Improvement In OS Research Articles

Radiotherapy for Recurrent Medulloblastoma in Children and Adolescents: Survival after Re-Irradiation and First-Time Irradiation.

Radiotherapy (RT) involving craniospinal irradiation (CSI) is important in the initial treatment of medulloblastoma. At recurrence, the re-irradiation options are limited and associated with severe side-effects. For pre-irradiated patients, patients with re-irradiation (RT2) were matched by sex, histology, time to recurrence, disease status and treatment at recurrence to patients without RT2. A total of 42 pre-irradiated patients with RT2 were matched to 42 pre-irradiated controls without RT2. RT2 improved the median PFS [21.0 (CI: 15.7-28.7) vs. 12.0 (CI: 8.1-21.0) months] and OS [31.5 (CI: 27.6-64.8) vs. 20.0 (CI: 14.0-36.7) months]. Concerning long-term survival after ten years, RT2 only lead to small improvements in OS [8% (CI: 1.4-45.3) vs. 0%]. RT2 improved survival most without (re)-resection [PFS: 17.5 (CI: 9.7-41.5) vs. 8.0 (CI: 6.6-12.2)/OS: 31.5 (CI: 27.6-NA) vs. 13.3 (CI: 8.1-20.1) months]. In the RT-naïve patients, CSI at recurrence improved their median PFS [25.0 (CI: 16.8-60.6) vs. 6.6 (CI: 1.5-NA) months] and OS [40.2 (CI: 18.7-NA) vs. 12.4 (CI: 4.4-NA) months]. RT2 could improve the median survival in a matched cohort but offered little benefit regarding long-term survival. In RT-naïve patients, CSI greatly improved their median and long-term survival.

The evolving treatment landscape of metastatic urothelial cancer.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is currently the first-line standard of care for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC); however, up to 50% of patients are ineligible for cisplatin, necessitating alternative treatment options. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been shown to be effective in cisplatin-ineligible patients. However, despite advances in the first-line setting, the prognosis remains poor, and challenges persist in selecting optimal therapies, treatment sequences and combination regimens. Maintenance therapy with avelumab revealed improved overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with best supportive care alone in patients with platinum-responsive mUC. Antibody-drug conjugates and targeted therapy with fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors have shown promise in selected patients, particularly in patients with metastatic disease that has progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy. At the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in 2023, groundbreaking results were presented from two phase III trials, EV-302/KEYNOTE-A39 and CheckMate 901, focusing on previously untreated mUC. In the former, the combination of enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab showed significant improvements in OS, PFS and overall response rate compared with chemotherapy alone; the combination of nivolumab with gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy demonstrated a significant extension in median OS, PFS and overall response rate compared with chemotherapy alone. Inaddition, erdafitinib therapy resulted in significantly longer OS than chemotherapy among patients with mUC and FGFR alterations after previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. This comprehensive summary of the current treatment landscape for mUC incorporates clinical trial evidence and discussion of agents that are currently under investigation to provide support for clinical decision making and understanding of future therapeutic approaches.

Abstract GS01-05: Pembrolizumab + Olaparib vs Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy After Induction With Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy for Locally Recurrent Inoperable or Metastatic TNBC: Randomized Open-Label Phase 2 KEYLYNK-009 Study

Abstract Background: Pembrolizumab (pembro) plus chemotherapy (chemo) showed statistically significant improvements in PFS and OS vs placebo + chemo in patients (pts) with previously untreated locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors expressed PD-L1 with a combined positive score (CPS) ≥10 in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-355 study. Tolerable and effective maintenance regimens after induction therapy are needed to sustain clinical benefit. The PARP inhibitor olaparib is an established maintenance therapy for multiple platinum-sensitive tumor types and prior data suggest that PARP inhibitors combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors could provide an improved therapeutic effect. KEYLYNK-009 (NCT04191135) is a randomized open-label phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of maintenance pembro + olaparib vs pembro + chemo in pts with locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic TNBC who had clinical benefit from induction with 1L pembro + platinum-based chemo. Methods: Eligible pts with measurable, locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic TNBC that had not been previously treated with chemo in the metastatic setting received induction therapy for up to 6 cycles of pembro 200 mg + chemo (carboplatin AUC 2 + gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) every 3 wk (Q3W). Pts with complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) after 4-6 treatment cycles were randomized 1:1 to receive pembro 200 mg Q3W + olaparib 300 mg twice daily or pembro + chemo (continued induction regimen). Olaparib or chemo was continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity; pembro was continued for up to 35 cycles (including induction treatment), progression, or unacceptable toxicity. Pts were stratified by induction response (CR or PR vs SD, by RECIST v1.1), tumor PD-L1 status (CPS ≥1 vs CPS < 1), and tumor genomic status (tBRCAm vs tBRCAwt). Dual primary endpoints were PFS per RECIST v1.1 by BICR and OS from randomization in all pts. Secondary endpoints included PFS and OS from randomization in pts with PD-L1 CPS ≥10 tumors and in pts with tBRCAm, and safety. Results: Of the 460 pts who received induction therapy, 271 were randomly assigned to pembro + olaparib (n=135) or pembro + chemo (n=136). At the Dec 15, 2022 data cutoff, median follow-up was 17.2 mo. Maintenance pembro + olaparib did not significantly improve PFS or OS vs pembro + chemo after induction therapy (Table). Median PFS was longer with pembro + olaparib vs pembro + chemo in pts with tBRCAm, but not in pts with PD-L1 CPS ≥10 tumors; a similar trend was observed for OS (Table). In 268 treated pts, treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) occurred in 114 of 135 pts (84.4%) for pembro + olaparib and in 128 of 133 pts (96.2%) for pembro + chemo. Grade ≥3 TRAEs occurred in 44 pts (32.6%) for pembro + olaparib (0 deaths) and in 91 pts (68.4%) for pembro + chemo (2 [1.5%] deaths), with 12 (8.9%) vs 26 (19.5%) discontinuations for TRAEs, respectively. Conclusions: The primary endpoints of PFS and OS were not met in an unselected population of pts with advanced TNBC. However, directionally favorable improvements in PFS and OS were observed in pts with tBRCAm with pembro + olaparib vs pembro + chemo, representing a potential maintenance strategy. Further data are required to confirm this effect. No new safety signals were observed, and there were fewer TRAEs in the pembro + olaparib group vs the pembro + chemo group. PFS and OS were evaluated from the time of randomization. *Based on stratified Cox regression model with Efron’s method of tie-handling with treatment as a covariate. NR = not reached. Citation Format: Hope Rugo, Mark Robson, Seock-Ah Im, Florence Dalenc, Eduardo Yañez Ruiz, Young-Hyuck Im, Sergii Kulyk, Oleksandr Dudnichenko, Néstor Llinás-Quintero, Shigehira Saji, Yasuo Miyoshi, Nadia Harbeck, Li Fan, Jaime Mejia, Vassiliki Karantza, David Cescon. Pembrolizumab + Olaparib vs Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy After Induction With Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy for Locally Recurrent Inoperable or Metastatic TNBC: Randomized Open-Label Phase 2 KEYLYNK-009 Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr GS01-05.

