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Fűr GM, Nemes K, Magó É, Benő AÁ, Topolcsányi P, Moldvay J, Pongor LS. Applied models and molecular characteristics of small cell lung cancer. Pathol Oncol Res 2024; 30:1611743. [PMID: 38711976 PMCID: PMC11070512 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2024.1611743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive type of cancer frequently diagnosed with metastatic spread, rendering it surgically unresectable for the majority of patients. Although initial responses to platinum-based therapies are often observed, SCLC invariably relapses within months, frequently developing drug-resistance ultimately contributing to short overall survival rates. Recently, SCLC research aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in the genetic and epigenetic landscape. These have revealed distinct subtypes of SCLC, each characterized by unique molecular signatures. The recent understanding of the molecular heterogeneity of SCLC has opened up potential avenues for precision medicine, enabling the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. In this review, we delve into the applied models and computational approaches that have been instrumental in the identification of promising drug candidates. We also explore the emerging molecular diagnostic tools that hold the potential to transform clinical practice and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Mihalekné Fűr
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Kolos Nemes
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Magó
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
- Genome Integrity and DNA Repair Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Alexandra Á. Benő
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Petronella Topolcsányi
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Judit Moldvay
- Department of Pulmonology, Szeged University Szent-Gyorgyi Albert Medical School, Szeged, Hungary
- 1st Department of Pulmonology, National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lőrinc S. Pongor
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM), Szeged, Hungary
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Fasano R, Serratì S, Rafaschieri T, Longo V, Di Fonte R, Porcelli L, Azzariti A. Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Is Liquid Biopsy a New Tool Able to Predict the Efficacy of Immunotherapy? Biomolecules 2024; 14:396. [PMID: 38672414 PMCID: PMC11048475 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases represent approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases, remaining a recalcitrant malignancy with poor survival and few treatment options. In the last few years, the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy improved clinical outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone, resulting in the current standard of care for SCLC. However, the advantage of immunotherapy only applies to a few SCLC patients, and predictive biomarkers selection are lacking for SCLC. In particular, due to some features of SCLC, such as high heterogeneity, elevated cell plasticity, and low-quality tissue samples, SCLC biopsies cannot be used as biomarkers. Therefore, the characterization of the tumor and, subsequently, the selection of an appropriate therapeutic combination may benefit greatly from liquid biopsy. Soluble factors, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now useful tools in the characterization of SCLC. This review summarizes the most recent data on biomarkers detectable with liquid biopsy, emphasizing their role in supporting tumor detection and their potential role in SCLC treatment choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Fasano
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Simona Serratì
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Tania Rafaschieri
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Longo
- Medical Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Di Fonte
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Letizia Porcelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Amalia Azzariti
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, V.Le O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Lorenzi M, Resi MV, Bonanno L, Frega S, Dal Maso A, Ferro A, Guarneri V, Pasello G. Tissue and circulating biomarkers of benefit to immunotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1308109. [PMID: 38348046 PMCID: PMC10859471 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1308109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive stage-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC) is an aggressive cancer with dismal prognosis. The addition of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to platinum-based chemotherapy have been consistently demonstrated to improve outcomes and survival, becoming the new standard in first - line treatment of ES-SCLC patients. However, despite positive results reported in the pivotal trials, longer benefit appears evident only for a selected group of patients. Several predictive biomarkers have been studied so far but the prospective identification of patients more likely to experience better outcome seems to be challenging in SCLC. Indeed, classical immune predictive biomarkers as PD-L1 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) seem not to correlate with outcomes. Recently, a new molecular classification of SCLC based on differential expression of genes associated with specific clinical behaviors and therapeutic vulnerability have been presented suggesting a new field to be investigated. Despite the achievements, these studies focused mainly on inter-tumoral heterogeneity, limiting the exploration of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and cell to cell interactions. New analysis methods are ongoing in order to explore subtypes plasticity. Analysis on single biopsies cannot catch the whole genomic profile and dynamic change of disease over time and during treatment. Moreover, the availability of tissue for translational research is limited due to the low proportion of patients undergoing surgery. In this context, liquid biopsy is a promising tool to detect reliable predictive biomarkers. Here, we reviewed the current available data on predictive role of tissue and liquid biomarkers in ES-SCLC patients receiving ICIs. We assessed latest results in terms of predictive and prognostic value of gene expression profiling in SCLC. Finally, we explored the role of liquid biopsy as a tool to monitor SCLC patients over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Lorenzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Resi
