Background
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy individually because of its desmoplastic stroma and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. ...Synergizing cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) immune checkpoint blockade with chemotherapy could overcome these barriers. Here we present results of a phase Ib trial combining ipilimumab and gemcitabine in advanced PDAC.
Materials and Methods
This was a single‐institution study with a 3 + 3 dose‐escalation design. The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives included determining the toxicity profile, objective response rate (ORR), median progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).
Results
Twenty‐one patients were enrolled, 13 during dose escalation and 8 at the MTD. The median age was 66 years, 62% were female, 95% had stage IV disease, and 67% had received at least one prior line of therapy. The primary objective to establish the MTD was achieved at doses of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were anemia (48%), leukopenia (48%), and neutropenia (43%). The ORR was 14% (3/21), and seven patients had stable disease. Median response duration for the three responders was 11 months, with one response duration of 19.8 months. Median PFS was 2.78 months (95% confidence interval CI, 1.61–4.83 months), and median OS was 6.90 months (95% CI, 2.63–9.57 months).
Conclusion
Gemcitabine and ipilimumab is a safe and tolerable regimen for PDAC with a similar response rate to gemcitabine alone. As in other immunotherapy trials, responses were relatively durable in this study.
Implications for Practice
Gemcitabine and ipilimumab is a safe and feasible regimen for treating advanced pancreatic cancer. Although one patient in this study had a relatively durable response of nearly 20 months, adding ipilimumab to gemcitabine does not appear to be more effective than gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer.
Treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains challenging because of its advanced presentation and resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This article reports results of a clinical trial of CTLA‐4 blockade with ipilimumab in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, including maximum tolerated doses for the combination, safety data, and the antitumor activity observed in this trial.
Summary Background Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is a rare malignancy associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). No consensus treatment approach exists for the ...treatment of metastatic disease. Because intratumoral HPV oncoproteins upregulate immune checkpoint proteins such as PD-1 to evade immune-mediated cytotoxicity, we did a trial of the anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab for patients with metastatic SCCA. Methods We did this single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial at ten academic centres in the USA. We enrolled patients with treatment-refractory metastatic SCCA, who were given nivolumab every 2 weeks (3 mg/kg). The primary endpoint was response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1, in the intention-to-treat population. At the time of data cutoff, the study was ongoing, with patients continuing to receive treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT02314169. Results We screened 39 patients, of whom 37 were enrolled and received at least one dose of nivolumab. Among the 37 patients, nine (24% 95% CI 15–33) had responses. There were two complete responses and seven partial responses. Grade 3 adverse events were anaemia (n=2), fatigue (n=1), rash (n=1), and hypothyroidism (n=1). No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation To our knowledge, this is the first completed phase 2 trial of immunotherapy for SCCA. Nivolumab is well tolerated and effective as a monotherapy for patients with metastatic SCCA. Immune checkpoint blockade appears to be a promising approach for patients with this orphan disease. Funding National Cancer Institute/Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation, the E B Anal Cancer Fund, The University of Texas MD Anderson Moon Shots Program, and an anonymous philanthropic donor.
Background
At diagnosis, the majority of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) present with advanced disease and a poor prognosis. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) early in the ...disease course may increase access to targeted therapies and clinical trials; however, unresolved issues remain surrounding the optimal biopsy type to submit for CGP.
Patients and Methods
Mutational frequencies between primary tumor biopsies (Pbx), metastatic biopsies (Mbx), and liquid biopsies (Lbx) in 1,632 patients with IHCC were compared.
Results
Potentially actionable alterations were found in 52%, 34%, and 35% of patients in the Pbx, Mbx, and Lbx cohorts, respectively. In Pbx, Mbx, and Lbx, FGFR2 rearrangements were found in 9%, 6%, and 4%, and IDH1 mutations were identified in 16%, 5%, and 9% patients, respectively. Moreover, alterations in FGFR2 and IDH1 were significantly associated with distinct ancestries, including 2.1‐fold enrichment for FGFR2 rearrangements in patients with African ancestry and 1.5‐fold enrichment for IDH1 mutations in patients with admixed American (Hispanic) ancestry. Finally, the publication of biomarker‐driven clinical trials in IHCC correlated with changing CGP testing patterns. Significant correlations between patient characteristics and IHCC trial disclosures were observed, including a significant decrease from time between biopsy and CGP testing, and more frequent testing of primary versus metastatic samples.
Conclusion
Overall, because of the high likelihood of identifying actionable genomic alterations, CGP should be considered for the majority of patients with inoperable IHCC, and Lbx and Mbx can be considered as part of the diagnostic suite.
Implications for Practice
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) should be considered for all patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) or suspected IHCC, as actionable alterations were commonly found in multiple genes and a wide variety of FGFR2 fusion partners were identified. The disclosure of IHCC trial data correlated with increased use of CGP, an encouraging trend that moves new therapeutic options forward for rare cancers with a rare biomarker. Although tissue from the primary lesion may identify actionable alterations at higher rates, CGP of a liquid biopsy or metastatic site can be considered, particularly if the primary tissue block is exhausted.
