Mixed-Beam Approach for High-Risk Prostate Cancer Carbon-Ion Boost Followed by Photon Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy: Preliminary Results of Phase II Trial AIRC-IG-14300

PurposeThis study represents a descriptive analysis of preliminary results of a Phase II trial on a novel mixed beam radiotherapy (RT) approach, consisting of carbon ions RT (CIRT) followed by intensity-modulated photon RT, in combination with hormonal therapy, for high-risk prostate cancer (HR PCa) with a special focus on acute toxicity.MethodsPrimary endpoint was the evaluation of safety in terms of acute toxicity. Secondary endpoints were early and long-term tolerability of treatment, quality of life (QoL), and efficacy. Data on acute and late toxicities were collected according to RTOG/EORTC. QoL of enrolled patients was assessed by IPSS, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-PR25, and sexual activity by IIEF-5.ResultsTwenty-six patients were enrolled in the study, but only 15 completed so far the RT course and were included. Immediately after CIRT, no patients experienced GI/GU toxicity. At 1 and 3 months from the whole course RT completion, no GI/GU toxicities greater than grade 2 were observed. QoL scores were overall satisfactory.ConclusionsThe feasibility of the proposed mixed treatment schedule was assessed, and an excellent acute toxicity profile was recorded. Such findings instil confidence in the continuation of this mixed approach, with evaluation of long-term tolerability and efficacy.

Is curcumin at the threshold of therapeutic effectiveness on patients with colon cancer? – A systematic review

Curcumin, obtained from Curcuma longa, has been the subject of decades of scientific investigation on its therapeutic usefulness. It is reported to possess several therapeutic properties, of which anti-colon cancer is of interest in this review. Clinically, however, curcumin has yet to firm up its place among established anti-colon cancer therapeutic contenders. We aimed to systematically review the prevailing clinical evidence on the role of curcumin in colon cancer treatment. The review drawing from literature on clinical studies indicates fairly long-term tolerability. No regression of tumor was reported when curcumin was the sole intervention. An increase in p53 level expression was reported in a placebo-controlled study but no reduction in PGE2 or 5HETE. Pharmacokinetic data on healthy humans indicate that formulated curcumin delivery systems present significantly higher systemic bioavailability. It appears therefore that the clinical use of curcumin can potentially be realized only through appropriate formulation interventions

Is Curcumin at the Threshold of Therapeutic Effectiveness on Patients with Colon Cancer?—A Systematic Review

Curcumin, obtained from curcuma longa, has been the subject of decades of scientific investigation on its therapeutic usefulness. It is reported to possess several therapeutic properties, of which anti-colon cancer is of interest in this review. Clinically however, curcumin has yet to firm up its place among established anti-colon cancer therapeutic contenders. We aimed to systematically review prevailing clinical evidence on the role of curcumin in colon cancer treatment. The review drawing from literature on clinical studies indicates fairly long term tolerability. No regression of tumor was reported when curcumin was the sole intervention. Increase in p53 level expression was reported in a placebo controlled study but no reduction in PGE2 or 5HETE. Pharmacokinetic data on healthy humans indicate that formulated curcumin delivery systems present significantly higher systemic bioavailability. It appears therefore that the clinical use of curcumin can potentially be realized only through appropriate formulation interventions.Systematic Review Registration: [website], identifier [registration number]

Long-Term Tolerability and Efficacy of Carboplatin/Pemetrexed as Maintenance Therapy for a Patient With Lung Adenocarcinoma

BackgroundIt is widely known that platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (PBC) only can be applied to first-line patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with good performance for 4-6 cycles. However, in this case report the patient has been treated with PBC for 30 cycles and more than three years. Case presentationA 63-year-old Chinese man was diagnosed with stage IVa lung adenocarcinoma, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0. This patient did not respond to pemetrexed alone, but respond to pemetrexed and carboplatin, and once the chemotherapy was interrupted for more than two months, the disease would progressed. Moreover, there was little adverse reactions (AE), so we have treated him with PBC for 30 cycles and the progression-free survival (PFS) will be more than three years.ConclusionsThis is the first time to report PBC as maintenance therapy in patients with NSCLC. We hope that oncologists will notice that some diseases are very aggressive, and maintenance therapy are very important to some patients and may help to get longer overall survival time.

Update analysis of NEJ009: Gefitinib alone (G) versus gefitinib plus chemotherapy (GCP) for non-small cell lung cancer with mutated EGFR.

