6-month Progression-free Survival Research Articles

Case report: Long-term intracranial effect of zimberelimab monotherapy following surgical resection of high PD-L1-expressing brain metastases from NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounted for the majority of lung cancer cases worldwide. Brain metastases (BM) frequently complicate NSCLC and portend a dismal prognosis. To control neurological symptoms, surgical resection is commonly followed by brain radiotherapy (RT). However, RT is often complicated by neurotoxicity. For patients with tumors that harbor positive driver genes, tyrosine kinase inhibitors are considered the standard of care. Nevertheless, treatment options for those without driver gene mutations are still debated. Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)/ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibition has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with PD-L1-positive tumors, as well as for those with asymptomatic BM. However, the effect of anti-PD-1 antibodies on active BM within such specific populations is undetermined. Herein we present a case of a 65-year-old patient with NSCLC and high PD-L1-expressing BM. The patient underwent surgical resection of BM followed by first-line monotherapy with 31 cycles of zimberelimab, a novel anti-PD-1 antibody, and has already achieved 24 months of progression-free survival and intracranial recurrence-free survival. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the intracranial effect of zimberelimab on BM from primary lung cancer. This case report might facilitate an understanding of the intracranial effects of different anti-PD-1 antibodies for such populations.

Anlotinib hydrochloride consolidation after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a truncated, randomized, multicenter, clinical study (ALTER-L029).

Anlotinib is an antiangiogenic drug that shows good efficacy and safety in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of anlotinib for consolidation therapy in patients with stage III locally advanced, unresectable NSCLC after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT). This was a randomized, parallel-controlled, open-label, multicenter, phase II trial of patients with unresectable/nonoperated NSCLC treated with cCRT. The participants were randomized 2:1 to the anlotinib or control group. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were the disease control rate (DCR) and overall survival. This study was terminated early due to poor recruitment. Nine and two participants were randomly assigned to the anlotinib and control groups, respectively. One participant in the control group was excluded due to taking prohibited medications before the first efficacy evaluation. In the anlotinib group, the median age was 63 (range, 37-74) years. Two participants achieved partial response, six stable disease, and one progressive disease as best response. The DCR was 88.9%. The median PFS was 11.5 months, and the 12-month PFS rate was 33.9%. All related adverse events were grade 1 or 2. Two participants had a dose adjustment during the study. The evaluable data suggest that anlotinib alone was effective and tolerable in consolidation therapy after cCRT in patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC. The results need to be confirmed by a large-sample trial. This clinical trial was registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03743129). Registration date: 6 September 2018.

Abstract PO1-05-01: Cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors Combined with Radiotherapy in the Management of Brain Metastases in HR-positive/HER2-negative Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Purpose: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy demonstrated overall survival benefits in advanced breast cancer patients (ABC), hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) and remains the mainstay in the first and second-line treatment. Brain metastases are rare at the beginning of treatment in this group of patients and are found more often during subsequent lines of treatment and other subtypes of breast cancer. However, there is a paucity of data on the safety and efficacy of multimodality CDK4/6i and radiotherapy treatment in the management of brain metastases. Thus, we performed a retrospective analysis of ABC patients (pts) treated at our institution with radiation therapy to the brain and CDK4/6i. Pts who received radiotherapy before CDK4/6i initiation or concurrently with CDK4/6i (group 1) were compared to the patients who progressed in the brain during CDK4/6i treatment and then received radiotherapy (group 2). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in group 1 vs. group 2; the secondary endpoints were local control (LC) within the brain in group 1 vs. group 2 and severe toxicity. Materials/Methods: Among 379 pts who received CDK4/6i, 26 pts (6.9%) received radiotherapy to the brain. 17 pts received radiotherapy before or concurrent with CDK4/6i and were included in group 1. Nine pts received radiotherapy after CDK4/6i discontinuation due to disease progression and comprised group 2. Results: The median age was 51.5 years (IQR range 41-62). Six pts had de novo metastatic disease. The majority of patients were treated in the first-line setting (15 pts, 58%). 17 pts received ribociclib, 7 palbociclib, and 2 abemaciclib. 15 pts received letrozole as an endocrine compound and 11 pts fulvestrant. 19 pts (73%) received previous chemotherapy. Six pts had an ECOG performance status of 0, 15 pts ECOG 1, and 5 pts ECOG 2. The most common local treatment was whole-brain radiotherapy with a total dose of 20 Gy delivered in 5 fractions (fr) (11 pts: 4 pts VMAT, 2 pts IMRT, 3 pts 3D, and 2 pts 2D). Eight pts received stereotactic radiation therapy (6 pts with Linac: 2 pts 24 Gy/2 fr, 2 pts 24 Gy/3 fr, 2 pts 25 Gy/5 fr; 1 pt GammKnife 20 Gy/1 fr, 1 pt Cyberknife 15 Gy/3 fr). Six- and 12-month PFS in group 1 was 88.2% (95% CI74.1-100) and 58.8% (95% CI: 37.7- 91.8), respectively, whereas in group 2, six- and 12-month PFS was 55.6% (95%CI: 31- 99.7) and 44.4% (95% CI: 21- 92.2), respectively. Six- and 12-month LC in group 1 was 92.3% (95%CI: 78.9-100) and 83.9% (65.7-100), respectively. LC in group 2 was poor: 3-month LC was only 66.7 (30-100). At a median follow-up of 8.8 months, no unanticipated toxicity was reported. Conclusion: Multimodality treatment with CDK4/6i and radiotherapy to the brain is safe and effective. Patients who developed metastases during CDK4/6i treatment tend to have a worse prognosis in comparison to those who received prior radiotherapy. CDK4/6i following radiotherapy seems to be an effective and valuable treatment option in this particular metastatic breast cancer population. Citation Format: Marcin Kubeczko, Dorota Gabryś, Anna Polakiewicz-Gilowska, Aleksandra Krzywon, Donata Gräupner, Barbara Łanoszka, Marta Mianowska-Malec, Aleksandra Leśniak, Katarzyna Świderska, Konstanty Chomik, Barbara Grandys, Michał Jarząb. Cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors Combined with Radiotherapy in the Management of Brain Metastases in HR-positive/HER2-negative Breast Cancer Patients [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 PO1-05-01.