Abstract PS14-08: Safety evaluation from the KEYNOTE-355 study of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: In KEYNOTE-355 (NCT02819518), pembrolizumab (pembro) + chemotherapy (chemo) led to statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in PFS and OS (primary endpoints) vs placebo (pbo) + chemo in patients (pts) with previously untreated PD-L1 positive advanced TNBC (combined positive score ≥10). In the overall safety population at final analysis, treatment-related AEs occurred in 96.3% of pts in the pembro + chemo arm and 95.0% of pts in the pbo + chemo arm; immune-mediated AEs occurred in 26.5% and 6.4% of pts, respectively. We report additional safety information, beyond the already reported safety results, on immune-mediated AEs and management from the final analysis of KEYNOTE-355. Methods: Eligible pts were randomized 2:1 to receive pembro 200 mg or pbo Q3W for up to 35 cycles + investigator’s choice of nab-paclitaxel, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine-carboplatin. Safety was assessed in all randomized pts who received ≥1 dose of study treatment. AEs were monitored throughout the study and for 30 d post-treatment (90 d for serious AEs). Results: At final analysis (data cut-off: June 15, 2021), median treatment duration was 6.1 (range, 0.0–48.8) mo in the pembro + chemo arm (n = 562) and 5.3 (range, 0.0–51.5) mo in the pbo + chemo arm (n = 281). Of 157 pts with immune-mediated AEs and infusion reactions in the pembro + chemo arm, 125 had grade 1-2 events and 32 had grade 3-4 events; none were grade 5. The most common immune-mediated AEs with pembro + chemo were hypothyroidism (15.8%) and hyperthyroidism (4.3%); infusion reactions occurred in 3.7% of pts (table). Of 89 pts with hypothyroidism, median time to onset was 105 d (range, 19–707 d) and 70 were treated with thyroid replacement, suggesting an endocrine abnormality and need for continued thyroid replacement. Of 24 pts with hyperthyroidism, median time to onset was 53.5 d (range, 20–209 d) and 2 were treated with corticosteroids. Of 21 pts with infusion reactions, median time to onset was 147 d (range, 1–729 d) and 10 were treated with corticosteroids. Other immune-mediated AEs of interest in the pembro + chemo arm were pneumonitis (2.5%) and adrenal insufficiency (1.4%); most of these events were grade 2–3. Of 14 pts with pneumonitis, median time to onset was 99.5 d (range, 29–288 d) and 11 were treated with corticosteroids; median episode duration was 56 d. All 8 pts with adrenal insufficiency were treated with hormone replacement. There were no reports of hypophysitis. Conclusion: In pts with previously untreated advanced TNBC, pembro + chemo had a manageable safety profile that was generally consistent with the known safety profiles of pembro and the chemo regimens. Most immune-mediated AEs and infusion reactions were grade 1-2, manageable with treatment interruption, corticosteroids, and/or hormone replacement therapy, and did not result in discontinuation of study treatment. Together with the efficacy findings, our results support pembro + chemo as a standard of care regimen for these pts. Table. Citation Format: Hope Rugo, Peter Schmid, Zbigniew Nowecki, David Cescon, Seock-Ah Im, Mastura Yusof, Carlos Gallardo, Hiroji Iwata, Carlos Barrios, Sherene Loi, Xuan Zhou, Xiaoli Zhang, Wilbur Pan, Vassiliki Karantza, Javier Cortés. Safety evaluation from the KEYNOTE-355 study of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-08.

The effect of liver metastases on clinical efficacy of first-line programmed death-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A post hoc analysis of ASTRUM-007 and meta-analysis.

