Metastatic CCA Research Articles

Real-world use of pemigatinib for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma in the US.

Pemigatinib demonstrated efficacy in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-altered cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in the FIGHT-202 trial. However, limited real-world evidence exists on treatment patterns and outcomes in this setting. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of US adults who received pemigatinib for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic CCA were collected via retrospective physician-abstracted chart review. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Data from 120 patients (49.2% male; 55.0% White; 19.2% Hispanic; median age at initial pemigatinib prescription, 64.5 years) were collected from 18 physicians/practices. At the time of prescribing, 90.0% of patients had metastatic disease. FGFR2 testing was completed for 92.5% of patients; of those, all but one (result unknown) tested positive, and 95.5% were tested using next-generation sequencing. Pemigatinib was prescribed as second- and third-line therapy among 94.2% and 5.8% of patients, respectively. The most common starting dosage was 13.5mg daily for 14 days of 21-day cycles (87.5% of patients). Among 60 patients (50.0% of the full cohort) who discontinued pemigatinib during the 6.5-month median study follow-up period, 68.3% discontinued due to disease progression. The median real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) from the date of pemigatinib initiation was 7.4 months (95% CI: 6.4-8.6), and the real-world overall response rate (rwORR) was 59.2% (95% CI: 50.0%-68.4%). This study complements the FIGHT-202 clinical trial by assessing the use of pemigatinib among a diverse population of patients with CCA under real-world conditions. Findings support the clinical benefit of pemigatinib demonstrated in FIGHT-202.

A phase 1/2, safety lead-in and dose expansion, open-label, multicenter trial investigating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity of ivosidenib in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab in previously treated subjects with IDH1-mutated nonresectable or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.

TPS4197 Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare cancer with limited therapeutic options, though molecularly targeted therapies have demonstrated anti-tumor activity in certain subsets. Approximately 15% of patients with intrahepatic CCA harbor activating mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (mIDH1), and treatment with the mIDH1 inhibitor, ivosidenib (IVO) improved progression-free survival in the phase 3 ClarIDHy trial. mIDH1 is associated with an immune-excluded tumor microenvironment, and anti-CTLA4 immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) augments anti-tumor activity when combined with IVO in preclinical models. Preliminary anti-tumor activity of dual immune checkpoint inhibitors (IPI, NIVO) has been reported in biliary tract cancers. Methods: This is a phase 1/2, non-comparative, multicenter, open-label study of IVO, IPI, NIVO, in subjects with unresectable or metastatic CCA with mIDH1. Key eligibility criteria include: a histopathological diagnosis; tumor mIDH1 based on local testing; progression on and/or intolerance to 1-2 prior lines of systemic therapy, at least one of which contained either gemcitabine and/or 5-fluorouracil; prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy is allowed in the safety lead in; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1; at least 1 measurable lesion as defined by RECIST version 1.1. The study has a safety lead-in phase and an expansion phase with 2 different expansion cohorts: cohort 1, ICI-naive; cohort 2, prior ICI allowed. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of IVO in combination with IPI plus NIVO and determine the recommended combination dose (RCD). This phase will enroll ~6 to 12 dose-limiting toxicity (DLT)–evaluable patients. The first 6 patients enrolled will receive IVO 500 mg orally once daily in combination with IPI 1 mg/kg IV infusion and NIVO 3 mg/kg IV infusion concurrently once every 3 weeks for 4 doses followed by NIVO at 480 mg IV once every 4 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity (up to a maximum of 24 months of NIVO). DLTs will be evaluated during the first 2 cycles of treatment. An additional 6 patients may be enrolled to assess an alternative dose of ivosidenib 250 mg once daily. Upon determination of the RCD, the two expansion cohorts will be initiated to assess the clinical activity of the triplet combination in patients with and without prior ICI. First patient in occurred in November 2023. Clinical trial information: NCT05921760 .

