Characteristics and outcomes of immunotherapy-related liver injury in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma versus other advanced solid tumours

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Immune-related liver injury (irLI) is commonly observed in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We aimed to compare the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of irLI between patients receiving ICIs for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vs. other solid tumours.

METHODS

Two separate cohorts were included: 375 patients with advanced/unresectable HCC, Child-Pugh A class treated with first-line atezolizumab+bevacizumab from the AB-real study, and a non-HCC cohort including 459 patients treated with first-line ICI therapy from the INVIDIa-2 multicentre study. IrLI was defined as a treatment-related increase of aminotransferase levels after exclusion of alternative aetiologies of liver injury. The incidence of irLI was adjusted for the duration of treatment exposure.

RESULTS

In patients with HCC, the incidence of any grade irLI was 11.4% over a median treatment exposure of 4.4 months (95% CI 3.7-5.2) vs. 2.6% in the INVIDIa-2 cohort over a median treatment exposure of 12.4 months (95% CI 11.1-14.0). Exposure-adjusted-incidence of any grade irLI was 22.1 per 100-patient-years in patients with HCC and 2.1 per 100-patient-years in patients with other solid tumours (p <0.001), with median time-to-irLI of 1.4 and 4.7 months, respectively. Among patients who developed irLI, systemic corticosteroids were administered in 16.3% of patients with HCC and 75.0% of those without HCC (p <0.001), and irLI resolution was observed in 72.1% and 58.3%, respectively (p = 0.362). In patients with HCC, rates of hepatic decompensation and treatment discontinuation due to irLI were 7%. Grade 1-2 irLI was associated with improved overall survival only in patients with HCC (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite higher incidence and earlier onset, irLI in patients with HCC is characterised by higher rates of remission and lower requirement for corticosteroid therapy (vs. irLI in other solid tumours), low risk of hepatic decompensation and treatment discontinuation, not negatively affecting oncological outcomes.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Immune-related liver injury (irLI) is common in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but whether irLI is more frequent or it is associated with a worse clinical course in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared to other tumours, is not known. Herein, we compared characteristics and outcomes of irLI in two prospective cohorts including patients treated with ICIs for HCC or for other oncological indications. irLI is significantly more common and it occurs earlier in patients with HCC, also after adjustment for duration of treatment exposure. However, outcomes of patients with HCC who developed irLI are not negatively affected in terms of requirement for corticosteroid therapy, hepatic decompensation, treatment discontinuation and overall survival.

Impact of influenza vaccination on survival of patients with advanced cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (INVIDIa-2): final results of the multicentre, prospective, observational study

Background

The prospective multicentre observational INVIDIa-2 study investigated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients with advanced cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). In this secondary analysis of the original trial, we aimed to assess the outcomes of patients to immunotherapy based on vaccine administration.

Methods

The original study enrolled patients with advanced solid tumours receiving ICI at 82 Italian Oncology Units from Oct 1, 2019, to Jan 31, 2020. The trial's primary endpoint was the time-adjusted incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) until April 30, 2020, the results of which were reported previously. Secondary endpoints (data cut-off Jan 31, 2022) included the outcomes of patients to immunotherapy based on vaccine administration, for which the final results are reported herein. A propensity score matching by age, sex, performance status, primary tumour site, comorbidities, and smoking habits was planned for the present analysis. Only patients with available data for these variables were included. The outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease-control rate (DCR).

Findings

The original study population consisted of 1188 evaluable patients. After a propensity score matching, 1004 patients were considered (502 vaccinated and 502 unvaccinated), and 986 of them were evaluable for overall survival (OS). At the median follow-up of 20 months, the influenza vaccination demonstrated a favourable impact on the outcome receiving ICI in terms of median OS [27.0 months (CI 19.5-34.6) in vaccinated vs. 20.9 months (16.6-25.2) in unvaccinated, p = 0.003], median progression-free survival [12.5 months (CI 10.4-14.6) vs. 9.6 months (CI 7.9-11.4), p = 0.049], and disease-control rate (74.7% vs. 66.5%, p = 0.005). The multivariable analyses confirmed the favourable impact of influenza vaccination in terms of OS (HR 0.75, 95% C.I. 0.62-0.92; p = 0.005) and DCR (OR 1.47, 95% C.I. 1.11-1.96; p = 0.007).

Interpretation

The INVIDIa-2 study results suggest a favourable immunological impact of influenza vaccination on the outcome of cancer patients receiving ICI immunotherapy, further encouraging the vaccine recommendation in this population and supporting translational investigations about the possible synergy between antiviral and antitumour immunity.

Funding

The Federation of Italian Cooperative Oncology Groups (FICOG), Roche S.p.A., and Seqirus.

