Abstract 5708: Associations between soluble immune checkpoint molecules and overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with either anti-PD-1/-L1 monoclonal antibodies or single-agent chemotherapy

Background: While several of the KEYNOTE trials showed that NSCLC patients whose tumors expressed high levels of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) were more likely to have superior survival with pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy, other trials failed to confirm the predictive value of PD-L1 tissue expression. And with response rates for PD-1/-L1 directed immunotherapy approximating 20%, development of improved molecular diagnostics to accurately identify patients likely to have long-term disease control is needed. The goal of the current study is to evaluate potential relationships between a panel of soluble immune checkpoint molecules and disease control in NSCLC patients treated with PD-1/-L1 monoclonal antibodies. Method: Pretreatment sera from 128 cases of advanced NSCLC that failed frontline chemotherapy were evaluated for 16 soluble checkpoint molecules and immune regulators using the Human Immuno-Oncology Checkpoint Protein Panel (MilliporeSigma). This panel consists of the following targets: BTLA, CD27, CD28, TIM-3, HVEM, CD40, GITR, GITRL, LAG-3, TLR-2, PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, CD80/B7-1, CD86/B7-2, and ICOS. All patients tested received either PD-1/-L1 targeting checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, atelizumab, or pembrolizumab; n=79) or single-agent chemotherapy (n=49). All kits were processed according to manufacturer-defined protocols and read using a Luminex® FLEXMAP 3D®. Finally, statistical relationships were determined using the Log-Rank test in relation to overall survival, defined as the interval from diagnosis to last follow up or death. Results: Pretreatment sera from 128 cases of NSCLC were evaluated for 16 soluble checkpoint molecules and immune regulators using the Luminex immunobead platform. In analysis of the cohort, lower levels of CD80/B7-1 were found to have significant association (p=0.0372) with superior overall survival. Patients who received PD-1/L1-directed immunotherapy, however, demonstrated low circulating levels of the T-cell associated molecules CD28 and CD80/B7-1, which were associated with superior overall survival (p=0.0178 and 0.036, respectively), whereas low circulating levels of the tumor-associated molecules LAG-3 and CD86/B7-2 were associated with an inferior overall survival (p=0.009 and 0.0278, respectively). There were no significant associations (all p>0.05) identified in the cohort that received chemotherapy alone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that soluble immune-checkpoint molecules may identify advanced NSCLC patients most likely to benefit from anti-PD-1/-L1 immunotherapy. Prospective study of these biomarkers is planned to determine if they have predictive value for anti-PD-1/-L1 therapy and to explore implications for developing combination immunotherapy regimens.

Citation Format: Imad A. Tarhoni, Ibtihaj Fughhi, David Gerard, Sanjib Basu, Cristina Fhied, Wen-rong Lie, Donna Russell, Marta Batus, Nisha Thakar, Philip Bonomi, Mary Fidler, Jeffrey Borgia. Associations between soluble immune checkpoint molecules and overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with either anti-PD-1/-L1 monoclonal antibodies or single-agent chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5708.

Abstract 611: Association Between Thoracic Irradiation and Increased Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium

Introduction: Thoracic irradiation (TIR) is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary death. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is the result of coronary plaque accumulation and has been shown to predict CAD and overall cardiovascular mortality. We hypothesized that TIR in lung cancer patients receiving radiotherapy would be associated with CAC progression.

Methods: We evaluated CAC progression (pre- and post-TIR) from chest CT scans of lung cancer patients identified from a cancer registry at an urban academic medical center. A 2:1 matched control population was established controlling for age, gender, race, and CT scan interval. Vessel-specific CAC progression and extension in pre- and post-interval CT studies was evaluated by 2 independent reviewers using existing standard methodologies. Whole heart and the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery were retrospectively segmented on the CT study used for treatment planning. The volume of each structure and associated dose metrics were obtained using the standard tools available in the Pinnacle Treatment Planning software. Chi squared tests were used to compare vessel-specific CAC progression (increase in CAC volume) and extension (CAC lengthening within a vessel) between groups. Pearson correlation analysis explored associations between radiation volume and CAC progression.

Results: We included 35 patients and 65 controls (50% female). Mean and max whole heart TIR doses: 13.5 Gy (95% CI 10.3-16.7 Gy) and 52.1 Gy (95% CI 46.2 – 58.0 Gy); LAD: 21.4 Gy (95% CI 16.0 – 26.8 Gy) and 34.9 Gy (95% CI 28.7 – 41.1 Gy), respectively. CAC progression and extension in LAD and left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) were significantly greater in patients vs. controls ( p <0.03 for all). There was statistically significant correlation between LAD radiation volume and CAC progression in the left main coronary artery (LM) (r =0.33, p =0.05).

