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L Geoffrois

Publications and source records attributed to L Geoffrois.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Multicentre EORTC study 16997: feasibility and phase II trial of farnesyl transferase inhibitor & gemcitabine combination in salvage treatment of advanced urothelial tract cancers.

In this study, the feasibility and activity of combined chemotherapy of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor SCH66336 and gemcitabine was evaluated. This therapy was used as second-line treatment in patients with advanced urothelial tract cancer and the influence of SCH66336 exposure on the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine was also determined. Patients who had received one previous chemotherapy regime for advanced urothelial cancer were treated with a combination of SCH66336 (150 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the evening) and Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 on day 1, 8 and 15 per 28-day cycle). Dosages of gemcitabine and its metabolite dFdU were performed on day one of cycle 1 before exposure to SCH66336 and day one of cycle 2. A total of 152 cycles were administered in 33 patients (median 3, range: 1-15). No patients had severe hematological toxicity, defined as Grade 4 thrombocytopenia or febrile neutropenia. Nine partial responses and one complete response were achieved in 31 assessable patients and corresponded to an overall response rate of 32.3% [95% CI:17%-51%]. There was no influence of exposure to SCH66336 on the level of gemcitabine or dFdU in 11 assessable patients. In conclusion, a combination of SCH66336 and gemcitabine is feasible in terms of toxicity and active as second-line treatment in patients with advanced urothelial tract cancer. SCH66336 had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine. Randomised trials should be undertaken to clarify the role of SCH66336 in combination with gemcitabine in cancer treatment.

Adult↗

A phase II study with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX-4 regimen) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the FOLFOX-4 regimen for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients (median age 59 years) pre-treated or not by cytokines (29 vs. 30) received the FOLFOX-4 regimen every 2 weeks. RESULTS: Three minor responses, and no complete or partial responses were obtained. The median progression-free survival was 3 months (95% CI: 2.6-3.4), the median survival 10.6 months (95% CI: 8.7-12.4), with no difference between pre-treated patients and others. Treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The FOLFOX-4 regimen is ineffective in patients with MRCC. We believe that oxaliplatin should no longer be explored in renal carcinoma.

Adult↗

UFT and leucovorin in first-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic gastric cancer. An Early Clinical Studies Group (ECSG)/European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) phase II trial.

A phase II study was performed to evaluate 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil and uracil (UFT) and leucovorin as first-line chemotherapy in European patients with advanced gastric cancer. From 38 patients, 25 were evaluable for response and 36 for toxicity. Patients received UFT at 300 mg/m(2)/day for 28 days, every 35 days and leucovorin at 90 mg/day on an identical schedule. Overall response rate was 10.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.7-22.5%) in intent-to-treat analysis and 16% (95% CI: 5.7-33%) in evaluable patients. Grade 3-4 common toxicity criteria (CTC) toxicities were diarrhoea (28%; 10/36), nausea (11%; 4/36), vomiting (8%; 3/36) and asthenia (11%; 4/36). 23 patients in 44% (42/96) of the courses had to skip days of treatment due to toxicity or to non-compliance. In conclusion, UFT+leucovorin has a definitive, but low, efficacy in advanced gastric cancer patients. Toxicities were mainly gastrointestinal and treatment needs to be withheld if grade 2 diarrhoea occurs.

Administration, Oral↗

[Management of mucositis following radiotherapy for head and neck cancers].

