Dacomitinib has a limited single-agent activity in recurrent GB with EGFR amplification. The detailed molecular characterization of the 4 patients with response in this trial can be useful to select patients who could benefit from dacomitinib.

Although thyroid cancer usually has an excellent prognosis, few therapeutic options are available in the refractory setting. Based on the recent results of phase II studies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we designed a retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic thyroid cancer treated with sorafenib in seven Spanish referral centers. Consecutive patients with progressive metastatic thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic) not suitable for curative surgery, radioactive-iodine therapy, or radiotherapy were treated with sorafenib 400 mg twice a day. The primary end point was objective response rate (RR). Secondary end points included toxicity, median progression-free survival (mPFS), median overall survival (mOS), and correlation between tumor marker levels (thyroglobulin, calcitonin, and carcinoembryonic antigen) and efficacy. Between June 2006 and January 2010, 34 patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients presented differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) of which seven (21%) were papillary, nine (26%) follicular, 15 (44%) medullary (MTC), and three (9%) were anaplastic (ATC). Eleven (32%) patients achieved partial response and 14 (41%) had stable disease beyond 6 months. Regarding histological subtype, RRs were 47% (seven of 15) for MTC, 19% (three of 16) for DTC, and 33% (one of three) for ATC. With a median follow-up of 11.5 months, mPFS were 13.5, 10.5, and 4.4 months for DTC, MTC, and ATC respectively. Tumor markers were evaluated in 22 patients, and a statistically significant association was observed between RR and decrease in tumor marker levels O50% (PZ0.033). In this retrospective trial, sorafenib showed antitumor efficacy in all histological subtypes of thyroid cancer, warranting further development in this setting.

Background Standard treatment for glioblastoma is radiation with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for 6 cycles, although the optimal number of cycles of adjuvant temozolomide has long been a subject of debate. We performed a phase II randomized trial investigating whether extending adjuvant temozolomide for more than 6 cycles improved outcome. Methods Glioblastoma patients treated at 20 Spanish hospitals who had not progressed after 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide were centrally randomized to stop (control arm) or continue (experimental arm) temozolomide up to a total of 12 cycles at the same doses they were receiving in cycle 6. Patients were stratified by MGMT methylation and measurable disease. The primary endpoint was differences in 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were PFS, overall survival (OS), and safety (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02209948). Results From August 2014 to November 2018, 166 patients were screened, 7 of whom were ineligible. Seventy-nine patients were included in the stop arm and 80 in the experimental arm. All patients were included in the analyses of outcomes and of safety. There were no differences in 6-month PFS (control 55.7%; experimental 61.3%), PFS, or OS between arms. MGMT methylation and absence of measurable disease were independent factors of better outcome. Patients in the experimental arm had more lymphopenia (P < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (P < 0.001), and nausea and vomiting (P = 0.001). Conclusions Continuing temozolomide after 6 adjuvant cycles is associated with greater toxicity but confers no additional benefit in 6-month PFS. Key Points 1. Extending adjuvant temozolomide to 12 cycles did not improve 6-month PFS. 2. Extending adjuvant temozolomide did not improve PFS or OS in any patient subset. 3. Extending adjuvant temozolomide was linked to increased toxicities.

Gemcitabine plus sirolimus exhibits satisfactory antitumor activity and safety in this osteosarcoma population, exceeding the prespecified 40% of 4-month PFSR. The significant correlation of biomarkers with clinical outcome encourages further prospective investigation.

Nilotinib plus doxorubicin showed to be synergistic regarding apoptosis in several sarcoma cell lines. A phase I/II trial was thus designed to explore the feasibility of nilotinib as coadjuvant of doxorubicin by inhibiting MRP-1/P-gp efflux activity. The phase I part of the study is presented here. Nilotinib 400 mg/12 hours was administered in fixed dose from day 1 to 6, and doxorubicin on day 5 of each cycle. Three dose escalation levels for doxorubicin at 60, 65, and 75 mg/m were planned. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks for a total of 4 cycles. Eligible subtypes were retroperitoneal liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and unresectable/metastatic high-grade chondrosarcoma. Thirteen patients were enrolled: 7 chondrosarcoma, 4 liposarcoma, and 2 leiomyosarcoma. In 46 cycles administered, the most relevant grade 3/4 adverse effects per patient were neutropenia 54%, febrile neutropenia 15%, and asthenia 8%. No cardiac toxicity was observed. Only one dose-limiting toxicity (febrile neutropenia) was reported in the third dose level. With regard to efficacy, 1 partial response (1 liposarcoma), 9 stable diseases (5 chondrosarcoma, 2 liposarcoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma), and 3 progressive diseases (2 chondrosarcoma and 1 leiomyosarcoma) were present. and RNA expression levels decreased by 58.47-fold and 1.47-fold, respectively, on day 5 of the cycle. Combination of MRP-1/P-gp inhibitor, nilotinib, as coadjuvant with doxorubicin is feasible; it appears not to add substantial toxicity compared with doxorubicin alone. Pharmacodynamic study supports this concept. The recommended dose for the phase II part for doxorubicin was 75 mg/m .

