Therapy-Induced Senescence Contributes to the Efficacy of Abemaciclib in Patients with Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma

PURPOSE

We conducted research on CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) simultaneously in the preclinical and clinical spaces to gain a deeper understanding of how senescence influences tumor growth in humans.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We coordinated a first-in-kind phase II clinical trial of the CDK4/6i abemaciclib for patients with progressive dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) with cellular studies interrogating the molecular basis of geroconversion.

RESULTS

Thirty patients with progressing DDLS enrolled and were treated with 200 mg of abemaciclib twice daily. The median progression-free survival was 33 weeks at the time of the data lock, with 23 of 30 progression-free at 12 weeks (76.7%, two-sided 95% CI, 57.7%-90.1%). No new safety signals were identified. Concurrent preclinical work in liposarcoma cell lines identified ANGPTL4 as a necessary late regulator of geroconversion, the pathway from reversible cell-cycle exit to a stably arrested inflammation-provoking senescent cell. Using this insight, we were able to identify patients in which abemaciclib induced tumor cell senescence. Senescence correlated with increased leukocyte infiltration, primarily CD4-positive cells, within a month of therapy. However, those individuals with both senescence and increased TILs were also more likely to acquire resistance later in therapy. These suggest that combining senolytics with abemaciclib in a subset of patients may improve the duration of response.

CONCLUSIONS

Abemaciclib was well tolerated and showed promising activity in DDLS. The discovery of ANGPTL4 as a late regulator of geroconversion helped to define how CDK4/6i-induced cellular senescence modulates the immune tumor microenvironment and contributes to both positive and negative clinical outcomes. See related commentary by Weiss et al., p. 649.

Overcoming clinical resistance to EZH2 inhibition using rational epigenetic combination therapy

Epigenetic dependencies have become evident in many cancers. Based on antagonism between BAF/SWI/SNF and PRC2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas, we recently completed the clinical trial of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat. However, the principles of tumor response to epigenetic therapy in general, and tazemetostat in particular, remain unknown. Using functional genomics and diverse experimental models, we define molecular mechanisms of tazemetostat resistance in SMARCB1-deficient tumors. We found distinct acquired mutations that converge on the RB1/E2F axis and decouple EZH2-dependent differentiation and cell cycle control. This allows tumor cells to escape tazemetostat-induced G1 arrest, suggests a general mechanism for effective therapy, and provides prospective biomarkers for therapy stratification, including PRICKLE1. Based on this, we develop a combination strategy to circumvent tazemetostat resistance using bypass targeting of AURKB. This offers a paradigm for rational epigenetic combination therapy suitable for translation to clinical trials for epithelioid sarcomas, rhabdoid tumors, and other epigenetically dysregulated cancers.

PDGFRβ Signaling Cooperates with β-Catenin to Modulate c-Abl and Biologic Behavior of Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis

PURPOSE

This study sought to identify β-catenin targets that regulate desmoid oncogenesis and determine whether external signaling pathways, particularly those inhibited by sorafenib (e.g., PDGFRβ), affect these targets to alter natural history or treatment response in patients.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

In vitro experiments utilized primary desmoid cell lines to examine regulation of β-catenin targets. Relevance of results was assessed in vivo using Alliance trial A091105 correlative biopsies.

RESULTS

CTNNB1 knockdown inhibited hypoxia-regulated gene expression in vitro and reduced levels of HIF1α protein. ChIP-seq identified ABL1 as a β-catenin transcriptional target that modulated HIF1α and desmoid cell proliferation. Abrogation of either CTNNB1 or HIF1A inhibited desmoid cell-induced VEGFR2 phosphorylation and tube formation in endothelial cell co-cultures. Sorafenib inhibited this activity directly but also reduced HIF1α protein expression and c-Abl activity while inhibiting PDGFRβ signaling in desmoid cells. Conversely, c-Abl activity and desmoid cell proliferation were positively regulated by PDGF-BB. Reduction in PDGFRβ and c-Abl phosphorylation was commonly observed in biopsy samples from patients after treatment with sorafenib; markers of PDGFRβ/c-Abl pathway activation in baseline samples were associated with tumor progression in patients on the placebo arm and response to sorafenib in patients receiving treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The β-catenin transcriptional target ABL1 is necessary for proliferation and maintenance of HIF1α in desmoid cells. Regulation of c-Abl activity by PDGF signaling and targeted therapies modulates desmoid cell proliferation, thereby suggesting a reason for variable biologic behavior between tumors, a mechanism for sorafenib activity in desmoids, and markers predictive of outcome in patients.

Immune-related Adverse Events after Immune Checkpoint Blockade-based Therapy Are Associated with Improved Survival in Advanced Sarcomas

The association between immune-related AEs (irAE) and outcome in patients with sarcoma is not known. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of patients with advanced sarcoma treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based therapy. Association of irAEs with survival was assessed using a Cox regression model that incorporated irAE occurrence as a time-dependent covariate. Tumor samples with available RNA sequencing data were stratified by presence of an irAE to identify patterns of differential gene expression. A total of 131 patients were included. Forty-two (32%) had at least one irAE of any grade and 16 (12%) had at least one grade ≥ 3 irAE. The most common irAEs were hypothyroidism (8.3%), arthralgias (5.3%), pneumonitis (4.6%), allergic reaction (3.8%), and elevated transaminases (3.8%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from the time of study entry were 11.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.7-15.0) and 74.6 weeks (CI, 44.9-89.7), respectively. On Cox analysis adjusting for clinical covariates that were significant in the univariate setting, the HR for an irAE (HR, 0.662; CI, 0.421-1.041) approached, but did not reach statistical significance for PFS (P = 0.074). Patients had a significantly lower HR for OS (HR, 0.443; CI, 0.246-0.798; P = 0.007) compared with those without or before an irAE. Gene expression profiling on baseline tumor samples found that patients who had an irAE had higher numbers of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells as well as upregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways.

SIGNIFICANCE

irAE after ICB therapy was associated with an improved OS; it also approached statistical significance for improved PFS. Patients who had an irAE were more likely to have an inflamed tumor microenvironment at baseline.

GOunder/Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation DEsmoid Symptom/Impact Scale (GODDESS©): psychometric properties and clinically meaningful thresholds as assessed in the Phase 3 DeFi randomized controlled clinical trial

PURPOSE

The GODDESS© tool was developed to assess Desmoid Tumor/Aggressive Fibromatosis (DT/AF) symptom severity and impact on patients' lives. This study evaluated GODDESS©'s cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement properties.

METHODS

The Phase 3, randomized placebo-controlled, DeFi study (NCT03785964) of nirogacestat in DT/AF was used to assess GODDESS©'s reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, and estimate of meaningful change thresholds (MCTs). Other patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures included Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGIS) in DT/AF symptoms, EORTC QLQ-C30, Brief Pain Inventory Short Form, and PROMIS Physical Function short-form 10a v2.0 plus 3 items.

RESULTS

DeFi participants (N = 142) had a median age of 34 years (range: 18-76) and were mostly female (64.8%), with extra-abdominal (76.8%) or intra-abdominal tumors (23.2%). The GODDESS© symptom/impact scales showed internal consistency at baseline, cycles 4 and 7 (Cronbach's α > 0.70) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient > 0.85). GODDESS© scales correlated moderately to highly with PRO measures capturing similar content and differentiated among PGIS and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group groups. GODDESS© scales detected improvement over time. For the total symptom score, a 1.30-point decrease was estimated as the within-person MCT and a 1.00-point decrease as the between-group MCT. For the physical functioning impact score, estimated within- and between-group MCTs were 0.60-point and 0.50-point decreases, respectively. Few participants exhibited symptom worsening.

CONCLUSION

GODDESS© was found to be reliable, valid, responsive, and interpretable as a clinical trial endpoint in the pooled sample of DT/AF patients. Estimated MCTs can be used to define responders and assess group-level differences in future, unblinded, efficacy analyses.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND REGISTRATION DATE

NCT03785964; December 24, 2018.

The MDM2-p53 Antagonist Brigimadlin (BI 907828) in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors: Results of a Phase Ia, First-in-Human, Dose-Escalation Study

Brigimadlin (BI 907828) is an oral MDM2-p53 antagonist that has shown encouraging antitumor activity in vivo. We present phase Ia results from an open-label, first-in-human, phase Ia/Ib study investigating brigimadlin in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT03449381). Fifty-four patients received escalating doses of brigimadlin on day 1 of 21-day cycles (D1q3w) or days 1 and 8 of 28-day cycles (D1D8q4w). Based on dose-limiting toxicities during cycle 1, the maximum tolerated dose was selected as 60 mg for D1q3w and 45 mg for D1D8q4w. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were nausea (74.1%) and vomiting (51.9%); the most common grade ≥3 TRAEs were thrombocytopenia (25.9%) and neutropenia (24.1%). As evidence of target engagement, time- and dose-dependent increases in growth differentiation factor 15 levels were seen. Preliminary efficacy was encouraging (11.1% overall response and 74.1% disease control rates), particularly in patients with well-differentiated or dedifferentiated liposarcoma (100% and 75% disease control rates, respectively).

SIGNIFICANCE

We report phase Ia data indicating that the oral MDM2-p53 antagonist brigimadlin has a manageable safety profile and shows encouraging signs of efficacy in patients with solid tumors, particularly those with MDM2-amplified advanced/metastatic well-differentiated or dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Further clinical investigation of brigimadlin is ongoing. See related commentary by Italiano, p. 1765. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1749.

A Phase II Study of Epacadostat and Pembrolizumab in Patients with Advanced Sarcoma

PURPOSE

Epacadostat, an indole 2,3 dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor, proposed to shift the tumor microenvironment toward an immune-stimulated state, showed early promise in melanoma but has not been studied in sarcoma. This study combined epacadostat with pembrolizumab, which has modest activity in select sarcoma subtypes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This phase II study enrolled patients with advanced sarcoma into five cohorts including (i) undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS)/myxofibrosarcoma, (ii) liposarcoma (LPS), (iii) leiomyosarcoma (LMS), (iv) vascular sarcoma, including angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), and (v) other subtypes. Patients received epacadostat 100 mg twice daily plus pembrolizumab at 200 mg/dose every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was best objective response rate (ORR), defined as complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), at 24 weeks by RECIST v.1.1.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were enrolled [60% male; median age 54 years (range, 24-78)]. The best ORR at 24 weeks was 3.3% [PR, n = 1 (leiomyosarcoma); two-sided 95% CI, 0.1%-17.2%]. The median PFS was 7.6 weeks (two-sided 95% CI, 6.9-26.7). Treatment was well tolerated. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 23% (n = 7) of patients. In paired pre- and post-treatment tumor samples, no association was found between treatment and PD-L1 or IDO1 tumor expression or IDO-pathway-related gene expression by RNA sequencing. No significant changes in serum tryptophan or kynurenine levels were observed after baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination epacadostat and pembrolizumab was well tolerated and showed limited antitumor activity in sarcoma. Correlative analyses suggested that inadequate IDO1 inhibition was achieved.

A First-in-Human Phase I Study of Milademetan, an MDM2 Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Liposarcoma, Solid Tumors, or Lymphomas

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of milademetan, a small-molecule murine double minute-2 (MDM2) inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this first-in-human phase I study, patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas received milademetan orally once daily as extended/continuous (days 1-21 or 1-28 every 28 days) or intermittent (days 1-7, or days 1-3 and 15-17 every 28 days) schedules. The primary objective was to determine the recommended phase II dose and schedule. Secondary objectives included tumor response according to standard evaluation criteria. Predefined analyses by tumor type were performed. Safety and efficacy analyses included all patients who received milademetan.

RESULTS

Between July 2013 and August 2018, 107 patients were enrolled and received milademetan. The most common grade 3/4 drug-related adverse events were thrombocytopenia (29.0%), neutropenia (15.0%), and anemia (13.1%). Respective rates at the recommended dose and schedule (260 mg once daily on days 1-3 and 15-17 every 28 days, ie, 3/14 days) were 15.0%, 5.0%, and 0%. Across all cohorts (N = 107), the disease control rate was 45.8% (95% CI, 36.1 to 55.7) and median progression-free survival was 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.4 to 5.7). In the subgroup with dedifferentiated liposarcomas, the disease control rate and median progression-free survival were 58.5% (95% CI, 44.1 to 71.9) and 7.2 months overall (n = 53), and 62.0% (95% CI, 35.4 to 84.8) and 7.4 months with the recommended intermittent schedule (n = 16), respectively.

