Cisplatin plus paclitaxel and maintenance of (Avastin) bevacizumab on tumour progression, dissemination, and survival of ovarian carcinoma xenograft models

Cisplatin plus paclitaxel and maintenance of bevacizumab on tumour progression, dissemination, and survival of ovarian carcinoma xenograft models:
 July 2012  doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.261

Background:

Bevacizumab is being incorporated as first-line therapy with standard-of-care chemotherapy on epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). We investigated bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy on tumour progression and mouse survival in EOC xenograft models.

Methods:

Bevacizumab was administered concomitantly with cisplatin plus paclitaxel (DDP+PTX), continued after induction (maintenance) or started after chemotherapy. The effect on tumour progression was monitored by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) (1A9-luc xenograft). Tumour dissemination into the peritoneal organs and ascites formation (HOC22 xenograft) was evaluated by histological analysis at the end of treatment (interim) and at euthanasia (survival). The effects on overall survival (OS) were investigated in both EOC models.

Results:

Bevacizumab with PTX+DDP delayed tumour progression in mice bearing EOC xenografts. OS was significantly extended, with complete responses, by bevacizumab continued after stopping chemotherapy in the HOC22 xenograft. Bevacizumab alone inhibited ascites formation, with only limited effect on tumour burden, but combined with PTX+DDP reduced ascites and metastases. Bevacizumab started after induction with PTX+DDP and maintained was equally effective on tumour progression and survival on 1A9-luc xenograft.

Conclusion:

Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy not only affected tumour progression, but when administered as maintenance regimen significantly prolonged survival, reducing ascites, and tumour dissemination. We believe our findings are consistent with the clinical results and shed light on the potential effects of this kind of treatment on tumour progression.

paywalled: Preferences for outcomes associated with decisions to undergo or forego genetic testing for Lynch syndrome

Preferences for outcomes associated with decisions to undergo or forego genetic testing for Lynch syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines recommend offering genetic testing for Lynch syndrome to individuals whose tumors suggest this condition and to relatives of affected individuals. Little is known, however, regarding how patients view the prospect of such testing. In addition, data on preferences (utilities) for the potential outcomes of testing decisions for use in cost-effectiveness analyses are lacking.

METHODS:

Time tradeoff utilities were elicited for 10 potential outcomes of Lynch syndrome testing decisions and 3 associated cancers from 70 participants, representing a range of knowledge about and experiences with Lynch syndrome.

RESULTS:

Highest mean utilities were assigned to scenarios in which only the assessor's sibling had Lynch-associated colorectal cancer (ranging from 0.669 ± 0.231 to 0.760 ± 0.220). Utilities assigned to scenarios in which the assessor had Lynch-associated colorectal cancer ranged from 0.605 ± 0.252 to 0.682 ± 0.246, whereas the lowest mean utilities were assigned to 2 of the general cancer states (0.601 ± 0.238 and 0.593 ± 0.272 for colorectal and ovarian cancer respectively). Only 43% of the sample assigned higher values to undergoing Lynch testing and receiving negative results versus foregoing Lynch testing, whereas 50% assigned higher values to undergoing rather than foregoing surgery to prevent a subsequent cancer.

CONCLUSIONS:

Genetic testing for Lynch syndrome, regardless of results, can have profound effects on quality of life; the utilities we collected can be used to incorporate these effects into cost-effectiveness analyses. Importantly, preferences for the potential outcomes of testing vary substantially, calling into question the extent to which patients would avail themselves of such testing if it were offered to them. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society

Podcast/RSS video: Lynch Syndrome Educational Support Workshop | Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (68 min.)

Podcast/RSS video: Lynch Syndrome Educational Support Workshop | Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Runtime

68:00

Medical experts from Memorial Sloan-Kettering discuss Lynch syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause colon and other cancers.

Medicine 2012 update ovarian cancer

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/255771-treatment


Sent from my iPhone