Clinical recommendations for treatment of localized angiosarcoma: A consensus paper by the Italian Sarcoma Group

Angiosarcoma (AS) represents a rare and aggressive vascular sarcoma, posing distinct challenges in clinical management compared to other sarcomas. While the current European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) clinical practice guidelines for sarcoma treatment are applicable to AS, its unique aggressiveness and diverse tumor presentations necessitate dedicated and detailed clinical recommendations, which are currently lacking. Notably, considerations regarding surgical extent, radiation therapy (RT), and neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy vary significantly in localized disease, depending on each different site of onset. Indeed, AS are one of the sarcoma types most sensitive to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Despite this, uncertainties persist regarding optimal management across different clinical presentations, highlighting the need for further investigation through clinical trials. The Italian Sarcoma Group (ISG) organized a consensus meeting on April 1st, 2023, in Castel San Pietro, Italy, bringing together Italian sarcoma experts from several disciplines and patient representatives from "Sofia nel Cuore Onlus" and the ISG patient advocacy working group. The objective was to develop specific clinical recommendations for managing localized AS within the existing framework of sarcoma clinical practice guidelines, accounting for potential practice variations among ISG institutions. The aim was to try to standardize and harmonize clinical practices, or at least highlight the open questions in the local management of the disease, to define the best evidence-based practice for the optimal approach of localized AS and generate the recommendations presented herein.

Epidemiology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: a review and protocol presentation for bridging tumor registry data with the Italian association for neuroendocrine tumors (Itanet) national database

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare tumors with diverse clinical behaviors. Large databases like the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and national NEN registries have provided significant epidemiological knowledge, but they have limitations given the recent advancements in NEN diagnostics and treatments. For instance, newer imaging techniques and therapies have revolutionized NEN management, rendering older data less representative. Additionally, crucial parameters, like the Ki67 index, are missing from many databases. Acknowledging these gaps, the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (Itanet) initiated a national multicenter prospective database in 2019, aiming to gather data on newly-diagnosed gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine (GEP) NENs. This observational study, coordinated by Itanet, includes patients from 37 Italian centers. The database, which is rigorously maintained and updated, focuses on diverse parameters including age, diagnostic techniques, tumor stage, treatments, and survival metrics. As of October 2023, data from 1,600 patients have been recorded, with an anticipation of reaching 3600 by the end of 2025. This study aims at understanding the epidemiology, clinical attributes, and treatment strategies for GEP-NENs in Italy, and to introduce the Itanet database project. Once comprehensive follow-up data will be acquired, the goal will be to discern predictors of treatment outcomes and disease prognosis. The Itanet database will offer an unparalleled, updated perspective on GEP-NENs, addressing the limitations of older databases and aiding in optimizing patient care. STUDY REGISTRATION: This protocol was registered in clinicaltriasl.gov (NCT04282083).

KIT/PDGFRA Variant Allele Frequency as Prognostic Factor in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs): Results From a Multi-Institutional Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The patient selection for optimal adjuvant therapy in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is provided by nomogram based on tumor size, mitotic index, tumor location, and tumor rupture. Although mutational status is not currently used to risk assessment, tumor genotype showed a prognostic influence on natural history and tumor relapse. Innovative measures, such as KIT/PDGFRA-mutant-specific variant allele frequency (VAF) levels detection from next-generation sequencing (NGS), may act as a surrogate of tumor burden and correlate with prognosis and overall survival of patients with GIST, helping the choice for adjuvant treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, hospital-based, retrospective/prospective cohort study to investigate the prognostic role of KIT or PDGFRA-VAF of GIST in patients with radically resected localized disease. In the current manuscript, we present the results from the retrospective phase of the study.

RESULTS

Two-hundred (200) patients with GIST between 2015 and 2022 afferent to 6 Italian Oncologic Centers in the EURACAN Network were included in the study. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was used to classify "low" vs. "high" VAF values, further normalized on neoplastic cellularity (nVAF). When RFS between the low and high nVAF groups were compared, patients with GIST with KIT/PDGFRA nVAF > 50% showed less favorable RFS than patients in the group of nVAF ≤ 50% (2-year RFS, 72.6% vs. 93%, respectively; P = .003). The multivariable Cox regression model confirmed these results. In the homogeneous sub-population of intermediate-risk, patients with KIT-mutated GIST, the presence of nVAF >50% was statistically associated with higher disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION

In our study, we demonstrated that higher nVAF levels were independent predictors of GIST prognosis and survival in localized GIST patients with tumors harboring KIT or PDGFRA mutations. In the cohort of intermediate-risk patients, nVAF could be helpful to improve prognostication and the use of adjuvant imatinib.

Anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer harboring mutational signature of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)

BACKGROUND

The BRCA proteins play a key role in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway. Beyond BRCA1/2, other genes are involved in the HR repair (HRR). Due to the prominent role in the cellular repair process, pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PV/LPVs) in HRR genes may cause inadequate DNA damage repair in cardiomyocytes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, hospital-based, retrospective cohort study to investigate the heart toxicity from anthracycline-containing regimens (ACRs) in the adjuvant setting of breast cancer (BC) patients carrying germline BRCA PV/LPVs and no-BRCA HRR pathway genes. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed using cardiac ultrasound before starting ACR therapy and at subsequent time points according to clinical indications.

RESULTS

Five hundred and three BC patients were included in the study. We predefined three groups: (i) BRCA cohort; (ii) no-BRCA cohort; (iii) variant of uncertain significance (VUS)/wild-type (WT) cohort. When baseline (T0) and post-ACR (T1) LVEFs between the three cohorts were compared, pre-treatment LVEF values were not different (BRCA1/2 versus HRR-no-BRCA versus VUS/WT cohort). Notably, during monitoring (T1, median 3.4 months), patients carrying BRCA or HRR no-BRCA germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants showed a statistically significant reduction of LVEF compared to baseline (T0). To assess the relevance of HRR on the results, we included the analysis of the subgroup of 20 BC patients carrying PV/LPVs in other genes not involved in HRR, such as mismatch repair genes (MUTYH, PMS2, MSH6). Unlike HRR genes, no significant differences in T0-T1 were found in this subgroup of patients.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that deleterious variants in HRR genes, leading to impaired HR, could increase the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to ACR in early BC patients. In this subgroup of patients, other measurements, such as the global longitudinal strain, and a more in-depth assessment of risk factors may be proposed in the future to optimize cardiovascular risk management and improve long-term survival.

Theranostic biomarkers and PARP-inhibitors effectiveness in patients with non-BRCA associated homologous recombination deficient tumors: Still looking through a dirty glass window?

Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2) deleterious variants were the first and, still today, the main biomarkers of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP)-inhibitors (PARPis) benefit. The recent, increased, numbers of individuals referred for counseling and multigene panel testing, and the remarkable expansion of approved PARPis, not restricted to BRCA1/BRCA2-Pathogenic Variants (PVs), produced a strong clinical need for non-BRCA biomarkers. Significant limitations of the current testing and assays exist. The different approaches that identify the causes of Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD), such as the germline and somatic Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) gene PVs, the testing showing its consequences, such as the genomic scars, or the novel functional assays such as the RAD51 foci testing, are not interchangeable, and should not be considered as substitutes for each other in clinical practice for guiding use of PARPi in non-BRCA, HRD-associated tumors. Today, the deeper knowledge on the significant relationship among all proteins involved in the HRR, not limited to BRCA, expands the possibility of a successful non-BRCA, HRD-PARPi synthetic lethality and, at the same time, reinforces the need for enhanced definition of HRD biomarkers predicting the magnitude of PARPi benefit.

A mutation-based radiomics signature predicts response to imatinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)

Objectives

To develop a mutation-based radiomics signature to predict response to imatinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs).

Methods

Eighty-two patients with GIST were enrolled in this retrospective study, including 52 patients from one center that were used to develop the model, and 30 patients from a second center to validate it. Reference standard was the mutational status of tyrosine-protein kinase (KIT) and platelet-derived growth factor α (PDGFRA). Patients were dichotomized in imatinib sensitive (group 0 - mutation in KIT or PDGFRA, different from exon 18-D842V), and imatinib non-responsive (group 1 - PDGFRA exon 18-D842V mutation or absence of mutation in KIT/PDGFRA). Initially, 107 texture features were extracted from the tumor masks of baseline computed tomography scans. Different machine learning methods were then implemented to select the best combination of features for the development of the radiomics signature.