Futibatinib: A Review in Locally Advanced and Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Futibatinib (LYTGOBI®) is an oral small molecule compound that selectively, irreversibly and potently inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)1-4. It is approved in the EU, Japan and the USA for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) harbouring an FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement who have progressed following systemic therapy. In the phase II part (FOENIX-CCA2) of a multinational phase I/II study in this patient population, monotherapy with futibatinib 20mg once daily was associated with clinically meaningful and durable responses, sustained health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), and a manageable safety profile with supportive care and as-needed dose modifications. Indeed, hyperphosphataemia (the most common all grade and grade 3 treatment-related adverse event) was manageable with phosphate-lowering therapy and dose reductions or interruptions. Although further efficacy and tolerability data are expected, current evidence indicates that futibatinib is a valuable targeted therapy option for adults with locally advanced or metastatic CCA harbouring an FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement who have progressed following systemic therapy, a patient population with limited treatment options and poor life expectancy.

Global Expanded Access Program for Pemigatinib in Patients with Previously Treated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Gene Alterations.

Pemigatinib is a fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) inhibitor approved for use in patients with previously treated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements. This ongoing global Expanded Access Program (EAP) allows physicians in regions where pemigatinib is not commercially available to request pemigatinib for patients with locally advanced or metastatic CCA who, in the physician's opinion, could benefit from pemigatinib treatment. Eighty-nine patients from Europe, North America, and Israel were treated from January 2020 through September 2021. Patients had FGFR gene fusions (68.5%), rearrangements (12.4%), translocations (5.6%), amplifications (2.2%), and other alterations (11.2%). Median duration of treatment in the EAP was 4.0 months (range, 0.1 to 13.6 months). The most frequently reported adverse event (AE) was hyperphosphatemia (22.5%); the most common serious AE was cholangitis (3.4%). Treatment discontinuation was associated with reports of AEs for seven patients (7.9%). AEs associated with pemigatinib were consistent with those observed in clinical trials. Efficacy was not assessed in this EAP. However, some patients remained on treatment for up to a year, suggesting that they observed a benefit from treatment. Patients with CCA should undergo molecular testing to identify those who could benefit from targeted treatments such as pemigatinib.

Real-world use of pemigatinib (pemi) for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States.

461 Background: Pemi received accelerated approval by the FDA in 2020 for treatment of patients (pts) with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic CCA with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 ( FGFR2) fusion or other FGFR2 rearrangement. A recent real-world study (RWS; submitted to ASCO-GI 2024) assessing characteristics, FGFR2 testing patterns, treatment patterns, and outcomes of pts treated with pemi for locally advanced or metastatic CCA in the US as part of routine clinical care found substantial racial and ethnic diversity in pts treated with pemi. The purpose of this analysis is to describe the findings of the pemi RWS for CCA by race and ethnicity. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in which US-based participating physicians from Cardinal Health’s Oncology Provider Extended Network abstracted data from eligible pts’ medical records into electronic case report forms. Eligible pts were ≥18 years of age, initially prescribed pemi for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic CCA on or after 4/17/2020, and had ≥4 mo of follow-up (unless <4 mo due to death). Pts who did not receive pemi or had received pemi in a clinical trial or systemic therapy for another primary malignancy (except for cancer of unknown primary or hepatic cancer) were excluded. Results were summarized by race (White, Black/African American, “Other” [pts with mixed race or a race other than White, Black/African American, or Unknown]) and ethnicity (Non-Hispanic, Hispanic) using descriptive statistics. Results: 18 physicians abstracted data for 120 eligible pts. Median follow-up from initial pemi prescription was 6.5 mo, at which time 71 pts (59%) were alive and 60 (50%) were still receiving pemi. The racial makeup of the study population was 55% White, 21% Black, 18% Other, and 7% Unknown. Ethnic composition was 78% Non-Hispanic, 19% Hispanic, and 3% Unknown. Key results are presented in the Table. Conclusions: The diverse population in this RWS is reflective of the heterogeneous CCA pt population in the US. These real-world overall response rates support the clinical benefit of pemi across racial and ethnic groups and complement the results of the clinical trial. [Table: see text]

Real-world (RW) characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) treated with pemigatinib.