To explore the efficacy of serplulimab plus chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with liver metastases. A post hoc exploratory analysis of ASTRUM-007 study was performed, focusing on the association between the liver metastases status and the clinical outcomes. A systematic literature search of electronic databases was conducted to identify eligible randomized controlled trials for the meta-analysis. Study-level pooled analyses of hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS according to liver metastases were performed. The post hoc analysis of ASTRUM-007 showed that although patients with liver metastases had a worse prognosis comparing with the non-liver metastases patients in both treatment arms (serplulimab plus chemotherapy arm: median PFS, 5.7 vs. 6.6 months, HR 1.57 [95% CI, 1.15-2.13]; median OS, 13.7 vs. 15.3 months, HR 1.48 [95% CI, 1.09-1.98]; placebo plus chemotherapy arm: median PFS, 4.3 vs. 5.5 months, HR 1.58 [95% CI, 1.01-2.39]; median OS, 10.3 vs. 11.2 months, HR 1.32 [95% CI, 0.84-2.00]), OS and PFS benefits derived from serplulimab plus chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy in this study were observed in both patients with liver metastases (HR of PFS: 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97; HR of OS: 0.68; 95% CI, 0.43-1.11) and the non-liver metastases patients (HR of PFS: 0.62; 95% CI, 0.49-0.80; HR of OS: 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55-0.87) with similar magnitude. Three randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled HRs demonstrated that the addition of anti-PD-1 antibodies significantly improved PFS compared to chemotherapy alone regardless of liver metastases status. This study reveals that the presence of liver metastases is a poor prognostic factor but does not affect the improvements in both PFS and OS brought by adding PD-1 blockade to chemotherapy in ESCC patients. Predictive biomarkers for survival in these patients warrant further investigation.

Outcomes of Modified Mayo Stage IIIa and IIIb Cardiac Light-Chain Amyloidosis: Real-World Experience in Clinical Characteristics and Treatment-67 Patients Multicenter Analysis.

Light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is a rare multisystem disorder characterized by the deposition of misfolded amyloid fibrils derived from monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains in various organs. One of the most common organs involved in AL is the heart, with 50-70% of patients clinically symptomatic at diagnosis. We conducted a multi-center, retrospective analysis of 67 patients diagnosed between July 2012 and August 2022 with the European 2012 modification of Mayo 2004 stage III cardiac AL. The most important factors identified in the univariate Cox analysis contributing to a longer OS included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≤ 1, New York Heart Association functional classification (NYHA FC) ≤ 2, the use of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after induction treatment, achieving a hematological response (≥very good partial response) and cardiac (≥partial response) response after first-line treatment. The most important prognostic factors with the most significant impact on OS improvement in patients with modified Mayo stage III cardiac AL identified by multivariate Cox analysis are ECOG PS ≤ 1, NYHA FC ≤ 2, and achieving hematological response ≥ VGPR and cardiac response ≥ PR after first-line treatment.

Abstract CT253: Results from KEYNOTE-B99: Phase 2 study of first-line (1L) pembrolizumab (pembro) plus investigational agents and chemotherapy (chemo) for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)

Abstract Background: ES-SCLC is an aggressive cancer with substantial mortality. Current 1L treatments include anti-PD-(L)1 + etoposide-platinum chemo (EP), but with minimal improvements in OS vs chemo. In the phase 3 KEYNOTE-604 study, pembro + EP significantly improved PFS (P = 0.0023) but not OS vs placebo + EP; ORR was also improved (71% vs 62%). We present data from the phase 2 KEYNOTE-B99 study (NCT04924101) of 1L pembro + investigational agents (MK-4830, anti-ILT4; boserolimab, anti-CD27; or lenvatinib), and EP for ES-SCLC. Methods: In this open-label platform study, patients (pts) were aged ≥18 y with previously untreated histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV ES-SCLC (per AJCC v8) and ECOG PS 0 or 1. Pts were randomized 1:1:1 to receive MK-4830 800 mg Q3W (35 cycles; arm A), boserolimab 30 mg Q6W (18 cycles; arm B), or lenvatinib 8 mg (induction)/20 mg (maintenance) QD (arm C). All pts received pembro 200 mg Q3W (35 cycles) + etoposide 100 mg/m2 Q3W and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 Q3W or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min Q3W (4 cycles). Primary endpoints were ORR and PFS at 6 mo, both assessed per RECIST v1.1 by BICR. Secondary endpoints included DOR, PFS, OS, and safety. Results: 122 pts received ≥1 dose of study treatment (arm A, 43; B, 41; C, 38). At data cutoff (Sep 15, 2023), median follow-up was 14.1 (range, 6.1-25.7) mo. ORR was 65%, 71%, and 74% in arms A, B, and C, respectively; median DOR was 6.8, 4.7, and 7.1 mo. 6-mo PFS rates were 45%, 38%, and 54%, respectively (Table). AEs (any cause) occurred in 98% of pts in arm A and all pts in arms B and C; most commonly neutropenia and anemia. Serious AEs occurred in 30%, 37%, and 55%; grade ≥3 AEs in 86%, 83%, and 87% of pts; and grade 5 AEs in 5%, 7%, and 21%, respectively. Conclusions: 1L ES-SCLC treatment with pembro + EP and MK-4830, boserolimab, or lenvatinib was associated with similar antitumor activity as in KEYNOTE-604 with pembro + EP. No new safety signals were identified. TABLE 1. NAND Group A MK-4830 + Pembro + EP(n = 43) Group B boserolimab + Pembro + EP(n = 41) Group C Lenvatinib + Pembro + EP(n = 38) ORR (95% CI), % 65.1 (49.1-79.0) 70.7 (54.5-83.9) 73.7 (56.9-86.6) Median DOR (range), mo 6.8 (2.4-13.9) 4.7 (1.4+ to 16.4+) 7.1 (1.8 to 18.4+) PFS - 6-mo PFS rate (95% CI), % 45.2 (29.9-59.4) 37.8 (22.7-52.7) 54.2 (35.8-69.4) - Median PFS (95% CI), mo 5.5 (4.2-8.3) 5.5 (4.0-6.7) 7.2 (5.4-NR) Median OS (95% CI), mo 15.5 (8.3-NR) NR (13.2-NR) 15.8 (7.2-NR) ‘+’, no PD at the time of last disease assessment. NR, not reached. Citation Format: Delvys Rodríguez-Abreu, Maximillian Hochmair, Byoung Chul Cho, Tibor Csőszi, Talia Shentzer Kutiel, Veronika Müller, Myung-Ju Ahn, Dariusz Kowalski, Michele Maio, Vladimir Moiseyenko, Alejandro Navarro, Jianxin Niu, Andrea S. Fung, Carolin Lips, Heng Zhou, Bin Zhao, Humberto Lara-Guerra, Nir Peled. Results from KEYNOTE-B99: Phase 2 study of first-line (1L) pembrolizumab (pembro) plus investigational agents and chemotherapy (chemo) for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr CT253.

