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Abstract: Background. We preformed a Phase IV non-interventional study to assess KRAS, NRAS and BRAF status in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients suitable for 1st line treatment and to evaluate the decisions for 1st line treatment considering the treatment goals in the RAS wild type (wt) patients. The aim of our study was also to evaluate the influ-ence of a waiting period for biomarkers analysis on the start of first-line treatment.Patients and methods. Patients with histologically confirmed mCRC adenocarcinoma suitable for first-line treat-ment fulfilling all inclusion criteria were included in the study. The KRAS, NRAS and BRAF analysis was performed from tissue samples of primary tumor site or metastatic site. All included patients have given consent to participate in the study by signing the informed consent form. Results. From April 2013 to March 2018 at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana 650 patients were included, 637 of them were treated with first- line systemic treatment according to RAS and BRAF status. Remaining 13 patients with mCRC did not receive systemic first-line treatment. The distribution of patients with KRAS mutated and wild-type tumors, was almost equal, 48.8% and 47.9% respectively, 89 % of the patients had wt NRAS tumours and 86.1% had wt BRAF tu-mours. The most frequently prescribed treatment was bevacizumab-based therapy (53.1%), either in combination with doublet chemotherapy or with mono-chemotherapy. EGFR inhibitors cetuximab and panitumumab were prescribed in wt RAS mCRC patients (30.9%). The waiting period for biomarkers analysis was two weeks.Conclusions. Our real-world data, single centre 5-year analysis showed that the distribution between wild type and mutated type tumors of the patients with mCRC was approximately the same, as worldwide, so the Slovenian popula-tion with mCRC has the same ratio distribution of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF wild and mutated genes. We concluded that a two-week waiting period for biomarkers analysis did not influence the first line treatment decision, so it was in the accordance with the worldwide treatment guidelines based on evidence-based medicine.
Keywords: metastatic colorectal cancer, RAS and BRAF biomarkers, systemic treatment
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 458; Downloads: 181
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Abstract: Based on recent data from clinical trials, the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab prolongs survival and has a good toxicity profile in patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma. However, the question remains whether these results are transmitted into daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of pembrolizumab in treatment-naive patients with metastatic melanoma in everyday clinical practice in Slovenia and compare it to the results from clinical trials. Patients and methods. This observational retrospective cohort study included 138 consecutive metastatic treatment-naive melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana in Slovenia, from January 2016 to December 2018. Patient and treatment characteristics were retrospectively collected from hospital data base. Statistical data was obtained using the SPSS software version 22. Survival rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Observation period took place between January 2016 and the end of June 2019. Results. The estimated median overall survival (OS) was 25.1 months (95% CI, 14.6%35.6) and the median progressionfree survival (PFS) was 10.7 months (95% CI, 5.9%15.4). Among all patients, 29 (21.0%) achieved complete response, 31 (22.5%) partial response and 23 (16.7%) reached stable disease. The number of organs with metastatic involvement and the level of baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration had significant influence on survival rates. Immune-related adverse events (irAE) were reported in 88 (63%) patients, while grade 3%4 irAE occurred in 12 (8.7%). Due to toxicity, 16 (11.6%) patients discontinued the treatment. Conclusions. Our real-world data from single centre retrospective analysis of treatment-naive metastatic melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab showed inferior median OS and similar median PFS, compared to the results from clinical trials. However, patients with normal serum levels of LDH and a small number of organs with metastatic involvement had comparable survival outcomes. Toxicity rates of pembrolizumab were quite similar. These results further support the use of pembrolizumab for metastatic treatment-naive melanoma patients.
Keywords: immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, metastatic melanoma, treatment-naive
Published in DiRROS: 11.07.2024; Views: 565; Downloads: 210
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Abstract: BRAF, NRAS and c-KIT mutations are characteristics of tumour tissues that influence on treatment decisions in metastatic melanoma patients. Mutation frequency and their correlation with histological characteristics in Slovenian population have not been investigated yet. Patients and methods. In our retrospective analysis we analysed mutational status of BRAF, NRAS and c-KIT in 230 pathological samples of patients who were intended to be treated with systemic therapy due to metastatic disease at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana between 2013 and 2016. We collected also histological characteristics of primary tumours and clinical data of patients and correlated them with mutational status of tumour samples. Results. The study population consisted of 230 patients with a mean age 59 years (range 25%85). 141 (61.3%) were males and 89 (38.7%) females. BRAF mutations were identified in 129 (56.1%), NRAS in 31 (13.5%) and c-KIT in 3 (1.3%) tissue samples. Among the 129 patients with BRAF mutations, 114 (88.4%) patients had V600E mutation and 15 (11.6%) had V600K mutation. Patients with BRAF mutations tended to be younger at diagnosis (52 vs. 59 years, p < 0.05), patients with NRAS mutations older (61 vs. 55 years, p < 0.05). Number of c-KIT mutations were too low for any statistical correlation, but there was one out of 3 melanoma located in mucus membranes. Conclusions. The analysis detected high rate of BRAF mutations, low NRAS mutations and low c-KIT mutations compared to previously published studies in Europe and North America. One of the main reasons for this observation is specific characteristics of study population.
Keywords: BRAF, NRAS, c-KIT, melanoma
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2024; Views: 546; Downloads: 266
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Abstract: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is mainly a disease of elderly, however, geriatric population is underrepresented in clinical trials. Patient registries represent a tool to assess and follow treatment outcomes in this patient population. The aim of the study was with the help of the patients% register to determine the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy in elderly patients who had previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients and methods. The registry of patients with mCRC was designed to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy as well as selection of patients in routine clinical practice. Patient baseline clinical characteristics, pre-specified bevacizumab-related adverse events, and efficacy data were collected, evaluated and compared according to the age categories. Results. Between January 2008 and December 2010, 210 patients with mCRC (median age 63, male 61.4%) started bevacizumab-containing therapy in the 1st line setting. Majority of the 210 patients received irinotecan-based chemotherapy (68%) as 1st line treatment and 105 patients (50%) received bevacizumab maintenance therapy. Elderly (% 70 years) patients presented 22.9% of all patients and they had worse performance status (PS 1/2, 62.4%) than patients in < 70 years group (PS 1/2, 35.8%). Difference in disease control rate was mainly due to inability to assess response in elderly group (64.6% in elderly and 77.8% in < 70 years group, p = 0.066). The median progression free survival was 10.2 (95% CI, 6.7%16.2) and 11.3 (95% CI, 10.2%12.6) months in elderly and < 70 years group, respectively (p = 0.58). The median overall survival was 18.5 (95% CI, 12.4%28.9) and 27.4 (95% CI, 22.7%31.9) months for elderly and < 70 years group, respectively (p = 0.03). Three-year survival rate was 26% and 37.6% in elderly vs. < 70 years group (p = 0.03). Overall rates of bevacizumab-related adverse events were similar in both groups: proteinuria 21/22 %, hypertension 25/19 %, haemorrhage 2/4 % and thromboembolic events 10/6 %, for elderly and < 70 years group, respectively. Conclusions. In routine clinical practice, the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy is effective and welltolerated regimen in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Keywords: metastatic colorectal cancer, bevacizumab, chemotherapy, elderly
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 796; Downloads: 241
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Keywords: internistična onkologija, melanom, kemoterapija
Published in DiRROS: 19.04.2024; Views: 613; Downloads: 202
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