Stephen A. Cannistra

Bio: Stephen A. Cannistra is an academic researcher from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ovarian cancer & Bevacizumab. The author has an hindex of 57, co-authored 127 publications receiving 12715 citations. Previous affiliations of Stephen A. Cannistra include Harvard University & Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Cancer of the Ovary

Abstract: Patients with ovarian cancer usually present with advanced disease, and the disease is generally managed with surgical resection followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Recent chemotherapeutic advances have led to improved survival, and a better understanding of genetic risk factors has permitted a tailored approach to preventive strategies, such as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in selected women. This review describes the clinical features of ovarian cancer and recent advances in postoperative management.

Phase II Study of Bevacizumab in Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer or Peritoneal Serous Cancer

Abstract: Purpose We evaluated the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) or peritoneal serous carcinoma (PSC) who had experienced disease progression during, or within 3 months of discontinuing, topotecan or liposomal doxorubicin. Patients and Methods No more than three prior treatment regimens were allowed. Patients received single-agent bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks. Response was assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan every 6 weeks using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Results Of 44 patients treated, 83.7% were primarily platinum resistant, 59.1% had received liposomal doxorubicin, 25% topotecan, 15.9% both agents, and 47.7% had received three prior chemotherapy regimens. A median of five (range, two to 16) bevacizumab doses were administered. Partial responses were observed in seven patients (15.9%). Median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% CI, 3.1 to 5.5 months), with a median survival du...

Effect of Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor on Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression

Abstract: An increase in the dose of chemotherapy enhances the response of many experimental and clinical cancers, but the extent of dose escalation is often limited by myelosuppression. In preliminary trials, recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) has augmented leukocyte numbers and function, but the optimal dose is not established. We treated 16 adults who had inoperable or metastatic sarcomas with escalating doses of rhGM-CSF before and immediately after a first cycle of chemotherapy (cycle 1) to assess hematologic response and toxicity. A second cycle of chemotherapy (cycle 2) was given without rhGM-CSF. RhGM-CSF was tolerated well at doses of 4 to 32 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. At 64 micrograms per kilogram per day, edema and thrombi around a central venous catheter developed in two of four patients. Leukocyte and granulocyte counts increased significantly during the rhGM-CSF infusion. Neutropenia after cycle 1 was significantly less severe and shorter in duration than after cycle 2 (P less than 0.01). Mean total leukocyte and platelet nadirs were 1.0 and 101 x 10(9) per liter for cycle 1 and 0.45 and 44 x 10(9) per liter for cycle 2 (P less than 0.01), and the median intervals from day 1 of chemotherapy to neutrophil recovery (greater than 0.500 x 10(9) per liter) were 15 and 19 days, respectively (P less than 0.01). The duration of neutropenia was 3.5 days with cycle 1 and 7.4 days with cycle 2 (P less than 0.01). We conclude that rhGM-CSF is tolerated well at doses up to 32 micrograms per kilogram per day and is biologically active in leukopenic patients. It merits further evaluation for the prevention of morbidity from chemotherapy.

Granulosa Cell Tumor of the Ovary

Abstract: Adult granulosa cell tumor (GCT) of the ovary is oftentimes a hormonally active, stromal cell neoplasm that is distinguished by its ability to secrete sex steroids such as estrogen. Patients may present with vaginal bleeding caused by endometrial hyperplasia or uterine cancer as a result of prolonged exposure to tumor-derived estrogen. In addition, GCT is a vascular tumor that may occasionally rupture and result in abdominal pain, hemoperitoneum, and hypotension, mimicking an ectopic pregnancy in younger patients. GCT is usually associated with a mass on pelvic examination that is subsequently confirmed on ultrasonography. Surgery is required for definitive tissue diagnosis, staging, and tumor debulking. In older women, a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy are typically performed. In women of childbearing age, a more conservative unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy may be performed, assuming that careful staging reveals that the disease has not extended outside of the involved ovary and that a concomitant uterine cancer has been excluded. Survival of patients with GCT is generally excellent because most patients present with early-stage disease, although certain high-risk patient groups may be identified. Stage is the most important prognostic factor, with a higher risk of relapse being associated with stages II through IV disease. In addition, patients with stage I disease associated with features such as large tumor size, high mitotic index, or tumor rupture may also be at higher risk in some series. The value of postoperative adjuvant therapy for high-risk patients has not been investigated by prospective randomized trials, which are difficult to perform because of the rarity of this tumor. Nonetheless, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation has sometimes been associated with prolonged disease-free survival in patients with high-risk features. Because of the propensity of GCT to recur years after initial diagnosis, prolonged surveillance with serial physical examination and serum tumor markers such as estradiol and inhibin is reasonable.

