Cardiac Safety with High Cumulative Dose of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated with Conventional Anthracyclines

Introduction: The treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is still challenging. Many studies documented the efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with MBC, but there is a limited data about the cardiac safety with high cumulative dose (HCD) of PLD. Aim of the work: We conducted this trial to outline the cardiac safety of HCD of PLD in patients with MBC who previously received conventional anthracyclines. Methods: During the period of nine years (January 2011 to December 2019). We extracted the data of the patients with MBC receiving PLD at Medical Oncology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University. These included patients’ demographics and therapeutic data including the full data of PLD, prior conventional anthracyclines, prior trastuzumab, and prior radiotherapy. Also, data about comorbidities as well as cardiac and other toxicities of PLD were obtained. The data was analysed using SPSS v. 21. Results: For all 81 eligible patients, the mean age was 43.9 years (±standard deviation (SD) 13.2). The mean cumulative dose of PLD was 378.4 mg/m2 (± SD of 250.2) and a range of 100 - 1200 mg/m2. About thirty-one (38.3%) patients received high cumulative dose (400 mg/m2 or more), while the remaining 50 patients did not. The decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was relatively rare;and of low grade. Grade 2 decline in LVEF occurred in only two patients who received high cumulative dose of PLD, and only one patient who did not reach HCD (p = 0.555). Grade 3 or 4 decline in LVEF did not occur in patients either with or without HCD. Regarding other toxicities, there was a significant increase in incidence of all grades palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) in patients who received HCD of PLD when compared to those who did not reach the HCD (38.7% versus 16% respectively;p = 0.021). Conclusion: Our study concluded that the use of PLD seems to be a justified agent in the treatment of MBC who previously treated by conventional anthracyclines in the adjuvant, metastatic or both settings, even in patients reaching the cumulative dose of conventional anthracycline.

Primary Debulking Surgery for Stage III Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Has a Better Outcome Than Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Interval Debulking Surgery

Background:?Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. About 70% of ovarian cancer patients have advanced disease and often not totally resectable. Previous studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) versus primary debulking surgery (PDS) give inconsistent results. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the outcome of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by IDS versus PDS followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III epithelial ovarian cancer.?Methods:?This study was performed on eligible patients with ovarian cancer admitted in Surgical Oncology and Medical Oncology departments at South Egypt Cancer Institute-Assiut University in the period from January 2010 to December 2015. Patients were divided into two groups, the first group included those who have NACT and underwent IDS plus adjuvant chemotherapy, and the second group included those who underwent PDS followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.?Results:?This study included 380 cases. One hundred and fifty-four patients (40.53%) had IDS. The remaining two hundred and twenty-six patients (59.47%) underwent PDS. In this study, treatment modality was significant for both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). DFS was significantly reduced after IDS when compared to PDS (median DFS: 33.00 months vs. 45.00 months, respectively;p??0.001). Also, OS was significantly reduced after IDS when compared to PDS. (Median OS: 43 months vs. 46 months, respectively;p = 0.047). Moreover, this drop of the survivals mainly occurred in specific subgroups such as the elderly patients, patients with bad performance status, suboptimal cytoreduction, as well as high-grade tumors. Conclusion:?This study showed that PDS resulted in a better disease-free survival and overall survival than IDS. Moreover, OS and DFS have significantly dropped in specific patients’ subgroups. Therefore, patients selection should be considered.