Decision of adjuvant chemotherapy in intermediate risk luminal breast cancer patients: A prospective multicenter trial assessing the clinical and psychological impact of EndoPredict® (EpClin) use (UCBG 2-14).

Purpose: Genomic tests can identify ER-positive HER2-negative localized breast cancer patients who may not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Such tests seem especially interesting in "intermediate" clinico-pathological risk categories. The psychological impact of the decision uncertainty in these women remains largely unexplored.

Screening for vulnerability in older cancer patients: the ONCODAGE Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Geriatric Assessment is an appropriate method for identifying older cancer patients at risk of life-threatening events during therapy. Yet, it is underused in practice, mainly because it is time- and resource-consuming. This study aims to identify the best screening tool to identify older cancer patients requiring geriatric assessment by comparing the performance of two short assessment tools the G8 and the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13).

The relationship of self-rated health with functional status, toxicity and mortality: results of a prospective pilot study of older patients with newly-diagnosed cancer.

Objectives: To determine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and functional status, comorbidity, toxicity of treatment and mortality in older patients with newly-diagnosed cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged 65 and over, newly diagnosed were recruited at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. SRH and functional status [instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), basic activities of daily living (ADL), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), frailty markers and number of comorbid conditions] were evaluated prior to the start of treatment, and at 3, 6 and 12 months (SRH only).

The fall rate of older community-dwelling cancer patients.

Purpose: Little is known about the incidence of falls in cancer patients receiving cancer treatment. The aims were to explore the number of falls older adults report in the 6 months after cancer diagnosis, and if those with a fall were more frail than those who did not fall.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of a prospective pilot study that recruited patients aged 65 and older with a new cancer diagnosis.

[Survival of breast cancers patients with meningeal carcinoma].

Purpose: Among all solid tumors breast cancer is the most common cause of meningeal carcinomatosis (MC). The purpose of this study was to analyze clinical and biological responses as well as overall survival in MC patients (pts) of breast primary treated with intrathecal methotrexate (MTX).

Methods And Materials: Single-center retrospective series of MC pts treated between 2000 and 2007.

[Brain metastases in breast cancer. Epidemiology and natural history. The Institut Curie experience].

Breast cancer is the second cause for brain metastases. Their incidence is rising, partly due to the therapeutic improvements which alter the natural history of breast cancer. Predictive factors for brain metastases have been identified: HER2 oncogene overexpression, lack of expression of hormone receptors, young age and triple negative status.

Concordant analysis of KRAS status in primary colon carcinoma and matched metastasis.

KRAS somatic mutations are the main predictive factor for non response to EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibodies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. We compared KRAS mutational status in the primary tumour and the corresponding metastases (1 to 4 sites) in 38 mCRC patients. KRAS mutational status was analysed using direct sequencing, SNAPShot multiplex PCR and Scorpion Taqman PCR analysis.

Impact of liposomal doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy on autonomy in women over 70 with hormone-receptor-negative breast carcinoma: A French Geriatric Oncology Group (GERICO) phase II multicentre trial.

Rationale: Breast cancer is a disease of ageing. Functional independence in elderly patients, measured with the Katz activities of daily living (ADL) scale, predicts overall survival and the need for welfare support. Few prospective studies have examined the feasibility of adjuvant chemotherapy and its impact on autonomy in women over 70 years of age with high-risk breast cancer.

Phase I evaluation of seliciclib (R-roscovitine), a novel oral cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced malignancies.

Aim: Phase I study of seliciclib (CYC202, R-roscovitine), an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 7 and 9, causing cell cycle changes and apoptosis in cancer cells.

Patients And Methods: This phase I trial aimed at defining the toxicity profile, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the recommended phase II dose (RD) and the main pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of oral seliciclib. Three schedules were evaluated: seliciclib given twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks (schedule A), for 10 consecutive days followed by 2 weeks off (schedule B) and for 3d every 2 weeks (schedule C).

Potential medication problems in older newly diagnosed cancer patients in Canada during cancer treatment: a prospective pilot cohort study.

Introduction: Older cancer patients are possibly at an increased risk of medication-related problems because, typically, they receive many medications during their cancer treatment, both for the cancer itself and for supportive care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the number and severity of potential medication problems during treatment of cancer in the first year after diagnosis. We also sought to examine whether patients receiving systemic cancer treatment had more medication-related problems at 3, 6 and 12 months than those not receiving systemic cancer treatment.

Physicians' perceptions of cancer care for elderly patients: a qualitative sociological study based on a pilot geriatric oncology program.

The aim of this study was to document physicians' perceptions of cancer care for elderly patients within an oncogeriatric coordination pilot unit (UPCOG) created in Paris, France. We focused on how physicians apply new cancer care practices, how they establish new teamwork, and their experience of oncogeriatrics in everyday practice. Qualitative methods were used, including a literature review, observation of working sessions in the oncogeriatric pilot unit, and semi-structured interviews with 28 physicians.

Are frailty markers useful for predicting treatment toxicity and mortality in older newly diagnosed cancer patients? Results from a prospective pilot study.

