Prognostic nutrition index as a predictive factor for overall survival in trabectedin-treated advanced soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Trabectedin binds covalently to the DNA minor groove and causes DNA to bend toward the main groove, then trabectedin regulates the transcription of the involved genes in cell proliferation or acts on the mononuclear phagocyte system in tumors, which contributes to its antitumor effects. Several clinical trials confirmed the efficacy of trabectedin for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) although clinically useful biomarkers remained unidentified. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors of trabectedin treatment, especially focusing on the systemic inflammatory, immune response, and nutritional status.

METHODS

This study included 44 patients with advanced STS treated with trabectedin from January 2018 to August 2022. We evaluated the associations of clinical factors that influence the efficacy of trabectedin treatment with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), focusing on systemic inflammatory, immune response, and nutritional status represented by the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), prognostic nutrition index (PNI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.

RESULTS

ALC, LMR, PNI, NLR, PLR, and SIRI demonstrated no association with PFS. Patients with CRP of ≥0.3 had a significantly shorter PFS than those with CRP of <0.3 (median PFS: 863 vs. 105 days, P = 0.045). PNI of ≥44 (median: 757 days vs. 232 days, P = 0.021) and CRP of <0.3 (median: 877 days vs. 297 days, P = 0.043) were significantly good prognostic factors in terms of OS.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results indicate pretreatment PNI and CRP levels as prognostic factors for trabectedin treatment in advanced STS.

Parathyroid hormone and trabectedin have differing effects on macrophages and stress fracture repair

Stress fractures occur as a result of repeated mechanical stress on bone and are commonly found in the load-bearing lower extremities. Macrophages are key players in the immune system and play an important role in bone remodeling and fracture healing. However, the role of macrophages in stress fractures has not been adequately addressed. We hypothesize that macrophage infiltration into a stress fracture callus site promotes bone healing. To test this, a unilateral stress fracture induction model was employed in which the murine ulna of four-month-old, C57BL/6 J male mice was repeatedly loaded with a pre-determined force until the bone was displaced a distance below the threshold for complete fracture. Mice were treated daily with parathyroid hormone (PTH, 50 μg/kg/day) starting two days before injury and continued until 24 h before euthanasia either four or six days after injury, or treated with trabectedin (0.15 mg/kg) on the day of stress fracture and euthanized three or seven days after injury. These treatments were used due to their established effects on macrophages. While macrophages have been implicated in the anabolic effects of PTH, trabectedin, an FDA approved chemotherapeutic, compromises macrophage function and reduces bone mass. At three- and four-days post injury, callus macrophage numbers were analyzed histologically. There was a significant increase in macrophages with PTH treatment compared to vehicle in the callus site. By one week of healing, treatments differentially affected the bony callus as analyzed by microcomputed tomography. PTH enhanced callus bone volume. Conversely, callus bone volume was decreased with trabectedin treatment. Interestingly, concurrent treatment with PTH and trabectedin rescued the reduction observed in the callus with trabectedin treatment alone. This study reports on the key involvement of macrophages during stress fracture healing. Given these observed outcomes on macrophage physiology and bone healing, these findings may be important for patients actively receiving either of these FDA-approved therapeutics.

A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Lurbinectedin in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

OPINION STATEMENT

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS), a substantial group of aggressive and rare tumors with tissue heterogeneity, is infrequently represented in clinical trials with an urgent necessity for newer treatment options. Lurbinectedin, an analog of trabectedin, is currently approved, in various countries, as a single agent, for the treatment of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, preclinical and phase I and phase II trials have demonstrated the efficacy of lurbinectedin in different tumor types, including STS. The better understanding of the pathophysiology and evolution of STS as well as the mechanism of action of lurbinectedin in addition to the available data regarding the activity of this drug in this subset of patients will pave the way to newer therapeutic options and strategies.

Part I.Çô Effects on signal transduction pathways related to tumor growth

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often chemotherapy-resistant, and novel drug combinations would fill an unmet clinical need. Previously we reported synergistic cytotoxic effects of gemcitabine and trabectedin on pancreatic cancer cells, but underlying protein-level interaction mechanisms remained unclear. We employed a reliable, sensitive, comprehensive, quantitative, high-throughput IonStar proteomic workflow to investigate the time course of gemcitabine and trabectedin effects, alone and combined, upon pancreatic cancer cells. MiaPaCa-2 cells were incubated with vehicle (controls), gemcitabine, trabectedin, and their combinations over 72 hours. Samples were collected at intervals and analyzed using the label-free IonStar liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) workflow to provide temporal quantification of protein expression for 4,829 proteins in four experimental groups. To characterize diverse signal transduction pathways, a comprehensive systems pharmacodynamic (SPD) model was developed. The analysis is presented in two parts. Here, Part I describes drug responses in cancer cell growth and migration pathways included in the full model: receptor tyrosine kinase- (RTK), integrin-, G-protein coupled receptor- (GPCR), and calcium-signaling pathways. The developed model revealed multiple underlying mechanisms of drug actions, provides insight into the basis of drug interaction synergism, and offers a scientific rationale for potential drug combination strategies.

Trabectedin and Radiotherapy in Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma: A Case Report

Introduction

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare tumor that remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians worldwide. The metastatic setting implies a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate below 40%. Patients with advanced-stage high-grade ESS (HG-ESS) have limited therapeutic options, often involving various chemotherapy regimens.

Case Presentation

This report depicts the case of a 47-year-old female diagnosed with HG-ESS. She underwent several lines of treatment starting with radiotherapy and brachytherapy, followed by multiple lines of treatment including trabectedin over several months. After retreatment with trabectedin and achieving disease stabilization for 10 months, treatment was optimized by trabectedin combined with radiotherapy, leading to stable disease that is still ongoing and lasts for over 17 months.

Conclusion

Our case underscores the challenging nature of treating patients with HG-ESS and highlights the safety of long-term retrial with trabectedin, coupled with radiotherapy administration. This approach maintained a durable stable disease response in the metastatic setting.

Part II: Cell Cycle, DNA Damage Response, and Apoptosis Pathways

Despite decades of research efforts, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to present a formidable clinical challenge, demanding innovative therapeutic approaches. In a prior study, we reported the synergistic cytotoxic effects of gemcitabine and trabectedin on pancreatic cancer cells. To investigate potential mechanisms underlying this synergistic pharmacodynamic interaction, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis was performed, and a systems pharmacodynamics model (SPD) was developed to capture pancreatic cancer cell responses to gemcitabine and trabectedin, alone and combined, at the proteome level. Companion report Part I describes the proteomic workflow and drug effects on the upstream portion of the SPD model related to cell growth and migration, specifically the RTK-, integrin-, GPCR-, and calcium-signaling pathways. This report presents Part II of the SPD model. Here we describe drug effects on pathways associated with cell cycle, DNA damage response (DDR), and apoptosis, and provide insights into underlying mechanisms. Drug combination effects on protein changes in the cell cycle- and apoptosis pathways contribute to the synergistic effects observed between gemcitabine and trabectedin. The SPD model was subsequently incorporated into our previously-established cell cycle model, forming a comprehensive, multi-scale quantification platform for evaluating drug effects across multiple scales, spanning the proteomic-, cellular-, and subcellular levels. This approach provides a quantitative mechanistic framework for evaluating drug-drug interactions in combination chemotherapy, and could potentially serve as a tool to predict combinatorial efficacy and assist in target selection.