Abstract RF01-04: Final results from the phase 2, open-label FOENIX-MBC2 study: efficacy and safety of futibatinib in adult patients with locally advanced/metastatic HR+/HER2− breast cancer harboring high-level FGFR1 gene amplification

Abstract Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene amplification and overexpression is associated with an adverse prognosis in hormone receptor–positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2−) breast cancer and is observed in ~10% of all invasive breast cancers. The phase 2 FOENIX-MBC2 study (NCT04024436) was designed to evaluate the effect of futibatinib, a highly selective and potent irreversible covalent inhibitor of FGFR1–4 (FDA-approved for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), used either alone or in combination with fulvestrant in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Here, we report final efficacy and safety data for the cohort of patients receiving futibatinib plus fulvestrant for HR+/HER2− breast cancer harboring high-level FGFR1 gene amplification. Methods: Patients were eligible if they had disease progression after prior therapy for advanced/metastatic disease, had measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, were fulvestrant-naïve, and had previously received 1–2 endocrine-containing therapies, ≤1 chemotherapy regimen, and a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor for advanced cancer (unless ineligible). High-level FGFR1 gene amplification, determined in tumor tissue using next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or similar assays, was defined as FGFR1/centromere 8 ratio ≥5 or FGFR1 copy number ≥10 signals per cell. Local FGFR1 determination results were confirmed in tumor tissue by a central laboratory using FISH. Patients received oral futibatinib 20 mg once daily and standard fulvestrant dosing until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or other discontinuation criteria were met. The primary endpoint was the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. Key secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), PFS, and overall safety. Results: Overall, 22 female patients were enrolled in this cohort. Patients were a median age of 58 years, had received a median of 3 lines of any prior systemic anticancer therapy, and had all received CDK4/6 inhibitor pretreatment. PFS at 6 months was observed in 10 (45.5%) patients (95% CI: 24.4, 67.8) and the median PFS was 7.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1, 7.6) months. Four patients had a confirmed partial response (ORR: 18.2%; 95% CI: 5.2, 40.3). The median duration of response was 6.3 (range: 3.3–12.8) months. All patients had ≥1 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), the most common being hyperphosphatemia (95.5%), alopecia (54.5%), constipation (45.5%), and dry mouth (40.9%). There were 5 (22.7%) patients with a Grade 3 TRAE (no Grade 4 or 5). TRAEs leading to study treatment interruption or reduction were seen in 9 (40.9%) and 15 (68.2%) patients, respectively. There were 2 (9.1%) patients who had TRAEs leading to study treatment discontinuation. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Futibatinib plus fulvestrant showed antitumor activity in patients with advanced HR+/HER2− breast cancer with FGFR1 amplification progressing on prior CDK4/6 inhibitors, with a numerically higher ORR and doubling in PFS relative to historical fulvestrant results in post-CDK4/6 patients. The safety profile was consistent with those of the individual study drugs. Further biomarker work is ongoing. Citation Format: Senthil Damodaran, Fabrice André, Nisha Unni, Marta Ferreira, Karthik Giridhar, Brooke Daniel, Marco Colleoni, Luis Costa, Thomas Bachelot, Ciara O’Brien, Gail Wright, Masashi Shimura, Gareth Tomlinson, Maciej Gil, Nicholas Turner. Final results from the phase 2, open-label FOENIX-MBC2 study: efficacy and safety of futibatinib in adult patients with locally advanced/metastatic HR+/HER2− breast cancer harboring high-level FGFR1 gene amplification [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 RF01-04.