444 Background: Pemigatinib demonstrated efficacy in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)–altered CCA in the FIGHT-202 trial; however, limited RW evidence exists on treatment patterns and outcomes in patients (pts) with CCA treated with pemigatinib. This study assessed characteristics, FGFR2 testing patterns, treatment patterns, and outcomes of pts treated with pemigatinib for locally advanced or metastatic CCA in the United States as part of routine clinical care. Methods: This retrospective, multisite cohort study included pts with a diagnosis of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic CCA who were initially prescribed pemigatinib on or after 04/17/2020. Eligible pts were ≥18 years at pemigatinib prescription and had ≥4 months (mo) of follow-up (unless <4 mo due to death). Pts who received pemigatinib as part of a clinical trial or those who received systemic therapy for another primary malignancy (other than cancer of unknown primary or hepatic cancer) were ineligible. Participating physicians from Cardinal Health’s Oncology Provider Extended Network—approximately 72% from community oncology practices—abstracted data from the medical records of eligible patients into electronic case report forms. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Data from 120 pts (49% male; 55% White; 19% Hispanic; median age at pemigatinib prescription, 65 years) were collected from 18 physicians/practices. Testing for FGFR2 alterations was completed in 93% (n=111) of pts; of those, all but one patient (result unknown) tested positive, and 95% were tested using next-generation sequencing. At time of pemi prescription, 90% of pts had metastatic disease. Across all pts, 94% and 6% were prescribed pemigatinib as 2nd and 3rd line of therapy, respectively. The most common starting dosage was 13.5 mg daily for 14 days of 21-day cycle (87.5% of pts). Among the 60 pts who discontinued pemi during the 6.5-month median study follow-up period, 68% discontinued due to disease progression. Median RW progression-free survival (rwPFS) from date of pemigatinib initiation was 7.4 (95% CI: 6.4–8.6) mo. Among the 116 patients with tumor response data available, RW overall response rate (rwORR) was 61% (95% CI: 52% - 71%). Conclusions: This study complements the FIGHT-202 clinical trial by assessing the use of pemigatinib among a diverse population of patients with CCA under RW conditions. Secondarily, the rwORR and rwPFS from this study support the clinical benefit of pemigatinib demonstrated in FIGHT-202.

Pivotal single-arm, phase 2 trial of tasurgratinib for patients with fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-2 gene fusion-positive cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

471 Background: CCA represents ~3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies globally; it is particularly prevalent in Asian countries. Additionally, FGFR2 gene fusions occur in ~13% of intrahepatic CCA cases. Tasurgratinib (E7090) is an orally available selective inhibitor of FGFR 1–3; the recommended dose is 140 mg per day per the dose-escalation part of a first-in-human phase 1 study. In this pivotal phase 2 study, this regimen was evaluated in patients (pts) with FGFR2 fusion-positive CCA. Methods: Japanese and Chinese pts with surgically unresectable advanced or metastatic CCA were treated with tasurgratinib 140 mg PO daily. FGFR2 gene fusion was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization performed in central laboratories; ≥ 1 prior chemotherapy regimen including a gemcitabine-based combination was required; pts treated with FGFR2 inhibitors were excluded. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR; complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]). Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), time to response (TTR), disease control rate (DCR; CR + PR + stable disease [SD]), clinical benefit rate (CBR; CR + PR + SD lasting ≥ 23 weeks), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. The study was considered successful if the lower limit of the ORR 90% CI was > 15% in a planned population. Tumor responses were measured every 8 weeks by RECIST v1.1 per independent imaging review. Adverse event (AE) severity was measured per CTCAE v4.03. Results: 63 Pts (Japanese: n = 28; Chinese: n = 35) were treated (median age: 55 years); 23 pts (37%) had received 1 prior regimen, all others had received ≥ 2. By the data cutoff date (March 15, 2023), 55 pts discontinued treatment (disease progression, n = 48; adverse events, n = 4; pt choice, n = 2; loss of clinical benefit, n = 1). 19 Pts (30%) had a PR; 31 pts (49%) had SD and 13 (21%) had SD for ≥ 23 weeks. The ORR was 30% (2-sided 90% CI 20.7–41.0; 95% CI 19.2–43.0); the DCR was 79% (95% CI 67.3–88.5); the CBR was 51% (95% CI 37.9–63.6). The median [m]TTR / DOR for responders were 1.87 mos (IQR 1.77–2.10; range 1.6–14.7) / 5.6 mos (95% CI 3.7–9.3; range 1.0+–14.8+). The mPFS / OS were 5.4 mos (95% CI 3.7–5.6) / 13.1 mos (95% CI 10.8–17.4). 61 Pts (97%) had ≥ 1 treatment-related AE (TRAE), most commonly hyperphosphatemia (n = 51; 81%); 18 pts (29%) had ≥ 1 grade ≥ 3 TRAE, most commonly lipase increased (n = 4; 6%). 34 Pts (54%) had a dose reduction and 18 (29%) had treatment interruption due to TRAEs. 4 Pts (6%) had a fatal AE, none related to treatment. Conclusions: Tasurgratinib had promising antitumor activity in pts with CCA harboring FGFR2 gene fusion and who received ≥ 1 prior chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoint (ORR) met the study’s predefined success criteria. Tasurgratinib had a manageable safety profile consistent with previous reports and with the known pharmacological profile of FGFR inhibitors. Clinical trial information: NCT04238715 .

