Large well-designed studies are eagerly awaited for confirming the promises of metronomic schedules and their combinations with targeted molecules.

Carcinomas of the Ampulla of Vater are rare tumors, accounting for 0.2% of gastrointestinal cancers. Compared with other biliary tract neoplasms, these tumors have a relatively favorable prognosis after surgical resection. Based on their epithelium of origin, two subtypes of ampullary carcinoma have been recently distinguished: intestinal and pancreatobiliary. This study evaluates histopathological features and outcomes of ampullary carcinoma and to compares the survival of these tumors to that of other biliary tract tumors. The chemotherapic options available for ampullary cancer are also reviewed. We analyzed data from 20 consecutive patients with ampullary carcinomas and 26 patients with other biliary tract carcinomas, observed in our Institution. Statistical analysis was performed by using either Fisher's exact test or χ(2) test for categorical variables. Median time of survival was calculated and compared using the Log-Rank test. Similar distribution of demographic characteristics and stage between ampullary and other biliary tract cancers was observed. Patients with ampullary cancer underwent surgery more frequently than other biliary cancers while chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used equally. In accordance with the literature, a longer median survival was observed in the group of ampullary carcinomas.

Background & Aims: Data on the potential of circulating tumor cells (CTC) count in predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer are timely and worthy of interest. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of CTC count in both localized and metastatic colorectal cancer patients.Methods: Consecutive patients with histological diagnosis of colorectal cancer were enrolled. CTC count was performed, by using a quantitative immunofluorescence method, at baseline (T0) and 1 month following start of chemotherapy (T1). A CTC count <2 was considered negative, whilst a CTC level ≥2 was positive. Overall survival was calculated accordingly.Results: A total of 75 colorectal cancer patients were enrolled, including 54 stages I-III and 21 stage IV patients. Overall, 21 (28%) patients had a positive CTC count at baseline, and it was significantly associated with a worse prognosis as compared to a negative status (OS: 36.2 vs. 61.6 months; P = 0.002). CTC count remained positive after chemotherapy in 22.4% of the patients and it was an independent prognostic factor of OS (P = 0.03; Hazard Ratio: 3.55; 95% CI: 1.1-11.5).Conclusions: This study found that the presence of CTCs is associated with a reduced survival in colorectal cancer patients. Further studies aimed at testing such a predictive value in early stage colorectal cancer are awaited.

Despite optimal treatment (complete cytoreduction and adjuvant chemotherapy), 5-year survival for advanced ovarian cancer is approximately 30% and most patients succumb to their disease. Cytoreductive surgery is accepted as a major treatment of primary ovarian cancer but its role in recurrent disease is controversial and remains a field of discussion mainly owing to missing data from prospective randomized trials. A critical review of literature evidence on secondary surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer will be described.

We reviewed the available data on both chemotherapy and targeted therapies for biliary carcinoma. By using conventional chemotherapy, a response rate ranging from 10% to 40% has been reported. Although encouraging data emerged with the use of targeted therapies, further efforts are needed to improve treatment options for patients with biliary tract cancer.

The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose metronomic oral capecitabine in pretreated or frail patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Patients with recurrent colorectal cancer and prior treatment with fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan or unable to receive standard chemotherapy because of toxicity concerns were included. Treatment consisted of oral capecitabine 1,500 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response rates were determined according to RECIST criteria. The end points were disease control rate [(DCR) consisting of complete response, partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD)], overall survival (OS), and safety. Sixty-eight patients, median age 72.5 years, were treated. The median number of previous treatments was 2 (range 0-5). Sixty-two percent of patients had received ≥2 previous lines of treatment. The overall DCR was 26%, PR in 2 (3%) and SD in 14 (23%). Nineteen percent of patients were progression free for at least 6 months. In an exploratory analysis, there was a significant relation of performance status with DCR (HR = 3.3; P = 0.05). The median OS was 8 months. DCR was associated with a longer survival (HR = 0.4; P < 0.01). Grade 3 toxicities included anemia (1), diarrhea (1), and hand-foot syndrome (1). There were no cases of grade 4 toxicity or treatment-related deaths. Metronomic capecitabine was moderately active and well-tolerated in pretreated or frail patients with recurrent colorectal cancer.

281 Background: A combination of capecitabine (CAP) and temozolomide (TEM) has been successfully used as first-line treatment in low-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN). We reviewed activity and toxicity of the same regimen in patients with advanced NEN with different primary and grading. Methods: Clinical data of patients who had received oral CAP 1500 mg/m2/day over 14 days bid plus oral TEM 150-200 mg/m2/day on days 10-14 of each 28-day cycle, were retrospectively reviewed. The methylenguanilmetiltransferase (MGMT) methylation-status (MGMT-gene >5% = responders) and TS-polymorphisms (2R/2R, 2R/3R = responders, 3R/3R = non-responders) in tumor-tissue/peripheral-blood were evaluated by pyrosequencing. Results: Since March 2012, 29 patients were selected. The primary tumor was: pancreas in 14 patients (48%), gastrointestinal (GI) in 5 (17%), unknown in 2 (7%), lung in 8 (28%). According to 2010 WHO classification, Ki67 was <2% (G1) in 3%, 3-20% (G2) in 45% patients, >20% (G3) in 21% with two "low G3" (Ki67 21-30%), and unknown in 3%. Among lung: 7% typical and 21% atypical (Travis’ classification). 72% patients (21/29) were progressive on different therapies: peptide-receptor-radiotherapy (38%), chemotherapy (38%), everolimus (14%). Partial-response (PR) occurred in 14% (4/29) of patients (95% CI: 4-32), stable-disease (SD) in 59% (17/29) (95% CI: 39-77) mainly PNET. The two "low G3" responded. Disease control rate (PR+SD): 72% (95% CI: 53-87). Median TTP: 9 months (95% CI: 5.6-N.E.). Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent grade 3 toxicity, always temporary. All 4 PR patients had genotype 2R/3R-2R/2R investigated for the 28 base-pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the 5'UTR of the TS-gene, and MGMT-gene inactivation by epigenetic silencing. Conclusions: This analysis suggests that CAP-TEM chemotherapy could be active and well tolerated in pretreated patients with advanced NEN of different origins and grading. This warrants a prospective investigation in a more homogeneous population (G2 and “low-G3” GEP NEN or lung carcinoids), in order to validate the predictive value of MGMT methylation-status and TS-polymorphisms.

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