Conclusions: TIR is associated with CAC progression in the LAD and LCx. For LAD and LM, the CAC progression correlated with the irradiated volume of these structures although neither a dose nor a volume threshold could be established. Future studies examining the utility of CAC screening for radiation-induced CAD and cardiovascular mortality are required.

The serum-based VeriStrat® test is associated with proinflammatory reactants and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background

The VeriStrat test is a serum proteomic signature originally discovered in non-responders to second line gefitinib treatment and subsequently used to predict differential benefit from erlotinib versus chemotherapy in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multiple studies highlight the clinical utility of the VeriStrat test, however, the mechanistic connection between VeriStrat-poor classification and poor prognosis in untreated and previously treated patients is still an active area of research. The aim of this study was to correlate VeriStrat status with other circulating biomarkers in advanced NSCLC patients – each with respect to clinical outcomes.

Methods

Serum samples were prospectively collected from 57 patients receiving salvage chemotherapy and 70 non-EGFR mutated patients receiving erlotinib. Patients were classified as either VeriStrat good or poor based on the VeriStrat test. Luminex immunoassays were used to measure circulating levels of 102 distinct biomarkers implicated in tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance. A Cox PH model was used to evaluate associations between biomarker levels and clinical outcome, whereas the association of VeriStrat classifications with biomarker levels was assessed via the Mann-Whitney Rank Sum test.

Results

VeriStrat was prognostic for outcome within the erlotinib treated patients (HR = 0.29, p < 0.0001) and predictive of differential treatment benefit between erlotinib and chemotherapy ((interaction HR = 0.25; interaction p = 0.0035). A total of 27 biomarkers out of 102 unique analytes were found to be significantly associated with OS (Cox PH p ≤ 0.05), whereas 16 biomarkers were found to be associated with PFS. Thrombospondin-2, C-reactive protein, TNF-receptor I, and placental growth factor were the analytes most highly associated with OS, all with Cox PH p-values ≤0.0001. VeriStrat status was found to be significantly associated with 23 circulating biomarkers (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum p ≤ 0.05), 6 of which had p < 0.001, including C-reactive protein, IL-6, serum amyloid A, CYFRA 21.1, IGF-II, osteopontin, and ferritin.

Conclusions

Strong associations were observed between survival and VeriStrat classifications as well as select circulating biomarkers associated with fibrosis, inflammation, and acute phase reactants as part of this study. The associations between these biomarkers and VeriStrat classification might have therapeutic implications for poor prognosis NSCLC patients, particularly with new immunotherapeutic treatment options.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4193-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as predictive of prolonged progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with second-line PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors

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Background: Baselinehigh neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with inferior overall survival in patients with stage III/IV NSCLC. Inflammation and neutrophilic infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment appear to inhibit anti-tumor immune response. We suspect that NLR might reflect the level of inflammation in tumor microenvironment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate potential relationships between pretreatment NLR and and PFS and OS in advanced NSCLC patients treated with second-line nivolumab or pembrolizumab. Methods: Patients with stage IV NSCLC who received at least one cycle of nivolumab or pembrolizumab after first-line treatment with a platinum doublet between January 2015 and December 2016 were included. Patient demographics including NLR at baseline, date of starting immunotherapy, and date of progression were recorded. The association between NLR and duration of response was assessed using a Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. A cutoff of NLR of 3.5 and 5.0 based on published data (ref) were analyzed for differences in median overall survival and progression free survival. Results: 113 patients were analyzed: median age 68, male/female 38.9%/61.1%, 15% never smoked. The median PFS for patients with NLR < 5 was 4.14 months vs. 2.27 months in those with NLR > 5 (p = 0.031). Overall survival was also impacted by NLR. There were a total of 29 deaths in the cohort, 24 of these occurred in patients with NLR > 3.5 and 5 were in patients with NLR < 3.5. A lower NLR at baseline was significantly associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.036). Conclusions: A low baseline NLR is associated with superior progression free survival and overall survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab. These findings suggest that evaluating mediators of inflammation might help to identify potential therapeutic targets which could enhance effectiveness of PD-1 immune check point inhibitors in advanced NSCLC.

