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The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic is a global health problem, which started to affect China by the end of 2019. In Europe, Italy has faced this novel disease entity (named novel coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) first and severely. COVID-19 represents a significant hurdle for public health services and a potential harm for patients with cancer. The Collegio Italiano dei Primari Oncologi Medici (CIPOMO) is an Italian association of head physicians in oncology departments, which promotes working and research activities in oncology on a national basis. In the midst of the epidemic in Italy, the CIPOMO promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical activity of oncologists and the implementation of containment measures of COVID-19 diffusion. Overall, 122 head physicians participated in this survey, with a homogeneous distribution on the national territory. Results show that the following measures for oncologic patients have been promptly implemented through the whole country: use of protective devices, triage of patients accessing the hospital, delay of non-urgent visits and use of telemedicine. Results of this survey suggest that Italian oncology departments have promptly set a proactive approach to the actual emergency. Oncologists need to preserve the continuum of care of patients, as the benefit of ensuring a well-delivered anti-cancer treatment plan outweighs the risk of COVID-19 infection. International cooperation is an important starting point, as heavily affected nations can serve as an example to find out ways to safely preserve health activity during the pandemic.

A concomitant drug-based score was developed by our group and externally validated for prognostic and predictive purposes in patients with advanced cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The model considers the use of three classes of drugs within a month before initiating ICI, assigning score 1 for each between proton pump inhibitor and antibiotic administration until a month before immunotherapy initiation and score 2 in case of corticosteroid intake. In the present analysis, the drug score was validated in a prospective population of 305 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with ipilimumab plus nivolumab in the first-line setting. The value of the model in predicting overall survival and progression-free survival was statistically significant and clinically meaningful, with an overall survival rate at 12 months of 73% vs. 44% (P0.0001), and median progression-free survival of 11.6 (95% CI: 9.1-14.1) months versus 4.8 (95% CI: 2.7-7.0) months (P=0.002), respectively, for patients belonging to the favorable group (score 0-1) versus the unfavorable (score 2-4). Further development will be represented by the gut microbiome analysis according to the drug-based model classification and to the outcome of patients to ICI therapy to demonstrate the link between drug exposure and immune sensitivity.

Many consider the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) to be preoperative chemoradiotherapy, radical surgery involving a total mesorectal excision, and post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy based on the pathology of the specimen. The poor impact on distant control is a major limitation of this strategy, with metastasis rates remaining in the 25–35% range and recovery after radical surgery leading to reluctance with prescription and inconsistent patient compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy. A second limitation is the low rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) (around 10–15%) despite multiple efforts to potentiate preoperative chemoradiation regimens, which in turn means it is less effective at achieving non-operative management (NOM). Total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) is a pragmatic approach to solving these problems by introducing systemic chemotherapy at an early timepoint. Enthusiasm for delivering TNT for patients with LARC is increasing in light of the results of published randomized phase III trials, which show a doubling of the pCR rate and a significant reduction in the risk of subsequent metastases. However, there has been no demonstrated improvement in quality of life or overall survival. A plethora of potential chemotherapy schedules are available around the radiotherapy component, which include preoperative induction or consolidation with a range of options (FOLFOXIRI, FOLFOX, or CAPEOX,) and a varying duration of 6–18 weeks, prior to long course chemoradiation (LCCRT) or consolidation NACT following short-course preoperative radiation therapy (SCPRT) using 5 × 5 Gy or LCCRT using 45–60 Gy, respectively. The need to maintain optimal local control is a further important factor, and preliminary data appear to indicate that the RT schedule remains a crucial issue, especially in more advanced tumors, i.e., mesorectal fascia (MRF) invasion. Thus, there is no consensus as to the optimum combination, sequence, or duration of TNT. The selection of patients most likely to benefit is challenging, as clear-cut criteria to individuate patients benefiting from TNT are lacking. In this narrative review, we examine if there are any necessary or sufficient criteria for the use of TNT. We explore potential selection for the individual and their concerns with a generalized use of this strategy.