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanno
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Frega
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Dal Maso
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ferro
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Guarneri
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Pasello
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Zhu L, Qin J. Predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response in extensive-stage SCLC. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:22. [PMID: 38245636 PMCID: PMC10799815 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05544-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 13-15% of all lung cancers, and about 70% of SCLC patients have developed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) at the time of diagnosis because of its highgrade malignancy, easy invasion, and metastasis. In recent years, immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has become the standard first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. However, SCLC is a relatively immune-cold lung cancer subtype with a limited number of beneficiaries and a short benefit period. Therefore, the use of biomarkers to identify populations with significant benefits from immunotherapy will help improve the efficacy and survival benefits of immunotherapy. However, predictive biomarkers suitable for clinical practice have not been established in the field of SCLC. PURPOSE In order to find the predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy for ES-SCLC, we summarized the research progress of traditional biomarkers, such as programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor mutation burden (TMB), and summarizes the research of potential biomarkers associated with prognosis, such as molecular subtypes, special gene expression, expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II classes, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) .We aim to provide new insights on biomarkers. CONCLUSION The exploration of biomarkers for immunotherapy of SCLC is still very difficult, and it is clear that conventional predictive biomarkers are not suitable for SCLC. At present, the molecular subtypes defined from transcription factors may have some guiding significance, which still needs to be confirmed by prospective clinical studies. In addition, the ctDNA positivity rate of SCLC is higher than that of other tumor types, which can also solve the dilemma of the difficulty of obtaining specimens of SCLC tissues. And the dynamic change of ctDNA also has great potential to predict the curative effect of SCLC, which is worth further clinical exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Qin
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, 310022, People's Republic of China.
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Maansson CT, Meldgaard P, Sorensen BS. Can liquid biopsy dynamics stratify patients with small cell lung cancer? Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:2565-2569. [PMID: 38205208 PMCID: PMC10774997 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer T. Maansson
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Meldgaard
- Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Boe Sandahl Sorensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Li J, Wang L, Dong Z, Song Q, Wang Z. A meta-analysis of circulating tumor DNA as a survival indicator in small cell lung cancer patients. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:3935-3945. [PMID: 37027065 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
A high level of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been linked to poor survival in patients with certain solid tumors. In spite of this, it is still unclear whether ctDNA is associated with poor survival in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). To investigate the above association, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane's Library, and Embase were searched for relevant cohort studies from the inception of the databases to November 28, 2022. Data collection, literature search, and statistical analysis were carried out independently by two authors. To account for heterogeneity, we used a random-effects model. In this meta-analysis, 391 patients with SCLC were identified, and the data were pooled from nine observational studies and followed for 11.4 to 25.0 months. A high ctDNA was associated with worse overall survival (OS, risk ratio [RR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.85 to 3.38, p < 0.001; I2 = 25%) and progression-free survival (PFS, RR 2.33, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.64, p < 0.001, I2 = 42%). Subgroup analyses retrieved consistent results in prospective and retrospective studies, in studies with ctDNA measured with polymerase chain reaction or next-generation sequencing, and in studies analyzed with univariate or multivariate regression models. Studies suggest that ctDNA may be an important factor in predicting poor OS and PFS in SCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Liqun Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Zhouhuan Dong
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Qi Song
