American Association For Cancer Research Research Articles

Abstract 4977: The prevalence of key oncogenic driver mutations in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the AACR GENIE BPC dataset

Abstract Background: While there is growing interest in targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in perioperative settings, data on key oncogenic driver mutations is limited in early-stage NSCLC. This real-world database study aims to evaluate the prevalence of select genomic alterations in stage I-III NSCLC. Methods: From the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) Biopharma Collaborative (BPC) V2.1-consortium dataset, we included adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of NSCLC who had genomic testing using stage I-III NSCLC tissue samples. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline characteristics and the prevalence of select genomic alterations. Results: A total of 465 patients were included in this study, of whom 61% were female, 85% were white, 19% were never smokers, and 77% had adenocarcinoma. Less than 2% of the study population had BRAF V600E, HER2 activating mutations, HER2 amplification, MET amplification, HER3 amplification, RET fusion, ALK fusion, or ROS1 fusion. Among genomic alterations with a prevalence of 2% or higher, such as EGFR sensitizing mutations, KRAS G12C, MET exon 14 skipping, STK11, KEAP1, and TP53, some variations in prevalence were observed across baseline patient and disease characteristics such as race, smoking status, and histology (Table 1). Conclusion: The prevalence of key oncogenic drivers and its relationship to select baseline disease characteristics among patients with early-stage NSCLC are similar to those of advanced NSCLC observed in other real-world clinico-genomic databases. Table 1. Prevalence of Select Genomic Alterations in Stage I-III NSCLC (N=465) Prevalence of Positive Biomarker Status (%) EGFR KRAS G12C MET Exon 14 Skipping STK11* KEAP1* TP53 Overall 17.6 12.7 4.5 16.0 11.0 52.7 Gender Male 7.1 9.3 5.5 18.5 18.5 59.6 Female 24.5 15.9 3.9 14.3 6.3 48.2 Race White 15.6 14.1 4.5 16.5 12.0 53.7 Black 15.0 5.0 5.0 22.2 11.1 60.0 Asian 44.0 4.0 8.0 8.3 4.2 44.0 Smoking Status Never smoker 41.4 1.2 6.9 4.7 1.2 36.8 Former smoker 13.7 16.0 4.6 17.4 12.9 52.4 Current smoker 5.7 12.9 1.4 23.9 15.4 72.9 Histology Adenocarcinoma 20.1 14.3 4.6 18.1 10.4 46.0 Squamous cell carcinoma 0 2.9 4.4 4.6 14.1 86.8 *The numbers of patients tested for STK11 and KEAP1 were 457 and 445, respectively. Citation Format: Ke Zu, Jiemin Ma, Cai Chen, Christine Pierce. The prevalence of key oncogenic driver mutations in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the AACR GENIE BPC dataset [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4977.

Patterns of Smoking Cessation Strategies and Perception of E-cigarette Harm Among Bladder Cancer Survivors1

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of bladder cancer (BC). Some proponents of e-cigarettes describe their use as a risk mitigation strategy despite potential carcinogen exposure and uncertain long-term risks. OBJECTIVE: We assessed smoking cessation strategies, including e-cigarette use, and harm perception among patients with BC. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on a convenience sample of patients with BC at a single institution from August 2021 –October 2022. The survey instrument was sourced from the Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Questionnaire (C-TUQ) from the American Association for Cancer Research with standardized questions on tobacco use, cessation questions, and e-cigarette harm perceptions. RESULTS: Of the 104 surveyed BC patients (mean age: 72 years; 27% female; 55% with muscle-invasive disease), 20% were current smokers (median pack years: 40) and 51% were former smokers (median pack years: 20). A minority (9%) had quit smoking at the time of diagnosis. Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation included nicotine patches (25%), gum (21%), lozenges (8%), e-cigarettes (8%), and Varenicline/Bupropion (4%). Notably, 43% of patients who continued to smoke expressed willingness to switch to e-cigarettes as a cessation aid. E-cigarette users (11%) more commonly perceived e-cigarettes as non-harmful compared to former (4%) and non-smokers (4%) (P = .048), though all groups regarded e-cigarettes as equally addictive as traditional cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the prevalence of BC survivors who continue to smoke, a significant proportion perceive e-cigarettes as a viable and less harmful cessation aid. The infrequent use of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies underscores potential implementation gaps. These findings highlight the need for further research and targeted interventions in addressing smoking cessation among BC survivors.

