The role of temporary ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHa) in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) is still controversial. ...Our meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) investigates whether the use of LHRHa during chemotherapy in premenopausal breast cancer patients reduces treatment-related POF rate, increases pregnancy rate, and impacts disease-free survival (DFS).
A literature search using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, and the proceedings of major conferences, was conducted up to 30 April 2015. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for POF (i.e. POF by study definition, and POF defined as amenorrhea 1 year after chemotherapy completion) and for patients with pregnancy, as well hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI for DFS, were calculated for each trial. Pooled analysis was carried out using the fixed- and random-effects models.
A total of 12 RCTs were eligible including 1231 breast cancer patients. The use of LHRHa was associated with a significant reduced risk of POF (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.23–0.57; P < 0.001), yet with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 47.1%, Pheterogeneity = 0.026). In eight studies reporting amenorrhea rates 1 year after chemotherapy completion, the addition of LHRHa reduced the risk of POF (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41–0.73, P < 0.001) without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.936). In five studies reporting pregnancies, more patients treated with LHRHa achieved pregnancy (33 versus 19 women; OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.02–3.28, P = 0.041; I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.629). In three studies reporting DFS, no difference was observed (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49–2.04, P = 0.939; I2 = 68.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.044).
Temporary ovarian suppression with LHRHa in young breast cancer patients is associated with a reduced risk of chemotherapy-induced POF and seems to increase the pregnancy rate, without an apparent negative consequence on prognosis.
Despite having revolutionized the treatment paradigm for advanced melanoma, not all patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. To date, there are no predictive biomarkers for response ...or the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors. Our aim was to investigate the predictive and prognostic role of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of genes involved in the PD-1 axis.
We analysed, in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab, five PD-1 SNVs, namely PD1.3 G>A (rs11568821), PD1.5 C>T (rs2227981), PD1.6 G>A (rs10204525), PD1.7 T>C(rs7421861), PD1.10 C>G (rs5582977) and three programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) SNVs: +8293 C>A (rs2890658), PD-L1 C>T (rs2297136) and PD-L1 G>C (rs4143815). Association of SNV genotypic frequencies with best overall response to PD-1 inhibitors and development of irAEs were estimated through a modified Poisson regression. A Cox regression modelling approach was applied to evaluate the SNV association with OS.
A total of 125 patients with advanced melanoma were included in the analysis. A reduction in irAEs risk was observed in patients carrying the PD-L1 +8293 C/A genotype compared with those carrying the C/C genotype (risk ratio = 0.45; 95% CL 0.22-0.93; P = 0.031). A trend for a reduction in irAEs was also observed with the PD1.5 T allele (risk ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence limits 0.48-1.01 versus C allele). None of the SNVs was associated with response to therapy. Finally, a survival benefit was observed in patients harbouring the PD1.7 C/C genotype (hazard ratio = 0.37; 95% confidence limits 0.14-0.96; P = 0.028) in the homozygous model.
Our study showed that PD-1.5 and PD-L1 +8293 SNVs may play a role as a predictive biomarker of development of irAEs to PD-1 inhibitors. PD1.7 SNV may also be associated with a reduction of the risk of death, although further translational research is needed to confirm these results.
•First analysis of predictive and prognostic role of PD-(L)1 SNVs in 125 advanced melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1.•PD-L1 +8293 C/A genotype and PD1.5 T allele associated with lower risk of irAEs.•Survival benefit observed in patients harbouring the PD1.7 C/C genotype.
Abstract Adjuvant trastuzumab (AT) dramatically improved HER2-positive breast cancer prognosis. Relapsed disease after AT has different patterns and information is available from observational ...studies. In this Review Chemotherapy regimens combined to anti-HER2 blockade are discussed, focusing in particular the role of anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine. The use of trastuzumab beyond progression and the role of other anti-HER2 agents like lapatinib, pertuzumab and T-DM1 are explored, as also dual blockade and in trastuzumab resistant Patients. Metastatic “de novo” HER2 Luminal (co-expression of HER2 and hormone receptors) Patients are eligible for anastrozole and trastuzumab but if pretreated with trastuzumab they are also eligible for lapatinib and letrozole. In any case endocrine treatment plays a complementary role to chemotherapy which remains pivotal. The last topic explored is treatment options for patients with brain metastases where both trastuzumab given concurrent with radiotherapy or lapatinib and capecitabine appear as potentially active.
A meta-analysis of trials of ESA use in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy was conducted. Nine studies were analyzed (ESAn = 2346; controln = 2367). The overall stratified ...random-effects odds ratio (95% CI) was 1.17 (0.99–1.39) for death and 1.01 (0.87–1.16) for disease progression-related end points. Odds ratios remain consistent with prior data after including recent results.
New data on erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) regarding overall survival and disease progression-related outcomes in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy are presented in a meta-analysis of controlled trials of ESA use (epoetin &agr;, epoetin &bgr;, darbepoetin &agr;, biosimilars).
A literature search identified reports from January 1997 through March 2014. We used company databases for Amgen, Inc., or Janssen studies and published data for other studies. Random-effects odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to compare results for patients randomized to ESA with those randomized to control.
Deaths were reported for 571 of 2346 patients (24%) in the ESA groups and 523 of 2367 patients (22%) in the control groups OR, 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.40. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the effects of individual studies and exclusion of one study (BEST) resulted in an OR for death of 1.12 (95% CI 0.94–1.34). In seven studies reporting progression-related end points (N = 4197; ESAn = 2088; controln = 2109), the OR was 1.01 (95% CI 0.87–1.16) for ESA compared with control.
After incorporating recent results of ESA use in patients with breast cancer, risks of survival and progression-free survival remain consistent with previously published data.
Abstract Background Although in clinical practice adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and endocrine therapy (ET) are administered sequentially in patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, the ...optimal timing, i.e. concurrent or sequential administration, of these treatments has been scarcely investigated. To better clarify this issue we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies comparing these two modalities of administrations in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Knowledge and the proceedings of the major conferences with no date restriction up to March 2016. The summary risk estimates (pooled hazard ratio HR and 95% confidence intervals CI) for DFS and OS were calculated using random effect models (DerSimonian and Laird method). Results A total of three randomized studies were eligible including 2021 breast cancer patients. Overall, 755 DFS events were observed, 365 in the sequential arm and 390 in the concomitant arm, with a pooled HR of 0.95 (95% CI = 0.76 to 1.18, P = 0.643). No association between timing of treatment and OS was observed (HR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.80 to 1.12, P = 0.529). Conclusion Our pooled analysis showed no association between the timing of administration of adjuvant CT and ET and DFS and OS in breast cancer patients candidates for both adjuvant treatments. Because of the small number of published trials, the lack of data on the timing with modern adjuvant treatments, i.e. taxane-containing CT and aromatase inhibitors, this topic remain still controversial and requires further studies to be clarified.