- Department of Oncology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Zhanbo Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Anagnostou V, Ho C, Nicholas G, Juergens RA, Sacher A, Fung AS, Wheatley-Price P, Laurie SA, Levy B, Brahmer JR, Balan A, Niknafs N, Avrutin E, Zhu L, Sausen M, Bradbury PA, O'Donnell-Tormey J, Gaudreau PO, Ding K, Dancey J. ctDNA response after pembrolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer: phase 2 adaptive trial results. Nat Med 2023; 29:2559-2569. [PMID: 37814061 PMCID: PMC10579094 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02598-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has shown promise in capturing primary resistance to immunotherapy. BR.36 is a multi-center, randomized, ctDNA-directed, phase 2 trial of molecular response-adaptive immuno-chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer. In the first of two independent stages, 50 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer received pembrolizumab as standard of care. The primary objectives of stage 1 were to ascertain ctDNA response and determine optimal timing and concordance with radiologic Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response. Secondary endpoints included the evaluation of time to ctDNA response and correlation with progression-free and overall survival. Maximal mutant allele fraction clearance at the third cycle of pembrolizumab signified molecular response (mR). The trial met its primary endpoint, with a sensitivity of ctDNA response for RECIST response of 82% (90% confidence interval (CI): 52-97%) and a specificity of 75% (90% CI: 56.5-88.5%). Median time to ctDNA response was 2.1 months (90% CI: 1.5-2.6), and patients with mR attained longer progression-free survival (5.03 months versus 2.6 months) and overall survival (not reached versus 7.23 months). These findings are incorporated into the ctDNA-driven interventional molecular response-adaptive second stage of the BR.36 trial in which patients at risk of progression are randomized to treatment intensification or continuation of therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04093167 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Valsamo Anagnostou
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Cheryl Ho
- BCCA-Vancouver Cancer Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Adrian Sacher
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea S Fung
- Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Benjamin Levy
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Julie R Brahmer
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Archana Balan
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Noushin Niknafs
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Egor Avrutin
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Liting Zhu
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Sausen
- Personal Genome Diagnostics (LabCorp), Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Penelope A Bradbury
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Keyue Ding
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Janet Dancey
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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Krpina K, Vranić S, Tomić K, Samaržija M, Batičić L. Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Current Diagnosis, Biomarkers, and Treatment Options with Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1982. [PMID: 37509621 PMCID: PMC10377361 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid proliferation, early dissemination, acquired therapy resistance, and poor prognosis. Early diagnosis of SCLC is crucial since most patients present with advanced/metastatic disease, limiting the potential for curative treatment. While SCLC exhibits initial responsiveness to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, treatment resistance commonly emerges, leading to a five-year overall survival rate of up to 10%. New effective biomarkers, early detection, and advancements in therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving survival rates and reducing the impact of this devastating disease. This review aims to comprehensively summarize current knowledge on diagnostic options, well-known and emerging biomarkers, and SCLC treatment strategies and discuss future perspectives on this aggressive malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Krpina
- Clinic for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Semir Vranić
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Krešimir Tomić
- Department of Oncology, University Clinical Hospital Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Miroslav Samaržija
- Clinic for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lara Batičić
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
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Kluger H, Barrett JC, Gainor JF, Hamid O, Hurwitz M, LaVallee T, Moss RA, Zappasodi R, Sullivan RJ, Tawbi H, Sharon E. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) consensus definitions for resistance to combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005921. [PMID: 36918224 PMCID: PMC10016305 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is the standard of care for several cancers and the field continues to advance at a rapid pace, with novel combinations leading to indications in an increasing number of disease settings. Durable responses and long-term survival with immunotherapy have been demonstrated in some patients, though lack of initial benefit and recurrence after extended disease control remain major hurdles for the field. Many new combination regimens are in development for patients whose disease progressed on initial immunotherapy. To guide clinical trial design and support analyses of emerging molecular and cellular data surrounding mechanisms of resistance, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) previously generated consensus clinical definitions for resistance to single-agent anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in three distinct scenarios: primary resistance, secondary resistance, and progression after treatment discontinuation. An unmet need still exists, however, for definitions of resistance to ICI-based combinations, which represent an expanding frontier in the immunotherapy treatment landscape. In 2021, SITC convened a workshop including stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to develop consensus definitions for resistance to ICI-based combination regimens for improved outcome assessment, trial design and drug development. This manuscript reports the minimum drug exposure requirements and time frame for progression that define resistance in both the metastatic setting and the perioperative setting, as well as key caveats and areas for future research with ICI/ICI combinations. Definitions for resistance to ICIs in combination with chemotherapy and targeted therapy will be published in companion volumes to this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Carl Barrett
