CD25high Effector Regulatory T Cells Hamper Responses to PD-1 Blockade in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Regulatory T cells (Treg) impede effective antitumor immunity. However, the role of Tregs in the clinical outcomes of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains controversial. Here, we found that an immunosuppressive TNBC microenvironment is marked by an imbalance between effector αβCD8+ T cells and Tregs harboring hallmarks of highly suppressive effector Tregs (eTreg). Intratumoral eTregs strongly expressed PD-1 and persisted in patients with TNBC resistant to PD-1 blockade. Importantly, CD25 was the most selective surface marker of eTregs in primary TNBC and metastases compared with other candidate targets for eTreg depletion currently being evaluated in trials for patients with advanced TNBC. In a syngeneic TNBC model, the use of Fc-optimized, IL2 sparing, anti-CD25 antibodies synergized with PD-1 blockade to promote systemic antitumor immunity and durable tumor growth control by increasing effector αβCD8+ T-cell/Treg ratios in tumors and in the periphery. Together, this study provides the rationale for the clinical translation of anti-CD25 therapy to improve PD-1 blockade responses in patients with TNBC.

SIGNIFICANCE

An imbalance between effector CD8+ T cells and CD25high effector Tregs marks immunosuppressive microenvironments in αPD-1-resistant TNBC and can be reversed through effector Treg depletion to increase αPD-1 efficacy.

Whole-genome/exome analysis of circulating tumor DNA and comparison to tumor genomics from patients with heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer: subset analysis of the PERMED-01 trial

Introduction

The poor prognosis of ovarian carcinoma (OvC) is due to the advanced stage at diagnosis, a high risk of relapse after first-line therapies, and the lack of efficient treatments in the recurrence setting. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is a promising tool to assess treatment-resistant OvC and may avoid iterative tissue biopsies. We aimed to evaluate the genomic profile of recurrent heavily pre-treated OvC.

Methods

We performed tumor panel-based sequencing as well as low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (LC-WGS) of tumor and plasma collected in patients with ovarian cancer included in the PERMED-01 trial. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) data of plasma samples were also analyzed and compared to mutation and copy number alteration (CNA) tumor profiles. The prognostic value [progression-free survival (PFS)] of these alterations was assessed in an exploratory analysis.

Results

Tumor and plasma genomic analyses were done for 24 patients with heavily pretreated OvC [67% high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC)]. Tumor mutation burden was low (median 2.04 mutations/Mb) and the most frequent mutated gene was TP53 (94% of HGSC). Tumor CNAs were frequent with a median of 50% of genome altered fraction. Plasma LC-WGS and WES detected ctDNA in 21/24 cases (88%) with a median tumor fraction of 12.7%. We observed a low correlation between plasma and tumor CNA profiles. However, this correlation was significant in cases with the highest circulating tumor fraction. Plasma genome altered fraction and plasma mutation burden (p = 0.011 and p = 0.041, respectively, log-rank tests) were associated with PFS.

Conclusions

Combination of LC-WGS and WES can detect ctDNA in most pre-treated OvCs. Some ctDNA characteristics, such as genome altered fraction and plasma mutation burden, showed prognostic value. ctDNA assessment with LC-WGS may be a promising and non-expansive tool to evaluate disease evolution in this disease with high genomic instability.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02342158, identifier NCT02342158.

The Psychological Distress of Cancer Patients following the COVID-19 Pandemic First Lockdown: Results from a Large French Survey

Cancer patients commonly experience psychological distress that may increase with the current COVID-19 pandemic. This prospective study aimed to measure post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety in cancer patients following France’s first COVID-19-related lockdown, together with associated factors. Cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment or post-treatment follow-up completed a questionnaire which measured, among other things, PTSD (IES-R), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Of the 1097 patients included in the study, 14.7% and 30.5% suffered from PTSD and anxiety, respectively. Patients afraid to come to hospital due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission (OR = 3.49, p < 0.001), those with a negative lockdown experience (OR = 0.98, p < 0.001), women (OR = 1.97; p = 0.009), and patients living alone (OR = 1.63, p = 0.045) were all more likely to have PTSD. Older patients (OR = 1.65, p = 0.020), women (OR = 1.62, p = 0.018), those with a higher FCR score (OR = 5.02, p < 0.001), patients unsatisfied with their cancer management (OR = 2.36, p < 0.001), and those afraid to come to hospital due to COVID-19 (OR = 2.43, p < 0.001) all had a higher risk of anxiety. These results provide a greater understanding of the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in cancer patients and highlight the need to better integrate psychosocial support in pandemic response measures in order to guide health systems.

