Triple-negative breast cancers with expression of glucocorticoid receptor in immune cells show better prognosis

Background

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is shown to have variable frequency of expression in invasive tumors of the breast. Investigation of additional nuclear receptors like GR in receptor negative tumors like triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) may have prognostic and therapeutic significance.

Methods

Expression of GR was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 175 tumors of invasive breast cancer with long term follow up. GR Expression was separately evaluated in invasive tumor cells, stromal cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL's). Staining pattern was categorised as positive when more than 1% of the cells stained in each subpopulation of cells. Disease free survival was analysed between GR positive and negative status by Kaplan Meier analysis.

Results

Of the 175 tumors, 121 (70%) were ER positive, 53 (30%) were ER negative and 29% (51) were triple negative. 74% (130/175) tumors showed expression of GR in invasive tumor cells while (84%) 147/175 had expression in TIL's. No significant difference in distribution of GR was noted between ER positive and ER negative tumors (78% vs 66%, p-0.1). Of the TNBC's 54% (28/51) and 70% (36/51) showed expression of GR in invasive tumor and TIL's respectively. Overall, GR positive tumors had significant better survival than GR negative tumors (mean survival time of 85 vs 59 months respectively, p-0.04) Contrary to the reports that GR expression in TIL's are associated with immunosuppressive activity in model systems, TNBC's with increased expression of GR in immune cells were associated with better survival (Mean survival time 74 vs 41 months, log rank test- p-0.03). TNBC tumors which were GR negative had higher lymph node metastases (p-0.04) and none of the other clinical features like age, menopausal state, tumor size and grade were different between GR positive and negative tumors within TNBC.

Conclusions

Glucocorticoids (GC) are often used to alleviate the adverse symptoms during chemotherapy. Determining the GR status is of importance due to the pro cell survival effect of the glucocorticoids mediated through GR during chemotherapy. Though GC mediated effects on chemotherapy are controversial, our results indicate favourable effects in TNBC.

Quantification of biomaterial dispersion during otologic procedures and role of barrier drapes in Covid 2019 era - a laboratory model

BACKGROUND

Aerosol generation during temporal bone surgery caries the risk of viral transmission. Steps to mitigate this problem are of particular importance during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the effect of barrier draping on particulate material dispersion during temporal bone surgery.

METHODS

The study involved a cadaveric model in a simulated operating theatre environment. Particle density and particle count for particles sized 1-10 μ were measured in a simulated operating theatre environment while drilling on a cadaveric temporal bone. The effect of barrier draping to decrease dispersion was recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

Barrier draping decreased counts of particles smaller than 5 μ by a factor of 80 in the operating theatre environment. Both particle density and particle count showed a statistically significant reduction with barrier draping (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

Simple barrier drapes were effective in decreasing particle density and particle count in the operating theatre model and can prevent infection in operating theatre personnel.

Renal transplantation using vascular conduit reconstruction in deceased kidneys with multiple renal arteries and short renal veins

BACKGROUND

Transplantation of kidneys with vascular anatomical variants remains a challenge. Due to its varying success in regard to graft function after transplantation, these organs have been frequently discarded assuming in advance an unaffordable rate of vascular complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed three kidney transplants using organs from deceased donors harboring vascular variants (multiple arteries and short veins), including an unsplittable horseshoe kidney. Different grafts harvested from the same donor aorta, common iliac artery, and inferior vena cava, were used to reconstruct the initial vascular configuration by creating single arterial and venous conduits aimed to simplify the vascular anastomoses in the recipient.

RESULTS

No post-operative complications were recorded. Warm ischemia times remained comparable to single artery renal allografts. No delayed graft function was noted in any case, and every patient regained normal renal function after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular reconstruction using arterial and venous grafts harvested from the same deceased donor may result a helpful tool to simplify vascular anastomoses during transplantation surgery, thus avoiding their discard in advance, minimizing perioperative complications, and enabling normal graft function rates in the long-term follow-up. The successful outcome obtained by using this approach would help to expand the donor criteria for the inclusion of organs containing vascular anatomical variants.

