Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression is frequently discordant between primary and metastatic urothelial carcinoma and is associated with intratumoral human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 heterogeneity

Efficacy and safety of DV in HER2-negative and HER2-low locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: Results of a phase 2 study

BACKGROUND

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has emerged as a new target for metastatic urothelial carcinomas (mUCs). Disitamab vedotin (DV), an anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), demonstrates a promising efficacy in patients with HER2-positive mUC. However, the role of DV in HER2-negative and HER2-low mUCs remains unknown.

METHODS

Patients with HER2-negative and HER2-low (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 0 or 1+) mUCs who received ≥1 line of systemic chemotherapy were included. Patients received 2 mg/kg DV intravenously once every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

FINDINGS

Nineteen patients with UC were enrolled from September 2019 to December 2021. The median age was 64.0 years. 15 patients (79%) had visceral metastases. HER2 IHC 0 and 1+ were detected in 6 and 13 patients, respectively. As of September 30, 2022, the confirmed ORR was 31.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.6, 56.6), and the disease control rate was 94.7% (18/19). The median PFS and OS were 5.5 (95% CI: 3.9, 5.7) and 16.4 (6.8, 26.8) months, respectively. Common treatment related adverse events were mostly grade 1 or 2, including leukopenia (52.6%) and hypoesthesia (47.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first exploratory trial demonstrating substantial anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile using a HER2-targeting agent in patients with HER2-low mUC. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04073602).

FUNDING

The study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Tibet Autonomous Region, the Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, and RemeGen, Ltd.

Spatial Expression of HER2, NECTIN4, and TROP-2 in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer and Metastases: Implications for Pathological and Clinical Management

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) presents significant treatment challenges. Antibody-drug conjugates targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP-2), and nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (NECTIN4) offer promising therapeutic options. This study examined the spatial expression of HER2, TROP-2, and NECTIN4 in MIBC and metastases, their association with molecular subtypes, and clinical outcomes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 251 patients with MIBC were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray analysis. Expression patterns between the tumor front and tumor center (TC) were compared, and statistical analyses assessed associations with molecular subtypes and clinical parameters. Additionally, 67 matched lymph node metastases and a secondary cohort comprising 16 distant metastases, including 7 matched primary tumors, were examined to explore the expression patterns in advanced tumor stages. In primary tumors, HER2 was predominantly negative (83%) but showed higher positivity in the TC. TROP-2 exhibited high overall expression (58% score 3+), whereas NECTIN4 displayed significant heterogeneity with stronger expression in the TC. Spatial overexpression of TROP-2 and NECTIN4 at the tumor front relative to the TC was associated with a better disease-free survival. Accurate assessment required 4 biopsies for HER2 and NECTIN4 and 3 for TROP-2. HER2 expression was associated with urothelial-like and genomically unstable molecular subtypes, whereas TROP-2 was widely expressed except in the mesenchymal-like subtype. NECTIN4 showed the absence of staining in basal, Mes-like, and Sc/NEC-like subtypes. Paired lymph node metastases showed higher expression scores for all 3 markers, whereas distant metastases showed reduced NECTIN4 expression. Additionally, lymph node metastases revealed a considerable heterogeneity for HER2 compared with their matched primary tumors. The spatial heterogeneity of HER2, TROP-2, and NECTIN4 expression necessitates multiple biopsies, particularly from the TC, for accurate evaluation. These findings underscore the need for personalized treatment strategies in MIBC, considering the increased risk of relapse associated with HER2 and NECTIN4 overexpression in the TC. Implementing a multibiopsy approach is critical to enhancing diagnostic accuracy.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of HER2 status evaluation in patients with urothelial carcinoma: a retrospective single-center experience in China

