Palliative urinary diversion in patients with malignant ureteric obstruction due to gynaecological cancer

2019 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2019-001771
Author(s):  
Tamar Perri ◽  
Elad Meller ◽  
Gilad Ben-Baruch ◽  
Yael Inbar ◽  
Sara Apter ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo identify factors aiding the selection of patients with gynaecological cancer with malignant urinary obstruction who are least likely to benefit from palliative urinary diversion (UD), and to create a risk-stratification model for decision-making.MethodsThis historic cohort study comprised 74 consecutive patients with urinary obstruction resulting from gynaecological malignancies. All underwent palliative UD by percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). Using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier curves with the log-rank test, we developed a prognostic score identifying candidates least likely to benefit from the intervention.ResultsThe median follow-up was 4.72 (range 0–5.71) years. Hydronephrosis was diagnosed in most patients on recurrent or persistent disease (81%). It was bilateral in 37.8%. Intervention-related complications included urinary sepsis (8%), catheter dislodgment requiring replacement (17%) and gross haematuria necessitating blood transfusions (13%). After PCN, conversion to an internal ureteral stent was feasible in 46%. The median survival was 11.13 (range 0–67) months. Two patients died within a month of UD. Multivariate analysis identified diabetes mellitus (DM), poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status >1 and ascites as significant negative survival factors. A prognostic index based on those factors identified the short-term and long-term survivors. Risk factor-based mortality HRs were 11.37 (95% CI 4.12 to 31.37) with one factor, 26.57 (95% CI 9.14 to 77.26) with two factors and 67.25 (95% CI 15.6 to 289.63) with three factors (all with p<0.0001).ConclusionsOur proposed prognostic index, based on ascites, ECOG performance status and DM, might help select patients with gynaecological cancer least likely to benefit from palliative UD.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8103-8103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Johansen ◽  
Mogens Karsboel Boisen ◽  
Anders Mellemgaard ◽  
Bente Holm

8103 Background: Physician-reported Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (MD-PS) is a reliable prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and has a major influence on treatment decisions. MD-PS is also used to quantify cancer patients' general well-being and activities of daily life. The extent and prognostic importance of disagreements between MD-PS and cancer patients' self-reported ECOG PS (Pt-PS) have not been adequately evaluated. Methods: Four hundred and sixty consecutive patients with lung cancer (LC) were referred to the Dept. of Oncology at Herlev University Hospital, Denmark, from February 1 2012 to January 31 2013. Three hundred and forty-seven (75%) of these patients were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, LC biomarker study, “LUCAS”. Patients assessed their own Pt-PS in a questionnaire at first visit. Treating physicians scored the MD-PS at first visit. Results: Fifty-four (16%) LUCAS patients had missing PS data (39 no Pt-PS; 14 no MD-PS; 1 neither). LUCAS patients were significantly younger than the total LC population (mean age, 68.1 vs. 71.1; t-test: p < 0.01). The MD-PS and Pt-PS were distributed differently in the LUCAS cohort: PS=0 (121 vs. 76), PS=1 (147 vs. 145), PS=2 (39 vs. 54), PS=3 (25 vs. 30), PS=4 (0 vs. 2) (X2 test: p < 0.01). In 170 (58%) cases the physician and patient were in concordance. In 24 (8%) cases the MD-PS scored the patient in poorer PS compared to the Pt-PS. In 99 (34%) cases the MD-PS scored the patient in better PS than the Pt-PS. In 11 (4%) cases the physician scored a PS value more than 1 different from the patient; all were towards a better PS. The median OS in the total cohort (460 patients) was 9.7 months. MD-PS and Pt-PS were both effective in predicting OS. For patients with MD-PS = 0, a poorer Pt-PS did not significantly predict worse outcome. However, for patients with MD-PS = 1, there was a trend (HR 1.98, p = 0.08; log rank test) towards worse outcome if Pt-PS was > 1. Conclusions: Oncologists and patients frequently disagree regarding PS. The physicians tend to note a better PS score than the patients. The differences between MD-PS and Pt-PS could influence the prognostic value. It may be beneficial in clinical practice to involve patients in PS assessments.


