Metastatic Setting Research Articles

Outcome of prostate cancer with CNS metastasis: An analysis of SEER database (2010-2020).

e17037 Background: Brain metastasis from prostate cancer is rare, with an estimated incidence of <1%, and its characteristics and outcomes are poorly understood. We report a contemporary analysis of outcomes in patients with CNS metastasis from prostate cancer in association with clinicopathological variables by utilizing the Survival, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database with data from 2010 to 2020. Methods: From the SEER database, we identified histologically confirmed primary prostate cancers with any distant metastasis. Data for survival as well as multiple clinicopathological variables including age, race, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, prior radiotherapy, histology, and specific metastatic sites were extracted. Statistical analysis included chi-square. ANOVA, and Kaplan-Meier analysis for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival. Results: SEER database (2010-2020) identified 27,501 patients with metastatic prostate cancer, of which 27,118 (98.6%) were adenocarcinoma and 383 (1.4%) were prostate cancer with neuroendocrine features. Brain metastasis was seen in 282 (1.04%) and 15 (5.32%) patients in these histologic groups, respectively. Brain metastases were associated with worse prognosis with median OS of 14 months compared to bone-dominant and non-regional lymph node only diseases that showed median OS of 31 months and not reached, respectively (P < 0.01). Within the population with brain metastases, outcome comparison based on age (<65 vs. ≥65 years), ethnicity (Caucasian vs. African American vs. Hispanic), PSA (<98 vs. ≥98 ng/ml), and Gleason score (<9 vs. ≥9) showed no statistically significant difference (table). Presence of metastasis to other solid organs showed numerically worse outcome without statistical significance (OS: 26 months vs. 13 months, p=0.09). Significant OS difference was observed between the adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor within the brain metastasis subgroup (OS: 14 months vs. 6 months, p=0.03). Conclusions: CNS metastasis with prostate cancer carries worse prognosis in comparison to metastases to bone or distant lymph-nodes. Neuroendocrine tumor has higher risk of CNS metastasis although most of such cases are from adenocarcinoma due to its higher prevalence. OS analysis confirms worse outcome with neuroendocrine features compared to adenocarcinoma in CNS metastatic settings. [Table: see text]

Sequential use of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors alpelisib and everolimus in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer.

1057 Background: Alpelisib (A), a PI3K inhibitor, is FDA-approved with fulvestrant for patients with PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- MBC. Everolimus (E), an mTOR inhibitor, is FDA-approved with endocrine therapy (ET) regardless of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway mutation status. The efficacy and safety of sequential treatment with these pathway inhibitors is not well described. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study identified patients with HR+/HER2- MBC treated with both A and E sequentially, each in combination with ET, in either order from 2012-2023. We collected information on patient demographics, clinical and pathologic characteristics, treatment history, treatment adverse effects, and dates of disease progression (defined as radiographic or clinical progression leading to treatment change) from medical records. Patients treated first with E then A were categorized as Group 1 and those first with A then E as Group 2. Rates of prior CDK4/6i use were compared between groups with the chi-square test; differences in prior lines of therapy were assessed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Median PFS1 (PFS on 1st pathway inhibitor) and PFS2 (PFS on 2nd pathway inhibitor) were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the impact of prior treatment on PFS2 between groups was compared using Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: 115 patients with HR+/HER2- MBC were included in this study. There were 62 (54%) patients in Group 1 and 53 (46%) patients in Group 2. Median prior lines of therapy in the metastatic setting for Group 1 was 4 (range 1-13) and for Group 2 was 3 (range 1-8; p=0.08). Median number of intervening therapies between E and A in Group 1 was 2 (range 0-8) and between A and E in Group 2 was 0 (range 0-4; p<0.001). 34/62 (55%) patients in Group 1 and 45/53 (85%) in Group 2 received prior CDK4/6i ( p<0.001). In Group 1, 49/62 (79%) of patients discontinued E for progression and 13 (21%) discontinued for toxicity. Median PFS1 was 9.2 months (95%CI 5.5-13.0) and PFS2 was 5.0 months (95%CI 4.6-7.9). In Group 2, 34/53 (64%) of patients discontinued A for progression and 19 (36%) discontinued for toxicity. Median PFS1 was 9.3 months (95%CI 7.0-14.0) and PFS2 was 3.5 months (95%CI 3.0-4.1). After adjusting for prior CDK4/6i use and prior lines of therapy (total and intervening), PFS2 was not significantly different between the groups. Genomic information will be included at the time of presentation. Conclusions: This is the largest retrospective study to-date of patients treated sequentially with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors. PFS was longer with the 1st pathway inhibitor than with the 2nd regardless of sequence. This has implications for optimal integration of capivasertib, an AKT inhibitor, into HR+ MBC treatment. Prospective studies testing optimal sequencing are needed.

