Billing for Electronic Patient-Physician Communications: An Ethical Analysis

This review paper analyzes the ethical implications of billing patients for electronic communication with physicians through electronic health records, a practice already adopted by medical institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic. The analysis assesses how billing aligns with pillars of medical ethics which include beneficence, respect for persons, and justice. Although billing may enhance communication, improve patient care, and alleviate physician burnout, concerns arise over potential consequences on patient autonomy, trust, and health care disparities. The review delves into the intricate balance of these ethical principles by first considering the potential benefits of incentivizing concise questions and improving physician workload management through billing. By reducing messages, this approach can potentially mitigate burnout and enhance care. It also acknowledges potential drawbacks such as deterring patients because of financial constraints and eroding trust in physicians and the medical team. It emphasizes the necessity of thoroughly examining all aspects of this intricate ethical dilemma to formulate a nuanced solution that protects patient well-being while respecting physicians. We propose a middle-ground approach involving nominal and transparent billing on the basis of the question's complexity, urgency, and level of expertise required in the response. Transparent billing policies, up-front communication of costs, and potential fee waivers on the basis of socioeconomic status can address equity concerns and maintain patient trust. Striking a balance between the potential benefits and drawbacks of billing for patient questions is crucial in maintaining ethical patient-physician interactions and equitable health care provision. The analysis underscores the importance of aligning online patient-physician communication with ethical principles within the evolving digital health care landscape.

Adrenocortical Carcinomas: Molecular Pathogenesis, Treatment Options, and Emerging Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy Approaches

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy in the advanced setting with poor prognosis. This narrative review provides an overview of the epidemiology of ACC and its molecular pathogenesis with a summary of the main involved signaling pathways. We then provide an update on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and current management strategies of both localized and metastatic disease from a multidisciplinary perspective. We highlight the debate around the use of mitotane in the adjuvant setting and review the use of combination chemotherapy with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. The review also focuses on emerging data providing hope for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies in ACC with a summary of ongoing trials.

Neoadjuvant Platinum-Based chemotherapy and lymphadenectomy for penile cancer: an international, Multi-Institutional, Real-World study

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advance penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC), for which current evidence is lacking.

METHODS

Included patients had locally advanced PSCC with clinical lymph node metastasis treated with at least one dose of NAC prior to planned consolidative lymphadenectomy. Objective response rates (ORR) were assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall survival and progression-free survival, estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) were graded per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0.

RESULTS

209 patients received NAC for locally advanced and clinically node-positive PSCC.The study population consisted of 7% of patients with stage II disease, 48% with stage III, and 45% with stage IV. Grade 2 TrAEs occurred in 35 (17%) patients, and no treatment related mortality was observed. 201 (97%) completed planned consolidative lymphadenectomy. During follow up, 106 (52.7%) patients expired, with a median OS of 37.0 months (95% CI 23.8-50.1), and median PFS of 26.0 months (95% CI 11.7-40.2). ORR was 57.2%, with 87 (43.2%) having partial response and 28 (13.9%) having a complete response. Patients with objective response to NAC had a longer median OS (73.0 vs 17.0 months, p < .01) compared to those who did not. The lymph-node pathologic complete response rate (ypN0) was 24.8% in the cohort.

CONCLUSION

NAC with lymphadenectomy for locally advanced PSCC is well tolerated and active to reduce the disease burden and improve long term survival outcomes.

Linear Muscle Segmentation for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Changes in Clinic-Friendly Estimation Predict Survival Following Cytoreductive Nephrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Baseline sarcopenia and postoperative changes in muscle mass are independently associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN). Here we examine the relationships between preoperative (baseline), postoperative changes in muscle quantity, and survival outcomes following CN as determined by linear segmentation, a clinic-friendly tool that rapidly estimates muscle mass.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our nephrectomy database was reviewed for patients with metastatic disease who underwent CN for RCC. Linear segmentation of the bilateral psoas/paraspinal muscles was completed for baseline imaging within 60 days of surgery and imaging 30 to 365 days postoperatively. Kruskal-Wallis for numerical and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables were used to test for differences between groups according to percent change in linear muscle index (LMI, cm2/m2). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between LMI percent change and cancer-specific (CSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM). Kaplan Meier curves estimated cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

From 2004-2020, 205 patients were included of whom 52 demonstrated stable LMI (25.4%; LMI change < 5% [0Δ]), 60 increase (29.3%; LMI +5% [+Δ]), and 92 decrease (44.9%; LMI -5% [-Δ]). Median time from baseline imaging to surgery was 18 days, and time from surgery to postoperative imaging was 133 days. Median CSS and OS were highest among patients with 0Δ LMI (CSS: 133.6 [0Δ] vs. 61.9 [+Δ] vs. 37.4 [-Δ] months; P = .0018 || OS: 67.2 [0Δ] vs. 54.8 [+Δ] vs. 29.5 [-Δ] months; P = .0007). Stable LMI was a protective factor for CSM (HR 0.48; P = .024) and ACM (HR 0.59; P = .040) on multivariable analysis.

DISCUSSION

Change in muscle mass after CN, as measured by the linear muscle segmentation technique, is independently associated with OS and CSS in patients following CN. Of note, lack of change was associated with longer survival.

Comprehensive genomic profiling of penile squamous cell carcinoma and the impact of human papillomavirus status on immune-checkpoint inhibitor-related biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited success of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Approximately half of pSCC cases are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

METHODS

Evaluation was done retrospectively of the landscape of somatic alterations and ICI-related biomarkers in pSCC by using the Caris Life Sciences data set with the aim to establish signatures for HPV-dependent oncogenesis. The pSCC tumors were analyzed by using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA and RNA. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Microsatellite instability (MSI) was tested by fragment analysis, IHC (SP142; ≥1%), and NGS. Tumor mutational burden (TMB)-high was defined as ≥10 mutations/Mb. HPV16/18 status was determined by using whole-exome sequencing (WES) when available. Significance was adjusted for multiple comparisons (q value < .05).

RESULTS

NGS of the overall cohort (N = 108) revealed TP53 (46%), CDKN2A (26%), and PIK3CA (25%) to be the most common mutations. Overall, 51% of tumors were PD-L1+, 10.7% had high TMB, and 1.1% had mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/MSI-high status. Twenty-nine patients had their HPV status made available by WES (HPV16/18+, n = 13; HPV16/18-, n = 16). KMT2C mutations (33% vs. 0%) and FGF3 amplifications (30.8% vs. 0%) were specific to HPV16/18+ tumors, whereas CDKN2A mutations (0% vs. 37.5%) were exclusive to HPV16/18- tumors. TMB-high was exclusively found in the HPV16/18+ group (30.8%). The two groups had comparable PD-L1 and dMMR/MSI-H status.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large and comprehensive NGS-based evaluation of somatic alterations in pSCC, HPV16/18+ versus HPV16/18- pSCCs were molecularly distinct tumors. Our finding that TMB-high is exclusive to HPV16/18+ tumors requires confirmation in larger data sets.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy in the advanced setting, with poor prognosis and little success with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in an unselected patient approach. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a known risk factor for pSCC; its impact on genomic tumor profiling is less defined. Using next-generation sequencing, we explored the genetic landscape and ICI-related biomarkers of pSCC and HPV-driven oncogenic molecular signatures. Our results indicate that HPV-positive and HPV-negative pSCCs are molecularly distinct tumors. Increased tumor mutational burden is associated with HPV-positive tumors, and could serve as a biomarker for predicting therapeutic response to ICI-based therapies. Our results support the growing literature indicating that HPV status in pSCC can be used to guide patient stratification in ICI-based clinical trials.

Immune-Related Adverse Events and Clinical Outcomes in Advanced Urothelial Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

In advanced urothelial cancers (UC), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) show promise as a durable therapy. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs), a side effect of ICIs, may serve as an indicator of beneficial response. We investigated the relationship between irAEs and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced UC who received ICI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we investigated 70 patients with advanced UC treated with ICIs at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015 to 2020. Data on patients were collected through chart review. Cox's proportional hazard model and logistic regression were applied to estimate the association with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit (CB). The possible lead-time bias was handled in extended Cox regression models.

RESULTS

The median age of the cohort was 68. Over one-third (35%) of patients experienced an irAE, with skin being the most frequent organ involved (12.9%). Patients that experienced at least one irAE had significantly enhanced OS (HR: 0.38, 95% CI, 0.18-0.79, P = .009), PFS (HR: 0.27, 95% CI, 0.14-0.53, P < .001), and CB (OR: 4.20, 95% CI, 1.35-13.06, P = .013). Patients who experienced dermatologic irAEs also had significantly greater OS, PFS, and CB.

CONCLUSION

Of patients with advanced UC that had undergone ICI therapy, those who had irAEs, especially dermatologic irAEs, had significantly greater OS, PFS, and CB. These results may suggest that irAE's may serve as an important marker of durable response to ICI therapy in urothelial cancer. The findings of this study need to be validated with larger cohort studies in the future.

The Genomic Landscape of Urothelial Carcinoma with High and Low ERBB2 Expression

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggests that HER2-targeted treatment is efficacious in urothelial carcinoma (UC). We investigated the genomic, transcriptomic, and immune landscapes and clinical outcomes in UC segmented by ERBB2 expression.

METHODS

NextGen DNA/RNA sequencing was performed for 4743 UC tumors. A total of 3% (124/4125) of tumors had HER2 IHC and whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data. ERRB2-high and -low tumors were defined by ≥75th and <25th percentiles of ERBB2 expression, respectively. PD-L1 (SP142) positive staining was defined as ≥2+ and ≥5%. HER2 (4B5) positive staining was defined as ≥3+ and >10% or 2+ and >10% with positive HER2 in situ hybridization (ISH).

RESULTS

Of the patients who were ERBB2-high, 79% (61/77) were HER2 positive via IHC. Tumors from lower tract UC had higher ERBB2 expression compared to upper tract UC (50 v 40 median TPM (mTPM), p < 0.001). ERBB2 expression was similar between primary and metastatic tumors (47 v 47 mTPM, p = 0.95). ERBB2-high tumors had a higher prevalence of pathogenic mutations in pTERT, ERBB2, and ELF3 versus ERBB2-low tumors, p < 0.001. ERBB2-high tumors had higher expressions of ADC target genes NECTIN4 (12 v 8 mTPM) and TACSTD2 (366 v 74 mTPM) versus ERBB2-low (p < 0.001), as well as better overall survival from time of tissue sampling than ERBB2-low (HR 1.71, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a high concordance between HER2 expression by IHC and ERBB2 gene expression by WTS in UC. Differences in ADC target expression between ERBB2-high vs. ERBB2-low UC may provide a rationale for combination treatment strategies with HER2-ADC. The association between high ERBB2 expression and survival advantage warrants further investigation.

Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced penile cancer: report from the Global Society of Rare Genitourinary Tumors

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for penile squamous cell carcinoma are limited. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes and safety profiles of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors between 2015 and 2022 across 24 centers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Objective response rates were determined per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 criteria. Treatment-related adverse events were graded per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Two-sided statistical tests were used for comparisons.

RESULTS

Among 92 patients, 8 (8.7%) were Asian, 6 (6.5%) were Black, and 24 (29%) were Hispanic and/or Latinx. Median (interquartile range) age was 62 (53-70) years. In all, 83 (90%) had metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma, and 74 (80%) had received at least second-line treatment. Most patients received pembrolizumab monotherapy (n = 26 [28%]), combination nivolumab-ipilimumab with or without multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (n = 23 [25%]), or nivolumab (n = 16 [17%]) or cemiplimab (n = 15 [16%]) monotherapies. Median overall and progression-free survival were 9.8 months (95% confidence interval = 7.7 to 12.8 months) and 3.2 months (95% confidence interval = 2.5 to 4.2 months), respectively. The objective response rate was 13% (n = 11/85) in the overall cohort and 35% (n = 7/20) in patients with lymph node-only metastases. Visceral metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1 or higher, and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were associated with worse overall survival. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 27 (29%) patients, and 9.8% (n = 9) of the events were grade 3 or higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are active in a subset of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma. Future translational studies are warranted to identify patients more likely to derive clinical benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Baseline Neutrophil-to-Eosinophil Ratio Is Associated with Outcomes in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Biomarkers have the potential to guide treatment selection and clinical care in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in an expanding treatment landscape. We report baseline neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratios (NER) in patients with mRCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and their association with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with mRCC treated with CPIs at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015 to 2020 in the United States of America (USA). Demographics, disease characteristics, and laboratory data, including complete blood counts (CBC) were described at the initiation of CPIs. Clinical outcomes were measured as overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit (CB) associated with baseline lab values.

RESULTS

A total of 184 patients were included with a median follow-up time of 25.4 months. Patients with baseline NER were categorized into high or low subgroups; high group was defined as NER >49.2 and low group was defined as NER <49.2 with 25% of patients in the high NER group. Univariate analyses (UVA) and multivariable analyses (MVA) identified decreased overall survival (OS) associated with elevated NER. In MVA, patients with a high baseline NER group had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.68 (95%CI, 1.01-2.82, P = .048) for OS; however, there was no significant difference between groups for PFS. Clinical benefit was seen in 47.3% of patients with low baseline NER and 40% with high NER.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that elevated baseline NER may be associated with worse clinical outcomes in mRCC. Although results require further validation, NER is a feasible biomarker in patients with CPI-treated mRCC.

The genomic landscape of urothelial carcinoma with high and low ERBB2/HER2 expression

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Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression has been associated with poor prognosis in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Recent data suggests that HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) treatment is efficacious. Here, we explore the role of ERBB2/ HER2 expression in UC by analyzing genomic and clinical outcomes in a large database of real-world patient samples. Methods: NextGen Sequencing (NGS) of DNA (592 genes or whole exome sequencing; WES)/RNA (whole transcriptome sequencing; WTS) was performed for 4,743 UC tumors submitted to Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ). PD-L1 (SP142; Positive (+): ≥ 2+, ≥ %5) and HER2 (4B5; +: ≥3+ and >10%) expression was tested by IHC. High tumor mutational burden (TMB-high) was defined as ≥10 mutations/MB. ERBB2-high and -low expression were defined as ≥ top and < bottom quartile of ERBB2 transcripts per million (TPM), respectively. Mann-Whitney U and X2/Fisher-Exact tests were applied where appropriate, with P-values adjusted for multiple comparisons ( p < .05). Real-world overall survival (OS) information was obtained from insurance claims data and Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated for molecularly defined patients. Results: 2.5% (120/4743) of tumors had HER2 IHC and WTS data available, 97% (61/63) of HER2+ tumors were ERBB2-high, and 98% (51/52) were ERBB2-amplified by DNA NGS (copy number ≥4; 77% with copy number ≥6). Tumors from lower tract UC had higher ERBB2 expression compared to upper tract UC (50 v 40 median TPM (mTPM), p < .001). ERBB2 expression was similar between primary and metastatic tumors (47 v 47 mTPM, p = .95) but significantly higher in lung metastases (59 v 47 mTPM, p < .001). Mutation rates of ERRB2 (12%), pTERT (76%) and ELF3 (14 %) were higher in ERBB2-high compared to ERBB2-low tumors (5%, 60%, 5%, all p < .001). The opposite pattern was observed for CDKN2A (4% ERBB2-high, 9% ERBB2-low), KMT2D (20%, 35%) and PIK3CA (13%, 23%) (all p < .001). There was a higher incidence of PD-L1+ staining in ERBB2-low (40.3%) compared to ERBB2-high tumors (18%, p < .001). 45.4% of ERBB2-high tumors were TMB-high compared to 35% of ERBB2-low ( p < .001). ERBB2-high tumors had higher expression of ADC target genes NECTIN4 (12 v 8 mTPM) and TACSTD2 (366 v 74 mTPM) compared to ERBB2-low (each, p < .001). ERBB2-high tumors were associated with better overall survival from time of tissue sampling than ERBB2-low (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.14-1.60, p < .001) and from start of anti-PD-L1 therapy (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.02-5.02, p = .04) but no difference in OS from start of anti-PD1 therapy (HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.75-2.58, p = .30). Conclusions: High concordance between HER2 IHC and ERBB2 expression/amplification was observed. Differences in the genomic landscape and ADC target expression of ERBB2-high vs -low UC may provide rationale for combination treatment strategies with HER2-blocking antibodies. The association between high ERBB2 expression and survival advantage warrants further investigation.

Association of baseline inflammatory biomarkers with outcomes in penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)

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Background: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis and a need for biomarkers to guide treatment selection. We report an association of baseline inflammatory markers with outcomes in pSCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with pSCC from 2012-2022 at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. Demographics, disease characteristics, and optimal cutoffs of biomarkers prior to ICI initiation were described. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratios (NER) were obtained from complete blood count data. Clinical benefit with ICI was defined as complete response, partial response, or stable disease based on RECIST 1.1 criteria. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate Cox regression (UVA) using SAS software with significance level set at p<0.05. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in which 71.4% were white and 28.6% were black. Median age at ICI initiation was 56 years (38-76). Most patients (65%) had an ECOG PS ≥2. Four patients (19.1%) had clinical benefit at best response to ICI. Most patients (76.2%) had disease progression and 14.3% were alive at last contact. Median OS was 8.4 months (mo) (95%CI: 2.3-15.7), and median PFS was 2.0 mo (95%CI: 1.3-3.2). Of 9 patients with available HPV status, 8 were HPV+. Of 12 patients with available PD-L1 status, 8 were PD-L1+. Median follow-up was 8.4 mo and median time to ICI treatment from diagnosis was 15.6 mo. High baseline NLR, MLR, PLR, and NER above optimal cut were significantly associated with shorter OS on UVA (Table,all p<0.05). High baseline NLR was associated with shorter PFS (p=0.003). Baseline NLR groups were similar except for age and without differences in race, ECOG, BMI, PD-L1, and HPV status. Conclusions: Our real-world analysis reports a potential association of baseline inflammatory biomarkers with clinical outcomes in ICI-treated pSCC. More prospective and multicenter studies are needed for further confirmation. [Table: see text]

Exploration of immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment within hepatic and non-hepatic tumors of urothelial origin

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Background: Recent data suggest that patients with liver metastases (mets) are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibition (CPI) independent of historical biomarkers of CPI efficacy, raising the question of whether liver mets may be associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). We investigated the immune TME of hepatic and non-hepatic mets compared to primary tumors in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) tissue samples. Methods: NextGen sequencing (NGS) of DNA (592-gene/whole exome) and RNA (whole transcriptome) from UC tissue samples (N=4746) was performed at Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ). Immune cell infiltration was estimated by RNA expression deconvolution (MCP-counter). PD-L1 expression (SP142: immune cell stain ≥ 5%; 22c3: CPS ≥ 10) was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Deficient mismatch repair/high microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI-H) was tested by IHC/NGS. Real-world overall survival (OS) information was obtained from insurance claims data and Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated. Mann–Whitney U and X2/Fischer-Exact tests were applied where appropriate, with p-values adjusted for multiple comparisons (Benjamini-Hochberg). *P<0.05. Results: UC samples included 3158 (66.5%) from primary site, 1344 (28.3%) from non-hepatic mets, and 244 (5.1%) from hepatic mets. Compared to primary tumors, hepatic mets had decreased CD8+ T and B cells (0.55* and 0.29-fold*) but increased monocytic lineage cells (1.23-fold*), while non-hepatic mets had increased CD8+ T, NK, and monocytic lineage cells (1.28*, 1.27*, 1.31-fold*) with no difference in B cells (1.05-fold). Hepatic mets had decreased expression of integrin LFA-1/ ITGAL (0.77-fold*), as well as hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor CD44 and synthase HAS2 (0.61 and 0.61-fold*), compared to primary tumors, whereas expression of these genes and LFA-1 ligand ICAM1 was increased in non-hepatic mets (1.08 to 1.30-fold*). Hepatic mets had increased expression of immunosuppressive cytokines CCL2 and CXCL2 (1.72* and 2.32-fold*) and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines CCL5 and CXCL10 (0.63* and 0.79-fold*) compared to primary tumors. PD-L1+ IHC was less frequent in hepatic mets compared to primary tumors and non-hepatic mets. TMB-High (≥10 mut/MB) and dMMR/MSI-H rates were similar across tumor sites. Hepatic mets (N=40) were associated with worse OS from the start of pembrolizumab compared to non-hepatic mets (N=177) (19.6 vs 4.4 months, HR 3.01, 95% CI 1.91-4.75, p<0.0001). Conclusions: This is the largest analysis of hepatic and non-hepatic met TMEs compared to primary tumor in advanced UC. Lower PD-L1 expression and differences in immune TME composition in liver mets may contribute to CPI resistance. Further analysis is warranted to determine underlying molecular mechanisms resulting in a TME that reduces response to CPI for patients with UC and liver mets.

Neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for clinically node-positive penile squamous cell carcinoma: An international, multicenter, real-world study

9

Background: The efficacy of neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (NAPC) in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) was provided by small clinical trials, leaving clinicians with scant evidence-based guidance. Thus, we aimed to analyze real-world outcomes of patients with PSCC who received NAPC prior to surgical resection. Methods: Patients from 9 tertiary care centers who had undergone NAPC prior surgical resection for PSCC were included with locally advanced (cTany, cN+), non-metastatic (M0) disease. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), Response was determined via best overall response measured with RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results: 167 patients were included, 137 (84%), of which received TIP prior to surgical resection. Ninety-two (55%) patients died during follow up, and the mean follow up for survivors was 57 months. The median OS was 42 months, while the median PFS was 17 months. The table details the response rates to NAPC, the associated survival, and Cox Proportional Hazards Modelling of OS and PFS. Predictors for OS and RFS included lymphovascular invasion, positive number of lymph nodes, extranodal extension, downstaging, best overall response, and ypN status. Figure 1 demonstrates OS outcomes by RECIST best response after chemotherapy, presence of downstaging after NAPC, ypN stage, and presence of extranodal extension. Conclusions: Upfront NAPC is effective in patients with lymph node metastases from penile carcinoma. Unsurprisingly, patients who demonstrated a robust response to therapy had improved survival outcomes compared to those who had not—as measured by RECIST criteria, tumor downstaging, pN staging, and presence of extranodal extension. This study represents the largest conglomeration of multi-institutional penile carcinoma patients treated with NAPC, and provides further supportive data for multimodal therapy for advanced penile cancer patients while prospective clinical trials complete accrual. [Table: see text]

Molecular characterization and clinical outcomes of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNENs) harboring PAK4-NAMPT alterations

649

Background: The mTOR inhibitor, Everolimus (EVE), is FDA-approved for the treatment of advanced PNENs on the basis of delay of progression. The RADIANT-3 trial showed an increase in PFS from 4.6 to 11 months compared to placebo with an ORR of only 5%. Prior studies suggest that targeting the aberrant expression of mTOR regulators p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) in PNENs sensitizes these tumors to EVE. To further qualify these observations, we queried a large real-world dataset of PNENs, characterizing the molecular and immune landscapes, as well as the clinical outcomes associated with aberrant PAK4 and NAMPT expression. Methods: 294 cases of PNENs were analyzed using Next Generation Sequencing (NextSeq) and Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (NovaSeq) at Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ). For our analyses, we stratified our study cohort into four groups based on the median expression of PAK4 and NAMPT: PAK4-low/NAMPT-low, PAK4-low/NAMPT-high, PAK4-high/NAMPT-low and PAK4-high/NAMPT-high. Significance was determined using chi-square, Fisher-Exact or Mann-Whitney U, and p-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons (q < 0.05). Results: High prevalence of mutations in PTEN (10.71% vs 1.18%; p < 0.05, q > 0.05), a tumor suppressor of the mTOR pathway and high expression of genes activated in response to mTOR activation such as SLC2A1 (3.07-fold), PFKP (3.32-fold), SCD (2.70-fold), MVK (2.92-fold) and G6PD (2.58-fold) were observed in PAK4-high/NAMPT-high compared to the PAK4-low/NAMPT-low tumors (all q < 0.05). A congruent enrichment of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and glycolysis pathways by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was observed in these tumors (all q < 0.05). When querying the immune landscape, we observed enrichment in inflammatory response, IL6/JAK/STAT3, IL2/STAT5 signaling pathways and immune checkpoint genes such as PDCD1 (5.14-fold), CD274 (2.84-fold), PDCD1LG2 (2.44-fold), CD80 (3.00-fold), CD86 (2.82-fold), IDO1 (1.92-fold), LAG3 (3.09-fold), HAVCR2 (2.66-fold) and CTLA4 (4.49-fold) in the PAK4-high/NAMPT-high tumors (all q < 0.05). Immune cell infiltration estimates revealed an increase in Neutrophils, NK cells and Tregs in the PAK4-high/NAMPT-high tumors (p < 0.05, q > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that PAK4-high/NAMPT-high PNENs are associated with distinct molecular and immune profiles. While the dual blockade of PAK4 and NAMPT has been reported to enhance the efficacy of EVE in PNENs, whether such a blockade would enhance the efficacy of immunotherapeutics warrants further investigation.

Age- and sex-based differences in the genomic profiles of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs)

655

Background: Demographic variables such as age and sex have long been associated with risk of cancer incidence, therapeutic response, and mortality. In NENs, specifically, studies have shown differences in overall survival based on age at diagnosis and sex. However, studies investigating the molecular determinants associated with age and gender have been lacking. To delineate the mechanisms of age, gender, and outcomes, we queried a large real-world dataset of NENs originating from the GI-tract and pancreas and characterized their molecular and immune profiles. Methods: 1935 cases (GI: n=1431, Pancreas: n=504) of NENs were analyzed using Next Generation Sequencing or Whole Exome Sequencing of DNA, and 1211/1935 cases (GI: n=917, Pancreas: n=294) underwent Whole Transcriptome Sequencing at Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ). To study the age-associated effect on the molecular and immune landscapes, we applied two age cutoffs: below 50 and 70 years of age at the time of tissue collection, respectively. Significance was determined using chi-square, Fisher-Exact or Mann-Whitney U, and p-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons (q<0.05). Results: In GI-NEN, TP53, RB1 mutations and high tumor mutation burden (TMB_H; >=10 Mut/Mb) were more prevalent and KRAS mutations were less prevalent with increasing age. Interestingly, in pancreatic NENs (P-NENs), KRAS mutations were more prevalent and TMB_H were less prevalent with increasing age. Mutations specific to the sites of origin such as APC (GI) and MUTYH (pancreas) were negatively associated with age while SMAD4 (pancreas) was positively associated with age. While no differences in immune checkpoint gene (ICG) expression were associated with age, immune cell estimates of M1 macrophages (anti-tumorigenic) in GI-NENs were higher in patients above 70 and M2 macrophages (pro-tumorigenic) were higher in patients below 50 (p<0.05, q>0.05). For the analysis with gender, mutations in p53 were more prevalent among males with GI-NEN while dMMR/MSI-H were more prevalent in females with P-NENs. No significant differences in ICG expression and immune cell estimates were associated with gender. Conclusions: Our study queries one of the largest datasets of GI and P-NENs to date. We observe distinct molecular profiles associated with age and gender in both GI- and P-NENs as well as a distinct immune profile associated with age in GI-NENs. While these results are only hypothesis generating, they are suggestive of how patient demographics may be utilized for rational therapy design. [Table: see text]

Durable complete response for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma with immune checkpoint inhibition and cytoreductive nephrectomy in a Jehovah’s witness: A case report

The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a subject of debate. We report a durable complete response in a 62-year-old man Jehovah’s Witness with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma who received two cycles of nivolumab/ipilimumab followed by radical nephrectomy and metastasectomy of known pulmonary disease site, both without a clinical need for perioperative blood transfusions. The patient continues to be without evidence of disease and without additional need for systemic therapy over a year after his radical nephrectomy. The case highlights that cytoreductive nephrectomy continues to play a role in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Combination Immune Checkpoint Blockade Regimens for Previously Untreated Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University Experience

Introduction

There are three combination immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens in the first-line setting for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Currently, there is limited real-world data for clinical outcomes and toxicity in mRCC patients treated with first-line ICI-based regimens.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 49 mRCC patients treated with ICI-based combination regimens in the standard of care setting at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University from 2015-2020. We collected baseline data from the electronic medical record including demographic information and disease characteristics. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were collected from clinic notes and laboratory values. The primary clinical outcomes measured were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR).

Results

The median age was 65 years, and most patients (80%) were males. The majority were White (86%) and had clear cell RCC (83%). Most patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0 (43%) or 1 (45%). Approximately one-half (49%) had at least three sites of distant metastatic disease. Most patients (88%) received nivolumab and ipilimumab. More than one-half (53%) of patients experienced an irAE, with 13 (27%) patients having treatment delayed and 18% discontinuing treatment for toxicity. The median OS was not reached, and the median PFS was 8.0 months per a Kaplan-Meier estimation. More than half of patients (53%) had a PFS > 6 months, and 22% had PFS > 1 year. The ORR was 33% for the entire cohort, and 7% of patients had a complete response.

Conclusion

We presented real-world efficacy and toxicity data for front-line ICI combination treatment regimens. The ORR and median PFS were lower in our cohort of patients compared to the available data in the clinical trial setting. This was likely because of more advanced disease in this study. Future studies should provide additional data that will allow comparisons between different ICI combination regimens for untreated mRCC.

Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Therapies and Ongoing Trials

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are now the bedrock for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) represents the most common subtype of this malignancy. Herein, we explore the therapeutic landscape of ccRCC by discussing the standard of care whose backbone consists of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (VEGF). For ccRCC, pembrolizumab-axitinib, pembrolizumab-lenvatinib, and avelumab-axitinib or nivolumab-cabozantinib are now FDA-approved frontline options for all risk groups while nivolumab-ipilimumab is reserved for intermediate- and poor-risk groups. Monotherapy with pembrolizumab or nivolumab is a potential option for patients who are unable to take VEGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. While outcomes have improved with the adoption of ICI therapies, many patients develop therapy-resistant disease, creating an unmet need for further investigation. The efficacy of novel therapies as well as novel combinations in the post-ICI era is unclear. This review summarizes the most significant clinical trials involving dual ICI/ICI and ICI/VEGFR therapies, in addition to other selected combination therapies that are likely to inform management in the near future.

