[en] Highlights: • Ddedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is recalcitrant and has the lowest survival rate. • Determine the efficacy of rMETase combined with palbociclib (PAL) against a DOX-resistant DDLPS in a PDOX mouse model. • The combination of PAL and rMETase significantly regressed tumor volume. • The combination of rMETase and PAL could be developed clinically. Liposarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma. Among the subtypes of liposarcoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is recalcitrant and has the lowest survival rate. The aim of the present study is to determine the efficacy of metabolic targeting with recombinant methioninase (rMETase) combined with palbociclib (PAL) against a doxorubicin (DOX)-resistant DDLPS in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. A resected tumor from a patient with recurrent high-grade DDLPS in the right retroperitoneum was grown orthotopically in the right retroperitoneum of nude mice to establish a PDOX model. The PDOX models were randomized into the following groups when tumor volume reached 100 mm³: G1, control without treatment; G2, DOX; G3, PAL; G4, recombinant methioninase (rMETase); G5, PAL combined with rMETase. Tumor length and width were measured both pre- and post-treatment. On day 14 after initiation, all treatments significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to the untreated control except DOX. PAL combined with rMETase was significantly more effective than both DOX, rMETase alone, and PAL alone. Combining PAL and rMETase significantly regressed tumor volume on day 14 after initiation of treatment and was the only treatment to do so. The relative body weight on day 14 compared with day 0 did not significantly differ between each treatment group. The results of the present study indicate the powerful combination of rMETase and PAL should be tested clinically against DDLPS in the near future.

[en] Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) offers a survival benefit to patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A widely accepted TACE regimen includes administration of doxorubicin-oil emulsion followed by gelatine sponge-conventional TACE. Recently, a drug-eluting bead (DC Bead) has been developed to enhance tumor drug delivery and reduce systemic availability. This randomized trial compares conventional TACE (cTACE) with TACE with DC Bead for the treatment of cirrhotic patients with HCC. Two hundred twelve patients with Child-Pugh A/B cirrhosis and large and/or multinodular, unresectable, N0, M0 HCCs were randomized to receive TACE with DC Bead loaded with doxorubicin or cTACE with doxorubicin. Randomization was stratified according to Child-Pugh status (A/B), performance status (ECOG 0/1), bilobar disease (yes/no), and prior curative treatment (yes/no). The primary endpoint was tumor response (EASL) at 6 months following independent, blinded review of MRI studies. The drug-eluting bead group showed higher rates of complete response, objective response, and disease control compared with the cTACE group (27% vs. 22%, 52% vs. 44%, and 63% vs. 52%, respectively). The hypothesis of superiority was not met (one-sided P = 0.11). However, patients with Child-Pugh B, ECOG 1, bilobar disease, and recurrent disease showed a significant increase in objective response (P = 0.038) compared to cTACE. DC Bead was associated with improved tolerability, with a significant reduction in serious liver toxicity (P < 0.001) and a significantly lower rate of doxorubicin-related side effects (P = 0.0001). TACE with DC Bead and doxorubicin is safe and effective in the treatment of HCC and offers a benefit to patients with more advanced disease.

[en] Hepatocellular carcinoma has a poor prognosis and is poorly responsive to systemic chemotherapy. Here a case is described with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who achieved a complete of adriamycin and etoposide (VP 16-213)

[en] Highlights: • MiR-23a was increased in Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. • MiR-23a upregulated p-Drp-1/cyt c/caspase-3 axis by targeting PGC-1α. • Inhibition of miR-23a protected Dox-treated cardiomyocytes. • Silencing PGC-1α reversed the protective effects of miR-23a inhibitor. -- Abstract: Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity limits its clinical use. A number of microRNAs (miRs) have been found essential in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of miR-23a on Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and underlying mechanisms.