Proteomics for optimizing therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: venetoclax plus hypomethylating agents versus conventional chemotherapy

The use of Hypomethylating agents combined with Venetoclax (VH) for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) has greatly improved outcomes in recent years. However not all patients benefit from the VH regimen and a way to rationally select between VH and Conventional Chemotherapy (CC) for individual AML patients is needed. Here, we developed a proteomic-based triaging strategy using Reverse-phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to optimize therapy selection. We evaluated the expression of 411 proteins in 810 newly diagnosed adult AML patients, identifying 109 prognostic proteins, that divided into five patient expression profiles, which are useful for optimizing therapy selection. Furthermore, using machine learning algorithms, we determined a set of 14 proteins, among those 109, that were able to accurately recommend therapy, making it feasible for clinical application. Next, we identified a group of patients who did not benefit from either VH or CC and proposed target-based approaches to improve outcomes. Finally, we calculated that the clinical use of our proteomic strategy would have led to a change in therapy for 30% of patients, resulting in a 43% improvement in OS, resulting in around 2600 more cures from AML per year in the United States.

Omission of adjuvant radiotherapy in low-risk elderly males with breast cancer

PurposeRandomized clinical trials demonstrate that lumpectomy + hormone therapy (HT) without radiation therapy (RT) yields equivalent survival and acceptable local–regional outcomes in elderly women with early-stage, node-negative, hormone-receptor positive (HR +) breast cancer. Whether these data apply to men with the same inclusion criteria remains unknown.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for male patients ≥ 65 years with pathologic T1-2N0 (≤ 3 cm) HR + breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery with negative margins from 2004 to 2019. Adjuvant treatment was classified as HT alone, RT alone, or HT + RT. Male patients were matched with female patients for OS comparison. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression and Kaplan − Meier method. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to adjust for confounding.ResultsA total of 523 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 24.4% receiving HT, 16.3% receiving RT, and 59.2% receiving HT + RT. The median follow-up was 6.9 years (IQR: 5.0–9.4 years). IPTW-adjusted 5-yr OS rates in the HT, RT, and HT + RT cohorts were 84.0% (95% CI 77.1–91.5%), 81.1% (95% CI 71.1–92.5%), and 93.0% (95% CI 90.0–96.2%), respectively. On IPTW-adjusted MVA, relative to HT, receipt of HT + RT was associated with improvements in OS (HR: 0.641; p = 0.042). RT alone was not associated with improved OS (HR: 1.264; p = 0.420).ConclusionAmong men ≥ 65 years old with T1-2N0 HR + breast cancer, RT alone did not confer an OS benefit over HT alone. Combination of RT + HT demonstrated significant improvements in OS. De-escalation of treatment through omission of either RT or HT at this point should be done with caution.

A three-arm randomised phase II study of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib alone or in combination with paclitaxel in metastatic uveal melanoma

AimsThe MAPK pathway is constitutively activated in uveal melanoma (UM). Selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY-142886), a MEK inhibitor, has shown limited activity as monotherapy in metastatic UM. Pre-clinical studies support synergistic cytotoxic activity for MEK inhibitors combined with taxanes, and here we sought to assess the clinical efficacy of combining selumetinib and paclitaxel. Patients and methodsSeventy-seven patients with metastatic UM who had not received prior chemotherapy were randomised to selumetinib alone, or combined with paclitaxel with or without interruption in selumetinib two days before paclitaxel. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). After amendment, the combination arms were combined for analysis and the sample size adjusted to detect a hazard ratio (HR): 0.55, 80% power at 1-sided 5% significance level. ResultsThe median PFS in the combination arms was 4.8 months (95% CI: 3.8 - 5.6) compared with 3.4 months (2.0 - 3.9) in the selumetinib arm (HR 0.62 [90% CI 0.41 - 0.92], 1-sided p-value = 0.022). ORR was 14% and 4% in the combination and monotherapy arms respectively. Median OS was 9 months for the combination and was not significantly different from selumetinib alone (10 months) with HR of 0.98 [90% CI 0.58 - 1.66], 1-sided p-value = 0.469. Toxicity was in keeping with the known profiles of the agents involved. ConclusionsSelPac met its primary endpoint, demonstrating an improvement in PFS for combination selumetinib and paclitaxel. No improvement in OS was observed, and the modest improvement in PFS is not practice changing.

Patient metabolic profile defined by liver and muscle 18F-FDG PET avidity is independently associated with overall survival in gastric cancer.

