Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Research Articles

A bibliometric analysis of the application of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway in cancer.

PI3K-AKT-mTOR plays as important role in the growth, metabolism, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells, and in apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, and angiogenesis in cancer. In this study, the aim was to comprehensively review the current research landscape regarding the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in cancer, using bibliometrics to analyze research hotspots, and provide ideas for future research directions. Literature published on the topic between January 2006 and May 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science core database, and key information and a visualization map were analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. A total of 5800 articles from 95 countries/regions were collected, including from China and the USA. The number of publications on the topic increased year on year. The major research institution was the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Oncotarget and Clinical Cancer Research were the most prevalent journals in the field. Of 26,621 authors, R Kurzrock published the most articles, and J Engelman was cited most frequently. "A549 cell," "first line treatment," "first in human phase I," and "inhibitor" were the keywords of emerging research hotspots. Inhibitors of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and their use in clinical therapeutic strategies for cancer were the main topics in the field, and future research should also focus on PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway inhibitors. This study is the first to comprehensively summarize trends and development s in research into the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in cancer. The information that was obtained clarified recent research frontiers and directions, providing references for scholars of cancer management.

Abstract PO5-09-04: Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® analysis in early-stage breast cancer associated with CHEK2, ATM and PALB2 germline pathogenic variants

Abstract Background: The 21-gene assay (Oncotype DX Recurrence Score, RS) is the only clinically validated assay to determine the prognosis in hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (BC) patients treated with endocrine therapy alone by predicting locoregional and distant recurrence. Outcomes of Oncotype RS in BRCA-associated BC has been studied previously, but the results of RS analysis in BC patients with the other BC susceptibility genes have not been documented. This study evaluates the clinical and pathological characteristics of BC patients with ATM, CHEK2 and PALB2 germline pathogenic variants (PV). Methods: Patients with invasive hormone-positive, HER2-negative BC who have had Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® testing and who underwent genetic testing in the Breast Medical Oncology and the Breast Clinical Cancer Genetics Clinic at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) were identified from the prospectively maintained research database. Clinical and tumor characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Between 1996 and June 2023, 5652 patients with Oncotype RS were included in this analysis. Amongst those 828 BC patients had genetic testing and 81 patients were found to have a pathogenic variant: 17 patients with a CHEK2 mutation, 10 patients with an ATM mutation, and 18 patients with a PALB2 mutation. Among patients with CHEK2 PV, median Oncotype RS was 17 (5–32) overall, 21 (13–32) for patients age < 50, and 14.5 (5–28) for patients age ≥50 (p= 0.2). Among patients with ATM PV, median RS was 16.5 (3–54) overall, 25 (10–54) for patients age < 50, and 14.5 (3–29) for patients age ≥50 (p= 0.19). Among patients with PALB2 PV, median RS was 26.5 (15–40) overall, 20 (15–40) for patients age < 50, and 31 (26–37) for patients age ≥50 (p= 0.012). Further patient and tumor characteristics are shown in Table 1. Conclusion: This is a single-institutional cohort of hormone-positive, HER2-negative BC patients who had Oncotype RS and who underwent genetic testing. Further analysis on clinical and tumor pathological characteristics and long-term outcome is ongoing. Table1. Patient and tumor characteristics Citation Format: Fatma Akkoc Mustafayev, Angelica Gutierrez Barrera, Diane Liu, Banu Arun. Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® analysis in early-stage breast cancer associated with CHEK2, ATM and PALB2 germline pathogenic variants [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 PO5-09-04.

Abstract PO5-03-03: Nomogram for predicting brain metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients

Abstract Nomogram for predicting brain metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients Background: Brain metastasis is a significant concern for patients with early-stage breast cancer, as it can have a detrimental impact on survival and quality of life. Clinical and pathological characteristics of the primary tumor may be modeled into a nomogram that can predict the risk of brain metastasis. The goal is to create a nomogram and clinical calculator to assist in selection of patients with high risk of brain metastasis to enrich patient population for accrual on clinical trials for the purpose of preventing or delaying emergence of brain metastasis, at an early stage of their disease. Methods: We reviewed all early-stage breast cancer patients (stages I to III) N=40290 from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, from 1/1/1997 to 5/8/2020. We utilized multiple predictive statistical models to identify the most relevant variables and optimal predictive criteria. Variables for the model included patient age, tumor characteristics (such as grade,hormone receptor and HER2 status) and medical treatment (such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy). The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), and its AUC (area under the curve) was used to demonstrate the performance of the multivariate model to predict the occurrence of brain metastasis at different time points (1 year, 2 years, and 5 years), distinguishing between patients who develop brain metastasis in a time-dependent manner and those who do not. Results: The results showed the following clinical variables to be statistically significant in predicting brain metastasis: younger age, high estrogen and progesterone receptor percentage, higher tumor size; use of aromatase inhibitor therapy, and use of selective estrogen receptor modulator therapy were associated with a decreased risk of brain metastasis. Higher grade, Ki-67 levels, HER2-positive status, lymphovascular invasion and the use of chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk. The AUC values for the prediction of brain metastasis at different time points are as follows: 0.85 at 1 year, 0.83 at 2 years, and 0.82 at 5 years. These values indicate that the multivariate model has good discriminative ability, with higher values indicating a better predictive performance. An AUC of 0.85 suggests that the model has a high probability of correctly distinguishing between patients who will develop brain metastasis and those who will not at 1 year. Conclusions: Our predictive tool holds promise in assisting clinicians when making informed, personalized care decisions for patients at risk of developing brain metastasis. The model will be validated using independent patient cohorts from Institut Jules Bordet, Brussel, Belgium, to assess their accuracy and reproducibility. Continued research and validation will further refine these models, increasing their reliability and their clinical/clinical research applicability. Citation Format: Akshara Singareeka Raghavendra, Nuria Kotecki, Kristofer Jennings, Ottavia Amato, Debu Tripathy, Ahmad Awada, Nuhad Ibrahim. Nomogram for predicting brain metastasis in early-stage 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 PO5-03-03.

