12 months, respectively. The GIP combination shows a response rate and overall survival of clinical interest. Hematologic toxicity was the main toxic effect, especially in patients with low performance status. This regimen will be tested in a Phase III randomized trial. Int. J. Cancer 87:724–727, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
International Journal of Cancer 08/2000; 87(5):724 - 727. · 5.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We designed three new four-drug cisplatin-containing combinations and evaluated their activity in a randomized phase II study including patients with locally advanced (stage III) and locally recurrent breast carcinoma. All combinations included methotrexate (M) on day 1 and cisplatin (P) on day 2 (MVAC-like combinations) and differed from one another by the addition of Epirubicin (Epi), Vincristine (V), Etoposide (E), Mitomycin (Mi). Based on the administered agents, they were named MPEMi, MPEpiE, MPEpiV. The combinations were randomly assigned to 101 patients, 57 with locally advanced and 44 with locally recurrent breast carcinoma. Response was evaluated after 4 cycles. The complete response (CR) rates were 7% and 43% and the CR plus partial response (PR) rates were 84% and 89% in locally advanced and in locally recurrent disease, respectively. In locally advanced disease, a pathologic CR (pCR) was assessed in seven of 57 patients (12%). There were no significant differences among the three combinations. The toxicities were at times severe, but generally tolerable, as demonstrated by the high cumulative doses of the drugs received by the patients. In conclusion, these three innovative chemotherapy regimens induced high CR plus PR rates in the neoadjuvant treatment of stage III and of locally recurrent breast carcinoma, and a high rate of pCR in stage III disease. These regimens warrant testing in phase III trials.
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 08/1999; 56(2):125-32. · 4.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The conventional treatment of brain metastases not amenable to surgery is most often radiotherapy. Until now, pharmacologic issues related to the blood brain barrier (BBB) prevented a wide evaluation of chemotherapy. The authors previously reported that the combination of cisplatin (P) and etoposide (E) had strikingly high activity in patients with brain metastases from breast carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to assess, in a larger prospective study, the front-line activity of that combination against brain metastases from breast carcinoma (BC), nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and malignant melanoma (MM) in patients previously untreated with radiotherapy.
From December 1986 to July 1993, 116 patients received P 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 and E 100 mg/m2 on Days 1, 3, and 5 or on Days 4, 6, and 8 every 3 weeks. An insignificant change in the E schedule using the same dose on a random basis assured the prospective enrollment and the registration of all cases. Six patients were not eligible and three patients were excluded from the analysis because they were lost to follow-up shortly after the date of registration. One-hundred seven patients were considered for analysis. The distribution according to the primary tumor site was BC in 56 patients (52%), NSCLC in 43 (40%), and MM in 8 (8%). The first evaluation of response was performed after two cycles. In cases of no disease progression, chemotherapy was continued to a maximum of six cycles.
Among the 56 patients with BC, 7 achieved complete response (CR) (13%), 14 achieved partial response (PR), 12 had no change (NC), 15 had progressive disease (PD), and 8 had insufficient treatment or response was not assessed. The CR plus rate was 38%. Among the 43 patients with NSCLC, 3 achieved CR (7%), 10 achieved PR, 15 had SD, 7 had PD, and 8 had insufficient treatment or response was not assessed. The CR plus PR rate was 30%. None of the eight patients with MM achieved an objective response. The median survival was 31 weeks for patients with BC (range, 0-287), 32 for patients with NSCLC (0-392+), and 17 for patients with MM (2-48).
The combination of P and E is effective for patients with brain metastases from BC and NSCLC. In this study, the response rate was of the same order as that reported for disseminated disease without central nervous system involvement. The survival figures compare favorably with some others reported in the literature for patients given radiotherapy. A randomized study is warranted to compare this chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy with radiotherapy alone for patients with brain metastases from BC or NSCLC not amenable to surgery or radiosurgery.
Cancer 05/1999; 85(7):1599-605. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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C Boni,
L Savoldi,
G Bisagni,
G Ceci,
L Crinò,
V De Lisi,
F Di Costanzo,
L Lasagni,
A L Manenti,
G Moretti,
E Rondini,
M Sassi,
A Zadro
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this randomised trial was to compare the efficacy of bolus versus continuous infusion cisplatin combined with mitomycin C and vindesine (MVP) for chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 97 patients (49 given bolus cisplatin-arm A and 48 given continuous infusion cisplatin--arm B) were evaluable for response. In arm A, 2 patients achieved a complete response (CR), 21 achieved a partial response (PR), whilst in arm B, 14 patients achieved a PR (29%) (P = 0.07). Median survival was 8 months in both arms. Myelosuppression was the most frequent and severe toxicity, with a higher incidence of grade 3-4 leucopenia in arm A when compared with arm B (44% versus 25%). In conclusion, there is no advantage for a cisplatin 5 day infusion in the MVP regimen.