Results

The best performance was obtained with the 5 features selected by the ANOVA model and the Bayes classifier, using a threshold of 0.36. With this setting the radiomics signature had an accuracy and precision for sensitive patients of 82 % (95 % CI:60-95) and 90 % (95 % CI:73-97), respectively. Conversely, a precision of 80 % (95 % CI:34-97) was obtained in non-responsive patients using a threshold of 0.9. Indeed, with the latter setting 4 patients out of 5 were correctly predicted as non-responders.

Conclusions

The results are a first step towards using radiomics to improve the management of patients with GIST, especially when tumor tissue is unavailable for molecular analysis or when molecular profiling is inconclusive.

Guideline-Based Follow-Up Outcomes in Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor With Low Risk of Recurrence: A Report From the Italian Sarcoma Group

Importance

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) follow-up is recommended by international guidelines, but data on the role of follow-up in patients with low relapse risk are missing. For these patients, the potential benefit of anticipating recurrence detection should be weighed against psychological burden and radiologic examination loads in terms of costs and radiation exposure.

Objective

To evaluate the outcomes of guideline-based follow-up in low-risk GIST.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multi-institutional retrospective cohort study involving Italian Sarcoma Group reference institutions evaluated patients with GIST who underwent surgery between January 2001 and June 2019. Median follow-up time was 69.2 months. Data analysis was performed from December 15, 2022, to March 20, 2023. Patients with GIST at low risk according to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria were included provided adequate clinical information was available: primary site, size, mitotic index, surgical margins, and 2 or more years of follow-up.

Exposures

All patients underwent follow-up according to European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the number of tests needed to identify a relapse according to ESMO guidelines follow-up plan. Secondary outcomes included relapse rate, relapse timing, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), GIST-specific survival (GIST-SS), postrelapse OS, secondary tumor rates, and theoretical ionizing radiation exposure. An exploratory end point, new follow-up schedule proposal for patients with low-risk GIST according to the observed results, was also assessed.

Results

A total of 737 patients (377 men [51.2%]; median age at diagnosis, 63 [range, 18-86] years) with low-risk GIST were included. Estimated 5-year survival rates were 95.5% for DFS, 99.8% for GIST-SS, and 96.1% for OS. Estimated 10-year survival rates were 93.4% for DFS, 98.1% for GIST-SS, and 91.0% for OS. Forty-two patients (5.7%) experienced disease relapse during follow-up (9 local, 31 distant, 2 both), of which 9 were detected after 10 or more years. This translated into approximately 1 relapse detected for every 170 computed tomography scans performed, with a median radiation exposure of 80 (IQR, 32-112) mSv per patient. Nongastric primary tumor (hazard ratio [HR], 2.09; 95% CI, 1.14-3.83; P = .02), and KIT mutation (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.05-7.27; P = .04) were associated with a higher risk of relapse. Second tumors affected 187 of 737 patients (25%), of which 56 were detected during follow-up and represented the primary cause of death in these patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study on patients affected by low-risk GISTs, the risk of relapse was low despite a follow-up across 10 or more years. These data suggest the need to revise follow-up schedules to reduce the anxiety, costs, and radiation exposure of currently recommended follow-up strategy.

The significance of tissue-agnostic biomarkers in solid tumors: the more the merrier?

INTRODUCTION

To date, several emerging biomarkers have gained considerable interest in the field of predictive molecular oncology. The advent of precision medicine has led to the development of innovative drugs targeting rare molecular pathways independently from histology, defined as tissue-agnostic drugs.

AREAS COVERED

Although there is a lot of promise for this new tissue-agnostic model in the oncological scenario, crucial issues from both the diagnostic and therapeutic standpoint are emerging. This review aims to critically examine the role of tissue-agnostic biomarkers in different solid tumors, focusing on the prevalence and methods of detection of agnostic biomarkers together with drug approvals to guide clinicians in this evolving landscape.

EXPERT OPINION

To strengthen the framework for tissue-agnostic approvals, the dialogue between regulatory, industrial, and academic parties should be intensified. Critical questions include the development of an efficient network system that can overcome the heterogeneity of patients' inclusion criteria along with the increasingly difficult interpretation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) profiling technologies. Cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit studies are needed in the national context considering the modalities of access to diagnostic tests and reimbursement of treatments.

The Impact of O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) Promoter Methylation on the Outcomes of Patients with Leiomyosarcoma Treated with Dacarbazine

Dacarbazine is an important drug in the therapeutic landscape of leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Alkylating agents are subjected to resistance mechanisms based on anti-apoptotic pathways and repair mechanisms, including the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). In this retrospective study, the methylation status of the MGMT promoter in histological tumor samples from patients with LMS, dacarbazine-based regimens-treated, was measured and correlated with clinical outcomes aimed at optimizing the use of dacarbazine in soft tissue sarcomas. The patients with unmethylated MGMT had better outcomes than those with methylated MGMT. Patients without MGMT methylation had better Progression Free Survival (PFS) when aged ≥62 years compared to those aged <62 years, while PFS of patients with methylated MGMT was less favorable independently of age (p = 0.0054). The patients without a methylated MGMT gene had higher Disease control rate (DCR). These results are not in agreement with the role of the methylated MGMT gene in other tumors, and with this study, we demonstrated the correlation between methylated MGMT and poor prognosis; despite that, sample smallness, heterogeneity of LMS and of treatment history could be selection bias. Predictive markers of response to chemotherapies in sarcomas remain an unmet need.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Diagnosis, Follow-up and Role of Radiomics in a Single Center Experience

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract and are the most common intestinal tumors. Usually GISTs are asymptomatic, especially small tumors that may not cause any symptoms and may be found accidentally on abdominal CT scans. Discovering of inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases has changed the outcome of patients with high-risk GISTs. This paper will focus on the role of imaging in diagnosis, characterization and follow-up. We shall also report our local experience in radiomics evaluation of GISTs.

CT and MR Imaging of Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: A Practical Guide for the Radiologist

Primary retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) represent around 10-16% of all sarcomas, with liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas being the most common subtypes. RPS have some peculiar characteristics, imaging appearances, worse prognosis, and complications compared to other locations of sarcoma. Commonly, RPS primarily present as large masses, progressively encasing adjacent structures, causing mass effect, and complications. RPS diagnosis is often challenging, and these tumors may be overlooked; however, failure to recognize RPS characteristics leads to a worse prognosis for the patients. Surgery is the only recognized curative treatment, but the anatomical constraints of the retroperitoneum limit the ability to achieve wide resection margins; therefore, these tumors have a high rate of recurrence, and require long-term follow-up. The radiologist has an important role in the diagnosis of RPS, the definition of their extent, and their follow-up. Specific knowledge of the main imaging findings is required to reach an early diagnosis, and, ultimately, to guarantee the best patient management. This article provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding cross-sectional imaging features of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas, presenting tips and tricks to improve imaging diagnosis of RPS.

Stewart-Treves syndrome: a case report of lymphedema-related angiosarcoma

Stewart-Treves syndrome (STS) is an angiosarcoma associated with lymphedema deriving more often from radical mastectomy and longstanding lymphedema, first described in 1948. Irradiation is also commonly associated with chronic lymphedema of extremities. It generally occurs about 10 years after the mastectomy and/or radiotherapy. The prognosis is very poor with a mean survival of 20 months from the diagnosis especially when radical surgery is not possible. We present the case of STS in an 89-year-old female who underwent left upper outer quadrantectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma in 2009 followed by axillary lymphadenectomy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy until 2014. She presented swollen upper left limb associated with hemorrhagic red papular lesions. Skin biopsy revealed the presence of lymphedema-associated angiosarcoma. Radical surgery was not possible, so she underwent conservative therapy with pazopanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with benefit. Long-term follow-up of these patients is crucial to intercept this condition at an early stage.

