Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Guideline

Purpose The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) produced an evidence-based guideline on treatment with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. ASCO has a policy and set of procedures for endorsing and/or adapting clinical practice guidelines that have been developed by other professional organizations. Methods The ASTRO Evidence-Based Guideline for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer was reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists. An ASCO Expert Panel updated the literature search and reviewed the guideline content and recommendations. Results The ASCO Expert Panel determined that the recommendations from the ASTRO guideline, published in 2017, are clear, thorough, and based on the most relevant scientific evidence. ASCO statements and minor modifications were added to enhance the applicability of the ASTRO guideline for the broader ASCO audience. Recommendations For standard operative risk patients with stage I NSCLC, SBRT is not recommended outside of a clinical trial. Lobectomy with systematic lymph node evaluation remains the recommended treatment, although a sublobar resection may be considered in select clinical scenarios. Recommendations are provided regarding the use of SBRT in high operative risk patients and for inoperative patients, including in challenging scenarios where tumors are: centrally located, > 5 cm in diameter, lacking tissue diagnosis, synchronous primary or multifocal, second primary after pneumonectomy, proximal to or involved with mediastinal structures, abutting the chest wall, or recurring after previous treatment. Qualifying statements are included to provide further guidance for implementation, and the importance of a discussion of treatment options among members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team is emphasized. Additional information is available at: www.asco.org/thoracic-cancer-guidelines and www.asco.org/guidelineswiki .

A phase II study of durvalumab following multimodality therapy for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma: Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium BTCRC-ESO14-012 study

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Background: The standard of care for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma is concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) followed by esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy. Approximately 30% of patients achieve a complete pathologic response (pCR) with this multimodality approach, which has been correlated with improved disease-free survival. The risk of relapse in the remaining 70% of patients who have pathologic evidence of persistent disease in the surgical specimen is extremely high and estimated at 60-70%. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that radiation with or without concurrent chemotherapy upregulates the programmed cell death receptor- 1 (PD-1) pathway by inducing a local inflammatory response, an effect that persists for a number of months after cessation of therapy. Durvalumab is a selective, high affinity, engineered human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that blocks PD-L1 binding to PD-1 and CD80, and has shown activity in metastatic esophageal cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy of post-operative durvalumab with respect to decreasing the relapse rate in patients who do not achieve pCR following CRT. Methods: Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who have pathologic evidence of persistent disease in the surgical specimen following neoadjuvant concurrent CRT (carboplatin plus paclitaxel or cisplatin plus 5-FU) and R0 resection are eligible for enrollment on this single arm phase II study. Durvalumab 1500mg IV every 4 weeks is started within 1-3 months of surgery and continued for up to 1 year. The primary endpoint is 1-year relapse free survival (RFS). Secondary endpoint is to assess the incidence and severity of overall and treatment related adverse events. Exploratory endpoints include PDL1 expression in tumor and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, assessment of Immunoscore within the center and invasive margin of the tumor, and the correlation between changes in circulating tumor cell numbers in response to PD-L1 inhibition. The study is currently open to accrual at 5 sites in the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and 17 of the planned 23 patients have been enrolled within the past 14 months. Clinical trial information: NCT02639065.

Systemic Therapy for Stage IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update