- Translational Medical Oncology, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Omid Hamid
- The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a Cedars-Sinai Affiliate, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Roberta Zappasodi
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, New York, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Hussein Tawbi
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Elad Sharon
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Rizvi N, Ademuyiwa FO, Cao ZA, Chen HX, Ferris RL, Goldberg SB, Hellmann MD, Mehra R, Rhee I, Park JC, Kluger H, Tawbi H, Sullivan RJ. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) consensus definitions for resistance to combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005920. [PMID: 36918220 PMCID: PMC10016262 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Although immunotherapy can offer profound clinical benefit for patients with a variety of difficult-to-treat cancers, many tumors either do not respond to upfront treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or progressive/recurrent disease occurs after an interval of initial control. Improved response rates have been demonstrated with the addition of ICIs to cytotoxic therapies, leading to approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration and regulatory agencies in other countries for ICI-chemotherapy combinations in a number of solid tumor indications, including breast, head and neck, gastric, and lung cancer. Designing trials for patients with tumors that do not respond or stop responding to treatment with immunotherapy combinations, however, is challenging without uniform definitions of resistance. Previously, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) published consensus definitions for resistance to single-agent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). To provide guidance for clinical trial design and to support analyses of emerging molecular and cellular data surrounding mechanisms of resistance to ICI-based combinations, SITC convened a follow-up workshop in 2021 to develop consensus definitions for resistance to multiagent ICI combinations. This manuscript reports the consensus clinical definitions for combinations of ICIs and chemotherapies. Definitions for resistance to ICIs in combination with targeted therapies and with other ICIs will be published in companion volumes to this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Helen X Chen
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ranee Mehra
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ina Rhee
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jong Chul Park
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Hussein Tawbi
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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11
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Sakka S, Kandori S, Kawai K, Kojima T, Nitta S, Chihara I, Nagumo Y, Kawahara T, Mathis BJ, Ishihara M, Shinohara N, Kishida T, Ukimura O, Nishimura K, Kobayashi Y, Nishiyama H. Plasma circulating tumor DNA profiling in patients with chemo-refractory germ cell tumors. Int J Urol 2023; 30:456-462. [PMID: 36746673 DOI: 10.1111/iju.15155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Molecular analysis of tumor tissues has been extensively analyzed in germ cell tumors. However, genetic analysis of plasma circulating tumor DNA has been limited. Our objective was to analyze genetic alterations in circulating tumor DNA as well as its impact on prognosis in patients with chemo-refractory germ cell tumors. METHODS We included 13 patients with chemo-refractory germ cell tumors who relapsed after second-line or higher previous chemotherapy and performed targeted sequencing of plasma cell-free DNA using an AVENIO Expanded kit. RESULTS Tumor-specific genetic alterations were identified in all patients. The most frequently mutated gene was TP53 (53.4%), followed by PTEN (23.1%), GNAS (15.4%) and MTOR (15.4%). Moreover, EGFR amplification (38.5%) and MET amplification (15.4%) were also identified. We defined two or more single nucleotide variants detected in plasma cell-free DNA as circulating tumor DNA-positive. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that overall survival was significantly shorter in circulating tumor DNA-positive patients than circulating tumor DNA negative-patients (median overall survival 3.13 vs. 8.73 months; p = 0.042). CONCLUSION Analysis of plasma circulating tumor DNA could detect genetic alterations in patients with chemo-refractory GCT. Moreover, detectable circulating tumor DNA in plasma was associated with poor prognosis in those patients. These results suggest that liquid biopsy using analysis of plasma circulating tumor DNA may be clinically useful for germ cell tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shotaro Sakka
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shuya Kandori
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Koji Kawai
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kojima
- Department of Urology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nitta