Prognostic role of soluble PD-1 and BTN2A1 in overweight melanoma patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab: finding the missing links in the symbiotic immune-metabolic interplay

Individual response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is currently unpredictable in patients with melanoma. Recent findings highlight a striking improvement in the clinical outcomes of overweight/obese patients treated with ICIs, which seems driven, at least in part, by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-mediated T-cell dysfunction. A putative role of butyrophilins (BTNs) is under investigation as a novel mechanism of cancer immune evasion and obesity-associated inflammation. This study investigates the role of baseline plasma levels of soluble PD-1 (sPD-1), soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 (sPD-L1), BTN2A1 (sBTN2A1), BTN3A1 (sBTN3A1), along with body mass index (BMI), as predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy response in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab as first-line treatment. In all, 41 patients were included in the study. The baseline plasma level of sPD-1 was significantly lower, and the sBTN2A1 was significantly higher, in long-responder patients to nivolumab or pembrolizumab (median sPD-1: 10.3 ng/ml versus 16.6 ng/ml, p = 0.001; median sBTN2A1: 4.4 ng/ml versus 3.77 ng/ml, p = 0.004). Lower levels of sPD-1 and higher levels of sBTN2A1 were also significantly associated with better overall response rate. Notably, when we further stratified the study cohort using BMI along with sPD-1, patients with BMI ⩾ 25 and sPD-1 < 11.24 ng/ml had longer time to treatment failure after PD-1 inhibitor than other subgroups of patients (p < 0.001). Circulating sPD-1 and sBTN2A1 detection, along with BMI, could give more insights into the immune-metabolic interactions underlying the benefit observed in overweight/obese patients, improving the use of dynamic, noninvasive, biomarkers for patient selection.

Body mass index and baseline platelet count as predictive factors in Merkel cell carcinoma patients treated with avelumab

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer, associated with a worse prognosis. The Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) avelumab and pembrolizumab have been recently approved as first-line treatment in metastatic MCC (mMCC). The clinical observation of improved outcomes in obese patients following treatment with ICIs, known as the "obesity paradox", has been studied across many types of tumors. Probably due to the rarity of this tumor, data on mMMC patients are lacking.

Patients and methods

This is an observational, hospital-based, study to investigate the role of Body Mass Index (BMI) as predictive biomarker of ICI response in mMCC patients treated with avelumab as first-line treatment. The study population included the patients treated from February 2019 to October 2022 in an Italian referral center for rare tumors. Clinico-pathological characteristics, BMI, laboratory parameters (NLR and platelet count), and response to avelumab were analyzed from a MCC System database prospectively collected.

Results

Thirty-two (32) patients were included. Notably, the presence of pre-treatment BMI ≥ 30 was significantly associated with longer PFS [BMI < 30 Group: median PFS, 4 months (95% CI: 2.5-5.4); BMI ≥ 30 Group: median PFS, not reached; p<0.001)[. Additionally, the median PFS was significantly higher in patients with higher PLT (median PFS: 10 months in the "low PLT" Group (95% CI: 4.9, 16.1) vs 33 months (95% CI: 24.3, 43.2) in the "high PLT" Group (p=0.006). The multivariable Cox regression model confirmed these results.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the predictive role of BMI in MCC patients. Our data were consistent with the clinical observation of improved outcomes in obese patients across other tumor types. Thus, advanced age, a weakened immune system, and the obesity-associated "inflammaging", are key factors that could impact the cancer immune responses of mMCC patients.

Transcription regulators and ultra-rare and other rare translocation-related sarcomas treated with trabectedin: A proof of principle from a post-hoc analysis

Background

Among sarcomas, which are rare cancers with an incidence of <6 per 100.000/year cases, ultra-rare sarcomas have an incidence of approximately ≤1/1,000,000/year cases and altogether account for ~20% of all soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas. The Italian Sarcoma Group has recently performed a non-interventional, retrospective TrObs study with data from 512 anthracycline-pretreated patients with advanced multiple STS histologies and treated with trabectedin (Palmerini, Cancers 2021; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02793050).

Methods

A post-hoc analysis of case series to evaluate the efficacy and safety of trabectedin on patients with ultra-rare and other rare translocation-related sarcomas included in TrObs study was performed. Main outcomes comprised investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety.

Results

Thirty-six patients (18 women) with ultra-rare and other rare sarcoma and a median age of 53.0 years (range: 22-81) were included. Most patients had solitary fibrous tumor (SFT; n=11) followed by epithelioid sarcoma (n=5), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST; n=4), extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC; n=3), desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT; n=3), and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), rhabdomyosarcoma and clear cell sarcoma (n=2 each). Thirty-five patients had metastatic disease and 23 patients received trabectedin as a second-line treatment. Among 35 patients evaluable for response, two patients with SFT and ASPS had a partial response and one patient with DSRCT obtained a complete response, reaching an ORR of 8.6% (95% CI: 2.8-23.4%). Among patients with an ORR, 6-months PFS was 100% in patients with ASPS, 45.7% in patients with SFT and 33.3% in those with DSRCT. Two patients with epithelioid sarcoma and myoepithelioma had disease stabilization lasting >24 months. Nine patients had at least one grade 3/4 adverse event, mostly being bone marrow toxicity (n=6).

Conclusions

Trabectedin has some anti-tumor activity in some ultra-rare and other rare sarcomas, particularly translocation-related sarcomas, with the well-known manageable safety profile.

Clinical Potential of Circulating Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) for Longitudinally Monitoring Clinical Outcomes in the First-Line Setting of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Real-World Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing implementation of targeted and immunotherapy-based treatments, the prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC remains dismal. We prospectively evaluated longitudinal plasma cfDNA kinetics as an early marker of therapeutic efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC undergoing standard first-line treatments.

METHODS

From February 2020 to May 2022, treatment-naïve patients with advanced NSCLC were consecutively enrolled at the Medical Oncology Unit of the Paolo Giaccone University Hospital, Palermo (Italy). We quantified cfDNA in terms of ng/μL using a Qubit^TM dsDNA HS Assay Kit. The agreement between the cfDNA and radiologic response was evaluated from baseline (T0) to the radiologic evaluation (T1).

RESULTS

A total of 315 liquid biopsy samples were collected from 63 patients at baseline, with a total of 235 paired plasma samples from 47 patients at disease re-evaluation. A fair concordance was observed between early and durable radiographic and cfDNA response (Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.001); 11 and 18 patients receiving TKI (Pearson's chi-squared test = 4.278; Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.039) and IO treatments (Pearson's chi-squared test = 7.481; Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.006) showed a significant and durable association between cfDNA dynamics and the first radiologic evaluation, whereas among the 18 patients undergoing CT, no significant correlation was observed (Pearson's chi-squared test = 0.720; Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.396). The ECOG-PS 2 patients presented with the mean baseline cfDNA levels 2.6-fold higher than those with ECOG-PS 0-1 (1.71 vs. 0.65 ng/µL; p = 0.105).

CONCLUSIONS

Our real-world study demonstrates that quantitative changes in cfDNA values correlated with responses to therapy and relapse of disease in treatment-naïve patients with advanced NSCLC undergoing TKI- and IO-based treatments.

The Evolving Scenario in the Assessment of Radiological Response for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Era of Immunotherapy: Strengths and Weaknesses of Surrogate Endpoints

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a challenging malignancy characterised by clinical and biological heterogeneity, independent of the stage. Despite the application of surveillance programs, a substantial proportion of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when curative treatments are no longer available. The landscape of systemic therapies has been rapidly growing over the last decade, and the advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has changed the paradigm of systemic treatments. The coexistence of the tumour with underlying cirrhosis exposes patients with HCC to competing events related to tumour progression and/or hepatic decompensation. Therefore, it is relevant to adopt proper clinical endpoints to assess the extent of treatment benefit. While overall survival (OS) is the most accepted endpoint for phase III randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and drug approval, it is affected by many limitations. To overcome these limits, several clinical and radiological outcomes have been used. For instance, progression-free survival (PFS) is a useful endpoint to evaluate the benefit of sequential treatments, since it is not influenced by post-progression treatments, unlike OS. Moreover, radiological endpoints such as time to progression (TTP) and objective response rate (ORR) are frequently adopted. Nevertheless, the surrogacy between these endpoints and OS in the setting of unresectable HCC (uHCC) remains uncertain. Since most of the surrogate endpoints are radiology-based (e.g., PFS, TTP, ORR), the use of standardised tools is crucial for the evaluation of radiological response. The optimal way to assess the radiological response has been widely debated, and many criteria have been proposed over the years. Furthermore, none of the criteria have been validated for immunotherapy in advanced HCC. The coexistence of the underlying chronic liver disease and the access to several lines of treatments highlight the urgent need to capture early clinical benefit and the need for standardised radiological criteria to assess cancer response when using ICIs in mono- or combination therapies. Here, we review the most commonly used clinical and radiological endpoints for trial design, as well as their surrogacy with OS. We also review the criteria for radiological response to treatments for HCC, analysing the major issues and the potential future perspectives.

