Continued gefitinib treatment after disease stabilisation prolongs survival of Japanese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group experience

Seamless phase II/III design: a useful strategy to reduce the sample size for dose optimization

BACKGROUND

The traditional more-is-better dose selection paradigm, originally developed for cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, can be problematic when applied to the development of novel molecularly targeted agents. Recognizing this issue, the US Food and Drug Administration initiated Project Optimus to reform the dose optimization and selection paradigm in oncology drug development, emphasizing the need for greater attention to benefit-risk considerations.

METHODS

We identify different types of phase II/III dose-optimization designs, classified according to trial objectives and endpoint types. Through computer simulations, we examine their operating characteristics and discuss the relevant statistical and design considerations for effective dose optimization.

RESULTS

Phase II/III dose-optimization designs are capable of controlling family-wise type I error rates and achieving appropriate statistical power with substantially smaller sample sizes than the conventional approach while also reducing the number of patients who experience toxicity. Depending on the design and scenario, the sample size savings range from 16.6% to 27.3%, with a mean savings of 22.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Phase II/III dose-optimization designs offer an efficient way to reduce sample sizes for dose optimization and accelerate the development of targeted agents. However, because of interim dose selection, the phase II/III dose-optimization design presents logistical and operational challenges and requires careful planning and implementation to ensure trial integrity.

A Prospective Cohort Study to Define the Clinical Features and Outcome of Lung Cancers Harboring HER2 Aberration in Japan (HER2-CS STUDY)

BACKGROUND

Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is a potential driver oncogene. Although HER2-targeted precision therapy has been tested in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the demographic characteristics of HER2-positive NSCLC have not been systematically defined.

METHODS

Patients with pathologically confirmed stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2, were prospectively registered. HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were performed to screen patients. HER2 mutations were identified by using direct gene sequencing. The aim of this study was to clarify the frequency, characteristics, and outcome of HER2-positive NSCLC. HER2 was defined as positive if the tumor harbored IHC3+, IHC2+/FISH+, or exon 20 insertion mutations.

RESULTS

Of the 1,126 tumors screened, 34 (3.0%) were IHC3+, and 34 (3.0%) were IHC2+/FISH+. Among the 724 epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type tumors, 21 (2.9%) were HER2-mutant tumors, including A775-G776insYVMA (n = 15). Interestingly, the IHC3+ tumors and mutant tumors were entirely exclusive. Female patients had HER2-mutant tumors more frequently, whereas both IHC3+ and IHC2+/FISH+ tumors were detected more often in male subjects and smokers. Patients with an HER2-aberrant tumor had a significantly worse prognosis than those with epidermal growth factor receptor-positive and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive tumors, possibly due to the low proportion that received HER2-targeted therapies (n = 15 [26%]) and low response rates of 0% and 14% in patients with HER2-overexpressing and HER2-mutant tumors, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective large-scale cohort study is the first to show comprehensively the frequency and clinical demographic characteristics of those with HER2-positive advanced lung tumors in detail, providing critical historical data for future drug development against HER2-positive NSCLC. Future treatment strategies would be developed stratified according to the types of HER2 aberrations.

TRIAL REGISTRY

UMIN Registration No. 000017003; URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000019691.

Predictive value of positron emission tomography for the prognosis of molecularly targeted therapy in solid tumors

Objective

This study aimed at comprehensively exploring the value applying positron emission tomography (PET) to predict the effect of molecularly targeted therapy in solid tumors.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was performed for potentially relevant studies from the time of inception to February 2017. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and time to progression (TTP). The results were analyzed by Review Manager version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) statistical software. Subgroup analyses were implemented based on the type of molecularly targeted agents (monoclonal antibodies arm and small molecular targeted agents arm), mechanism (erlotinib/gefitinib arm and bevacizumab arm), radioactive tracers, type of tumor, and reevaluated PET timing.

Results

Twenty-six studies incorporating 865 individuals were eligible. Compared with PET nonresponse group, PET response group displayed a decrease in maximal standard uptake value (SUVmax), which was associated with a significantly prolonged PFS (HR =0.41, 95% CI [0.29, 0.59]; P<0.00001), OS (HR =0.52, 95% CI [0.40, 0.67]; P<0.00001), and TTP (HR =0.30, 95% CI [0.14, 0.66]; P=0.003). Similar results were obtained in the subgroup analyses of PFS in erlotinib/gefitinib arm and small molecular targeted agents arm; and OS in lung cancer arm, erlotinib/gefitinib arm, bevacizumab arm, small molecular targeted agents arm, monoclonal antibodies arm, 18F-fluorodeoxythymidine (18F-FLT) arm, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) arm, and early PET timing arm.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that PET was a favorable approach to predict the prognosis of molecularly targeted therapy for solid tumors. PET assessment within 2 weeks could be useful to predict clinical outcome.