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ichiro Chihara
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Nagumo
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kawahara
- Department of Urology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Bryan J Mathis
- International Medical Center, University of Tsukuba Affiliated Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Megumi Ishihara
- Tsukuba Clinical Research and Development Organization (T-CReDO), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuo Shinohara
- Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kishida
- Department of Urology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Osamu Ukimura
- Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuo Nishimura
- Department of Urology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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12
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Vellanki PJ, Ghosh S, Pathak A, Fusco MJ, Bloomquist EW, Tang S, Singh H, Philip R, Pazdur R, Beaver JA. Regulatory implications of ctDNA in immuno-oncology for solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e005344. [PMID: 36796877 PMCID: PMC9936292 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the era of precision oncology, use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a minimally invasive approach for the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer and as an enrichment tool in clinical trials. In recent years, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved multiple ctDNA-based companion diagnostic assays for the safe and effective use of targeted therapies and ctDNA-based assays are also being developed for use with immuno-oncology-based therapies. For early-stage solid tumor cancers, ctDNA may be particularly important to detect molecular residual disease (MRD) to support early implementation of adjuvant or escalated therapy to prevent development of metastatic disease. Clinical trials are also increasingly using ctDNA MRD for patient selection and stratification, with an ultimate goal of improving trial efficiency through use of an enriched patient population. Standardization and harmonization of ctDNA assays and methodologies, along with further clinical validation of ctDNA as a prognostic and predictive biomarker, are necessary before ctDNA may be considered as an efficacy-response biomarker to support regulatory decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paz J Vellanki
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Soma Ghosh
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Anand Pathak
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J Fusco
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Erik W Bloomquist
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Shenghui Tang
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Harpreet Singh
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Oncology Center of Excellence, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Reena Philip
- Oncology Center of Excellence, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard Pazdur
- Oncology Center of Excellence, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Julia A Beaver
- Oncology Center of Excellence, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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13
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Sivapalan L, Murray JC, Canzoniero JV, Landon B, Jackson J, Scott S, Lam V, Levy BP, Sausen M, Anagnostou V. Liquid biopsy approaches to capture tumor evolution and clinical outcomes during cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005924. [PMID: 36657818 PMCID: PMC9853269 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) can serve as a real-time biomarker of tumor burden and provide unique insights into the evolving molecular landscape of cancers under the selective pressure of immunotherapy. Tracking the landscape of genomic alterations detected in ctDNA may reveal the clonal architecture of the metastatic cascade and thus improve our understanding of the molecular wiring of therapeutic responses. While liquid biopsies may provide a rapid and accurate evaluation of tumor burden dynamics during immunotherapy, the complexity of antitumor immune responses is not fully captured through single-feature ctDNA analyses. This underscores a need for integrative studies modeling the tumor and the immune compartment to understand the kinetics of tumor clearance in association with the quality of antitumor immune responses. Clinical applications of ctDNA testing in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown both predictive and prognostic value through the detection of genomic biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability, as well as allowing for real-time monitoring of circulating tumor burden and the assessment of early on-therapy responses. These efforts highlight the emerging role of liquid biopsies in selecting patients for cancer immunotherapy, monitoring therapeutic efficacy, determining the optimal duration of treatment and ultimately guiding treatment selection and sequencing. The clinical translation of liquid biopsies is propelled by the increasing number of ctDNA-directed interventional clinical trials in the immuno-oncology space, signifying a critical step towards implementation of liquid biopsies in precision immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavanya Sivapalan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph C Murray
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jenna VanLiere Canzoniero
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Blair Landon
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Susan Scott
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Vincent Lam
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin P. Levy
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark Sausen
- Personal Genome Diagnostics, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Valsamo Anagnostou
