bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CNS Involvement in Children With Newly Diagnosed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Sandlund John T. , Murphy Sharon B. , Santana Victor M. , Behm Frederick , Jones Dana , Berard Costan W. , Furman Wayne L. , Ribeiro Raul , Crist William M. , Greenwald Carol , Chen Gang , Walter Andrew , Pui Ching-Hon 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of CNS involvement at diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), to characterize its pattern of presentation, and to determine its prognostic significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 445 children (1975 through 1995) diagnosed with NHL (small noncleaved cell NHL/B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia [SNCC NHL/B-ALL], 201 patients; lymphoblastic, 113; large cell, 119; other, 12). Tumor burden was estimated by serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement and reclassification of disease stage irrespective of CNS involvement (modified stage). RESULTS: Thirty-six of 445 children with newly diagnosed NHL had CNS involvement (lymphoma cells in the CSF [n = 23], cranial nerve palsy [n = 9], both features [n = 4]), representing 13%, 7%, and 1% of small noncleaved cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and large-cell cases, respectively. By univariate analysis, CNS disease at diagnosis did not significantly impact event-free survival (P = .095), whereas stage and LDH did; however, children with CNS disease at diagnosis were at 2.0 times greater risk of death than those without CNS disease at diagnosis. In a multivariate analysis, CNS disease was not significantly associated with either overall or event-free survival, whereas both serum LDH and stage influenced both overall and event-free survival. Among cases of SNCC NHL/B-ALL, CNS disease was significantly associated with event-free and overall survival (univariate analysis); however, in multivariate analysis, only LDH had independent prognostic significance. Elevated serum LDH or higher modified stage were associated with a trend toward poorer overall survival among children with CNS disease. CONCLUSION: A greater tumor burden at diagnosis adversely influences the treatment outcome of children with NHL and CNS disease at diagnosis, suggesting a need for ongoing improvement in both systemic and CNS-directed therapy.
Survival Benefit of High-Dose Therapy in Poor-Risk Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Final Analysis of the Prospective LNH87–2 Protocol—A Groupe d’Etude des Lymphomes de l’Adulte Study
Authors: Haioun Corinne , Lepage Eric , Gisselbrecht Christian , Salles Gilles , Coiffier Bertrand , Brice Pauline , Bosly André , Morel Pierre , Nouvel Christiane , Tilly Hervé , Lederlin Pierre , Sebban Catherine , Brière Josette , Gaulard Philippe , Reyes Félix 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To present the final analysis, with a median follow-up of 8 years, of the LNH87–2 randomized study, which compares consolidative sequential chemotherapy (ifosfamide plus etoposide, asparaginase, and cytarabine) with high-dose therapy (HDT) using cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide (CBV regimen) followed by stem-cell transplantation in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in first complete remission after induction, focusing on high/intermediate- and high-risk patients identified by the age-adjusted international prognostic index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 916 eligible patients, 451 presented with two (n = 318) or three (n = 133) risk factors. After reaching complete remission to induction therapy, 236 of these higher risk patients were assessable for the consolidation phase, with 125 patients in the HDT arm and 111 in the sequential chemotherapy arm. RESULTS: Among these 451 higher risk patients, 277 (61%) achieved complete remission after induction treatment. In the population of 236 randomized patients, HDT was superior to sequential chemotherapy, with 8-year disease-free survival rates of 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46% to 64%) and 39% (95% CI, 30% to 48%), respectively (P = .02; relative risk, 1.56). The 8-year survival rate was significantly superior in the HDT arm (64%; 95% CI, 55% to 73%) compared with the sequential chemotherapy arm (49%; 95% CI, 39% to 59%) (P = .04; relative risk, 1.51). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the final analysis of this prospectively treated series of patients, retrospectively analyzed on the basis of the International Prognostic Index, we hypothesize that HDT benefits patients at higher risk who achieve complete remission after induction treatment.