Abstract PO5-11-03: Associations among BMI and patient-reported body image dissatisfaction after breast reconstruction

Abstract INTRODUCTION Breast reconstruction surgery helps women restore their physical appearance and contributes to overall well-being. We assessed body image concerns in the context of breast reconstruction using patient-reported outcome measures: Body Image Scale (BIS), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Appearance Schemas Inventory (ASI-R), and BREAST-Q. Since obesity is known to be associated with body image dissatisfaction1, body size may influence a patient’s adjustment to bodily changes arising from breast cancer and its treatment. Thus, we investigated the associations among BMI and patient-reported body image dissatisfaction after immediate autologous breast reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery were enrolled in an IRB approved study from 2011 to 2014 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Participants (N=44) included patients who underwent immediate autologous (DIEP/TRAM) reconstruction and completed the BIS, BSI, ASI-R, and BREAST-Q, both preoperatively and postoperatively at 12+ months. Descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, and medians were used to summarize continuous variables, while frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the categorical clinical and demographic characteristics. Univariate analyses were conducted to identify potential factors among preoperative variables for subsequent multivariable regression analysis: age, race, ethnicity, BMI, laterality, BIS, BSI, ASI-R, BREAST-Q psychosocial wellbeing score (PWBS), and BREAST-Q satisfaction with breast score (SWBS). Factors with a t test p-value≤0.2 were considered potential predictive variables for the postoperative dependent variables BIS, BREAST-Q PWBS, and BREAST-Q SWBS. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the dependent and the selected predictive variables. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted using stepwise selection procedure, and the model with the highest adjusted R-squared value and the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC) was chosen. All tests were two-sided with p-value< 0.05 considered statistically significant, and for each significant predictor, we report the unstandardized coefficient β. Analyses were performed using SPSS 29.0.0 and SAS 9.4. RESULTS Results from the selected models are summarized in Table 1. Age and BMI were significant predictors for postoperative BIS score. Older patients and those with BMI categorized as overweight and obese tend to feel less dissatisfied with their body image after immediate autologous breast reconstruction compared to patients with healthy BMI. Preoperative BSI anxiety was identified as significant predictor for postoperative BREAST-Q PWBS, i.e., patients with higher preoperative anxiety scores tend to have lower postoperative BREAST-Q PWBS. Preoperative BSI anxiety and laterality were significant predictors for postoperative BREAST-Q SWBS. Patients with higher preoperative anxiety scores tend to be less satisfied with their breasts after immediate autologous reconstruction and patients who underwent unilateral reconstruction tend to be less satisfied with their breasts postoperatively compared to patients with bilateral reconstruction. CONCLUSION Women with higher BMI may experience improved body image after undergoing immediate autologous breast reconstruction, as compared to women with healthy BMI. The use of BIS may provide more insight to plastic surgeons compared to relying solely on the body image correlates provided by the BREAST-Q. Moreover, body image counseling can be beneficial for individuals across all BMI categories, including those with healthy BMI. REFERENCES 1. Weinberger, N.A., et al., Body Dissatisfaction in Individuals with Obesity Compared to Normal-Weight Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Obes Facts, 2016. 9(6): p. 424-441. Table 1: Table for reporting selected multivariable linear regression models; (a) Postoperative BIS with explanatory variables age and BMI category, (b) Postoperative BREAST-Q PWBS with explanatory variable Preoperative BSI anxiety score, (c) Postoperative BREAST-Q SWBS with explanatory variables Preoperative BSI anxiety score and laterality. Citation Format: Sara Bouhali, Nassima Noufail, Tzuan Chen, Mary Catherine Bordes, Greg Reece, Mia Markey, Fatima Merchant, Deepti Chopra. Associations among BMI and patient-reported body image dissatisfaction after breast reconstruction [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 PO5-11-03.

