An open-label single-arm phase II study of regorafenib for the treatment of angiosarcoma

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast: retrospective analysis at a regional treatment centre

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIA) is an uncommon but morbid complication after radiotherapy for breast cancer.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of breast RIA patients at Cambridge University Hospital (CUH), a regional treatment centre in the East of England.

RESULTS

22 patients were identified between 2010 and 2022. Median age of diagnosis was 65 years (range 41-78). Median time from breast radiotherapy to RIA diagnosis was 6.5 years (range 2.4-16.0)-this interval has decreased over the last 24 years (r2 = 0.6601). 9% had metastasis at presentation. All patients underwent surgery (55% at CUH, 45% at local hospitals). 27% received peri-operative pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the first-line setting. 62% relapsed following their primary curative-intent treatments after a median of 28 months. Metastases occurred in 36%, the commonest sites being lung (100%) and lymph node (50%). 2-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 73% and 60%, respectively. No correlation between progression-free survival (PFS) and OS was found with tumour size, margin, peri-operative chemotherapy, and whether surgery was performed at CUH. Patients with multifocal disease on their breasts had shorter PFS following surgery compared to single-lesion disease (median 10 vs 65 months; HR = 4.359 [95% CI 1.342-14.16]; P = 0.0143). Patients aged > 72 years had a median OS of 45 months vs 102 months for those ≤ 72 years (HR = 7.129 [95% CI 1.646-30.88]; P = 0.0086).

CONCLUSION

RIA has high rates of recurrence and mortality and appears to be occurring sooner after breast radiotherapy. Further studies on its pathogenesis and effective treatment are warranted.

Therapeutic Potential of Regorafenib in Cisplatin-Resistant Bladder Cancer with High Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Stemness Properties

Bladder cancer is becoming one of the most common malignancies across the world. Although treatment strategy has been continuously improved, which has led to cisplatin-based chemotherapy becoming the standard medication, cancer recurrence and metastasis still occur in a high proportion of patients because of drug resistance. The high efficacy of regorafenib, a broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor, has been evidenced in treating a variety of advanced cancers. Hence, this study investigated whether regorafenib could also effectively antagonize the survival of cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Two types of cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells, T24R1 and T24R2, were isolated from T24 cisplatin-sensitive bladder cancer cells. These cells were characterized, and T24R1- and T24R2-xenografted tumor mice were created to examine the therapeutic efficacy of regorafenib. T24R1 and T24R2 cells exhibited higher expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness markers compared to the T24 cells, and regorafenib could simultaneously inhibit the viability and the expression of EMT/stemness markers of both T24R1 and T24R2 cells. Moreover, regorafenib could efficiently arrest the cell cycle, promote apoptosis, and block the transmigration/migration capabilities of both types of cells. Finally, regorafenib could significantly antagonize the growth of T24R1- and T24R2-xenografted tumors in mice. These results demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of regorafenib in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancers. This study, thus, provides more insights into the mechanism of action of regorafenib and demonstrates its great potential in the future treatment of cisplatin-resistant advanced bladder cancer patients.

Neuropsychiatric adverse drug reactions with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer: an analysis from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

Introduction

New oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are approved for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The aim of this study was to assess the neuropsychiatric adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of these drugs reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Methods

All reports with regorafenib (REG) and encorafenib (ENC) as the primary suspect, and reported in the FAERS between 2012 and 2022, were collected. A descriptive and disproportionality analyses were conducted.

Results

Out of 4,984 cases, 1,357 (30.2%) reported at least one neuropsychiatric ADR. New potential signals for REG included neuropathy peripheral (n = 265; reporting odds ratio, ROR = 19.48, 95% confidence interval, CI 95% = 17.52-22.47; information component, IC = 2.89, IC025-IC075 = 2.77-3.02), hyperesthesia (n = 18; ROR = 12.56, CI 95% = 7.90-19.96; IC = 2.25, IC025-IC075 = 1.79-2.72), taste disorder (n = 41; ROR = 9.91, CI 95% = 7.29-13.49; IC = 2.18, IC025-IC075 = 1.88-2.49), poor quality sleep (n = 18; ROR = 6.56, CI 95% = 4.13-10.42; IC = 1.74, IC025-IC075 = 1.27-2.20), altered state of consciousness (n = 15; ROR = 5.50, CI 95% = 3.31-9.14; IC = 1.57, IC025-IC075 = 1.06-2.07), depressed mood (n = 13; ROR = 1.85, CI 95% = 1.07-3.19; IC = 0.58, IC025-IC075 = 0.04-1.13) and insomnia (n = 63; ROR = 1.48, CI 95% = 1.15-1.89; IC = 0.38, IC025-IC075 = 0.13-0.63). For ENC comprised depressed mood (n = 4; ROR = 5.75, CI 95% = 2.15-15.39; IC = 1.74, IC025-IC075 = 0.76-2.73) and cognitive disorders (n = 3; ROR = 4.71, CI 95% = 1.51-14.66; IC = 1.54, IC025-IC075 = 0.41-2.68).