European Journal of Cancer 12/1998; 34(12):1974-6. · 5.54 Impact Factor
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F Di Costanzo,
S Gasperoni,
P Malacarne,
V Belsanti,
G Luppi,
M Marzola,
E Corgna,
A Sdrobolini,
R Passalacqua,
F Figoli,
R Algeri,
S Zironi,
S Angiona, C Boni
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ABSTRACT: Patients with histologically confirmed advanced colorectal cancer were randomized to receive folinic acid (FA; 500 mg/mq in 2-hour intravenous infusion) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU; 600 mg/mq given as an intravenous bolus 1 hour after FA), beginning every week for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period, either without hydroxyurea (HU, arm A) or with HU (35 mg/kg per day) given orally in three administrations (every 8 hours) starting 6 hours after 5FU administration (arm B). Six weekly doses were considered one course. One hundred eighty-two patients were randomized in this trial and 162 (89%) were evaluable for response: 81 patients in arm A and 81 patients in arm B. Objective response was observed in 18 (one complete response and 17 partial responses) of 81 evaluable patients (22%; 95% confidence interval, 13-31%) in arm A, and 24 (nine complete responses and 15 partial responses) of 81 patients (30%; 95% confidence interval, 20-40%) in arm B. There was no difference in terms of median time to progression and median survival. Gastrointestinal toxicity was the most frequently observed toxicity in both arms. The double modulation of 5FU, FA plus HU does not appear to be better than the classic 5FU plus FA schedule. This trial confirms that 5FU and FA reached a plateau of 20% to 30%.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology 09/1998; 21(4):369-75. · 2.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Oxaliplatin is a new cytotoxic agent from the diaminocyclohexane family with proven antitumor activity against colon cancer cell lines. Activity in patients with colorectal carcinoma previously treated with 5-fluorouracil has been studied in three single-agent phase II trials, showing a reproducible response rate of 10%. Here we report a phase II trial with oxaliplatin as a first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer.
Twenty-five patients were entered in the study. All of them had metastatic disease without previous chemotherapy, and at least one lesion had to be measurable by computed tomography (CT). Therapy consisted of a two-hour infusion of oxaliplatin at a dose of 130 mg/m2 every 21 days.
The overall response rate determined by investigators was 20% (95% CI, 6.8%-40.7%). Eight patients (32%) had stable disease. The median time to disease progression in responders was six months (range four to nine). The median progression-free survival was four months and median overall survival 14.5 months (95% CI, 10-20 months). The main toxic effects were peripheral neuropathy (92%) and laryngopharyngeal dysesthesia (75%). No severe grade 3-4 neurotoxicities (NCI-CTC) were found. Gastrointestinal and hematological toxicities were mild.
Oxaliplatin is an active agent in first-line chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer. It was well tolerated, caused no toxic deaths, had low hematotoxicity, well controlled gastrointestinal toxicity, and frequent but mild peripheral neurological symptoms. Therefore, it is of interest to associate oxaliplatin with other active compounds.
Annals of Oncology 01/1998; 9(1):105-8. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is generally considered the most active treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The combination of cisplatin and etoposide had for some time been the standard treatment at our center. Of the other active regimens, cisplatin in combination with mitomycin-C, vindesine or ifosfamide (MVP or MIC) showed the highest response rates. We decided to perform a comparative trial of the three 'best' regimens in order to define a possible standard regimen in advanced NSCLC.
From May 1989 to April 1992, 393 consecutive, previously untreated NSCLC patients, stages IIIB and IV, were randomized to receive either cisplatin (120 mg/sqm day 1) + etoposide (100 mg/sqm days 1-3) every 3 weeks (PE) or cisplatin (120 mg/sqm every 4 weeks) + mitomycin-C (8 mg/sqm days 1-29-71) + vindesine (3 mg/sqm days 1-8-15-22) (MVP) or cisplatin (120 mg/sqm day 1) + mitomycin-C (6 mg/sqm day 1) + ifosfamide (3 mg/sqm day 2) every 3 weeks (MIC). Of these, 382 were evaluable for survival and 360 for response.
Response rates were statistically higher for both MIC (40%) and MVP (36%) than for the PE arm (23%). Survival estimates analyzed by the log-rank test showed a significant benefit (p < 0.04) for patients treated with three-drug regimens (MVP; MIC) as compared to those in the PE arm. The main toxicity was myelosuppression; thrombocytopenia WHO grade 3-4 was worse in the MIC arm; nephrotoxicity grade 3-4 was also more frequent in the MIC arm.
A three-drug cisplatin-based regimen (MVP; MIC) should be considered as reference treatment in NSCLC.
Annals of Oncology 05/1995; 6(4):347-53. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endocrine factors may affect the clinical course of malignant melanoma and the response to the treatment of this disease. The presence of estrogen receptors in melanomas has been suggested, and occasional responses to antiestrogen therapy have been reported.
We randomly assigned 117 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma to treatment with dacarbazine alone or dacarbazine in combination with tamoxifen. The overall rate of response, measured objectively, was higher (28 percent vs. 12 percent, P = 0.03) and survival was longer (median, 48 vs. 29 weeks, P = 0.02) among the patients who received dacarbazine plus tamoxifen than among those who received dacarbazine alone. Among women, both the response rate (38 percent vs. 10 percent, P = 0.04) and the median survival (69 vs. 30 weeks, P = 0.008) were better with dacarbazine plus tamoxifen than with dacarbazine alone, whereas among men the differences were smaller and not statistically significant. Among the patients given dacarbazine alone, there were no significant differences between women and men in response rate (10 percent vs. 13 percent) or survival (30 vs. 27 weeks), whereas among those given dacarbazine plus tamoxifen, women had better outcomes, as indicated by both response rate (38 percent vs. 19 percent, P = 0.15) and survival (69 vs. 31 weeks, P = 0.02). When we analyzed the Quetelet body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) as an indirect indicator of the levels of endogenous estrogens in postmenopausal women and in men, survival was not affected by the body-mass index in the group given dacarbazine alone, whereas in the group given dacarbazine plus tamoxifen, survival was longer among patients whose Quetelet index was above the median value than among those with a Quetelet index lower than the median value (60 vs. 26 weeks, P less than 0.001).
In the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma, dacarbazine plus tamoxifen is more effective than dacarbazine alone, as indicated by both the response rate and the median survival; the difference in efficacy is among women.
New England Journal of Medicine 09/1992; 327(8):516-23. · 53.30 Impact Factor