Search Results (13)

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada and remains associated with high mortality. Nevertheless, recent advances in the fields of immuno-oncology and precision medicine have led to significant improvements in clinical outcome in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc). Those improvements were facilitated by a greater understanding of the biologic classification of nsclc, which catalyzed discoveries of novel therapies. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the recent avalanche of practice-changing trials in metastatic nsclc, and we offer an approach to the management of this disease from a Canadian perspective. We begin with an overview of the pathologic and molecular characterization of metastatic nsclc. Next, we review the indications for currently approved immune checkpoint inhibitors, and we provide an approach to the management of disease with a driver mutation. Finally, we address future avenues in both diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with advanced and metastatic nsclc. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 20–22 September 2018. Experts in radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, and pathology who are involved in the management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies participated in presentations and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses multiple topics in the management of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, hepatocellular cancer, and rectal and colon cancer, including (1) surgical management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, (2) adjuvant and metastatic systemic therapy options in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, (3) the role of radiotherapy in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, (4) systemic therapy in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, (5) updates in systemic therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, (6) optimum duration of adjuvant systemic therapy for colorectal cancer, and (7) sequence of therapy in oligometastatic colorectal cancer. Full article

Background: Inhibition of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) oncogenic driver in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLS) improves survival. In 2015, Canadian thoracic oncology specialists published a consensus guideline about the identification and treatment of ALK-positive patients, recommending use of the ALK inhibitor crizotinib in the first line. New scientific literature warrants a consensus update. Methods: Clinical trials of ALK inhibitor were reviewed to assess benefits, risks, and implications relative to current Canadian guidance in patients with ALK-positive NSCLS. Results: Randomized phase III trials have demonstrated clinical benefit for single-agent alectinib and ceritinib used in treatment-naïve patients and as second-line therapy after crizotinib. Phase II trials have demonstrated activity for single-agent brigatinib and lorlatinib in further lines of therapy. Improved responses in brain metastases were observed for all second- and next/third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients progressing on crizotinib. Canadian recommendations are therefore revised as follows: (1) Patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLS have to be tested for the presence of an ALK rearrangement. (2) Treatment-naïve patients with ALK-positive disease should initially be offered single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially. (3) Crizotinib-refractory patients should be treated with single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially. (4) Further treatments could include single-agent brigatinib or lorlatinib, or both sequentially. (5) Patients progressing on ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be considered for pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. (6) Other systemic therapies should be exhausted before immunotherapy is considered. Summary: Multiple lines of ALK inhibition are now recommended for patients with advanced NSCLS with an ALK rearrangement. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference 2017 was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, 28–30 September. Experts in radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, and cancer genetics who are involved in the management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies participated in presentations and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses multiple topics in the management of gastric, rectal, and colon cancer, including (1) identification and management of hereditary gastric and colorectal cancer (CRC); (2) palliative systemic therapy for metastatic gastric cancer; (3) optimum duration of preoperative radiation in rectal cancer—that is, short- compared with long-course radiation; (4) management options for peritoneal carcinomatosis in CRC; (5) implications of tumour location for treatment and prognosis in CRC; and (6) new molecular markers in CRC. Full article

