Cancer Research in Switzerland - Krebsliga Schweiz

152
Zucca Emanuele | A prospective clinico-pathologic
study of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma
(PMBCL) (OCS 01709-04-2005)
The need for radiotherapy in patients with primary mediastinal
B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) treated with the modern
immunochemotherapy regimens is an unresolved issue
that is becoming more and more controversial. The
IELSG-26 study (International Extranodal Lymphoma
Study Group) aims to obtain data on treatment outcomes
following anthracycline-containing immunochemotherapy
regimens, with or without mediastinal radiotherapy,
the latter depending upon the practice of the participating
institutions. Main endpoint of the study is to determine the
response rate evaluated by positron emission tomography
scans (18FDG PET-CT) following chemo-immunotherapy.
The study enrolled 125 patients with PMBCL treated using
either the R-CHOP or the R-MACOP-B chemotherapeutic
regimen; 123 received consolidation radiotherapy.
The recruitment ended in November 2010. Treatment
results were monitored using 18-F-FDG PET-CT scan performed
baseline, at 3– 4 weeks after the end of chemotherapy
and 2 months post-radio-therapy, respectively.
The PET CR was defined according to the criteria of the
International Harmonization Project (Cheson et al., Journal
of Clinical Oncology 2007).
The central PET images qualitative review by an expert
nuclear medicine specialist is ongoing and has included 61
patients up to now. The PET-CT scan became negative at
the end of chemotherapy in only 49 % of patients. The
agreement between central review and “on site” reporting
was 70 % (43/61) with increase on central review of
the positive cases (from 39 % to 51 %) due mainly to the
“on site” underestimation of the minimal residual 18FDG
activity at the end of treatment. The rate of patients with
persistent PET-positive scans at the end of immunotherapy
in this study seems higher than in the non-mediastinal
large cell lymphoma. This might partly depend on the
relatively short interval between end of chemotherapy
and imaging (which may affect the rate of false positive
scans). Analysis of the PET response and its correlation
with clinical outcome in the entire study population is
awaited. It will be of paramount importance for the design
of future clinical trials aimed at defining the increasingly
debated role of radiotherapy.
Project coordinator
PD Dr. Emanuele Zucca
International Extranodal Lymphoma
Study Group (IELSG)
Istituto oncologico della Svizzera italiana (IOSI)
Ospedale San Giovanni
CH-6500 Bellinzona
Phone +41 (0)91 811 90 40
Fax +41 (0)91 811 91 82
emanuelezucca@yahoo.com
Further completed research projects from July 2008 to December 2010
Cozzi Luca | OCS 01821-02-2006 | CHF 80,800.–
Servizio di fisica medica, Istituto oncologico della Svizzera italiana (IOSI), Ospedale regionale di Bellinzona
e valli, Bellinzona
Heterogeneity management in advanced algorithms for photon dose calculation and the clinical impact on
breast and lung cancer radiotherapy. Validation of existing models against experimental studies, Monte Carlo
simulations and determination of potential
Garayoa Elisa Garcia | KLS 02040-02-2007 | CHF 150,700.–
Zentrum für radiopharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Villigen
Development of new bombesin-based radiopharmaceuticals with improved pharmacokinetics as potential
imaging and therapeutic agents for bombesin receptor-positive tumours
Hoek Keith | OCS 01927-08-2006 | CHF 145,500.–
Dermatologische Klinik, Medizinbereich Trauma-Derma-Rheuma-Plastische Chirurgie, UniversitätsSpital Zürich,
Zürich
Clinical implications of Wnt signal-driven regulation of melanoma metastatic potential
Stahel Rolf A. | OCS 01915-08-2006 | CHF 148,800.–
Klinik und Poliklinik für Onkologie, Medizinbereich Innere Medizin-Onkologie, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich
SAKK trial 17/04 on neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extrapleural pneumonectomy of malignant pleural
mesothelioma (MPM) with or without hemithoracic radiotherapy, including translational research