SpaceOAR© hydrogel rectal dose reduction prediction model: a decision support tool

Prostate cancer external beam radiation therapy can result in toxicity due to organ at risk (OAR) dose, potentially impairing quality of life. A polyethylene glycol-based spacer, SpaceOAR© hydrogel (SOH), implanted between prostate gland and rectum may significantly reduce dose received by the rectum and hence risk of rectal toxicity. SOH implant is not equally effective in all patients. Determining patients in which the implant will offer most benefit, in terms of rectal dose reduction, allows for effective management of SOH resources. Several factors have been shown to be correlated with reduction in rectal dose including distance between rectum and planning treatment volume (PTV), volume of rectum in the PTV, and change in rectum volume pre- to post-SOH. Several of these factors along with other pre-SOH CT metrics were able to predict reduction in rectal dose associated with SOH implant. Rectal V55Gy metric, was selected as the dose level of interest in the context of 60 Gy in 20 fraction treatment plans. Models were produced to predict change in RV55Gy and pre-SOH hydrogel RV55Gy. These models offered R-squared between 0.81 and 0.88 with statistical significance in each model. Applying an ω 1  = 3% lower limit of pre-SOH RV55 Gy and an ω 2  = 3.5% lower limit on change in RV55 Gy, retained 60% of patients experiencing the largest rectal dose reduction from the hydrogel. This may offer a clinically useful tool in deciding which patients should receive SOH implant given limited resources. Predictive models, nomograms, and a workflow diagram were produced for clinical management of SOH implant.

Maximizing rectal dose sparing with hydrogel: A retrospective planning study

External beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer can result in urinary, sexual, and rectal side effects, often impairing quality of life. A polyethylene glycol‐based product, SpaceOAR© hydrogel (SOH), implanted into the connective tissue between the prostate gland and rectum can significantly reduce the dose received by the rectum and hence risk of rectal toxicity. The optimal way to manage the hydrogel and rectal structures for plan optimization is therefore of interest. In 13 patients, computerized tomography (CT) scans were taken pre‐ and post‐SpaceOAR© implant. A prescription of 60 Gy in 20 fractions was planned on both scans. Six treatment plans were produced per anonymized dataset using either a structure of rectum plus the hydrogel, termed composite rectum wall (CRW), or rectal wall (RW) as an inverse optimization structure and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) as a treatment technique. Dose‐volume histogram metrics were compared between plans to determine which optimization structure and treatment technique offered the maximum rectal dose sparing. RW structures offered a statistically significant decrease in rectal dose over CRW structures, whereas the treatment technique (IMRT vs VMAT) did not significantly affect the rectal dose. There was improvement seen in bladder and penile bulb dose when VMAT was used as a treatment technique. Overall, treatment plans using the RW optimization structure offered the lowest rectal dose while VMAT treatment technique offered the lowest bladder and penile bulb dose.

Abstract OT3-05-04: Phase II study of atezolizumab, cobimetinib, and eribulin in patients with recurrent or metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

Background: IBCs that do not completely respond to chemotherapy often have dysregulated immune pathways, and novel therapies are needed to improve outcomes in recurrent/metastatic disease. One-third of IBCs express the atezolizumab target PD-L1, and cobimetinib increases PD-L1 expression; thus, we hypothesize that atezolizumab and cobimetinib may act synergistically in IBC. The FDA-approved agent eribulin is active in IBC and has anti-stem cell activity and can reverse the IBC phenotype of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Hence the use of eribulin as a chemotherapy backbone in combination with other novel agents is well justified.

Trial Design: This single-arm, open-label trial is enrolling patients with recurrent IBC or de novo metastatic IBC that has progressed on at least 1 line of standard chemotherapy. During a 4-week pharmacodynamic window, patients have an upfront biopsy, receive atezolizumab and cobimetinib treatment for 4 weeks, and have a second biopsy. Triple-combination treatment then commences, with standard eribulin dosing. After 4 cycles of eribulin, patients receive maintenance targeted therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

Eligibility Criteria: Patients with metastatic IBC of any molecular subtype must have measurable disease (per RECIST 1.1) amenable to biopsy. Patients with HER2+ disease must have received both pertuzumab and T-DM1. Patients with treated stable brain metastases are allowed. Patients must have recovered from the acute effects of any prior therapies and have adequate hematologic, organ, and cardiac function. Patients with autoimmune diseases or a history of pneumonitis are ineligible.