Purpose Provide evidence-based recommendations updating the 2015 ASCO guideline on systemic therapy for patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The ASCO NSCLC Expert Panel made recommendations based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials from February 2014 to December 2016 plus the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-Based Care's update of a previous ASCO search. Results This guideline update reflects changes in evidence since the previous guideline update. Fourteen randomized controlled trials provide the evidence base; earlier phase trials also informed recommendation development. Recommendations New or revised recommendations include the following. Regarding first-line treatment for patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (without positive markers, eg, EGFR/ALK /ROS1), if the patient has high programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, pembrolizumab should be used alone; if the patient has low PD-L1 expression, clinicians should offer standard chemotherapy. All other clinical scenarios follow 2015 recommendations. Regarding second-line treatment in patients who received first-line chemotherapy, without prior immune checkpoint therapy, if NSCLC tumor is positive for PD-L1 expression, clinicians should use single-agent nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or atezolizumab; if tumor has negative or unknown PD-L1 expression, clinicians should use nivolumab or atezolizumab. All immune checkpoint therapy is recommended alone plus in the absence of contraindications. For patients who received a prior first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor, clinicians should offer standard chemotherapy. For patients who cannot receive immune checkpoint inhibitor after chemotherapy, docetaxel is recommended; in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, pemetrexed is recommended. In patients with a sensitizing EGFR mutation, disease progression after first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, and T790M mutation, osimertinib is recommended; if NSCLC lacks the T790M mutation, then chemotherapy is recommended. Patients with ROS1 gene rearrangement without prior crizotinib may be offered crizotinib, or if they previously received crizotinib, they may be offered chemotherapy.

Therapy of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) with a Topoisomerase-I-inhibiting Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Targeting Trop-2, Sacituzumab Govitecan

Purpose: We evaluated a Trop-2-targeting antibody conjugated with SN-38 in metastatic small cell lung cancer (mSCLC) patients.Experimental Design: Sacituzumab govitecan was studied in patients with pretreated (median, 2; range, 1-7) mSCLC who received either 8 or 10 mg/kg i.v. on days 1 and 8 of 21-day cycles. The primary endpoints were safety and objective response rate (ORR); duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints.Results: Sixty percent of patients showed tumor shrinkage from baseline CTs. On an intention-to-treat basis (N = 50), the ORR was 14% (17% for the 10-mg/kg group); the median response duration, 5.7 months; the clinical benefit rate (CBR ≥4 months), 34%; median PFS, 3.7 months; and median OS, 7.5 months. There was a suggested improvement in PR, CBR, and PFS with sacituzumab govitecan in second-line patients who were sensitive to first-line therapy, but no difference between first-line chemosensitive versus chemoresistant patients in the overall population. There was a statistically significant higher OS in those patients who received prior topotecan versus no topotecan therapy in a small subgroup. Grade ≥3 adverse events included neutropenia (34%), fatigue (13%), diarrhea (9%), and anemia (6%). Trop-2 tumor staining was not required for patient selection. No antibodies to the drug conjugate or its components were detected on serial blood collections.Conclusions: Sacituzumab govitecan appears to have a safe and effective therapeutic profile in heavily pretreated mSCLC patients, including those who are chemosensitive or chemoresistant to first-line chemotherapy. Additional studies as a monotherapy or combination therapy are warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5711-9. ©2017 AACR.

Abstract CT155: Phase 2 study of sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132), an anti-Trop-2/SN-38 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with pretreated metastatic small-cell lung cancer (mSCLC)

Introduction: Sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) delivering SN-38, a topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, to mSCLC cells expressing Trop-2. We are studying the safety/tolerability and efficacy of IMMU-132 in patients with relapsed/refractory mSCLC who had received a platinum-containing first-line regimen.

Experimental Procedure: Patients received 8 or 10 mg/kg IV IMMU-132 on days 1 and 8 of repeated 21-day cycles. Objective tumor response (ORR) was determined by RECISTv1.1 in patients receiving at least one treatment cycle, and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in all patients by Kaplan-Meier methods. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01631552)

