Impact of TP53 mutation status on systemic treatment outcome in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer

Background

We analyzed whether co-occurring mutations influence the outcome of systemic therapy in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

ALK-rearranged stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients were analyzed with next-generation sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses on a centralized diagnostic platform. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined in the total cohort and in treatment-related sub-cohorts. Cox regression analyses were carried out to exclude confounders.

Results

Among 216 patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC, the frequency of pathogenic TP53 mutations was 23.8%, while other co-occurring mutations were rare events. In ALK/TP53 co-mutated patients, median PFS and OS were significantly lower compared with TP53 wildtype patients [PFS 3.9 months (95% CI: 2.4–5.6) versus 10.3 months (95% CI: 8.6–12.0), P < 0.001; OS 15.0 months (95% CI: 5.0–24.9) versus 50.0 months (95% CI: 22.9–77.1), P = 0.002]. This difference was confirmed in all treatment-related subgroups including chemotherapy only [PFS first-line chemotherapy 2.6 months (95% CI: 1.3–4.1) versus 6.2 months (95% CI: 1.8–10.5), P = 0.021; OS 2.0 months (95% CI: 0.0–4.6) versus 9.0 months (95% CI: 6.1–11.9), P = 0.035], crizotinib plus chemotherapy [PFS crizotinib 5.0 months (95% CI: 2.9–7.2) versus 14.0 months (95% CI: 8.0–20.1), P < 0.001; OS 17.0 months (95% CI: 6.7–27.3) versus not reached, P = 0.049] and crizotinib followed by next-generation ALK-inhibitor [PFS next-generation inhibitor 5.4 months (95% CI: 0.1–10.7) versus 9.9 months (95% CI: 6.4–13.5), P = 0.039; OS 7.0 months versus 50.0 months (95% CI: not reached), P = 0.001).

Conclusions

In ALK-rearranged NSCLC co-occurring TP53 mutations predict an unfavorable outcome of systemic therapy. Our observations encourage future research to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms and to improve treatment outcome of the ALK/TP53 co-mutated subgroup.

Randomized phase 2 trial on refinement of early-stage NSCLC adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed versus cisplatin and vinorelbine: the TREAT study

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, balancing toxicity and efficacy mandates improvement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with completely resected stages IB-pT3N1 NSCLC were randomly assigned to either four cycles cisplatin (C: 50 mg/m(2) day (d)1 + 8) and vinorelbine (V: 25 mg/m(2) d1, 8, 15, 22) q4 weeks or four cycles cisplatin (75 mg/m(2) d1) and pemetrexed (Px: 500 mg/m(2) d1) q3 weeks. Primary objective was the clinical feasibility rate (no grade (G)4 neutropenia/thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopenia with bleeding, no G3/4 febrile neutropenia or non-hematological toxicity; no premature withdrawal/death). Secondary objectives were drug delivery and efficacy.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty two patients were randomized (stages: 38% IB, 10% IIA, 47% IIB, 5% pT3pN1; histology: 43% squamous, 57% non-squamous). The feasibility rates were 95.5% (cisplatin and pemetrexed, CPx) and 75.4% (cisplatin and vinorelbine, CVb) (P = 0.001); hematological G3/4 toxic effects were 10% (CPx) and 74% (CVb) (P < 0.001), non-hematological toxic effects were comparable (33% and 31%, P = 0.798). Delivery of total mean doses was 90% of planned with CPx, but 66% (cisplatin) and 64% (vinorelbine) with CVb (P < 0.0001). The median number of cycles [treatment time (weeks)] was 4 for CPx (11.2) and 3 for CVb (9.9). Time to withdrawal from therapy differed significantly between arms favoring CPx (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant chemotherapy with CPx is safe and feasible with less toxicity and superior dose delivery compared with CVb.

Everolimus with paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line treatment for metastatic large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma: a multicenter phase II trial

Background

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC) is a rare disease with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Neuroendocrine tumors frequently show overactivation of the mTOR pathway. Based on the good activity of the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in different types of neuroendocrine tumors and the results of a previous phase I trial, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of everolimus in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel as upfront treatment for patients with advanced LCNEC.

Patients and methods

In this prospective, multicenter phase II trial chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IV LCNEC received 5 mg everolimus daily combined with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC 5 every 3 weeks for a maximum of four cycles followed by maintenance everolimus 5 mg daily until progression. Efficacy parameters were determined based on central radiologic assessment.

