Comparative Effectiveness of Gemcitabine plus Nab-Paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX in the First-Line Setting of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GEM-NAB) and the combination of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) are valid first-line options for advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). However, no randomized trials comparing the two schemes have been performed. This meta-analysis aims to compare GEM-NAB and FOLFIRINOX in terms of safety and effectiveness, taking into account data from real-life studies on mPC.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of second-line therapies for treatment of mesothelioma.

Introduction: Advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is generally treated with platinum/pemetrexed-based first-line therapy. Once the disease progresses, evidence for the efficacy of palliative treatments is lacking, and platinum re-challenge or single-agent chemotherapy are commonly used. To assess the effects of cytostatic or targeted therapy for treating MPM, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Androgen receptor in triple negative breast cancer: A potential target for the targetless subtype.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the 15-20% of all breast cancers (BC) and is characterized by a very aggressive behavior. Recent data suggest that TNBC is not a single disease, but it is rather an umbrella for different ontology-profiles such as basal like 1 and 2, mesenchymal, and the luminal androgen receptor (LAR). The LAR subtype is characterized by the expression of the Androgen Receptor (AR) and its downstream effects.

Salvage treatment for testicular cancer with standard- or high-dose chemotherapy: a systematic review of 59 studies.

Relapsed germ cell tumor (GCT) is a highly curable cancer with standard-dose platinum-based chemotherapy (CT); however, high-dose CT (HDCT) is seldom used as salvage therapy instead or after conventional CT. We conducted a systematic review of published trials to compare outcomes between standard-dose CT and HDCT in patients with relapsed GCT after first-line therapy for advanced disease. A literature search was carried out in multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library), and studies reporting salvage treatment of relapsed GCT with standard-dose or carboplatin-etoposide-based HDCT were selected.

Early analysis of surrogate endpoints for metastatic melanoma in immune checkpoint inhibitor trials.

Recent major phase III trials led to the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab) in metastatic malignant melanoma (MM). We aim to assess whether median progression-free survival, and 1 and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates are reliable surrogate endpoints for median OS through a meta-analysis of published trials involving immunotherapy. A systematic literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS of published phase II to III trials with immunotherapy as the treatment for MM was conducted.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for skin toxicity induced by antiepidermal growth factor receptor agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Topical and systemic prophylactic measures, which are administered before the development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-related acneiform rash, are appropriate interventions to mitigate the intensity of skin toxicity. We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether prophylactic antibiotics may reduce the occurrence and severity of anti-EGFR drug-related skin rashes. A systematic review was performed by searching Medline, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from inception until March 2016 for publications regarding the pre-emptive role of antibiotics for EGFR-induced skin rashes.

Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Targeted Therapies: A Systematic Review With a Meta-Analysis.

Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) (resection of the primary tumor for debulking purposes) was considered to be an important part of oncological treatment when used with cytokines, and was associated with an overall survival (OS) benefit. However, the role of CN in the targeted therapy era is not well-defined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prognostic role of CN performed during the course of advanced disease in patients with mRCC treated with molecular agents.

Neoadjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer: a meta-analysis of published studies.

Large operable or locally advanced breast cancers (BCs) are usually treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) before surgery. However, there is no evidence to support an improvement in efficacy with dose-dense (DD) CT in this setting. We, therefore, carried out a meta-analysis to investigate whether DD-CT was more effective than the reference (every 3 weeks anthracyclines±taxanes) standard-dose CT as neoadjuvant treatment for BC.

Predictive Factors for Reclassification and Relapse in Prostate Cancer Eligible for Active Surveillance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the evidence on the predictors of the upgrading and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (PC) in those patients with low-risk disease assigned to active surveillance (AS).

Materials And Methods: An electronic search of the PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Embase databases was performed for all reports that included detailed results of multivariate analyses of the predictors of PC reclassification and biochemical relapse during AS. Cumulative analyses of available hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were conducted using the RevMan 5.

Optimal treatment of poor-risk renal cell carcinoma patients with mTOR inhibitors and anti-VEGFR agents.

Poor-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) includes a subgroup of patients with unfavorable prognosis, according to both the Motzer and Heng criteria. Overall, owing to the poor prognosis of these patients, the approach is still a challenge for the first and subsequent lines of treatment, particularly for rare histologies other than clear cell renal cell carcinoma. In this review, we investigated the present treatment option of poor-risk metastatic RCC.

Prognostic factors after R0 resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases: A systematic review and pooled-analysis.

Background: Prognostic variables associated with outcome after curative (R0) Resection of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) liver metastases are paramount in identifying high-risk patients after surgery. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors related to Overall Survival (OS) after R0 resection of CRC liver metastases.

Methods: A literature search on prognostic factors after resection of liver metastases was performed.

Long response to eribulin in breast cancer: a case report.

No definitive cure is available for metastatic breast cancer and current therapies mainly focus on symptom control and minimization of adverse events to extend survival and maintain a good quality of life. Current treatment options include hormonal and chemotherapeutic agents which are characterized by different toxicity profiles and are selected based on patients' performance status and prior therapies. Eribulin is a microtubule dynamic inhibitor which acts by sequestering tubulin molecules into aggregates, thus preventing microtubule growth and causing apoptosis.