A phase II trial of anlotinib and fulvestrant in patients with HR-positive and HER2-negative, secondary aromatase inhibitor–resistant, metastatic breast cancer.

e13065 Background: Fulvestrant is used after aromatase inhibitor (AI) failure in metastatic breast cancer but resistance develops quickly. We hypothesized that using anlotinib, a novel multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may delay fulvestrant resistance in patients (pts) and thus improve its efficacy. This single-arm, phase II trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined regimen in pts with HR-positive and HER2-negative, previously AI treated, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Methods: The key enrolled criteria were women aged 18 years or older of any menopausal status (premenopausal or perimenopausal women received ovarian function suppression), ECOG PS 0-1, histologically confirmed HR-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer, and disease relapse within 12 months after a more than 24 months AI adjuvant setting or disease progress after a more than 6 months AI metastatic setting. Eligible pts received 500 mg fulvestrant by intramuscular injection on days 1 and 15 of cycle one and then on day one of each subsequent cycle (28 days). Pts were also given 12 mg oral anlotinib once daily for 2 weeks, followed by a week off in a 21-day cycle. The primary endpoints is progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: 30 pts have been enrolled from Aug 2021 to Dec 2023. After a median follow-up time of 12.9 months (95% CI, 9.0-16.8), the overall median PFS was 6.4 months (95% CI 3.4-9.5) and the mOS has not reached. In the 29 pts whose efficacy could be evaluated, the ORR was 20.7% (95% CI, 8.0-39.7) and the DCR was 79.3% (95% CI, 60.3-92.0), with partial response and stable disease recorded in 6 and 17 pts. The CBR was 41.4% (95% CI, 23.5-61.1), with 6 pts reach SD for more than 6 months. Pts who have not received CDK 4/6 inhibitors previously had longer PFS (14.8 months, 95% CI 3.7-25.9) than those who have received CDK 4/6 inhibitors (4.6 months, 95% CI 3.0-6.3) in the subgroup analysis (HR=0.33, P=0.038). At the same time, we find pts who have not received systemic chemotherapy previously also had longer PFS (9.7 months, 95% CI 6.0-13.2) than those who have received systemic chemotherapy (5.5 months, 95% CI 3.6-7.4) (HR=0.47, P=0.12). TEAEs of any grade were observed in 90.0% of pts, and the frequent AEs included hypertension (43.3%), wight loss (20.0%), proteinuria (20.0%), increased TSH (20.0%), and hand-foot syndrome (20.0%). Grade 3 TEAEs occurred in 11 (36.7%) pts, the most common of which was hypertension (26.7%). Dose reductions or discontinuation of anlotinib occurred in 12 (40.0%) pts. Conclusions: Anlotinib combined with fulvestrant showed a promising efficacy with an acceptable safety profile for patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with AI. Further results are expected. Clinical trial information: NCT05075512 .

From decision to reflection: understanding the experiences and unmet care needs of patients treated with immunotherapy for melanoma in the adjuvant or metastatic setting

BackgroundDespite increased use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced melanoma, little is known about patient experiences during this treatment. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of experiences and unmet care needs of patients treated in the adjuvant or metastatic setting for advanced melanoma regarding their ICI treatment trajectory.MethodsInterviews and focus groups were conducted among 35 patients treated with ICIs in the adjuvant setting for completely resected stage III (n = 14), or in the metastatic setting for irresectable stage IV (n = 21) melanoma. A thorough thematic content analysis was conducted.Results Three main themes were identified. When (1) dealing with uncertainty in the decision-making process, adjuvant patients explored the pros and cons, whereas metastatic patients considered immunotherapy their only viable option. Both groups expressed the need for additional guidance. In (2) navigating the immunotherapy course, both perceived the trajectory as intense, experienced a major impact on their and their (close) relatives’ lives, and felt the need to (re)gain control. When (3) looking back on the immunotherapy experience, metastatic patients generally felt relieved, while among adjuvant patients, feelings of doubt regarding their choice for ICIs were also reported.ConclusionsICI treatment is perceived as intensive for both patient groups, facing both comparable and distinct challenges throughout the treatment trajectory, underscoring the need for stage-specific, individualised guidance. Options regarding flexible follow-ups, low-threshold contact and psychosocial support throughout the treatment trajectory should be explored.

Melanoma Management: Exploring Staging, Prognosis, and Treatment Innovations.

Melanoma, a malignant neoplasm originating from melanocytes, stands as one of the most prevalent cancers globally, ranking fifth in terms of estimated new cases in recent years. Its aggressive nature and propensity for metastasis pose significant challenges in oncology. Recent advancements have led to a notable shift towards targeted therapies, driven by a deeper understanding of cutaneous tumor pathogenesis. Immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors have emerged as promising strategies, demonstrating the potential to improve clinical outcomes across all disease stages, including neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic settings. Notably, there has been a groundbreaking development in the treatment of brain metastasis, historically associated with poor prognosis in oncology but showcasing impressive results in melanoma patients. This review article provides a comprehensive synthesis of the most recent knowledge on staging and prognostic factors while highlighting emerging therapeutic modalities, with a particular focus on neoadjuvant and adjuvant strategies, notably immunotherapy and targeted therapies, including the ongoing trials.