Combinational use of trabectedin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for recurrent ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of phase III randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

In recent years, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has been widely used to improve the survival of patients with ovarian cancer; however, it is unclear whether the combinational use of PLD with other drugs is more effective. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to confirm the efficacy and safety of trabectedin, combined with PLD, in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Data corresponding to all eligible clinical trials as of May 15, 2022, was retrieved using several electronic retrieval databases including PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), ClinicalTrials.gov, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) and Cochrane Library clinical controlled trials (CENTRAL). Comprehensive hazard ratios (HRs), risk ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Review Manager software 5.4 (RevMan 5.4).

RESULTS

From two phase III randomized controlled trials, 1248 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were included in this meta-analysis. Results of meta-analysis revealed that trabectedin, combined with PLD chemotherapy, significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with BReast CAncer gene (BRCA)-associated recurrence (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, [0.33-0.73]; P = 0.0004) and platinum-sensitive recurrence whose platinum-free interval (PFI) was 6-12 months (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, [0.52-0.84]; P = 0.0005). In addition, compared with PLD alone, combination therapy significantly improved the progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, [0.74-0.99]; P = 0.03). Combination therapy also significantly improved PFS in patients with BRCA-associated recurrence (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, [0.40-0.58]; P = 0.004), and platinum-sensitive recurrence (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, [0.56-0.95]; P = 0.02). Trabectedin combined with PLD was more prone to grade 3-4 toxic side effects than PLD alone (P < 0.05); however, fatal adverse events related to non-toxic side effects occurred.

CONCLUSION

Trabectedin combined with PLD significantly improves OS and PFS in patients with BRCA-associated and platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancers. The potential use of trabectedin combined with PLD should be selected according to the PFI and BRCA mutation status of patients.

Drug-induced inhibition of HMGA and EZH2 activity as a possible therapy for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal neoplasms in humans, and just limited progresses have been made to extend patient survival and decrease ATC-associated mortality. Thus, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for treating ATC is needed. Recently, our group has identified two proteins with oncogenic activity, namely HMGA1 and EZH2, with pivotal roles in ATC cancer progression. Therefore, we tested the ability of trabectedin, a HMGA1-targeting drug, and GSK126, an inhibitor of EZH2 enzymatic activity, to impair cell viability of four ATC-derived cell lines. In the present study, we first confirmed the overexpression of HMGA1 and EZH2 in all ATC-derived cell lines and tissues compared to the normal primary thyroid cells and tissues. Then, treatment of the ATC cell lines with trabectedin and GSK126 resulted in a drastic induction of apoptotic cell death, which increased when the ATC cell lines were treated with a combination of both drugs. Conversely, normal primary human thyroid cells did not show any significant reduction in their viability when exposed to the same drugs. Noteworthy, both drugs induced the deregulation of EZH2- and HMGA1-controlled genes. Altogether, these findings propose the combination of trabectedin and GSK126 as possible novel strategy for ATC therapy.

Results of a Phase II Trial Testing the Resensitization With Trabectedin in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

In patients with advanced platinum-resistant ovarian cancer we prospectively evaluated whether trabectedin could resensitize the tumor cells to platinum rechallenge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Upon progression to platinum-based chemotherapy, trabectedin was administered as a 3-hour infusion every three weeks and subsequently crossed over to carboplatin/carboplatin-based combinations. The primary endpoints comprised objective response rate (ORR) and time to progression after trabectedin (TTP Trab). Secondary endpoints included ORR following platinum post-trabectedin, the growth modulation index (GMI) assessed as the ratio of successive TTP to platinum, given after (TTP2) and before (TTP1) trabectedin, quality of life (QoL), and ancillary translational studies.

RESULTS

Ten patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer from a single institution were treated with trabectedin, one of whom achieved a partial response (PR) reaching the ORR of 10% and six had stable disease (SD) for a disease control rate (DCR) of 70%. After the treatment with platinum post-trabectedin, one patient achieved a PR and two had SD, attaining a rate of resensitization to platinum of 37.5%. The median TTP with trabectedin treatment was 15.0 weeks, while eight patients who received platinum post-trabectedin had the median TTP2 of 19.9 weeks. One patient reached the threshold of GMI >1 (12.5%) as indicator of clinical benefit. QoL of patients was not deteriorated with trabectedin. Predictive biomarkers of response to trabectedin and/or re-exposure to platinum could not be identified.

CONCLUSION

Although trabectedin did not achieve a wide resensitization to platinum in this heavily pretreated platinum-resistant population, a significant number of patients attained disease control.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava in a pediatric case: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Leiomyosarcoma is classified as a soft tissue sarcoma. In adults, leiomyosarcoma is the most common malignancy affecting the vascular system; however, vascular leiomyosarcoma in children is extremely rare as most pediatric soft tissue tumors are rhabdomyosarcomas. The survival rate is very low, and incomplete resection is a poor prognostic factor. There is also a high rate of distant recurrence, with the lungs and liver being the most common sites of metastasis. There is no established effective chemotherapy, and complete surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for leiomyosarcoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 15-year-old female patient with no significant medical history presented with severe upper abdominal pain and was admitted. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large retroperitoneal tumor protruding into the lumen of the inferior vena cava behind the liver and multiple small nodules, and metastasis to the liver was suspected. The tumor was 6 × 4 × 5 cm in diameter, located just behind the hepatic hilar structures, and was suspected to infiltrate into the right portal vein. The tumor was diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma through an open tumor biopsy. As the multiple liver metastases were located only in the right lobe of the liver on imaging, we performed tumor resection with right hepatectomy and replacement of the inferior vena cava (IVC). The postoperative course was uneventful; however, on postoperative day 51, distant metastatic recurrences were found in the remaining liver and right lung. The patient was immediately started on chemotherapy and trabectedin proved to be the most effective drug in the treatment regimen; however, severe side effects, such as hepatotoxicity, prevented timely administration, and the patient passed away 19 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

IVC resection and reconstruction combined with right hepatectomy were able to be safely performed even in a pediatric case. To improve the prognosis of leiomyosarcoma with multiple metastases, an effective treatment strategy combining surgical treatment and chemotherapy, including molecularly targeted drugs, should be established as early as possible.

Role of KV1.3 and KV1.5 channels

Immune cells have an important role in the tumor-microenvironment. Macrophages may tune the immune response toward inflammatory or tolerance pathways. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) have a string of immunosuppressive functions and they are considered a therapeutic target in cancer. This study aimed to analyze the effects of trabectedin, an antitumor agent, on the tumor-microenvironment through the characterization of the electrophysiological and molecular phenotype of macrophages. Experiments were performed using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique in resident peritoneal mouse macrophages. Trabectedin does not directly interact with K_V1.5 and K_V1.3 channels, but their treatment (16 h) with sub-cytotoxic concentrations of trabectedin increased their K_V current due to an upregulation of K_V1.3 channels. In vitro generated TAM (TAM_iv) exhibited an M2-like phenotype. TAM_iv generated a small K_V current and express high levels of M2 markers. K⁺ current from TAMs isolated from tumors generated in mice is a mixture of K_V and K_Ca, and in TAM isolated from tumors generated in trabectedin-treated mice, the current is mostly driven by K_Ca. We conclude that the antitumor capacity of trabectedin is not only due to its effects on tumor cells, but also to the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, due, at least in part, to the modulation of the expression of different macrophage ion channels.

Protocol for the 2ND-STEP study, Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG1802: a randomized phase II trial of second-line treatment for advanced soft tissue sarcoma comparing trabectedin, eribulin and pazopanib

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare type of malignancy comprising a variety of histological diagnoses. Chemotherapy constitutes the standard treatment for advanced STS. Doxorubicin-based regimens, which include the administration of doxorubicin alone or in combination with ifosfamide or dacarbazine, are widely accepted as first-line chemotherapy for advanced STS. Trabectedin, eribulin, pazopanib, and gemcitabine plus docetaxel (GD), which is the empirical standard therapy in Japan, are major candidates for second-line chemotherapy for advanced STS, although clear evidence of the superiority of any one regimen is lacking. The Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) conducts this trial to select the most promising regimen among trabectedin, eribulin, and pazopanib for comparison with GD as the test arm regimen in a future phase III trial of second-line treatment for patients with advanced STS.