Circulating tumor DNA predicts efficacy of a dual AKT/p70S6K inhibitor (LY2780301) plus paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer: plasma analysis of the TAKTIC phase IB/II study

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is frequently activated in HER2-negative breast cancer and may play a role in taxane resistance. The phase IB/II TAKTIC trial (NCT01980277) has shown that combining a dual AKT and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) inhibitor (LY2780301) taken orally with weekly paclitaxel in HER2-negative advanced breast cancer is feasible, with preliminary evidence of efficacy. We wanted to explore whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may be a surrogate marker of treatment efficacy in this setting. Serial plasma samples were collected and cell-free DNA was sequenced using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing, and analysis was completed with droplet digital PCR for some patients with driver mutations. Baseline tumor fraction (TF) and TF after 7 weeks on treatment were compared to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate. We also explored circulating copy number alterations associated with treatment failure. Of the 51 patients enrolled in the TAKTIC trial, at least one plasma sample was available for 44 cases (96 time points). All patients with tumor TP53, PI3KCA or AKT1 mutations harbored at least one of these alterations in plasma. TF at inclusion was correlated to PFS (6m-PFS was 92% for ctDNAneg patients vs 68% for ctDNApos cases; HR=3.45, 95%CI [1.34-8.90], p=0.007). ctDNA status at week 7 was not correlated to prognosis. Even though most circulating copy number alterations were conserved at disease progression, some genomic regions of interest were altered in post-progression samples. In conclusions, ctDNA detection at baseline was associated with shorter PFS in patients included in the TAKTIC trial. Plasma-based copy number analysis may help to identify alterations involved in resistance to treatment.

A study of elite sport-inspired coaching for patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

A need for social support is often expressed after hospitalization post HSCT. Emotional support and positive psychological constructs play an important role in post-HSCT recovery. Interventions generating positive affect can influence the health and well-being of transplant patients. It has been established that coaching in elite sport area leads to performance by playing a decisive role in maintaining the athlete’s feelings of hope and autonomy in order to enable him or her to achieve their goals. In this single-center, prospective, one-arm study, we evaluated, in 32 post-HSCT patients, the acceptability of a coaching program inspired by elite sport coaching. Benefits were evaluated by questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The coaching program was accepted by 97% of the patients. Analysis of the scores on the “Means” sub-dimension of Hope showed a significant increase over time (p = 0.0249 < 0.05) for every patient. Qualitative analysis of patient’s satisfaction pointed out that this support facilitated the transition to a life without illness in particular in the non-hospital context of coaching sessions. Our results show that a “sport-inspired coaching“ may offer an innovative approach supporting psychological and social recovery after HSCT and helping to start and/or maintain the processes leading to psychological well-being.

Prospective high-throughput genome profiling of advanced cancers: results of the PERMED-01 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The benefit of precision medicine based on relatively limited gene sets and often-archived samples remains unproven. PERMED-01 (NCT02342158) was a prospective monocentric clinical trial assessing, in adults with advanced solid cancer, the feasibility and impact of extensive molecular profiling applied to newly biopsied tumor sample and based on targeted NGS (t-NGS) of the largest gene panel to date and whole-genome array-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) with assessment of single-gene alterations and clinically relevant genomic scores.

METHODS

Eligible patients with refractory cancer had one tumor lesion accessible to biopsy. Extracted tumor DNA was profiled by t-NGS and aCGH. We assessed alterations of 802 "candidate cancer" genes and global genomic scores, such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score and tumor mutational burden. The primary endpoint was the number of patients with actionable genetic alterations (AGAs). Secondary endpoints herein reported included a description of patients with AGA who received a "matched therapy" and their clinical outcome, and a comparison of AGA identification with t-NGS and aCGH versus whole-exome sequencing (WES).

RESULTS

Between November 2014 and September 2019, we enrolled 550 patients heavily pretreated. An exploitable complete molecular profile was obtained in 441/550 patients (80%). At least one AGA, defined in real time by our molecular tumor board, was found in 393/550 patients (71%, two-sided 90%CI 68-75%). Only 94/550 patients (17%, 95%CI 14-21) received an "AGA-matched therapy" on progression. The most frequent AGAs leading to "matched therapy" included PIK3CA mutations, KRAS mutations/amplifications, PTEN deletions/mutations, ERBB2 amplifications/mutations, and BRCA1/2 mutations. Such "matched therapy" improved by at least 1.3-fold the progression-free survival on matched therapy (PFS2) compared to PFS on prior therapy (PFS1) in 36% of cases, representing 6% of the enrolled patients. Within patients with AGA treated on progression, the use of "matched therapy" was the sole variable associated with an improved PFS2/PFS1 ratio. Objective responses were observed in 19% of patients treated with "matched therapy," and 6-month overall survival (OS) was 62% (95%CI 52-73). In a subset of 112 metastatic breast cancers, WES did not provide benefit in term of AGA identification when compared with t-NGS/aCGH.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive molecular profiling of a newly biopsied tumor sample identified AGA in most of cases, leading to delivery of a "matched therapy" in 17% of screened patients, of which 36% derived clinical benefit. WES did not seem to improve these results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ID-RCB identifier: 2014-A00966-41; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02342158 .

