PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Jean-Paul Guastalla

Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Paul Guastalla.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Impact of chemotherapy regimens prior to endocrine therapy: Results from the ATAC (Anastrozole and Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial.

BACKGROUND: The 33-month median follow-up of the ATAC (anastrozole and tamoxifen, alone or in combination) trial showed a potential interaction between anastrozole and previous chemotherapy; however, this was much smaller at 47 months' median follow-up. When the effects of different chemotherapy regimens were evaluated at that time, the apparent interaction was limited to patients who had received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of 68-month data, we investigated the impact of prior chemotherapy, including different chemotherapy regimens, on time to recurrence. The chemotherapy regimens were 1) CMF only; 2) anthracycline-containing regimens (anthracycline or anthracycline and CMF); and 3) other chemotherapy regimens, including taxane-containing combinations. RESULTS: No evidence was found for an interaction between prior chemotherapy and anastrozole (hazard ratio [HR] 0.89 vs. 0.74 for those with or without prior chemotherapy, respectively; P = .21 for interaction). For those with prior chemotherapy, the HR of anastrozole when compared with that of tamoxifen shifted from 0.98 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.76-1.28) at 47 months' median follow-up to 0.89 (95% CI, 0.71-1.12) at 68 months' median follow-up and was closer to the overall treatment effect (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90). No differences according to type of chemotherapy were seen, and a benefit for anastrozole was also now apparent for patients receiving prior CMF (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.63-1.24). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the 5-year Completed Treatment Analysis, the ATAC trial does not indicate that the relative treatment benefits of anastrozole differ significantly between patients who received prior chemotherapy and those who did not.

Aged↗

What is the best protocol of single-agent methotrexate chemotherapy in nonmetastatic or low-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumors? A review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD), a group of rare placenta disorders, have a varying potential for invasion, either local, or remote under the form of metastases, and are definitely cured by chemotherapy in 85 to 99% of cases. Single-agent methotrexate is the usual primary treatment for women with low-risk trophoblastic tumors (TT), yet various regimens are currently used worldwide. We reviewed these regimens and the available evidence for evaluating their respective efficacy and tolerance. METHODS: We performed an exhaustive literature search and applied the French agency for evaluation in healthcare (HAS) methodology for critical appraisal and level of evidence. We summarised the protocols used in the selected studies and their respective results regarding efficacy and toxicity. RESULTS: We selected 18 original studies on the efficacy and tolerance of methotrexate used alone or in association with folinic acid for the treatment of nonmetastatic or low-risk metastatic trophoblastic tumors. Among these 18 studies, 15 were retrospective series, 3 were prospective series without any control group, and none were controlled clinical trial. We identified four main chemotherapy regimens and two very different strategies for repeating the treatment courses. It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis due to the lack of controlled clinical trials. Because all studies were observational with no control group and methods were heterogeneous for scoring women, setting criteria for starting therapy, defining remission, and collecting information on adverse events, we found no objective element allowing recommending one protocol rather than another. CONCLUSION: Objective comparison should be addressed in the scope of comparative trials organised at the national or even international level. However their feasibility is highly problematic for rare diseases such as GTD. International collaborative works should be encouraged to reduce practice variations and allow a better comparability between strategies.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

A phase II study of an oxaliplatin/vinorelbine/5-fluorouracil combination in patients with anthracycline-pretreated and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of an oxaliplatin/vinorelbine/5-fluorouracil (FON) combination in anthracycline and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients. The following treatment was given: on day 1 of a 21-day cycle, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m (2-h intravenous infusion); on days 1 and 5, vinorelbine [dose level (DL) 1: 17.5 mg/m; DL2: 22 mg/m]; on days 1-5, continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (DL1: 600 mg/m/day; DL2: 750 mg/m/day). Forty-seven patients were treated (DL1: 43; DL2: 4). Median age was 54 years; 68% had liver metastases, 53% were taxane refractory/resistant and 38% were anthracycline refractory/resistant. Patients received a median of six treatment cycles. Of 46 eligible patients, 16 had partial response; the overall response rate was 34.8% (95% confidence interval 21.3-50.3%), 11 had stable disease lasting more than 4 months. Median follow-up was 13.0 months, median time to progression 5.7 months and estimated overall survival 18.8 months. DL2 was too toxic with three patients having grade 3-4 toxicity, including one death. At DL1, 26 patients (60%) experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia (six febrile neutropenia) and eight had grade 3 oxaliplatin-specific peripheral neuropathy after a median of 646.4 mg/m oxaliplatin (range 124-1619 mg/m). Oxaliplatin (130 mg/m, day 1)/vinorelbine (17.5 mg/m, days 1,5)/5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m/day, days 1-5) demonstrate encouraging activity and a manageable safety profile in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

[Prognostic factors for febrile neutropenia].

