Pembrolizumab versus placebo as post-nephrectomy adjuvant therapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-564): 30-month follow-up analysis of a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The first interim analysis of the KEYNOTE-564 study showed improved disease-free survival with adjuvant pembrolizumab compared with placebo after surgery in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma at an increased risk of recurrence. The analysis reported here, with an additional 6 months of follow-up, was designed to assess longer-term efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab versus placebo, as well as additional secondary and exploratory endpoints.

METHODS

In the multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial, adults aged 18 years or older with clear cell renal cell carcinoma with an increased risk of recurrence were enrolled at 213 hospitals and cancer centres in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Eligible participants had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, had undergone nephrectomy 12 weeks or less before randomisation, and had not received previous systemic therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) via central permuted block randomisation (block size of four) to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo intravenously every 3 weeks for up to 17 cycles. Randomisation was stratified by metastatic disease status (M0 vs M1), and the M0 group was further stratified by ECOG performance status and geographical region. All participants and investigators involved in study treatment administration were masked to the treatment group assignment. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival by investigator assessment in the intention-to-treat population (all participants randomly assigned to a treatment). Safety was assessed in the safety population, comprising all participants who received at least one dose of pembrolizumab or placebo. As the primary endpoint was met at the first interim analysis, updated data are reported without p values. This study is ongoing, but no longer recruiting, and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03142334.

FINDINGS

Between June 30, 2017, and Sept 20, 2019, 994 participants were assigned to receive pembrolizumab (n=496) or placebo (n=498). Median follow-up, defined as the time from randomisation to data cutoff (June 14, 2021), was 30·1 months (IQR 25·7-36·7). Disease-free survival was better with pembrolizumab compared with placebo (HR 0·63 [95% CI 0·50-0·80]). Median disease-free survival was not reached in either group. The most common all-cause grade 3-4 adverse events were hypertension (in 14 [3%] of 496 participants) and increased alanine aminotransferase (in 11 [2%]) in the pembrolizumab group, and hypertension (in 13 [3%] of 498 participants) in the placebo group. Serious adverse events attributed to study treatment occurred in 59 (12%) participants in the pembrolizumab group and one (<1%) participant in the placebo group. No deaths were attributed to pembrolizumab.

INTERPRETATION

Updated results from KEYNOTE-564 support the use of adjuvant pembrolizumab monotherapy as a standard of care for participants with renal cell carcinoma with an increased risk of recurrence after nephrectomy.

FUNDING

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Inc, Rahway, NJ, USA.

Association of pathological clinical characteristics, PD L 1 receptor expression (sp 142), with tumor lymphocytic infiltration cells (TILs) in patients (pts) with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in Tucumán, Argentina

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Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent tumor in women and the leading cause of cancer death in women. TNBC has the worst prognosis among BC subtypes and limited treatment options, mainly including chemotherapy. The efficacy of immunotherapy is clear for immunogenic tumors, such as melanoma, kidney cancer, non-lung cancer small cell, among others. BC seems to be less immunogenic. Basal-type TNBC present a prominent infiltration of inflammatory cells, suggesting that an immune pathway plays a role in tumorogenesis. The development of immunotherapy (IO)has reached an important turning point in the history of cancer treatment based on the use of the immune system itself to fight tumor cells. PD-L1 overexpression is the only predictive response biomarker for anti-PD-1 / PD-L1 therapy that is accepted in TNBM. Methods: Retrospectively, 68 cases of TNBC from the Pathological Anatomy Service of the Ntra. Sra. De las Mercedes Maternity Institute, of Tucumán, between 2010 and 2016 were analyzed. VENTANA anti PDL1 sp142 assay platform was used. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC) are scored as the proportion of tumor area that is occupied by PD-L1 staining IC of any intensity. A specimen should be considered to have PD-L1 expression if the specimen exhibits ≥ 1% IC. In addition, carcinomas with a proportion greater than 50% of lymphocytic infiltration and its association with the expression of PD L1 were studied according to the recommendations of the International TILs Working group. Results: The median age of the patients was 56 years (21-80). The predominant histological type was non-specific type ductal carcinoma, reported in 45/68 cases (66%), following the medullar 9 / 68 (13%) lobular in 8/68 (11%), metaplastic 3/68 (4%) and other 4%. The tumor grade (G), half of the cases were G 3 with 34/68 (50%), G 2 with 42%. The largest proportion of pts, 42%, had no lymph node (LN) involvement, 33% had between 1 to 3 positive LN and 25% showed 4 or more LN. Stage II 39/68 patients (58%) in stage III 20/68 (30%), I (9%, 6) and IV (3%, 2). 16% (11/68) of the patients were PD-L1 positive. Tumors with lymphocytic infiltration between 0% and 10% expressed 24% (2/37), no expression was observed in tumors with TIls between 10 and 50% and in cases with lymphocytic infiltration greater than 50% expression of PD L was observed 1 in 9/18 cases (50%) (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: It was demonstrated that there is an association between the stromal lymphocytic infiltrate (TILs) and the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells, in this population of women from Tucumán, which would help to select patients as candidates for anti PD L1 therapies.