Purpose: Despite numerous breakthrough therapies, inoperable lung cancer still places a heavy burden on patients who might not be candidates for chemotherapy. To identify potential candidates for the newly emerging immunotherapy-based treatment paradigms, we explored the clinical and biologic factors affecting treatment decisions. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed at our university-affiliated cancer centre between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013. Patient demographics, systemic treatment, and survival were examined. Results: During the 3-year study period, 683 patients fitting the inclusion criteria were identified. First-line therapy was administered in 49.5% of patients; only 22.4% received further lines of therapy. The main reasons for withholding therapy were poor performance status [ps (43.2%)], rapidly deteriorating ps (31.9%), patient refusal of therapy (20.9%), and associated comorbidities (4%). Older age, the presence of brain metastasis at diagnosis, and non-small-cell histology were also associated with therapeutic restraint. Oncology referrals were infrequent in patients who did not receive therapy (32.2%). Older patients and those with a poor ps experienced superior survival when treatment was administered (hazard ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence interval: 0.16 to 0.38; and hazard ratio: 0.44; 95% confidence interval: 0.23 to 0.87 respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Advanced lung cancer still poses a therapeutic challenge, with a high proportion of patients being deemed unfit for therapy. This issue cannot be resolved until appropriate measures are taken to ensure the inclusion of older patients and those with a relatively poor ps in large clinical trials. Immunotherapy might be interesting in this setting, given that it appears to be more tolerable. Another consequential undertaking would be the deployment of strategies to reduce wait times during the diagnostic process for patients with a high index of suspicion for lung cancer. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Colorectal Cancer Consensus Conference held in Montreal, Quebec, 17–19 October 2013, marked the 10-year anniversary of this meeting that is attended by leaders in medical, radiation, and surgical oncology. The goal of the attendees is to improve the care of patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancies. Topics discussed during the conference included pancreatic cancer, rectal cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Colorectal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Montreal, Quebec, 23–25 October 2014. Expert radiation, medical, and surgical oncologists and pathologists involved in the management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies participated in presentations and discussions resulting in consensus statements on such hot topics as management of neuroendocrine tumours, advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Colorectal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 20–22, 2011. Health care professionals involved in the care of patients with colorectal cancer participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purposes of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of rectal cancer, including pathology reporting, neoadjuvant systemic and radiation therapy, surgical techniques, and palliative care of rectal cancer patients. Other topics discussed include multidisciplinary cancer conferences, treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, the use of folfirinox in pancreatic cancer, and treatment of stage ii colon cancer. Full article

Objectives: Brain metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) are quite rare. Here, we review the characteristics, presentation, and clinical course of such patients at our institution. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with brain metastases from CRC treated during 2000–2009. Associations between patient, tumour characteristics, treatment modality, and survival were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: We identified 48 patients (25 men, 23 women) who developed brain metastases from CRC. The median age at diagnosis of the brain metastases was 63 years (range: 37–84 years). In 23 of the patients (48%), the primary tumour occurred in the rectum. At diagnosis of brain metastases, 43 patients (90%) also had other systemic metastases (mainly pulmonary and hepatic). The median interval between diagnosis of the primary tumour and of the brain metastases was 24 months. Median survival after a diagnosis of brain metastasis from CRC was 4 months (range: 1–13 months). We observed substantially better survival (13 months, p < 0.001) in patients treated with surgery followed by whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) than in those treated with radiotherapy or surgery alone. Sex, age, location and number of brain metastases, and timing of diagnosis did not affect survival. Conclusions: Brain metastases from CRC develop late in the course of the disease, given that most patients already have other secondary lesions. Prognosis in these patients is poor, with those receiving treatment with surgery and WBRT having the best overall survival. Early detection and treatment of brain metastases with new systemic therapies may improve outcomes. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Colorectal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Ottawa, Ontario, October 22–23, 2010. Health care professionals involved in the care of patients with colorectal cancer participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of colorectal cancer, such as the use of epidermal growth factor inhibitors in metastatic colon cancer, the benefit of calcium and magnesium with oxaliplatin chemotherapy, the role of microsatellites in treatment decisions for stage ii colon cancer, the staging and treatment of rectal cancer, and the management of colorectal and metastatic pancreatic cancers. Full article

Monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-egfr) when used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer are associated with improved survival. Patients whose tumours harbor a KRAS mutation in codon 12 or 13 have been shown not to benefit from anti-egfr antibodies. The importance of KRAS mutation status in the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has led to the elaboration of Canadian consensus recommendations on KRAS testing, with the aim of standardizing practice across Canada and reconciling testing access with the clinical demand for testing. The present guidelines were developed at a Canadian consensus meeting held in Montreal in April 2010. The best available evidence and expertise were used to develop recommendations for various aspects of KRAS testing, including indications and timing for testing, sample requirements, recommendations for reporting requirements, and acceptable turnaround times. Full article

The annual Eastern Canadian Colorectal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Montreal, Quebec, October 22–24, 2009. Health care professionals involved in the care of patients with colorectal cancer participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purposes of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management colorectal cancer, such as the management of hepatic and pulmonary metastases, the role of monoclonal antibodies to the epidermal growth factor receptor, and the benefits and safety of chemotherapy in elderly patients. The management of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours and gastric cancer are also discussed. Full article