Blood-Based Next-Generation Sequencing in Adrenocortical Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy with poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with ACC, to characterize the genomic landscape of alterations, and to identify potential clinically actionable mutations.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of genomic data from 120 patients with ACC who had ctDNA testing between 12/2016 and 10/2021 using Guardant360 (Guardant Health, CA) was performed. ctDNA NGS analysis interrogated single nucleotide variants, fusions, indels, and copy number amplifications of up to 83 genes. The frequency of genomic alterations, landscape of co-occurring mutations, and pathogenic/likely pathogenic alterations with potential targeted therapies was identified. The prevalence of alterations identified in ctDNA was compared to those detected in tissue using a publicly available database (cBioPortal).

RESULTS

The median age of this cohort was 53 years (range 21-81), and 56% of patients were female. Ninety-six patients (80%) had ≥1 somatic alteration detected. TP53 (52%), EGFR (23%), CTNNB1 (18%), MET (18%), and ATM (14%) were found to be the most frequently altered genes in ACC samples. Pathogenic and/or likely pathogenic mutations in therapeutically relevant genes were observed in 56 patients (47%) and included EGFR, BRAF, MET, CDKN2A, CDK4/6, and ATM. The most frequent co-occurring mutations were EGFR + MET (9%), MET + CDK4 (7%), EGFR + CDK4 (7%), and BRAF + MET (7%). The frequencies of mutations detected in ctDNA were similar to those detected in tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Utilizing blood-based NGS to characterize genomic alterations in advanced ACC is feasible in over 80% of patients. Almost half of the patients had actionable mutations with approved therapies in other cancers. This approach might inform the development of personalized treatment options or identify clinical trials available for this aggressive malignancy.

Molecular and immune landscape of FH-mutated cancers

3125

Background: Fumarate Hydratase (FH) encodes an essential enzyme in the TCA cycle. Inactivating germline mutations in FH lead to hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome with risk of development of certain cancers. Sporadic FH mutations have been described in different cancers but implications of somatic mutations on cancer outcomes and survival are not well described. Here, we characterize the molecular landscape of FH-mutant cancers. Methods: Tumors analyzed using NGS (NextSeq, 592 genes; NovaSeq, WES), IHC, and WTS (NovaSeq) (Caris Life Sciences, Phoenix, AZ). PD-L1 tested by 22c3, 28-8 (Agilent) and SP-142 (Spring Biosciences) IHC (>1%). MSI tested by FA, IHC, and NGS. TMB measured by totaling somatic mutations per tumor (TMB-h > 10 mutations/MB). Real-world overall survival was extracted from insurance claims data and calculated from first treatment to last contact using K-M survival curves for molecularly defined cohorts. Statistical significance was determined using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, adjusted for multiple comparisons (q<0.05). Results: 3239 FH mutations were seen in 45 tumor types in 3149 FH-mutated tumors. NSCLC, colorectal and endometrial cancers harbored the most mutations. There were 839 pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) and 2400 variants of unknown significance (VUS). Some tumors had multiple mutations. The most common mutations: R233H (P; 37), K477dup (LP; 555), and A41V (VUS; 70). VUS had increased TMB-H (40.4% vs 29.8%, q=0.004) and CREBBP mutations (5.1% vs 1.6%, q=0.012) compared to P+LP. A41V-mt tumors had significantly lower TMB-H than other VUS (8.8% vs 41.5%, q=0.002) and lower MSI-H (3.13% vs 3.69% vs 29.4%, q=0.003) and DICER1, PRKDC, FBXW7 mutations (q<0.05) compared to K477dup and R233. The A41V-mt patients had worse survival compared to patients with P+LP (HR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-2.0, p = 0.049) and a trend toward worse survival compared to K477dup and R233H. In patients treated with chemotherapy, A41 was associated with worse survival compared to P+LP (HR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.0-10.3, p<0.0001) and compared to K477dup and R233 (p<0.01). There was a trend towards worse survival after IO of A41-mt compared to P+LP (HR: 1.99, 95% CI: 0.88-4.5, p = 0.093). Conclusions: FH alterations are found in multiple cancers. A41V was the most common VUS mutation and is associated with a distinct molecular profile compared to K477dup-mt and R233-mt tumors; it was associated with worse survival in all-comers and after chemotherapy compared to P+LP mutations. This highlights the significance of this mutation and the need for further investigation into how this specific and other FH mutations contribute to cancer progression and treatment outcomes.

The prognostic role of sarcopenia and albumin in locally advanced renal cell carcinoma with IVC tumor thrombus

387

Background: Indicators of body composition and nutritional status, such as lumbar skeletal muscle index (SMI, cm2/m2) and hypoalbuminemia, are associated with adverse outcomes following surgery for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) but have yet to be described in patients with RCC and venous tumor thrombus. We hypothesize that preoperative sarcopenia, a severe deficit in lean muscle mass, and hypoalbuminemia will be associated with decreased overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) in nonmetastatic RCC patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 nonmetastatic RCC patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy from 2005 to 2020. Optimally fit BMI (kg/m2) and sex-stratified sarcopenia thresholds were calculated (BMI<30: SMI<47 for males, SMI<38 for females; BMI≥30: SMI<54 for males, SMI<47 for females). Sarcopenia and albumin risk groups were created based on their individual hazard ratios on univariable analysis and defined as low-risk (non-sarcopenic, normal albumin), medium-risk (non-sarcopenic, hypoalbuminemia), high-risk (sarcopenic, normal albumin), and very high-risk (sarcopenic, hypoalbuminemia). Associations between independent and combined sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia (albumin<3.5 g/dL) with OS and CSS were evaluated using multivariable and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Results: Prevalence of sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia were 51.2% and 44.7%, respectively. Median follow up time was 24.8 months and median time from preoperative imaging to surgery was 21 days. Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of OS (p=0.003) and CSS (p=0.006) whereas hypoalbuminemia was not (OS: p=0.096; CSS: p=0.718). When analyzing sarcopenia and albumin in combination, the high and very high-risk groups were significantly associated with decreased OS (high-risk: p=0.011; very high-risk: p<0.001) and CSS (high-risk: p=0.011; very high-risk: p=0.017). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a stepwise decline in median OS (p=0.0071) and CSS (p=0.0068) times with increasing risk. Conclusions: Simultaneous sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia were associated with nearly a seven-fold decrease in OS and CSS in patients undergoing surgery for nonmetastatic RCC with IVC tumor thrombus.[Table: see text]

Clinical outcomes in advanced urothelial cancer (UC) patients who experienced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) after immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy (ICI)

544

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) continue to demonstrate promise in treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). Some patients undergoing ICIs experience immune related adverse events (irAEs) and may serve as a marker of response. We investigated the relationship between irAEs and clinical outcomes in UC patients treated with ICIs. Methods: A retrospective study of 70 UC patients treated with ICI monotherapies at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015-2020 was done. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), defined as time from ICI initiation to death and clinical or radiographic progression, respectively as well as clinical benefit (CB), defined as best radiographic response of complete response, partial response, or stable disease for ≥ 6 months per RECIST v1.1, were used to measure clinical outcomes. Cox proportional hazards and multivariable analyses (MVA) were used to model associations with OS and PFS. Results: Most patients were male (70%) with a median age of 68.7 years (28.0-91.0). Most patients (95%) had urothelial carcinoma and most (81%) received at least 1 prior treatment. One third of patients had ECOG PS greater than or equal to 2. Of patients that experienced an irAE (35%), the most common were dermatologic (12.9%) and arthralgia (0.5%). In addition to significantly longer treatment duration, irAE patients had significantly increased OS (HR:0.38, 95% CI:0.18-0.79, p=0.009), significantly longer PFS (HR:0.27, 95% CI:0.14-0.53, p < 0.001), and significantly greater CB (OR:4.20, 95% CI:1.35-13.06, p=0.013). Patients who experienced dermatologic irAEs had significantly increased OS, PFS, and CB (Table). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that UC patients undergoing ICI therapy who experience irAEs, especially dermatologic irAEs, had improved clinical outcomes. This suggests that irAEs may serve as a clinical biomarker of advantageous response in patients receiving ICI. Future prospective studies are needed for validation.[Table: see text]

Expression of Nectin-4 and PD-L1 in bladder cancer with variant histology

529

Background: Nectin-4, a cell adhesion molecule found in a frequently amplified region of the bladder cancer (BC) genome, has been recently used as target for the systemic treatment of locally advanced or metastatic BC. BC with variant histology (BCVH) is associated with poor clinical outcomes, and there is an unmet need for novel treatments in this population. Little is known about Nectin-4 expression and other targets. We investigated Nectin-4 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in BCVH. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 117 patients with BCVH whose samples were collected at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University from 2011-2021. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for Nectin-4 and PD-L1 expression on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. Nectin-4 staining was performed by Q2 Solutions using non-commercially available anti-Nectin-4 antibody (clone M22-312B41.1). Expression was measured using the H-score method (H-score = [% of strong positive tumor cells × 3] + [% of moderate positive tumor cells × 2] + [% of weak positive tumor cells × 1]). PD-L1 levels were assessed in tumor-infiltrating immune cells using DAKO 22C3 IHC to determine PD-L1 high, defined by a Combined Positive Score (CPS) of ≥10. Results: Median age was 70 years (mean=67.2, range 22-91), with 61.5% male, 54.7% white, and 32.5% black. Nearly all samples were taken from the bladder (95.7%), with 4.3% from sites of metastasis. The most common histologic variant was squamous cell carcinoma (26.5%), and the distribution of variants is summarized in table. Nectin-4 staining was successfully performed on 111 samples, and PD-L1 staining on 116. Nectin-4 expression was seen across different histological subtypes (mean H-score: 153.1, median [range]: 157 [0-300]), with highest expression in plasmacytoid and squamous, and lowest expression in small cell and sarcomatoid (Table). More than one-third (35.3%) were PD-L1 high, and greater in sarcomatoid and squamous cell histology (70.8% and 50% positivity, respectively). Only 5% of plasmacytoid samples were PD-L1 high. Conclusions: Although there is heterogeneity, our results showed expression of Nectin-4 and PD-L1 in this cohort of patients with BCVH. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of antibody-drug conjugates against Nectin-4- and anti PD1/PD-L1-based therapy in this population. Additional analysis including clinical outcomes and genomic analyses are ongoing, and a prospective clinical trial is planned.[Table: see text]