Cytotoxic chemotherapy suppresses the haematopoietic system, impairing host protective mechanisms and limiting the doses of chemotherapy that can be tolerated. Febrile neutropenia, the most serious haematological toxicity, is associated with the risk of life-threatening infections as well as chemotherapy dose reductions and delays that may compromise treatment outcomes. The recent literature in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and its complications and impact was provided an update on research, and the implications for improving the management of patients with cancer who are treated with myelosuppressive chemotherapy was discussed. Despite its importance as the primary dose-limiting toxicity of chemotherapy, much concerning neutropenia and its consequences and impact remains unknown. Recent surveys indicate that neutropenia remains a prevalent problem associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and costs. The colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) have been used effectively in a variety of clinical settings to prevent or treat febrile neutropenia and to assist patients receiving dose-intensive chemotherapy. A meta-analysis of the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has confirmed the efficacy of prophylactic CSFs. Much research has sought to identify risk factors that may predispose patients to neutropenic complications, including febrile neutropenia, in an effort to predict better which patients are at risk and to use preventive strategies, such as prophylactic colony-stimulating factors, more cost-effectively. Research in quantifying the risk of neutropenic complications may make it possible in the near future to target patients at greater risk with appropriate preventive strategies, thereby maximizing the benefits and minimizing the costs.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and ovarian cancer].

Primary surgical cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy usually is the preferred management of advanced (stage III or IV) ovarian cancer. The presence of residual disease after surgery is one of the most important adverse prognostic factors for survival. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been proposed as an alternative approach to conventional surgery as initial management of bulky ovarian cancer, with the goal of improving surgical quality. Retrospective analyses suggest that a subgroup of patients with Stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma can be treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. The absolute indications for neoadjuvant chemotherapy appear to be Stage IV disease (excluding pleural fluid) or metastases of more than 1 g at sites where resection is impossible. Interval debulking surgery in patients with suboptimal primary debulking surgery has been proven effective in increasing overall survival and progression-free survival in a large prospective, randomized trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). GOG evaluated the effect of adding secondary cytoreductive surgery to postoperative chemotherapy. Unfortunately in this study, for patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma in whom primary cytoreductive surgery was considered to be maximal, the addition of secondary cytoreductive surgery to postoperative chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cisplatin does not improve progression-free survival or overall survival. The strategy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by interval debulking surgery, should be confirmed in a prospective randomized trial. The EORTC55971 trial is currently addressing this issue.

Female↗

Adjuvant docetaxel for node-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: We compared docetaxel plus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (TAC) with fluorouracil plus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC) as adjuvant chemotherapy for operable node-positive breast cancer. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1491 women with axillary node-positive breast cancer to six cycles of treatment with either TAC or FAC as adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. The primary end point was disease-free survival. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 55 months, the estimated rates of disease-free survival at five years were 75 percent among the 745 patients randomly assigned to receive TAC and 68 percent among the 746 randomly assigned to receive FAC, representing a 28 percent reduction in the risk of relapse (P=0.001) in the TAC group. The estimated rates of overall survival at five years were 87 percent and 81 percent, respectively. Treatment with TAC resulted in a 30 percent reduction in the risk of death (P=0.008). The incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 65.5 percent in the TAC group and 49.3 percent in the FAC group (P<0.001); rates of febrile neutropenia were 24.7 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively (P<0.001). Grade 3 or 4 infections occurred in 3.9 percent of the patients who received TAC and 2.2 percent of those who received FAC (P=0.05); no deaths occurred as a result of infection. Two patients in each group died during treatment. Congestive heart failure and acute myeloid leukemia occurred in less than 2 percent of the patients in each group. Quality-of-life scores decreased during chemotherapy but returned to baseline levels after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy with TAC, as compared with FAC, significantly improves the rates of disease-free and overall survival among women with operable node-positive breast cancer.