Summary of New Unpublished Data: A total of 53 patients (23/30 M/F, median 63 years old) with 1-7 (median 2) prior lines of therapy were enrolled between November, 2013 and June, 2016. Immunohistochemistry of evaluable archival tumor specimens for Trop-2 expression (N=26) showed 92% positivity (61% moderately to strongly positive). They received up to 32 treatment cycles (median 5); the most frequent Grade >3 adverse events were neutropenia (34%), fatigue (13%) and diarrhea (9%). Four patients did not complete one cycle of treatment. In the other 49 patients (14 at 8 mg/kg, 35 at 10 mg/kg), there were 7 confirmed PRs and 21 SDs as best response. The resulting ORR rate was 14% (7/49), with a median duration and time-to-progression of a response of 4.0 and 7.6 mos, respectively, and the clinical benefit rate (PR+SD >4 mos) was 35% (17/49). The ORR rate was similar in pts who were sensitive (>3 mos response) or resistant (<3 mos) to 1st-line therapy [13% (3/23) vs 15% (4/26), respectively]. In 2nd-line setting, IMMU-132 had a confirmed ORR rate of 14% (3/21), and a clinical benefit rate of 38% (8/21). This compares well to recent results with topotecan having an ORR of 13-16% in 2nd-line. Comparing dose levels, ORR was 17% (6/35) with 10 mg/kg vs 7% (1/14) with 8 mg/kg, with little difference in toxicity. Median PFS and OS in all 53 patients was 3.7 mos (95% CI, 2.0 - 4.3) and 7.0 mos (95% CI, 5.5 - 8.3), respectively, and included 6 long-term survivors (12.7 - 25.4 months). No antibody response to the ADC or antibody was detected despite multiple therapy cycles.

Conclusion: These interim results demonstrate encouraging activity in patients with late-stage mSCLC having a high expression of Trop-2. Even after failing 1st-line platinum chemotherapy or 2nd-line topotecan therapy, IMMU-132 showed promising activity, and has a manageable toxicity profile. IMMU-132 given at 10 mg/kg on day 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle was selected for further clinical evaluation in this population.

Citation Format: Jhanelle E. Gray, Rebecca S. Heist, Alexander N. Starodub, D. Ross Camidge, Ebenezer Kio, Gregory Masters, W. Thomas Purcell, Michael J. Guarino, Jamal Misleh, Charles J. Schneider, Bryan J. Schneider, Allyson J. Ocean, Tirrell Johnson, Leena Gandhi, Kevin Kalinsky, Serengulam V. Govindan, Pius Maliakal, Boyd Mudenda, William A. Wegener, Robert M. Sharkey, David M. Goldenberg. Phase 2 study of sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132), an anti-Trop-2/SN-38 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with pretreated metastatic small-cell lung cancer (mSCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT155. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-CT155

Advances in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor characterized by early metastatic spread and responsiveness to initial therapy. The incidence of SCLC has been declining in the United States in parallel with the decreasing prevalence of cigarette smoking. Limited stage disease is potentially curable with chemoradiotherapy followed by cranial irradiation. Extensive stage disease is incurable, but systemic chemotherapy can improve quality of life and prolong survival. Nearly all patients relapse with chemoresistant disease. Molecularly targeted therapy has failed to yield convincing clinical benefits. Nevertheless, many biologically rational strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibition, show promise in ongoing clinical trials.

Patterns of disease progression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors

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Background: The PD-1 inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab are approved for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but little is known about patterns of disease progression when these agents fail. Understanding patterns of failure is key to developing strategies to improve duration of response to these agents. Methods: We gathered clinical and radiographic data on patients treated at the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor VA for advanced NSCLC with standard-dose nivolumab (n = 68) or pembrolizumab (n = 23) after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy. Sites of disease progression were described as local (within the same lobe as primary disease), nodal (thoracic), or distant. Results: 91 patients were evaluable, of whom 56 (61.5%) had progression of disease after an average duration of therapy of 3.2 months (95%CI, 2.6-3.8). 10 (17.9%) patients had progression at local sites alone, 3 (5.4%) at nodal sites alone, 12 (21.4%) at distant sites alone, and 31 (55.4%) at a combination of sites. Overall, 41 (73.2%) had progression at distant sites. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical factors ( i.e. age, histology, comorbidity index) between progressors vs. non-progressors or distant-progressors vs. non-distant progressors. Of 37 patients who had prior radiation, 17 (45.9%) had progression at an irradiated site, with patients who had local and/or nodal progression more likely to have received radiation at site of progression (p = 0.01). The most common distant sites of progression were liver (13), bone (10), and brain (9). Conclusions: The most common site of disease progression was distant, with the liver being the most commonly involved site. This may be due to the immunotolerogenic environment of the liver, which is characterized by high IL-10 concentration and propagation of suppressive regulatory T cells, which can dampen activation of cytotoxic T cells. Prior irradiation did not seem to prevent disease progression. Our preliminary analysis suggests that the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors is hindered in immune-privileged sites. Strategies to overcome immune tolerance should be investigated to improve duration of response to these agents.