Circulating biomarkers and outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with anti-PD1 (program death 1 receptor) monoclonal antibodies

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Background: Current evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of PDL-1 (program death receptor 1 ligand) can select some non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who may benefit from anti-PD1 directed therapy. It is an imperfect marker and there is little information about systemic modulation of the immune system on therapy. In this study we explored the prognostic value of baseline circulating immune checkpoint and inflammatory molecules in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving anti-PD1 therapy. Methods: Prospectively collected serum from advanced NSCLC patients receiving nivolumab or pembrolizumab were evaluated with the MILLIPLEX Human High Sensitivity T-cell (17-plex) and ProcartaPlex Human Immuno-Oncology Checkpoint (14-plex) panels on our Luminex FlexMAP 3D. Biomarker level cutoffs were optimized and evaluated against progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using log-rank analysis. Results: 21 cases were enrolled in this pilot study: 72% Caucasian, 61% female, 24% never-smokers. IL-10 was found to have a significant association with both PFS (p = 0.0055) and OS (p = 0.024), with levels below 3.32 pg/mL being associated with a superior clinical outcome. We also found IL-2 and IL-6 to have significant associations with PFS (p = 0.033 and 0.040, respectively), again, with low levels being associated with a superior outcome. Neither of these had significant associations with OS. Low circulating levels of the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) protein were associated with superior PFS (p = 0.036), and a weak trend (p = 0.19) for OS. Conclusions: In this small exploratory pilot study we identified several circulating molecules associated with inflammation and immune system regulation that may have prognostic value for anti-PD-1 therapy. Notably, TIM-3 is a Th1-specific protein associated with macrophage activation and is also a component of T-cell exhaustion along with LAG3 and PD-1. Additional studies to follow up on these findings in larger cohorts are underway.

Association of KRAS mutations detected via liquid biopsy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with high levels of FDG-PET SUV

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Background: We had previously evaluated the relationship between FDG-PET SUV with TP53 and KRAS mutations in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) in which genomic profiling had been performed. Considering FDG-PET SUV as a surrogate of glycolysis, we found TP53 and KRAS mutations were associated with increased glycolytic activity. The aim for this study was to evaluate KRAS and TP53 in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in relation to FDG-PET SUV in a different cohort of NSCLCs in which genomic profiling was performed on peripheral blood. Methods: All stage IV NSCLC patients with genomic analysis from ctDNA and baseline FDG-PET scans between December 2014 and November 2016 were included. Associations between KRAS and TP53 mutations and maximal standard uptake value (SUVmax) were assessed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test. A subset analysis studying all KRAS positive patients from FFPE and ctDNA was performed based on the specific KRAS mutation. Results:122 patients had FDG-PET scans and genomic analyses of their circulating tumor cells. 62 (51%) patients had a TP53 mutation, 20 (17%) patients had a KRAS mutation, and 13 (11%) patients had both TP53 and KRAS mutations. Patients with a KRAS mutation had a higher SUVmax with a mean of 12.32 (p = 0.019). The presence of TP53 alone or concurrent TP53/KRAS was not significantly related to SUVmax. Analyzing 48 patients with KRAS mutation from FFPE and ctDNA assay, 16 patients had mutations of G12C and 9 patients had G12V. The presence of the G12C mutation was particularly highly correlated with higher SUVmax with a mean of 17.68 (p = 0.0006). Conclusions: In analyzing ctDNA, a larger cohort, mutations in KRAS had the strongest correlation with increased SUVmax. Targeting glycolysis and cellular metabolism could be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with KRAS mutations. Although individual numbers are small, KRAS subtype analysis showed the presence of the G12C mutation might have the strongest relationship with SUV max and increased glycolysis.

Differential expression of circulating biomarkers of tumor phenotype and outcomes in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving erlotinib vs. cytotoxic chemotherapy

Background

The objective of this study was to identify serum biomarkers capable of predicting clinical outcomes in previously-treated NSCLC patients with wild-type for EGFR activating mutations or insufficient tissue for mutation status determination.

Methods

Sixty-six Luminex immunoassays representative of biological themes that emerged from a re-analysis of transcriptome data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were evaluate against pretreatment serum specimens from previously-treated advanced NSCLC patients received either cytotoxic chemotherapy (n=32) or erlotinib (n=79). Known EGFR mutation positive cases were excluded from analysis. Associations of biomarkers with outcome parameters and their differential interaction with treatment for survival outcomes were assessed using multivariate Cox PH analyses.

Results

Our EMT-based transcriptomic analysis revealed a range of biological processes associated with angiogenesis, apoptosis, cachexia, inflammation, and metabolism emerging as those most highly associated with patient outcome. These processes were evaluated via surrogate serum biomarkers. A treatment-biomarker interaction analysis revealed that higher pretreatment levels of c-Met signaling biomarkers (i.e. HGF levels), pro-inflammatory/ pro-cachexia (e.g. IL-8, sIL-2Rα, FGF-2) processes and a pro-angiogenic (e.g. TGF-α, IL-8, VEGF) milieu were associated with inferior survival (HR=0.35, 0.29, 0.58, 0.50, 0.61, 0.45, respectively; all p<0.05) for patients receiving chemotherapy, relative to erlotinib. In contrast, high levels of decoy receptor for IL-1, sIL-1RII, and a high tissue vimentin/E-cadherin ratio were associated with a poor OS (HR=3.78; p=0.00055) in the erlotinib cohort.

