Biomechanical validation of the field-expedient pelvic splint.

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality from pelvic ring injuries can be mitigated by early and effective external pelvic stabilisation. The field-expedient pelvic splint (FEPS) is a recently described technique to improvise an effective pelvic binder for an austere environment. This technique has not been biomechanically validated.

Survival benefit of ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRD) over lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients in routine clinical practice.

Background: We have performed a head to head comparison of all-oral triplet combination of ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRD) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD) in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the routine clinical practice.

Methods: A total of 344 patients treated with IRD (N = 127) or RD (N = 217) were selected for analysis from the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies (RMG). Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient's characteristics associated with the respective therapy.

Developments in continuous therapy and maintenance treatment approaches for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

The evolving paradigm of continuous therapy and maintenance treatment approaches in multiple myeloma (MM) offers prolonged disease control and improved outcomes compared to traditional fixed-duration approaches. Potential benefits of long-term strategies include sustained control of disease symptoms, as well as continued cytoreduction and clonal control, leading to unmeasurable residual disease and the possibility of transforming MM into a chronic or functionally curable condition. "Continuous therapy" commonly refers to administering a doublet or triplet regimen until disease progression, whereas maintenance approaches typically involve single-agent or doublet treatment following more intensive prior therapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or doublet, triplet, or even quadruplet induction therapy.

Oral ixazomib maintenance following autologous stem cell transplantation (TOURMALINE-MM3): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Background: Maintenance therapy following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can delay disease progression and prolong survival in patients with multiple myeloma. Ixazomib is ideally suited for maintenance therapy given its convenient once-weekly oral dosing and low toxicity profile. In this study, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of ixazomib as maintenance therapy following ASCT.

Adoption of triplet therapy and clinical outcomes in routine practice among newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients not receiving frontline stem cell transplant in the USA.

Background: Immunomodulator (IMID) and proteasome inhibitor (PI) triplet frontline therapy (FT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) trials improve overall survival (OS); reported outcomes in routine practice are lacking. Authors compared outcomes in NDMM patients in the USA by use of triplet vs doublet FTs.

Methods: In this retrospective study of NDMM patients without FT transplant between 1/1/2008 and 6/30/2017, FT was categorized as: PI+IMID-triplet (≥ 3 drugs including PI+IMID), non-PI+IMID-triplet (≥ 3 drugs, not PI+IMID), doublet (≤ 2 drugs).

Ixazomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) are among the backbones of multiple myeloma (MM) treatment; however, their long-term use can be limited by parenteral administration and treatment-related toxicities. Ixazomib, the first oral PI to enter the clinic, is approved around the world, in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with MM who have received at least one prior therapy. Areas covered: This review summarizes the clinical data leading to approval of ixazomib; its pharmacology, efficacy, and safety.

Interpreting clinical trial data in multiple myeloma: translating findings to the real-world setting.

Substantial improvements in survival have been seen in multiple myeloma (MM) over recent years, associated with the introduction and widespread use of multiple novel agents and regimens, as well as the emerging treatment paradigm of continuous or long-term therapy. However, these therapies and approaches may have limitations in the community setting, associated with toxicity burden, patient burden, and other factors including cost. Consequently, despite improvements in efficacy in the rigorously controlled clinical trials setting, the same results are not always achieved in real-world practice.

Phase 1/2 trial of ixazomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone in patients with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma.

Ixazomib is the first oral proteasome inhibitor to enter the clinic. Given the efficacy of bortezomib in combination with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, we studied the combination of ixazomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (ICd) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) and patients with measurable disease, irrespective of transplant eligibility, were enrolled. The phase 1 was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of cyclophosphamide in the combination.

Patient-reported health-related quality of life from the phase III TOURMALINE-MM1 study of ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone versus placebo-lenalidomide-dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

TOURMALINE-MM1 is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ixazomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd) versus placebo-Rd in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma following 1-3 prior lines of therapy. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) in the IRd arm versus placebo-Rd arm (median 20.6 vs 14.

Dose and Schedule Selection of the Oral Proteasome Inhibitor Ixazomib in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Clinical and Model-Based Analyses.

Background: The oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib has been approved by regulatory authorities around the world, including in the United States and the European Union, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have received at least one prior therapy, based on the pivotal phase III TOURMALINE-MM1 study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantitatively characterize the benefit-risk profile of ixazomib in relapsed/refractory MM in support of the approved dose and schedule.

