Prolonged Progression-free Survival Research Articles

Abstract PO2-18-09: A phase 3 randomized open-label study of extended adjuvant therapy with camizestrant vs standard endocrine therapy in patients with ER+/HER2– early breast cancer and an intermediate or high risk of recurrence (CAMBRIA 1)

Abstract Background: Definitive locoregional (surgery ± radiotherapy) and standard adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) (± chemotherapy or cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor [CDK4/6i]) can achieve cure in many patients (pts) with estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2–) early breast cancer (BC). Nevertheless, a significant proportion of pts with stage I–III disease will experience recurrence to metastatic, incurable disease (5- and 10-year cumulative incidences of recurrence of 8.3% and 14.0%, respectively). There is evidence that incorporating a more effective endocrine therapy after 2 years of standard adjuvant ET can result in clinical benefit for high-risk individuals. Camizestrant is a next-generation oral selective ER degrader and pure ER antagonist. In SERENA-2, camizestrant 75 mg and 150 mg significantly prolonged progression-free survival vs fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with ER+/HER2– advanced BC with disease recurrence or progression after ET. The CAMBRIA-1 study (NCT05774951) is evaluating the potential of extended adjuvant therapy with camizestrant to improve outcomes in pts with ER+/HER2– early BC with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence after definitive locoregional therapy and standard adjuvant ET. Trial design: This phase 3 randomized, open-label study is enrolling women (pre- or postmenopausal) and men with ER+/HER2– (immunohistochemistry 0/1+/2+/in situ hybridization-negative) early BC who have completed definitive locoregional therapy and standard adjuvant ET (± CDK4/6i) for ≥2 and ≤5 years (+ 3 months) without disease recurrence. Pts must be considered at intermediate or high risk of recurrence based on clinical, biological, and genomic factors. Pts are randomized (1:1) to continue standard ET of the investigator’s choice (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor ± luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone [LHRH] agonist) or camizestrant ± LHRH agonist for up to 60 months. The primary endpoint is invasive BC-free survival (STEEP 2.0 criteria). Secondary endpoints include invasive disease-free survival and distant relapse-free survival (STEEP 2.0 criteria), overall survival, safety, and health-related quality of life. Primary endpoint analysis will use a stratified log-rank test adjusting for stratification factors, assuming a two-sided significance level of 5%. Approximately 4300 pts will be randomized; enrollment is ongoing. Clinical trial identification: NCT05774951 Editorial acknowledgment: Writing assistance was provided by Alison Lovibond, PhD, of BOLDSCIENCE Inc., funded by AstraZeneca. Legal entity responsible for the study: AstraZeneca Funding: This study was supported by AstraZeneca. Citation Format: Erika Hamilton, Sibylle Loibl, Naoki Niikura, Priya Rastogi, Kamal S. Saini, Ioanna Gioni, Teresa Klinowska, Ingrid A. Mayer, Mary Stuart, Emilia Syta, Andrew Walding, Thomas Bachelot. A phase 3 randomized open-label study of extended adjuvant therapy with camizestrant vs standard endocrine therapy in patients with ER+/HER2– early breast cancer and an intermediate or high risk of recurrence (CAMBRIA 1) [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 PO2-18-09.

Real-World Experience among Elderly Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with CDK4/6 Inhibitor-Based Therapy.

The largest portion of breast cancer patients diagnosed after 70 years of age present with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer subtypes. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor treatment, in conjunction with endocrine therapy, has become standard-of-care for metastatic HR+ breast cancer. In total, 320 patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving CDK4/6 inhibitor combined with fulvestrant or an aromatase inhibitor were enrolled in an ongoing observational study or were included in an IRB-approved retrospective study. All patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitor-based therapy that were ≥70 years of age (n = 111) displayed prolonged progression-free survival (27.6 months) as compared to patients <70 years of age (n = 209, 21.1 months, HR = 1.38, p < 0.05). Specifically, patients receiving a CDK4/6 inhibitor with an aromatase inhibitor who were ≥70 years of age (n = 79) displayed exceptionally prolonged progression-free survival (46.0 months) as compared to patients receiving the same treatment who were <70 years of age (n = 161, 21.8 months, HR = 1.71, p < 0.01). However, patients ≥70 years of age also experienced more frequent adverse responses to CDK4/6 inhibitor-based treatment leading to dose reduction, hold, or discontinuation than the younger cohort (69% and 53%, respectively). Treatment strategies that may decrease toxicity without affecting efficacy (such as dose titration) are worth further exploration.