Abstract IA018: Metastatic bladder cancer: The expanding role of antibody drug conjugates

Abstract Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) consist of an antibody, a cytotoxic payload, and a linker between the two. ADCs are becoming increasingly used in metastatic bladder cancer. Enfortumab vedotin (EV) in combination with pembrolizumab recently demonstrated impressive improvements in survival and overall responses compared to chemotherapy in the frontline metastatic setting. Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) and single agent EV are also effective, later line options for patients who have progressed on prior chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. New ADCs, including those targeting HER2, have also displayed promising results in bladder cancer patients. Trials are exploring the use of ADCs in combination with each other as well as with immunotherapy. Novel ADCs with dual targets, dual payloads, and other augmentations are being developed and may represent new options for patients moving forward. However, these advances raise many questions. How to best manage the differing toxicities seen with ADCs? What is best sequencing of ADCs? What are the common resistance mechanisms to ADCs? How do these resistance mechanisms affect subsequent use of ADCs? And how effective are these agents in bladder cancer variants and divergent histologies? This talk with cover the expanding role of ADCs in metastatic bladder cancer. Citation Format: Nicholas Simon. Metastatic bladder cancer: The expanding role of antibody drug conjugates [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Bladder Cancer: Transforming the Field; 2024 May 17-20; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(10_Suppl):Abstract nr IA018.

Trifluridine/tipiracil + oxaliplatin ± nivolumab vs FOLFOX ± nivolumab in HER2 negative advanced oesogastric adenocarcinoma: The PRODIGE73-UCGI40-LOGICAN trial

BackgroundTrifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) is approved in third-line treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas (aGA/GEJA). The association of oxaliplatin with FTD/TPI is promising and the combination of FTD/TPI + oxaliplatin + nivolumab has shown a predictable and manageable safety profile. AimsThe aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FTD/TPI plus oxaliplatin with or without nivolumab in patients, with HER2 negative aGA/GEJA, unfit for triplet chemotherapy (TFOX/mFLOT regimen), in the first-line metastatic setting in comparison with the standard of care FOLFOX with or without nivolumab. MethodsThis study is a prospective randomised, open label, comparative, multicentre, phase II trial designed to include 118 patients. The primary objective is to evaluate the superiority of FTD/TPI plus oxaliplatin with or without nivolumab over FOLFOX regimen with or without nivolumab in terms of PFS in a population of patients non candidate for triplet chemotherapy. Nivolumab will be used for patients whose tumour express PD-L1 with a CPS score ≥5. DiscussionPRODIGE73-UCGI40-LOGICAN study will provide efficacy and safety data on the association of FTD/TPI plus oxaliplatin with or without nivolumab versus FOLFOX regimen with or without nivolumab in first-line palliative setting, in patients with aGA/GEJA (NCT05476796).

Efficacy and Satisfaction among HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Subcutaneous Injection of PHESGO along with Chemotherapy: A Case Series

Background: The prevalence of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) in India ranged from 11% to 17%. A combination of intravenous (IV) pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel in HER2+ BC reported a significant increase in the overall survival rate. However, the time taken for infusion of these drugs is lengthy. PHESGO, a combination of these two drugs along with hyaluronidase is provided subcutaneously and the time taken is 5-8 minutes. Despite patient preference for PHESGO, its efficacy and satisfaction levels in the Indian context remain unexplored. This case series investigates the efficacy of PHESGO with chemotherapy and assesses the level of satisfaction reported by HER2+ BC patients. Methods: HER2+ BC patients were identified retrospectively from January 2022 to November 2023. Interviews during follow-ups assessed patient satisfaction. Efficacy was evaluated based on Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for metastatic/adjuvant settings and pathological complete response (pCR) rate for neoadjuvant cases. Results: In total 27 HER2+ BC patients received PHESGO treatment with a median age of 54.5 years. Patients who received PHESGO with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant and metastatic settings were 44.4% and 51.9% respectively. The median cycle of PHESGO with chemotherapy was 5. Neoadjuvant patients showed an 83.3% pCR rate, while 85.7% of metastatic patients reported partial response after three cycles. Among 25 patients, 92% were satisfied with subcutaneous administration of PHESGO. Conclusion: The findings support the potential of PHESGO as an effective and convenient treatment option for HER2+ BC patients. However, further research, including larger prospective studies and long-term follow-ups, is warranted to comprehensively evaluate the safety profile, quality of life, and comparative effectiveness of PHESGO versus intravenous administration.

Efficacy and Toxicity Analysis of mFOLFIRINOX in High-Grade Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

High-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) comprise both well-differentiated grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors (G3 NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) nearly always include poorly differentiated NEC as the neuroendocrine component. The efficacy and safety of frontline mFOLFIRINOX chemotherapy has never been investigated in patients with high-grade NENs. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of patients with advanced high-grade NEN of the gastroenteropancreatic tract or of unknown origin seen between February 2016 and April 2023 who received treatment with frontline mFOLFIRINOX. A total of 35 patients were included (G3 NETs: n=2; NECs: n=25; MiNENs: n=8; stage III: n=5; stage IV: n=30). The objective response rate was 77% (complete response: 3%; partial response: 74%). Median progression-free survival was 12 months (95% CI, 9.2-16.2 months) and median overall survival was 20.6 months (95% CI, 17.2-30.6 months). No significant differences in efficacy were seen according to primary site, histopathology, and Ki-67 proliferative index. All 5 patients with stage III disease who received mFOLFIRINOX obtained an objective response and underwent radical surgery or definitive radiotherapy with curative intent, with a recurrence rate of 40%. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were observed in 43% of patients (mainly neutropenia and diarrhea). Females were at significantly increased risk of developing severe toxicities. mFOLFIRINOX shows antitumor activity against high-grade NENs. Well-designed, prospective clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of mFOLFIRINOX in both the neoadjuvant and metastatic settings.