Acute mucositis is common after radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. During the past 3 decades, there was a gradual evolution in the treatment modalities for locally advanced carcinomas (concomitant radio-chemotherapy, accelerated radiotherapy). These new strategies are accompanied by an increase in early mucosal reactions. At the present time, there is no widely accepted prophylaxis or effective treatment. Many traditional remedies or new agents seem ineffective (Sucralfate, Chlorhexidine, GM-CSF, Silver nitrate, Prostaglandin, anti-oxidants, Benzydamine hydrochloride), while others seem promising (Povidone-iodine, nonabsorbable antibiotic lozenges and antifungals, local GM-CSF, Glutamide, Low-energy laser, corticosteroïds). Radioprotectors are controversial and should be only used in experimental protocols and not in routine practice. However, some recommendations can be proposed: general prevention and global care before cancer therapy should be systematic (oral hygiene, dental and periodontal treatment, advice to avoid the use of tobacco and alcohol); frequent oral rinsing with a bland mouthwash (Povidone-iodine or others) should be used at the start of treatment because there are significant modifications of the oral microflora increased by a disturbed salivary flow; these mouthwashes could be associated with nonabsorbable antibiotic lozenges or antifungal topicals (bicarbonates, Amphotéricine B); Systematic percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy should be decided before any aggressive treatments (concomitant radio-chemotherapy, accelerated radiotherapy); pain should be controlled; finally, the radiation technique should be optimized (mucosal-sparing block, conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy).

Acute Disease↗

Toxicity and feasibility of adjuvant high-dose interferon alpha-2b in patients with melanoma in clinical oncologic practice.

To assess the feasibility and toxicity profile of high-dose interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha-2b) in the adjuvant treatment of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma outside the reference ECOG 1684 clinical trial, we conducted a prospective follow-up in an identical population of patients (cutaneous melanoma, T4 and/or N1) treated by intravenous IFN-alpha-2b:20 MIU m(-2), 5 days a week for 4 weeks; and subcutaneous:10 MIU m(-2), 3 times a week for 11 months. Thirty-six consecutive patients were considered in four different institutions. The frequency and severity of side-effects related to IFN-alpha, as well as the percentage of the planned dose given to patients, were identical to those reported in the initial report by ECOG. Fifty per cent and 47% of patients had a grade 3/4 WHO toxicity in the induction and consolidation phase respectively. A dose modification was necessary for 47.2% and 55.8% of the patients in the induction and consolidation phase respectively. The schedule and dose of high-dose IFN-alpha-2b in the adjuvant treatment of cutaneous malignant melanoma, as reported by ECOG 1684, is feasible. The significant toxicity reported in ECOG 1684 was also seen in our patients. Nevertheless, this protocol will not be a 'standard' treatment until the publication of the ECOG 1690 trial.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Elements of epidemiology and initiation of carcinogenesis in carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract. Future therapeutic consequence?].

The study of epidemiology and of the carcinogenesis in epidermoid carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract shows that their occurrence is not random. Tobacco abuse plays a major role, especially because of benzopyrene, mutagen of the P53 gene, however it is associated with many other potentiating factors: alcohol, metals, hydrocarbures, virus, food, climate, genetic fragility that create genetic lesions at the origin of carcinogenesis. The latter occurs as "field cancerization" with multiple alterations of the mucosa and general attack of the control systems of the differentiation, growth and cell apoptosis which usually protect the cell against the phenomena of carcinogenesis. The P53 protein gene, retinoid receptors as well as the system of detoxifying glutathion S transferase are modified at the very early stage of these diseases, these abnormalities can be logically related to epidemiological data. These data lead us therefore to imagine complementary specific reverting therapies of induced genetic abnormalities, through the reexpression of non mutated gene encoding P53 protein and the use of retinoid. These various modalities are reported hereafter.

Age Factors↗

UFT and oral calcium folinate as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer.

Locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach still carries a poor prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of < 15%. Palliative chemotherapeutic regimens for this disease are largely 5-FU-based. We have investigated the clinical activity of an oral combination of uracil and tegafur (UFT) with calcium folinate (Orzel), in patients with measurable metastatic disease. Thirty-six patients received a total of 94 courses of daily UFT 300 mg/m2 plus calcium folinate 90 mg for 28 consecutive days followed by a 7-day rest. Planned treatment doses were maintained in 83% of all evaluable courses. Main toxicities included diarrhea (21 patients) and nausea and vomiting (20 patients). Other side effects were asthenia, malaise, stomatitis, and myelosuppression. At present, 26 patients are evaluable for response. Of these, one achieved a complete response and three achieved partial remissions. In addition, six patients reached stable disease, yielding an overall response rate of 27%. We conclude that the combination of UFT and calcium folinate is a feasible outpatient regimen that warrants further clinical evaluation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