Adult↗

Randomized parallel study of doxorubicin plus paclitaxel and doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant treatment of patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized, noncomparative, parallel-group study was designed to evaluate the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of combined doxorubicin plus paclitaxel (AP) and doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide (AC) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated breast cancer who were unsuitable for conservative surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 200 patients with T2-3, N0-1, M0 disease were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive preoperative chemotherapy with either doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) plus paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) as a 3-hour infusion (AP) or doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) (AC) every 3 weeks for 4 courses followed by surgery. RESULTS: A pCR (eradication of invasive carcinoma in tumor and in axillary lymph nodes) was found in 16% and 10% of patients in the AP and AC arms, respectively, by study center pathologists, and in 8% and 6% of patients, respectively, by independent pathologists. Patients with pCRs tended to have unifocal disease, tumors with negative hormonal receptor status, and less differentiation (Scarff, Bloom, and Richardson scale grade 3). Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 58% and 45% of patients in the AP and AC arms, respectively. An objective clinical response was achieved in 89% of patients in the AP arm and 70% in the AC arm. At a median follow-up of 31 months, disease-free survival (DFS) was higher in patients who reached pCR versus those without pCR (91% v 70%). CONCLUSION: The encouraging pathologic and clinical responses of patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus paclitaxel warrant additional investigation of paclitaxel in the neoadjuvant setting of breast cancer management.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Dendritic cell infiltration and prognosis of early stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Although dendritic cells (DC) and T cells can infiltrate primary breast carcinoma, it remains unclear whether the immune response influences the clinical outcome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: T lymphocytes and DC infiltration within primary tumors was investigated in 152 patients with invasive nonmetastatic breast cancer. CD1a, CD3, CD68, CD123, CD207/Langerin, and CD208/DC-LAMP expression was assessed with semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis. Expression of chemokines involved in DC migration (MIP-3a/CCL20, MIP-3b/CCL19, and 6Ckine/CCL21) was also examined. The correlation between these markers and the characteristics of the tumors, as well as relapse-free and overall survival was analyzed. Significant prognostic parameters were then tested in a validation series. RESULTS: Infiltration by immature CD207/Langerin+ DC was found in a third of the cancers and did not correlate with clinicopathological data. Presence of mature CD208/DC-LAMP+ DC (56%) and CD3+ T cells (82%) strongly correlated with lymph node involvement and tumor grade. Among the chemokines analyzed, only the presence of MIP-3b/CCL19 in 57% of the tumors correlated with prolonged overall survival. CD123+ plasmacytoid DC (pDC) infiltrated 13% of the primary tumors. Their presence was strongly associated with shorter overall survival (93% versus 58% at 60 months) and relapse-free survival (90% versus 37% at 60 months) and was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and relapse-free survival and confirmed in an independent validation series of 103 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Infiltration by pDC of primary localized breast tumor correlates with an adverse outcome, suggesting their contribution in the progression of breast cancer.

Adult↗

Disease-free survival advantage of weekly epirubicin plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone as adjuvant treatment of operable, node-positive, elderly breast cancer patients: 6-year follow-up results of the French adjuvant study group 08 trial.

PURPOSE: To assess whether an epirubicin (EPI) -based chemotherapy plus hormonal regimen improves disease-free (DFS) in women older than 65 years, with node-positive, operable breast cancer (BC), relative to tamoxifen (TAM) alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 338 patients were randomly assigned after surgery to receive TAM 30 mg/d for 3 years (TAM, n = 164), or EPI 30 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days for six cycles plus TAM 30 mg/d for 3 years (EPI-TAM, n = 174). In both arms, patients received radiotherapy, delivered after chemotherapy (CT) in the EPI-TAM group. RESULTS: The 6-year DFS rates were 69.3% with TAM and 72.6% with EPI-TAM (P = .14). The multivariate analysis shows a relative risk of relapse of 1.93 (95% CI, 1.70 to 2.17) with TAM compared with EPI-TAM (P = .005). The 6-year OS, related to disease progression, was 79.1% and 79.8%, respectively (P = .41). Compliance with CT was good: 96.9% of patients received six cycles. The acute toxicity per patient was mild: grade 2 neutropenia in 5.9%, grade 2 anemia in 2.0%, grade 3 nausea or vomiting in 4.6%, and grade 3 alopecia in 7.2%. Five cases (in five patients) of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction occurred after CT: three after adjuvant CT, and two after anthracycline-based CT for relapse. One patient died as a result of dysrhythmia related to carcinomatous lymphangitis. No secondary leukemia occurred. CONCLUSION: This study conducted in node-positive elderly patients demonstrates a significant contribution of a weekly EPI regimen in terms of DFS. Moreover, this regimen is safe for hematologic, nonhematologic, and cardiac toxicities.