2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1309-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hervé Tilly ◽  
Nicolas Mounier ◽  
Pierre Lederlin ◽  
Josette Brière ◽  
Brigitte Dupriez ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To compare a short intensified regimen followed by sequential consolidation therapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone [ACVBP]) to the standard regimen of methotrexate, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (m-BACOD) in patients with low-risk aggressive lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 752 patients with intermediate- or high-grade lymphoma and no adverse prognostic factors (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 to 4, ≥ two extranodal sites of disease, tumor burden ≥ 10 cm in largest dimension, bone marrow or CNS involvement, Burkitt’s or lymphoblastic subtypes) were registered. Of 673 eligible patients, 332 received ACVBP and 341 received m-BACOD. RESULTS: The complete remission rate was identical (86%) in the two groups. With a median follow-up duration of 7 years, the 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) rate was 65% in the ACVBP group and 61% in the m-BACOD group (P = .16). The 5-year overall survival rate was 75% in the ACVBP group and 73% in the m-BACOD group (P = .47). ACVBP was responsible for more severe and life-threatening infections (P < .01), but m-BACOD caused more pulmonary toxicity (P < .001). The number of treatment-related deaths did not differ between the two regimens. A multivariate analysis indicated that ACVBP was associated with a longer FFS in patients with two or three risk factors of the International Prognostic Index. CONCLUSION: In this population of patients with low-risk aggressive lymphoma, toxicities of the regimens are different, but the rates of response and survival are identical. The survival advantage of ACVBP over standard regimen in patients with advanced disease is suggested by this analysis but remains to be assessed in prospective studies specifically designed for this purpose.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Dzierżanowski ◽  
Tomasz Gradalski ◽  
Michael Kozlowski

Abstract Background: Measuring functional status in palliative care may help clinicians to assess a patient’s prognosis, recommend adequate therapy, avoid futile or aggressive medical care, consider hospice referral, and evaluate provided rehabilitation outcomes. An optimized, widely used, and validated tool is preferable. The Palliative Performance Scale Version 2 (PPSv2) is currently one of the most commonly used performance scales in palliative settings. The aim of this study is the translation and validation process of a Polish translation of this tool (PPSv2-Polish). Methods: Two hundred patients consecutively admitted to a free-standing hospice were evaluated twice during 2 consecutive days for test-retest reliability. In the first evaluation, two different care providers independently evaluated the same patient to establish inter-rater reliability values. PPS-Polish was compared with the Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (ECOG PS), and Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index to determine its construct validity. Results: A high level of full agreement between test and retest was seen (63%), and a good intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.85 (P<0.0001) was achieved. Excellent agreement between raters was observed when using PPSv2-Polish (Cohen’s kappa 0.91; P<0.0001). Satisfactory correlations with the KPS and good correlations with ECOG PS and Barthel ADL were noticed. Persons who had shorter prognoses and were predominantly bedridden also had lower scores measured by the PPSv2-Polish, KPS and Barthel ADL. A strong correlation of 0.77 between PPSv2-Polish scores and survival time was noted (P<0.0001). Moderate survival correlations were seen between KPS, ECOG PS, and Barthel ADL of 0.41; -0.62; and 0.58, respectively (P<0.0001). Conclusion: PPSv2-Polish is a valid and reliable tool measuring performance status in a hospice population and can be used in daily clinical practice in palliative care and research.


1987 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 1240-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
S S Legha ◽  
N E Papadopoulos ◽  
C Plager ◽  
S Ring ◽  
S P Chawla ◽  
...  

Based on the reports of activity of interferons against metastatic melanomas, we conducted a phase II study of recombinant interferon alfa-2a (Roferon-A, Hoffmann-La Roche, Nutley, NJ) in 66 patients with disseminated melanoma. All patients had excellent Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (0 to 1), and no evidence of brain metastases. Thirty patients had previously received chemotherapy and the remainder were untreated. The first 35 patients were treated on a daily schedule starting with a Roferon-A dose of 3 X 10(6) U/d and escalating to a maximum of 36 X 10(6) U/d over a period of 12 days. Because of excessive toxicity, the second group of 31 patients were treated on a fixed dose of 18 X 10(6) U/d [corrected] three times weekly (TIW). Among the 62 evaluable patients, five achieved an objective response for a response rate of 8% (95% confidence limits, 3% to 18%). Four patients had minor regressions and eight patients had stability of disease. The responses were evenly distributed between the two dose schedules. The major toxicity of interferon consisted of a constitutional syndrome of anorexia, fever, weight loss, and fatigue, which required a dose reduction in 75% of the patients on the daily schedule. Our data revealed a modest level of activity, which was not influenced by prior treatment or by the dose or schedule of interferon. Because of substantial toxicity with the daily schedule, we recommend a dose of 18 X 10(6) U/d [corrected] if interferon is used in the treatment of patients with melanoma.


Author(s):  
Reema Shyamsunder Shukla ◽  
Yogender Aggarwal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Sinha ◽  
Shreeniwas S. Raut

Breast Cancer (BC) is the leading cause of death in women, worldwide. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of BC can be studied using HRV measures. The main purpose of this chapter is to give an insight to clinicians via HRV measures with respect to age to make them understand the PS of patients. Data from 114 BC patients was segregated into two age groups, G1 (20 to 40 years) and G2 (41 to 75 years). The 5-minute electrocardiogram of the subjects was taken and HRV measures were extracted. One-way ANOVA with Posthoc Tukeys' HSD test was done. Triangular Index, Ratio of standard deviation of poincare plot perpendicular to the line of identity to the standard deviation along line of identity, Detrended Fluctuation Analysis descriptors, Approximate Entropy, Sample Entropy and Correlation Dimension significantly decreased from ECOG0 to 4 and from G1 to G2. The sympathetic activity increased with vagal withdrawal as age advanced.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Chamberlain ◽  
Sheima Farag ◽  
Constance Williams-Sharkey ◽  
Cecilia Collingwood ◽  
Lucia Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Regorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor approved as third line treatment for metastatic GIST. Dose limiting toxicities are frequently seen and many patients require dose reductions. This study aimed to evaluate regorafenib toxicities and their management in a real-world GIST population. Methods Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database identified 50 patients with GIST treated with regorafenib at our centre between March 2013 and September 2018. Results Median progression free survival (PFS) was 7.7 months [interquartile range (IQR) 2.8–14.4 months]. Median overall survival (OS) from start of regorafenib to death or last follow up was 15.7 months (IQR 9.2–28.4 months). Baseline median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status on starting regorafenib was 1. The main reason for discontinuing regorafenib was progressive disease (PD) (31/50 [62%]) rather than toxicity (10/50 [20%]). Grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) were seen in 23/50 (46%) patients; palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) was most frequently seen (9/50 (18%)). Two patients died whilst on treatment with regorafenib from multi-organ failure secondary to sepsis (4%). Dose reductions were required in 19/50 patients (38%) and 8/50 (16%) patients started regorafenib at a lower dose band than the recommended dose (160 mg) due to comorbidities or concern over a higher individual risk of toxicity. Conclusion Although PD was the main reason for discontinuing treatment, toxicity management and dosing of regorafenib remains critical. Median duration of treatment was longer compared to previous studies suggesting a durable clinical benefit with regorafenib with rigorous toxicity management.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112972982096290
Author(s):  
Alessio Piredda ◽  
Davide Radice ◽  
Claudia Zencovich ◽  
Martina Cerri ◽  
Lucia Aventino ◽  
...  

Introduction: Aim of this study was to analyze the overall complication and failure rates of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs), in a 1-year consecutive unselected cohort of 482 adult patients, affected by non-hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Adult outpatients (aged 18–75 years), with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0–2, bearing solid tumors and candidates for intravenous chemotherapy were eligible for the study. Exclusion criteria were active infections, coagulopathy (defined as platelet count <50,000/μL and/or prothrombin time more than 18 s), life expectancy <6 months, or inability to give written informed consent. Devices were all implanted in an outpatients’ hospital facility, following predefined evidence-based institutional guidelines and protocols by a PICC-dedicated team at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy, during the 12-month period from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Results: Five-hundred PICCs were implanted in a cohort of 482 patients during the time interval of this study. Thirty devices were overall removed (6.2%), 23 as a consequence of a complication occurred, and seven inadvertently. The inserted PICCs accounted for a total of 49,718 catheter days in situ, median duration was 85.5 days [interquartile range (IQR): 56–146]. Overall there were 42 (8.7%) complications, corresponding to 0.84 catheter-adverse events (CAE)/1000 PICC-days (95% CI: 0.61–1.14). There were N = 13 (2.7%) thromboses, N = 11 (2.3%) irreversible occlusions, N = 7 (1.5%) accidental removals, N = 5 (1.0%) infections [two Catheter Related Blood Stream Infection (CRBSI) and three exit site/local infection], N = 3 (0.6%) ruptures and N = 3 (0.6%) primary or secondary malpositions. Conclusion: This large prospective study supports the increasing use of PICCs in adult oncology outpatients treated in specialized centers with chemotherapy for non-hematological malignancies. In this clinical setting, PICC failure occurred in 6% only of the inserted devices.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Chul Choi ◽  
Yong-Man Kim ◽  
Jeong-Won Lee ◽  
Yong Jae Lee ◽  
Dong Hoon Suh ◽  
...  

This study investigated the antitumor activity and safety of pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent cervical cancer in real-world practice. We conducted a multi-center retrospective study of patients with recurrent or persistent cervical cancer treated with pembrolizumab at sixteen institutions in Korea between January 2016 and March 2020. The primary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and safety. Data were available for 117 patients. The median age was 53 years (range, 28–79). Sixty-four (54.7%) patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≥2. Forty-nine (41.9%) patients were stage ≥III at diagnosis. Eighty-eight (75.2%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma. The median number of prior chemotherapy lines was two (range, 1–6). During the median follow-up of 4.9 months (range, 0.2–35.3), the ORR was 9.4%, with three complete responses and eight partial responses. The median time to response was 2.8 months (range 1.3–13.1), and the median duration of response (DOR) was not reached. In the population of patients with favorable performance status (ECOG ≤1) (n = 53), the ORR was 18.9%, and the median DOR was 8.9 months (range, 7.3–10.4). Adverse events occurred in 55 (47.0%) patients, including eight (6.8%) patients who experienced grade ≥3 events, and two of them were suspicious treatment-related deaths. Pembrolizumab had modest antitumor activity in patients with recurrent cervical cancer comparable to that found in previously reported clinical trials. However, in patients with favorable performance status, pembrolizumab showed effective antitumor activity. Some safety profiles should be carefully monitored during treatment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 1405-1414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanassios Argiris ◽  
Musie Ghebremichael ◽  
Jill Gilbert ◽  
Ju-Whei Lee ◽  
Kamakshi Sachidanandam ◽  
...  

Purpose We hypothesized that the addition of gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to docetaxel would enhance therapeutic efficacy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Patients and Methods Patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2, or patients with ECOG performance status of 0 to 2 but were previously treated with chemotherapy, were randomly assigned to receive weekly docetaxel plus either placebo (arm A) or gefitinib 250 mg/d, orally (arm B) until disease progression. At the time of progression, patients in the placebo arm could receive single-agent gefitinib. EGFR, c-MET, and KRAS mutations and polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters were evaluated by pyrosequencing. Results Two hundred seventy patients were enrolled before the study was closed early at interim analysis (arm A, n = 136; arm B, n = 134). Median overall survival was 6.0 months in arm A versus 7.3 months in arm B (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.21; P = .60). An unplanned subset analysis showed that gefitinib improved survival in patients younger than 65 years (median 7.6 v 5.2 months; P = .04). Also, there was a trend for improved survival in patients with c-MET wild-type (5.7 v 3.6 months; P = .09) regardless of treatment. Grade 3/4 toxicities were comparable between the two arms except that grade 3/4 diarrhea was more common with docetaxel/gefitinib. Of 18 eligible patients who received gefitinib after disease progression in arm A, one patient had a partial response. Conclusion The addition of gefitinib to docetaxel was well tolerated but did not improve outcomes in poor prognosis but otherwise unselected patients with SCCHN.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document