Due to the lack of an in-depth evaluation of urothelial carcinoma (UC) HER2 expression in both primary and recurrent UC, we examined possible clinical and pathological variables associated with altered UC HER2 expression. The HER2 status and clinicopathological features of primary UCs and matched recurrences from 2015 to 2023 (n = 1352) were compared by evolution category (stable or altered). In 1352 UC patients, HER2 protein expression was linked with age, histological grade, and recurrence. HER2 was expressed in 794 UC patients (58.7%) (1 + , 2 + , and 3 +). High-level (HER2 scored 2 + and 3 +) HER2 expression does not correlate with gene amplification. Significant differences in HER2 expression exist between initial and recurrent tumors (p < 0.05), including a shift from positive to negative expression. Recurrent UC patients showed associations between HER2 expression, histological grade (p < 0.05), and time to surgical recurrence (p = 0.008). HER2 expression in high-grade UC correlated positively with PD-L1 expression in tumor cells (TC) (rs = 0.222, p = 0.047) and tumor-associated immune cells (IC) (rs = 0.238, p = 0.032), especially in recurrent patients (rs = 0.464, p = 0.022). HER2 expression was associated with the biological behavior and prognosis of UC patients. Increased HER2 expression in recurrent UC indicates a poorer prognosis. Consequently, retesting for HER2 is essential in cases of recurrent UC. The association between HER2 and PD-L1 expression in high-grade, recurrent UC suggests the potential for utilizing ADC alongside immunotherapy.

Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Expression in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma

Background

The prognosis for urothelial carcinoma remains poor, with limited therapeutic options, emphasizing the need for further research into targeted therapies. The prognostic and predictive significance of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in urothelial carcinoma remains unclear, with previous studies reporting conflicting results.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of advanced urothelial carcinoma cases diagnosed between January 2017 and December 2022. HER2 status was prospectively determined using the Leica CB11 antibody on available biopsy specimens. Patient data, tumor characteristics, and survival outcomes were retrieved from hospital records for analysis.

Results

Of the 84 patients initially identified with muscle-invasive disease, HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 50 samples. Among these, 54% exhibited HER2 scores ≥ 1+, with 22% classified as HER2-positive (3+ score by IHC), 10% as equivocal (2+ score by IHC), and 22% as HER2-low (1+ score by IHC). The distribution of HER2 score ≥ 1+ tumors included 25.7% in the bladder, 20.0% in the renal pelvis, and none in the ureter. HER2-positive (3+ score by IHC) tumors were all histological grade 3. Among these patients, 13.4% presented with localized disease, 20% with locally advanced disease, and 50% with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Notably, 42.8% of recurrent tumors originating from the renal pelvis and 62.5% of those from the bladder exhibited HER2 scores ≥ 1+. Among patients diagnosed with non-metastatic disease, 100% with renal pelvis tumors and 75% with bladder tumors experienced metastatic recurrence if they were HER2-positive (3+ score by IHC). The overall survival for HER2-negative patients was 31.0 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 15.29 - 66.70) compared to 13.0 months (95% CI: 7.32 - 18.68) in the HER2 score ≥ 1+ population (P = 0.0029).

Conclusions

In this cohort of Mexican patients with urothelial carcinoma, HER2 expression was observed in 54.4% of cases. HER2-positive (+3 by IHC) tumors were associated with higher histological grade and worse prognostic outcomes, including increased recurrence, progression, and mortality.

Case report: Toripalimab plus anlotinib in postoperative recurrent renal pelvic sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma

Background

Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma (SUC) is a rare renal malignancy. Its biological malignancy is high, the prognosis is poor, diagnostic and treatment options are few, and there is no standard treatment plan.

Case presentation

In this case, a 64-year-old woman was hospitalized with fever and lower back pain one week previously. The preliminary diagnosis was a right kidney stone with a urinary tract infection. After the anti-infection treatment, a percutaneous right nephrostomy was performed. The intraoperative biopsy (renal pelvis) finding was infiltrating urothelial carcinoma with a sarcomatoid variation. Subsequently, radical surgery was performed for cancer of the right renal pelvis. Implant metastasis of the abdominal wall and adjacent abdominal cavity occurred half a month after the surgery. The lesion was resected again, and two cycles of doxorubicin plus carboplatin chemotherapy were administered. However, the disease progressed more rapidly after the chemotherapy. With the written consent of the patient, the treatment was altered to targeted immune therapy with toripalimab plus anlotinib. A clinical cure was achieved after nine cycles of treatment with no obvious lesions on imaging. The maintenance therapy was administered consecutively for over a year, and the patient is at present still in good condition with a disease-free survival exceeding two years.