Hepatic resection for gastric cancer liver metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Resection of liver metastases from gastric cancer (GC) is rarely performed, and the outcome after hepatic surgery has not been systematically evaluated in the literature. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of outcome and prognostic factors for survival after liver metastasectomy for GC.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of published studies that focused on long-term outcomes (5-year overall survival [OS]) after surgical management of liver metastases from GC, and included more than 10 patients each.

Efficacy of fourth-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and pooled analysis of published studies.

There are no agents labelled for use as fourth-line therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer, even though it is currently prescribed in about 5-10% of patients. Here, we provide a pooled analysis of published studies on the efficacy of treatments in patients who have had at least three unsuccessful lines of therapy. The literature search was performed on Pubmed, EMBASE, the Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library using the terms 'lung cancer' OR NSCLC AND 'fourth line'.

Tumour Budding and Survival in Stage II Colorectal Cancer: a Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

Purpose: Tumour budding is defined as the presence of isolated or small clusters of malignant cells at the invasive edge of the tumour. It is considered a negative prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with a poor outcome and adverse pathological features. Here, we report a meta-analysis of the association of tumour budding and survival in stage II CRC patients.

Prognostic role of lactate dehydrogenase in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 76 studies.

Background: In cancer cells, metabolism is shifted to aerobic glycolysis with lactate production coupled with a higher uptake of glucose as the main energy source. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) catalyzes the reduction of pyruvate to form lactate, and serum level is often raised in aggressive cancer and hematological malignancies. We have assessed the prognostic value of LDH in solid tumors.

Surveillance or Adjuvant Treatment With Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy in Stage I Seminoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 13 Studies.

Objective: Testicular stage I seminoma has a remarkable cure rate with orchiectomy alone. The benefit of adjuvant therapy is questionable, and a direct comparison with active surveillance is lacking. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CT) compared with surveillance alone on relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and noncancer-related mortality in patients with stage I seminoma.

Adjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Dose-dense (DD) chemotherapy (CT) aimed at achieving a higher rate of cancer cell destruction has been adopted as an adjuvant therapy in high-risk breast cancer (BC), with the goal being to improve outcomes. We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing data from randomized phase III trials regarding the efficacy and toxicity of this adjuvant DD-CT strategy in early BC. Randomized-controlled trials that compared a DD with a standard adjuvant CT schedule in adult women with resected BC were identified by searching the databases of Pubmed, the Cochrane Cancer Register of Controlled Trials, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and the Web of Science up to March 2015.

FOLFIRINOX-based neoadjuvant therapy in borderline resectable or unresectable pancreatic cancer: a meta-analytical review of published studies.

Objective: The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy can enable surgical resection of borderline resectable or unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the multiagent 5-fluorouracil + oxaliplatin + irinotecan + leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) regimen as a neoadjuvant treatment for PC.

Methods: Studies in which FOLFIRINOX with or without radiotherapy was given before surgery to patients with borderline resectable or unresectable PC were analyzed using a meta-analytical approach.

Progression-free survival as surrogate endpoint in advanced pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis of 30 randomized first-line trials.

Background: Progression-free survival (PFS) has not been extensively investigated as a surrogate for survival in the first-line treatments of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to evaluate PFS as a potential surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS) in advanced pancreatic cancer in trials comparing poly-chemotherapy to gemcitabine alone.

Data Sources: A systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted.

Efficacy of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy + bevacizumab as first-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer: a systematic review and pooled analysis of published trials.

Objectives: Oxaliplatin and either capecitabine or infusional/bolus 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy + bevacizumab (XELOX + B and FOLFOX + B) represent 2 of the approved first-line treatments for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the addition of B did not offer a survival benefit compared with FOLFOX/XELOX alone in the phase III, NO16966 trial. The aim of this review was to aggregate all published data on the efficacy of XELOX and FOLFOX-B in prospective and retrospective studies as first-line therapy for stage IV CRC.

Early tumour shrinkage as a prognostic factor and surrogate end-point in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and pooled-analysis.

Purpose: Early tumour shrinkage (ETS), defined as a reduction of at least 20% in tumour size at first reassessment, has been recently investigated retrospectively in first-line trials of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), and appears to be associated with better outcomes. We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published trials to evaluate the prognostic value of ETS in CRC in terms of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Material And Methods: An electronic search of the PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial databases identified trials that compared outcomes of patients with or without ETS during first-line chemotherapy for metastatic CRC.

The Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score and Survival in Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of the Literature.

Background: It has been reported that the combination of inflammation parameters, such as albumin and C-reactive protein, in the modified Glasgow prognostic score (m-GPS) is a poor prognostic indicator in several malignancies. Here, we quantify the prognostic impact of this score and assess its value in colorectal cancer.

Methods: A systematic review of electronic databases was conducted to identify publications exploring the association of m-GPS with outcome in colorectal cancer.

Predictive role of BRAF mutations in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving cetuximab and panitumumab: a meta-analysis.

Background: Wild type RAS (RAS-wt) status is predictive of the activities of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies cetuximab (C) and panitumumab (P). We examined the impact of C and P on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR) in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who have RAS-wt/BRAF-mutant (BRAF-mut) status.

Methods: Randomised trials that compared C or P plus chemotherapy (or C or P monotherapy) with standard therapy or best supportive care (BSC) were included.