Results

Forty-nine patients with a mean age of 62 ±9 years and a predominance of male (71%) smokers (98%) were enrolled in 10 German centers. The overall response rate was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31%-60%), the disease control rate 74% (CI 59%-85%), the median progression-free survival 4.4 (CI 3.2-6) months and the median overall survival 9.9 (CI 6.9-11.7) months. The progression-free survival rate at 3 months (primary end point) was 76% (CI 64%-88%) according to Kaplan-Meier. Grade-3/4 toxicities occurred in 51% of patients and mainly consisted of general physical health deterioration (8%), cytopenias (24%), infections (10%) and gastrointestinal problems (8%). Typical everolimus-related adverse events, like stomatitis, rash and ocular problems occurred only in a minority of patients (<15%) and were exclusively of grade 1-2.

Conclusion

Everolimus in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel is an effective and well-tolerated first-line treatment for patients with metastatic LCNEC.

Registered clinical trial numbers

EudraCT number 2010-022273-34, NCT01317615.

Lung cancer in young females

Previous studies suggested that the characteristics of young female lung cancer patients may differ from those of other patients. Using the cancer registry at the Lungenklinik Heckeshorn hospital, all female patients under the age of 46 yrs with primary lung cancer 1986-1995 were identified. The clinical records were reviewed for risk factors, stage, histology, therapy, and survival. The data were compared with those of other patients. Of the 4,939 patients 96 (1.9%) were females aged <46 yrs. The percentage of young females doubled within ten years from 1 to 2% of all patients (p=0.03). The main risk factor in young females was smoking. Adenocarcinoma and carcinoids were overrepresented, whereas squamous cell and small cell carcinoma were significantly rarer in the young female group. Young females and young males were more likely to have advanced disease and underwent surgery and/or combined treatment significantly more often than older patients. The overall survival was only moderately better in younger patients. The clinical features of young female patients differed from those of young males and older females, the prognosis likewise depended on tumour stage and therapy.

Lymphocyte activation by phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. Identification of proliferating cells by monoclonal antibodies

Using a two-colour immunofluorescence technique, we have investigated the mitogenic effects of phytohaemagglutinin-M (PHA-M) and of pokeweed nitrogen (PWM) on human lymphocyte subsets. These were identified by CD1, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD16 monoclonal antibodies, and proliferation was demonstrated by a polyclonal anti-transferrin antibody. Evidence has been obtained for the generation of a population expressing both the CD4 and CD8 antigens simultaneously, in short-term cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of PWM and of PHA-M.

Medical thoracoscopy: hormone receptor content in pleural metastases due to breast cancer

Pleural metastases are common in the course of breast cancer, but, to date, the role of oestrogen receptor (OR) and progesterone receptor (PgR) content in metastatic tissue has been poorly evaluated. A series of 50 consecutive patients with a history of breast cancer (median age 64 yrs, range 40-86 yrs), which presented with pleural effusion and therefore underwent medical thoracoscopy, was analysed. Metastatic pleural involvement was histologically confirmed in all patients. The hormone receptor status of the pleural metastases was investigated using the immunohistochemical method in 49 and the biochemical method in 31 cases. The immunohistochemical test was performed using monoclonal antibodies. Biochemical analysis was performed on specimens quick-frozen in liquid nitrogen. OR and PgR were measured with the dextran-coated charcoal assay and Scatchard analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis yielded 29 OR-positive and 25 PgR-positive cases and biochemical analysis yielded 16 OR-positive and four PgR-positive cases, sometimes discrepant to hormone status of the primary breast cancer. Using a semiquantitative immunoreactive score, there was a significant association between receptor positivity and survival, but only for PgR positivity. Immunohistochemical and biochemical detection of hormone receptors (oestrogen and progesterone) in pleural metastases of breast cancer is feasible based on medical thoracoscopy as the method of choice, by which sufficient specimens may be obtained. The receptor status may enable a decision on antihormonal treatment. Whether a positive receptor status in pleural metastatic tissue is associated with a better prognosis remains to be confirmed.