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

PURPOSE

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

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

Immunometabolic predictive factors in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients treated with avelumab

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Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer, associated with a worse prognosis. The link between MCC and immune suppression is well demonstrated. The population of patients with MCC is frequently elderly and frail, making it essential to determine whether the results of clinical trial can be replicated in a real-world setting. Despite the introduction of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has provided great benefit for some patients with advanced MCC (aMCC), it remains a subsets of patients who are refractory to ICIs or develop acquired resistance over time. Thus, there is a clinical need for predictive factors of ICI response. Methods: Twenty patients with aMCC treated with avelumab were included. The treatment was administered as I or II line. Clinical-pathological characteristics, Body Mass Index (BMI), and response to avelumab were analyzed from a MCC System database prospectively collected. An explorative analysis was performed, for available samples, to investigate: i) the plasma levels of soluble PD-1 (sPD-1), and PD-L1 (sPD-L1) collected at baseline, measured using homemade ELISA assays not yet commercially available, and designed according to investigator specifications; ii) IHC for PD-L1 in tumor samples; iii) the presence/absence/class (brisk vs no-brisk) of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in tumor samples. The primary outcome investigated was the Time to Treatment Failure (TTF). Results: From February 2019 to January 2022, twenty (20) patients were included in the study. The median age was 74 (range 56-83); 10 patients were men (50%) and 10 were women (50%). Seventeen (17) patients (85%) were treated with avelumab as I line, and 3 patients (15%) as II line. The overall response rate was 65% (70.6% in I line patients). One (1) patient (5%) had a complete response (CR), 13 patients (65%) partial response (RP), 4 patients (20%) stable disease (SD), and 2 patients (10%) had a progression disease (PD). Overall median TTF was 22 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: -13.0-30.9). At the time of data analyses, a total of 9 events (progression or death) occurred (45%). Notably, a BMI ≥ 30 was significantly associated with longer TTF (p = 0.004) and objective response rate (p = 0.01). In the explorative biomarker analysis, preliminary data on 6 tumor and plasma samples, showed that plasma sPD-1 > 3.8 ng/ml, and the presence of PD-L1 and brisk TILs on tumor samples, were associated to longer TTF. Conclusions: These finding highlight the complex immune-metabolic interplay in the immunotherapy response. These data extends the previous finding on “obesity paradox” and the role of BMI as predictive factors of ICIs. The data on biomarker analysis warrants further prospective validation.

Heart toxicity effects (HTE) of anthracyclines-containing regimens (ACRs) in patients with breast cancer (BC) carrying mutational signature of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)

10519

Background: BRCA1/2 genes ( BRCA) play a prominent role in the Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) pathway. Following the technological progress and deeper knowledge on BRCA-related cancers, the demand for genetic testing is rapidly increasing. Beyond BRCA1/2, other genes are involved in the HRR, including ATM, PALB2, RAD51, and BARD1. Due to the important role in the cellular repair process, deleterious variants in HRR genes may cause inadequate DNA damage repair in cardiomyocytes. The role of BRCA1/2 as predisposing condition to cardiac dysfunction is debated, and the contribution by no- BRCA genes is still unknown. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, study to investigate the risk of heart-insults from anthracyclines on adjuvant setting in BC patients carrying germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant (PV) (classes IV and V) in BRCA and no- BRCA HRR pathway genes. We collected genetic and clinical data, and evaluated the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at cardiac ultrasound, before starting ACR therapy, and at subsequent time points, according to clinical indications. Results: Three hundred and sixty (360) BC patients, aging 22 to 80, were included in this study; 131 patients were carriers of germline PVs in HRR pathway genes: 52 in BRCA1 gene (39.7%), 48 in BRCA2 gene (36.6%), and 31 harbored PVs in no- BRCA HRR pathway genes (23.7%), including PVs in PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, RAD51C, RAD50 and BARD1 genes. In the cohort of 229 patients without PVs, 47 showed variant of uncertain significance (VUS, class III), and 173 had genetic testing not informative. When LVEF between the groups was compared, the difference was not significant for the pre-treatment values. Notably, individuals carrying BRCA or other HRR gene deleterious variants, showed a statistically significant reduction of LVEF > 5% at the second time-point (3 month), compared to the LVEF pre-treatment values (p = 0.001). A marked LVEF reduction was in mutated patients treated with risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy prior to age 40, body mass index > 25, and type-II diabetes mellitus. The latter risk factor was probably related to increased risk developing insulin-resistance reported for BRCA-mutated patients. Conclusions: Our data suggest that PVs in BRCA or other genes involved in HRR pathway, can lead to impaired homologous recombination, thus increasing sensitivity of cardiac cells to DNA damaging chemotherapy in BC patients. In this subgroup of patients, other measurements such as the global longitudinal strain (GLS), and a more in-depth assessment of risk factors, could be proposed to optimize cardiovascular risk-management and to improve long-term survival.

Adjuvant Imatinib in Patients with GIST Harboring Exon 9 KIT Mutations: Results from a Multi-institutional European Retrospective Study

PURPOSE

The effect of high-dose imatinib (800 mg/day) on survival in the adjuvant treatment of patients with resected KIT exon 9-mutated gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is not established. Here, the association of dose and other clinicopathologic variables with survival was evaluated in a large multi-institutional European cohort.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Data from 185 patients were retrospectively collected in 23 European GIST reference centers. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse-probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to account for confounders. Univariate and multivariate unweighted and weighted Cox proportional hazard regression models were estimated for relapse-free survival (RFS), modified-RFS (mRFS) and imatinib failure-free survival (IFFS). Univariate Cox models were estimated for overall survival.

RESULTS

Of the 185 patients, 131 (70.8%) received a starting dose of 400 mg/d and the remaining 54 (29.2%) a dose of 800 mg/d. Baseline characteristics were partially unbalanced, suggesting a potential selection bias. PSM and IPTW analyses showed no advantage of imatinib 800 mg/d. In the weighted multivariate Cox models, high-dose imatinib was not associated with the survival outcomes [RFS: hazard ratio (HR), 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-1.94; mRFS: HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.92-3.10; IFFS: HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.79-2.28]. The variables consistently associated with worse survival outcomes were high mitotic index and nongastric tumor location.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective series of patients with KIT exon 9-mutated GIST treated with adjuvant imatinib, a daily dose of 800 mg versus 400 mg did not show better results in terms of survival outcomes. Prospective evaluation of the more appropriate adjuvant treatment in this setting is warranted.

Safety and effectiveness of gemcitabine for the treatment of classic Kaposi’s sarcoma without visceral involvement

Background:

Classic Kaposi’s sarcoma (CKS) is a rare, multifocal, endothelial cell neoplasm that typically occurs in elderly people with previous infection by human herpes virus-8. Prospective trials are rare, and the choice of drugs relies on prospective trials performed on HIV-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Pegylated liposomal anthracyclines and taxanes are considered the standard first- and second-line chemotherapy, respectively. Despite the indolent biologic behavior, the natural history is characterized by recurrent disease. This condition of chronic administration of cytotoxic drugs is often associated with immediate/long-term adverse events.

Methods:

This was an observational, retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gemcitabine in patients with CKS. From January 2016 to September 2021, the patients were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, with cycles repeated every 21 days. The treatment was administered as first or second line.

Results:

Twenty-seven (27) patients were included in the study. Twenty-one (21) out 27 patients (77.8%) achieved a partial response (PR), including 8 patients with major response (MR) (29.6%) and 13 patients with minor response (mR) (48.2%); 2 (7.4%) showed a complete response (CR), 3 (11.1%) a stable disease (SD), and 1 (3.7%) a progressive disease (PD). Tumor responses were generally rapid, with a median time to first response of 4 weeks (range, 3–12 weeks). Patients who responded had disease improvement with flattening of the skin lesions, decrease in the number of lesions, and substantial reduction in tumor-associated complications. Median duration of response was 19.2 months. Common adverse events were grades 1/2 thrombocytopenia, and grade 1 noninfectious fever. No patient discontinued treatment as a result of adverse events.