CONCLUSION

An intermittent dosing schedule of 3/14 days of milademetan mitigates dose-limiting hematologic abnormalities while maintaining efficacy. Notable single-agent activity with milademetan in dedifferentiated liposarcomas has prompted a randomized phase III trial (MANTRA).

Efficacy and safety of the MDM2–p53 antagonist BI 907828 in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer: Data from two phase Ia/Ib dose-escalation/expansion trials

543

Background: Standard-of-care treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) is chemotherapy and outcomes remain poor; hence, there is a clinical need for effective targeted treatments. As MDM2 is a negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53, blocking the MDM2–p53 interaction is a potential antitumor strategy. Further, preliminary data indicate that MDM2 amplification is a negative prognostic marker in BTC. The MDM2–p53 antagonist BI 907828 has shown preclinical antitumor activity in a range of malignancies and is currently being assessed in two phase Ia/Ib dose-escalation/expansion trials in patients with advanced solid tumors: as monotherapy (NCT03449381) and in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody, ezabenlimab (NCT03964233). Here, we present data for patients with advanced BTCs in these trials. Methods: Patients in the monotherapy trial received escalating doses of BI 907828 on day 1 of 21-day cycles (q3w). Patients in the combination trial received escalating doses of BI 907828 and 240 mg ezabenlimab q3w (doublet); one patient also received the anti-LAG-3 antibody BI 754111 (a drug that has since been discontinued; triplet). Results: A total of 8 patients with BTC were enrolled in the 2 trials, 4 in the monotherapy trial and 4 in the combination trial. In the monotherapy trial, 2 patients had ampullary carcinoma (both received BI 907828 45 mg q3w), and 2 had cholangiocarcinoma (CC; 1 received BI 907828 45 mg q3w and 1 with intrahepatic CC [iCC] received 80 mg q3w). In the combination trial, 3 patients with iCC received 30 mg/45 mg BI 907828 doublet or 45 mg triplet, and 1 with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) received BI 907828 45 mg doublet. Across both trials, 5 patients achieved PR, 2/4 in the monotherapy trial and 3/4 in the combination trial. In the monotherapy trial, the responding patients had iCC (80 mg q3w; MDM2-amplified; 73% tumor shrinkage; PFS event at 404 days) and ampullary adenocarcinoma (45 mg q3w; MDM2-amplified; 51% tumor shrinkage; ongoing, PFS censored at 255 days). In the combination trial, all 3 responding patients had MDM2-amplified biliary tract adenocarcinoma (2 iCC, 1 GBC); tumor shrinkage was 49–54%; PFS was 162–241 days. A further 2 patients (1 in each trial) achieved stable disease (SD). In the monotherapy trial, most common grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) were thrombocytopenia, decreased white blood cell (WBC) count and neutropenia (2 patients each). In the combination trial, most common grade ≥3 TRAEs were anemia and decreased WBC count (3 patients each), neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (2 patients each). Conclusions: The MDM2–p53 antagonist BI 907828 has shown a manageable safety profile and encouraging preliminary efficacy in patients with BTC, with 5 PRs and 2 SD in 8 patients. A phase IIa/IIb trial of BI 907828 (45 mg q3w) in patients with BTC is planned to start recruitment at the end of 2022 (NCT05512377). Clinical trial information: NCT03449381 and NCT03964233 .

Retrospective observational studies in ultra-rare sarcomas: A consensus paper from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) community of experts on the minimum requirements for the evaluation of activity of systemic treatments

BACKGROUND

In ultra-rare sarcomas (URS) the conduction of prospective, randomized trials is challenging. Data from retrospective observational studies (ROS) may represent the best evidence available. ROS implicit limitations led to poor acceptance by the scientific community and regulatory authorities. In this context, an expert panel from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS), agreed on the need to establish a set of minimum requirements for conducting high-quality ROS on the activity of systemic therapies in URS.

METHODS

Representatives from > 25 worldwide sarcoma reference centres met in November 2020 and identified a list of topics summarizing the main issues encountered in ROS on URS. An online survey on these topics was distributed to the panel; results were summarized by descriptive statistics and discussed during a second meeting (November 2021).

RESULTS

Topics identified by the panel included the use of ROS results as external control data, the criteria for contributing centers selection, modalities for ensuring a correct pathological diagnosis and radiologic assessment, consistency of surveillance policies across centers, study end-points, risk of data duplication, results publication. Based on the answers to the survey (55 of 62 invited experts) and discussion the panel agreed on 18 statements summarizing principles of recommended practice.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations will be disseminated by CTOS across the sarcoma community and incorporated in future ROS on URS, to maximize their quality and favor their use as control data when results from prospective studies are unavailable. These recommendations could help the optimal conduction of ROS also in other rare tumors.

Selinexor in Advanced, Metastatic Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma: A Multinational, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Antitumor activity in preclinical models and a phase I study of patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DD-LPS) was observed with selinexor. We evaluated the clinical benefit of selinexor in patients with previously treated DD-LPS whose sarcoma progressed on approved agents.

METHODS

SEAL was a phase II-III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients age 12 years or older with advanced DD-LPS who had received two-five lines of therapy were randomly assigned (2:1) to selinexor (60 mg) or placebo twice weekly in 6-week cycles (crossover permitted). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Patients who received at least one dose of study treatment were included for safety analysis (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02606461).

RESULTS

Two hundred eighty-five patients were enrolled (selinexor, n = 188; placebo, n = 97). PFS was significantly longer with selinexor versus placebo: hazard ratio (HR) 0.70 (95% CI, 0.52 to 0.95; one-sided P = .011; medians 2.8 v 2.1 months), as was time to next treatment: HR 0.50 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.66; one-sided P < .0001; medians 5.8 v 3.2 months). With crossover, no difference was observed in overall survival. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade versus grade 3 or 4 with selinexor were nausea (151 [80.7%] v 11 [5.9]), decreased appetite (113 [60.4%] v 14 [7.5%]), and fatigue (96 [51.3%] v 12 [6.4%]). Four (2.1%) and three (3.1%) patients died in the selinexor and placebo arms, respectively. Exploratory RNA sequencing analysis identified that the absence of CALB1 expression was associated with longer PFS with selinexor compared with placebo (median 6.9 v 2.2 months; HR, 0.19; P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced, refractory DD-LPS showed improved PFS and time to next treatment with selinexor compared with placebo. Supportive care and dose reductions mitigated side effects of selinexor. Prospective validation of CALB1 expression as a predictive biomarker for selinexor in DD-LPS is warranted.

Abstract CT235: MANTRA: A randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study of the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan versus trabectedin in patients with de-differentiated liposarcomas

Background: Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a negative regulator of tumor suppressor protein p53. MDM2 induces degradation of p53 and promotes tumorigenesis. MDM2 amplification occurs in many cancers but is documented in up to 100% of well-differentiated or de-differentiated liposarcomas (WD/DDLPS) [Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. Cell 2017]. Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction is a promising therapeutic approach to restore p53 tumor suppressor activity in WD/DDLPS. Milademetan (RAIN-32) is a small-molecule MDM2 inhibitor that inhibits the MDM2-p53 interaction and restores p53 function at nanomolar concentrations. In a phase 1 study, milademetan showed promising efficacy in 53 patients with WD/DDLPS when administered on an intermittent schedule (260 mg QD on Days 1-3 and 15-17 on a 28-day cycle), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.4 months [Gounder et al. AACR-NCI-EORTC 2020]. WD/DDLS are relatively resistant to chemotherapy, and systemic treatment options for patients with advanced disease are limited. MANTRA (RAIN-3201) is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 3 registration study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of milademetan versus trabectedin in patients with unresectable or metastatic DDLPS with disease progression on ≥1 prior systemic therapies.

Methods: Eligible patients are ≥18 years of age with histologically confirmed unresectable and/or metastatic DDLPS, with or without a WD component, who have received ≥1 prior systemic therapies, including ≥1 anthracycline-based regimen, with radiographic evidence of progression by RECIST v1.1 within 6 months before study entry. Prior treatment with trabectedin or an MDM2 inhibitor is not permitted. Patients will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive milademetan (260 mg once daily orally Days 1-3 and 15-17 on a 28-day cycle) or trabectedin (1.5 mg/m2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks). Randomization is stratified by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 or 1) and number of prior treatments for WD/DDLPS (≤2 or &gt;2). Tumor response will be evaluated by RECIST v1.1 at Weeks 8, 16, 24, and 32, and then every 12 weeks. Primary endpoint: PFS by blinded independent central review. Secondary endpoints: overall survival; disease control rate; objective response rate; duration of response; PFS by investigator assessment; safety; health-related quality of life. Exploratory endpoints: molecular markers in peripheral blood and/or tumor tissue; milademetan pharmacokinetics. To demonstrate a 3-month increase in PFS (from 3 to 6 months) corresponding to a hazard ratio of 0.5, approximately 160 patients will be required to observe 105 events with 93.9% power and 2-sided significance level of 5%. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04979442.

Citation Format: Mrinal M. Gounder, Gary K. Schwartz, Robin L. Jones, Sant P. Chawla, Victoria S. Chua-Alcala, Silvia Stacchiotti, Andrew J. Wagner, Gregory M. Cote, Robert G. Maki, Hanna Kosela-Paterczyk, Dale R. Shepard, Naisargee Shah, Richard Bryce, Robert C. Doebele, Shreyaskumar Patel. MANTRA: A randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study of the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan versus trabectedin in patients with de-differentiated liposarcomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr CT235.

Clinical sequencing of soft tissue and bone sarcomas delineates diverse genomic landscapes and potential therapeutic targets

The genetic, biologic, and clinical heterogeneity of sarcomas poses a challenge for the identification of therapeutic targets, clinical research, and advancing patient care. Because there are > 100 sarcoma subtypes, in-depth genetic studies have focused on one or a few subtypes. Herein, we report a comparative genetic analysis of 2,138 sarcomas representing 45 pathological entities. This cohort is prospectively analyzed using targeted sequencing to characterize subtype-specific somatic alterations in targetable pathways, rates of whole genome doubling, mutational signatures, and subtype-agnostic genomic clusters. The most common alterations are in cell cycle control and TP53, receptor tyrosine kinases/PI3K/RAS, and epigenetic regulators. Subtype-specific associations include TERT amplification in intimal sarcoma and SWI/SNF alterations in uterine adenosarcoma. Tumor mutational burden, while low compared to other cancers, varies between and within subtypes. This resource will improve sarcoma models, motivate studies of subtype-specific alterations, and inform investigations of genetic factors and their correlations with treatment response.

Clinical genomic profiling in the management of patients with soft tissue and bone sarcoma

There are more than 70 distinct sarcomas, and this diversity complicates the development of precision-based therapeutics for these cancers. Prospective comprehensive genomic profiling could overcome this challenge by providing insight into sarcomas' molecular drivers. Through targeted panel sequencing of 7494 sarcomas representing 44 histologies, we identify highly recurrent and type-specific alterations that aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions. Sequencing could lead to refinement or reassignment of 10.5% of diagnoses. Nearly one-third of patients (31.7%) harbor potentially actionable alterations, including a significant proportion (2.6%) with kinase gene rearrangements; 3.9% have a tumor mutational burden ≥10 mut/Mb. We describe low frequencies of microsatellite instability (<0.3%) and a high degree of genome-wide loss of heterozygosity (15%) across sarcomas, which are not readily explained by homologous recombination deficiency (observed in 2.5% of cases). In a clinically annotated subset of 118 patients, we validate actionable genetic events as therapeutic targets. Collectively, our findings reveal the genetic landscape of human sarcomas, which may inform future development of therapeutics and improve clinical outcomes for patients with these rare cancers.