[en] Post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid proliferation that ranges from polyclonal hyperplasia to monoclonal malignant lymphoma. We report a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with PTLD in February 2007 after 3 1/2 years of deceased renal transplantation. We treated him with an adapted ACVBP (doxorubicin, cyclo-phosphamide, vincristine, bleomycin and prednisone) regimen. He responded well to the chemotherapy without deterioration of graft function. (author)

[en] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the added role of a chemotherapeutic in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The issue is of major importance since, as suggested by recent evidence, hypoxia or incomplete devascularization of the tumor is a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, and there are not many papers supplying level one evidence confirming the value of a chemotherapeutic. The hypothesis was that since drug-eluting bead (DEB)-TACE is standardized and reproducible, a comparison with bland TACE can readily reveal the potential value of the chemotherapeutic. Two groups were randomized in this prospective study: group A (n = 41) was treated with doxorubicin DEB-TACE, and group B (n = 43) with bland embolization. Patients were randomized for tumor diameter. Patients were embolized at set time intervals (2 months), with a maximum of three embolizations. Tumor response was evaluated using the EASL criteria and α-fetoprotein levels. At 6 months a complete response was seen in 11 patients (26.8%) in the DEB-TACE group and in 6 patients (14%) in the bland embolization group; a partial response was achieved in 19 patients (46.3%) and 18 (41.9%) patients in the DEB-TACE and bland embolization groups, respectively. Recurrences at 9 and 12 months were higher for bland embolization (78.3% vs. 45.7%) at 12 months. Time to progression (TTP) was longer for the DEB-TACE group (42.4 ± 9.5 and 36.2 ± 9.0 weeks), at a statistically significant level (p = 0.008). In conclusion, DEB-TACE presents a better local response, fewer recurrences, and a longer TTP than bland embolization with BeadBlock. However, survival benefit and bland embolization with smaller particles must be addressed in future papers to better assess the clinical value.

[en] From March 1981 to January 1984, 116 patients with advanced non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCCL) were randomly assigned to 3 combinations as follow: CDDP+DVA, CDDP+VP16 and DXR+CTX. 94 patients were evaluable for response, 106 for toxicity and survival. Of 31 patients, 15 (48%; 3 CRs and 12 PRs) responded to CDDP+DVA; of 33 patients, 12 (36%, 2 CRs and 10 PRs) responded to CDDP+VP16: OF 30 patients, 3 (10%) obtained a PR with DXR+CTX (CDDP+DVA vs DXR+CTX, P<0.005; CDDP+VP16 vs DXR+CTX, P<0.05; CDDP+DVA vs CDDP+VP16, P=NS). The median duration of response was 22 weeks in the CDDP-DVA group, 17 weeks in the CDDP-VP16 group, and 16 weeks in the DXR+CTX group. No significant difference in survival was observed among the 3 groups (median: 43, 47, 41 weeks, respectively). Hematologic and neurologic toxicites were significantly higher in the DVA-containing regimen. Despite the lack of improvement of overall survival with the CDDP-containing combinations over the DXR+CTX control group, the good response rate makes them suitable to be used in combined therapeutic strategies

[en] The dissociation of apoferritin into subunits at pH 2 followed by its reformation at pH 7.4 in the presence of doxorubicin-HCl gives rise to a solution containing five doxorubicin-HCl molecules trapped within the apoferritin. This is the first report showing that ferritin can encapsulate an anti-cancer drug into its cavity

[en] Advanced hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) with invasion of venous systems usually indicates not only a poor prognosis but also a contraindication for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). This study evaluated the feasibility of TACE for advanced HCC with inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA) tumors and, also, to search for the ideal embolization particle size. Twenty-six patients who had HCC invasion into the IVC included five patients with coexistent RA tumors that were treated with TACE. The chemoembolization method was cisplatin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin C mixed with Lipiodol and Ivalon. The selection of Ivalon particles was divided into two groups based on their size: (A) >180 μm, N = 9; and (B) 47-180 μm, N = 17. The overall response rate was 53.8% (14/26). Based on the response to TACE, the median survival period of the entire group was 4.2 months (range, 1.5 to 76.7 months). The median survival period of the 14 responders was 13.5 months (1.5-76.7 months), and that of the 12 nonresponders, 3.3 months (2.1 to 24.3 months) (p < 0.002). Comparing the two Ivalon particle sizes, the response rate was 12.5% (1/9 patients) for group A and 76.5% for group B (13/17 patients) (p < 0.02). No serious complication was observed post-chemoembolization. In conclusion, TACE is a safe and effective treatment for advanced HCC with IVC and RA tumors, and small Ivalon particles (47-180 μm) are superior to large ones (>180 μm).

No abstract available