Conclusion:

Our study showed that gemcitabine is effective and well tolerated, acts rapidly on cutaneous lesions, and allows substantial symptom palliation, without dose-limiting toxicity. Gemcitabine represents a safe and effective option for the treatment of CKS.

Systemic treatment in advanced phyllodes tumor of the breast: a multi-institutional European retrospective case-series analyses

BACKGROUND

We aimed at investigating outcome of systemic treatments in advanced breast PT.

METHODS

All cases of advanced breast PT treated with systemic treatments from 1999 to 2019, in one of the referral sarcoma centers involved in the study, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

56 female patients were identified. Median age was 52 (range of 25-76) years. Patients received a median number of 2 systemic treatments (range of 1-4). Best responses according to RECIST were 1 (3.7%) CR, 11 (40.7%) PR, 6 (22.2%) SD, 9 (33.3%) PD with anthracyclines plus ifosfamide (AI); 2 (16.7%) PR, 4 (33.3%) SD, 6 (50.0%) PD with anthracycline alone; 3 (18.8%) PR, 4 (25.0%) SD, 9 (56.3%) PD with high-dose ifosfamide given as a continuous infusion (HD-IFX); 3 (20.0%) SD, 12 (80.0%) PD with a gemcitabine-based regimen (with 2 patients not evaluable); 1 (8.3%) PR, 2 (16.7%) SD, 9 (75.0%) PD with trabectedin (with 1 patient not evaluable); 1 (16.7%) PR, 1 (16.7%) SD, 4 (66.7%) PD with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI). The median PFS were 5.7 (IQR 2.5-9.1) months with AI; 3.2 (IQR 2.2-5.0) months with anthracycline alone; 3.4 (IQR 1.4-6.7) months with HD-IFX; 2.1 (IQR 1.4-5.2) months with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy; 1.8 (IQR 0.7-6.6) months with trabectedin; 3.4 (IQR 3.1-3.8) months with TKI. With a median follow-up of 35.3 (IQR 17.6-66.9) months, OS from the start of first-line systemic treatment was 15.2 (IQR 7.6-39.6) months.

CONCLUSION

In this series of advanced PT (to our knowledge, the largest reported so far), AI was associated with a high rate of responses, however, with a median PFS of 5.7 months. Other systemic treatments were poorly active.

Weekly cisplatin with or without imatinib in advanced chordoma: A retrospective case-series analysis from the Italian Rare Cancers Network

BACKGROUND

To report on a retrospective case-series analysis of weekly cisplatin (wCDDP) as a single agent or combined with imatinib (wCDDP/I) in patients with advanced chordoma treated within the Italian Rare Cancer Network.

METHODS

Adult patients with a diagnosis of advanced, brachyury-positive chordoma, treated from April 2007 to October 2020 with wCDDP or wCDDP/I were retrospectively identified. Imatinib was withheld at the same time as wCDDP. Response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-three consecutive patients were identified (wCDDP as front-line n = 8 [24.2%]; wCDDP as a further line n = 25 [75.8%]; prior imatinib n = 25 [75.8%]; evidence of progression before starting wCDDP n = 33). Of 32 patients evaluable for response (wCDDP, n = 22 [68.8%]; wCDDP/I, n = 10 [31.3%]), best response was stable disease (SD) in 27 patients (84.3%) and progression in 5 patients (15.6%). At a median follow-up of 54 months, the median OS (m-OS) was 30.3 months (interquartile range [IQR], 18.1-56.6), the m-PFS was 8.0 months (IQR, 5.1-17.0), the 6-month PFS rate was 65.2%, and the 12-month PFS rate was 30.3%. Of 22 patients who received wCDDP, the best response was SD in 18 patients (81.8%) and progression in 4 patients (18.2%), and the m-PFS was 8.0 months (IQR, 5.1-17.0 months). Of 10 patients who received treatment with wCDDP/I, the best response was SD in 9 patients (90%) and progression in 1 patient (10%), and the m-PFS was 9.3 months (IQR, 4.9-26.5 months).

CONCLUSIONS

This series suggests that wCDDP, both as a single agent and combined with imatinib, has antitumor activity in chordoma. Although no dimensional responses were observed, 65% and 30% of previously progressive patients were progression-free at 6 and 12 months, respectively. A prospective study is warranted.

Not all KIT 557/558 codons mutations have the same prognostic influence on recurrence-free survival: breaking the exon 11 mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

Background:

Although the gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) genotype is not currently included in risk-stratification systems, a growing body of evidence shows that the pathogenic variant (PV) type and codon location hold a strong prognostic influence on recurrence-free survival (RFS). This information has particular relevance in the adjuvant setting, where an accurate prognostication could help to better identify high-risk tumors and guide clinical decision-making.

Materials and Methods:

Between January 2005 and December 2020, 96 patients with completely resected GISTs harboring a KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) exon 11 PV were included in the study. We analyzed the type and codon location of the PV according to clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcome; the metastatic sites in relapsed patients were also investigated.

Results:

Tumors harboring a KIT exon 11 deletion or deletion/insertion involving the 557 and/or 558 codons, showed a more aggressive clinical behavior compared with tumors carrying deletion/deletion/insertion in other codons, or tumors with duplication/insertion/single-nucleotide variant (SNV) (7-year RFS: 50% versus 73.1% versus 88.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). Notably, among 18 relapsed patients with 557 and/or 558 deletion or deletion/insertion, 14 patients (77.8%) harbored deletions simultaneously involving 557 and 558 codons, while only 4 patients (22.2%) harbored deletions involving only 1 of the 557/558 codons. Thus, when 557 or 558 deletions occurred separately, the tumor showed a prognostic behavior similar to the GIST carrying deletions outside the 557/558 position. Remarkably, patients with GISTs stratified as intermediate risk, but carrying the 557/558 deletion, showed a similar outcome to the high-risk patients with tumors harboring deletions in codons other than 557/558, or duplication/insertion/SNV.

Conclusion:

Our data support the inclusion of the PV type and codon location in routine risk prediction models, and suggest that intermediate-risk patients whose GISTs harbor 557/558 deletions may also need to be treated with adjuvant imatinib like the high-risk patients.

Impact of deleterious variants in other genes beyond BRCA1/2 detected in breast/ovarian and pancreatic cancer patients by NGS-based multi-gene panel testing: looking over the hedge

BACKGROUND

Hereditary breast cancer (BC), ovarian cancer (OC), and pancreatic cancer (PC) are the major BRCA-associated tumours. However, some BRCA1/2-wild-type (wt) patients with a strong personal and/or family history of cancer need a further genetic testing through a multi-gene panel containing other high- and moderate-risk susceptibility genes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our study was aimed to assess if some BC, OC, or PC patients should be offered multi-gene panel testing, based on well-defined criteria concerning their personal and/or family history of cancer, such as earliness of cancer onset, occurrence of multiple tumours, or presence of at least two or more affected first-degree relatives. For this purpose, 205 out of 915 BC, OC, or PC patients, resulted negative for BRCA1/2 and with significant personal and/or family history of cancer, were genetically tested for germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs/LPVs) in genes different from BRCA1/2.

RESULTS

Our investigation revealed that 31 (15.1%) out of 205 patients harboured germline PVs/LPVs in no-BRCA genes, including PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, MUTYH, MSH2, and RAD51C. Interestingly, in the absence of an analysis conducted through multi-gene panel, a considerable percentage (15.1%) of PVs/LPVs would have been lost.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing a multi-gene panel testing to BRCA1/2-wt BC/OC/PC patients with a strong personal and/or family history of cancer could significantly increase the detection rates of germline PVs/LPVs in other cancer predisposition genes beyond BRCA1/2. The use of a multi-gene panel testing could improve the inherited cancer risk estimation and clinical management of patients and unaffected family members.

