European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Markers for EGFR pathway activation as predictor of outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with or without cetuximab.
Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment are only effective in patients with KRAS wild type tumours. Here we assess the predictive value of other potential relevant markers involved in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling pathways for response to cetuximab-based treatment. ⋯ BRAF genotype is correlated with PFS and OS in KRAS wild type mCRC patients, which is independent of cetuximab treatment. PIK3CA mutation, loss of PTEN expression, EGFR GCN and HER2 GCN have no predictive value for response to treatment with cetuximab, neither individually nor in combination with other markers.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Outcomes in paediatric metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma: results of The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) study MMT-98.
Results are presented of the SIOP study MMT-98 for paediatric metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), which evaluated intensive chemotherapy followed by low intensity 'maintenance' chemotherapy in standard risk patients (SRG). For poor risk patients (PRG), the value of a therapeutic window study, sequential high dose monotherapy to achieve a complete response (CR) followed by low dose maintenance chemotherapy was examined. ⋯ SRG patients' EFS and OS were comparable to those of previous studies. For PRG patients there was no improvement in survival.
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Multicenter Study
Phase II study of oral masitinib mesilate in imatinib-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastro-intestinal stromal tumour (GIST).
Masitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with greater in vitro activity and selectivity for the wild-type c-Kit receptor and its juxtamembrane mutation than imatinib, without inhibiting kinases of known toxicities. This phase II study evaluated masitinib as a first-line treatment of advanced GIST. ⋯ Masitinib appears to be effective as a first-line treatment of advanced GIST with comparable results to imatinib in terms of safety and response. PFS and in particular OS data show promise that masitinib may provide sustainable benefits. There is sufficient compelling evidence to warrant a phase III clinical trial.
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Multicenter Study
Trends in incidence, treatment and survival of gastric adenocarcinoma between 1990 and 2007: a population-based study in the Netherlands.
Survival of gastric cancer in the Western world remains poor. We conducted a retrospective population-based study to evaluate trends in incidence, treatment and outcome of gastric adenocarcinoma. ⋯ The absence of improvement in survival rates indicates the need for earlier detection and prospective studies to evaluate new therapy regimens with standardised surgery and pathology.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Primary postoperative chemotherapy without radiotherapy for treatment of brain tumours other than ependymoma in children under 3 years: results of the first UKCCSG/SIOP CNS 9204 trial.
Radiotherapy is an effective adjuvant treatment for brain tumours arising in very young children, but it has the potential to damage the child's developing nervous system at a crucial time - with a resultant reduction in IQ leading to cognitive impairment, associated endocrinopathy and risk of second malignancy. We aimed to assess the role of a primary chemotherapy strategy in avoiding or delaying radiotherapy in children younger than 3 years with malignant brain tumours other than ependymoma, the results of which have already been published. ⋯ The outcome for very young children with brain tumours is dictated by degree of surgical resection and histological tumour type and underlying biology as an indicator of treatment sensitivity. Overall, the median age at radiotherapy was 3 years and radiotherapy was avoided in 45% of patients. Desmoplastic/nodular sub-type of medulloblastoma has a better prognosis than classic histology, despite traditional adverse clinical features of metastatic disease and incomplete surgical resection. A subgroup with HGG and CPC are long-term survivors without RT. This study highlights the differing therapeutic challenges presented by the malignant brain tumours of early childhood, the importance of surgical approaches and the need to explore individualised brain sparing approaches to the range of malignant brain tumours that present in early childhood.