Repeated blood-brain barrier opening with a nine-emitter implantable ultrasound device in combination with carboplatin in recurrent glioblastoma: a phase I/II clinical trial.

Here, the results of a phase 1/2 single-arm trial (NCT03744026) assessing the safety and efficacy of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption with an implantable ultrasound system in recurrent glioblastoma patients receiving carboplatin are reported. A nine-emitter ultrasound implant was placed at the end of tumor resection replacing the bone flap. After surgery, activation to disrupt the BBB was performed every four weeks either before or after carboplatin infusion.

Fatigue visual analogue scale score correlates with quality of life in cancer patients receiving epoetin alfa (Sandoz) for chemotherapy-induced anaemia: The CIROCO study.

Purpose: Available tools to measure fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer patients are often difficult to use in clinical practice. The fatigue visual analogue scale (VAS) provides a simple method to assess fatigue. This study evaluated the correlation between HRQoL and fatigue perceived by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Daily practices in chemotherapy for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: METESTOMAC French prospective cohort.

Background: Around 50% of gastric cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Several chemotherapy regimens are now internationally validated. Few data are available on the routine daily management of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancers.

Carboplatin plus etoposide versus topotecan as second-line treatment for patients with sensitive relapsed small-cell lung cancer: an open-label, multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: Topotecan is currently the only drug approved in Europe in a second-line setting for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer. This study investigated whether the doublet of carboplatin plus etoposide was superior to topotecan as a second-line treatment in patients with sensitive relapsed small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: In this open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial done in 38 hospitals in France, we enrolled patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced stage IV or locally relapsed small-cell lung cancer, who responded to first-line platinum plus etoposide treatment, but who had disease relapse or progression at least 90 days after completion of first-line treatment.

Impact of Driver Mutations on the Evolution of Isolated Metachronous Lung Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The incidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is increasing sharply. The survival of patients with metastases is usually about a year. However, the occurrence of isolated lung metastases after resection of the primary tumor, although rare, seems to indicate a better prognosis, with an average survival ranging from 40 to 80 months.

Single-arm phase II trial to evaluate efficacy and tolerance of regorafenib monotherapy in patients over 70 with previously treated metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma FFCD 1404 - REGOLD.

Background: Regorafenib significantly increases overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated but gives toxicities.

Objectives: to assess the efficacy and safety of regorafenib at it's approved dose in the older population.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter single-arm phase II enrolled patients ≥70 years old after the failure of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, anti-VEGF, and anti-EGFR treatment.

Blue Dye Embolization of Renal Tumor: A New Technique to Improve Tumor Localization During Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy.

To improve the tumor localization during laparoscopic surgery, we describe an innovative technique involving superselective intra-arterial injection of blue dye in tumoral vessels to color the tumor before surgical enucleation. The dye injection was performed at the same time as superselective embolization, immediately before laparoscopic surgery in a hybrid operating room. We used this new treatment sequence on 50 consecutive patients.

The combination of everolimus and zoledronic acid increase the efficacy of gemcitabine in a mouse model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: Gemcitabine is a standard treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Many mechanisms are involved in gemcitabine resistance, such as reduced expression of the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) membrane transporter, deoxycytidine kinase deficiency, and changes in the signal transmission of mitogen-activity protein kinase (MAPK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways.

Aim: To evaluate the anti-tumor efficiency of blocking signaling pathways using combined action of gemcitabine, everolimus and zoledronic acid versus gemcitabine alone in a mouse subcutaneous xenograft.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy following tumor embolization in a hybrid room. Feasibility and clinical outcomes.

Purpose: In order to limit ischemia and operative bleeding during and after partial nephrectomy we developed a clampless laparoscopic technique, in a hybrid operating room, immediately after super-selective arterial embolization of the renal tumor. We evaluated feasibility and morbidity of this new approach of zero ischemia in partial nephrectomy.

Methods: We included prospectively 50 consecutive patients treated in a hybrid operating room by this new technique for a localized renal tumor in a university hospital between May 2015 and January 2017.

Association between lung cancer somatic mutations and occupational exposure in never-smokers.

Occupational exposure constitutes a common risk factor for lung cancer. We observed molecular alterations in 73% of never-smokers, 35% of men and 8% of women were exposed to at least one occupational carcinogen. We report herein associations between molecular patterns and occupational exposure.

Second-line treatments of small-cell lung cancers.

Second-line therapies for relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients remain a challenge, with limited clinical benefit because of rapid tumor growth, early dissemination and the development of drug resistance during the disease. Recent developments in genomic sequencing have provided further insight into the biology of the disease, identifying new targets and new pathways. Areas covered: This review details chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immune-checkpoint blockades that have been investigated as second-line treatments for SCLC patients using a PubMed search (period 1990 - 2016, terms used: SCLC, treatments, second line, therapy).

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harboring ALK Translocations: Clinical Characteristics and Management in a Real-Life Setting: a French Retrospective Analysis (GFPC 02-14 Study).

Background: Chromosomal translocations involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) are rare oncogenic events found in 3-5% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Limited data have been published on the management of these patients outside clinical trials.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of patients with NSCLC harboring ALK translocations (ALK+) in a real-life setting in France.