Conclusion

This case proves that the combination of toripalimab and anlotinib is effective in the treatment of recurrent renal SUC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient with advanced recurrent urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis sarcomatoid cured with this therapy.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors combinations as first-line systemic treatment in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) with platinum-based chemotherapy (PlatinumCT) or with another ICI in the first-line setting for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) have mixed results.

METHODS

Records were searched electronically from January 2019 to January 2024. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Immune-based combinations were associated with an OS (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.92; p < 0.001; I2= 84.1%) and PFS benefit in the intention-to-treat population (HR: 0.67; 95%CI: 0.51-0.89; p < 0.001; I2 = 89.7%). There was no ORR improvement with immune-based combinations (HR: 1.36; 95% CI:0.84-2.20; p < 0.001; I2 = 92.6%).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and study-level meta-analysis demonstrated that the immune-based combinations in first-line treatment for patients with mUC are associated with survival benefit.

Antibody-drug conjugates in urothelial carcinoma: scientometric analysis and clinical trials analysis

In 2020, bladder cancer, which commonly presents as urothelial carcinoma, became the 10th most common malignancy. For patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, the standard first-line treatment remains platinum-based chemotherapy, with immunotherapy serving as an alternative in cases of programmed death ligand 1 expression. However, treatment options become limited upon resistance to platinum and programmed death 1 or programmed death ligand 1 agents. Since the FDA's approval of Enfortumab Vedotin and Sacituzumab Govitecan, the therapeutic landscape has expanded, heralding a shift towards antibody-drug conjugates as potential first-line therapies. Our review employed a robust scientometric approach to assess 475 publications on antibody-drug conjugates in urothelial carcinoma, revealing a surge in related studies since 2018, predominantly led by U.S. institutions. Moreover, 89 clinical trials were examined, with 36 in Phase II and 13 in Phase III, exploring antibody-drug conjugates as both monotherapies and in combination with other agents. Promisingly, novel targets like HER-2 and EpCAM exhibit substantial therapeutic potential. These findings affirm the increasing significance of antibody-drug conjugates in urothelial carcinoma treatment, transitioning them from posterior-line to frontline therapies. Future research is poised to focus on new therapeutic targets, combination therapy optimization, treatment personalization, exploration of double antibody-coupled drugs, and strategies to overcome drug resistance.

Phase II study of a trastuzumab biosimilar in combination with paclitaxel for HER2-positive recurrent or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: KCSG GU18-18

BACKGROUND

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a widely explored therapeutic target in solid tumors. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab-pkrb, a biosimilar of trastuzumab, in combination with paclitaxel, in HER2-positive recurrent or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We enrolled 27 patients; they were administered a loading dose of 8 mg/kg trastuzumab-pkrb on day 1, followed by 6 mg/kg and 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel on day 1 every 3 weeks, intravenously. All patients received six cycles of the combination treatment and continued to receive trastuzumab-pkrb maintenance until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or for up to 2 years. HER2 positivity (based on immunohistochemistry analysis) was determined according to the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology /College of American Pathologists HER2 testing guidelines. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR); the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients were evaluated via primary endpoint analysis. The ORR was 48.1% (1 complete and 12 partial responses) and the duration of response was 6.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4-9.3 months]. With a median follow-up of 10.5 months, the median PFS and OS were 8.4 months (95% CI 6.2-8.8 months) and 13.5 months (95% CI 9.8 months-not reached), respectively. The most common treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) of any grade was peripheral neuropathy (88.9%). The most common grade 3/4 TRAEs were neutropenia (25.9%), thrombocytopenia (7.4%), and anemia (7.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Trastuzumab-pkrb plus paclitaxel demonstrates promising efficacy with manageable toxicity profiles in patients with HER2-positive recurrent or metastatic UC.

