Towards precision oncology for HER2 blockade in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) represents a very heterogeneous disease and patients in advanced stages have a very poor prognosis. Although several molecular classifications have been proposed, precision medicine for HER2-amplified GEA patients still represents a challenge. Despite improvement in clinical outcomes obtained by adding trastuzumab to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, no other anti-HER2 agents used first-line or beyond progression have demonstrated any benefit. Several factors contribute to this failure. Among them, variable HER2 amplification assessment, tumour heterogeneity, molecular mechanisms of resistance and microenvironmental factors could limit the effecti…

In the literature: October 2016

A consortium on clinical and molecular stratification on oesophageal adenocarcinoma established in Britain has recently published in Nature Genetics , a whole-genomic sequencing analysis of more than 100 samples.1 Interestingly, they describe three distinct molecular subtypes with potential treatment relevance. This observation has also been verified in an independent validation cohort. Those three types are: (1) the ones showing homologous recombination and chromosome segregation pathways defects with enrichment of a BRCA signature. These tumours would be sensitive to DNA damaging agents, including neutron and photon irradiation with the addition of PARP inhibitors, (2) a group with high m…

Precision Medicine to Treat Advanced Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Work in Progress

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) represents a heterogeneous disease and, when diagnosed as locally advanced or metastatic, it is characterized by poor prognosis. During the last few years, several molecular classifications have been proposed to try to personalize treatment for those patients diagnosed with advanced disease. Nevertheless, despite the great effort, precision medicine is still far from being a reality. The improvement in the molecular analysis due to the application of high throughput technologies based on DNA and RNA sequencing has opened a novel scenario leading to the personalization of treatment. The possibility to target epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2, Claud…

Current questions for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Abstract Background Gastric cancer remains a major health problem worldwide. Treatment of advanced gastric cancer is controversial and there is no standard regimen for first- or second-line chemotherapy (CT). This review aims to give an overview of the hot topics concerning treatment, prognostic factors and new strategies in advanced gastric cancer. Material and methods Seven questions of special clinical interest have been formulated previously to the literature review. With the aim of answering each of these questions, a specific search of the relevant trials and meta-analyses published or communicated from 1990 to date was performed. Results Patients treated with CT have a survival benef…

Circulating tumor DNA to detect minimal residual disease, response to adjuvant therapy, and identify patients at high risk of recurrence in patients with stage I-III CRC.

4009 Background: The clinical utility of tracking circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and stratifying patients based on their risk of developing relapse has been well established in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluates the detection and longitudinal monitoring of ctDNA in CRC patients pre- and post-operatively, during and after adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Methods: The prospective, multicenter cohort study recruited patients (n = 193) diagnosed with resected stage I-III CRC. Plasma samples (n = 1052) were collected at various timepoints with a median follow up of 21.6 months (4.6-38.5 months). Individual tumors and…

PO-182 The upregulation of EPDR1 is related to tumour invasiveness in a cohort of localised colorectal cancer patients

Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a relevant public health problem. Despite new therapeutic advances, prognosis of patients diagnosed with advanced disease is still poor. The identification of new markers involved in the mechanisms of invasiveness represents a priority in order to better understand cancer development and generate new therapeutic targets. We describe here the possible role of EPDR1, a gene not yet well characterised, which encodes a protein related to ependymins, a family of piscine transmembrane proteins involved in cell adhesion. To evaluate the role of EPDR1, a translational investigation was planned to explore the consequences of the upregulation of EPDR1 i…

Integration of oncology and palliative care

In the literature: August 2021

Anal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Anal cancer is strongly associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of the HPV genome has been identified in 80%–85% of cases. Other important risk factors include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immune suppression in transplant recipients and cigarette smoking. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)may play a secondary role in disease progression.Dietaryhabits, chronic inflammatory diseases and the presence of haemorrhoids do not appear to predispose to epidermoid anal cancer. Previous (gynaecological, lymphoma or leukemia) or subsequent (e.g. lung, bladder, vulva, vagina or breast) malignancy is more likely in anal cancer patients. Th…

Phase II study of necitumumab plus modified FOLFOX6 as first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer

Background:This single-arm phase II study investigated the EGFR monoclonal antibody necitumumab plus modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) in first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).Methods:Patients received 800-mg intravenous necitumumab (day 1; 2-week cycles), followed by oxaliplatin 85 mg m -2, folinic acid 400 mg m -2, and 5-fluorouracil (400 mg m -2 bolus then 2400 mg m -2 over 46 h). Radiographic evaluation was performed every 8 weeks until progression. Primary endpoint was objective response rate.Results:Forty-four patients were enrolled and treated. Objective response rate was 63.6% (95% confidence interval 47.8-77.6); complete response was observed in …

Trends and outcome of neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer: A retrospective analysis and critical assessment of a 10-year prospective national registry on behalf of the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project

Introduction: Preoperative treatment and adequate surgery increase local control in rectal cancer. However, modalities and indications for neoadjuvant treatment may be controversial. Aim of this study was to assess the trends of preoperative treatment and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer included in the Rectal Cancer Registry of the Spanish Associations of Surgeons. Method: This is a STROBE-compliant retrospective analysis of a prospective database. All patients operated on with curative intention included in the Rectal Cancer Registry were included. Analyses were performed to compare the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment in three timeframes: I)2006–2009; II)2010–2013; III)2014–2…

116 Evaluation of bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, in cervical cancer: data from phase 1 and phase 2 studies

Introduction/Background* The accelerated US Food and Drug Administration approval of pembrolizumab validated the efficacy of anti-PD-(L)1 therapy for patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer; however, the objective response rate (ORR) with pembrolizumab was 14.3% in patients with PD-L1–expressing tumours. Human papillomavirus infection is implicated in >95% of cervical cancers and is linked to upregulation of TGF-β signalling. Bintrafusp alfa is a first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII receptor (a TGF-β ‘trap’) fused to a human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody blocking PD-L1. We report pooled safety and efficacy in pati…

Session 2: Are we ready for primary chemotherapy in rectal cancer: who, when, why?

The potential of preoperative chemotherapy in rectal cancer is the subject of investigation in a number of global randomized trials. In this overview and expert discussion, Professor Cervantes summarizes the findings of numerous Phase II trials testing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The crucial points in the next phase of trials include: patient selection, whether radiotherapy can be omitted altogether and whether chemotherapy can be used to augment the initial response to chemoradiotherapy. Finally, with the emergence of Magnetic Resonance Tumour Regression Grade a reliable method for assessing response after initial chemoradiotherapy, we ask if this can be used to drive the use of further sele…

Impact of perioperative transfusions and sepsis on long-term oncologic outcomes after curative colon cancer resection. A retrospective analysis of a prospective database

Objective: Intra-abdominal septic complications (IASC) affect short-term outcomes after surgery for colon cancer. Blood transfusions have been associated with worse short-term results.The role of IASC and blood transfusions on long-term oncologic results is still debated. This study aims to assess the impact of these two variables on survival after curative colon cancer resection. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent curative surgery for colon cancer at a university hospital, between 1993 and 2010. Cox regression was used to identify the role of IASC and transfusions (alone and combined) on local recurrence (LR), disea…

Circulating Tumor DNA in Stage III Colorectal Cancer, beyond Minimal Residual Disease Detection, toward Assessment of Adjuvant Therapy Efficacy and Clinical Behavior of Recurrences

Abstract Purpose: Sensitive methods for risk stratification, monitoring therapeutic efficacy, and early relapse detection may have a major impact on treatment decisions and patient management for stage III colorectal cancer patients. Beyond assessing the predictive power of postoperative ctDNA detection, we explored the added benefits of serial analysis: assessing adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) efficacy, early relapse detection, and ctDNA growth rates. Experimental Design: We recruited 168 patients with stage III colorectal cancer treated with curative intent at Danish and Spanish hospitals between 2014 and 2019. To quantify ctDNA in plasma samples (n = 1,204), 16 patient-specific somatic sing…

Familial risk-colorectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines.

J. Balmana1, F. Balaguer2, A. Cervantes3 & D. Arnold4, on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona; Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clinic, CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Medical Oncology, Tumor Biology Clinic, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany;

Abstract LB061: On-target peripheral and tumor immune microenvironment modulation in patients treated with lacnotuzumab (anti-CSF1, MCS110) + spartalizumab

Abstract Background: The CSF-1/CSF-1R (colony-stimulating factor-1) pathway plays a significant role in the tumor microenvironment via regulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Lacnotuzumab (MCS110) is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CSF-1. Lacnotuzumab may counteract the tumor suppressive microenvironment induced by CSF-1, potentially enhancing the efficacy of PD-1 inhibition. Methods: MCS110Z2102 is a phase 1b/2 study in cancer patients with advanced malignancies treated by lacnotuzumab combined with the PD-1 inhibitor spartalizumab. Eligible patients with previously treated advanced/metastatic solid tumors received 1, 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg intravenous doses of lacnotuzu…

The McCAVE Trial: Vanucizumab plus mFOLFOX‐6 Versus Bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX‐6 in Patients with Previously Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma (mCRC)

Abstract Background Bevacizumab, a VEGF‐A inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy, has proven to increase progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival in multiple lines of therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The angiogenic factor angiopoetin‐2 (Ang‐2) is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including mCRC. Preclinical models demonstrate improved activity when inhibiting both VEGF‐A and Ang‐2, suggesting that the dual VEGF‐A and Ang‐2 blocker vanucizumab (RO5520985 or RG‐7221) may improve clinical outcomes. This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of vanucizumab plus modified (m)FOLFOX‐6 (folinic acid (leucovorin), fluorouracil (5‐FU) and oxaliplatin) ver…

Abstract OT1-08-04: A first-in-human phase Ia dose escalation study of GDC-0077, a p110a-selective and mutant-degrading PI3K inhibitor, in patients with PIK3CA-mutant solid tumors

Abstract Background: Activating mutations in PIK3CA, encoding the p110α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), are highly prevalent in breast cancer and solid tumor malignancies. GDC-0077 is a potent p110α-selective inhibitor with a novel mechanism of action that degrades mutant p110α and anti-tumor activity in PIK3CA-mutant breast cancer xenograft models as a single agent and in combination with anti-estrogens with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor. An open-label, Phase I dose-escalation study of GDC-0077 monotherapy and GDC-0077 combined with endocrine therapies and palbociclib is underway in patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic PIK3CA-mutant solid tumors. Data from th…

In the literature: August 2020.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become a key component of therapy for several solid tumours. In patients diagnosed with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), immunotherapy has always been considered as a treatment option, and anti-PD-1-based therapies are approved in both the frontline and refractory settings. Response to PD-1 blockade has been associated with numerous tumour-intrinsic and microenvironment features. Genetic characterisation of ccRCC has significantly contributed to the knowledge of tumour biology and the mechanisms of disease progression, but the interplay of genomic alterations with patterns of immune infiltration in response to PD-1 blockade remains un…

Short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy before TME in locally advanced rectal cancer: The randomized RAPIDO trial

4006 Background: Local control in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has improved. However, systemic relapses remain high even with postoperative chemotherapy, possibly due to low compliance. Short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by delayed surgery with, in the waiting period, chemotherapy, may lead to better compliance, downstaging and fewer distant metastases. The main objective of the international multicenter phase III RAPIDO trial is to decrease Disease-related Treatment Failure (DrTF), defined as locoregional failure, distant metastasis, a new primary colon tumor or treatment-related death, by reducing the risk of systemic relapse without compromising local control. Methods: M…

Phase Ib Study of Lumretuzumab Plus Cetuximab or Erlotinib in Solid Tumor Patients and Evaluation of HER3 and Heregulin as Potential Biomarkers of Clinical Activity.

AbstractPurpose: This study investigated the safety, clinical activity, and target-associated biomarkers of lumretuzumab, a humanized, glycoengineered, anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), in combination with the EGFR-blocking agents erlotinib or cetuximab in patients with advanced HER3-positive carcinomas.Experimental Design: The study included two parts: dose escalation and dose extension phases with lumretuzumab in combination with either cetuximab or erlotinib, respectively. In both parts, patients received lumretuzumab doses from 400 to 2,000 mg plus cetuximab or erlotinib according to standard posology, respectively. The effect of HRG mRNA and HER3 mRNA and protein expression were inv…

Trifluridine/tipiracil : an emerging strategy for the management of gastrointestinal cancers

Fluoropyrimidines are currently the backbone of treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers but development of resistance to these agents remains a major problem. Trifluridine/tipiracil is an oral chemotherapeutic agent recently approved for third-line treatment of chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer. This article reviews the clinical value of trifluridine/tipiracil as a monotherapy, including recent trials in GI cancers, and the potential benefit of combining it with other agents in patients with GI cancers, including the preclinical rationale for combination therapy and recently completed and ongoing clinical trials. Data gathered so far suggest that trifluridine/tipiracil has t…

Phase I multicenter, open-label study to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) and oxaliplatin combination in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

816 Background: Preclinical evidence suggests improved efficacy when combining trifluridine/tipiracil with oxaliplatin compared to each monotherapy (Nukatsuka, 2015). The primary objective was to determine the MTD and the safety profile of the doublet among mCRC pts who have progressed after at least one prior line of treatment. Methods: Using a 3+3 design, eligible pts received escalating trifluridine/tipiracil doses from 25, 30 to 35 mg/m² bid, days 1–5 q14, together with a fixed dose of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² (day 1). An intermediate cohort with a lower dose of oxaliplatin (65 mg/m²) plus 35 mg/m² of trifluridine/tipiracil was also tested. Results: Fifteen of 17 enrolled pts were evaluabl…

In the literature: April 2017

The full publication in Lancet Oncology of the Stockholm III trial helps us to understand that short-course radiotherapy in patients with localised rectal cancer could also be followed by delayed surgery.1 During more than 14 years, more than 800 patients with rectal cancer not showing unresectable features were randomised in a two-arm versus three-arm study with a non-inferiority design. Patients could be randomised to short-course radiotherapy (5×5 Gy) and immediate (within a week) versus delayed (4–8 weeks) surgery. In the three-arm randomisation patients could also be allocated to a long course of concurrent chemoradiation (25×2 Gy), with surgery performed 6–8 weeks thereafter. Time to …

EGF-Induced Acetylation of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins Is Dependent on KRAS Mutational Status in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

KRAS mutational status is considered a negative predictive marker of the response to anti-EGFR therapies in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, conflicting data exist regarding the variable response to EGFR-targeted therapy. The effects of oncogenic KRAS on downstream targets were studied in cell lines with different KRAS mutations. Cells harboring a single KRASG13D allele showed the most tumorigenic profile, with constitutive activation of the downstream pathway, rendering them EGF-unresponsive. Conversely, KRASA146T cells showed a full EGF-response in terms of signal transduction pathways, cell proliferation, migration or adhesion. Moreover, the global acetylome of CRC cells was al…

Impact of Baseline Covariates and Prior Therapy on the Efficacy of Second-Line Panitumumab (Pmab) + Folfiri Vs Folfiri Treatment

ABSTRACT Aim: Expanding RAS analyses beyond KRAS exon 2 is important in selecting patients (pts) for pmab treatment. Here we present prespecified subgroup analyses from a phase 3 randomised second-line pmab + FOLFIRI vs FOLFIRI study in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) pts. Methods: Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were co-primary endpoints. KRAS exon 2 wild-type (WT) samples were tested for mutations in KRAS exons 3/4, NRAS exons 2/3/4 and BRAF exon 15 via bidirectional Sanger sequencing and WAVE-based SURVEYOR®. PFS and OS subgroup analyses were performed by randomisation stratification factors (ECOG performance status [PS], prior bevacizumab [bev]/prior oxaliplatin [ox…

MA15.02 Long-Term Safety and Clinical Activity Results from a Phase Ib Study of Erlotinib Plus Atezolizumab in Advanced NSCLC

Integration of oncology and palliative care: a Lancet Oncology Commission.

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Full integration of oncology and palliative care relies on the specific knowledge and skills of two modes of care: the tumour-directed approach, the main focus of which is on treating the disease; and the host-directed approach, which focuses on the patient with the disease. This Commission addresses how to combine these two paradigms to achieve the best outcome of patient care. Randomised clinical trials on integration of oncology and palliative care point to health gains: improved survival and symptom control, less anxiety and depression, reduced use of futile chemotherapy at the end of life, improved family satisfaction and quality of life, and improved use of health-…

Evaluation of the quality of publications on randomized clinical trials using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement guidelines in a Spanish tertiary hospital.

The main reason for conducting a clinical trial (CT) is to test the effect of a drug or medical procedure to improve treatment of a disease. CTs contribute most when they are rigorously conducted and the results are published adequately. The aim of this study is to assess, using the CONSORT statement guidelines, the quality of reporting of completed CTs conducted at a tertiary hospital to determine which sections of the articles should be improved. CTs published between 2002 and 2008 were identified by searching the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. Forty of 127 completed CTs were published. There was a marked increase in the number of articles and the quality of the journals that published the…

A phase Ib/II study of HER3-targeting lumretuzumab in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel as first-line treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose This study investigated the safety and clinical activity of lumretuzumab, a humanised antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) monoclonal antibody, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in first-line treatment of patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC). HER3 ligand heregulin and HER3 protein expression were evaluated as potential biomarkers of clinical activity. Patients and methods This open-label, phase Ib/II study enrolled patients receiving lumretuzumab at 800 mg (flat) in combination with carboplatin (area under the curve (AUC) 6 mg/mL×min) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m 2) administered intravenously on a every 3-week schedule. Adverse event (A…

Abstract PD1-02: A phase I/Ib study evaluating GDC-0077 + palbociclib (palbo) + fulvestrant in patients (pts) with PIK3CA-mutant (mut), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- mBC)

Abstract Background GDC-0077 is a PI3Kα-selective inhibitor and mutant PI3Kα degrader that demonstrates antitumor activity in PIK3CAmut BC xenograft models. A phase I/Ib study of GDC-0077 alone and combined with endocrine therapy ± the CDK4/6 inhibitor (i) palbo is ongoing (NCT03006172). Data from GDC-0077 + palbo + fulvestrant in pts with PIK3CAmut, HR+/HER2- mBC are presented herein. Methods Safety (NCI-CTCAE v4), pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary antitumor activity (clinical benefit rate [CBR]: RECIST v1.1 stable disease for ≥ 24 weeks, partial response [PR], or complete response) of 9 mg oral once daily GDC-0077 + 125 mg palbo 21/28 days + 500 mg intramuscular fulvestrant on day 1 …

LBA-5 Phase Ib study of the anti-TIGIT antibody tiragolumab in combination with atezolizumab in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer

Exploring better strategies for EGFR antibodies in colon cancer.

