Clin Cancer Res
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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) is standard therapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer and is increasingly used for early-stage operable disease. The aim of NC is a pathological complete response (pCR) in the breast and axillary lymph nodes, which is the best predictor of improved outcome and prolonged survival. The taxanes docetaxel and paclitaxel are potent agents in breast cancer management, with promising single-agent activity and acceptable tolerability in the neoadjuvant setting. ⋯ Recently, the Phase III National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) trial B27 trial (n = 2411) showed that sequential docetaxel after doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide significantly increased both clinical and pathological response rates for operable breast cancer, with the benefit evident in both estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative patients. This apparent superiority of a sequential anthracycline-taxane regimen is limited to docetaxel, with no similar Phase III trials of paclitaxel versus a non-taxane-based comparator having been conducted to date. In conclusion, current evidence supports the inclusion of a taxane in NC schedules for patients with large and locally advanced breast cancer.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Durable carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in colorectal carcinoma patients vaccinated with recombinant CEA and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
Previous studies have indicated that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) might be a suitable immunotherapeutic target in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The aim of the present study was to analyze the immunological and clinical effects of vaccination with CEA together with the adjuvant granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). ⋯ Vaccination with recombinant CEA and GM-CSF appears to be a nontoxic regimen inducing potent and durable antigen-specific IgG and T-cell response. The results of this study justify more extensive trials with recombinant CEA protein for immunotherapy of CRC.
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This Phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose, profile of adverse events, and dose-limiting toxicity of AP5280 in patients with solid tumors. Furthermore, the platinum (Pt) pharmacokinetics after AP5280 administration and preliminary antitumor activity were evaluated. AP5280 is a Pt agent linked to the water-soluble, biocompatible copolymer N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide, which potentially increases Pt accumulation in tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention effect. In this way, it is anticipated that a higher activity of therapeutic Pt can be reached. The pharmaceutical product contains approximately 8.5% of Pt by weight and has a molecular weight of approximately 25,000. ⋯ AP5280 can be administered safely as a 1-h i.v. infusion at a dose of 3300 mg Pt/m(2) once every 3 weeks and produces prolonged plasma exposure compared with any of the free Pt-containing drugs. However, it remains to be determined whether AP5280 can actually increase Pt delivery to the DNA of tumor cells in man as has been shown in experimental models.
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Clinical Trial
Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of irofulven administered weekly or biweekly in advanced solid tumor patients.
We performed a Phase I and pharmacokinetic study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of irofulven (6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene; MGI-114, MGI PHARMA, Inc.), administered in intermittent weekly schedules in patients with advanced solid tumors. ⋯ We recommend doses of 18 mg/m(2)/infusion for schedule B and 24 mg/m(2)/infusion for schedule C, limited to 0.55 mg/kg and a total dose of 50 mg/infusion, administered over 30-min.
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Comparative Study
BRCA mutations and risk of prostate cancer in Ashkenazi Jews.
The Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium and other family-based ascertainments have suggested that male carriers of BRCA mutations are at increased risk of prostate cancer. Several series looking at the frequency of BRCA mutations in unselected patients with prostate cancer have not confirmed this finding. To clarify this issue, we conducted a large case-control study. ⋯ BRCA2 mutations are more likely to be found in unselected individuals with prostate cancer than age-matched controls. These results support the hypothesis that deleterious mutations in BRCA2 are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.