Real-world experience of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: long-term results of the prospective ABItude study

Background

Limited real-world data exist on the effectiveness and safety of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (abiraterone hereafter) in the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) naive to chemotherapy. Most of the few available studies had a retrospective design and included a small number of patients. In the interim analysis of the ABItude study, abiraterone showed good clinical effectiveness and safety profile in the chemotherapy-naive setting over a median follow-up of 18 months.

Patients and methods

We evaluated clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients treated with abiraterone as for clinical practice in the Italian, observational, prospective, multicentric ABItude study. mCRPC patients were enrolled at abiraterone start (February 2016-June 2017) and followed up for 3 years; clinical endpoints and PROs, including quality of life (QoL) and pain, were prospectively collected. Kaplan–Meier curves were estimated.

Results

Of the 481 patients enrolled, 454 were assessable for final study analyses. At abiraterone start, the median age was 77 years, with 58.6% elderly patients and 69% having at least one comorbidity (57.5% cardiovascular diseases). Visceral metastases were present in 8.4% of patients. Over a median follow-up of 24.8 months, median progression-free survival (any progression reported by the investigators), time to abiraterone discontinuation, and overall survival were, respectively, 17.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 14.1-19.4 months], 16.0 months (95% CI 13.1-18.2 months), and 37.3 months (95% CI 36.5 months-not estimable); 64.2% of patients achieved ≥50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen. QoL assessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Prostate, the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level, and European Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale remained stable during treatment. Median time to pain progression according to Brief Pain Inventory data was 31.1 months (95% CI 24.8 months-not estimable). Sixty-two patients (13.1%) had at least one adverse drug reaction (ADR) and 8 (1.7%) one serious ADR.

Conclusion

With longer follow-up, abiraterone therapy remains safe, well tolerated, and active in a large unselected population.

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A prospective real-life study of abiraterone acetate in mCRPC patients.

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In 481 chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients (median follow-up: 25 months), abiraterone plus prednisone was effective and safe.

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QoL, measured with various tools, remained stable during treatment with abiraterone plus prednisone.

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The median time to pain progression was 31.1 months.

INfluenza Vaccine Indication During therapy with Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a multicenter prospective observational study (INVIDIa-2)

Background

Until now, no robust data supported the efficacy, safety and recommendation for influenza vaccination in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods

The prospective multicenter observational INfluenza Vaccine Indication During therapy with Immune checkpoint inhibitors (INVIDIa-2) study investigated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients with advanced cancer receiving ICIs, enrolled in 82 Italian centers from October 2019 to January 2020. The primary endpoint was the time-adjusted incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) until April 30, 2020. Secondary endpoints regarded ILI severity and vaccine safety.

Results

The study enrolled 1279 patients; 1188 patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint analysis. Of them, 48.9% (581) received influenza vaccination. The overall ILI incidence was 8.2% (98 patients). Vaccinated patients were significantly more frequently elderly (p<0.0001), males (p=0.004), with poor European Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p=0.009), affected by lung cancer (p=0.01), and by other non-cancer comorbidities (p<0.0001) when compared with unvaccinated. ILI incidence was not different basing on influenza vaccination: the time-to-ILI was similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients (p=0.62). ILI complications were significantly less frequent for patients receiving the vaccination (11.8% vs 38.3% in unvaccinated, p=0.002). ILI-related intravenous therapies were significantly less frequent in vaccinated patients than in unvaccinated (11.8% vs 29.8%, p=0.027). ILI lethality was, respectively, 0% in vaccinated and 4.3% in unvaccinated patients. Vaccine-related adverse events were rare and mild (1.5%, grades 1–2).

Conclusion

The INVIDIa-2 study results support a positive recommendation for influenza vaccination in patients with advanced cancer receiving immunotherapy.

Effects of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone on bone turnover markers in chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC patients after ADT failure: A prospective analysis of the italian real-world study ABITUDE

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Bone remodeling is disrupted in metastatic disease, affecting > 70% of mCRPC men.

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In metastatic disease, abnormal levels of specific BTMs are released.

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We prospectively measured four BTMs markers in chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC men on AAP therapy.

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AAP seems to act on the microenvironment of metastatic but not of normal bone.

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This action likely contributes to the antitumoral activity of AAP.

Background

Bone remodeling is disrupted in metastatic disease, which affects > 70% of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. As a result, abnormal levels of specific bone turnover biomarkers (BTMs) are released. In this prospective ancillary analysis of the Italian real-world study ABITUDE, four markers were measured during abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) treatment in chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC men failing androgen-deprivation therapy.