PET-CT-based patient metabolic profiling is a novel concept to incorporate patient-specific metabolism into gastric cancer care. Staging PET-CTs, demographics, and clinicopathologic variables of gastric cancer patients were obtained from a prospectively maintained institutional database. PET-CT avidity was measured in tumor, liver, spleen, four paired muscles, and two paired fat areas in each patient. The liver to rectus femoris (LRF) ratio was defined as the ratio of SUVmean of liver to the average SUVmean of the bilateral rectus femoris muscles. Kaplan-Meier and Cox-proportional hazards models were used to identify the impact of LRF ratio on OS. Two hundred and one patients with distal gastroesophageal (48%) or gastric (52%) adenocarcinoma were included. Median age was 65years, and 146 (73%) were male. On univariate analysis, rectus femoris PET-CT avidity and LRF ratio were significantly associated with overall survival (p < 0.05). LRF ratio was significantly higher in males, early-stage cancer, patients with an ECOG 0 or 1 performance status, patients with albumin > 3.5mg/dL, and those with moderately differentiated tumor histology. In multivariable regression, gastric cancer stage, albumin, and LRF ratio were significant independent predictors of overall survival (LRF ratio HR = 0.73 (0.56-0.96); p = 0.024). Survival curves showed that the prognostic impact of LRF was associated with metastatic gastric cancer (p = 0.009). Elevated LRF ratio, a patient-specific PET-CT-based metabolic parameter, was independently associated with an improvement in OS in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. With prospective validation, LRF ratio may be a useful, host-specific metabolic parameter for prognostication in gastric cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes in older women with HR+/HER2− breast cancer: a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using the SEER database

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) on survival outcomes in older women with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) breast cancer...

Fruquintinib plus paclitaxel versus paclitaxel as second-line therapy for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FRUTIGA): A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

438780 Background: Fruquintinib (F), a highly selective and potent oral inhibitor of VEGFRs 1, 2, and 3, significantly improved the OS in metastatic colorectal cancer ( Li J, et al, JAMA 2018; Dasari A, et al, LANCET 2023). FRUTIGA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of F plus paclitaxel (PTX) vs PTX alone in patients (pts) with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma who experienced disease progression (PD) on fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing first-line chemotherapy. Methods: Eligible pts were randomized 1:1 to receive F (4 mg, once daily, 3 weeks on/1 week off) or matching PBO orally, plus PTX (80 mg/m2, intravenously, days 1/8/15 per cycle) in 4-week cycles until PD or intolerable toxicity; treatment of PTX was allowed for up to 6 cycles. PFS and OS were dual-primary endpoints with α split and recycle. The study was considered positive when at least one endpoint met statistical significance. Results: 703 pts were randomized (F+PTX 351 vs PBO+PTX 352), and 699 pts received at least 1 dose of study drug (350 vs 349). PFS was significantly improved with F+PTX vs PBO+PTX (median PFS [mPFS] 5.55m vs 2.73m; HR = 0.569; p &lt; 0.0001). The overall response rate was significantly higher in F+PTX group (42.5% vs 22.4%, p &lt; 0.0001). Median OS (mOS) was 9.63m with F+PTX and 8.41m with PBO+PTX (HR = 0.956; p = 0.6064). Given an imbalance of pts receiving subsequent antitumor therapies (F+PTX 52.7% vs PBO+PTX 72.2%), post-hoc analyses were performed using cox-proportional hazards model adjusting for subsequent antitumor therapies and baseline factors. Results showed a nominal statistically significant improvement in OS with F+PTX (HR range 0.793-0.828; p range 0.0105-0.0350 with different subsequent antitumor therapy factors). Furthermore, among pts with lymph node metastases and non-diffuse G/GEJ adenocarcinoma (190 vs 208), mPFS was even more prolonged (6.08m vs 2.69m; HR = 0.454; p &lt; 0.0001) and OS also showed a nominal statistically significant improvement (mOS 9.56m vs 7.85m; HR = 0.767; p = 0.0233). The most common TEAEs of Grade ≥ 3 were neutropenia (60.0% vs 36.4%), leukopenia (42.9% vs 23.5%), and anemia (11.7% vs 10.6%). The safety profile was consistent with F and PTX. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: FRUTIGA (NCT03223376) was a positive study by reaching statistical significance for one primary endpoint, PFS, and demonstrated improvement in the other primary endpoint, OS, that was not statistically significant, possibly due to the imbalance of subsequent antitumor therapies. These data support F+PTX as a potential new second-line treatment option for pts with advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Clinical trial information: NCT03223376 .

Approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma: a large-scale meta-analysis and systematic review

A meta-analysis was performed to assess the benefits and safety profile of approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Eligible studies were searched from Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed databases based on a well-established strategy. Following the exclusion of ineligible studies, 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with control group, immune checkpoint inhibitors were associated with improved ORR (OR 3.03, 95% CI 2.26–4.05, P < 0.00001), SD (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.95, P = 0.02), OS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.83, P < 0.00001), and PFS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63–0.87, P < 0.0003). However, no significant differences were observed in DCR (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.97–1.81, P = 0.07), PD (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.67–1.21, P = 0.48), and all caused any-grade adverse events (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.62–2.39, P = 0. 57), all caused ≥ grade 3 adverse events (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.97–1.25, P = 0.14), treatment-related any-grade adverse events (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.55–2.32, P = 0.73), and treatment-related ≥ grade 3 events (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.34–1.97, P = 0.65) between the two groups. After subgroup analysis conducted, patients in the immune checkpoint inhibitor group compared with targeted drug group showed significant improvements in OS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.66–0.84, P < 0.00001) and PFS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.91, P = 0.004). Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated peculiar benefits in the treatment of HCC with an acceptable safety profile. Compared to targeted drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors still offer advantages in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there is still considerable room for further improvement.

Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib (P+L) versus alternative therapies in first-line (1L) advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) by IMDC risk status: A network meta-analysis (NMA).

421 Background: The International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) risk criteria is a widely used prognostic model in advanced RCC. Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib (P+L) demonstrated a significant improvement in ORR, PFS, and OS versus sunitinib in subjects with cc aRCC in the KEYNOTE-581/CLEAR trial. This NMA indirectly compared the efficacy of P+L to other therapies in 1L aRCC subjects within IMDC risk groups using data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify systemic therapies in 1L aRCC. Trials reporting results for IMDC favorable risk and/or intermediate+poor risk groups were included. A Bayesian NMA with fixed-effect models was performed to indirectly compare P+L to alternate therapies using sunitinib as the common comparator. Hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and PFS were calculated with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). The NMAs assuming constant hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and PFS were performed for all IMDC risk group categories. For the proportion of patients experiencing response, a binomial likelihood and logit link were used, and relative effects were expressed as odds ratios (OR). Results: For the IMDC favorable risk subgroup, P+L demonstrated statistically significant increase in ORR compared to nivolumab + ipilimumab (N+I) (OR=5.35; 95% CrI: 2.59, 11.41) and nivolumab (OR=8.41; 95% CrI: 1.84, 43.77). For PFS, P+L resulted in a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to N+I (HR=0.31, 95% CrI: 0.17-0.56). For OS, no significant differences were observed compared to other alternatives in the network. For the IMDC intermediate+poor risk subgroup, P+L demonstrated statistically significant increase in ORR compared to nivolumab + cabozantinib (N+C) (OR=1.77; 95% CrI: 1.02, 3.10), N+I (OR=3.15; 95% CrI: 1.94, 5.10), and nivolumab + ipilimumab + cabozantinib (N+I+C) (OR=2.34; 95% CrI: 1.34, 4.12), pembrolizumab + axitinib (P+A) (OR=2.65; 95% CrI: 1.57, 4.44) and nivolumab (OR=4.68; 95% CrI: 1.84, 12.02). For PFS, P+L resulted in a statistically significant improvement compared to N+I (HR=0.59; 95% CrI: 0.41, 0.84) (P+A) (HR=0.64; 95% CrI: 0.44, 0.93), and avelumab + axitinib (A+A) (HR=0.65; 95% CrI: 0.46, 0.93). For OS, no significant differences were observed compared to other alternatives in the network. Conclusions: PFS analysis favored P+L over all alternative therapies in the network in favorable or intermediate+poor IMDC risk groups. ORR analysis favored P+L over all alternative therapies in the network in intermediate+poor IMDC risk groups. No significant difference in OS was observed between P+L and other alternative therapies in the network.

In the era of Bortezomib-based Induction, intensification of Melphalan-based conditioning with Bortezomib does not improve Survival Outcomes in newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: a study from the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT

Bortezomib (Vel)- Melphalan 200 mg/m2 (Mel200) (Vel-Mel) has been utilised to intensify conditioning in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). This EBMT registry-based study compared Vel-Mel with Mel200 during upfront AHCT. Between 2010 and 2017, MM patients who received Vel-Mel (n = 292) conditioning were compared with 4,096 Mel200 patients in the same 58 centres. Pre-AHCT, compared to Mel200 patients, Vel-Mel patients had similar International Staging System (ISS) scores and cytogenetic risk profiles; a similar proportion had received bortezomib-based induction (85% and 87.3%, respectively) though they were younger with a better performance status. Vel-Mel patients were more likely to achieve CR post-induction (40.6% vs 20.3%, p < 0.001) and by day 100 of AHCT (CR/VGPR: 70.2 % vs. 57.2%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in 3-year PFS (49% vs 46%, p = 0.06) or early post-AHCT mortality. In multivariable analysis, Vel-Mel associated with inferior PFS (HR: 1.69 (1.27–2.25, p < 0.001) and OS (HR:1.46 (1.14–1.86,p = 0.002), similar to negative effects on PFS of advanced ISS (HR:1.56 (1.33–1.83, p < 0.001), high-risk cytogenetics (HR:1.43(1.18–1.74, p < 0.001) and poor post-induction response(<=PR)(HR: 1.43(1.25–1.62, p < 0.001) Overall, despite superior pre- and post-AHCT responses, there was no improvement in PFS or OS following Vel-Mel. This data supports the findings of the smaller prospective IFM study.

First-line pembrolizumab (pembro) plus chemotherapy (chemo) for advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC): Analysis of KEYNOTE-590 and KEYNOTE-859 by tumor type.