Endocrine toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors: essential crosstalk between endocrinologists and oncologists.

Two types of immune checkpoint inhibitors, both antibodies that target cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and those that target programmed cell death-protein 1, have been approved for use in melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma as first-line or second-line therapy. Their adverse events are primarily regarded as immune-related adverse events. We felt it was important to pinpoint and discuss certain preconceptions or misconceptions regarding thyroid dysfunction, hypophysitis, and diabetes induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

How Did We Obtain Complete Remission in Patients Who Had Metastatic Renal Cancer in the Era of Targeted Therapies?

Background: The management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been transformed by the use of targeted therapies, ablative therapies and improved surgical techniques. The objective of this study was to identify therapeutic strategies that resulted in complete remission (CR) and to assess survival of patients in CR.

Methods: In a prospective database, we included all patients treated for mRCC at a university hospital between 2007 and 2015.

Use of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for the Management of Elderly Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The Phase III Randomized ESOGIA-GFPC-GECP 08-02 Study.

Purpose: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended to assess the vulnerability of elderly patients, but its integration in cancer treatment decision making has never been prospectively evaluated. Here, in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we compared a standard strategy of chemotherapy allocation on the basis of performance status (PS) and age with an experimental strategy on the basis of CGA.

Patients And Methods: In a multicenter, open-label, phase III trial, elderly patients ≥ 70 years old with a PS of 0 to 2 and stage IV NSCLC were randomly assigned between chemotherapy allocation on the basis of PS and age (standard arm: carboplatin-based doublet if PS ≤ 1 and age ≤ 75 years; docetaxel if PS = 2 or age > 75 years) and treatment allocation on the basis of CGA (CGA arm: carboplatin-based doublet for fit patients, docetaxel for vulnerable patients, and best supportive care for frail patients).

No impact of passive smoke on the somatic profile of lung cancers in never-smokers.

EGFR and HER2 mutations and ALK rearrangement are known to be related to lung cancer in never-smokers, while KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations are typically observed among smokers. There is still debate surrounding whether never-smokers exposed to passive smoke exhibit a "smoker-like" somatic profile compared with unexposed never-smokers. Passive smoke exposure was assessed in the French BioCAST/IFCT-1002 never-smoker lung cancer cohort and routine molecular profiles analyses were compiled.

Second-line oral chemotherapy (lomustine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide) versus intravenous therapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine) in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer: a randomized phase II study of GFPC 0501.

Background: No reference second-line treatment of small-cell lung cancer is available. The aim of the present phase II randomized trial (Groupe Français de Pneumo-Cancérologie 0501) was to compare, in patients with progressive small-cell lung cancer after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, oral multidrug chemotherapy (lomustine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide) and intravenous therapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV) in terms of efficacy and tolerance. The primary endpoint was overall survival.

Feasibility and clinical impact of re-biopsy in advanced non small-cell lung cancer: a prospective multicenter study in a real-world setting (GFPC study 12-01).

Objectives: When advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progresses during first-line treatment, re-biopsy may be indicated to detect a possible new biological profile (comparison to initial status, emergence of resistance biomarkers, or assessment of new biomarkers). The aim of this pragmatic prospective multicenter study was to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of re-biopsy in advanced NSCLC in a real-world setting.

Methods: The main inclusion criteria were advanced NSCLC with an indication for repeat biopsy identified by the patient's clinician.

Assessment of palliative care for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in France: a prospective observational multicenter study (GFPC 0804 study).

Introduction: Few studies assessed, in real life, symptoms, specific interventions and factors influencing palliative care (PC) initiation for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study was to examine, in a prospective cohort of advanced NSCLC patients, PC use and factors associated with early (≤3 months after diagnosis) PC initiation.

Methods: It was an observational multicenter study.

Erlotinib versus standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment for European patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (EURTAC): a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial.

Background: Erlotinib has been shown to improve progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy when given as first-line treatment for Asian patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating EGFR mutations. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of erlotinib compared with standard chemotherapy for first-line treatment of European patients with advanced EGFR-mutation positive NSCLC.

Methods: We undertook the open-label, randomised phase 3 EURTAC trial at 42 hospitals in France, Italy, and Spain.

[Femininity and breast cancer, original approach of announcement in oncology].

The measure number 40 of French Plan against Cancer requires taking into consideration patient's personality and its effect on social relations. However, this psychological impact is different for each cancer. The aim of the present study is to discuss the resulting effects after discovery of breast cancer.

Long-term survival of patients downstaged by oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil combination followed by rescue surgery for unresectable colorectal liver metastases.

Objectives: To evaluate long-term survival of patients resected for primarily unresectable colorectal liver metastases downstaged by systemic chemotherapy.

Methods: Among a group of 82 patients with advanced colorectal cancer, 39 had unresectable liver metastases. After treatment with systemic 3-weekly 5FU/folinic acid/oxaliplatin chemotherapy, the outcome of 11 patients made resectable thanks to chemotherapy was compared to that of 28 patients who were not.