Abstract PO4-06-06: Clinical Implications of Body Mass Index (BMI) in BRCA-associated Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Treated With PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) Inhibitors

Abstract Background: PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have demonstrated promising results in patients with advanced as well as early breast cancer carrying germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (PV). Although there is increasing attention to the effect of BMI on the outcomes of cancer patients, there is limited data on its effect on BRCA-associated advanced breast cancer patients receiving PARPi therapy. In this report, we evaluate the effect of BMI on the outcomes of advanced breast cancer patients with a BRCA PV and who received PARPi therapy. Methods: Patients with BRCA 1/2 germline PVs who presented to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Breast Medical Oncology clinics and were treated with PARPi between 2008-2022 as part of their treatment for metastatic or recurrent disease were included in the analysis. The patients were divided into four groups according to BMI level as follows: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Descriptive statistics, the Kaplan-Meier method, the Cox proportional hazards regression model, and Fisher’s exact test were used to report patient characteristics and outcomes. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated from the start of the PARPi therapy to the time of progression or death. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the start of the PARPi therapy to the time of death of any cause. Results: One hundred and seven patients were treated with PARPi. The median BMI was 25.9 kg/m2 (14.8-61.2). In patients who received ≥2 cycles of PARPi, the overall response rate was 100% in the underweight group (n=4, 3.8%), 65.8% in the normal weight group (n=43, 41%), 64% in the overweight group (n=30, 28.6%), and 58.3% in the obese group (n=28, 26.7%). The median PFS was 5.4 months, 9.2 months, 9 months, and 8.6 months in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese patients, respectively. While the obese patients had a better outcome in terms of PFS (p = 0.0288), there was no significant difference observed in OS between BMI groups. Conclusion: In this analysis, we showed that obese patients with BRCA-associated advanced breast cancer had a better PFS. Future studies analyzing body composition parameters in BRCA-associated breast cancer patients treated with PARPi therapy could shed more light on the impact of obesity on outcomes. Citation Format: Fatma Akkoc Mustafayev, Mark Munsell, Rachel Layman, Clinton Yam, Angelica Gutierrez Barrera, Banu Arun. Clinical Implications of Body Mass Index (BMI) in BRCA-associated Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Treated With PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) Inhibitors [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 PO4-06-06.

Abstract PO4-27-02: Pandemic Shifts: How did elective breast cancer care change?

Abstract Introduction: As the COVID-19 pandemic began, concerns arose that timely utilization of elective breast cancer care would decrease due to state moratoriums, travel restrictions, or fear, resulting in poorer long-term outcomes. Advances in telemedicine provided a new avenue for care; however, rapid implementation brought concerns about variable uptake and disparities. To support longitudinal clinical and epidemiological studies, this analysis described elective breast cancer care utilization during the first year of the pandemic, including patient, hospital, and geographic barriers and facilitators. Methods: The Multidisciplinary Breast Reconstruction Research Program team reviewed all breast cancer surgeries and procedures at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center during the pre-pandemic (March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and pandemic (March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021) periods. The team identified procedures that were deemed elective or preference-sensitive, and summarized the timeline of pandemic milestones and changes, including the implementation of telemedicine appointments. A data analyst summarized the distributions of completed, canceled, rescheduled, and never completed procedures. T tests and analyses of variance tested differences between the pre-pandemic and pandemic year. Generalized linear models assessed patient, hospital, and geographic factors that correlated with successful access to, and completion of, procedures. Two focus groups reviewed data and informed the interpretation of results. Results: During the first pandemic year, 30 breast care procedures were identified that were postponed during March-April, July-August, and December-January. Surprisingly, no decrease in overall utilization of elective care procedures was observed; in fact, 19% more elective breast cancer care surgeries and procedures were scheduled (4752 pre-pandemic vs 4003 pandemic) in 13% more episodes of care (2723 pre-pandemic vs 2415 pandemic). As expected, rescheduling of procedures increased 98% (from 14% pre-pandemic to 27% pandemic); however, the majority of procedures were able to be completed by the end of the year (72% pre-pandemic, 73% pandemic). Telemedicine did not significantly mediate successful completion, as the majority of procedures were prophylactic or reconstructive surgeries. However, extended hours (p = 0.03) and proximity to the hospital facilitated access and successful completion of care (p< 0.01). The most common procedures that were not able to be performed within the first year of the pandemic were autologous breast reconstruction, revision, and mastopexy. Notably, patients reported slightly improved rates of anxiety and depression during the initial pandemic year (11% vs 14%, p = 0.04), possibly due to relative privation or comparison bias. Clinicians and patients/survivors noted several “lessons learned” that may inform access and preference-sensitive care delivery. Conclusions: Despite three periods of state-mandated discontinuation of elective care procedures, the majority of patients were able to access and successfully complete elective breast cancer care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies and initiatives may use this information to explore innovations in care delivery and short- and long-term effects on health outcomes. Citation Format: Haoqi Wang, Greg Reece, Mary Catherine Bordes, Mia Markey, Aubri Hoffman. Pandemic Shifts: How did elective breast cancer care change? [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 PO4-27-02.