Combined approach for predicting the efficacy of nivolumab in head and neck carcinoma by tissue and soluble expressions of PD-L1 and PD-L2.

Predictive biomarkers for nivolumab in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RMHNSCC) have not yet been established. The tumor proportion score (TPS), combined positive score (CPS), and soluble forms of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death ligand-2 (PD-L2) were retrospectively analyzed in patients with RMHNSCC treated with nivolumab. The positivity rates for TPS (PD-L1), CPS (PD-L1), TPS (PD-L2), and CPS (PD-L2) were 73.8%, 78.2%, 56.4%, and 78.2%, respectively. Patients with high TPS (PD-L1), CPS (PD-L1), or CPS (PD-L1 and PD-L2) showed significantly prolonged progression-free survival. Favorable overall survival was associated with high CPS (PD-L1 and PD-L2) and low soluble PD-L1 and PD-L2 levels. The expressions of tissue and soluble PD-L1/2 were not correlated. Our study revealed that compared to PD-L1 expression alone, dual expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in tissue or soluble form could be feasible biomarkers in patients with RMHNSCC who received nivolumab.

From standard therapies to monoclonal antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors - an update for reconstructive surgeons on common oncological cases.

Malignancies represent a persisting worldwide health burden. Tumor treatment is commonly based on surgical and/or non-surgical therapies. In the recent decade, novel non-surgical treatment strategies involving monoclonal antibodies (mAB) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been successfully incorporated into standard treatment algorithms. Such emerging therapy concepts have demonstrated improved complete remission rates and prolonged progression-free survival compared to conventional chemotherapies. However, the in-toto surgical tumor resection followed by reconstructive surgery oftentimes remains the only curative therapy. Breast cancer (BC), skin cancer (SC), head and neck cancer (HNC), and sarcoma amongst other cancer entities commonly require reconstructive surgery to restore form, aesthetics, and functionality. Understanding the basic principles, strengths, and limitations of mAB and ICI as (neo-) adjuvant therapies and treatment alternatives for resectable or unresectable tumors is paramount for optimized surgical therapy planning. Yet, there is a scarcity of studies that condense the current body of literature on mAB and ICI for BC, SC, HNC, and sarcoma. This knowledge gap may result in suboptimal treatment planning, ultimately impairing patient outcomes. Herein, we aim to summarize the current translational endeavors focusing on mAB and ICI. This line of research may serve as an evidence-based fundament to guide targeted therapy and optimize interdisciplinary anti-cancer strategies.

NGS-Guided Precision Oncology in Breast Cancer and Gynecological Tumors-A Retrospective Molecular Tumor Board Analysis.

Background: Precision oncology treatments are being applied more commonly in breast and gynecological oncology through the implementation of Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs), but real-world clinical outcome data remain limited. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients with breast cancer (BC) and gynecological malignancies referred to our center's MTB from 2018 to 2023. The analysis covered patient characteristics, next-generation sequencing (NGS) results, MTB recommendations, therapy received, and clinical outcomes. Results: Sixty-three patients (77.8%) had metastatic disease, and forty-four patients (54.3%) had previously undergone three or more lines of systemic treatment. Personalized treatment recommendations were provided to 50 patients (63.3%), while 29 (36.7%) had no actionable target. Ultimately, 23 patients (29.1%) underwent molecular-matched treatment (MMT). Commonly altered genes in patients with pan-gyn tumors (BC and gynecological malignancies) included TP53 (n = 42/81, 51.9%), PIK3CA (n = 18/81, 22.2%), BRCA1/2 (n = 10/81, 12.3%), and ARID1A (n = 9/81, 11.1%). Patients treated with MMT showed significantly prolonged progression-free survival (median PFS 5.5 vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.0014). Of all patients who underwent molecular profiling, 13.6% experienced a major clinical benefit (PFSr ≥ 1.3 and PR/SD ≥ 6 months) through precision oncology. Conclusions: NGS-guided precision oncology demonstrated improved clinical outcomes in a subgroup of patients with gynecological and breast cancers.

The Vanishing Clinical Value of PD-L1 Status as a Predictive Biomarker in the First-Line Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder.