Conclusions

Contemporary precision medicine initiatives that pair patient tumor characteristics with the optimal therapy type may maximize the use of agents targeting EGFR in the treatment of NSCLC.

Docetaxel, bevacizumab, and gemcitabine for very high risk sarcomas in adolescents and young adults: A single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with very high risk sarcomas have poor outcomes and are in need of novel therapies.

PROCEDURE

From January 2005 to February 2016, we retrospectively identified all AYA patients with relapsed or metastatic high-grade sarcomas, who were treated with at least one cycle of docetaxel (T), bevacizumab (A), and gemcitabine (G) (TAG ; T = 100 mg/m² Day 8, A = 15 mg/kg Day 1, G = 1,000 mg/m² Days 1 and 8).

RESULTS

Fourteen patients, median age of 20 (15-30), received a total of 80 cycles of TAG, and were followed for a median of 83 months. Diagnosis included osteosarcoma (OST; 8), Ewing sarcoma (3), and soft tissue sarcoma (3). Five of 14 patients achieved clinical remission (CR), 3 had partial responses (PR), 3 had stable disease (SD), and 3 had progressive disease (PD). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 7 and 19 months, respectively. The objective response rate (CR + PR) and tumor control rate (CR + PR + SD) were 57% and 79%, respectively, with two patients alive after 5 years; toxicities included thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and capillary leak syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study builds on previous studies utilizing TAG in adult leiomyosarcoma (LMS) by focusing on AYA, non-LMS sarcomas, especially OST. Our experience suggests that TAG is well tolerated and has activity in very high risk sarcomas in AYA.

Relationships between longitudinal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, body weight changes, and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

There is emerging evidence showing a significant relationship between overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC patients and weight change during chemotherapy or chemoradiation. A high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at baseline and at follow-up is associated with shorter survival in cancer patients and may be a surrogate for ongoing inflammation, implicated in cancer cachexia and tumor progression. The objective of this study is to explore potential relationships between OS, serial weights, and serial NLRs in advanced NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods

One hundred thirty-nine patients with chemotherapy-naïve NSCLC, predominantly with stage III/IV disease, were treated with first-line platinum doublets from June, 2011 to August, 2012. NLR, tumor response, and body weight were recorded at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks from initiation of therapy and correlated with OS. The association between NLR and OS was assessed using Cox PH (proportional hazards) analysis, the association between NLR and weight change was assessed using a simple regression analysis, and the association between NLR and tumor response was assessed using the Fisher’s exact test.

Results

One hundred thirty-nine patients with median age 68, PS 0-1/2 = 83/17%, male/female = 58%/42%. Median NLR at baseline was 3.6 (range 0.1898 to 30.910), at 6 weeks 3.11 (range 0.2703 to 42.11), and at 12 weeks 3.52 (range 0.2147 to 42.93). A Higher NLR at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks was associated with decreased OS (baseline: HR 1.06, p < 0.001; 6 weeks: HR 1.07, p = 0.001; 12 weeks: HR 1.05, p < 0.001), and longitudinal NLR, as a time-dependent covariate, was also associated with decreased OS (HR = 1.06, p < 0.001). Baseline weight and NLR were inversely related (cor = −0.267, p = 0.001), and weight change and NLR were inversely related at 12 weeks (cor = −0.371, p < 0.001). Longitudinal measurements of weight and NLR were also negatively associated (slope = −0.06, p < 0.001). Using a cutoff of NLR > 5, there was a significant association between progressive disease and NLR > 5 at 6 weeks (p = 0.02) and 12 weeks (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

High baseline and progressive increases in NLRs are associated with progressive disease, inferior OS and weight loss in NSCLC patients. In addition to having prognostic significance, these observations suggest that studying molecular mediators of cachexia/inflammation and their relationships to tumor progression may identify new therapeutic targets in the large subset of NSCLC patients who have cancer cachexia.

Treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a review

Lung cancer remains the single deadliest cancer both in the US and worldwide. The great majority of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is attributed to cigarette smoking, which fortunately is declining alongside cancer incidence. While we have been at a therapeutic plateau for advanced squamous cell lung cancer patients for several decades, recent observations suggest that we are on the verge of seeing incremental survival improvements for this relatively large group of patients. Current studies have confirmed an expanding role for immunotherapy [including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibition], a potential opportunity for VEGFR inhibition, and even future targets in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and PI3K-AKT that collectively should improve survival as well as quality of life for those affected by squamous cell lung cancer over the next decade.

Survival Prediction in Ambulatory Patients With Stage III/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using the Palliative Performance Scale, ECOG, and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale

OBJECTIVES

Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. Therefore, it is important to maximize their quality of life and find a tool that can more accurately predict survival.

MATERIALS

The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is used to predict survival for patients with advanced disease based on functional dimensions. The value of the PPS in ambulatory patients with cancer has not been examined to date. The Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) measures six major symptoms and their effect on symptomatic distress and activity. We evaluated 62 patients with stage III or IV NSCLC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Scale Score ≥1 at baseline in a thoracic oncology clinic. In all, 62 patients had LCSS and PPS evaluated at baseline and 54 patients had 4-week follow-up using LCSS, PPS, and ECOG.

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients completed baseline and follow-up. Mean age was 63.7 years. Sixty-three percent were receiving chemotherapy at evaluation. Seventeen patients died. Mean baseline measures were LCSS 6.18 (1-14); PPS 66.6 (40-90); and ECOG 1.82 (1-4). Censored survival times were calculated from enrollment of the first patient for 380 days. A proportional hazardous model was computed for survival status. Hazard ratios for death were 1.25 (P = .013) for LCSS, 2.12 (P = .027) for ECOG, and 1.02 for PPS (P = .49).

CONCLUSIONS

The LCSS predicted prognosis best in this study. The PPS did not accurately predict prognosis in our patient population.

Patterns of locoregional failure in stage III non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation therapy

PURPOSE

Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is the core treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but potential toxicities limit radiation therapy dose. These toxicities, plus the advent of increasingly conformal radiation therapy, have prioritized target definition and the use of involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT). Published data largely focus on regional rather than local failure patterns. We report our pattern-of-failure experience treating patients with LA-NSCLC with definitive CRT, focusing on both local and regional recurrences with detailed dosimetric analyses of failure location.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients treated between December 2004-2010 were included. Imaging scans from date of failure were fused with the RT-planning CT scan, and recurrent nodes were contoured to determine if the recurrence was in a previously irradiated region, defined as involved nodal recurrence (INR) versus elective nodal recurrence (ENR). Local failures were contoured and identified as in-field, marginal, or out-of-field based on dose received. Actuarial overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated, and the cumulative incidences of local, regional, locoregional, and distant recurrence (CILR, CIRR, CILRR, CIDR) were determined with death as a competing risk.

RESULTS

One hundred five patients were included with a median survival of 21.8 months. The 3-year OS and PFS were 36% and 22%, respectively. The 3 year CILRR, CILR, CIRR, CIDR were 41%, 38%, 40%, and 58%, respectively. Thirty patients failed regionally, but only 7 patients developed an ENR with no concurrent local failure or INR, and only 1 of these patients did not develop distant metastases within 1 month of recurrence. A total of 21 patients (20%) developed an ENR with or without other areas of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Elective regional recurrences rarely occurred as the sole site of failure, despite the use of IFRT. Moreover, the pattern of local failure was entirely in-field. These data strongly support field design focusing on gross nodal and primary disease.

Optimal management of metastatic melanoma: current strategies and future directions

Melanoma is increasing in incidence and remains a major public health threat. Although the disease may be curable when identified early, advanced melanoma is characterized by widespread metastatic disease and a median survival of less than 10 months. In recent years, however, major advances in our understanding of the molecular nature of melanoma and the interaction of melanoma cells with the immune system have resulted in several new therapeutic strategies that are showing significant clinical benefit. Current therapeutic approaches include surgical resection of metastatic disease, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Dacarbazine, interleukin-2, ipilimumab, and vemurafenib are now approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. In addition, new combination chemotherapy regimens, monoclonal antibodies blocking the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 pathway, and targeted therapy against CKIT, mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), and other putative signaling pathways in melanoma are beginning to show promise in early-phase clinical trials. Further research on these modalities alone and in combination will likely be the focus of future clinical investigation and may impact the outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma.