Results of a phase I dose escalation and expansion study of tegavivint (BC2059), a first-in-class TBL1 inhibitor for patients with progressive, unresectable desmoid tumor

11523

Background: Desmoid tumors are known to have increased nuclear β-catenin levels. Tegavivint selectively disrupts the interaction of β-catenin and TBL1/ TBLR1, resulting in specific degradation of nuclear β-catenin. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and preliminary efficacy of tegavivint in patients (pts) with desmoid tumors. Methods: This study ( NCT03459469) utilized an accelerated dose escalation schema for the first two dose levels followed by a 3+3 design to determine the MTD/recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of tegavivint, followed by a dose expansion phase. The study included adult pts with sporadic desmoid tumors that were progressive (20% increase in tumor volume, recurrent in one year from surgery, or symptomatic), unresectable, and measurable via WHO criteria. Tegavivint was administered IV weekly (three weeks on, one week off) up to two years. Results: 24 pts were enrolled. Dose escalation enrolled 17 pts in six dose levels from 0.5 - 5 mg/kg. In dose expansion, 7 additional pts were enrolled. Dose expansion cohort also included 6 pts in dose escalation that were escalated to RP2D and 3 pts treated at RP2D in dose escalation (n = 16 total). Median age was 43 years (18-66). Median time from diagnosis was 3.1 years with median of one prior systemic treatment (range 0-6). Median time on study was 9.4 months; 3 pts remain on study at data cut-off. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed; MTD was not determined. RP2D was declared at 5 mg/kg based on pharmacologically relevant plasma concentrations and preliminary efficacy. Trough plasma concentrations (Cmin) exceeded in vitro IC50 efficacy estimates at 4 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. Median half-life was 38 hours supporting once weekly administration. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurring in ≥20% of pts included fatigue (71%), headache (38%), nausea (33%), constipation (21%), decreased appetite (21%), and dysgeusia (21%), mostly Grade 1-2. Grade 3 TRAEs of hypophosphatemia, stomatitis, increased ALT, diarrhea, and headache occurred in 5 separate pts. There were no grade 4-5 adverse events (AEs). One serious AE of Grade 2 extravasation occurred. Objective response rate (ORR) of 17% across all dose levels and 25% at RP2D (WHO and RECIST criteria) were observed. Median duration of response was 8.1 months (range 6 to 11.8 months) with all responses ongoing. The 9-month progression free survival rate was 76% (95% CI: 54 - 90%) among all pts and 79% (95% CI: 51 – 93%) among those treated at RP2D. Patient reported outcomes and correlative science will be included in the presentation. Conclusions: Tegavivint is well tolerated with mostly Grade 1/2 AEs and no serious toxicity associated with WNT inhibition. The ORR of 25% at the RP2D warrants continued development of tegavivint in desmoid tumors. Clinical trial information: NCT03459469.

A pilot study of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sarcoma

TPS11588

Background: New treatment options are needed for sarcomas. Pazopanib is the only targeted agent approved for multiple soft tissue sarcoma (STS) subtypes with a response rate of 6% and a PFS of 4.6 months. Immunotherapy has a limited role in STS, as the SARC028 study of pembrolizumab demonstrated an overall response rate of 18%, with the highest response rate seen in the undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) cohort at 23%. Lenvatinib is an oral, multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of multiple cancer types including progressive, radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with inhibitory activity against the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR 1-3, FGFR 1-3, KIT, PDGFR alpha/beta, and RET. Early outcomes with the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab suggest that this regimen could be broadly superior to PD-1 targeting alone for several tumor types as high rates of objective response have been noted. The rationale for this study is based on preclinical work demonstrating the immunosuppressive effects of VEGF in the tumor immune microenvironment including inhibition of dendritic cell maturation, recruitment of immunosuppressive Tregs, MDSCs and TAMs and up-regulation of PD-1 on CD8+ cells. Methods: This is a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in the treatment of select metastatic and/or unresectable sarcomas. Patients will be enrolled in one of five cohorts: Cohort A: leiomyosarcoma; Cohort B: UPS; Cohort C: vascular sarcomas (including angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma); Cohort D: synovial sarcoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; and Cohort E: bone sarcomas (limited to osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma). Eligible patients should have had at least one prior therapy for unresectable and/or metastatic disease, but no more than three prior lines of therapy. Prior treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors or immunotherapy is excluded. Archival tissue is required for eligibility. Patients enrolled in the study will be treated initially with a 2 week run-in of lenvatinib 20 mg orally daily which will be continued daily thereafter. Subsequently, they will start pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 21 days. The primary endpoint for each cohort is best overall response rate documented by RECIST v1.1 Criteria at 27 weeks. A sample size of 10 patients is planned for each of the five histological cohorts. If 2 or more confirmed responses are observed among the 10 patients in an arm, the drug combination will be considered positive and worthy of further investigation for that arm. Secondary endpoints are PFS, OS, duration of response and safety/tolerability of the combination. On-treatment biopsy and blood samples will be required for correlative assessments. Accrual in all cohorts is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04784247.

A phase Ia/Ib, dose-escalation/expansion study of the MDM2–p53 antagonist BI 907828 in patients with solid tumors, including advanced/metastatic liposarcoma (LPS)

3004

Background: The highly potent MDM2–p53 antagonist BI 907828 showed antitumor efficacy in vivo, particularly in TP53 wild-type, MDM2-amplified de-differentiated LPS (DDLPS) patient-derived xenografts and syngeneic models. This phase I study (NCT03449381) is assessing BI 907828 monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors, including LPS. In Part A (dose escalation), patients received one of two BI 907828 dosing schedules: Arm A, day 1 of 21-day cycles (q3w); Arm B, days 1 and 8 of 28-day cycles. Based on previously reported results from Part A (LoRusso ASCO 2021), the MTD was 60 mg q3w and the recommended dose for expansion (RDE) was selected as 45 mg q3w. Methods: In Part B (dose expansion), patients received BI 907828 45 mg q3w. The primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints/objectives included objective response rate, overall survival, the number of patients with grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs, and PK parameters. Here, we report overall safety data and efficacy data in the subgroup of patients with advanced LPS. Results: As of January 10, 2022, 90 patients had been enrolled; 49 (54.4%) were male, 55 (61.1%)/34 (37.8%) were ECOG PS 0/1, the median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 0–11), 44 had advanced LPS (28 DDLPS, 16 well-differentiated LPS [WDLPS]). At data cut-off, 31/90 patients (34.4%) had received treatment for ≥6 months. In the 41 evaluable patients with advanced LPS, best response of PR or SD was observed in 24/27 patients with DDLPS (88.9%) and 13/14 patients with WDLPS (92.9%). Two DDLPS and 4 WDLPS patients achieved a PR; all had MDM2-amplified disease. In Part A, 5/11 DDLPS patients and 4/8 WDLPS patients have achieved PFS ≥10.5 months. In the 42 patients who received the RDE of 45 mg q3w, 18 patients (42.9%) had grade ≥3 AEs; the most common grade ≥3 AEs were neutropenia (23.8%), thrombocytopenia (21.4%), and anemia (11.9%). Seven patients (16.7%) had SAEs; the most common were thrombocytopenia (4.8%) and pyrexia (4.8%). PK analysis showed that mean plasma exposures (Cmax and AUC0-inf) increased with dose and showed no significant deviation from linearity in the dose range 10–60 mg. A correlation was observed between exposure and GDF-15 levels in plasma, as a target engagement marker. Conclusions: BI 907828 showed a manageable safety profile, high plasma exposure, target engagement and encouraging signs of antitumor activity in patients with advanced DDLPS and WDLPS. The Part B dose expansion is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03449381.

Clinicopathologic characterization of ERK2 E322K mutation in solid tumors: Implications for treatment and drug development

3135

Background: MAPK1 encodes ERK2, a kinase component of the mitogen activated signaling (MAPK) pathway. ERK2 E322K is a known activating mutation that leads to increased phosphorylation and ERK signaling. In vitro studies found this mutation to be associated with resistance to dabrafenib, trametinib, but potential sensitivity to ERK inhibitors. Despite its potential as a drug target, little is known about the clinicopathologic characteristics of this hotspot mutation across solid tumors. Methods: Patients with solid tumors underwent tumor next-generation sequencing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between Jan 2015 and Sep 2020 using the MSK-IMPACT assay. Using the cBioPortal database and clinical charts, we analyzed tumors harboring MAPK1/ERK2 E322K mutations, assessed their clinicopathologic characteristics, co-mutational status and overall survival (OS). OS was measured from time of tumor sequencing to date of death or last follow-up. Results: A total of 37 tumor samples from 35 patients were identified in 59,822 tumors sequenced (0.06%) to harbor an ERK2 E322K mutation. The distribution across tumor types was as follows: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (29%), bladder cancer (20%), lymphomas (9%), colorectal cancers (9%), gastric cancers (9%), cholangiocarcinoma (6%), cervical cancers (6%), lung cancers (6%), germ cell tumor (3%), Merkel cell carcinoma (3%), and breast cancers (3%). The OS in patients with metastatic disease and ERK2 E322K was 22.29 months (95%CI: 7.56-NA) months. Other mutations in RAS pathway frequently co-occurred with ERK2 E322K mutation (17/37, 46%). Concurrent mutations are also involved in pathways of cell cycle (71%), PI3K (71%), TP53 (66%), NOTCH (57%), RTK (51%), HIPPO (29%), TGF-beta (29%), WNT (26%), NRF2 (20%), MYC (14%). The median TMB score of samples from solid malignancies was 12.3 (range:0-101, quartiles: 6.9-33.0) mutation/Mb. Two patients (2/35, 6%) had microsatellite-instability high (MSI-H) tumors. The most frequent concurrent activating mutations include ARID1A (29%), FBXW7 (26%), PI3KCA (22%), PI3KR1/2/3 (20%), CDKN2A (11%), PTEN (8%), BRCA1/2(8%), FGFR3 (8%), BRAF (6%), Only one of these 35 patients received treatment targeting BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway and achieved partial response. One patient with NSCLC harboring a concurrent EGFR L858R mutation did not respond to erlotinib. One patient with PI3KCA mutated head and neck cancer did not respond to PI3K inhibitor. Two patients had TMB score of 100.9 and 12.9 mutation/Mb had partial response to pembrolizumab. Conclusions: ERK2 E322K mutation is a rare oncogenic mutation across diverse solid tumor types, associated with a high co-occurrence of other activating mutations and a high TMB. The lack of response to other targeted therapies suggests ERK2 E322K is a potential driver mutation. These findings may inform treatment and further development of ERK inhibitors.

A phase Ia/Ib, dose-escalation/expansion study of BI 907828 in combination with BI 754091 (ezabenlimab) and BI 754111 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors

3095

Background: Preclinical data show that combining a murine double minute 2–tumor protein 53 (MDM2–p53) antagonist with immune checkpoint inhibitors produces anti-tumor effects in multiple tumor types. This Phase Ia/Ib study (NCT03964233) is assessing BI 907828, a MDM2–p53 antagonist, combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in TP53 wild-type cancers. Methods: In Phase Ia (dose escalation), pts with advanced/metastatic solid tumors received escalating doses of BI 907828 guided by a Bayesian Logistic Regression Model (starting dose 10 mg orally) plus ezabenlimab 240 mg (anti-PD-1 antibody) and BI 754111 600 mg (anti-LAG-3 antibody) every 21 days (q3w). Primary endpoint was the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BI 907828 based on the number of pts with dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during cycle one. During Phase Ia, other studies indicated a lack of added efficacy when BI 754111 was combined with ezabenlimab; therefore, the study design was updated to switch the dose escalation to the doublet combination of BI 907828 plus ezabenlimab. Results: A total of 11 pts received the triplet combination at 10/20/30/45 mg dose levels (DL; n = 3/3/3/2 respectively); all have discontinued treatment. No DLTs were reported in cycle one; MTD was not reached. As of 20th January 2022, 15 pts have received the doublet combination at 30/45 mg DLs (n = 10/5 respectively). One pt (45 mg) had a DLT during cycle one: G2 neutropenia. Four DLTs were reported after cycle one: G3 anemia (30 mg); G2 thrombocytopenia (45 mg); and G3 neutropenia and G4 thrombocytopenia (45 mg). G≥3 adverse events occurred in eight pts; most commonly anemia (n = 6), thrombocytopenia (n = 4) and lymphopenia (n = 3). There were no notable safety findings with BI 907828 45 mg q3w, the recommended dose for expansion (RDE) for BI 907828 monotherapy. Nine of the 15 pts who received doublet therapy were evaluable for response; four had a confirmed partial response (PR; 30 mg, n = 1; 45 mg, n = 3), two biliary tract carcinoma, one urothelial carcinoma, and one myxoid liposarcoma; one had an unconfirmed PR (30 mg) with adenocarcinoma (primary site intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma). Four pts with liposarcoma and gastric cancer had stable disease. MTD will be reported. In Phase Ib, pts will receive the RDE of BI 907828 plus 240 mg ezabenlimab (q3w). Pts will be recruited to two cohorts: soft tissue sarcomas (liposarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma) and selected MDM2-amplified tumors (NSCLC, gastric adenocarcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and biliary tract carcinoma). Primary endpoints are progression-free survival and objective response (RECIST 1.1). Conclusions: The doublet combination of BI 907828 plus ezabenlimab showed a manageable safety profile and early signs of anti-tumor activity. Eleven pts remain on treatment; recruitment is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03964233.