Methods

Patients were enrolled if a blood sample was obtained before the first administration of abiraterone (baseline); ad-hoc blood samples were withdrawn during routine tests after 3, 6, and 12 months. A centralized lab measured bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP, osteoblast activity marker), type-I collagen-C-telopeptide (CTX-1, bone resorption marker), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D (vitD). At each time point, intra-patient variations vs baseline were compared by the signed-rank test (statistical significance: P-value < 0.05).

Results

Of 481 patients enrolled in ABITUDE, 186 (median age: 76 [range: 53–93] years) met the substudy criteria: 74.7% had bone metastases, 11.8% were on bone-targeted therapies (BTT) and 14.0% on vitD supplementation. BALP decreased significantly at month 6 (P = 0.0010) and 12 (P < 0.0001) and CTX-1 at month 6 (P = 0.0028); PTH increased at month 3 (P < 0.0001); no significant difference in vitD levels was observed. Similar findings were observed in BTT-untreated patients. The reduction in BALP and CTX-1 levels was more pronounced in patients with than without bone metastases; in the latter group, no significant variation in BALP and CTX-1 levels was observed.

Conclusions

AAP seems to exert an effect on the microenvironment of metastatic but not of normal bone, which likely contributes to its antitumoral activity.

Symptomatic COVID-19 in advanced-cancer patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors: prospective analysis from a multicentre observational trial by FICOG

Background

This prospective, multicentre, observational INVIDIa-2 study is investigating the clinical efficacy of influenza vaccination in advanced-cancer patients receiving immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), enrolled in 82 Italian centres, from October 2019 to January 2020. The primary endpoint was the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) until 30 April 2020. All the ILI episodes, laboratory tests, complications, hospitalizations and pneumonitis were recorded. Therefore, the study prospectively recorded all the COVID-19 ILI events.

Patients and methods

Patients were included in this non-prespecified COVID-19 analysis, if alive on 31 January 2020, when the Italian government declared the national emergency. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 cases was detected as ILI episode with laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2. Cases with clinical-radiological diagnosis of COVID-19 (COVID-like ILIs), were also reported.

Results

Out of 1257 enrolled patients, 955 matched the inclusion criteria for this unplanned analysis. From 31 January to 30 April 2020, 66 patients had ILI: 9 of 955 cases were confirmed COVID-19 ILIs, with prevalence of 0.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3-2.4], a hospitalization rate of 100% and a mortality rate of 77.8%. Including 5 COVID-like ILIs, the overall COVID-19 prevalence was 1.5% (95% CI: 0.5-3.1), with 100% hospitalization and 64% mortality. The presence of elderly, males and comorbidities was significantly higher among patients vaccinated against influenza versus unvaccinated (p = 0.009, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Overall COVID-19 prevalence was 1.2% for vaccinated (six of 482 cases, all confirmed) and 1.7% for unvaccinated (8 of 473, 3 confirmed COVID-19 and 5 COVID-like), p = 0.52. The difference remained non-significant, considering confirmed COVID-19 only (p = 0.33).

Conclusion

COVID-19 has a meaningful clinical impact on the cancer-patient population receiving ICIs, with high prevalence, hospitalization and an alarming mortality rate among symptomatic cases. Influenza vaccination does not protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Outcomes of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients (pts) treated with different new agents (NAs) sequence in post-docetaxel (DOC) setting: Final analysis from a multicenter Italian study

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Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA), cabazitaxel (CABA), and enzalutamide (ENZ) may prolong survival in mCRPC pts progressing after DOC, although it is not clear how to use NAs to best exploit their efficacy and avoiding their possible cross resistances. In 2015, we reported the outcomes of a series of 260 mCRPC pts, receiving at least 2 NAs, after DOC progression in routine clinical practice (Eur Urol. 2015;68:147-53). In the present study we updated the analysis with longer follow-up and by assessing a larger series of pts. Methods: Based on a multi-institutional collaboration, we collected data of pts who received at least 2 NAs after DOC: we assessed biochemical (bRR) and objective response rates (oRR) and progression free survival (PFS) of each NA by treatment line; moreover, we evaluated the overall survival (OS) from the second line start by sequence strategy. For the OS analysis we differentiated three different types of NAs sequences after DOC: one new hormone agent (AA or ENZ) followed by CABA (NHA→CABA); CABA followed by AA or ENZ (CABA →NHA); one NHA followed by the other NHA (NHA →NHA). Results: A consecutive series of 476 mCRPC pts with bone (86%), nodal (56%) or visceral (15%) mets, was collected. All received NAs as 2nd and 3rdline after DOC. The outcomes by both treatment lines and NAs are detailed in the table. We observed a statistically significant difference in terms of OS when compared the three sequence strategies: the median OS of pts treated with NHA→CABA, CABA→NHA, and NHA→NHA was respectively 12.9 mos, 14.2 mos, and 8.8 mos, respectively (p = 0.01). Conclusions: At our knowledge this retrospective study reports the highest number of pts treated post-DOC with at least 2 NAs. Our data confirmed that the activity of NAs decreased in the 3rd line compared to the 2nd line and suggested a cumulative OS advantage when CABA is used in the sequence. [Table: see text]