METHODS

The JCOG1802 study is a multicenter, selection design, randomized phase II trial comparing trabectedin (1.2 mg/m² intravenously, every 3 weeks), eribulin (1.4 mg/m² intravenously, days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks), and pazopanib (800 mg orally, every day) in patients with unresectable or metastatic STS refractory to doxorubicin-based first-line chemotherapy. The principal eligibility criteria are patients aged 16 years or above; unresectable and/or metastatic STS; exacerbation within 6 months prior to registration; histopathological diagnosis of STS other than Ewing sarcoma, embryonal/alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma; prior doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for STS, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival, and the secondary endpoints include overall survival, disease-control rate, response rate, and adverse events. The total planned sample size to correctly select the most promising regimen with a probability of > 80% is 120. Thirty-seven institutions in Japan will participate at the start of this trial.

DISCUSSION

This is the first randomized trial to evaluate trabectedin, eribulin, and pazopanib as second-line therapies for advanced STS. We endeavor to perform a subsequent phase III trial comparing the best regimen selected by this study (JCOG1802) with GD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials ( jRCTs031190152 ) on December 5, 2019.

Myxoid Liposarcomas: Systemic Treatment Options

OPINION STATEMENT

Myxoid/round-cell liposarcoma (MRCL) account for 30% of liposarcomas and are the most chemo-sensitive subtype of liposarcoma. The 5-year local relapse and distant metastasis rates are 10% and 20%, respectively. In the advanced setting, the first-line median progression-free survival and overall survival is 9 and 30 months, respectively. The overall response rate (ORR) by RECIST with anthracycline-based chemotherapy is around 40% and with trabectedin is 20%, although response is higher when captured by CHOI criteria. Anthracycline-based combination chemotherapy regimens remain the standard of care first-line treatment option. However, trabectedin is also effective and may be considered in the first-line setting when anthracyclines cannot be prescribed. Beyond chemotherapy, new therapeutic classes are being developed, including autologous adoptive modified T cell receptor cellular therapies which have shown promising results thus far. These new therapies utilize the immunogenic potential of cancer testis antigens, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A4, which are expressed in the vast majority of MRCL. Early phase trials have shown encouraging results with up to 40% ORR and a median progression-free survival up to 8.7 months. Other innovative strategies are being developed, tailored to the molecular biology of MRCL. This review summarizes current evidence for the use of standard chemotherapy and the new biomarker-selected treatments under development.

Trabectedin induces ferroptosis via regulation of HIF-1α/IRP1/TFR1 and Keap1/Nrf2/GPX4 axis in non-small cell lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a global health concern. NSCLC treatment outcomes are generally poor due to treatment resistance or toxicity. Ferroptosis is a novel cell death triggered by iron accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis may kill cancer cells, particularly those resistant to apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay assessed NSCLC cell viability after trabectedin treatment. Flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC staining evaluated cell death. ROS, iron, lipid peroxidation, and GSH levels were measured using commercial kits. qRT-PCR and western blots evaluated messenger RNA and protein levels. Proteins were inhibited using short interfering RNA transfection and specific inhibitors.

RESULTS

Trabectedin was cytotoxic to NSCLC cells regardless of p53 status. Trabectedin upregulated iron, ROS, and lipid peroxidation in NSCLC cells, causing ferroptosis. Trabectedin increases iron and ROS levels by upregulating transferrin receptor 1 and the HIF-1/IRP1 axis. In NSCLC cells, trabectedin suppresses glutathione peroxidase 4, followed by the Keap1/Nrf2 axis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings imply that trabectedin may treat NSCLC effectively.

Long-Time Progression-Free Survival with Trabectedin in Chemorefractory Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma of the Retroperitoneum: A Case Report

We present the case of a 46-year-old mother of a young child who was diagnosed with metastatic leiomyosarcoma. At diagnosis, the tumor had already infiltrated the vena cava, infiltration of the pancreas was suspected, and pulmonary metastases had been histologically confirmed. The goal of treatment was to prolong survival and gain quality time for the family. When the patient had not responded to 4 cycles of doxorubicin, trabectedin was initiated. After an initial partial remission with a reduction in the size of the primary leiomyosarcoma as well as some pulmonary metastases, the disease remained stable for a total of 10 months. Upon progression, the patient did not further respond to subsequent treatment lines. The presented case shows that second-line trabectedin may represent a promising option for patients with chemotherapy-resistant leiomyosarcoma to prolong survival while preserving quality of life.

Efficacy and safety of trabectedin for the treatment of advanced uterine or ovarian carcinosarcoma: Results of a phase II multicenter clinical trial (MITO-26)

OBJECTIVE

This open-label phase II clinical trial evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of trabectedin in patients with advanced ovarian (OC) or uterine carcinosarcomas (UC).

METHODS

Eligible patients were adults (≥18 years) with histologically proven recurrent OC/UC not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy who received up to two prior chemotherapy lines. Trabectedin 1.3 mg/m² was administered as a 3-h infusion every three weeks. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) as per RECIST v.1.1. If at least 8 of 43 patients (18.6%) achieve an objective response, trabectedin would be declared worthy for further investigations.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients with either OC (n = 32) or UC (n = 13) from seven MITO centers across Italy were enrolled. The ORR was 11.9% (90% CI: 6-23) and included two patients with a complete response and three with a partial response. Eight patients (19.0%) had disease stabilization for a disease control rate of 31.0% (90% CI: 20-44). Median progression-free survival was 2.01 months (95% CI: 1.78-2.30) and median overall survival was 4.64 months (95% CI: 3.19-8.29). Neutrophil count decreases (n = 8, 18.2%) and transaminase increases (n = 6, 13.6%) were the most common grade 3-5 adverse events related with trabectedin. Two patients died due to trabectedin-related grade 5 hematological toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Although trabectedin did not meet the prespecified activity criteria, it confers modest but clinically meaningful benefit to patients with advanced OC/UC as being as effective as any other available treatment for this indication. The toxicity profile appears in line with that previously reported for the drug.

Trabectedin Cardiotoxicity in Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Case Series and Clinical Insights

Trabectedin is a chemotherapeutic used to treat advanced soft tissue sarcoma and relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Although it is associated with a low incidence of cardiotoxicity, when this occurs it can be fatal or significantly compromise the quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. Here, we present a series of 4 cases where trabectedin-treated sarcoma patients developed cardiovascular complications. Similar to previous literature describing this association, all patients had prior treatment with anthracyclines and presented at different time points following treatment initiation. Each patient presented with exertional breathlessness and was found to have severely impaired left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≤35%), and 1 patient had concurrent atrial fibrillation with a fast ventricular rate. All of the patients were treated with neurohormonal blockade, and a multi-disciplinary decision was made to stop trabectedin in 3 patients and continue in 1 patient. Two of the 4 patients had an improvement in their left ventricular systolic function. It is unclear what effect preceeding anthracycline or tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment has in priming patients to develop cardiotoxicity in this setting. Our case series adds to the evidence surrounding this association and highlights that trabectedin-associated cardiotoxicity can present in an insidious fashion.