Geolocation of uterine cervical neoplasms (UCN) in the context of a prevention program in Tucumán, Argentina

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Background: : UCN is one of the major public health problems in Tucumán, that must be related to the type of population to which it belongs (Rural or Urban). Geolocation allows the processing and analysis of geographic information whose results support decision-making in solving complex planning and management problems on the territory. The objective of this study is to carry out management quality controls of the PPCCUT (Programa de Prevención de Cáncer Cervical Uterino-Tucumán) to achieve adequate prevention and detection of uterine cervical lesions in the province. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study of 1343 women, (16-90 years), with a biopsy diagnosis UCN, under PPCCUT (years 2013-2020). Preanalytical work: allowed the review quality the registries and the diagnoses follow-up. Data recollection from SITAM (Online Information System for Screening), population registry database. Variables: Address: registered in SITAM, joined by information from the provincial female electoral roll 2019. Histological Diagnosis: High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), Invasive Squamous Carcinoma (ISC), Adenocarcinoma In situ (AIS), Invasive Adenocarcinoma (IDA). Analytical work: The conversion from address to latitude and longitude was performed by programming Google Sheet. This data was segmented by hospital center and opened in layers inside QGIS, as well as the map of Argentina. Results: Preanalytical. Register showed from 1343 patients received 1748 biopsies, were excluded 160 without address (incomplete data loading by the effectors). Lack of coordination in diagnosis area: 33 patients received first “in situ diagnosis” and in a short time later were consider “invasive lesions”. Some Patients had 2 bis 6 biopsies with same diagnosis. Analytical (geolocation): showed the influence of PPCCUT outside the province, including living abroad. It was found correlation between patients’ distribution with the population density. Conclusions: The importance of the work lays in the lack of antecedents in the application of the geolocation tool in programs of UCN in Tucumán and in other regions of Argentina. This allowed monitoring in different aspects of the programmatic management.

HPV test self collection versus CO-testing (2015-2018): New experience in a screening program in a northern province of Argentina, Tucumán

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Background: The benefits of population screening under the program in women at risk of uterine cervical cancer both methodsof detection, the search of lesions by gynecological cytology or the search for infection by oncogenic virus of the VPH family is widely demonstrated. Each of them has considerations to favor and others against. In Tucuman the two are applied since December 2014. Objective:to analyze partial results of the first stage of application of two methods under population screening program in women at risk of cervical cancer in Tucumán, Argentina. Methods: We analized the period December 2014 December 2018 of the files of the national register (SITAM: Sistema de Información de tamizaje- It is an on-line information system that allows the nominalized registration of women who access studies, diagnoses and treatments for the prevention of cervical cancer).49337samples from non-pregnant, aged 30 and older women without health insurance were included. 2 collection methods were applied: "Co-testing" (CT), cytological for PAP test and biological sampling for HPV Test ((T-HPV) and "Self-collected sampling" (SC) biological material for T-HPV. In cytology, Pap smear were stained with Papanicolaou and for the biological material, T-HPV Hybrid Capture was applied to detect 13 oncogenic HPV types. Bethesda System was used for cytological diagnosis. Results: until 2019 January, 49337 samples were processed, 7352 (14,8%) womenhave HPV oncogenic. Conclusions: the application of T-HPV to SC samples showed a interesting positivity,demonstrating once again T-HPV is an important strategy in the cervical cáncer prevention program.[Table: see text]

A randomized, multicenter clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of pegfilgrastim (GEMA BIOTECH) compared to pegfilgrastim (Roche) for prevention of chemotherapy induced neutropenia in patients with breast cancer