Age Factors↗

[Cyclooxygenase 2 and breast cancer. From biological concepts to therapeutic trials].

Cyclooxygenases (Cox) are prostaglandin synthetase enzymes which play a key role in mammary carcinogenesis. Several connections were demonstrated between Cox and a few oncogenes (v-src, v-Ha-ras, HER-2/neu, Wnt, p53 mutated), alimentary products (PUFAs), transcription factors (c-jun and c-fos), proapoptotic proteins [Bax et Bcl-x(L)] or antiapoptotic (Bcl-2), CYP19 aromatase gene, NFkappaB receptor (RANKL), angiogenesis (via VEGF, TXA2, oxid nitric synthetase, alphaVbeta3 integrin receptor), peroxisome gamma proliferator receptor (PPARgamma) and its ligand PGJ2 and with antitubuline chemotherapy drugs. No correlation of Cox2 expression with hormonal receptors was shown. In epidemiologic studies there is evidence of breast cancer risk reduction for women who take AINS for a long time. Alimentary factors like resveratrol or insaturated fat acid reduce Cox2 expression in animal and could be investigated in human studies. Clinical trials are planed with the anti Cox2 celecoxib for breast cancer prevention, in adjuvant setting, in metastatic situation combined with exemestane or antitubulin drugs or in neoadjuvant therapy.

Animals↗

[Cyclooxygenase 2 and breast cancer. From biological concepts to clinical trials].

Cyclooxygenases (Cox) are prostaglandin synthetase enzymes which play a key role in mammary carcinogenesis. Several connections were demonstrated between Cox and a few oncogenes (v-src, v-Ha-ras, HER-2\neu, Wnt, p53 mutated), alimentary products (PUFAs), transcription factors (c-jun and c-fos), proapoptotic proteins [Bax et Bcl-x(L)] or antiapoptotic (Bcl-2), CYP19 aromatase gene, NFkappaB receptor (RANKL), angiogenesis (via VEGF, TXA2, oxid nitric synthetase, alphaVbeta3 integrin receptor), peroxisome gamma proliferator receptor (PPARgamma) and its ligand PGJ2 and with antitubuline chemotherapy drugs. No correlation of Cox2 expression with hormonal receptors was shown. In epidemiologic studies there is evidence of breast cancer risk reduction for women who take AINS for a lon time. Alimentary factors like resveratrol or insaturated fat acid reduce Cox2 expression in animal and could be investigated in human studies. Clinical trials are planed with the anti Cox2 celecoxib for breast cancer prevention, in adjuvant setting, in metastatic situation combined with exemestane or antitubulin drugs or in neoadjuvant therapy.

Animals↗

Epirubicin and paclitaxel (EPI-TAX regimen) for advanced ovarian cancer after failure of platinum-containing regimens.

BACKGROUND: The place of anthracyclines in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer remains a matter of debate. We have assessed the feasibility and evaluated the tolerance of epirubicin (EPI) combined with paclitaxel (TAX) in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients. METHODS: Between March 1996 and March 1998, 34 patients with ovarian cancer in relapse after platinum-based chemotherapy received EPI (75 mg/m(2)/day, iv) and TAX (175 mg/m(2)/day, 3-h infusion). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. This treatment was second-line for 10 patients and third/fourth-line for 24. RESULTS: Of the 34 assessable patients, 15 (44%) (95% confidence interval 27-60%) achieved objective response (3 complete and 12 partial responses). The number of previous lines of chemotherapy or previous anthracycline treatments did not influence response rates. Responders to previous paclitaxel-based regimens had a significantly higher response rate to EPI-TAX combination (57%) than nonresponders (11%) (P = 0.05). Median response duration was 40 weeks (range 12-94). Median survival from inclusion was 10.7 months (range 1-40). Myelosuppression was the most frequent side effect. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 31 patients (91%), febrile neutropenia episodes in 17%, and grade 3/4 anemia and thrombopenia in 27 and 24%, respectively. The main nonhematological toxicities included alopecia and grade 2 peripheral neuropathy (12%). Cardiac dysfunction was observed in one patient after the fourth treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Toxicity of the EPI-TAX regimen was acceptable in this population of heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients. The regimen was effective and it is considered an option for patients previously responding to paclitaxel-based therapy.