PROOF 301: Results of an early discontinued randomized phase 3 trial of the oral FGFR inhibitor infigratinib vs. gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) with an FGFR2 gene fusion/rearrangement.

516 Background: Infigratinib (BGJ398), an oral inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)1-3 with demonstrated clinical activity and a manageable adverse event profile in a phase 2 study in patients with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic CCA with an FGFR2 fusion or other rearrangement, represented one of the few targeted treatment options after progression on first-line therapy, as per FDA conditional approval. The confirmatory phase III trial PROOF 301 of infigratinib versus gem/cis as frontline treatment of FGFR2 Gene Fusions/Translocations CCA was early discontinued. Here we report the efficacy and safety in the patients accrued prior to termination. Methods: Eligible patients were randomized 2:1 to infigratinib 125 mg on days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle vs intravenous gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) + cisplatin (25 mg/m2) on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), confirmed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), investigator determined PFS, overall response rate (ORR), best overall response (BOR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), and safety and tolerability. Crossover to the investigational arm was permitted at progression. Results: Over 40 months, a total of 1127 patients were pre-screened at 120 sites and 48 enrolled. In a 2:1 randomization, 29 patients received infigratinib and 19 received gem/cis. Upon progression, 2 patients crossed over from gem/cis to infigratinib. Median PFS (95% CI) by BICR was 7.4 (5.4, not evaluable [NE]) and 8.0 (3.4, NE) months with infigratinib and chemotherapy, respectively. The ORRs by BICR were 37.9 % with infigratinib and 15.8 % with gem/cis. Grade 3–4 adverse events occurred in 79.3% and 58.8% patients treated with infigratinib and chemotherapy. Conclusions: Infigratinib showed a preliminary signal of efficacy in the first-line treatment of FGFR2-rearranged CCA, but due to early termination of the study, the power is insufficient to draw conclusions regarding its efficacy in comparison to gem/cis. This study highlights the challenge of performing confirmatory studies in biomarker-selected subpopulations of rare tumors and the importance of exploring alternative approaches to delivering confirmatory data for regulatory purposes. Clinical trial information: NCT03773302 .

First-308: Phase III study of tinengotinib versus physician's choice in patients with FGFR-altered, chemotherapy- and FGFR inhibitor–refractory/relapsed cholangiocarcinoma.