TPS3636 Background: KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations are well-established negative predictive biomarkers of response to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (pts). In clinical practice, RAS/BRAF wild-type (wt) patients receive first-line therapy regimens containing anti-EGFR agents. However, tumor heterogeneity might drive primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR MoAbs. In fact, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing reveals RAS/BRAF mutations in approximately 10% of pts who resulted in wt at tumor tissue. In addition, 30% to 50% RAS wt pts develop, during the treatment with anti-EGFR MoAbs, RAS mut can be detected in the ctDNA several weeks before clinical progression. As today, it is not known whether revealing RAS mut in liquid biopsy (LB) earlier than the appearance of a clinical/radiological disease progression, could impact pts’ outcomes. Similarly, there are no data suggesting the best therapeutic approach in patients with RAS/BRAF wt tissue and mutated ctDNA. Methods: This is a phase III, randomized, open-label, comparative, multicenter study to assess the superiority of Bevacizumab (BEV) compared to Cetuximab (CET) plus FOLFIRI in treatment naïve mCRC RAS/BRAF wt on tumor tissue (TT) and mutated in plasma samples. RAS/BRAF wt pts on TT will undergo the first LB, and RAS mut pts will be randomized 1:1 to receive FOLFIRI/CET (control arm) or FOLFIRI/BEV (experimental arm). Instead, RAS wt pts at first LB will be treated with FOLFIRI/CET up to 8 cycles. Pts who have not progressed after 8 cycles of treatment will undergo a second LB. If RAS mut was detected, pts will be randomized 1:1 to continue FOLFIRI/CET or switch to FOLFIRI/BEV. If not, pts will continue FOLFIRI/CET outside the clinical trial. Pts will be treated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. Among 26 pts screened at the first LB, actually 1 KRAS mut and 1 BRAF mut pts were detected. The primary endpoint is the PFS Plasma samples will be analyzed for KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations by Idylla ctKRAS and Idylla ctNRAS-BRAF-EGFGR. All samples will be also analyzed by NGS, in order to better evaluate the correlation of tumor heterogeneity with pts’ outcomes. Clinical trial information: EudraCT Number: 2020-005078-82, NCT04776655.

The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been an overwhelming challenge for worldwide health systems. Since the beginning of year 2020, COVID-19 has represented a potential harm for cancer patients and has often hindered oncology care. The Collegio Italiano dei Primari Oncologi Medici (CIPOMO) is an Italian association of head physicians in oncology departments, which promotes working and research activities in oncology on a national basis. During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the CIPOMO promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on oncologists’ clinical activity and what changes have been made compared with the Italian situation during the first wave of the pandemic. Overall, 138 heads of medical oncology departments participated in this survey: 75 (54%) from the North, 24 (17%) from the Center, and 39 (28%) from the South of Italy and islands. This survey provides an overview of Italian oncologists facing the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The lesson learned during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic has led to a better organization of clinical activities, and regular testing among healthcare practitioners, with better chances to grant patients’ protection. However, the lack of standardized informatic platforms results in serious challenges in replacing frontal visits, often making a concrete reduction of patients’ hospital accesses unfeasible. Oncologists need to keep preserving the continuum of care of patients. Standardization of safety measures, together with the implementation of informatic platforms, can significantly improve oncology pathways during this second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Treatment with fluoropyrimidines and concomitant long-course external radiotherapy (RTE) is the standard of care in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) preoperative chemoradiation. A randomized phase II study (RaP/STAR-03) was conducted that aimed to evaluate the activity and safety of the monoclonal antibody anti-epidermal growth factor receptor panitumumab as a single agent in combination with radiotherapy in low-risk LARC preoperative treatment. Materials and Methods Patients had adenocarcinoma of the mid-low rectum, cT3N− or cT2–T3N+, KRAS wild-type status, and negative circumferential radial margin. Panitumumab was administered concomitant to RTE. Rectal surgery was performed 6–8 weeks after the end of preoperative treatment. The adjuvant chemotherapy regimen was FOLFOX. The primary endpoint was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. The sample size was calculated using Simon's two-stage design. A pCR of 16% was considered to qualify the experimental treatment for further testing. Results Ninety-eight patients were enrolled in 13 Italian centers from October 2012 to October 2015. Three panitumumab infusions were administered in 92 (93.4%) patients. The RTE compliance was median dose 50.4 Gy; ≥28 fractions in 82 (83.7%) patients. Surgical treatment was performed in 92 (93.9%) patients, and no severe intraoperative complications were observed. A pCR was observed in 10 (10.9%) patients (95% confidence interval, 4.72%–17.07%). Pathological downstaging occurred in 45 (45.9%) patients. Grade 3 toxicities were observed in 22 (22.3%) patients, and the common adverse events were skin rash in 16 (16.3%) patients. No grade 4 toxicities were reported. Conclusion The pCR rate (our primary endpoint), at only 10.9%, did not reach the specified level considered suitable for further testing. However, the analysis showed a good toxicity profile and compliance to concomitant administration of panitumumab and RTE in preoperative treatment of LARC. The pCR evaluation in all wild-type RAS is ongoing. Implications for Practice The aim of the RaP/STAR-03 study was to evaluate the activity and safety of monoclonal antibody anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) panitumumab as a single agent without chemotherapy in low-risk, locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) preoperative treatment. Nevertheless, the use of panitumumab in combination with radiotherapy in preoperative treatment in patients with KRAS wild type and low-risk LARC did not reach the pathologic complete response primary endpoint. This study showed a good toxicity profile and compliance to combination treatment. Further analysis of NRAS and BRAF on tissue and circulating levels of the EGFR ligands and vascular factors (soluble vascular endothelial growth factor, E-selectin) may provide insight on the potential molecular pathways involved in the anti-EGFR response.