Specific Aims: The primary objective is to determine the overall response rate (ORR) of the combination therapy. Secondary objectives include determining the safety and tolerability, clinical benefit rate, response duration, progression-free survival, 2-year overall survival rate and predictive biomarker analyses.

Statistical Methods: The trial will enroll up to 9 patients in its phase I/safety lead-in portion and up to 33 patients total. A Bayesian optimal interval design is used to efficiently determine the maximum tolerated cobimetinib dose in phase I. Patients start cobimetinib at the FDA-approved dose of 60 mg/day with a target toxicity rate is 0.3. Phase II will enroll 24 patients to determine the efficacy of the triple-combination therapy. The historical ORR in metastatic IBC is 10%; our sample size provides 80% power to detect an ORR improvement to 25%.

Accrual: The trial has enrolled 7 patients since its start in August 2017.

Citation Format: Alexander A, Marx AN, Reddy SM, Reuben JM, Le-Petross HC, Lane D, Huang ML, Krishnamurthy S, Gong Y, Gombos DS, Patel N, Tung CI, Allen RC, Kandl TJ, Wu J, Liu S, Patel AB, Futreal A, Wistuba I, Layman RM, Valero V, Tripathy D, Ueno NT, Lim B. Phase II study of atezolizumab, cobimetinib, and eribulin in patients with recurrent or metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-05-04.

Subventricular Zone Radiation Dose and Outcome for Glioblastoma Treated Between 2006 and 2012

Objective Stem cells residing in the subventricular zone (SVZ) may be related to recurrence, potentially affecting outcome in glioblastoma (GBM). This study investigated the relationship of SVZ radiation dose and survival in a large cohort treated with surgery and chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods Patients with GBM treated between 2006 and 2012 (n = 370) were identified. SVZs were contoured from planning computed tomography (CT) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) registration where available. Dose was extracted from dose volume histograms. Kaplan-Meier (KM) progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates were compared with log-rank tests for SVZ doses. Multivariate analysis (MVA) identified clinical and treatment-related factors significantly associated with outcome. Results Median follow-up was 16.4 months, 48.1% underwent gross total resection (GTR), 37.5% subtotal resection, and 14.4% biopsy without resection. Median PFS was 8.9 months (95% CI: 8.3-9.8 months), and OS was 16.5 months (95% CI: 15.2-17.6 months). PFS was significantly lower for older age (>50 years, P = 0.045), poor Karnofsky performance status (KPS, P = 0.049), multifocality (P < 0.001), and incomplete adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Worse OS was associated with poor KPS (P = 0.001), biopsy only (P = 0.003), multifocality (P = 0.009), and failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001). SVZ dose was not associated with outcome for any of the dose levels assessed. On MVA, multifocality was associated with worse PFS (P < 0.01). Poor performance status and biopsy only were associated with worse OS (both P < 0.01). Conclusion In this analysis of a large cohort of GBM treated with surgery and CRT, increased SVZ dose was not associated with improved survival.

Secondary mucinous carcinoma of the prostate after low dose rate brachytherapy

Radiation induced malignancy (RIM) after treatment for prostate cancer is well documented after external beam irradiation, but less so in the setting of brachytherapy. We report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate, consistent with a RIM, which developed 12 years after low dose rate brachytherapy for low risk prostate adenocarcinoma. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations of RIM are discussed. As long term survivors are followed in the community by primary care physicians and urologists, awareness of RIM as a potential late effect of brachytherapy is important to ensure that cases are diagnosed and managed appropriately.

Abstract OT1-02-05: A single arm phase II study of adjuvant anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab) in combination with hormonal therapy in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive localized inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) who did not achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background: The pCR rate to conventional chemotherapy in hormone receptor positive IBC has historically been low (7.4% for HR+ HER2-, and 30% for HR+ HER2+), and despite the use of adjuvant endocrine therapy, the recurrence rate is still as high as 40%. To date, no targeted agent is proven to improve the efficacy of adjuvant endocrine therapy within the IBC population to improve this poor disease free survival (DFS). One plausible reason for the poor efficacy of endocrine therapy is a suppressed immune system, which allows tumor cells to avoid detection despite expression of potential immunogenic surface antigens.

