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Genomic Analysis of Germline Variation Associated with Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy Plus Biologics in CALGB/SWOG 80405 (Alliance).
Innocenti, F, Sibley, AB, Patil, SA, Etheridge, AS, Jiang, C, Ou, FS, Howell, SD, Plummer, SJ, Casey, G, Bertagnolli, MM, et al
Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. 2021;(1):267-275
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PURPOSE Irinotecan/5-fluorouracil (5-FU; FOLFIRI) or oxaliplatin/5-FU (FOLFOX), combined with bevacizumab or cetuximab, are approved, first-line treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We aimed at identifying germline variants associated with survival in patients with mCRC treated with these regimens in Cancer and Leukemia Group B/SWOG 80405. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients with mCRC receiving either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI were randomized to either cetuximab or bevacizumab. DNA from peripheral blood was genotyped for approximately 700,000 SNPs. The association between SNPs and overall survival (OS) was tested in 613 patients of genetically estimated European ancestry using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS The four most significant SNPs associated with OS were three haplotypic SNPs between microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (MGST1) and LIM domain only 3 (LMO3, representative HR, 1.56; P = 1.30 × 10-6), and rs11644916 in AXIN1 (HR, 1.39, P = 4.26 × 10-6). AXIN1 is a well-established tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer, and rs11644916 (G>A) conferred shorter OS. Median OS for patients with the AA, AG, or GG genotypes was 18.4, 25.6, or 36.4 months, respectively. In 90 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), rs11649255 in AXIN1 [in almost complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs11644916], was associated with shorter OS (HR, 2.24, P = 0.0096). Using rs11648673 in AXIN1 (in very high LD with rs11644916 and with functional evidence), luciferase activity in three colorectal cancer cell lines was reduced. CONCLUSIONS This is the first large genome-wide association study ever conducted in patients with mCRC treated with first-line standard treatment in a randomized phase III trial. A common SNP in AXIN1 conferred worse OS and the effect was replicated in TCGA. Further studies in colorectal cancer experimental models are required.
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Nintedanib plus mFOLFOX6 as second-line treatment of metastatic, chemorefractory colorectal cancer: The randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II TRICC-C study (AIO-KRK-0111).
Ettrich, TJ, Perkhofer, L, Decker, T, Hofheinz, RD, Heinemann, V, Hoffmann, T, Hebart, HF, Herrmann, T, Hannig, CV, Büchner-Steudel, P, et al
International journal of cancer. 2021;(6):1428-1437
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Nintedanib is a triple angiokinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1-3, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-3 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a/-b. Thereby, it targets angiogenic escape mechanisms. The trial TyRosine kinase Inhibitor for the treatment of Chemorefractory Colorectal Cancer (TRICC-C) trial evaluates the addition of nintedanib to mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). TRICC-C is a randomised controlled, double-blinded, phase II trial in mCRC patients that received a first-line non-oxaliplatin containing chemotherapy. Patients received mFOLFOX6 + nintedanib (F + N) (2 × 200 mg p.o./d, d1-d14) or mFOLFOX6 + placebo (F + P), in a 1:1 ratio. Primary endpoint was median progression free survival (mPFS) and secondary overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and safety. Fifty-three patients (27 F + N; 26 F + P) were randomised between 12/2012 and 5/2016 (scheduled n = 180). The trial was terminated prematurely due to slow accrual. The trial did not reach its primary endpoint but mPFS, median overall survival (mOS) and disease control rate (DCR) were numerically higher in the F + N arm compared to the F + P arm; however, the difference was not significant (mPFS: F + P: 4.6 months vs F + N: 8.1 months; HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.32-1.30; P = .2156; mOS: F + P: 9.9 months vs F + N: 17.1 months; HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.48-2.23; P = .9387; DCR: F + P: 50% vs F + N: 66,7%; P = .2709). Toxicity was moderate and only different for neutropenia (F + P: 11.5%, F + N: 19.2%) and gastrointestinal disorders (F + P: 65.4%, F + N: 84.6%). Final results show safety and a nonsignificant trend towards improved PFS and DCR for the combination of mFOLFOX6 + nintedanib in the second-line therapy of mCRC.
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Association of high TUBB3 with resistance to adjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer: translational study of ITACA-S.