Trabectedin suppresses escape from therapy-induced senescence in tumor cells by interfering with glutamine metabolism

Conventional and targeted cancer therapies may induce a cellular senescence program termed therapy-induced senescence. However, unlike normal cells, cancer cells are able to evade the senescence cell cycle arrest and to resume proliferation, driving tumor recurrence after treatments. Cells that escape from therapy-induced senescence are characterized by a plastic, cancer stem cell-like phenotype, and recent studies are beginning to define their unique metabolic features, such as glutamine dependence. Here, we show that the antineoplastic drug trabectedin suppresses escape from therapy-induced senescence in all cell lines studied, and reduces breast cancer stem-like cells, at concentrations that do not affect the viability of senescent tumor cells. We demonstrate that trabectedin downregulates both the glutamine transporter SLC1A5 and glutamine synthetase, thereby interfering with glutamine metabolism. On the whole, our results indicate that trabectedin targets a glutamine-dependent cancer stem-like cell population involved in evasion from therapy-induced senescence and suggest a therapeutic potential for trabectedin combined with pro-senescence chemotherapy in tumor treatment.

Trabectedin in Cancers: Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

Trabectedin, a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, is the first marine antineoplastic agent approved with special anticancer mechanisms involving DNA binding, DNA repair pathways, transcription regulation and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. It has favorable clinical applications, especially for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, who failed in anthracyclines and ifosfamide therapy or could not receive these agents. Currently, trabectedin monotherapy regimen and regimens of combined therapy with other agents are both widely used for the treatment of malignancies, including soft tissue sarcomas, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer. In this review, we summarized the basic information and some updated knowledge on trabectedin, including its molecular structure, metabolism in various cancers, pharmaceutical mechanisms, clinical applications, drug combination, and adverse reactions, along with prospections on its possibly more optimal use in cancer treatment.

Single-Center Experience with Trabectedin for the Treatment of Non-L-sarcomas

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of trabectedin for the treatment of leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma (commonly referred to as L-sarcomas) has been widely evidenced in clinical trials and real-world studies. Nevertheless, available literature on non-L-sarcomas is less abundant. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of trabectedin in a cohort of patients with non-L-sarcomas in the real-world setting.

METHODS

This retrospective, observational study included 34 patients who received trabectedin in the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Barcelona, Spain) between October 2013 and July 2020.

RESULTS

The most frequent histologic subtypes were undifferentiated spindle cell/pleomorphic sarcoma (n = 11, 32.4%), synovial sarcoma (n = 6, 17.7%), myxofibrosarcoma (n = 5, 14.7%), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (n = 4, 11.8%). The mean number of cycles with trabectedin was 5.5 (range 2-28). Three patients achieved partial response (8.8%) and eight patients showed stable disease (23.5%). The objective response rate and disease control rate were 8.8% (95% confidence interval (CI), 95% CI 1.9-23.7) and 32.4% (95% CI 17.4-50.5), respectively. Overall, progression-free survival was 2.9 months (95% CI 2.1-3.4). The overall survival was 7.3 months (95% CI 4.7-12.8). The most common trabectedin-related grade 3 adverse events were observed in 10 patients (26.5%), mostly being neutropenia (14.7%) and elevated transaminases (5.9%), whereas one patient (2.9%) reported grade 4 febrile neutropenia that required hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this real-life study consistently support that trabectedin is an effective and safe option for the treatment of patients with non-L-sarcoma after failure of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, or in patients who are unsuited to receive these agents.

A Prolonged Response and Characteristics of Trabectedin Treatment of Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Unique features and treatment effects of trabectedin are presented in consideration of soft tissue sarcoma management. A prolonged time on trabectedin through 59 cycles is shown. This is one of the longer reported uses of trabectedin successfully to control disease. Adjunctive cytoreduction options with surgery, radiation or ablation are presented. Future studies would be helpful to investigate treatment holidays, the impact of multi-modality care and assessment of genetics of clonal metastases. This may assist in guiding and selecting patients for priority treatment with trabectedin.

Mechanisms of responsiveness to and resistance against trabectedin in murine models of human myxoid liposarcoma

Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma characterised by the expression of FUS-DDIT3 chimera. Trabectedin has shown significant clinical anti-tumour activity against MLPS. To characterise the molecular mechanism of trabectedin sensitivity and of resistance against it, we integrated genomic and transcriptomic data from treated mice bearing ML017 or ML017/ET, two patient-derived MLPS xenograft models, sensitive to and resistant against trabectedin, respectively. Longitudinal RNA-Seq analysis of ML017 showed that trabectedin acts mainly as a transcriptional regulator: 15 days after the third dose trabectedin modulates the transcription of 4883 genes involved in processes that sustain adipocyte differentiation. No such differences were observed in ML017/ET. Genomic analysis showed that prolonged treatment causes losses in 4p15.2, 4p16.3 and 17q21.3 cytobands leading to acquired-resistance against the drug. The results dissect the complex mechanism of action of trabectedin and provide the basis for novel combinatorial approaches for the treatment of MLPS that could overcome drug-resistance.

Trabectedin (Yondelis®) as a Therapeutic Option in Gynecological Cancers: A Focus on its Mechanisms of Action, Clinical Activity and Genomic Predictors of Drug Response

The use of predictive biomarkers provides potential individualized cancer therapeutic options to prevent therapy failure as well as serious toxicities. Several recent studies showed that predictive and prognostic biomarkers are a notable personalized strategy to improve patients' care in several cancers. Trabectedin (Yondelis®) is a cytotoxic agent, derived from a marine organism, harbouring a significant antitumor activity against several cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma, ovarian, and breast cancers. Recently and with the advent of molecular genetic testing, BRCA mutational status was found as an important predictor of response to this anticancer drug, especially in gynecological cancers. The aim of this updated review is to discuss the mechanisms of action of trabectedin against the wellknown cancer hallmarks described until today. The current advances were also examined related to genomic biomarkers that can be used in the future to predict the efficacy of this potent anticancer natural molecule in various gynecological cancers.

A phase I study of combined trabectedin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin therapy for advanced relapsed ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Advanced relapsed ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis, and treatment options are limited.

METHODS

This phase I trial investigated the dosage, safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in Japanese patients with advanced relapsed ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Patients received trabectedin 0.9 or 1.1 mg/m² immediately after PLD 30 mg/m²; both drugs were given by intravenous infusion. Treatment was repeated every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined in an initial dose escalation phase, and this was used in a subsequent safety assessment phase. Safety and tumor response were monitored throughout the trial, and drug concentrations for pharmacokinetic analysis were measured during cycle 1.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were included. The MTD of trabectedin was determined as 1.1 mg/m². Gastrointestinal adverse events were experienced by all patients, but were mostly grade 1 or 2 in intensity. Most patients had grade ≥ 3 elevations in transaminase levels or grade ≥ 3 reductions in neutrophil count, but these events were generally manageable through dose reduction and/or supportive therapies, as appropriate. There were no deaths during the trial. Trabectedin exposure increased in a dose-dependent manner. The overall response rate was 27.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Trabectedin, in combination with PLD, may have clinical benefits in Japanese patients with relapsed advanced ovarian cancer. The recommended dosage of trabectedin for further study in this population is 1.1 mg/m² once every 21 days.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

JapicCTI-163164.

Real-world experience with trabectedin for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of trabectedin/pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (trabectedin/PLD) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer have been demonstrated in randomized clinical studies. Real-world evidence is a subsequent necessary step for completing information from clinical practice. In the case of trabectedin/PLD, this evidence derives from prospective studies, retrospective analyses, and case series.Areas covered: The present narrative review provides the most relevant data about efficacy and safety of trabectedin/PLD in real-world studies, and the interpretation of the experience with trabectedin/PLD in clinical practice for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.Expert opinion: Trabectedin/PLD has a proven antitumor activity that is maintained when administered in advanced lines. Trabectedin/PLD in patients who have relapsed between 6 and 12 months have showed comparable survival outcomes than platinum-based regimens. Moreover, the administration of trabectedin/PLD was associated with a positive survival trend after two previous platinum lines and a significantly superior PFS after subsequent platinum-based therapy. Additionally, the activity of trabectedin seems to be increased in patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer. Overall, real-word evidence has confirmed that trabectedin/PLD is an effective and safe non-platinum combination for advanced lines of chemotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.