[Malignant lymphoma associated with HIV infection]

The course of disease in 119 HIV-infected patients (117 men, 2 women; median age 38.5 years) with malignant tumours other than Kaposi's sarcoma was analyzed in a multi-centre retrospective study. This was conducted to obtain initial information concerning the incidence, clinical features and results of therapy in HIV-associated neoplasms, especially malignant lymphomas. The most frequent tumour was malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (98 patients, 82.5%), seven patients had Hodgkin's disease, five had solid tumours, four a polyclonal lymphoproliferative syndrome, three an acute lymphocytic leukaemia, and two had other lymphoproliferative diseases. 58% of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occurred in patients with marked immunodeficiency, 85% were high grade malignancies and 47% had primary extranodal disease. 56% of primary nodal lymphomas also had visceral spread (Stage IV). Lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was more common in patients with favourable immunological status, presented less frequently with primary extranodal disease, was diagnosed earlier than other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and appeared to carry a better prognosis. 78 out of the 98 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had been treated, 66 with cytotoxics. The median survival time was 6 months. Longer remission periods, of at least 12 months, were seen in ten of the 78 patients (13%). Despite the overall poor prognosis and the pre-existing immune defect, palliative (chemo-)therapeutic measures are both justified and promising, and may also result in life-prolonging remissions.

HIV-related malignant lymphomas. A clinical and pathological study of 13 cases

The clinical and laboratory records of 13 patients with HIV-related lymphomas diagnosed between 1983 and 1987 are reviewed. 8 cases were classified as high-grade Non-Hodgkin-lymphomas (NHL), 4 as low-grade NHL (including 2 plasmocytomas), and one as Hodgkin's disease (HD). 11 of the 12 NHL were of the B-cell lineage. The mean patient's age was 39 years. At initial staging evaluation extranodal disease was present in 10 patients, in one of them as primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma; 9 patients presented with stage III or stage IV involvement. 9 patients were eligible for multidrug chemotherapy. In 5 cases an initial complete remission (CR) was observed, followed, however, by CNS relapse within a few months in 3 patients. 3 patients did not respond to chemotherapy and died within 4 to 6 weeks. Of the 9 patients treated chemotherapeutically, 5 died within 1 to 5 months, 1 is still alive in CR and 3 are still alive in partial remission (PR).

Pemetrexed in second-line therapy in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

18198

Introduction: Based on the study of Vogelzang (2003) standard treatment in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is pemetrexed cisplatin with a medium survival of 12 months compared to 9 months with cisplatin therapy. As this treatment prolongs survival, but is not a curative treatment, many patients will relapse during the course of their disease. In sensitive relapses (within more than 3 months) our policy was to reintroduce pemetrexed therapy in unselected consecutive patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 17 consecutive patients treated in our hospital. Patient characteristics: 17 patients (pat), 14 males, 3 females, with MPM were included between April 2004 and November 2006 with an age between 45 and 82 years, with a median age of 65 years. Histologic subtypes were: 16 epithelial, 1 biphasic MPM. Pretreatment: 8 pat. had undergone palliative debulcing surgery (pleurectomy) 1 pat. underwent EPP. All patients were pretreated with platinum /pemetrexed, 5 pat. were pretreated with platinum/Gemcitabine before the availability of pemetrexed. 2nd line chemotherapy: 9 pat. were treated with carboplatin AUC5 / pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, 1 patient had cisplatinum 75 mg/m2/Pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and 7 patients had pemetrexed single agent therapy (500 mg/m2 d1, WH d21), repeated on day 22 respectively. Results: Response: 6% (n=1) PR, MR: 12% (n=2 )., NC: 47% (n=8)., PD: 35% (n= 6), clinical benefit (PR, MR, NC) was seen in 65% of ou pat. Toxicity: Pemetrexed/Carboplatin or pemetrexed therapy were well tolerated, toxicity was mild: one patient developed mild sensory neurotoxicity (peripheral sensory neuropathy) (WHO II) under 6 cycles pemetrexed, 35% developed mild fatigue (Who I and II), one patient had mild renal impairment, no alopecia was seen. Survival: Only 3 patients had still died, median survival from start of second-line pemetrexed-therapy was not reached, time to progression was between 25 and 630 days, 4 pat. had not progressed until now. Conclusion: Second line therapy in MPM is not yet standard of care. Nevertheless patients with progressive disease following pemetrexed/platinum therapy may benefit from second line pemetrexed reintroduction therapy. Clinical benefit was seen in 65% with low toxicity.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Lungenkarzinom: Diagnostik und Staging

Despite medical advances lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is usually recognized late in its natural history and at presentation in 80 % unresectable. Smoking history is the most important risk factor. At present time, screening for lung cancer is not recommended. The only chance for cure is tumour resection in early stages, performed in about 20 % of all lung cancer cases. Histological subtypes are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (80 % of lung cancers) and 20 % small cell lung cancer (SCLC). TNM-staging has important influence on prognosis and therapy. After identification the tumour should be staged using the TNM system. Currently diagnosis and staging rely predominantly on chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) scanning. Positron emission tomography (PET) identifies the tumour by its metabolic activity and helps to find malignant nodal or systemic lesions. Flexible bronchoscopy is the key investigation in the diagnosis and staging of patients with suspected lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration (TBNA) may be utilized to improve the bronchoscopic results in mediastinal staging. Internistic thoracoscopy or video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may be used in malignant pleural effusions. Mediastinoscopy staging is the gold-standard for mediastinal staging.

