Palliative Prognostic Index accuracy of survival prediction in an inpatient palliative care service at a Brazilian tertiary hospital.

Purpose: The Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) was developed to improve survival prediction for advanced cancer patients. However, there is limited data about the PPI application in a real-world scenario. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of PPI > 6 in predicting survival of cancer inpatients.

Disappearing colorectal liver metastases: Strategies for the management of patients achieving a radiographic complete response after systemic chemotherapy.

The mainstays of treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) are surgery and chemotherapy. Chemotherapeutic benefits of tumor shrinkage and systemic control of micrometastases are in part counterbalanced by chemotoxicity that can modify the liver parenchyma, jeopardizing the detection of CRLM. This review addresses the clinical decision-making process in the context of radiographic and pathologic responses, the preoperative imaging workup, and the approaches to the liver for CRLM, which disappear after systemic chemotherapy.

Evaluation of disease-free survival as an intermediate metric of overall survival in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma: A trial-level meta-analysis.

Background: Overall survival (OS) is a critical endpoint in adjuvant trials but requires long durations to events and significant patient resources. In the current study, the authors assessed whether disease-free survival (DFS) can be an early clinical surrogate for OS in the adjuvant setting for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the authors performed a systematic literature review of PubMed and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and ClinicalTrial.

Differential side effects profile in patients with mCRPC treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Abiraterone and enzalutamide are currently approved for mCRPC patients. Both drugs have distinct mechanisms of action and may have different toxicity profile. There are limited data comparing the side effects of abiraterone and enzalutamide.

Regression of multifocoal in transit melanoma metastases after palliative resection of dominant masses and 2 years after treatment with ipilimumab.

Background: Spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma and delayed responses more than one year after treatment with ipilimumab are rarely seen.

Case Presentation: Here, we present the case of a patient with in transit metastases from cutaneous melanoma on his right lower extremity who achieved complete regression of all metastatic lesions 13 months after the first of two consecutive palliative resections of dominant masses and more than two years after treatment with ipilimumab.

Conclusion: The exact cause of our patient's sudden onset of tumor regression remains speculative.

Comprehensive Meta-analysis of Key Immune-Related Adverse Events from CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Cancer Patients.

Immune-related adverse events (irAE) have been described with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), but the incidence and relative risk (RR) of irAEs associated with these drugs remains unclear. We selected five key irAEs from treatments with approved cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors (ipilimumab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab, respectively) to better characterize their safety profile. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized phase II/III immunotherapy trials, with non-ICI control arms, conducted between 1996 and 2016.

Effect of Metformin Use on Survival Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Observational studies have suggested that metformin use is associated with favorable outcomes in several cancers. For renal cell carcinoma (RCC), data have been limited. Therefore, we investigated the effect of metformin on survival in metastatic RCC (mRCC) using a large clinical trial database.

Clinical Response to Sorafenib in a Patient with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and FLT3 Amplification.

Background: A considerable number of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer progress after exhausting all approved standard therapies but maintain an adequate performance status and could be candidates for further treatment. We aim at reviewing our experience with sorafenib treatment of a patient with FLT3 mutation in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Treatment with sorafenib of a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer and FLT3 translocation who had previously been heavily treated.