Our study endeavors to elucidate the clinical implications of PD-L1 positivity in individuals afflicted with advanced urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Patients with advanced UCB were prospectively enrolled following a radical cystectomy (RC) performed within January 2017 to December 2022 at our tertiary referral center. The clinical outcome, defined as the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) on systemic treatment, was analyzed using an χ2-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and a log-rank test. A total of 648 patients were included following an RC performed within January 2017 to December 2022. Their PD-L1 status was analyzed with the primary PD-L1-specific antibody (clone SP263, Ventana) and defined both by the CPS and IC-score in 282 patients (43.5%) with a high risk (pT3-pT4 and/or lymph node involvement) or metastatic UCB. While the median PFS was significantly prolonged 5-fold in PD-L1+ patients, we found no difference in OS, regardless of PD-L1 status, or treatment regimen. While PD-L1 positivity indicates prolonged PFS, the presence of PD-L1 does not influence OS rates, suggesting its limited usefulness as a prognostic biomarker in bladder cancer. However, the positive correlation between an PD-L1 status and a sustained response to ICI treatments indicates its potential role as a predictive biomarker. Further research is required to understand how the predictive value of PD-L1 positivity may extend to the use of ICIs in combination with antibody-drug conjugates.

Osimertinib is associated with improved outcomes in pre-treated non-small cell lung cancer leptomeningeal metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeLeptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a severe complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In patients with NSCLC LM harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, osimertinib is favored over alternative EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, the efficacy of osimertinib relative to other EGFR-TKIs is not well established for patients with LM. We aimed to compare the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutated NSCLC LM. MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to PRISMA guidelines included studies of adult patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC and a diagnosis of LM who received an EGFR-TKI for the treatment of LM. We searched Medline ALL, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. The evaluation of biases was done by using the Ottawa-Newscastle scale. The hazard ratio was used as the parameter of interest for overall survival (OS) and central nervous system-specific progression-free survival (PFS). Results128 publications were included with 243 patients and 282 lines of EGFR-TKI for NSCLC LM that met inclusion criteria. The median PFS in patients receiving any EGFR-TKI was 9.1 months, and the median OS was 14.5 months. In univariate analyses of the entire cohort, osimertinib treatment demonstrated significantly prolonged PFS, but not OS, compared to other EGFR-TKIs. Osimertinib demonstrated significantly prolonged PFS and OS in the subset of patients who were previously treated with EGFR-TKIs, but not in EGFR-TKI naïve patients. ConclusionOsimertinib is associated with improved outcomes compared to other EGFR-TKIs, particularly in patients previously treated with EGFR-TKIs. An important limitation is that most patients were derived from retrospective reports. These results highlight the need for prospective studies for this difficult-to-treat patient population.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapy in first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has led to an increase in randomized controlled trials exploring various first-line combination treatment regimens. With the introduction of new PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, there are now more clinical options available. For the first time, the AK105 monoclonal antibody Penpulimab, developed in China, was included. The AK105-302 Phase III trial studied the efficacy and safety of Penpulimab combined with chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic squamous NSCLC. To determine the optimal treatment options, we conducted an updated network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of these regimens. The system retrieves data from Chinese and English electronic databases, Clinical Trials, and the gov Clinical Trial Registration website up to September 6, 2023. The study indirectly compared the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 combination regimens, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), all-grade adverse events, and above-grade III adverse events. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) level, histological type, ECOG score, sex, and smoking history. Nineteen RCTS were included, with a total of ten thousand eight hundred patients. Penpulimab plus chemotherapy (Pen + CT) provided the best OS (HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.38-0.81) for PD-L1 patients with non-selective advanced NSCLC. Except Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab (Niv + Ipi), other PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapies significantly extended PFS compared with CT, and Nivolumab plus Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy (Niv + Bev + CT) (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.26-0.74) provided the best PFS benefit and was comparable to Pen + CT (HR = 1.0) for PFS prolongation. For ORR, except Niv + Ipi, all the other regimens significantly improved ORR compared with CT. In terms of safety, except Tor + CT, the incidence of any-grade AEs or grade ≥ 3 adverse events may be higher than those of chemotherapy. The subgroup analysis revealed that for patients with PD-L1 levels below 1%, treatment with Tor + CT resulted in the best progression-free survival (HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.86). For patients with PD-L1 levels of 1% or higher, Sintilimab plus chemotherapy (Sin + CT) (HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.31-0.99) and Camrelizumab plus chemotherapy (Cam + CT) (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.28-0.64) were associated with the best overall survival and progression-free survival, respectively. For patients with SqNSCLC, combined immunotherapy may provide greater survival benefits. For patients with Non-sqNSCLC, Niv + Bev + CT and Tor + CT were associated with optimal PFS and OS, respectively. Cam + CT provided the best PFS in male patients with a history of smoking and an ECOG score of 0. In both female and non-smoking patient subgroups, Pem + CT was associated with the best PFS and OS benefits. For patients with advanced non-selective PD-L1 NSCLC, two effective regimens are Pen + CT and Niv + Bev + CT, which rank first in OS and PFS among all patients. Cam + CT and Tor + CT have advantages for OS in patients with SqNSCLC and Non-sqNSCLC, respectively. Niv + Ipi + CT provided the best OS benefit for patients with an ECOG score of 0, while Pem + CT may be the most effective treatment for patients with an ECOG score of 1. Pem + CT has a better effect on female patients and non-smokers. Sin + CT was found to be the most effective treatment for male patients and the smoking subgroup, while Cam + CT was found to be the most effective for PFS. In addition, Tor + CT was associated with the best PFS for patients with negative PD-L1 expression. Pem + CT was found to significantly improve both PFS and OS compared to CT alone. For patients with positive PD-L1 expression, Sin + CT and Cam + CT were found to be optimal for OS and PFS, respectively. It is important to note that, with the exception of Tor + CT, the toxicity of the other combinations was higher than that of CT alone.