Trial Design: This is a single arm trial that will enroll stage III HR+ IBC patients who have completed neoadjuvant therapy but had residual disease at mastectomy. Enrollment should be before or within 2 months of beginning endocrine therapy. Monitoring of DFS will be done with radiological imaging every 3 cycles (starting at cycle 4) as clinically indicated, per standard of care. Pembrolizumab is given on day 1 of each 21 day cycle for up to 2 years if the disease is controlled, and hormonal therapy will be administered per standard of care.

Eligibility Criteria: Clinical stage 3 IBC ER+/PR+ and HER2 negative patients who completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with evidence of residual cancer in the breast or lymph nodes, but be clinically disease-free with good performance status at the start of study. Patients also must have adequate hematologic and organ function, and have recovered from the acute effects from prior treatments.

Specific Aims: The primary objective is to determine the disease free survival (DFS) at 2 years of patients with adjuvant therapy using Pembrolizumab in combination with standard adjuvant hormonal therapy. The secondary objective is to determine the safety and toxicity profile of this combination.

Statistical Methods: With a sample size of 37 patients, assuming that 80% are alive (20% increase from historical data) and disease-free at 2 years, and all patients are followed for &gt;2 years after enrollment with no dropout, a 95% confidence interval around the 2-year estimate of DFS will be generated. DFS will then be compared with the historical control rate of 60% by year 2 using a one-sided exponential MLE test.

Accrual: To date we have enrolled 3 patients since activation in January 2017, and the target enrollment is 37 patients.

Contact information: For more information or to refer a patient, please contact study coordinator, Angela Alexander - aalexand@mdanderson.org

Citation Format: Alexander A, Willey J, Sun H, Parker CA, Marx AN, Wood AL, Reddy SM, Reuben JM, Bassett RL, Le-Petross HT, Krishnamurthy S, Gong Y, Woodward WA, Valero V, Ueno NT, Lim B. A single arm phase II study of adjuvant anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab) in combination with hormonal therapy in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive localized inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) who did not achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-02-05.

Abstract P4-10-12: Treatment decision making, and strategies for coping with financial stress in Indian women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families

Introduction: In spite of rapid urbanization and modernization the family remains central in the socio-cultural structure of India. The individuals are enmeshed into this unit and tend to be interlinked financially, emotionally and socially. The head of this family unit tends to be a male more often than not. As is well known, despite recent attempts by the governments at the state and centre at providing health coverage for cancer through regional cancer centres, a majority have to raise the money for cancer care by themselves. We have examined the role of the family in treatment decision making and in the strategies employed to raise the money and cope with the financial stress imposed by a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Method: 378 women with breast cancer were enrolled into a longitudinal study at first diagnosis between the years 2008-2012, at two tertiary care hospitals in Bangalore, India. The median follow up as of May 31st 2017 is 78 months with only 2% loss to follow-up over the past 8 years. Follow-up was maintained by frequent meetings between a counselling psychologist (AA) and the patient and/or a family member. The frequency of meetings was monthly during the initial treatment and then quarterly over the next 5 years. Information on demographics was collected during the treatment phase and information on the psychosocial aspects was collected in non-structured interactions subsequently. This information included details of support structure, decision making, and financial arrangements.

Results: This is a predominantly urban cohort with 80% being urban. The median age of patients at first diagnosis was 55 years. Almost all of our patients (99%) had the support of one or more family members. We analysed the pattern of decision making for treatment and in half of all cases either the husband or the son were the decision makers. In an additional 15% daughters and other relatives were the primary decision makers. Approximately a third of women made the decision concerning treatment themselves, and these women tended to be college educated (51% vs 16%) and employed (53% vs 12%).