International Tailored Chemotherapy Adjuvant (ITACA) trial, a phase III multicenter randomized trial comparing adjuvant pharmacogenomic-driven chemotherapy versus standard adjuvant chemotherapy in completely resected stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Several strategies have been investigated to improve the 4% survival advantage of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this investigator-initiated study we aimed to evaluate the predictive utility of the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and thymidylate synthase (TS) as assessed in resected tumor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven hundred and seventy-three completely resected stage II-III NSCLC patients were enrolled and randomly assigned in each of the four genomic subgroups to investigator's choice of platinum-based chemotherapy (C, n = 389) or tailored chemotherapy (T, n = 384). All anticancer drugs were administered according to standard doses and schedules. Stratification factors included stage and smoking status. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Six hundred and ninety patients were included in the primary analysis. At a median follow-up of 45.9 months, 85 (24.6%) and 70 (20.3%) patients died in arms C and T, respectively. Five-year survival for patients in arms C and T was of 65.4% (95% CI (confidence interval): 58.5% to 71.4%) and 72.9% (95% CI: 66.5% to 78.3%), respectively. The estimated hazard ratio (HR) was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.56-1.06, P value: 0.109) for arm T versus arm C. HR for recurrence-free survival was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.69-1.14, P value: 0.341) for arm T versus arm C. Grade 3-5 toxicities were more frequently reported in arm C than in arm T.

CONCLUSION

In completely resected stage II-III NSCLC tailoring adjuvant chemotherapy conferred a non-statistically significant trend for OS favoring the T arm. In terms of safety, the T arm was associated with better efficacy/toxicity ratio related to the different therapeutic choices in the experimental arm.

[High frequency diathermy--a new method in the treatment of malignant and benign stenosis of the airways]

High-frequency electrocautery is a relatively new method in the treatment of malignant or benign airway stenoses. We report on the results of 58 sessions in 41 patients (malignant condition n = 30, benign n = 11) within a three-year period. Various instruments were available for coagulation (blunt probe, knives of 4, 5 and 7 mm length, forceps and wire snare). 53/58 sessions were performed under general anaesthesia, energy was limited to 40 W with unlimited duration of pulses. The knives were the most frequently used devices, preferably with a length of 5 mm, which enabled us to either cut the tumour or scar tissue precisely slice by slice or to resect by direct coagulation. The use of the blunt probes and forceps was frequently rendered more difficult by detritus covering the instrument during coagulation. Polypes were easily resected with the wire snare, but this kind of tumour was found in four patients only. Major (> 100 ml) bleeding occurred in two patients. Obstructing fibrinous membranes were never seen after electrocautery. In conclusion, high-frequency electrocautery is an effective and safe method for endobronchial resection and can be considered a good alternative to the laser as the classical method for endobronchial resection.

Multimodale Therapie des kleinzelligen und nichtkleinzelligen Lungenkarzinoms

Lung cancer is divided into two types: non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Small-cell lung cancer is a very aggressive rapid growing tumour type treated primarily with chemotherapy and, in the minority of patients with limited disease, with radiotherapy. Non-small cell lung cancer is treated in a multidisciplinary way with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy depending on stage. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients. Adjuvant therapy has become state of the art in stage II and IIIA patients and must be considered in stage IB. Stage III patients should be treated in a multimodal way with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and, if possible, with surgery. Treatment for every stage III patient should be discussed in a multidisciplinary team. Stage IV patients in good performance status will benefit from a combination chemotherapy, preferably platinum-based. Second line therapy has become standard and targeted therapies are under evaluation and are common in second line chemotherapy.

[Lung cancer: targeted therapy]

An increased understanding of the biology of lung cancer has identified biological targets for rationally designed novel therapies. Most of these targets are components of signalling pathways or metabolic processes. EGFR-tyrosinkinase inhibitors have become standard in second- and thirdline therapy of NSCLC, the anti-VEGF-antibody Avastin combined with first-line chemotherapy showed a significant survival benefit over chemotherapy alone. There are ongoing studies with targeted therapies in all stages of lung cancer. Major advances of these new drugs are their low toxicity and, in part, the oral application.