Surgical resection is the only option of cure for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Risk of recurrence after metastasectomy is around 75%. Use of adjuvant chemotherapy after metastasectomy is controversial.AimTo address whether adjuvant systemic therapy after colorectal cancer metastasectomy offers any survival benefit compared with surgery alone.MethodsSystematic review of literature and meta-analysis of all available randomised evidence. Relative hazards (RHs) were summarised across trials and heterogeneity was assessed with the Q and I2 statistics.ResultsFive trials were eligible. Three trials, all using single-agent fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, presented data valuable for analyses. 482 patients were included in the meta-analysis: 238 randomly assigned to receive postoperative chemotherapy and 244 to metastasectomy only. We found no overall survival (OS) benefit with the use of postoperative single-agent fluoropyrimidines compared with surgery alone, even if a trend for benefit was observed (relative hazard (RH)=0.781, 95% CI 0.593 to 1.030, p=0.080). Significant disease-free survival benefit with the use of postoperative chemotherapy was observed (RH=0.645, 95% CI 0.509 to 0.818, p=0.001). No quality of life (QL) data were available. All trials showed accrual delay, two stopped and one recruiting after 10 years. Long follow-up needs were evidenced since OS curves split only after 3.5 years.ConclusionsNo OS benefit was documented from the use of postoperative monochemotherapy. Metastasectomy alone continues to be the standard of care. Combination chemotherapy regimens should be evaluated along with QL assessment in future trials appropriately designed for long-term accrual and follow-up.
Scandium (Sc) applications in solid oxygen fuel cells, aeronautics and heat exchange systems are forecasted to increase significantly without a sufficient continuous Sc supply for Europe. ScaVanger is an EU project for upscaling Sc extraction and purification technologies from various TiO2 pigment production residues. High purity Sc2O3 and ScF3 will be produced at competitive prices for the EU market. The ScaVanger process is expected to result in a 10% higher production rate and higher product purity as processing starts with a unique cleaning process of actinides. The first plant at a major European TiO2 pigment production site will be supplying about 30 t/a of Sc2O3.
The “POWERFUL” multicenter, retrospective, and prospective study investigated the effectiveness of pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone (POM/LoDex) therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in routine care in Greece. Ninety-nine eligible adult patients treated with POM/LoDex according to the approved label after having received ≥2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and bortezomib, were consecutively enrolled between 16 November 2017 and 21 February 2019 in 18 hematology departments. Fifty patients (50.5%) started POM/LoDex as third-line treatment. During the treatment period (median: 8.3 months; range: 0.3–47.6 months), the median POM dose was 4 mg/day, and 31.3% of the patients received additional antimyeloma agents. The overall response rate was 32.3%. During a median follow-up period of 13.8 months (Kaplan–Meier estimate), the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.5 months (95% CI: 7.4–14.4). The PFS was not significantly different between patients receiving POM/LoDex in the third versus later line of therapy, nor between patients receiving concomitant antimyeloma therapy versus POM/LoDEx doublet. During the prospective safety data collection period (median: 7.6 months) among patients with prospective follow-up (N = 75), POM-related adverse event incidence rate was 42.7% (serious: 18.7%; grade ≥ 3 hematological POM-related adverse events: 8.0%). Only neutropenia (13.3%) was reported at a frequency ≥10%. In conclusion, in this real-world study, POM/LoDex displayed a long PFS with no new safety signals emerging.
Intermittent exogenous parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a potent osteoanabolic agent used for the treatment of severe osteoporosis. Two molecules of recombinant PTH are commercially available: the full-length PTH (PTH 1-84) and teriparatide (PTH 1-34). We present the first report of PTH-induced mild, asymptomatic, normochromic normocytic anemia in a postmenopausal woman treated sequentially with PTH 1-84 and PTH 1-34. Anemia was more pronounced with PTH 1-84 compared to PTH 1-34 and was reversed with each regimen discontinuation. We suggest monitoring of hematocrit and hemoglobin in PTH-treated patients, especially when PTH 1-84 is used.
The Greek Registry of Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) is implemented under the auspices of the Acute Leukemias and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Study Group of the Hellenic Society of Haematology. Hereby, we present results after four years of retrospective data collection. The total number of patients included is 1078, from 14 Greek sites; ET was diagnosed between 1982 and 2012. The male to female ratio is 1:1.19. Median age at diagnosis is 63 years, median platelet counts (PLT) 826x109/L, hemoglobin (Hb) 13.6 g/dL, white blood cell counts (WBC) 9.4x109/L. The presenting symptoms were a thrombotic event in 6.8%, a hemorrhagic event in 1.5% of patients. In 79.8% of the patients the diagnosis was made after incidental finding of elevated platelet counts on routine laboratory investigation. Molecular studies were performed in 677 patients and 42.8% of them were positive for the JAK2-V617F mutation. The presence of JAK2-V617F mutation (mutant vs wild type allele) was associated with baseline platelet counts (757.5 vs 882 x109/L) and hemoglobin levels (14.4 vs 13.4 g/dL), p<0.001 (Mann-Whitney U-test). A history of thrombosis or hemorrhage was present in 18.6% and 6.6% of patients respectively. Chi-square test was performed to assess whether platelet counts at diagnosis (<600, 600-800, >800 x109/L), Hb<13.8g/dL, WBC>9.5x109/L, or splenomegaly are associated with thrombotic or hemorrhagic events in the past medical history or during the follow-up of ET patients. The only statistically significant difference was observed in the occurrence of thrombosis during the follow up: 10.1% of those with PLT between 600-800 x109/L, 4.5% in PLT<600 and 5.6% in PLT>800 x109/L. To assess for possible confounders the multivariable logistic regression model was used, with independent variables the PLT at diagnosis, age >60 years, history of thrombosis and first line therapy. The history of thrombosis was the only statistically significant risk factor with odds ratio (OR) 3.9 (p=0.0005), while PLT was not a statistically significant risk factor (OR=2.5, p=0.074). Antiplatelet therapy was offered in 80% of patients (aspirin in 59.1%, clopidogrel in 4.7%, and combination therapy in 6.5%); anticoagulants (low molecular weight heparin or warfarin) were given in 2.3%, while the remaining 17.8% of patients did not receive any antithrombotic therapy. During the first six months post diagnosis, 31.6% of patients did not need any cytoreductive therapy. The rest 68.4% of the patients received first line therapy (hydroxyurea 80.6%, anagrelide 11.4% and interferon 5.4%). The response rates were 89.9%, 82.1% and 85.7%, respectively. Second-line therapy was received by 25.8% of the patients (hydroxyurea 23%, anagrelide 44.6%, interferon 9.5%), while the off-label combination of hydroxyurea and anagrelide was administered to 21.2% of the patients. Of the 852 patients treated with hydroxyurea as first line therapy, 12.1% switched to anagrelide and 1.2% to interferon. Of those initially treated with anagrelide, 27.6% switched to hydroxyurea and 8.2% to interferon. During the follow up phase, secondary solid tumor occurred in 4% and hematological malignancy in 2.7% of the patients. The aim of the registry and the subsequent data analysis is to convey the practice of managing the disease. Moreover, useful conclusions can be reached regarding to the patients’ responsiveness to therapy and the minimization of thrombotic and hemorrhagic adverse events. Disclosures: Spanoudakis: Genesis Hellas: Honoraria. Kotsianidis:Genesis Hellas: Honoraria, Research Funding.
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