A phase I/II study of prexasertib in combination with irinotecan in patients with relapsed/refractory desmoplastic small round cell tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma

11503

Background: Prexasertib (PRX) is an inhibitor of CHK1, prevents DNA repair leading to mitotic catastrophe, and can enhance the activity of DNA-damaging chemotherapy. Translocation driven sarcomas exhibit high levels of replication stress and have demonstrated susceptibility to CHK1 inhibition in preclinical models. Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are aggressive sarcomas of children, adolescents and young adults for which novel therapies are urgently required. Methods: We conducted a phase I/II trial of PRX with irinotecan (irino) in patients ≥ 12 months of age with relapsed or refractory DSRCT or RMS. Eligible patients could have any number of prior therapies, including irino. Dose level 1 was PRX 80 mg/m2 on day 1 + irino 20 mg/m2 for 10 days. Dose levels 2 and 2A were PRX 105 or 150 mg/m2 (>21 years or ≤ 21 years) on day 1 and irino 20 mg/m2 for 10 (level 2) or 5 (level 2A) days. All cycles were 21 days. The primary objectives were to determine the RP2D of PRX with irino, and to determine the best overall response rate (ORR) in 6 months at the RP2D (RECIST v1.1) in DSRCT, with 3 or more responses out of 16 considered promising. Results: 21 patients were enrolled (DSRCT: 19; 2 RMS:2). The RP2D was dose level 2A. Treatment was well tolerated with the most common adverse events being neutropenia (48%), nausea (48%), and fatigue (52%). Cytopenias were managed with the aid of growth factor support in all patients once the RP2D was established. The DSRCT expansion enrolled 13 of 16 planned patients due to discontinuation of PRX supply prior to study completion. Four patients remain on therapy at the time of this submission. Responses in DSRCT patients at all dose levels are shown in Table. Sixteen of 21 enrolled patients, and 5 of 6 patients achieving PR had previously received irino. The median (range) number of cycles was 7 (2-26). Both RMS patients treated at the RP2D experienced SD as best response. The estimated ORR at the RP2D was 23%, and lower boundary of the one-sided 90% confidence interval was 9%, exceeding the unpromising rate of 5%. The two-sided 90% confidence interval was 7 to 49%. In addition, 3 patients had a PR at doses lower than the RP2D, bringing the ORR for all dose levels (n = 19) to 32% (90%CI: 15 to 53%). Conclusions: The RP2D of PRX in combination with irino is PRX 105 or 150 mg/m2 (>21 years or ≤ 21 years) on day 1 and irino 20 mg/m2 for 5 days in 21 day cycles with myelosuppression successfully managed with growth factor support. The study met its primary objective to consider PRX + irino promising in DSRCT and should be further investigated. Clinical trial information: NCT04095221. [Table: see text]

A phase 2 study of the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan in patients with TP53-wild type and MDM2-amplified advanced or metastatic solid tumors (MANTRA-2)

TPS3165

Background: Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a potent negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53. MDM2 induces degradation of p53 and promotes tumorigenesis in solid tumors, and preclinical models have shown that inhibition of MDM2 can restore p53 tumor suppressor activity in TP53-wild type (WT), MDM2-amplified tumors. We performed a mutual exclusivity analysis of patients with solid tumors (n = 42,125; AACR Project GENIE) and found that the frequency of co-occurring TP53 mutations decreased with increasing MDM2 copy number. An MDM2 copy number of 12 was chosen as the threshold. An estimated 1.1% of solid tumors meet this molecular criteria, excluding glioblastomas, dedifferentiated liposarcomas, and intimal sarcomas where this signature is enriched. Milademetan (RAIN-32), an oral, selective MDM2 inhibitor, inhibits growth of TP53-WT/ MDM2-amplified cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models from varying tumor types. Furthermore, tumor regression was observed in 3/3 non-liposarcoma patients with MDM2 copy number > 12 in a phase 1 trial of milademetan. MANTRA-2 (RAIN-3202) is a phase 2, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, basket trial designed to evaluate the efficacy or clinical benefit of milademetan in TP53-WT solid tumors with MDM2 amplification (copy number ≥ 12). Methods: Eligible patients must be ≥ 18 years of age with histologically and/or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, incurable or metastatic solid tumors refractory to standard therapy. Local testing demonstrating TP53 WT and MDM2 amplification is required, defined as a MDM2 copy number ≥ 12 or 6-fold increase. Patients with well-differentiated/de-differentiated liposarcomas, intimal sarcomas, or primary central nervous system tumors are excluded. Prior treatment with an MDM2 inhibitor is not permitted. Patients receive milademetan 260 mg orally once daily on Days 1–3 and 15–17 of a 28-day cycle. Tumor response is evaluated by RECIST v1.1 at Weeks 8, 16, 24, and 32, and then every 12 weeks. Primary endpoint: objective response rate. Secondary endpoints include: duration of response; progression-free survival; growth modulation index; disease control rate; overall survival; safety; health-related quality of life scores. Exploratory endpoints include: biomarkers in blood and/or tumor tissue; pharmacodynamics; pharmacokinetics. Enrollment of 65 patients is planned to ensure that 57 patients have centrally confirmed TP53 WT and MDM2 copy number ≥ 12. The trial opened in November 2021 and is actively enrolling patients. Clinical trial information: NCT05012397.

Presence of immune infiltrates, increased expression of transposable elements, and viral response pathways in sarcoma associate with response to checkpoint inhibition

11510

Background: Response to checkpoint inhibition (CPI) in sarcoma is overall low and varies between and within subtypes. Understanding tumor intrinsic determinants of this response may improve efficacy and patient selection. The de-repression of transposable elements (TEs), which are epigenetically silenced repetitive DNA elements of viral origin, is linked to anti-tumor immunity through an antiviral inflammatory response. We hypothesize that baseline expression of TEs and epigenetic regulators correlates with overall response rate (ORR) in sarcoma CPI clinical trials. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of bulk RNA-sequencing data from pre-treatment biopsies of patients on CPI trials in sarcoma (pembrolizumab plus talimogene laherparepvec, nivolumab plus bempegaldesleukin, and pembrolizumab plus epacadostat). Sixty-seven samples from unique patients representing 12 subtypes were analyzed. The MCP counter deconvolution method and unsupervised clustering were used to group samples by immune phenotypes resulting in immune ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ clusters. ORR was defined by RECIST. To determine if baseline expression of TEs and epigenetic regulators significantly predicted immune types, we implemented a lasso penalized logistic regression. Results: Immune ‘hot’ tumors were characterized by increased immune infiltrates including CD8+ T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells vs ‘cold’ tumors. Patients with ‘hot’ vs ‘cold’ tumors had an ORR of 30.5% (11/36) vs. 3.2% (1/31) (p = 0.003; chi-squared). The best predictors of ‘hot vs ‘cold’ was the increased expression of multiple TE families including MER45A, MER57F, and LTR21B (respective lasso coefficients, 0.27, 0.07, and 0.07). Expression of IKZF1, a chromatin-interacting transcription factor, was also predictive (lasso coefficient, 0.35) and increased expression correlated with improved ORR (p = 0.003; unpaired t-test). TE and IKFZ1 expression was significantly correlated with CD8+ T-cell signaling and antiviral response pathways such as cGAS-STING (MER57F, r2= 0.43, padj = 1.75E-4; IKZF1, r2= 0.63, padj = 6.28E-9) and type II interferon (MER57F, r2= 0.67, padj = 2.51E-10; IKZF1, r2= 0.60, padj = 7.19E-8). Increased expression of cGAS-STING (p = 3.9E-4; unpaired t-test) and type II interferon pathways (p = 1.89E-10; unpaired t-test) was significant in ‘hot’ tumors. Conclusions: Immune ‘hot’ baseline immune profiles of sarcoma are associated with improved ORR to CPI and with increased expression of TEs and IKZF1. These differences in gene expression correlate with increased inflammatory signaling, which suggests a response to TE-encoded viral-like sequences that are typically epigenetically silenced. Induction of TE de-repression and IKZF1 expression through epigenetic targeting warrants pre-clinical investigation as a strategy to promote CPI response in sarcomas.

A phase I/II trial of the PD-1 inhibitor retifanlimab (R) in combination with gemcitabine and docetaxel (GD) as first-line therapy in patients (Pts) with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS)

11516

Background: In a phase III trial, GD had similar response and survival rates to doxorubicin when administered as first-line therapy to advanced STS pts. G and D have each demonstrated synergy with PD-1 blockade in pre-clinical or clinical studies. We hypothesized that GD plus R would be safe, tolerable, and have synergistic activity in STS. Methods: This is an ongoing open-label, single-center, phase I/II trial of R (INCMGA00012) combined with GD in pts with treatment-naïve unresectable or metastatic high-grade STS. Herein, we report the phase I results, which included a safety run-in followed by a 3+3 dose de-escalation design. G (900 mg/m2) was administered on days 1 and 8 and D (75 mg/m2) on day 8, in 21-day cycles. R (210 mg IV flat dose on the run-in portion and 375 mg on the dose de-escalation portion) was administered on day 1 of each cycle starting in cycle 2 and continued as monotherapy after completion of 6 cycles of GD. The primary endpoint of the phase I was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of R plus GD. Secondary endpoints included describing the safety, assessing best overall response rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1, disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Thirteen pts were treated, 7on the run-in and 6 on the de-escalation portion. One pt progressed prior to starting R and was replaced. Median pt age was 53 (range 28 – 74) and 7 were female. Histologies included leiomyosarcoma (n = 6), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (2), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (2), pleomorphic liposarcoma (1), angiosarcoma (1), and myxofibrosarcoma (1). The Table lists treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) that occurred in ≥ 20% pts in descending order of frequency. Additional Grade (Gr) 3 TRAEs occurring in 1 pt each, included: infusion reaction, leukopenia, anorectal infection, neutropenia, and pyelonephritis. Gr 3 pyelonephritis was the only dose-limiting toxicity. There were no Gr ≥ 4 TRAEs. One pt (Gr 3 elevated AST/ALT) required corticosteroids and cessation of study therapy. The RP2D was determined to be 375 mg of R plus GD. Twelve pts were evaluable for response. ORR was 17% (1 of 6; 95% CI 1 - 64%) and 50% (3 of 6; 95% CI 19% - 81%) in the run-in and de-escalation cohorts, respectively. DCR was 100% (6 of 6; 95% CI 52 - 100%) and 83% (5 of 6; 95% CI: 36 - 99%). PFS rates at 24 weeks were 60% (95% CI: 29 - 100%) and 44% (95% CI: 17 - 100%). Conclusions: R plus GD was generally safe and well tolerated with no unexpected safety signals to date. The phase II portion evaluating efficacy of R plus GD at the RP2D is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04577014. [Table: see text]

MANTRA: A randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study of the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan versus trabectedin in patients with de-differentiated liposarcomas

TPS11589

Background: Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a negative regulator of tumor suppressor protein p53. MDM2 induces degradation of p53 and promotes tumorigenesis. MDM2 amplification occurs in many cancers but is documented in up to 100% of well-differentiated or dedifferentiated liposarcomas (WD/DDLPS) [Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. Cell 2017]. Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction is a promising therapeutic approach to restore p53 tumor suppressor activity in WD/DDLPS. Milademetan (RAIN-32) is a small-molecule MDM2 inhibitor that inhibits the MDM2-p53 interaction and restores p53 function at nanomolar concentrations. In a phase 1 study, milademetan showed promising efficacy in 53 patients with WD/DDLPS when administered on an intermittent schedule (260 mg QD on Days 1–3 and 15–17 on a 28-day cycle), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.4 months [Gounder et al. AACR-NCI-EORTC 2020]. WD/DDLS are relatively resistant to chemotherapy, and systemic treatment options for patients with advanced disease are limited. MANTRA (RAIN-3201) is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 3 registration study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of milademetan versus trabectedin in patients with unresectable or metastatic DDLPS with disease progression on ≥ 1 prior systemic therapies. Methods: Eligible patients are ≥ 18 years of age with histologically confirmed unresectable and/or metastatic DDLPS, with or without a WD component, who have received ≥ 1 prior systemic therapies, including ≥ 1 anthracycline-based regimen, with radiographic evidence of progression by RECIST v1.1 within 6 months before study entry. Prior treatment with trabectedin or an MDM2 inhibitor is not permitted. Patients will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive milademetan (260 mg once daily orally Days 1–3 and 15–17 on a 28-day cycle) or trabectedin (1.5 mg/m2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks). Randomization is stratified by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 or 1) and number of prior treatments for WD/DDLPS (≤ 2 or > 2). Tumor response will be evaluated by RECIST v1.1 at Weeks 8, 16, 24, and 32, and then every 12 weeks. Primary endpoint: PFS by blinded independent central review. Secondary endpoints: overall survival; disease control rate; objective response rate; duration of response; PFS by investigator assessment; safety; health-related quality of life. Exploratory endpoints: molecular markers in peripheral blood and/or tumor tissue; milademetan pharmacokinetics. To demonstrate a 3-month increase in PFS (from 3 to 6 months) corresponding to a hazard ratio of 0.5, approximately 160 patients will be required to observe 105 events with 93.9% power and 2-sided significance level of 5%. Clinical trial information: NCT04979442.