30% of the patients met the costs incurred through medical insurance plans purchased by the family. Another quarter of patients were able to meet the costs from their savings. 45% had difficulty in finding the money for treatment and 15% took personal loans while 30% had to sell land/gold ornaments or take loans against assets of these sorts. Only (3%) discontinued the treatment due to financial difficulties. As in the case of decision making those who had the financial resources tended to be more educated (41% vs 11%), and were employed (31% vs 21%).

Conclusion: The data from a predominantly urban cohort of breast cancer enrolled between 2008-2012, supports the general belief that in India the family remains the fulcrum of an individual during crises, and not surprisingly education and employment lead to both psychological and economic emancipation of women.

Citation Format: Alexander A, Kaluve R, Prabhu JS, Korlimarla A, BS S, Manjunath S, Patil S, KS G, Sridhar TS. Treatment decision making, and strategies for coping with financial stress in Indian women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-12.

Comparison of Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent fMRI and Provocative DSC Perfusion MR Imaging for Monitoring Cerebrovascular Reserve in Intracranial Chronic Cerebrovascular Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Loss of hemodynamic reserve in intracranial cerebrovascular disease reduces blood oxygenation level-dependent activation by fMRI and increases asymmetry in MTT measured by provocative DSC perfusion MR imaging before and after vasodilation with intravenous acetazolamide. The concordance for detecting hemodynamic reserve integrity has been compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (n = 40) with intracranial cerebrovascular disease and technically adequate DSA, fMRI and provocative DSC perfusion studies were retrospectively grouped into single vessels proximal to and distal from the circle of Willis, multiple vessels, and Moyamoya disease. The vascular territories were classified as having compromised hemodynamic reserve if the expected fMRI blood oxygenation level-dependent activation was absent or if MTT showed increased asymmetry following vasodilation. Concordance was examined in compromised and uncompromised vascular territories of each group with the Fischer exact test and proportions of agreement.

RESULTS

Extensive leptomeningeal collateral circulation was present in all cases. Decreased concordance between the methods was found in vascular territories with stenosis distal to but not proximal to the circle of Willis. Multivessel and Moyamoya diseases also showed low concordance. A model of multiple temporally displaced arterial inputs from leptomeningeal collateral flow demonstrated that the resultant lengthening MTT mimicked compromised hemodynamic reserve despite being sufficient to support blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased concordance between the 2 methods for assessment of hemodynamic reserve for vascular disease distal to the circle of Willis is posited to be due to well-developed leptomeningeal collateral circulation providing multiple temporally displaced arterial input functions that bias the perfusion analysis toward hemodynamic reserve compromise while blood oxygenation level-dependent activation remains detectable.

A population-based study of the use of radium 223 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Factors associated with treatment completion

INTRODUCTION

Radium 223 (Ra223) given for six cycles has proven efficacy in clinical trials, but its population-level generalizability has not been well-described. The objectives of this study were to describe population-based Ra223 use in the abiraterone and enzalutamide era and identify factors associated with completion.

METHODS

All Ra223 patients at the British Columbia Cancer Agency between September 2013 and February 2016 were identified. Patients who completed <5 vs. ≥5 cycles were compared on patient characteristics, lines of prior therapy, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decline >30% from baseline (R30%), and survival, to identify factors associated with therapy completion.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients were identified; 48 (52.7%) completed >5 cycles. Median overall survival (mOS) was 10.7 months, PSA and ALP R30% were 21% and 52%, respectively. Completion of <5 cycles was associated with higher baseline ALP (p=0.05) and lower baseline hemoglobin (Hb) levels (p=0.03). Patients in the ≥5 cycles group had longer mOS than those in the <5 cycles group (16.2 vs. 5.9 months; p<0.0001), as well as higher PSA R30% (33.3% vs. 7.0%; p=0.002) and ALP R30% (66.7% vs. 34.9%; p=0.03). Patients with ALP ≥220 and Hb ≤118 had 3.85 times the odds of not completing ≥5 cycles vs. ALP <220 and Hb >118.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to clinical trials, patients in a population-based setting had more lines of therapy and shorter survival. Lower ALP and higher hemoglobin were associated with completion of >5 cycles, longer mOS, and greater incidence of PSA and ALP response.