Purpose To investigate oxaliplatin combined with fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy as preoperative treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients and Methods Seven hundred forty-seven patients with resectable, locally advanced (cT3-4 and/or cN1-2) adenocarcinoma of the mid-low rectum were randomly assigned to receive pelvic radiation (50.4 Gy in 28 daily fractions) and concomitant infused fluorouracil (225 mg/m2/d) either alone (arm A, n = 379) or combined with oxaliplatin (60 mg/m2 weekly × 6; arm B, n = 368). Overall survival is the primary end point. A protocol-planned analysis of response to preoperative treatment is reported here. Results Grade 3 to 4 adverse events during preoperative treatment were more frequent with oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil and radiation than with radiation and fluorouracil alone (24% v 8% of treated patients; P < .001). In arm B, 83% of the patients treated with oxaliplatin had five or more weekly administrations. Ninety-one percent, compared with 97% in the control arm, received ≥ 45 Gy (P < .001). Ninety-six percent versus 95% of patients underwent surgery with similar rates of abdominoperineal resections (20% v 18%, arm A v arm B). The rate of pathologic complete responses was 16% in both arms (odds ratio = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.44; P = .904). Twenty-six percent versus 29% of patients had pathologically positive lymph nodes (arm A v arm B; P = .447), 46% versus 44% had tumor infiltration beyond the muscularis propria (P = .701), and 7% versus 4% had positive circumferential resection margins (P = .239). Intra-abdominal metastases were found at surgery in 2.9% versus 0.5% of patients (arm A v arm B; P = .014). Conclusion Adding oxaliplatin to fluorouracil-based preoperative chemoradiotherapy significantly increases toxicity without affecting primary tumor response. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the impact on efficacy end points.

We have reported that an alternating regimen of bolus and continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (FU) was superior to bolus FU in terms of response rate and progression-free survival in advanced colorectal cancer. Biochemical modulation was an essential part of this regimen and it was selective for the schedule of FU administration: bolus FU was in fact modulated by methotrexate (MTX) while continuous infusion FU was potentiated by 6-s-leucovorin (LV). Considering the low cost and the favourable report on the activity of mitomycin C (mito) added to CI FU, we have incorporated this agent in the infusional part of our treatment programme. 105 patients with untreated, advanced, measurable colorectal cancer were accrued from 13 Italian centres and treated with the following regimen. 2 biweekly cycles of FU bolus (600 mg/m2), modulated by MTX (24 h earlier, 200 mg/m2) were alternated with a 3-week continuous infusion of FU (200 mg/m2daily), modulated by LV (20 mg/m2weekly bolus). Mito, 7 mg/m2, was given on the first day of the infusional period. After a 1 week rest, the whole cycle (8 weeks) was repeated, if indicated. 5 complete and 34 partial responses were obtained (response rate, 37% on the intention to treat basis; 95% confidence limits, 28–46%). After a median follow-up time of 26 months, 37 patients are still alive. The median progression-free survival is 7.7 months with an overall survival of 18.8 months and a 2-year survival rate of 30%. The regimen was very well tolerated with fewer than 13% of patients experiencing WHO grade III–IV toxicity. These results are consistent with those obtained by our group in 3 previous trials of schedule specific biochemical modulation of FU. They also indicate a highly active, little toxic, inexpensive regimen of old drugs to be used (a) as an alternative to the more expensive combinations including CPT-11 or oxaliplatin or (b) as the basis for combination programmes with these agents. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

We have recently reported high clinical activity against advanced colorectal cancer of a regimen-alternating bolus FUra, modulated by methotrexate (MTX), and continuous infusion FUra, modulated by 6-s-leucovorin (6-s-LV). Considering the low toxicity of the bolus part of this regimen and our recent in vitro finding of a strong synergism between bolus FUra and natural-beta-IFN (n-beta-IFN), this cytokine was incorporated in the bolus part of our treatment programme. Fifty-six patients with untreated, advanced, measurable colorectal cancer were treated with two biweekly cycles of FUra bolus (600 mg m(-2)), modulated by MTX (24 h earlier, 200 mg m(-2)), and n-beta-IFN (3 x 10(6) IU i.m. every 12 h, starting at the time of FUra administration for four doses), alternating with a 3-week continuous infusion of FUra (200 mg m(-2) daily), modulated by 6-s-LV (20 mg m(-2) weekly bolus). After a 1-week rest, the whole cycle (8 weeks) was repeated if indicated. A total of 5 complete and 17 partial responses were obtained (response rate, 41%; 95% confidence limits, 28-55%) in 54 assessable patients. After a median follow-up time of 36 months, five patients are still alive. Overall, the median time to treatment failure was 6.4 months. The median duration of survival was 15.0 months. There was one treatment-related death after a course of MTX --> bolus FUra/n-beta-IFN and grade III-IV toxicity occurred in 18% of the patients. As the addition of n-beta-IFN results in high toxicity, whereas the efficacy seems to be similar to that of the same regimen without the cytokine, our groups are currently randomizing the original regimen, without IFN, against standard modulated bolus FUra.