Abstract A002: Collaboration between the physician/researcher and patient/survivor is key

Abstract In May 2009, I went to see my primary care physician for a routine annual physical exam. I told her that I thought I was starting menopause. She did a typical physical including a pelvic exam and did not notice anything abnormal; but she decided to send me for a vaginal ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed that both my ovaries were massive. My physician sent me to my gynecologist for further follow up. My gynecologist advised me to have a complete hysterectomy and she had a CA-125 blood test done. It came back elevated. She told me I had ovarian cysts. A family friend, an OB-GYN, reviewed my test results and urged me to get a second opinion with a gynecological oncologist. Fortunately, I was able to see a Gyn-Onc who scheduled surgery. This doctor confirmed that I had complex ovarian cysts but could not determine if there was any malignancy until my surgery. Urging patients to see gynecological oncologists is one of the most important things that can be done to save women’s lives. During my debulking surgery it was discovered that I had High Grade Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. I started a six-month chemotherapy regime of Taxol and Carboplatin. It was hard on my body—I became anemic, required blood transfusions, had digestive problems, and experienced a level of fatigue that I never knew existed. Halfway through chemo I had genetic counseling and decided to take the BRCA1 gene mutation test. I tested positive—most likely because of my Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. There is a history of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer and brain cancer in my family. Due to my BRCA1+ status I had a prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction which took place in December 2010. Here is a video that I created to help bring awareness to the importance of genetic testing: https://youtu.be/Fm72svK2zKw I am a Research Advocate for OVCA patients and survivors. I participate in clinical trials. I teach yoga and mindfulness practices at retreats for cancer survivors. I participate in OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students program at the University of Washington Medical School. I am a peer mentor for Imerman’s Angels, OCRA and Sharsheret. I serve as a Survivor Ambassador for: Clearity Foundation, Amy K. Rosenthal Foundation, Rivkin Foundation and Powell Drescher OVCA Research Foundation. I am a peer reviewer for the DOD’s Ovarian OCRP. In April 2023 I attended the Annual Meeting of American Association for Cancer Research as part of the AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program. During the poster sessions I met almost 100 researchers whose focus is Ovarian Cancer and only six of them had ever met an actual Ovarian Cancer patient/survivor. I want my survivorship to impact the discovery of effective tests for early diagnosis and treatment of OVCA. I believe that the collaboration between the physician/researcher and the patient/survivor will bring new solutions to dealing with an OVCA diagnosis and treatments. Citation Format: Deborah J. Binder. Collaboration between the physician/researcher and patient/survivor is key [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Ovarian Cancer; 2023 Oct 5-7; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A002.

Genomic drivers in craniopharyngiomas: Analysis of the AACR project GENIE database.

Craniopharyngiomas are rare tumors originating in the sellar region, with limited information on their somatic mutational landscape. In this study, we utilized a publicly available genomic database to profile the somatic mutational landscape of craniopharyngioma patients and interrogate differences based on histologic subtype. We utilized the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE)® database accessed from cBioPortal (v13.1-public) to query all patients with craniopharyngiomas. Of the 336 patients with sellar tumors, 51 (15.2%) had craniopharyngiomas. Of these 51 patients, 42 (82.4%) were adamantinomatous subtype and 9 (17.6%) were papillary subtype. In this cohort, 32 (62.7%) patients were pediatric, while 19 (37.3%) were adult. The top mutations in the cohort were: CTNNB1 (n = 37; 73%), BRAF (n = 7; 14%), ARID1B (n = 5; 10%), KMT2D (n = 4; 8%), FANCA (n = 4; 8%), ATM (n = 4; 8%), and TERT (n = 3; 8%). Of the 37 patients with CTNNB1 mutations, 8 (21.6%) had S33X, 9 (24.3%) had S37X, 7 (18.9%) had T41X, and 5 (13.5%) had D32X. In this cohort, CTNNB1 mutations tended to co-occur with ATM (n = 4; 10.8%), KMT2C (n = 4; 10.8%), TERT (n = 3; 8.1%), BLM (n = 3; 8.1%), and ERBB2/3 (n = 3; 8.1%), suggesting CTNNB1 mutations tended to co-occur with mutations in genes important in cell growth and survival, chromatin accessibility, and DNA damage response pathways. CTNNB1 mutations account for a large proportion of somatic mutations in craniopharyngiomas. Identification of specific point mutations and secondary drivers may advance development of novel craniopharyngioma preclinical models for targeted therapy testing.