Donor Lymphocyte Infusions for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma After Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation: Predictive Factors for Response and Long-Term Outcome
Authors: Lokhorst H.M. , Schattenberg A. , Cornelissen J.J. , van Oers M.H. J. , Fibbe W. , Russell I. , Donk N.W. C. J. v. d. , Verdonck L.F. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy, toxicity, and long-term outcome and prognostic factors of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (AlloSCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients received 52 DLI courses at a median of 30 months after the previous AlloSCT. Reinduction therapy was administered to 13 patients before DLI. RESULTS: Reinduction therapy was successful in eight of 13 patients. Fourteen patients (52%) responded to DLI, including six patients (22%) who achieved a complete remission (CR). Five patients responded after T-cell dose escalation in subsequent DLIs. Four patients experienced relapse or disease progression (three from partial response and one from CR). Five patients remain in remission more than 30 months after DLI. Major toxicity was acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which was present in 55% and 26% of patients, respectively. Two patients died from bone marrow aplasia. Median overall survival of all patients was 18 months. Overall survival was 11 months for DLI-resistant patients and has not been reached for the responding patients. In two patients, sustained molecular remission was observed. The factors that were correlated with response to DLI were a T-cell dose of more than 1.108 cells/kg, response to reinduction therapy, and chemotherapy-sensitive disease before AlloSCT. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the potential and durable graft-versus-myeloma effect of DLI in patients with relapsed MM after AlloSCT. Future studies should be aimed at increasing response rates, especially in patients with chemoresistant disease, and reducing toxicity by limiting GVHD. Adjuvant DLI seems an attractive and promising approach for patients who do not achieve a molecular remission after AlloSCT.
Exploratory Phase III Study of Paclitaxel and Cisplatin Versus Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Neijt Jan P. , Engelholm Svend A. , Tuxen Malgorzata K. , Sørensen Peter G. , Hansen Mogens , Sessa Cristiana , de Swart Cees A. M. , Hirsch Fred R. , Lund Birthe , van Houwelingen Hans C. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To determine the side effects and feasibility of cisplatin and carboplatin each in combination with paclitaxel as front-line therapy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated to receive paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 intravenously as a 3-hour infusion followed by either cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin (area under the plasma concentration-time curve of 5), both on day 1. The schedule was repeated every 3 weeks for at least six cycles. Women allocated to paclitaxel-cisplatin were admitted to the hospital, whereas the carboplatin regimen was administered to outpatients. RESULTS: A total of 208 eligible patients were randomized. Both regimens could be delivered in an optimal dose and without significant delay. Paclitaxel-carboplatin produced significantly less nausea and vomiting (P < .01) and less peripheral neurotoxicity (P = .04) but more granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia (P < .01). The overall response rate in 132 patients with measurable disease was 64% (84 of 132 patients), and in patients with elevated CA 125 levels at start, it was 74% (132 of 178 patients). With a median follow-up time of 37 months, the median progression-free survival time of all patients was 16 months and the median overall survival time was 31 months. The small number of patients entered onto the study caused wide confidence intervals (CIs) around the hazards ratio for progression-free survival of paclitaxel-carboplatin compared with paclitaxel-cisplatin (hazards ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.48) and did not allow conclusions about efficacy. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel-carboplatin is a feasible regimen for outpatients with ovarian cancer and has a better toxicity profile than paclitaxel-cisplatin.