Di Bartolomeo, M, Raimondi, A, Cecchi, F, Catenacci, DVT, Schwartz, S, Sellappan, S, Tian, Y, Miceli, R, Pellegrinelli, A, Giommoni, E, et al
Tumori. 2021;(2):150-159
Abstract
BACKGROUND No predictive markers for chemotherapy activity have been validated in gastric cancer (GC). The potential value of class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) as biomarker for prognosis and resistance to taxane-based therapy was reported. METHODS We analyzed GC samples of patients enrolled in the Intergroup Trial of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach (ITACA-S), a randomized adjuvant study comparing 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) and docetaxel-based sequential chemotherapy. TUBB3 was quantitated by selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry and patients were stratified using a threshold of 750 attomoles per microgram (amol/µg). Cox proportional modeling and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to assess the impact of TUBB3 expression on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival. RESULTS Patients with TUBB3 protein levels >750 and <750 amol/µg were 21.9% and 78.1%, respectively, and were well-balanced between treatment arms. TUBB3 protein levels were not prognostic. Whereas no survival differences according to the 2 arms were observed in the subgroup with low TUBB3 expression (5-year OS 47% vs 40%; p = 0.44), patients with high TUBB3 had a clinically meaningful poorer OS when receiving docetaxel-based versus 5-FU/LV chemotherapy (5-year OS 31% vs 54%; p = 0.09), with a statistically significant interaction between TUBB3 and treatment (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS The quantification of TUBB3 might be considered as a negative predictive biomarker of benefit from taxane-based therapy in GC. Studies are needed to evaluate its role in the neoadjuvant setting.
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A proof of concept phase I/II pilot trial of LSD1 inhibition by tranylcypromine combined with ATRA in refractory/relapsed AML patients not eligible for intensive therapy.
Wass, M, Göllner, S, Besenbeck, B, Schlenk, RF, Mundmann, P, Göthert, JR, Noppeney, R, Schliemann, C, Mikesch, JH, Lenz, G, et al
Leukemia. 2021;(3):701-711
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All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is highly active in acute promyelocytic leukemia but not in other types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Previously, we showed that ATRA in combination with Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibition by tranylcypromine (TCP) can induce myeloid differentiation in AML blasts. This phase I/II clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of TCP/ATRA treatment as salvage therapy for relapsed/refractory (r/r) AML. The combination was evaluated in 18 patients, ineligible for intensive treatment. The overall response rate was 20%, including two complete remissions without hematological recovery and one partial response. We also observed myeloid differentiation upon TCP/ATRA treatment in patients who did not reach clinical remission. Median overall survival (OS) was 3.3 months, and one-year OS 22%. One patient developed an ATRA-induced differentiation syndrome. The most frequently reported adverse events were vertigo and hypotension. TCP plasma levels correlated with intracellular TCP concentration. Increased H3K4me1 and H3k4me2 levels were observed in AML blasts and white blood cells from some TCP/ATRA treated patients. Combined TCP/ATRA treatment can induce differentiation of AML blasts and lead to clinical response in heavily pretreated patients with r/r AML with acceptable toxicity. These findings emphasize the potential of LSD1 inhibition combined with ATRA for AML treatment.
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Combination of dociparstat sodium (DSTAT), a CXCL12/CXCR4 inhibitor, with azacitidine for the treatment of hypomethylating agent refractory AML and MDS.
Huselton, E, Rettig, MP, Campbell, K, Cashen, AF, DiPersio, JF, Gao, F, Jacoby, MA, Pusic, I, Romee, R, Schroeder, MA, et al
Leukemia research. 2021;:106713
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Leukemia stem cells utilize cell adhesion molecules like CXCR4/CXCL12 to home to bone marrow stromal niches where they are maintained in a dormant, protected state. Dociparstat sodium (DSTAT, CX-01) is a low anticoagulant heparin with multiple mechanisms of action, including inhibition of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis, blocking HMGB1, and binding platelet factor 4 (PF-4). We conducted a pilot study adding DSTAT to azacitidine for patients with AML or MDS unresponsive to or relapsed after prior hypomethylating agent therapy, hypothesizing that DSTAT may improve response rates. Twenty patients were enrolled, with a median of 2 prior lines of therapy and 6 cycles of prior hypomethylating agents. Among fifteen patients evaluable for response, there was 1 complete remission, and 3 marrow complete remissions, for a response rate of 27 % among evaluable patients (20 % overall). Hematologic improvement was observed in 5 additional patients. The median overall survival for all enrolled patients was 205 days (95 % CI 119-302). While cytopenias and infections were common, these were not out of proportion to what would be expected in this population of patients undergoing treatment with azacitidine alone. In summary, this trial demonstrated the feasibility of combining DSTAT with azacitidine, with several responses observed, suggesting this combination warrants further study.