Abstract PO4-04-02: Real-world first line use of trastuzumab biosimilar (HLX02), pertuzumab and chemotherapy for Chinese patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Background: HLX02 (Zercepac®) is the first manufactured trastuzumab biosimilar in China. Its similar efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity compared with Herceptin was confirmed in phase III clinical trials in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. Nevertheless, the real-world evidence of HLX02 combined with pertuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in China is still warranted. Methods: In this real world observational study, patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who received HLX02, pertuzuamb and chemotherapy as first line treatment at Beijing Cancer Hospital from April 2020 to April 2023 were retrospectively and prospectively included. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and adverse events (AEs). Results: A total of 55 patients (including one male) were included in this study and analyzed. The median age was 57 (range: 49, 62) years. Nearly one-third of tumors were estrogen receptor-positive (n=20, 36.4%). Thirty patients (54.5%) had newly-diagnosed stage IV disease. Visceral metastasis was reported in 40 patients (72.7%), most commonly observed in liver (n=22, 40%) and lung (n=19, 34.5%). Seven patients received prior anti-HER2 therapy during (neo-) adjuvant therapy (n=7, 12.7%). Taxane was the most commonly administrated chemotherapy regimen (n=51, 92.7%), including 56.4% albumin-bound paclitaxel, 20% liposomal paclitaxel and 18.2% docetaxel. Objective response was observed in 44 patients, leading to an ORR of 80%, and the DCR achieved 100%. HLX02 and pertuzumab was continued as maintenance therapy in 50 patients (90.9%), among which 17 combined with endocrine therapy (30.9%) and 6 combined with oral chemotherapy (10.9%). With a median follow-up of 9.8 months (range: 0.6-38.2). Progressive disease (PD) occurred in 12 of 55 patients (21.8%) and no deaths occurred. The median PFS was 24.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.9- not estimated). The 12-month and 18-month PFS rate was 84.0% (95%CI: 72.9-96.9) and 58.8% (95%CI: 41.5 ~ 83.2), respectively. OS cannot be estimated yet due to immature data. HLX02-related diarrhea and infusion-related reaction was reported in 2 (3.6%) and 1 (1.8%) patients, respectively. LVEF values were monitored before and after drug administration, no clinical significant decline in LVEF and cardiac toxicity was observed. Conclusions: The trastuzumab biosimilar HLX02 demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to Herceptin when combined with pertuzumab and chemotherapy for Chinese patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in real world first-line treatment, which suggested that HLX02 may provide another option of Her2-targeted therapy combined with pertuzumab for Chinese patients. The benefit regarding long-term survival need to be further verified. Table 1. Effectiveness Citation Format: Ruyan Zhang, Guohong Song, Xiaoran Liu, Hui-Ping Li. Real-world first line use of trastuzumab biosimilar (HLX02), pertuzumab and chemotherapy for Chinese patients with HER2-positive 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 PO4-04-02.

Abstract PO4-06-07: Efficacy and safety of futibatinib in patients with locally advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer harboring FGFR2 gene amplification: final results from the phase 2, open-label FOENIX-MBC2 study

Abstract Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for ~15% of breast cancers and represents an aggressive subtype with limited targeted therapeutic options. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling plays an important role in breast tumorigenesis and metastasis. The phase 2 FOENIX-MBC2 study (NCT04024436) was designed to evaluate responses to futibatinib, a highly selective and potent irreversible covalent inhibitor of FGFR1–4 (FDA-approved for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Here, we report final efficacy and safety data for futibatinib in the cohort of patients with advanced/metastatic TNBC harboring FGFR2 gene amplification. Methods: Eligible patients had locally advanced/metastatic TNBC with measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, an ECOG performance status of 0/1, and progressive disease after ≥1 prior chemotherapy-containing regimen for advanced disease. Patients were positive for FGFR2 gene amplification determined by analysis of tumor tissue or circulating tumor DNA. Patients received oral futibatinib 20 mg once daily until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or other discontinuation criteria were met. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST v1.1 in patients with centrally confirmed FGFR2 amplification. Responses (complete response and partial response) required confirmation after at least 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints included the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate, PFS, duration of response (DOR), and overall safety. Results: Overall, 21 female patients with TNBC were enrolled (median age: 53 years) in this cohort. Patients had received a median 5 lines of prior systemic therapy. Overall, 2 patients had a confirmed partial response (ORR: 9.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 30.4), with a median DOR of 6.1 months (range: 3.1−9.2 months). Five (23.8%) patients had stable disease. PFS at 6 months was observed in 4 patients (19.0%; 95% CI: 5.4, 41.9) and the median PFS was 1.9 months (95% CI: 1.6, 4.0). Twenty patients (95.2%) had ≥1 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), including 7 (33.3%) with a Grade 3 TRAE (no Grade 4 or 5). Common TRAEs (any grade) included hyperphosphatemia (85.7% of patients), constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and dry skin (each in 23.8% of patients). Anemia was the only Grade 3 TRAE observed in more than 1 patient (n=2, 9.5%). Overall, 28.6% of patients had a serious adverse event (SAE; any cause), and 1 patient had an SAE leading to death (ischemic stroke). None of the SAEs or deaths were considered treatment-related. Conclusions: In heavily pretreated patients with metastatic TNBC harboring FGFR2 gene amplification, futibatinib monotherapy demonstrated modest anticancer activity. Futibatinib was tolerable and had an acceptable safety profile, consistent with previous data. Further biomarker work to identify patients who might benefit most from futibatinib is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04024436 Citation Format: Antonio Giordano, Nisha Unni, Senthil Damodaran, Hope Rugo, Timothy Crook, Thomas Bachelot, Federico Piacentini, Hector Soto Parra, Ian Krop, Masashi Shimura, Gareth Tomlinson, Maciej Gil, Nicholas Turner, Fabrice André. Efficacy and safety of futibatinib in patients with locally advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer harboring FGFR2 gene amplification: final results from the phase 2, open-label FOENIX-MBC2 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 PO4-06-07.