Quantification of Immune Variables from Liquid Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients Links Vδ2+ γδ T Cell Alterations with Lymph Node Invasion

The rationale for therapeutic targeting of Vδ2+ γδ T cells in breast cancer is strongly supported by in vitro and murine preclinical investigations, characterizing them as potent breast tumor cell killers and source of Th1-related cytokines, backing cytotoxic αβ T cells. Nonetheless, insights regarding Vδ2+ γδ T cell phenotypic alterations in human breast cancers are still lacking. This paucity of information is partly due to the challenging scarcity of these cells in surgical specimens. αβ T cell phenotypic alterations occurring in the tumor bed are detectable in the periphery and correlate with adverse clinical outcomes. Thus, we sought to determine through an exploratory study whether Vδ2+ γδ T cells phenotypic changes can be detected within breast cancer patients' peripheral blood, along with association with tumor progression. By using mass cytometry, we quantified 130 immune variables from untreated breast cancer patients' peripheral blood. Supervised analyses and dimensionality reduction algorithms evidenced circulating Vδ2+ γδ T cell phenotypic alterations already established at diagnosis. Foremost, terminally differentiated Vδ2+ γδ T cells displaying phenotypes of exhausted senescent T cells associated with lymph node involvement. Thereby, our results support Vδ2+ γδ T cells implication in breast cancer pathogenesis and progression, besides shedding light on liquid biopsies to monitor surrogate markers of tumor-infiltrating Vδ2+ γδ T cell antitumor activity.

TRAINING-Ovary 01 (connecTed pRehabiliAtIoN pelvIc caNcer surGery): multicenter randomized study comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients managed for ovarian cancer with or without a connected pre-habilitation program

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery for advanced ovarian cancer may have impaired functional capacity, nutritional status, and emotional well-being.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

TRAINING-01 aims to determine if a connected pre-habilitation program during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients treated for an advanced ovarian cancer will improve physical capacity before major abdomino-pelvic surgery.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS

A pre-habilitation program during neoadjuvant chemotherapy will bring a fitter patient to surgery and will decrease treatment morbidity and improve oncological outcomes.

TRIAL DESIGN

This study is a prospective, multi-center, phase III study. The pre-habilitation program consists of providing multi-dimensional support during neoadjuvant chemotherapy using connected devices. The control group will receive usual care.

MAJOR INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Eligible patients will be women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III-IV advanced ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients must be able to perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test.

PRIMARY ENDPOINTS

The primary endpoint will be the comparison of the variation in maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) between baseline and surgery in the pre-habilitation group and control groups.

SAMPLE SIZE

136 patients (68 per arm) will be recruited to demonstrate a medium standardized effect d=0.5 in the variations of VO₂ max between baseline and surgery.

ESTIMATED DATES FOR COMPLETING ACCRUAL AND PRESENTING RESULTS

The duration of the study includes 24 months of recruitment and 5 years of follow up. We anticipate reporting primary endpoint results in 2024.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

TRAINING-01-IPC 2018-039 (NCT04451369).

A chemogenomic approach to identify personalized therapy for patients with relapse or refractory acute myeloid leukemia: results of a prospective feasibility study

Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) and ex vivo drug sensitivity/resistance profiling (DSRP) have laid foundations defining the functional genomic landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and premises of personalized medicine to guide treatment options for patients with aggressive and/or chemorefractory hematological malignancies. Here, we have assessed the feasibility of a tailored treatment strategy (TTS) guided by systematic parallel ex vivo DSRP and tNGS for patients with relapsed/refractory AML (number NCT02619071). A TTS issued by an institutional personalized committee could be achieved for 47/55 included patients (85%), 5 based on tNGS only, 6 on DSRP only, while 36 could be proposed on the basis of both, yielding more options and a better rationale. The TSS was available in <21 days for 28 patients (58.3%). On average, 3 to 4 potentially active drugs were selected per patient with only five patient samples being resistant to the entire drug panel. Seventeen patients received a TTS-guided treatment, resulting in four complete remissions, one partial remission, and five decreased peripheral blast counts. Our results show that chemogenomic combining tNGS with DSRP to determine a TTS is a promising approach to propose patient-specific treatment options within 21 days.

