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Retreatment after secondary resistance or mixed response: a pilot study
Aung Naing1, Rishi Agarwal, Gerald Falchook
1The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex.
Oncology
|December 17, 2013
Summary
Retreating advanced cancer patients with prior effective agents can achieve durable responses. This pilot study shows that rechallenging with previously successful therapies may lead to significant stable disease or remission.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Therapeutics
- Drug Resistance
Background:
- Oncologists often avoid retreatment with drugs after secondary resistance or mixed responses.
- Previous treatments yielding prolonged stable disease (SD), partial remission (PR), or complete remission (CR) are typically discontinued upon progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of retreatment with previously effective agents in patients with advanced cancers.
- To evaluate outcomes in patients rechallenged with drugs after initial SD, PR/CR, or mixed responses followed by progression.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 11 patients with advanced cancers who had received a median of 4 prior systemic therapies.
- Patients were rechallenged with agents that had previously produced prolonged SD, PR/CR, or a mixed response.
Main Results:
- Eight out of 11 patients (73%) achieved SD for ≥24 weeks, PR, or CR upon retreatment.
- Retreatment strategies included using the same agent(s), agents with the same mechanism of action, or combination therapy.
Conclusions:
- Pilot data suggest retreatment with previously effective agents can lead to durable responses (SD ≥6 months, PR/CR) in patients with acquired resistance after initial durable responses or mixed responses.
- This approach offers a potential strategy for managing advanced cancers after initial treatment failure.
