Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio helps select metastatic pancreatic cancer patients benefitting from oxaliplatin
BACKGROUND: High Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as a measure of enhanced inflammatory response, has been negatively associated with prognosis in patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed at investigating the prognostic value of NLR in two homogeneous groups of chemotherapy-na've metastatic PDA patients. Patients were treated with either gemcitabine (GEM) or gemcitabine/ oxaliplatin (GEMOXA). We also assessed whether NLR could identify patients benefiting from the use of oxaliplatin. METHODS: Consecutive PDA patients treated at the Medical Oncology Unit of Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome with either GEM or GEMOXA wer…
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is an Easy Predictor of Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients Undergoing Platinum-Based Chemotherapy
Abstract Background. Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been associated with increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in the general population. VTE incidence significantly increases in cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy. Despite the evidence that a substantial number of cancer patients have unrecognized renal impairment, as indicated by reduced eGFR in the presence of serum creatinine levels within the reference value, chemotherapy dosage is routinely adjusted for serum creatinine values. Among chemotherapies, platinum-based regimens are associated with the highest rates of VTE. A cohort study was designed to assess the value of pretreatment e…
Irinotecan or oxaliplatin: Which is the first move for the mate?
Objectives: The aim of the present review is to discuss the potential link between RAS, BRAF and microsatellite instability (MSI) mutational patterns and chemotherapeutic agent efficacy [Irinotecan (IRI) vs. Oxaliplatin (OXA)], and how this can potentially influence the choice of the chemotherapy backbone. Methods: Following a review of the research literature, all pertinent articles published in the core journals were selected for the study. The inclusion criteria regarded relevant clinical and pre-clinical studies on the topic of interest (Relationship of OXA and IRI to KRAS/BRAF mutations and MSI). Results: Excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) expression is inhibited by…