TPS575 Background: Fibroblast growth factor (FGFR) alterations occur in 10-15% of adult patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and 1-2% of adult patients with advanced extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The first generation FGFR inhibitors (FGFRi) pemigatinib and futibatinib, have been approved for the treatment of advanced CCA with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements after systemic chemotherapy. However, disease progression occurs within 6-9 months. Secondary polyclonal mutations in the FGFR kinase domain represent a prominent acquired resistance mechanism. Tinengotinib, a novel multi-kinase inhibitor with high potency against a variety of FGFR2 kinase domain mutations, has shown promising clinical benefit in subjects with FGFR-altered metastatic CCA who were heavily pretreated with chemotherapy and FGFRi(s) in phase I/II clinical trials. (NCT03654547, NCT04742959, NCT04919642). Methods: FIRST-308 is a phase III, randomized, global multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral tinengotinib versus Physician’s Choice in subjects with FGFR-altered, chemotherapy- and FGFRi-refractory/relapsed CCA. Approximately 200 subjects will be enrolled in US, Europe, and Asia. Key eligibility criteria include age ≥ 18 years, ECOG performance status 0 or 1, documentation of FGFR2 fusion/rearrangement gene status, prior treatment with at least one line of chemotherapy and exactly one prior FDA-approved FGFRi for unresectable or metastatic disease. The study includes Part A and Part B. The Part A is to select a dose for Part B. Eligible subjects will be randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive tinengotinib 8 mg QD, tinengotinib 10 mg QD or Physician's Choice (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI) in Part A or 2:1 in Part B to receive the recommended Part B dose or Physician's Choice. The stratification factors at randomization include geographic region, prior lines of chemotherapy (1 or ≥ 2) and Physician’s choice. Tinengotinib will be administered orally QD in 28-day cycles. Subjects will continue to receive study treatment until confirmed disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or termination of study by Sponsor, whichever occurs first. For Part A, the primary endpoint is safety/tolerability; secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR) and PK analysis. For Part B, the primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), ORR, DOR, safety, quality of life and population PK. Exploratory endpoints will assess the correlations between baseline FGFR2 alterations by cfDNA and efficacy, and exposure-response in terms of efficacy and safety. Study is open for enrollment. Clinical trial information: NCT05948475 .

Expanding immunotherapy options in cholangiocarcinoma: Role of CD27 agonist in combination with PD-L1 and MEK inhibition on antitumor effect and CD8+ T cells.

518 Background: Despite addition of PD-L1 therapy to unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) standard of care, there remains an unmet need for novel therapies. Our recent phase II trial of dual PD-L1 inhibition (PD-L1i) and MEK inhibition (MEKi) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS). While MEKi enhances tumor antigen presentation and T cell tumor infiltration, it also impairs T cell priming and activation with notable CD27 upregulation. Our work reveals that CD27 agonists (CD27Ag) foster T cell stem-like and resident memory phenotypes, negating inhibitory effect of MEKi on CD8+ T cells. We hypothesized that addition of a CD27Ag to PD-L1i/MEKi combination therapy would rescue T cell activation and improve antitumor efficacy. Methods: Immune cells from pmel-1 mice were isolated, activated with gp100, and cultured in vitro with 100 IU/mL IL-2 and single, dual, or triple therapy with CD27Ag, cobimetinib (MEKi) and/or αPD-L1. Day 3 flow cytometry characterized CD8+ T cell phenotype and cytokine expression. Additionally, syngeneic murine CCA cell line URCCA4.3 (KrasG21D, tp53-/-) was injected into C57BL/6 mice, subcutaneously or intrahepatic, followed by ~3 weeks of treatment with mono, dual, or triple therapy. For CD8 depletion studies, CD8-depleting antibody was given on the day prior to and following surgery and every 3-4 days afterwards. Tumor and tumor-draining lymph nodes were harvested at study endpoint. Lymphocytes were characterized by flow cytometry. Results: MEKi, alone or with αPD-L1, reduced frequency of activated T cells in vitro (dose-dependent effect on CD69+). CD27Ag combined with MEKi maintained prominent T cell activation. Triple therapy PD-L1i/MEKi/CD27Ag significantly reduced tumor growth rate in mice versus mono or dual therapies (p<0.05). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes comprised a stem-like (Tcf-1+), effector memory (CD44+CD62L-), and tissue resident memory (CD103+CD69+) phenotype in triple therapy versus single or dual therapy (p<0.01, p<0.0001, p<0.0001 respectively). All groups had similar numbers of CD8+ stem-like cells (Tcf-1+Tim-3-) in draining lymph nodes, but these cells were only present in tumor from the triple therapy arm (p<0.05). Cell depletion studies showed that CD8+ T cells were required for efficacy of triple therapy in vivo. Finally, an aggressive orthotopic liver tumor model showed improved median survival in triple therapy mice versus control (37.5 days versus 29.5 days, p<0.01). Conclusions: CD27 agonism prevents the impairment of T cell activation that was mediated by MEKi. Moreover, this CD27Ag/MEKi/PDL1i triple therapy bolstered trafficking of T cells with stem-like, effector, or resident memory properties, in turn enhancing the antitumor response. This therapy is being evaluated in metastatic CCA patients in an ongoing Phase II clinical trial.