Introduction: The concept of frailty may be useful to characterize vulnerability. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the association between frailty/functional status and treatment toxicity at 3 months and mortality at 6 months.

Methods: Patients aged ≥65 years referred to the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, with a new cancer diagnosis.

Characteristics of older newly diagnosed cancer patients refusing cancer treatments.

Purpose: With the aging of the population, there will be an increase in the number of older adults diagnosed with cancer. Little is known about the characteristics of older newly diagnosed cancer patients who refuse cancer treatment and how often they refuse. The aim of this paper was to describe the health and functional status characteristics of patients who refused cancer treatment.

Participation of older newly-diagnosed cancer patients in an observational prospective pilot study: an example of recruitment and retention.

Background: There have been few prospective observational studies which recruited older newly-diagnosed cancer patients, and of these only some have reported information on the number needed to screen to recruit their study sample, and the number and reasons for refusal and drop-out. This paper reports on strategies to recruit older newly-diagnosed cancer patients prior to treatment into an observational prospective pilot study and to retain them during a six-month period.

Methods: Medical charts of all patients in the Segal Cancer Centre aged 65 and over were screened and evaluated for inclusion.

Medication problems in older, newly diagnosed cancer patients in Canada: How common are they? A prospective pilot study.

Background: Prescribing for older patients is challenging and complex. Cancer patients are at a considerable increased risk of drug-related problems because they typically receive a large number of medications during their cancer treatment, both for the cancer itself and for supportive care. Few studies have examined the scope of this problem in older newly diagnosed cancer patients.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of trastuzumab (herceptin) in HER2-overexpressed metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: In women with Human Epidermal growth Receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), Trastuzumab has become the standard of care but previous studies have raised doubts about its economic acceptability. We carried out the first cost-effectiveness study for Trastuzumab in MBC patients, in France, that is based on observed resource use and outcomes in clinical practice.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 47 HER2-positive MBC patients in a before-and-after design study.

[Clinical management of the most important cancers in older patients].

The clinical management of cancer in senior adult patients is based on the results of clinical trials which were performed in adults, generally younger adult patients. It is therefore difficult to assess the feasibility of such treatments, mainly chemotherapy, in older patients. The evaluation of health status is an important step in the decision making of cancer treatment in senior adults.

[Breast cancer in the elderly].

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The elderly comprise a large part of the breast cancer population, and there are important specific considerations for this population. Late diagnosis and substandard local and systemic therapies are frequent, which is only partially "compensated" by a more indolent tumour behaviour due to the increasing likelihood according to age of potentially hormone sensitive tumour status.

Does a geriatric oncology consultation modify the cancer treatment plan for elderly patients?

Background: This study was performed to describe the treatment plan modifications after a geriatric oncology clinic. Assessment of health and functional status and cancer assessment was performed in older cancer patients referred to a cancer center.

Patients And Methods: Between June 2004 and May 2005, 105 patients 70 years old or older referred to a geriatric oncology consultation at the Institut Curie cancer center were included.

Management of breast cancer in elderly individuals: recommendations of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. Elderly individuals make up a large part of the breast cancer population, and there are important specific considerations for this population. The International Society of Geriatric Oncology created a task force to assess the available evidence on breast cancer in elderly individuals, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in such individuals.

QTc monitoring during a phase I study: experience with SR271425.

Objective: SR271425 is a thioxanthone cytotoxic drug that induces dose-related cardiac electrophysiologic changes in preclinical models. A phase I trial was conducted to determine the maximally tolerated dose and safety profile, notably cardiac events.

Methods: SR271425 was administered weekly as a 2-hour single intravenous infusion with a fixed 30 mg/m2 increment at each dose level (DL).

[Oxaliplatin and ovarian cancer].

Oxaliplatin was brought into clinical evaluation in ovarian cancer because of the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity observed in experimental models resistant to cisplatin. As single agent at 130 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, the objective response rates rage from 16% to 29% in patients treated after failure of one or two regimens. As first line, in a randomized trial cyclophosphamide-cisplatin versus cyclophosphamide-oxaliplatine, no significant statistical differences were observed in efficacy parameters (response rate, progression free survival and overall survival).

[Update on docetaxel and breast cancer].

Docetaxel (Taxotère) has been developed in breast cancer during the last decade. First its activity in monotherapy was proven in metastatic setting after failure of anthracycline therapy. Then the association with anthracycline demonstrated substantial activity leading to its development in early stages of breast cancer and its incorporation in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings.

[Economic assessment of Caelyx versus topotecan in advanced ovarian cancer].

Unlabelled: Ovarian cancer is the most frequent cause of death due to gynecologic malignancy in both the United States and in Europe. A phase III investigation compared second line treatment Caelyx with topotecan in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma who failed a first-line platinum-containing regimen. A total of 474 patients were enrolled Although no significant advantage of Caelyx over topotecan with regards to overall survival and progression was found, there were fewer adverse events in the Caelyx arm and Caelyx had significantly better quality of life profile.