Summary Background Advanced colorectal cancer is treated with a combination of cytotoxic drugs and targeted treatments. However, how best to minimise the time spent taking cytotoxic drugs and whether molecular selection can refine this further is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to establish how cetuximab might be safely and effectively added to intermittent chemotherapy. Methods COIN-B was an open-label, multicentre, randomised, exploratory phase 2 trial done at 30 hospitals in the UK and one in Cyprus. We enrolled patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had received no previous chemotherapy for metastases. Randomisation was done centrally (by telephone) by the Medical Resea…

Panex: A pooled analysis of EXPERT and EXPERT-C, two trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

3575 Background: After the use of preoperative radiotherapy and TME, survival of LARC has reached a plateau. More effective therapies, predictive/prognostic factors for treatment selection and vali...

The management of locally advanced pancreatic cancer: European Society of Digestive Oncology (ESDO) expert discussion and recommendations from the 14th ESMO/World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona

T. Seufferlein1, J. L. Van Laethem2, E. Van Cutsem3*, J. D. Berlin4, M. Buchler5, A. Cervantes6, K. Haustermans3, M. Hidalgo7, E. M. O’Reilly8, C. Verslype3, W. Schmiegel9 & P. Rougier10 Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hopitaux Universitaires Bordet-Erasme, Brussels; Digestive Oncology and Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA; Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia; Gastro…

In the literature: April 2020

Deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) may be caused by germline or somatic mutations in mismatch repair genes ( MLH1 , MSH2 , MSH3 , MSH6 and PMS2 ) or through epigenetic silencing of MLH1 .1 dMMR induces a hypermutator phenotype, also known as microsatellite instability (MSI). Next-generation sequencing identifies MSI in 12 cancer types. The highest prevalence is seen in endometrial cancer (31.4%), followed by colorectal cancer (19.7%) and gastric cancer (GC, 19.1%). MSI was related to better prognosis for colorectal cancer and GC . Moreover, the dMMR/MSI hypermutator phenotype is thought to produce large numbers of immunogenic neoantigens that can be recognised by immune cells, leading to …

Assessing molecular subtypes of gastric cancer: microsatellite unstable and Epstein-Barr virus subtypes. Methods for detection and clinical and pathological implications.

Background The molecular classification of gastric cancer recognises two subtypes prone to immune checkpoint blockade: the microsatellite unstable and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related tumours. We aim to assess the concordance between immunohistochemistry and PCR for microsatellite status evaluation, and explore the value of microsatellite instability (MSI) and EBV as predictive survival factors. Material and methods We collected 246 consecutively diagnosed gastric cancer cases in all stages and evaluated the microsatellite status using immunohistochemistry for mismatched repair (MMR) proteins and PCR. EBV expression was studied through in situ hybridisation. Results Forty-five (18%) cas…

Precision medicine in the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer

Cetuximab administered once every second week to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a two-part pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic phase I dose-escalation study

Abstract Background This phase I dose-escalation study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose of cetuximab administered on an every-second-week schedule to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, on the basis of safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation. Patients and methods The study comprised two parts: a 6-week cetuximab monotherapy dose-escalation phase and a subsequent combination therapy phase, during which patients received cetuximab, at the same dose/schedule as in the monotherapy phase, followed by irinotecan plus infusional 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (FOLFIRI). Patients in the control group received cetuximab as a 400 mg/m…

Preoperative chemoradiation may not always be needed for patients with T3 and T2N+ rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Preoperative chemoradiation is becoming the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, since the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME), local recurrence rates have been reduced significantly, and some patients can be spared from potentially toxic over treatment. The current study was designed to assess the factors that predict recurrence in an institutional series of patients with rectal cancer who had clinical T2 lymph node-positive (cT2N+) tumors or cT3N0/N+ tumors and underwent radical surgery without receiving preoperative chemoradiation. METHODS: Between November 1997 and November 2008, the authors' multidisciplinary group preope…

Circulating Tumor DNA Detection by Digital-Droplet PCR in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer is a digestive tumor that is most difficult to treat and carries one of the worst prognoses. The anatomical location of the pancreas makes it very difficult to obtain enough tumor material to establish a molecular diagnosis, so knowing the biology of this tumor and implementing new targeted-therapies is still a pending issue. The use of liquid biopsy, a blood sample test to detect circulating-tumor DNA fragments (ctDNA), is key to overcoming this difficulty and improving the evolution of this tumor. Liquid biopsies are equally representative of the tissue from which they come and allow relevant molecular and diagnostic information to be obtained in a faster …

Prognostic role of the LCS6 KRAS variant in locally advanced rectal cancer: results of the EXPERT-C trial

KRAS mutation has been reported as a marker of radio-resistance in rectal cancer and unfavourable outcome in both colon and rectal cancer. This study suggests that a single-nucleotide polymorphism of the KRAS gene (LCS-6 variant) may predict response to neoadjuvant treatment and mitigate the poor prognosis associated with KRAS mutation in locally advanced rectal cancer.

490P Metastatic colorectal cancer derived organoids recapitulate genomic profile and treatment response of the original tumor

CanStem303C trial: A phase III study of napabucasin (BBI-608) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in adult patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

TPS3619 Background: Cancer stem cells are considered to be fundamentally important for resistance to therapy, recurrence and metastasis. Napabucasin is a first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor in development identified by its ability to inhibit STAT3-driven gene transcription and spherogenesis of cancer stem cells (Li et al, PNAS 112(6):1839, 2015). Preclinically, napabucasin sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapeutics, including 5-FU and irinotecan. Encouraging anticancer activity in advanced CRC was observed in a phase Ib/II (Bendell et al, GI ASCO 2017) study of 63 pts with disease control rate (DCR) of 93% (28/30) and overall response rate (ORR) of 33% (10/30) in FOLFIRI-naïve pts w…

Prognostic Nutritional Index as an independent prognostic factor in locoregionally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer.

Background: Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease in which better predictive and prognostic factors are needed. Apart from TNM stage, both systemic inflammation and poor nutritional status have a negative impact on survival. Methods: We retrospectively analysed two independent cohorts of a total of 145 patients with LAHNSCC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy at two different academic institutions. Full clinical data, including the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, were analysed in a training cohort of 50 patients. Receiv…

The 2017 Assisi Think Tank Meeting on rectal cancer: A positioning paper

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES: To describe current practice in the management of rectal cancer, to identify uncertainties that usually arise in the multidisciplinary team (MDT)'s discussions ('grey zones') and propose next generation studies which may provide answers to them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire on the areas of controversy in managing T2, T3 and T4 rectal cancer was drawn up and distributed to the Rectal-Assisi Think Tank Meeting (ATTM) Expert European Board. Less than 70% agreement on a treatment option was indicated as uncertainty and selected as a 'grey zone'. Topics with large disagreement were selected by the task force group for discussion at the Rectal-ATTM. RESULTS: The…

In the literature: April 2019

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains an unmet need in Medical Oncology considering its poor prognosis and the lack of advances in therapeutics in more than one decade.1 Despite the initial enthusiasm, the development of immunotherapy in GBM has proved to be challenging, with a disappointing negative phase III clinical trial.2 Some of the phenotypic hallmarks of GBM make immunotherapy difficult. Its relatively low mutational load, its immunologically ‘cold’ microenvironment with scarce infiltrating immune effector cells, a dominant myeloid compartment composed by microglia and myeloid-derived suppressor cells and a strong immunosuppression, both local, mediated by immunosuppressive regulatory T cells …

27. Differences in adjuvant chemotherapy administration for stage II colon cancer patients – a EURECCA international comparison

Serial circulating tumor DNA analysis to assess recurrence risk, benefit of adjuvant therapy, growth rate and early relapse detection in stage III colorectal cancer patients

3540 Background: Challenges in the postoperative management of stage III colorectal cancer include: 1) selection of high-risk patients for adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), 2) lack of markers to assess ACT efficacy, 3) assessment of recurrence risk after ACT, and 4) lack of markers to guide treatment decisions for high-risk patients e.g. additional therapy or intensified surveillance. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising marker with potential to mitigate the challenges. Here we used serial ctDNA measurements to assess the correlation between recurrence and ctDNA detection: postoperative, during and after ACT, and during surveillance; and to assess growth rates of metachronous metastases…

Checkpoint inhibitors for gastroesophageal cancers: dissecting heterogeneity to better understand their role in first-line and adjuvant therapy

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) and squamous esophageal cancer (ESCC) are responsible for1 million deaths annually globally. Until now, patients with metastatic GEA and ESCC could anticipate survival of1 year. Anti- programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) monotherapy has demonstrated modest efficacy in previously treated GEA and ESCC. In 2020, four pivotal trials have established anti-PD-1 therapy as a new standard of care for selected GEA and ESCC patients as first-line advanced and adjuvant therapy. In this review, we discuss the recent results of the CheckMate 649, ATTRACTION-4, KEYNOTE-590 and CheckMate 577 trials. We consider these results in the context of current standards …

Phase III study of regorafenib versus placebo as maintenance therapy in RAS wild type metastatic colorectal cancer (RAVELLO trial)

TPS789 Background: Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has improved due to the introduction of more active chemotherapies (CT) and novel targeted agents that have significantly increased response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Recently, CORRECT and CONCUR trials have demonstrated both activity and efficacy of regorafenib, a small multi-kinase inhibitor, as monotherapy in pretreated mCRC. The wide range of action of regorafenib makes it an ideal candidate for monotherapy in earlier disease treatment lines in which different pathways could be involved in the acquisition of resistance. To improve long term efficacy of first line therapy seve…

In silico RNA-seq and experimental analyses reveal the differential expression and splicing of EPDR1 and ZNF518B genes in relation to KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer cells.

Several drugs used for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) are targeted at the epidermal growth factor receptor, but mutations in genes of the RAS family cause resistance to these drugs. Thus, extensive research is being carried out to counterbalance this resistance. The G13D mutation of KRAS is common in humans, and we previously reported that this mutation results in the epigenetic modification of hnRNP proteins, involved in RNA splicing. As aberrant splicing often results in oncogenicity, the present study aimed to identify the genes which show altered splicing patterns in connection with the G13D KRAS mutation. To accomplish this, we first carried out an in silico analysis of RNA-s…

In the literature: February 2020.

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways is one of the most frequently deregulated pathways in human cancers. This pathway controls multiple cellular processes, including metabolism, motility, proliferation, growth and survival. It can be aberrantly activated through multiple mechanisms, including diverse genomic alterations involving oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes.1 These alterations offer opportunities for therapeutic targeting of the pathway. PI3Kα protein complex is composed of regulatory (p85α) and catalytic (p110α) subunits. Pik3ca codes for p110α, which is the most frequently mutated oncogene across different …

Progress in the multidisciplinary treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and the impact on clinical practice: perioperative management of rectal cancer

Safety and effectiveness of regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in routine clinical practice in the prospective, observational CORRELATE study.

Abstract Background Regorafenib prolonged overall survival (OS) versus placebo in patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in phase III trials. We conducted an observational study of regorafenib for patients with mCRC in real-world clinical practice. Methods The international, prospective, CORRELATE study recruited patients with mCRC previously treated with approved therapies, for whom the decision to treat with regorafenib was made by the treating physician according to the local health authority approved label. The primary objective was safety, assessed by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adve…

Detection of postoperative plasma circulating tumour DNA and lack of CDX2 expression as markers of recurrence in patients with localised colon cancer

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer (CC) is a heterogeneous disease. Novel prognostic factors beyond pathological staging are required to accurately identify patients at higher risk of relapse. Integrating these new biological factors, such as plasma circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), CDX2 staining, inflammation-associated cytokines and transcriptomic consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) classification, into a multimodal approach may improve our accuracy in determining risk of recurrence.; METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients consecutively diagnosed with localised CC were prospectively enrolled in our study. ctDNA was tracked to detect minimal residual disease by droplet digital PCR. CDX2 expression was…

Final results of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic marker in advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated with Nab-paclitaxel plus Gemcitabine.

e15737Background: Pancreatic cancer is the ninth most common cancer and the forth cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. New regimens have increased overall survival, but it still remains ext...

Primary colon cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, adjuvant treatment and follow-up.

Neoplasias de páncreas y periampulares: morbimortalidad, resultados funcionales y supervivencia a largo plazo

Resumen Objetivos Evaluar la morbimortalidad postoperatoria, el estado funcional y la supervivencia a largo plazo de pacientes con tumores de pancreas o periampulares a los que se intervino quirurgicamente. Pacientes y metodos Cohorte de 160 pacientes a los que se intervino consecutivamente: 80 duodenopancreatectomias cefalicas (DPC), 30 resecciones corporocaudales (RCC), 7 duodenopancreatectomias totales, 4 resecciones centrales y 3 ampulectomias; en 36 pacientes no se realizo reseccion. La funcion pancreatica se evaluo mediante test de sobrecarga oral a la glucosa, grasas en heces y elastasa fecal. Resultados La tasa de resecabilidad fue del 77,5%. En los pacientes resecados (n = 124) la …

In the literature: April 2021

Updated results of the PARP1/2 inhibitor pamiparib in combination with low-dose (ld) temozolomide (TMZ) in patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours

P37 Phase 1 evaluation of bintrafusp alfa (M7824), a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, in cervical cancer

Introduction/Background Globally, cervical cancer is one of the most common and lethal gynaecological cancers. Advanced/metastatic disease is typically treated with chemotherapy, often with poor objective response rates (ORRs) and durations of response (DORs) in pretreated patients; ORRs with anti-PD-1 therapies range from 12%-26%. Bintrafusp alfa* (M7824) is an innovative first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII receptor (a TGF-β ‘trap’) fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking PD-L1. We report safety and efficacy in patients with cervical cancer treated with bintrafusp alfa in dose-escalation and expansion phases of an ongoing phase 1 trial…

Low miR200c expression in tumor budding of invasive front predicts worse survival in patients with localized colon cancer and is related to PD-L1 overexpression

At the histological level, tumor budding in colon cancer is the result of cells undergoing at least partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The microRNA 200 family is an important epigenetic driver of this process, mainly by downregulating zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) expression. We retrospectively explored the expression of the miR200 family, and ZEB1 and ZEB2, and their relationship with immune resistance mediated through PD-L1 overexpression. For this purpose, we analyzed a series of 125 colon cancer cases and took samples from two different tumor sites: the area of tumor budding at the invasive front and from the tumor center…

The hard road to data interpretation: 3 or 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage III colon cancer?

Background Six months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is standard for patients with stage III colon cancer following surgery. However, oxaliplatin is associated with peripheral neurotoxicity which worsens over treatment duration. Consequently, a shorter treatment duration, if equally effective, would be extremely beneficial. A pooled analysis of data for 12 834 stage III colon cancer patients, from six randomised phase III trials of adjuvant therapy, the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant chemotherapy study, was carried out and the results presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2017. To clarify the potential impact of these results on clinical practice, ESMO decided to s…

Tumour Shrinkage and Response Outcomes During Second-Line Panitumumab (Pmab) + Folfiri Vs Folfiri Treatment

ABSTRACT Aim: Tumour shrinkage/response are important outcomes for patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as they may delay progression and ultimately improve survival. Here we report tumour response data for pts with RAS WT mCRC treated with FOLFIRI ± pmab. Methods: 181 was a phase 3 randomised study of second-line pmab + FOLFIRI vs FOLFIRI alone in pts with previously treated mCRC. KRAS exon 2 wild-type (WT) samples from this study were tested for mutations in KRAS exons 3/4 and NRAS exons 2/3/4 via bidirectional Sanger sequencing and WAVE-based SURVEYOR® to identify pts with RAS WT tumours (no mutations in KRAS/NRAS exons 2, 3 or 4). Objective response rates (ORRs) and m…

Adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer after preoperative radiation or chemoradiation: One size does not fit all

A phase I/Ib study evaluating GDC-0077 (inavolisib) + palbociclib (palbo) + fulvestrant in patients (pts) with PIK3CA-mutant (mut), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- mBC)

Multicenter Phase I Study of Erdafitinib (JNJ-42756493), Oral Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced or Refractory Solid Tumors

AbstractPurpose:Here, we report results of the first phase I study of erdafitinib, a potent, oral pan-FGFR inhibitor.Patients and Methods:Patients age ≥18 years with advanced solid tumors for which standard antineoplastic therapy was no longer effective were enrolled (NCT01703481). Parts 2 to 4 employed molecular screening for activating FGFR genomic alterations. In patients with such alterations, two selected doses/schedules identified during part 1 dose-escalation [9 mg once daily and 10 mg intermittently (7 days on/7 days off), as previously published (Tabernero JCO 2015;33:3401-8)] were tested.Results:The study included 187 patients. The most common treatment-related adverse events were…

Safety and Activity of the First-in-Class Sym004 Anti-EGFR Antibody Mixture in Patients with Refractory Colorectal Cancer

Abstract Tumor growth in the context of EGFR inhibitor resistance may remain EGFR-dependent and is mediated by mechanisms including compensatory ligand upregulation and de novo gene alterations. Sym004 is a two-antibody mixture targeting nonoverlapping EGFR epitopes. In preclinical models, Sym004 causes significant EGFR internalization and degradation, which translates into superior growth inhibition in the presence of ligands. In this phase I trial, we observed grade 3 skin toxicity and hypomagnesemia as mechanism-based dose-limiting events during dose escalation. In dose-expansion cohorts of 9 and 12 mg/kg of Sym004 weekly, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and acquired EGFR inhi…

Immunological response against SARS-CoV-2 following full-dose administration of Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine in nursing home residents

6 páginas, 2 figuras, 3 tablas. Se puede acceder al texto completo de este artículo desde PubMedCentral: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8490129 . Los datos de investigación utilizados en el mismo, se encuentran disponibles en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.09.031.