Translating Science into Survival: Report on the Seventh International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference.

From September 20 to 23, 2023, the Seventh International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference was hosted jointly by the Cancer Research Institute, the European Network for Cancer Immunotherapy (ENCI), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Milan, Italy. The four-day event covered the latest advances in cancer immunology and immunotherapy.

Genomic Variations Between Fibrolamellar and Conventional Hepatocellular Carcinomas.

Aim The aim of this study isto define genomic variations between fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) and conventional hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Methods This study used the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project GENIE data as a foundational element. Specifically, information about both fibrolamellar and conventional hepatocellular carcinoma was retrieved from this database. Results A total of 719 patients diagnosed with HCC and 52 individuals presenting with FL-HCC underwent thorough analysis. Notably, distinct variances in gene alterations were observed between the two cohorts. Predominantly, the HCC group exhibited frequent occurrences of mutations within the TP53 and CTNNB1 genes. Conversely, DNAJB1 fusion was uniquely identified in FL-HCC cases. Conclusion This study significantly broadens our understanding of the genetic makeup associated with FL-HCC and HCC. It is particularly notable because it reveals clear disparities in gene modifications between FL-HCC and HCC. Further investigation is essential to unravel the functional consequences of these genetic variances. This exploration will aid in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches to enhance the prognosis of patients diagnosed with diverse subtypes of HCC.

Molecular landscape of ERBB2/HER2 gene amplification among patients with gynecologic malignancies; clinical implications and future directions

ObjectiveInvestigate the prevalence of ERBB2/HER2 gene amplification among patients with gynecologic malignancies. MethodsThe American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Genomics Evidence of Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) (version 13.1) database was accessed and patients with endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer were identified. Patients with available data on the presence of copy-number gene alterations were selected for further analysis. Incidence of ERBB2 amplification following stratification by tumor site and histology was evaluated. Data from the OncoKB database, as provided by cBioPortal, was utilized to determine presence of pathogenic genomic alterations. ResultsA total of 6961 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified: 49.1% with ovarian cancer, 45.2% with endometrial cancer and 5.7% with cervical cancer respectively. Overall incidence of ERBB2 amplification was 3.8%. Highest incidence of ERBB2 amplification was observed among patients with mucinous ovarian (14.4%), uterine serous (13.2%), uterine clear cell (9.4%), and uterine carcinosarcoma (7.9%). ERBB2 amplification was rare among patients with TP53 wild-type endometrioid endometrial cancer (0.4%). High incidence of mutations in genes of the PI3K pathway was observed among patients with ERBB2 amplified tumors. ConclusionERBB2 amplification is frequently encountered among patients with uterine serous carcinoma, and mucinous ovarian carcinoma. In addition, a high incidence was also observed among those with uterine clear cell carcinoma, and uterine carcinosarcoma. For patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, incidence of ERBB2 amplification is low, especially in the absence of TP53 mutations.

Genomic Variations in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Objectives Using a comprehensive dataset derived from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics, Evidence, Neoplasia, Information, and Exchange (GENIE), we sought to demonstrate the genetic characteristics of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methodology Data were extracted from cBioPortal for cancer genomics (genie.cbioportal.org). Patients with EAC and squamous cell carcinoma were selected. To compare categorical variables, either the chi-square or Kruskal-Wallis test was used. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was applied to correct P-values, and consequently, false discovery rate-adjusted q-values were computed. When the q-value was <0.05, theP-value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results In this study, 1,381 patients with EAC and 312 patients with ESCC were analyzed. Gene alterations were different between the two groups. In EAC, genetic alterations were detected in ERBB2, KRAS, SMAD4, and TACC3 genes, whereas ESCC exhibited alterations in CCDN1, NFE2L2, FGF19, FGF3, FGF4, NOTCH1, and CDKN2B genes. Conclusions Notably, this study showed distinct differences in gene alterations between ESCC and EAC, thereby enhancing our understanding of the genetic landscape of these tumors. Further research is required to elucidate the functional implications of these genetic variations to develop targeted therapies that can improve the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

Pharmacotherapy for Cancer Treatment-Related Cardiac Dysfunction and Heart Failure in Childhood Cancer Survivors.