Generation of Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Models.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a substantial clinical hurdle as it is often detected at advanced metastatic stages with limited therapeutic options. To enhance our understanding of advanced CCA, it is imperative to establish preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate the disease's characteristics. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have emerged as a valuable approach in cancer research, offering an avenue to reproduce and study the genomic, histologic, and molecular features of the original human tumors. By faithfully preserving the heterogeneity, microenvironmental interactions, and drug responses observed in human tumors, PDX models serve as highly relevant and predictive preclinical tools. Here, we present a comprehensive protocol that outlines the step-by-step process of generating and maintaining PDX models using biopsy samples from patients with advanced metastatic CCA. The protocol encompasses crucial aspects such as tissue processing, xenograft transplantation, and subsequent monitoring of the PDX models. By employing this protocol, we aim to establish a robust collection of PDX models that accurately reflect the genomic landscape, histologic diversity, and therapeutic responses observed in advanced CCA, thereby enabling improved translational research, drug development, and personalized treatment strategies for patients facing this challenging disease.

Combined analysis of secreted proteins and glycosylation identifies prognostic features in cholangiocarcinoma.

Secreted proteins are overexpressed in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and actively involved in promoting metastatic spread. Many of these proteins possess one or more sites of glycosylation and their various glycoforms have potential utility as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers. To evaluate the effects of secretome glycosylation on patient outcome, we elucidated the glycosylation patterns of proteins secreted by parental and metastatic CCA cells using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our analysis showed that the secretome of CCA cells was dominated by fucosylated and fucosialylated glycoforms. Based on the glycan and protein profiles, we evaluated the combined prognostic significance of glycosyltransferases and secretory proteins. Significantly, genes encoding fucosyltransferases and sialyltransferases showed favorable prognostic effects when combined with secretory protein-coding gene expression, particularly thrombospondin-1. Combining these measures may provide improved risk assessment for CCA and be used to indicate stages of disease progression.

Cholangiocarcinoma in the Era of Immunotherapy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract, with aggressive behavior, and portends a poor prognosis. Traditionally, it is classified according to its site of involvement as intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinoma. A host of genetic and epigenetic factors have been involved in its pathogenesis. Chemotherapy has remained the standard first-line treatment over the last decade, with a disappointing median overall survival of 11 months for locally advanced and metastatic CCA. The advent of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many pancreaticobiliary malignancies, offering durable responses with a safe therapeutic profile. To date, there have been no significant advances in the management of CCA. Novel immunotherapeutic methods, such as cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other agents, are currently under investigation and may improve prognosis with overall survival. Efforts to find robust biomarkers for response to treatment along with multiple clinical trials are also ongoing in this regard. In this review, we present an overview of the current advances and the future perspectives of immunotherapy in the management of CCA.

Therapeutic yield of extensive molecular profiling in cholangiocarcinoma: a retrospective single-center study.

Current available systemic therapies for advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are of limited effectiveness and prognosis is poor. Recently, introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies led to a better understanding of the genetic pathophysiology and, consequently, identification of molecular alterations for targeted treatment. To determine the proportion of actionable alterations using extensive molecular profiling in a routine diagnostic setting and to study the effect of targeted treatment on disease control. Results of extensive molecular testing by either FoundationOne NGS or an in-house developed 96 cancer gene panel were retrospectively collected from patients with locally advanced or metastatic CCA diagnosed between 01/12/2018 and 01/08/2021 in a single center. Gene variants were classified according to ESCAT and correlated with efficacy endpoints. Of 125 patients included, 65 patients had an intrahepatic CCA (iCCA). FGFR2 fusions and IDH1/BAP1 mutations were more frequent in iCCA, while KRAS and SMAD4 mutations were predominant in extrahepatic CCA (eCCA). Targetable alterations (ESCAT tiers I-IV) were identified in 73,6% of patients. Overall survival was significantly better for higher tiers regardless of treatment. Thirteen patients (10.4%) received targeted treatment based on molecular profiling, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.3months. Extensive molecular characterization led to the identification of targetable and potentially targetable alterations in a significant proportion of patients with locally advanced or metastatic CCA. We confirmed the association between higher ESCAT tier and benefit of a targeted treatment. Molecular analysis should therefore be considered in all patients fit enough for systemic treatment.