PD-L1 expression and its prognostic value in metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma: Results from a GETUG multicenter retrospective cohort

IntroductionPapillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is a rare and aggressive cancer with no specifically established therapeutic strategy in the metastatic setting. Combinations of tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a promising option. We aimed to study the immune landscape of metastatic pRCC, and its interactions with angiogenesis pathways, to search for potential therapeutic targets. MethodsThe expression of immune markers (PD-L1, PD-1, PD-L2, LAG-3) and angiogenic pathways (CAIX, c-MET), was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on 68 metastatic pRCC retrieved from a retrospective multicenter GETUG cohort.Our primary endpoint was to estimate the prevalence of PD-L1 expression and its prognostic impact in metastatic pRCC. Secondary endpoints included the evaluation of other immune markers (PD-1, PD-L2, and LAG-3) and their association with PD-L1. We also assessed angiogenic markers and their association with PD-L1. ResultsOverall, 27.9 % of tumors were PD-L1 positive. PD-L2 was more frequently expressed (45.6 %), PD-1 and LAG-3 were positive in 17.6 % and 19.1 % respectively. None of these markers was correlated with PD-L1 expression. 66 % (45/68) expressed at least one immune marker, and 43 % (29/68) were “double-positive”, as they expressed both immune and angiogenic markers. OS was significantly shorter for patients with PD-L1 positive pRCC. A multivariate analysis confirmed a significant association between PD-L1 expression and shorter overall survival (HR = 4.0, p = 0.01). ConclusionThese results reinforce clinical data on the expected benefit of ICI in metastatic pRCC treatment, as PD-L1 expression is a factor of poor prognosis in this multicenter cohort.

The Use of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors in Elderly Breast Cancer Patients: What Do We Know?

Breast cancer (BC) incidence increases with age, particularly in HR-positive/HER2-negative subtypes. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6is) alongside endocrine therapy (ET) have emerged as promising treatments for HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced and early BC. However, their efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life (QoL) in older and frail patients remain underexplored. This position paper assesses the existing literature from 2015 to 2024, focusing on CDK4/6is use in patients aged 65 years and older with HR-positive/HER2-negative BC. Our analysis methodically addresses critical questions regarding the utilization of CDK4/6is in the elderly BC patient population, organizing findings from the metastatic and adjuvant settings. In the metastatic setting, CDK4/6is significantly improve progression-free survival (PFS), paralleling benefits observed in younger patients, and suggest potential overall survival (OS) benefits, warranting further investigation. Despite an increased incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs), such as neutropenia and asthenia, CDK4/6is present a markedly lower toxicity profile compared to traditional chemotherapy, with manageable side effects. QoL analysis indicates that integrating CDK4/6is into treatment regimens does not significantly impact elderly BC patients' daily life and symptom management. Special attention is given to frail subgroups, and personalized approaches are recommended to balance efficacy and adverse effects, such as starting with ET alone and introducing CDK4/6is upon progression in patients with a low disease burden. Transitioning to the adjuvant setting, early results, particularly with abemaciclib, indicate positive effects on disease-free survival (DFS), emphasizing the need for continued analysis to validate these findings and assess long-term implications. However, data on older patients are insufficient to conclude whether they truly benefit from this treatment. Overall, CDK4/6is present a favorable benefit-risk profile in older BC patients, at least in advanced BC; however, further research is warranted to optimize treatment strategies and improve outcomes in this population.

LKB1 Loss Correlates with STING Loss and, in Cooperation with β-Catenin Membranous Loss, Indicates Poor Prognosis in Patients with Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

To investigate the incidence and prognostically significant correlations and cooperations of LKB1 loss of expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgical specimens from 188 metastatic and 60 non-metastatic operable stage I-IIIA NSCLC patients were analyzed to evaluate their expression of LKB1 and pAMPK proteins in relation to various processes. The investigated factors included antitumor immunity response regulators STING and PD-L1; pro-angiogenic, EMT and cell cycle targets, as well as metastasis-related (VEGFC, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, p53, p16, Cyclin D1, ZEB1, CD24) targets; and cell adhesion (β-catenin) molecules. The protein expression levels were evaluated via immunohistochemistry; the RNA levels of LKB1 and NEDD9 were evaluated via PCR, while KRAS exon 2 and BRAFV600E mutations were evaluated by Sanger sequencing. Overall, loss of LKB1 protein expression was observed in 21% (51/248) patients and correlated significantly with histotype (p < 0.001), KRAS mutations (p < 0.001), KC status (concomitant KRAS mutation and p16 downregulation) (p < 0.001), STING loss (p < 0.001), and high CD24 expression (p < 0.001). STING loss also correlated significantly with loss of LKB1 expression in the metastatic setting both overall (p = 0.014) and in lung adenocarcinomas (LUACs) (p = 0.005). Additionally, LKB1 loss correlated significantly with a lack of or low β-catenin membranous expression exclusively in LUACs, both independently of the metastatic status (p = 0.019) and in the metastatic setting (p = 0.007). Patients with tumors yielding LKB1 loss and concomitant nonexistent or low β-catenin membrane expression experienced significantly inferior median overall survival of 20.50 vs. 52.99 months; p < 0.001 as well as significantly greater risk of death (HR: 3.32, 95% c.i.: 1.71-6.43; p <0.001). Our findings underscore the impact of the synergy of LKB1 with STING and β-catenin in NSCLC, in prognosis.