Soluble BTN2A1 as a potential predictive biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

9561

Background: Medical treatment of lung cancer has irreversibly changed since the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, immune biomarkers of efficacy are still lacking. Preliminary data in leukemia and pancreatic cancer showed that soluble immune checkpoints are associated with a reduced overall survival (OS). This led us to explore the prognostic and predictive value of soluble immune checkpoints in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with chemotherapy or ICI. Methods: We analyzed 90 advanced NSCLC patients. The pilot cohort (Rennes University Hospital, France), included 48 patients treated with platinum doublets (n = 33) or ICI (n = 15) (LOC/11-16 protocol). The confirmation cohort (Paoli-Calmettes Institute) included 42 patients treated with ICI (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) in a longitudinal prospective setting (Immunosup trial, NCT03595813). In both cohorts, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were performed in baseline plasma samples for soluble forms of PD-1, PD-L1, global BTN3, BTLA, BTN3-A1 and BTN2A1. Soluble ICI levels were linked to clinical data using Kaplan-Meier, log-rank and Cox proportional-hazards models. Cut-points were determined using maxstat package for survival, R software R 3.6.2. Results: Five soluble immune checkpoints correlated and clustered together in unsupervised analysis (PD-1, PD-L1, global BTN3, BTLA, BTN3-A1), but were not associated with ICI efficacy. In patients treated with ICI, in the pilot and confirmation cohort, a high baseline plasmatic concentration of soluble BTN2A1 was significantly associated with an improved OS (confirmation cohort with a BTN2A1 cut-point of 3.55 ng/ml: HR = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.12-0.74, p = 0.0057, median OS in BTN2A1low = 7.6 months and median OS in BTN2A1hi = 19.5 months). On the contrary, in patients treated with chemotherapy, soluble BTN2A1 concentration was not associated with overall survival. Conclusions: In advanced NSCLC patients, a high baseline plasmatic concentration of soluble BTN2A1 was correlated with improved outcomes for ICI, but not for chemotherapy, suggesting that baseline soluble BTN2A1 level is a potential predictive biomarker of ICI efficacy. Additional studies are ongoing to confirm this finding.

TAKTIC: A prospective, multicenter, uncontrolled, phase IB/II study of LY2780301 (LY) in combination with weekly paclitaxel (wP) in HER2-negative locally advanced (LA) or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients

1091

Background: Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-pathway is frequently activated in HER2-negative breast cancer and may play a role in taxane-resistance. LY is a dual inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase and AKT. TAKTIC study aimed to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of the combination of LY with wP (phase Ib) and to estimate overall response rate (ORR) of this regimen (phase II) in HER2-negative LA or MBC patients, both in the overall patient population and in patients with activation of PI3K/AKT pathway (PI3KAKT+). Methods: HER2-negative inoperable LA or MBC patients (pts), with (phase Ib) or without (phase II) previous cytotoxic treatment for advanced disease were eligible. Oral LY (400 or 500mg) was administered daily in combination with intravenous wP (70 or 80mg/m2). A modified CRM using an adaptive Bayesian model guided the dose escalation of both agents. PI3KAKT+ was defined as activating mutation of PIK3CA and/or AKT by targeted NGS or homozygous loss of PTEN by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) or loss of PTEN by immunohistochemistry, as evaluated on available fresh tumor tissue. Results: A total of 12 and 35 patients (pts) were included in the phase Ib and II, respectively. In phase Ib, only 1 dose-limiting toxicity (confusion) was observed at the last dose level (LY, 500 + wP, 80), which was determined as RP2D. Main drug-related adverse events (AE) in phase Ib were skin toxicity (92% of pts, G3-4 in 33%), and paresthesia (50% of pts, G3-4 in 8%). In the phase II study, ORR was 62.9 % [44.9,78.5] including 1 CR and 21 PR in the overall population and 55.6 % [30.8,78.5] in PI3KAKT+ pts (10 PR in 18 pts). Median progression-free survival was 12.4 months [7.9,17.9] and 6-month clinical benefit rate was 82.9% [66.4,93.4]. AEs in phase II were similar to phase I part, except that 17% of pts experienced pneumonia (G3-4 in 9%). Conclusions: Combining LY and wP in HER2-negative LA or MBC was feasible with preliminary evidences of efficacy, independently of PI3K/AKT activation. Clinical trial information: NCT01980277.