The potential role of the extracellular matrix in the activity of trabectedin in UPS and L-sarcoma: evidences from a patient-derived primary culture case series in tridimensional and zebrafish models

Background

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare group of solid neoplasm including among others liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma (L-sarcoma) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) entities. The current first-line treatment is represented by anthracycline based- regimens, second-line may include trabectedin. Currently the activity of trabectedin and its mechanism of action is not completely elucidated.

Methods

Taking the advantages of our 3D patient-derived primary culture translational model we performed genomic-, chemobiogram, proteomic- and in vivo analysis in a UPS culture (S1). Furthermore pharmacological profiling of a UPS and L-sarcoma patient-derived case series and in silico analysis were carried out.

Results

Trabectedin exhibited an increased activity in 3D respect to 2D cultures suggesting an extracellular matrix (ECM) and timp1 involvement in its mechanism of action. Moreover 3D S1 xenotranspanted zebrafish model showed an increased sensitivity to trabectedin. Finally the results were further validated in a UPS and L-sarcoma case series.

Conclusions

Taken together these results confirmed the activity of trabectedin in these STS histotypes. Moreover the data underline the ECM involvement in the cytotoxic effect mediated by trabectedin and could open the door for researches aimed to focus on the patient setting that could benefit from this agent.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01963-1.

Medical management of meningiomas

Meningiomas are the most frequently occurring primary brain tumors in adults, representing almost one-third of all primary central nervous system tumors. Several factors have been suggested as an underlying cause in the development of meningiomas, such as ionizing radiation (therapeutic or other incidental exposure), hormonal factors, and genetic predisposition syndromes. Other established factors associated with meningiomas include age, female gender, and those from non-Hispanic Black backgrounds. Though the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Brain Tumors largely preserves the existing grading scheme for organization of meningioma, there is increasing understanding of the molecular factors underlying the development of meningioma, some of which now form the basis for active clinical investigation. The mainstay of treatment has been the combination of radiation therapy and surgery, with a limited role for systemic therapy due to low efficacy, short duration of treatment response, and lack of uniform response criteria. Similar to other primary and metastatic brain tumors, immune-based therapies hold promise and are still under investigation.

Current Reality of Treating Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma as Illustrated by Case Studies

In the first-line setting of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS), the treatment aim generally drives decision-making. Anthracycline combinations with ifosfamide or dacarbazine are more appropriate when the aim is tumour shrinkage, and doxorubicin monotherapy is suitable for tumour control. In patients who progress on anthracycline-based regimens, scope exists for tumour shrinkage with trabectedin and concurrent low-dose radiotherapy. Selecting systemic treatment for patients with advanced STS unsuited to receive standard anthracycline-based therapy often involves complex decision-making as clinical trial evidence comparing alternative options is lacking. Key factors to consider are patient characteristics (e.g., age, medical history, performance status), disease characteristics (e.g., stage, histology), and treatment requirements such as the drug's safety profile, evidence of efficacy by subtype, and approved indication as an alternative first-line treatment option. Real-world data for elderly STS patients derived from retrospective studies and post hoc analyses of clinical trials have particular value in guiding treatment selection and improving the management of this populous but undertreated segment of the STS population.

A European, Observational, Prospective Trial of Trabectedin Plus Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Patients with Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

PURPOSE

The noninterventional, prospective NIMES-ROC phase IV study (NCT02825420) evaluated trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in real-life clinical practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible participants included adults with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (PS-ROC) who had received one or more cycles of trabectedin/PLD before inclusion according to the marketing authorization. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) according to investigator criteria.

RESULTS

Two hundred eighteen patients from five European countries were evaluated, 72.5% of whom were pretreated with at least two prior chemotherapy lines and received a median of six cycles of trabectedin/PLD (range: 1-24). Median PFS was 9.46 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.9-10.9), and median overall survival (OS) was 23.56 months (95% CI, 18.1-34.1). Patients not pretreated with an antiangiogenic drug obtained larger median PFS (p < .007) and OS (p < .048), largely owning to differences between the two populations. Twenty-four patients (11.0%) had a complete response, and 57 patients (26.1%) achieved a partial response for an objective response rate (ORR) of 37.2%. Fifty-nine patients (27.1%) had disease stabilization for a disease control rate of 64.2%. No statistically significant difference in PFS, OS, or ORR was observed by BRCA1/2 status and platinum sensitivity. Most common grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (30.3%), anemia (6.4%), thrombocytopenia (5.5%), and asthenia (5.0%). No deaths attributed to treatment-related AEs or unexpected AEs occurred.

CONCLUSION

The combination of trabectedin/PLD represents a clinically meaningful and safe option for patients with PS-ROC regardless of prior treatment with an antiangiogenic drug, being comparable with previously observed outcomes in selected and less pretreated patients from clinical trials.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This noninterventional, prospective study, conducted in 57 reference sites across Europe, consistently confirmed that trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in routine clinical practice represents a clinically meaningful and safe option for women with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. Although the study population represented a heterogeneous, older, and more pretreated population than those in prospective clinical trials, the combination of trabectedin plus PLD induced comparable clinical benefits, with a similar and manageable safety profile. Overall, these findings show that trabectedin in combination with PLD maintains antitumor activity when administered to heavily pretreated patients in real-life clinical practice.

Trabectedin overcomes doxorubicin-resistance, counteracts tumor-immunosuppressive reprogramming of monocytes and decreases xenograft growth in Hodgkin lymphoma

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) tumor cells are surrounded by a protective tumor microenvironment (TME). Trabectedin, an anticancer drug targeting both tumor cells and TME, demonstrated a potent antitumor activity against Hodgkin Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells. It was cytotoxic against cHL cell lines, including the doxorubicin-resistant clones, with subnanomolar IC₅₀ values, and inhibited clonogenic growth and heterospheroid cell viability. It induced necroptosis, caused DNA damage, G2/M cell cycle arrest, and increased reactive oxygen species production. It reduced HRS cell secretion of CCL5, M-CSF, IL-6, IL-13 and TARC, and inhibited migration. Conditioned medium from trabectedin-treated HRS cells was less chemoattractive toward monocytes, mesenchymal stromal cells and lymphocytes, and less effective in educating monocytes to become immunosuppressive macrophages. These monocytes expressed lower levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1, CD206 and PD-L1, secreted lower amounts of IL-10, TARC, and TGF-β, and were less able to inhibit the growth of activated lymphocytes. In vivo, trabectedin inhibited by >75% the growth of cHL murine xenografts with minimal weight loss; tumors of trabectedin-treated mice had fewer TAMs and less angiogenesis. Altogether, this study offers a preclinical rationale for trabectedin use as a new drug candidate in relapsed/refractory cHL patients.

Trabectedin for the therapy of ovarian cancer

Trabectedin is a marine-derivate antitumor drug with a relevant cytotoxic activity and good safety profile. It has been investigated for the treatment of solid diseases, including ovarian cancer (OC), breast cancer, and soft-tissue sarcoma. In 2009, results from the pivotal trial OVA-301 led the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to the approval of trabectedin in combination with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin for the treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrent OC; further studies revealed an additional benefit also in the subgroup of patients with partially platinum-sensitive disease and in those with a BRCA-mutated status. Additionally, trabectedin demonstrated to prolong the time interval to the subsequent chemotherapy line. Recently, the improved understanding of the antitumor action exerted by trabectedin paved the way to new investigational trials exploring its combination with targeted therapies.