Familial adenomatosis polyposis-related desmoid tumours treated with low-dose chemotherapy: results from an international, multi-institutional, retrospective analysis

Introduction

Desmoid tumour (DT) is a locally aggressive fibroblastic proliferative disease representing the most common extraintestinal manifestation of familial adenomatosis polyposis (FAP). As data on the activity of chemotherapy in these patients are limited, we examined the outcomes of patients treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX)+vinca alkaloids (vinorelbine or vinblastine).

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed clinical and outcome data from all patients with confirmed FAP-associated DTs treated with weekly MTX+vinca alkaloids in seven European sarcoma reference centres between January 2000 and December 2018. Radiological responses were assessed using RECIST V.1.0 and V.1.1. The Kaplan-Meier method associated to the log-rank test was used to estimate and compare survival curves.

Results

We identified 37 patients (median age 29 years, range 7–44). According to RECIST, 20/37 (54.1%) patients achieved partial response (PR), 15/37 (40.5%) patients had stable disease and 2/37 (5.4%) had progressive disease as best response. Overall, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.5 years (range, 0.3–12.1 years). In the subset of patients achieving PR as best response, the median PFS was not reached. In a subset of 11 patients with progressive disease offered MTX+vinca alkaloids rechallenge (after chemotherapy withdrawal following prolonged disease control), the disease control rate was 100%, resulting in a median PFS after rechallenge of 5.8 years.

Conclusions

This is the largest series on the activity of low-dose chemotherapy in patients with FAP-related DT. In this population, MTX+vinca alkaloids is an active combination, as already reported in patients with sporadic DT.

Prevalence and Spectrum of Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants of Uncertain Significance in Breast/Ovarian Cancer: Mysterious Signals From the Genome

About 10–20% of breast/ovarian (BC/OC) cancer patients undergoing germline BRCA1/2 genetic testing have been shown to harbor Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUSs). Since little is known about the prevalence of germline BRCA1/2 VUS in Southern Italy, our study aimed at describing the spectrum of these variants detected in BC/OC patients in order to improve the identification of potentially high-risk BRCA variants helpful in patient clinical management. Eight hundred and seventy-four BC or OC patients, enrolled from October 2016 to December 2020 at the “Sicilian Regional Center for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare and Heredo-Familial Tumors” of University Hospital Policlinico “P. Giaccone” of Palermo, were genetically tested for germline BRCA1/2 variants through Next-Generation Sequencing analysis. The mutational screening showed that 639 (73.1%) out of 874 patients were BRCA-w.t., whereas 67 (7.7%) were carriers of germline BRCA1/2 VUSs, and 168 (19.2%) harbored germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants. Our analysis revealed the presence of 59 different VUSs detected in 67 patients, 46 of which were affected by BC and 21 by OC. Twenty-one (35.6%) out of 59 variants were located on BRCA1 gene, whereas 38 (64.4%) on BRCA2. We detected six alterations in BRCA1 and two in BRCA2 with unclear interpretation of clinical significance. Familial anamnesis of a patient harboring the BRCA1-c.3367G>T suggests for this variant a potential of pathogenicity, therefore it should be carefully investigated. Understanding clinical significance of germline BRCA1/2 VUS could improve, in future, the identification of potentially high-risk variants useful for clinical management of BC or OC patients and family members.

Standard versus personalized schedule of regorafenib in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): A retrospective, multicenter, real-world study

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Background: Regorafenib (REG) is a multikinase inhibitor approved as third-line treatment in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Although its proven activity, REG can present a relevant adverse profile which often leads to treatment modifications and transient or permanent discontinuation; thus, in clinical practice physicians usually adopt various dosing and interval schedules to counteract REG-related adverse events (AEs) and avoid treatment interruption. The aim of this real-world study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of personalized schedules of REG in metastatic GIST patients, in comparison with the standard schedule (160 mg daily, 3-weeks-on, 1-week-off schedule). Methods: Institutional registries across seven Italian reference centers were retrospectively reviewed and data of interest retrieved to identify GIST patients who had received REG from February 2013 to January 2021. The primary endpoint was Progression-Free Survival (PFS), with Overall Survival (OS) also assessed as secondary endpoint. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival and the log-rank test to make comparisons. The impact of variables on survival was assessed through univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 152 GIST patients (82 male and 70 female) were included and split in two groups on the basis of the REG treatment plan received (standard vs personalized). Among the 103 patients for whom the treatment was personalized (38 since the beginning and 65 during the treatment course), the main strategies adopted were the following: 120 mg/day d1-21 e28 (n = 56; 54.4%); 80 mg/day d1-21 e28 (n = 22; 21.4%); 160 mg/day d1-5 e7 (n = 13; 12.6%). At a median follow-up of 36.5 months, median Overall Survival (OS) was 16.6 months (95% CI 14.1-21.8) and 20.5 months (95% CI 15.0-25.4) in the standard-dose and the personalized schedule groups, respectively (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.49-1.22; p = 0.16). Median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was 5.6 months (95% CI 3.3-not reached) and 9.7 months (95% CI 7.9-14.5) in the same groups (HR 0.51; 95% CI 0.34-0.75; p = 0.00052). Conclusions: Despite the expected limits of a retrospective analysis, we confirm that REG personalized schedules are commonly adopted in everyday clinical practice of high-volume GIST expert centers and correlate with significant improvement of therapeutic outcomes. Based on these results, REG treatment optimization in GIST patients may represent the best strategy to maximize long-term therapy, preserving tolerability and quality of life.

A phase III study (APROMISS) of AL3818 (Catequentinib, Anlotinib) hydrochloride monotherapy in subjects with metastatic or advanced synovial sarcoma

11505

Background: AL3818 (Catequentinib, Anlotinib) is a novel, orally administered, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The primary objective of this Phase 3 study is to evaluate the efficacy of AL3818 monotherapy in patients (pts) with synovial sarcoma (SS) comparing with dacarbazine in randomization setting. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma requiring second line or further line treatment were eligible for enrollment. The regimen was a 21-day cycle with oral AL3818 administered on 14 days on and 7 days off. This phase 3 trial is randomized in 2:1 ratio of AL3818 comparing to dacarbazine with option of crossover after PD of dacarbazine treatment. Progression free survival (PFS) with Log Rank test is the primary endpoint and this trial for SS is currently completed enrolled in US and Italy. Results: Total 79 pts initiated treatment and are evaluable, 52 received AL3818 as treatment arm (T), and 27 received dacarbazine (D) as control arm (C). Arms T/C median ages were 40.5/42.0 years (range: 18-70+) and 20/16 (38.5%/59.3%) were male. Overall, PFS was 2.89 months (95% CI: 2.73 – 6.87) for AL3818 and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.45 – 2.70) for D. The PFS of study met the primary endpoint with a p-value of 0.0015 and a HR of 0.449 (95% CI: 0.270– 0.744). At the month 4, 6, and 12, the percentages of progression free patients for AL3818 were 48.1%, 42.3% and 26.9%; and for D were 14.85%, 11.1% and 3.7%. For grade 3 treatment-related adverse events, 12(23.1%) of pts experienced for AL3818 and 7(25.9%) of pts experienced for D. The most common AL3818 related grade 3 AEs were diarrhea (5.8%) and hypertension (3.8%). Conclusions: This phase III trial demonstrates improved disease control and superior progression free survival for AL3818 vs dacarbazine in advanced SS. In addition, the study further confirms the acceptable benefit-risk profile of AL3818 from the prior randomized Phase 2b soft tissue sarcoma study (NCT02449343). AL3818 is a meaningful treatment option for pts with advanced SS. Clinical trial information: NCT 03016819 Clinical trial information: NCT03016819.

Impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic dissemination on the management of neuroendocrine neoplasia in Italy: a report from the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (Itanet)

INTRODUCTION

The organization of the healthcare system has significantly changed after the recent COVID-19 outbreak, with a negative impact on the management of oncological patients. The present survey reports data collected by the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors on the management of patients with neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) during the pandemic dissemination.

METHODS

A survey with 57 questions was sent to NEN-dedicated Italian centers regarding the management of patients in the period March 9, 2020, to May 9, 2020 RESULTS: The main modification in the centers' activity consisted of decreases in newly diagnosed NEN patients (- 76.8%), decreases in performed surgical procedures (- 58%), delays to starting peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (45.5%), postponed/canceled follow-up examinations (26%), and canceled multidisciplinary teams' activity (20.8%). A low proportion of centers (< 10%) reported having to withdraw systemic anti-tumor medical treatment due to concerns about the pandemic situation, whereas PRRT was withdrawn from no patients.

CONCLUSION

Although the COVID-19 outbreak induced the centers to reduce some important activities in the management of NEN patients, the Italian network was able to provide continuity in care without withdrawing anti-tumor treatment for the majority of patients.

Clinical prognostic factors in advanced epithelioid haemangioendothelioma: a retrospective case series analysis within the Italian Rare Cancers Network

Background

This multicentric, retrospective study conducted within the Italian Rare Cancer Network describes clinical features and explores their possible prognostic relevance in patients with advanced epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EHE) started on surveillance.

Patients and methods

We collected data on adult patients with molecularly confirmed, advanced EHE consecutively referred at five sarcoma reference centres between January 2010 and June 2018, with no evidence of progressive disease (PD) and started on surveillance. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were performed. In the latter, due to the low number of cases and events, penalized likelihood was applied, and variable selection was performed using a random forest model.

Results

Sixty-seven patients were included. With a median follow-up of 50.2 months, 51 (76%) patients developed PD and 16 (24%) remained stable. PD at treatment start did not meet RECIST version 1.1 in 15/51 (29%) patients. The 3-year PFS and OS were 25.4% and 71.1%, respectively, in the whole population. Tumour-related pain (TRP) was the most common baseline symptom (32.8%), followed by temperature (20.9%), fatigue (17.9%), and weight loss (16.4%). Baseline TRP (P = 0.0002), development of TRP during follow-up (P = 0.005), baseline temperature (P = 0.002), and development of fatigue during follow-up (P = 0.007) were associated with a significantly worst PFS. An association between baseline TRP (P < 0.0001), development of TRP during follow-up (P = 0.0009), evidence of baseline serosal effusion (P = 0.121), and OS was recorded.

Conclusion

Because of the poor outcome observed in EHE patients presenting with serosal effusion, TRP, temperature, or serosal effusion, upfront treatment in this subgroup could be considered.

•

Prognosis prediction in advanced EHE at presentation remains a challenge.

•

This study explores the prognostic value of clinical and radiological features in advanced EHE patients on surveillance.

•

Given their prognostic impact, symptoms and serosal effusion in EHE patients on surveillance should be regularly checked.

•

In advanced EHE patients presenting with pain, temperature, or serosal effusion, upfront treatment could be considered.

BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants in triple-negative versus luminal-like breast cancers: genotype-phenotype correlation in a cohort of 531 patients

Background

Several available data suggest the association between specific molecular subtypes and BRCA1/2 mutational status. Previous investigations showed the association between BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (PVs) in specific genomic regions and phenotypic variations of cancer relative risk, while the role of PV type and location in determining the breast cancer (BC) phenotypic features remains still unclear. The aim of this research was to describe the germline BRCA1/2 PVs in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) versus luminal-like BC and their potential leverage on BC phenotype.

Patients & methods

We retrospectively collected and analyzed all clinical information of 531 patients with BC genetically tested for germline BRCA1/2 PVs by Next-Generation Sequencing analysis at University Hospital Policlinico "P. Giaccone" of Palermo (Sicily) from January 2016 to February 2020.

Results

Our results corroborate the evidence that BRCA1-related tumors often have a profile which resembles the TNBC subtype, whereas BRCA2-associated tumors have a profile that resembles luminal-like BC, especially the Luminal B subtype. Interestingly, our findings suggest that the PVs identified in TNBC were not largely overlapping with those in luminal-like tumors. Differences in the frequency of two PVs potentially associated with different molecular tumor subtypes were observed. BRCA1-633delC was detected with relatively higher prevalence in patients with TNBC, whereas BRCA2-1466delT was found mainly in Luminal B tumors, but in no TNBC patient.

Conclusion

Future studies examining the type and location of BRCA1/2 PVs within different molecular subtypes are required to verify our hypothesis and could provide an interesting insight into the complex topic of genotype-phenotype correlations. Additionally, a more in-depth understanding of the potential correlations between BRCA PVs and clinical and phenotypic features of hereditary BC syndrome patients could be the key to develop better strategies of prevention and surveillance in BRCA-positive carriers without disease.

Baseline plasma levels of soluble PD-1, PD-L1, and BTN3A1 predict response to nivolumab treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a step toward a biomarker for therapeutic decisions

Despite a proportion of renal cancer patients can experiment marked and durable responses to immune-checkpoint inhibitors, the treatment efficacy is widely variable and identifying the patient who will benefit from immunotherapy remains an issue. We performed a prospective study to investigate if soluble forms of the immune-checkpoints PD-1 (sPD-1), PD-L1 (sPD-L1), pan-BTN3As, BTN3A1, and BTN2A1, could be candidate to predict the response to immune-checkpoint blockade therapy. We evaluated the plasma levels in a learning cohort of metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma (mccRCC) patients treated with the anti-PD-1 agent nivolumab by ad hoc developed ELISA’s. Using specific cut-offs determined through ROC curves, we showed that high baseline levels of sPD-1 (>2.11 ng/ml), sPD-L1 (>0.66 ng/ml), and sBTN3A1 (>6.84 ng/ml) were associated with a longer progression-free survival (PFS) to nivolumab treatment [median PFS, levels above thresholds: sPD-1, 20.7 months (p < .0001); sPD-L1, 19 months (p < .0001); sBTN3A1, 17.5 months (p = .002)]. High sPD-1 and sBTN3A1 levels were also associated with best overall response by RECIST and objective response of >20%. The results were confirmed in a validation cohort of 20 mccRCC patients. The analysis of plasma dynamic changes after nivolumab showed a statistically significant decrease of sPD-1 after 2 cycles (Day 28) in the long-responder patients. Our study revealed that the plasma levels of sPD-1, sPD-L1, and sBTN3A1 can predict response to nivolumab, discriminating responders from non-responders already at therapy baseline, with the advantages of non-invasive sample collection and real-time monitoring that allow to evaluate the dynamic changes during cancer evolution and treatment.

Duodenal perforation as presentation of gastric neuroendocrine tumour: A case report

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Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs) represent the most frequent digestive NENs and are increasingly recognized thanks to diffusion of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

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g-NENs can be sporadic or associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and present with a functional Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

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We described a case of a 60 years old Caucasian male came to emergency room with diffuse abdominal pain and leukocytosis on blood tests.

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At the level of the pyloric portion we found irregularly thickened walls associated with a small fluid collection and bubbles of free air. On exploratory laparoscopy we found a large perforation (about 5 cm of size) in the first duodenum portion.

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Histological examination revealed a gastric NET perforation as a consequence of hypergastrinemia secondary to gastrinoma.

Introduction

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent uncommon neoplasms with different characteristics. They can be asymptomatic and benign or they can also proliferate and manifest themselves with neoplastic mass symptoms such as intestinal occlusion or with carcinoid syndrome. Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs) are the most frequent digestive NENs while duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms (d-NENs) may be sporadic or associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and present a functional syndrome (e.g. gastrinoma with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).

Presentation of case

We report a case of duodenal perforation due to a unknown gastrinoma responsible of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. He underwent an emergency contrast enhanced CT abdominal scan that showed a perforation. We performed a distal gastrectomy. The histopathological examination revealed a g-NET configuring a possible picture of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

Discussion

The management of NETs is diffulcult and controversial because of their rarity. It is useful to know the pathologic assessment of tumor differentiation and/or grade, evaluate surgical resectability and control the carcinoid syndrome symptoms.

Conclusion

This case report shows that gastric NETs can be found in cases of duodenal perforation. Our future goal is to evaluate the possibilities to diagnose the Zollinger Ellison Syndrome as early as possible and to treat it with targeted therapy in order to prevent its related complications.

Recent Advances in Desmoid Tumor Therapy

The desmoid tumor is a locally aggressive proliferative disease within the family of soft-tissue sarcomas. Despite its relatively good prognosis, the clinical management of desmoid tumors requires constant multidisciplinary evaluation due to its highly variable clinical behavior. Recently, active surveillance has being regarded as the appropriate strategy at diagnosis, as indolent persistence or spontaneous regressions are not uncommon. Here, we review the most recent advances in desmoid tumor therapy, including low-dose chemotherapy and treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We also explore the recent improvements in our knowledge of the molecular biology of this disease, which are leading to clinical trials with targeted agents.