PIKHER2: A phase IB study evaluating buparlisib in combination with lapatinib in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway is frequently activated in HER2-positive breast cancer and may play a major role in resistance to trastuzumab. Buparlisib is a pan-class-I PI3K inhibitor with potent and selective activity against wild-type and mutant PI3K p110 isoforms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

PIKHER2 phase IB study aimed primarily to determine a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and propose a recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for buparlisib in combination with lapatinib in HER2-positive, trastuzumab-resistant, advanced breast cancer. Oral buparlisib (40, 60 or 80 mg) and lapatinib (750, 1000 or 1250 mg) were administered daily. A modified continuous reassessment method using an adaptive Bayesian model guided the dose escalation of both agents. Secondary end-points included antitumour activity and pharmacokinetic (PK) assessments.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients were treated across five dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicities included transaminases elevation, vomiting, stomatitis, hyperglycemia and diarrhoea. MTD was declared at buparlisib 80 mg/d + lapatinib 1250 mg/d, but toxicities and early treatment discontinuation rate beyond cycle 1 led to select buparlisib 80 mg + lapatinib 1000 mg/d as the RP2D. Main drug-related adverse events included diarrhoea, nausea, skin rash, asthenia, depression, anxiety and transaminases increase. There was no significant evidence for drug-drug PK interaction. Disease control rate was 79% [95% confidence interval [CI] 57-92%], one patient obtained a complete remission, and six additional patients experienced stable disease for ≥ 24 weeks (clinical benefit rate of 29% [95% CI 12-51%]).

CONCLUSION

Combining buparlisib and lapatinib in HER2-positive trastuzumab-resistant advanced breast cancer was feasible. Preliminary evidence of antitumour activity was observed in this heavily pre-treated population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION ID

NCT01589861.

Abstract 2049: Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction: a phase Ib dose escalation study of LY2780301 in combination with weekly paclitaxel

Introduction: LY2780301 is an orally available small molecule dual inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase and AKT. LY2780301 is an inhibitor of CYP3A4. By the one hand, Paclitaxel (PXL) undergoes extensive metabolism via CYP450 2C8 and CYP450 3A4 pathways. By the other hand, PXL induces weakly CYP3A4 activity. In this study we investigated for the first time, the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interaction (DDI) related to the combination of both drugs LY2780301 and PXL.

Methods: Women with HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, with and without PI3/AKT pathway activation, were treated with weekly administration of PXL on day1 (D1), D8 and D15. LY2780301 was administered by a daily flat dosing regimen starting at D3. Dose levels [DL, LY2780301 (mg/day)/PXL (mg/m2/week)] ranged from 400/70 to 500/80. For PK analysis, 7 time point samples were collected on D1 and D3 of cycle 1 for PXL and LY2780301 respectively. 7 samples were collected on D8 for both drugs. LY2780301 plasma concentrations were measured using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry validated method. PXL plasma concentrations were measured using UPLC coupled with UV validated method. A joint population PK (PK-POP) model has been developed for LY2780301 and

its main metabolite. PK-POP modelling has been performed with a non linear mixed effect model program (Monolix version 4.3.2).

Results: 12 patients, 35 to 67 years old, were treated. A total of 160 and 157 concentrations for LY2780301 and its metabolite were used respectively for PK-POP modeling. A one compartment open model adequately described LY2780301 and its metabolite concentration versus time courses respectively with the estimation of the fraction of absorbed dose (fm) of LY2780301 metabolised in that metabolite. The interindividual variabilities (ISV) could be well estimated for all structural parameters (clearance: CL, volume of distribution: V, L and the absorption constant: Ka). The population PK parameters obtained for the structural model were: Ka = 0.536 h−1, CL/F = 3.57 L/h, V/F = 85.2 L, CL/(F*fm) = 13.2 L/h, V2/(F*fm) = 13.2 L, fm = 0.747 for LY2780301 and its metabolite respectively. PXL increases LY2780301 CL from 3.57 to 4.4 L/h (p = 0.016).

Conclusions: We have demonstrated a PK DDI between LY2780301 and PXL. PXL increases LY2780301 CL and decreases LY2780301 AUC. PXL PK modeling is ongoing in order to verify the effect of LY2780301 on PXL PK.

Citation Format: Keyvan Rezai, Samuel Huguet, Olivier Madar, Jean-Marc Extra, Magali Provansal, Carole Tarpin, Nicolas Isambert, Jihane Pakradouni, Anthony Goncalves, François Lokiec. Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction: a phase Ib dose escalation study of LY2780301 in combination with weekly paclitaxel. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2049.