Discussion

This study identified new unknown potential neuropsychiatric ADRs. Further investigations are required to better define the neurotoxicity of TKIs in mCRC patients.

The Midwest Sarcoma Trials Partnership: Bridging Academic and Community Networks in a Collaborative Approach to Sarcoma

The treatment of sarcoma necessitates a collaborative approach, given its rarity and complex management. At a single institution, multidisciplinary teams of specialists determine and execute treatment plans involving surgical, radiation, and medical management. Treatment guidelines for systemic therapies in advanced or nonresectable soft tissue sarcoma have advanced in recent years as new immunotherapies and targeted therapies become available. Collaboration between institutions is necessary to facilitate accrual to clinical trials. Here, we describe the success of the Midwest Sarcoma Trials Partnership (MWSTP) in creating a network encompassing large academic centers and local community sites. We propose a new model utilizing online platforms to expand the reach of clinical expertise for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma: A review of current evidence for treatment with checkpoint inhibitors

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (cAS) is a rare and aggressive subtype of soft tissue sarcoma with poor prognosis and suboptimal treatment options. Clinical presentation is variable, but cAS often arises from the head and neck. The most widely accepted current approach, surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy, is associated with high recurrence rates and can leave patients with profound disfigurement. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy alternatives have had limited success. Thus, there is a significant unmet need to address the absence of durable treatments for advanced and metastatic cAS. Like melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, tumor types with known response to immunotherapy, cAS harbors immune biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden high (TMB-H), PD-L1 positivity, ultraviolet signature expression, and tertiary lymphoid structures. While data on the use and efficacy of immunotherapy in cAS is limited, the biomarkers suggest a promising advancement in future treatment options. This review aims to summarize and discuss current data from case reports, case series, retrospective studies and clinical trials regarding immunotherapy treatment and outcomes for cAS.

Targeted therapies for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors derived from mesenchymal cells that have a high morbidity and mortality related to frequent occurrence of advanced and metastatic disease. Over the past two decades there have been significant advances in the use of targeted therapies for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. The ability to study various cellular markers and pathways related to sarcomagenesis has led to the creation and approval of multiple novel therapies. Herein, we describe the current landscape of targeted medications used in the management of advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcomas, excluding GIST. We distinguish three categories: targeted therapies that have current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, non-FDA approved targeted therapies, and medications in development for treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Evaluation of prognostic factors and treatment options for renal angiosarcoma: A retrospective analysis of 113 reported cases

BACKGROUND

Primary renal angiosarcoma (PRA) is an extremely rare and aggressive neoplasm. Indeed, due to its rarity, established clinical guidelines for PRA have not yet been established. In this study, we attempted to investigate its prognostic factors and treatment options.

METHODS

We systematically searched for articles describing PRA that had been published up until December 2021. The final cohort included 113 patients in 103 articles. The starting point of this study was the time of diagnosis and the end point was the time of recurrence and disease-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Metastasis at diagnosis was associated with poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.001). Tumors of more than 5 cm had poorer DSS than tumors of 5 cm or less (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that primary metastatic status, and tumor size were independent prognostic factors. In cases of localized PRA, tumor sizes exceeding 5 cm had also prognostic significance for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and DSS. Surgical margins, postoperative radiation, and postoperative systemic therapy were not associated with prognoses. However, in a subgroup analysis of tumors exceeding 5 cm, postoperative radiation therapy improved RFS and DSS (p = 0.022 and p = 0.031, respectively). In cases of metastatic PRA, systemic therapy improved DSS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We identified several prognostic factors for PRA. Among them, primary metastatic status and tumor size exceeding 5 cm were selected as independent prognostic factors. Postoperative radiation therapy for large, localized PRA and systemic therapy for recurrent and metastatic PRA might be a treatment option.