The number of childhood cancer survivors is increasing rapidly. According to American Association for Cancer Research, there aremore than 750,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States and Europe. As the number of childhood cancer survivors increases, so does cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), leading to heart failure (HF). It has been reported that childhood cancer survivors who received anthracyclines are 15 times more likely to have late cancer treatment-related HF and have a 5-fold higher risk of death from cardiovascular (CV) disease than the general population. CV disease is the leading cause of death in childhood cancer survivors. The increasing need to manage cancer survivor patients has led to the rapid creation and adaptation of cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology is a multidisciplinary science that monitors, treats, and prevents CTRCD. Many guidelines and position statements have been published to help diagnose and manage CTRCD, including those from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the European Society of Cardiology, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the European Society of Medical Oncology, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group, and many others. However, there remains a gap in identifying high-risk patients likely to develop cardiomyopathy and HF in later life, thus reducing primary and secondary measures being instituted, and when to start treatment when there is echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunctionswithout symptoms of HF. There are no randomized controlled clinical trials for treatment for CTRCD leading to HF in childhood cancer survivors. The treatment of HF due to cancer treatment is similar to the guidelines for general HF. This review describes the latest pharmacologic therapy for preventing and treating LV dysfunction and HF in childhood cancer survivors based on expert consensus guidelines and extrapolating data from adult HF trials.

Q&A: Philip Greenberg on T Cells, IO's Future.

Philip Greenberg, MD, assumed a 1-year term as president of the American Association for Cancer Research in April 2023. In this interview, he highlighted some tenure priorities, including improving scientists' ability to communicate with the public, and discussed his own research on T-cell receptor therapies, as well as the upcoming decade for immuno-oncology.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of oncopathology in end-stage renal disease: A case report

BACKGROUND: In recent years, an increasing tendency of oncopathology in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was observed. Clinical data demonstrate an increased risk of malignization in patients with decreased renal function. The cohort study (2022) reported a cumulative incidence of cancer in nephrology patients ranging from 10.8% to 15.3%. A high percentage of stage IV cancers were detected in patients with CKD at the time of diagnosis. In 2022, the American Association for Cancer Research published the results of a Mendelian Randomization Study examining the causal relationship between CKD and the risk of developing 19 local cancers, including renal cell cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, and colorectal cancer. Several studies found a direct correlation between a decreased glomerular filtration rate and the development of oncopathologies. Therefore, cancer awareness is important in the management of patients with CKD. In patients with end-stage chronic renal disease (ESRD) who are on hemodialysis, X-ray diagnosis with iodine-containing radiopaque agents is possible without additional risk of kidney damage.&#x0D; AIM: To demonstratу the role of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of oncopathology in a patient with CKD to attract the attention of physicians to the importance of using advanced diagnostic techniques in patients with CKD.&#x0D; METHODS: A clinical case of a 32-year-old patient M. who was hospitalized in the Therapeutic Department of Multidisciplinary City Hospital No. 2 in Astana was presented.&#x0D; RESULTS: A patient with ESRD resulting from chronic glomerulonephritis in a hypertensive form complained of dyspnea at rest, cough with difficult sputum, right thoracic pain, general weakness, and weight loss of 8 kg in 1 month. Past medical history showed that the patient was on alternate program hemodialysis for 4 years. Deterioration occurred within 3 months. The patient was examined at the place of residence. CT scan showed signs of tuberculosis of the upper right lobe (?) and lymphadenopathy of intrathoracic and axillary lymph nodes. A neoplasm was not excluded. The patient was consulted by a phthisiatrician, GeneXpert sputum was performed, and tuberculosis was excluded. In dynamics, ultrasound was conducted due to increasing dyspnea. Fluid accumulation in the pericardial and pleural cavities was detected. A pulmonologist assessed the situation as uremic pericarditis, pleurisy on the right side, and right-sided pneumonia in the upper lobe of unclear genesis. Antibacterial therapy was prescribed. Due to a significant deterioration of the condition, the patient went to the city hospital. At admission, respiratory failure, pain syndrome in the chest area, and marked asthenization up to cachexia were observed. Ultrasound of pleural cavities showed free fluid in the pleural cavity on the right (770 ml) and left (110 ml), whereas abdominal ultrasound revealed cavernous hemangiomas of the liver (?), echogenic suspension of the gallbladder, and splenomegaly. Echocardiography showed diffuse hypokinesis of all left ventricular walls. Grade 12 pulmonary hypertension was detected. Systolic function of the left ventricle was moderately decreased. Effusion in the pericardial cavity in the volume of 430 ml and congestion in the inferior vena cava were found. A patient with ESRD was on program hemodialysis for 4 years, which allowed the use of contrast-enhanced X-ray imaging techniques without the risk of additional renal damage. Contrast-enhanced chest CT showed pronounced right-sided pleurisy. Given the presence of foci of contrast agent accumulation in the structure of the parietal pleura, malignancy was not excluded (mesothelioma?). Indolent left-sided pleurisy, segmental and subsegmental compression atelectasis of the right lung, distinct edema and thickening of interlobular septa of both lungs, and single dense foci of I/II, III segments of the left lung up to 4.2 mm in diameter were detected. In addition, chronic bronchitis, pericarditis, and lymphadenopathy of subclavian, intrathoracic, and axillary lymph nodes up to 15.0 mm in diameter (malignancy not excluded) were revealed. Osteosclerosis foci of the Th3 vertebral body measuring 4.75.1 mm was observed. Contrast-enhanced abdominal and retroperineal CT scan showed a focal mass of the IVa segment of the liver measuring 17.315.916.4 mm (malignancy not excluded), chronic calculous cholecystitis, chronic pancreatitis, lymphadenopathy of intra-abdominal para-aortic and mesenteric lymph nodes up to 18.0 mm in size (malignancy not excluded), reduced size of both kidneys (contracted kidneys), and a cystic mass in the left ovary measuring 39.442.034.5 mm (35 HU). Patient was consulted by an oncologist: pleural mesothelioma? Metastasis in the liver? Consultation with a thoracic surgeon to decide on morphological verification was recommended. A biopsy was planned at the place of residence; however, morphological verification of oncopathology was not performed due to the patients lethal outcome.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: This clinical case of a patient with ESRD on hemodialysis demonstrates the importance of contrast-enhanced CT to diagnose oncopathology.