Molecular and immune landscape of FH-mutated kidney cancer

382

Background: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome is caused by inactivating germline mutations in fumarate hydratase ( FH), predisposing individuals to development of certain cancers. Sporadic FH mutations have been described in different types of cancers, including kidney cancers, but the implications of somatic mutations are not well described. Here, we characterize the molecular landscape of kidney tumors with FH mutations. Methods: Tumors were analyzed using next generation sequencing of DNA (NextSeq, 592 genes and NovaSeq, WES) and RNA (NovaSeq). Immune cell fraction was estimated by immune deconvolution (Quantiseq). Significance was determined by chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum test and adjusted for multiple comparisons (q-value <0.05). Results: Of 1956 kidney tumors, 31 had somatic pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P+LP; 1.58%) and 21 had variant of unknown significance (VUS; 1.07%) mutations in FH. Among the most commonly co-mutated genes, VHL (29.03% vs 38.1% vs 55.2%) and PBRM1 (9.68% vs 20% vs 29.8%) were less frequently mutated in P+LP compared to VUS and WT tumors; while NF2 (22.6% vs 5% vs 5.65%) was more frequently mutated in P+LP tumors compared to the others. In P+LP tumors, the HIPPO pathway (22.6% vs 4.76% vs 5.62%) was more frequently altered while the chromatin remodeling pathway (25.8% vs 28.6% vs 51.1%) was less frequently altered compared to VUS or WT tumors. P+LP tumors showed decreased NK cell infiltration (q=0.01) compared to VUS and WT tumors. Additionally, there was a trend towards increased CD8+ T cells and CTLA4 and PDCD1 expression in P+LP tumors compared to VUS but not WT tumors. Of the 1,956 kidney tumors, 315 were of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) histology. P+LP (n=4) ccRCC tumors showed a trend towards higher expression of immune checkpoint genes CTLA4 and IDO1 compared to VUS tumors (n=5). VHL expression was higher in P+LP ccRCC compared to VUS ccRCC tumors. P+LP ccRCC tumors showed a trend toward increased CD4+ (2.59% vs 0%) and CD8+ (2.14% vs 0%) T cells as well as T cell inflammation (25% vs 0%) and median Interferon score compared to VUS ccRCC tumors. Conclusions: P+LP FH mutated kidney tumors may have a different mutational and immune landscape than VUS FH mutated and WT tumors. Despite the small sample size, our study highlights potential therapeutic implications that will require further study.[Table: see text]

Phase 2 study of neoadjuvant cabozantinib in patients with locally advanced non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma

340

Background: Cabozantinib is a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases c-Met, AXL and VEGFR2 that has been shown to reduce tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. After the promising results from the METEOR, CABOSUN and Checkmate-9ER trials, cabozantinib was approved for use in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The increased response rates with cabozantinib in metastatic RCC, along with the other neoadjuvant TKI data, support an expanded role for cabozantinib in the neoadjuvant setting. Methods: Patients with clinical stage ≥ T3Nx or TanyN+ or deemed unresectable by the surgeon with biopsy-proven clear cell RCC were eligible for this study, and received cabozantinib at a starting dose of 60 mg daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was objective response rate per RECIST v1.1 (complete and partial responses) at week 12 after the administration of cabozantinib as determined by independent radiologist review. Secondary outcomes included safety, tolerability, clinical outcome (DFS, OS), surgical outcome and quality of life. Results: As of 20 September 2021, 16 biopsy-proven clear cell RCC patients were treated with neoadjuvant cabozantinib. The median age was 56 years (range: 41-84 years) and 81.2% male. All patients completed 12 weeks of treatment, and 15 of them underwent surgery as planned without any delay after completion of 4 weeks wash-out. One patient refused to undergo surgery due to personal reasons and received further systemic treatment. Five patients (31.2%) experienced a partial response, and 11 patients had stable disease. There was no progression of disease while on cabozantinib. Median reduction of primary renal tumor size was 24% (range: 6-45%). The one patient who was deemed to be unresectable became resectable at the end of treatment. Two patients were converted from radical to partial nephrectomy. The most common AEs were diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, hypertension, anorexia, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome. Intraoperatively, we did not experience any immediate complications. Postoperatively, no surgical complications related to the drug were noted. No treatment related grade 4 or 5 AEs related to cabozantinib or surgery occurred. Two patients had died at the time of analysis (1 due to COVID and 1 unknown cause). Conclusions: Cabozantinib was clinically active and safe in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with locally advanced non-metastatic clear cell RCC. Additional data will be reported including long term outcomes, correlative studies, quality of life, and frailty/sarcopenia indices. Clinical trial information: NCT04022343.

Sarcopenia as a predictor of perioperative morbidity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and IVC tumor thrombectomy

388

Background: Preoperative sarcopenia, as determined by the lumbar skeletal muscle index (SMI), has shown potential value for predicting adverse survival outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery. However, its utility for predicting perioperative morbidity in mRCC patients with IVC involvement is poorly elucidated. We hypothesize that preoperative sarcopenia, a severe deficiency in lean muscle mass, will be associated with major surgical complications and longer lengths of hospital stay in mRCC patients managed with radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 99 mRCC patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy from 2005 to 2020. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using optimally fit body mass index (BMI) and sex-stratified thresholds. For patients with a BMI < 30 kg/m², sarcopenia was defined as a SMI < 47 cm2/m2 for males and SMI < 38 cm2/m2 for females and for those with a BMI≥30 kg/m², as a SMI < 54 cm2/m2 for males and SMI < 47 cm2/m2 for females. Outcome measures were the presence of any major complications within 90 days after surgery, major complications within 1 year after surgery, and length of hospital stay post-nephrectomy ≥7 days. Major complications were defined as grade ≥3a on the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Associations between sarcopenia and major surgical complications and length of hospital stay were evaluated using multivariable analysis. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, race, gender, BMI, Charlson comorbidity index, T and N staging, Fuhrman grade, ECOG Score, and extent of IVC tumor thrombus. Results: Median time from preoperative imaging to surgery was 22 days (IQR 15-29). Of the 57 (58%) patients with preoperative sarcopenia in our cohort, 19 (33%) and 20 (35%) patients experienced a major surgical complication within 3 and 12 months after surgery, respectively, and 34 (60%) patients had a length of stay ≥7 days. Preoperative sarcopenia was significantly associated with the occurrence of a major complication within 90 days (OR = 4.84, 95%CI: 1.30-18.06, p = 0.019) and 1 year (OR = 6.43, 95%CI: 1.66-24.89, p = 0.007) after surgery. The presence of sarcopenia did not significantly change the odds of staying in the hospital for more than 7 days post-nephrectomy (OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 0.45-4.41, p = 0.551). Conclusions: Preoperative sarcopenia was associated with major surgical complications occurring within 3 and 12 months among mRCC patients after radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy. Screening for sarcopenia preoperatively may assist in identifying patients at high-risk for increased perioperative morbidity, which ultimately may permit the implementation of preventive therapeutic strategies. Future validation is needed.

Comprehensive genomic profiling of penile squamous cell carcinoma and impact of HPV status on immune-checkpoint inhibition-related biomarkers

4

Background: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with few treatments in the advanced setting and little success of immune-checkpoint inhibitions (ICI). Around half of penile SCC cases are linked to HPV infection. We aimed to report the landscape of somatic alterations and ICI-related biomarkers in penile SCC in the Caris Life Sciences dataset and to establish signatures for HPV-dependent and HPV-independent oncogenesis. Methods: Penile SCC tumors were analyzed using next-generation sequencing of DNA (TruSeq, 45 genes; NextSeq, 592 genes and NovaSeq, whole exome sequencing (WES)) and RNA (NovaSeq). PD-L1 expression was tested by IHC using SP142. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was tested by fragment analysis, IHC and NGS. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was measured by counting all somatic mutations found per tumor (TMB-high: >10 mutations per MB). HPV16/18 status was determined using WES when available. Significance was determined using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum test and adjusted for multiple comparisons (q-value <0.05). Results: Among the entire cohort (N=108), the median age was 66 years and 79.6% of tumors were primary and 20.4% of tumors were metastatic. In the overall cohort, the most frequently detected mutations were TP53 (46%), CKDN2A (26%), PIK3CA (25%), TERT promoter (22%), KMT2C (16%) and NOTCH1 (14%), consistent with previous reports. Overall, 51% of tumors were PD-L1+ (SP142, >1%), 10.7% had high TMB, and 1.1% had dMMR/MSI-H. Of the 108 tumors, 29 had HPV status tested by WES (HPV16/18+, n=13 and HPV16/18-, n=16). KMT2C mutations (33% vs 0%) and FGF3 amplifications (30.8% vs 0%) were specific to HPV16/18+ tumors, while CDKN2A mutations (37.5% vs 0%) were exclusive to HPV16/18- tumors. HPV16/18+ tumors also had a trend towards decreased TP53 (7.7% vs 63%) and TERT promoter (25% vs 77%) alterations (Table). TMB-high were exclusively found in the HPV16/18+ group (30.8% vs 0%), while PD-L1 and dMMR/MSI-H status were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: To our knowledge, our comprehensive NGS study of penile SCC somatic alterations is the largest to date. HPV16/18+ vs HPV16/18- penile SCC were molecularly distinct tumors, consistent with previous reports. Our finding that TMB-high was exclusive to patients with HPV16/18+ tumors requires confirmation in larger datasets and could be used for better patient stratification in ICI clinical trials.[Table: see text]

Analysis of Toxicity and Clinical Outcomes in Full Versus Reduced Starting Dose Cabozantinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