Head-to-head: Should Ki67 proliferation index be included in the formal classification of pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms?

The reporting of lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) according to the 2021 World Health Organisation (WHO) is based on mitotic count per 2 mm2, necrosis assessment and a constellation of cytological and immunohistochemical details. Accordingly, typical carcinoid and atypical carcinoid are low- to intermediate-grade neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), while large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and small-cell lung carcinoma are high-grade NECs. In small-sized diagnostic material (cytology and biopsy), the noncommittal term of carcinoid tumour/NET not otherwise specified (NOS) and metastatic carcinoid NOS have been introduced with regard to primary and metastatic diagnostic settings, respectively. Ki-67 antigen, a well-known marker of cell proliferation, has been included in the WHO classification as a non-essential but desirable criterion, especially to distinguish NETs from high-grade NECs and to delineate the provisional category of carcinoid tumours/NETs with elevated mitotic counts (> 10 mitoses per mm2) and/or Ki-67 proliferation index (≥ 30%). However, a wider use of this marker in the spectrum of lung NENs continues to be highly reported and debated, thus witnessing a never-subsided attention. Therefore, the arguments for and against incorporating Ki-67 in the classification and clinical practice of these neoplasms are discussed herein in detail.

Updates on the Management of Colorectal Cancer in Older Adults.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health challenge. Notably, the risk of CRC escalates with age, with the majority of cases occurring in those over the age of 65. Despite recent progress in tailoring treatments for early and advanced CRC, there is a lack of prospective data to guide the management of older patients, who are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials. This article reviews the contemporary landscape of managing older individuals with CRC, highlighting recent advancements and persisting challenges. The role of comprehensive geriatric assessment is explored. Opportunities for treatment escalation/de-escalation, with consideration of the older adult's fitness level. are reviewed in the neoadjuvant, surgical, adjuvant, and metastatic settings of colon and rectal cancers. Immunotherapy is shown to be an effective treatment option in older adults who have CRC with microsatellite instability. Promising new technologies such as circulating tumor DNA and recent phase III trials adding later-line systemic therapy options are discussed. Clinical recommendations based on the data available are summarized. We conclude that deliberate efforts to include older individuals in future colorectal cancer trials are essential to better guide the management of these patients in this rapidly evolving field.

How Immunotherapy Has Redefined the Treatment Paradigm of Metastatic or Locally Advanced Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma.

In the past decade, the therapeutic arsenal for metastatic bladder cancer has expanded considerably, with the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), antibody-drug conjugates such as enfortumab vedotin, and anti-fibroblast growth factor receptor agents. Clinical trials evaluating ICIs as neoadjuvants, adjuvants, or first- or second-line treatments have produced conflicting results. However, first-line therapeutic strategies have been redefined by the recent publication of results from two clinical trials: CheckMate-901, which demonstrated the superiority of combined treatment with nivolumab and chemotherapy in extending overall survival, and EV-302, which demonstrated that combined treatment with pembrolizumab and enfortumab vedotin reduced the risk of death by 53%. In this review, we discuss the role of ICIs, alone or in combination, in bladder cancer management in the metastatic and adjuvant settings in 2024, considering the latest published trials. The potential role of ICIs as neoadjuvants is also discussed.

Everolimus plus endocrine therapy beyond CDK4/6 inhibitors progression for HR+ /HER2- advanced breast cancer: a real-world evidence cohort.

Everolimus in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) was formerly approved as 2nd-line therapy in HR(+)/HER2(-) advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients (pts) progressing during or after a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI). Since this approval, the treatment landscape of aBC has changed dramatically, particularly with the arrival of CDK 4-6 inhibitors. Endocrine monotherapy after progression to CDK4/6 inhibitors has shown a limited progression-free survival (PFS), below 3months. Evidence of the efficacy of everolimus plus ET after CDK4/6 inhibitors is scarce. A retrospective observational study of patients with aBC treated with everolimus and ET beyond CDK4/6-i progression compiled from February 2015 to December 2022 in 4 Spanish hospitals was performed. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records. The main objective was to estimate the median progression-free survival (mPFS). Everolimus adverse events (AE) were registered. Quantitative variables were summarized with medians; qualitative variables with proportions and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for survival estimates. One hundred sixty-one patients received everolimus plus ET (exemestane: 96, fulvestrant: 54, tamoxifen: 10, unknown: 1) after progressing on a CDK4/6 inhibitor. The median follow-up time was 15months (interquartile range: 1-56months). The median age at diagnosis was 49years (range: 35-90years). The estimated mPFS was 6.0months (95%CI 5.3-7.8months). PFS was longer in patients with previous CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy lasting for > 18months (8.7months, 95%CI 6.6-11.3months), in patients w/o visceral metastases (8.0months, 95%CI 5.8-10.5months), and chemotherapy-naïve in the metastatic setting (7.2months, 95%CI 5.9-8.4months). This retrospective analysis cohort of everolimus plus ET in mBC patients previously treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor suggests a longer estimated mPFS when compared with the mPFS with ET monotherapy obtained from current randomized clinical data. Everolimus plus ET may be considered as a valid control arm in novel clinical trial designs.