Abstract 3363: Pharmacodynamic (PD) assessment of drug activity in tumor tissue from patients (pts) enrolled in a Phase I study of MEHD7945A (MEHD), a first-in-class HER3/EGFR dual action antibody, in pts with locally advanced or metastatic epithelial tumors.

Abstract Background Members of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family of oncogenes are often co-expressed and heterodimerized, suggesting that simultaneous blockade of multiple HER family receptors may be more effective than targeting single receptors. MEHD is a dual-action human IgG1 antibody that can bivalently bind to HER3 and EGFR and block ligand binding to either. FDG-PET imaging is a recognized method of assessing PD modulation with EGFR inhibitors in the clinic. HER3 and EGFR signaling via the MAPK and PI3K pathways can be monitored in tissue by examining phosphorylation of downstream markers. Methods A Phase 1, multicenter, open-label study was conducted to evaluat…

Sequence variation in mature microRNA-608 and benefit from neo-adjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer patients

Summary Analysis of a polymorphism in mature microRNA-608 (rs4919510) in rectal cancer patients enrolled in a randomized phase II clinical trial identified patient subpopulations who might benefit from the use of an intensified neo-adjuvant treatment strategy with Cetuximab.

Phase I study of FOLFIRI plus pimasertib as second-line treatment for KRAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of human cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This provides a rationale for the development of MAPK-targeted agents such as pimasertib. METHODS: Patients with KRAS mutant mCRC were treated in the second-line setting with FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil/folinic acid/irinotecan) plus pimasertib. The primary objective of the safety run-in phase was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended phase II dose of pimasertib combined with FOLFIRI. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled in the trial. Ten and six patients were treated daily with 45 and 60 …

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) position paper on supportive and palliative care

Oncology has come a long way in addressing patients' quality of life, together with developing surgical, radio-oncological and medical anticancer therapies. However, the multiple and varying needs of patients are still not beingmet adequately as part of routine cancer care. Supportive and palliative care interventions should be integrated, dynamic, personalised and based on best evidence. They should start at the time of diagnosis and continue through to end-of-life or survivorship. ESMO is committed to excellence in all aspects of oncological care during the continuum of the cancer experience. Following the 2003 ESMO stand on supportive and palliative care (Cherny N, Catane R, Kosmidis P. …

Regorafenib dose escalations in the prospective, observational CORRELATE study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Biweekly cetuximab and irinotecan in advanced colorectal cancer patients progressing after at least one previous line of chemotherapy: results of a phase II single institution trial

This is a phase II institutional exploratory trial of biweekly irinotecan and cetuximab administration regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer patients progressing to at least one previous chemotherapy line. A total of 40 patients were treated between November 2005 and November 2007 with irinotecan 180 mg m−2 and cetuximab 500 mg m−2 q2w (every 2 weeks), in every 21-day cycles, until unacceptable toxicity or progressive disease. An overall response rate of 22.5% was obtained (two complete and seven partial responses). The disease control rate was 60%. The time to progression was 3.4 months and the overall survival was 8 months. The toxicity compared very favourably to weekly cetuximab combi…

Final results from a randomized phase 3 study of FOLFIRI \pm$ panitumumab for second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract: Background: The study 20050181 demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS), objective response, and a nonsignificant trend toward increased overall survival (OS) with panitumumab-FOLFIRI versus FOLFIRI alone for second-line wild-type (WT) KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Updated long-term data from a prespecified descriptive analysis are reported. Patients and methods: Patients receiving one prior mCRC treatment were randomly assigned (1:1) to panitumumab (6.0 mg/kg)-FOLFIRI versus FOLFIRI every 2 weeks. Co-primary end points (PFS and OS) were prospectively analyzed by tumor KRAS status. Results: One thousand one hundred and eighty-six patient…

Prognostic Heterogeneity of Endosonographic T3 Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prognostic implications of uT3 rectal carcinomas according to the tumor thickness and to analyze the correlation between this ultrasound-based parameter and other prognostic factors. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with uT3(pM0) rectal tumors underwent primary surgery from 1996 to 2003. Preoperative endorectal ultrasound was used to assess uN stage, maximum tumor perimeter, and maximum tumor thickness. An ultrasound maximum tumor thickness cutoff point for local recurrence subdividing T3 tumors into uT3a and uT3b was established. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 41 months (range, 24-59). The 5-year actuarial local and overall recurrence rates were 9.82 pe…

In the literature: October 2020.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used as treatment for an increasing number of solid tumours. Nevertheless, the lack of predictive biomarker represents a limitation across several cancer types. During the last years, the possibility to dynamically study tumour evolution through circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in plasma has opened novel possibility in evaluating disease status and therapeutic response, especially in localised disease to predict the possibility of relapse. However, the specific opportunities for application in the context of immunotherapy remain to be clarified.1 In an article recently published in Cancer Discovery by Zhang et al ,2 a comprehensive analysis of ctDNA dat…

Implicaciones pronósticas del estudio estandarizado de los márgenes de resección en el cáncer de páncreas

Resumen Introduccion La afectacion microscopica de los margenes de reseccion es un factor pronostico fundamental en la cirugia del cancer de pancreas. Sin embargo, su definicion anatomopatologica no esta estandarizada. Este estudio pretende identificar el porcentaje real de pacientes con resecciones R1 al analizar las piezas quirurgicas con un protocolo estandarizado y evaluar sus implicaciones sobre la supervivencia. Pacientes y metodos Serie de 100 pacientes consecutivos intervenidos por adenocarcinoma ductal de pancreas y resecciones macroscopicamente completas, divididos en 2 grupos: pre- y posprotocolo, segun se intervinieran antes o despues de la aplicacion de un protocolo estandariza…

In the literature: October 2019

Gastrointestinal cancers are a subset of molecularly heterogeneous diseases. In the era of personalised medicine, major efforts are being made towards stratifying patients according to molecular profiling. However, although most treatments are currently based on targeted therapy in relation to specific genomic alterations, acquired resistance emerges during anticancer therapies and subsequently treatment failure occurs. Intratumour heterogeneity plays a significant role in the acquisition of resistance by clonal evolution of tumour cell populations under therapeutic pressure. Despite a single tumour biopsy represents the standard for cancer research and drives our therapeutic decisions, lim…

Abstract LB-220: Translational research with RG7160 (GA201) leads to a phase II clinical study in combination with FOLFIRI in 2nd line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

Abstract GA201 is a novel dual-acting humanized, engineered IgG1 anti-EGFR mAb designed to enhance ADCC in combination with signaling inhibition. Superior efficacy was demonstrated versus cetuximab in orthotopic CRC xenograft models. Preclinical data indicated an increase in macrophages (4-5 fold) and NK cells (2-3 fold) infiltration in tumors treated with GA201 compared to cetuximab. In a phase I clinical study objective responses and long lasting disease stabilizations were observed. A marked reduction in circulating NK cells and an increased infiltration of immune cells into skin rash was seen. Preliminary evidence of the enhanced ADCC capacity of GA201 was investigated in 25 third line …

Neoadjuvant score in locally advanced rectal cancer: integrating downstaging in risk assessment and looking for new valuable end points

A randomized, multicenter, open-label controlled phase 2 trial of Foxy-5 as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with WNT5A negative colon cancer

Anal cancer: ESMO–ESSO–ESTRO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is a rare cancer but its incidence is increasing throughout the world, and is particularly high in the human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIVþ) population. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory (involving radiation therapists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists). SCCA usually spreads in a loco-regional manner within and outside the anal canal. Lymph node involvement at diagnosis is observed in 30%e40% of cases while systemic spread is uncommon with distant extrapelvic metastases recorded in 5%e8% at onset, and rates of metastatic progression after primary treatment between 10 and 20%. SCCA is strongly associated wi…

Development of a living organoid biobank derived from colorectal cancer patients: Towards personalized medicine

Abstract Background Organoids are 3D in vitroprimary culture of great interest for translational research representing an efficient and reproducible cancer model. The aim of this project is to generate a biobank of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients derived organoids (PDOs) that could be used to analyze molecular characteristics and to test different treatments as well as to study the underlying molecular causes of cancer and treatment resistance. Methods Primary or metastatic CRC tissues have been obtained from patients who underwent surgery. Tissue has been washed and incubated with antibiotics. After mechanical and enzymatic digestion, free cells have been seeded in Matrigel with proper me…

The management of metastatic pancreatic cancer: expert discussion and recommendations from the 14th ESMO/World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona, 2012

Mutational analysis ofBRCA1andBRCA2in Mediterranean Spanish women with early-onset breast cancer: Identification of three novel pathogenic mutations

In Spain, the contribution of BRCA mutations to the population incidence of early-onset breast cancer was unknown. We carried out a mutational analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in 124 Spanish women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age 41 and who were not selected for a family history of this disease. The genetic study was performed by PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. We identified 6 pathogenic BRCA mutations in 7 unrelated probands (5.6%; 95% CI=2.3% to 11.3%): 1 BRCA1 (c.2080delA) and 5 BRCA2 (p.Y3006X, p.Q1994X, c.9204_9217del14, c.9254_9258del5 and c.295+2T>C). Three out of 6 mutations were novel (BRCA2 p.Y3006X, c.9204_9217del14, and c.295+2T>C), and two further mutation…

Evaluation of bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, in cervical cancer: Data from phase 1 and phase 2 studies.

5509 Background: The accelerated FDA approval of pembrolizumab validated the efficacy of anti–PD-(L)1 therapy for pts with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer; however, the objective response rate (ORR) with pembrolizumab was 14.3% in pts with PD-L1 expressing tumors. HPV infection is implicated in > 95% of cervical cancers and is linked to upregulation of TGF-β signaling. Bintrafusp alfa is a first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII receptor (a TGF-β “trap”) fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking PD-L1. We report pooled safety and efficacy in pts with immune checkpoint inhibitor–naive, recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer treated with…

A phase II study of the PI3K inhibitor taselisib (GDC-0032) combined with fulvestrant (F) in patients (pts) with HER2-negative (HER2-), hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer (BC).

520Background: The PI3K pathway is activated in HR+ BC, often via gain-of-function mutations in PIK3CA that occur in ~40% of HR+ BC. Taselisib is a potent and selective PI3K inhibitor, with greater selectivity against mutant PI3Kα isoforms than wild type (WT) PI3Kα. Phase Ib data demonstrated good tolerability and preliminary efficacy for taselisib + F in HR+ BC. Methods: This Phase II, open-label, single-arm study enrolled post-menopausal pts with HER2-, HR+ locally advanced or metastatic BC (mBC) who had progression or non-response to ≥ 1 prior endocrine therapy in adjuvant or mBC settings. Pts received taselisib (6 mg capsule PO qd) plus F (500 mg IM on Cycle 1 Day 1, Cycle 1 Day 15, the…

Management of chemotherapy extravasation: ESMO–EONS Clinical Practice Guidelines

Extravasation is the process by which any liquid (fluid or drug) accidentally leaks into the surrounding tissue. In terms of cancer therapy, extravasation refers to the inadvertent infiltration of chemotherapy into the subcutaneous or subdermal tissues surrounding the intravenous or intra-arterial administration site. Extravasated drugs are classified according to their potential for causing damage as ‘vesicant’, ‘irritant’ and ‘nonvesicant’ (Table 1). Some vesicant drugs are further classified into two groups: DNA binding and non-DNA binding. Allwood et al. (2002) divided the drugs into vesicants, exfoliants, irritants, inflammitants and neutrals.

Radiomics and radiogenomics in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Potential contribution to patient management and challenges

Abstract The application of imaging biomarkers in oncology is still in its infancy, but with the expansion of radiomics and radiogenomics a revolution is expected in this field. This may be of special interest in head and neck cancer, since it can promote precision medicine and personalization of treatment by overcoming several intrinsic obstacles in this pathology. Our goal is to provide the medical oncologist with the basis to approach these disciplines and appreciate their main uses in clinical research and clinical practice in the medium term. Aligned with this objective we analyzed the most relevant studies in the field, also highlighting novel opportunities and current challenges.

mRNA expression profiles obtained from microdissected pancreatic cancer cells can predict patient survival

// Ana-Barbara Garcia-Garcia 1, 2, * , M. Carmen Gomez-Mateo 3, 7, * , Rebeca Hilario 2 , Pilar Rentero-Garrido 2 , Alvaro Martinez-Domenech 4 , Veronica Gonzalez-Albert 2 , Andres Cervantes 5 , Pablo Marin-Garcia 6 , Felipe Javier Chaves 1, 2 , Antonio Ferrandez-Izquierdo 3 and Luis Sabater 4 1 CIBER of Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain 2 Unidad de Genomica y Diagnostico Genetico. Fundacion Investigacion Clinico de Valencia, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Clinico de Valencia (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain 3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia and Clinical Hospital of Valencia, and Instituto de Investigacio…

In the literature: June 2020.

Immunotherapy based on checkpoint blockade has revolutionised cancer treatment during last years. Whereas this approach fails in a relevant group of patients, the knowledge on tumour microenvironment (TME) opened the possibility to the use of additional therapeutic strategies to potentiate antitumour immunity, including depletion of protumourigenic or immune suppressive and activation of specific immune populations using agonistic antibodies. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the TME, many of these strategies have been indiscriminately advanced to the clinic without clear mechanistic hypotheses. Nowadays, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)-based transcriptome analyses identify T ce…

Phase I Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Study of MLN8237, an Investigational, Oral, Selective Aurora A Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Abstract Purpose: Aurora A kinase (AAK) is a key regulator of mitosis and a target for anticancer drug development. This phase I study investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of MLN8237 (alisertib), an investigational, oral, selective AAK inhibitor, in 59 adults with advanced solid tumors. Experimental Design: Patients received MLN8237 once daily or twice daily for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days, followed by 14 days recovery, in 21-, 28-, or 35-day cycles. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) for the 7- and 21-day schedules were determined. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from plasma concentration–time profiles. AAK inhibition in…

Abstract PD1-05: Latest findings from the breast cancer cohort in SUMMIT - a phase 2 ‘basket’ trial of neratinib + trastuzumab + fulvestrant for HER2-mutant, hormone receptor-positive, metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Background: HER2 mutations are oncogenic in hormone receptor positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and may confer resistance to prior endocrine therapy but retain sensitivity to neratinib. Neratinib is an oral, irreversible, pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor with clinical activity either as a single agent or in combination with fulvestrant in HER2-mutated, HER2-non-amplified MBC. Genomic analyses suggest that acquired resistance to neratinib can occur via additional HER2 alterations, which may alter HER2-pathway signaling. We investigated whether dual HER2-targeted therapy could improve clinical benefit in a cohort of patients with HER2-mutant, HR+ MBC treated with neratin…

Aurora kinases in ovarian cancer

Aurora kinases (AURK) are key regulators of the mitotic spindle formation. AURK is frequently overexpressed in ovarian cancer and this overexpression has been frequently associated with prognosis in these tumours. Interestingly, AURK have been shown to interact with DNA repair mechanisms and other cell cycle regulators. These functions have brought light to Aurora family as a potential target for anticancer therapy. In the last years, two clinical trials with different AURK inhibitors have shown activity in epithelial and clear-cell ovarian cancer. Although there is a lack of predictive factors of AURK inhibition activity, recent trials have identified some candidates. This review will focu…

Multicenter Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial Comparing Neoadjuvant Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine, and Preoperative Radiotherapy With or Without Cetuximab Followed by Total Mesorectal Excision in Patients With High-Risk Rectal Cancer (EXPERT-C)

Purpose To evaluate the addition of cetuximab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy before chemoradiotherapy in high-risk rectal cancer. Patients and Methods Patients with operable magnetic resonance imaging–defined high-risk rectal cancer received four cycles of capecitabine/oxaliplatin (CAPOX) followed by capecitabine chemoradiotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant CAPOX (four cycles) or the same regimen plus weekly cetuximab (CAPOX+C). The primary end point was complete response (CR; pathologic CR or, in patients not undergoing surgery, radiologic CR) in patients with KRAS/BRAF wild-type tumors. Secondary end points were radiologic response (RR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), an…

Prognostic factors in advanced ovarian cancer

In this review, different factors with suspected effect on survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer are analysed. The volume of residual disease after surgical debulking is one of the most important factors predicting outcome. However, the extent of cytoreduction may not be the only ‘responsible’ factor indicating a better prognosis; the underlying biology of those debulkable tumors may also play a role in defining the more favorable outcome. Seven reports have studied different prognostic factors by multivariate analysis: performance status, stage, age, grade, histology, tumor size, residual tumor, type of chemotherapy given, and ploidy status are the most common analysed paramete…