Study Protocol: Phase-Ib Trial of Nivolumab Combined With Metformin for Refractory/Recurrent Solid Tumors

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown significant survival benefits in the treatment of several cancers, optimal outcomes have been limited to certain subsets of patients. In a previous study, we found that the addition of metformin to nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, yielded substantial tumor regression in mouse models. Further analysis revealed that the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells had increased markedly. Based on this result, we have launched an investigator-initiated open-label phase-Ib clinical trial. The objectives of this trial are to investigate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of a metformin-nivolumab combination treatment. This study consists of 2 parts. The recommended dose of metformin combined with nivolumab is determined in part 1. The safety and efficacy of the optimal dose of metformin to be delivered in conjunction with nivolumab are examined in part 2. Patient eligibility is based on the following criteria: pathologic diagnosis of refractory/recurrent solid tumor (part 1), and non-small-cell lung cancer or pancreatic cancer refractory to standard primary treatment (part 2); no prior use of immune checkpoint inhibitor; performance status 0 or 1; age ≥ 20 years; and adequate organ function. The primary endpoints are safety in part 1 and safety and pharmacokinetics in part 2. The maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose are determined in part 1 by the 3 + 3 cohort method, and the dose-limiting toxicity evaluation period for each patient is 4 weeks from the start of administration. In part 2, metformin is administered at the optimal dose determined in part 1. Total enrollment is 9 to 18 patients for part 1 and 30 patients for part 2. Enrollment began in 2017, and will be completed by 2019. The University Hospital Medical Information Network registration number for this study is 000028405.

Best Response According to RECIST During First-line EGFR-TKI Treatment Predicts Survival in EGFR Mutation-positive Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer Patients

INTRODUCTION

The association between the response to first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and survival in EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. We studied the association between the response to first-line EGFR-TKIs and survival using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) and maximal tumor shrinkage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC enrolled in first-line gefitinib and afatinib trials. A total of 98 patients who achieved a response or stable disease and had ≥ 1 measurable target lesion were included. The association between the best response by RECIST or maximal tumor shrinkage and survival was analyzed in Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models with the landmark method. The specified landmark time points were 8 weeks, the median time to maximal tumor shrinkage (16.5 weeks), and median progression-free survival (PFS; 56 weeks).

RESULTS

A total of 76 patients (77%) responded to gefitinib or afatinib. Of these 76 patients, 49 (64%) and 75 (99%) had achieved a response at 8 and 16.5 weeks, respectively. All responders had achieved a response by 56 weeks. The responders had a significantly longer PFS and overall survival (OS) compared with those with stable disease at 16.5 weeks (PFS, P = .003; OS, P < .001) and 56 weeks (PFS, P = .026; OS, P = .016) but not at 8 weeks (PFS, P = .104; OS, P = .313). Among the responders, greater tumor shrinkage was not associated with longer PFS or OS.

CONCLUSION

Those with a response to first-line gefitinib or afatinib had more favorable PFS and OS compared with those with stable disease. A sufficient observation period was required for the response to occur and predict outcomes. Greater maximal tumor shrinkage in the responders was not predictive of survival.

Prognostic value of early response assessment using (18F)FDG-PET in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the prognostic value of early response assessment using (18F)fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission thermography (PET) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until August 1, 2016 using the keywords non-small cell lung carcinoma, positron-emission tomography, fluorodeoxyglucose, prognosis, disease progression, survival, erlotinib, gefitinib, and afatinib. Inclusion criteria were studies of patients with stage III or IV NSCLC treated with a TKI and had response assessed by FDG-PET. Outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Of the 167 articles identified, 10 studies including 302 patients were included in the analysis. In 8 studies, patients were treated with erlotinib, and in 2 they were treated with gefitinib. The overall analysis revealed that early metabolic response was statistically associated with improved OS (HR=0.54; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.63; p<0.001), and with longer PFS (HR=0.23; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.33; p<0.001). Early response of patients with NSCLC treated with TKIs identified on FDG-PET is associated with improved OS and PFS.