Phase Ib Trial of the Combination of Imatinib and Binimetinib in Patients with Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

PURPOSE

This phase Ib trial was designed to evaluate the safety and early efficacy signal of the combination of imatinib and binimetinib in patients with imatinib-resistant advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This trial used a standard 3 + 3 design to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Additional patients were enrolled on an expansion cohort at the RP2D enriching for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient GISTs to explore potential efficacy.

RESULTS

The trial enrolled nine patients in the dose-escalation cohort and 14 in the dose-expansion cohort including six with SDH-deficient GISTs. Imatinib 400 mg daily with binimetinib 45 mg twice daily was established as the RP2D. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was asymptomatic grade 4 creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation. The most common non-DLT grade 3/4 toxicity was asymptomatic CPK elevation (69.6%). Other common ≥grade 2 toxicities included peripheral edema (17.4%), acneiform rash (21.7%), anemia (30.4%), hypophosphatemia (39.1%), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increase (17.4%). Two serious adverse events occurred (grade 2 dropped head syndrome and grade 3 central retinal vein occlusion). No unexpected toxicities were observed. Limited clinical activity was observed in KIT-mutant GIST. For SDH-deficient GISTs, one of five had confirmed RECIST1.1 partial response (PR). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) in patients with SDH-deficient GIST was 45.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 15.8-not estimable (NE)]; the median overall survival (mOS) was not reached (95% CI, 31.6 months-NE). One patient with a refractory metastatic SDH-deficient GIST had an exceptional pathologic response and durable clinical benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of imatinib and binimetinib is safe with manageable toxicity and has encouraging activity in SDH-deficient but not imatinib-refractory KIT/PDGFRA-mutant GISTs. The observed clinical benefits provide a motivation for a larger trial of the combination strategy in SDH-deficient GISTs.

Clinical, genomic, and transcriptomic correlates of response to immune checkpoint blockade-based therapy in a cohort of patients with angiosarcoma treated at a single center

Background

Angiosarcoma is a histologically and molecularly heterogeneous vascular neoplasm with aggressive clinical behavior. Emerging data suggests that immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is efficacious against some angiosarcomas, particularly cutaneous angiosarcoma of the head and neck (CHN).

Methods

Patients with histologically confirmed angiosarcoma treated with ICB-based therapy at a comprehensive cancer center were retrospectively identified. Clinical characteristics and the results of targeted exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and immunohistochemistry analyses were examined for correlation with clinical benefit. Durable clinical benefit was defined as a progression-free survival (PFS) of ≥16 weeks.

Results

For the 35 patients included in the analyses, median PFS and median overall survival (OS) from the time of first ICB-based treatment were 11.9 (95% CI 7.4 to 31.9) and 42.5 (95% CI 19.6 to 114.2) weeks, respectively. Thirteen patients (37%) had PFS ≥16 weeks. Clinical factors associated with longer PFS and longer OS in multivariate analyses were ICB plus other therapy regimens, CHN disease, and white race. Three of 10 patients with CHN angiosarcoma evaluable for tumor mutational burden (TMB) had a TMB ≥10. Five of six patients with CHN angiosarcoma evaluable for mutational signature analysis had a dominant mutational signature associated with ultraviolet (UV) light. No individual gene or genomic pathway was significantly associated with PFS or OS; neither were TMB or UV signature status. Analyses of whole transcriptomes from nine patient tumor samples found upregulation of angiogenesis, inflammatory response, and KRAS signaling pathways, among others, in patients with PFS ≥16 weeks, as well as higher levels of cytotoxic T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. Patients with PFS <16 weeks had higher numbers of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Immunohistochemistry findings for 12 patients with baseline samples available suggest that neither PD-L1 expression nor presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes at baseline appears necessary for a response to ICB-based therapy.

Conclusions

ICB-based therapy benefits only a subset of angiosarcoma patients. Patients with CHN angiosarcoma are more likely to have PFS ≥16 weeks, a dominant UV mutational signature, and higher TMB than angiosarcomas arising from other primary sites. However, clinical benefit was seen in other angiosarcomas also and was not restricted to tumors with a high TMB, a dominant UV signature, PD-L1 expression, or presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes at baseline.

Phase II Trial of Imatinib Plus Binimetinib in Patients With Treatment-Naive Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

PURPOSE

Dual targeting of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) lineage-specific master regulators, ETV1 and KIT, by MEK and KIT inhibitors were synergistic preclinically and may enhance clinical efficacy. This trial was designed to test the efficacy and safety of imatinib plus binimetinib in first-line treatment of GIST.

METHODS

In this trial (NCT01991379), treatment-naive adult patients with confirmed advanced GISTs received imatinib (400 mg once daily) plus binimetinib (30 mg twice daily), 28-day cycles. The primary end point was RECIST1.1 best objective response rate (ORR; complete response plus partial response [PR]). The study was designed to detect a 20% improvement in the ORR over imatinib alone (unacceptable rate of 45%; acceptable rate of 65%), using an exact binomial test, one-sided type I error of 0.08 and type II error of 0.1, and a planned sample size of 44 patients. Confirmed PR or complete response in > 24 patients are considered positive. Secondary end points included Choi and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Response Rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), pathologic responses, and toxicity.

RESULTS

Between September 15, 2014, and November 15, 2020, 29 of 42 evaluable patients with advanced GIST had confirmed RECIST1.1 PR. The best ORR was 69.0% (two-sided 95% CI, 52.9 to 82.4). Thirty-nine of 41 (95.1%) had Choi PR approximately 8 weeks. Median PFS was 29.9 months (95% CI, 24.2 to not estimable); median OS was not reached (95% CI, 50.4 to not estimable). Five of eight patients with locally advanced disease underwent surgery after treatment and achieved significant pathologic response (≥ 90% treatment effect). There were no unexpected toxicities. Grade 3 and 4 toxicity included asymptomatic creatinine phosphokinase elevation (79.1%), hypophosphatemia (14.0%), neutrophil decrease (9.3%), maculopapular rash (7.0%), and anemia (7.0%).

CONCLUSION

The study met the primary end point. The combination of imatinib and binimetinib is effective with manageable toxicity and warrants further evaluation in direct comparison with imatinib in frontline treatment of GIST.

A Phase Ib/II Randomized Study of RO4929097, a Gamma Secretase or Notch Inhibitor with or without Vismodegib, a Hedgehog Inhibitor, in Advanced Sarcoma

PURPOSE

Because the Hedgehog and Notch pathways are often overexpressed in mesenchymal malignancies, we evaluated the efficacy of concurrent inhibition of Notch and Hedgehog signaling using the gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) RO4929097 and the smoothened antagonist vismodegib in unresectable or metastatic sarcoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this investigator-initiated trial, phase 1b employed standard 3+3 dose-escalation in which patients first received vismodegib once daily for 21 days, followed by the combination of RO4929097 concurrently with vismodegib in 21-day cycles. In phase II, patients were randomized to RO4929097 alone or in combination with vismodegib.

RESULTS

Nine patients were treated in phase Ib with no dose-limiting toxicities. RO4929097 at 15 mg daily in combination with 150 mg daily of vismodegib was declared the recommended phase 2 dose. Most adverse events (AEs) were grade {less than or equal to} 2. In phase II (closed early due to discontinuation of RO4929097 evaluation), 34 patients were randomized to RO4929097 alone and 33 to RO4929097 plus vismodegib. RO4929097 did not interfere with the steady-state concentration of vismodegib, while vismodegib reduced the plasma concentration of RO492909. No patients had an objective response. Neither progression-free nor overall survival differed significantly between treatment arms. Paired tumor biopsies from a subset of patients demonstrated inhibition of cleaved Notch.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of RO4929097 plus vismodegib was generally well tolerated. Although accrual to this study was not completed, vismodegib did not meaningfully enhance the clinical efficacy of RO4929097 in an unplanned analysis. GSIs and GSIs plus vismodegib can inhibit intratumoral Notch and downstream pAkt signaling.

Percutaneous Cryoablation Provides Disease Control for Extra-Abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis Comparable with Surgical Resection

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with primary and locally recurrent extra-abdominal desmoid tumors who underwent percutaneous cryoablation, and to compare with patients treated with surgery.

METHODS

Group characteristics were compared using Fisher's exact test, and propensity score matching was performed using the nearest-neighbor approach. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses were used to evaluate the variation in first local recurrence and disease control, while multivariate Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with first local recurrence. All statistical tests were two-sided and a p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Twenty-two cryoablation patients were matched with 33 surgical patients (n = 55). Median follow-up after cryoablation was 16.3 months versus 14.9 months after surgery. Two-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was 59% after cryoablation and 71% after surgery, and median LRFS was 26.6 months after cryoablation but was not reached after surgery. Two-year disease control for all patients was 85%, however median disease control was not reached in either the cryoablation or surgery groups. There was no significant difference in LRFS or disease control between matched cryoablation and surgical patients. No local recurrences occurred after the first cryoablation in patients with zero or one of the following risk factors: tumor size > 5 cm, age ≤ 25 years, or locally recurrent disease. All patients with two or more of these risk factors recurred locally after the first cryoablation.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous cryoablation of primary and locally recurrent extra-abdominal desmoid tumors provides freedom from first local recurrence and long-term disease control comparable with surgery.

OUP accepted manuscript

Palmar and plantar fibromatosis are benign proliferative processes which present as a diffuse thickening or nodules of the hands and/or feet and may lead to flexion contractures, pain, and functional impairment known as Dupuytren and Ledderhose diseases, respectively. Current treatments are noncurative and associated with significant morbidity. Here, we report on the outcomes of 5 patients with advanced disease, no longer surgical candidates, treated with sorafenib. Sorafenib exhibited an expected safety profile. All 5 patients demonstrated objective responses as evaluated by a decrease in tumor size and/or tumor cellularity from baseline and all 5 patients reported subjective pain relief and/or functional improvement. Mechanistically, immunohistochemistry revealed patchy positivity for PDGFRβ, a known target of sorafenib. The outcomes of these 5 patients suggest the safety and efficacy of a relatively well-tolerated oral agent in the treatment of Dupuytren and Ledderhose diseases and suggest the need for future controlled studies.

Missing data strategies for the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) in Alliance A091105 and COMET-2

PURPOSE

Missing scores complicate analysis of the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) because patients with and without missing scores may systematically differ. We focus on optimal analysis methods for incomplete PRO-CTCAE items, with application to two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials.

METHODS

In Alliance A091105 and COMET-2, patients completed PRO-CTCAE items before randomization and several times post-randomization (N = 64 and 107, respectively). For each trial, we conducted between-arm comparisons on the PRO-CTCAE via complete-case two-sample t-tests, mixed modeling with contrast, and multiple imputation followed by two-sample t-tests. Because interest lies in whether CTCAE grades can inform missing PRO-CTCAE scores, we performed multiple imputation with and without CTCAE grades as auxiliary variables to assess the added benefit of including them in the imputation model relative to only including PRO-CTCAE scores across all cycles.

RESULTS

PRO-CTCAE completion rates ranged from 100.0 to 71.4% and 100.0 to 77.1% across time in A091105 and COMET-2, respectively. In both trials, mixed modeling and multiple imputation provided the most similar estimates of the average treatment effects. Including CTCAE grades in the imputation model did not consistently narrow confidence intervals of the average treatment effects because correlations for the same PRO-CTCAE item between different cycles were generally stronger than correlations between each PRO-CTCAE item and its corresponding CTCAE grade at the same cycle.

