Phase II Study of Palbociclib (PD-0332991) in CCND1, 2, or 3 Amplification: Results from the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Subprotocol Z1B

PURPOSE

Cyclin D/CDK4/6 is critical in controlling the G1 to S checkpoint. CCND, the gene encoding cyclin D, is known to be amplified in a variety of solid tumors. Palbociclib is an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor, approved in advanced breast cancer in combination with endocrine therapy. We explored the efficacy of palbociclib in patients with nonbreast solid tumors containing an amplification in CCND1, 2, or 3.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with tumors containing a CCND1, 2, or 3 amplification and expression of the retinoblastoma protein were assigned to subprotocol Z1B and received palbociclib 125 mg once daily for 21 days of a 28-day cycle. Tumor response was assessed every two cycles.

RESULTS

Forty patients were assigned to subprotocol Z1B; 4 patients had outside assays identifying the CCND1, 2, or 3 amplification and were not confirmed centrally; 3 were ineligible and 2 were not treated (1 untreated patient was also ineligible), leaving 32 evaluable patients for this analysis. There were no partial responses; 12 patients (37.5%) had stable disease as best response. There were seven deaths on study, all during cycle 1 and attributable to disease progression. Median progression-free survival was 1.8 months. The most common toxicities were leukopenia (n = 21, 55%) and neutropenia (n = 19, 50%); neutropenia was the most common grade 3/4 event (n = 12, 32%).

CONCLUSIONS

Palbociclib was not effective at treating nonbreast solid tumors with a CCND1, 2, or 3 amplification in this cohort. These data do not support further investigation of single-agent palbociclib in tumors with CCND1, 2, or 3 amplification.

Trametinib in Patients With NF1-, GNAQ-, or GNA11-Mutant Tumors: Results From the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Subprotocols S1 and S2

PURPOSE

NCI-MATCH is a precision medicine trial using genomic testing to allocate patients with advanced malignancies to targeted treatment subprotocols. This report combines two subprotocols evaluating trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, in patients with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1[S1] or GNA11/Q [S2]) altered tumors.

METHODS

Eligible patients had tumors with deleterious inactivating NF1 or GNA11/Q mutations by the customized Oncomine AmpliSeq panel. Prior MEK inhibitor treatment was excluded. Glioblastomas (GBMs) were permitted, including malignancies associated with germline NF1 mutations (S1 only). Trametinib was administered at 2 mg once daily over 28-day cycles until toxicity or disease progression. Primary end point was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months, PFS, and overall survival. Exploratory analyses included co-occurring genomic alterations and PTEN loss.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were eligible and started therapy: 46 with NF1 mutations (S1) and four with GNA11 mutations (S2). In the NF1 cohort, nonsense single-nucleotide variants were identified in 29 and frameshift deletions in 17 tumors. All in S2 had nonuveal melanoma and GNA11 Q209L variant. Two partial responses (PR) were noted in S1, one patient each with advanced lung cancer and GBM for an ORR of 4.3% (90% CI, 0.8 to 13.1). One patient with melanoma in S2 had a PR (ORR, 25%; 90% CI, 1.3 to 75.1). Prolonged stable disease (SD) was also noted in five patients (four in S1 and one in S2) with additional rare histologies. Adverse events were as previously described with trametinib. Comutations in TP53 and PIK3CA were common.

CONCLUSION

Although these subprotocols did not meet the primary end point for ORR, significant responses or prolonged SD noted in some disease subtypes warrants further investigation.

Relevance of Bone Marrow Biopsies for Response Assessment in US National Cancer Institute National Clinical Trials Network Follicular Lymphoma Clinical Trials

PURPOSE

Bone marrow biopsies (BMB) are performed before/after therapy to confirm complete response (CR) in patients with lymphoma on clinical trials. We sought to establish whether BMB add value in assessing response or predict progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) outcomes in follicular lymphoma (FL) subjects in a large, multicenter, multitrial cohort.

METHODS

Data were pooled from seven trials of 580 subjects with previously untreated FL through Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) and SWOG Cancer Research Network (SWOG) completing enrollment from 2008 to 2016.

RESULTS

Only 5/580 (0.9%) had positive baseline BMB, CR on imaging, and subsequent positive BMB (P < .0001). Therefore, BMB were irrelevant to response in 99% of subjects. A sensitivity analysis of 385 FL subjects treated on an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study was included. In the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group cohort, 5/385 (1.3%) had BMB that affected response assessment. Since some subjects do not undergo confirmatory BMB, we performed a landmark survival analysis from first radiologic CR with data from 580 subjects from Alliance and SWOG. Of subjects with CR on imaging (n = 187), PFS and OS were not significantly different among those with negative BMB to confirm CR (n = 47) versus those without repeat BMB (n = 140; PFS: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.10, 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.94, log-rank P = .686; OS: hazard ratio, 0.59, 95% CI, 0.23 to 1.53, log-rank P = .276).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that BMB add little value to response assessment in subjects with FL treated on clinical trials and we recommend eliminating BMB from clinical trial requirements. BMB should also be removed from diagnostic guidelines for FL except in scenarios in which it may change management including confirmation of limited stage and assessment of cytopenias. This would reduce cost, patient discomfort, resource utilization, and potentially remove a barrier to trial enrollment.

How does patient-centered communication in ovarian cancer care enhance patient well-being? A mixed methods study

OBJECTIVE

Greater perceived patient-centered communication (PCC) is associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with ovarian cancer. Quantitative measures of PCC and HRQoL do little to explain this association. We interviewed patients with high and low ratings of PCC to understand how it is associated with HRQoL.

METHODS

Explanatory sequential mixed methods study. Participants were English-speaking U.S. adults with ovarian cancer. We assessed PCC with the Patient-Centered Communication - Cancer (PCC-Ca)-36 (possible score range 1-5; higher scores represent greater patient-centeredness), and purposively sampled 14 participants with total scores in the top and bottom quartiles. Participants completed individual, semi-structured interviews about their communication experiences. Guided by the National Cancer Institute Framework for PCC in Cancer Care, we analyzed interview transcripts using directed content analysis. We integrated survey and interview findings in a joint display.

RESULTS

Among 176 survey respondents, PCC-Ca-36 total scores ranged from 1.7 to 5.0. Participants with scores in the top quartile (4.8-5.0) perceived clinicians as proactive and attentive to psychosocial concerns. Those with scores in the bottom quartile (1.7-3.5) described not feeling known as an individual and receiving limited support for self-management.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between PCC and QoL may be partially explained by differences in perceived support for psychosocial concerns and self-management. PCC may facilitate receipt of proactive, personalized care.

Concordance between influential adverse treatment outcomes and localized prostate cancer treatment decisions

Background

Although treatment decisions for localized prostate cancer (LPC) are preference-sensitive, the extent to which individuals with LPC receive preference-concordant treatment is unclear. In a sample of individuals with LPC, the purpose of this study was to (a) assess concordance between the influence of potential adverse treatment outcomes and treatment choice; (b) determine whether receipt of a decision aid predicts higher odds of concordance; and (c) identify predictors of concordance from a set of participant characteristics and influential personal factors.

Methods

Participants reported the influence of potential adverse treatment outcomes and personal factors on treatment decisions at baseline. Preference-concordant treatment was defined as (a) any treatment if risk of adverse outcomes did not have a lot of influence, (b) active surveillance if risk of adverse outcomes had a lot of influence, or (c) radical prostatectomy or active surveillance if risk of adverse bowel outcomes had a lot of influence and risk of other adverse outcomes did not have a lot of influence. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results

Of 224 participants, 137 (61%) pursued treatment concordant with preferences related to adverse treatment outcomes. Receipt of a decision aid did not predict higher odds of concordance. Low tumor risk and age ≥ 60 years predicted higher odds of concordance, while attributing a lot of influence to the impact of treatment on recreation predicted lower odds of concordance.

Conclusions

Risk of potential adverse treatment outcomes may not be the foremost consideration of some patients with LPC. Assessment of the relative importance of patients’ stated values and preferences is warranted in the setting of LPC treatment decision making.

Clinical trial registration: NCT01844999 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-022-01972-w.

Abstract 506: Dissecting the genomic and tumor immune microenvironment factors associated with disease recurrence in resected stage I NSCLC

Background: Patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are at substantial risk for disease recurrence after surgical resection, and the discovery of biomarkers that predict disease recurrence has been challenging. We sought to identify genomic and immunologic factors associated with recurrence after surgery in stage I NSCLC.

Methods: We collected clinicopathologic data from patients with resected stage I NSCLC (AJCC 8th Edition) which underwent multiplexed immunofluorescence for CD8+, FOXP3+, PD-1+, and PD-L1. A subset of these samples also had next-generation sequencing performed to identify genomic alterations and tumor mutational burden (TMB). A bidirectional stepwise elimination was applied on variables with a univariable disease-free survival (DFS) p-value &lt;0.25. The final multivariable Cox model was validated with internal bootstrapping (B=300).

Results: A total of 252 cases were included. After a median follow-up of 25.6 months from the time of surgery, 47 cases (18.7%) experienced recurrence, with a 2-year DFS rate of 82.9%, and a 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of 97.9%. Shorter DFS was associated with higher TMB, increased PD-L1 expression, and greater numbers of intratumoral (IT) CD8+, PD-1+, and PD-1+CD8+ immune cells, as well as increased CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells at the tumor stroma interface (TSI) in univariable analyses (p&lt;0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that shorter DFS was associated with increasing TMB and higher PD-L1 tumor cell expression. We observed a difference by immune cell localization and risk of recurrence: shorter DFS was associated with higher IT but lower TSI PD-1+ immune cells, and higher IT but lower TSI FOXP3+ T cells (Table). Internal bootstrap validation showed good model performance (C-index = 0.74).

Conclusion: Genomic analysis and immunophenotyping of stage I NSCLCs can identify cases at greatest risk of disease recurrence after surgical resection.