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) early in the disease course may increase access to targeted therapies and clinical trials; however, unresolved issues remain for the use of CGP for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. This article focuses on the frequency of specific genomic alterations and encouraging trends toward therapeutic options.
Patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have few treatment options that yield objective responses. Retrospective and small prospective studies suggest that capecitabine and ...temozolomide are associated with high response rates (RRs) and long progression-free survival (PFS).
E2211 was a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial comparing temozolomide versus capecitabine/temozolomide in patients with advanced low-grade or intermediate-grade pancreatic NETs. Key eligibility criteria included progression within the preceding 12 months and no prior temozolomide, dimethyl-triazeno-imidazole-carboxamide or dacarbazine, capecitabine or fluorouracil. The primary end point was PFS; secondary endpoints were overall survival, RR, safety, and methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) by immunohistochemistry and promoter methylation.
A total of 144 patients were enrolled between April 2013 and March 2016 to temozolomide (n = 72) or capecitabine and temozolomide (n = 72); the primary analysis population included 133 eligible patients. At the scheduled interim analysis in January 2018, the median PFS was 14.4 months for temozolomide versus 22.7 months for capecitabine/temozolomide (hazard ratio = 0.58), which was sufficient to reject the null hypothesis for the primary end point (stratified log-rank
= .022). In the final analysis (May 2021), the median overall survival was 53.8 months for temozolomide and 58.7 months for capecitabine/temozolomide (hazard ratio = 0.82,
= .42). MGMT deficiency was associated with response.
The combination of capecitabine/temozolomide was associated with a significant improvement in PFS compared with temozolomide alone in patients with advanced pancreatic NETs. The median PFS and RR observed with capecitabine/temozolomide are the highest reported in a randomized study for pancreatic NETs. MGMT deficiency was associated with response, and although routine MGMT testing is not recommended, it can be considered for select patients in need of objective response (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01824875).
Colorectal cancer is commonly diagnosed throughout the world, and treatment options have greatly expanded over the last 2 decades. Targeting angiogenesis has been a major focus of study in a variety ...of malignancy types. Targeting angiogenesis has been achieved by several mechanisms in colorectal cancer, including use of antiangiogenic small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). There have been many attempts and failures to prove efficacy of TKIs in the treatment of colorectal cancer including sorafenib, sunitinib, vatalanib, and tivozanib. Regorafenib was the first TKI to demonstrate efficacy and is an orally active inhibitor of angiogenic (including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3), stromal, and oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases. There are ongoing investigations of both regorafenib and ninetanib; however, there remains a critical need to better understand novel combinations with TKIs that could prove more efficacious than available options.
A majority of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) experience recurrence post curative-intent surgery. The addition of adjuvant chemotherapy has shown to provide limited survival ...benefits when applied to all patients. Therefore, a biomarker to assess molecular residual disease (MRD) accurately and guide treatment selection is highly desirable for high-risk patients. This feasibility study evaluated the prognostic value of a tissue comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP)-informed, personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay (FoundationOne®Tracker) (Foundation Medicine, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA) by correlating MRD status with clinical outcomes. ctDNA analysis was performed retrospectively on plasma samples from 69 patients with resected mCRC obtained at the MRD and the follow-up time point. Tissue CGP identified potentially actionable alterations in 54% (37/69) of patients. MRD-positivity was significantly associated with lower disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 4.97, 95% CI: 2.67−9.24, p < 0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (HR: 27.05, 95% CI: 3.60−203.46, p < 0.0001). Similarly, ctDNA positive status at the follow-up time point correlated with a marked reduction in DFS (HR: 8.78, 95% CI: 3.59−21.49, p < 0.0001) and OS (HR: 20.06, 95% CI: 2.51−160.25, p < 0.0001). The overall sensitivity and specificity at the follow-up time point were 69% and 100%, respectively. Our results indicate that MRD detection using the tissue CGP-informed ctDNA assay is prognostic of survival outcomes in patients with resected mCRC. The concurrent MRD detection and identification of actionable alterations has the potential to guide perioperative clinical decision-making.