CONCLUSION

For between-arm comparisons, mixed modeling and multiple imputation are informative techniques for handling missing PRO-CTCAE scores. CTCAE grades do not provide added benefit for informing missing PRO-CTCAE scores.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov Identifiers: NCT02066181 (Alliance A091105); NCT01522443 (COMET-2).

Long term follow-up and patterns of response, progression and hyperprogression in patients after PD-1 blockade in advanced sarcoma

PURPOSE

PD-1 blockade can mediate objective responses in advanced sarcomas, but their durability has not been established and it is unclear if hyperprogressive disease (HPD) occurs in sarcomas treated with PD-1 inhibitors.

METHODS

We pooled patients who were treated prospectively with nivolumab or pembrolizumab as monotherapy or with bempegaldesleukin, epacadostat, ipilimumab or Talimogene laherparepvec. We did a new independent assessment for HPD and analyzed clinical, pathologic and genomic data from baseline tumor biopsies. Our primary endpoint was the incidence of HPD; secondary endpoints were clinical or genomic correlates of response or HPD.

RESULTS

We treated 134 patients with advanced sarcoma from 2015 - 2019. Twenty-one patients (16%) had a complete or partial response (CR/PR), and 30% of responses were durable for over 2 years. Forty-eight (36%) patients had stable disease (SD), 45 (34%) had progressive disease without HPD (PD) and 15 (11%) had HPD. Five patients (4%) were not evaluable for HPD. The sarcoma subtypes, sites of metastasis, clinical course, and genomic alterations in patients with PD and HPD were similar, except HPD tumors were smaller at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced sarcoma, PD-1 blockade can mediate durable responses. HPD occurs in sarcoma at an incidence that is similar to what has been reported in other solid tumors, but patients with HPD were clinically and biologically similar to those who had PD. Further research is required to establish whether HPD is a biologically distinct phenomenon and whether a theoretical risk of HPD should influence patient management.

Abstract P210: MDM2 gene amplification as a predictive biomarker for the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan

MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a critical role in the degradation of the tumor suppressor p53. Milademetan (RAIN-32) is an orally available, small molecule inhibitor of MDM2 that disrupts the MDM2-p53 protein complex thereby restoring p53 expression and activity. Milademetan has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in de-differentiated liposarcoma, a tumor type characterized by MDM2 gene amplification (amp) and WT TP53, in the phase I study of monotherapy milademetan (NCT01877382). Here we investigate the use of MDM2 gene amplification as a predictive biomarker for the selection of patients with advanced cancers who might benefit from milademetan. In this study we evaluated milademetan in MDM2 gene amp cancer models from a variety of tumor types using both in vitro assays, including 2D viability assays and organoid models, as well as in vivo patient-derived xenografts. We employed a mutual exclusivity analysis between MDM2 copy number (CN) and TP53 mutation status using publicly available next generation sequencing data to derive an optimal MDM2 CN threshold for patient selection and present clinical data from patients with MDM2 amp tumors treated with milademetan in the phase 1 study (NCT01877382). Three cell lines, CCFSTTG1 (astrocytoma), DKMG (glioblastoma), and SJSA1 (osteosarcoma), with MDM2 amp were identified and demonstrated inhibition of cell proliferation by milademetan with GI50 &lt;100 nM. Evidence of MDM2 target engagement and activation of p53 was demonstrated through induction of p21 and PUMA, transcriptional targets of p53. Four patient-derived organoid models from diverse cancers (2 lung adenocarcinoma, 1 cholangiocarcinoma, and 1 renall cell carcinoma) were identified with MDM2 amp and WT TP53 and demonstrated differential selectivity compared to non-MDM2 amp models also with WT TP53 (head and neck scquamous cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma). Xenograft models from tumor types including gastric, lung adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma with MDM2 amp showed dose-dependent anti-tumor activity to milademetan in vivo. Induction of MIC-1, a p53 target gene, was observed in vivo following milademetan dosing. An MDM2 CN threshold of ≥ 12 was derived using mutual exclusivity analysis using the AACR Genie dataset across solid tumor types. Using TCGA Pan-Cancer Atlas dataset, we identified 1.1% of cancers that met the criteria of MDM2 CN ≥ 12 and WT TP53. Finally, 3 patients (breast cancer, synovial sarcoma, and small cell lung cancer) with MDM2 CN ≥ 12 were previously enrolled on the U101 study of milademetan, Schedule D (3 days on 11 days off), which was determined to be the dose schedule for future clinical trials, and all 3 patients experienced tumor reduction with 2 patients demonstrating a partial response and 1 confirmed partial response.

Milademetan shows evidence of preclinical and clinical anti-tumor activity in genetically selected tumors using MDM2 amp and WT TP53 as selection criteria. A basket study evaluating milademetan in solid tumors with MDM2 CN ≥ 12 and WT TP53 (MANTRA-2) is planned.

Citation Format: Vijaya G. Tirunagaru, Mrinal M. Gounder, Prasanna R. Kumar, David S. Hong, Robert C. Doebele. MDM2 gene amplification as a predictive biomarker for the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2021 Oct 7-10. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2021;20(12 Suppl):Abstract nr P210.

Pseudoaneurysm within a desmoid tumor in an extremity: report of 2 cases

Desmoid tumor is considered a benign neoplasm, yet substantial morbidity can result from local invasion of structures adjacent to the tumor or from complications related to its treatment. We report two patients with extremity desmoid tumor who were each found at MRI to have an unsuspected pseudoaneurysm within their tumor after prior treatments (surgery and systemic therapy in one, surgery alone in the other). Such a pseudoaneurysm probably results from weakening of an arterial wall by adjacent desmoid tumor, as well as from local trauma. Due to the potential risk for life-threatening rupture of a pseudoaneurysm, one patient underwent surgical repair and the other, coil embolization. To our knowledge the presence of pseudoaneurysm has been reported within a few cases of abdominal desmoid tumor but not within an extremity desmoid tumor. This diagnosis has not been reported to have been made at MRI, either.

Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is characterized by the EWSR1-WT1 t(11;22) (p13:q12) translocation. Few additional putative drivers have been identified, and research has suffered from a lack of model systems. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from 68 matched tumor-normal samples, whole-genome sequencing data from 10 samples, transcriptomic and affymetrix array data, and a bank of DSRCT patient-derived xenograft (PDX) are presented. EWSR1-WT1 fusions were noted to be simple, balanced events. Recurrent mutations were uncommon, but were noted in TERT (3%), ARID1A (6%), HRAS (5%), and TP53 (3%), and recurrent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11p, 11q, and 16q was identified in 18%, 22%, and 34% of samples, respectively. Comparison of tumor-normal matched versus unmatched analysis suggests overcalling of somatic mutations in prior publications of DSRCT NGS data. Alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) were identified in 5 of 68 (7%) of tumor samples, whereas differential overexpression of FGFR4 was confirmed orthogonally using 2 platforms. PDX models harbored the pathognomic EWSR1-WT1 fusion and were highly representative of corresponding tumors. Our analyses confirm DSRCT as a genomically quiet cancer defined by the balanced translocation, t(11;22)(p13:q12), characterized by a paucity of secondary mutations but a significant number of copy number alterations. Against this genomically quiet background, recurrent activating alterations of FGFR4 stood out, and suggest that this receptor tyrosine kinase, also noted to be highly expressed in DSRCT, should be further investigated. Future studies of DSRCT biology and preclinical therapeutic strategies should benefit from the PDX models characterized in this study. IMPLICATIONS: These data describe the general quiescence of the desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) genome, present the first available bank of DSRCT model systems, and nominate FGFR4 as a key receptor tyrosine kinase in DSRCT, based on high expression, recurrent amplification, and recurrent activating mutations.

Checkpoint inhibitors and radiotherapy in refractory malignant melanocytic schwannoma with Carney complex: first evidence of efficacy

Melanocytic schwannoma (MS) is a rare nerve sheath tumour characterised by melanin-producing neoplastic schwann cells that typically affects the posterior spinal nerve roots. We report an ultrarare case of recurrent/metastatic MS associated with Carney complex in a young woman with family history of breast cancer. This highlights the novel approach of combined checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) and radiotherapy. The patient was initially treated with Nivolumab along with concurrent external beam radiotherapy. There was sustained clinical benefit achieved for over 15 months with preserved quality of life. Addition of Ipilimumab, which she tolerated reasonably well, helped to control the progressive disease again for another 12 months. She harboured a rare PRKAR1A R228 mutation (Carney complex) and received appropriate targeted therapy. She survived for 51 and 35 months from her initial diagnosis and start of CPI, respectively, which to the best of our knowledge is the longest documented survival in this rare entity.

A phase 1b study of avelumab plus DCC-3014, a potent and selective inhibitor of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), in patients with advanced high-grade sarcoma

11549

Background: Select sarcomas are infiltrated with immunosuppressive myeloid cells. DCC-3014 is an inhibitor of the CSF1R kinase that decreases tumor infiltrating myeloid cells in preclinical models. We hypothesized that DCC-3014 combined with the anti-PDL1 inhibitor avelumab would be safe and tolerable, decrease immunosuppressive myeloid cells, and increase cytotoxic T cells. Methods: This investigator initiated, open label, single center, phase I study of DCC-3014 plus avelumab in patients (pts) with unresectable or metastatic sarcoma utilized a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. DCC-3014 was administered on days 1-3 (loading dose of 20, 30, or 50 mg) followed by oral daily maintenance (10, 14, or 20 mg) in 28-day cycles; 800 mg of IV avelumab was administered q2weeks. The primary endpoint was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary endpoints defined the adverse event (AE) profile and assessed clinical efficacy. Peripheral blood CD14+Lin-HLA-DRlo myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were measured by flow cytometry. Results: 13 pts were treated; median age was 61 (range 32 – 71), 8 were female, and median prior lines of therapy was 5 (range 2 – 10). Histologic subtypes included leiomyosarcoma (LMS, n = 7), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (2), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (LPS, 2), synovial sarcoma (1), and pleomorphic LPS (1). The Table lists treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) of any grade (G) occurring in ≥ 10% of pts and all G ≥ 3 TRAEs, sorted by frequency. All pts had at least 1 TRAE. Seven pts (54%) had a G ≥ 3 TRAE. Most TRAEs were either G ≤ 2 or expected on-target effects of CSF1R inhibition. 1 of 6 pts on the highest dose level had a dose limiting toxicity (G4 elevated AST with abdominal pain) that resolved with treatment cessation. The highest dose level was declared the RP2D. Best objective response by RECIST 1.1 was stable disease in 3 pts; 2 had LMS and were treated at the highest dose level. At baseline, the mean proportion of monocytes in peripheral blood samples with an MDSC phenotype was 12.2% (range 7.1 – 19.9). 5 of 7 pts with serial blood samples had decreased circulating MDSCs (mean decrease of 26.9% from baseline to last time point). Conclusions: DCC-3014 combined with avelumab was safe and tolerable. Study therapy decreased circulating MDSCs in select patients; T cell analyses will be reported. Study expansion at the RP2D is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04242238. [Table: see text]

A phase I dose-escalation study of the MDM2-p53 antagonist BI 907828 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors

3016

Background: BI 907828, a highly potent and orally administered MDM2-p53 antagonist, showed antitumor efficacy in vivo, especially in TP53 wild-type MDM2-amplified de-differentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) patient-derived xenografts and syngeneic models. Methods: NCT03449381 is a phase I study of BI 907828 in pts with solid tumors. The objectives of the dose-escalation part were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) based on the frequency of pts with dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during cycle 1, determine the recommended dose for expansion, and evaluate the safety and tolerability of two dosing schedules: BI 907828 given on day 1 of 21-day cycles (Arm A) or days 1 and 8 of 28-day cycles (Arm B). Dose escalation was guided by a Bayesian logistic regression model. The secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics and antitumor activity. Results: At January 15, 2021, 54 pts with advanced solid tumors (median of 2 lines of prior systemic therapies; range 0–11) were treated with BI 907828 (Arm A, 29 pts, dose range 10–80 mg; Arm B, 25 pts, dose range 5–60 mg). In Arm A, 5 pts experienced DLTs in cycle 1, including one Grade (Gr) 3 Nausea and one Gr 3 Thrombocytopenia at 45 mg, one Gr 3 Enterocolitis at 60 mg, and one Gr 4 Neutropenia and one Gr 4 Thrombocytopenia at 80 mg. In Arm B, 3 DLTs were reported: one Gr 4 Thrombocytopenia at 45 mg, one Gr 4 Neutropenia associated with Gr 4 Thrombocytopenia, and one Gr 3 Neutropenia at 60 mg. The most common Gr 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were Thrombocytopenia (28.6%), Neutropenia (10.7%) and Nausea (10.7%) in Arm A, and Thrombocytopenia (16.6%) and Neutropenia (12.5%) in Arm B. Preliminary PK data indicate that BI 907828 reaches Tmax at 4–6 h. Mean plasma exposures (Cmax and AUC0-inf) increased with dose. The geometric mean (gMean) Clearance/F was 5–19 mL/min and the gMean apparent volume of distribution was 23–57 L. The gMean half-lives estimated after the 1st dose were 26–55 h. Inter-patient variability in exposure was moderate. An increase in the target engagement biomarker GDF-15 in plasma was observed. The mean fold-change from baseline ranged from 8 to 49. Antitumor activity was seen in both schedules. In Arm A, a confirmed PR was seen in 2 pts with MDM2-amplified LPS (one PR lasted > 2 years) and SD in 17 pts. In Arm B, 2 pts had PR (one confirmed in MDM2-amplified LPS and one not yet confirmed in MDM2-amplified pancreatic adenocarcinoma) and 14 had SD. Of note, 5 of 10 pts with DDLPS were progression-free for ≥9 months. Conclusions: BI 907828 showed a manageable safety profile, favorable PK properties and early signs of efficacy, especially in MDM2-amplified tumors. With both dosing regimens, DLTs were Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia. Non-hematologic AEs, mainly gastrointestinal, were mostly low-grade and not dose-limiting. The MTD of 60 mg in Arm A (day 1 of 21-day cycles) and 45 mg in Arm B (days 1 and 8 of 28-day cycles) are awaiting confirmation. Clinical trial information: NCT03449381.

Ultra-rare sarcomas: A consensus paper from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society community of experts on the incidence threshold and the list of entities

BACKGROUND

Among sarcomas, which are rare cancers, many types are exceedingly rare; however, a definition of ultra-rare cancers has not been established. The problem of ultra-rare sarcomas is particularly relevant because they represent unique diseases, and their rarity poses major challenges for diagnosis, understanding disease biology, generating clinical evidence to support new drug development, and achieving formal authorization for novel therapies.

METHODS

The Connective Tissue Oncology Society promoted a consensus effort in November 2019 to establish how to define ultra-rare sarcomas through expert consensus and epidemiologic data and to work out a comprehensive list of these diseases. The list of ultra-rare sarcomas was based on the 2020 World Health Organization classification, The incidence rates were estimated using the Information Network on Rare Cancers (RARECARENet) database and NETSARC (the French Sarcoma Network's clinical-pathologic registry). Incidence rates were further validated in collaboration with the Asian cancer registries of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

RESULTS

It was agreed that the best criterion for a definition of ultra-rare sarcomas would be incidence. Ultra-rare sarcomas were defined as those with an incidence of approximately ≤1 per 1,000,000, to include those entities whose rarity renders them extremely difficult to conduct well powered, prospective clinical studies. On the basis of this threshold, a list of ultra-rare sarcomas was defined, which comprised 56 soft tissue sarcoma types and 21 bone sarcoma types.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, the incidence of ultra-rare sarcomas accounts for roughly 20% of all soft tissue and bone sarcomas. This confirms that the challenges inherent in ultra-rare sarcomas affect large numbers of patients.

Composite grading algorithm for the National Cancer Institute's Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE)

BACKGROUND

The Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events is an item library designed for eliciting patient-reported adverse events in oncology. For each adverse event, up to three individual items are scored for frequency, severity, and interference with daily activities. To align the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events with other standardized tools for adverse event assessment including the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, an algorithm for mapping individual items for any given adverse event to a single composite numerical grade was developed and tested.

METHODS

A five-step process was used: (1) All 179 possible Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events score combinations were presented to 20 clinical investigators to subjectively map combinations to single numerical grades ranging from 0 to 3. (2) Combinations with <75% agreement were presented to investigator committees at a National Clinical Trials Network cooperative group meeting to gain majority consensus via anonymous voting. (3) The resulting algorithm was refined via graphical and tabular approaches to assure directional consistency. (4) Validity, reliability, and sensitivity were assessed in a national study dataset. (5) Accuracy for delineating adverse events between study arms was measured in two Phase III clinical trials (NCT02066181 and NCT01522443).

RESULTS

In Step 1, 12/179 score combinations had <75% initial agreement. In Step 2, majority consensus was reached for all combinations. In Step 3, five grades were adjusted to assure directional consistency. In Steps 4 and 5, composite grades performed well and comparably to individual item scores on validity, reliability, sensitivity, and between-arm delineation.

CONCLUSION

A composite grading algorithm has been developed and yields single numerical grades for adverse events assessed via the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, and can be useful in analyses and reporting.

Characterization and management of ERK inhibitor associated dermatologic adverse events: analysis from a nonrandomized trial of ulixertinib for advanced cancers

Background Ulixertinib is the first-in-class ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor with encouraging clinical activity in BRAF- and NRAS-mutant cancers. Dermatologic adverse events (dAEs) are common with ulixertinib, so management guidelines like those established for epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRi)-associated dAEs are needed. Patients and Methods This was an open-label, multicenter, phase I dose escalation and expansion trial of ulixertinib evaluating data from 135 patients with advanced malignancies enrolled between March 2013 and July 2017. Histopathological features, management, and dAEs in 34 patients are also reported. Twice daily oral ulixertinib was administered at 10 to 900 mg in the dose escalation cohort (n = 27) and at 600 mg in 21-day cycles in the expansion cohort (n = 108). Results The incidence of ulixertinib-induced dAEs and combined rash were 79% (107/135) and 76% (102/135). The most common dAEs included acneiform rash (45/135, 33%), maculopapular rash (36/135, 27%), and pruritus (34/135, 25%). Grade 3 dAEs were observed in 19% (25/135) of patients; no grade 4 or 5 dAEs were seen. The presence of at least 1 dAE was associated with stable disease (SD) or partial response (PR) (OR = 3.64, 95% CI 1.52-8.72; P = .003). Acneiform rash was associated with a PR (OR = 10.19, 95% CI 2.67-38.91; P < .001). Conclusion The clinical spectrum of ulixertinib-induced dAEs was similar to EGFR and MEK inhibitors; dAEs may serve as a surrogate marker of tumor response. We propose treatment algorithms for common ERK inhibitor-induced dAEs to maintain patients' quality of life and dose intensity for maximal clinical benefit. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01781429.

Objective Response Rate Among Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Sarcoma Treated With Talimogene Laherparepvec in Combination With Pembrolizumab: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Importance

Patients with advanced sarcoma have limited treatment options. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) has been shown to increase tumor-specific immune activation via augmenting antigen presentation and T-cell priming.

Objective

To examine whether T-VEC in combination with pembrolizumab is associated with increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte infiltration and programmed death-ligand 1 expression and thus with increased antitumor activity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic sarcoma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This open-label, single-institution phase 2 interventional trial of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab enrolled 20 patients with locally advanced or metastatic sarcoma between March 16 and December 4, 2017, for whom at least 1 standard systemic therapy had failed. The median duration of therapy was 16 weeks (range, 7-67 weeks). Reported analyses include data through December 14, 2018.

Intervention

Patients received pembrolizumab (200-mg flat dose) intravenously and T-VEC (first dose, ≤4 mL × 106 plaque-forming units [PFU]/mL; second and subsequent doses, ≤4 mL × 108 PFU/mL) injected into palpable tumor site(s) on day 1 of each 21-day cycle.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR; complete response and partial response) at 24 weeks determined by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1, criteria. Secondary end points included best ORR by immune-related RECIST criteria, progression-free survival rate at 24 weeks, overall survival, and safety.

Results

All 20 patients (12 women [60%]; median age, 63.5 years [range, 24-90 years]) were evaluable for response. The study met its primary end point of evaluating the best ORR at 24 weeks determined by RECIST, version 1.1, criteria; the best ORR was 30% (95% CI, 12%-54%; n = 6). The ORR overall was 35% (95% CI, 15%-59%; n = 7). The incidence of grade 3 treatment-related adverse events was low (4 patients [20%]). There were no grade 4 treatment-related adverse events or treatment-related deaths.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this phase 2 clinical trial, treatment with T-VEC plus pembrolizumab was associated with antitumor activity in advanced sarcoma across a range of sarcoma histologic subtypes, with a manageable safety profile. This combination therapy met its predefined primary study end point; further evaluation of T-VEC in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with select sarcoma subtypes is planned.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03069378.

Real-world outcomes of patients with locally advanced or metastatic epithelioid sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available on the real-world effectiveness and safety of systemic therapies for advanced (surgically unresectable and/or metastatic) epithelioid sarcoma (ES).

METHODS

A retrospective medical records review was conducted in patients with advanced ES who were initiating first-line or ≥2 lines of systemic therapy (2000-2017) at 5 US cancer centers. The real-world overall response rate (rwORR), the duration of response (rwDOR), the disease control rate (rwDCR) (defined as stable disease for ≥32 weeks or any duration of response), and progression-free survival (rwPFS) were assessed by radiology reports. Overall survival (OS), rwDOR, and rwPFS were estimated from the time therapy was initiated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Serious adverse events were assessed.

RESULTS

Of 74 patients (median age at diagnosis, 33 years; range, 10.6-76.3 years), 72% were male, and 85% had metastatic disease. The median number of lines of therapy was 2 (range, 1-7 lines of therapy), and 46 patients (62%) received ≥2 lines of systemic therapy. First-line regimens were usually anthracycline-based (54%) or gemcitabine-based (24%). For patients receiving first-line systemic therapy, the rwORR was 15%, the rwDCR was 20%, the median rwDOR was 3.3 months (95% CI, 2.1-5.2 months), the median rwPFS was 2.5 months (95% CI, 1.7, 6.9 months), and the median OS was 15.2 months (95% CI, 11.4-21.7 months). For those who received ≥2 lines of systemic therapy, the rwORR was 9%, the rwDCR was 20%, the median rwDOR was 4.5 months (95% CI, 0.7-5.6 months), and the median rwPFS was 6.0 months (95% CI, 3.2-7.4 months). Over one-half of patients (51.4%) experienced an adverse event, most frequently febrile neutropenia (14%), pain (10%), anemia, dyspnea, fever, thrombocytopenia, or transaminitis (5% each).

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic therapies demonstrate limited efficacy in patients with advanced ES and have associated toxicities.

Intratumoral Injection of Clostridium novyi-NT Spores in Patients with Treatment-refractory Advanced Solid Tumors

PURPOSE

Intratumorally injected Clostridium novyi-NT (nontoxic; lacking the alpha toxin), an attenuated strain of C. novyi, replicates within hypoxic tumor regions resulting in tumor-confined cell lysis and inflammatory response in animals, which warrants clinical investigation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This first-in-human study (NCT01924689) enrolled patients with injectable, treatment-refractory solid tumors to receive a single intratumoral injection of C. novyi-NT across 6 dose cohorts (1 × 10⁴ to 3 × 10⁶ spores, 3+3 dose-escalation design) to determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), and the maximum tolerated dose.

RESULTS

Among 24 patients, a single intratumoral injection of C. novyi-NT led to bacterial spores germination and the resultant lysis of injected tumor masses in 10 patients (42%) across all doses. The cohort 5 dose (1 × 10⁶ spores) was defined as the maximum tolerated dose; DLTs were grade 4 sepsis (n = 2) and grade 4 gas gangrene (n = 1), all occurring in three patients with injected tumors >8 cm. Other treatment-related grade ≥3 toxicities included pathologic fracture (n = 1), limb abscess (n = 1), soft-tissue infection (n = 1), respiratory insufficiency (n = 1), and rash (n = 1), which occurred across four patients. Of 22 evaluable patients, nine (41%) had a decrease in size of the injected tumor and 19 (86%) had stable disease as the best overall response in injected and noninjected lesions combined. C. novyi-NT injection elicited a transient systemic cytokine response and enhanced systemic tumor-specific T-cell responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Single intratumoral injection of C. novyi-NT is feasible. Toxicities can be significant but manageable. Signals of antitumor activity and the host immune response support additional studies of C. novyi-NT in humans.