Methods: We report early-phase study data and exposure-response analyses of TOURMALINE-MM1 data that support the selection of the recommended ixazomib dose and schedule.

Denosumab treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastases and increased urine N-telopeptide levels after therapy with intravenous bisphosphonates: results of a randomized phase II trial.

Purpose: Patients with bone metastases have high rates of RANKL driven bone resorption and an increased risk of skeletal morbidity. Osteoclast mediated bone resorption can be assessed by measuring urine N-telopeptide and can be inhibited by denosumab, a fully human antibody against RANKL.

Materials And Methods: Eligible patients (111) had bone metastases from prostate cancer, other solid tumors or multiple myeloma, 1 or more bone lesions and urine N-telopeptide greater than 50 nM bone collagen equivalents per mM creatinine (urine N-telopeptide greater than 50) despite the use of intravenous bisphosphonates.

Denosumab: first data and ongoing studies on the prevention of bone metastases.

Bone metastases are associated with a major patient and healthcare burden resulting from the impact and the management of associated skeletal-related events (including spinal cord compression, pathologic fracture and surgery or radiation to bone). In preclinical studies, RANK Ligand inhibition has been shown to prevent the development of bone and some visceral metastases. Clinical studies are ongoing to evaluate whether the fully human monoclonal antibody denosumab, which targets RANK Ligand, can prevent the development of bone metastases in high-risk patients.

Evaluating the impact of Relative Total Dose Intensity (RTDI) on patients' short and long-term outcome in taxane- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer- a pooled analysis.

Background: Chemotherapy dose delay and/or reduction lower relative total dose intensity (RTDI) and may affect short- and long-term outcome of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Methods: Based on 933 individual patients' data of from 3 randomized MBC trials using an anthracycline and taxane we examined the impact of RTDI on efficacy and determined the lowest optimal RTDI for MBC patients.

Results: Median time to disease progression (TTDP) and overall survival (OS) of all patients were 39 and 98 weeks.

Use of pegfilgrastim support on day 9 to maintain relative dose intensity of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients receiving a day 1 and 8 CMF regimen.

Aim: In several commonly used regimens, chemotherapy doses are split across different days of the cycle. We aimed to determine the feasibility of growth factor support with once-per-cycle pegfilgrastim in this setting.

Methods: This phase II study in breast cancer patients assessed the utility of a single 6 mg subcutaneous dose of pegfilgrastim administered on day 9 of an intravenous (IV) "split" CMF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), methotrexate 40 mg/m(2) and 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2)) chemotherapy regimen administered on days 1 and 8 and repeated every 28 days for 6 cycles.

Pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis vs. current practice neutropenia management in elderly breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

We investigated the incidences of febrile neutropenia (FN) and related complications in elderly (> or =65 years) breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy supported by pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis (PP; n=150) or current practice (CP) neutropenia management (n=104) in a subanalysis of NeuCuP (Neulasta) vs. current practice neutropenia management). Studies involving regimens with moderately high to high (> or =15%) FN risk were identified by literature review, and individual patient data were integrated for analysis.

A Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Filgrastim in Patients with Haematological Malignancies Undergoing Matched-related Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may aid engraftment post high-dose chemo-/radiotherapy in patients with haematological malignancies undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT); however, the effects of G-CSF on graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), relapse, and survival are not well defined. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 study, the effects of the G-CSF Filgrastim on neutrophil and platelet recovery, and on clinical outcomes were evaluated. Patients (12-55 years) receiving an allogeneic BMT for a haematological malignancy were randomized to receive Filgrastim 5 microg/kg or placebo.

Denosumab treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastases and increased urine N-telopeptide levels after therapy with intravenous bisphosphonates: results of a randomized phase II trial.

Purpose: Patients with bone metastases have high rates of RANKL driven bone resorption and an increased risk of skeletal morbidity. Osteoclast mediated bone resorption can be assessed by measuring urine N-telopeptide and can be inhibited by denosumab, a fully human antibody against RANKL.

Materials And Methods: Eligible patients (111) had bone metastases from prostate cancer, other solid tumors or multiple myeloma, 1 or more bone lesions and urine N-telopeptide greater than 50 nM bone collagen equivalents per mM creatinine (urine N-telopeptide greater than 50) despite the use of intravenous bisphosphonates.