Abstract P1-19-08: Neratinib + trastuzumab + fulvestrant for HER2-mutant, hormone receptor-positive, metastatic breast cancer: Updated results from the phase 2 SUMMIT ‘basket’ trial

Abstract Background: HER2 mutations define a subset of metastatic breast cancers (MBCs) with a unique mechanism of oncogenic addiction to HER2 signaling. Neratinib, an irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to have encouraging clinical activity when combined with fulvestrant in HER2-mutant, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) MBC [Smyth et al. SABCS 2018]. Genomic analyses suggest that acquired resistance to neratinib may occur by the acquisition of additional HER2 alterations, which may amplify HER2 pathway signaling [Won et al. AACR 2019]. We therefore explored whether dual HER2-targeted therapy may improve clinical benefit in this setting. Here we describe initial res…

A Phase Ib Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Cobimetinib and Duligotuzumab in Patients with Previously Treated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancers with Mutant KRAS

Abstract Lessons Learned Cobimetinib and duligotuzumab were well tolerated as single agents and in combination with other agents. The cobimetinib and duligotuzumab combination was associated with increased toxicity, most notably gastrointestinal, and limited efficacy in the patient population tested. Background KRAS-mutant tumors possess abnormal mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway signaling, leading to dysregulated cell proliferation. Cobimetinib blocks MAPK signaling. The dual-action antibody duligotuzumab (MEHD7945A) inhibits ligand binding to both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3). Blockade of EGFR/HER3 and inhibitio…

ZNF518B gene up-regulation promotes dissemination of tumour cells and is governed by epigenetic mechanisms in colorectal cancer

AbstractMost of colorectal cancer CRC-related death is due to metastasis and the finding of markers for prognosis of invasiveness, constitutes an appealing challenge. Here, after analysing cDNA array containing 43 tumour and 5 normal mucosa samples, we report that the expression of the ZNF518B gene as a whole and that of its two major splicing isoforms are significantly increased in tumours. The canonical isoform was also up-regulated in a patients’ cohort containing 70 tumour and 69 adjacent tissue samples. The effects of silencing ZNF518B on the phenotype of CRC cell lines were then studied. The gene does not affect cell proliferation, but plays a significant role in cell migration and in…

Phase I dose-escalation of trifluridine/tipiracil in combination with oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract Background and objectives Pre-clinical data have shown that combining trifluridine/tipiracil with oxaliplatin enhances anti-tumour activity compared with either monotherapy. A phase I dose-escalation study was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD) for phase II and pharmacokinetic profile of this combination in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had progressed after at least 1 prior line of treatment. Methods Using a 3 + 3 design, patients received escalating trifluridine/tipiracil doses from 25, then 30 and to 35 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1–5, q14 days, together with a fixed dose of 85 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin day 1, q14 days. A…

Ten-year assessment of a cancer fast-track programme to connect primary care with oncology: reducing time from initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Background Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Integrating different levels of care by implementing screening programmes, extending diagnostic tools and applying therapeutic advances may increase survival. We implemented a cancer fast-track programme (CFP) to shorten the time between suspected cancer symptoms, diagnosis and therapy initiation. Patients and methods Descriptive data were collected from the 10 years since the CFP was implemented (2009-2019) at the Clinico-Malvarrosa Health Department in Valencia, Spain. General practitioners (GPs), an oncology coordinator and 11 specialists designed guidelines for GP patient referral to the CFP, including criteria for br…

Abstract CT217: Phase I, first-in-human trial evaluating BI 1387446 (STING agonist) alone and in combination with ezabenlimab (BI 754091; anti-PD-1) in solid tumors

Abstract Background/Purpose Activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway in intratumoral immune cells leads to increased type I interferon production, promoting recruitment and priming of T-cells against tumor antigens and triggering anti-tumor activity. In patients with cancer, STING agonists have shown clinical activity, with effects increased when combined with an anti-programmed cell death [PD]-1 antibody. BI 1387446 potently and highly selectively activates the STING pathway; ezabenlimab (BI 754091) is a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Tumor regression and enhanced activity of anti-PD-1 therapy was observed after BI 1387446 administration in syngeneic …

Extending neoadjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer

Lancet Oncology, The - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since jeudi 16 juillet 2015

A phase IIA study of the topoisomerase I inhibitor, exatecan mesylate (DX-8951f), administered at two different dose schedules in patients with platinum- and taxane-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: There is an urgent need for new agents with activity in platinum- and taxane-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. Exatecan mesylate is a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor with potent activity against ovarian cancer in vitro. A multicentre phase IIA study was conducted in patients with platinum- and taxane-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with bidimensionally measurable ovarian cancer, previously exposed to platinum and taxanes, whose disease had relapsed within 6 months of platinum-containing chemotherapy were randomised to one of two intravenous schedules of exatecan mesylate; 0.3 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days every 3 weeks (Arm A) or 2.1…

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Challenges and controversies.

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is a dismal disease with an increasing incidence. Despite the majority of patients are not candidates for curative surgery, a subgroup of patients classified as borderline resectable pancreatic cancer can be selected in whom a sequential strategy of neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery can provide better outcomes. Multidisciplinary approach and surgical pancreatic expertise are essential for successfully treating these patients. However, the lack of consensual definitions and therapies make the results of studies very difficult to interpret and hard to be implemented in some settings. In this article, we review the challenges of borderline resectable pancreatic…

Career opportunities and benefits for young oncologists in the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is one of the leading societies of oncology professionals in the world. Approximately 30% of the 13 000 ESMO members are below the age of 40 and thus meet the society's definition of young oncologists (YOs). ESMO has identified the training and development of YOs as a priority and has therefore established a comprehensive career development programme. This includes a leadership development programme to help identify and develop the future leaders in oncology. Well-trained and highly motivated future generations of multidisciplinary oncologists are essential to ensure the optimal evolution of the field of oncology with the ultimate goal of pro…

Phase 1 study of biweekly (Q2W) anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb) mixture Sym004 in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) resistant to previous anti-EGFR treatment.

3551 Background: Preclinical models suggest that WT KRAS mCRC may retain EGFR dependency despite resistance developed to anti-EGFR mAb treatment (eg, cetuximab or panitumumab). Sym004 is the first-...

Prognostic Impact of pT Stage and Peritoneal Invasion in Locally Advanced Colon Cancer

BACKGROUND: TNM stage has been identified as an independent variable for local recurrence and survival after colon cancer resection. It is still unclear whether peritoneal invasion (pT4a) is a risk factor for adverse oncologic outcome or whether these patients have better results compared with contiguous organs infiltration (pT4b), independent from nodal status (pN). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze whether peritoneal invasion is an independent risk factor for worse oncologic outcome after curative colon cancer resection. DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis with multivariate regression of a prospective database, according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observatio…

Beyond the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: opportunities to optimize clinical trial implementation in oncology.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people globally with lasting effects on society, patients, investigators and health institutions. Clinical trials, our best tool to improve cancer treatment for patients through testing the clinical value of a new treatment, have been affected by the pandemic. The pandemic footprint represents both a risk of compromising development of new therapies and an opportunity to elicit discussion over a portfolio of broader reforms, applicable irrespective of pandemics, in order to improve the design and implementation of clinical trials in oncology. The administrative load should be reduced, without affecting the quality of research and principle…

In the literature: June 2021

Understanding mechanisms of primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitors will lead to precision immunotherapy of advanced gastric cancer

El tratamiento no quirúrgico del cáncer de recto localizado es una opción experimental

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis treatment and follow-up of patients with localised colon cancer

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of localised colon cancer was published in 2020. It was decided by both the ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special virtual guidelines meeting in March 2021 to adapt the ESMO 2020 guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences associated with the treatment of localised colon cancer in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with localised colon cancer representing the oncological societies of Japan (JSMO), China (CSCO), India (…

Exploratory findings from a prematurely closed international, multicentre, academic trial: RAVELLO, a phase III study of regorafenib versus placebo as maintenance therapy after first-line treatment in RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer

Background In patients with RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the role of maintenance therapy after first-line treatment with chemotherapy plus antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) is still an object of debate. Methods We assessed the efficacy and safety of regorafenib as a switch maintenance strategy after upfront 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy plus an anti- EGFR MoAb in patients with RAS WT mCRC. RAVELLO was a phase III, international, double-blind, placebocontrolled, academic trial. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival and toxicity. Regorafenib or placebo were a…

Safety and Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of the First-in-Class Dual Action HER3/EGFR Antibody MEHD7945A in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Epithelial Tumors.

Abstract Purpose: The novel dual-action humanized IgG1 antibody MEHD7945A targeting HER3 and EGFR inhibits ligand-dependent HER dimer signaling. This phase I study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of MEHD7945A. Experimental Design: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic epithelial tumors received escalating doses of MEHD7945A (1–30 mg/kg) every 2 weeks (q2w) until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. An expansion cohort was enrolled at the recommended phase II dose (14 mg/kg, q2w). Plasma samples, tumor biopsies, FDG-PET were obtained for assessment of pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic modulation downstream of EGFR and HER3. …

Prognostic and predictive value of primary tumour side in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy and EGFR directed antibodies in six randomized trials

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease and that tumours arising from different sides of the colon (left versus right) have different clinical outcomes. Furthermore, previous analyses comparing the activity of different classes of targeted agents in patients with KRAS wild-type (wt) or RAS wt mCRC suggest that primary tumour location (side), might be both prognostic and predictive for clinical outcome. METHODS: This retrospective analysis investigated the prognostic and predictive influence of the localization of the primary tumour in patients with unresectable RAS wt mCRC included in six randomized trials (CRY…

A Phase 3 Trial of Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer

Angiogenesis plays a role in the biology of ovarian cancer. We examined the effect of bevacizumab, the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, on survival in women with this disease.We randomly assigned women with ovarian cancer to carboplatin (area under the curve, 5 or 6) and paclitaxel (175 mg per square meter of body-surface area), given every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, or to this regimen plus bevacizumab (7.5 mg per kilogram of body weight), given concurrently every 3 weeks for 5 or 6 cycles and continued for 12 additional cycles or until progression of disease. Outcome measures included progression-free survival, first analyzed per protocol and then updated, and interim overall survi…

Growth factor receptor-related therapy for gastric cancer.

Early colon cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Educational needs in gastrointestinal cancer: a consensus position paper from the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancer Faculty

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are common in all parts of the world. Effective prevention and early detection of GI cancers are not universally implemented. Therefore, it must be anticipated that the incidence and the mortality of GI cancers will remain high within the next decades. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Cancer Faculty aims to increase the skills of medical oncologists and other disciplines involved in treating GI malignancies. We aimed to increase the survival chances for patients with GI cancers, augment their quality of life and enable successful return to normal social and professional life during the period of survivorship. ESMO also aims to d…

Short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy before total mesorectal excision (TME) versus preoperative chemoradiotherapy, TME, and optional adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (RAPIDO): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND: Systemic relapses remain a major problem in locally advanced rectal cancer. Using short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and delayed surgery, the Rectal cancer And Preoperative Induction therapy followed by Dedicated Operation (RAPIDO) trial aimed to reduce distant metastases without compromising locoregional control. METHODS: In this multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, participants were recruited from 54 centres in the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Denmark, Norway, and the USA. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1, had a biopsy-prove…

Reply to ‘Comment on: management of chemotherapy extravasation: ESMO–EONS clinical practice guidelines'

Definition of the Rectum An International, Expert-based Delphi Consensus

Mini: A radiological, anatomic distinction between the rectum and sigmoid colon was agreed by consensus of international experts in rectal cancer using the Delphi Technique. Use of this landmark, “the sigmoid take-off,” may harmonize efforts in research and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Background: The wide global variation in the definition of the rectum has led to significant inconsistencies in trial recruitment, clinical management, and outcomes. Surgical technique and use of preoperative treatment for a cancer of the rectum and sigmoid colon are radically different and dependent on the local definitions employed by the clinical team. A consensus definition of the rectum…

Why Do We Have to Use Chemotherapy?

The use of chemotherapy (CT) in localized rectal cancer (LARC) has two aims: first, to improve the local effect of radiotherapy by giving concomitant chemoradiation and second, to decrease systemic relapses by early treatment for occult micrometastatic disease or to shrink bulky local tumours. Neoadjuvant treatment is reserved for locally advanced disease, as defined by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, a very useful and accurate tool to identify high-risk features for local or systemic relapse [1]. We are going to address why we have to use CT in LARC.

In the literature: February 2021

Analytical Validation of Multiplex Biomarker Assay to Stratify Colorectal Cancer into Molecular Subtypes

International audience; Previously, we classified colorectal cancers (CRCs) into five CRCAssigner (CRCA) subtypes with different prognoses and potential treatment responses, later consolidated into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). Here we demonstrate the analytical development and validation of a custom NanoString nCounter platform-based biomarker assay (NanoCRCA) to stratify CRCs into subtypes. To reduce costs, we switched from the standard nCounter protocol to a custom modified protocol. The assay included a reduced 38-gene panel that was selected using an in-house machine-learning pipeline. We applied NanoCRCA to 413 samples from 355 CRC patients. From the fresh frozen samples (n…

ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Contains fulltext : 165965.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in Western countries. Over the last 20 years, and the last decade in particular, the clinical outcome for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) has improved greatly due not only to an increase in the number of patients being referred for and undergoing surgical resection of their localised metastatic disease but also to a more strategic approach to the delivery of systemic therapy and an expansion in the use of ablative techniques. This reflects the increase in the number of patients that are being managed within a multidisciplinary team environment and speciali…

MassARRAY determination of somatic oncogenic mutations in solid tumors: Moving forward to personalized medicine.

This article will review the impact of the recently developed MassARRAY technology on our understanding of cancer biology and treatment. Analysis of somatic mutations is a useful tool in selecting personalized therapy, and for predicting the outcome of many solid tumors. Here, we review the literature on the application of MassARRAY technology (Sequenom Hamburg, Germany) to determine the mutation profile of solid tumors from patients. We summarize the use of commercially available panels of mutations - such as OncoCarta™ or other combinations - and their concordance with results obtained by using other technologies, such as next generation sequencing.

First-in-Human Phase I Study of Lumretuzumab, a Glycoengineered Humanized Anti-HER3 Monoclonal Antibody, in Patients with Metastatic or Advanced HER3-Positive Solid Tumors

Abstract Purpose: A first-in-human phase I study was conducted to characterize safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of lumretuzumab, a humanized and glycoengineered anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced cancer. Experimental Design: Twenty-five patients with histologically confirmed HER3-expressing tumors received lumretuzumab (100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, and 2,000 mg) every two weeks (q2w) in 3+3 dose-escalation phase. In addition, 22 patients were enrolled into an extension cohort at 2,000 mg q2w. Results: There were no dose-limiting toxicities. Common adverse events (any grade) included diarrhea (22 patients, 46.8%), fatigue (21 …

Abstract CT263: Post-surgical liquid biopsy-guided treatment of stage III and high-risk stage II colon cancer patients: The PEGASUS trial

Abstract Background: Moving stage III Colon Cancer (CC) into the precision medicine space is a priority in view of the lack of molecular markers driving adjuvant treatment. Retrospective studies have demonstrated the tremendous prognostic impact of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis after curative intent surgery, and suggested that lack of conversion of ctDNA from detectable to undetectable after adjuvant chemotherapy reflects treatment failure. With these premises, we have designed the PEGASUS trial (EudraCT 2019-002074-32) to prove the feasibility of using liquid biopsy to guide the post-surgical and post-adjuvant clinical management of early colon cancer patients. Methods: PEGASUS is…

Neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: oncological outcomes at a single academic centre.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic cancer (PC), even in the absence of metastatic disease, has a dismal prognosis. One-third of them are borderline resectable (BRPC) or locally advanced unresectable PC (LAUPC) at diagnosis. There are limited prospective data supporting the best approach on these tumours. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ChT) is being increasingly used in this setting. METHODS: This is a retrospective series of consecutive patients staged as BRPC or LAUPC after discussion in the multidisciplinary board (MDB) at an academic centre. All received neoadjuvant ChT, followed by chemoradiation (ChRT) in some cases, and those achieving enough downstaging had a curative-intent surgery. Descriptive da…

530MO Clinical benefit in biomarker-positive patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours treated with the PARP1/2 inhibitor pamiparib in combination with low-dose (LD) temozolomide (TMZ)

Targeted next-generation sequencing of circulating-tumor DNA for tracking minimal residual disease in localized colon cancer.

A high percentage of patients diagnosed with localized colon cancer (CC) will relapse after curative treatment. Although pathological staging currently guides our treatment decisions, there are no biomarkers determining minimal residual disease (MRD) and patients are at risk of being undertreated or even overtreated with chemotherapy in this setting. Circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) can to be a useful tool to better detect risk of relapse.One hundred and fifty patients diagnosed with localized CC were prospectively enrolled in our study. Tumor tissue from those patients was sequenced by a custom-targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to characterize somatic mutations. A minimum varian…

408 Phase I, first-in-human trial evaluating BI 1387446 (stimulator of interferon genes [STING] agonist) alone and combined with BI 754091 (anti-programmed cell death [PD]-1) in solid tumors

Background Activation of the STING pathway in intratumoral immune cells leads to increased type I interferon production, promoting recruitment and priming of T-cells against tumor antigens, and providing anti-tumor activity.1 Intratumoral administration of STING agonists has resulted in notable therapeutic activity in animal models.1 STING agonists have also shown clinical activity in patients, which was more pronounced when combined with an anti-PD-1 antibody.2,3 BI 1387446 potently and highly selectively activates the STING pathway; BI 754091 is a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Intratumoral administration of BI 1387446 resulted in tumor regression, and enhanced the activity…

PI3K/AKT Activation and Response in Phase IB: AKT Inhibitor GDC-0068 with Docetaxel (D) Or MFOLFOX6 (F) in Refractory Solid Tumors

R. Meng1, L. R. Molife2, L. de Mattos-Arruda3, A. Hollebecque4, S. J. Isakoff5, D. Roda6, Y. Yan1, A. Cervantes6, J. C. Soria4, J. Mateo2, G. Argiles3, J. C. Bendell7 Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA, Institute of Cancer Research/ Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, United Kingdom, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA, Institute of Health Research INCLIVA, University of Valenica, Valencia, Spain, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA

Computational Evaluation and In Vitro Validation of New Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors

Background:The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane protein that acts as a receptor of extracellular protein ligands of the epidermal growth factor (EGF/ErbB) family. It has been shown that EGFR is overexpressed by many tumours and correlates with poor prognosis. Therefore, EGFR can be considered as a very interesting therapeutic target for the treatment of a large variety of cancers such as lung, ovarian, endometrial, gastric, bladder and breast cancers, cervical adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma and glioblastoma.Methods:We have followed a structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) procedure with a library composed of several commercial collections of chemicals (615,46…

Gastric cancer: epidemiology, pathology and treatment.