BACKGROUND

Full dose cabozantinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is 60 mg, but adverse events (AEs) may require dose reductions. Limited data exist comparing efficacy among cabozantinib doses. We compared AEs and clinical outcomes in mRCC patients treated with full vs. reduced starting cabozantinib dose.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 87 mRCC patients treated with cabozantinib at Winship Cancer Institute from 2016 to 2019. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response (OR) rate measured clinical outcomes. AEs were collected from clinic notes and the most common were hypertension, mucositis/hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR), or gastrointestinal toxicity. Univariate analysis (UVA) between starting doses and AEs with clinical outcomes was performed using logistic regression model. Multivariable analysis was also performed using Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Most patients were men (71%) with clear-cell RCC (72%). The majority were IMDC intermediate (58%) or poor (35%) risk. One third received first-line cabozantinib and 64% had ≥3 baseline metastatic sites. Most patients (68%) required dose reduction from 60 mg or started at reduced dose without escalation. Reduced dose patients were more likely to have ≥3 distant metastatic sites (70% vs. 58%) and ≥2 prior lines of systemic therapy (50% vs. 40%) compared to full dose patients. UVA revealed a trend towards shorter OS (HR: 1.78, P = .095), PFS (HR: 1.50, P = .107), and lower chance of OR (HR:0.42, P = .149) among reduced dose patients. This trend did not hold in Multivariable analysis (OS HR: 1.20, P = .636; PFS HR: 1.23, P = .4662). Mucositis/HFSR and hypertension were significantly associated with improved outcomes in UVA.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we found a trend favoring full dose cabozantinib, this is likely due to worse baseline disease characteristics among patients starting on a reduced dose. Hypertension and mucositis/HFSR may be associated with improved outcomes. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Advances in Knowledge and Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune-oncologic (IO) therapy has revolutionized the treatment and management of oncologic disease. Immunotherapy functions by enhancing the host immune-systems ability to endogenously clear malignant cells, however, this activation can also lead to immune-mediated damage to healthy native tissues. These side effects are known as immune-related adverse events or irAEs and can even present with phenotypes similar to autoimmune diseases. IrAEs are the major consequence of checkpoint inhibitors and can have a significant impact on a patient's cancer treatment and long-term quality of life. The management of these irAEs follows a similar approach to autoimmune diseases. More specifically, the management is akin to that of autoimmune disease exacerbations. While there is an array of immune-suppressing agents that can be used, steroids, immunomodulators and IO discontinuation are cornerstones of irAE management. The exact approach and dosing are based on the severity and subtype of irAE presented. Within recent years, there has been a push to better prevent and manage irAEs when they arise. There has been an additional effort to increase the number of steroid-sparing agents available for irAE treatment given the consequences of long-term steroid therapy as well as patient contraindications to steroids. The goals of this review are to summarize irAE management, highlight significant advances made in recent years and emphasize the future directions that will optimize the use of IO therapy in oncology.

Body Composition as an Independent Predictive and Prognostic Biomarker in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). There are limited biomarkers for ICI-treated patients with UC. We investigated the association between body composition and clinical outcomes in ICI-treated UC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 70 ICI-treated patients with advanced UC at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015 to 2020. Baseline computed tomography images within 2 months of ICI initiation were collected at mid-L3 and muscle and fat compartments (subcutaneous, intermuscular, and visceral) were segmented using SliceOMatic v5.0 (TomoVision, Magog, Canada). A prognostic body composition risk score (high: 0-1, intermediate: 2-3, or low-risk: 4) was created based on the β coefficient from the multivariate Cox model (MVA) following best-subset variable selection. Our body composition risk score was skeletal muscle index (SMI) + 2 × attenuated skeletal muscle (SM) mean + visceral fat index (VFI). Concordance statistics (C-statistics) were used to quantify the discriminatory magnitude of the predictive model.

RESULTS

Most patients (70%) were men and the majority received ICIs in the second- (46%) or third-line (21%) setting. High-risk patients had significantly shorter overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR], 6.72; p < .001), progression-free survival (HR, 5.82; p < .001), and lower chance of clinical benefit (odds ratio [OR], 0.02; p = .003) compared with the low-risk group in MVA. The C-statistics for our body composition risk group and myosteatosis analyses were higher than body mass index for all clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Body composition variables such as SMI, SM mean, and VFI may be prognostic and predictive of clinical outcomes in ICI-treated patients with UC. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to validate this hypothesis-generating data.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study developed a prognostic body composition risk scoring system using radiographic biomarkers for patients with bladder cancer treated with immunotherapy. The study found that the high-risk patients had significantly worse clinical outcomes. Notably, the study's model was better at predicting outcomes than body mass index. Importantly, these results suggest that radiographic measures of body composition should be considered for inclusion in updated prognostic models for patients with urothelial carcinoma treated with immunotherapy. These findings are useful for practicing oncologists in the academic or community setting, particularly given that baseline imaging is routine for patients starting on treatment with immunotherapy.

Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score associated with survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) is a composite biomarker that uses albumin and C reactive protein (CRP). There are multiple immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combinations approved for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We investigated the ability of mGPS to predict outcomes in patients with mRCC receiving ICI.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with mRCC treated with ICI as monotherapy or in combination at Winship Cancer Institute between 2015 and 2020. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were measured from the start date of ICI until death or clinical/radiographical progression, respectively. The baseline mGPS was defined as a summary score based on pre-ICI values with one point given for CRP>10 mg/L and/or albumin<3.5 g/dL, resulting in possible scores of 0, 1 and 2. If only albumin was low with a normal CRP, no points were awarded. Univariate analysis (UVA) and multivariate analysis (MVA) were carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. Outcomes were also assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

156 patients were included with a median follow-up 24.2 months. The median age was 64 years and 78% had clear cell histology. Baseline mGPS was 0 in 36%, 1 in 40% and 2 in 24% of patients. In UVA, a baseline mGPS of 2 was associated with shorter OS (HR 4.29, 95% CI 2.24 to 8.24, p<0.001) and PFS (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.01, p=0.006) relative to a score of 0; this disparity in outcome based on baseline mGPS persisted in MVA. The respective median OS of patients with baseline mGPS of 0, 1 and 2 was 44.5 (95% CI 27.3 to not evaluable), 15.3 (95% CI 11.0 to 24.2) and 10 (95% CI 4.6 to 17.5) months (p<0.0001). The median PFS of these three cohorts was 6.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 13.1), 4.2 (95% CI 2.9 to 6.2) and 2.6 (95% CI 2.0 to 5.6), respectively (p=0.0216). The discrimination power of baseline mGPS to predict survival outcomes was comparable to the IMDC risk score based on Uno's c-statistic (OS: 0.6312 vs 0.6102, PFS: 0.5752 vs 0.5533).

CONCLUSION

The mGPS is prognostic in this cohort of patients with mRCC treated with ICI as monotherapy or in combination. These results warrant external and prospective validation.

Body Composition Variables as Radiographic Biomarkers of Clinical Outcomes in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Biomarkers for mRCC patients treated with ICI are limited, and body composition is underutilized in mRCC. We investigated the association between body composition and clinical outcomes in ICI-treated mRCC patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 79 ICI-treated mRCC patients at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015-2020. Baseline CT images were collected at mid-L3 and segmented using SliceOMatic v5.0 (TomoVision). Density of skeletal muscle (SM), subcutaneous fat, inter-muscular fat, and visceral fat were measured and converted to indices by dividing by height(m)2 (SMI, SFI, IFI, and VFI, respectively). Total fat index (TFI) was defined as the sum of SFI, IFI, and VFI. Patients were characterized as high versus low for each variable at gender-specific optimal cuts using overall survival (OS) as the primary outcome. A prognostic risk score was created based on the beta coefficient from the multivariable Cox model after best subset variable selection. Body composition risk score was calculated as IFI + 2*SM mean + SFI and patients were classified as poor (0-1), intermediate (2), or favorable risk (3-4). Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used to estimate OS and PFS and compare the risk groups. Concordance statistics (C-statistics) were used to measure the discriminatory magnitude of the model.

RESULTS

Most patients were male (73%) and most received ICI as first (35%) or second-line (51%) therapy. The body composition poor-risk patients had significantly shorter OS (HR: 6.37, p<0.001), PFS (HR: 4.19, p<0.001), and lower chance of CB (OR: 0.23, p=0.044) compared to favorable risk patients in multivariable analysis. Patients with low TFI had significantly shorter OS (HR: 2.72, p=0.002), PFS (HR: 1.91, p=0.025), and lower chance of CB (OR: 0.25, p=0.008) compared to high TFI patients in multivariable analysis. The C-statistics were higher for body composition risk groups and TFI (all C-statistics ≥ 0.598) compared to IMDC and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification using the body composition variables IFI, SM mean, SFI, and TFI may be prognostic and predictive of clinical outcomes in mRCC patients treated with ICI. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to validate this hypothesis-generating data.

Immune-Related Adverse Events as Clinical Biomarkers in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). These agents may cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and the relationship between irAEs and outcomes is poorly understood. We investigated the association between irAEs and clinical outcomes in patients with mRCC treated with ICIs.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 200 patients with mRCC treated with ICIs at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015 to 2020. Data on irAEs were collected from clinic notes and laboratory values and grades were determined using Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events version 5.0. The association with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was modeled by Cox proportional hazards model. Logistic regression models were used to define odds ratios (ORs) for clinical benefit (CB). Landmark analysis and extended Cox models were used to mitigate lead-time bias by treating irAEs as a time-varying covariate.

RESULTS

Most patients (71.0%) were male, and one-third of patients (33.0%) experienced at least one irAE, most commonly involving the endocrine glands (13.0%), gastrointestinal tract (10.5%), or skin (10.0%). Patients who experienced irAEs had significantly longer OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; p = .013), higher chance of CB (OR, 2.10; p = .023) and showed a trend toward longer PFS (HR, 0.71; p = .065) in multivariate analysis. Patients who had endocrine irAEs, particularly thyroid irAEs, had significantly longer OS and PFS and higher chance of CB. In a 14-week landmark analysis, irAEs were significantly associated with prolonged OS (p = .045). Patients who experienced irAEs had significantly longer median OS (44.5 vs. 18.2 months, p = .005) and PFS (7.5 vs. 3.6 months, p = .003) without landmark compared with patients who did not.

CONCLUSION

We found that patients with mRCC treated with ICIs who experienced irAEs, particularly thyroid irAEs, had significantly improved clinical outcomes compared with patients who did not have irAEs. This suggests that irAEs may be effective clinical biomarkers in patients with mRCC treated with ICIs. Future prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study found that early onset immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are associated with significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this site-specific irAE analysis, endocrine irAEs, particularly thyroid irAEs, were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes. These results have implications for practicing medical oncologists given the increasing use of ICIs for the treatment of mRCC. Importantly, these results suggest that early irAEs and thyroid irAEs at any time on treatment with ICIs may be clinical biomarkers of clinical outcomes in patients with mRCC treated with ICIs.