Maintenance Pembrolizumab Therapy in Patients with Metastatic HER2-negative Breast Cancer with Prior Response to Chemotherapy

Abstract Purpose: Accumulating toxicities hinder indefinite chemotherapy for many patients with metastatic/recurrent HER2-negative breast cancer. We conducted a phase II trial of pembrolizumab monotherapy following induction chemotherapy to determine the efficacy of maintenance immunotherapy in patients with metastatic HER2-negative inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and non-IBC triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and a biomarker study. Patients and Methods: Patients with a complete response, partial response, or stable disease (SD) after at least three cycles of chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer received pembrolizumab, regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 expression. Pembrolizumab (200 mg) was administered every 3 weeks until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or 2 years of pembrolizumab exposure. The endpoints included the 4-month disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and response biomarkers in the blood. Results: Of 43 treated patients, 11 had metastatic IBC and 32 non-IBC TNBC. The 4-month DCR was 58.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43.4–72.9]. For all patients, the median PFS was 4.8 months (95% CI, 3.0–7.1 months). The toxicity profile was similar to the previous pembrolizumab monotherapy study. Patients with high T-cell clonality at baseline had a longer PFS with pembrolizumab treatment than did those with low T-cell clonality (10.4 vs. 3.6 months, P = 0.04). Patients who achieved SD also demonstrated a significant increase in T-cell clonality during therapy compared with those who did not achieve SD (20% vs. 5.9% mean increase, respectively; P = 0.04). Conclusions: Pembrolizumab monotherapy achieved durable treatment responses. Patients with a high baseline T-cell clonality had prolonged disease control with pembrolizumab.

Capmatinib plus nivolumab in pretreated patients with EGFR wild-type advanced non–small cell lung cancer

IntroductionDysregulated MET is an established oncogenic driver in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MET signaling may also suppress anticancer immune responses. Concomitant MET inhibition with capmatinib (a MET inhibitor) synergistically enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapies in murine cancer models, regardless of tumor dependency to MET signaling. Here, we report results of a multicenter, open-label, phase 2 study of capmatinib plus nivolumab (a PD-1 inhibitor) in patients with EGFR wild-type advanced NSCLC, previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. MethodsPatients were allocated into high-MET or low-MET groups according to MET expression determined by immunohistochemistry, MET gene copy number as assessed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization, and presence of MET exon 14 skipping mutation, then received capmatinib 400 mg, oral, twice daily in combination with nivolumab 3 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate per RECIST v1.1. ResultsThe primary endpoint was met in both the high-MET (N = 16) and low-MET (N = 30) groups. In the high-MET and low-MET groups, respectively, the estimated mean 6-month PFS rate (95 % credible interval) by Bayesian analysis was 68.9 % (48.5–85.7) and 50.9 % (35.6–66.4). The Kaplan-Meier median PFS (95 % CI) was 6.2 months (3.5–19.2) and 4.2 months (1.8–7.4). The overall response rate (95 % CI) was 25.0 % (7.3–52.4) and 16.7 % (5.6–34.7). Most frequent treatment-related adverse events (≥30 % any grade, N = 46) were nausea (52.2 %), peripheral edema (34.8 %), and increased blood creatinine (30.4 %). ConclusionsCapmatinib plus nivolumab showed clinical activity and manageable safety in pretreated patients with advanced EGFR wild-type NSCLC, independent of MET status.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02323126.

Olaparib and niraparib as maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed and platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: A single-center study in China.