Effects of a selective inhibitor of the Abl tyrosine kinase on the growth of Bcr-Abl positive cells.

Abstract: The bcr-abl oncogene, present in 95% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), has been implicated as the cause of this disease. A compound, designed to inhibit the Abl protein tyrosine kinase, was evaluated for its effects on cells containing the Bcr-Abl fusion protein. Cellular proliferation and tumor formation by Bcr-Abl-expressing cells were specifically inhibited by this compound. In colony-forming assays of peripheral blood or bone marrow from patients with CML, there was a 92-98% decrease in the number of bcr-abl colonies formed but no inhibition of normal colony formation. This compound may be useful in the treatment of bcr-abl-positive leukemias.

Tumour-cell invasion and migration: diversity and escape mechanisms

Abstract: Cancer cells possess a broad spectrum of migration and invasion mechanisms. These include both individual and collective cell-migration strategies. Cancer therapeutics that are designed to target adhesion receptors or proteases have not proven to be effective in slowing tumour progression in clinical trials — this might be due to the fact that cancer cells can modify their migration mechanisms in response to different conditions. Learning more about the cellular and molecular basis of these different migration/invasion programmes will help us to understand how cancer cells disseminate and lead to new treatment strategies.

Targeting hypoxia in cancer therapy

Abstract: Hypoxia is a feature of most tumours, albeit with variable incidence and severity within a given patient population. It is a negative prognostic and predictive factor owing to its multiple contributions to chemoresistance, radioresistance, angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, invasiveness, metastasis, resistance to cell death, altered metabolism and genomic instability. Given its central role in tumour progression and resistance to therapy, tumour hypoxia might well be considered the best validated target that has yet to be exploited in oncology. However, despite an explosion of information on hypoxia, there are still major questions to be addressed if the long-standing goal of exploiting tumour hypoxia is to be realized. Here, we review the two main approaches, namely bioreductive prodrugs and inhibitors of molecular targets upon which hypoxic cell survival depends. We address the particular challenges and opportunities these overlapping strategies present, and discuss the central importance of emerging diagnostic tools for patient stratification in targeting hypoxia.

Ischemia- and cytokine-induced mobilization of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells for neovascularization.

Abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been isolated from circulating mononuclear cells in human peripheral blood and shown to be incorporated into foci of neovascularization, consistent with postnatal vasculogenesis1. We determined whether endogenous stimuli (tissue ischemia) and exogenous cytokine therapy (granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, GM-CSF) mobilize EPCs and thereby contribute to neovascularization of ischemic tissues. The development of regional ischemia in both mice and rabbits increased the frequency of circulating EPCs. In mice, the effect of ischemia-induced EPC mobilization was demonstrated by enhanced ocular neovascularization after cornea micropocket surgery in mice with hindlimb ischemia compared with that in non-ischemic control mice. In rabbits with hindlimb ischemia, circulating EPCs were further augmented after pretreatment with GM-CSF, with a corresponding improvement in hindlimb neovascularization. There was direct evidence that EPCs that contributed to enhanced corneal neovascularization were specifically mobilized from the bone marrow in response to ischemia and GM-CSF in mice transplanted with bone marrow from transgenic donors expressing β-galactosidase transcriptionally regulated by the endothelial cell-specific Tie-2 promoter. These findings indicate that circulating EPCs are mobilized endogenously in response to tissue ischemia or exogenously by cytokine therapy and thereby augment neovascularization of ischemic tissues.