Abstract 2036: A phase Ib pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction evaluation of oral buparlisib in combination with lapatinib in HER2+/PI3K-activated, trastuzumab-resistant locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Background: A novel combination of oral lapatinib (LPT), a selective dual ErbB1/ErbB2 targeted drug, + oral buparlisib (B) a pan-class I PI3K inhibitor, could provide a synergestic antitumor activity in trastuzumab resistant disease. LPT has been shown to be a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor which is also mainly involved in BKM120 metabolism. In this study we investigated the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interactions (DDI) related to the association of B and LPT. Methods: Trastuzumab-resistant HER2 + metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients were treated with a continuous once daily dosing schedule of LPT + B. Dose levels [DL, LPT (mg)/B (mg)] ranged from 750/40 to 1,250/80. For PK analysis, 2 time point samples were collected on D1 and D8 and 10 time point samples were collected on D15 of cycle 1 for LPT and B assays. Plasma concentrations of B and LPT, were measured using UPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry validated methods. Population PK was modeled using a non linear mixed effect model program (Monolix version 4.3s) by computing the maximum likelihood estimator of the parameters without any approximation of the model (no linearization). Results: 343 and 322 plasma concentrations were available for PK analysis of LPT and B respectively. A two-compartment open model adequately described B concentration versus time courses. The inter-individual variabilities (ISV) could be well estimated for all stuctural parameters (clearance: CL, volume of distribution: V, inter-compartmental clearance: Q) except for absorption constant: Ka. The population PK parameters obtained for the structural model were: Ka = 0.985 h−1, CL/F = 10.5L/h, V1/F = 54.8 L, Q/F = 46.3 L/h, V2/F = 582 L. Mean AUC0-24h(CV%) values for B were 10130 (34%), 15450 (29%), and 20560 (38%) ng*hr/mL for 40 mg, 60 mg and 80 mg dose level respectively. A one-compartment model adequately fitted the LPT plasma concentration-time data. The population PK parameters were CL/F = 25.7 L/h, V/F = 291 L and the absorption constant, Ka = 0.214 h−1. B has no significant effect on the PK of LPT and vice versa. Conclusions: B AUC increased proportionally with increasing dose. LPT PK parameters are consistent with those already published. There is no significant evidence for drug-drug PK interaction between LPT and B. Intra-occasion variabilities will be discussed.

Citation Format: François Lokiec, Anthony Goncalves, Fanny Bret, Jihane Pakradouni, Magali Provansal, Renaud Sabatier, Jean-Marc Extra, Carole Tarpin, Nicolas Isambert, Mario Campone, Keyvan Rezai. A phase Ib pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction evaluation of oral buparlisib in combination with lapatinib in HER2+/PI3K-activated, trastuzumab-resistant locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic breast cancer (MBC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2036.

Abstract P4-13-23: Next-generation sequencing (NGS), array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) for precision medicine in advanced breast cancer: A single-center prospective study

Background

Genomic-based approaches in advanced breast cancer (ABC) were recently demonstrated as feasible in the clinical practice, but only a limited number of patients were actually treated with targeted therapies matching genomic alterations, with low antitumor activity. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate whether precision medicine using NGS and aCGH could be implemented prospectively at a single center in ABC patients. In addition, we examined whether PDX could be derived from ABC and thus could help inform therapeutic decision.

Methods

ABC patients accessible to tumor biopsy were prospectively enrolled at the Institut Paoli-Calmettes in the BC-BIO study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01521676). Tumor tissue from locally recurrent or metastatic disease was immediately frozen after dedicated biopsy. Genomic profiling included high-resolution 4x180K aCGH (Agilent Technologies, Massy, France) and DNA sequencing, using a library of 365 cancer candidate genes (HaloPlex target enrichment kit, Agilent technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and MiSeq analyzer (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) with 2x150-bp, paired-end at about 300x coverage. In a subset of patients, fresh tumor was implanted orthotopically in humanized cleared fat pads of NSG mice for establishing xenotransplants.

Results

A total of 34 ABC patients were included, with the following characteristics: median age 54 years (35-77); molecular subtypes: 11 triple-negative (32%), 12 luminal non-HER2 (35%), 4 luminal HER2 (12%), 3 HER2 non-luminal (9%), and 4 unknown (12%); 33 with previous chemotherapy (97%); 22 with previous endocrine treatment (35%); 7 with previous anti-HER2 (21%). Tumor biopsies were obtained from liver (15), skin (6), peritoneum (4), breast (3), node (3), lung (1), pleura (1), and ascitis (1), with a median tumor cellularity of 70% (range 10-90%). aCGH and NGS were available from 34 and 33 patients, respectively. An actionable target was found in 28 patients (82%), corresponding to 66 targets, including 37 mutations (8 in PIK3CA, 7 TP53, 4 ESR1, 2 AKT1, 2 BRCA2, 2 HER2), 22 amplifications (7 for CCND1, 2 CCNE1, 2 FGFR1, 2 IGF1R) and 7 homozygous deletions (3 for PTEN, 2 CDKN2A/B,1 BRCA2, 1 STK11). A targeted therapeutic proposal was possible, either in a clinical trial (N=18, 52%) or using already registered drugs (N=17, 50%). Ten patients actually received a targeted treatment, 1 of them experienced objective response and 1 showed stable disease for more than 6 months. Of 26 patients subjected to mouse implantation, 10 had successful xenografting (6 triple-negative, 2 HER2, 1 luminal non-HER2, 1 subtype non-attributed), with a median time to reach 10 mm of 148 days. These PDX will be used as models to understand the patient's therapeutic response.