Gastric cancer incidence and mortality has fallen dramatically over the last 50 years in many regions, but remains the second most common cancer worldwide. Despite a marked decline in fundic and distal tumors, there is a rising incidence of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction and gastric cardia, particularly in Western nations. This may imply that there are in fact two diseases differing from each other in epidemiology, etiology, pathology and clinical expression. While surgical resection remains the cornerstone of gastric cancer treatment, the optimum extent of nodal resection remains controversial, with randomized studies failing to show that the D2 procedure improves surviva…

Feasibility of a modified outpatient regimen of intravenous/intraperitoneal chemotherapy in optimally debulked stage III ovarian cancer patients: a GEICO study.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and reasons for early discontinuation of a modified outpatient intraperitoneal/intravenous (IP/IV) chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of patients with optimally debulked stage III ovarian cancer. Methods: Between February 2006 and November 2008, 51 consecutive patients from Institutions of the Spanish Ovarian Cancer Group (GEICO) were treated with a modified outpatient IP chemotherapy regimen. Patients received IV paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3 hours on day 1, followed by IP cisplatin 100 mg/m2 (or 75 mg/m2 according to the principal investigator9s criteria) on day 2. On day 8, patients received IP paclitaxel 6…

Trifluridine/tipiracil in earlier lines of chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer

A preclinical model for skin sensitization prediction of antineoplasic drugs.

e15643 Background: Skin side effects are common manifestations of antineoplastic drugs that are frequently observed in early clinical trials. Therefore, there is a need to identify skin toxic agents before clinical development in order to predict severe skin manifestations. In many cases, skin toxicity is due to sensitization, a key immunologic process mediating redness, swelling and itching that can lead to more severe skin alterations. Methods: We adapted three skin cellular in vitro techniques for cutaneous drug sensitization assessment of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2012) in order to predict antineoplastic drug skin sensitization: 1) Direct peptide …

Critical evaluation of the scientific content in clinical practice guidelines

Immunotherapy is not for all comers in chemotherapy-refractory advanced gastric cancer. Better predictive biomarkers are needed

In the literature: August 2018.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterised by a very poor prognosis. Despite some minor therapeutic advances, median overall survival of patients with metastatic disease ranges from 6 to 11 months. Even for those who undergo potential curative surgery, expected median survival is below 27 months. Current treatment for both localised and metastatic disease is often based on unspecific characteristics, such as performance status and comorbidities. As many patients with PDAC are chemorefractory, there is an unmet clinical need to define responsiveness. Moreover, precision medicine approaches for pancreatic cancer are challenging. In an article recently published in Cancer Discove…

Gastric cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Gastric cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up A. Okines, M. Verheij, W. Allum, D. Cunningham & A. Cervantes On behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* GI Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK; Department of Radiation Oncology and Division of Cellular Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Royal Marsden Hospital, London; Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

An Open-Label Phase II Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Ramucirumab Combined With mFOLFOX-6 as First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Abstract Author Summary Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) are believed to mediate angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Ramucirumab (RAM; IMC-1121B) is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that inhibits VEGF ligand binding to VEGFR-2, inhibiting VEGFR-2 activation and signaling. Methods. Patients with metastatic CRC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1, and adequate organ function who had not received chemotherapy for metastatic disease received RAM and the modified FOLFOX-6 regimen every 2 weeks. Endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, overall survival, and safety. The sample size wa…

Analysis of KRAS/NRAS mutations in a phase III study of panitumumab with FOLFIRI compared with FOLFIRI alone as second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract Purpose: We evaluated the influence of RAS mutation status on the treatment effect of panitumumab in a prospective–retrospective analysis of a randomized, multicenter phase III study of panitumumab plus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) versus FOLFIRI alone as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0039183). Experimental Design: Outcomes were from the study's primary analysis. RAS mutations beyond KRAS exon 2 (KRAS exons 3, 4; NRAS exons 2, 3, 4; BRAF exon 15) were detected by bidirectional Sanger sequencing in wild-type KRAS exon 2 tumor specimens. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) we…

Abstract CT-08: A Phase 1 study of MEHD7945A (MEHD), a first-in-class EGFR/HER3 dual action antibody, in patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic epithelial tumors

Abstract Background Dysregulated human epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (HER RTK) signaling is an important driver of tumor growth, metastasis, and survival. Extensive HER RTK co-expression and heterodimerization suggest that simultaneous blockade of multiple RTKs may be more effective than targeting individual RTKs, and may help prevent or delay development of resistance mechanisms. MEHD is a novel dual-action human IgG1 antibody. Each antigen-binding fragment blocks ligand binding to both EGFR and HER3, which is meant to inhibit the activity of the major ligand-dependent HER dimers in cancer. MEHD also elicits antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and has single-a…

GEICO (Spanish Group for Investigation on Ovarian Cancer) treatment guidelines in ovarian cancer 2012

In 2006, under the auspices of The Spanish Research Group for Ovarian Cancer (Spanish initials GEICO), the first “Treatment Guidelines in Ovarian Cancer” were developed and then published in Clinical and Translational Oncology by Poveda Velasco et al. (Clin Transl Oncol 9(5):308–316, 2007). Almost 6 years have elapsed and over this time, we have seen some important developments in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Significant changes were also introduced after the GCIG-sponsored 4th Consensus Conference on Ovarian Cancer by Stuart et al. (Int J Gynecol Cancer 21:750–755, 2011). So we decided to update the treatment guidelines in ovarian cancer and, with this objective, a group of investigato…

Antitumor activity of ipatasertib combined with chemotherapy: results from a phase Ib study in solid tumors

Inhibidor d'AKT; Càncer avançat; Fase I Inhibidor de AKT; Cáncer avanzado; Fase I AKT inhibitor; Advanced cancer; Phase I Background This phase Ib study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of the oral AKT inhibitor ipatasertib and chemotherapy or hormonal therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors to determine combined dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose, and recommended phase II doses and schedules. Patients and methods The clinical study comprised four combination treatment arms: arm A (with docetaxel), arm B [with mFOLFOX6 (modified leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin)], arm C (with paclitaxel), and …

Determination of somatic oncogenic mutations linked to target-based therapies using MassARRAY technology

Somatic mutation analysis represents a useful tool in selecting personalized therapy. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of common genetic events affecting actionable oncogenes using a MassARRAY technology in patients with advanced solid tumors who were potential candidates for target-based therapies. The analysis of 238 mutations across 19 oncogenes was performed in 197 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of different tumors using the OncoCarta Panel v1.0 (Sequenom Hamburg, Germany). Of the 197 specimens, 97 (49.2%) presented at least one mutation. Forty-nine different oncogenic mutations in 16 genes were detected. Mutations in KRAS and PIK3CA were detected in 40/97 (4…

Efficacy and Determinants of Response to HER Kinase Inhibition in HER2-Mutant Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract HER2 mutations define a subset of metastatic breast cancers with a unique mechanism of oncogenic addiction to HER2 signaling. We explored activity of the irreversible pan-HER kinase inhibitor neratinib, alone or with fulvestrant, in 81 patients with HER2-mutant metastatic breast cancer. Overall response rate was similar with or without estrogen receptor (ER) blockade. By comparison, progression-free survival and duration of response appeared longer in ER+ patients receiving combination therapy, although the study was not designed for direct comparison. Preexistent concurrent activating HER2 or HER3 alterations were associated with poor treatment outcome. Similarly, acquisition of m…

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a JSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, KACO, MOS, SSO and TOS.

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) consensus guidelines for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was published in 2016, identifying both a more strategic approach to the administration of the available systemic therapy choices, and a greater emphasis on the use of ablative techniques, including surgery. At the 2016 ESMO Asia Meeting, in December 2016, it was decided by both ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special guidelines meeting, endorsed by both ESMO and JSMO, immediately after the JSMO 2017 Annual Meeting. The aim was to adapt the ESMO consensus guidelines to take into account t…

Esophageal cancer: Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Esophageal cancer: Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up M. Stahl, W. Budach, H.-J. Meyer & A. Cervantes On behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* Department of Medical Oncology and Centre of Palliative Care, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf; Department of Surgery, Stadt Klinikum Solingen, Germany; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

“Are There New Chemotherapy Drugs Behind the Corner?”

Up to now, the backbone of both adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is still represented by 5-fluorouracil (5FU). However, we have currently several approved drugs with significant clinical activity in metastatic colon cancer. Apart from cytotoxics such as oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluoropyrimidines, we have antiangiogenics (bevacizumab, aflibercept, and ramucirumab), anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as regorafenib. Despite remarkable prolongation of median survival, exceeding 24 months, most patients will be progressing over different lines of therapy, and there is a need and a role for new compounds to be added to …

Phase II Study of Taselisib (GDC-0032) in Combination with Fulvestrant in Patients with HER2-Negative, Hormone Receptor–Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

AbstractPurpose: This single-arm, open-label phase II study evaluated the safety and efficacy of taselisib (GDC-0032) plus fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-negative, hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer.Patients and Methods: Patients received 6-mg oral taselisib capsules daily plus intramuscular fulvestrant (500 mg) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Tumor tissue (if available) was centrally evaluated for PIK3CA mutations. Adverse events (AE) were recorded using NCI-CTCAE v4.0. Tumor response was investigator-determined using RECIST v1.1.Results: Median treatment duration was 4.6 (range: 0.9–40.5) months. All patients expe…

Polymorphisms in TRAIL receptor genes and risk of breast cancer in Spanish women

TRAIL is a potent inducer of apoptosis in malignant but not in normal cells. TRAIL binds to the proapoptotic death receptor DR4 and DR5 as well as to the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2. To evaluate the involvement of TRAIL receptor genes in breast cancer, we carried out a case-control study of eight selected polymorphisms in a large sample of Spanish women. Three of the eight selected SNPs (626G/C and 1322G/A in DR4 and 2699A/G in DcR2) showed some evidence of different genotype distributions in a random selection of 535 cases and 480 controls and were therefore studied in our entire sample (1008 cases and 768 controls). For the two DR4 polymorphisms, no differences in genotype or haplotype …

First-Line XELOX plus bevacizumab followed by XELOX plus bevacizumab or single-agent bevacizumab as maintenance therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: The phase III MACRO TTD study

Abstract Purpose. The aim of this phase III trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab alone with those of bevacizumab and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) as maintenance treatment following induction chemotherapy with XELOX plus bevacizumab in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients and Methods. Patients were randomly assigned to receive six cycles of bevacizumab, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin every 3 weeks followed by XELOX plus bevacizumab or bevacizumab alone until progression. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival (PFS) interval; secondary endpoints were the overall survival (OS) time, objective resp…

How we treat metastatic colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. About 20% of patients suffer from metastatic disease at diagnosis, while about one-third of patients treated with curative intent relapsed. In these patients, an accurate staging allows to plan a treatment strategy within a multidisciplinary team in order to achieve predefined goals. Patient's clinical features, tumour characteristics and molecular profile (RAS/BRAF and microsatellite instability (MSI) status) should be considered during the treatment choice. Combination of chemotherapy (fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin and irinotecan) plus biological agents (antiepidermal growth factor receptor or antiangiogenic…

Impact of tumor heregulin mRNA expression on outcome of patients with advanced/metastatic squamous NSCLC treated with lumretuzumab, a glycoengineered monoclonal antibody targeting HER3, in combination with erlotinib

Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is an independent prognostic factor in locoregionally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer (LAHNSCC)

Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ramucirumab in the treatment of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. The prognosis of colorectal cancer patients still remains dismal and half of them will develop metastatic disease. Angiogenesis plays an essential role in colorectal tumorigenesis, and the VEGF pathway is one of the targets that has been validated up to now. The use of antiangiogenics along with chemotherapy has become an accepted standard for colorectal cancer.This review discusses the efficacy and safety profile of ramucirumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), for the treatment of second-line metastatic colorectal cancer upon progression to f…

Phase II Trial of Preoperative Irinotecan–Cisplatin Followed by Concurrent Irinotecan–Cisplatin and Radiotherapy for Resectable Locally Advanced Gastric and Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma

Purpose To determine in a Phase II trial whether preoperative irinotecan–cisplatin (IC) followed by concurrent IC therapy and radiotherapy (IC/RT) improved outcome in patients with resectable, locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) or esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC). Patients and Methods Patients with resectable Stage II–IV, M0 GC or EGJC made up the study population. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR). Two courses of IC (irinotecan, 65mg/m 2 ; cisplatin, 30mg/m 2 on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days) were given. Patients without progression then received IC/RT, consisting of daily radiotherapy (45Gy) with concurrent IC (irinotecan, 65mg/m 2 ; cisplatin, 30mg/…

Prognostic Implications of the Standardized Study of Resection Margins in Pancreatic Cancers

Abstract Introduction Involvement of surgical resection margins is a fundamental prognostic factor in pancreatic oncological surgery. However, there is a lack of standardized histopathology definition. The aims of this study are to investigate the real rate of R1 resections when surgical specimens are evaluated according to a standardized protocol and to study its survival implications. Patients and methods One hundred consecutive surgically resected patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. They were further divided into 2 groups: pre-protocol, evaluated before the introduction of the standardized protocol and post-protocol, analyzed with the standardized p…

Abstract CT046: A phase I basket study of the PI3K inhibitor taselisib (GDC-0032) in PIK3CA-mutated locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors

Abstract Background: PIK3CA, a gene that encodes the α-isoform of the catalytic subunit of Class I PI3K (PI3Kα), is frequently mutated or amplified in solid tumors. Taselisib is an oral, potent, selective inhibitor of Class I PI3Kα, γ, and δ isoforms with enhanced activity against PIK3CA-mutated cancer models. Preclinical and clinical data demonstrated that single-agent taselisib has activity in multiple PIK3CA-mutated tumor types. Methods: This open-label phase I study (Cohort X of PMT4979g; NCT01296555) enrolled patients (pts) with PIK3CA-mutated tumors who had progressed after, or failed to respond to, at least one prior treatment regimen and were not candidates for regimens known to pro…

In the literature: December 2020

NRF2 through RPS6 Activation Is Related to Anti-HER2 Drug Resistance in HER2-Amplified Gastric Cancer

Abstract Purpose: Despite the clinical advantage of the combination of trastuzumab and platinum-based chemotherapy in HER2-amplified tumors, resistance will eventually develop. The identification of molecular mechanisms related to primary and acquired resistance is needed. Experimental Design: We generated lapatinib- and trastuzumab-resistant clones deriving from two different HER2-amplified gastric cancer cell lines. Molecular changes such as protein expression and gene-expression profile were evaluated to detect alterations that could be related to resistance. Functional studies in vitro were corroborated in vivo. The translational relevance of our findings was verified in a patient cohor…

Final results of the McCAVE trial: A double-blind, randomized phase 2 study of vanucizumab (VAN) plus FOLFOX vs. bevacizumab (BEV) plus FOLFOX in patients (pts) with previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC).

3539 Background: VEGF-A and ANG-2 have complementary roles in regulation of tumor angiogenesis. Targeting VEGF-A with BEV in combination chemotherapy (CT) in mCRC has proven to increase PFS and OS. ANG-2 is overexpressed and associated with poor outcome of mCRC pts receiving BEVcontaining treatment. Hence, dual blockade of VEGF-A and ANG-2 by the bispecific mAb VAN with standard CT may improve clinical activity in mCRC. Methods: All pts received mFOLFOX-6 and were randomized 1:1 to also receive intravenous VAN 2000 mg every other week (Q2W) (Arm A) or BEV 5 mg/kg Q2W (Arm B). The primary end point was investigator assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Key eligibility criteria included …

In the literature: February 2017

The hallmark of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is the t(11;14)(q13,q32) translocation, which leads to the juxtaposition of CCDN1 to the IgH promoter locus, resulting in cyclin D1 overexpression. However, studies from transgenic mouse show that additional secondary genetic events are required for oncogenic transformation. Epigenetic dysregulation is an important mechanism of oncogenesis and tumour progression, but there are only few genome-wide studies of DNA methylome in MCL and mainly focused on promoter regions. In an elegant article published in Cancer Cell , Queiros et al 1 studied the genome-wide methylation profiles of 82 MCL cases using microarray containing approximately 450 000 CPG sit…

In the literature: February 2018

Non-invasive liquid biopsies may transform the management of patients with cancer. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) derived from cancer cells can be identified in most patients with advanced cancer, representing a potential non-invasive source of tumour DNA. The analysis of ctDNA may be useful to genotype the cancer, to select treatment options and to monitor response to treatment. ctDNA is often at a low level in plasma, requiring highly sensitive and accurate assays for ctDNA analysis. ctDNA was detected and profiled together with primary tumour DNA obtained from surgical specimens in 40 patients with lung cancer with localised disease who were diagnosed at stages I–III and operated on with…

Deregulation of ARID1A, CDH1, cMET and PIK3CA and target-related microRNA expression in gastric cancer.