Purpose Patients with advanced cancer (ACPs) participating in phase I clinical trials inadequately understand many elements of informed consent (IC); however, the prevalence and impact of cognitive ...impairment has not been described. Patients and Methods ACPs enrolled onto phase I trials underwent neuropsychological assessment to evaluate cognitive functioning (CF) covering the following domains: memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test), executive functioning (Trail Making Test B), language (Boston Naming Test-Short Version and Controlled Oral Word Association Test), attention (Trail Making Test A and Wechsler Adult Intelligenence Scale-IV Digit Span), comprehension (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function). Structured interviews evaluated IC and decisional capacity. Psychological measures included distress (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II). Results One hundred eighteen ACPs on phase I trials were evaluated, with CF ranging from mild impairment to superior performance. Only 45% of ACPs recalled physician disclosure of the phase I trial purpose. The 50% of ACPs who correctly identified the phase I research purpose had greater CF compared with ACPs who did not, as revealed by the mean T scores for memory (37.2 ± 5.6 v 32.5 ± 5.1, respectively; P = .001), attention (29 ± 2.7 v 26.9 ± 2.4, respectively; P < .001), visual attention (35.2 ± 6.6 v 31.5 ± 6.2, respectively; P = .001), and executive function (38.9 ± 7.5 v 34 ± 7.1, respectively; P < .001). Older ACPs (≥ 60 years) were less likely to recall physician disclosure of phase I purpose than younger ACPs (30% v 70%, respectively; P = .02) and had measurable deficits in total memory (34.2 ± 5.0 v 37.3 ± 5.6, respectively; P = .002), attention (24.5 ± 2.6 v 28 ± 2.8, respectively; P < .001), and executive function (32.8 ± 7.3 v 36.4 ± 7.6, respectively; P = .01). Older ACPs, compared with younger ACPs, also had greater depression scores (10.6 ± 9.2 v 8.1 ± 5.2, respectively; P = .03) and lower quality-of-life scores (152 ± 29.6 v 167 ± 20, respectively; P = .03). After adjustment by age, no psychological or neuropsychological variable was further significantly associated with likelihood of purpose identification. Conclusion CF seems to play a role in ACP recall and comprehension of IC for early-phase clinical trials, especially among older ACPs.
Abstract Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of single agent sorafenib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced uterine carcinoma and carcinosarcoma. ...Methods This multi-institutional non-randomized phase II trial enrolled two cohorts: patients with uterine carcinoma (cohort A) and uterine carcinosarcoma (cohort B). Eligibility criteria included measurable disease, 0–1 prior chemotherapy regimens, and ECOG performance status ≤ 2. Sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg was administered orally twice daily. A cycle was defined as 28 days. Objective tumor response was the primary endpoint and was assessed following every two cycles. Results Fifty-six patients (40 with carcinoma, 16 with carcinosarcoma) were enrolled between March 2005 and August 2007. Two (5%) patients with uterine carcinoma had a partial response (PR) and 17 (42.5%) achieved stable disease (SD). Five had SD lasting at least 4 months. The 6-month progression-free survival rate for patients with carcinoma was 29%, and the median overall survival was 11.4 months. No patients with carcinosarcoma had an objective response. Four (25%) had SD, and one had SD lasting 18 months. The 6-month progression-free survival rate was 13%, and the median overall survival was 5.0 months. Grade 3/4 drug related toxicities included: hypertension (13%), hand-foot syndrome (13%), hypophosphatemia (7%), anemia (5%), rash (5%), diarrhea (5%), thrombosis (5%), fatigue (5%) and bleeding (5%). Conclusion Sorafenib had minimal activity in patients with uterine carcinoma. Predictive factors for potential benefit are needed.
Abstract Over the last decade, there has been increased development and use of oral anticancer medications, which sometimes leads to high cost sharing for patients. Drug parity laws require insurance ...plans to cover oral anticancer medications with the same cost sharing as intravenous/injected chemotherapy or have a capped limit on out-of-pocket costs. There are currently 36 enacted state laws (plus the District of Columbia) addressing drug parity, but no federal laws. In this policy perspective piece, we discuss the history, opportunities, and limitations of drug parity laws in oncology. We also discuss the implications of provisions of the Affordable Care Act and other proposed policy reforms on financing oral chemotherapy.
There is an urgent need to identify biomarkers of early response that can accurately predict the benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Patients receiving durvalumab/tremelimumab had tumor ...samples sequenced before treatment (baseline) to identify variants for the design of a personalized circulating tumor (ctDNA) assay. ctDNA was assessed at baseline and at 4 and/or 8 weeks into treatment. Correlations between ctDNA changes to radiographic response and overall survival (OS) were made to assess potential clinical benefit. 35/40 patients (87.5%) had personalized ctDNA assays designed, and 29/35 (82.9%) had plasma available for baseline analysis, representing 16 unique solid tumor histologies. As early as 4 weeks after treatment, decline in ctDNA from baseline predicted improved OS (P = 0.0144; HR = 9.98) and ctDNA changes on treatment‐supported and refined radiographic response calls. ctDNA clearance at any time through week 8 identified complete responders by a median lead time of 11.5 months ahead of radiographic imaging. ctDNA response monitoring is emerging as a dynamic, personalized biomarker method that may predict survival outcomes in patients with diverse solid tumor histologies, complementing and sometimes preceding standard‐of‐care imaging assessments.
We used a novel approach combining a tissue‐informed comprehensive genomic profiling assay with personalized blood‐based monitoring demonstrating that early ctDNA dynamics predict long‐term clinical outcomes in patients with different solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibition. Molecular response as measured by ctDNA change from baseline represents an important emerging tool for assessing drug effect, complementary to imaging‐based response assessment.
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