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,The Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Guaitoli G, Neri G, Cabitza E, Natalizio S, Mastrodomenico L, Talerico S, Trudu L, Lauro C, Chiavelli C, Baschieri MC, Bruni A, Dominici M, Bertolini F. Dissecting Immunotherapy Strategies for Small Cell Lung Cancer: Antibodies, Ionizing Radiation and CAR-T. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12728. [PMID: 36361523 PMCID: PMC9656696 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy that accounts for about 14% of all lung cancers. Platinum-based chemotherapy has been the only available treatment for a long time, until the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) recently changed first-line standard of care and shed light on the pivotal role of the immune system. Despite improved survival in a subset of patients, a lot of them still do not benefit from first-line chemo-immunotherapy, and several studies are investigating whether different combination strategies (with both systemic and local treatments, such as radiotherapy) may improve patient outcomes. Moreover, research of biomarkers that may be used to predict patients' outcomes is ongoing. In addition to ICIs, immunotherapy offers other different strategies, including naked monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor associated antigens, conjugated antibody, bispecific antibodies and cellular therapies. In this review, we summarize the main evidence available about the use of immunotherapy in SCLC, the rationale behind combination strategies and the studies that are currently ongoing in this setting, in order to give the reader a clear and complete view of this rapidly expanding topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Guaitoli
- PhD Program Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Neri
- PhD Program Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapy, Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cabitza
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Natalizio
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Luciana Mastrodomenico
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Sabrina Talerico
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Lucia Trudu
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Lauro
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Chiavelli
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapy, Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Baschieri
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapy, Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Alessio Bruni
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapy, Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Bertolini
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Modena University Hospital, 41124 Modena, Italy
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15
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Renouf DJ, Loree JM, Knox JJ, Topham JT, Kavan P, Jonker D, Welch S, Couture F, Lemay F, Tehfe M, Harb M, Aucoin N, Ko YJ, Tang PA, Ramjeesingh R, Meyers BM, Kim CA, Du P, Jia S, Schaeffer DF, Gill S, Tu D, O'Callaghan CJ. The CCTG PA.7 phase II trial of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel with or without durvalumab and tremelimumab as initial therapy in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5020. [PMID: 36028483 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32591-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy-based monotherapy treatment in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) has shown limited benefit outside of the mismatch repair deficiency setting, while safety and efficacy of combining dual-checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy with chemotherapy remains uncertain. Here, we present results from the CCTG PA.7 study (NCT02879318), a randomized phase II trial comparing gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel with and without immune checkpoint inhibitors durvalumab and tremelimumab in 180 patients with mPDAC. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and objective response rate. Results of the trial were negative as combination immunotherapy did not improve survival among the unselected patient population (p = 0.72) and toxicity was limited to elevation of lymphocytes in the combination immunotherapy group (p = 0.02). Exploratory baseline circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing revealed increased survival for patients with KRAS wildtype tumors in both the combination immunotherapy (p = 0.001) and chemotherapy (p = 0.004) groups. These data support the utility of ctDNA analysis in PDAC and the prognostic value of ctDNA-based KRAS mutation status.
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16
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Wang H, Wang X, Jiang S, Zhu J, Liu J, Zhou C, Zhu Y, Han Y. Personalized treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer: A case report and literature review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:956372. [PMID: 36033514 PMCID: PMC9410564 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.956372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A 50-year-old female patient presented with post-exercise dyspnea in September 2016, and was subsequently diagnosed with SCLC with multiple brain and spinal metastases. The first-line treatment was etoposide combined with cisplatin and synchronously performed radiotherapy for the brain and spinal cord metastases. She was treated with anlotinib after disease progression in December 2018 and continued to have clinical benefit for nearly 25 months. Unexpectedly, the patient can still benefit from further combination treatment with durvalumab after another disease progression in February 2021. Thus, it may be a potential option to use anlotinib along with immunotherapy after the anlotinib resistance in SCLC, but more clinical data are still needed to confirm it. Moreover, ctDNA dynamic monitoring was performed and reflected the outcome of the process of treatment.