Conclusion

Precision medicine using high-throughput DNA sequencing and aCGH can be implemented at a single center in the context of clinical practice and may allow direct therapeutic proposal in 1/3 of patients, but antitumor activity was minimal. PDX may be obtained in a significant fraction of patients, especially in triple-negative and HER2 subtypes, and could phenotypically complement genomic data.

Citation Format: Gonçalves A, Bertucci F, Chaffanet M, Guille A, Garnier S, Adelaide J, Carbuccia N, Brunelle S, Piana G, Cabaud O, Thomassin-Piana J, Paciencia-Gros M, Chereau-Ewald E, Lambaudie E, Sabatier R, Tarpin C, Provansal M, Jalaguier-Coudray A, Extra J-M, Sarran A, Pakradouni J, Viens P, Lopez M, Ginestier C, Charafe-Jauffret E, Birnbaum D. Next-generation sequencing (NGS), array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) for precision medicine in advanced breast cancer: A single-center prospective study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-13-23.

Abstract A118: PIKHER2: A phase Ib study evaluating oral BKM120 in combination with lapatinib in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced breast cancer

Background: Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-pathway is frequently activated in HER2-positive breast cancer and may play a major role in resistance to trastuzumab. Lapatinib is a dual anti-HER2/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor with clinical activity after trastuzumab failure in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC). BKM120 is a pan-class I PI3K inhibitor with potent and selective activity against wild-type and mutant PI3K p110α. PIKHER2 phase Ib study aimed primarily to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and propose a recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for BKM120 in combination with lapatinib in HER2-positive, trastuzumab-resistant, ABC. Secondary objectives included safety, antitumor activity, pharmacokinetics and biomarker assessments. Methods: PIKHER2 was a multi-center study, enrolling HER2 positive (IHC 3+ or FISH positive) ABC, with disease progressing either while on trastuzumab for metastatic disease or within 12 months of the last infusion for patients who received trastuzumab as adjuvant/neoadjuvant treatment. Oral BKM120 (B; 40, 60 or 80 mg) and lapatinib (L; 750, 1000 or 1250 mg) were administered daily. A modified CRM using an adaptive Bayesian model guided the dose escalation of both agents. PIK3CA mutational status and PTEN/hormone receptor expression IHC was evaluated on available tumor tissue. Results: A total of 24 HER2-positive ABC pts, with a median number of previous lines of cytotoxics = 2 (1-5) and previous lines of anti-HER2 = 2 (1-6) for advanced stage, were treated across 5 dose-levels (B,40 + L,750; B, 60 + L,750; B,80 + L,750; B,80 + L,1000; B,80 + L,1250). Following cycle 1, 5 pts experienced DLTs: G3 ALT elevation, G3 vomiting, G3 stomatitis, G3 hyperglycemia and G3 diarrhea. MTD was reached at B,80 + L,1250 but toxicities and early treatment discontinuation beyond cycle 1 led us to select B,80 + L,1000 as the RP2D. Main drug-related adverse events were: diarrhea (83% of pts, G3 in 21%), nausea/vomiting (83% of pts, G3 in 4%), skin toxicity (75% of pts, G3 in 21%), asthenia (70% of patients, no G3), depression (58% of pts, G3 in 4%), anxiety (42% of pts, no G3), transaminases increase (29% of pts, G3 in 17%). B and L PK parameters values were consistent with those already published for both drugs. A large inter-individual variability was observed for both drugs. There was no significant evidence for drug-drug PK interaction. Disease control rate (DCR) was 79% [57-92%], one patient obtained a complete remission and 6 additional patients experienced stable disease for ≥ 24 weeks (clinical benefit rate, CBR of 29% [12-51%]). PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss were observed in 4 of 14 and 1 of 21 patients, respectively. DCR and CBR were higher in hormone receptor-negative tumors. Conclusion: Combining BKM120 and lapatinib in HER2-positive trastuzumab-resistant was feasible. Preliminary evidences of antitumor activity were observed in this heavily pre-treated population.

Citation Format: Anthony Gonçalves, Mathilde Guerin, Nicolas Isambert, Mario Campone, Keyvan Resai, Aurélie Autret, Jihane Pakradouni, Alexie Robert, Magali Provansal, Emmanuelle Charafe-Jauffret, Renaud Sabatier, Alice Hervieu, Jean-Marc Extra, Patrice Viens, François Lokiec, Jean-Marie Boher. PIKHER2: A phase Ib study evaluating oral BKM120 in combination with lapatinib in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr A118.