Inter-reader reproducibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with bevacizumab and erlotinib

Objectives When evaluating anti-tumor treatment response by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) it is necessary to assure its validity and reproducibility. This has not been well addressed in lung tumors. Therefore we have evaluated the inter-reader reproducibility of response classification by DCE-MRI in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with bevacizumab and erlotinib enrolled in a multicenter trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients were scanned before and 3 weeks after start of treatment with DCE-MRI in a multicenter trial. The scans were evaluated by two independent readers. The primary lung tumor was used for response assessment. Responses were assessed in terms of relative changes in tumor mean trans endothelial transfer rate (K(trans)) and its heterogeneity in terms of the spatial standard deviation. Reproducibility was expressed by the inter-reader variability, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and dichotomous response classification.

RESULTS

The inter-reader variability and ICC for the relative K(trans) were 5.8% and 0.930, respectively. For tumor heterogeneity the inter-reader variability and ICC were 0.017 and 0.656, respectively. For the two readers the response classification for relative K(trans) was concordant in 20 of 21 patients (k=0.90, p<0.0001) and for tumor heterogeneity in 19 of 21 patients (k=0.80, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Strong agreement was seen with regard to the inter-reader variability and reproducibility of response classification by the two readers of lung cancer DCE-MRI scans.

Clinical significance of gefitinib antitumor activity in patients with lung adenocarcinoma

Non-small cell lung cancer is a subtype of adenocarcinoma, which has previously shown positive responses to gefitinib. The aim of the current study was to determine a clinical profile of gefitinib-induced disease controls for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Retrospective evaluation of the clinical characteristics of 52 lung adenocarcinoma patients, enrolled at the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital (Hangzhou, China) between October 2004 and August 2008, was undertaken. All patients received gefitinib (250 mg/day orally) until disease progression or until an unacceptable toxicity was observed. Of the 52 patients, complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 23.1% (12/52) and 57.7% (30/52), respectively. An additional 19.2% (10/52) of patients demonstrated stable disease (SD) after three months of treatment with gefitinib. Disease control was observed in the primary lesion, and tumor metastasis to the lungs, brain, adrenal glands, pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, bone and lymph nodes was identified. The one-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 74.8 and 78.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that female patients were associated with significantly longer survival times when compared with males (hazard ratio, 0.077; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.007-0.083; P=0.035). One-year PFS and OS rates in CR, PR and SD patients were 77.8, 73.9 and 33.3%, and 89.2, 79.8 and 33.7%, respectively, although neither difference was identified to be statistically significant. In addition, the median OS of SD patients was 12 months (95% CI, 7.2-16.8 months). Brain metastasis was the major site of disease progression (23.1%). Gefitinib treatment for patients with lung adenocarcinoma showed a marked long-term survival benefit, even in SD patients. However, further studies are required to analyze the efficacy of gefitinib in penetrating the blood-brain barrier in order to prolong PFS in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Survival outcome assessed according to tumor response and shrinkage pattern in patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib or erlotinib

Introduction:

Somatic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) are associated with a marked therapeutic response to EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical indicators of the likely survival benefit of EGFR-TKI treatment in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations have not been identified, however. We therefore evaluated progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) according to tumor response and tumor shrinkage pattern in such patients.

Methods:

Among 145 EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs, 68 individuals were selected for analysis.

Results:

Of the 68 selected patients, 6 achieved a complete response (CR), 42 a partial response (PR), and 14 stable disease (SD). Both PFS and OS were significantly longer in patients who achieved a CR or PR than in those who experienced SD. Multivariate analysis showed that a response (CR or PR) to EGFR-TKIs was significantly associated with both PFS and OS. Among the CR/PR group, the median maximal tumor shrinkage relative to baseline was 56%, and the median time to response (TTR) was 4.2 weeks. The subsets of these patients who experienced rapid tumor regression (TTR of ≤4.2 weeks) or a high degree of tumor shrinkage (≥56%) did not show a more favorable PFS or OS compared with those who experienced slow tumor regression or a low degree of tumor shrinkage.