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17
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Stadler JC, Belloum Y, Deitert B, Sementsov M, Heidrich I, Gebhardt C, Keller L, Pantel K. Current and Future Clinical Applications of ctDNA in Immuno-Oncology. Cancer Res 2022; 82:349-358. [PMID: 34815256 PMCID: PMC9397642 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Testing peripheral blood for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a minimally invasive opportunity to diagnose, characterize, and monitor the disease in individual cancer patients. ctDNA can reflect the actual tumor burden and specific genomic state of disease and thus might serve as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Recent studies in various cancer entities (e.g., melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colon cancer, and urothelial cancer) have shown that sequential ctDNA analyses allow for the identification of responders to ICI therapy, with a significant lead time to imaging. ctDNA assessment may also help distinguish pseudoprogression under ICI therapy from real progression. Developing dynamic changes in ctDNA concentrations as a potential surrogate endpoint of clinical efficacy in patients undergoing adjuvant immunotherapy is ongoing. Besides overall ctDNA burden, further ctDNA characterization can help uncover tumor-specific determinants (e.g., tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability) of responses or resistance to immunotherapy. In future studies, standardized ctDNA assessments need to be included in interventional clinical trials across cancer entities to demonstrate the clinical utility of ctDNA as a biomarker for personalized cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia-Christina Stadler
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yassine Belloum
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Deitert
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mark Sementsov
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Isabel Heidrich
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoffer Gebhardt
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Laura Keller
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Corresponding Authors: Klaus Pantel, Institute for Tumor Biologie, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, Hamburg, 20246, Germany. E-mail: ; and Laura Keller, E-mail:
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Corresponding Authors: Klaus Pantel, Institute for Tumor Biologie, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, Hamburg, 20246, Germany. E-mail: ; and Laura Keller, E-mail:
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18
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Xu B, Cheng H, Li K, Lv Y, Zeng X, Liu T, Yu W, Guo W. Carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy with or without atezolizumab as front-line management for treatment-naïve metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 staining: a retrospective study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022. [PMID: 34973080 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03873-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this retrospective review was to compare the efficacy and safety of the atezolizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel regimen versus the carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel regimen as front-line management for treatment-naïve, metastatic nonsquamous programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a selected population. Methods Consecutive patients with untreated, metastatic nonsquamous PD-L1-positive NSCLC who initially received the atezolizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel (ACN) regimen or carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel (CN) regimen were retrospectively identified in two medical institutions from 2017 to 2020. The co-primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end point was the rate of key adverse events (AEs). Results In sum, 171 patients were retrospectively analysed, 47 of whom were excluded according to the criteria used in this study, leaving 124 patients (ACN: n = 60, median age 64 years [range 46–75]; CN: n = 64, 63 years [47–72]). The median duration of follow-up was 27 months [range 1–37]. At the final follow-up, the median OS was 19.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.3–22.5) in the ACN group vs. 14.8 months (95% CI 12.5–17.2) in the CN group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51, 95% CI 0.33–0.77; p = 0.001). A marked distinction in the median PFS was seen (8.5 months [95% CI 6.7–9.4] in the ACN group vs. in the CN group [5.1 months [95% CI 3.6–6.8; HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38–0.95; p = 0.005]). The rates of the key AEs (neutropenia and anaemia) were greater in the ACN group than in the CN group (all p < 0.05), but these AEs were manageable. Conclusion Among selected populations of individuals with treatment-naïve, metastatic nonsquamous PD-L1-positive NSCLC, atezolizumab combined with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy might have encouraging anticancer activity, with a tolerable safety profile.
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Dall'Olio FG, Marabelle A, Caramella C, Garcia C, Aldea M, Chaput N, Robert C, Besse B. Tumour burden and efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 19:75-90. [PMID: 34642484 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00564-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that a high tumour burden has a negative effect on anticancer immunity. The concept of tumour burden, simply defined as the total amount of cancer in the body, in contrast to molecular tumour burden, is often poorly understood by the wider medical community; nonetheless, a possible role exists in defining the optimal treatment strategy for many patients. Historically, tumour burden has been assessed using imaging. In particular, CT scans have been used to evaluate both the number and size of metastases as well as the number of organs involved. These methods are now often complemented by metabolic tumour burden, measured using the more recently developed 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)-PET/CT. Serum-based biomarkers, such as lactate dehydrogenase, can also reflect tumour burden and are often also correlated with a poor response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Other circulating markers (such as circulating free tumour DNA and/or circulating tumour cells) are also attracting research interest as surrogate markers of tumour burden. In this Review, we summarize evidence supporting the utility of tumour burden as a biomarker to guide the use of immune-checkpoint inhibitors. We also describe data and provide perspective on the various tools used for tumour burden assessment, with a particular emphasis on future therapeutic strategies that might address the issue of inferior outcomes among patients with cancer with a high tumour burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo G Dall'Olio
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Aurélien Marabelle
- Drug Development Department, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Kremlin Bicêtre, France.,Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Caroline Caramella