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.

The Effectiveness of Denosumab in Middle Eastern Patients With Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study.

Giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) is an aggressive benign tumor, which constitutes 5% of all primary bone tumors. Denosumab, a receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand monoclonal antibody, inhibits osteoclast-induced bone destruction and has demonstrated promising results in patients with GCTB. However, the long-term efficacy of the drug has not been extensively studied, especially in the Middle East. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the five-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with GCTB at a single Saudi center. PFS was defined as the time from diagnosis until disease progression, relapse, or death. Events were censored after five years from diagnosis. Sixty-two patients with GCTB were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 31.16 years, and 38 (61.3%) patients were female. Twenty-nine patients (46.8%) received denosumab during the study period. The median duration of denosumab treatment was 5.06 months, and the median number of cycles was 6. The median PFS was not reached, and the five-year PFS rate was 60.3%. Age, gender, body mass index, performance status at presentation, and tumor location had no impact on five-year PFS. Denosumab treatment prolonged PFS; however, this was not statistically significant compared to non-denosumab patients (P= 0.603). Denosumab does not seem to provide superior long-term outcomes compared to surgery alone. Although our findings are generally consistent with other studies in the literature, larger long-term studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Transitioning to a Personalized Approach in Molecularly Subtyped Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).

Lung cancer has become a major public health concern, standing as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Among its subtypes, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by aggressive and rapid growth, poor differentiation, and neuroendocrine features. Typically, SCLC is diagnosed at an advanced stage (extensive disease, ED-SCLC), with distant metastases, and is strongly associated with tobacco smoking and has a poor prognosis. Recent clinical trials, such as CASPIAN and IMpower133, have demonstrated promising outcomes with the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors in first-line chemotherapy, leading to prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with ED-SCLC compared to standard chemotherapy. Other studies have emphasized the potential for future development of molecularly targeted therapies in SCLC patients, including inhibitors of IGF-1R, DLL3, BCL-2, MYC, or PARP. The molecular subdivision of SCLC based on transcriptomic and immunohistochemical analyses represents a significant advancement in both diagnostic and clinical approaches in SCLC patients. Specific molecular pathways are activated within distinct transcriptome subtypes of SCLC, offering the potential for personalized treatment strategies, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Such tailored approaches hold promise for significantly improving outcomes in SCLC patients.

Abstract CT074: ELECTRA: An open-label, multicenter, phase 1b/2 study of elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib in patients with brain metastasis from estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer (BC)

Abstract Background: Endocrine therapy (ET) + cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) is the mainstay for the management of ER+/HER2- mBC as 1st-line therapy. However, tumors eventually develop resistance to ET, leading to disease progression. In the EMERALD phase 3 trial, single-agent elacestrant was associated with significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and a manageable safety profile vs standard of care (SOC) ET, leading to the first oral SERD approval. Patients receiving elacestrant experienced a median PFS (mPFS) of 3.8 months vs 1.9 months with SOC (Bidard, 2022). Patients who received ≥12 months of prior CDK4/6i experienced a mPFS of 8.6 months with elacestrant vs 1.9 months with SOC (SABCS, 2022). Currently, there are no approved systemic treatments for patients with ER+/HER2- BC who have brain metastasis. The rationale for the ELECTRA study is to combine elacestrant with abemaciclib in patients with brain metastasis, given both compounds have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (Conlan, 2020; Tolaney, 2020). Methods: ELECTRA (NCT05386108) is an open-label phase 1b/2, multicenter study evaluating elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib. Eligibility includes patients with ER+/HER2- locally advanced or metastatic BC and measurable brain metastasis. For phase 1b, the presence of brain metastasis is not required for eligibility. For phase 2, patients must have ≥ 1 active and measurable brain metastasis per RECIST v1.1. Patients must have received prior therapy in the metastatic setting, including ≥ 1 endocrine therapy, ≤ 2 chemotherapy regimens, and 0-2 prior CDK4/6i (excluding abemaciclib). The phase 1b primary objective is to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D); secondary objectives include safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), PFS, and overall survival (OS). The phase 2 primary objective is ORR per RECIST v1.1; secondary objectives include intracranial response rate, DoR, CBR, PFS, OS, PK, and quality of life. The phase 1b portion of the trial is actively ongoing to determine the RP2D with study sites open worldwide. Citation Format: Erika Hamilton, Sung-Bae Kim, Nancy U. Lin, Ahmad Awada, Eva Ciruelos Gil, Alessandro Di Sanzo, Bartomeu Piza Vallespir, Kathy Puyana Theall, Nuhad Ibrahim. ELECTRA: An open-label, multicenter, phase 1b/2 study of elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib in patients with brain metastasis from estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer (BC) [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 CT074.

Efficacy and safety of lenalidomide in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BackgroundThe combination of rituximab and chemotherapy is a first-line treatment for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug that has shown promising properties and activity in a variety of hematological malignancies. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide-based regimens in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.MethodsThe PubMed, Science Direct, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies published up to May 2022. Studies with patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, who were randomly assigned to a lenalidomide treatment group or a non-lenalidomide control group were considered for inclusion in this review and meta-analysis. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the time-to-event outcomes and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs of dichotomous data were estimated.ResultsA total of 3593 patients from 10 studies were evaluated. The results of the pooled analysis indicated that the lenalidomide-based regimen was associated with prolonged overall survival (HR, 0.85; 95% CI 0.74–0.97; P = 0.02) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.70; 95% CI 0.57–0.88; P = 0.002). Significant differences were found in the overall response rate (RR, 1.18; 95% CI 1.04–1.33; P = 0.01) and complete response rate (RR, 1.18; 95% CI 1.00–1.39; P = 0.05) between the treatment and control groups.ConclusionsLenalidomide appears to be a promising therapeutic agent that offers the possibility of a novel combination of chemotherapy free regimen for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Interstitial photodynamic therapy of glioblastoma: An MRI-based follow-up analysis

SignificanceAs the most common primary malignant brain tumor with a devastating survival perspective, glioblastoma treatment remains a major challenge in medicine. Among recent approaches, 5-aminolevulnic acid (5-ALA) mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) has shown promising results. Approach16 patients with de-novo glioblastoma treated with iPDT were retrospectively analyzed regarding survival and characteristic tissue regions discernible in recorded MRI data. These regions were segmented at different stages and analyzed, especially regarding their impact on survival. ResultsThe iPDT cohort showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.4 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 28.0 months. 10 of 16 patients experienced prolonged survival (≥ 24 months). In comparison to other therapies, the iPDT cohort maintained a significantly prolonged PFS and OS. Known prognostic factors for survival after standard treatment were not found to be relevant for this cohort, such as necrosis-tumor ratio, tumor volume and post-treatment contrast enhancement. ConclusionIn this study, iPDT has shown its potential, especially by a large fraction of prolonged survival. Prognosis-related parameters can be derived from patient data and MR imaging data, but their interpretation has to be adapted in comparison to standard-of-care.

Is it possible to get survival benefit in advanced malignant tumors? (data from trials, critical aspects)

Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains an aggressive disease with low survival rates. Platinum-based chemotherapy has remained the standard of care in the first-line setting for decades. Data from two randomized phase III studies are considered as a practice-changing options. After the negative results of the KEYNOTE-361 and IMvigor 130 trials, the combination of nivolumab with platinum-based chemotherapy followed by nivolumab maintenance (the CheckMate 901 trial) has demonstrated improvement in both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The combination of enfortumab vetodin (EV) and pembrolizumab in the first-line setting (the EV-302 study) significantly prolonged PFS and OS in the overall population and in all subgroups. These results support EV and pembrolizumab combination as a new standard in previously untreated locally advanced and metastatic UC.

A Promising Breakthrough: The Potential of VORASIDENIB in the Treatment of Low-grade Glioma.

Gliomas are common malignant brain tumors characterized by diffuse brain infiltration. World Health Organization grade II and grade III diffuse gliomas are considered lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) and have isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations. LGGs are challenging due to their infiltrative nature, making them capable of progressing into higher-grade malignancies. Vorasidenib is a novel therapeutic agent targeting mutant IDH1/2, sparking interest in the field. Vorasidenib inhibits mutant IDH1/2 through a unique mechanism, reducing the production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). This alteration affects key enzymes and DNA methylation, impacting tumor growth and invasion. Preclinical Evidence: Preclinical studies show vorasidenib's efficacy in inhibiting mutant IDH1/2 and 2-HG production in glioma models. It suppresses tumor growth, making it a potential treatment option. Early clinical trials demonstrate vorasidenib's clinical activity in non-enhancing gliomas. It reduces 2-hydroxyglutarate levels and tumor cell proliferation, with an objective response rate and prolonged progression-free survival. The drug's safety profile is favorable. Challenges and Future Directions: Challenges include identifying predictive biomarkers and optimizing sequencing or combinations with existing therapies. Further research is needed to establish long-term effectiveness, evaluate side effects, and explore combinations with immunotherapy. orasidenib significantly advances LGG treatment, targeting a prevalent mutation and slowing tumor growth. Promising preclinical and clinical evidence and manageable side effects suggest its potential impact on LGG management. However, more research, including large trials, is needed to confirm its efficacy and role in treatment.

Circulating tumor cells help differentiate benign ovarian lesions from cancer before surgery: A literature review and proof of concept study using flow cytometry with fluorescence imaging.

Current tools are insufficient for distinguishing patients with ovarian cancer from those with benign ovarian lesions before extensive surgery. The present study utilized a readily accessible platform employing a negative selection strategy, followed by flow cytometry, to enumerate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with ovarian cancer. These counts were compared with those from patients with benign ovarian lesions. CTC counts at baseline, before and after anticancer therapy, and across various clinical scenarios involving ovarian lesions were assessed. A negative-selection protocol we proposed was applied to patients with suspected ovarian cancer and prospectively utilized in those subsequently confirmed to have malignancy. The protocol was implemented before anticancer therapy and at months 3, 6, 9 and 12 post-treatment. A cut-off value for CTC number at 4.75 cells/ml was established to distinguish ovarian malignancy from benign lesions, with an area under the curve of 0.900 (P<0.001). In patients with ovarian cancer, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that baseline CTC counts and the decline in CTCs within the first three months post-therapy were significant predictors of prolonged progression-free survival. Additionally, baseline CTC counts independently prognosticated overall survival. CTC counts obtained with the proposed platform, used in the present study, suggest that pre-operative CTC testing may be able to differentiate between malignant and benign tumors. Moreover, CTC counts may indicate oncologic outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer who have undergone cancer therapies.

Prediction performance comparison of biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to compare the predictive accuracy of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC), tissue or blood tumor mutation burden (tTMB, bTMB), gene expression profile (GEP), driver gene mutation, and combined biomarkers for immunotherapy response of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In part 1, clinical trials involved with predictive biomarker exploration for immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC were included. The area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC), sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio and predictive value of the biomarkers were evaluated. In part 2, public datasets of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-treated NSCLC involved with biomarkers were curated (N = 871). Odds ratio (OR) of the positive versus negative biomarker group for objective response rate (ORR) was measured. In part 1, the AUC of combined biomarkers (0.75) was higher than PD-L1 (0.64), tTMB (0.64), bTMB (0.68), GEP (0.67), and driver gene mutation (0.51). Combined biomarkers also had higher specificity, positive likelihood ratio and positive predictive value than single biomarkers. In part 2, the OR of combined biomarkers of PD-L1 plus TMB (PD-L1 cutoff 1%, 0.14; cutoff 50% 0.13) was lower than that of PD-L1 (cutoff 1%, 0.33; cutoff 50% 0.24), tTMB (0.28), bTMB (0.48), EGFR mutation (0.17) and KRAS mutation (0.47), for distinguishing ORR of patients after immunotherapy. Furthermore, positive PD-L1, tTMB-high, wild-type EGFR, and positive PD-L1 plus TMB were associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS). Combined biomarkers have superior predictive accuracy than single biomarkers for immunotherapy response of NSCLC. Further investigation is warranted to select optimal biomarkers for various clinical settings.