Real-world evidence of the efficacy and tolerability of trabectedin in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy and tolerability of trabectedin in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) have been confirmed by various clinical studies involving lipo- and leiomyosarcomas as well as many other subtypes including translocation-related sarcomas. These data have been obtained from randomized phase II and III clinical trials. Studies in real-world clinical practice are necessary to bridge the efficacy-effectiveness gap and complete the body of evidence. Furthermore, reinforcing clinical experience with data from routine clinical practice allows drug management to be optimized and clinical benefits to be maximized.

AREAS COVERED

The present review provides the most significant data on the efficacy of trabectedin in real-world studies, and the interpretation of real-world experience with trabectedin, in patients with advanced STS.

EXPERT OPINION

Trabectedin has demonstrated durable disease control and an adequate safety profile, indicating it to be a suitable long-term treatment drug associated with a good quality of life. Personalized strategies and individualized objectives are the way forward in the management of STS.

Long lasting response with trabectedin monotherapy in relapsed metastatic mesenchymal chondrosarcoma

Background

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is an exceedingly rare malignancy, accounting for around 5% of all patients with chondrosarcoma. It is a translocation-related sarcoma that tends to have both local and distant recurrences. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment in localised cases however treatment of advanced cases remains a challenge. The rarity of the disease precludes dedicated clinical trials and hence guidelines for its management are not well defined. The dearth in literature makes it pertinent that the cases treated with newer therapies must be reported to contribute to existing knowledge.

Case presentation

We hereby report a case of a 39-year old male without any comorbidity presenting with pelvic pain and was diagnosed as mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the pelvis. He underwent an initial curative resection followed by a disease-free interval of 7 months. Subsequently, he was treated with pulmonary metastatectomy and local debulking surgery at time of initial relapse. He was then exposed to multiple lines of palliative chemotherapy, which limited our treatment options upon subsequent disease progression. Based on recent data, the patient was given trabectedin monotherapy as fourth line chemotherapy. He tolerated the therapy well and attained a progression-free survival of 12 months, which is an impactful figure in relapsed setting in this patient population.

Conclusion

This report aims to present a comprehensive review into available and newer treatment choices for mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and to highlight trabectedin monotherapy as a possible therapeutic option for mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in the relapsed setting.

Advances in Molecular Classification and Therapeutic Opportunities in Meningiomas

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic alterations in meningioma and the underlying tumor biology of meningioma has significantly changed over the past decade and resulted in revision of prognostically relevant meningioma subclasses within and beyond the WHO classification of CNS tumors.

RECENT FINDINGS

The 2016 WHO classification of CNS tumors recognizes WHO grade I, II, and III based on histopathological features. Recent work has identified genetic alterations with prognostic implications, including mutations of the TERT promoter, loss of function of the DMD gene, and inactivation of the tumor suppressor BAP-1. Studies of DNA methylation patterns in meningiomas have resulted in a novel and prognostically relevant meningioma subclassification schema. There have been major advances in our understanding of prognostically relevant genetic and epigenetic changes in meningioma which will hopefully allow for improvement in clinical trial design and the development of more effective therapies for meningioma.

Trabectedin in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Results From the Multicentre, Single Arm, Phase II ATREUS Study

INTRODUCTION

New therapeutic approaches in unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are eagerly awaited. Trabectedin is an antitumor agent with an effect on cancer cell proliferation and a modulating action on tumor microenvironment. The ATREUS study explored the activity and safety of trabectedin in patients with unresectable MPM.

METHODS

Epithelioid patients with MPM received trabectedin as second-line while biphasic/sarcomatoid patients with MPM as first- or second-line therapy. Treatment was given intravenously at an initially planned dose of 1.3 mg/m² every 3 weeks, until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival rate at 12 weeks (PFS_12wks).

RESULTS

Overall, 78 patients (54%) had epithelioid and 67 (46%) nonepithelioid MPM. PFS_12wks in 62 evaluable patients with epithelioid MPM was 43.5% (80% confidence interval 34.9%-52.5%); median progression-free and overall survival were 2.4 and 9.0 months, respectively. PFS_12wks in 52 evaluable patients with nonepithelioid MPM was 30.8% (90% confidence interval 20.3%-42.9%); median progression-free and overall survival were 1.7 and 5.4 months. Trabectedin starting dose was amended due to excess of liver toxicity. Eighty-four (64%) and 48 (36%) patients received 1.3 mg/m² and 1.1. mg/m², respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were hepatotoxicity, leukopenia/neutropenia, and fatigue. Grade 3-4 hepatotoxicity was reported in 59 (70%) patients treated at 1.3 mg/m², and in 19 (40%) treated at 1.1 mg/m².

CONCLUSIONS

Trabectedin showed modest clinical activity, at the expense of relevant liver toxicity. Further development of this drug in MPM at full doses is not warranted.

Novel method for fast trabectedin quantification using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for human pharmacokinetic studies

Few time-consuming bioanalytical methods are currently available for trabectedin quantification in clinical investigations. Here we present a novel, fast and sensitive method for trabectedin determination in human plasma based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS). Plasma samples are treated with acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid and the solvent extract is directly injected into an Acquity BEH Amide column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) operating in HILIC mode at 0.2 mL/min with 80:20 acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid in water. The analyte is separated by an organic solvent gradient and quantified by an Agilent Ultivo triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The quantitative MRM transitions were m/z 762→234 and m/z 765→234 for trabectedin and its d₃-labeled derivative, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.01 ng/mL and the assay was linear up to 2.5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day relative error ranged from 1.19 % to 8.52 %, while the relative standard deviation was less than 12.35 %. The method was used to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles of trabectedin in 26 patients with soft tissue sarcoma, showing that this new HILIC-MS/MS method is suitable for use in clinical research.

Efficacy and safety of trabectedin in metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma: A retrospective multicenter study of the Spanish ovarian cancer research group (GEICO)

•

Trabectedin confers clinical benefit in patients with recurrent/metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma.

•

Our data are similar to those previously reported in clinical studies.

•

Trabectedin is especially effective when administered in earlier lines.

•

Trabectedin has a manageable safety profile.

Objective

We assessed trabectedin in patients with advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) in real-life clinical practice given according to the marketing authorization.

Methods

Thirty-six women from 11 tertiary hospitals across Spain who received trabectedin after anthracycline-containing regimen/s were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Median PFS and overall survival (OS) since starting trabectedin treatment were 5.4 (95%CI: 3.5–7.3) and 18.5 months (95%CI: 11.5–25.6), respectively. Median OS was significantly higher (P = 0.028) in patients receiving trabectedin in ≤ 2nd line (25.3 months) than in ≥ 3rd (15.1 months) and with ECOG performance status ≤ 1 at trabectedin start (19.8 months) than ECOG 2–3 (6.0 months, P = 0.013). When calculating OS since diagnosis, patients had longer OS with localized disease at diagnosis (87.4 months) vs. locally advanced (30.0 months) or metastatic (44.0 months, P = 0.041); and patients who received adjuvant therapy (87.4 months) compared with those who did not (30.0 months, P = 0.003), especially when receiving radiochemotherapy (106.7 months, P = 0.027). One patient (2.8%) had a complete response (CR) and nine patients (25.0%) achieved a partial response (PR) for an objective response rate of 27.8% with median response duration of 11 months (range: 4–93). Eighteen patients (50.0%) had disease stabilization for a disease control rate (DCR) of 77.8%. More patients receiving trabectedin in 1st-line of advanced disease achieved CR (16.7%) and PR (50.0%) than those in ≥ 2nd line/s (0.0% and 20.0%), whereas the DCR was similar across treatment lines. Reversible neutropenia was the most common grade 3/4 laboratory abnormality (19.4%).