- Department of Radiology, Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
| | - Camilo Garcia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy and University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Mihaela Aldea
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Nathalie Chaput
- Laboratory of Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University Paris-Saclay, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Caroline Robert
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Kremlin Bicêtre, France.,Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Benjamin Besse
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. .,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
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20
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Rijavec E, Genova C, Biello F, Rossi G, Indini A, Grossi F. Current state of the art and future perspectives with immunotherapy in the management of small cell lung cancer. Expert Rev Respir Med 2021; 15:1427-1435. [PMID: 34590937 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2021.1987887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor with a severe prognosis. At the time of diagnosis, most patients present with extensive-stage (ES) disease. For decades, platinum-based chemotherapy has been the only pillar of SCLC treatment, but now, the clinical management of this disease is rapidly evolving thanks to the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). AREAS COVERED In this review, we describe the most recent advances in the treatment of SCLC and discuss the emerging challenges associated with ICI treatments. Meaningful data were collected from the currently available literature on PubMed and in international oncology meetings. EXPERT OPINION Recently, meaningful improvements in outcomes of SCLC patients have been achieved with anti-PD-L1 atezolizumab or durvalumab combined with chemotherapy in first line. Results of studies evaluating the role of ICIs in limited-stage (LS) SCLC patients are awaited. Further efforts are required to better understand the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of SCLC and to identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Rijavec
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Genova
- Lung Cancer Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Biello
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rossi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Padre Antero Micone, Genova, Italy
| | - Alice Indini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Grossi
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Insubria, Asst Dei Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
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21
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Pizzutilo EG, Pedrani M, Amatu A, Ruggieri L, Lauricella C, Veronese SM, Signorelli D, Cerea G, Giannetta L, Siena S, Sartore-Bianchi A. Liquid Biopsy for Small Cell Lung Cancer either De Novo or Transformed: Systematic Review of Different Applications and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2265. [PMID: 34066817 PMCID: PMC8125928 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The potential added value of liquid biopsy (LB) is not well determined in the case of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive tumor that can occur either de novo or from the histologic transformation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS A systematic review of studies adopting LB in patients with SCLC have been performed to assess the clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or circulating tumor cells (CTCs). RESULTS After a screening of 728 records, 62 studies (32 evaluating CTCs, 27 ctDNA, and 3 both) met predetermined eligibility criteria. Only four studies evaluated LB in the diagnostic setting for SCLC, while its prognostic significance was evaluated in 38 studies and prominently supported by both ctDNA and CTCs. A meta-analysis of 11 studies as for CTCs enumeration showed an HR for overall survival of 2.63 (1.71-4.05), with a potential publication bias. The feasibility of tumor genomic profiling and the predictive role of LB in terms of response/resistance to chemotherapy was assessed in 11 and 24 studies, respectively, with greater consistency for those regarding ctDNA. Intriguingly, several case reports suggest that LB can indirectly capture the transition to SCLC in NSCLC treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS While dedicated trials are needed, LB holds potential clinical roles in both de novo and transformed SCLC. CtDNA analysis appears the most valuable and practicable tool for both disease monitoring and genomic profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elio Gregory Pizzutilo
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Martino Pedrani
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Amatu
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Ruggieri
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Calogero Lauricella
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Silvio Marco Veronese
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Diego Signorelli
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Giulio Cerea
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Laura Giannetta
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Salvatore Siena
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Sartore-Bianchi
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy; (E.G.P.); (M.P.); (A.A.); (L.R.); (C.L.); (S.M.V.); (D.S.); (G.C.); (L.G.); (S.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Li Y, Zheng Y, Wu L, Li J, Ji J, Yu Q, Dai W, Feng J, Wu J, Guo C. Current status of ctDNA in precision oncology for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:140. [PMID: 33902698 PMCID: PMC8074474 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01940-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The conventional method used to obtain a tumor biopsy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is invasive and does not evaluate dynamic cancer progression or assess tumor heterogeneity. It is thus imperative to create a novel non-invasive diagnostic technique for improvement in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment selection, response assessment, and predicting prognosis for HCC. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a non-invasive liquid biopsy method that reveals cancer-specific genetic and epigenetic aberrations. Owing to the development of technology in next-generation sequencing and PCR-based assays, the detection and quantification of ctDNA have greatly improved. In this publication, we provide an overview of current technologies used to detect ctDNA, the ctDNA markers utilized, and recent advances regarding the multiple clinical applications in the field of precision medicine for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Liwei Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jie Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Weiqi Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jiao Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Jianye Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China.
| | - Chuanyong Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China.
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