Abstract PO2-28-06: An on-line deep learning decision support tool, iBRISK, aimed at improving breast cancer risk estimation and reducing unnecessary biopsies for BI-RADS 4 patients

Abstract Probability of malignancy (POM) for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 designated breast lesions ranges from 2% – 95% and contributes to a high unnecessary biopsy rate. This is as most clinicians often stick to the biopsy option to rule in or out breast cancer early; withholding biopsy could be risky, and biopsies of BI-RADS 4 lesions serve as a quality metric and performance standard. At 21.1%, biopsy-proven positive predictive value (PPV3) rates for BI-RADS 4 have not improved for decades, translating to high false-positive rates of mammography. Unnecessary biopsies are a big issue in the management of BI-RADS 4 lesions with negative implications including increased medical costs, healthcare wastes, unnecessary psychological burdens to the patients, and potential complications and risks. Objectives 1. Optimize the precision breast cancer risk assessment tool, iBRISK, that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including natural language processing (NLP), image processing, and deep learning, with clinical risk factors and imaging features. 2. Develop a user-friendly web interface for iBRISK to facilitate clinicians or insurers in estimating cancer risk and making informed biopsy decisions for BI-RADS 4 lesions. Methods Our intelligent-augmented breast cancer risk calculator (iBRISK) model was trained on multimodal data collected from 10,778 patients, including demographic factors, historical and clinical characteristics, mammographic features, and pathologic signatures. We validated iBRISK using 4,200 patients from multiple leading hospitals, including Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Texas Health San Antonio MD Anderson Mays Cancer Center. The iBRISK was connected to a backend server which is linked to a frontend web user interface using technologies like Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) for the backend application running on an APACHE HTTP server and React-JavaScript for the front-end web application that communicates with the backend using Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface (RESTful API) and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format. The communication was secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Results The iBRISK model demonstrated high sensitivity in malignancy prediction and achieved an accuracy of 89.5%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92-0.95), sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 81%. Only 0.16% of lesions determined to have low POM by the model were malignant. Our multi-center study shows that iBRISK achieves at least 50% reduction in unnecessary biopsies of BI-RADS 4 cases. Data elements for the required 20 features are entered into the interface using a variety of imputation methods including direct text, dropdown menus and radio button selections. The user-friendly web interface provides risk scores (0 – 1), risk levels (low, medium, and high), and associated biopsy recommendations. Conclusion The user-friendly iBRISK web interface is proposed as an adjunct to the BI-RADS system, enhancing the precision of BI-RADS 4 lesion cancer risk stratification. It is expected to reduce unnecessary biopsies, lower health costs, and enhance the quality of health care. This approach aims to tackle a critical issue in breast cancer diagnosis by leveraging advanced AI technologies and big data and providing clinicians with a tool to make more informed and precise biopsy decisions for BI-RADS 4 lesions. Citation Format: Chika Ezeana, Xiaohui Yu, Zhihao Wan, Tiancheng He, Tejal Patel, Virginia Kaklamani, Maryam Elmi, Erika Brigmon, Pamela Otto, Kenneth Kist, Lin Wang, Joe Ensor, Heather Speck, Ya-Chen Shih, Bumyang Kim, I-Wen Pan, David Spak, Wei Yang, Jenny Chang, Stephen Wong. An on-line deep learning decision support tool, iBRISK, aimed at improving breast cancer risk estimation and reducing unnecessary biopsies for BI-RADS 4 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 PO2-28-06.

Research hot spots and trends in endocrine-related adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a bibliometric analysis and visualization research.

In recent years, with the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment, the toxicity associated with immunotherapy of ICIs has attracted more attention from scholars. Endocrine toxicity is the most likely immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and is often irreversible, posing a significant clinical treatment challenge. In this study, bibliometric methods were used to analyze relevant literature in screening endocrine-related adverse events caused by ICIs in the Web of Science core collection database (WoSCC) and to summarize the status, research hot spots, and future trends in this field. 321 countries, 297 institutions, 365 authors, and 305 journals had published 671 English documents on endocrine adverse reactions of ICIs as of 1 December, 2022. The United States, Japan, and China were the top three countries with the most publications. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were the top three research institutions in terms of publication output. F Stephen Hodi, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the United States, contributed the largest number of publications. Frontiers in Oncology, which was the most widely distributed publication in the field. The main keywords or clusters identified that current research hotspots include the management of endocrine-related adverse events, hypophysitis, thyroid dysfunction, type I diabetes mellitus, and the impact of endocrine adverse events on survival of patients in this field. The basic knowledge structure of the field of endocrine-related adverse events of ICIs, including publication trends, authors, institutions, countries, keywords, journals and publications, and cited documents, was visually analyzed in this bibliometric analysis. The research results comprehensively demonstrated the hot spots and future trends in the research field, as well as its broad prospects, thus providing a reference for the researchers.