Efficacy and safety of epacadostat plus pembrolizumab treatment of NSCLC: Preliminary phase I/II results of ECHO-202/KEYNOTE-037

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Background: ECHO-202/KEYNOTE-037 is an open-label, phase 1/2 study of epacadostat (a potent and selective oral inhibitor of the immunosuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1) plus pembrolizumab (E + P) in patients (pts) with advanced tumors. We report preliminary efficacy and safety outcomes for the phase 1/2 NSCLC cohort. Methods: Adult pts with prior platinum-based therapy (tx) and no prior checkpoint inhibitor tx were eligible. Phase 1 dose-escalation tx was E (25, 50, 100, 300 mg PO BID) + P (2 mg/kg or 200 mg IV Q3W); MTD was not exceeded. E (100 mg BID) + P (200 mg Q3W) tx doses were selected for phase 2 cohort expansion. Efficacy was evaluated by tumor proportion score (TPS [% viable tumor cells, PD-L1 staining]: < 50% and ≥50%) and by prior lines of tx in RECIST 1.1 evaluable pts. Safety was assessed in pts receiving ≥1 E + P dose. Results: As of 29OCT2016,43 pts (phase 1, n = 12; phase 2, n = 31) were evaluated. Median age was 65 years, 58% of pts were women, 12% were EGFR-positive, and 23% were KRAS-positive. Most pts had a history of smoking (84%), ≤2 prior lines of tx (84%), and no prior TKI tx (93%). For the 40 efficacy-evaluable pts, ORR (CR+PR) and DCR (CR+PR+SD) were 35% (14/40; 14 PR) and 60% (24/40; 10 SD), respectively. PD-L1 TPS test results were available in 28/40 efficacy-evaluable pts. ORR and DCR for pts with TPS ≥50% and ≤2 prior tx were 43% (3/7; all PR) and 57% (4/7; 1 SD), respectively; for pts with TPS < 50% and ≤2 prior tx, ORR and DCR were 35% (6/17; all PR) and 53% (9/17; 3 SD). Among the 40 efficacy-evaluable pts, 12/14 responses were ongoing (range, 1+ to 519 days) at data cutoff. PFS and biomarker analyses are ongoing. Across all 43 pts, most frequent TRAEs were fatigue (19%), arthralgia (9%), and increased AST (9%); 16% of pts had grade ≥3 TRAEs, and increased lipase (asymptomatic) was the only grade ≥3 TRAE that occurred in > 1 pt (n = 2). Two pts discontinued due to TRAEs (grade 3 increased AST, grade 2 increased ALT [n = 1]; grade 2 brain edema [n = 1]). Conclusions: E + P was generally well tolerated and associated with promising responses in pts with NSCLC. A phase 3 NSCLC study is planned. Clinical trial information: NCT02178722.