President Biden Chooses Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, to Lead the NIH

President Biden Chooses Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, to Lead the NIH

Providers Respond to USPSTF Report on Screening for Breast Cancer

Providers Respond to USPSTF Report on Screening for Breast Cancer

The impact of large oncology meetings (#ASCO, #AACR, #ASH) and health equity hashtags (#DEI+) on social media engagement.

e23008 Background: Social media has revolutionized scientific communication to extend engagement beyond peer-reviewed publications and traditional media channels. Hashtags (#) promote awareness of key topics and enable tracking of social media engagement (Katz et al. JAMA Oncol. 2016;2(3):392-4). We evaluated the utilization of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (#DEI) hashtags around large oncology meetings to describe the trends of DEI-focused social media conversations. Methods: Using Symplur Signals healthcare analytics on Twitter data, 5 dashboards with # datasets (#ASCO 18-22, #AACR 18-22, #ASH 18-22, #ASHDEI) were analyzed over 2018–2022. Data were then refined by content word filters (most used DEI hashtags: #cancerdisparities, #healthdisparities, #healthequity). Utilizing proprietary natural language processing combined with artificial intelligence, the Netbase Quid platform used a Boolean algorithm to collect ASCO DEI social media data (Twitter and others) to identify discussion themes between January 2021 – January 2023. Results: Use of the ASCO hashtag resulted in high and relatively stable social media activity from 2018-2022 (Table). In contrast, a major decline in both the DEI and DEI+ASCO hashtags occurred in 2022 after the peak in 2021 (Table). The peak use of DEI hashtags coincided with sentinel events in the US, including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and subsequent public protests. However, DEI conversations made up only 2% of ASCO’s social media conversations and accounted for far less for American Society of Hematology (ASH) and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Table). Although smaller in number, AACR hashtags (#AACR, +DEI hashtags) were stable in 2021-22 compared with ASCO and ASH, coinciding with a dedicated conference focus on DEI topics during the AACR meeting. Conclusions: In general, oncology-associated Twitter activity appeared to be less frequent, possibly due to inconsistent use of DEI hashtags. To generate consistent and searchable DEI social media activity—and to communicate the outcomes of DEI initiatives—the oncology community should develop a lexicon of DEI hashtags. [Table: see text]

A phase II trial of JDQ443 in KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC with PD-L1 expression &lt;1% or PD-L1 expression ≥1% and an STK11 co-mutation.