Table. Univariable and multivariable analysis Disease-free survival Univariable HR [95%CI] p-value Multivariable HR [95%CI] p-value Stage at diagnosis - 0.10 – – IA1 1.52 [0.58, 3.97] IA2 2.61 [0.95, 7.20] IA3 2.61 [1.03, 6.63] IB Histology - 0.42 Adenocarcinoma 1.38 [0.65, 2.97] Squamous Age* 1.02 [0.99, 1.06] 0.19 – – TMB* 1.09 [1.05, 1.12] &lt;0.001 1.09 [1.05, 1.13] &lt;0.001 Smoking* (pack-years) 1.01 [1.00, 1.02] 0.008 – – Smoking history - 0.012 – – Never 5.24 [1.27, 21.7] Former Current 4.92 [0.82, 29.5] Surgical treatment - 0.084 - 0.074 Lobectomy 1.80 [0.89, 3.62] 2.18 [0.93, 5.14] Sublobar Intratumoral** 1.09 [1.03, 1.16] 0.015 - – CD8+ 1.22 [1.10, 1.36] 0.002 1.80 [1.13, 2.87] 0.014 PD-1+ 1.51 [1.20, 1.90] 0.004 - – 0.004 PD-1+ CD8+ 1.22 [1.04, 1.44] 0.053 0.15 [0.04, 0.55] FOXP3+ Tumor-Stroma Interface** 1.06 [1.01, 1.11] 0.033 - - CD8+ 1.10 [1.01,1.20] 0.056 0.71 [0.56, 0.91] 0.007 PD-1+ 1.21 [0.99, 1.48] 0.100 - - PD-1+ CD8+ 1.28 [1.03, 1.59] 0.037 2.42 [1.49, 3.95] &lt;0.001 FOXP3+ PD-L1 expression* 1.02 [1.01, 1.03] &lt;0.001 1.03 [1.01, 1.04] &lt;0.001 Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) 1.02 [1.01, 1.04] - - Immune cells 0.011 *Per unit increase. ** Per 100 units increase. Intratumoral, is defined as the region of the slide consisting of tumor beyond the tumor-stroma interface. Tumor-Stroma Interface is defined as the region within 40 microns to either side of the defined border between tumor and stroma.

Citation Format: Joao Victor Alessi, Zihan Wei, Biagio Ricciuti, James Lindsay, Victor R. Vaz, Adriana Barrichello, Bijaya Sharma, Kristen D. Felt, Fangxin Hong, Lynette M. Sholl, Scott J. Rodig, Mark M. Awad. Dissecting the genomic and tumor immune microenvironment factors associated with disease recurrence in resected stage I NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 506.

POS0541 PREDICTORS OF REMISSION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH UPADACITINIB OR ADALIMUMAB IN THE SELECT-COMPARE PHASE 3 STUDY: CLINICAL STATUS AT WEEK 12, BUT NOT STANDARD LABORATORY MEASURES, PROVIDES THE BEST CURRENT PREDICTOR OF REMISSION AT WEEK 26

Background

Upadacitinib (UPA, 15 mg QD), an oral JAK1 selective inhibitor, showed greater efficacy compared to adalimumab (ADA, 40 mg EOW) at week 12 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on background methotrexate (MTX) in the SELECT-COMPARE phase 3 study1. Treatment with UPA compared to ADA resulted in a larger proportion of patients reaching CDAI Remission (REM) at week 26 (23% vs. 14%, p-value ≤ 0.001). Because remission is the goal in managing RA, it is of clinical relevance to identify early during the treatment course who might be able to achieve this state. It has been reported that early response to therapy with UPA was associated with achieving CDAI REM at week 262. In parallel, it has been reported that reduction in monocyte can predict DAS28-ESR REM in RA patients treated with anti-TNF therapy3. However, the relative predictive values of clinical and standard laboratory measures have not been compared side-by-side.

Objectives

To determine post-hoc the relative predictive values of selected clinical and standard laboratory measures collected at week 12 for identifying RA patients who will be in CDAI REM at week 26 upon treatment with UPA or ADA.

Methods

Clinical (CDAI, SDAI, and DAS28-CRP) and laboratory data (CRP, ESR, CBC with differential, and Lipids) for all available patients enrolled in the SELECT-COMPARE phase 3 study were included in this post-hoc analysis (UPA: n =623 [CDAI REM at wk26 = 23.8%]; ADA: n = 316 [CDAI REM at wk 26 = 14.2%]). Patients who switched treatment between weeks 14 and 22 due to not reaching at least 20% improvement in tender and swollen joints were classified as non-responders for CDAI REM at week 26. The predictive value of clinical and laboratory endpoints recorded at week 12 for determining CDAI REM status at week 26 was assessed by univariate logistic regression. We report the performance of each model as ROC AUC with a cutoff of 0.75 for meaningful predictive value.

Results

For both patients treated with UPA and those treated with ADA, clinical disease activity status measures (CDAI, SDAI, and DAS28-CRP) and relative change in disease activity measures (Percent Change [PCHG] in CDAI, PCHG in DAS28-CRP, and PCHG in SDAI) at week 12 resulted in the highest predictive performance for determining CDAI REM status at week 26 (Figure 1). In contrast, none of the selected standard laboratory measures (CRP, ESR, CBC with differential, and Lipids) reached a meaningful predictive value (ROC AUC < 0.75). Of note, cell numbers and changes in cell numbers (including Neutrophils Lymphocytes, Basophils, Eosinophils, and Monocytes) at week 12 had no meaningful predictive value for determining CDAI REM at week 26.

Figure 1.

Univariate Logistic Models to Predict CDAI REM at Week 26 in Active RA Patients who had an Inadequate Response to MTX: ROC Analysis AUC.

Legend: All evaluated parameters were recorded at Week 12; CHG = Change from Baseline to Week 12; PCHG = Percent Change from Baseline to Week 12

Conclusion

This analysis suggests that standard laboratory measures (CRP, ESR, CBC with differential, and Cholesterol) at week 12 do not represent useful predictors for REM at week 26 in csDMARD-IR RA patients. In particular, blood cell numbers and the changes in these measures at week 12 do not provide additional predictive value in our analyses, contrasting with the results from Amarnani and colleagues3. Hence, clinical disease activity levels and changes in these measures at week 12 remain adequate predictors of CDAI REM at week 26. Still, the absolute predictive performance of clinical measures remains suboptimal, highlighting the need to dedicate continued efforts to identify and validate improved predictors of long-term REM in RA.

References

[1]Fleischmann, R. et al. Arth Rheumatol71, 1788-1800 (2019).

[2]Kavanaugh, A. et al. J Clin Rheumatol27, S81-S81 (2021).

[3]Amarnani, R. et al. Ann Rheum Dis80, 448-449 (2021).

Acknowledgements

AbbVie, Inc was the study sponsor, contributed to the study design, data collection, analysis & interpretation, and writing, reviewing, and approval of the final version.

Disclosure of Interests

Thierry Sornasse Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, Fang Cai Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, Feng Hong Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, Samuel Anyanwu Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, In-Ho Song Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, Marwan Bukhari Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squib, UCB celltech, Roche/Chugai, Pfizer, Abbvie, Merck, Mennarini, Sanofi-aventis, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Amgen, Novartis and Gilead, Paid instructor for: honoraria from educational groups revalidaid and TREG consultants.

Transitioning from Heparin to Saline Locks for Central Venous Access Devices in Oncology: An Evidence-Based Practice Approach

Central vascular access devices (CVADs) are often essential to the care of patients undergoing long-term cancer treatment. CVAD maintenance is an essential oncology nurse competency. Evidence-based practice (EBP) in flushing and locking help to prevent intraluminal occlusion, a common complication. Heparinized saline (HS) has been the standard locking solution for CVADs. However, research indicates no superiority of HS over normal saline (NS). The objectives of this EBP project were 1) to evaluate whether a significant difference in intraluminal occlusion was associated with the change from HS to NS use for locking CVADs in ambulatory oncology care, and 2) to evaluate the effects of peer nurse mentoring on nurses’ and patients’ perspectives about the practice change. Analysis of data revealed decreases in alteplase usage after transitioning to NS locking. Patient and nurse surveys indicated that peer nurse mentoring increased nurse and patient confidence and competence in making the practice transition.

Transition de l’héparine au sérum physiologique pour fermer les cathéters veineux centraux en oncologie : pratique fondée sur la recherche

Les patients recevant un traitement à long terme contre le cancer doivent très souvent se faire poser un cathéter veineux central (CVC). L’entretien du CVC est donc une compétence fondamentale des infirmières en oncologie. Les pratiques d’irrigation et de fermeture du CVC fondées sur la recherche aident à prévenir l’occlusion intraluminale, une complication fréquente. Les normes recommandent l’utilisation d’un soluté physiologique hépariné pour fermer le CVC; toutefois, selon la recherche, le soluté hépariné n’est pas plus efficace que le seul sérum physiologique. Les objectifs du présent projet de pratique fondée sur la recherche étaient : 1) d’évaluer si la fermeture au sérum physiologique plutôt qu’au soluté hépariné était liée à une différence significative du nombre de cas d’occlusion intraluminale chez les patients suivis en clinique d’oncologie externe; et 2) d’évaluer les effets du mentorat entre pairs sur le point de vue des infirmières et des patients quant au changement de pratique. L’analyse des données a révélé une diminution de l’utilisation d’altéplase après l’adoption du sérum physiologique pour fermer les CVC. Les sondages réalisés auprès des patients et des infirmières montrent que le mentorat entre pairs accroît la confiance des infirmières et des patients, ainsi que l’habileté à procéder au changement de pratique.

Examining allostatic load, neighborhood socioeconomic status, symptom burden and mortality in multiple myeloma patients

The objective of this study is to examine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) and baseline allostatic load (AL) and clinical trial endpoints in patients enrolled in the E1A11 therapeutic trial in multiple myeloma (MM). Study endpoints were symptom burden (pain, fatigue, and bother) at baseline and 5.5 months, non-completion of induction therapy, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariable logistic and Cox regression examined associations between nSES, AL and patient outcomes. A 1-unit increase in baseline AL was associated with greater odds of high fatigue at baseline (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 1.21 [1.08–1.36]) and a worse OS (adjusted hazard ratio, [95% CI] = 1.21 [1.06–1.37]). High nSES was associated with worse baseline bother (middle OR = 4.22 [1.11–16.09] and high 4.49 [1.16–17.43]) compared to low nSES. There was no association between AL or nSES and symptom burden at 5.5 months, non-completion of induction therapy or PFS. Additionally, there was no association between nSES and OS. AL may have utility as a predictive marker for OS among patients with MM and may allow individualization of treatment. Future studies should standardize and validate AL patients with MM.

Clinical Decision Support for Symptom Management in Lung Cancer Patients: A Group RCT

CONTEXT

Clinical guidelines are available to enhance symptom management during cancer treatment but often are not used in the practice setting. Clinical decision support can facilitate the implementation and adherence to clinical guidelines. and improve the quality of cancer care.

OBJECTIVES

Clinical decision support offers an innovative approach to integrate guideline-based symptom management into oncology care. This study evaluated the effect of clinical decision support-based recommendations on clinical management of symptoms and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among outpatients with lung cancer.

METHODS

Twenty providers and 179 patients were allotted in group randomization to attention control (AC) or Symptom Assessment and Management Intervention (SAMI) arms. SAMI entailed patient-report of symptoms and delivery of recommendations to manage pain, fatigue, dyspnea, depression, and anxiety; AC entailed symptom reporting prior to the visit. Outcomes were collected at baseline, two, four and six-months. Adherence to recommendations was assessed through masked chart review. HR-QOL was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung questionnaire. Descriptive statistics with linear and logistic regression accounting for the clustering structure of the design and a modified chi-square test were used for analyses.

RESULTS

Median age of patients was 63 years, 58% female, 88% white, and 32% ≤high school education. Significant differences in clinical management were evident in SAMI vs. AC for all target symptoms that passed threshold. Patients in SAMI were more likely to receive sustained-release opioids for constant pain, adjuvant medications for neuropathic pain, opioids for dyspnea, stimulants for fatigue and mental health referrals for anxiety. However, there were no statistically significant differences in HR-QOL at any time point.

CONCLUSION

SAMI improved clinical management for all target symptoms but did not improve patient outcomes. A larger study is warranted to evaluate effectiveness.

Lipid accumulation product is a reliable indicator for identifying metabolic syndrome: the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that lipid accumulation product (LAP) was associated with the risk of cardiometabolic disease. It is not clear whether LAP could be used as a marker to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Chinese ethnic groups.

AIM

To assess the reliability of LAP as a maker to identify MetS among Dong adults.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study.

METHOD

We included 6494 Dong individuals (1403 patients) aged 30-79 years from southwest China. MetS was established by Chinese Diabetes Society. Logistic regression model was utilized to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to calculate area under the ROC curve (AUC) and 95% CIs to obtain the identification ability for MetS.

RESULTS

The risk of MetS was increased with per 5 units increase of LAP (OR 1.37 [95% CI, 1.34-1.39]). Similar results were found in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Clustered metabolic risk associated with per 5 units increase of LAP was observed for people with 1 (OR 1.59 [95% CI, 1.53-1.65]), 2 (2.15 [2.06-2.24]), 3 (2.59 [2.48-2.71]), 4 (2.81 [2.69-2.95]) and 5 (3.03 [2.87-3.21]) MetS components. LAP presented higher AUC (0.915 [95% CI, 0.907-0.923]) than other included obesity indices (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These data support evidence that LAP was related to the risk of MetS, had a high AUC and could be a reliable index for identifying MetS patients among Dong adults in Chinese.

Silent mutations reveal therapeutic vulnerability in RAS Q61 cancers

RAS family members are the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. Although KRAS(G12C)-specific inhibitors show clinical activity in patients with cancer^1-3, there are no direct inhibitors of NRAS, HRAS or non-G12C KRAS variants. Here we uncover the requirement of the silent KRAS^G60G mutation for cells to produce a functional KRAS(Q61K). In the absence of this G60G mutation in KRAS^Q61K, a cryptic splice donor site is formed, promoting alternative splicing and premature protein termination. A G60G silent mutation eliminates the splice donor site, yielding a functional KRAS(Q61K) variant. We detected a concordance of KRAS^Q61K and a G60G/A59A silent mutation in three independent pan-cancer cohorts. The region around RAS Q61 is enriched in exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) motifs and we designed mutant-specific oligonucleotides to interfere with ESE-mediated splicing, rendering the RAS(Q61) protein non-functional in a mutant-selective manner. The induction of aberrant splicing by antisense oligonucleotides demonstrated therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo. By studying the splicing necessary for a functional KRAS(Q61K), we uncover a mutant-selective treatment strategy for RAS^Q61 cancer and expose a mutant-specific vulnerability, which could potentially be exploited for therapy in other genetic contexts.

A dose-response meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality

PURPOSE

Previous studies have not fully described the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and death risks from all cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study quantitatively evaluates HDL-C-mortality associations.

METHODS

Embase and PubMed databases were searched for relevant articles published up to 1 June 2019. Random-effects models were used to pool relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used restricted cubic splines to model the dose-response association.

RESULTS

We identified 32 prospective cohort studies including 369,904 participants and 33,473 total deaths (9426 CVD deaths). Compared to the lowest HDL-C levels, all cause and CVD mortality risks were reduced by 18% (RR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.93) and 36% (0.64, 0.46-0.89), respectively, for the highest HDL-C levels. All cause and CVD mortality risks were reduced by 15% (0.85, 0.79-0.92) and 23% (0.77, 0.69-0.87), respectively, with each 1 mmol/L increment of HDL-C. We found evidence of nonlinear and negative dose-response associations of HDL-C with all cause and CVD mortality (P_nonlinearity < 0.001), and the lowest death risks from all cause and CVD were observed at approximately 1.34 and 1.55 mmol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSION

HDL-C is inversely associated with all cause and CVD mortality risks under approximately 2.05 and 2.33 mmol/L, respectively. Optimal doses require investigation via clinical practice or high-quality research.

Self-Reported Severity, Characteristics, and Functional Limitations of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

BACKGROUND

The early identification of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (e.g., numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes) is important due to its frequency and the few effective treatment options available. The identification of common patient-reported CIPN characteristics and associated functional limitations may help to facilitate patient-clinician discussions of CIPN in practice.

AIMS

To quantify the severity, duration, location, characteristics, and associated functional limitations of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.

DESIGN

Exploratory secondary analysis of a prospective, two-phase study SETTING: Breast, gastrointestinal, and multiple myeloma clinics at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

PARTICIPANTS

142 individuals who planned to receive at least three more cycles of neurotoxic chemotherapy after consent.

METHODS

Participants self-reported CIPN using standardized measures (i.e., PRO-CTCAE™ Numbness and Tingling Items or 0-10 numerical rating scale of worst CIPN pain intensity) and/or study team generated follow up questions about CIPN location, duration, characteristics, and functional limitations prior to three consecutive clinic visits (T1, T2, T3). Participants' responses to the CIPN self-report questionnaires were described by chemotherapy type and age.

RESULTS

Over approximately 36.5 days (T1-T3), the percentage of participants reporting at least mild CIPN increased from 59.3% to 71%. At T3, patients with non-painful (n = 98) or painful neuropathy (n = 34) frequently reported symptoms in the fingers (non-painful = 83.5%, painful = 76.5%) or toes (non-painful = 49.5%, painful = 41.2%) and characterized symptoms as numbness (non-painful = 54.1%, painful = 50%) or tingling (non-painful = 68.4%, painful = 82.4%). Self-reported CIPN functional limitations (n = 55) included difficulties with buttoning a shirt (38.2%) or walking (25.5%). Paclitaxel-related CIPN (n = 33) was frequently characterized as "continuous" (30.3%), whereas oxaliplatin-related CIPN (n = 51) was frequently characterized as "intermittent" (41.2%). Young adults (15-39 years old, n = 15) frequently reported moderate-severe non-painful CIPN (46.7%), painful CIPN (40%), and CIPN interference (33.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with qualitative research, participants frequently described CIPN as numbness and/or tingling in the fingers and/or toes.

Combination of type I and type II MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors as therapeutic approach to prevent resistance

MET targeted therapies are clinically effective in MET amplified and MET exon 14 deletion mutant (METex14) non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) but their efficacy is limited by the development of drug resistance. Structurally distinct MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (type I/II) have been developed or are under clinical evaluation, which may overcome MET mediated drug resistance mechanisms. In this study, we assess secondary MET mutations likely to emerge in response to treatment with single-agent or combinations of type I/type II MET TKIs using TPR-MET transformed Ba/F3 cell mutagenesis assays. We found that these inhibitors gave rise to distinct secondary MET mutant profiles. However, a combination of type I/II TKI inhibitors (capmatinib and merestinib) yielded no resistant clones in vitro. The combination of capmatinib/merestinib was evaluated in vivo and led to a significant reduction in tumor outgrowth compared to either MET inhibitor alone. Our findings demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that a simultaneous treatment with a type I and type II MET TKI may be a clinically viable approach to delay and/or diminish the emergence of on target MET mediated drug resistance mutations.

Moving beyond conventional stratified analysis to assess the treatment effect in a comparative oncology study

In a comparative oncology study with progression-free or overall survival as the endpoint, the primary or key secondary analysis is routinely stratified by patients' baseline characteristics when evaluating the treatment difference. The validity of a conventional strategy such as a stratified HR analysis depends on stringent model assumptions that are unlikely to be met in practice, especially in immunotherapy studies. Thus, the resulting summary is generally neither valid nor interpretable. This article discusses issues with conventional stratified analyses and presents alternatives using data from KEYNOTE-189, a recent immunotherapy trial for treating patients with metastatic, non-squamous, non-small-cell lung cancer.

SPACEWALK: A Remote Participation Study of ALK Resistance Leveraging Plasma Cell-Free DNA Genotyping

Introduction

Remote consent and enrollment offer a unique opportunity to provide rare cancer populations with access to clinical research. The genomic analysis of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) permits remote characterization of the cancer genome. We hypothesized we could leverage these approaches to remotely study drug resistance in patients with metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC.

Methods

The SPACEWALK study (Study of Plasma Next-Generation Sequencing for Remote Assessment, Characterization, Evaluation of Patients With ALK Drug Resistance) enrolled patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and progression on a next-generation ALK inhibitor who could participate remotely. Plasma was collected for next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cfDNA before initiating subsequent therapy, with results returned and subsequent therapy studied.

Results

Of the 62 patients enrolled, an ALK fusion was detected in 27 (44%) with a median allelic fraction of 2.6%. Among these 27 patients, a potential resistance mechanism was identified in 17 patients (63%): eight cases (30%) had secondary ALK kinase domain resistance mutations, three cases (11%) had bypass track resistance, and six cases (22%) had both ALK resistance mutations and bypass resistance. The most frequently detected mechanism of bypass resistance was MET amplification. Repeat plasma NGS was performed in 14 patients after subsequent treatment was initiated, with seven (50%) patients exhibiting greater than 50% reductions in ALK fusion allelic fraction.

Conclusions

Through the leveraging of remote participation, plasma NGS offers an optimal mechanism for characterizing resistance to emerging targeted therapies in rare cancer populations, though sensitivity depends on adequate tumor DNA samples. Repeat cfDNA analysis on therapy may offer an objective monitoring approach to remotely study treatment response.

Measurement properties of brief neuropathy screening items in cancer patients receiving taxanes, platinums, or proteasome inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Timely detection of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is critical to effectively tailor chemotherapy dose levels and offer supportive care. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to determine the reliability and validity of the two Patient-Reported Outcomes Version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE™) numbness and tingling severity and interference items to screen for CIPN in patients receiving taxanes, platinums, or proteasome inhibitors.

METHODS

Participants (N = 142) completed the two PRO-CTCAE items, a 0-10 numerical rating scale of worst CIPN pain intensity, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN20 (QLQ-CIPN20) prior to three clinical visits (T1, T2, T3) during neurotoxic chemotherapy. Participants completed the two PRO-CTCAE items again following the T3 clinical visit (T4). In addition, study staff administered the modified Total Neuropathy Score-Clinical Version (TNSc©) at T3. We examined floor (i.e., no CIPN severity or interference) and ceiling effects, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, longitudinal validity, construct validity of the response categories, and sensitivity and specificity of the two PRO-CTCAE items.

RESULTS

At T3, 29% of participants had PRO-CTCAE severity scores at the floor; 60.1% of participants reported interference item scores at the floor. Agreements between scores reported at T3 and T4 for PRO-CTCAE severity (ICC = 0.79) and interference (ICC = 0.73) were moderate to strong. The PRO-CTCAE severity and interference items correlated moderately-strongly with QLQ-CIPN20 sensory (Spearman's ρ-range = 0.53-0.72) and motor (Spearman's ρ-range = 0.50-0.58) subscale scores. The Cohen's d from T1 to T3 for the PRO-CTCAE items were small (severity: d = 0.32, interference: d = 0.40) and comparable to the effect sizes for change observed with the QLQ-CIPN20. The PRO-CTCAE severity (0-3) and interference (0-2) response categories distinguished respondents with significantly different levels of QLQ-CIPN20 sensory and motor subscale scores (p < 0.001 via Jonckheere-Terpstra tests). The sensitivity and specificity of the PRO-CTCAE severity item (cutoff > 0) to detect probable sensory peripheral neuropathy were 95.83% and 65.22%, while the sensitivity and specificity of the PRO-CTCAE™ interference item (cutoff > 0) were 51.39% and 73.91%.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary evidence supports the reliability and validity of the PRO-CTCAE numbness and tingling items for CIPN screening, although there may be floor effects and limitations in the capacity of the PRO-CTCAE items to identify the full range of CIPN sensory and motor features beyond numbness and tingling. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT03514680. Registered 21 April 2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03514680.

[Establishment of human colon cancer transplantation tumor model in normal immune mice]

Objective: Establishment of a new model of human primary colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice and to provide a reliable experimental animal model for studying the pathogenesis of colon cancer under normal immunity. Methods: Human colon cancer cells come from colon cancer patients who underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College in 2017. The mice in the cell control group were inoculated with phosphate buffered solution (PBS) containing colon cancer cells, the microcarrier control group was inoculated with PBS containing microcarrier 6, and the cell-microcarrier complex group was inoculated with the PBS containing colon cancer cell-microcarrier complex. The cells of each group were inoculated under the skin of the right axilla of mice by subcutaneous injection, and the time, size, tumor formation rate and pathological changes under microscope were recorded. The transplanted tumor tissue was immunohistochemically stained with the EnVisiion two-step method, and the tumor formation rate of the transplanted tumor was judged according to the proportion of positive cells in the visual field. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to detect the expression of human-specific Alu sequence in mice tumor tissue. Results: After inoculation with tumor cells, the mice in the cell control group and the microcarrier control group did not die and did not form tumors; the mice in the cell-microcarrier complex group had palpable subcutaneous tumors in the right axillary subcutaneously on the 5th to 7th days after inoculation, and tumor formation rate is 67% (10/15), and the tumor volume can reach about 500 mm(3) 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CK20, CDX-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen were all positively expressed. The PCR results showed that the expression of human-specific Alu sequence can be detected in the transplanted tumor tissue of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: Human primary colon cancer cells used microcarrier 6 as a carrier to form tumors in normal immunized mice, and successfully established a new model of human colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice.

Outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-high (≥50%) non-small cell lung cancer and a poor performance status

BACKGROUND

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) have been excluded from phase III immunotherapy clinical trials. We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC, a PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) of ≥50%, and an ECOG PS of 2.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic NSCLC and a PD-L1 TPS of ≥50% (negative for genomic alterations in EGFR and ALK) who received treatment with first-line pembrolizumab. Clinical outcomes were compared in patients based on ECOG PS.

RESULTS

Among the 234 patients, 83.3% (n=195) had an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, and 16.7% (n=39) had an ECOG PS of 2. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics were balanced between the ECOG PS 0-1 vs 2 groups in terms of age, sex, tobacco use, histology, KRAS mutation status, presence of other potentially targetable driver mutations (BRAF, MET, HER2, RET), presence of brain metastases, and PD-L1 TPS distribution. Compared with patients with an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 had a significantly lower objective response rate (43.1% vs 25.6%; p=0.04), a numerically shorter median progression-free survival (6.6 months vs 4.0 months; HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.06); p=0.09), and a significantly shorter median overall survival (20.3 months vs 7.4 months; HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.68); p<0.001). On disease progression, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 were significantly less likely to receive second-line systemic therapy compared with patients with an ECOG PS of 0-1 (65% vs 22.2%, p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A subset of patients with NSCLC and an ECOG PS of 2 can respond to first-line pembrolizumab. However, clinical outcomes in this population are often poor and use of second-line systemic therapy is infrequent.

Perceived patient-centered communication, quality of life, and symptom burden in individuals with ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To describe perceptions of patient-centered communication (PCC); assess whether physician specialty, patient characteristics, or health system characteristics are associated with PCC; and identify associations between PCC, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and symptom burden among individuals with ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, descriptive survey of English-speaking adults with ovarian cancer. PCC, HRQoL, and ovarian cancer symptom burden were assessed with the PCC-Ca-36, the FACT-G, and the FOSI-18, respectively. PCC-Ca-36 scores were summarized using descriptive statistics. Predictors of PCC-Ca-36, FACT-G, and FOSI-18 scores were identified using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 176) had a mean age of 59.4 years (SD = 12.1). The majority (65.9%) had advanced-stage disease, while 42.0% were receiving treatment. The mean PCC-Ca-36 total score was 4.09 (SD = 0.78) out of a possible 5, indicating participants often perceived that clinicians engaged in PCC. Among the PCC functions, participants reported that clinicians least often enabled patient self-management (M = 3.65, SD = 0.99), responded to emotions (M = 3.84, SD = 1.04), and managed uncertainty (M = 3.91, SD = 0.93). In multivariable analyses, neither physician specialty nor patient and health system characteristics were significantly associated with overall PCC. Greater overall PCC predicted better overall HRQoL; better social/family, emotional, and functional well-being; and lower overall and physical symptom burden (all p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Greater PCC is significantly associated with better HRQoL and lower symptom burden among individuals with ovarian cancer.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Promotion of PCC is a promising strategy to improve patient-reported outcomes in the ovarian cancer care setting.

Intrinsic Immunogenicity of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Revealed by Its Cellular Plasticity

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is highly mutated, yet durable response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is rare. SCLC also exhibits cellular plasticity, which could influence its immunobiology. Here we discover that a distinct subset of SCLC uniquely upregulates MHC I, enriching for durable ICB benefit. In vitro modeling confirms epigenetic recovery of MHC I in SCLC following loss of neuroendocrine differentiation, which tracks with derepression of STING. Transient EZH2 inhibition expands these nonneuroendocrine cells, which display intrinsic innate immune signaling and basally restored antigen presentation. Consistent with these findings, murine nonneuroendocrine SCLC tumors are rejected in a syngeneic model, with clonal expansion of immunodominant effector CD8 T cells. Therapeutically, EZH2 inhibition followed by STING agonism enhances T-cell recognition and rejection of SCLC in mice. Together, these data identify MHC I as a novel biomarker of SCLC immune responsiveness and suggest novel immunotherapeutic approaches to co-opt SCLC's intrinsic immunogenicity. SIGNIFICANCE: SCLC is poorly immunogenic, displaying modest ICB responsiveness with rare durable activity. In profiling its plasticity, we uncover intrinsically immunogenic MHC Ihi subpopulations of nonneuroendocrine SCLC associated with durable ICB benefit. We also find that combined EZH2 inhibition and STING agonism uncovers this cell state, priming cells for immune rejection.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1861.

Association between allostatic load, symptom burden and mortality in E1A11 trial for myeloma

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Background: Allostatic load (AL) conceptualizes the effects of chronic psychosocial adversity on physiologic dysregulation. To date, studies have shown an association between elevated AL and higher disease-specific and overall mortality among cancer patients; however, none have focused on multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We aim to understand the relationship between baseline AL, symptom burden, and mortality among patients enrolled in the E1A11 therapeutic trial in MM. Methods: ECOG-ACRIN E1A11 was a phase III RCT comparing induction with Bortezomib (Arm A) versus Carfilzomib (Arm B) in conjunction with Lenalidomide +Dexamethasone. AL included 7 biomarkers: BMI, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, albumin and creatinine clearance. AL7 was a composite summary score with a point was assigned for each biomarker value in the highest quartile, except for albumin and creatinine clearance, where a point was assigned for values in the lowest quartile. Endpoints included symptom burden at baseline and ̃1 month, non-completion of induction therapy, and overall survival (OS). Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM) items assessed patient-reported symptom burden, including fatigue (item HI7), pain (GP4), and bother by side effects of treatment (GP5) on a 5-point Likert scale. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed the effect of AL7 (ranging 0-7) on high-pain, -fatigue, and -bother (QOL score > = 3 vs < 3), and non-completion of induction therapy. The effect of AL7 on OS was assessed using multivariable Cox regression. Regression covariates included study arm, age, sex, race, ECOG performance status, and the target symptom burden score at baseline. Results: The study cohort included 1087 patients. Mean baseline AL7 was 1.8 (±1.4). In adjusted analysis, a unit increase in AL7 was associated with a greater odds of high pain (OR 1.15, 95%CI [1.04-1.27]) and high fatigue (OR 1.19, 95%CI [1.07-1.32]) at baseline, which did not persist at ̃1 month (pain OR 0.96, 95%CI [0.84-1.10]; fatigue OR 1.03, 95%CI [0.91-1.16]). There was no association between AL7 and high side effect bother at baseline (OR 1.06, 95% CI [0.83-1.35]) or at ̃1 month (OR 1.06, 95%CI [0.90-1.24]). There was no association between AL7 and induction non-completion (OR 1.07, 95%CI [0.96-1.18]). Notably, each unit increase in AL7 was associated with higher mortality (HR 1.26, 95%CI [1.14-1.39]). Conclusions: Despite its association with fatigue and pain at baseline, AL7 was not associated with these symptoms at ̃1 month nor induction non-completion. However, elevated baseline AL7 was associated with poorer OS. AL composite score at baseline, which we interpret as a measure of physiological dysregulation associated with adverse social factors, may have implications on clinical outcomes within clinical trials despite presumed equal treatment access.

Associations between patient-centered communication and quality of life in patients with ovarian cancer

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Background: Patient-centered communication (PCC) occurs when clinicians respond to patients’ needs, preferences, concerns, and emotions. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Framework for PCC in Cancer Care highlights the potential of PCC to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but to date few studies have empirically examined associations between PCC and HRQoL in patients with ovarian cancer. We assessed associations between perceived PCC and HRQoL in patients with ovarian cancer. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey of English-speaking adults with ovarian cancer recruited both online and from one NCI-designated cancer center. We assessed perceived PCC with the Patient-Centered Communication in Cancer Care (PCC-Ca)-36 and HRQoL with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General (FACT-G). We used simple linear regression to identify univariate associations between participant characteristics, PCC-Ca-36 total, FACT-G total, and FACT-G subscale (physical, social and family, emotional, and functional well-being) scores. We identified significant predictors of FACT-G total and subscale scores by entering variables associated with each outcome at p ≤ 0.25 into a multiple linear regression model and using backward elimination. Results: One hundred seventy-six participants completed the survey. In multivariable analyses, older age, working (vs. not working), no current treatment (vs. any current treatment), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better overall HRQoL. Working and no current treatment were associated with better physical well-being. Older age, not being cared for by a gynecologic oncologist (vs. being cared for by a gynecologic oncologist), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better social and family well-being. Older age, being recruited online (vs. in clinic), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better emotional well-being. Older age, working, rural residence (vs. not), no current treatment, and greater perceived PCC were associated with better functional well-being (all p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Greater perceived PCC was significantly associated with better overall HRQoL and better social, emotional, and functional well-being in this cross-sectional study of patients with ovarian cancer. The NCI Framework for PCC in Cancer Care posits that PCC promotes HRQoL by strengthening the therapeutic alliance, enhancing social support, and improving patient knowledge. Although PCC is theorized to promote patient self-management, PCC was not significantly associated with physical well-being in this sample. Future research should (a) identify mediators of the associations between PCC and HRQoL; (b) examine inter-individual variability in characteristics that may compromise HRQoL; (c) and examine associations between PCC and HRQoL over time.

Addition of Lenalidomide to R-CHOP Improves Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Randomized Phase II US Intergroup Study ECOG-ACRIN E1412

PURPOSE

Lenalidomide combined with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) (R2CHOP) in untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has shown promising activity, particularly in the activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-ACRIN trial E1412 was a randomized phase II study comparing R2CHOP versus R-CHOP in untreated DLBCL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL, stage II bulky-IV disease, International Prognostic Index (IPI) ≥ 2, and ECOG performance status ≤ 2 were eligible and randomly assigned 1:1 to R2CHOP versus R-CHOP for six cycles. Tumors were analyzed using the NanoString Lymph2Cx for cell of origin. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) in all patients with the co-primary end point of PFS in ABC-DLBCL. Secondary end points included overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR) rate, and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Three hundred forty-nine patients were enrolled; 280 patients (145 R2CHOP and 135 R-CHOP) were evaluable: 94 were ABC-DLBCL, 122 germinal center B-cell-like-DLBCL, 18 unclassifiable, and 46 unknowns. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between arms, and the median age was 66 (range, 24-92); 70% of patients had stage IV disease; 34%, 43%, and 24% had IPI 2, 3, and 4 or 5, respectively. Myelosuppression was more common in the R2CHOP arm. The ORR and CR rate were 92% and 68% in R-CHOP and 97% (P = .06) and 73% (P = .43) in the R2CHOP arm, respectively. The median follow-up was 3.0 years; R2CHOP was associated with a 34% reduction in risk of progression or death versus R-CHOP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.01) and 3-year PFS of 73% versus 61%, one-sided P = .03, and an improvement in OS (83% and 75% at 3 years; HR, 0.67; one-sided P = .05). The PFS HR for R2CHOP was 0.67 for ABC-DLBCL, one-sided P = .1.

CONCLUSION

In this signal-seeking study, the addition of lenalidomide to R-CHOP (R2CHOP) improved outcomes in newly diagnosed DLBCL including patients with ABC-DLBCL.

Potential predictive biomarkers of adalimumab response in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

BACKGROUND

Adalimumab provides significant efficacy for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), which was demonstrated by at least 50% of patients achieving a clinical response by week 12 that was maintained through to week 168 in the PIONEER trials.

OBJECTIVES

To identify whether there are biomarkers that could predict adalimumab response, as well as markers that differentially respond to adalimumab in patients with HS.

METHODS

Baseline and week-12 plasma samples from the PIONEER studies were used to assess the levels of circulating proteins by multiplex and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 16 (HCC-4) levels in nonresponders at baseline and identified a multivariate response signature of calprotectin, fractalkine and HCC-4, reaching an 86% predictive accuracy rate for adalimumab response. Additionally, post-treatment reduction of plasma C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)9, CXCL8 (interleukin-8) and CCL19 (macrophage inflammatory protein 3β) were greater in adalimumab super-responders than in nonresponders (P = 0·026, P = 0·044 and P = 0·026, respectively). These cytokines are involved in the recruitment of innate and adaptive inflammatory cells, and/or stimulation of certain inflammatory responses, suggesting that these pathways could be disease drivers in adalimumab nonresponders.

CONCLUSIONS

These initial results suggest HCC-4, calprotectin and fractalkine could be potential predictive biomarkers of adalimumab response in HS and identified possible tumour necrosis factor-independent disease pathways.

Routine antiseptic baths and MRSA decolonization: diverse approaches across Singapore's acute-care hospitals

To determine the variation in practices on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surveillance and management of MRSA-colonized patients amongst 17 acute healthcare facilities in Singapore, the Ministry of Health convened a sharing session with Infection Prevention and Control Leads. All hospitals practised close to universal MRSA entry swabbing in keeping with national policy. There were, however, major variations in the response to both positive and negative surveillance swabs across facilities including the role of routine antiseptic bathing and MRSA decolonization. Most undertaking decolonization considered its role to be in 'bioburden reduction' rather than longer-term clearance.

Tumor Response Dynamics During First-Line Pembrolizumab Therapy in Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The objectives of the study were to characterize the tumor burden dynamics on serial computed tomography scans in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with first-line pembrolizumab and to identify imaging markers for prolonged overall survival (OS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-eight patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy were evaluated on serial computed tomography scans to characterize their quantitative tumor burden during therapy. Tumor burden dynamics were studied for the association with OS.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 42% (37/88), with the median tumor burden changes at the best overall response of -18.3% (range, -100.0% to +103.6%). Response rates were higher in men than in women (P = .05) and in patients with higher programmed cell death ligand-1 expression levels (P = .02). Tumor burden stayed below the baseline burden throughout therapy in 55 patients (63%). In an 8-week landmark analysis, patients with tumor burden below the baseline burden during the first 8 weeks of therapy had longer OS compared with patients who had ≥ 0% increase (median OS, 30.7 v 16.2 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.44; P = .01). In the extended Cox models, patients whose tumor burden stayed below the baseline burden throughout therapy had significantly reduced hazards of death (HR = 0.41, P = .003, univariate; HR = 0.35, P = .02, multivariate). Only one patient (1.1%) experienced pseudoprogression with initial tumor increase and subsequent tumor regression.

CONCLUSION

In patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with first-line single-agent pembrolizumab, tumor burden reduction below the baseline burden during therapy was an independent marker for prolonged OS, which may serve as a practical guide for treatment decisions.

Knowledge and psychosocial impact of genetic counseling and multigene panel testing among individuals with ovarian cancer

In a sample of individuals with ovarian cancer, we aimed to (a) identify factors associated with the psychosocial impact of genetic counseling and multigene panel testing, (b) identify factors associated with cancer genetics knowledge, and (c) summarize patient-reported recommendations to improve the genetic counseling and multigene panel testing process. Eligible participants in this secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative survey data were English-speaking adults with ovarian cancer. Psychosocial impact was assessed using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) questionnaire. Knowledge of cancer genetics was assessed using the KnowGene scale. Significant predictors of MICRA and KnowGene scores were identified using multiple regression. Open-ended survey item responses were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Eighty-seven participants met eligibility criteria. A positive genetic test result was associated with greater adverse psychosocial impact (B = 1.13, p = 0.002). Older age (B = - 0.07, p = 0.044) and being a member of a minority racial or ethnic group (B = - 3.075, p = 0.033) were associated with lower knowledge, while a personal history of at least one other type of cancer (B = 1.975, p = 0.015) was associated with higher knowledge. In open-ended item responses, participants wanted clinicians to assist with family communication, improve result disclosure, and enhance patient and family understanding of results. A subset of individuals with ovarian cancer who receive a positive genetic test result may be at risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes. Tailored cancer genetics education is necessary to promote the equitable uptake of targeted ovarian cancer treatment and risk-reducing therapies. Interventions to enhance patient-clinician communication in this setting are a research priority.

Exploring the impact of a decision support algorithm to improve clinicians' chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment and management practices: a two-phase, longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) negatively affects physical function and chemotherapy dosing, yet, clinicians infrequently document CIPN assessment and/or adhere to evidence-based CIPN management in practice. The primary aims of this two-phase, pre-posttest study were to explore the impact of a CIPN clinician decision support algorithm on clinicians' frequency of CIPN assessment documentation and adherence to evidence-based management.

METHODS

One hundred sixty-two patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy (e.g., taxanes, platinums, or bortezomib) answered patient-reported outcome measures on CIPN severity and interference prior to three clinic visits at breast, gastrointestinal, or multiple myeloma outpatient clinics (n = 81 usual care phase [UCP], n = 81 algorithm phase [AP]). During the AP, study staff delivered a copy of the CIPN assessment and management algorithm to clinicians (N = 53) prior to each clinic visit. Changes in clinicians' CIPN assessment documentation (i.e., index of numbness, tingling, and/or CIPN pain documentation) and adherence to evidence-based management at the third clinic visit were compared between the AP and UCP using Pearson's chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Clinicians' frequency of adherence to evidence-based CIPN management was higher in the AP (29/52 [56%]) than the UCP (20/46 [43%]), but the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.31). There were no improvements in clinicians' CIPN assessment frequency during the AP (assessment index = 0.5440) in comparison to during the UCP (assessment index = 0.6468).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a clinician-decision support algorithm did not significantly improve clinicians' CIPN assessment documentation or adherence to evidence-based management. Further research is needed to develop theory-based implementation interventions to bolster the frequency of CIPN assessment and use of evidence-based management strategies in practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT03514680 . Registered 21 April 2018.

Effect of Capivasertib in Patients With an AKT1 E17K-Mutated Tumor: NCI-MATCH Subprotocol EAY131-Y Nonrandomized Trial

Importance

In the National Cancer Institute Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH) trial, agents targeting genetic tumor abnormalities are administered to patients. In the NCI-MATCH subprotocol EAY131-Y trial, patients with an AKT1 E17K-mutated metastatic tumor received the pan-AKT inhibitor capivasertib.

Objective

To assess the objective response rate (ORR) of capivasertib in patients with an AKT1 E17K-mutated tumor.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Between July 13, 2016, and August 10, 2017, patients in the NCI-MATCH trial were enrolled and assigned to the subprotocol EAY131-Y nonrandomized trial. Patients included adults with an AKT1 E17K-mutated metastatic tumor that had progressed with standard treatment, and these patients were assigned to receive capivasertib. Tumor assessments were repeated every 2 cycles. Data analysis of this evaluable population was performed from November 8, 2019, to March 12, 2020.

Interventions

The study treatment was capivasertib, 480 mg, orally twice daily for 4 days on and 3 days off weekly in 28-day cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effect. If patients continued hormone therapy for metastatic breast cancer, the capivasertib dose was 400 mg.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was the ORR (ie, complete response [CR] and partial response) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria, version 1.1. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), 6-month PFS, overall survival, and safety.

Results

In total, 35 evaluable and analyzable patients were included, of whom 30 were women (86%), and the median (range) age was 61 (32-73) years. The most prevalent cancers were breast (18 [51%]), including 15 patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/ERBB2-negative and 3 with triple-negative disease, and gynecologic (11 [31%]) cancers. The ORR rate was 28.6% (95% CI, 15%-46%). One patient with endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma achieved a CR and remained on therapy at 35.6 months. Patients with confirmed partial response had the following tumor types: 7 had HR-positive/ERBB2-negative breast cancer, 1 had uterine leiomyosarcoma, and 1 had oncocytic parotid gland carcinoma and continued receiving treatment at 28.8 months. Sixteen patients (46%) had stable disease as the best response, 2 (6%) had progressive disease, and 7 (20%) were not evaluable. With a median follow-up of 28.4 months, the overall 6-month PFS rate was 50% (95% CI, 35%-71%). Capivasertib was discontinued because of adverse events in 11 of 35 patients (31%). Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events included hyperglycemia (8 [23%]) and rash (4 [11%]). One grade 4 hyperglycemic adverse event was reported.

Conclusions and Relevance

This nonrandomized trial found that, in patients with an AKT1 E17K-mutated tumor treated with capivasertib, a clinically significant ORR was achieved, including 1 CR. Clinically meaningful activity with single-agent capivasertib was demonstrated in refractory malignant neoplasms, including rare cancers.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00700882.

The critical role of hippocampal dopamine in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy

The pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has been generally linked to blood ammonia, gamma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of hippocampal dopamine (DA) and its receptors in the pathogenesis of HE through the use of behavioral testing, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining in normal rats, HE model rats and rats treated with the DA precursor-levodopa (L-DOPA). HE model rats manifested fibrotic livers and showed serious behavioral disorders. They also had significantly lower hippocampal DA content and increased expression of both D1 and D2 receptors relative to normal rats. After treatment with L-DOPA, the HE model rats showed normal behavior and expression of D1 returned to normal levels. Furthermore, pretreatment with the D1 antagonist SCH23390 blocked the therapeutic effect of L-DOPA on behavior in HE model rats. Taken together, these results clarify that the decrease in hippocampal DA plays a role in the pathogenesis of HE and that this effect is mediated by D1. These findings provide new evidence for the pathogenesis of HE.

Decision regret, adverse outcomes, and treatment choice in men with localized prostate cancer: Results from a multi-site randomized trial

INTRODUCTION

Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer must navigate a highly preference-sensitive decision between treatment options with varying adverse outcome profiles. We evaluated whether use of a decision support tool previously shown to decrease decisional conflict also impacted the secondary outcome of post-treatment decision regret.

METHODS

Participants were randomized to receive personalized decision support via the Personal Patient Profile-Prostate or usual care prior to a final treatment decision. Symptoms were measured just before randomization and 6 months later; decision regret was measured at 6 months along with records review to ascertain treatment choices. Regression modeling explored associations between baseline variables including race and D`Amico risk, study group, and 6-month variables regret, choice, and symptoms.

RESULTS

At 6 months, 287 of 392 (73%) men returned questionnaires of which 257 (89%) had made a treatment choice. Of that group, 201 of 257 (78%) completely answered the regret scale. Regret was not significantly different between participants randomized to the P3P intervention compared to the control group (P = 0.360). In univariate analyses, we found that Black men, men with hormonal symptoms, and men with bowel symptoms reported significantly higher decision regret (all P < 0.01). Significant interactions were detected between race and study group (intervention vs. usual care) in the multivariable model; use of the Personal Patient Profile-Prostate was associated with significantly decreased decisional regret among Black men (P = 0.037). Interactions between regret, symptoms and treatment revealed that (1) men choosing definitive treatment and reporting no hormonal symptoms reported lower regret compared to all others; and (2) men choosing active surveillance and reporting bowel symptoms had higher regret compared to all others.

CONCLUSION

The Personal Patient Profile-Prostate decision support tool may be most beneficial in minimizing decisional regret for Black men considering treatment options for newly-diagnosed prostate cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01844999.

Decision support for men with prostate cancer: Concordance between treatment choice and tumor risk

BACKGROUND

Decision support tools improve decisional conflict and elicit patient preferences related to prostate cancer treatment. It was hypothesized that men using the Personal Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P) would be more likely to pursue guideline-concordant treatment.

METHODS

Men from a trial assessing the P3P decision support intervention were identified. The primary exposure was allocation to P3P (vs usual care), and the outcome was appropriate treatment per guidelines (eg, low risk = active surveillance). It was assessed whether providers recommended against any treatment options (ie, restricted). A multivariable model was fit for men with low-risk cancer that estimated the odds of the outcome of interest.

RESULTS

This study identified 295 men in the cohort: 113 (38%) had low-risk disease, 119 (40%) had favorable intermediate-risk disease, and 63 (21%) had unfavorable intermediate-risk disease. Among low-risk patients, more men pursued active surveillance after using P3P whether they were given unrestricted (62% vs 54% with usual care; P = .54) or restricted options (71% vs 59% with usual care; P = .34). After adjustments, only Black race (odds ratio [OR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11-0.89) and restricted options (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08-0.65) had an inverse association with the receipt of surveillance for patients with low-risk prostate cancer. An impact associated with P3P versus usual care (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.36-2.20) was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Among men in a trial assessing a decision support tool, Black race and restricted treatment options were associated with less use of active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer. Although the P3P instrument ameliorates decisional conflict, its use was not associated with more appropriate alignment of treatment with disease risk.

Threats of Bots and Other Bad Actors to Data Quality Following Research Participant Recruitment Through Social Media: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire

Background

Recruitment of health research participants through social media is becoming more common. In the United States, 80% of adults use at least one social media platform. Social media platforms may allow researchers to reach potential participants efficiently. However, online research methods may be associated with unique threats to sample validity and data integrity. Limited research has described issues of data quality and authenticity associated with the recruitment of health research participants through social media, and sources of low-quality and fraudulent data in this context are poorly understood.

Objective

The goal of the research was to describe and explain threats to sample validity and data integrity following recruitment of health research participants through social media and summarize recommended strategies to mitigate these threats. Our experience designing and implementing a research study using social media recruitment and online data collection serves as a case study.

Methods

Using published strategies to preserve data integrity, we recruited participants to complete an online survey through the social media platforms Twitter and Facebook. Participants were to receive $15 upon survey completion. Prior to manually issuing remuneration, we reviewed completed surveys for indicators of fraudulent or low-quality data. Indicators attributable to respondent error were labeled suspicious, while those suggesting misrepresentation were labeled fraudulent. We planned to remove cases with 1 fraudulent indicator or at least 3 suspicious indicators.

Results

Within 7 hours of survey activation, we received 271 completed surveys. We classified 94.5% (256/271) of cases as fraudulent and 5.5% (15/271) as suspicious. In total, 86.7% (235/271) provided inconsistent responses to verifiable items and 16.2% (44/271) exhibited evidence of bot automation. Of the fraudulent cases, 53.9% (138/256) provided a duplicate or unusual response to one or more open-ended items and 52.0% (133/256) exhibited evidence of inattention.

Conclusions

Research findings from several disciplines suggest studies in which research participants are recruited through social media are susceptible to data quality issues. Opportunistic individuals who use virtual private servers to fraudulently complete research surveys for profit may contribute to low-quality data. Strategies to preserve data integrity following research participant recruitment through social media are limited. Development and testing of novel strategies to prevent and detect fraud is a research priority.

Ipilimumab, nivolumab, and brentuximab vedotin combination therapies in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: phase 1 results of an open-label, multicentre, phase 1/2 trial

BACKGROUND

Recognising that the immune suppressive microenvironment promotes tumour growth in Hodgkin lymphoma, we hypothesised that activating immunity might augment the activity of targeted chemotherapy. We evaluated the safety and activity of combinations of brentuximab vedotin with nivolumab or ipilimumab, or both in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

METHODS

In this multicentre, open-label, phase 1/2 trial, patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma aged 18 years or older who had relapsed after at least one line of therapy, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or lower, and adequate organ and marrow function, with no pulmonary dysfunction were eligible for inclusion. Phase 1 primary objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose limiting toxicities of brentuximab vedotin combined with ipilimumab (ipilimumab group), nivolumab (nivolumab group), or both (triplet therapy group) using a 3 + 3 dose escalation design with expansion cohorts. During the dose escalation phase, patients were enrolled sequentially into one of six cohorts: in the ipilimumab group fixed brentuximab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (cohort A) or 3 mg/kg (cohort B); in the nivolumab group fixed nivolumab 3 mg/kg with brentuximab vedotin 1·2 mg/kg (cohort D) or 1·8 mg/kg (cohort E); and in the triplet therapy group fixed nivolumab 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg with brentuximab vedotin 1·2 mg/kg (cohort G) or 1·8 mg/kg (cohort H). Additional patients were enrolled in the expansion phase at the same doses of cohorts B, E, and H. All drugs were given intravenously; brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab were given every 3 weeks, ipilimumab was given every 6 weeks in the ipilimumab group and every 12 weeks in the triplet therapy group. All eligible and treated patients were included in the analysis. This phase 1/2 study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01896999. The phase 2, randomised portion of the trial is still enrolling.

FINDINGS

Between March 7, 2014, and Dec 28, 2017, 64 patients were enrolled; two patients in the ipilimumab group and one patient in the nivolumab group were excluded due to ineligibility after enrolment and 61 were evaluable. A total of six dose limiting toxicities were reported in four patients, and the doses used in cohorts B, E, and H were established as maximum tolerated doses and patients were subsequently enrolled onto expansion cohorts (C, F, and I) with these schedules. There were ten (43%) grade 3-4 treatment related adverse events in the ipilimumab group, three (16%) in the nivolumab group, and 11 (50%) in the triplet therapy group including: eight (13%) of 64 patients reporting rash, and colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis and arthritis, and diabetic ketoacidosis each occurring in one (2%) patient. There were two (3%) treatment related deaths, one in the nivolumab group and one in the triplet therapy group. The overall response rate was 76% (95% CI 53-92) in the ipilimumab group, 89% (65-99) in the nivolumab group, and 82% (60-95) in the triplet therapy group, and the complete response rate was 57% (95% CI 34-78%) in the ipilimumab group, 61% (36-83%) in the nivolumab group, and 73% (50-89%) in the triplet therapy group. With a median follow-up of 2·6 years (IQR 1·8-2·9) in the ipilimumab group, 2·4 years (2·2-2·6) in the nivolumab group, and 1·7 years (1·6-1·9) in the triplet therapy group, median progression-free survival is 1·2 years (95% CI 1·7-not reached) in the ipilimumab group, but was not reached in the other two treatment groups. Median overall survival has not been reached in any of the groups.

INTERPRETATION

There are clear differences in activity and toxicity of the three combination regimens. The tolerability and preliminary activity for the two most active regimens, brentuximab vedotin with nivolumab and the triplet therapy, are being compared in a randomised phase 2 trial (NCT01896999).

FUNDING

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Informing models of cancer genetics care in the era of multigene panel testing with patient-led recommendations

The study describes patient-reported experiences and recommendations to improve the genetic counseling and multigene panel testing (MGPT) process. A descriptive mixed-method study with concurrently collected and integrated qualitative and quantitative data was conducted. Eligible participants were English-speaking adults with a breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis who had received genetic counseling and testing with a MGPT from one Comprehensive Cancer Center. Satisfaction with the genetic counseling, genetic knowledge using a recently validated scale (KnowGene), the multidimensional impact of cancer risk assessment (MICRA), family communication, and the association with demographic factors were evaluated. To supplement the large quantitative data set, qualitative focus group responses and open-ended text items were collected. Univariate and multivariable associations between each outcome of interest and personal characteristics were assessed. Qualitative data were content-analyzed. 603 participants completed the survey (48% response rate) and 10 individuals participated in the focus groups. Participants were mostly Caucasian, educated with a college degree or more, and female with median age 58 (24-91), and 78% of participants had a breast cancer diagnosis. Of all individuals undergoing genetic testing using a MGPT, 13% had a pathogenic variant identified, and 30% had a variant of uncertain significance (VUS). Overall, participants reported satisfaction with the genetic counseling and testing process (mean 36.9 [SD 4.7]). On average, participants had 7 incorrect answers out of 19 on the genetic knowledge scale (mean 12.3 [SD 3.4]). MICRA scores showed overall low levels of distress and uncertainty, as well as positive experiences, with wide variability (median 17 [0-84]). Age, marital status, education level, type of cancer diagnosis, and genetic testing results were significantly associated with outcomes. Most participants communicated genetic testing results to mainly female first-degree relatives. A wide range of individual preferences affecting overall satisfaction, or suggestions for improvement were shared. As new models of streamlined cancer genetic services are being clinically implemented, approaches should continue to assess and tailor the process based on patients' informational and emotional needs.

A Three-Arm Randomized Phase II Study of Bendamustine/Rituximab with Bortezomib Induction or Lenalidomide Continuation in Untreated Follicular Lymphoma: ECOG-ACRIN E2408

PURPOSE

We sought to improve upon frontline bendamustine/rituximab (BR) induction therapy followed by rituximab maintenance in untreated high-risk follicular lymphoma (FL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomized to BR induction followed by 2-year rituximab maintenance (BR-R), BR with bortezomib and rituximab maintenance (BVR-R), or BR followed by lenalidomide (1 year) with rituximab maintenance (BR-LR). Dual primary objectives were complete remission (CR) rate and 1-year disease-free survival (DFS); 289 patients enrolled (NCT01216683).

RESULTS

For induction, 92%, 87%, and 86% of patients randomized to BR-R, BVR-R, or BR-LR received six cycles, respectively. CR rate with BR versus BVR induction was 62% versus 75%, respectively (P = 0.04). One-year DFS rates with BR-R versus BR-LR were 85% versus 67%, respectively (P = 0.0009). This was due to an imbalance in CR rates post-BR induction and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs). The most common grade 3-4 AEs for BVR versus BR were neutropenia and sensory neuropathy (12% vs <1%); 83% of the latter occurred with intravenous bortezomib. The most common grade 3-4 AEs related to LR versus rituximab maintenance were neutropenia 66% versus 21%, respectively (P < 0.0001), and febrile neutropenia 10% versus 2%, respectively (P = 0.05). The overall treatment-related mortality was 1.4%. With 5-year median follow-up, 3-year PFS rates for BR-R, BVR-R, and BR-LR were 77%, 82%, and 76%, respectively (P = 0.36) with OS rates of 87%, 90%, and 84%, respectively (P = 0.79). For prognostication, CR rate and POD-24 were associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, neither bortezomib added to BR induction nor lenalidomide added to rituximab maintenance immediately post-BR induction is recommended in untreated FL.

Phase II Study of AZD4547 in Patients With Tumors Harboring Aberrations in the FGFR Pathway: Results From the NCI-MATCH Trial (EAY131) Subprotocol W

PURPOSE

NCI-MATCH is a nationwide, histology-agnostic, signal-finding, molecular profile-driven trial for patients with refractory cancers, lymphomas, or myelomas. Patients with tumors harboring actionable aberration(s) in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 1-3 were treated with AZD4547, an oral FGFR1-3 inhibitor.

METHODS

Patients' tumors were screened by next-generation sequencing for predefined FGFR amplification, activating mutations, or fusions. Patients were treated with AZD4547, 80 mg orally twice daily until progression of disease or drug intolerance. A response rate of 16% was considered promising.

RESULTS

Between July 2016 and June 2017, 70 patients were assigned and 48 received protocol therapy and are eligible for analysis. Patients' tumors harbored FGFR1 or FGFR2 amplification (n = 20), FGFR2 or FGFR3 single-nucleotide variants (n = 19), or FGFR1 or FGFR3 fusions (n = 9). The most common primary tumors were breast (33.3%), urothelial (12.5%), and cervical cancer (10.4%).Grade 3 adverse events were consistent with those described in previous clinical trials. Confirmed partial responses were seen in 8% (90% CI, 3% to 18%) and were observed only in patients whose tumors harbored FGFR1-3 point mutations or fusions. Stable disease was observed in 37.5% (90% CI, 25.8% to 50.4%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months, and the 6-month PFS rate was 15% (90% CI, 8% to 31%). For patients with tumors harboring FGFR fusions, the response rate was 22% (90% CI, 4.1% to 55%), and 6-month PFS rate was 56% (90% CI, 31% to 100%).

CONCLUSION

Preliminary signals of activity appeared to be limited to cancers harboring FGFR activating mutations and fusions, although AZD4547 did not meet the primary end point. Different FGFR somatic alterations may confer different levels of signaling potency and/or oncogene dependence.

Predictive value of bother by side effects of treatment prior to protocol therapy for early treatment discontinuation in clinical trials

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Background: The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General has an item about patient tolerability of treatment: “I am bothered by side effects of treatment” (GP5). We examined the predictive value of this single item for early treatment discontinuation in clinical trials. Methods: GP5 level prior to protocol therapy (rated using a 5-point Likert scale) and treatment start/end dates and off treatment reason data at each treatment phase were drawn from five phase III clinical trials conducted by ECOG-ACRIN. In the present analysis, GP5 was dichotomized as 0 = “Not at all”/“A little bit” and 1 = “Somewhat”/“Quite a bit”/“Very Much”. Early treatment discontinuation was defined either as receiving less than protocol specified cycles of treatment when maximum cycles specified in the protocol (E1A06 induction, E1912 induction, E1609 induction, E1105 induction, E5103 adjuvant), analyzed using logistic regression via odds ratio [OR]), or treatment cessation for reasons other than progressive disease or death when treatment continued until progression or intolerability (E1A06 maintenance, E1912 maintenance, E1609 maintenance, E1105 maintenance), analyzed using Cox proportional hazard model via hazard ratio [HR]. Results: GP5 prior to treatment was significantly associated with early discontinuation of E1A06 maintenance, E1609 maintenance, E1912 maintenance, and E1912 induction. No significant association was found for other therapies examined in the study. Conclusions: High GP5 level prior to treatment is associated with higher likelihood of early treatment discontinuation in patients who have received previous treatment. The limited predictive value of GP5 for treatment naïve patients is more limited, serial on-treatment assessment should be considered in this setting. Clinical trial information: NCT00602641 . [Table: see text]

Outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-high (≥50%) non-small-cell lung cancer and a poor performance status

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Background: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) have been excluded from immunotherapy clinical trials. We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC, a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of ≥50%, and an ECOG PS of 2. Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic NSCLC and a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of ≥50% (negative for genomic alterations in EGFR and ALK) who received treatment with first-line commercial pembrolizumab. Clinical outcomes were compared in patients based on ECOG PS. Results: Among 234 patients, 83.3% (N = 195) had an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, and 16.7% (N = 39) had an ECOG PS of 2. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics were balanced between the ECOG PS 0-1 vs 2 groups in terms of age, sex, tobacco use, histology, KRAS mutation status, presence of other potentially targetable driver mutations ( BRAF, MET, HER2, RET), history of central nervous system (CNS) disease, and PD-L1 TPS distribution. Compared to patients with an ECOG PS of 0-1, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 had a significantly lower objective response rate (ORR 43.1% vs 25.6%; P = 0.04), a numerically shorter median progression free survival (mPFS 6.6 months vs 4.0 months; P = 0.09), and a significantly shorter median overall survival (mOS 20.3 months vs 7.4 months; P < 0.001). Upon disease progression, patients with an ECOG PS of 2 were significantly less likely to receive second-line systemic therapy compared to patients with an ECOG PS of 0-1 (55.5% vs 14.3%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although a subset of patients with an ECOG PS of 2 can respond first-line pembrolizumab, clinical outcomes in this population are poor, and use of second-line systemic therapy is infrequent.

Increase in side effect bother was associated with early treatment discontinuation in a clinical trial among multiple myeloma patients

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Background: Patient reported side effect bother is needed to understand tolerability of cancer drugs. We examined whether increase in side effect bother from baseline to cycle 7 as measured by a single item (GP5) from the FACT-G, “I am bothered by side effects of treatment”, was associated with early treatment discontinuation (ETD) in a multiple myeloma (MM) trial. Methods: Data were drawn from the induction phase of ECOG ACRIN E1A06, a two arm, phase 3 trial conducted in patients with untreated MM. The induction phase occurred over twelve, 28-day cycles. GP5 was assessed at registration and cycle 7. ETD was defined as completion of less than 12 cycles of treatment. We tested whether increase in side effect bother on the GP5 from baseline to cycle 7 was associated with months to ETD in two ways. At each timepoint, GP5 was rated with these response options: “Not at all”, “A little bit”, “Somewhat”, “Quite a bit”, “Very Much”. First, we stratified Kaplan Meier curves by patients with versus without substantially increased side effect burden from registration to cycle 7 on the GP5, defined as an increase of > 2 response categories; Cox regression was used to calculate a hazard ratio. Second, we fit a joint model of the GP5 change trajectory on months to ETD that substituted the estimated slope of a longitudinal logistic regression model into the hazard function of a Cox model. In this model, GP5 was dichotomized as 0 = “Not at all/”A little bit”; 1 = “Somewhat”/ “Quite a bit”/ “Very Much”. Results: 159 patients were followed during induction for a median of 11 months (range: 0.2-16.0). 10 patients (6%) reported a substantial increase on GP5 from registration to cycle 7. After 16 months, these patients had a significantly higher hazard of ETD as estimated by Kaplan Meier methods: 40% experienced ETD vs. 24% of patients without substantial GP5 increase [hazard ratio (HR): 3.08 (95% CI: 1.18-8.02)]. In the joint model, the effect of GP5 on hazard of ETD was larger [HR: 9.56 (95% CI: 2.41-37.82)]. Conclusions: This study found initial evidence that increase in side effect bother as measured by the GP5 predicts ETD and may therefore reflect treatment intolerability in cancer drug trials. The effects found in this study will be tested for replication in additional ECOG-ACRIN trials with diverse designs, treatments, and cancer types. Clinical trial information: NCT00602641 .

[The effect of peroxiredoxin 2 on transforming growth factor-β1-induced fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis]

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) overexpression on fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) . Methods: Fibroblasts were randomly divided into control group (DMEM medium) , TGF-β1 group (5 μg/L TGF-β1) , negative control group (treated with 5 μg/L TGF-β1 and transfected with empty lentiviral vector) , and Prx2 group (treated with 5 μg/L TGF-β1 and transfected with Prx2 overexpression lentiviral vector) . MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation, immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the expression of 8-OHdG, and Western blot was used to measure the expression of p-JNK, p-P38, collagen type I, collagen type III, and Prx2. SPSS 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. The continuous data were expressed as mean±standard deviation; an analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results: Lentiviral transfection was performed successfully, and the Prx2 group had a significant increase in the protein expression of Prx2 (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 group had a significant increase in the proliferation ability (P<0.05) , and compared with the TGF-β1 group, the Prx2 group had a significant reduction in the proliferation ability (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 group had significant increases in the expression of 8-OHdG, p-JNK, p-P38, collagen type I, and collagen type III (P<0.05) ; compared with the TGF-β1 group, the negative control group had no significant changes in the expression of 8-OHdG, p-JNK, p-P38, collagen type I, and collagen type III (P>0.05) , while the Prx2 group had significant reductions in the above parameters (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Prx2 overexpression inhibits fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by TGF-β1 through inhibiting reactive oxygen species and activating the JNK and P38 pathways.

Racial/ethnicity differences when endorsing influential factors for prostate cancer treatment choice: An analysis of data from the personal patient profile-prostate (P3P) I and II trials

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Background: Race and ethnicity impact the type of treatment received for localized prostate cancer in American men. We hypothesized that there may be differences in men’s influential values and preferences related to treatment decisions. Methods: We analyzed samples from two multicenter, randomized trials of the Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P) decision aid, first comparing the trial groups on demographic and decisional variables using Chi-square tests. Stratified (P3P I vs II) logistic regression was then used to assess the univariate association between race/ethnicity and endorsement of moderate-or-strong influence of 14 lifestyle factors, current or future symptoms, or important others on the decision. A multivariable stratified logistic regression with backward variable selection was used to further estimate the association between influential factors and race/ethnicity. Results: Data from 494 and 392 participants in P3PI and P3PII, respectively, were analyzed for 40 Hispanic, 168 non-Hispanic black, 637 non-Hispanic white, 19 others and 6 missing. Age (p=.0001), education (p<.0001), marital status (p<.0001), income (p<.0001), Internet use for information (p<.0001) and decisional control preference were significantly different across racial/ethnic groups. In adjusted analyses, racial/ethnic differences existed for influence of age (Non Hispanic Black (NHB) vs. Non Hispanic White (NHW) OR: 0.56 95%CI 0.38-0.85p=.002), religion/spirituality (NHB vs. NHW OR: 3.2095%CI1.95-5.26, p<.0001), future bladder function (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5795%CI0.35-0.90, p=.04), future ability to engage in recreation (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5495%CI 0.34-0.86, p=0.02), and a story of a famous person with prostate cancer (NHB vs. NHW OR: 2,11 95%CI1.30-3.43, p=.007). Conclusions: Our results suggest racial/ethnic differences for influences underlying treatment choice. Better understanding these influences may help us present salient information about treatment options to patients and address disparities.

Oncologists’ perspectives on medical marijuana for the elderly

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Background: Cancer patients are increasingly using medical marijuana (MM) to manage symptoms and treatment side effects. Although cancer disproportionately affects the elderly, little is known about oncologists’ attitudes toward MM in this population. We surveyed US oncologists’ beliefs about the benefits of MM for older adults, and examined their associations with oncologists’ perceptions of MM efficacy and safety. Methods: 232 out of 400 randomly selected U.S. oncologists (63% response rate) completed a cross-sectional survey about their beliefs and recommendations regarding MM for cancer patients. Using Chi-square tests, we examined associations between oncologists’ demographics, their perceptions of geriatric MM use, as well as beliefs about comparative effectiveness of MM for cancer related symptoms, and comparative risks of MM to prescription opioids. Results: Among 232 oncologists included in this cohort, 109 (47.0%) reported that MM had at least some benefit for elderly cancer patients, 66 (28.4%) responded it was rarely or never beneficial, and 57 (24.6%) reported not knowing. There were no significant associations between oncologists’ beliefs about MM’s benefit for older adults and their sociodemographic characteristics. Those who believed MM was beneficial for the elderly were significantly more likely to report that MM was at least as effective as standard treatments for the following indications: coping (58.3% vs. 26.6%), appetite (83.3% vs 58.5%), depression (46.3% vs 25.0%), and nausea (66.7% vs 33.9%), respectively ( p < 0.001). In contrast, oncologists’ beliefs about MM for the elderly were not significantly associated with perceptions of the comparative risks of MM ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: In this nationally-representative sample of US oncologists, about half thought MM was beneficial for older adults with cancer. Oncologists’ support of MM for older adults was associated with perceptions of MM’s efficacy but was not associated with perceptions of MM’s risks. More research is needed regarding the safety and efficacy of MM to guide oncologists’ recommendations about its use in older adults.