Single-agent gemcitabine in patients with advanced, pre-treated angiosarcoma: A multicenter, retrospective study

Gemcitabine has shown clinical activity against angiosarcoma in small series, alone, or combined with taxanes. We aimed to evaluate its activity as a single-agent in a larger series of patients with advanced angiosarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive adult patients with advanced angiosarcoma treated with single-agent gemcitabine at our institutions from January 2010 to January 2021. Response was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1, and toxicity was graded according to NCI-CTC v5.0. 42 patients were identified. 38 patients (90%) had received prior anthracyclines and weekly paclitaxel, and 9 (21%) had received pazopanib. The best tumor response was partial response (PR) in 16 patients (38%), or stable disease (10 patients, 24%). All 8 patients with cardiac angiosarcoma experienced a PR. Median PFS was 5.4 months (95%CI: 3.1-6.5), and median OS was 9.9 months (95%CI: 6.6-13.4). Single-agent gemcitabine has clinically meaningful activity in advanced, heavily pre-treated angiosarcoma.

Cutaneous Angiosarcoma of the Head and Neck-A Retrospective Analysis of 47 Patients

Simple Summary

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare sarcoma with dismal prognosis. To better characterize this disease and elucidate potential treatments that improve overall survival (OS), we conducted a retrospective study exploring clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of 47 patients with CAS of the head and neck treated at a tertiary academic center. We found that CAS continues to have a poor prognosis with high rates of recurrence even with current treatment modalities. Surgery was highly effective in improving OS in patients with disease that could be resected with low morbidity. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), and immunotherapy did not significantly improve OS. Our findings shed light on the current landscape of clinical characteristics and treatment of CAS and could prompt further research exploring new treatment options and role of immunotherapy in the management of this difficult disease.

Abstract

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor with blood vessel or lymphatic-type endothelial differentiation. It has a poor prognosis with lack of standardized treatment options. This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of 47 patients with CAS of the head and neck treated at an academic sarcoma center. Patient data were collected from the electronic medical records. 62% of patients were male with the scalp being the most commonly affected area (64%). The majority of patients presented with localized disease (53%). Median overall survival (OS) was 3.4 years with an OS of 36% at 5 years. There was a statistically significant increase in OS for patients who underwent surgery compared to those who did not (5.4 vs. 2.8 years). In contrast, radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy did not significantly increase OS. 45% of patients had recurrence of disease during their treatment course with a median time to recurrence of 22.8 months. There was not a significant difference in OS for patients who underwent immunotherapy compared to those who underwent chemotherapy, although only a few patients received immunotherapy. We found that surgery was an effective treatment modality in patients with easily resectable disease, while RT, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy did not significantly improve OS.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Version 2.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies of mesenchymal cell origin that display a heterogenous mix of clinical and pathologic characteristics. STS can develop from fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and other connective tissues. The evaluation and treatment of patients with STS requires a multidisciplinary team with demonstrated expertise in the management of these tumors. The complete NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Soft Tissue Sarcoma provide recommendations for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of extremity/superficial trunk/head and neck STS, as well as retroperitoneal/intra-abdominal STS, desmoid tumors, and rhabdomyosarcoma. This portion of the NCCN Guidelines discusses general principles for the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal/intra-abdominal STS, outlines treatment recommendations, and reviews the evidence to support the guidelines recommendations.

Management of Cutaneous Angiosarcoma: an Update Review

OPINION STATEMENT

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare and invasive malignant tumor. For localized cAS patients, wide-margin excision was recommended. Due to the latent local invasion characteristic of cAS, we suggest preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy to nearly all patients. Recently, there is growing interest in using neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy as part of a combination therapy regimen, which may allow some patients to undergo potentially less disabling surgery. For metastatic cAS patients with unresectable tumors and who refuse surgery, radical radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy may be an option. Paclitaxel was recognized as the first-line treatment. For tumors resistant to taxanes, emerging medications such as targeted agents and immunotherapy are also under investigation.