Characterization of on-target adverse events caused by TRK inhibitor therapy

BACKGROUND

The tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) pathway controls appetite, balance, and pain sensitivity. While these functions are reflected in the on-target adverse events (AEs) observed with TRK inhibition, these AEs remain under-recognized, and pain upon drug withdrawal has not previously been reported. As TRK inhibitors are approved by multiple regulatory agencies for TRK or ROS1 fusion-positive cancers, characterizing these AEs and corresponding management strategies is crucial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced or unresectable solid tumors treated with a TRK inhibitor were retrospectively identified in a search of clinical databases. Among these patients, the frequency, severity, duration, and management outcomes of AEs including weight gain, dizziness or ataxia, and withdrawal pain were characterized.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients with 15 unique cancer histologies treated with a TRK inhibitor were identified. Weight gain was observed in 53% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43%-62%] of patients and increased with time on TRK inhibition. Pharmacologic intervention, most commonly with glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs or metformin, appeared to result in stabilization or loss of weight. Dizziness, with or without ataxia, was observed in 41% (95% CI, 31%-51%) of patients with a median time to onset of 2 weeks (range, 3 days to 16 months). TRK inhibitor dose reduction was the most effective intervention for dizziness. Pain upon temporary or permanent TRK inhibitor discontinuation was observed in 35% (95% CI, 24%-46%) of patients; this was more common with longer TRK inhibitor use. TRK inhibitor reinitiation was the most effective intervention for withdrawal pain.

CONCLUSIONS

TRK inhibition-related AEs including weight gain, dizziness, and withdrawal pain occur in a substantial proportion of patients receiving TRK inhibitors. This safety profile is unique relative to other anticancer therapies and warrants careful monitoring. These on-target toxicities are manageable with pharmacologic intervention and dose modification.

Genetic basis of SMARCB1 protein loss in 22 sinonasal carcinomas

SMARCB1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma (SNC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by INI1 loss mostly owing to homozygous SMARCB1 deletion. With the exception of a few reported cases, these tumors have not been thoroughly studied by massive parallel sequencing (MPS). A retrospective cohort of 22 SMARCB1-deficient SNCs were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (n = 9), targeted exome MPS (n = 12), and Fraction and Allele-Specific Copy Number Estimates from Tumor Sequencing (FACETS) (n = 10), a bioinformatics pipeline for copy number/zygosity assessment. SMARCB1-deficient SNC was found in 13 (59%) men and 9 (41%) women. Most common growth patterns were the basaloid pattern (59%), occurring mostly in men (77%), and plasmacytoid/eosinophilic/rhabdoid pattern (23%), arising mostly in women (80%). The former group was significantly younger (median age = 46 years, range = 24-54, vs 79 years, range = 66-95, p < 0.0001). Clear cell, pseudoglandular, glandular, spindle cell, and sarcomatoid features were variably present. SMARCB1-deficient SNC expressed cytokeratin (100%), p63 (72%), neuroendocrine markers (52%), CDX-2 (44%), S-100 (25%), CEA (4/4 cases), Hepatocyte (2/2 cases), and aberrant nuclear β-catenin (1/1 case). SMARCB1 showed homozygous deletion (68%), hemizygous deletion (16%), or truncating mutations associated with copy neutral loss of heterozygosity (11%). Coexisting genetic alterations were 22q loss including loss of NF2 and CHEK2 (50%), chromosome 7 gain (25%), and TP53 V157F, CDKN2A W110∗, and CTNNB1 S45F mutations. At 2 years and 5 years, the disease-specific survival and disease-free survival were 70% and 35% and 13% and 0%, respectively. SMARCB1-deficient SNCs are phenotypically and genetically diverse, and these distinctions warrant further investigation for their biological and clinical significance.

Clinical implications of drug-induced liver injury in early-phase oncology clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Data on drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and acute liver failure (ALF) in modern phase 1 oncology trials are limited, specifically with respect to the incidence and resolution of DILI and the safety of drug rechallenge.

METHODS

This study reviewed all patients who were recruited to phase 1 oncology trials between 2013 and 2017 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Clinicopathologic data were extracted to characterize DILI, and attribution was assessed on the basis of data prospectively generated during the studies. Logistic regression models were used to explore factors related to DILI and DILI recurrence after drug rechallenge.

RESULTS

Among 1670 cases recruited to 85 phase 1 trials, 81 (4.9%) developed DILI. The rate of DILI occurrence was similar for patients in immune-based trials and patients in targeted therapy trials (5.0% vs 4.9%), as was the median time to DILI (5.5 vs 6.5 weeks; P = .48). Two patients (0.12%) met the criteria of Hy's law, although none developed ALF. The DILI resolved in 96% of the patients. Pretreatment factors were not predictive for DILI development. Thirty-six of the 81 patients underwent a drug rechallenge, and 28% of these patients developed DILI recurrence. Peak alanine aminotransferase during the initial DILI was associated with DILI recurrence (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.09; P = .035).

CONCLUSIONS

In modern phase 1 oncology trials, DILI is uncommon, may occur at any time, and often resolves with supportive measures. Rechallenging after DILI is feasible; however, the high rate of DILI recurrence suggests that clinicians should consider the severity of the DILI episode and treatment alternatives.

A phase Ia/Ib, dose-escalation/expansion study of BI 907828 in combination with BI 754091 and BI 754111 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors

TPS3660

Background: Preclinical data show that the combination of a murine double minute 2–tumor protein 53 (MDM2–TP53) antagonist with anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG3 antibodies produces an anti-tumor effect in multiple tumor types. This Phase Ia/Ib study aims to determine the safety, recommended dose for expansion (RDE), and preliminary efficacy of BI 907828, a MDM2–TP53 antagonist, with BI 754091, an anti-PD-1 antibody, and BI 754111, an anti-LAG-3 antibody, in a variety of TP53 wild-type cancers. Methods: In Phase Ia (dose escalation), ~30 pts with a confirmed diagnosis of any unresectable, advanced/metastatic solid tumor, irrespective of TP53 mutation status, will be enrolled. Pts will receive one dose of BI 907828 every 21 days (Q3W), at a starting dose of 10 mg orally, plus BI 754091 and BI 754111 (240 mg and 600 mg, respectively, Q3W, intravenously). Dose escalation will be guided by a Bayesian Logistic Regression Model with overdose control. The primary endpoint is the maximum-tolerated dose of BI 907828 based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during the first treatment cycle. Secondary endpoints include pharmacokinetics and DLTs in the treatment period (to determine the RDE). In Phase Ib (dose expansion), pts with previously treated, unresectable, advanced/metastatic TP53 wild-type tumors with ≥1 measurable target lesion will be enrolled into four expansion cohorts (1: NSCLC; 2: melanoma; 3: well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma; 4: hepatocellular carcinoma). The RDE of BI 907828 will be administered with fixed doses of BI754091 and BI 754111 (Q3W). In the NSCLC cohort only, pts will be randomized to one of three arms: RDE of BI 907828 + 240 mg BI 754091 + 600 mg BI 754111 (arm A, 32 pts); 240 mg BI 754091 + 600 mg BI 754111 (arm B, 32 pts); RDE of BI 907828 + 240 mg BI 754091 (arm C, 16 pts). The primary endpoint is objective response (OR, per RECIST 1.1). Secondary endpoints include OR (per iRECIST), disease control (per RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST), progression-free survival (PFS), PFS rate at 12 and 24 weeks (cohort 3), and safety. Phase Ib will include at least 140 evaluable pts (80 pts in cohort 1 and 20 pts each in cohorts 2–4). Clinical trial information: NCT03964233 .

Association of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) with improved clinical outcome in sarcoma patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)

11510

Background: IrAEs are associated with improved clinical outcomes after treatment with ICB in select epithelial malignancies. We hypothesized that sarcoma patients (pts) treated with ICB who developed an irAE would have improved outcomes compared to pts who had no irAE. Methods: Adverse events (AEs) from 3 sarcoma-specific ICB trials (nivolumab plus NKTR-214, pembrolizumab plus epacadostat, and pembrolizumab plus T-VEC) were reviewed. AEs probably or definitely related to ICB were classified as immune- or non-immune-related by the principal investigator. Endpoints of interest included best overall response (BOR) by RECIST 1.1 (complete response [CR]/partial response [PR]), durable clinical benefit (DCB; CR/PR/stable disease [SD] ≥ 16 weeks), and progression-free survival (PFS). Outcomes were stratified by the presence or absence of ≥ 1 irAE of any grade and by grade 1-2, grade 3-4, or no irAE (three-category comparison). Results: A total of 124 pts received ICB on these studies. Median pt age was 56 (range: 13-90); 53% were male; all but one pt had a performance status of ≤ 1. BOR was PR in 12 pts, SD in 41, and PD in 69. 2 pts were not evaluable. 40 pts (32%) had ≥ 1 irAE of any grade, 6 of whom had a grade 3-4 irAE. The most common irAEs (≥ 5% of pts) were rash (15%), arthralgia (11%), myalgia (9%), pruritis (8%), and hypothyroidism (6%). The proportion of pts with a CR/PR was higher in pts with than without an irAE (18% vs. 6%, respectively; P = 0.058). A significantly higher proportion of pts with an irAE had DCB compared to those without (53% and 29%, respectively; P = 0.017). The median PFS of pts with an irAE was 16.6 months compared to 10.6 in those without (P = 0.013). The proportion of pts with a grade 3-4 irAE and a CR/PR was highest (33%) compared to pts with grade 1-2 (15%) or no irAE (6%) (P = 0.048). More pts with grade 3-4 irAE achieved DCB (67%) than grade 1-2 (50%) or no irAE (29%) (P = 0.027). Median PFS was 22.6, 15, and 10.6 weeks in the grade 3-4, grade 1-2, and no irAE groups, respectively (P = 0.047). Conclusions: Approximately one-third of advanced sarcoma pts with ICB-based immunotherapy developed an irAE. As reported previously in select carcinomas, sarcoma pts with irAEs were more likely to have clinical benefit than those without irAEs. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism behind this association and to validate these findings prospectively.

Composite grading algorithm for National Cancer Institute’s PRO-CTCAE

7018

Background: Standard reporting of symptomatic adverse events (AEs) in oncology relies on clinicians to rate patient (pt) experience using CTCAE; each symptom is represented by a single graded item. To capture direct pt experience, NCI developed PRO-CTCAE to supplement CTCAE. In PRO-CTCAE, the pt answers up to 3 questions per AE about a symptom’s frequency, severity and interference with daily activities. To align PRO-CTCAE with CTCAE, we developed an algorithm for mapping sets of questions for an AE to a single composite numerical grade. Methods: We used a 5-step process. (1) All 187 possible PRO-CTCAE score permutations were presented to clinical investigators to subjectively map permutations to single numerical grades (range 0-3). (2) Permutations with < 75% agreement were presented to investigator committees at a National Clinical Trials Network meeting to gain majority consensus via anonymous voting. (3) The resulting algorithm was refined via graphical and tabular approaches to assure directional consistency. (4) Validity, reliability and sensitivity were assessed in a national study dataset. (5) Accuracy for delineating AEs between study arms was measured in 2 phase III clinical trials (Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology A091105 and Exelixis COMET-2). Results: (1) 12/187 score permutations had < 75% initial agreement. (2) Majority consensus was reached for all permutations. (3) 5 mappings were adjusted to assure directional consistency. (4) Composite grades for 46/59 (78%) AEs were higher in pts with ECOG performance status 2-4 vs 0-1 (median effect size 0.23 [range -0.49-0.73]; 32/59 effect size ≥0.2; 25/59 p< 0.05), similar to when conducting analysis on individual unmapped items. The test-retest reliability for 24 selected composite grades ranged from 0.57-0.96 (median intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.77) with 18/24 (75%) grades having ICC ≥0.7. Median (range) standardized response means in pts reporting worsening, no change, and improvement were 0.20 (0.03-0.34), -0.06 (-0.20-0.03) and -0.12 (-0.32-0.06). (5) Pattern, directionality and statistical significance of between-arm differences in both trials were preserved with composite grades as compared to individual unmapped items. Conclusions: A composite grading algorithm for PRO-CTCAE was rigorously developed and validated. PRO-CTCAE composite grades may be useful in analyses to provide a single metric for each pt-reported AE for trial and real-world reporting. Support: UG1CA189823; U01CA233046; HHSN261200800043C; Bayer (A091105); https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org .