A Deep Learning–Based Assessment Pipeline for Intraepithelial and Stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with improved survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the evaluation of TILs has not been applied to routine clinical practice due to reproducibility issues. We developed two convolutional neural network models to detect TILs and to determine their spatial location in whole-slide images, and established a spatial assessment pipeline to objectively quantify intraepithelial and stromal TILs in patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. The predictions of the established models showed a significant positive correlation with the number of CD8+ T cells and immune gene expressions. We demonstrated that patients with a higher density of intraepithelial TILs had a significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in multiple cohorts. Based on the density of intraepithelial and stromal TILs, we classified patients into three immunophenotypes: immune-inflamed, excluded, and desert. The immune-desert subgroup showed the worst prognosis. Gene expression analysis showed that the immune-desert subgroup had lower immune cytolytic activity (CYT) and T-cell-inflamed gene-expression profile (GEP) scores, whereas immune-excluded subgroup had higher expression of interferon-γ and programmed death 1 receptor (PD-1) signaling pathway. Our established evaluation method provides detailed and comprehensive quantification of intraepithelial and stromal TILs throughout hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides, and has potential for clinical application for personalized treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

Abstract 4170: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based multi-modal approach using H&amp;E and CT image for predicting treatment response of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract Background: Previously, AI-powered spatial tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte analysis in H&amp;E whole-slide image (WSI) showed promising performance in predicting ICI outcomes. However, there were several innate limitations of tissue analysis, including the time lag between tissue biopsy and actual ICI administration, during which tumor microenvironment (TME) has changed, and analyzing a part of a single tumor tissue would not fully assess immunogenicity of multiple metastatic tumors. To overcome the challenges, we developed multiple-instance learning (MIL)-based models and applied them to predict the treatment response of ICI in a real-world dataset. Method: MIL-based models were trained under the cross-validation scheme for CT scans (N=456) separately, based on CT image analyzers. Lunit SCOPE IO (Lunit, South Korea), an AI-based H&amp;E WSI analyzer, identifies various classes of cells within TME and segments tumor regions from WSI (AI-HE-TIL). An AI-based CT image analyzer detects nodules on the CT image (AI-CT). The final ensemble score per patient is computed by the average of all model predictions from CT and pathology image inputs. Single and ensemble performances for predicting responder and non-responder patients to ICI are measured in an independent cohort of 208 NSCLC patients. Results: In the overall cohort, the AUROC values for AI-HE-TIL, AI-CT, and the ensemble were 0.6372, 0.6759, and 0.7307, respectively. The high ensemble score group (≥ median) has prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) of ICI (median PFS 5.0 months vs 2.1 months, hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, P &amp;lt; 0.0001). It correlates with PD-L1 expression, as tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% subgroup had higher ensemble score (median 0.312 vs 0.257, P = 0.0295). Interestingly, among TPS ≥ 50% subgroup, the high ensemble score shows significantly favorable PFS of ICI (median PFS 6.7 months vs 2.9 months, HR 0.46, P = 0.0002). In subgroup analysis according to tissue harvest site (primary tumor vs lymph node or distant metastasis), the AUROC values of AI-HE-TIL and AI-CT for the subgroup harvested from the primary tumor (N=111) were 0.6568 and 0.6658, respectively, and those for the subgroup harvested from the metastatic lesion (N=97) were 0.6162 and 0.6973, respectively, implying AI-CT is relatively not affected by tissue harvest site. Conclusion: AI-powered multi-modal approach of using H&amp;E image and CT image shows complimentary, and synergistic effect to predict ICI clinical outcomes in advanced NSCLC, even in the subgroup of PD-L1 high population. Citation Format: Dong Young Jeong, Jongchan Park, Heon Song, Jimin Moon, Taebum Lee, Changho Ahn, Sehhoon Park, Se-Hoon Lee, Chan-Young Ock, Ho Yun Lee. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based multi-modal approach using H&amp;E and CT image for predicting treatment response of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4170.