Inoperable scalp cutaneous angiosarcoma: Complete response after definitive external beam radiation therapy - brachytherapy association

Effective treatments are scarce in non-operable scalp cutaneous angiosarcoma patients. Curative-intent definitive sequential IMRT and plesiobrachytherapy allowed complete response with limited side effect in two elder patients. This could represent a non-invasive therapeutic option for patients with locally advanced presentation.

Malignant Vascular Tumors of the Head and Neck-Which Type of Therapy Works Best?

Simple Summary

Malignant vascular tumors are extremely rare tumors with variable clinical courses, and few data on their clinical management are available. Diagnosis is difficult due to their wide morphologic appearance. The intent of the present review is to demonstrate the current knowledge and management on malignant vascular tumors of the head and neck area. The mainstay of treatment for malignant vascular tumors is surgery, but radiotherapy and chemotherapy are also parts of the treatment concept especially in angiosarcomas. Targeted therapy, antiangiogenetic drugs and immunotherapy have been studied as new treatment options.

Abstract

Malignant vascular tumors of the head and neck are rare neoplasms with variable clinical presentation, wide age distribution, and variable clinical courses. The heterogeneous presentation of angiosarcomas and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma often leads to misdiagnosis and unsuitable treatment. While risk factors for angiosarcomas are previous radiation, chronic lymphedema, and exposure to arsenic, thorium oxide, or vinyl chloride, there are only limited and retrospective data available on prognostic factors in EHE. In both angiosarcomas and EHE, surgery is the mainstay of treatment. There is limited evidence regarding the role of radiotherapy in EHE, although EHE is considered relatively radiosensitive. In angiosarcomas, adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended according to retrospective case series. A standard medical therapy for metastasized malignant vascular tumors is lacking. Chemotherapy, which is effective in angiosarcoma, is mostly ineffective in EHE. Targeted therapy, antiangiogenetic drugs and immunotherapy have been studied as new treatment options. The goal of this review is to summarize the current data regarding malignant vascular tumors along with their diagnosis and management.

Genomic Landscape of Angiosarcoma: A Targeted and Immunotherapy Biomarker Analysis

Simple Summary

Angiosarcomas (AS) are rare, highly aggressive sarcomas with limited therapeutic options. Genomic sequencing techniques have identified recurrent genetic abnormalities. Nevertheless, the association of these findings with etiology, site of origin, prognosis, and therapeutic implications is not well understood. We analyzed Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS) data in a cohort of 143 AS cases. We identified distinct genomic biology according to the AS primary site. Head and neck AS cases primarily have Immunotherapy (IO) response markers and mutations in TP53 and POT1. On the other hand, breast AS is enriched for cell cycle alterations, predominately MYC amplification. Additionally, a microenvironment with abundant immune cells is present in a minority of cases but distributed evenly among primary sites. Our findings can facilitate the design and optimization of therapeutic strategies for AS according to its biology at different primary sites.

Abstract

We performed a retrospective analysis of angiosarcoma (AS) genomic biomarkers and their associations with the site of origin in a cohort of 143 cases. Primary sites were head and neck (31%), breast (22%), extremity (11%), viscera (20%), skin at other locations (8%), and unknown (9%). All cases had Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data with a 592 gene panel, and 53 cases had Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) data, which we used to study the microenvironment phenotype. The immunotherapy (IO) response biomarkers Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), Microsatellite Instability (MSI), and PD-L1 status were the most frequently encountered alteration, present in 36.4% of the cohort and 65% of head and neck AS (H/N-AS) (p < 0.0001). In H/N-AS, TMB-High was seen in 63.4% of cases (p < 0.0001) and PDL-1 positivity in 33% of cases. The most common genetic alterations were TP53 (29%), MYC amplification (23%), ARID1A (17%), POT1 (16%), and ATRX (13%). H/N-AS cases had predominantly mutations in TP53 (50.0%, p = 0.0004), POT1 (40.5%, p < 0.0001), and ARID1A (33.3%, p = 0.5875). In breast AS, leading alterations were MYC amplification (63.3%, p < 0.0001), HRAS (16.1%, p = 0.0377), and PIK3CA (16.1%, p = 0.2352). At other sites, conclusions are difficult to generate due to the small number of cases. A microenvironment with a high immune signature, previously associated with IO response, was evenly distributed in 13% of the cases at different primary sites. Our findings can facilitate the design and optimization of therapeutic strategies for AS.