Conclusion:

Response (CR or PR) may represent the optimal surrogate for efficacy among EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Metabolic burden measured by (18)f-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is a prognostic factor in patients with small cell lung cancer

Purpose

Evidence regarding the usefulness of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in predicting the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer is increasing. However, data on small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters measured using ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with SCLC.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 114 patients with pathologically proven SCLC (26 cases of limited disease and 88 cases of extensive disease) who underwent pretreatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. The maximal SUV (SUV_max) was used quantitatively for determination of FDG PET activity. The SUV_max of the primary tumor (primary SUV_max), the sum of SUV_max values of malignant lesions (SUV_sum), and the mean SUV_max of malignant lesions were calculated.

Results

The patient population was subdivided using a median SUV_sum value of 24.6. High SUV_sum showed a significant association with known factors for poor prognosis, including higher neuron-specific enolase (p=0.010), CYFRA 21-1 (p=0.014), and extensive disease status (p=0.007). Patients with high SUV_sum had significantly shorter median overall survival (6.6 months vs. 13.0 months, p<0.001) and progression-free survival (5.2 months vs. 8.0 months, p<0.001) than patients with low SUV_sum. Results of multivariate analysis showed that SUV_sum, chemotherapy cycles, and the response to first-line treatment were significant prognostic factors of survival. In contrast, mean SUV_max and primary SUV_max were not significant predictors of survival.

Conclusion

In this study, metabolic burden represented by SUV_sum from pretreatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT was an independent prognostic factor in patients with SCLC.

FDG-PET for predicting efficacy of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Recent advances in molecular biology have resulted in the clinical use of several molecularly targeted drugs, which usually exhibit cytostatic antitumor activity, to improve the survival of NSCLC patients. The epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib have been approved for the treatment of NSCLC, and several phase III trials have demonstrated that sensitizing EGFR mutations are biomarkers for predicting a favorable clinical outcome of NSCLC patients treated with the EGFR-TKIs. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors is generally used to assess the therapeutic response to antitumor drugs based on the morphological changes in tumor size as evaluated by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. However, such assessment may not always reflect the treatment efficacy of cytostatic drugs, such as EGFR-TKIs. In this regard, functional imaging methods, including ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose measured by positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), are potentially beneficial. An increasing body of evidence indicates the usefulness of FDG-PET to predict treatment efficacy for NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the potential role of FDG-PET in the clinical use of EGFR-TKIs for NSCLC.

Influence of the timing of tumor regression after the initiation of chemoradiotherapy on prognosis in patients with limited-disease small-cell lung cancer achieving objective response

PURPOSE

Chemoradiotherapy (CHRT) yields a favorable antitumor activity in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) with a response rate of around 80%. Even in such responders, the majority recur, indicating the importance of identifying a subset of patients with a poor outcome earlier through the treatment. We investigated whether the timing of obtaining tumor regression with the CHRT could affect the prognosis in LD-SCLC patients who finally achieved the objective response through the treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 70 LD-SCLC patients who obtained complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) with the 3 or 4 cycles of first-line CHRT between 1988 and 2006.

RESULTS

In the whole 70 patients with CR/PR, the median survival time and median progression free survival (PFS) were 39.6 and 12.3months, respectively. Fifty-two (74.3%) of the 70 patients entered CR/PR after the first cycle of CHRT, and their 2-year survival rates were significantly longer than that in the remaining 18 patients without entering CR/PR yet at the end of first cycle (72.3% and 7.1%, respectively, p<0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that the early response to the treatment was a significant prognostic factors (hazard ratio=0.098; 95% confidence interval=0.036-0.269). Regarding PFS, similar findings were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients without entering CR/PR yet after the first course had a poorer outcome even though the objective response was finally confirmed through the treatment. Development of more effective treatments for these high-risk patients is warranted to improve their poor prognosis.

Monitoring response to antiangiogenic therapy in non-small cell lung cancer using imaging markers derived from PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

With antiangiogenic agents, tumor shrinkage may be absent, despite survival benefit. The present study assessed the predictive value of molecular imaging for the identification of survival benefit during antiangiogenic treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