Epithelial to mesenchymal markers and clinical outcomes on erlotinib in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients

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Background: An epithelial phenotype in NSCLC is associated with improved sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). The best method to identify this subset is unknown (Richardson Anticancer Research 2012, Byers Clin Cancer Res 2012). This retrospective study correlates E-cadherin (Ecad) and vimentin (vim) immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression with outcomes in advanced NSCLC patients (pts) treated with erlotinib (E). Methods: Advanced NSCLC pts that received E were included if sufficient tumor was available from diagnosis. IHC scores for E-cad and vim were generated by multiplying frequency (0-4) by intensity (0-4). Log Rank was used to correlate IHC expression with progression free and overall survival (PFS, OS). Results were compared to a subset of pts with tissue from primary surgical NSCLC resection who later received E for recurrent disease. Results: 159 advanced NSCLC pts treated with E had tissue from diagnosis and IHC analysis. There was no correlation with PFS or OS on E and high/low vim or Ecad expression. Subtracting the IHC scores (vim minus ecad) created a difference score. A low difference score (n = 62) correlated with prolonged PFS (2.6 vs 1.9 months, p = .014 HR 1.52) compared with a high score, n = 97. Low difference score trended toward prolonged OS (p=.46) 33 of the patients had tissue available from primary surgical resection. The invasive front was examined for membranous E-cad and cytoplasmic vim (Allred score 0-8). Patients with low vim (< 4) and Ecad (>5), n= 19, trended toward prolonged PFS and OS on E compared with patients with high vim (>5) and low Ecad (<6), n=10 (4.2 vs 1.6 months and 15.5 vs 6.5 months, respectively, p=NS). Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, using unselected, frequently small tissue specimens, the expression of ecad or vim alone by IHC did not correlate with outcomes for E treated patients. A complicated difference score (vimentin score minus ecadherin score) did correlate with PFS on E. Examining EMT markers at the invasive edge of resected NSCLC tumors might more accurately assess EMT activity and its relationship to outcomes when these pts are recommended EGFR-TKIs.

Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and overall survival in wild type EGFR patients treated with erlotinib

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Background: TTF-1 is a transcription factor involved in regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition. TTF-1 has a favorable prognosis in early stage lung adenocarcinoma, although it’s prognostic value in erlotinib treated patients remains unknown (Somaiah ASCO 2011). The goal of this study was to validate the relationship between TTF-1 expression and clinical outcomes in wild-type (WT) stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (pts) treated with erlotinib. Methods: Pts that received erlotinib were retrospectively analyzed by IHC for TTF-1 expression (positive = greater than 5% of tumor cells with moderate (2+) or strong (3+) nuclear staining). Pts’ tumors were considered WT if no mutations were detected in Exon 19 or L858R (Exon 21) using single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Log Rank was used to correlate TTF-1 positivity with outcomes. Results: 216 pts were analyzed. EGFR activating gene mutations were found in 11.6% of cases. TTF-1 positivity was strongly correlated with the presence of an activating EGFR mutation (p=.0006, negative predictive value=97.7%). Of WT pts: median age was 65, 61% female, 15% never smokers. TTF-1 was positive in 8% of squamous cell and 71% of adenocarcinoma pts. In EGFR WT pts, the median progression free survival (PFS) in TTF-1 positive and negative pts was 2.1 vs. 1.6 months respectively, p=.255. TTF-1 strongly correlated with prolonged overall survival (OS) on erlotinib therapy in WT pts (6.2 vs. 3.2 months, log rank p=.004). After excluding for squamous cell histology, in TTF-1 positive EGFR WT pts there was still a highly significant correlation with prolonged OS on erlotinib (6.2 vs. 2.8 months, p=.001) and a trend toward prolonged PFS (2.2 vs. 1.4 months, p=.05). Conclusions: TTF-1 is related to the presence of exon 19 and 21 EGFR mutations in this group of NSCLC pts, and, similar to early stage lung cancer, TTF-1 appears to be at least a prognostic indicator for OS in stage IV WT EGFR NSCLC pts treated with erlotinib. Exploration of the potential predictive value of this readily available marker should be considered in pts with EGFR WT tumors treated with erlotinib.

Prognostic significance of weight gain during definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The successful treatment of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is still compromised by poor locoregional and distant control rates. Given the morbidity associated with treatment, it is critical to determine clinical prognostic factors to risk stratify patients before and after aggressive therapy. This study aimed to discern the prognostic value of weight gain during CRT in patients with locally advanced NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of 92 patients treated with definitive split-course CRT between 2004 and 2010 at Rush University Medical Center. Weight gain was defined as a weight change greater than the highest quartile of change between the start and finish of CRT (4.5 lb). Overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the cumulative incidences of locoregional and distant recurrence were calculated. Cox regression (multivariate analysis) was used to determine independent predictors of OS.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 50 months for surviving patients, the median, 3- and 5-year OS probabilities were 25 months, 37%, and 29%, respectively. The 3-year cumulative risks of locoregional and distant metastases were 51% and 64%. Patients who experienced weight gain were significantly more likely to survive (3-year OS, 55% vs. 31%; P = .04) and prolonged DMFS resulted. Weight gain was the only significant predictor of survival on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight gain during split-course CRT was associated with superior OS and DMFS. The presence of weight gain may have utility in risk stratification after CRT as well as in identifying novel treatment approaches for patients with locally advanced NSCLC.