3113

Background: Peg-Neutropine, GEMA BIOTECH SAU biosimilar Peg-Filgrastim, is the first Peg-Filgrastim approved in LATAM for prevention of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Methods: Study population: women with stage 2, 3 or 4 of breast cancer scheduled to receive 4 or 6 cycles of chemotherapy (with Taxane) at 3 weeks interval. Stratification was based on breast cancer stage. Study drug was administered subcutaneously in a 6 mg dose. The study was blind to the assessors. The primary endpoint was Duration of Severe Neutropenia (DSN, Absolute Neutrophil Count-ANC < 500/mm3) in the first cycle of chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints were incidence of severe neutropenia (SN), other efficacy measures, and incidence of ADRs. The non-inferiority margin for DSN was estimated in less than 1 day. Results: A total of 120 subjects were randomized 1:1, 58 were treated with Peg-Neutropine and 62 with Peg-Filgrastim (Roche). Efficacy: SN was developed in 52/283 (18,4%) cycles with Peg-Neutropine in 27 patients and 48/297 (16,2%) cycles with Peg-Filgrastim (Roche) in 20 patients (p=0,4836). In the first cycle, 16 patients with Peg-Neutropine and 11 patients with Peg-Filgrastim (Roche) developed SN. In per protocol analysis mean DNS in the first cycle was 0,78 ± 1,53 days for Peg-Neutropine group and 0,53±1,25 for Peg-Filgrastim (Roche) group (95% IC for the difference -0,26; 0,76). Per ITT analysis the mean DSN was 0,90±1,79 for Peg- Neutropine group and 0,50±1,21 for Peg-Filgrastim (Roche) group , (95% IC for the difference -0,15; 0,95). For all the efficacy secondary endpoints the differences were not statistically significant. Safety: 7 ADRs were developed by 3 subjects with Peg-Neutropine and 31 ADRs were developed by 10 subjects with Peg-Filgrastim (Roche). The most common reaction was myalgia, and other ADRs were arthralgia, asthenia, bone pain and acid sensitive syndrome. Conclusions: Based on the non-inferiority margin established we conclude that Peg-Neutropine is biosimilar to Peg-Filgrastim (Roche). Clinical trial information: NCT03404752.

Exploring disparities in incidence and mortality rates of breast and gynecologic cancers according to the Human Development Index in the Pan-American region

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a country's Human Development Index (HDI) can help explain the differences in the country's breast cancer and gynecological cancer incidence and mortality rates in the Pan-American region.

STUDY DESIGN

Ecological analysis.

METHODS

Pan-American region countries with publicly available data both in GLOBOCAN 2012 and the United Nations Development Report 2012 were included (n = 28). Incidence and mortality rates age-standardized per 100,000 were natural log-transformed for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, corpus uteri cancer, and cervical cancer. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was calculated for each site. Pearson's correlation test and a simple linear regression were performed.

RESULTS

The HDI showed a positive correlation with breast cancer and ovarian cancer incidence and mortality rates, respectively, and a negative correlation with cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. The HDI and corpus uteri cancer showed no association. MIR and the HDI showed a negative correlation for all tumor types except ovarian cancer. An increment in 1 HDI unit leads to changes in cancer rates: in breast cancer incidence β = 4.03 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.61; 5.45) P < 0.001, breast cancer mortality β = 1.76 (95% CI 0.32; 3.21) P = 0.019, and breast cancer-MIR β = -0.705 (95% CI 0.704; 0.706) P < 0.001; in cervical cancer incidence β = -3.28 (95% CI -4.78; -1.78) P < 0.001, cervical cancer mortality β = -4.63 (95% CI -6.10; -3.17) P < 0.001, and cervical cancer-MIR β = -1.35 (95% CI -1.83; -0.87) P < 0.001; in ovarian cancer incidence β = 3.26 (95% CI 1.78; 4.75) P < 0.001, ovarian cancer mortality β = 1.82 (95% CI 0.44; 3.20) P = 0.012, and ovarian cancer-MIR β = 5.10 (95% CI 3.22; 6.97) P < 0.001; in corpus uteri cancer incidence β = 2.37 (95% CI -0.33; 5.06) P = 0.83, corpus uteri cancer mortality β = 0.68 (95% CI -2.68; 2.82) P = 0.96, and corpus uteri cancer-MIR β = -2.30 (95% CI -3.19; -1.40) P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

A country's HDI should be considered to understand disparities in breast cancer and gynecological cancer in the Pan-American region.