Fatal Heart Failure Induced By Pazopanib In A Sarcoma Patient Previously Treated With Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine is commonly used for various solid organ malignancies with rarely reported cardiac side effects such as cardiomyopathy. Pazopanib usually can cause arterial hypertension but cases of heart failure have recently been reported. We describe a case of fatal heart failure after treatment with gemcitabine and pazopanib in a 55-year-old female with sarcoma. Patient developed left ventricular dysfunction after gemcitabine treatment and acute heart failure after 22 days of pazopanib treatment which led to death. Physicians should be aware of the cardiotoxicity risk when managing the use of pazopanib especially in patients previously treated with other cardiotoxic drugs.

Role of adjuvant imatinib dose in radically resected GIST harboring KIT exon 9 mutations

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Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a driver mutation in KIT exon 9 (Ex9) represent about 10% of all newly diagnosed cases. In the metastatic setting, Ex9-mutated GIST patients benefit from higher doses of imatinib (800 mg/day vs standard 400 mg/day). The additional therapeutic benefit from a higher dose of imatinib in the adjuvant setting in this molecular subgroup has not been confirmed. Methods: We retrospectively identified 105 patients (pts) with resected Ex9-mutated GIST treated with adjuvant imatinib (800 mg/day or 400 mg/day) in 15 different European centers. Disease-Free Survival (DFS) and Imatinib Failure-Free Survival (IFFS) were calculated and analyzed according to the daily dose of imatinib and relevant clinical and pathological variables. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate survival in univariate analyses, and the log-rank test was used to compare the groups. Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a univariable Cox model. A multivariate Cox regression model was also performed. Results: Of the 105 pts who met the inclusion criteria, 69 (65.7%) were treated with 400 mg/day and 36 (34.3%) with 800 mg/day. The risk score (AFIP-Miettinen criteria) between the two dose groups was not statistically different (P = 0.29). Median DFS was 73.0 months (mo) in the 400 mg/day group and 61.9 mo in the 800 mg/day group (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.47-1.47; P = 0.50). Median IFFS was 156.8 mo in the 400/day mg group and 117.4 mo in the 800 mg/day group (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.34-1.29; P = 0.19). In a multivariable analysis, the variables statistically associated with DFS were mitotic count, the longest tumor diameter and the duration of adjuvant therapy. Mitotic count and the duration of adjuvant therapy were also associated with IFFS. Importantly, the daily imatinib dose was not associated with survival in either analysis (Table). Conclusions: This is the largest reported cohort of pts with Ex9-mutated GIST treated with either the 400 mg/day or the 800 mg/day dose of adjuvant imatinib. Although retrospective in nature, the data confirm the prognostic value of mitotic count and suggest that patients with Ex9-mutated GIST derive no additional survival benefit from the 800 mg/day dose. [Table: see text]

Cardiovascular Toxicity in Cancer Patients Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Real-World Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Target therapy can cause various cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular complications related to treatment with anti-BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and to determine if there are differences between the latest- and first-generation TKIs.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was carried out on 55 patients (39 men, 16 women; mean age ± SD: 58 ± 11 years) treated with TKIs targeting Bcr-Abl for a median period of 3.5 years. Patients were divided in two groups according to the type of treatment. Group A included patients treated with latest-generation TKI (nilotinib, dasatinib, and ponatinib), while group B included patients treated with first-generation TKI (imatinib). Cardiological evaluation included electrocardiogram, echocardiogram with global longitudinal strain of left ventricle (GLS), and carotid ultrasound scan with arterial stiffness measurement (pulse wave velocity, PWV). Adverse cardiovascular events were recorded in both groups.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that cardiovascular adverse events (myocardial ischemia, peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pleural effusion) were significantly more frequent in group A than group B (p value = 0.044). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in GLS and PWV in group A when compared to group B (respectively, p = 0.03 and p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that imatinib is a relatively safe drug, while it reveals that the latest-generation TKIs may cause a burden of cardiovascular complications. GLS and PWV allow detection of early signs of cardiac and vascular toxicity in oncohematologic patients treated with TKI, and their use is advisable.

Mitotane Concentrations Influence Outcome in Patients with Advanced Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Mitotane is the main option of treatment for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However, limited evidence is available regarding the impact of plasma mitotane levels on patient outcome. To address this question, we retrospectively analyzed patients with advanced ACC treated with mitotane for ≥3 months, with ≥3 measurements of plasma mitotane reported in the Lysosafe Online® database (HRA Pharma, France), followed at 12 tertiary centers in Italy from 2005 to 2017. We identified 80 patients, initially treated with mitotane alone (56.2%) or plus chemotherapy (43.8%). The preference toward combination therapy was given to de novo stage IV ACC and younger patients. After the first line of treatment, 25% of valid cases experienced clinical benefit (14.5% objective response, 10.5% stabilization of disease) and 75% progression, without differences between the groups of treatment. Patients with progression had a lower time in the target range (TTR) of plasma mitotane and an unfavorable outcome. Death occurred in 76.2% of cases and multivariate analysis showed that clinical benefit after first treatment and longer TTR were favorable predictors of overall survival (OS). In conclusion, the present findings support the importance of mitotane monitoring and strengthen the concept of a therapeutic window for mitotane.

Nonconventional Doses of Somatostatin Analogs in Patients With Progressing Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor

PURPOSE

To evaluate the antiproliferative activity and safety of nonconventional high doses of somatostatin analogs (HD-SSA) in patients with well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET) with radiological disease progression according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria on a previous treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained databases from 13 Italian NET-dedicated centers was performed. Main inclusion criteria were: well-differentiated G1 or G2 GEP-NET, progressive disease on a previous treatment, and subsequent treatment with HD-SSA (either by increased administered dose [dose intensity] or shortened interval between administrations [dose density]). Main endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and safety.

RESULTS

Of 198 patients, 140 matched inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, median PFS was 31 months. Use of HD-SSA as second-line treatment was associated with reduced risk for progression or death compared with third- or further-line treatment (HR: 2.12; P = 0.004). There was no difference in PFS between HD-SSA by increased dose density (N = 133; 95%) or intensity (N = 7; 5%). Partial response according to RECIST criteria was observed in 12 patients (8.6%), and stable disease was achieved in 106 (75.7%) patients. Adverse events occurred in 21 patients (15.0%), 2 of whom had grade 3 biliary stone disease. No patients discontinued HD-SSA treatment due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

HD-SSA is an active and safe treatment option in patients with progressive well-differentiated GEP-NET. The high rate of objective responses observed deserves prospective validation in ad hoc clinical trials.

Lanreotide Therapy vs Active Surveillance in MEN1-Related Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors < 2 Centimeters

PURPOSE

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are frequent in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome. They are usually not surgically treated unless larger than 1 to 2 cm or a growth rate > 0.5 cm per year. Somatostatin analogues represent one of the main therapeutic options in pNETs, but they have never been prospectively investigated in MEN1-related pNETs. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of lanreotide in patients with MEN1-related pNETs < 2 cm.

METHODS

MEN1 patients with 1 or more pNETs < 2 cm of maximal diameter were considered. Study design was prospective observational, comparing patients treated with lanreotide autogel 120 mg every 28 days (LAN group) and patients in active surveillance, not receiving any therapy (AS group).

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were enrolled: 23 in LAN and 19 in AS group. Median follow-up was 73 months. Initial imaging identified a total of 91 pNETs. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the LAN than in the AS group (median not reached vs 40 months, P < 0.001). In the LAN group, 4 patients had an objective tumor response, 15 patients had stable disease, while 4 had tumor progression. In the AS group, 13 patients had pNET progression, while 6 were stable.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective study evaluating the efficacy of somatostatin analogues in MEN1-related pNETs. These findings highlight that lanreotide autogel is effective as antiproliferative therapy in MEN1-related pNETs < 2cm, suggesting the utility of somatostatin analogues to arrest the development of tumor lesions as well as to delay or avoid pancreatic surgery.