Docetaxel and intermittent erlotinib in patients with metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; a phase II study from the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Aim: To determine the more effective dosing sequence of intermittent erlotinib and docetaxel for treating chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients were randomized to receive daily erlotinib for 12 consecutive days prior to docetaxel (Arm A) or after docetaxel (Arm B). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end-point; secondary end-points were overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR).

EGFR gene gain and PTEN protein expression are favorable prognostic factors in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab.

Introduction: Cetuximab is a monoclonal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting antibody, used in the treatment of colon cancer. KRAS mutation status is strongly predictive of cetuximab efficacy, but more predictive factors are needed for better patient selection. PTEN is a downstream inhibitor of the EGFR pathway and has been evaluated as a predictive factor of cetuximab efficacy in colorectal cancer.

Dose selection trial of metronomic oral vinorelbine monotherapy in patients with metastatic cancer: a hellenic cooperative oncology group clinical translational study.

Background: Metronomic chemotherapy is considered an anti-angiogenic therapy that involves chronic administration of low-dose chemotherapy at regular short intervals. We investigated the optimal metronomic dose of oral vinorelbine when given as monotherapy in patients with metastatic cancer.

Methods: Patients with recurrent metastatic breast (BC), prostate (PC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adequate organ functions were randomly assigned to 30, 40 or 50 mg vinorelbine, taken orally three times a week.

Evaluation of the prognostic role of centromere 17 gain and HER2/topoisomerase II alpha gene status and protein expression in patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy: pooled analysis of two Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) phase III trials.

Background: The HER2 gene has been established as a valid biological marker for the treatment of breast cancer patients with trastuzumab and probably other agents, such as paclitaxel and anthracyclines. The TOP2A gene has been associated with response to anthracyclines. Limited information exists on the relationship of HER2/TOP2A gene status in the presence of centromere 17 (CEP17) gain with outcome of patients treated with anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Prevalence of BRCA1 mutations in familial and sporadic greek ovarian cancer cases.

Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes contribute to approximately 18% of hereditary ovarian cancers conferring an estimated lifetime risk from 15% to 50%. A variable incidence of mutations has been reported for these genes in ovarian cancer cases from different populations. In Greece, six mutations in BRCA1 account for 63% of all mutations detected in both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

XELIRI-bevacizumab versus FOLFIRI-bevacizumab as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group phase III trial with collateral biomarker analysis.

Background: The aim was to compare two standard chemotherapy regimens combined with bevacizumab as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Patients previously untreated for metastatic disease were randomized in: group A (irinotecan, capecitabine, bevacizumab, every 3 weeks; XELIRI-bevacizumab) and group B (irinotecan, leucovorin, fluorouracil, bevacizumab, every 2 weeks; FOLFIRI-bevacizumab). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

A randomized phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan, leucovorin and fluorouracil versus leucovorin and fluorouracil for stage II and III colon cancer: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group study.

Background: Colon cancer is a public health problem worldwide. Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection for stage III colon cancer has been shown to improve both progression-free and overall survival, and is currently recommended as standard therapy. However, its value for patients with stage II disease remains controversial.

Can cetuximab affect paraneoplastic myopathy?

Cetuximab given concurrently with chemotherapy has shown survival benefit for patients with metastatic colon cancer. We report a case of a patient with metastatic colon cancer who developed paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy that possibly responded to cetuximab despite lack of improvement of the underlying cancer.

Myelotoxicity as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: a pooled analysis of two randomised trials conducted by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: A number of studies have shown that absence of myelotoxicity during chemotherapy is associated with worse outcome for various types of cancer, including carcinoma of the breast. The aim of this study was to determine whether myelosuppression in patients being treated with chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer has an impact on their prognosis.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of a series of 475 patients with advanced breast cancer enrolled in two randomised trials, who received first-line chemotherapy.

Two cycles of etoposide/cisplatin cured all patients with stage I testicular seminoma: risk-adapted protocol of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Objectives: Adjuvant carboplatin is used as adjuvant therapy in Stage I testicular seminoma. Although cure is the rule, relapses still occur, especially in high-risk populations. We report the results of a risk-adapted strategy by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Intensive weekly chemotherapy with docetaxel, epirubicin and carboplatin with G-CSF support in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) phase II study.

Chemotherapy is an established modality in the management of patients with advanced gastric cancer but the optimal regimen has not been defined yet. Platinum and the anthracyclines and more recently docetaxel have shown activity in this tumor. The primary objective of this phase II study was to assess the efficacy and safety of an intensified regimen of weekly docetaxel/epirubicin/carboplatin (DECb) with growth factor support in previously untreated patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Gemcitabine plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer resistant/refractory to platinum and/or taxanes. A HeCOG phase II study.

Background: A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine (GEM) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with platinum- and/or taxane-resistant/refractory advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC).

Patients And Methods: Patients (pts), who had been treated with platinum or paclitaxel and met the criteria of resistant/refractory AEOC, received GEM 650 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 and PLD 25 mg/m2 day 1 every 4 weeks up to a total of 6 cycles, unless disease progression or adverse effects prohibited further therapy.

Results: Thirty-seven patients entered the study.

Temozolomide (TMZ) combined with cisplatin (CDDP) in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) Phase II study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) combined with cisplatin (CDDP) in terms of response rate, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS), as well as the tolerability of the regimen in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors.

Patients And Methods: Patients (n=32) with brain metastases were treated with TMZ 150 mg/m2/day (chemotherapy-pretreated) or 200 mg/m2/day (chemotherapy-naive) for 5 days, combined with CDDP 75 mg/m2 on day 1, every 28 days. Primary tumor sites included breast cancer (n=15), lung cancer (n=12) and other (n=5).

Hemorrhagic Kaposi sarcoma. Successful treatment with IFN-alpha.

A 76-year-old woman with atypical hemorrhagic Kaposi sarcoma is presented. The patient was treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2b (3,000,000 IU) subcutaneously, three times weekly for 6 months and twice weekly as maintenance dose for 14 months with excellent response and no recurrence after a 7 years of follow-up.