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Phase Ia Study of Anti-NaPi2b Antibody-Drug Conjugate Lifastuzumab Vedotin DNIB0600A in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.
Gerber, DE, Infante, JR, Gordon, MS, Goldberg, SB, Martín, M, Felip, E, Martinez Garcia, M, Schiller, JH, Spigel, DR, Cordova, J, et al
Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. 2020;(2):364-372
Abstract
PURPOSE This phase I trial assessed the safety, tolerability, and preliminary antitumor activity of lifastuzumab vedotin (LIFA), an antibody-drug conjugate of anti-NaPi2b mAb (MNIB2126A) and a potent antimitotic agent (monomethyl auristatin E). PATIENTS AND METHODS LIFA was administered to patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), once every 3 weeks, by intravenous infusion. The starting dose was 0.2 mg/kg in this 3+3 dose-escalation design, followed by cohort expansion at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). RESULTS Overall, 87 patients were treated at doses between 0.2 and 2.8 mg/kg. The MTD was not reached; 2.4 mg/kg once every 3 weeks was selected as the RP2D based on overall tolerability profile. The most common adverse events of any grade and regardless of relationship to study drug were fatigue (59%), nausea (49%), decreased appetite (37%), vomiting (32%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (29%). Most common treatment-related grade ≥3 toxicities among patients treated at the RP2D (n = 63) were neutropenia (10%), anemia (3%), and pneumonia (3%). The pharmacokinetic profile was dose proportional. At active doses ≥1.8 mg/kg, partial responses were observed in four of 51 (8%) patients with NSCLC and 11 of 24 (46%) patients with PROC per RECIST. All RECIST responses occurred in patients with NaPi2b-high by IHC. The CA-125 biomarker assessed for patients with PROC dosed at ≥1.8 mg/kg showed 13 of 24 (54%) had responses (≥50% decline from baseline). CONCLUSIONS LIFA exhibited dose-proportional pharmacokinetics and an acceptable safety profile, with encouraging activity in patients with PROC at the single-agent RP2D of 2.4 mg/kg.
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Phase I expansion cohort to evaluate the combination of bevacizumab, sorafenib and low-dose cyclophosphamide in children and young adults with refractory or recurrent solid tumours.
Federico, SM, Caldwell, KJ, McCarville, MB, Daryani, VM, Stewart, CF, Mao, S, Wu, J, Davidoff, AM, Santana, VM, Furman, WL, et al
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990). 2020;:35-42
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BACKGROUND Angiogenesis is critical for tumour growth and metastasis. Dual inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factors and platelet-derived growth factor receptors suppresses angiogenesis. This expansion cohort of a phase I study targeted angiogenesis with sorafenib, bevacizumab and low-dose cyclophosphamide in children and young adults with recurrent solid tumours. METHODS An expansion cohort including patients with refractory or recurrent solid tumours was enrolled and received bevacizumab (15 mg/kg IV, day 1), sorafenib (90 mg/m2 po twice daily, days 1-21) and low-dose cyclophosphamide (50 mg/m2 po daily, days 1-21). Each course was 21 days. Toxicities were assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v3.0, and responses were evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Serial bevacizumab pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed during course 1. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (15 males; median age 14.5 yrs; range 1-22 yr) received a median of 6 courses (range 1-18). Twelve patients had a bone or soft tissue sarcoma. The most common grade III/IV non-haematologic toxicities were hypertension (N = 4), hand/foot rash (N = 3) and elevated lipase (N = 3). The most common grade III/IV haematologic toxicities were neutropenia (N = 7) and lymphopenia (N = 17). Three patients (2 synovial sarcoma, 1 rhabdoid tumour) achieved a partial response and 18 had stable disease. The progression-free survival at 3 and 6 months were 78.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 60.6-95.6%) and 54% (95% CI 30.2-78.2%), respectively. Bevacizumab PKs in 15 patients was similar to published adult PK results. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous bevacizumab combined with oral sorafenib and low-dose cyclophosphamide was tolerated and demonstrated promising activity in a subset of childhood solid tumours.
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A randomized phase 2 study of temsirolimus and cetuximab versus temsirolimus alone in recurrent/metastatic, cetuximab-resistant head and neck cancer: The MAESTRO study.