PURPOSE To determine if fluorouracil (FUra) has different mechanisms of action as a function of the dose schedule used. DESIGN The preclinical and clinical literature relating toxicity and antitumor effects of FUra as a function of its dose schedule, with and without modulating agents, was reviewed. RESULTS The data support the hypothesis that FUra may be considered to be two different drugs, depending on its dose schedule (bolus v continuous infusion [CI]). CONCLUSION These results suggest that additional therapeutic benefit may be obtained from FUra regimens by (1) appropriate schedule-dependent modulation, (2) the sequential or alternating use of cycles of bolus followed by cycles of CI FUra appropriately modulated, or (3) hybrid regimens, ie, those that contain both pulse and CI schedules.

In the past 15 years, the outcome for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has substantially improved owing to the availability of new cytotoxic and biological agents along with many significant advances in molecular selection, the use of personalised therapy and locoregional treatment, a more widespread sharing of specific professional experiences (multidisciplinary teams with oncologists, surgeons, radiotherapists, radiologists, biologists and pathologists), and the adoption of patient-centred healthcare strategies. The Italian Medical Oncology Association (AIOM) has developed evidence-based recommendations to help oncologists and all professionals involved in the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in their daily clinical practice.

A total of 20 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were enrolled in a phase II trial testing the activity of 5-fluorouracil given at 370 mg/m2 as a rapid i. v. bolus for 5 consecutive days, preceded by a rapid i. v. bolus of 200 mg/m2 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. The median age of the patients was 68 years and their median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was 1. There were 7 patients with locally advanced disease and 13 with distant metastases (median, 2 sites). A median of 3 monthly cycles of treatment (range, 1–7) were given, with a corresponding dose intensity of 396 mg/m2 per week (86% of that planned). No complete response, 1 partial response, and 8 cases of disease stabilization were obtained. In general the regimen was well tolerated, with only 2 patients suffering from grade 3 stomatitis or diarrhea; the most common toxicity was nausea, which was experienced by almost 50% of the patients. The combination of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate plus 5-fluorouracil appears as little effective in this disease as 5-fluorouracil plus 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (leucovorin). It is suggested that bolus 5-fluorouracil is so inactive as an “effector agent” against pancreatic cancer that its biochemical modulation with exogenous high-dose reduced folates cannot improve the therapeutic outcome produced by the fluoropyrimidine in these patients.

e15149Background: Despite standard preoperative pelvic chemoradiation (CRT) and optimal surgery with total mesorectal excision (TME) leading to local recurrence rates below 5% in locally advanced r...

Background Our recent findings in vitro in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT-8 suggest that resistance to fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer might be overcome by use of a different treatment schedule. Purpose We tested the hypothesis that HCT-8 cells resistant to short-term 5-FU exposure retain sensitivity to continuous exposure and studied interactions between the two schedules. Methods HCT-8 cell lines resistant to short-term (pulse) treatment with 5-FU or to continuous exposure were obtained by six exposures to different concentrations of 5-FU for 4 hours or 7 days. We used a monolayer clonogenic assay to determine 5-FU-induced cell kill in resistant HCT-8 cells and sensitive parent cells. Parent cells were exposed to different concentrations of 5-FU for 1, 4, or 24 hours (short term), for 7 days (continuous exposure), or in a combination of both types of schedules. In a study of the mechanism of interaction between short-term and continuous exposure in parent cells, we performed flow cytometric DNA analysis to determine the percentage of cells in S phase and assays of thymidylate synthase inhibition in intact cells and of incorporation of [6-3H)]5-FU nucleotides into nucleic acids. Results Sensitive HCT-8 cells became fully resistant to 5-FU within five or six treatments, and low-dose continuous exposure almost immediately produced resistant clones. HCT-8 cells resistant to 5-FU given every 4 hours retained full sensitivity to continuous exposure, suggesting lack of cross-resistance between the two schedules, but cells resistant to continuous exposure were cross-resistant to short-term treatment. Parent cells showed a statistically significant (synergistic) enhancement of the cytotoxic activity for 5-FU exposure for 1 hour (100, 300, or 500 microM) followed by continuous exposure (0.5, 1, or 2 microM) or 4 hours (10, 30, or 60 microM) followed by continuous exposure (1 or 2 microM). Short-term plus continuous exposure produced a marked increase in percentage of S-phase cells, compared with the percentage for each schedule alone. The combination of 1-hour exposure and continuous exposure (1000 and 2 microM, respectively) produced a marked accumulation of cells in S phase at 24 hours (59%), which lasted up to 96 hours (53%). The combination of the two schedules produced only additive enhancement of thymidylate synthase inhibition as well as incorporation of [6-3H]5-FU nucleotides into nucleic acids of HCT-8 cells. Conclusions Our findings provide a rationale for the use of bolus 5-FU and continuous infusion 5-FU in sequence. Implication We are conducting a clinical trial of bolus methotrexate followed by continuous-infusion 5-FU plus leucovorin.