Updates in the use of targeted therapies for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Many patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are not surgical candidates, and the survival benefit of chemotherapy is less than 12 months. Several mutations and mutational clusters have recently been identified in CCA, some of which are pharmacologically targetable. The emergence of targeted therapies has significantly altered the treatment landscape of CCA and improved the prognosis for advanced or metastatic CCA. The purpose of this review is to describe past and current treatment strategies of CCA with a focus on FDA-approved targeted therapies. A systematic evaluation of all FDA-approved targeted treatments for CCA through October 2022 was conducted. Information related to pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety was gathered from the package insert, and clinical trial data. As of the writing of this review, four targeted agents are FDA approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic CCA. These agents include the IDH1 inhibitor ivosidenib and the FGFR2 inhibitors pemigatinib, infigratinib, and futibatinib. Collectively, these agents have provided additional treatment options for select patients with previously treated locally advanced or unresectable CCA. These agents have also contributed to the development of other targeted therapies for the treatment of CCA and have opened the door for the exploration of novel treatment combinations such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which have recently become a front-line treatment option. Four targeted small molecule agents have emerged as effective therapies in the second-line setting for CCA, which has immensely changed the treatment landscape and directly led to further investigation of targeted agents and immunotherapy as treatment for CCA.

The future of fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors and mechanisms of resistance for cholangiocarcinoma

ABSTRACT Introduction Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare cancer that arises from the biliary tract. Despite advances in multimodal treatment, patients with CCA have a poor prognosis. Molecular profiling of CCA has identified unique genetic aberrations (GA) that may serve as therapeutic targets. A common GA in CCA is in the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR). FGFRs are a group of transmembrane receptors that stimulate downstream pathways for cell proliferation and survival. Areas covered We herein review recent clinical trial data related to different FGFR inhibitors and the challenges within the field. An extensive literature search was performed to identify preclinical studies, clinical research, and clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness of FGFR inhibitor therapy in patients with CCA. Expert opinion FGFR inhibitors have demonstrated effectiveness in pre-clinical studies and some clinical trials. Infigratinib, futibatinib, and pemigatinib are being evaluated in an open phase III trial versus gemcitabine/cisplatin as first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic CCA with FGFR GA (PROOF-301 NCT03773302, FOENIX-CCA3 NCT04093362, FIGHT-302 NCT03656536). Unfortunately, the effectiveness of FGFR therapy is often limited by acquired resistance mechanisms, and continued work is needed to understand and overcome these mechanisms of resistance.

Abstract CT153: Pemigatinib in Chinese patients with advanced/metastatic or surgically unresectable cholangiocarcinoma Including FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement: Updated overall survival from an open-label, single-arm, multicenter Phase II study