Epirubicin-Based Chemotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: Role of Dose-Intensity and Duration of Treatment
Authors:   the French Epirubicin Study Group
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To determine whether the duration and the dose of epirubicin modify the long-term outcome of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred seventeen anthracycline-naive MBC patients were randomized to receive one of the following regimens: arm A: 11 cycles of fluorouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 75 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 (FEC 75) every 21 days; arm B: four cycles of FEC 100 (same regimen but with epirubicin 100 mg/m2) then eight cycles of FEC 50 (epirubicin 50 mg/m2); and arm C: four cycles of FEC 100 then restart the same regimen at disease progression in case of prior response or stabilization. RESULTS: Hematologic toxicity was similar. Nausea/vomiting and stomatitis were significantly less frequent in arm A as was left ventricular ejection fraction decrease in arm C (A = six patients, B = five patients, and C = one patient). Six patients died of infections (A = four patients and C = two patients). After four cycles, the objective response rate (ORR) was better with FEC 100 than with FEC 75 (49.2% v 40%, respectively; P = .07). The ORR was better with the longer regimens (arm A, 56.9%; B, 64%; and C, 47.6%; P = .06) and was 41% after second-line FEC 100. After a median follow-up of 41 months, the response duration and time to progression (TTP) were significantly better with arm B, the longer regimen (P = .012 and P < 10−3, respectively). The median survival times for arms A, B, and C were similar (17.9, 18.9, and 16.3 months, respectively; P = .49). CONCLUSION: In MBC, longer epirubicin-based regimens are better in terms of response duration and TTP. FEC 100 regimens improve the ORR. However, four initial cycles of FEC 100 and identical retreatment at disease progression yielded equivalent overall survival to longer regimens.
DX-8951f, a Hexacyclic Camptothecin Analog, on a Daily-Times-Five Schedule: A Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Study in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies
Authors: Rowinsky Eric K. , Johnson Thomas R. , Geyer Charles E. , Hammond Lisa A. , Eckhardt S. Gail , Drengler Ronald , Smetzer Leslie , Coyle John , Rizzo Jinee , Schwartz Garry , Tolcher Anthony , Von Hoff Daniel D. , De Jager Robert L. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of administering DX-8951f (exatecan mesylate), a water-soluble, camptothecin analog, as a 30-minute intravenous infusion daily for 5 days every 3 weeks, determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of DX-8951f, and seek preliminary evidence of anticancer activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced solid malignancies were treated with escalating doses of DX-8951f. After three patients were treated at the first dose level, doses were to be escalated in increments of 100%, using a single patient at each dose level unless moderate toxicity was observed. The MTD, defined as the highest dose level at which the incidence of dose-limiting toxicity did not exceed 20%, was calculated separately for minimally pretreated (MP) and heavily pretreated (HP) patients. The PK and excretory profiles of DX-8951, the anhydrous form of DX-8951f, were also characterized. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were treated with 130 courses of DX-8951f at six dose levels ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 mg/m2/d. Brief, noncumulative neutropenia was the most common toxicity observed. Severe myelosuppression (neutropenia that was protracted and/or associated with fever and/or severe thrombocytopenia) was consistently experienced by HP and MP patients at doses exceeding 0.3 and 0.5 mg/m2/d, respectively. Nonhematologic toxicities (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) were also observed, but these effects were rarely severe. Objective antitumor activity included partial responses in one patient each with platinum-resistant extrapulmonary small-cell and fluoropyrimidine- and irinotecan-resistant colorectal carcinoma, and minor responses in patients with prostate, hepatocellular, thymic, primary peritoneal, and irinotecan-resistant colorectal carcinomas. The PKs of total DX-8951 were linear and well fit by a three-compartment model. CONCLUSION: The recommended doses for phase II studies of DX-8951f as a 30-minute infusion daily for 5 days every 3 weeks are 0.5 and 0.3 mg/m2/d for MP and HP patients, respectively. The characteristics of the myelosuppressive effects of DX-8951f, paucity of severe nonhematologic toxicities, and antitumor activity against a wide range of malignancies warrant broad disease-directed evaluations of DX-8951f on this schedule.
Utilizing Predictions of Early Prostate-Specific Antigen Failure to Optimize Patient Selection for Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Trials
Authors: D’Amico Anthony V. , Whittington Richard , Malkowicz S. Bruce , Wu Yue Hui , Chen Ming-Hui , Hurwitz Mark , Kantoff Philip W. , Tomaszewski John E. , Renshaw Andrew A. , Wein Alan , Richie Jerome P. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure within 2 years after radical prostatectomy (RP) has been shown to be a clinically significant predictor of distant failure. This study was performed to estimate 2-year PSA failure rates on the basis of readily available clinical and pathologic factors to identify patients for whom effective adjuvant systemic therapy is needed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A Cox regression multivariable analysis was used to determine whether the percentage of positive prostate biopsies, PSA level, and the pathologic findings at RP in 1,728 men provided clinically relevant information about PSA outcome after RP. A bootstrapping technique with 2,000 replications was used to provide 95% confidence intervals for the predicted 2-year PSA failure rates, which were determined on the basis of the independent clinical and pathologic predictors of PSA outcome. RESULTS: The independent predictors of time to PSA failure included a percentage of positive prostate biopsies of greater than 34% (P ≤ .009), PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL (P ≤ .01), seminal vesicle invasion (P = .02), prostatectomy Gleason score of 8 to 10 (P = .04), and positive surgical margins (P = .0001). Predictions of 2-year PSA failure rates and bootstrap estimates of the 95% confidence intervals were arranged in a tabular format, stratified by independent clinical and pathologic predictors of PSA outcome. CONCLUSION: Patients who are most likely to benefit from effective adjuvant systemic therapy after RP can be identified using readily available clinical and pathologic data.
Osteonecrosis as a Complication of Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children: A Report From the Children’s Cancer Group
Authors: Mattano Leonard A. , Sather Harland N. , Trigg Michael E. , Nachman James B. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence, risk factors, and morbidity for osteonecrosis (ON) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with intensive chemotherapy including multiple, prolonged courses of corticosteroid.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The occurrence of symptomatic ON was investigated retrospectively in 1,409 children ages 1 to 20 years old receiving therapy for high-risk ALL on Children’s Cancer Group (CCG) protocol CCG-1882.RESULTS: ON was diagnosed in 111 patients (9.3% ± 0.9%, 3-year life-table incidence). The incidence was higher for older children (≥ 10 years: 14.2% ± 1.3% v < 10 years: 0.9% ± 0.4%; P < .0001), especially females 10 to 15 years old and males 16 to 20 years old (19.2% ± 2.3% and 20.7% ± 4.7%, respectively). In patients 10 to 20 years old, the incidence of ON was higher for females versus males (17.4% ± 2.1% v 11.7% ± 1.6%, respectively; P = .03) and for patients randomized to receive two 21-day dexamethasone courses versus one course (23.2% ± 4.8% v 16.4% ± 4.3%, respectively; P = .27). Among ethnic groups, whites had the highest incidence and blacks the lowest, with other groups intermediate (16.7% ± 1.4% v 3.3% ± 2.3% v 6.7% ± 2.2%, respectively; P = .003). There was no difference in event-free survival in patients with or without ON. ON was diagnosed within 3 years of starting ALL therapy in all but one patient, involved weight-bearing joint(s) in 94% of patients, and was multifocal in 74% of patients. Symptoms of pain and/or immobility were chronic in 84% of patients, with 24% having undergone an orthopedic procedure and an additional 15% considered candidates for surgery in the future.CONCLUSION: Children ages 10 to 20 years who receive intensive ALL therapy, including multiple courses of corticosteroid, are at significant risk for developing ON.