Within three repeated 7-day incubation periods with either methotrexate (MTX) or trimetrexate (TMTX), human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) developed high levels of resistance to these drugs, as evidenced by approximately 20- and 50-fold increases, respectively, in the median effective doses. Similarly, within six short-term exposures (4 hours) to the same drugs, a high degree of resistance developed in the cells. Alternating 4-hour treatment cycles with MTX and TMTX did not delay the onset of resistance to these antimetabolites in the HCT-8 cells. The same strategy produced no better results than giving either MTX or TMTX alone to (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 mice bearing murine leukemia P388 cells. Furthermore, HCT-8 cells resistant to short-term (4-hour) exposure to MTX were cross-resistant to the same drug given for 7 days continuously, and cells resistant to MTX given continuously for 7 days were cross-resistant to the same drug given for 4 hours. Analogous results were obtained with TMTX, indicating that, under these circumstances, changing the schedule of administration of the same agent does not overcome resistance to it. The clinical relevance of these data to prolonged adjuvant chemotherapy, as well as loco-regional and continuous-infusion chemotherapy, is discussed.

e14502 Background: The treatment with fluoropyrimidines and concomitant RT is the standard care inLARC preoperative chemoradiation. The aim of RaP/STAR-03 study is to evaluate the activity and safe...

Purpose To determine whether deleted in colon cancer (DCC) protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases could predict outcome to palliative fluorouracil (FU)-based chemotherapy and to assess whether it is similar to that observed in the corresponding primary tumors. Patients and Methods DCC protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on archival specimens of CRC metastases from 42 patients homogeneously treated by methotrexate-modulated bolus FU alternated to 6-S-leucovorin–modulated infused FU and was retrospectively correlated with patient characteristics and clinical outcome. In a subset analysis, DCC immunoreactivity was compared between metastatic CRC and the corresponding primary tumors and regional lymph node metastases. Results Positive immunoreactivity for DCC was found in 45% of patients. Eighteen (78%) of 23 patients for whom multiple samples were available displayed a similar pattern of expression in distant metastases and primary tumors. The median survival time was 14.3 months in patients without DCC expression and 21.4 months in patients with DCC-positive tumors (log-rank test, P = .04); the 2-year survival rates were 8.5% and 42.5%, respectively. Response rates to chemotherapy were not significantly different between the two groups. By multivariate analysis, DCC protein expression maintained its prognostic value and showed to be the single best predictor of survival, with a relative risk of 2.16. Conclusion Our results indicate that expression of the DCC protein in CRC metastases is similar to that observed in the corresponding primary tumors and represents a dominant predictor of survival in patients with unresectable, advanced CRC who are undergoing palliative FU-based chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether immunohistochemical thymidylate synthase (TS) quantitation predicts for clinical outcome in patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated by fluorouracil (FUra)-based chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TS levels were measured immunohistochemically on archival specimens of colorectal cancer metastases from 48 patients homogenously treated by bolus FUra plus methotrexate alternating with continuous-infusion FUra plus leucovorin. These measurements were retrospectively correlated with patient characteristics and clinical outcome. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between intratumoral TS expression and all the parameters of clinical outcome analyzed. In patients whose tumors had low (n = 27) and high (n = 21) TS levels, the overall response rates were 67% and 24%, respectively (P = .003). The percentage of tumor shrinkage after chemotherapy was linearly related to TS immunoreactivity (r = .56, P = .00004), and its mean values were 65% and 14% with low and high TS levels, respectively (P = .0001). By logistic regression analysis, low TS expression was the single best predictor of response to chemotherapy (relative probability, 5.0). In patients with low and high TS expression, the median time to progression was 9.6 months v 6.2 months (P = .005) and the median survival time 18.4 months v 15.4 months (P = .02), respectively. Two- and 3-year survival rates were 41% v 15% and 19% v 0% (P = .02), respectively. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of homogenously treated patients, intratumor TS content was a major predictor of clinical outcome. Immunohistochemical TS quantitation provides a convenient, low-cost technique for identifying patients unresponsive to TS inhibitors who may be candidates for alternative chemotherapy regimens.

compared with 16% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 events. This might depend on differences in drug and RT scheduling. The interval between OXA administration and delivery of RT prescribed in CALGB 89901 might have resulted in more effective RT sensitization and, therefore, toxicity. However, the similar antitumor activity observed between the two studies argues against this explanation. Similarly, although the shortened duration of OXA infusion in the US study (1 hour) might theoretically affect toxicity, a selective effect on gastrointestinal toxicity is unlikely. Neurotoxicity rates were in fact slightly higher in our study (grade 1-2, 80% v66%). This difference may have other explanations. While patients in our study were accrued and treated at a single institution, patientsintheUSstudywererecruitedatseveralcenters.Different toxicity grading systems may have also been used. While in our study toxicity was scored according to the Nation Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria version 2, the scoring system used in theUStrialwasnotspecified.Despitethehigherincidenceofgrade

e17533 Background: Detection of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) levels in serum has been proposed to help the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In this study we evaluated the SMRP levels in pleural effusions of MPM (MPM-PE), the clinical importance and usefulness of SMRP detection in MPM-PE and whether it can have an additional value to cytological analysis (Cyt). Methods: We studied 52 MPM-PE, 129 benign PE (B-PE) and 94 non-MPM pleural metastasis PE (Mts-PE). In all PE samples, both cytology and SMRP detection were performed. SMRP levels were estimated by means of the MesoMark ELISA kit (Fujirebio Diagnostic, Malvern, PA). Diagnostic performance parameters were estimated through the ROC analysis, Youden's index was applied to obtain the best cut-off level and the degree of correlation was estimated by Diagnostic Odds Ratio (DOR) and by P-value (P) with Chi-square test. Results: The median SMRP levels were significantly higher in MPM-PE (28.2 nM) than in B-PE (3.2 nM) or Mts-PE (3.8 nM). MPM-PE vs B-PE yielded an AUC of 84.5 (P

Between February 1991 and July 1992, 79 previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were enrolled in a phase II study of combined 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and l-folinic acid (FA). 5-FU 370 mg/m2/day was administered for 5 consecutive days as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection preceded by l-FA 100 mg/m2/day with the same administration modality. Treatment was given every 4 weeks until progression. 79 patients were evaluable for toxicity and 64 for response. 2 patients (3%) achieved a complete remission and 8 (12.5%) a partial remission, 33 (52%) had stable disease and 21 patients (33%) had progressive disease. Median duration of remission was 32.5 weeks and median survival for all evaluable patients was 64.5 weeks. Substantial to severe side-effects occurred in 39% of patients. Dose-limiting toxicity (grade 3-4) was mainly diarrhoea (18%) and mucositis (15%). Nausea/vomiting, cutaneous toxicity, leucopenia, alopecia and conjunctivitis of grade 3-4 occurred respectively in 6, 4, 2.5, 1 and 1% of cases. Toxicity appeared to be substantially similar to that characteristic of combined 5-FU and the chiral mixture of d,l-FA. Efficacy was within the range of that observed with the 5-FU/d,l-FA combination, although at the lower level.

We have recently demonstrated that continuous-infusion (CI) 5-fluorouracil (FU) eradicates human colon carcinoma cells made resistant to bolus FU in vitro. In addition, in the same experimental system, the mechanisms of resistance to pulse and CI FU were found to be different. These observations led us to test the clinical activity of a standard regimen of CI FU (300 mg/m2 per day) in a cohort of 15 patients with advanced measurable colorectal cancer who were in progression after having failed to respond to bolus treatment with FU alone (3 patients) or FU combined with high-dose 6-S-leucovorin (LV) (12 patients). The median age of the patients was 68 years, and their median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) was 1. No myelotoxicity was observed. Mild diarrhea, mucositis, and vomiting occurred in 32%, 26%, and 19% of the patients, respectively, with no WHO grade 3 or 4 episodes being noted. In all, 6 of 15 patients complained of hand-foot syndrome, which was severe in 2 instances, lasting approximately 1 week. Overall, 1 partial response and 6 instances of disease stabilization, including 3 minor responses, were obtained both in patients who had been pretreated with pulse FU alone and in patients who had failed first-line treatment with FU + LV. Finally, 8 patients failed CI FU. In conclusion, these results, obtained in patients who were clearly progressing after having failed first-line treatment, support our experimental finding that resistance to bolus FU may be overcome by CI FU and extend this possibility to patients who are resistant to bolus treatment with FU + LV.

BIOCHEMICAL MODULATION of Muorouracil by leucovorin, methotrexate, N-phosphonacetyl-r.-aspartate (PALA) or interferon [l], is a current area of interest in clinical research in advanced colorectal cancer. However, randomised studies have shown little, if any, survival advantage over S-fluorouracil given alone in most instances [2]. New drugs are clearly needed. Fotemustine (FOTE) is a new nitrosourea that has demonstrated some activity in phase 2 studies against colorectal cancer [3], melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and brain tumours [4,5]. Preclinical experiments demonstrate that the main mechanism of resistance to this class of alkylating agents is the efficient DNA repair mechanism mediated by the enzyme 06-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ATase) [6]. In experimental tumour systems resistance to nitrosoureas may be temporarily reversed by inactivating ATase. This can be accomplished by the administration of a methylating agent such as dacarbazine (DTIC) [7]. We have transferred this concept to the clinic and tested the sequential combination of DTIC (500 mg/m2 intravenous bolus) followed 2 h later by FOTE (100 mg/m2 in 150 cc of 5% isotonic glucose solution) in patients with advanced measurable colorectal cancer. The cycle was repeated after 4 weeks if toxicity allowed and if no progression was observed. The study was designed according to Simon’s two-stage optimal design [8]. PO and Pi were set at 20% and 40%, respectively. Setting alpha error at 0.05 and beta error at 0.20, the combination had to be rejected for untreated patients if three or fewer responses were observed among the first 13 patients or if 12 or fewer responses were observed in 43 patients. Standard WHO criteria were used to assess response and toxicity. The patients’ characteristics are shown in Table 1. A total of 30 cycles were administered (median 2). Thrombocytopenia was the most prominent toxicity, with 26% of patients suffering from WHO grade 3-4, while 1 patient only had leukopenia grade 3. Other toxicities were very mild, including nausea and vomiting that was well controlled by ondansetron. Interestingly, the only patient who did not receive the serotonin antagonist suffered from grade 3 vomiting. No partial or complete responses were observed in the first 13 previously untreated patients and the study was terminated. 6 stable disease and 7 failures were observed among these patients. No response was also obtained in an additional 6 patients who failed prior chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (3 stable disease and 3 failures). These data indicate the lack of activity of this

8234 Background: Cancer patients with moderate-severe pain often require opioid analgesics. Methods: From October 2002 to November 2003, 62 outpatients underwent transdermal treatment with Fentanyl (TDF). All pts had been previously treated with other drugs according to the WHO analgesic scale. Pts characteristics: median age 64 years (range 44–84), M/F 29/33, median ECOG PS 0 (range 0–2). Primary tumors: 24 breast, 8 lung, 9 colorectal, 7 pancreas, 7 prostate, 7 others. Somatic pain was reported in 35/62 pts (56%), visceral pain in 12/62 pts (19%), 15/62 pts (24%) showed both types, with neuropatic features in 10%. Breakthrough pain was present in 24/62 pts (38%) requiring rescue medication. 47/62 pts (75%) received palliative chemo-radiotherapy. All pts were evaluated weekly with VAS (Visual Analogic Scale) and TIQ (Therapy Impact Questionnaire). A Geriatric Assessment with CIRS (Comorbility Index), ADL and IADL was performed for pts aged over 65 years (23/62; 37%) at the beginning of treatment and afte...

3637 Background: We have recently demonstrated that OXA, given weekly at the dose of 60 mg/m2, may be safely combined with infusional FU and preoperative pelvic RT for LARC resulting in rates of pathological complete responses (pCR's) approaching 30 %. Replacing infusional FU with an oral fluoropyrimidine might reduce the inconvenience and some of the potential complications of this regimen. Methods: Since June 2002, 15 patients (10 males, 5 females; median age 63, range 33–75 years) with LARC (cT3-T4 and/or N+; one patient also had a potentially resectable liver metastasis) were thus accrued in a phase I study aimed at defining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of UFT (200–250-300–350 mg/m2/day, monday through friday for all the duration of RT) combined with weekly OXA (60 mg/m2) and standard pelvic RT (50.4 Gy - 28 fractions). Oral LV (90 mg/day, fixed dose) was administered with the same schedule as UFT. Results: No grade III-IV toxicity was observed at the first dose level (n=4; UFT 200 mg/m2/day). At ...

3577 Background: Sequential combinations of FU and IRI or OXA are currently used as 1st and 2nd line therapy for advanced CRC. Multiple trials are also investigating the concomitant use of the thre...

We have recently demonstrated that bolus FUra treatments of human colon carcinoma cells, HCT-8, produce resistance via an RNA-related mechanism, while prolonged exposures to the fluoropyrimidine is responsible for a DNA-related mechanism of resistance. In addition, cells resistant to short term FUra exposure retain full sensitivity to the continuous exposure to the same agent. These data suggest that biochemical modulation of FUra should take into account the schedule of fluoropyrimidine administration. Based on this rationale, we completed a phase 2 trial of schedule-oriented biochemical modulation of FUra in advanced colorectal cancer patients, based upon a hybrid regimen of 2 biweekly-cycles of FUra bolus (600 mg/sqm), preceeded by (24 h interval) MTX, 200 mg/sqm (in order to maximize the RNA effect of the drug) alternating with FUra continuous infusion, 200 mg/sqm daily for 3 weeks, modulated by leucovorin, 20 mg/sqm weekly bolus (in order to maximize the DNA effect). Among the 33 consecutive patients accrued there were 3 CR and 13 PR (RR = 48%, 95% CL, 31–66%). Eleven patients had a minor response and 4 of them showed tumor shrinkage ranging between 46% and 49%. After a median follow-up time of 26 months, 10 patients are still alive. The median PFS and overall S were 9.6 and 20.2 months, respectively. The low toxicity of the bolus part of our regimen prompted us to pursue its intensification by adding a further modulator to MTX. Our recent finding of a strong synergism between bolus FUra and IFN, obtained in vitro on the same tumor model, generated a phase 2 trial employing the same regimen plus IFN (3,000,000 U im q12 h × 4, starting at the time of FUra bolus administration). Among 42 patients 4 CR, 15 PR (RR = 45%), 6 MR and 10 SD were obtained. Since the results of the two trials are similar showing twice as much activity and less toxicity than bolus FUra + LV or MTX → FUra, a randomized comparison is now ongoing between our original hybrid regimen without IFN and MTX → FUra.

Recently, we have demonstrated that thymidylate synthase (TS) protein expression predicts for the clinical response to a regimen of infusional 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in advanced colorectal cancer patients. Previous studies by other groups that showed a correlation between TS gene expression and response to the fluoropyrimidine also involved infusional regimens. Considering the putatively different mechanism of action of bolus compared with continuous infusion of 5FU, the aim of the present study was to test whether the correlation between TS expression and the clinical response to 5FU is valid for bolus regimens. A secondary aim was to compare TS levels between liver metastases and abdominal recurrences from colon cancer, because these sites have a distinctly different responsiveness to 5FU chemotherapy. The study population consisted of 41 patients (25 males and 16 females; median age, 60 years) with unresectable metastatic or recurrent colon cancer, homogeneously treated with 5FU (420 mg/m 2 i.v., days 1–5) and leucovorin (20 mg/m 2 i.v., days 1–5); cycles were repeated every 28 days. Twenty-seven patients (66%) showed high levels of TS expression as defined by TS scores equal to 3 and 4. The proportion of cases with high levels of TS expression was significantly higher in abdominal recurrences (18 of 22, 82%) compared with liver metastases (9 of 19, 47%; P = 0.02). Intratumoral TS protein expression was inversely correlated with response to chemotherapy (response rate: 7 of 14, 50%, versus 0 of 27 in patients with low and high levels of TS expression, respectively; P = 0.0001). These results confirm that the level of TS protein expression predicts for response to 5FU, even with a bolus schedule. The higher TS levels observed in abdominal compared with liver metastases may account for their different responsiveness to 5FU chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical quantitation of TS protein levels may thus allow us to change the therapeutic approach to advanced colorectal cancer from a general to an individual treatment strategy at a time when new non TS-targeted drugs have become available for this disease.

4040 Introduction: Oxaliplatin (OXA) significantly enhances the efficacy of 5-Fluorouracil (FU)-based chemotherapy (CT) in metastatic and radically resected, early stage colon cancer. Weekly OXA, at systemically active doses, can be added to preoperative FU-based pelvic chemoradiation (CRT) (Aschele, Ann Oncol 2005). Methods: An open-label, multicenter, randomized, phase III trial was launched to compare the efficacy (disease-free and overall survival) and activity (pathological response rate) of infused FU (225 mg/msq/day) concomitant to external-beam pelvic radiation (50.4 Gy in 28 daily fractions) (Arm A) to that of the same regimen plus weekly OXA (60 mg/msq weekly x 6) (Arm B). TME surgery is scheduled 6–8 weeks after completing CRT. FU-based adjuvant CT (4 cycles) is planned in both arms. Eligible patients (pts) have resectable tumors located within 12 cm from the anal verge and radiological evidence of perirectal fat or regional nodes involvement. Results: 410 pts (median age 63 years; males/females: 66/34 %; cT3/cT4: 66/18 %; cN+: 56 %; median distance from the anal verge: 6 cm) were randomized between 11/2003 and 10/2006 at 40 Italian centers. Toxicity data from the first 250 randomized pts are reported in the table . CRT was completed by 89 % and 74 % of pts in arm A and B, respectively. The median cumulative dose of delivered radiotherapy was 50.4 Gy in both arms. 120 of 123 pts in arm A and 109 of 112 pts in arm B were operated with a median interval from the end of treatment to surgery of 7.3 and 7.4 weeks, respectively. Conclusions: This analysis provides the first comparative toxicity data showing that OXA, at systemically active doses, can be safely added to standard FU-based CRT with an increased frequency and severity of acute toxicity but without major unexpected adverse events and without affecting the ability to deliver full RT doses and to perform surgery. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

3770 Background: A combination of OXA and FU is frequently used as 1st or 2nd line therapy for advanced CRC. Anyway, the optimal schedule for this drugs has not been defined. Methods: To identify the MTD of weekly OXA (60–70-80–90 mg/m2 d1,8,15) in combination with a fixed dose of FU CI (200mg/m2/die d1–21), at least 3 pts were treated at each dose level. Once identified the OXA recommended dose level (RDL), Leucovorin (LV; 20 mg/m2 d1,8,15) was added to the combination. Results: Since April 2000, 39 pts with progressive advanced CRC previously treated with fluoropyrimidines and Irinotecan (IRI) were accrued (males/females: 29/10; median age 67; ECOG PS 0/1/2: 10/24/5). Considering the first 2 cycles of treatment (2 months) no grade III-IV toxicity was observed up to 90 mg/m2/week of OXA (dose level 4). 3/6 pts treated at dose level 4 required a major change in the treatment program due to a dose limiting toxicity (DLT; asthenia, weight loss and unbearable peripheral sensory neuropathy) and OXA 90 mg/m2 +...