Abstract Background: Pemigatinib is a selective FGFR inhibitor that showed effectiveness and tolerability in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CAA) with FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement. Data from prior data cutoffs (primary: Jan 29th, 2021; initial update: Dec 20th, 2021) showed that patients receiving pemigatinib had durable responses. Confirmed objective response rate (ORR) (60%) met the primary endpoint, median duration of response (DOR) was 8.3 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.1 months at the initial update (G-M. Shi et al. ASCO 2022). Safety results were also consistent with previously reported data on pemigatinib. Here we report updated overall survival (OS) results. Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older with recurrent or metastatic CCA that failed at least one prior systemic therapy were enrolled. Thirty-one subjects with documented FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement received 13.5 mg pemigatinib. The primary efficacy endpoint was ORR assessed by the independent radiological review committee (IRRC) per RECIST V1.1. And the second endpoints included disease control rate (DCR), DOR, PFS, and OS. Updated OS were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards model and summarized using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: At data cutoff (December 28th, 2022), a total of 30 patients were assessed (1 participant excluded due to inadequate FGFR2 aberrant frequency). Median age was 56 years (range, 28-68).With a median OS follow-up of 25.6 months (95% CI, 23.0-25.8), the median OS was 23.9 months (95% CI, 15.2-NC), with 16 (53.3%) OS events. Estimated OS rate at 12 month, 18 month and 24 month were 73.3% (95% CI, 53.7%-85.7%), 66.5% (95% CI, 46.7%-80.4%), and 41.4% (95% CI, 22.4%-59.4%), respectively. No new safety signals were observed. Conclusions: These updated results demonstrated encouraging and durable survival benefit of pemigatinib in Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement. Clinical trial identification: NCT04256980. Editorial acknowledgment: Guoming Shi and Xiaoyong Huang contributed equally to this work. Jian Zhou is the corresponding author. Citation Format: Guoming Shi, Xiaoyong Huang, Tianfu Wen, Tianqiang Song, Ming Kuang, Haibo Mou, Lequn Bao, Haitao Zhao, Hong Zhao, Xielin Feng, Bixiang Zhang, Tao Peng, Yubao Zhang, Xiangcheng Li, Hongsheng Yu, Yu Cao, Yang Luo, Ye Chen, Mingxia Chen, Jia Fan, Jian Zhou. Pemigatinib in Chinese patients with advanced/metastatic or surgically unresectable cholangiocarcinoma Including FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement: Updated overall survival from an open-label, single-arm, multicenter Phase II study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT153.

Multidisciplinary management in the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Multidisciplinary management in the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: What Do We Know in 2023?

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare and aggressive type of cancer, presenting as a mass or as a biliary stricture. This review summarizes the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the detection, staging, and determination of the differential diagnosis, especially when no cause of bile duct dilatation is revealed by cross-sectional imaging. The EUS detection rate for distal CCAs is higher than that for the proximal CCAs. The accuracy of T staging varies between 60 and 80%, and vascular involvement is correctly assessed by conventional EUS. EUS-tissue acquisition from the primary tumors is reserved for unresectable or metastatic CCA, especially in distal strictures or mass CCAs. For proximal lesions, EUS could be performed as an adjunctive to ERCP sampling when the latter is inconclusive. EUS is not appropriate for assessing the malignant features of lymph nodes in CCAs. Lymph node EUS-tissue acquisition should be performed only if it changes the surgical decision. Perhaps the development of EUS-fine needle biopsy and the detection of molecular genetic alteration will increase the diagnostic yield in CCAs.

Evolution of the Targeted Therapy Landscape for Cholangiocarcinoma: Is Cholangiocarcinoma the 'NSCLC' of GI Oncology?

In the past two decades, molecular targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of several malignancies. Lethal malignancies such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have become a model for precision-matched immune- and gene-targeted therapies. Multiple small subgroups of NSCLC defined by their genomic aberrations are now recognized; remarkably, taken together, almost 70% of NSCLCs now have a druggable anomaly. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. Novel molecular alterations have been recently identified in patients with CCA, and the potential for targeted therapy is being realized. In 2019, a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) inhibitor, pemigatinib, was the first approved targeted therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic intrahepatic CCA who had FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangement. More regulatory approvals for matched targeted therapies as second-line or subsequent treatments in advanced CCA followed, including additional drugs that target FGFR2 gene fusion/rearrangement. Recent tumor-agnostic approvals include (but are not limited to) drugs that target mutations/rearrangements in the following genes and are hence applicable to CCA: isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1); neurotrophic tropomyosin-receptor kinase (NTRK); the V600E mutation of the BRAF gene (BRAFV600E); and high tumor mutational burden, high microsatellite instability, and gene mismatch repair-deficient (TMB-H/MSI-H/dMMR) tumors. Ongoing trials investigate HER2, RET, and non-BRAFV600E mutations in CCA and improvements in the efficacy and safety of new targeted treatments. This review aims to present the current status of molecularly matched targeted therapy for advanced CCA.