9081 Background: NEJ009 study is the first randomized phase III trial that compared gefitinib plus chemotherapy with gefitinib in patients with untreated NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations. We report an updated OS and long-term tolerability analysis, including subgroup analyses focusing on a type of EGFR mutation and metastatic sites. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to gefitinib (gefitinib 250 mg PO, QD) and GCP regimen (gefitinib 250 mg PO, QD combined with carboplatin AUC 5 and pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 in a 3-week cycle for up to six cycles, followed by concurrent gefitinib and pemetrexed maintenance). This study tested multiple primary endpoints, PFS, PFS2, and OS, which were analyzed using a preplanned hierarchical sequential testing method. Results: Three hundred forty-five patients were randomly assigned (gefitinib, n = 172; GCP, n =170). At latest data cut-off (May 22, 2020), although there was no significant difference in OS between the groups (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.06; P=0.13), GCP still demonstrated significantly better PFS and PFS2 compared to G. The updated median PFS, PFS2, and OS was 11.2 months, 18.0 months, and 38.5 months in the gefitinib group and 20.9 months, 20.9 months, and 49.0 months in the GCP group, respectively. No severe adverse events occurred in the period since the first report. Conclusions: This updated analysis confirmed that the GCP regimen achieved significantly better PFS and PFS2 with an acceptable safety profile compared with gefitinib alone. The efficacy outcome of GCP is more favorable than gefitinib monotherapy as first-line treatment of NSCLC with EGFR mutation. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006340. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006340. [Table: see text]

Phase 1 randomized trial of a plant-derived virus-like particle vaccine for COVID-19

Several severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are being deployed, but the global need greatly exceeds the supply, and different formulations might be required for specific populations. Here we report Day 42 interim safety and immunogenicity data from an observer-blinded, dose escalation, randomized controlled study of a virus-like particle vaccine candidate produced in plants that displays the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (CoVLP: NCT04450004). The co-primary outcomes were the short-term tolerability/safety and immunogenicity of CoVLP formulations assessed by neutralizing antibody (NAb) and cellular responses. Secondary outcomes in this ongoing study include safety and immunogenicity assessments up to 12 months after vaccination. Adults (18–55 years, n = 180) were randomized at two sites in Quebec, Canada, to receive two intramuscular doses of CoVLP (3.75 μg, 7.5 μg, and 15 μg) 21 d apart, alone or adjuvanted with AS03 or CpG1018. All formulations were well tolerated, and adverse events after vaccination were generally mild to moderate, transient and highest in the adjuvanted groups. There was no CoVLP dose effect on serum NAbs, but titers increased significantly with both adjuvants. After the second dose, NAbs in the CoVLP + AS03 groups were more than tenfold higher than titers in Coronavirus 2019 convalescent sera. Both spike protein-specific interferon-γ and interleukin-4 cellular responses were also induced. This pre-specified interim analysis supports further evaluation of the CoVLP vaccine candidate.

Improved Survival and Retinal Function of Aging ZDF Rats in Long-Term, Uncontrolled Diabetes by BGP-15 Treatment

Retinal complications of diabetes often lead to deterioration or even loss of vision. This hastens discovery of pharmacological agents able to counterbalance diabetic retinopathy. BGP-15, an emerging small molecule agent, was formerly proven by our workgroup to be retinoprotective on nonobese diabetic animals, Goto-Kakizaki rats. In the present study, we aimed to examine its long-term tolerability or incidental side effects on obese-prone Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats to further increase the rationale for a future human translation. To make terminal visual status comparable with our other investigations, we also carried out electroretinography (ERG) at the end of the experiment. Our study was started on 16-week-old ZDF rats and lasted for 52 weeks, while BGP was administered daily by gavage. During the 12 months of treatment, 100% of BGP-treated animals survived compared to the non-treated ZDF group, where 60% of the animals died, which was a statistically significant difference. Based on ERG results, BGP-15 was able to counterbalance visual deterioration of ZDF rats caused by long-term diabetes. Some moderate but significant changes were seen in OGTT results and some relationship to oxidative stress by the western blot method: BGP-15 was able to increase expression of HSP70 and decrease that of NFkB in eyes of rats. These were in concert with our previous observations of SIRT1 increment and MMP9 decrement in diabetic eyes by BGP. In summary, not only is BGP-15 not harmful in the long run but it is even able to reduce the related mortality and the serious consequences of diabetes. BGP-15 is an excellent candidate for future drug development against diabetic retinopathy.