Phase II Trial of Dose-dense Pemetrexed, Gemcitabine, and Bevacizumab in Patients With Advanced, Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Platinum-based chemotherapy is standard for untreated, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the activity and tolerability of the novel combination of dose-dense pemetrexed, gemcitabine, and bevacizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

This multicenter phase II trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of pemetrexed (400 mg/m²), gemcitabine (1200 mg/m²), and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg), given every 14 days in patients with untreated, advanced NSCLC. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival with secondary endpoints of response rate and overall survival.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Treatment was well tolerated; the most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia and fatigue. Of the 38 patients evaluable for tumor response, 1 (3%) had complete response, 15 (39%) had partial response, 12 (31%) had stable disease, and 10 (26%) had progressive disease. Median progression-free survival was 6.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2-7.9) and median overall survival was 18.4 months (95% CI, 13.1-29.5). The 1-year overall survival rate was 64% (95% CI, 51%-81%) and the 2-year overall survival rate was 41% (95% CI, 28%-60%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with dose-dense pemetrexed, gemcitabine, and bevacizumab met the primary endpoint with promising efficacy and a manageable safety profile in patients with untreated advanced NSCLC. This regimen represents a reasonable therapeutic option.

Phase I Study of Epigenetic Priming with Azacitidine Prior to Standard Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients with Resectable Gastric and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Evidence of Tumor Hypomethylation as an Indicator of Major Histopathologic Response

Purpose: Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) is an acquired abnormality observed in cancer and is prototypically linked to DNA methylation. We postulated that pretreatment (priming) with 5-azacitidine would increase the efficacy of chemotherapy by reactivating TSGs. This study was conducted to identify a tolerable dose of 5-azacitidine prior to EOX (epirubicin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal/gastric adenocarcinoma (EGC).Experimental Design: Eligible patients had untreated, locally advanced, resectable EGC, ECOG 0-2, and adequate organ function. 5-Azacitidine (V, 75 mg/m²) was given subcutaneously for 3 (dose level, DL 1) or 5 (DL 2) days prior to each 21-day cycle of EOX (E, 50 mg/m²; O, 130 mg/m²; X, 625 mg/m² twice daily for 21 days). Standard 3+3 methodology guided V dose escalation. DNA methylation at control and biomarker regions was measured by digital droplet, bisulfite qPCR in tumor samples collected at baseline and at resection.Results: All subjects underwent complete resection of residual tumor (R0). Three of the 12 patients (25%) achieved a surgical complete response and 5 had partial responses. The overall response rate was 67%. The most common toxicities were gastrointestinal and hematologic. Hypomethylation of biomarker genes was observed at all dose levels and trended with therapeutic response.Conclusions: Neoadjuvant VEOX was well-tolerated with significant clinical and epigenetic responses, with preliminary evidence that priming with V prior to chemotherapy may augment chemotherapy efficacy. The recommended phase II trial schedule is 5-azacitidine 75 mg/m² for 5 days followed by EOX chemotherapy every 21 days. Clin Cancer Res; 23(11); 2673-80. ©2016 AACR.

Treatment of recurrent and platinum-refractory stage IV non-small cell lung cancer with nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) as a single agent

The role of single-agent nab-paclitaxel in relapsed or platinum-refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well reported in Western populations. We reviewed our own institution's experience using nab-paclitaxel in these settings. We analyzed the records of stage IV NSCLC patients with relapsed or platinum-refractory disease treated with single-agent nab-paclitaxel at Weill Cornell Medical College between October 2008 and December 2013. The primary endpoint of the study was treatment failure-free survival (TFFS), defined as the time from the start of nab-paclitaxel therapy to discontinuation of the drug for any reason. The best overall response was recorded for each patient, and overall response and disease control rates were calculated. Thirty-one stage IV NSCLC patients received a median of 4 cycles (range 1-40) of nab-paclitaxel. Dose reduction or drug discontinuation due to toxicity occurred in 10 patients, mainly because of grade 2/3 fatigue or peripheral neuropathy. The overall response rate was 16.1 %, and the disease control rate was 64.5 %. Median TFFS was 3.5 months (95 % CI 1.3-5.3 months). No statistically significant difference in TFFS based on line of therapy or prior taxane exposure was identified. There was a statistically significant decrease in TFFS for patients with non-adenocarcinoma histology, although there were only five patients in this group. There was a trend toward reduction in the risk of treatment failure with increasing age. One patient remained on nab-paclitaxel therapy for over 3 years. Single-agent nab-paclitaxel was well tolerated and demonstrated efficacy in advanced NSCLC patients with relapsed or platinum-refractory disease. Further prospective clinical trials with nab-paclitaxel in these settings are warranted.