Abstract PO2-19-06: An Open-label, Interventional, Multicenter Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Monotherapy in Patients With Unresectable and/or Metastatic HER2-Low or HER2 Immunohistochemistry 0 Breast Cancer: DESTINY-Breast15

Abstract Background Approximately 50% of all breast cancer (BC) tumors express low levels of HER2, defined by HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) scores of 1+ or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization negative (ISH−), and are referred to as HER2-low BC. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, has been approved in the United States, European Union, and other countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low BC (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH−), regardless of hormone receptor (HR) status, who previously received chemotherapy in the metastatic setting or who have developed disease recurrence within 6 months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy. The DESTINY-Breast04 trial that formed the basis of T-DXd approval in HER2-low BC included only 63 patients who were HR–negative and patients with HER2 IHC 0 status were not enrolled. However, the phase 2 DAISY trial demonstrated clinically meaningful activity of T-DXd in patients with HER2 IHC 0 BC. Along with HER2 status, HR–positive or HR-negative tumor status could confer variation in prognosis and sensitivity to systemic therapy. Few targeted agents are available for patients with HR-negative, HER2 IHC 0 metastatic BC, particularly for patients without pathogenic BC gene mutations or programmed cell death ligand 1 expression. Therefore, there is an unmet medical need for therapeutic treatment options in this patient population. Study Description DESTINY-Breast15 is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase 3b trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-DXd in patients with HR-positive or HR-negative unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH−) or HER2 IHC 0 BC who received 1 or 2 lines of prior therapy in the metastatic setting, including (but not limited to) targeted agents or endocrine therapy per cohort. Patients must have an ECOG PS score of 0 or 1, have never previously been HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+), and have never previously received anti-HER2 therapy in the metastatic setting. At least 250 patients will be enrolled from approximately 80 sites in Belgium, Brazil, China, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States to receive T-DXd and will be assigned to 1 of 4 cohorts according to their HR and HER2 status (tested per local practice in accordance with ASCO/CAP 2018 guidelines). The 4 cohorts are cohort 1, HR-negative, HER2-low (n ≈ 100); cohort 2, HR-negative, HER2 IHC 0 (n ≈ 50); cohort 3, HR-positive, HER2-low (n ≈ 50); and cohort 4, HR-positive, HER2 IHC 0 (n ≈ 50). Cohort 3 will specifically recruit patients with rapid disease progression, defined as recurrent disease &amp;lt; 2 years from starting adjuvant endocrine therapy, progression within 12 months of completing adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitor, or progression within 12 months of starting CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy in the metastatic setting. T-DXd will be administered at a dose of 5.4 mg/kg intravenously once every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or 2 years after the first dose of T-DXd. The primary end point is time from the start of T-DXd treatment to initiation of subsequent anticancer treatment or death. Secondary end points are real-world progression-free survival (defined as time from the date of first administration of T-DXd to date of first observed instance of disease progression per RECIST version 1.1 or death from any cause), time to treatment discontinuation or death, objective response rate per RECIST version 1.1, safety, and patient-reported quality-of-life–related outcomes. Time-to-event endpoints will be evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Citation Format: Shanu Modi, Roberto Salgado, Valentina Guarneri, Divi Alagappan, Natalie Dennis, Amy Hanlon Newell, Aislyn Boran, Ouzna Morsli, Antonio Llombart-Cussac. An Open-label, Interventional, Multicenter Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Monotherapy in Patients With Unresectable and/or Metastatic HER2-Low or HER2 Immunohistochemistry 0 Breast Cancer: DESTINY-Breast15 [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 PO2-19-06.