Evaluation of online search (OS) by patients with cancer in a private (Pr) and a public (Pu) institution

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Background: Information technologies, such as Internet, have an impact on the field of medicine. Cancer diagnosis leads patients (pts) to inform about their illness. Objectives: To determine the percentage and motivation of pts who browse online about their illness. The most frequent cause to avoid OS according to the institution. Whether OS had an influence on the therapeutic decision. Whether the educational level (EL) and Age Cohort (AC) are related to the frequency of OS. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. The data was collected from anonymous surveys to pts who made a consult from March to April, 2015 in Pu; and from February to April, 2016 in Pr Results: 360 surveys were made. 180 in Pr, and 180 in Pu. Gender: 55% female. AC: 4% 18-31 y; 13% 32-45 y; 38% 46-59 y; and 45% of 60 y or older. EL: Elementary 43%; High school 42%; College/University 15%. OS: Pu: 17%. Pr: 32%. Reasons to avoid OS: The info provided by the doctor is enough Pr: 24% Pu: 16%; Pr 18.69%, Pu 1.35% avoid further info; Pr 40%, PuI 35% ignore how to use the Internet; Pr 17%, Pu 47% lack Internet access. Reasons for OS: the doctor does not provide enough info Pr 39% Pu 14%; to add further info: Pr 61% Pu 86%. Considers trustworthy info: Always Pr 13% PuI 31%; Sometimes Pr 81% PuI 66% Never Pr 6% PuI 6%.Useful information to make decisions about their treatment: Pr 83% Pu 81% EL/OS:p = 0.001. AT/OS: p = 0.001. Institution/OS:p = 0.001. Conclusions: More than 75% of pts did not consult online mainly due to lack of internet access. 20% considers that the information is always trustworthy, in 80% was useful for the decision making of their treatment. A significant relation among EL, AC and the institution was found, thus showing that the younger the age –and the higher the academic training-, the more OS is made by oncology pts. That is the reason why we consider that raising awareness about these factors in order to properly guide pts into an adequate and trustworthy OS could improve the process of decision making.

Abstract P4-12-26: A phase II randomized study of lapatinib in combination with capecitabine, vinorelbine or gemcitabine as first or second line-therapy in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer progressing after taxane (LACOG 0801)

Background:

Lapatinib-Capecitabine (LC) is approved for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose tumors overexpress HER2 and who have received prior therapy including an anthracycline, a taxane (T), and trastuzumab (H). LACOG 0801 evaluated different L-based chemotherapies as first and second-line treatments in MBC.

Methods:

This is a randomized, open label, multicenter, phase II trial of L 1250 mg BID given continuously in combination with C 2000 mg/m2 d1-14 (LC), or Vinorelbine (V) 25mg/m2 d1 and 8 (LV) or Gemcitabine (G) 1000 mg/m2 d1 and 8 (LG), in 21 days cycles. Primary endpoint was ORR (RECIST). Secondary endpoints included progression free survival (PFS), overall survival, tolerability and safety. Patients with HER2 positive MBC who had failed a T-based treatment and who had ≤1 chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting were included. Prior therapy with H was not mandatory. Patients were stratified by the presence of liver metastasis, previous use of H, and T administered in the neo/adjuvant or the metastatic setting. With an expected ORR of 23% in the control arm (LC), we hypothesized an absolute increase of 12% in the experimental arms using Simon's design.

Results:

A total of 142 pts from Argentina, Brazil and Peru were included from 2009-2012. Patient baseline characteristics were well balanced between the three arms. Median age was 51y, 58% postmenopausal, 65% ECOG 1, 49% had visceral disease (32% liver metastasis), 57% hormone receptor negative and only 47% had received prior H. Median number of administered cycles was 6 (LC = 5; LV = 7; LG = 6). ORR was 47.1% (95%CI 38.5; 67.1), 55.6% (95%CI 29.6; 60.0) and 41.3% (95%CI 43.2; 73.0) in LC, LV and LG, respectively. Median PFS was 9.1m (95%CI 6.1; 14.7), 7.0m (95%CI 5.0; 9.9) and 6.8m (95%CI 5.8; 9.9) in LC, LV and LG arms respectively. Survival data will be updated. The proportion of patients with at least one adverse event (AE) was 96% in all arms. Most common all grade AE were diarrhea (76%), hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (45%) and vomiting (39%) in LC; diarrhea (71%), neutropenia (68%) and nausea (43%) in LV; diarrhea (64%), neutropenia (60%), anemia and increased ALT both 44% in LG. The most frequent grade 3 and 4 AEs were HFS (18%), diarrhea (6%) and increased ALT/AST (4%) in LC; neutropenia (36%), diarrhea (9%) and febrile neutropenia (6%) in LV; and neutropenia (47%), ALT/AST elevation (13%) and rash (4%) in LG. Discontinuation due to toxicity occurred in 16%, 7% and 20% of patients in arms LC, LV and LG respectively.

Conclusion:

LV and LG seems to be active combinations in patients with HER2 positive MBC after T failure. The high ORR observed in this study might be explained, among other factors, by the inclusion of patients with less prior treatment exposure. No new safety signals where reported with these two novel Lapatinib/chemotherapy combinations. The different side effect profile may help in selecting the most appropriate regimen for a particular patient.