Cabozantinib monotherapy for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma: a single-arm, phase 2 trial

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with poor response to systemic chemotherapy. Mitotane is the only approved therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma. Cabozantinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved in multiple malignancies. This is the first prospective trial to explore the anti-tumour activity, safety, and pharmacokinetic profile of cabozantinib in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma. This investigator-initiated, single-arm, phase 2 trial in adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma was done at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA). Eligible patients had histologically confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma, were not candidates for surgery with curative intent, had measurable disease, had an estimated life expectancy of at least 3 months, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 with adequate organ function. Patients who had used mitotane within 6 months of study participation were required to have a serum mitotane level of less than 2 mg/L. Patients were given oral cabozantinib 60 mg daily with the option of dose reduction to manage adverse events. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 4 months, assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug per protocol. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03370718, and is now complete. Between March 1, 2018, and May 31, 2021, we enrolled 18 patients (ten males and eight females), all of whom received at least one dose of study treatment. Of the 18 patients, eight (44%) had an ECOG performance status of 0, nine (50%) patients had a performance status of 1, and one (6%) patient had a performance status of 2. Median follow-up was 36·8 months (IQR 30·2-50·3). At 4 months, 13 (72·2%; 95% CI 46·5-90·3) of 18 patients had progression-free survival and median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% CI 4·3 to not reached). One patient remains on treatment. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or worse occurred in 11 (61%) of 18 patients. The most common grade 3 adverse events were lipase elevation (three [17%] of 18 patients), elevated γ-glutamyl transferase concentrations (two [11%] patients), elevated alanine aminotransferase concentrations (two [11%] patients), hypophosphatemia (two [11%] patients), and hypertension (two [11%] patients). One (6%) of 18 patients had grade 4 hypertension. No treatment related deaths occurred on study. Cabozantinib in advanced adrenocortical carcinoma showed promising efficacy with a manageable and anticipated safety profile. Further prospective studies with cabozantinib alone and in combination with immune checkpoint therapy are ongoing. Exelixis.

Cabozantinib in patients with unresectable and progressive metastatic phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma (the Natalie Trial): a single-arm, phase 2 trial

Metastatic phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (MPPGs) are orphan diseases. Up to 50% of MPPGs are associated with germline pathogenic variants of the SDHB gene. These tumours and many non-familial MPPGs exhibit a phenotype that is characterised by abnormal angiogenesis. We aimed to assess the activity and safety of cabozantinib, an antiangiogenic multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with MPPGs. The Natalie Trial is a single-arm, phase 2 clinical trial being conducted at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA). Patients aged 18 years or older with histologically confirmed, progressive, and unresectable MPPGs, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, were treated with oral cabozantinib 60 mg/day. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed overall response rate per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 criteria. All outcomes were assessed in all evaluable participants who received any amount of study treatment. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02302833) and is active but not recruiting. From March 10, 2015, to May 11, 2021, 17 patients (13 male participants and four female participants) were enrolled. The median follow-up was 25 months (IQR 18-49). The overall response rate was 25·0% (95% CI 7·3-52·4; four of 16 patients). Seven grade 3 adverse events were reported in six patients, including single cases of hand-and-foot syndrome, hypertension, rectal fistula, QT prolongation, and asymptomatic hypomagnesaemia, and two cases of asymptomatic elevations of amylase and lipase. There were no grade 4 adverse events and no patient died on-study. Cabozantinib shows promising activity in patients with MPPGs. Team NAT Foundation, Margaret Cazalot, and Clarence P Cazalot.

A structured curriculum supporting biomedical trainees’ transition into independent academic positions and early career success

The United States government makes a substantial investment in biomedical training programs each year. However, for most trainees, these opportunities do not translate into career progression in academic research pathways. Only about one-fifth of postdoctoral fellows eventually secure a tenure-track faculty position, and even among these candidates, attrition is high. Although a number of factors govern career choices and career longevity, the transition from trainee to faculty is a challenging process and requires knowledge and skills that are not necessarily developed during a traditional university experience. Many postdoctoral fellows receive adequate training in research skills and scientific communication, but new faculty report not being sufficiently prepared for the job search process and for starting their labs. To address this critical training gap, the ITERT core (Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training) and the Office of Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center implemented a structured course for both postdoctoral fellows and senior PhD students to provide formalized training for successfully navigating academic positions in biomedical research. Here we report on the pilot Navigating Academic Careers course conducted in 2021–2022 for 30 PhD students and postdocs. The nine-module course was conducted over 13 weeks in 25.5 h instructional sessions. The key educational objectives included 1) navigating the job application and the interview/negotiation process, 2) hiring, leading, and mentoring lab personnel and program support staff, 3) project administration and financial stewardship, 4) managing time and work-life balance and 5) developing collaborations, branding, personalized niche, and networking. Survey-based analysis at the time of the course was used to capture the participants’ assessment of the course content, organization, and delivery, with a follow-up survey conducted approximately 2 years post-course (2024) to evaluate longer-term impacts of the training. Initial in-course assessment revealed that 89.9% of respondents found the scope and instructional content appropriate, and 91.1% found the course relevant and applicable to their career needs. Longer-term post-course evaluation indicated that 80% of respondents applied the learnings of the course, that 80% reported feeling more confident in navigating an academic job search, and that 66.6% continued to report agreement with the course preparing them for their current role/ongoing job search, with 46.7% already securing jobs in academic research, including as independent faculty. The outcomes of this pilot course suggest that integrating this into the broader postdoctoral training curriculum can enhance both the transition and early-career success of talented scientists-in-training into working professionals in biomedical careers, as faculty and science-trained staff.

Knowledge mapping of immunotherapy for breast cancer: A bibliometric analysis from 2013 to 2022

ABSTRACT Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women globally. Immunotherapy has emerged as a major milestone in contemporary oncology. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis in the field of immunotherapy for breast cancer, providing a comprehensive overview of the current research status, identifying trends and hotspots in research topics. We searched and retrieved data from the Web of Science Core Collection, and performed a bibliometric analysis of publications on immunotherapy for breast cancer from 2013 to 2022. Current status and hotspots were evaluated by co-occurrence analysis using VOSviewer. Evolution and bursts of knowledge base were assessed by co-citation analysis using CiteSpace. Thematic evolution by bibliometrix package was used to discover keywords trends. The attribution and collaboration of countries/regions, institutions and authors were also explored. A total of 7,975 publications were included. In co-occurrence analysis of keywords, 6 major clusters were revealed: tumor microenvironment, prognosis biomarker, immune checkpoints, novel drug delivery methods, immune cells and therapeutic approaches. The top three most frequently mentioned keywords were tumor microenvironment, triple-negative breast cancer, and programmed cell death ligand 1. The most productive country, institution and author were the USA (2926 publications), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (219 publications), and Sherene Loi (28 publications), respectively. There has been a rapid growth in studies on immunotherapy for breast cancer worldwide. This research area has gained increasing attention from different countries and institutions. With the rising incidence of breast cancer, immunotherapy represents a research field of significant clinical value and potential.

Reduced dose azacitidine plus venetoclax as maintenance therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia following intensive or low-intensity induction: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial

Reduced dose azacitidine plus venetoclax as maintenance therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia following intensive or low-intensity induction: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial

Visual analysis of bone malignancies immunotherapy: A bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2023.

Bone malignancies (BM), including osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and chordoma, are characterized by high rates of recurrence and mortality, despite the availability of diverse treatment approaches. Immunotherapy has gained increasing importance in cancer treatment. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies that utilize bibliometric analysis to explore immunotherapy for BM. A literature search of English studies on BM and immunotherapy from 2010 to 2023 was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database. Bibliometric analysis tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R Studio were utilized to examine global trends and research hotspots in this field. A total of 719 eligible articles, including 528 original research articles and 191 reviews, were analyzed. The number of publications has shown an increasing trend over the past 14 years, particularly in the last 5 years. The majority of the published articles on this topic originated from China (284 articles), followed by the United States and Japan. The institution with the highest number of publications and citations was the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (30 articles; 1638 citations). Dean A. Lee (12 articles) and Richard Gorlick (576 citations) were the authors with the highest contribution in terms of article count and citation count, respectively. Among these journals, Frontiers in Oncology had the highest number of articles (39 articles), while the Journal of Clinical Oncology had the highest number of citations (1878 citations). Additionally, there has been a shift in the keywords from "antitumor activity" and "NK cells" to popular topics such as "PD-L1," "open label," and "single arm." A better understanding of the current status and prospects of immunotherapy for BM is crucial for the rationale selection of appropriate BM patients for immunotherapy. This study is expected to help clinical physicians and researchers gain comprehensive insights into the developmental trends of BM immunotherapy, providing practical guidance for the application of immunotherapy in BM patients.

Abstract 1283: Digital spatial profiling of metastatic brain tumors reveals association of the tumor microbiome with immune alterations in the tumor microenvironment

Abstract Introduction: Metastatic brain tumors are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The microbiome has emerged as a novel hallmark of cancer, with a prominent role in tumor immunity and response to treatment. However, the role of the microbiome in brain tumors, and in particular brain metastasis, is largely unknown. We hypothesized that distinct microbial communities are associated with alterations in the tumor microenvironment in metastatic brain tumors. Methods: To evaluate the role of different microbial communities in brain metastasis, matched stool, saliva, and tumor samples were collected prospectively from patients with metastatic brain tumors who underwent surgical tumor resection at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Stool and saliva samples were sequenced via metagenomic shotgun sequencing and tumor samples were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The tumor microbiome was further characterized through confocal and electron microscopy and culture techniques. Lastly, we conducted digital spatial profiling using the NanoString GeoMx® platform to determine the spatial association of the tumor microbiome with tumor and immune transcriptome. Spatial single-cell transcriptome analysis of bacteria-positive and bacteria-negative cells within the tumor microenvironment is currently in progress using the CosMx® platform (NanoString Inc.). Results: Our computational and experimental analyses demonstrated that bacterial signals could be detected in metastatic brain tumors and exhibit an intracellular localization. Interestingly, we found that the tumor bacterial signatures in brain metastases were composed of commensal oral bacterial taxa but had limited overlap with the gut microbiome. Spatial transcriptome analysis demonstrated that tumor areas with high bacterial signal were associated with innate-immune mediated anti-bacterial responses, suggesting an active host response to intra-tumoral bacteria in metastatic brain tumors. Conclusion: Overall, this work demonstrates the presence of intracellular bacterial signal coupled with an anti-bacterial response within the tumor microenvironment of brain metastases. These findings offer a new perspective on the dynamic interaction between cancer, microbiome, and the brain microenvironment and can inform future mechanistic and translational studies to improve the outcome of brain tumor patients. Citation Format: Golnaz Morad, Ashish V. Damania, Brenda Melendez, Matthew C. Wong, Pranoti V. Sahasrabhojane, Sarah B. Johnson, Manoj Chelvanambi, Florentia Dimitriou, Jillian S. Losh, Nadim J. Ajami, Sherise D. Ferguson, Jennifer A. Wargo. Digital spatial profiling of metastatic brain tumors reveals association of the tumor microbiome with immune alterations in the tumor microenvironment [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 1283.

Abstract 5061: Improved survival and unique mutational signatures in small cell lung cancer arising in patients with limited tobacco use

Abstract Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains the deadliest histologic lung cancer subtype with a median survival of only 12.3 months among trial-eligible patients with extensive-stage (ES-SCLC) disease, as demonstrated in the IMPower133 trial. Heavy tobacco use, >40 pack-years, is strongly associated with developing SCLC, which near universally harbors RB1 and TP53 co-mutations. However, there is a paucity of information regarding SCLC tumors that occur in patients with minimal tobacco use. This represents an unmet need given an increasing appreciation for low pack-year and never-smoker SCLC with some studies, like the CAPSTONE-1 trial, demonstrating an incidence of never-smoking SCLC >20%. To address this, we clinically characterized the treatments and outcomes of a 164 SCLC patient cohort with ≤10 pack year smoking histories treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; 22 of which underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES). The overall survival of limited-stage (LS-SCLC) and extensive-stage (ES-SCLC) disease in the low pack-year cohort were 33.6 and 16.6 months, respectively (P=0.003); superior to historic medians of roughly 17.0 and 12.3 months, respectively. Among those with ES-SCLC, those who reported 1-10 pack-years had significantly improved median overall survival as compared to never-smokers; 19.5 vs 15.8 months, respectively (P=0.02). This trend was observed in LS-SCLC as well with 1-10 pack-year and never-smokers demonstrating median overall survivals of 88.6 vs 26.2 months, respectively (P=0.2). Demographic differences including age were similar across these cohorts. WES of tumors from 22 patients demonstrated significantly fewer mutations in RB1 and TP53 than was observed in previously reported cohorts of SCLC from smokers. Among the low-pack year cohort, 7/22 (32% vs 98.2%:P<0.001) harbored an RB1 alteration, 7/22 (32% vs 90.9%: P<0.001) harbored a TP53 mutation, and 4/22 (18% vs 90.9%: P<0.001) had co-occurring RB1/TP53 mutations. No patients harbored mutations in EGFR, HER2, or RET. Mutations in potentially targetable pathways were observed throughout the cohort including the DNA-damage repair pathways, RTK/RAS, and PI3K. Taken together, these data demonstrate that patients with low pack-year SCLC have improved overall survival compared to historic averages for SCLC patients with a history of heavy tobacco use. Paradoxically, however, light-smokers with SCLC live longer than never-smokers, and these patients may harbor a higher frequency of targetable alterations than typical SCLC patients, highlighting the importance of molecular profiling in SCLC patients with minimal tobacco use. Citation Format: Kyle Concannon, Moushumi Sahu, Whitney Lewis, Hai Tran, Lixia Diao, Yuanxin Xi, Benjamin Morris, Simon Heeke, Ximing Tang, John Stewart, Ivan Valiev, Gabriela Raso, Jing Wang, Koji Sasaki, Carl Gay, John Heymach, Lauren Byers. Improved survival and unique mutational signatures in small cell lung cancer arising in patients with limited tobacco use [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 5061.

Clinical and prognostic differences in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in USA and Denmark, two HPV high-prevalence areas

BackgroundUncertainty persists regarding clinical and treatment variations crucial to consider when comparing high human papillomavirus (HPV)-prevalence oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cohorts for accurate patient stratification and replicability of clinical trials across different geographical areas. MethodsOPSCC patients were included from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC), USA and from The University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark from 2015–2020, (n = 2484). Outcomes were 3-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free interval (RFI). Subgroup analyses were made for low-risk OPSCC patients (T1–2N0M0) and high-risk patients (UICC8 III-IV). ResultsThere were significantly more HPV-positive (88.2 % vs. 63.1 %), males (89.4 % vs. 74.1 %), never-smokers (52.1 % vs. 23.7 %), lower UICC8-stage (I/II: 79.3 % vs. 68 %), and fewer patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone (14.8 % vs. 30.3 %) in the UTMDACC cohort. No difference in the adjusted OS was observed (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, p = 0.23), but a significantly increased RFI HR was observed for the Copenhagen cohort (HR: 1.74, p = 0.003). Subgroup analyses of low- and high-risk patients revealed significant clinical and treatment differences. No difference in prognosis was observed for low-risk patients, but the prognosis for high-risk patients in the Copenhagen cohort was worse (OS HR 2.20, p = 0.004, RFI HR 2.80, p = 0.002). ConclusionsWe identified significant differences in clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis between a Northern European and Northern American OPSCC population. These differences are important to consider when comparing outcomes and for patient stratification in clinical trials, as reproducibility might be challenging.