Poly adenosine-diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved to act as first-line maintenance (FL-M) therapy and as platinum-sensitive recurrent maintenance (PSR-M) therapy for ovarian cancer in China for >5 years. Herein, we have analyzed the clinical-application characteristics of olaparib and niraparib in ovarian cancer-maintenance therapy in a real-world setting to strengthen our understanding and promote their rational usage. A retrospective chart review identified patients with newly diagnosed or platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, who received olaparib or niraparib as maintenance therapy at Sichuan Cancer Hospital between August 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. Patient medical records were reviewed. We grouped and analyzed patients based on the type of PARPi they used (the olaparib group and the niraparib group) and the line of PARPi maintenance therapy (the FL-M setting and the PSR-M setting). The primary endpoint was the 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. In total, 131 patients (olaparib: n=67, 51.1%; niraparib: n=64, 48.9%) were enrolled. Breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA) mutations (BRCAm) were significantly less common in the niraparib group than in the olaparib group [9.4% (6/64) vs. 62.7% (42/67), P<0.001], especially in the FL-M setting [10.4% (5/48) vs. 91.4% (32/35), P<0.001]. The 24-month PFS rates in the FL-M and PSR-M settings were 60.4% and 45.7%, respectively. In patients with BRCAm, the 24-month PFS rates in the FL-M and PSR-M settings were 62.2% and 72.7%, respectively. Olaparib and niraparib were effective in patients with ovarian cancer without any new safety signals except for skin pigmentation. In patients with BRCAm, the 24-month PFS of the PARPi used in the PSR-M setting was even higher than that used in the FL-M setting.

A Multicenter International Retrospective Investigation Assessing the Prognostic Role of Inflammation-Based Scores (Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte, Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte, and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios) in Patients with Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Undergoing Chemoembolizations of the Liver.

The utilization of inflammation-based scores, such as the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR), and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), has garnered attention for their potential as prognostic indicators in various cancers. However, their predictive role in patients with intermediate-stage HCC undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains an area that requires further investigation, as early recognition of TACE refractoriness holds the potential to guide tailored therapeutic interventions. This multicenter international retrospective study analyzed data from patients with intermediate-stage HCC undergoing TACE between 2018 and 2024. Inflammation-based scores (NLR, LMR, PLR) were assessed preoperatively to predict treatment outcomes. Two hundred and fourteen patients were enrolled. Preoperative LMR showed the largest area under the curve for the prediction of 6-months PFS, based on the ROC curve analysis. Both high LMR (≥2.24) and low NLR (<4.72) were associated with improved objective response rates and 6-month progression-free survival. Lymphocyte count emerged as a strong predictor of treatment response in both simple (p < 0.001) and multiple (p < 0.001) logistic regression analyses. This study highlights the prognostic value of inflammation-based scores, particularly LMR and NLR, in predicting the treatment response and short-term outcomes of patients with intermediate-stage HCC undergoing TACE. Future investigations should focus on validating these scores' clinical applicability and assessing their impact on long-term patient survival and therapeutic decision-making.

Effects of Short-Term Lenvatinib Administration Prior to Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib, employing a 4-day lenvatinib administration followed by TACE without an interval (short-term LEN-TACE), was performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim was to assess tumor hemodynamics following the 4-day lenvatinib and to evaluate the treatment outcomes after the short-term LEN-TACE. 25 unresectable HCC patients received this combined therapy. Lenvatinib (4-12 mg) was administrated for 4 days prior to TACE. Perfusion CT scans were obtained before and after the lenvatinib administration. Either cTACE (76%) or DEB-TACE (24%) were performed. intra-tumor blood flow significantly decreased after the 4-day lenvatinib (p < 0.05). The TACE procedure was successful with no severe adverse events in all patients. The overall complete response (CR) rate was 75% (cTACE 84%, DEB-TACE 40%). The lipiodol-washout ratio between 1 week and 4 months after cTACE correlated with the arterial flow reduction ratio by lenvatinib prior to TACE (r = -0.55). The 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 75.0%. The short-term LEN-TACE is feasible and safe, demonstrating promising outcomes with a high CR ratio, contributing to lipiodol retention in the tumor after cTACE, and extended PFS. To confirm the advantages of this treatment protocol, a prospective clinical trial is mandatory.

First-Line LV5FU2 with or without Aflibercept in Patients with Non-Resectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Phase II Trial (PRODIGE 25-FFCD-FOLFA).

Fluropyrimidine monotherapy is an option for some patients with inoperable metastatic colorectal cancer. Unlike bevacizumab, the addition of aflibercept, an antibody acting as an anti-angiogenic agent, has never been evaluated in this context. The aim of the study was to determine whether aflibercept could increase the efficacy of fluoropyrimidine monotherapy without increasing toxicity. This multicenter phase II non-comparative trial evaluated the addition of aflibercept to infusional 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (LV5FU2 regimen) as first-line treatment in patients unfit to receive doublet cytotoxic chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). The clinical hypotheses expected a PFS rate at 6 months of over 40% (60% expected). A total of 117 patients, with a median age of 81 years, were included: 59 in arm A (LV5FU2-aflibercept) and 58 in arm B (LV5FU2 alone). Six-month PFS was 54.7% in both arms (90% CI 42.5-66.5 in both). Median overall survival was 21.8 months (arm A) and 25.1 months (arm B). Overall toxicity was more common in arm A: grade ≥ 3 toxicity in 82% versus 58.2%. Given the 6-month PFS, the study can be considered positive. However, the toxicity of aflibercept in this population was high, and continuation of the trial into phase III is not envisaged.