Patients were evaluated using an imaging protocol including CT, 18F-FDG PET, H2(15)O PET, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to derive measurements on tumor size, glucose metabolism, perfusion, and microvascular permeability. The percentage change in imaging parameters after 3 wk of treatment as compared with baseline was calculated and correlated with progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were included, and 40 underwent CT and 18F-FDG PET at both time points. Complete datasets, containing all imaging modalities, were available for 14 patients. Bevacizumab and erlotinib treatment resulted in decreased metabolism, perfusion, and tumor size. A decrease in standardized uptake value or tumor perfusion of more than 20% at week 3 was associated with longer PFS (9.7 vs. 2.8 mo, P=0.01, and 12.5 vs. 2.9 mo, P=0.009, respectively). Whole-tumor Ktrans (the endothelial transfer constant) was not associated with PFS, but patients with an increase of more than 15% in the SD of tumor Ktrans values-that is, an increase in regions with low or high Ktrans values-after 3 wk had shorter PFS (2.3 vs. 7.0 mo, P=0.008). A partial response, according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST), at week 3 was also associated with prolonged PFS (4.6 vs. 2.9 mo, P=0.017). However, 40% of patients with a partial response as their best RECIST response still had stable disease at week 3. In these cases tumor perfusion was already decreased and Ktrans heterogeneity showed no increase, indicating that the latter parameters seem to be more discriminative than RECIST at the 3-wk time point.

CONCLUSION

PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were able to identify patients who benefit from bevacizumab and erlotinib treatment. Molecular imaging seems to allow earlier response evaluation than CT.

Association between incremental gains in the objective response rate and survival improvement in phase III trials of first-line chemotherapy for extensive disease small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The duration of, resources required for and cost of clinical trials could be reduced if a surrogate end point was to be used in place of survival. We assessed the extent to which the objective response rate (ORR) is predictive of mortality, how much difference in the ORR is needed to predict an obvious survival difference and what factors could affect the association between the two parameters during the first-line treatment of extensive disease (ED)-small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

We used the ORRs and median survival times (MSTs) from 48 phase III trials of first-line chemotherapy involving 8779 randomised patients with ED-SCLC in a linear regression analysis. The MST difference was calculated as the difference in MST between the investigational and reference arms; the ORR difference was similarly defined.

RESULTS

ORR difference between the treatment arms was modestly associated with the MST difference in the overall trials (R(2) = 0.3314). In contrast, the relationship was stronger among only trials in which prophylactic cranial irradiation was given to those having an objective response to the initial chemotherapy (R(2) = 0.6279). In this trial setting, large differences in ORR were needed to predict a survival advantage (1.2-day survival advantage per 2% increase in ORR).

CONCLUSIONS

In the first-line treatment of ED-SCLC, a favourable relationship was detected between the two parameters in the selected trial setting. Large ORR differences were needed to predict a survival benefit, clearly suggesting the need for new chemotherapeutic agents.

A population-based study of gefitinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Survival data for non-small cell lung cancer is typically reported from clinical trials that include patients fit enough to meet treatment criteria. The denominator of all patients from which the gefitinib-treated population is derived has rarely been reported and the impact of gefitinib on population-based outcomes is difficult to measure. We have retrospectively reviewed data of 626 patients who received gefitinib in Ibaraki Prefecture (with a population of 3 million) in Japan from July 2002 until September 2007. Overall response rate was found to 30.8%, and the median survival time was 8.0 months (95% confidence interval: 7.0-9.0 months). Female gender, good PS, and adenocarcinoma were significantly associated with prolonged survival. Adverse events were generally mild and were mostly skin reactions and diarrhea. Our population-based study has generated similar results to those previously reported in published clinical trials, which had restrictive criteria for eligible patients.

Impact of HER2 gene and protein status on the treatment outcome of cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

It has not been fully evaluated whether both HER2 gene copy number and HER2 protein expression are related to the outcome of chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate their relationships.

METHODS

HER2 gene copy number determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and HER2 protein expression determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were assessed in 68 patients with LA-NSCLC enrolled in our previous phase II trials of concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy, and a multivariate analysis was conducted for response and survival.

RESULTS

HER2-IHC-positive tumors were detected in 23 patients (34%), and the median ratio of HER2 to chromosome 17 copy number was 0.93 (range, 0.55-2.00). The HER2-FISH results were marginally correlated with the IHC results (p = 0.0715). When the median ratio in the FISH analysis was used as a cut-off level for its positivity, there was no association between either HER2-FISH or IHC status and objective response to chemoradiotherapy. Contrary, a multivariate analysis revealed HER2-FISH result but not IHC result was an independent poor prognostic factor for both overall survival and progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.568, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.117-5.903, p = 0.0264 and hazard ratio = 2.283, 95% CI = 1.005-5.189, p = 0.0487, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HER2 FISH-positive LA-NSCLC had a poorer outcome even when treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy, despite the strong need for validation assessment of these observations. Development of more effective treatment for these high-risk patients is needed to improve their poor prognosis.