Genetic and epigenetic alterations play an important role in gastric cancer (GC) pathogenesis. Aberrations of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase signaling pathway are well described. However, emerging genes have been described such as, the chromatin remodeling gene ARID1A. Our aim was to determine the expression levels of four GC-related genes, ARID1A, CDH1, cMET and PIK3CA, and 14 target-related microRNAs (miRNAs). We compared mRNA and miRNA expression levels among 66 gastric tumor and normal adjacent mucosa samples using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. Moreover, ARID1A, cMET and PIK3CA protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Finally, gene and miRNAs as…

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Poor Prognosis in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients Treated with Nab-Paclitaxel plus Gemcitabine: A Propensity Score Analysis

Background. High neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has shown to be a predictor of poor outcomes in various malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Methods. We assessed 70 consecutive pts with histologically confirmed mPC who received chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine at two different European oncologic centers between January 2012 and November 2015. Variables assessed for prognostic correlations included age ≥ 66, sex, Karnofsky PS score, primary tumor site, baseline CA19.9 level ≥ 59xULN, 12-week decrease of the CA19.9 level ≥ 50% from baseline, basal bilirubin level, baseline NLR, biliary stent implantation, and liver metastasis. Survival analyses were generated according…

Abstract PS5-12: Preliminary correlative analysis of clinical outcomes with PIK3CA mutation (mut) status from a phase I/Ib study of GDC-0077 in patients (pts) with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- mBC)

Abstract Background Mutations in p110α, encoded by PIK3CA, are present in ~40% of HR+/HER2- BCs. GDC-0077, a PI3Kα-selective inhibitor and mutant PI3Kα degrader, elicits antitumor activity in PIK3CAmut preclinical models as a single agent and when combined with endocrine therapy (ET). New evidence suggests BCs harboring multiple PIK3CAmut exhibit increased signaling through the PI3K/AKT pathway and are more sensitive to PI3Kα inhibitors compared with BCs with a single PIK3CAmut. We report a preliminary analysis of PIK3CAmut status with clinical outcomes from an ongoing study of GDC-0077 alone or with ET (letrozole/fulvestrant) ± palbociclib (palbo) in pts with PIK3CAmut HR+/HER2- mBC (NCT03…

KRAS/NRAS and BRAF Mutations in the 20050181 Study of Panitumumab + FOLFIRI for the 2ND-Line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Updated Analysis

Abstract P6-12-02: Phase Ib dose-escalation study of an Akt inhibitor ipatasertib (Ipat) in combination with docetaxel (Doc) or paclitaxel (Pac) in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Abstract Background: The Akt pathway is frequently aberrantly activated in MBC (e.g. via PTEN loss, and/or alterations of PIK3CA, AKT1, or AKT3); additionally, Akt activation may occur in response to chemotherapy, leading to cell survival and chemoresistance. Ipat (GDC-0068) is a potent oral, ATP-competitive inhibitor of all Akt isoforms. In preclinical models, Ipat synergistically combined with taxanes. In the Phase I dose-escalation single agent study, Ipat was given to pts including MBC, and downregulated Akt signaling at doses ≥ 100 mg. Methods: Eligible pts with MBC, treated with up to 3 prior systemic chemotherapy regimens, received Doc 75 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on Day 1 with escala…

Efficacy of FOLFIRI-3 (irinotecan D1,D3 combined with LV5-FU) or other irinotecan-based regimens in oxaliplatin-pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer in the GERCOR OPTIMOX1 study

Abstract Background: Second-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy is commonly used in metastatic colorectal cancers after first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. No standard schedule of irinotecan has been established in this situation. Patients and methods: Metastatic colorectal cancer patients included in the OPTIMOX1 phase III study received first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (FOLFOX). No second line was defined in the protocol, but data concerning second line were prospectively registered. Inclusion criterion was patients receiving an irinotecan-based second-line chemotherapy. Second-line progression-free survival (PFS) and tumor response were evaluated according to type of irino…

Quality assurance in the treatment of colorectal cancer: the EURECCA initiative

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Europe. Over the past few decades, important advances have been made in screening, staging and treatment of colorectal cancer. However, considerable variation between and within European countries remains, which implies that further improvements are possible. The most important remaining question now is: when are we, health care professionals, delivering the best available care to patients with colon or rectal cancer? Currently, quality assurance is a major issue in colorectal cancer care and quality assurance awareness is developing in almost all disciplines involved in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients. Quality assurance has…

Efficient selection of silenced primary cells by flow cytometry

Background: RNA interference has emerged as a new and potent tool to knockdown the expression of target genes and to investigate their functions. For short time experiments with mammalian cell lines, RNA interference is typically induced by transfecting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Primary cells constitute important experimental systems in many studies because of their similarity to their in vivo counterparts; however, transfection of these cells has been found to be difficult. As a consequence, RNA interference of primary cells may result in mixed phenotypes because of the simultaneous presence in the same preparation of transfected and nontransfected cells. This may be particularly in…

Fe de errores de «El tratamiento no quirúrgico del cáncer de recto localizado es una opción experimental»

Pancreatic and periampullary tumours: morbidity, mortality, functional results, and long-term survival

Abstract Aims To evaluate postoperative morbidity and mortality, pancreatic function and long-term survival in patients with surgically treated pancreatic or periampullar tumours. Patients and methods Cohort study including 160 patients consecutively operated on: 80 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 30 distal pancreatectomies (DP), 7 total pancreatectomies, 4 central pancreatic resections, and 3 ampullectomies. The tumour was not resected in 36 patients. Pancreatic function was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test, faecal fat excretion, and elastase. Results Resectability rate was 77.5%. In resected patients (n = 124), 38.7% had complications with a pancreatic fistula rate of 6.4% and a m…

Updated analysis of KRAS/NRAS and BRAF mutations in study 20050181 of panitumumab (pmab) plus FOLFIRI for second-line treatment (tx) of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

3568 Background: Previously, extended RAS analysis from this study showed a trend toward improvements in HR on OS and PFS with pmab + FOLFIRI vs FOLFIRI in WT RAS group vs WT KRAS exon 2 group. Her...

HER2 in high-risk rectal cancer patients treated in EXPERT-C, a randomized phase II trial of neoadjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with or without cetuximab.

HER2 is an established therapeutic target in breast and gastric cancers. The role of HER2 in rectal cancer is unclear, as conflicting data on the prevalence of HER2 expression in this disease have been reported. We evaluated the prevalence of HER2 and its impact on the outcome of high-risk rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CAPOX and CRT +/- cetuximab in the EXPERT-C trial. Eligible patients with available tumour tissue for HER2 analysis were included. HER2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in pre-treatment biopsies and/or surgical specimens (score 0-3+). Immunostaining was scored according to the consensus panel recommendations on HER2 scoring for gastric…

Molecular profile in Paraguayan colorectal cancer patients, towards to a precision medicine strategy

[EN] Somatic mutation analysis and evaluation of microsatellite instability (MSI) have become mandatory for selecting personalized therapy strategies for advanced colorectal cancer and are not available as routine methods in Paraguay. The aims of this study were to analyze the molecular profile as well as the microsatellite status in a series of advanced colorectal patients from two public hospitals from Paraguay, to introduce these methodologies in the routine practice to guide the therapeutic decisions. Thirty-six patients diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer from two referent public hospitals from Paraguay were recruited from May 2017 to February 2018. Sequenom Mass spectrometry, On…

The liquid biopsy in the management of colorectal cancer patients: Current applications and future scenarios.

The term liquid biopsy refers to the analysis of biomarkers in any body fluid, including blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. In cancer, liquid biopsy testing allows the analysis of tumor-derived DNA, RNA, miRNA and proteins that can be either cell-free or contained in circulating tumor cells (CTC), extracellular vesicles (EVs) or platelets. A number of studies suggest that liquid biopsy testing could have a relevant role in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at different stages of the disease. Analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), CTC and/or miRNA can provide relevant information for the early diagnosis of CRC and the identification of minimal residual disease and, more gener…

Abstract P1-19-46: A phase Ib dose escalation study evaluating the mutant selective PI3K-alpha inhibitor GDC-0077 (G) in combination with letrozole (L) with and without palbociclib (P) in patients with PIK3CA-mutant HR+/HER2- breast cancer

Abstract Background: Dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway occurs in solid tumor malignancies. GDC-0077 (G) is a potent p110α-selective, p110α-mutant degrading inhibitor with anti-tumor activity in PIK3CA-mutant breast cancer xenograft models as a single agent and in combination with endocrine therapies (ET) with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor (i). An open-label, Phase I dose escalation study of Galone and in combination with ET and P is underway in patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic PIK3CA-mutant solid tumors. Data from the combinations of G and L with and without P in pts with PIK3CA-mutant HR+/HER2- breast cancer are presented herein. Methods: This study (NC…

Maintenance with single agent bevacizumab fails to improve disease-control in metastatic colorectal cancer

The availability of biologicals, such as anti-EFGR and anti-VEGF antibodies in combination with chemotherapy (ChT), has improved prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the administration of drug combinations for a prolonged time implies an increased rate of toxicities, which is why some strategies to de-escalate treatment intensity have been studied.

Combination of the mTOR inhibitor ridaforolimus and the anti-IGF1R monoclonal antibody dalotuzumab: preclinical characterization and phase I clinical trial.

Abstract Purpose: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition activates compensatory insulin–like growth factor receptor (IGFR) signaling. We evaluated the ridaforolimus (mTOR inhibitor) and dalotuzumab (anti-IGF1R antibody) combination. Experimental Design: In vitro and in vivo models, and a phase I study in which patients with advanced cancer received ridaforolimus (10–40 mg/day every day × 5/week) and dalotuzumab (10 mg/kg/week or 7.5 mg/kg/every other week) were explored. Results: Preclinical studies demonstrated enhanced pathway inhibition with ridaforolimus and dalotuzumab. With 87 patients treated in the phase I study, main dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) of the combination were p…

Programmed colorectal cancer screening decreases incidence and mortality

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer- related deaths in the world (1). Detecting and removing precancerous lesions or detecting tumors in early stages through endoscopy decreases CRC mortality (2). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that CRC screening based on guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy is effective in reducing incidence and mortality rates of CRC (3).

Analysis ofBRCA1andBRCA2genes in Spanish breast/ovarian cancer patients: A high proportion of mutations unique to Spain and evidence of founder effects

We screened index cases from 410 Spanish breast/ovarian cancer families and 214 patients (19 of them males) with breast cancer for germ-line mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, using SSCP, PTT, CSGE, DGGE, and direct sequencing. We identified 60 mutations in BRCA1 and 53 in BRCA2. Of the 53 distinct mutations observed, 11 are novel and 12 have been reported only in Spanish families (41.5%). The prevalence of mutations in this set of families was 26.3%, but the percentage was higher in the families with breast and ovarian cancer (52.1%). The lowest proportion of mutations was found in the site-specific female breast cancer families (15.4%). Of the families with male breast cancer cases, …

ESMO Consensus Guidelines for management of patients with colon and rectal cancer. A personalized approach to clinical decision making

Contains fulltext : 111010pub.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common tumour type in both sexes combined in Western countries. Although screening programmes including the implementation of faecal occult blood test and colonoscopy might be able to reduce mortality by removing precursor lesions and by making diagnosis at an earlier stage, the burden of disease and mortality is still high. Improvement of diagnostic and treatment options increased staging accuracy, functional outcome for early stages as well as survival. Although high quality surgery is still the mainstay of curative treatment, the management of CRC must be a multi-modal approach pe…

Corrigendum to Preclinical models for precision oncology. BBACAN 1870/2 (2018) 239–246

Peritoneal invasion and metachronous peritoneal metastases after colon cancer surgery: The role of homogeneous, reliable assessment and confounders

In the literature: June 2018

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) are a highly active family of compounds that have changed the scenario in ovarian and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) non-amplified breast cancer management in the recent years. Despite impressive clinical activity, a prolonged treatment with PARPi is frequently associated with acquired resistance to this therapy. The identification of mechanisms and strategies to overcome resistance are crucial. Bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) is a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein family that facilitates oncogenic transcription. BRD4 is frequently amplified in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and can be …

FCGR polymorphisms and cetuximab efficacy in chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer: an international consortium study

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to better clarify the role of germline variants of the FCG2 receptor, FCGR2A-H131R and FCGR3A-V158F, on the therapeutic efficacy of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A large cohort with sufficient statistical power was assembled.DESIGN: To show a HR advantage of 0.6 in progression-free survival (PFS) for FCGR2A-HH versus the rest and FCGR3A-VV versus the rest, with an 80% power, 80 Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS) wild-type (KRAS-WT) and 52 KRAS-WT patients are required, respectively. This leads to a total sample size of 952 and 619 patients, respectively. Samples were collected from 1123 mCRC patients from 15 European centres treated wit…

In the literature: April 2018

The most important aim of precision medicine is the selection of the best treatment for each individual patient. To achieve this objective, the analysis of the molecular changes that can occur due to tumour heterogeneity or after anticancer treatment is fundamental. A dynamical study of the disease could lead to the identification of specific targets, which need to be inhibited at time of tumour progression. By using high-throughput sequencing, it is possible to identify a very limited number of somatic mutations that can be exploited for cancer treatment and drug development. However, the ability to predict response to targeted agents needs to be further improved. To do this, parallel stud…

State of the art treatment for gastric cancer: future directions

Abstract Surgery remains the primary curative treatment for gastric cancer although the last 40 years has witnessed the increased utilisation of chemotherapy. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU or F), then more recently cisplatin (C) and their derivatives, have laid the foundations for the use of chemotherapy and their activity has been modulated by combination with other anti-cancer drugs such as epirubicin (E) or leucovorin (folinic acid, LV) to improve the outcome for patients with advanced gastric cancer. In the palliative setting, despite recent efforts to refine and develop cisplatin/5-FU-based combinations and explore their effectiveness in different settings and regimens, the response rate has re…

Evaluation and clinical analyses of downstream targets of the Akt inhibitor GDC-0068.

Abstract Purpose: The oncogenic PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is an attractive therapeutic target in cancer. However, it is unknown whether the pathway blockade required for tumor growth inhibition is clinically achievable. Therefore, we conducted pharmacodynamic studies with GDC-0068, an ATP competitive, selective Akt1/2/3 inhibitor, in preclinical models and in patients treated with this compound. Experimental Design: We used a reverse phase protein array (RPPA) platform to identify a biomarker set indicative of Akt inhibition in cell lines and human-tumor xenografts, and correlated the degree of pathway inhibition with antitumor activity. Akt pathway activity was measured using this biomarker se…

In the literature: October 2021

Hereditary gastrointestinal cancers: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Knowledge of genetic susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancers is constantly evolving with identification of new genes. Similarly, a better understanding of the genotype/phenotype relationship in patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is leading to more individualised surveillance recommendations. In addition, molecular profiling of patients with cancer has been shown to guide targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy. Specialists involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer should be familiar with the main hereditary cancer syndromes and refer patients to specialised cancer genetic units for adequate genetic counselling and to address sp…

Phase Ib study evaluating safety and clinical activity of the anti-HER3 antibody lumretuzumab combined with the anti-HER2 antibody pertuzumab and paclitaxel in HER3-positive, HER2-low metastatic breast cancer

Summary Purpose To investigate the safety and clinical activity of comprehensive human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family receptor inhibition using lumretuzumab (anti-HER3) and pertuzumab (anti-HER2) in combination with paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods This phase Ib study enrolled 35 MBC patients (first line or higher) with HER3-positive and HER2-low (immunohistochemistry 1+ to 2+ and in-situ hybridization negative) tumors. Patients received lumretuzumab (1000 mg in Cohort 1; 500 mg in Cohorts 2 and 3) plus pertuzumab (840 mg loading dose [LD] followed by 420 mg in Cohorts 1 and 2; 420 mg without LD in Cohort 3) every 3 weeks, plus paclitaxel (8…

EURECCA colorectal: multidisciplinary management: European consensus conference colon & rectum.