Analysis of Response and Progression Patterns of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: A Post Hoc Analysis of Two KCSG Phase II Trials.

In this study, we evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) enrolled in two Korean Cancer Study Group trials to investigate the response and progression patterns in recurrent and/or metastatic ACC treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs). We evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with ACC who were enrolled in the Korean Cancer Study Group trials. The tumor measurements, clinical data, treatment outcomes, and progression patterns of therapy were analyzed. In the 66 patients (53 receiving axitinib and 13 receiving nintedanib), the disease control rate was 61%, and 3 patients achieved partial response. The median follow-up, median progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and 6-month PFS rate were 27.6, 12.4, and 18.1 months and 62.1%, respectively. Among 42 patients who experienced progression, 27 (64.3%) showed target lesion progression. Bone metastasis was an independent poor prognostic factor. Overall, most patients demonstrated stable disease with prolonged PFS; however, prominent target lesion progression occurred in some patients. Thus, PFS may capture VEGFR-TKI efficacy better than the objective response rate.

A phase II/III randomized clinical trial of CisPlatin plUs Gemcitabine and Nabpaclitaxel (GAP) as pReoperative chemotherapy versus immediate resection in patIents with resecTable BiliarY Tract Cancers (BTC) at high risk for recurrence: PURITY study

BackgroundBiliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare and lethal cancers, with a 5-year survival inferior to 20%(1–3). The only potential curative treatment is surgical resection. However, despite complex surgical procedures that have a remarkable risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality, the 5-year survival rate after radical surgery (R0) is 20–40% and recurrence rates are up to ~ 75%(4–6). Up to ~ 40% of patients relapse within 12 months after resection, and half of these patient will recur systemically(4–6). There is no standard of care for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in resectable BTC, but retrospective reports suggest its potential benefit (7, 8).MethodsPURITY is a no-profit, multicentre, randomized phase II/III trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin and nabpaclitaxel (GAP) as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with resectable BTC at high risk for recurrence. Primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant GAP followed by surgery as compared to upfront surgery, in terms of 12-month progression-free survival for the phase II part and of progression free survival (PFS) for the phase III study.Key Secondary objectives are event free survival (EFS), relapse-free survival, (RFS), overall survival (OS), R0/R1/R2 resection rate, quality of life (QoL), overall response rate (ORR), resectability. Safety analyses will include toxicity rate and perioperative morbidity and mortality rate.Exploratory studies including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in archival tumor tissues and longitudinal ctDNA analysis are planned to identify potential biomarkers of primary resistance and prognosis.DiscussionConsidering the poor prognosis of resected BTC experiencing early tumor recurrence and the negative prognostic impact of R1/R2 resections, PURITY study is based on the rationale that NAC may improve R0 resection rates and ultimately patients’ outcomes. Furthermore, NAC should allow early eradication of microscopic distant metastases, undetectable by imaging but already present at the time of diagnosis and avoid mortality and morbidity associated with resection for patients with rapid progression or worsening general condition during neoadjuvant therapy. The randomized PURITY study will evaluate whether patients affected by BTC at high risk from recurrence benefit from a neoadjuvant therapy with GAP regimen as compared to immediate surgery.Trial registrationPURITY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06037980) and EuCT(2023–503295-25–00).

Abstract CT119: Safety and efficacy of HS-10370 in KRAS G12C-mutated solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract Background: KRAS G12C mutation occurs in ~13% of NSCLC and up to 4% of other solid tumors. HS-10370 is a selective, covalent, orally bioavailable KRAS G12C inhibitor. We conducted a first-in-human phase I trial to evaluate the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of HS-10370 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors bearing KRAS G12C mutation. Methods: In a phase I study HS-10370-101 (NCT05367778), patients of advanced or metastatic solid tumors with measurable disease were recruited. HS-10370 monotherapy was given at oral doses of 200~1600 mg QD until disease progression, intolerance, or withdrawal from consent. Rolling 6 was applied as the dose escalation schedule in this phase I dose escalation trial. The primary objectives of the dose escalation part was safety and tolerability. The secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics (PK) profile and efficacy. Results: As of Dec 15th, 2023, 55 patients with advanced solid tumors were enrolled in this study, including 49 patients with KRAS G12C mutation. Of the 49 patients, 43 were with NSCLC, 5 with colon cancer, and 1 with pancreatic cancer. Safety: No dose-limiting toxicity was observed, neither maximum tolerated dose (MTD) been identified. Treatment-emergent adverse events(TEAEs) occurred in 87.3% of the treated patients (48/55), the most common TEAEs (≥10%) were AST increase (29.1%, 16/55), ALT increase (29.1%, 16/55), anemia(27.3%, 15/55) , diarrhea (25.5%, 14/55), weight gain (18.2%, 10/55), decreased appetite (14.5%, 8/55), hypoproteinemia (12.7%,7/55), nausea(12.7%,7/55), fatigue(14.5%, 8/55) and rash (12.7%, 7/55). The TEAEs ≥Grade 3 occurred in 27.3% patients (15/55). TEAEs leading to dose interruptions and dose reductions were reported in 18.2% patients (10/55) and 7.3% patients (4/55), respectively. Efficacy: Of the 49 patients with KRAS G12C mutant status, 24 had partial response (PR) and 20 had stable disease (SD). The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 49.0% and 89.8% respectively. Objective responses were observed in patients received 400mg QD or above. In patients with KRAS G12C mutant NSCLC who received more than or equal to 400mg daily dose, the confirmed ORR and DCR were 51.2% (21/41) and 95.1% (39/41), respectively. Of the same subpopulation, the median duration of response was not reached (5.4, NA). Meanwhile, the median progression-free-survival (PFS) was 11.3 month (6.1, NA), with the 6-months PFS rate 75% and the 9-months PFS rate 63.6%. Responses were also observed in patients with colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: HS-10370 was well tolerated and showed inspiring antitumor activities in KRAS G12C mutated advanced solid tumors, especially in NSCLC. Citation Format: Xiaorong Dong, Xiangjiao Meng, Yan Zhang, Yan Wang, Jianhua Chen, Liang Han, Qiming Wang, Zhong Lin, Hongying Wei, Siheng Lin, Chuan Li, Qiong Wu. Safety and efficacy of HS-10370 in KRAS G12C-mutated solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [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 CT119.

Phase II Trial of Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: NRG Oncology/GOG Study 279.

To assess efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin (C) and gemcitabine (G) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer not amenable to surgery. Patients enrolled in a single-arm phase II study. Pretreatment inguinal-femoral nodal assessment was performed. Sixty-four Gy IMRT was prescribed to the vulva, with 50-64 Gy delivered to the groins/low pelvis. Radiation therapy (RT) plans were quality-reviewed pretreatment. C 40 mg/m2 and G 50 mg/m2 were administered once per week throughout IMRT. Complete pathologic response (CPR) was the primary end point. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and adverse events were assessed with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 4.0. Fifty-seven patients enrolled, of which 52 were evaluable. The median age was 58 years (range, 25-58), and 94% were White. Forty (77%) had stage II or III disease, and all had squamous histology. A median of six chemotherapy cycles (range, 1-8) were received. Eighty-five percent of RT plans were quality-reviewed with 100% compliance to protocol. Seven patients came off trial because of toxicity or patient withdrawal. Of 52 patients available for pathologic assessment, 38 (73% [90% CI, 61 to 83]) achieved CPR. No pelvic exenterations were performed. With a median follow-up of 51 months, the 12-month PFS was 74% (90% CI, 62.2 to 82.7) and the 24-month OS was 70% (90% CI, 57 to 79). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were hematologic toxicity and radiation dermatitis. There was one grade 5 event unlikely related to treatment. Weekly C and G concurrent with IMRT sufficiently improved CPR in women with locally advanced vulvar squamous cell carcinoma not amenable to surgical resection.

Atezolizumab plus modified docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil as first-line treatment for advanced anal cancer (SCARCE C17-02 PRODIGE 60): a randomised, non-comparative, phase 2 study

The modified docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (mDCF) regimen has shown efficacy and safety as first-line treatment for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, making it a standard regimen. Inhibitors of programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand, such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, retifanlimab, avelumab, and atezolizumab, have shown some antitumour activity as monotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anus that is refractory to chemotherapy. This phase 2 study evaluated the combination of mDCF and atezolizumab as first-line treatment in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. In this randomised, open-label, non-comparative, phase 2 study, participants from 21 centres (academic, private, and community hospitals and cancer research centres) across France with chemo-naive, metastatic, or unresectable locally advanced recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, aged 18 years or older, and with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, were randomly allocated (2:1) to receive either atezolizumab (800 mg intravenously every 2 weeks up to 1 year) plus mDCF (eight cycles of 40 mg per m2 docetaxel and 40 mg per m2 cisplatin on day 1 and 1200 mg per m2 per day of fluorouracil for 2 days, every 2 weeks intravenously; group A) or mDCF alone (group B). Randomisation was done centrally using a minimisation technique and was stratified by age (<65 years vs ≥65 years) and disease status. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed 12-month progression-free survival in the modified intention-to-treat population in group A (35% for the null hypothesis and 50% for the alternative hypothesis). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03519295, and is closed to new participants. 97 evaluable participants (64 in group A and 33 in group B) were enrolled between July 3, 2018, and Aug 19, 2020. The median follow-up was 26·5 months (95% CI 24·8-28·4). The median age of participants was 64·1 years (IQR 56·2-71·6), and 71 (73%) were female. 12-month progression-free survival was 45% (90% CI 35-55) in group A and 43% (29-58) in group B. In participants with a PD-L1 combined positive score of 5 or greater, 12-month progression-free survival was 70% (95% CI 47-100) in group A and 40% (19-85) in group B (interaction p=0·051) Both groups showed high compliance. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher were observed in 39 (61%) participants in group A and 14 (42%) in group B. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (nine [14%] participants in group A vs five [15%] in group B), anaemia (nine [14%] vs one [3%]), fatigue (three [5%] vs four [12%]), and diarrhoea (seven [11%] vs one [3%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 16 (25%) participants in group A and four (12%) in group B, and these were mDCF-related in seven (11%) participants in group A and four (12%) in group B. Atezolizumab-related serious adverse events occurred in nine (14%) participants in group A, including grade 2 infusion-related reaction in three (5%), grade 3 infection in two (3%), and grade 2 colitis, grade 3 acute kidney injury, grade 3 sarcoidosis, and a grade 4 platelet count decrease each in one participant (2%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Despite a higher incidence of adverse events, combining atezolizumab with mDCF is feasible, with similar dose intensity in both groups, although the primary efficacy endpoint was not met. The predictive value of a PD-L1 combined positive score of 5 or greater now needs to be confirmed in future studies. GERCOR, Roche.

Total metabolic tumor volume on 18F-FDG PET/CT is a game-changer for patients with metastatic lung cancer treated with immunotherapy

PurposeBecause of atypical response imaging patterns in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs), new biomarkers are needed for a better monitoring of...

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Leptomeningeal Disease Following Receipt of EGFR-Targeted Therapy, Immune-Checkpoint Blockade, Intrathecal Chemotherapy, or Radiation Therapy Alone

BackgroundEGFR-targeted therapy (ETT) and immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) have shown promising results in treating NSCLC brain metastases (BM). However, little is known of their effect in treating leptomeningeal disease (LMD). Patients and MethodsThis is a retrospective review of 80 patients diagnosed with NSCLC LMD from January 2014 to March 2021. Patients were grouped based on initial LMD treatment: radiotherapy (RT) alone, ETT, ICB, and intrathecal chemotherapy (ITC). ResultsEGFR mutation was present in 22 patients (28%). Twenty patients had positive cytology in cerebrospinal fluid, while 60 patients were diagnosed based on MRI with clinical correlation. The RT alone group consisted primarily of whole brain radiation (n = 20; 77%), stereotactic radiation (n = 3; 12%), and palliative spine radiation (n = 2; 7%). There were no significant differences amongst the treatment groups in age, performance status, or neurologic symptoms. Overall, the 6-month overall survival (OS) and craniospinal progression free survival (CS-PFS) were 35% and 24%, respectively. The 6-month OS for the ETT, ICB, ITC, and RT alone groups was 64%, 33%, 57%, and 29% respectively (log-rank P = .026). The 6-month CS-PFS for the ETT, ICB, ITC, and RT alone groups was 43%, 33%, 29%, and 19% respectively (log-rank P = .049). Upon univariate analysis, receipt of ETT compared to RT alone reached significance for OS (HR 0.35, P = .006) and CS-PFS (HR 0.39, P = .013). ConclusionsThe prognosis for patients with NSCLC LMD remains poor overall. However, the receipt of ETT for patients with EGFR-positive disease was associated with improved outcomes.

Are DNA Repair Gene Alterations Associated With the Response to Platinum-Based Regimen and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Solid Tumors?

We analyzed the antitumor activity of platinum-based chemotherapies and then immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in all-comers patients with solid tumors having a somatic DNA damage repair gene alteration (DDR-GA) identified through a prospective precision medicine study (NCT02534649). Each DDR-GA was classified as pathogenic (Pa), probably pathogenic (PPa), and unknown pathogenicity (UPa) according to OncoKB and ClinVAR databases. Between January 2018 and May 2020, 662 patients were screened. One hundred ninety-nine tumors with DDR-GA were found in 121 (18.3%) patients. Ninety-six patients received platinum-based chemotherapy in the advanced setting. No difference in objective response rate (ORR) under platinum regimen was observed between the 3 DDR-GA groups. The only predictor of worse progression-free survival (PFS) in Cox regression was the existence of a Pa alteration compared to the UPa group: HR = 2.11 (95% CI = 1.2-3.7), P = .009. Forty-eight patients received ICI alone or in combination. We observed a significant trend in better ORR to ICI according to the DDR-GA status: 1/11 (9%) patients in UPa, 5/17 (29.4%) patients in PPa, and 9/20 (45%) patients in Pa (P = .003, Cochran-Armitage trend test), and an increased 6-month PFS probability of 11%, 44%, and 50% in the UPa, PPa, and Pa groups, respectively (P = .37, log-rank test). Overall, somatic pathogenic DDR-GAs were not associated with ORR or PFS to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with unselected advanced solid tumors. However, DDR-GA seemed to impact ORR and PFS to ICI, paving the way for a therapeutic combination with ICI and molecules targeting the DDR mechanisms, which are currently evaluated in ongoing clinical trials.