Adult↗

[Standards, Options and Recommendations for the management of invasive cervical cancer patients (non metastastic)].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centers and specialists from French public university and general hospitals and private clinics. Its main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop, according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations, clinical practice guidelines for the management of invasive cervical cancer patients. Methods : Data were identified by searching Medline and the personal reference lists of members of the expert groups, then submitted for review to independent reviewers. RESULTS: This is a synthesis of the Standards, Options and Recommendations elaborated by a working group of experts. Pretherapeutic assessment, classification, diagnosis, therapeutic modalities (surgery, radiotherapy, radiochemotherapy, chemotherapy), therapeutic strategies by disease stage and follow-up are covered. Algorithms for the management of patients are also included.

Algorithms↗

[Anemia and chemotherapy].

Anemia is a real and frequent complication during the management of cancer patients. It is define as a decrease of the erythrocyte mass. The hemoglobin rate (which was an estimation of this erythrocyte mass) is the most often using criteria. The inferior threshold change with the sex and the age of the patients. This is 13 g/dl for the men and 11.5 g/dl for the women. This rate would be however decrease without any other associated pathology. This anemia is due to nutritional context of the patients and complications of the cancer pathology or his management (treatments). Anemia due to the chemotherapy toxicity is a real problem to investigate, to quantify, to prevent or to treat. The chemotherapy toxicity worsened previous anemia (inflammatory ethiology) which physiopathology is multifactoriel and depends on drugs, patients' characteristics, and sort of cancer. Anemia is also a therapeutic problem. Whatever is the severity of the anemia, impact on the quality of life with physical and social consequences is clear. In addition, anemia could relieve of specific treatment such as blood transfusion or preventive treatment with recombinant erythropoietin.

Age Factors↗

Efficacy of epoetin alfa in a retrospective non-stratified subgroup analysis of a breast cancer cohort receiving non-platinum chemotherapy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: More than 60% of patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving non-platinum-based chemotherapy experience anemia, which is associated with fatigue and impaired quality of life. Epoetin alfa treatment in patients with a variety of malignancies has been shown to decrease transfusion requirements and improve hemoglobin levels and quality-of-life efficacy parameters. PATIENTS: Retrospective subgroup analyses were performed in patients with breast cancer who were part of a multinational, randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of anemic cancer patients (n = 375) undergoing non-platinum-based chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the breast cancer subpopulation (n = 114, 48% with stage IV disease at baseline), the hemoglobin increase was greater for epoetin alfa patients than placebo patients (2.3 versus 0.9 g/dL). Epoetin alfa patients had lower transfusion requirements (28.2% versus 33.3%), improvement or preservation versus deterioration of quality of life, and a higher proportion of responders (patients achieving a > or = 2 g/dL increase in hemoglobin levels unrelated to transfusion) (68.0% versus 22.9% for placebo). The results were similar to those observed in the full study cohort, where statistical analyses showed the differences to be significant (P <0.05 for all). Epoetin alfa treatment was well tolerated. Although the study was not designed or powered for survival as an endpoint, Kaplan-Meier estimates for the full cohort showed a trend in overall survival favoring epoetin alfa treatment (P = 0.13, log rank test); a similar benefit was seen in the breast cancer subpopulation. CONCLUSIONS: In the full study cohort and the breast cancer subpopulation, epoetin alfa effectively treated anemia (increased hemoglobin levels and decreased transfusion requirements) and improved or preserved quality of life. Results concerning potential survival benefits support further study of epoetin alfa in anemic cancer patients.

Anemia↗