Febrile neutropenia and related complications in breast cancer patients receiving pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis versus current practice neutropaenia management: results from an integrated analysis.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) reduce febrile neutropaenia (FN) incidence but may be used inconsistently in current practice (CP). This study compared the efficacy of pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis (PPP) with CP neutropaenia management in breast cancer. Individual patient data (N=2282) from 11 clinical trials and observational studies using chemotherapy regimens with > or =15% FN risk and PPP (6 mg, all cycles) or CP (no G-CSF or any cycle G-CSF/pegfilgrastim) were included in an integrated analysis.

Delivery of adjuvant sequential dose-dense FEC-Doc to patients with breast cancer is feasible, but dose reductions and toxicity are dependent on treatment sequence.

Introduction: This study prospectively investigates the impact of dose densification and altering sequence of fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide [FEC(100)] and docetaxel [Doc] on dose delivery and tolerability of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Methods: 117 patients with high-risk primary operable breast cancer were randomized (1:1:2:2) to conventional (three cycles of 3-weekly FEC(100) then three cycles of 3-weekly Doc 100 mg/m(2) or reverse sequence) or dose-dense (dd) treatment (four 10- to 11-day cycles of FEC(75) then four 2-weekly cycles of Doc 75 mg/m(2), or the reverse). In the dd arms, pegfilgrastim was given on day 2 of each cycle, but only as secondary prophylaxis in conventional arms.

A phase 2 pilot study of pegfilgrastim and filgrastim for mobilizing peripheral blood progenitor cells in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Growth factors are frequently used to aid peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization from bone marrow. This phase 2 study examined the efficacy and safety of pegfilgrastim for mobilizing peripheral blood progenitors cells for autologous transplantation.

Design And Methods: Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received one cycle of mobilizing chemotherapy (ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide, ICE).

Feasibility of two dose-dense FEC regimens with growth factor support for adjuvant therapy in patients with early breast cancer: results from a randomised study of the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG).

Addition of epirubicin to adjuvant chemotherapy can provide important benefits for patients with early breast cancer, but the optimal dose remains unclear. Further improvements can be achieved with dose-dense regimens, but densification of fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC) has proved difficult, with FEC(60) providing little benefit over standard chemotherapy and FEC(100) associated with toxicity. We investigated the feasibility of two intermediate dose-dense FEC regimens.

Pegfilgrastim +/- ciprofloxacin for primary prophylaxis with TAC (docetaxel/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy for breast cancer. Results from the GEPARTRIO study.

Background: TAC (docetaxel/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide) is associated with high incidences of grade 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN). This analysis compared the efficacies of four regimens for primary prophylaxis of FN and related toxic effects in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant TAC.

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage T2-T4 primary breast cancer were scheduled to receive 6-8 cycles of TAC.

Pegfilgrastim supports delivery of FEC-100 chemotherapy in elderly patients with high risk breast cancer: a randomized phase 2 trial.

This randomized phase 2 study explored the feasibility of delivering four to six cycles of the dose-intensified regimen FEC-100 (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) to elderly patients with stage II-III breast cancer, using pegfilgrastim for neutrophil support. Sixty patients aged 65-77 years received single 6mg doses of pegfilgrastim on day 2 of FEC-100, either as primary prophylaxis (all cycles: PP), or as secondary prophylaxis (all cycles following a neutropenic event: SP). Neutropenic events (a composite endpoint that included grade 3 neutropenia+fever, grade 4 neutropenia, infectious complication requiring systemic anti-infectives and chemotherapy dose delay/reduction) occurred in 24/30 (80%) of the PP and 21/29 (72%) of the SP group in the first cycle.

Achieving full-dose, on-schedule administration of ACE chemotherapy every 14 days for the treatment of patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer.

Extensive small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is commonly treated with multiple cycles of chemotherapy. Reducing the time interval between cycles of chemotherapy (dose-dense chemotherapy) may improve outcomes in the treatment of extensive SCLC, as it has in other chemosensitive malignancies. To evaluate the feasibility of dose-dense chemotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC, this study evaluates a dose-dense doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide/etoposide (ACE) regimen, supported by the once-per-cycle administration of the hematopoietic growth factor pegfilgrastim.

Pegfilgrastim support for full delivery of BEACOPP-14 chemotherapy for patients with high-risk Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a phase II study.

The primary endpoint of this feasibility study was to determine whether pegfilgrastim support could enable the delivery of the full dose of BEACOPP chemotherapy every 14 days on schedule. Forty-one patients with high-risk Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomized to receive pegfilgrastim (6 mg) on day 4 or 8 of each cycle. Eighty-one percent of cycles administered were delivered at full dose and on schedule (FDOS).