TPS9158 Background: Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog ( KRAS) is the most frequently mutated oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). KRAS G12C, the most frequent KRAS variant, is found in ~13% of patients (pts) with NSCLC. KRAS is a GTPase that regulates cell signaling pathways necessary for proliferation, differentiation, and survival. KRAS mutation reduces the intrinsic GTPase activity of the enzyme, allowing for the accumulation of active, GTP-bound KRAS and hyperactivation of downstream signaling, driving tumorigenesis. JDQ443 is a potent, selective KRASG12C inhibitor that irreversibly traps KRASG12C in its inactive, GDP bound state and blocks downstream signaling. In preliminary data from the Phase Ib part of the KontRASt-01 study (NCT04699188), JDQ443 showed promising antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile in previously treated pts with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced NSCLC. Pts with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC currently receive the same first-line (1L) treatment as those without driver mutations, consisting of immunotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy; however, ~30% of pts with NSCLC present with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression &lt;1%, and ~10–20% of pts harbor an STK11 mutation, both indicators of poor response to immunotherapy. Therefore, alternative 1L treatment options are needed for these pts. Of note, PD-L1 expression and STK11 mutation do not affect responsiveness to KRASG12C inhibitors, raising interest in the evaluation of these targeted therapies as 1L alternatives to immunotherapy for pts with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Methods: KontRASt-06 (NCT05445843) is an open-label, Phase II, single-arm, multicenter study evaluating JDQ443 monotherapy (200 mg JDQ443 twice daily in 21-day cycles) as a 1L treatment for 2 cohorts of adult pts with locally advanced or metastatic, KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Cohort A (n=90) includes pts whose tumors have PD-L1 expression &lt;1%, regardless of STK11 mutation status, while Cohort B (n=30) includes pts whose tumors have PD-L1 expression ≥1% and an STK11 co-mutation. Local testing for PD-L1 status and KRAS and STK11 mutations is accepted; KRAS and STK11 mutations may be assessed in blood samples. A tissue sample is required for retrospective biomarker status confirmation and exploratory study. The study is currently enrolling pts into both cohorts. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate (ORR) per RECIST version 1.1, assessed by a blinded independent review committee, in Cohort A. Key secondary endpoints are ORR in Cohort B and duration of response in both cohorts. Other secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, overall survival, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pt-reported outcomes. A comprehensive biomarker strategy aims to investigate predictors of treatment response and resistance in the study population. © 2023 American Association for Cancer Research®. Reused with permission. Clinical trial information: NCT05445843 .

TROPION-PanTumor03: Phase 2, multicenter study of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) as monotherapy and in combination with anticancer agents in patients (pts) with advanced/metastatic solid tumors.

TPS3153 Background: Pts with metastatic epithelial tumors who progress after initial therapy have a poor prognosis; new therapeutic agents could potentially improve outcomes. Trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (TROP2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is over-expressed on the cell surface of many epithelial cancers representing a promising target for surface-directed therapeutic modalities. Dato-DXd is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of a humanized anti-TROP2 IgG1 monoclonal antibody covalently linked to a highly potent topoisomerase I inhibitor payload via a stable, tumor-selective, tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker. Dato-DXd monotherapy demonstrated encouraging efficacy and safety in pts with lung and breast cancer (TROPION-PanTumor01 study; NCT03401385). Methods: The phase 2, multicenter, open-label TROPION-PanTumor03 study (NCT05489211) is exploring safety and efficacy of Dato-DXd as monotherapy and in combination with various anticancer agents (e.g. durvalumab, AZD5305, nivolumab, bevacizumab, chemotherapies) that may be active in the tumor types being evaluated. TROPION-PanTumor03 is a master trial comprising independent substudies to enable simultaneous evaluation of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, and preliminary efficacy of Dato-DXd across several tumor types and treatment combinations. Pts with endometrial, gastric, metastatic castration-resistant prostate (mCRPC), ovarian, and colorectal (CRC) cancer are being enrolled. Eligible pts: age ≥18 years, histologically/cytologically documented advanced or metastatic disease, ≥1 measurable target lesion (RECIST 1.1) not previously irradiated (mCRPC substudy: non-measurable bone metastatic disease permitted), and adequate bone marrow and organ function. An FFPE tumor sample must be available for all pts. Prospective selection for TROP2 expression is required in pts with CRC; in all other cohorts, TROP2 expression will be analyzed retrospectively. In all monotherapy cohorts, pts will receive Dato-DXd 6 mg/kg IV infusion Q3W; in the combination cohorts, Dato-DXd 4 or 6 mg/kg Q3W, as appropriate for each combination. Pts will receive treatment until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Primary endpoints: objective response rate, PSA50 response (mCRPC substudy only), and safety/tolerability. Secondary endpoints: progression-free survival, duration of response, disease control rate, best % change in tumor size, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity (anti-drug antibodies). Exploratory endpoints incl. overall survival, pt-reported outcomes, and biomarker analysis (incl. TROP2 and PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational profiling, proteomics and ctDNA profiling). Recruitment is ongoing as of Feb 2023. ©2023 American Association for Cancer Research. Reused with permission. Clinical trial information: NCT05489211 .