Background:First Spanish trial of Ewing sarcoma (ES) including adults and children with the aim to test the efficacy of Gemcitabine and Docetaxel (G/D) in newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) patients.Methods:This was a prospective, multicentric, non-randomised, open study for patients ⩽40 years with newly diagnosed ES. HR patients (metastatic, axial-pelvic primaries or bone marrow micrometastasis) received 2 window cycles of G/D. Patients with an objective response (OR) to G/D received 12 monthly cycles of G/D after completion of mP6. The primary end point was the OR rate to the G/D window phase and the event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for all patients. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT00006734).Results:Forty-three patients were enroled, median age 17 years (range, 3–40). After a median follow-up of 43.4 months, the 5-year OS rate is 55.0% (95% CI, 41–74%) with an EFS of 50.0% (95% CI, 36–68%). The 5-year OS and EFS rates for standard risk (SR) patients was 76.0% (95% CI, 57–100%) and 71.0% (CI, 54–94%); for HR 36.0% (CI, 20–65%) and 29.0% (CI, 15–56%). Twelve of 17 (70.6%) high-risk (HR) patients showed an OR (7 PR and 5 SD) to G/D window therapy. The 5-year OS rate for patients ⩽18 years of age was 74.0% (CI, 56–97%) and 31.0% for >18 years (95% CI, 15–66%), P<0.001. Grade 4 adverse events during mP6 occurred in 28/39 of patients (72%) and did not correlate with age. Multivariate survival analyses with <18 vs ⩾18 and risk groups significant differences, P<0.00001. Using a Cox model for OS, both age and risk group were statistically significant (P=0.0011 and P=0.0065, respectively).Conclusions:Age at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor superior to the presence of metastases with 18 years as the strongest cut-off. The mP6 regimen provided survival curves that plateau at 3 years and G/D produced significant responses in HR-ES that is worth further exploring.

BackgroundCancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of tumor cells with capacity to self-renew and generate the diverse cells that make up the tumor. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of CSCs in a highly homogeneous population of stage II colon cancer.MethodsOne hundred stage II colon cancer patients treated by the same surgical team between 1977 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. None of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Inmunohistochemistry expression of CD133, NANOG and CK20 was scored, using four levels: <10%, 11–25%, 26–50% and >50% positivity. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare survival.ResultsThe average patient age was 68 years (patients were between 45–92 years of age) and median follow up was 5.8 years. There was recurrent disease in 17 (17%); CD133 expression (defined by >10% positivity) was shown in 60% of the tumors, in 95% for NANOG and 78% for CK20. No correlation was found among expression levels of CD133, NANOG or CK20 and relapse-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS). However, a statistical significant correlation was found between established pathological prognostic factors and RFS and OS.ConclusionsStem Cell quantification defined by CD133 and NANOG expression has no correlation with RFS or OS in this cohort of Stage II colon cancer.

A 40-year-old man presented with painless, progressive vision loss and mild proptosis of the OD. CT revealed a right intraconal mass with slight penetration of the optic canal not contiguous with any bony structure. Incisional biopsy through a transfrontal orbitotomy revealed a diffuse growth of homogeneous, small, round cells. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for vimentin and MIC2 (CD99), and the translocation at EWS gene (22q12) was detected. Metastatic workup and a full-body bone scan were negative, confirming primary orbital extraosseous Ewing sarcoma. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and an orbital exenteration with preservation of eyelids and conjunctiva. He also received adjuvant chemotherapy and local radiotherapy, and he has remained disease-free for almost 3 years.