Low co-expression of PD-L1 and oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases HER2 and cMET in urothelial carcinoma is associated with discordant expression between primary and metastatic sites

OBJECTIVES

Novel regimens targeting immune checkpoints and the cMET or HER2 pathways are under investigation in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) though co-expression of these molecular targets has not been defined. We sought to characterize the protein co-expression rates of PD-L1, cMET and HER2 in primary and metastatic mUC lesions and agreement rates in paired biopsies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed PD-L1, cMET and HER2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in archival mUC samples identified from an institutional database (n = 143). Correlation of expression between primary and metastatic biopsies was performed in patients with available paired biopsies (n = 79). Protein expression levels by predefined thresholds were measured, and Cohen's kappa statistics (κ) were utilized to assess the agreement in expression between paired primary and metastatic samples.

RESULTS

In primary tumors (n = 85), high expression of PD-L1, cMET, and HER2 was observed in 14.1%, 34.1%, and 12.9%, respectively. In metastatic samples (n = 143), high expression of PD-L1, cMET and HER2 was detected in 9.8%, 41.3%, and 9.8%, respectively. Expression agreement rates between paired specimens (n = 79) were PD-L1: 79.7% (κ = 0.09), cMET: 69.6% (κ = 0.35), HER2: 84.8% (κ = 0.17). High PD-L1/cMET co-expression was observed in only 5.1% (n = 4) of primary and 4.9% (n = 7) of metastatic specimens. High co-expression of PD-L1/HER2 occurred in 3.8% (n = 3) of primary samples and no metastatic samples. The overall co-expression agreement between paired samples was 55.7% (κ = 0.22) for PD-L1/cMET and 67.1% (κ = 0.06) for PD-L1/HER2, but agreement for high co-expression between paired samples was very low (2.5% for PD-L1/cMET and 0% for PD-L1/HER2).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor co-expression of high cMET or HER2 and PD-L1 is low in this cohort. Agreement of high co-expression between primary and metastatic sites is rare. Biomarker-based strategies used in selection of patients for contemporary trials testing combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with either cMET or HER2-targeted agents should account for discordant biomarker expression between primary and metastatic sites.

HER2 expression in urothelial carcinoma, a systematic literature review

Background

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignancy with significant associated mortality. Recent clinical trials suggest an emerging role for HER2-targeted therapy. Testing for HER2 expression in UC is not part of current routine clinical practice. In consequence, the prevalence of HER2 expression in UC is not well defined.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to characterize HER2 expression in both locally advanced unresectable or metastatic (LA/mUC) and earlier stage UC, classified as HER2+, HER2-low, HER2-. HER2+ was defined as an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3+ or IHC 2+ and ISH/FISH+. HER2-low was defined as an IHC score of 2+ and ISH/FISH- or IHC 1+. HER2- was defined as an IHC score of 0. Weighted averages were calculated to generate an estimate of the population prevalence.

Results

A total of 88 studies were identified, with 45, 30, and 13 studies investigating LA/mUC, earlier stage UC, and mixed stage/unspecified, respectively. The most common assays used were Dako HercepTest and Ventana Pathway anti-HER2/neu (4B5) for IHC to assess HER2 protein expression; Abbott PathVysion HER-2 DNA Probe Kit, FoundationOne CDx, and Guardant360 CDx for assessing HER2 gene amplification. The most frequently cited scoring guidelines were ASCO/CAP guidelines for breast cancer and gastric cancer, though most studies defined their own criteria for HER2 expression. Using the pre-specified definition, HER2+ prevalence ranged from 6.7% to 37.5% with a weighted average of 13.0% in LA/mUC. Only 1 study presented data that could be classified as HER2+ based on pre-specified criteria in earlier stage UC patients, and this study represented a likely outlier, at 76.0%.

Conclusion

The results from this SLR help to shed light on HER2 expression in UC, a potentially clinically relevant biomarker-driven subpopulation for emerging HER2-directed regimens. Results of this SLR illuminate the variability in how HER2+ status expression levels are being assessed and how HER2+ is defined. Consensus on standardized HER2 testing and scoring criteria is paramount to better understand the clinical relevance in patients with UC.