345 Background: First-line (1L) treatment of GEJC and EAC is similar to that for gastric adenocarcinomas, based on evidence from 2 large phase 3 gastric and esophageal cancer trials. The phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial (NCT03189719) showed 1L pembro + chemo significantly improved OS and PFS in pts with esophageal cancer. The phase 3 KEYNOTE-859 trial (NCT03675737) showed 1L pembro + chemo significantly improved OS, PFS, and ORR in pts with HER2-negative gastric cancer or GEJC. This post hoc, exploratory analysis was conducted to examine the efficacy of 1L pembro + chemo in the GEJC and EAC subgroups of KEYNOTE-590 and the GEJ subgroup of KEYNOTE-859. Methods: Pts with untreated advanced EAC or Siewert type 1 adenocarcinoma of the GEJ (KEYNOTE-590) or HER2-negative GEJ adenocarcinoma (KEYNOTE-859), measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, and ECOG PS 0 or 1 were evaluated. In both studies, pts were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive pembro 200 mg IV or pbo every 3 wk (Q3W) for ≤35 cycles, each with chemo (5-fluorouracil + cisplatin [FP] in KEYNOTE-590; FP or capecitabine + oxaliplatin in KEYNOTE-859). Efficacy end points for this analysis were OS and PFS (per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review) by tumor subtype. Database cutoff was July 2, 2020, for KEYNOTE-590 and July 1, 2022, for KEYNOTE-859. Results: Overall, 201 pts from KEYNOTE-590 (n=99 pembro + chemo; n=102 pbo + chemo) with GEJC or EAC and 334 pts from KEYNOTE-859 (n=149 pembro + chemo; n=185 pbo + chemo) with GEJC were included. In KEYNOTE-590, 91 pts had GEJC only (n=41 pembro + chemo; n=50 pbo + chemo) and 169 (n=82 pembro + chemo; n=87 pbo + chemo) had GEJC + EAC + CPS ≥1. In KEYNOTE-859, 287 pts (n=123 pembro + chemo; n=164 pbo + chemo) had GEJC + CPS ≥1. Demographic and baseline characteristics were well balanced. Median time from randomization to database cutoff for pts with GEJC and EAC was 23.5 mo (range, 15.3-33.6) in KEYNOTE-590 and 25.8 mo (range, 12.4-43.0) in KEYNOTE-859. Efficacy outcomes by tumor type are shown in the Table. Conclusions: Consistent with results from the ITT populations of KEYNOTE-590 and KEYNOTE-859, 1L pembro + chemo provided clinically meaningful improvement in OS and PFS vs chemo in pts with untreated advanced GEJC and EAC. These data support the use of 1L pembro + chemo for pts with advanced GEJC and EAC. Clinical trial information: NCT03189719 and NCT03675737 . Efficacy by tumor type and CPS (pembro vs pbo). KEYNOTE-590 GEJC n=91 KEYNOTE-859 GEJC n=334 KEYNOTE-590 GEJC + EAC n=201 KEYNOTE-590 GEJC + EAC + CPS ≥1 n=169 KEYNOTE-859GEJC + CPS ≥1 n=287 OS, median, mo 12.7 vs 10.0 14.2 vs 12.0 11.6 vs 9.9 13.0 vs 10.1 14.2 vs 12.1 OS HR (95% CI) 0.73 (0.45-1.17) 0.74 (0.58-0.94) 0.75 (0.55-1.03) 0.73 (0.51-1.03) 0.71 (0.55-0.93) PFS, median, mo 6.3 vs 6.1 6.8 vs 5.7 8.0 vs 5.7 8.0 vs 5.7 6.8 vs 5.6 PFS HR (95% CI) 0.65 (0.39-1.08) 0.78 (0.61-1.01) 0.56 (0.40-0.78) 0.55 (0.38-0.79) 0.76 (0.58-1.00

Management of nausea and vomiting (N/V) following first-line (1L) zolbetuximab + chemotherapy treatment in claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2)+, HER2−, locally advanced (LA) unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (mG/GEJ) adenocarcinoma: Analysis from the phase 3 SPOTLIGHT and GLOW studies.

372 Background: The phase 3 SPOTLIGHT (NCT03504397) and GLOW (NCT03653507) studies showed clinically meaningful, statistically significant improvement in PFS and OS using 1L zolbetuximab + chemotherapy vs placebo (PBO) + chemotherapy in patients (pts) with CLDN18.2+, HER2−, LA unresectable or mG/GEJ adenocarcinoma. N/V were the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported in the zolbetuximab arm of these studies. We report an analysis of the incidence and management of N/V in SPOTLIGHT and GLOW. Methods: In SPOTLIGHT, pts (N = 565) were randomized 1:1 to zolbetuximab + mFOLFOX6 vs PBO + mFOLFOX6. In GLOW, pts (N = 507) were randomized 1:1 to zolbetuximab + CAPOX vs PBO + CAPOX. In both studies, neurokinin-1 receptor blockers (NK-1), selective serotonin receptor blockers (5-HT3), and other prophylactic antiemetic regimens were recommended to prevent and mitigate N/V per institutional care and guidelines. Results: A total of 279 pts in SPOTLIGHT and 253 pts in GLOW received zolbetuximab + chemotherapy. In SPOTLIGHT and GLOW combined, nausea occurred in 58% vs 18% of pts, and vomiting occurred in 43% vs 15% of pts in the first vs second zolbetuximab infusions, respectively; lower incidences of N/V were observed thereafter. During the first zolbetuximab infusion, the first episode of N/V occurred within 1 hour (median time, 48.0 min in SPOTLIGHT and 56.5 min in GLOW). Antiemetic usage and associated N/V rates are presented in the Table. The 96 pts in SPOTLIGHT and 52 pts in GLOW who had infusion modifications in cycle 1 due to TEAEs had numerically higher infusion rates than pts without infusion modifications; 85% of these modifications in SPOTLIGHT and 79% in GLOW were due to N/V. Zolbetuximab was discontinued within the first 9 weeks in 11 and 7 pts in SPOTLIGHT and 6 and 4 pts in GLOW due to nausea or vomiting, respectively. Conclusions: In SPOTLIGHT and GLOW, slower infusion rate and use of antiemetic combinations may have helped to mitigate N/V. These strategies will be important to support continued treatment and allow pts to achieve maximum clinical benefit with zolbetuximab + chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT03504397 and NCT03653507 . [Table: see text]