Sponsor: Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) with support from GlaxoSmithKline.

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01050322.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-12-26.

Breast cancer biomolecular profile in 909 patients of a lower-incomes province in Argentina

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Background: Recent reports of the increasing incidence of BC in low and middle-income countries highlights the need to have a better understanding of prognostic biomarkers with clinical utility. The aims of this study were to analyze the biomolecular profile in a population with BC of Tucumán, Argentine. Methods: The study population consisted of 909 patients with primary or metastatic BC. The immunostainning results for hormones receptors (ER-PR) and Her2/neu protein expression in patients with histological breast diagnosis were assessed. The study design was cross sectional and the statistical study was exploratory. We compared the frequencies of patients with ER+/PR+/Her2-, ER+/PR-/Her2-, ER+/PR+/Her2+, ER+/PR-/Her2+, ER-/PR-/Her2+ and ER-/PR-/Her2- with those published in 2011 by St Gallen and relative variations were calculated to meet the relative percentages of the differences. Results: 893 were studied for all three. Molecular Expression (Population: 909): ER 58% (486/841); PR 48% (405/841); Her2 10% (85/893) Population Age: 21-89 years old (mean 58 yrs). Conclusions: The molecular profile in BC in our province seems to be different of the previously reported in western countries (St Gallen 2011), showing a more aggressive biomolecular profile with higher incidence of triple negative patients and lower incidence of Her2neu positive. With these results it is possible to assume that we are dealing with a population with particular characteristics. [Table: see text]

F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBXW7) mRNA and outcome in biliary tract cancer

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Background: Thestandard treatment for biliary tract cancer is gemcitabine plus platinum, but median progression-free survival (PFS) is only 5-8 months (m) (Valle et al, NEJM 2010). Gene expression or somatic mutations may influence the clinical phenotype, which will affect decisions on individualized treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed tissue blocks from 54 advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder or ampulllary cancer patients (p) treated with single-agent gemcitabine or gemcitabine plus carboplatin or cisplatin. Using RT-PCR, we analyzed the mRNA expression levels of oncogenes, tumor suppressors and DNA repair genes (BRCA1, RRM1, AEG-1, RAP80, SPINK1 and FBXW7) and correlated results with PFS, overall survival (OS) and response. In addition, FBXW7 hotspot mutations were assessed. Results: p characteristics: 72% females; median age, 60 (40-87). Only FBXW7 expression correlated with PFS and OS. When FBXW7 levels were dichotomized at the median value, PFS was 4.2 m for p with low levels vs 12.6 m for p with high levels (p=0.02). When FBXW7 expression was divided by terciles, PFS was 4.9 m for p in the lowest tercile, 7.6 for p in the intermediate tercile, and 26.9 m for p in the highest tercile (p=0.08). OS was 6.2 m for p in the lowest tercile, 8 m for p in the intermediate tercile, and not reached for p in the highest tercile. No other significant correlation was observed between expression levels of the other genes examined and PFS or OS. Only AEG-1 expression correlated with response (p=0.05). No FBXW7 hotspot mutations were detected. Conclusions: Although we did not find the FBXW7 hotspot mutations previously described in biliary tract cancer, FBXW7 mRNA expression significantly influenced PFS and OS. A separate cohort of p is being analyzed to validate the prognostic role of FBXW7.

Phase II study of cisplatin and 120-hour continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Advanced pancreatic carcinoma (APC) is a rapidly fatal disease and an active chemotherapy with palliative effects and impact on patient survival is needed. 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with cisplatin (CDDP) has a recognized synergistic activity, but its activity in APC has never been well established.

METHODS

Forty eligible patients (pts) with measurable APC were treated in a phase II trial with 5-FU 1000 mg/m2/day from day 1 to day 5 by continuous intravenous infusion and CDDP 100 mg/m2 on day 2. Eighty percent of the pts (36/40) had metastatic disease, 32.5% (13/40) were previously treated and 65% (26/40) had performance states of 2 or 3.

RESULTS

Of 38 evaluable pts, one had a complete response and 9 achieved partial responses; the overall response rate (RR) was 26.5% (95% CI: 12% to 40%). The median duration of responses was 10 months (range 4-18). The RR in non-pretreated pts was 32% A palliative effect was seen in 45% of pts (17/38). The median survival was 7 months and 12 pts (29%) were alive at 1 year. Leukopenia was the most important toxicity; 11 pts (27%) had a grade 4 leukopenia and 3 had neutropenic fever.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of CDDP and 5-FU in continuous infusion seems an active and well tolerated treatment in APC and will be compared to standard therapy in a multicentric randomized trial.