Contains fulltext : 137861.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Care for patients with colon and rectal cancer has improved in the last 20years; however considerable variation still exists in cancer management and outcome between European countries. Large variation is also apparent between national guidelines and patterns of cancer care in Europe. Therefore, EURECCA, which is the acronym of European Registration of Cancer Care, is aiming at defining core treatment strategies and developing a European audit structure in order to improve the quality of care for all patients with colon and rectal cancer. In December 2012, the first multidisciplinary consensus conference about…

Preclinical models for precision oncology

Precision medicine approaches have revolutionized oncology. Personalized treatments require not only identification of the driving molecular alterations, but also development of targeted therapies and diagnostic tests to identify the appropriate patient populations for clinical trials and subsequent therapeutic implementation. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo models are widely used to predict efficacy of newly developed treatments. Here we discuss whether, and to what extent, preclinical models including cell lines, organoids and tumorgrafts recapitulate key features of human tumors. The potential of preclinical models to anticipate treatment efficacy and clinical benefit is also presented,…

In the literature: December 2019

The introduction of new high-throughput technologies in oncology and the need to apply precision medicine for cancer patients has led to the detection of several molecular alterations. Among them, activating mutations of ERBB2 have been reported in many solid tumours. In the last years, several clinical trials with covalent tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for ERBB2 mutant cancers have been conducted, with different results among several cancer types. In the SUMMIT trial, neratinib was most effective in breast cancer patients, with the majority of responders having tumours with L755S, V777L, or L869R ERBB2 mutations.1 In an elegant article published in C ancer C ell by Robichaux et al ,2 d…

Phase I Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Dose-Escalation Study of RG7160 (GA201), the First Glycoengineered Monoclonal Antibody Against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose We conducted a phase I dose-escalation study to characterize the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic properties of RG7160 (GA201), a humanized and glycoengineered immunoglobulin G1 anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Patients and Methods Seventy-five patients with advanced EGFR-positive solid tumors received RG7160 (50 to 1,400 mg) administered every week, every 2 weeks, or every 3 weeks. Dose escalation followed a three-plus-three trial design. Results No maximum-tolerated dose was reached for any dosing schedule. Common adverse events (AEs) included rash (80% of patien…

Exploratory outcome analyses according to stage and/or residual disease in the ICON7 trial of carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer

Objective In the randomized phase 3 ICON7 trial (ISRCTN91273375), adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS; primary endpoint) but not overall survival (OS; secondary endpoint) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. We explored treatment effect according to stage and extent of residual disease. Methods Patients with stage IIB–IV or high-risk (grade 3/clear-cell) stage I–IIA ovarian cancer were randomized to receive six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel either alone or with bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks followed by single-agent bevacizumab for 12 further cycles (total duration 12 months). Post hoc ex…

Understanding the clinical behavior of relapsed colon cancers with microsatellite instability relative to BRAF mutations

Background Microsatellite instable/deficient mismatch repair (MSI/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancers have been reported to have a poor prognosis. Frequent co-occurrence of MSI/dMMR and BRAFV600E complicates the association. Patients and methods Patients with resected stage III colon cancer (CC) from seven adjuvant studies with available data for disease recurrence and MMR and BRAFV600E status were analyzed. The primary end point was survival after recurrence (SAR). Associations of markers with SAR were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, gender, performance status, T stage, N stage, primary tumor location, grade, KRAS status, and timing of recurrence. Results A…

Preoperative chemotherapy for colon cancer is getting closer

Efficacy of trifluridine and tipiracil (TAS-102) versus placebo, with supportive care, in a randomized, controlled trial of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer from Spain: results of a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 RECOURSE trial

[Purpose] TAS-102 is a combination of the thymidine-based nucleoside analog trifluridine and the thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor tipiracil. Efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory or intolerant to standard therapies were evaluated in the phase 3 RECOURSE trial. Results of RECOURSE demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with TAS-102 versus placebo [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.68 and 0.48 for OS and PFS, respectively; both P < 0.001]. The current analysis evaluates efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in the RECOURSE Spanish subgroup.

Administration of cetuximab every 2 weeks in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: an effective, more convenient alternative to weekly administration?

Abstract The primary purpose of this paper is to present the available evidence for the administration of cetuximab on an every-2-weeks basis in combination with irinotecan in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor–targeted IgG1 monoclonal antibody that is approved for use in combination with irinotecan or as monotherapy in the treatment of mCRC. The currently approved dosing regimen for cetuximab is a 400-mg/m2 initial dose followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly. Many commonly used chemotherapy agents for mCRC (including irinotecan alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/folinic acid [FA] and oxaliplatin plus 5-FU/FA) are administered on an e…

Familial colorectal cancer risk: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Circulating tumor DNA analysis for assessment of recurrence risk, benefit of adjuvant therapy, and early relapse detection after treatment in colorectal cancer patients.

11 Background: Timely detection of recurrence, as well as identification of patients at high risk of recurrence after surgery and after completion of adjuvant therapy, are major challenges in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Postsurgical circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is a promising tool for the identification of patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) and a high risk of recurrence. The objective of this prospective, multicenter study was to determine whether serial postsurgical ctDNA analysis could identify the patients at high risk of recurrence, provide an assessment of adjuvant therapy efficacy and detect relapse earlier than standard-of-care radiological imaging.…

Standard chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in advanced ovarian cancer: quality-of-life outcomes from the International Collaboration on Ovarian Neoplasms (ICON7) phase 3 randomised trial

Summary Background In the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup International Collaboration on Ovarian Neoplasms 7 (ICON7) trial, bevacizumab improved progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer when used in combination with first-line chemotherapy and as a single-drug continuation treatment for 18 cycles. In a preliminary analysis of a high-risk subset of patients, there was also an improvement in overall survival. This study aims to describe the health-related quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes from ICON7. Methods ICON7 is a randomised, multicentre, open-label phase 3 trial. Between Dec 18, 2006, and Feb 16, 2009, after a surgical procedure aiming to debulk the disease, women with Inter…

Gastric cancer: ESMO–ESSO–ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Abstract PS11-11: Targeted safety events from a phase I/Ib study evaluating GDC-0077 alone and in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) ± palbociclib (palbo) in patients (pts) with PIK3CA-mutant (mut), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- mBC)

Abstract Background Activating mutations in PIK3CA, encoding the p110α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) occur in ~40% of HR+/HER2- BCs. GDC-0077, a PI3Kα-selective inhibitor and mutant PI3Kα degrader, is being developed as an anticancer agent. A phase I/Ib study of GDC-0077 alone and combined with other therapies is ongoing in pts with locally advanced or metastatic PIK3CAmut, HR+/HER2- mBC (NCT03006172). Targeted safety events are presented here. Methods Safety was assessed via NCI-CTCAE v4 for GDC-0077 administered alone (Arm A), with letrozole and palbo (Arm B), with letrozole (Arm C), with fulvestrant (Arm D), or with fulvestrant and palbo (Arm E, plus metformin in Arm F …

Unmet needs and challenges in gastric cancer: The way forward

AbstractAlthough the incidence of gastric cancer has fallen steadily in developed countries over the past 50years, outcomes in Western countries remain poor, primarily due to the advanced stage of the disease at presentation. While earlier diagnosis would help to improve outcomes for patients with gastric cancer, better understanding of the biology of the disease is also needed, along with advances in therapy. Indeed, progress in the treatment of gastric cancer has been limited, mainly because of its genetic complexity and heterogeneity. As a result, there is an urgent need to apply precision medicine to the management of the disease in order to ensure that individuals receive the most appr…

A phase I dose-escalation of trifluridine/tipiracil in combination with oxaliplatin in metastatic colorectal cancer.

TPS3626 Background: Trifluridine/tipiracil, also known as TAS‐102, is a combination of an antineoplastic thymidine‐based nucleoside analogue (trifluridine) and a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (tipiracil hydrochloride). The antitumor activity of combined trifluridine/tipiracil and oxaliplatin has been studied in gastrointestinal tumor xenografts, including a 5‐FU resistant subline, using a nude mouse model. This study demonstrated increased antitumor activity for the combination compared to trifluridine/tipiracil or oxaliplatin alone (p &lt; 0.001) (Nukatsuka et al., Anticancer Res 2015). These data support the rationale for clinical use of the combination. We describe a phase 1, intern…

EPDR1 up-regulation in human colorectal cancer is related to staging and favours cell proliferation and invasiveness

The finding of novel molecular markers for prediction or prognosis of invasiveness in colorectal cancer (CRC) constitutes an appealing challenge. Here we show the up-regulation of EPDR1 in a prospective cohort of 101 CRC patients, in a cDNA array of 43 patients and in in silico analyses. EPDR1 encodes a protein related to ependymins, a family of glycoproteins involved in intercellular contacts. A thorough statistical model allowed us to conclude that the gene is significantly up-regulated in tumour tissues when compared with normal mucosa. These results agree with those obtained by the analysis of three publicly available databases. EPDR1 up-regulation correlates with the TNM staging parame…

Reply to the letter to the editor ‘How much evidence isn't in evidence-based guidelines?’ by Johnson et al.

ABSTRACT ESMO produces pan-European, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed and updatable guidelines with global impact on current clinical practice, with the intention of providing the practising health professional in cancer care with an easy to use, evidence-based tool for optimal patient management. Levels of evidence and strength of recommendation metrics are provided. In the Dyspnoea ESMO CPG, we strove to fulfill these targets, though we accept any productive criticism that will contribute to the improvement of the product.

Personalized Medicine: Recent Progress in Cancer Therapy

Translational research has revolutionized how we develop new treatments for cancer patients. The change from an organ-centric concept guiding treatment choice towards deep molecular analysis, driving a personalized approach, is one of the most important advances of modern oncology. Several tools such as next generation sequencing and RNA sequencing have greatly improved the capacity to detect predictive and prognostic molecular alterations. Detection of gene mutations, amplifications, and fusions has therefore altered the history of several diseases in both a localized and metastatic setting. This shift in perspective, in which attention is focused on the specific molecular alterations of t…

Non-Surgical Treatment of Localized Rectal Cancer Is an Experimental Option

New guidelines for optimal patient care with localized colon cancer: recommending what is proven, but also watching what research is bringing

Shortening adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colon cancer: are we ready for a change?

Oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months is considered the standard of care after a curative resection in patients with stage III colon cancer. The addition of oxaliplatin provides a benefit on overall survival confirmed in three randomised phase 3 trials1–3 with an long-term absolute increase ranging from 2.7% to 6%. Since oxaliplatin was incorporated into the adjuvant setting more than a decade ago, the standard in adjuvant therapy has remained unchanged because of the lack of novel agents with relevant activity in this scenario. Unfortunately, this combination can have also acute and long-term side effects that can interfere with daily life activities in potentially cured pat…

Adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer - A EURECCA international comparison between the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland, Belgium, and Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present EURECCA international comparison is to compare adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer between European countries.METHODS: Population-based national cohort data (2004-2009) from the Netherlands (NL), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE), England (ENG), Ireland (IE), and Belgium (BE) were obtained, as well as single-centre data from Lithuania. All surgically treated patients with stage II colon cancer were included. The proportion of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was calculated and compared between countries. Besides, relative survival was calculated and compared between countries.RESULTS: Overall, 59,154 patients …

The treatment of advanced gastric cancer: current strategies and future perspectives.

Metastatic colorectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

E. Van Cutsem1, A. Cervantes2, B. Nordlinger3 & D. Arnold4, on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* Digestive Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Hopital Ambroise Pare, Assistance Publique – Hopitaux de Paris, Paris, France; Klinik fur Tumorbiologie, Freiburg, Germany

Trial in progress: A phase I study of AMG 199, a half-life extended bispecific T-cell engager (HLE BiTE) immune therapy, targeting MUC17 in patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer.

TPS4649 Background: Prognosis for advanced G/GEJ cancer is poor and new treatment modalities are urgently needed. MUC17 is a transmembrane protein overexpressed and differentially localized on the cell membrane of G/GEJ cancer cells; expression and localization in normal cells is much more limited. AMG 199 is an HLE BiTE immune therapy designed to engage CD3-positive T cells to MUC17-positive G/GEJ cancer cells, mediate redirected tumor cell lysis, and induce T cell activation and proliferation. A clinical trial is being conducted for this novel and targeted immune therapy agent in patients with MUC17-positive G/GEJ cancer. Methods: This is a first-in-human phase 1, open-label, dose escala…

Pathological Evaluation of Mesocolic Resection Quality and Ex Vivo Methylene Blue Injection

BACKGROUND: Although the National Quality Forum has endorsed the harvest of ≥12 lymph nodes as a standard quality indicator for colon cancer surgery, this minimum quantity is not reached in many centers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the implementation of a mesocolon evaluation pathological protocol and ex vivo arterial methylene blue injection on the number of nodes harvested after colon cancer resection. DESIGN: A prospective series was compared with a historical group. SETTINGS: This study was conducted by a specialized colorectal multidisciplinary team at a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: From June 2009 to December 2009, all the specimens after colon…

Changing the education paradigm in oncology: ESO masterclass, 17 years of continuous success

In this review, we summarize the history of the 41 Masterclasses in Clinical Oncology (MCO) organized by ESO or ESO-ESMO during the last 17 years. MCOs have been held in five different geographical regions including: a) Central Europe, b) Eastern Europe and Balkans, c) Baltic and Euroasia, d) Arab World and Southern European Countries and e) Latin America. More than 2.000 young oncologists have attended and more than 250 distinguished faculty members have actively participated. The program exposes students to sessions covering all major tumors ("big killers") and to spotlights updating information on various important cancers and related topics. Participants are able to present their own cl…

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Simple Summary The outcome for patients with rectal cancer has significantly improved over the last thirty years. Previously, local relapses in the pelvis occurred in more than one third of all patients with apparently localized tumors. Total mesorectal excision was the first step to improve local control by reducing local relapses to less than 5%. Preoperative radiation, either short-course or long-course with concurrent administration of chemotherapy, was a second important step for reducing local relapses to a minimum, even in locally advanced tumors where a clean surgical resection was not possible or would not be curative. Magnetic resonance imaging is a very useful tool for locoregion…

JSCO-ESMO-ASCO-JSMO-TOS: international expert consensus recommendations for tumour-agnostic treatments in patients with solid tumours with microsatellite instability or NTRK fusions.

A Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO)-hosted expert meeting was held in Japan on 27 October 2019, which comprised experts from the JSCO, the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Taiwan Oncology Society (TOS). The purpose of the meeting was to focus on what we have learnt from both microsatellite instability (MSI)/deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) biomarkers in predicting the efficacy of anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy, and the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions in predicting the efficacy of inhibitors o…

The role of chemotherapy in localized and locally advanced rectal cancer: A systematic revision

Curative treatment of rectal cancer depends on an optimal surgical resection, with the addition of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) with or without concomitant chemotherapy (ChT) in more advanced tumors. The role of adjuvant ChT is controversial and a more intensified neoadjuvant approach with the addition of ChT before or after RT, or even as single modality, is currently being explored in trials. A systematic review selecting randomised phase II and III trials on the role of ChT in localized rectal cancer was performed. Data show that neoadjuvant ChRT improves locoregional control in resected rectal cancer. Short-course RT (SCRT) could give similar outcomes to ChRT. The addition of oxaliplat…

PD-0024 Phase I/II Study of Folfiri Plus the MEK1/2 Inhibitor Pimasertib (MSC1936369B) as Second-Line Treatment for KRAS Mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction Pimasertib is a highly selective inhibitor of the MEK1/2 kinases of the MAPK pathway. It demonstrates potent antitumor activity in cell lines and xenograft models with activating (mainly BRAF and KRAS) mutations. A two-part study, comprising a safety run-in part followed by a randomized phase II part, was designed to investigate FOLFIRI plus pimasertib as second-line treatment for patients with KRAS mutated (mt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The results of the safety run-in part, conducted primarily to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended phase II dose (RP2D), are reported here. Methods Patients with KRAS mt mCRC progressing on first-li…

The role of tumor-associated macrophages in gastric cancer development and their potential as a therapeutic target.

Gastric cancer (GC) represents the fifth cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Molecular biology has become a central area of research in GC and there are currently at least three major classifications available to elucidate the mechanisms that drive GC oncogenesis. Further, tumor microenvironment seems to play a crucial role, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are emerging as key players in GC development. TAMs are cells derived from circulating chemokine- receptor-type 2 (CCR2) inflammatory monocytes in blood and can be divided into two main types, M1 and M2 TAMs. M2 TAMs play an important role in tumor progression, promoting a pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive signal in the tu…

A First-in-Human Phase I Study of the ATP-Competitive AKT Inhibitor Ipatasertib Demonstrates Robust and Safe Targeting of AKT in Patients with Solid Tumors.

Abstract Activation of AKT signaling by PTEN loss or PIK3CA mutations occurs frequently in human cancers, but targeting AKT has been difficult due to the mechanism-based toxicities of inhibitors that target the inactive conformation of AKT. Ipatasertib (GDC-0068) is a novel selective ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor of AKT that preferentially targets active phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) and is potent in cell lines with evidence of AKT activation. In this phase I study, ipatasertib was well tolerated; most adverse events were gastrointestinal and grade 1–2 in severity. The exposures of ipatasertib ≥200 mg daily in patients correlated with preclinical TGI90, and pharmacodynamic studies co…

1480P M2 macrophages could promote an immunosuppressive phenotype in a prospective cohort of advanced gastric cancer patients

Definitions for response and progression in ovarian cancer clinical trials incorporating RECIST 1.1 and CA 125 agreed by the Gynecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG)

The Gynecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) has previously reached consensus regarding the criteria that should be used in clinical trial protocols to define progression-free survival after first-line therapy as well as the criteria to define response to treatment in recurrent disease using the serum marker CA 125 and has specified the situations where these criteria should be used. However, the publications did not include detailed definitions, nor were they written to accommodate the new version of Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria (version 1.1) now available. Thus, we recommend that the definitions described later in detail are incorporated into clinical trial…

Direct estrogen receptor (ER) / HER family crosstalk mediating sensitivity to lumretuzumab and pertuzumab in ER+ breast cancer.