Conclusions

Trabectedin confers clinical benefit in patients with recurrent/metastatic uLMS, given after failure to an anthracycline-based regimen being comparable to those reported in clinical trials and with a manageable safety profile.

Data on prior pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) treatment in recurrent ovarian cancer: Post-hoc data analysis from the phase 3 randomized, open-label study comparing trabectedin and PLD versus PLD alone in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer

The data presented herein are supplementary to our published primary article “A phase 3 randomized, open-label, multicenter trial for safety and efficacy of combined trabectedin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer”[1]. The exploratory analysis evaluated the impact of prior pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) therapy in patients who participated in a randomized, open-label study comparing combination therapy of trabectedin and PLD vs PLD alone in third-line recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). These exploratory analyses showed that prior treatment with PLD in ROC does not impact the response and survival rates nor does it increase toxicities or negatively influence survival and response rates in both treatment groups.

Long-Term Response after 94 Cycles of Trabectedin in a Patient with Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma of the Lower Extremity

Leiomyosarcomas of the lower extremity are extremely rare disorders and account for 10-15% of limb soft tissue sarcomas. These tumours have poor prognosis and even in early stages, patients persist at high risk for local and distant relapse; consequently, the treatment of advanced leiomyosarcoma of the lower extremity embodies a substantial defy. We present the case of a 73-year-old man diagnosed with metastatic lower extremity leiomyosarcoma of the hallux soft tissue, and with bone, lung and lymph node metastasis. After core needle biopsy confirmation of high-grade fusocellular sarcoma, the patient underwent surgery of the primary tumour and received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. However, after a 7-month progression-free survival period, a CT revealed lung disease progression. Sequentially, the patient was treated with trabectedin (Yondelis®) at a dose of 1.5 mg/m² resulting in complete remission of the lung metastasis and stable disease of the remaining lesions after 26 months of treatment. Afterwards, the patient started on maintenance therapy with trabectedin, resulting in long-lasting stable disease, as he was able to receive 94 cycles with very acceptable quality of life. Finally, in March 2019, the patient died of community-acquired pneumonia without objective progression disease. This clinical case reports the first patient ever treated with 94 cycles of trabectedin. Our results additionally confirm that trabectedin wields relevant oncostatic benefits with a manageable safety profile and without cumulative toxicities. Trabectedin properties enable a maintenance long-term therapy (until disease progression or unbearable toxicity), with a high impact on survival and with a preserved quality of life.

Radiosensitizing effects of trabectedin on human A549 lung cancer cells and HT-29 colon cancer cells

Background and Purpose Trabectedin is a unique alkylating agent with promising effects against a range of solid tumors. In this study, we aimed to examine the cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects of trabectedin on two human epithelial tumor cell lines in vitro, and its effects on DNA repair capacity. Methods Cancer cells (A549: human lung cancer cells, HT-29: colon cancer cells) were treated with either trabectedin alone for the determination of their growth, or in combination with radiation for the determination of their metabolic activity, proliferation, and clonogenic survival. Besides, the γH2AX foci assay was performed for the assessment of ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage and to evaluate the influence of trabectedin on DNA damage repair. Results Treatment with trabectedin resulted in a growth-inhibiting effect on both cell lines, with the IC₅₀ values remaining within a low nanomolar range. Analyses of metabolic activity confirmed a cytotoxic influence of trabectedin and a BrdU assay demonstrated an antiproliferative effect. When combined with radiation, incubation with trabectedin was found to enhance the radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. The γH2AX foci assay resulted in an increased number of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in cells treated with trabectedin. Conclusion The results of this study underline the antitumor activity of trabectedin at low nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrated that trabectedin enhanced radiation response in human lung (A549) cancer cells and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. Further studies are necessary to examine trabectedin as a potential candidate for future applications in radiotherapy.

Population pharmacokinetics of trabectedin in adolescent patients with cancer

PURPOSE

To characterize the trabectedin population pharmacokinetics in children and adolescent patients with cancer and compare it with the trabectedin pharmacokinetics in adults.

METHODS

Plasma concentrations from ten adolescent and three children with cancer (age range 4.0-17.0 years) treated with trabectedin at doses ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 mg/m², administered as a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion every 3 weeks, were available for the analysis. An external model evaluation was performed to verify whether a previously developed adult population pharmacokinetic model was predictive of the pediatric plasma concentrations of trabectedin. The maximum a posteriori estimation of the individual pharmacokinetic parameters for pediatric patients was conducted, after successful completion of the external evaluation step. The relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and body size were evaluated.

RESULTS

External evaluation methods showed no major differences between the adult population and children and adolescent patients of this study. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the individual estimated clearance and central volume of distribution in these children/adolescent patients was 36.4 ± 16.1 L/h and 13.2 ± 6.54 L, respectively. These values were similar to the typical values reported for adult patients-37.6 L/h and 13.9 L (for females) and 16.1 L (for males). The median area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) in children/adolescent patients was 55.1 µg h/L, while in the adult population the median AUC was 61.3 µg h/L, both administered a 1.5 mg/m² dose regimen with mean (range) BSA for adults = 1.86 (0.90-2.80) vs children/adolescent patients = 1.49 (0.66-2.54).

CONCLUSIONS

The adult population pharmacokinetic model adequately described the trabectedin plasma concentrations and its variability in the pediatric population of patients involved in this assessment that mostly comprised adolescents. The trabectedin systemic exposure achieved in this population was comparable (within 12%) to the exposure obtained in adult population when the same dose, expressed in mg/m², was administered.

Trabectedin Drug Holiday and Rechallenge in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Report of 4 Cases and Literature Review

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare neoplasms, with a high mortality rate. Few drugs are available for the treatment of patients affected by metastatic sarcomas, who still have a 5-years survival rate lower than 20%. However, some of the more recent therapies can obtain long lasting responses in a portion of patients, such as Trabectedin. We analyzed four such cases treated at our Institute after progression to an anthracycline based regimen. In each case a therapeutic pause was proposed after at least 6 months of therapy with Trabectedin and in three out of four patients a re-challenge was proposed at progression, achieving again disease control or response. In two cases oligo-progressive sites were treated with localized therapies as stereotactic radiotherapy, delaying the systemic treatment re-start. In this article the reports of the patients involved are presented with a concise review of the relevant literature. Our findings support the favorable safety profile of Trabectedin and the feasibility of drug holidays, which should be at least discussed with the patient.

Maintenance with Trabectedin in the Treatment of Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. The current usual therapeutic approach in this disease includes optimal cytoreductive therapy followed by platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy, along with neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery in selected cases. The platinum-free interval (PFI) continues to be the most useful tool to assist in the selection of the subsequent therapy and to predict response to treatment. The combination of trabectedin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is useful in patients with partially platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, in patients who have previously received two or more platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, in patients who have already experienced a platinum-induced hypersensitivity reaction and in patients who have previously failed to respond to a platinum-based treatment.

The challenge of finding new therapeutic avenues in soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies of mesenchymal origin comprising about 1% of all adult cancers. Systemic therapies for locally advanced and metastatic disease have been restricted for decades to very few effective and approved agents such as doxorubicin and ifosfamide. However, new therapeutic avenues including new drug developments and registrations such as trabectedin, pazopanib and eribulin as well as numerous clinical trial options have recently enriched the therapeutic armamentarium in the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas. The challenges and pitfalls of finding such new therapeutic avenues in recent years for the treatment benefit of patients with soft tissue sarcomas will be presented in this chapter within the thematic series on "Challenges in Sarcoma".