Network meta-analysis of global trials of 1L therapies in locally advanced (LA) unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (mG/GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

325 Background: The phase 3 SPOTLIGHT (NCT03504397) and GLOW (NCT03653507) studies reported statistically significant improvement in PFS and OS with 1L zolbetuximab (anti-claudin-18 isoform 2 [CLDN18.2]) + mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX in pts with CLDN18.2+, HER2−, LA unresectable or mG/GEJ adenocarcinoma. This network meta-analysis (NMA) indirectly compared the relative efficacy of 1L therapies. Methods: A systematic literature review of phase 2, 3, or unknown phase randomized, global trials of 1L therapies (capecitabine + cisplatin [CX]; capecitabine + oxaliplatin [CAPOX]; fluorouracil + cisplatin [CF]; oxaliplatin + folinic acid + fluorouracil [FOLFOX]; S-1 + cisplatin [SC]; nivolumab + CAPOX/FOLFOX; pembrolizumab + CF/CAPOX or CX; and zolbetuximab + CAPOX/FOLFOX) in adults with LA unresectable or mG/GEJ adenocarcinoma. To form a connected main network, FOLFOX and CAPOX were assumed equally efficacious and combined. In the latest publicly available data, hazard ratios (HRs) of PFS and OS for intent-to-treat (ITT) populations were extracted or reconstructed from Kaplan-Meier curves when not reported as inputs for Bayesian fixed-effects NMAs. Comparative effectiveness was reported using median HR and 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Results: Trials reporting ITT populations were included, resulting in 9 trials (6663 pts) for PFS analysis and 10 trials (6735 pts) for OS analysis representing 8 regimens. Pts were randomly assigned to an experimental arm vs FOLFOX/CAPOX. Pts on 1L zolbetuximab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab in combination with CF/CAPOX or FOLFOX/CAPOX had significantly reduced risk of disease progression or death vs FOLFOX/CAPOX (Table). Zolbetuximab + FOLFOX/CAPOX had the highest probability of being ranked first in treatment efficacy for both PFS (probability =0.54) and OS (0.36); followed by pembrolizumab + CX (0.27) and pembrolizumab + CF/CAPOX (0.13) for PFS; and by pembrolizumab + CF/CAPOX (0.3) and nivolumab + FOLFOX/CAPOX (0.24) for OS. Conclusions: This NMA examined the relative benefit of different targeted therapies when combined with chemotherapy. Zolbetuximab + FOLFOX/CAPOX for CLDN18.2+, HER2−, LA unresectable or mG/GEJ adenocarcinoma confers a significant PFS and OS benefit, similar to that achieved with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors + CF/CAPOX or FOLFOX/CAPOX. [Table: see text]

Cell free DNA (cfDNA) assessment of esophagogastric (EG) cancer using MSK-ACCESS.

406 Background: Treatment for EG cancer is increasingly complex and the role of predictive and prognostic biomarkers is critical in selecting the optimal therapy. Longitudinal, non-invasive methods that characterize dynamic molecular profiles and detect molecular residual disease are needed. Methods: Patients with EG cancer receiving care at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) had cfDNA analysis with an ultrasensitive capture based liquid biopsy for detection of somatic alterations in 129 cancer associated genes (MSK ACCESS). Results: 98 patients with EG adenocarcinoma underwent cfDNA analysis; 18% had esophageal tumors, 44% had GEJ, and 38% had gastric. 78 (80%) patients had cfDNA obtained prior to treatment (48 [50%] metastatic; 29 [30%] locally advanced) and 21 (21%) at time of progression. 85% had matched tumor NGS performed with MSK IMPACT: median TMB was 5.3 mut/Mb (IQR 3.3-7.4) and median alterations per tumor sample was 11 (IQR 7-17). cfDNA identified a similar molecular profile compared to tumor NGS (TP53 [62 v 72%], ARID1A [12 v 20%], CDKN2A [10 v 16%], APC [10 v 13%], ATM [10 v 12%], PIK3CA [7 v 12%]), although cfDNA was detected more frequently in patients with metastatic disease compared to localized disease (p=0.02). cfDNA did not detect copy number alterations as frequently as patient-matched tumor NGS (41 v 16%, p&lt;0.01), including ERBB2amp (22 v 10%, p=0.05), though patients with HER2 IHC 3+ tumors were more likely to have detectable ERBB2amp on cfDNA compared to HER2 IHC 2+ tumors (50 v 9% p=0.03). Additionally, those with detectable ERBB2amp on cfDNA had a higher copy number on tumor NGS compared to those with undetectable cfDNA (median 39 [IQR 23-46] v 10 [IQR 6-15] p&lt;0.01). Baseline detection of ctDNA may indicate a poor prognosis; among patients with locally advanced disease (median follow up 20.1 months), 0 of 10 with undetectable ctDNA died compared to 5 (26%) of 19 with detectable ctDNA (p=0.08). Among patients with untreated, metastatic disease (median follow up 24.3 months), patients with undetectable ctDNA had a non-significant, improvement in PFS (HR 0.28 95% CI 0.08-1.17; p=0.08) and OS (HR 0.45 95% CI 0.10-1.96; p=0.20) compared to patients with detectable ctDNA, independent of disease burden. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the utility of cfDNA with MSK ACCESS as a complimentary tool for molecular characterization and potential prognostication in patients with EG cancer. [Table: see text]