Preoperative survivin, ERCC1, and PTEN expression in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (pts) treated with neoadjuvant and definitive chemoradiation and association with overall survival (OS)

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Background: Thoracic radiation and concurrent chemotherapy consisting of platinum based doublets has produced modest improvement in long term survival for patient with locally advanced (LA) NSCLC. There is relatively little information regarding molecular profiles and outcome in LA-NSCLC patients (pts) treated with chemoradiation. The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate potential relationships between expression of DNA repair enzyme ERCC1 and enzymes involved in cell survival – survivin and PTEN. Methods: Stage III NSCLC pts who were treated with chest radiation (40-60Gy) and concurrently with platinum doublet and who had sufficient pretreatment tissue were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect nuclear and cytoplasmic expression (frequency 0-4 and intensity 0-4) of survivin, and PTEN, and for nuclear expression of ERCC1. Product of intensity and frequency was calculated for all markers and correlated with overall survival (OS). Results: 97 pts had adequate tumor samples for analysis. 53 women, median age 67. 48 pts with ERCC1 prod <=6 had longer OS than 41 pts with ERCC1 prod >6 (19.6 vs 1.0 months, p=0.034). 16 pts with ERCC1 prod >6, PETN prod <=6 and survivin prod >4 had significantly lower OS than 68 pts with ERCC1<=6, PETN >6 and survivin <=4 (17.2 vs 40.2 months, p<0.001). Conclusions: The association of inferior survival in LA-NSCLC pts whose tumors express high survivin, low PTEN, and high ERCC1, suggests that combining inhibitors of survivin and or of PI3KCA with chemoradiation and developing strategies to inhibit DNA repair might improve outcomes in this group of pts.

EGFR gene mutation and epithelial to mensenchymal transition (EMT) markers in advanced NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib

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Background: TTF-1 is a transcription factor involved in regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Previous work in a clinically enriched non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) population suggested low probability of an EGFR activating gene mutation in the absence of TTF-1 positivity (Somaiah ASCO 2011). This study's goal was to validate the relationship of TTF-1 and other immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of EMT to the presence of an EGFR activating gene mutation in a diverse group of NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib. Methods: Patients receiving erlotinib at two midwest institutions were retrospectively analyzed by IHC for TTF-1 (Greater than 5% of tumor cells with moderate (2+) or strong (3+) nuclear staining considered positive) and for PTEN, Ecadherin,vimentin, beta catinin, and snail (frequency(0-4) times intensity(0-4)). Exon 19 and L858R mutations were detectedusing single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)).Fisher’s exact testand logistic regression wereused to correlate TTF-1(positive or negative) and the remaining EMT markers with the presence of EGFR mutation. Results: 216 patients were analyzed for EGFR activating gene mutations: 15% squamous, 80% smokers. EGFR mutation was found in 11.6% of cases. TTF-1 was present in 8% of squamous cell patients and 71% of adenocarcinoma patients. TTF-1 correlated with prolonged progression free survival (log rank p=.004). TTF-1 positivity was strongly correlated with the presence of mutation (p=.0006, negative predictive value=97.7%). Increasing Ecadherin and increasing PTEN expression by IHC correlated with the presence of EGFR gene mutation when measured on continuum (p=.006 and p=.04, respectively). Conclusions: Though retrospective, our work confirms the negative predictive value of TTF-1 for an EGFR activating gene mutation in a NSCLC cohort representative of a North American population.Though high PTEN and Ecadherin expression also correlated with EGFR mutation, TTF-1 positivity may be a more straight-forward marker that can select patients who should be screened for the mutation prior to initiation of first line therapy.

Utility of insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 expression in gefitinib-treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R) is a proposed mechanism of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Newer agents targeting this pathway make it of clinical interest. This study evaluates the IGF1R expression in regard to outcomes and molecular markers of EGFR activity in lung cancer patients treated with gefitinib.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gefitinib-treated patients with sufficient archived tissue were included. The IGF1R activity was measured by immunohistochemistry and the EGFR by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and gene mutation testing. Logistic regression and cox proportional hazards models were used.