Plasma NOV/CCN3 levels are closely associated with obesity in patients with metabolic disorders

OBJECTIVE

Evidence points to a founder of the multifunctional CCN family, NOV/CCN3, as a circulating molecule involved in cardiac development, vascular homeostasis and inflammation. No data are available on the relationship between plasma NOV/CCN3 levels and cardiovascular risk factors in humans. This study investigated the possible relationship between plasma NOV levels and cardiovascular risk factors in humans.

METHODS

NOV levels were measured in the plasma from 594 adults with a hyperlipidemia history and/or with lipid-lowering therapy and/or a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2). Correlations were measured between NOV plasma levels and various parameters, including BMI, fat mass, and plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and C-reactive protein. NOV expression was also evaluated in adipose tissue from obese patients and rodents and in primary cultures of adipocytes and macrophages.

RESULTS

After full multivariate adjustment, we detected a strong positive correlation between plasma NOV and BMI (r = 0.36 p<0.0001) and fat mass (r = 0.33 p<0.0005). According to quintiles, this relationship appeared to be linear. NOV levels were also positively correlated with C-reactive protein but not with total cholesterol, LDL-C or blood glucose. In patients with drastic weight loss induced by Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery, circulating NOV levels decreased by 28% (p<0.02) and 48% (p<0.0001) after 3 and 6 months, respectively, following surgery. In adipose tissue from obese patients, and in human primary cultures NOV protein was detected in adipocytes and macrophages. In mice fed a high fat diet NOV plasma levels and its expression in adipose tissue were also significantly increased compared to controls fed a standard diet.

CONCLUSION

Our results strongly suggest that in obese humans and mice plasma NOV levels positively correlated with NOV expression in adipose tissue, and support a possible contribution of NOV to obesity-related inflammation.

Abstract 384: Nov/ccn3: A Potential Antagonist of Angiotensin Ii Effects in Kidney Disease

Progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a constant challenge for the identification of new therapeutic targets. The NOV/CCN3 matricellular protein, belonging to the CCN (CYR61/CCN1, CTGF/CCN2, NOV/CCN3) family, could represent a new endogenous inhibitor of the fibrotic process that plays a crucial role in tissue damage and regression of renal function. However, the relation between NOV and renal disease remains unclear. Our objective was to study whether alterations in renal NOV expression are involved in the progression of CKD. NOV mRNA expression was significantly induced by 2.5-3 fold at 12-16 weeks in renin-transgenic mice (RenTg), a well established model of AngII-mediated nephropathy, through the Angiotensin receptor 1 (AT 1 R) compared to normotensive control animals (n=7 mice per group, p<0.05). NOV immunodetection revealed an up-regulation mainly in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in the renal cortex of RenTg mice. Interestingly, NOV expression was inversely correlated to known fibrotic markers such as Connective tissue growth factor, Transforming growth factor and collagen I, during the progression of renal disease in RenTg mice. NOV up-regulation at mRNA and protein levels (∼ 2.5 fold p<0.05) by AngII through AT 1 R was also observed in VSMC cultures. Furthermore, infection of these cells with an adenovirus recombinant for NOV strongly repressed in a dose-dependent manner the expression of the Angiotensin Receptor 1 reaching 72 and 78% (p<0.05) at mRNA and protein levels respectively. Treatment with exogenous NOV gave similar results. Conversely, knocking down NOV by small interfering RNA increased Angiotensin Receptor 1 by ∼3.5 to 4.5 fold and by ∼7.5 fold (p<0.05) at mRNA and protein levels respectively. These results indicate that NOV is involved in an AngII- AT 1 R regulatory loop. In subsequent studies the NOV-induced downregulation of AT 1 R was abrogated by integrin β1 specific siRNAs. Thus, NOV can attenuate the deleterious profibrotic effects of AngII during the progression of CKD and may provide a potential therapeutic option against this pathology.

Strategies for proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 modulation: a perspective on recent patents

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a new actor discovered in 2003 that is implicated in autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, cholesterol homeostasis and coronary heart disease. It has been shown to degrade the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor independently of its catalytic activity. Several pharmacological strategies to reduce PCSK9 are being thoroughly investigated.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW

This article reviews all different strategies that are presently pursued to modulate the functional activity of PCSK9 which is a prime target for controlling LDL-cholesterol. It also provides a briefing of all the patents up to July 2010 from various organizations including pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions that have been submitted and/or approved.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN

This review is addressed to researchers from academia and pharmaceutical companies who are engaged in PCSK9 research/cholesterol regulation and in the development of cholesterol lowering drugs. Readers will gain an up-to-date overview of the different strategies that have been investigated to reduce PCSK9 including antisense technology and specific antibodies.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Clinical trials have been launched using RNA interference approaches to reduce PCSK9 expression or specific antibodies targeting and inhibiting PCSK9 interaction with the LDL receptor. They constitute very promising approaches to reducing cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease.