Effects of the leucovorin shortage: Pilot study investigating cost, efficacy, and toxicity comparison of low fixed-dose versus body surface area-adjusted leucovorin dosing in patients with resectable colon or metastatic colorectal cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon R Shank ◽  
Amy H Seung ◽  
Katharine Kinsman ◽  
Matthew J Newman ◽  
Ross C Donehower ◽  
...  

Purpose As a result of the leucovorin shortage, we switched from BSA-adjusted to low fixed-dose leucovorin in patients with colon cancer receiving fluorouracil-containing therapy. Methods A retrospective, pilot study of adults receiving intravenous leucovorin as part of a fluorouracil-containing treatment was conducted including individuals with stage II or III colon or newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer. One low fixed-dose (leucovorin 50 mg) patient was matched by the investigator to one BSA-adjusted (leucovorin 200–500 mg/m2/dose) patient on disease stage and age. The objectives were to compare cost of alternative dosing strategies as well as efficacy and adverse event rates. Only patients being treated in the first-line metastatic colorectal cancer setting were included in the efficacy analysis. Results Fifty-eight patients were included. Leucovorin cost was reduced by 7- to 14-fold, and we were able to conserve a total of 1580–3400 doses of leucovorin by changing to fixed-dose (estimated from 200 mg/m2 or 400 mg/m2 dosing strategies, respectively). No statistically significant differences in progression-free survival ( p = 0.254), overall survival ( p = 0.923), or complications resulted. Conclusion Our decision to reduce the dose of leucovorin allowed us to conserve supply and control cost. The small sample size did not allow us to detect differences in efficacy or adverse event rates, and thus a larger study would be required to confirm our findings that efficacy was not compromised nor adverse effects greater.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 23-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Pescott ◽  
Michael Batech ◽  
Emmanuelle Boutmy ◽  
Philippe Ronga ◽  
Francois-Xavier Lamy

23 Background: Cetuximab (CET) administered weekly (q1w) at 250 mg/m², after an initial dose of 400 mg/m², is approved in combination with chemotherapy (CT) for the treatment of (K) RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The use of CET 500 mg/m2 administered with CT every 2 weeks (q2w) is according to US clinical practice guidelines and observed routinely. In this study, we compared q2w vs q1w regimens on overall survival (OS) in a presumed first-line (1L) treatment subcohort and present updated data on the noninferiority of q2w vs q1w in line-agnostic (1L+) treatment using US real-world data. Methods: Using IBM MarketScan, a large US insurance claims database, we classified a cohort of mCRC patients treated between 07/2010 and 12/2016 with CET+CT as q1w or q2w based on observed infusion patterns. Absence of mCRC-related treatment claims preceding CET initiation date (defined as the index date) qualified as CET treated in 1L. A validated algorithm was used to determine patient death. Confounding was accounted for using high-dimensional propensity scoring (hdPS) with inverse probability of treatment weights. OS was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Imbalanced confounders after hdPS were added to the Cox model. In 1L+, noninferiority of the q2w regimen was tested with a margin hazard ratio (HR) of 1.25. However, noninferiority could not be tested in 1L due to the small sample size; a test for difference was used instead. Results: Of 2,730 CET-exposed mCRC patients (updated), 1,779 (65.2%) and 951 (34.8%) were classified in q1w and q2w groups, respectively, among which 557 (31.3%) and 316 (33.2%) received CET in 1L. The HR (95% CI) for OS of q2w vs q1w in 1L was 1.10 (0.92-1.31; crude), and 1.05 (0.86-1.29; adjusted; p for difference: 0.625). In 1L+, crude and adjusted HRs were 1.05 (0.94-1.18) and 0.94 (0.85-1.03), respectively, rejecting the inferiority hypothesis at p < 0.001. Conclusions: Only a third of patients received CET in 1L in this study. OS was statistically noninferior in q2w vs q1w in 1L+, and adjusted results in 1L suggest no differences between both treatment schedules. However, more data would be needed to formally test the noninferiority hypothesis in 1L.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15054-e15054
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Kratz ◽  
Noelle K. LoConte ◽  
Sam Joseph Lubner ◽  
Daniel Mulkerin ◽  
Kristina Matkowskyj ◽  
...  

e15054 Background: Molecular testing and location of the primary tumor (right-sided (R) versus (vs) left-sided (L)) are useful in predicting the clinical benefit of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies, cetuximab (cet) and panitumumab (pan), in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We hypothesized that tumor bulk might also be predictive of treatment benefit given the potential for increased intra-tumor heterogeneity and reduced penetration of antibodies into bulkier lesions. Methods: A single institution retrospective cohort of 69 patients (pts) with KRAS wild-type mCRC were identified who received either cet or pan in the late-line setting +/- chemotherapy. Metastatic sites were cataloged including independent review of CT imaging prior to initiation of anti-EGFR therapy. Disease bulk was defined categorically as single metastatic lesion with diameter measuring > 3.0 cm. Results: This cohort represents a diverse group having received varying prior lines of therapy and having assorted disease sites including mediastinal, pulmonary, hepatic, omental, and osseous lesions. When treated with anti-EGFR therapies, pts with pre-treatment metastases ≤3.0 cm in diameter had significant improvement in median progression free survival (mPFS) (6.2 months (mos)) vs pts with metastases > 3.0 cm (3.9 mos, p < 0.01). A trend towards improvement in overall survival was observed for pts with non-bulky (15.8 mos) vs bulky disease (8.6 mos, p = 0.08). A trend towards increased mPFS existed in L (5.1 mos) vs R cancers (2.5 mos, p = 0.11). In R cancers, no significant difference in mPFS was noted between bulky (2.5 mos) and non-bulky disease (2.9 mos, p = 0.53). Non-bulky L cancers had a significantly improved mPFS of 7.5 mos compared to 3.9 mos with L bulky disease (p < 0.01). Non-bulky L cancers trended towards improved overall survival of 17.0 mos compared to 9.6 mos with L bulky disease (p = 0.08). Conclusions: Despite limited small sample size, these data indicate that tumor bulk is a potential predictor of the therapeutic benefit of anti-EGFR agents in left-sided mCRCs across a heterogeneous pt population. Disease bulk deserves further evaluation in larger datasets of mCRC across targeted therapeutics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 776-776
Author(s):  
Eleonora Cerchiaro ◽  
Michela Squadroni ◽  
Maria Grazia Sauta ◽  
Maria Bonomi ◽  
Federica Brena ◽  
...  

776 Background: The main objective of care in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is survival prolongation preserving the quality of life (QoL). Optimal duration of chemotherapy after induction treatment is still a matter of debate, such as the treatment strategies that could be adopted (intermittent versus continuous maintenance chemotherapy). Methods: In this monoinstitutional retrospective study we evaluated 70 patients (pts) diagnosed with mCRC with stable or responsive disease after chemotherapy with Bevacizumab (12 courses of FOLFIRI-Bevacizumab) as first or second-line treatment. We observed three groups: group A (20pts): maintenance therapy with de Gramont-Bevacizumab 2 months on/2 months off until disease progression (intermittent strategy); group B (30 pts): no maintenance treatment; group C (20 pts): induction treatment exclusively as first line followed by continuous maintenance with de Gramont-Bevacizumab. Results: Median progression free survival (PFS) was 21 months in Group A (range: 10-51 months), 9 months in Group B (range 6.6-12.9 months), 11 months in groups C (range 10.4-13.3 months), the difference resulted significant among group in favor of intermittent strategy (p = 0.006). Median OS was 60.6 months (range: 35.6-96.2 months) in group A, 27.2 months (range 19.5-39.9 months) in group B and 23.6 months in group C (range: 19.1-31 months); p = 0.0011. The most frequent adverse events of all grades were: hypertension, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, asthenia. No toxic death was observed. Adverse events (AEs) of all grades were more frequent in group C (15% Grade 3-4), comparing with Group A and B (10% Grade 3-4 AEs) Conclusions: According to our retrospective analysis, intermittent maintenance treatment with chemotherapy and Bevacizumab appears to be a feasible strategy in pts with stable or responsive disease. PFS and OS resulted longer in patients treated with intermittent strategy comparing with other groups. The study has at least three bias: selection of patients, small sample size and retrospective nature, however we can conclude that intermittent strategy could improve patients outcome with an acceptable toxicity profile.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 718-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Cong Ruan ◽  
Yue-Ping Che ◽  
Li Ding ◽  
Hai-Feng Li

Background: Pre-treated patients with first-line treatment can be offered a second treatment with the aim of improving their poor clinical prognosis. The therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who did not respond to first-line therapy has limited treatment options. Recently, many studies have paid much attention to the efficacy of bevacizumab as an adjuvant treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy compared with bevacizumab-naive based chemotherapy as second-line treatment in people with metastatic CRC. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for eligible studies updated to March 2018. Randomized-controlled trials comparing addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy without bevacizumab in MCRC patients were included, of which, the main interesting results were the efficacy and safety profiles of the addition of bevacizumab in patients with MCRC as second-line therapy. Result: Five trials were eligible in the meta-analysis. Patients who received the combined bevacizumab and chemotherapy treatment in MCRC as second-line therapy showed a longer overall survival (OS) (OR=0.80,95%CI=0.72-0.89, P<0.0001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (OR=0.69,95%CI=0.61-0.77, P<0.00001). In addition, there was no significant difference in objective response rate (ORR) (RR=1.36,95%CI=0.82-2.24, P=0.23) or severe adverse event (SAE) (RR=1.02,95%CI=0.88-1.19, P=0.78) between bevacizumab-based chemotherapy and bevacizumabnaive based chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the addition of bevacizumab to the chemotherapy therapy could be an efficient and safe treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as second-line therapy and without increasing the risk of an adverse event.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6285
Author(s):  
Sandra Misiak-Kwit ◽  
Małgorzata Wiścicka-Fernando ◽  
Kelaniyage Shihan Dilruk Fernando

In this manuscript, the authors aim to explore firstly the association between entrepreneurial mindset and co-creation experience, secondly the association between co-creation experience and entrepreneurial intentions, and thirdly the association between entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial intentions within the sustainability context. In this paper, the authors present the results of the pilot study. Primary data were collected from 500 university students from China, Georgia, Poland, Romania, and Sri Lanka by using a convenient sampling technique, and a literature review was the primary method of the concept development. The authors selected the above-mentioned countries to collect primary data by using a convenient sampling technique based on accessibility; they also visited all analysed countries in order to conduct the pilot survey personally. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were applied as primary statistical methods. The findings reveal that there is a very strong association between co-creation experience and entrepreneurial intentions, a very weak negative association between entrepreneurial mindset and co-creation experience, and, surprisingly, a weak association between entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial intentions. The added value of the conducted pilot research involves filling in a gap regarding the relationship between experience and the subjective norm. In the presented pilot research, co-creation experience was compared with not only entrepreneurial mindset but with entrepreneurial intentions as well. An additional value of this exploratory research is compiling an international comparison. The main contribution of this pilot study is examining the symbiotic mutualism between co-creation and entrepreneurship. Among many platforms of associations, the following can be differentiated: creativity, innovativeness, openness, engagement, awareness, motivation, trust (level of social capital), and recognizing the significance of social and sustainable development objectives. Due to the small sample size, the results cannot be generalised. Results refer only to the respondents. However, the findings of the pilot study are the basis for further research studies on symbiotic mutualism between entrepreneurship and co-creation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gorsler ◽  
Ulrike Grittner ◽  
Nadine Külzow ◽  
Torsten Rackoll

Abstract Objective Neglect after stroke is a disabling disorder and its rehabilitation is a major challenge. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) seems to be a promising adjuvant technique to improve standard care neglect therapy. Since electric fields are influenced by age-related factors, higher current densities are probably needed for effective treatment in aged stroke patients. Validation of treatment efficacy requires sham-controlled experiments, but increased current densities might comprise blinding. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted to test sham adequacy when using current density of 0.8 A/m2. Whether especially neglect patients who mainly suffer from perceptual and attentional deficits are able to differentiate beyond chance active from sham tDCS was investigated in a randomized cross-over design (active/sham stimulation) in 12 early subacute patients with left-sided hemineglect. Stimulation (0.8 A/m2) was performed simultaneous to standard care neglect therapy. Results Odds ratio of correct guessing an atDCS condition compared to wrongly judge an atDCS condition as sham was 10.00 (95%CI 0.65–154.40, p = 0.099). However, given the small sample size and high OR, although likely somewhat overestimated, results require careful interpretation and blinding success in neglect studies with current densities of 0.8 A/m2 should be further confirmed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 193229682110111
Author(s):  
Sarah Nadeem ◽  
Uswah Siddiqi ◽  
Russell Seth Martins ◽  
Kaleemullah Badini

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus technology (DMT) is increasingly used for routine management in developed countries, yet its uptake in developing countries is not as consistent. Multiple factors may influence this, including country specific patient perception regarding DMT. We conducted a pilot study in Pakistan to understand this important question which has not been studied yet. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in Pakistan. An anonymous survey exploring perceptions of diabetes technology was circulated on social media platforms, collecting responses over 2 weeks. Target population included adults (≥18 years) living in Pakistan, with DM1 or 2. Results: A total of 40 responses were received. The majority (36/40) reported using conventional glucometers. Nine used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Thirty-two of 40 patients believed DMT improved diabetes care, 22 felt it helped decreased risk of Diabetes-related complications. 15/40 stated that DMT results in increased cost of care. Sixteen reported their diabetes care teams had never discussed wearable DMT options whereas 11 disliked them because they did not want a device on their self. Conclusion: In our pilot study we have identified broad themes of opportunity and challenges to DMT use in Pakistan. Patients’ perceptions regarding DMT were generally positive but significant barriers to its acceptance included high cost, lack of discussion between doctor and patient about available technology and personal hesitation. Limitations of our study include sampling bias (online survey) and small sample size, but this data can help inform larger studies, to look at this important topic in greater detail.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 57-57
Author(s):  
Hideaki Bando ◽  
Daisuke Kotani ◽  
Masahito Kotaka ◽  
Akihito Kawazoe ◽  
Toshiki Masuishi ◽  
...  

57 Background: FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (BEV) is regarded as the standard of care for selected patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), despite the high incidence of neutropenia and diarrhea. The AXEPT phase III study showed that the modified capecitabine (CAP) + irinotecan (IRI) + BEV (CAPIRI+BEV) [CAP 1600 mg/m2, IRI 200 mg/m2, and BEV 7.5 mg/kg q3wk] treatment was non-inferior to FOLFIRI+BEV, with a lower incidence of hematologic toxicity. We hypothesized that the modified CAPIRI combined with oxaliplatin (OX) and BEV (CAPOXIRI+BEV) would be more feasible than FOLFOXIRI+BEV, without compromising efficacy. Methods: The QUATTRO-II study is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II study. In Step 1, the recommended doses (RD) of OX and IRI were investigated as a safety lead-in. In Step 2, pts are randomized to either the RD of CAPOXIRI+BEV or FOLFOXIRI+BEV. In Step 1, four dose levels of CAPOXIRI (fixed dose of CAP 1600 mg/m2 and BEV 7.5 mg/kg plus escalated or de-escalated doses of OX and IRI, q3wk) were investigated in a 3+3 manner. A dose level of ≤ 2/6 of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) cases was expected as the RD. Results: A total of 9 pts (3 at Level 0, 6 at Level 1) were included in Step 1. The baseline characteristics were as follows: the median age was 62 years; 6 were male; 6 presented with a left-sided tumor; 8 had a performance status of 0; all wild type/ RAS mutant/ BRAF V600E mutant were 8/1/0; and UGT1A1 wild type/*6 single hetero/*28 single hetero were 7/0/2. In Level 0 (IRI 200 mg/m2, OX 100 mg/m2), one grade 4 neutropenia and one grade 3 anorexia were observed, but without DLT. In Level 1 (IRI 200 mg/m2, OX 130 mg/m2), two grade 4 neutropenia and one grade 3 colitis were observed, with 1 DLT (febrile neutropenia) case, fully recovered without G-CSF administration. No treatment-related deaths were observed. Although dose modifications were needed in 4 of the 6 pts, no further safety concerns related to treatment continuity were observed in the 2nd or subsequent cycles. Thus, we determined that the dose administered in Level 1 is the RD for Step 2. According to the preliminary efficacy results at 8 weeks after initiating study treatment, 6 pts achieved a partial response (2 in Level 0 and 4 in Level 1). Conclusions: The RD of CAPOXIRI+BEV was 200 mg/m2 IRI, 130 mg/m2 OX, 1600 mg/m2 CAP, and 7.5mg/kg BEV. The randomized phase II Step (Step 2) of QUATTRO-II is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04097444.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15511-e15511
Author(s):  
Mojun Zhu ◽  
Douglas W. Mahoney ◽  
Kelli Burger ◽  
Patrick H. Foote ◽  
Karen A. Doering ◽  
...  

e15511 Background: Aberrantly methylated DNA marker (MDM) candidates are strongly associated with primary colorectal cancer (CRC) before treatment and detect CRC recurrence with high sensitivity when assayed from plasma. The relationship of these MDMs in association to chemotherapy treatment response is unknown. Methods: In a prospective cohort of patients receiving systemic therapy for advanced CRC, peripheral blood was collected serially during restaging visits. 15 patients were retrospectively identified to have partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) to treatment (n=5 for each group) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Using paired samples from each patient before and after response assessment, we analyzed 11 MDMs ( GRIN2D, ZNF671, ANKRD13B, QKI, VAV3, JAM3, SFMBT2, CHST2, ZNF568, FER1L4 and CNNM1) to assess correlation with treatment response. Cell-free DNA was extracted and bisulfite treated before MDMs were quantified by target enrichment long-probe quantitative-amplified signal assay and normalized to a methylated sequence of B3GALT6. Continuous variables are summarized as a median with corresponding interquartile ranges (IQR) and comparisons between subgroups were based on the Wilcox Rank Sums test. Results: The median interval between pre- and post-response assessment visits was 69 days (IQR: 63-83 days) and the level of tumor burden at pre-assessment was similar across all response types (Table 1). Patients with PD had higher levels of methylated GRIN2D, ZNF671 and ANKRD13B than those with PR or SD at baseline and may offer additional prognostic value over CEA which was similar in the PR and PD groups before treatment (Table 1). Elevation of pre-assessment MDMs preceded radiographic evidence of disease progression by 82 days (IQR 69-83 days). Conclusions: Three MDMs, GRIN2D, ZNF671 and ANKRD13B, were found to reflect treatment response (PD vs. PR + SD) as shown in the table. Although this pilot study was limited by a small sample size, it demonstrated the feasibility of using plasma-based MDMs in monitoring treatment response to systemic therapy for advanced CRC and should be compared to CEA in a larger study.[Table: see text]


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1175-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Curé ◽  
V. Chevalier ◽  
A. Adenis ◽  
N. Tubiana-Mathieu ◽  
G. Niezgodzki ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To study tolerability and efficacy of an intensified chronomodulated schedule of fluorouracil (5-FU) and l-folinic acid (l-FA) as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, 5-FU was given near individually determined dose-limiting toxicity in a multicenter phase II trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (68 men and 32 women, median age 62 years, World Health Organization performance status ≤ 2) with previously untreated and inoperable metastases received chronomodulated daily infusion of 5-FU/l-FA (from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am with peak at 4:00 am). 5-FU dose was escalated from 900 to 1,100 mg/m2/d with fixed dose of l-FA at 150 mg/m2/d for 4 days every 14 days. RESULTS: 5-FU dose escalation was achieved in 66% of the patients. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities mainly consisted of nausea or vomiting (14% of patients and 1.5% of courses), hand-foot syndrome (38% of patients and 8% of courses), mucositis (26% of patients and 4% of courses), and diarrhea (21% of patients and 2.3% of courses). Objective response rate (ORR) was 41% (95% confidence interval, 31.5% to 50.5%). Twenty patients underwent metastases surgery; among these, 12 had a complete resection. Median progression-free survival was 7 months. Median survival was 17 months; 28% of the patients were alive at 2 years and 18.6% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: The ORR achieved with intensified chronomodulated delivery of 5-FU/l-FA was nearly twice as high as that earlier obtained by our cooperative group using less intensive 5-FU/FA chronotherapy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document