An EORTC-ECSG phase II study of vinorelbine in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Vinorelbine is an active drug in the treatment of lung and breast cancers and has a favorable toxicity profile. Many clinical trials have demonstrated its antitumor activity in other tumor types including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of vinorelbine in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN, previously untreated by chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients with locoregional recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN were treated with vinorelbine at a dose of 30 mg/m2/week i.v. by short-duration infusion on an out-patient basis. Doses were adjusted according to tolerance. RESULTS: Two complete and seven partial responses were observed among 56 evaluable patients, yielding a response rate of 16% (95% confidence interval (CI): 8%-28%). The overall response rate of all eligible patients (63) was 14%. The responses were seen in recurrent tumors, lymph nodes and in lung metastases, and their median duration was 19 weeks (12-63). The main toxicity, severe and reversible neutropenia (grade 3-4) occurred in 53% of the 69 evaluable (for toxicity) patients. Twelve patients developed severe bronchopulmonary infections, which caused two early deaths. Constipation was observed in 31 patients (45%). Other gastrointestinal toxicities, asthenia, acute pain syndrome and peripheral sensory neuropathy, were mild to moderate. The median number of treatments was seven cycles and the median relative dose intensity of vinorelbine was 85% (25.5 mg/m2/week). CONCLUSIONS: Vinorelbine is an active drug, with acceptable toxicity, in recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN, at the dose and schedule administered in the present study. Further evaluation in association with other agents and/or radiotherapy is warranted.

Adult↗

Subcutaneous interleukin-2, interferon alfa-2a, and continuous infusion of fluorouracil in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a multicenter phase II trial. Groupe Français d'Immunothérapie.

PURPOSE: A phase II trial was designed to determine the efficacy and the tolerance of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon alfa-2a (IFNalpha), and fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred eleven patients were included. Patients received subcutaneous IL-2 9 x 10(6) IU daily for 6 days and IFNalpha 6 x 10(6) IU on days 1, 3, and 5 every other week for 8 weeks. 5-FU was administered through a continuous infusion at 600 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days for 1 week every 4 weeks. RESULTS: The response rate was 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0% to 4.3%) with only two partial responses (PRs). Toxicity was moderate with 3.6% grade 4 events and two deaths related to treatment. CONCLUSION: This regimen of IL-2, IFNalpha, and 5-FU in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma was ineffective. The results raise the question of the dose and schedule of subcutaneous cytokines that must be used in metastatic renal carcinoma.

Adult↗

Cervical lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary: is a tonsillectomy necessary?

PURPOSE: The detection of an infraclinical primary by tonsillectomy in case of cervical lymph node of an epidermoid carcinoma with unknown primary after a radical neck dissection, allows avoiding irradiation of the normal larynx. The aim of this study is to quantify the rate of tonsil primary to justify this procedure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1969 to 1992, 87 patients had a tonsillectomy as part of the workup for cervical nodal metastasis of an epidermoid carcinoma with unknown primary. The mean age was 57 years (range: 39-75 years) and the sex ratio was 8.6. Sixty-seven patients had a single cervical adenopathy (17 N1, 30 N2a, 5 N3, 15 Nx), and 20 patients multiple cervical adenopathies (17 N2b, 3 N2c). The treatments included always an irradiation to the node areas (50 Gy), and to the pharyngolarynx in case of normal tonsil (50 Gy), or to the tonsil if it was the primary (50 Gy with a brachytherapy boost of 20-25 Gy). In this last case, the larynx could be protected. RESULTS: Tonsillectomy never induced specific complication. Out of 87 patients, 26% had a tonsil primary. There was not specific histological differentiation in this group. In the 67 patients with a single cervical adenopathy, 31% had a tonsil primary (6 N1, 7 N2, 1 N3, 7 Nx). It was a subdigastric adenopathy in 38%, a submandibular in 28% and a midjugulocarotidian in 23%. Among the 17 patients N2b, none had a tonsil primary. In the three patients N2c, two presented a tonsil carcinoma (two subdigastric nodes). CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy allows avoiding irradiation of normal larynx in 26% of patients who have a cervical lymph node with unknown primary. It should be performed in case of a single node of the subdigastric, midjugulocarotidian or submandibular area or bilateral subdigastric adenopathies.