Personalized Therapy of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma with distinct clinical, pathological and molecular characteristics. Despite robust responses to initial chemotherapy and radiation, the prognosis of patients with SCLC remains poor with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 10 %. Despite the fact that numerous molecularly targeted approaches have thus far failed to demonstrate clinical utility in SCLC, further advances will rely on better definition of the biological pathways that drive survival, proliferation and metastasis. Recent next-generation, molecular profiling studies have identified many new therapeutic targets in SCLC, as well as extreme genomic instability which explains the high degree of resistance. A wide variety of anti-angiogenic agents, growth factor inhibitors, pro-apoptotic agents, and epigenetic modulators have been evaluated in SCLC and many studies of these strategies are on-going. Perhaps the most promising approaches involve agents targeting cancer stem cell pathways and immunomodulatory drugs that interfere with the PD1 and CTLA-4 pathways. SCLC offers many barriers to the development of successful therapy, including limited tumor samples, inadequate preclinical models, high mutational burden, and aggressive tumor growth which impairs functional status and hampers enrollment on clinical trials.

Chemotherapy Use, Performance Status, and Quality of Life at the End of Life

IMPORTANCE

Although many patients with end-stage cancer are offered chemotherapy to improve quality of life (QOL), the association between chemotherapy and QOL amid progressive metastatic disease has not been well-studied. American Society for Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend palliative chemotherapy only for solid tumor patients with good performance status.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between chemotherapy use and QOL near death (QOD) as a function of patients' performance status.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A multi-institutional, longitudinal cohort study of patients with end-stage cancer recruited between September 2002 and February 2008. Chemotherapy use (n = 158 [50.6%]) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status were assessed at baseline (median = 3.8 months before death) and patients with progressive metastatic cancer (N = 312) following at least 1 chemotherapy regimen were followed prospectively until death at 6 outpatient oncology clinics in the United States.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Patient QOD was determined using validated caregiver ratings of patients' physical and mental distress in their final week.

RESULTS

Chemotherapy use was not associated with patient survival controlling for clinical setting and patients' performance status. Among patients with good (ECOG score = 1) baseline performance status, chemotherapy use compared with nonuse was associated with worse QOD (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17-0.75; P = .01). Baseline chemotherapy use was not associated with QOD among patients with moderate (ECOG score = 2) baseline performance status (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.51-2.21; P = .87) or poor (ECOG score = 3) baseline performance status (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.46-3.89; P = .59).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although palliative chemotherapy is used to improve QOL for patients with end-stage cancer, its use did not improve QOD for patients with moderate or poor performance status and worsened QOD for patients with good performance status. The QOD in patients with end-stage cancer is not improved, and can be harmed, by chemotherapy use near death, even in patients with good performance status.

Definitive and Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline

PURPOSE

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) produced an evidence-based guideline on external-beam radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because of its relevance to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) membership, ASCO endorsed the guideline after applying a set of procedures and a policy that are used to critically examine and endorse guidelines developed by other guideline development organizations.

METHODS

The ASTRO guideline was reviewed by ASCO content experts for clinical accuracy and by ASCO methodologists for developmental rigor. On favorable review, an ASCO expert panel was convened and endorsed the guideline. The ASCO guideline approval body, the Clinical Practice Guideline Committee, approved the final endorsement.

RESULTS

The recommendations from the ASTRO guideline, published in Practical Radiation Oncology, are clear, thorough, and based on the most relevant scientific evidence. The ASCO Endorsement Panel endorsed the guideline and added qualifying statements.