Distinguishing primary mucinous ovarian tumors from metastases of non-gynecologic mucinous cancers: Can we leverage next-generation sequencing?

5582 Background: Primary mucinous ovarian cancers (MOC) are histopathologically challenging to differentiate from ovarian metastases of non-gynecologic origin, with this distinction being critical for appropriate management and prognosis. We compared the somatic gene variant landscape of MOC to that of non-gynecologic mucinous tumors. Methods: Data were extracted from the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) database version 13.0 via cBioPortal. This publicly available, multi-institutional database provides next generation sequencing (NGS) genomic profiles of tumors. We queried this database for samples of MOC, mucinous colorectal cancer (MCRC), mucinous appendiceal cancer (MAC), mucinous breast cancer (MBC) and gastric type mucinous cancer (GMC). Frequencies of somatic gene variants including mutations, copy number alterations and structural variants were compared using Chi-squared or Fischer’s exact tests, using the Benjamini-Hochberg method to control for multiple hypothesis testing with q-values reported. Results: A total of 883 tumors were included for analysis: 358 MCRC, 268 MAC, 157 MOC, 59 MBC and 41 GMC samples. Compared to MAC, MOC samples had higher variant frequencies of CDKN2A (33.3% vs 0.4%, q&lt;0.001), CDKN2B (24.0% vs 0.0%, q&lt;0.001), TP53 (64.3% vs 23.5%, q&lt;0.001), ERBB2 (14.3% vs 1.1%, q&lt;0.001) and CDK12 (13.2% vs 0.0%, q&lt;0.001), whereas GNAS variants were more common in MAC (45.5% vs 5.7%, q&lt;0.001). Compared to MCRC, MOC samples had higher variant frequencies of CDKN2A (33.3% vs 2.3%, q&lt;0.001), CDKN2B (24.0% vs 3.7%, q&lt;0.001), TP53 (64.3% vs 42.9%, q&lt;0.001), KRAS (69.4% vs 51.1%, q&lt;0.001) and ERBB2 (14.3% vs 5.3%, q&lt;0.001), whereas MCRC had higher variant frequencies of 57 genes, with the largest differentials among APC (48.8% vs 2.6%, q&lt;0.001), SMAD4 (25.2% vs 5.8%, q&lt;0.001) and TCF7L2 (19.0% vs 0.0%, q&lt;0.001). Samples of MOC had significantly higher rates of KRAS variants compared to GMC (69.4% vs 31.7%, q&lt;0.001) and lower rates of STK11 variants (1.9% vs 22.0%, q&lt;0.001). Compared to MBC, MOC samples had higher variant rates of CDKN2A (33.3% vs 3.4%, q&lt;0.001), TP53 (64.3% vs 10.2%, q&lt;0.001) and KRAS (69.4% vs 0.0%, q&lt;0.001), whereas MBC samples had higher variant frequencies of 11 genes, with the largest differentials among GATA3 (32.1% vs 0.8%, q&lt;0.001), FGF3 (30.4% vs 2.4%, q&lt;0.05) and CCND1 (28.1% vs 1.6%, q&lt;0.001). Conclusions: NGS demonstrates that MOCs carry a distinct genetic signature compared to mucinous tumors of non-gynecologic origin, most commonly with significantly higher variant frequencies of CDKN2A, CDKN2B and lower variant frequencies of GNAS, APC, STK11 and GATA3. This provides rationale for prospective studies evaluating genetic signatures as an adjunct to histopathology in the diagnosis of primary MOC.

The spectrum of homologous recombination deficiency in cervical cancer: Is it also a cervical issue?

