This study demonstrates that GEM has better efficacy and lower toxicity than MMC; therefore, GEM appears as a logical candidate for intrabladder therapy in patients with refractory transitional cancer.

In the present study we investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a new biweekly schedule of fotemustine (FTM) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, after at least one previous treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months; secondary objectives were clinical response, overall survival, disease-free survival, and toxicity. Forty patients (median age 52.8 years; median Karnofsky Performance Status at progression 90) underwent second-line chemotherapy with FTM. Selected patients were previously treated with a standard radiotherapy course with concomitant temozolomide (TMZ). After tumor relapse or progression proven by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), all patients underwent chemotherapy with FTM, given intravenously at dose of 80 mg/m2 every 2 weeks for five consecutive administrations (induction phase), and then every 3 weeks at 100 mg/m2 as maintenance. A total of 329 infusions were administered; the median number of cycles administered was 8. All patients completed the induction phase, and 29 patients received at least one maintenance infusion. Response to treatment was assessed using MacDonald criteria. One complete response [2.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0–10%], 9 partial responses (22.5%, 95% CI: 15–37%), and 16 stable diseases (40%, 95% CI: 32–51%) were observed. Median time to progression was 6.7 months (95% CI: 3.9–9.1 months). Progression-free survival at 6 months was 61%. Median survival from beginning of FTM chemotherapy was 11.1 months. The schedule was generally well tolerated; the main toxicities were hematologic (grade 3 thrombocytopenia in two cases). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report specifically dealing with the use of a biweekly induction schedule of FTM. The study demonstrates that FTM has therapeutic efficacy as single-drug second-line chemotherapy with a favorable safety profile.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) represent one of the most frequent complications related to cancer, and their treatment continues to evolve. We have evaluated the activity, toxicity and the impact on Quality of Life (QoL) of a concomitant treatment with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and Temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors in a prospective Simon two stage study.

All patients were assessable for safety and efficacy. Sixteen patients out of 50 (34%) were naïve from other therapies, while all the others were previously treated with local and/or systemic treatments. We achieved 5 partial responses (10%), 33 stable diseases (66%) and 12 progressions of disease (24%). Median time to progression was 7.0 months (95% CI, 3.0 to 10.9 months) and median overall survival was 12 months (95% CI, 6.3 to 17.4 months). Treatment was well tolerated. Diarrhoea (6%) and hypertension (4%) were the most frequent grade 3 toxicities. Conclusions. Our data suggest that the combination between sorafenib and long acting octreotide is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced HCC and could represent another efficacious chance for the management of this population.4

BACKGROUND. Temozolomide (TMZ), an oral methylating imidazotetrazinone, has antitumor activity against gliomas, malignant melanomas, and brain metastasis and is presently administered as a 5‐day oral schedule every 4 weeks. METHODS. A single‐institution phase 2 clinical trial was conducted to determine the efficacy and the safety profile of a new regimen based on a dose‐intensified, protracted course of TMZ after whole‐brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Patients were eligible if they had at least 1 bidimensionally measurable brain metastasis from breast cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty‐seven patients were treated with 30 grays (Gy) of WBRT with concomitant TMZ (75 mg/m2/day) for 10 days, and subsequent TMZ at a dose of 75 mg/m2 per day for 21 days every 4 weeks, for up to 12 cycles. RESULTS. Two complete responses (7.4%) and 11 partial responses (40.7%) were achieved. The schedule appeared to be well tolerated, with grade 3 toxicity (graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria) observed in only 2 patients. The overall median survival was 8.8 months and the median progression‐free survival was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS. The concomitant use of WBRT and protracted low‐dose TMZ appears to be an active, well‐tolerated regimen. The observed antitumor activity suggests the need for further investigation of this schedule in combination with other anticancer agents for the concomitant treatment of brain metastases and primary cancers. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.