Entries Tagged as 'Lancet Oncol'
Nadroparin for the prevention of thromboembolic events in ambulatory patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid cancer receiving chemotherapy: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
Lancet Oncol. 2009 Oct;10(10):943-9
Authors: Agnelli G, Gussoni G, Bianchini C, Verso M, Mandalà M, Cavanna L, Barni S, Labianca R, Buzzi F, Scambia G, Passalacqua R, Ricci S, Gasparini G, Lorusso V, Bonizzoni E, Tonato M,
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are needed to assess the clinical benefit of antithrombotic prophylaxis in patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy, since these patients are at an increased risk of developing a thromboembolism. We did a trial to assess the clinical benefit of the low-molecular-weight heparin nadroparin for the prophylaxis of thromboembolic events in ambulatory patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic or locally advanced solid cancer. METHODS: Between October, 2003, and May, 2007, ambulatory patients with lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, or head and neck cancer were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive subcutaneous injections of nadroparin (3800 IU anti-Xa once a day, n=779) or placebo (n=387), in a 2:1 ratio. Study treatment was given for the duration of chemotherapy up to a maximum of 4 months. The primary study outcome was the composite of symptomatic venous or arterial thromboembolic events, as assessed by an independent adjudication committee. All randomised patients who received at least one dose of study treatment were included in the efficacy and safety analyses (modified intention-to-treat population). The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 00951574. FINDINGS: 1150 patients were included in the primary efficacy and safety analyses: 769 patients in the nadroparin group and 381 patients in the placebo group. 15 (2.0%) of 769 patients treated with nadroparin and 15 (3.9%) of 381 patients treated with placebo had a thromboembolic event (single-sided p=0.02). Five (0.7%) of 769 patients in the nadroparin group and no patients in the placebo group had a major bleeding event (two-sided p=0.18). The incidences of minor bleeding were 7.4% (57 of 769) with nadroparin and 7.9% (30 of 381) with placebo. There were 121 (15.7%) serious adverse events in the nadroparin goup and 67 (17.6%) serious adverse events in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION: Nadroparin reduces the incidence of thromboembolic events in ambulatory patients with metastatic or locally advanced cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. Future studies should focus on patients who are at a high risk for thromboembolic events. FUNDING: Italfarmaco SpA, Milan, Italy.
PMID: 19726226 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Lung infections after cancer chemotherapy.
Lancet Oncol. 2008 Oct;9(10):982-92
Authors: Vento S, Cainelli F, Temesgen Z
Lung infections can be severe consequences of chemotherapy-induced immune defects. Aetiological causes of infection include bacteria (most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Nocardia species), viruses (eg, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus A and B, and cytomegalovirus), and fungi (eg, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Mucorales species, and Pneumocystis jirovecii). Most infections are caused by bacteria (especially Gram negative), but viruses are being increasingly identified. Diagnosis is difficult and frequently time-consuming. Treatment can be ineffective for many patients, particularly those with fungal infection. The greatest hope for the future is the availability of more targeted anticancer drugs that have fewer side-effects on the immune system.
PMID: 19071255 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Use of lipoteichoic acid-T for pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion: a phase I toxicity and dose-escalation study.
Lancet Oncol. 2008 Oct;9(10):946-52
Authors: Rahman NM, Davies HE, Salzberg M, Truog P, Midgely R, Kerr D, Clelland C, Hedley EL, Lee YC, Davies RJ
BACKGROUND: Bacterial infection of the pleural space often causes adherence of the pleural membranes by fibrous tissue, probably mediated by inflammation initiated by bacterial cell-wall motifs, including lipoteichoic acid-T (LTA-T). We postulated that therapeutically administered LTA-T might produce a similar effect, achieving control of malignant pleural effusion (pleurodesis). METHODS: Patients with histocytologically proven symptomatic malignant pleural effusions were included in this phase I toxicity and dose-escalation study, An indwelling pleural catheter was placed in the pleural effusion to drain the fluid fully. A control dose of intrapleural saline was administered after complete drainage (day 1) and pleural-fluid production was recorded for 7 days. On day 7 a single dose of intrapleural LTA-T (increasing in each patient) was administered and pleural-fluid production was monitored for a further 7 days. Long-term fluid control was recorded. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, ISRCTN44367564. FINDINGS: Between November, 2004, and November, 2005, 14 patients were enrolled on the trial at the Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine (Oxford, UK). 13 of 14 patients received escalated doses of LTA-T. A dose-limiting toxic effect (ie, systemic inflammation) occurred at 3000 microg, and a therapeutic dose of 750-1500 microg was established. Toxic effects were mild and had no consistent pattern at the therapeutic dose. Pleural-fluid production decreased significantly after a dose of at least 750 microg LTA-T, compared with saline control (mean fluid production after saline control 1244 mL [SD 933], mean fluid production after LTA-T 394 mL [SD 375], mean difference -850 mL [SD 699], p=0.028), and six of seven (86%) patients achieved pleural-fluid control at 1 month with no further intervention. INTERPRETATION: The toxic effects of intrapleural LTA-T seem to be mild and favourable when compared with the toxicity profiles of standard pleurodesis agents. There is early evidence of LTA-T-induced pleurodesis efficacy, suggesting that this might be a viable therapeutic strategy for the control of malignant pleural effusion.
PMID: 18775668 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Management of venous thromboembolism in patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lancet Oncol. 2008 Jun;9(6):577-84
Authors: Noble SI, Shelley MD, Coles B, Williams SM, Wilcock A, Johnson MJ,
Venous thromboembolism is common in patients with cancer. However, no management guidelines exist for venous thromboembolism specific to patients with advanced progressive cancer. To help develop recommendations for practice, we have done a comprehensive review of anticoagulation treatment in patients with cancer, with particular focus on studies that included patients with advanced disease. Data from 19 publications, including randomised, prospective, and retrospective studies suggest that: long-term full-dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is more effective than warfarin in the secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer of any stage, performance status, or prognosis; warfarin should not be used in patients with advancing progressive disease; and in patients at high risk of bleeding, full-dose LMWH for 7 days followed by a long-term decreased fixed dose long term can be considered. The optimum treatment duration is unclear, but because the prothrombotic tendency will persist in patients with advanced cancer, indefinite treatment is generally recommended. For patients with contraindications to anticoagulation, inferior-vena-caval filters can be considered, but their use needs careful patient selection. Ultimately, the decision to initiate, continue, and stop anticoagulation will need to be made on an individual basis, guided by the available evidence, the patient’s circumstances, and their informed preferences.
PMID: 18510989 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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