5543 Background: Tumors deficient in homologous recombination DNA damage repair (HR-DDR) demonstrate sensitivity to therapeutic agents targeting the HR-DDR pathway, such as poly-ADP ribose phosphate (PARP) inhibitors. The landscape of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is not well-characterized for cervical cancer; thus, we sought to analyze the prevalence of somatic pathogenic gene variants (PGVs) in HRD genes in cervical cancers. Methods: The American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) database version 13.0 was queried for all cervical cancer tumors via cBioPortal (http://genie.cbioportal.org). This is a publicly available, multi-institutional database of next-generation sequencing (NGS) genomic profiles of multiple tumors. PGV frequencies of 27 genes involved in HR-DDR were descriptively reported for cervical cancer tumors, with histologic stratification: ATM, ARID1A, ATRX, BRCA1, BRCA2, BARD1, BRIP1, BLM, BAP1, CHEK1, CHEK2, FANCA, FANCC, FANCD2, FANCE, FANCF, FANCG, FANCL, MRE11, NBN, PALB2, RAD50, RAD51, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, WRN. Results: A total of 857 cervical tumors from 817 patients were included for analysis. At least one somatic PGV in an HRD gene was found in 16.5% of all tumors (141/857). When stratified by histological subtypes with at least 25 tumors sequenced, highest frequencies of ≥1 PGV in HRD genes were observed in mucinous cervical cancer (13/66, 19.7%), cervical adenocarcinoma (48/262, 18.3%), squamous cell cervical cancer (53/349, 15.2%), adenosquamous cervical cancer (6/43, 14.0%) and neuroendocrine cervical cancers (5/42, 11.9%). Substantial rates of PGVs in HRD genes were also observed in histological subtypes with fewer than 25 sequenced tumors. Across all tumors, HRD genes with the highest frequencies of PGVs were ARID1A (9%), BAP1 (3%), ATM (1.6%) and BRCA1 (1.6%). Conclusions: NGS data demonstrate a substantial rate of somatic PGVs in HRD genes in cervical cancers, including among HPV related subtypes. These data suggest the need to expand routine functional HRD status assessment to cervical cancers in order to further characterize the landscape of HRD in these tumors. Furthermore, genetically driven clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of HRD-targeted therapies such as PARP inhibitors, ataxia telangiectasia, and Rad-3 related kinase (ATR) inhibitors. [Table: see text]

Phase 2 study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the GDF-15 inhibitor ponsegromab in patients with cancer cachexia.

TPS12147 Background: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome of wasting characterized by anorexia, unintended weight loss, and decreased skeletal muscle mass, leading to progressive functional impairment, fatigue, diminished quality of life, poor response to anticancer therapy, and reduced survival. One of the biomarkers associated with cancer cachexia is cytokine growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), which is secreted by tumor cells. Preliminary phase 1 data suggest that suppression of GDF-15 may lead to improvement in cachexia-related symptom burden. Ponsegromab is a potent and selective humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits GDF-15-mediated signaling. The primary objective of this study (NCT05546476) is to assess the effect of ponsegromab on body weight in patients with cancer, cachexia, and elevated circulating GDF-15 concentrations. Secondary objectives include assessing physical activity, gait, anorexia/appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and safety. Exploratory objectives include evaluating pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity. Methods: This phase 2 study will enroll approximately 168 adults with non–small cell lung, pancreatic, or colorectal cancers who have cachexia and elevated GDF-15 concentrations. The study will be conducted in 2 parts. The initial 12-week treatment period will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study wherein participants who meet eligibility criteria will be randomized 1:1:1:1 to one of 3 dose groups of ponsegromab (administered subcutaneously [SC] every 4 weeks [Q4W]) or placebo. The double-blind period will be followed by optional open-label treatment (OLT) with ponsegromab Q4W SC for up to 1 year. Upon completion of the optional OLT period, there will be a follow-up visit at Week 72. Participants who do not proceed with the optional OLT period will complete the Week 12 visit and a follow-up visit at Week 16. The primary endpoint is the mean change from baseline in body weight at Week 12. A mixed model for repeated measures followed by a Bayesian Emax model will be used for the primary analysis. Secondary endpoints include physical activity and gait measured by remote digital sensors; patient-reported appetite-related symptoms assessed by Functional Assessment of Anorexia-Cachexia Therapy scores; anorexia/appetite, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue evaluated according to questions from the Cancer-related Cachexia Symptom Diary; and incidence of adverse events, safety laboratory tests, vital signs, and electrocardiogram abnormalities. © 2023 American Association for Cancer Research®. Reused with permission. Clinical trial information: NCT05546476 .