Evidence for disease control with erlotinib after gefitinib failure in typical gefitinib-sensitive Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib are gaining an increasing role in the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There is mounting interest in the benefit of administering a second TKI after failure of the first TKI, especially in Asian patients, in whom they are expected to be more efficacious.

METHODS

We did a retrospective analysis of patients receiving both gefitinib and erlotinib in our institution during a 2-year period. Patients were to have received the second TKI after progressive disease on the first TKI. EGFR gene mutation analysis was done on patient tumor samples.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were included in the analysis, all of whom received erlotinib after progression on gefitinib. Chinese race, females, never-smokers, and adenocarcinoma subtype were predominant in their respective categories. Disease control rate was 64.3% (9 of 14) for gefitinib. Disease control rate for erlotinib administered after progression on gefitinib was 35.7% (5 of 14). All patients who achieved disease control with erlotinib after progression on gefitinib were never-smokers with adenocarcinoma subtype, who had prior disease control on gefitinib. Presence of EGFR mutations predicted for disease control with gefitinib, and for disease control with erlotinib after gefitinib failure.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of typical gefitinib-sensitive Asian NSCLC patients can have disease control with erlotinib after gefitinib failure. The role of subsequent administration of a second EGFR TKI after failure of the first TKI in advanced NSCLC should be further pursued.

The role of gefitinib in the management of Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death in cancer patients worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. The prognosis of NSCLC is still poor, albeit slow and steady improvement achieved in the past three decades by chemotherapy. Recently, the importance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the pathogenesis and progression in NSCLC was identified particularly in those cancer cells with EGFR mutation and/or increased gene copy number. Gefitinib was the first EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treating advanced NSCLC [corrected] It has become a popular choice in treating Asian patients after a higher response rate was reported in Japanese patients than in non-Japanese patients in the first Phase II trial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of gefitinib in the treatment of Asian patients with NSCLC.

METHODS

A review of published papers in PubMed and Embase (2000-2007) and meeting reports of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and World Conference on Lung Cancer (2000-2007) was carried out.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

In general, gefitinib is well tolerated. As the second- or third-line treatment, gefitinib has proven survival benefits in Asian patients with advanced NSCLC, when compared with placebo. It has equivalent efficacy to docetaxel with less toxicity as the second-line therapy. As the first-line therapy, it yielded encouraging results but its final role is pending on the results of the ongoing randomised Phase III trial. Gefitinib should be considered as the treatment of choice for second- or third-line therapy in advanced NSCLC in Asian patients after progression from previous chemotherapy. Its role as the first-line, adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy remains to be determined.

Elevated serum level of sialylated glycoprotein KL-6 predicts a poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib

PURPOSE

The factors affecting survival after gefitinib treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain to be fully elucidated, although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a substantial prognostic factor. KL-6 has been studied as a useful indicator for interstitial lung diseases; however, it was first discovered as a lung cancer-related antigen. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the serum KL-6 levels in advanced NSCLC patients treated with gefitinib and thus determine its association with the EGFR mutation status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between September 2002 and September 2005, 41 patients with NSCLC were treated with gefitinib after having their serum KL-6 levels measured at Okayama University Hospital. EGFR mutations were analyzed by direct sequence methods.

RESULTS

The serum KL-6 levels ranged from 199 to 9080U/ml (median, 550U/ml), and 54% of 41 patients showed a level higher than the cut-off level of 500U/ml. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time and the median overall survival (OS) time were 4.7 months and 13.9 months, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that the elevated KL-6 level was an independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio: 2.278, p=0.040) as well as OS (hazard ratio: 4.858, p=0.002) in NSCLC patients treated with gefitinib. The EGFR mutation status was analyzed in 22 patients (54%). Among those with wild-type EGFR, the patients with high serum KL-6 levels also had a worse survival than those within normal serum KL-6 levels (6.5 months versus 13.3 months, p=0.0194).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that NSCLC patients with high serum KL-6 levels tended to have a poor clinical outcome when treated with gefitinib.