RECOMMENDATIONS

For curative-intent treatment of locally advanced NSCLC, concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves local control and overall survival compared with sequential chemotherapy followed by radiation. The standard dose-fractionation of radiation is 60 Gy given in 2-Gy once-daily fractions over 6 weeks. There is no role for the routine use of induction therapy before chemoradiotherapy. Current data fail to support a clear role for consolidation therapy after chemoradiotherapy; however, consolidation therapy remains an option for patients who did not receive full systemic chemotherapy doses during radiotherapy. Important questions remain about the ideal concurrent chemotherapy regimen and optimal management of patients with resectable stage III disease.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II study of the efficacy and safety of apricoxib in combination with either docetaxel or pemetrexed in patients with biomarker-selected non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

Overexpression of COX-2 correlates with advanced stage and worse outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), possibly as a result of elevated levels of COX-2-dependent prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Exploratory analyses of studies that used COX-2 inhibitors have demonstrated potentially superior outcome in patients in whom the urinary metabolite of PGE2 (PGE-M) is suppressed. We hypothesized that patients with disease defined by PGE-M suppression would benefit from the addition of apricoxib to second-line docetaxel or pemetrexed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with NSCLC who had disease progression after one line of platinum-based therapy, performance status of 0 to 2, and normal organ function were potentially eligible. Only patients with a ≥ 50% decrease in urinary PGE-M after 5 days of treatment with apricoxib could enroll. Docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) or pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) once every 21 days per the investigator was administered with apricoxib or placebo 400 mg once per day. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Exploratory analysis was performed regarding baseline urinary PGE-M and outcomes.

RESULTS

In all, 101 patients completed screening, and 72 of the 80 who demonstrated ≥ 50% suppression were randomly assigned to apricoxib or placebo. Toxicity was similar between the arms. No improvement in PFS was seen with apricoxib versus placebo. The median PFS for the control arm was 97 days (95% CI, 52 to 193 days) versus 85 days (95% CI, 67 to 142 days) for the experimental arm (P = .91).

CONCLUSION

Apricoxib did not improve PFS, despite biomarker-driven patient selection.

Non-small-cell lung cancer: treatment of late stage disease: chemotherapeutics and new frontiers

Systemic therapy should be considered in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are no longer amenable to local therapies. Systemic therapy has been shown to improve survival and preserve quality of life in patients with a reasonable performance status. In unselected patients, the standard of care for initial therapy remains platinum-based chemotherapy. At progression, further treatment typically consists of the sequential administration of single-agent therapy, which has also been shown to improve survival and reduce cancer-related symptoms. Molecular biomarkers are essential to guide targeted agents. This analysis requires ample tumor DNA; thus adequate biopsy samples are critical to guide therapeutic options. More biomarkers are currently being validated and may potentially have specific targeted therapy. In the near future, it is likely that rapid multiplexed genotype testing will help reduce the need for large amounts of tumor for analysis and will promote personalized cancer therapy. We review recent changes in the definition of stage IV NSCLC and review current and future systemic therapeutic approaches for patients with advanced disease.

Systemic therapy for small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive tumor characterized by genetic complexity, rapid doubling time, and early development of disseminated disease. Unfortunately, few chemotherapeutic advances have been made in the treatment of extensive-stage disease, and cisplatin/etoposide has remained the standard of care for more than 30 years. Other regimens with comparable efficacy include cisplatin/irinotecan and carboplatin/etoposide. Each of these combinations is associated with a different toxicity profile that must be considered when selecting an initial regimen. Several strategies, including maintenance chemotherapy, 3-drug combinations, alternating combination chemotherapy regimens, and high-dose chemotherapy, have consistently failed to demonstrate improvements in survival when compared with 4 to 6 cycles of platinum doublets. Several options are available for patients who experience progression during or relapse after induction therapy, although topotecan is the only FDA-approved agent for second-line treatment. Recently, scientific efforts have identified potentially actionable genetic alterations in small cell tumors that may lead to the development of effective, targeted therapies.