Bidirectional cross talk between members of the human epidermal growth factor family of receptors (HER) and the estrogen receptor (ER) is believed to underlie resistance mechanisms that develop in response to treatment with anti-HER agents and endocrine therapy. We investigated the interaction between HER2, HER3 and the ER in vitro using human embryonic kidney cells transfected with human HER2, HER3, and ERα. We also investigated the additive efficacy of combination regimens consisting of anti-HER3 (lumretuzumab), anti-HER2 (pertuzumab), and endocrine (fulvestrant) therapy in vivo. Our data show that both HER2 and HER3 can directly complex with the ER and can mediate phosphorylation of the …

Role of Kras Status in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving First-Line Chemotherapy plus Bevacizumab: A TTD Group Cooperative Study

Background: In the MACRO study, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were randomised to first-line treatment with 6 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) plus bevacizumab followed by either single-agent bevacizumab or XELOX plus bevacizumab until disease progression. An additional retrospective analysis was performed to define the prognostic value of tumour KRAS status on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and response rates. Methodology/Principal Findings: KRAS data (tumour KRAS status and type of mutation) were collected by questionnaire from participating centres that performed KRAS analyses. These data were then cross-referenced with efficacy da…

Prognostic implications of circumferential location of distal rectal cancer

Aim  This study evaluated the prognostic importance of circumferential tumour position of mid and low rectal cancers. Method  All uT2, uT3 and uT4 tumours of the middle and lower rectum that underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) with curative intent between 1996 and 2006 were included. The predominant circumferential tumour position (anterior, posterior or circumferential) was defined on preoperative endorectal ultrasound examination (ERUS). The relationships between tumour position and other characteristics and recurrence were explored. Results  Two hundred and five patients with distal rectal cancer were operated on for a uT2-T4 tumour. Median follow up was 49 months. The location of …

Mechanisms of skin toxicity of paclitaxel: An in vitro preclinical assessment.

e15511 Background: Paclitaxel skin toxicity is a frequent side effect extensively evaluated in the clinical setting. However little is known about the preclinical mechanisms that lead to this toxicity. The endpoint of this study was to analyse the cutaneous mechanisms that drive paclitaxel toxicity in a preclinical model. Methods: Primary human keratinocytes were co-cultured with human dermal fibroblast in collagen gel under air-liquid interface conditions to generate a multilayered 3D epidermis. Paclitaxel was added to 3D epidermis at 0.3 µM, 3 µM and 30 µM and total RNA and protein was extracted after 24h of incubation. Markers of cell senescence (p21 and p53), anti-apoptotic mediators (…

Context matters-consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer as biomarkers for clinical trials

Abstract The Colorectal Cancer Subtyping Consortium identified four gene expression consensus molecular subtypes, CMS1 (immune), CMS2 (canonical), CMS3 (metabolic), and CMS4 (mesenchymal), using multiple microarray or RNA-sequencing datasets of primary tumor samples mainly from early stage colon cancer patients. Consequently, rectal tumors and stage IV tumors (possibly reflective of more aggressive disease) were underrepresented, and no chemo- and/or radiotherapy pretreated samples or metastatic lesions were included. In view of their possible effect on gene expression and consequently subtype classification, sample source and treatments received by the patients before collection must be ca…

Macroscopic assessment of mesorectal excision in rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: High quality of surgical technique and the use of descriptive measures to assess and report surgical proficiency have been shown to influence locoregional tumor control in patients with rectal cancer. In this study, the authors have aimed to audit the implementation of a macroscopic assessment of mesorectal excision (MAME) and to investigate factors that influenced surgical quality and disease recurrence. METHODS: All curative resections for rectal cancer were prospectively evaluated for MAME between 1998 and 2007. Mesorectal specimens were graded into 3 types: complete, nearly complete, and incomplete categories. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified independent risk …

Open-label, multicentre expansion cohort to evaluate imgatuzumab in pre-treated patients with KRAS-mutant advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Abstract Aim Imgatuzumab (GA201) is a novel anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibody glycoengineered for enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). We investigated the efficacy of imgatuzumab in patients with EGFR-positive, KRAS -mutant advanced colorectal cancer. Methods Patients received single-agent imgatuzumab (1400 mg on day 1 and 8 followed by q2W) as third line therapy in an open-label, multicentre, non-randomised, expansion study. The primary end-point was tumour response. Pre- and on-treatment biopsies and blood samples were investigated for biomarkers related to imgatuzumab’s believed mechanism of action (MoA). Results 25 patients were treated…

PARALLEL 303: Phase 2 randomized study of pamiparib vs placebo as maintenance therapy in patients (pts) with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer that responded to platinum-based first-line (1L) chemotherapy.

3109 Background: A subset of gastric cancers exhibits platinum sensitivity and genomic instability that is characteristic of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). Cells with HRD are sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy has been a successful treatment strategy in pts with ovarian cancer. Pamiparib is an orally administered selective PARP protein 1 and 2 (PARP1/2) inhibitor that has shown potent DNA-PARP trapping activity and crosses the blood brain barrier in preclinical studies. In early phase clinical studies (NCT02361723; NCT03333915), pamiparib showed an acceptable safety profile and pr…

Gut vascular barrier impairment leads to intestinal bacteria dissemination and colorectal cancer metastasis to liver

Metastasis is facilitated by the formation of a "premetastatic niche," which is fostered by primary tumor-derived factors. Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasizes mainly to the liver. We show that the premetastatic niche in the liver is induced by bacteria dissemination from primary CRC. We report that tumor-resident bacteria Escherichia coli disrupt the gut vascular barrier (GVB), an anatomical structure controlling bacterial dissemination along the gut-liver axis, depending on the virulence regulator VirF. Upon GVB impairment, bacteria disseminate to the liver, boost the formation of a premetastatic niche, and favor the recruitment of metastatic cells. In training and validation cohorts of C…

1624P Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the cancer fast-track programme

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of clinical practice in oncology, particularly in making timely cancer diagnosis. Our public health system has been concerned about potential delays leading to a higher proportion of patients with advanced stages. Our cancer diagnosis fast-track program (CFP) in the Clinic-Malvarrosa Health department in Valencia (Spain) is connecting primary care (PC) with different specialists to speed cancer diagnosis and treatment upon well founded suspicion. A 10-year evaluation of our CFP has recently been published. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the CFP. Methods: We analysed the programme…

In the literature: December 2018

The current development of immune checkpoint modulatory treatments has shown durable responses in the treatment of multiple cancer types.1 However, predictive biomarkers beyond PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) to stratify patients and identify those who could benefit of these therapies are needed. In this sense, a recent study published in Science by Cristescu et al 2 describes the potential usefulness of combining the tumour mutational burden (TMB) and the T cell-inflamed gene expression profile (GEP) to jointly predict clinical response to pembrolizumab. Both PD-L1 and the GEP represent a T cell-inflamed tumour microenvironment (TME), whereas TM…

O-7 FOLFIRI ± napabucasin in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer: Overall survival results from the phase 3 CanStem303C study

Gene expression changes responsible for lapatinib acquired resistance in HER2 positive gastric cancer cell lines: a microarray analysis

Selective approach for upper rectal cancer treatment: total mesorectal excision and preoperative chemoradiation are seldom necessary.

The implementation of preoperative chemoradiation combined with total mesorectal excision has reduced local recurrence rates in rectal cancer. However, the use of both types of treatment in upper rectal cancer is controversial.The purpose of this work was to assess oncological results after radical resection of upper rectal cancers compared with sigmoid, middle, and lower rectal cancers and to determine risk factors for local recurrence in upper rectal cancer.This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.This study was conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital in Valencia, Spain.Analysis included 1145 patients who underwent colorectal resection with primary curative…

Improving tumour budding evaluation in colon cancer by extending the assessment area in colectomy specimens.

AIMS It is recommended that tumour budding in colon cancer be counted on haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections in a hotspot area of 0.785 mm2 with a ×20 microscope objective. However, tumour buds may be difficult to visualise on haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, and counting in such a limited area may result in overestimation in cases with focal budding. The aim of this study was to assess the contributions of various factors to improving tumour budding risk stratification: increasing the number of fields counted, using cytokeratin immunostaining, and recording proliferation, the apoptotic index and the emperipoletic index in tumour buds. METHODS AND RESULTS We created an explorato…

In the literature: February 2019

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and lethal cancer associated to asbestos exposure. Currently, the pemetrexed and cisplatin combination chemotherapy remains the only approved treatment. In the last 5 years, a growing knowledge on mesothelioma pathobiology has translated into the development of multiple novel therapeutic strategies.1 One of the largest reports of comprehensive genomic profiling of MPM was conducted by Bueno and colleagues. Using RNA-seq data, they identified four distinct molecular subtypes, and through exome analysis, they found that BAP1 , NF2 , TP53 , SETD2 , DDX3X , ULK2 , RYR2 , CFAP45 , SETDB1 and DDX51 were significantly mutated.2 In an article recently …

PAN-EX: a pooled analysis of two trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy in MRI-defined, locally advanced rectal cancer

This analysis confirms that administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before chemoradiotherapy (CRT) could be a potential option for high-risk, locally advanced rectal cancer. In this setting, MRI tumour regression grade is an independent prognostic factor and, when assessed after NACT, may predict the probability and magnitude of incremental benefit from sequential CRT.EXPERT and EXPERT-C were phase II clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in high-risk, locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We pooled individual patient data from these trials. The primary objective was overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Pro…

A multimodality approach to localized rectal cancer.

The multidisciplinary management of gastro-oesophageal junction tumours

Abstract Background and scope The management of GOJ cancers remains controversial and may vary between countries. Evidence-based attitudes and guidelines are not easy to elaborate since most of the trials and studies reported mixed cases of oesophageal (both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell tumours), GOJ and gastric cancers. The aim of this expert discussion and position paper is to elaborate practical recommendations that integrate evidence-reported literature and experience-based attitude covering all clinical aspects of GOJ cancer across different specialities and countries in Europe. Methodology Opinion leaders, selected on scientific merit were asked to answer to a prepared set of ques…

Advanced colorectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment.

Liquid biopsy: another tool towards tailored therapy in colorectal cancer.

The evolving role of oxaliplatin in the management of colorectal cancer

The introduction of oxaliplatin into the chemotherapy of advanced colorectal cancer has substantially increased the frequency and magnitude of clinical response compared with that achieved using 5-FU/leucovorin, and has extended progression-free and overall survival. Research is now in progress on several fronts to determine how oxaliplatin-based therapy can be optimized. A phase III multicentre trial recently compared the efficacy and safety of the FUFOX regimen, based on high dose infusional 5-FU/leucovorin and 50 mg/m2 oxaliplatin given weekly for 4 weeks in a 5-week cycle (n = 123) with the Mayo clinic 5-FU/leucovorin regimen (n = 129) in the first-line therapy of metastatic disease. Th…

Abstract PD5-2: Ph1b study of the PI3K inhibitor taselisib (GDC-0032) in combination with letrozole in patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer

Abstract Background: Taselisib (GDC-0032) is a next-generation PI3K inhibitor with increased anti-tumor activity against PIK3CA mutant (MT) cancers. Taselisib is an orally bioavailable, potent, and selective inhibitor of Class I PI3K alpha, delta, and gamma isoforms, with 30-fold less inhibition of the PI3K beta isoform relative to the PI3K alpha isoform. Preclinical data show that taselisib has enhanced activity against PI3K alpha isoform (PIK3CA) MT breast cancer cell lines and enhanced antitumor activity when combined with letrozole. Clinical data with single-agent taselisib also showed increased tumor shrinkage in patients with PIK3CA MT breast cancer as compared to patients with PIK3CA…

Primary paraesophageal Ewing&amp;rsquo;s sarcoma: an uncommon case report and literature review

Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive cancer most frequently arising in people under 20 years of age. We report an uncommon case of primary paraesophageal Ewing’s sarcoma in a 25-year-old male harboring the infrequent EWSR1/ERG fusion transcript with multiple splice variants coexisting in the same tumor. The patient was totally refractory to chemotherapy and died 17 months after diagnosis. We underscore the need for better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the disease and improved systemic therapy options.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with intermediate and advanced/relapsed hepatocellular carcinoma: a TOS–ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, ISMPO, JSMO, KSMO, MOS and SSO

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was published in 2018, and covered the diagnosis, management, treatment and follow-up of early, intermediate and advanced disease. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2018 it was decided by both the ESMO and the Taiwan Oncology Society (TOS) to convene a special guidelines meeting immediately after the Taiwan Joint Cancer Conference (TJCC) in May 2019 in Taipei. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2018 guidelines to take into account both the ethnic and the geographic differences in practice associated with the treat…

Integrating Downstaging in the Risk Assessment of Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: Validation of Valentini's Nomograms and the Neoadjuvant Rectal Score

Abstract Background Adjuvant chemotherapy is controversial in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation. Valentini et al developed 3 nomograms (VN) to predict outcomes in these patients. The neoadjuvant rectal score (NAR) was developed after VN to predict survival. We aimed to validate these tools in a retrospective cohort at an academic institution. Patients and Methods VN and the NAR were applied to 158 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiation followed by surgery. According to the score, they were divided into low, intermediate, or high risk of relapse or death. For statistical analysis, we performed Kaplan-M…

P3.02c-046 Safety, Clinical Activity and Biomarker Results from a Phase Ib Study of Erlotinib plus Atezolizumab in Advanced NSCLC

A phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of dalotuzumab (MK-0646), an anti-insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Abstract Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) mediates cellular processes in cancer and has been proposed as a therapeutic target. Dalotuzumab (MK-0646) is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to IGF-1R preventing receptor activation. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of dalotuzumab, determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles, and identify a recommended phase II dose. Experimental Design: Patients with tumors expressing IGF-1R protein were allocated to dose-escalating cohorts of three or more patients each and received intravenous dalotuzumab weekly, every 2 or 3 weeks. Plasma was collected for PK analysis…

336P PI3K pathway biomarkers and clinical response in a phase I/Ib study of GDC-0077 in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer (HR+/HER2– BC)

Clinicopathological factors influence diagnostic accuracy of clinical N staging for early gastric cancer

In the literature: June 2019

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) includes cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. BTCs are known to have a poor prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival below 20%.1 Unfortunately, majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced stage, being palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine the current standard of care.2 Poor prognosis is due to the fact that only 20% of patients are diagnosed in early stages3 and the high risk of relapse following curative surgery. Unfortunately, the lack of randomised studies has made the role of adjuvant treatment in BTC following surgery an unresolved matter for many years.4 5 Adjuvant therapy (either in the form of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)…

Treatment sequence of synchronously (liver) metastasized colon cancer

No standards for staging, systemic therapy or the timing of an operation are defined for patients newly diagnosed with synchronous metastases and a primary in the colon. An expert group of radiologists, medical, radiation and surgical oncologists therefore came together to discuss staging and treatment sequence for these patients and came up with a recommendation based on current evidence of potential therapeutic options. The discussion was organized to debate recommendations centred on 5 topics and therefore the position paper is built upon these titles and their subtitles. Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l.

In the literature: October 2018

Several trials with the check-point inhibitors pembrolizumab or nivolumab demonstrated some antitumour efficacy in chemorefractory advanced gastric cancer with a response rate ranging from 10% to 26%. However, no clear predictive biomarkers were found to facilitate a proper selection of patients. A series of 61 patients with advanced gastric cancer received second-line or third-line treatment with pembrolizumab in a prospective phase 2 trial.1 In a cooperative effort carried out by Korean and American investigators, a molecular characterisation of all tumours was performed including whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing of tissue biopsies, as well as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) from …

Abstract CT109: A phase I/Ib study evaluating GDC-0077 plus fulvestrant in patients with PIK3CA-mutant, hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: PIK3CA encodes the PI3K p110α subunit, and dysregulating mutations are widely seen in breast cancer (BC) and other solid tumors. GDC-0077 (G) is a potent p110α-selective inhibitor that degrades mutant p110α and demonstrates antitumor activity in PIK3CA-mutant BC xenograft models, either as a single agent, or combined with anti-estrogen therapy. From an ongoing, open-label, phase I/Ib dose-escalation study of G alone and combined with endocrine + targeted therapies (NCT03006172), we present data of G + fulvestrant (F) in postmenopausal patients (pts) with PIK3CA-mutant, hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative BC, including a food-effect assessment on the pharmacokinetics…

Epigenetic changes in localized gastric cancer: the role of RUNX3 in tumor progression and the immune microenvironment

// Marta Jessica Llorca-Cardenosa 1, * , Tania Fleitas 1, * , Maider Ibarrola-Villava 1 , Maria Pena-Chilet 1 , Cristina Mongort 2 , Carolina Martinez-Ciarpaglini 2 , Lara Navarro 2 , Valentina Gambardella 1 , Josefa Castillo 1 , Susana Rosello 1 , Samuel Navarro 2 , Gloria Ribas 1 , Andres Cervantes 1 1 Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain 2 Department of Pathology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Gloria Ribas, email: gribas@incliva.es Andres Cervantes, email: andres.cervantes@uv.es Keywords: RUNX3, ARID1A, gastric ca…

488P Patient-derived organoids as a tool for modelling localized colorectal cancer

Clinical application of mutational analysis in breast cancer patients: The relevance of PIK3CA analysis for precision medicine

Abstract Background The identification of biomarkers to drive treatment is one of the most important objectives of precision medicine. During last years, the role of PIK3CA mutations have been related to clinical benefit deriving from treatment with PI3K, and mTOR inhibitors. In breast cancer (BC), PIK3CA mutations are widely present and the use, in clinical trials, of selective inhibitors improved clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the value of a monocentric genomic screening program to select patients for trials with experimental targeted agents. Methods We examined PIK3CA mutation in a cohort of 312 metastatic BC patients diagnosed at Hospital Clinico Valencia-INCLIVA …

Heterogeneity of driver genes and therapeutic implications in colorectal cancer.

Retrospective Study of Regorafenib Versus TAS-102 Efficacy and Safety in Chemorefractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) Patients: A Multi-institution Real Life Clinical Data

INTRODUCTION: There have been significant developments in colorectal cancer (CRC) research over the last few years, with the introduction of new agents that have been prolonged median overall survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). These therapies have improved patient outcomes; however, despite significant progress in strategies for cancer treatment, their use is limited by development of resistant mechanism. Almost 30% of patients with refractory mCRC will remain good candidates for further treatment. Regorafenib and TAS-102 are novel antitumor agents for patients with refractory mCRC. However, it is unclear which patients may derive a survival benefit from these drugs in real-li…