Usefulness of FDG-PET for early prediction of the response to gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer

Increased tumor uptake of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) measured by positron emission tomography (PET) reflects glucose metabolism and proliferative activity of tumor cells. We conducted a study to assess the usefulness of FDG-PET for early prediction of the response to gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Five NSCLC patients underwent FDG-PET to evaluate changes in FDG uptake at day 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of gefitinib therapy compared with FDG-PET prior to therapy. FDG uptake was evaluated as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the target lesions, which were assessable by conventional CT. Based on the CT evaluation, two patients exhibited a partial response (PR), two patients had stable disease (SD) with a minor response, and one patient had progressive disease (PD). In patients with PR and SD, SUVmax decreased by 61+/-18% (standard deviation) and 59+/-12%, respectively, on day 2, and by 26+/-6 and 43+/-10%, respectively, at 4 weeks after the initiation of gefitinib. Two patients with SD had decreased FDG uptake within 2 days of initiation of therapy, and achieved progression-free survival (PFS) of more than 12 months. In contrast, SUVmax increased up to 153+/-21% at 2 days and 232+/-73% at 4 weeks in a patient with PD. The present preliminary study suggests that FDG-PET may be able to predict response to gefitinib in the early stage of therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC and may have a potential prognostic role.

Clinical benefit of readministration of gefitinib for initial gefitinib-responders with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Gefitinib, an oral agent of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has a certain efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several predictive factors of gefitinib sensitivity have been well described. However, few studies have investigated the clinical features of gefitinib-responders. In the present study, we analyzed the response and disease progression of primary and metastatic lesions to gefitinib in responders and the results of gefitinib readministration following temporary cessation of gefitinib upon progression of initial gefitinib treatment and other treatments.

METHOD

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical courses of 27 NSCLC patients who received gefitinib and achieved either a complete or partial response.

RESULTS

The best-response rate and disease-control rate against the initial chemotherapy for the gefitinib-responders were 27.3% and 77.3%, respectively. Favorable efficacy was observed in the primary lesion and metastases to the lung, liver and brain, while there was no obvious effect on bone metastasis. The primary lesion and intrapulmonary metastasis were the sites of major recurrence. Median progression-free survival was 13.8 months, median duration of gefitinib treatment was 17.0 months and median overall survival was 29.2 months. Some of the patients who experienced disease progression after responding to gefitinib were again sensitive to readministration of gefitinib following temporary cessation of gefitinib and other treatments.

CONCLUSION

Patients may still be expected to have prolonged survival if they once responded to gefitinib and then underwent various subsequent treatments followed by readministration of gefitinib. These findings might provide valuable information for the management of gefitinib-responders.

A review of the benefit-risk profile of gefitinib in Asian patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Improvements in first-line therapy of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have increased the need for effective second-line treatment options. In a Phase II trial of the anticancer drug gefitinib (IRESSA), greater efficacy was observed in Japanese compared with non-Japanese patients. Furthermore, results from a placebo-controlled Phase III trial (IRESSA Survival Evaluation in Lung cancer [ISEL]) showed that treatment with gefitinib was not associated with a statistically significant improvement in survival in either the overall or adenocarcinoma co-primary populations, although there was marked heterogeneity in survival outcomes between patient groups, with patients of Asian origin achieving a significant survival benefit with gefitinib compared with placebo.

OBJECTIVE

To review the benefit:risk profile of gefitinib in Asian patients with advanced NSCLC.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We identified and reviewed 31 reports (each with >or= 25 patients) of clinical experience with gefitinib 250 mg/day in Asia involving a total of > 2000 patients with refractory NSCLC in Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan by searching EMBASE and Medline databases for publications between 1 January 2003 and 1 July 2005.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the majority of these reports, objective response rates of > 25% and disease control rates of > 60% have been described. Treatment with gefitinib resulted in a median time to progression of > 3 months and a median survival time of > 6 months in most studies. These 31 reports also demonstrated the efficacy of gefitinib in patients with secondary brain metastases, those with poor performance status (PS) and in patients receiving the drug as first-line treatment. Female gender, adenocarcinoma histology, non-smoking history, good PS and the presence of multiple lung metastases are associated with improved responsiveness to gefitinib. Reflecting the results of previous clinical trials, the reports indicate that gefitinib is generally well tolerated by Asian patients. The incidence of interstitial lung disease appears to be higher in Japanese than non-Japanese patients, although the reasons for this are not clear. Recent findings regarding cellular and genetic factors that may underlie the increased responsiveness to gefitinib among Asian patients are discussed.