Abstract PO3-09-10: Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research

Abstract Authors: Nasir Qureshi, MBBS Fabian Robles, MS Mai Badran, MBBS Nisha Unni, MD Hsiao C Li, MD Samira Syed, MD Glenda Delgado-Ramos, MD Sangeetha Reddy, MD Heather McArthur, MD Navid Sadeghi, MD Title: Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research. Introduction: Participation of under-represented minorities (URMs) in clinical trials enhances the generalizability of the findings and can also improve clinical outcomes. Multiple factors, such as access, language barrier, distrust, and misconceptions, negatively impact URM enrollments in cancer clinical trials. Here we describe our approach to increase participation of breast cancer URMs in therapeutic trials at an academic-affiliated safety-net system. Methods: Parkland Health (PH) is a large safety-net system in Dallas County, Texas, and is affiliated with the NCI-CCC designated Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) at UT Southwestern. A dedicated team of SCCC research coordinators support the clinical trial operations at PH. In 2020, several steps were taken to increase access and enrollment of URMs in breast cancer trials at PH including review and optimization of the trial portfolio (more trials in curative intent setting), proactive screening, increasing provider awareness, and addition of a bilingual (English/Spanish) patient navigator to the research team. Data for 2018-2019 (pre-intervention) and 2021-2022 (post-intervention) is presented here. Data for 2020 is excluded due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on trial operations. Results: Racial and ethnic minorities composed the majority of breast cancer patients at PH (52% Hispanics, 32% Blacks). Ten percent of new patients at PH presented with metastatic disease. In 2018-2019, PH's portfolio included 13 therapeutic trials, 5 of which (38%) were in metastatic setting and 3 required a biomarker. A total of 47 breast cancer patients were enrolled in 11 therapeutic trials at PH, accounting for an average annual accrual rate of 6.1% (7.6% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019). Accrual to trials in the metastatic setting accounted for 11% (5/47) of enrollments. Two trials in the metastatic setting had zero accruals. In 2021-2022, 16 trials were open at PH, including 7 cooperative group, 4 industry-sponsored (ISTs), and 5 Investigator-Initiated trials (IITs). Five trials (31%) were in metastatic setting and 4 required a genomic biomarker. A total of 87 patients were enrolled in 2021-22, representing an 85% increase in the accruals over the baseline (2018-2019). The annual accrual rates for 2021 and 2022 were 10.5% (43/409) and 10.4% (44/423), respectively. In 2021-22, 63 were enrolled in cooperative group studies, 20 in IITs, and 4 in ISTs. Accrual to trials in the metastatic setting accounted for 6% (5/87) of enrollments. Two studies had zero accruals. The majority of the trial participants (77/87; 89%) belonged to URMs (64 Hispanic, 13 Black). Overall participation rate was 67% (87/129) and was significantly higher in Hispanics compared to Blacks (77% vs 41% - p &amp;lt; 0.001). Among Black patients who declined participation, 42% (8/19) cited lack of interest as the reason, which may reflect distrust or misperceptions regarding clinical trials. Conclusions: The collaboration between academic centers and safety-net systems provides a unique opportunity to promote equity in clinical trials by increasing access and enrollment of URMs. Developing a balanced portfolio that matches the patient population, enhanced screening, and incorporating clinical trial patient navigation at our institution resulted in a sustained increase in the number of URM trial participants. Given the lower participation rate among eligible Black patients, we aim to expand our clinical trial navigation program to better address the distrust and misperceptions regarding clinical trials, as a strategy to further improve trial participation at our institution. Citation Format: Nasir Qureshi, Fabian Robles. Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research [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 PO3-09-10.

Abstract PO4-15-01: A multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of circulating tumor cells using the Epic Sciences platform among women with metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Background: The presence of tumor cells (or their components) in the blood of women with a history of early breast cancer has the potential to herald the development of metastatic recurrence at its earliest stages. Such early detection could potentially lead to novel prevention strategies, but it requires a sensitive assay. Objective: To use the Epic Sciences platform to detect and enumerate CTCs in blood samples from patients with an established diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), prior to initiation of 1st line systemic therapy in the metastatic setting. Methods: We conducted a multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of CTCs using the Epic Sciences platform among patients with a new diagnosis of MBC. Men or women age 18 to 85 were included, irrespective of breast cancer subtype. Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment had the potential to interfere with the detection of MBC in a liquid biopsy were excluded. A one-time blood draw was performed before patients received any local or systemic therapy in the metastatic setting. In addition, those with recurrent disease must have been off any systemic adjuvant therapy for ≥3 weeks prior to blood collection. Two 5 mL blood samples were obtained for CTC identification and enumeration. CTC identification was based on immunofluorescence analysis using Epic Sciences platform as previously described (Ueno et al 2017). The presence of CTCs was correlated with clinical and pathological features, which were abstracted from medical records and pathology reports. The association between the presence of CTCs and clinical/pathologic characteristics was tested using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum tests for numerical variables. All analyses were performed using the R software package. Results: 100 patients were recruited between February 2021 and January 2023 at five academic oncology centres in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. 95 patients had evaluable blood for analysis and 5 did not due to blood age and/or insufficient blood volume. Six patients were excluded after providing a blood sample because tissue biopsy ultimately revealed a 2nd primary tumor (n=4) or benign tissue (n=2). Hence, 89 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MBC and with evaluable blood for CTC analyses were ultimately included in our cohort. The average age of patients was 61 years. Most patients (n=49, 55%) had a prior history of early breast cancer, 38 (43%) had de-novo metastatic disease and prior breast cancer history was unknown for 2 patients. 50 (66%) of patients had visceral metastatic disease. The most common sites of metastases included bone (62%), lung (30%), liver (29%) and lymph nodes (17%). 63 of 89 patients (71%) had detectable CTCs at baseline, prior to any local or systemic treatment in the metastatic setting. The median number of detectable CTCs per 5mL sample was 2 (IQR 8.5) and the range was 0 – 12,798. Twenty nine of 89 (33%) patients had 5 or more CTCs detected per 5ml blood. The proportion of patients with detectable CTCs was numerically highest (n=39/51, 76%) among patients with hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2-ve breast cancer, followed by HER2+ (n=16/22, 73%) and triple negative (n=8/13, 62%) disease. Associations between CTC detection with prior history of early breast cancer, sites of metastatic disease and disease burden will also be presented. Conclusions: Approximately 3 in 4 women with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer have detectable CTCs using the Epic Sciences platform prior to initiation of first line systemic therapy. CTCs may be a promising tool for the monitoring of breast cancer recurrence and will be investigated in an ongoing Canadian prospective observational study that aims to elucidate biomarkers of late breast cancer recurrence. Citation Format: Katarzyna Jerzak, Pamela Goodwin, Marguerite Ennis, Christine Brezden-Masley, Nathaniel Bouganim, Mark Basik, Arushi Jain, Giuseppe Di Caro, Rick Wenstrup, Nadine Hartmann, Megan Slade, Ana Elisa Lohmann. A multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of circulating tumor cells using the Epic Sciences platform among women with metastatic 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 PO4-15-01.