Adult↗

[Thyroid metastases from cancer of the kidney. Two cases].

Non-thyroid cancers rarely metastases to the thyroid gland. Metastases can be divided into those with clinical expression and those identified at necropsy. Symptom producing thyroid metastases are usually due to a primary renal cell cancer. We report two cases of thyroid metastasis of a clear cell renal carcinoma. In the first case, an 82-year-old woman presented with an enlarged thyroid gland. This inaugural element led to the diagnosis of thyroid metastasis and identification of recurrent renal cell carcinoma which had been treated by radiotherapy 24 years earlier. After radiotherapy for a concomitant pulmonary metastasis, the patient is in good general health with no signs of recurrence. In the second case, increased thyroid volume led to signs of compression in a 71-year-old man. The pathology report after left lobular thyroidectomy suggested trabecular adenoma or metastasis of a clear-cell primary tumour. Abdominal CT-scan revealed a 3.5 cm tumour found to be a clear-cell renal carcinoma at nephrectomy. Another osteolytic metastasis to the femur was also observed three months after surgery. The patient is in good health 15 months after the initial diagnosis. The significance of thyroid metastasis of renal cell carcinoma would vary according to the different cases reported in the literature with survival ranging from 32 months to 3-7 years after surgical exeresis. Prognosis would thus not appear to be as poor as for thyroid metastasis from other primary tumours.

Aged↗

Simplified chronomodulated continuous infusion of floxuridine in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Numerous preclinical and clinical trials showed that circadian-modified 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (floxuridine; FUdR) infusion administered with a totally implantable programmable pump is associated with lower toxicity, higher dose intensity, and improved therapeutic outcome in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Between July 1988 and March 1991, the authors treated 30 patients with metastatic RCC with circadian-timed infusion FUdR at 0.15 mg/kg/day x 14 days at monthly intervals with a programmable portable pump. Time modification was simplified with one-third of the daily dose given between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m. and two-thirds given between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. The characteristics of the patients were as follows: 19 men; 11 women; median age, 60 years (range, 28-82 years); median World Health Organization (WHO) performance status: 2 (range: 0-3); 77% failed prior systemic treatment. The main sites of tumor involvement were lungs (70%) and bone (53%). RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight cycles were completed (median, 3 cycles per patient; range: 1-18 cycles per patient). Toxicity developed in 10 (33%) patients, primarily Grade 1-2 nausea/vomiting (6 patients), Grade 3 diarrhea (3 patients), and Grade 2 hand-foot syndrome (1 patient). In 28 patients evaluable for response, the authors observed four partial responses (14%; 95% confidence interval, 4-33%) and five stabilizations of the disease, including three minor responses. The median duration of response was 12 months (range, 8-24 months), and the median survival time was 6 months. CONCLUSION: Circadian continuous infusion FUdR may be an effective outpatient treatment for metastatic RCC, with low toxicity and good quality of life in responding patients.

Adult↗

[Long term continuous combination of cisplatin and 5 fluorouracil in advanced breast neoplasms. A retrospective study of 77 patients].

Seventy-seven pre-treated patients with advanced breast cancer were administered a combination chemotherapy with cisplatin 50 mg/sqm d1, 5-fluorouracil 300 mg/sqm/d protracted continuous infusion d1-d28, allopurinol 600 mg/d po d1-d28, q29d. Overall response rate was 26%, median survival time 46 weeks, survival rate 43.3% at 1 year, 20.2% at 2 years, 10.6% at 3 years. Response rate was rather high in CNS and meningeal involvement (6/10).

Adult↗