Erratum: Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Treatment of Late Stage Disease: Chemotherapeutics and New Frontiers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1342961.].

Pre-operative chemoradiation followed by post-operative adjuvant therapy with tetrathiomolybdate, a novel copper chelator, for patients with resectable esophageal cancer

Introduction This phase II trial investigated chemoradiation followed by surgery and 2 years of adjuvant tetrathiomolybdate (TM) for resectable esophageal cancer. Methods Patients with resectable, locally advanced esophageal cancer received neoadjuvant cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 22), paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2) (days 1, 8, 15, and 22), and 45 Gy hyperfractionated radiotherapy for 3 weeks followed by transhiatal esophagectomy. TM 20 mg PO QD was started 4 weeks post-op, and continued for 2 years to maintain the ceruloplasmin level between 5 and 15 mg/dl. Results Sixty-nine patients were enrolled (median age, 60 years). Sixty-six patients underwent surgery and 61 patients had a complete resection. Histologic complete response rate was 10 %. Twenty-one patients did not receive TM (metastases noted in the peri-operative period, prolonged post-operative recovery time, or patient refusal). Forty-eight patients started TM; 14 completed 24 months of treatment, 11 completed 10-18 months, 15 completed 2-8 months, and 8 completed ≤1 month. Twenty-seven patients had disease recurrence. With a median follow-up of 55 months, 25 patients were alive without disease, 1 was alive with disease, and 43 have died. Three-year recurrence-free survival was 44 % (95 % CI, 32-55 %) and the three-year overall survival was 45 % (95 % CI 33-56 %). Conclusions TM is an antiangiogenic agent that is well tolerated in the adjuvant setting. Disease-free survival and overall survival are promising when compared to historical controls treated at our institution with a similar regimen that did not include TM. However, the challenges associated with prolonged administration limit further investigation.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter phase II study of the COX-2 inhibitor apricoxib (A) in combination with either docetaxel (doc) or pemetrexed (pem) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (pts) selected by urinary PGE-m suppression

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Background: Overexpression of COX-2 has been associated with advanced stage and worse outcomes in NSCLC, possibly due to elevated levels of the COX-2 dependent prostaglandin, PGE-2. COX-2 inhibitors in addition to standard therapy has been associated with superior outcome in pts in whom the urinary metabolite of PGE-2, PGE-M is suppressed by the inhibitor. We hypothesized that pts defined by PGE-M suppression would benefit from the addition of apr to doc or pem. Methods: Pts with NSCLC, progressive after one platinum based therapy, PS 0-1, normal organ function, alb ≥2.5, CCr ≥ 45 were eligible for screening. A 5 day run in period with apr 400mg qd was performed. Only pts with a ≥ 50% decrease in urinary PGE-M could actually enroll. Chemotherapy was doc 75 mg/m2 or pem 500 mg/m2 q21 d per the investigator plus apr/placebo (P) 400 mg qd. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 109 pts were screened of whom 72 demonstrated ≥50% suppression and enrolled (table). Toxicity was similar between the arms. No improvement in PFS was seen with apricoxib vs. placebo. By chemotherapy assignment: pem/apr vs. pem/P : 103 days vs. 98 (p =.49); doc/apr vs. doc/P: 75 vs. 97 (p=.18). An adverse interaction between baseline PGE-M and doc was seen in survival (p=.026); each unit increase in urinary PGE-M increased the HR by 1.014 (p < 0.038 ) vs. pem (HR =.990, p=n.s.). There was no correlation between baseline PGE-M or magnitude of PGE-M suppression and benefit from apr. Conclusions: 1. Apr did not improve outcome despite patient selection. 2. There was a trend towards an adverse outcome when apr was combined with docetaxel, that was not evident with pemetrexed. 3. Baseline urinary PGE-M may be an adverse prognostic factor for treatment with doc. [Table: see text]