Worldwide research trends on tumor burden and immunotherapy: a bibliometric analysis.

Various immunotherapy has been greatly applied to comprehensive treatment of malignant cancer under different degrees of tumor burden. Scientific researchers have gained considerable progress in the relationship between immunotherapy and tumor burden in recent years. This review aimed to explore the prospect and developing trends in the field of tumor burden and immunotherapy from a bibliometric perspective. Articles about tumor burden and immunotherapy were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) (retrieved on 3 January 2023). The R package 'Bibliometrix' analyzed the primary bibliometric features and created a three-filed plot to display the relationship between institutions, countries, and keywords. VOSviewer was used for co-authorship analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and their visualization. And CiteSpace calculated the citation burst references and keywords. A total of 1030 publications were retrieved from 35 years of scientific researches. The United States (US) and China published the most articles. The most productive journals were Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy and Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer . The top one institution of the highest output was University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The hot keywords of strong citation burst strength in recent years were 'nivolumab', 'tumor microenvironment', and 'immune checkpoint inhibitor'. The most popular tumor type is melanoma. This bibliometric analysis mapped a basic knowledge structure. The field of tumor burden and immunotherapy is entering a rapid growing stage and keeping it value for future research.

Knowledge domains and emerging trends in immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors: A bibliometrics and visualized analysis

ObjectiveThe primary objective of this paper is to investigate the research hotspots and future trends of immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, offering valuable insights for researchers in this field. MethodologyUsing the visual analysis software, this study conducted quantitative statistics and visualization research on the relevant literature concerning immune-related adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors in the Web of Science Core Collection Database. By evaluating the publication trends, countries, institutions, keywords, research status, cited documents, and document co-citations, among several others, the discussion revolved around the hot spots and future development trends in this field and provided references for future research. Findings and conclusionsA total of 514 English articles were included, and the top three countries in the research field at the time of this study were the United States, Japan, and China. More specifically, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital have been the top three research institutes with more than 10 publications. The frequency of keyword use linked to immune-related adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors in literature research has been steadily growing over the years. Additionally, the research with respect to the disease focuses on melanoma, cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and breast cancer. In the context of drugs, cancer-related research has mainly focused on the combined use of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Meanwhile, research on adverse events has delved into the immune checkpoint inhibitors causing vitiligo, thyroid dysfunction, pancreatitis, cholangitis, and rheumatism. Related studies cover acute arthritis, myositis, acute kidney injury, as well as the combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and docetaxel, management of irAEs in cancer immunotherapy, and biomarkers of immune adverse reactions of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, case report studies of immune adverse reactions caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors could serve as research hotspots in the future.

Esophageal Cancer Outcomes After Definitive Chemotherapy With Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy

PurposeThe effectiveness of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for esophageal cancer treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy remains inadequately explored. We investigated long-term outcomes and toxicity experienced by patients who received IMPT as part of definitive esophageal cancer treatment. Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively identified and analyzed 34 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who received IMPT with concurrent chemotherapy as a definitive treatment regimen at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2011 to 2021. The median IMPT dose was 50.4 GyRBE in 28 fractions; concurrent chemotherapy consisted of fluorouracil and/or taxane and/or platinum. Survival outcomes were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method, and toxicity was scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. ResultsThe median age of all patients was 71.5 years. Most patients had stage III (cT3 cM0) adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus. At a median follow-up time of 39 months, the 5-year overall survival rate was 41.1%; progression-free survival, 34.6%; local regional recurrence-free survival, 78.1%; and distant metastasis-free survival, 65.0%. Common acute chemoradiation therapy-related toxicities included hematologic toxicity, esophagitis (and late-onset), fatigue, weight loss, and nausea (and late-onset); grade 3 toxicity rates were 26.0% for hematologic, 18.0% for esophagitis and 9.0% for nausea. No patient had grade ≥3 wt loss or radiation pneumonitis, and no patients had pulmonary fibrosis or esophageal fistula. No grade ≥4 events were observed except for hematologic toxicity (lymphopenia) in 2 patients. ConclusionLong-term survival and toxicity were excellent after IMPT for locally advanced esophageal cancer treated definitively with concurrent chemoradiation therapy. When available, IMPT should be offered to such patients to minimize treatment-related cardiopulmonary toxicity without sacrificing outcomes.