Trabectedin and irinotecan combination regresses a cisplatinum-resistant osteosarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft nude-mouse model

Recurrent osteosarcoma is a chemotherapy-resistant disease. Individualized precision therapy is needed for this disease. Toward this goal, we have developed the patient-derived othotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model of all major cancer types including osteosarcoma. Synergistic efficacy of trabectedin (TRAB) and irinotecan (IRT) has been reported in Ewing's sarcoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and ovarian cancer. However, the efficacy of this combination on osteosarcoma is not known. The goal of present study was to determine the efficacy of the TRAB and IRT combination on cisplatinum (CDDP)-resistant osteosarcoma PDOX. The osteosarcoma PDOX models were randomized into five treatment groups of six mice: Untreated control; CDDP alone; TRAB alone; IRT alone; and TRAB and the IRT combination. Tumor size and body weight were measured during the 14 days of treatment. Tumor growth was regressed only by the TRAB-IRT combination. Tumors treated with the TRAB-IRT combination had the most tumor necrosis with degenerative change. The present study demonstrates the power of the PDOX model to identify a novel effective treatment strategy of the TRAB and IRT combination for chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma.

Trabectedin triggers direct and NK-mediated cytotoxicity in multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Genomic instability is a feature of multiple myeloma (MM), and impairment in DNA damaging response (DDR) has an established role in disease pathobiology. Indeed, a deregulation of DNA repair pathways may contribute to genomic instability, to the establishment of drug resistance to genotoxic agents, and to the escape from immune surveillance. On these bases, we evaluated the role of different DDR pathways in MM and investigated, for the first time, the direct and immune-mediated anti-MM activity of the nucleotide excision repair (NER)-dependent agent trabectedin.

METHODS

Gene-expression profiling (GEP) was carried out with HTA2.0 Affymetrix array. Evaluation of apoptosis, cell cycle, and changes in cytokine production and release have been performed in 2D and 3D Matrigel-spheroid models through flow cytometry on MM cell lines and patients-derived primary MM cells exposed to increasing nanomolar concentrations of trabectedin. DNA-damage response has been evaluated through Western blot, immunofluorescence, and DNA fragmentation assay. Trabectedin-induced activation of NK has been assessed by CD107a degranulation. miRNAs quantification has been done through RT-PCR.

RESULTS

By comparing GEP meta-analysis of normal and MM plasma cells (PCs), we observed an enrichment in DNA NER genes in poor prognosis MM. Trabectedin triggered apoptosis in primary MM cells and MM cell lines in both 2D and 3D in vitro assays. Moreover, trabectedin induced DDR activation, cellular stress with ROS production, and cell cycle arrest. Additionally, a significant reduction of MCP1 cytokine and VEGF-A in U266-monocytes co-cultures was observed, confirming the impairment of MM-promoting milieu. Drug-induced cell stress in MM cells led to upregulation of NK activating receptors ligands (i.e., NKG2D), which translated into increased NK activation and degranulation. Mechanistically, this effect was linked to trabectedin-induced inhibition of NKG2D-ligands negative regulators IRF4 and IKZF1, as well as to miR-17 family downregulation in MM cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings indicate a pleiotropic activity of NER-targeting agent trabectedin, which appears a promising candidate for novel anti-MM therapeutic strategies.

Longer survival in patients with metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma treated with trabectedin: A case report

Trabectedin (ET-743) is a marine alkaloid isolated from the Caribbean tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, with a chemical structure characterized by three fused tetrahydroisoquinoline rings. In the present case report, two patients with advanced and metastatic uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMS) with significant progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) administered Trabectedin as second and third line treatment are reported. The first case received third line Trabectedin with a PFS of 24 months and an OS of 35 months. The second case received second line Trabectedin with a PFS of 24 months and an OS of 30 months. In addition, a good safety record was obtained in the long-term administration of Trabectedin (more so in case 1 than case 2), with a good quality of life.

Trabectedin and RAdiotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma (TRASTS): Results of a Phase I Study in Myxoid Liposarcoma from Spanish (GEIS), Italian (ISG), French (FSG) Sarcoma Groups

BACKGROUND

Myxoid liposarcoma (ML) exhibits a special sensitivity to trabectedin (T) and radiation therapy (RT). Preclinical data suggest a synergistic effect. We aimed to study safety, feasibility and activity of the administration of pre-operative concurrent T and RT in patients affected by localized resectable ML.

METHODS

Patients received 3 cycles (C) of T in combination with RT (45 Gy) in 25 fractions (1.8 Gy/fraction). Dose Levels for T were: - 1 (1.1 mg/m2), 0 (1.3 mg/m2) and 1 (1.5 mg/m2). Primary endpoint was safety; antitumor activity was assessed by RECIST and Choi criteria. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02275286. The phase 1 part of the study is complete and phase 2 is ongoing.

FINDINGS

From February 2015 to May 2016, 14 patients (M/F 7/7), median age 36 years (range 24-70) and median tumor size 12.5 cm (range 7-17 cm), were enrolled. One dose limiting toxicity (G3 transaminitis) occurred at Level 0 and one (sepsis due to catheter infection) at Level 1. All patients completed RT. Five patients achieved PR (36%), 8 SD (57%), 1 distant PD (7%) by RECIST, while 12 achieved PR (86%), 1 SD (7%) and 1 distant PD (7%) by Choi criteria. Twelve patients underwent surgery. Median viable residual tumor was 5% (0-60).

INTERPRETATION

T in combination with RT showed a favorable safety profile and antitumor activity in localized ML. T dose of 1.5 mg/m2 is the recommended dose for the phase 2 study, which is ongoing.

FUNDING

This study was partially supported by Pharmamar.

CT-response patterns and the role of CT-textural features in inoperable abdominal/retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas treated with trabectedin

PURPOSE

To evaluate CT patterns and textural features of soft tissue sarcomas following trabectedin therapy as well as their suitability for predicting therapeutic response.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 31 patients (18 female, 13 male; mean age, 58.0years; range, 38-79years) with sarcoma under trabectedin as a third-line therapy between October 2008 and July 2017 underwent baseline and follow-up contrast-enhanced CT. Response evaluation was based on modifiedCHOI-criteria and RECIST1.1, classified as partial response(PR), stable disease(SD), progressive disease(PD). For CT-texture analysis (CTTA), mean, entropy and uniformity of intensity/skewness/entropy of co-occurrence matrix (COM) and contrast of neighboring-grey-level-dependence-matrix (NGLDM) were calculated.

RESULTS

Following CHOI-criteria, 9 patients achieved PR, 10 SD and 12 PD. RECIST1.1. classified patients into 5 PR, 15 SD and 11 PD. A frequent (n = 6/31; 19.3%) pattern of response was tumor liquefaction. In responders differences in entropy of entropy-NGLDM(p = 0.028) and uniformity-NGLDM(p = 0.021), in non-responders entropy of average(p = 0.039), deviation(p = 0.04) and uniformity of deviation(p = 0.013) occured between baseline and follow-up. Mean intensity and average were higher when liquefication occured(p = 0.03; p = 0.02), whereas mean deviation was lower(p = 0.02) at baseline compared to other response patterns. Differences in mean(p = 0.023), entropy(p = 0.049) and uniformity(p = 0.023) of entropy-NGLDM were found between responders and non-responders at follow-up. For the mean of heterogeneity a cut-off value was calculated for prediction of response in baseline CTTA (0.12; sensitivity 89%; specificity 77%).

CONCLUSION

A frequent pattern of response to trabectedin was tumor liquefication being responsible for pseudoprogression, therefore modifiedCHOI should be preferred. Single CT-textural features can be used complementarily for prediction and monitoring response to trabectedin.