Racial Differences in Clinical Outcomes for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With Immune-Checkpoint Blockade

BACKGROUND

Immune-checkpoint-inhibitors (ICIs) have become the cornerstone of metastatic renal-cell-carcinoma (mRCC) therapy. However, data are limited regarding clinical outcomes by race. In this study, we compared the real-world outcomes between African American (AA) and Caucasian mRCC patients treated with ICIs.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 198 patients with mRCC who received ICI at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute from 2015-2020. Clinical outcomes were measured by overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rate (ORR) defined as a complete or partial response maintained for at least 6 months per response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1. Univariate and multivariable analyses were carried out for OS and PFS by Cox proportional-hazard model and ORR by logistical-regression model. Descriptive statistics compared rates of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and non-clear-cell-RCC (nccRCC) histology were assessed using Chi-square test.

RESULTS

Our cohort was comprised of 38 AA and 160 Caucasian patients. Most were diagnosed with clear-cell-RCC (ccRCC) (78%) and more than half received (57%) PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy. Most patients were intermediate or poor-risk groups (83%). Comparing to Caucasians, our AA cohort contained more females and nccRCC cases. Kaplan-Meier method showed AAs had no statistically different median OS (17 vs 25 months, p=0.368) and PFS (3.1 vs 4.4 months, p=0.068) relative to Caucasian patients. On multivariable analysis, AA patients had significantly shorter PFS (HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.3, p=0.045), similar ORR (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.42-2.57, p=0.936) and comparable OS (HR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.61-1.95, p=0.778) relative to Caucasians.

CONCLUSIONS

Our real-world analysis of ICI-treated mRCC patients showed that AAs experienced shorter PFS but similar OS relative to Caucasians. This similarity in survival outcomes is reassuring for the use of ICI amongst real-world patient populations, however, the difference in treatment response is poorly represented in early outcomes data from clinical trials. Thus, the literature requires larger prospective studies to validate these findings.

Clinical Outcomes and Racial Disparities in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer in the Era of Novel Treatment Options

BACKGROUND

Docetaxel (DOC) and abiraterone (ABI) in the upfront setting have separately improved clinical outcomes for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), but there are no studies comparing drug efficacies or the influence of racial disparities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective multicenter review from Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital (2014-2020) for patients with mHSPC treated with either upfront DOC or ABI. Outcomes evaluated were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and prostate-specific antigen complete response (PSA CR).

RESULTS

A total of 168 patients were included, consisting of 92 (54.8%) Black patients and 76 (45.2%) non-Black patients (69 White and 7 Asian or Hispanic). Ninety-four (56%) received DOC and 74 (44%) received ABI. Median follow-up time was 22.8 months with data last reviewed June 2020. For OS, there was no significant difference between ABI versus DOC and Black versus non-Black patients. For PFS, DOC was associated with hazard ratio (HR) 1.7 compared with ABI for all patients based on univariate association and HR 2.27 compared with ABI for Black patients on multivariable analysis. For PSA CR, Black patients were less likely to have a CR (odds ratio [OR] = 0.27).

CONCLUSION

ABI and DOC have similar OS with a trend toward better PFS for ABI in a cohort composed of 54% Black patients. Racial disparities were observed as prolonged PFS for Black patients treated with ABI, more so compared with all patients, and less PSA CR for Black patients. A prospective trial comparing available upfront therapies in a diverse racial population is needed to help guide clinical decision-making in the era of novel treatment options.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Overall survival is similar for abiraterone and docetaxel when used as upfront therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in a cohort composed of 54% Black patients. There is a trend towards improved progression-free survival for abiraterone in all patients and Black patients. Non-Black patients were more likely to achieve prostate-specific antigen (PSA) complete response regardless of upfront therapy.

Clinical outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib (nivo-cabo) in the salvage setting

e16570

Background: The CheckMate 9ER trial showed that the combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib (nivo-cabo) in first line setting for treatment of mRCC was superior to sunitinib in terms of objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) and led to its FDA approval. We report outcomes of cohort of patients with mRCC treated with nivo-cabo in the salvage setting. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients with mRCC treated at Winship Cancer Institute who progressed through at least one line of prior therapy. These patients were then treated with either sequences: [1] cabozantinib and then add nivolumab upon progression (n = 8) and [2] nivolumab/ipilimumab or nivolumab and then add cabozantinib upon progression (n = 9) with two with nivolumab and ipilimumab. Median PFS and OS rates, and clinical benefit (defined as complete response or partial response, or stable disease) were described. Results: Thirteen patients had clear cell histology and four patients had non-clear cell histology. For sequence [1], the mPFS for cabozantinib alone was 9.9 months and combination of nivolumab added to cabozantinib was 8.9 months. For sequence [2], the mPFS for nivolumab with or without ipilimumab was 5.9 months and combination of cabozantinib added to nivolumab was 10.4 months. The 12-month OS rate was 88% for sequence [1] and 89% for sequence [2]. The 24-month, OS rate was 50% for sequence [1] and 89% for sequence [2]. 5/8 (63%) patients in sequence [1] and 7/9 (78%) patients in sequence [2] had clinical benefit. 3/8 (37.5%) patients in sequence [1] and 2/9 (22%) patients in sequence [2] experienced immune-related adverse effects such as hypothyroidism (grade II for two patients), pneumonitis (grade II), hepatic transaminase elevations (grade II), and pancreatitis (grade III). No patients in sequence [1] needed dose reduction in cabozantinib once nivolumab was added. 3/9 (33%) patients had dose reduction in cabozantinib in sequence [2] due to diarrhea. Conclusions: Nivo-cabo demonstrates activity in the salvage setting but there is still need to understand the optimal sequencing of both agents in the treatment of mRCC. Outcomes from this combination treatment are to be further validated from ongoing phase III trial, PDIGREE (NCT03793166).

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma

4585

Background: Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatments in the advanced setting. Molecular pathways with tumor suppressor genes (e.g. TP53, CDKN2A) and oncogenes (e.g. CTNNB1 and RAS) are implicated in oncogenesis. To our knowledge, the genomic landscape of ctDNA alterations for ACC has not been described in a large cohort. We report plasma-based ctDNA alterations in patients with advanced ACC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated genomic data from 102 patients with ACC who had ctDNA testing between 12/2016 – 10/2020 using Guardant360 (Guardant Health, CA). ctDNA analysis interrogated single nucleotide variants (SNV), fusions, indels and copy number variations (CNV) of up to 83 genes. We evaluated the frequency of genomic alterations, the landscape of co-occurring mutations, and pathogenic or likely pathogenic alterations with potential targeted therapies. The prevalence of alterations identified in ctDNA were compared to those detected in tissue using a publicly available database (cBioPortal). Results: The median age was 54 years (range 24-81), and 55% of patients were male. Among the entire cohort, 84 pts (82.4%) had ≥1 somatic alteration detected. Mutations were most frequently detected in TP53 (52%), EGFR (23%), CTNNB1 (18%), MET (18%), and ATM (14%). The frequencies detected in ctDNA were similar to the results detected in tissue. Pathogenic and/or likely pathogenic mutations in therapeutically relevant alterations were observed in 36 patients (35%), including EGFR, BRAF, MET, CDKN2A, and CDK4/6 (Table 1). The most frequently co-occurring mutations were EGFR + TP53 (14%), EGFR + MET (11%), BRAF + MET (10%). Conclusions: Blood-based ctDNA profiling in advanced ACC provided comprehensive genomic data in most patients, with a similar profile to tumor tissue analyses. Over one third of patients had actionable mutations with approved therapies in other cancers. This approach might inform the development of personalized treatment options for this aggressive malignancy.[Table: see text]

Baseline modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)

e16546

Background: The IMDC and MSKCC risk models for mRCC were validated before the era of ICI. The mGPS incorporates albumin and C-reactive protein and reflects systemic inflammation. mGPS may be a useful prognostic biomarker of particular relevance in mRCC given the current, largely ICI-based treatment paradigm and hypothesis that systemic inflammation may contribute to ICI resistance. Methods: We retrospectively assessed mRCC patients treated with ICI (including anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 agents) in any line of therapy at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University from 2015-2018. Primary outcomes assessed included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). mGPS was calculated by giving 1 point for CRP > 10 mg/L and/or albumin < 3.5 g/dL with 0 points awarded for solitary low albumin. The relationship between mGPS and survival outcomes was assessed in UVA and MVA using Cox proportional hazard model and in Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: We assessed 156 eligible patients. Median follow up was 24.2 months. Median age was 64 years, 69% were male, 20% were Black, and 78% had clear cell histology. 57.1% received anti-PD-1 monotherapy whereas all others received dual ICI or ICI combined with an antiangiogenic agent or experimental therapy in trial. Higher baseline mGPS was significantly associated with worse OS and PFS (Table). The median OS of patients with baseline mGPS of 0, 1 and 2 was 44.5 (CI 27.3, NA), 15.3 (CI 11, 24.2) and 10 (CI 4.6, 17.5) months, respectively (p<0.0001), while the median PFS of these three cohorts was 6.7 (CI 3.6, 13.1), 4.2 (CI 2.9, 6.2) and 2.6 (CI 2, 5.6) months, respectively (p=0.0216). Conclusions: A higher mGPS at the start of therapy was negatively prognostic in patients with mRCC receiving ICI. These results should be validated in a larger, prospective study. [Table: see text]

Baseline neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) and its association with clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI)

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Background: Inflammatory markers have been studied as prognostic markers in patients with mRCC treated with CPIs. Recently, eosinophilia has been found to be associated with improved survival of patients with melanoma treated with CPIs. We reported baseline NER in patients with mRCC treated with CPIs and its association with clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with mRCC treated with CPIs at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015-2018. Clinical outcomes were measured as overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit (CB). OS and PFS were calculated from CPI-initiation to date of death and radiographic or clinical progression, respectively. Patients with baseline NER were categorized into high or low; high defined as NER > 49.2 and low defined as NER < 49.2. Univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analyses were carried out for OS and PFS using Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 184 patients were studied with a median follow up of 25.4 months. Median age was 63 years old with 72% male and 20% black. About 25% were in high NER group. The high NER patients had significantly shorter OS in both UVA (HR: 0.58, p-value=0.017) and MVA (HR: 0.62, p-value=0.046) (Table). There was no significant difference between groups for PFS. Clinical benefit was seen in 47.3% of patients with low baseline NER and 40% with high NER. Conclusions: High baseline NER was associated with worse OS in patients with mRCC treated with CPIs. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to validate this hypothesis generating data.[Table: see text]

Association of basophil to lymphocyte ratio (BLR) with clinical outcomes in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer

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Background: There is limited biomarker data available for metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Inflammatory markers found on routine clinical lab data, including leukocyte to lymphocyte ratios calculated from complete blood counts (CBC), is associated with clinical outcomes (CO) in different malignancies. We investigated the association between basophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (BLR) and CO in a racially diverse patient population with mHSPC. Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter review from Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital (2014 – 2020). Demographics, disease characteristics, and laboratory data were collected at the start of upfront therapy with either docetaxel (DOC) or abiraterone (ABI). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used to measure CO. Results: Included were 165 patients with mHSPC with a median follow-up time of 22.6 months. 89 (53.9%) were Black and 76 (46.1%) were Non-Black (White, Asian, or Hispanic). 106 (63%) had Gleason scores of 8-10 and 105 (63.6%) were classified as high-volume disease (per CHAARTED trial criteria). 92 (55.8%) received DOC and 73 (44.2%) received ABI. Worse CO were associated with high BLR at an optimal cut of 0.0265 (range 0 – 0.81 , mean of 0.03, standard deviation 0.09). Elevated BLR is associated with decreased OS (HR 3.51, 1.79 – 6.91, p <0.001) and PFS (HR 1.85, 1.14 – 3.00, p 0.013) in multivariable analyses (MVA). High BLR and low BLR groups were similar except for age as a continuous variable, which was associated with high BLR. Otherwise, there were no significant difference for all reported clinical characteristics, including drug (DOC vs ABI), race (Black vs Non-Black), Gleason, disease volume (per CHARRTED criteria), ECOG, or BMI. Conclusions: In mHSPC, high baseline BLR is associated with worse OS and PFS. Our results are the first to identify that BLR is associated with CO in mHSPC. Further study is needed to validate BLR as a potential biomarker.[Table: see text]

Phase II trial of opaganib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing on abiraterone or enzalutamide (NCT04207255)

TPS191

Background: Opaganib (Yeliva, ABC294640) is a first-in-class, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor, with anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities. SK2, a lipid kinase catalyzes formation of the lipid signaling molecule sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P promotes cancer growth, and proliferation and pathological inflammation, including inflammatory cytokine production. Specifically, by inhibiting the SK2 enzyme, opaganib blocks the synthesis of S1P which regulates fundamental biological processes such as cell proliferation, migration, immune cell trafficking and angiogenesis, and are also involved in immune-modulation and suppression of innate immune responses from T cells. Opaganib is a sphingosine-competitive inhibitor of SK2 and also inhibits dihydroceramide desaturase. Opaganib has antitumor activity against human and murine prostate cancer cell lines, and in xenograft (LNCaP) and syngeneic (MycCAP, TRAMP-C1) murine tumor models. In addition to its target effect of reducing sphingosine-1-phosphate, opaganib reduces both MYC and AR proteins through its kinase-blocking and desaturase-inhibiting properties, respectively. Methods: The study is open to patients with mCRPC who have been treated with at least one newer androgen antagonist (abiraterone or enzalutamide) and no prior chemotherapy for castration-resistant disease. Patients who are failing either abiraterone or enzalutamide may enroll, with the addition of opaganib. The trial design includes brief safety lead-in cohort 1a (abiraterone + opaganib 250 mg Q 12hr, 3/3 enrolled) and 1b (enzalutamide + opaganib 250 mg Q 12hr, 3/3 enrolled). These cohorts have been completed without any DLTs. We are now enrolling cohort 2 (abiraterone + opaganib 500 mg Q 12hr, 0/27 enrolled) and cohort 3 (enzalutamide + opaganib 500 mg Q 12hr, 8/27 enrolled). A total of 60 patients will be enrolled and response will be evaluated after 4 cycles (28 days/cycle) using a composite metric based on PSA, bone scan and RECIST measurements per PCWG3 criteria. Safety and tolerability will be monitored, and dose modifications will be allowed. Primary endpoint is disease control (stable disease or better) after 4 cycles. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, radiographic progression-free survival and PSA progression-free survival. Correlative studies include assessment of quality of life (QOL), circulating MDSCs, immune cells and clones with amplified AR or MYC. Supported by NIH grant P01 CA203628. Clinical trial information: NCT04207255.

Durvalumab and tremelimumab with or without stereotactic body radiation therapy in relapsed small cell lung cancer: a randomized phase II study

Background

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting programmed cell death protein 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 has achieved modest clinical activity as salvage therapy in relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We conducted this signal-finding study to assess the efficacy of ICB with or without radiation in relapsed SCLC.

Methods

Patients with relapsed SCLC and ≤2 previous lines of therapy were randomized to (1) arm A: durvalumab (D) 1500 mg/tremelimumab (T) 75 mg (intravenously every 4 weeks without stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)) or (2) arm B: immune-sensitizing SBRT to one selected tumor site (9 Gy × 3 fractions) followed by D/T. Treatment continued until progression or a maximum of 12 months. The co-primary endpoints of the study were overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). We evaluated circulating lymphocyte repertoire in serial peripheral blood samples and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from on-treatment biopsies as pharmacodynamic markers.

Results

Eighteen patients were randomized to arms A and B (n=9 each): median age 70 years; 41.2% women. The median PFS and ORR were 2.1 months and 0% in arm A and 3.3 months and 28.6% in arm B. The median overall survival (OS) was 2.8 months in arm A and 5.7 months in arm B (p=0.3772). Pooled efficacy of D/T±SBRT in 15 Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) evaluable patients across both arms showed the best ORR in terms of partial response in 13.3%, stable disease in 26.6% and progressive disease in 60.0%; the overall median PFS and OS were 2.76 and 3.9 months. The most common adverse events were grade 1 fatigue (66%) and grade 1 elevated amylase (56%) in arm A, and grade 1 fatigue (56%) and pain (44%) in arm B. There was a significant increase in activated CD8(+)ICOS+ T cells (p=0.048) and a reduction in naïve T cells (p=0.0454) in peripheral blood following treatment, along with a significant amount of activated CD8+ICOS+ T cells in TILs from responders.

Conclusions

The D/T combination with and without SBRT was safe but did not show sufficient efficacy signal in relapsed SCLC. Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte and TILs were consistent with an immunologic response.

Trial registration number NCT02701400.

Benefits and limitations of real-world evidence: lessons from EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer

While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evidence-based medicine, they do not always reflect real-world patient populations, limiting their generalizability and external validity. Real-world evidence (RWE), generated during routine clinical practice, is increasingly important in determining effectiveness outside of the tightly controlled conditions of RCTs, and is now recognized by regulatory bodies as a valuable complement to RCTs. Consequently, it is increasingly important for physicians to understand how RWE data can be used alongside clinical trial data. Here, we discuss the different types of real-world observational studies, outline the benefits and limitations of RWE, and, using examples from EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer, outline how RWE can be used to help inform treatment decisions.

Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint blockade in self-identified Black patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

To the authors' knowledge, race-based differences in efficacy for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been studied to date due to the underrepresentation of patients of minority backgrounds in pivotal trials. In the current study, the authors examined real-world differences in outcome in a diverse patient population.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with single-agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) between 2013 and July 2018 at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Primary efficacy comparison between Black patients and White patients was performed using bivariate and multivariate analyses for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Data from 257 patients were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 69 years; 50.6% of the patients were female, 63.4% were White, 29.5% were Black, and 7.1% of the patients were of "other" race. ICB was the first-line treatment in 51 patients (19.9%), the second-line treatment in 161 patients (62.6%), and the third-line treatment in 33 patients (12.9%). The most commonly used agents were nivolumab (49.0%), pembrolizumab (25.2%), and atezolizumab (21.3%). No differences with regard to OS (P = .839) and PFS (P = .235) were noted between Black and White patients. The sample overall response rate was 20.6% (15.2% in Black patients and 23.1% in White patients). No differences with regard to OS (P = .081) and PFS (P = .176) were observed between female and male patients. The rate of immune-related adverse events was found to be similar in Black and White patients (20.0% vs 29.9%; P = .148). On multivariate analysis, race was not found to be significantly associated with OS or PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world analysis of the authors' institutional experience demonstrated similar efficacy and tolerability of ICB in Black versus White patients with advanced NSCLC. Larger multi-institutional studies including other US minority populations would make the findings of the current study more generalizable.

Disialoganglioside GD2 Expression in Solid Tumors and Role as a Target for Cancer Therapy

Gangliosides are carbohydrate-containing sphingolipids that are widely expressed in normal tissues, making most subtypes unsuitable as targets for cancer therapy. However, the disialoganglioside GD2 subtype has limited expression in normal tissues but is overexpressed across a wide range of tumors. Disialoganglioside GD2 can be considered a tumor-associated antigen and well-suited as a target for cancer therapy. Disialoganglioside GD2 is implicated in tumor development and malignant phenotypes through enhanced cell proliferation, motility, migration, adhesion, and invasion, depending on the tumor type. This provides a rationale for targeting disialoganglioside GD2 in cancer therapy with the development of anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic approaches. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies target GD2-expressing tumor cells, leading to phagocytosis and destruction by means of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, lysis by complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and apoptosis and necrosis through direct induction of cell death. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies may also prevent homing and adhesion of circulating malignant cells to the extracellular matrix. Disialoganglioside GD2 is highly expressed by almost all neuroblastomas, by most melanomas and retinoblastomas, and by many Ewing sarcomas and, to a more variable degree, by small cell lung cancer, gliomas, osteosarcomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. Successful treatment of disialoganglioside GD2-expressing tumors with anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies is hindered by pharmacologic factors such as insufficient antibody affinity to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, inadequate penetration of antibody into the tumor microenvironment, and toxicity related to disialoganglioside GD2 expression by normal tissues such as peripheral sensory nerve fibers. Nonetheless, anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody dinutuximab (ch14.18) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and dinutuximab beta (ch14.18/CHO) has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma in pediatric patients. Clinical trials of anti-GD2 therapy are currently ongoing in patients with other types of disialoganglioside GD2-expressing tumors as well as neuroblastoma. In addition to anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies, anti-GD2 therapeutic approaches include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, disialoganglioside GD2 vaccines, immunocytokines, immunotoxins, antibody-drug conjugates, radiolabeled antibodies, targeted nanoparticles, and T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies. Clinical trials should clarify further the potential of anti-GD2 therapy for disialoganglioside GD2-expressing malignant tumors.