Phase II randomized trial comparing metronomic anthracycline-containing chemotherapy versus standard schedule in untreated HER2 negative advanced breast cancer: activity and quality of life results of the GOIM 21003 trial.

Background: Optimizing chemotherapy to achieve disease and symptoms control is a noteworthy purpose in advanced breast cancer (ABC). We reported the activity and quality of life of a phase II study, comparing metronomic regimen with standard schedule as first line chemotherapy for ABC.

Methods: Patients with HER2 negative ABC were randomized to non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (NPLD, 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) and cyclophosphamide (CTX, 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) (Arm A) or NPLD (20 mg/m2 day, on day 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks) and metronomic daily oral CTX 50 mg (ARM B).

Everolimus plus aromatase inhibitors as maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy: Final results of the phase III randomised MAIN-A (MAINtenance Afinitor) trial.

Background: Despite endocrine therapy being the mainstay of treatment for hormone receptor positive (HR+)/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, patients at risk of visceral crisis or doubt for endocrine sensitivity are still offered first-line chemotherapy. Maintenance hormonal therapy is generally offered at the discontinuation of chemotherapy. The MAINtenance Afinitor study is a randomised, phase III trial comparing maintenance everolimus combined with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) versus AI monotherapy in patients with disease control after first-line chemotherapy.

Metronomic oral chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide plus capecitabine combined with trastuzumab (HEX) as first line therapy of HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer: A phase II trial of the Gruppo Oncologico Italia Meridionale (GOIM).

Background: The combination of chemotherapy plus anti HER-2 agents is the mainstay of HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) therapy. We conducted a phase II trial testing activity and safety of trastuzumab and metronomic capecitabine/cyclophosphamide (HEX) as first-line therapy in HER-2 positive ABC.
Methods.

Final results of a prospective study of scalp cooling in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Alopecia is a distressing effect of cancer treatments. Our study examined efficacy and safety of scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Early breast cancer patients candidate to anthracycline and/or taxane were eligible.

Panitumumab after progression on cetuximab in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer patients: a single institution experience.

Aims And Background: Few data describe the activity of panitumumab after cetuximab-irinotecan-based regimen failure in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (WT MCRC).

Methods: The aim of this study is to assess if panitumumab has some activity in this setting.

Results: We retrospectively analyzed 25 patients with KRAS WT MCRC who received panitumumab from July 2009 to January 2013 after progression on cetuximab.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP): rationale, preclinical and clinical evidences of its inhibition as breast cancer treatment.

Introduction: The chance to take advantage of genetic defects of cancer cells is a promising clinical tool in breast cancer therapy. Among the genetic aberrations, dysfunctions in DNA repair mechanisms are quite common and suitable for an attractive antitumor effect. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase I (PARP-1) is an enzyme with many functions in transcriptions and cell cycle regulation and in coordination of cellular response to DNA damage.

Metronomic chemotherapy against cancer: from paradigm to clinical practice?

We describe two paradigmatic cases where metronomic antitumor chemotherapy was successfully employed in patients not suitable for standard treatments. The first patient was affected by advanced soft tissue sarcoma but she also had ischemic cardiopathy. She received oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg once daily and methotrexate 2.