Seiwert, TY, Kochanny, S, Wood, K, Worden, FP, Adkins, D, Wade, JL, Sleckman, BG, Anderson, D, Brisson, RJ, Karrison, T, et al
Cancer. 2020;(14):3237-3243
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BACKGROUND Patients with cetuximab-resistant, recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have poor outcomes. This study hypothesized that dual blockade of mammalian target of rapamycin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) would overcome cetuximab resistance on the basis of the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling in preclinical models of EGFR resistance. METHODS In this multicenter, randomized clinical study, patients with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC with documented progression on cetuximab (in any line in the recurrent/metastatic setting) received 25 mg of temsirolimus weekly plus cetuximab at 400/250 mg/m2 weekly (TC) or single-agent temsirolimus (T). The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) in the TC arm versus the T arm. Response rates, overall survival, and toxicity were secondary outcomes. RESULTS Eighty patients were randomized to therapy with TC or T alone. There was no difference for the primary outcome of median PFS (TC arm, 3.5 months; T arm, 3.5 months). The response rate was 12.5% in the TC arm (5 responses, including 1 complete response [2.5%]) and 2.5% in the T arm (1 partial response; P = .10). Responses were clinically meaningful in the TC arm (range, 3.6-9.1 months) but not in the T-alone arm (1.9 months). Fatigue, electrolyte abnormalities, and leukopenia were the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events and occurred in less than 20% of patients in both arms. CONCLUSIONS The study did not meet its primary endpoint of improvement in PFS. However, TC induced responses in cetuximab-refractory patients with good tolerability. The post hoc observation of activity in patients with acquired resistance (after prior benefit from cetuximab monotherapy) may warrant further investigation.
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The Genomic Landscape of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Wander, SA, Cohen, O, Gong, X, Johnson, GN, Buendia-Buendia, JE, Lloyd, MR, Kim, D, Luo, F, Mao, P, Helvie, K, et al
Cancer discovery. 2020;(8):1174-1193
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Mechanisms driving resistance to cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer have not been clearly defined. Whole-exome sequencing of 59 tumors with CDK4/6i exposure revealed multiple candidate resistance mechanisms including RB1 loss, activating alterations in AKT1, RAS, AURKA, CCNE2, ERBB2, and FGFR2, and loss of estrogen receptor expression. In vitro experiments confirmed that these alterations conferred CDK4/6i resistance. Cancer cells cultured to resistance with CDK4/6i also acquired RB1, KRAS, AURKA, or CCNE2 alterations, which conferred sensitivity to AURKA, ERK, or CHEK1 inhibition. Three of these activating alterations-in AKT1, RAS, and AURKA-have not, to our knowledge, been previously demonstrated as mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6i in breast cancer preclinically or in patient samples. Together, these eight mechanisms were present in 66% of resistant tumors profiled and may define therapeutic opportunities in patients. SIGNIFICANCE We identified eight distinct mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6i present in 66% of resistant tumors profiled. Most of these have a therapeutic strategy to overcome or prevent resistance in these tumors. Taken together, these findings have critical implications related to the potential utility of precision-based approaches to overcome resistance in many patients with HR+ metastatic breast cancer.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1079.
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Phase II trial of eribulin in patients who do not achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Yardley, DA, Peacock, N, Daniel, B, Anz, B, Molthrop, DC, Shroff, SK, Young, R, Jankov, A, Vander Woude, A, Shastry, M, et al
Breast cancer research and treatment. 2020;(3):647-655
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PURPOSE Women with residual invasive breast cancer at the primary site or axillary lymph nodes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a high risk of recurrence. Eribulin improves survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer who progress after anthracycline and taxane therapy. This phase 2 trial assessed the efficacy of postoperative eribulin in breast cancer patients who did not achieve a pCR following standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS Women with localized breast cancer who had residual invasive cancer following ≥ 4 cycles of standard anthracycline and/or taxane-containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy received adjuvant eribulin treatment. HER2-positive patients also received trastuzumab for 1 year. Adjuvant hormonal therapy and locoregional radiotherapy were administered as per institutional guidelines. Primary endpoint was the 2-year DFS rate. Three patient cohorts were analyzed: TNBC (Cohort A), HR+/HER2- (Cohort B), and HER2+ (Cohort C). RESULTS One hundred twenty-six patients (Cohort A-53, Cohort B-42, and Cohort C-31) were enrolled. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy included a taxane and an anthracycline in 70%. Eribulin was well tolerated; 84% of patients received the planned 6 cycles. After a median follow-up of 28 months, the 24-month DFS rates were 56% (95% CI 42, 69), 83% (95% CI 67, 91), and 73% (95% CI 53, 86) for Cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (26%), leukopenia (13%), and neuropathy (7%). CONCLUSION Administration of adjuvant eribulin after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was feasible and well tolerated. The 24-month DFS rate did not reach the study target levels in any of the cohorts and was similar to DFS previously described in these cohorts following neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.