RESULTS

A total of 83 patients were included in the study: 71% were positive for IGF1R expression which was not associated with EGFR parameters or clinical outcomes. Exploratory analyses showed counter-intuitive improved outcomes with co-expression of IGF1R and EGFR.

CONCLUSION

IGF1R expression measured by immunohistochemistry does not appear to be related to gefitinib resistance.

PTEN and PIK3CA gene copy numbers and poor outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer patients with gefitinib therapy

METHODS

Fluorescent in situ hybridisation analyses of PTEN, PIK3CA, EGFR and CEN7 were performed on tumour specimens from patients treated on the expanded access gefitinib trial. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were correlated with outcomes in all patients and EGFR wild-type patients.

RESULTS

Progression-free survival (hazard ratio=2.54, P<0.001) and OS (hazard ratio=4.04, P<0.001) were significantly shorter in patients whose tumours had all of the following molecular patterns: CEN7 <4 copies per cell, PTEN loss (<2 copies in at least 20% of cells), and PIK3CA gain (>2 copies in at least 40% of cells) both in all and EGFR wild-type only patients.

CONCLUSION

The combination of low CEN7 copy number, PTEN loss, and PI3KCA gain may be useful for identifying NSCLC patients unlikely to benefit from treatment with EGFR (TKIs), specifically in wild-type EGFR cases.

Abstract 339: Rational selection of biomarkers to help direct erlotinib treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Background: The objective of this study was to identify serum biomarkers capable of identifying which advanced NSCLC patients are likely to receive clinical benefit from erlotinib therapy regardless of EGFR mutational status. Although patients harboring tumors with specific EGFR activating mutations are more likely to respond to erlotinib treatment, randomized clinical trials have shown that 30-40%of patients with wild-type EGFRs may also receive clinical benefit in the form of stable disease. Our general approach uses bioinformatic algorithms on gene expression microarray data to predict which tumor-shed biomarkers to assay for in the circulation.

Methods and materials: Affymetrix U133A gene expression data (.CEL files) from Balko, et al. (BMC Cancer. 2009; 9: 145) were preprocessed in R using RMA and tested for differential expression using the Significance Analysis of Microarray (SAM) package. Pathway analysis was performed on the results based on KEGG and Gene ontogeny (GO) to define gene sets and tested for categorical significance by performing a Fisher Exact test. From these results, a selection of gene products either known or predicted to be secreted into circulation were combined with an assortment of previously investigated cancer biomarkers for further evaluation. Using pre-treatment serum from a total of 155 patients with advanced NSCLC we evaluated 43 biomarkers using the following MILLIPLEX®MAP immunoassay kits: Human Circulating Cancer Biomarker 24-plex, Human Soluble Cytokine Receptor 14-plex, and Human MMP panel 2 5-plex. Overall survival (OS) using the log rank test was the primary outcome for this study.

Result: Preliminary single biomarker statistical analysis revealed a total of 23 prognostic biomarkers correlated (1p&lt;0.01; 2 p&lt;0.001) with OS in advanced NSCLC patients receiving erlotinib (n=72). High concentration of Prolactin1, total PSA1, CA15-31, CA1251, HGF1, sTNFRI2, sTNFRII2, CYFRA 21-12, interleukin-62, and osteopontin2 correlated with lower OS; whereas sEGFR1, Leptin1, TRAIL1 were associated with higher OS. Although the full complement of data has not been processed, similar findings and trends were observed within the patient cohorts treated with platinum-based chemotherapy (n=83) suggesting that this biomarker panel may be primarily prognostic and not predictive for outcome with a specific therapy.

Conclusion: These serum biomarkers could be used to define a contingency-based algorithm that would ultimately be implemented alone or in tandem with a EGFR mutation analysis to provide a comprehensive means to both identify patients not likely to benefit from costly therapy and also allow patients to receive less toxic therapy earlier in their treatment course.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 339. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-339

Primary and secondary therapeutic strategies for EGF receptor pathway inhibition in non-small-cell lung cancer

As diagnostic and therapeutic options increase, strategies for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are becoming more tailored for specific patient subpopulations and individual patients. The introduction of therapy targeted against the EGF receptor (EGFR) pathway has provided new treatment options for select patients with NSCLC. However, more than half of unselected NSCLC patients will fail to achieve disease stabilization on an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), and secondary resistance is observed in virtually all patients who initially respond or achieve disease stabilization. Efforts are underway to identify clinical and molecular predictors in patients who may benefit from treatment with EGFR TKIs. Recent strategies for targeting the EGFR pathway include combining EGFR TKIs with newer agents and developing second-generation irreversible EGFR TKIs, which may be used in patients who have failed treatment with first-generation EGFR TKIs.