Abstract PO4-17-02: A multicenter, prospective, observational study of patients receiving trastuzumab deruxtecan for the treatment of HER2-positive and HER2-low unresectable and/or metastatic breast cancer: DESTINY-Breast-RESPOND

Abstract Background: Approximately 20% of breast cancer (BC) cases are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+; immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+, IHC 2+/in-situ hybridization [ISH]+), and up to ~50% of patients with primary or metastatic BC (mBC) have HER2-low tumors (IHC 1+, IHC 2+/ISH−), a new therapeutically targetable subset of BC. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved in the USA, EU, and other countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2+ BC who have received a prior anti-HER2-based regimen, or with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low BC who have received a prior chemotherapy (CTx) in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within 6 months of completing adjuvant CTx. Approvals followed positive results from the DESTINY-Breast03 and DESTINY-Breast04 clinical trials. In DESTINY-Breast03, T-DXd improved median progression-free survival (mPFS) compared with trastuzumab emtansine (28.8 vs 6.8 months, respectively; P&amp;lt; 0.0001) in previously treated (prior trastuzumab and taxane) patients with HER2+ mBC. In DESTINY-Breast04, T-DXd significantly improved mPFS vs physician’s choice of CTx (9.9 vs 5.1 months, respectively; P&amp;lt; 0.001) in all randomized patients with HER2-low mBC who were previously treated with one or two lines of CTx. Alongside these efficacy benefits, T-DXd has demonstrated an acceptable and generally manageable safety profile. To optimize care and maximize treatment benefit, insights into real-world T-DXd use and safety events of interest, including patient management and experience, are needed. This study aims to describe the effectiveness and tolerability of T-DXd in patients with HER2+ or HER2-low unresectable and/or mBC in a real-world setting. Trial design: DESTINY-Breast-RESPOND (NCT05592483) is a multicenter (120 sites planned as of June 2023), multi-country (HER2+ cohort: several regions globally; HER2-low cohort: North America only), prospective, observational study characterizing real-world clinical use, effectiveness, tolerability, and patient experience among adults who initiated T-DXd monotherapy, per standard of care, for HER2+ (second line or earlier) and HER2-low unresectable and/or mBC (T-DXd not provided by study sponsor). The decision to initiate T-DXd will be made by the physician prior to, and independent from, participation in this study. Approximately 750 patients with HER2+ and 250 patients with HER2-low disease will be enrolled. Patients must have received prior treatment with a trastuzumab-containing regimen in the metastatic setting or have evidence of disease progression within 6 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment (HER2+ cohort), or prior CTx in the metastatic setting or have evidence of disease progression within 6 months of adjuvant CTx (HER2-low cohort). Data will be collected via chart abstraction, patient-reported outcome questionnaires on tolerability and safety (PGI-TT, NCI PRO-CTCAE, and EORTC IL19), and a daily patient nausea/vomiting symptom diary. Endpoints will be analyzed separately for HER2+ and HER2-low cohorts. The primary endpoint of interest is time to next treatment from T-DXd initiation, a measure of real-world effectiveness. Other important endpoints include treatment patterns, safety events of interest (nausea/vomiting, fatigue, alopecia, interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, left ventricular ejection fraction decrease) and their management, time to T-DXd discontinuation, and patient-reported tolerability. Patients will be observed until end of study (~60% of patients receive subsequent treatment or have died), withdrawal from study, or loss to follow up, whichever occurs first. Citation Format: Joyce O'Shaughnessy, Reva Basho, Maryam Lustberg, Gary H Lyman, Manoj Prahladan, Gareth D. James, Della Varghese, Flavia Lujan, Hans Tesch. A multicenter, prospective, observational study of patients receiving trastuzumab deruxtecan for the treatment of HER2-positive and HER2-low unresectable and/or metastatic breast cancer: DESTINY-Breast-RESPOND [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 PO4-17-02.