Role of bone scan in routine practice for early recognition of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ): Pro and con

e20694

Background: The literature on the role of 99mTc-MDP bone scan (BS) in the diagnosis and follow-up of bisphosphonate-related ONJ is limited and unconsistent. Following data are in favour: a) BS is an imaging technique with high sensitivity; b) sporadic cases of early jawbone (maxilla or mandible) uptake have been reported, occasionally even months or years before the clinical evidence of ONJ (bone exposure); c) the jaw BS uptakes can change on different stages of ONJ disease (acute/symptomatic or less); d) the BS is performed periodically in patients with skeletal metastases to check out the status of disease activity and the response to specific treatments; consequently the research of ONJ does not involve additional costs. Vice versa, some limitations include: a) BS is a technique with low specificity; bone traumatic, inflammatory, degenerative lesions can determine an uptake; b) a non-negligible proportion of patients (even without any tumor disease) shows jaw uptakes, due to dental diseases widely seen in the general population (abscesses, denture ulcers,periodontal disease,etc.); c) even in BP-related ONJ suspected cases, jaw uptake may be due to infections that are not necessarily connected to the osteomyelitis component of ONJ; d) bone necrosis (sequestrum) is usually not uptaking at the BS, but it can appear as a downtaking area surrounded by an uptaking area. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 59 BS performed in 15 ONJ patients treated with BPs (8 with breast cancer,6 prostate cancer,1 renal cell carcinoma). Two Nuclear Medicine specialists reviewed 18 "baseline" BS (before treatment with BP), 14 BS in the 6-12 months prior to diagnosis of ONJ, 13 BS performed at the diagnosis time of ONJ (or within 6 months), 14 BS collected after the diagnosis of ONJ. Results: 6-12 months prior to diagnosis, 10 BS were positive (jaw uptakes in ONJ sites) and 4 negative. At the moment of ONJ diagnosis, 12 out of 13 exams resulted positive and one doubtful. Conclusions: These retrospective data will be used to design a case-control study with different patient groups, inluding ONJ cases, patients treated with BP and not suffering from ONJ, and cancer patients not receiving BPs.

Double KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer in a single oncologic department series

e14657

Background: KRAS and BRAF mutations have prognostic and predictive value in colorectal cancer and are predominantly mutually exclusive. Only a few cases of double mutations (DM) have been reported so far but the actual incidence and presumed role in worsening prognosis is still unknown. Here we report on a series of KRAS and BRAF mutations, focusing on three cases of KRAS and BRAF DM. Methods: since May 2010, 316 consecutive colorectal cancer samples were collected by our Oncology Department; ten patients (3%) had high risk localized disease and 306 (97%) metastatic disease. Genome DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples with tumor cells > 50% was analyzed by reverse dot blot with KRAS-BRAF StripAssay kit (Nuclear Laser Medicine). Results: KRAS point mutations were found in 141 patients (44.6%): 32% G12V, 30.5% G12D, 14.9% G13D, 6.4% G12S, 5.7% G12C, 4.9% G12A, 4.9% G12R, 0.7% G13C; V600E BRAF point mutation was found in 21 patients (6.6%). Three patients (1%) displayed DM: 2 KRAS G13D + BRAF V600E (A and B) and 1 KRAS G12V + BRAF V600E (C). Patients A and C, both aged 59, presented with metastatic disease. Patient A had a rectal primary, a single lung lesion and mediastinal nodes. He failed first line FOLFOX4 plus bevacizumab and underwent salvage surgery both on primary and metastatic disease. He relapsed in 3 months with liver and brain metastasis and died after one year from diagnosis. Patient B had huge liver lesions at presentation. She progressed after 3 courses of FOLFIRI and died after 6 months from diagnosis. Patient C was operated on for a right colon cancer, G3, pT2N2, stage IIIB with lymph vascular invasion and had adjuvant FOLFOX 4. The 6-month assessment did not show relapse. Conclusions: in our series KRAS mutation incidence was in line with literature, but G12V was far more frequent. KRAS-BRAF DM accounted for 1% of all cases and the 2 patients with metastatic disease had an aggressive course with a much lower than expected survival. To our knowledge no series of DM have been described, hindering the understanding of their biological meaning. According to our experience, metastatic double mutated patients do not respond to standard therapy and should be treated with new drugs combinations in clinical trials.