Two recent studies (ABC-02 UK and BT22 Japan) have demonstrated the superiority of cisplatin and gemcitabine (CisGem) chemotherapy over gemcitabine (Gem) alone for patients with pathologically proven ...advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC: cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder and ampullary cancers). This pre-planned analysis evaluates the efficacy of CisGem with increased statistical power.
We carried out a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data of these studies to establish the effect of CisGem versus Gem on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and carried out exploratory subgroup analyses.
CisGem demonstrates a significant improvement in PFS hazard ratio (HR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53–0.76, P < 0.001 and OS (HR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.54–0.78, P < 0.001) over Gem. This effect is most marked among patients with good performance status (PS 0–1): HR for PFS is 0.61 (95% CI 0.51–0.74), P < 0.001 and OS HR = 0.64 (95% CI 0.53–0.77), P < 0.001. CisGem resulted in improved PFS and OS for intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancer. The treatment effect between UK and Japanese patients was consistent with respect to OS (HR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.53–0.79 and 0.65, 95% CI 0.42–1.03, respectively); with similar OS in the combination arms (median 11.7 and 11.1 months, respectively). Subgroups least likely to benefit included patients with ampullary tumours and poor performance status (PS2).
CisGem is the standard of care for the first-line treatment of good-PS patients with advanced BTC regardless of ethnicity. Future studies should aim to enhance the effectiveness of this regimen in the first-line setting, establish the role of subsequent (second-line) therapy and assess the role of rationally developed molecular-targeted therapies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations for managing cancer of unknown primary (CUP).•The guideline covers CUP diagnosis, risk assessment, classification, treatment and ...follow-up.•Differential diagnostic algorithms for discrimination between CUP and other cancers are provided.•The author group includes multidisciplinary experts from different institutions in Europe, Australia and the United States.•Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the authors’ collective expert opinion.•In clinical practice, all recommendations provided need to be discussed with patients in a shared decision-making approach.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in Western countries. Over the last 20 years, and the last decade in particular, the clinical outcome for patients with metastatic CRC ...(mCRC) has improved greatly due not only to an increase in the number of patients being referred for and undergoing surgical resection of their localised metastatic disease but also to a more strategic approach to the delivery of systemic therapy and an expansion in the use of ablative techniques. This reflects the increase in the number of patients that are being managed within a multidisciplinary team environment and specialist cancer centres, and the emergence over the same time period not only of improved imaging techniques but also prognostic and predictive molecular markers. Treatment decisions for patients with mCRC must be evidence-based. Thus, these ESMO consensus guidelines have been developed based on the current available evidence to provide a series of evidence-based recommendations to assist in the treatment and management of patients with mCRC in this rapidly evolving treatment setting.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Biliary tract cancer is an uncommon cancer with a poor outcome. We assembled data from the National Cancer Research Institute (UK) ABC-02 study and 10 international studies to determine prognostic ...outcome characteristics for patients with advanced disease.
Multivariable analyses of the final dataset from the ABC-02 study were carried out. All variables were simultaneously included in a Cox proportional hazards model, and backward elimination was used to produce the final model (using a significance level of 10%), in which the selected variables were associated independently with outcome. This score was validated externally by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis using the independent international dataset.
A total of 410 patients were included from the ABC-02 study and 753 from the international dataset. An overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) Cox model was derived from the ABC-02 study. White blood cells, haemoglobin, disease status, bilirubin, neutrophils, gender, and performance status were considered prognostic for survival (all with P < 0.10). Patients with metastatic disease {hazard ratio (HR) 1.56 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20–2.02} and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 2 had worse survival HR 2.24 (95% CI 1.53–3.28). In a dataset restricted to patients who received cisplatin and gemcitabine with ECOG PS 0 and 1, only haemoglobin, disease status, bilirubin, and neutrophils were associated with PFS and OS. ROC analysis suggested the models generated from the ABC-02 study had a limited prognostic value 6-month PFS: area under the curve (AUC) 62% (95% CI 57–68); 1-year OS: AUC 64% (95% CI 58–69).
These data propose a set of prognostic criteria for outcome in advanced biliary tract cancer derived from the ABC-02 study that are validated in an international dataset. Although these findings establish the benchmark for the prognostic evaluation of patients with ABC and confirm the value of longheld clinical observations, the ability of the model to correctly predict prognosis is limited and needs to be improved through identification of additional clinical and molecular markers.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The superiority of cisplatin and gemcitabine (CisGem) chemotherapy over gemcitabine (Gem) alone in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (ABC) has been demonstrated in two randomised trials; ...ABC02 and the Biliary Tract (BT) 22 study. We used a combined dataset from these two trials to investigate the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), which is thought to be a prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes in several solid tumours, including ABC.
White blood cell (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) were available for 379 of 410 patients from ABC-02 and all 83 patients in BT-22. The dNLR was calculated as ANC/(WBC-ANC), as previously specified. We examined the association between dNLR and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), as well as comparing the treatment effect in two patient groups defined by their dNLR level. A high dNLR was defined as ≥3.0, which was approximately the upper tertile value.
A total of 462 individual patient records were analysed, 328 with baseline dNLR <3 and 134 with dNLR ≥3. There were 443 deaths in the cohort, and all surviving patients had a dNLR <3. There was strong evidence that dNLR was closely associated with both OS hazard ratio (HR), 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–2.01 and PFS (HR, 1.40; 95% CI 1.13–1.72). There was limited evidence (P = 0.10) of a differential effect of CisGem on OS between the two dNLR groups, but this was clearest in the ABC-02 dataset (P = 0.06). There was good evidence (P = 0.008) of an association between low baseline dNLR and long-term survival on a CisGem regimen. There was also good evidence of an association between ECOG performance status (split at 0 and 1 versus 2) on both OS (P < 0.001) and PFS (P = 0.01), but no evidence of a differential treatment effect, with both groups receiving benefit from the addition of cisplatin.
These data confirm that high dNLR is associated with worse OS and PFS, and suggests it may also be predictive of benefit for the addition of cisplatin to gemcitabine in European patients with ABC. Incorporating dNLR into the clinical context may better inform prognosis and chemotherapy decisions in ABC patients.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A study of monopole antenna for super-wideband applications is presented. A compact patch antenna is suggested to enhance the overall covered bandwidth (BW), where a major improvement of the BW ...obtained in the range 2.6–23 GHz (BW of 20.4 GHz). Also, by creating slots in the patch and in the feed line; three band-notches are created to reject different narrowband applications. The different antenna parameters are studied using a high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS). The measured data of the fabricated antenna shows good agreement with the simulated results with a slight shift at the lower and upper edges of the frequency range. A transmission line model of the proposed antenna is presented based on the effect of each element on the antenna behaviour. Advanced design system is used to construct and optimise the equivalent circuit model of the designed antenna. Results of the antenna behaviour obtained using the resistor–inductor–capacitor model compare favourably with the simulated results obtained using the HFSS both in the pass and rejection bands, with a small error at high frequencies.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
We designed an open-label, noncomparative phase II study to assess the safety and efficacy of first-line treatment with trifluridine/tipiracil plus bevacizumab (TT–B) and capecitabine plus ...bevacizumab (C–B) in untreated patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were not candidates for combination with cytotoxic chemotherapies.
From 29 April 2016 to 29 March 2017, 153 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either TT–B (N = 77) or C–B (N = 76). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). The primary PFS analysis was performed after 100 events (radiological progression or death) were observed. Secondary end points included overall survival (OS), quality of life (QoL; QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires), and safety.
Median (range) duration of treatment was 7.8 (6.0–9.7) months and 6.2 (4.1–9.1) months in the TT–B and C–B groups, respectively. Median (range) PFS was 9.2 (7.6–11.6) and 7.8 (5.5–10.1) months, respectively. Median (range) OS was 18 (15.2 to NA) and 16.2 (12.5 to NA) months, respectively. QoL questionnaires showed no relevant changes over time for either treatment. Therapies were well tolerated. Patients receiving TT–B had more grade ≥3 neutropenia (47% versus 5% with C–B). Patients receiving C–B had more grade ≥3 hand–foot syndrome (12% versus 0% with TT–B) and grade ≥3 diarrhea (8% versus 1% with TT–B), consistent with the known safety profiles of these agents.
TT–B treatment showed promising clinical activity in untreated patients with unresectable mCRC ineligible for intensive therapy, with an acceptable safety profile and no clinically relevant changes in QoL.
NCT02743221 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
•More effective treatment options are needed in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.•Trifluridin/tipiracil in monotherapy and in combination is an effective and well-tolerated option in mCRC.•Trifluridin/tipiracil plus bevacizumab is active and safe for patients with mCRC ineligible for first-line combination chemotherapy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
The mixed compound zinc sulfide (ZnS/rGO) nanoparticles were synthesized by the physical method laser ablation From there, the crystal structure and crystallite size of X-ray diffraction ...(XRD) particles were determined (D =8.35nm). The optical properties have also been studied by the visible ultraviolet absorption spectrum. Where the graphen oxide was prepared by a hummer method, after mixing it with zinc sulfide, and it was formed as a Nano composite by using the Neodymium-Yak laser (1064 nm) with the pulsed laser energy of 800 mJ and 600 pulse at a frequency of 6 Hertz in room temperature, thus generating an ionic plasma that contributed to the formation of nanoparticles. Several measurements were made on the sample, such as FTIR, to find out the constituents of the Nano composite and Energy gap is 4.942ev to calculate from UV-Visible by Tuac plot, also, determine the averge Green size (25.2nm) from XRD by using the Scherer equation, and to take SEM tests of the compound.
This paper explores the enigma of cancer of unknown primary (CUP) in relation to rapidly improving molecular diagnostic approaches. It is based on the first global collaboration meeting on improving ...research and clinical outcomes in CUP organized by the CUP Foundation. We review the difficulties of classifying this widely heterogeneous disease and the available diagnostic and pathological evaluative techniques, focusing on molecular profiling. Retrospective studies in CUP patients are shown to provide indirect validation of the accuracy of several platforms of gene expression profiling assays that may identify CUP subsets that respond favorably to active chemotherapy regimens. This review concludes that the recent major improvements in pathologic and molecular diagnostics, coupled with new improved therapies for several specific advanced solid tumors, need to be harmonized with more evidence from clinical–translational trials. All patients with CUP could thus be appropriately managed without the constant uncertainty that has previously severely hampered patient care and optimal outcomes. The longer-term objective is to understand the biology of highly metastatic disease, leading to the development of future global therapeutic programs. Current clinical studies, such as CUP-ONE, will address some of these issues.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Advances in surgery, peri-operative care and systemic chemotherapy have not significantly improved the prognosis of pancreatic cancer for several decades. Early clinical trials of immunotherapy have ...yielded disappointing results proposing other means by which the tumour microenvironment serves to decrease the immune response. Additionally, the emergence of various subtypes of pancreatic cancer has emerged as a factor for treatment responses with immunogenic subtypes carrying a better prognosis. Herein we discuss the reasons for the poor response to checkpoint inhibitors and outline a rationale why combination treatments are likely to be most effective. We review the therapies which could provide optimal synergistic effects to immunotherapy including chemotherapy, agents targeting the stroma, co-stimulatory molecules, vaccinations and methods of immunogenic tumour priming including radiofrequency ablation. Finally, we discuss reasons why peri-operative and in particular neoadjuvant combination treatments are likely to be most effective and should be considered for early clinical trials.
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EMUNI, FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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