Pretreatment Nomogram for Predicting the Outcome of Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kattan Michael W. , Zelefsky Michael J. , Kupelian Patrick A. , Scardino Peter T. , Fuks Zvi , Leibel Steven A. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: Several studies have defined risk groups for predicting the outcome after external-beam radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer. However, most models formed patient risk groups, and none of these models considers radiation dose as a predictor variable. The purpose of this study was to develop a nomogram to improve the accuracy of predicting outcome after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective, nonrandomized analysis of patients treated at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1988 and 1998. Clinical parameters of the 1,042 patients included stage, biopsy Gleason score, pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, whether neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy was administered, and the radiation dose delivered. Biochemical (PSA) treatment failure was scored when three consecutive rises of serum PSA occurred. A nomogram, which predicts the probability of remaining free from biochemical recurrence for 5 years, was validated internally on this data set using a bootstrapping method and externally using a cohort of patients treated at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH. RESULTS: When predicting outcomes for patients in the validation data set from the Cleveland Clinic, the nomogram had a Somers’ D rank correlation between predicted and observed failure times of 0.52. Predictions from this nomogram were more accurate (P < .0001) than the best of seven published risk stratification systems, which achieved a Somers’ D coefficient of 0.47. CONCLUSION: The development process illustrated here produced a nomogram that seems to predict more accurately than other available systems and may be useful for treatment selection by both physicians and patients.
Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Postoperative Morbidity in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Authors: Meric Funda , Milas Mira , Hunt Kelly K. , Hess Kenneth R. , Pisters Peter W. T. , Hildebrandt Gerhard , Patel Shreyaskumar R. , Benjamin Robert S. , Plager Carl , Papadopolous Nicholas E. J. , Burgess Michael A. , Pollock Raphael E. , Feig Barry W. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NeoCT) does not increase morbidity in patients undergoing radical surgery for soft tissue sarcomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 309 patients who presented to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for definitive surgical management of primary soft tissue sarcomas were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred five patients who received NeoCT were compared with 204 patients who had surgery first (Surg). Patients had extremity sarcomas (71 NeoCT patients and 130 Surg patients) or retroperitoneal/visceral sarcomas (34 NeoCT and 74 Surg). RESULTS: NeoCT patients had larger tumors (median, 12 v 8 cm), more frequently had high-grade tumors (90% v 64%), and were younger (median age 47 v 55 years). The incidence of surgical complications was not different for NeoCT patients than for Surg patients, both in those with extremity sarcomas (34% v 41%) and in those with retroperitoneal/visceral sarcomas (29% v 34%). The most common complications were wound infections and other wound complications. Preoperative radiation therapy, autologous flap coverage, and extremity tumors were associated with increased wound complications. No significant differences in length of hospital stay, rate of readmission, or rate of reoperation for complications were found between the NeoCT and Surg groups. One of the three postoperative deaths in our series occurred in the NeoCT group. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective review, there was no evidence that NeoCT increased postoperative morbidity in patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to confirm these results.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Phase I Trial of Protracted Venous Infusion Fluorouracil Plus Weekly Gemcitabine With Concurrent Radiation Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Pancreas Cancer: A Regimen With Unexpected Early Toxicity
Authors: Talamonti Mark S. , Catalano Paul J. , Vaughn David J. , Whittington Richard , Beauchamp R. Daniel , Berlin Jordan , Benson Al B. 
Published: February 2017

PURPOSE: We performed a phase I trial of protracted venous infusion (PVI) fluorouracil (5-FU) plus weekly gemcitabine with concurrent radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer to determine the maximum-tolerated dose of gemcitabine that could be safely administered. We also sought to identify the toxicities associated with this treatment protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer were treated with planned doses of radiation (59.4 Gy) and PVI of 5-FU (200 mg/m2/d) with gemcitabine doses of 50 to 100 mg/m2/wk. RESULTS: Two of three patients at the 100-mg/m2/wk dose level experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), as did three of four at the 50-mg/m2/wk dose level. One patient experienced a mucocutaneous reaction described as a Stevens-Johnson syndrome that was attributed to chemotherapy. Three patients developed gastric or duodenal ulcers with severe bleeding requiring transfusion. One patient developed severe thrombocytopenia lasting longer than 4 weeks. Three of the five episodes of DLT developed at radiation doses ≤ 36 Gy. CONCLUSION: Based on this experience, we cannot recommend further investigation of regimens incorporating gemcitabine into regimens of radiation with PVI 5-FU. The mechanism of this synergistic toxicity remains to be determined.