Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent an appealing treatment for patients with advanced urothelial cancer (aUC) and a poor performance status (PS). However, the benefit of ICIs for patients with a poor PS remains unknown. It was hypothesized that a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS (≥2 vs 0‐1) would correlate with shorter overall survival (OS) in patients receiving ICIs.
Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, clinicopathologic, treatment, and outcome data were collected for patients with aUC who were treated with ICIs at 18 institutions (2013‐2019). The overall response rate (ORR) and OS were compared for patients with an ECOG PS of 0 to 1 and patients with an ECOG PS ≥ 2 at ICI initiation. The association between a new ICI in the last 30 and 90 days of life (DOL) and death location was also tested.
Results
Of the 519 patients treated with ICIs, 395 and 384 were included in OS and ORR analyses, respectively, with 26% and 24% having a PS ≥ 2. OS was higher in those with a PS of 0 to 1 than those with a PS ≥ 2 who were treated in the first line (median, 15.2 vs 7.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; P = .01) but not in subsequent lines (median, 9.8 vs 8.2 months; HR, 0.78; P = .27). ORRs were similar for patients with a PS of 0 to 1 and patients with a PS ≥ 2 in both lines. Of the 288 patients who died, 10% and 32% started ICIs in the last 30 and 90 DOL, respectively. ICI initiation in the last 30 DOL was associated with increased odds of death in a hospital (odds ratio, 2.89; P = .04).
Conclusions
Despite comparable ORRs, ICIs may not overcome the negative prognostic role of a poor PS, particularly in the first‐line setting, and the initiation of ICIs in the last 30 DOL was associated with hospital death location.
PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility of acute and chronic toxicity in patients suitable for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in a single 18 Gy fraction with multicatheter high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, as well as cosmetic and oncological outcomes.Material and methodsBetween September 2014 and March 2016, twenty consecutive patients with low-risk invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ were treated with interstitial multicatheter HDR brachytherapy in a single 18 Gy fraction.ResultsMedian age was 63.5 years (range, 51-79). Acute toxicity was observed in seven patients, while the pain during following days and hematoma were seen in four patients. With a median follow-up of 24 months, late toxicity was found in one patient with fat necrosis g2 and fibrosis g2 in another patient. The overall survival (OS) and locoregional control (LC) was 100%. Disease-free survival (DFS) and distant control was 95%. Good to excellent cosmetic outcomes were noted in 80% of patients and fair in 4 patients (20%).ConclusionsThis is the first report in the medical literature that focuses on feasibility and acute and chronic toxicity, with a median follow-up of 24 months (range, 20-40). The protocol is viable and convenient. However, a longer follow-up is needed to know chronic toxicity and oncologic outcomes.
To compare clinical outcomes between patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (aUC) in the upper and lower urinary tract receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
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