Loss of Nuclear Localized Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein in Primary Breast Cancer Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome and Correlates with Suppressed Stat5 Signaling

PURPOSE

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is required for normal mammary gland development and biology. A PTHLH gene polymorphism is associated with breast cancer risk, and PTHrP promotes growth of osteolytic breast cancer bone metastases. Accordingly, current dogma holds that PTHrP is upregulated in malignant primary breast tumors, but solid evidence for this assumption is missing.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We used quantitative IHC to measure PTHrP in normal and malignant breast epithelia, and correlated PTHrP levels in primary breast cancer with clinical outcome.

RESULTS

PTHrP levels were markedly downregulated in malignant compared with normal breast epithelia. Moreover, low levels of nuclear localized PTHrP in cancer cells correlated with unfavorable clinical outcome in a test and a validation cohort of breast cancer treated at different institutions totaling nearly 800 cases. PTHrP mRNA levels in tumors of a third cohort of 737 patients corroborated this association, also after multivariable adjustment for standard clinicopathologic parameters. Breast cancer PTHrP levels correlated strongly with transcription factors Stat5a/b, which are established markers of favorable prognosis and key mediators of prolactin signaling. Prolactin stimulated PTHrP transcript and protein in breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, effects mediated by Stat5 through the P2 gene promoter, producing transcript AT6 encoding the PTHrP 1-173 isoform. Low levels of AT6, but not two alternative transcripts, correlated with poor clinical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

This study overturns the prevailing view that PTHrP is upregulated in primary breast cancers and identifies a direct prolactin-Stat5-PTHrP axis that is progressively lost in more aggressive tumors.

Dynamic self-assembly of DNA minor groove-binding ligand DB921 into nanotubes triggered by an alkali halide

We describe a novel self-assembling supramolecular nanotube system formed by a heterocyclic cationic molecule which was originally designed for its potential as an antiparasitic and DNA sequence recognition agent. Our structural characterisation work indicates that the nanotubes form via a hierarchical assembly mechanism that can be triggered and tuned by well-defined concentrations of simple alkali halide salts in water. The nanotubes assembled in NaCl have inner and outer diameters of ca. 22 nm and 26 nm respectively, with lengths that reach into several microns. Our results suggest the tubes consist of DB921 molecules stacked along the direction of the nanotube long axis. The tubes are stabilised by face-to-face π-π stacking and ionic interactions between the charged amidinium groups of the ligand and the negative halide ions. The assembly process of the nanotubes was followed using small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. Our data demonstrate that assembly occurs through the formation of intermediate ribbon-like structures that in turn form helices that tighten and compact to form the final stable filament. This assembly process was tested using different alkali-metal salts, showing a strong preference for chloride or bromide anions and with little dependency on the type of cation. Our data further demonstrates the existence of a critical anion concentration above which the rate of self-assembly is greatly enhanced.

Increased access for and enhancement of cancer (ca) patients (pts) participation (par) in clinical trials (cts) by alleviation of financial toxicity

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Background: Prognosis for pts is increasing as a result of advances in cts. However, the degree to which cancer caused financial problems may influence ca pts par in cts and negatively impact quality of life. Excess financial burden of cts par, may include finding an appropriate trial, traveling to the trial site, travel costs, lodging and medical expenses. The Lazarex Cancer Foundation (LCF) was founded in 2006 with mission to improve care, giving hope, dignity, and life to advanced ca pts by providing assistance with options and costs to cts par, community outreach, and education. LCF developed processes to removing the barriers to cts par by improving equitable access to cancer care, increasing cts enrollment, retention and minority par, and increasing cts referrals. Methods: To determine the extent of benefit of LCF, we conducted a retrospective analysis of LCF beneficiaries participating in cts by reviewing and summarizing the number of pts, states and countries of residence, age, type of cancer, location and distance to cts site, type of assistance, and number of advocacy/outreach. Results: From 1/01/2010 – 12/31/2016 2179 pts were assisted financially; age range 1-102 yrs, median 50-60; (43%) male, (53%) female, (3.4%) undeclared. (6.4%) were African American, 10.3% Hispanic, 3.6 Asian Pacific Islander, other minority 2.1, and Caucasian 72.7%;total minority 22.5%. Pts resided in 50 states with largest CA , TX , MA , and FL. Cts were at 199 sites – 43 NCI CCC, 7 NCI DCC and 149 other cancer centers. Most common diagnoses were breast, leukemia, colorectal cancers. type tumors. Median household income was $75,000. Financial assistance to travel to and living expenses at the cts site was the most frequently identified need. Conclusions: Relieving pts of financial burden allows greater access to and participation in cancer clinical trials. Further research and greater resources are needed to define patient needs and determine methods to eliminate barriers to enrollment and retention investigate coverage thresholds that minimize adverse financial outcomes and identify ca pts at greatest risk for financial toxicity to increase par in cts.

Racial disparities in the initial treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the population 65+ years in the United States

431

Background: Insufficient evidence exists regarding the initial management of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to describe racial differences in initial treatment of 65+ year old patients with HCC diagnosed in the United States (2004-2014). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the 1973-2014 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute. Patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, diagnosed between 2004 and 2014, and with complete information on race, gender, year of diagnosis, age, marital status, region, tumor status at diagnosis and initial treatment were included. Descriptive statistics were used to compare race with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to describe the association of race with receiving any treatment for HCC (local hepatic therapy and surgical treatment versus no treatment). Results: The sample consisted of 25,499 HCC patients: 70.0% White, 9.1% Black, 19.8% API, 1.0% AI; 68.6% male; 46.8% diagnosed in 2004-2009; 54.8% age 65-74, 45.2% 75 and older; 54.7% married, 7.3% Midwest, 13.8% Northeast, 15.7% Southeast; 81.3% first malignant primary indicator, 13.8% metastasis, 49.3% localized site, and 20.9% receiving initial treatment. After controlling for confounding variables, as compared to White patients, African American patients (OR:0.739 95% CI:0.652, 0.839) had decreased odds of receiving initial treatment; and Asian/Pacific Islander patients (OR:1.490 95% CI:1.371,1.618) had increased odds of receiving initial treatment. Conclusions: Racial disparities exist at the presentation of HCC in the 65+ population. African American patients are less likely to receive treatment and Asian/Pacific Islander patients are more likely to receive treatment. Further research is needed to understand these relationships in subpopulations.

Racial disparities in the presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma in the population 65+ years in the United States

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Background: Insufficient evidence exists regarding the presentation and management of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to describe racial differences in cancer staging of elderly (65+) patients with HCC diagnosed in the United States. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the 1973-2014 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute. Patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, diagnosed between 2004 and 2014, and with complete information on race, gender, year of diagnosis, age, marital status, region and stage at diagnosis (Derived SEER Summary Stage 2000, and Derived American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage Group, 6th Edition) were included. Descriptive statistics were used to compare sociodemographic and clinical variables with race. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were preformed to describe the association of race with the diagnosis of late stage HCC (Regional/Distant vs Localized Stage for SEER Summary Stage, and Stage III/IV vs Stage I/II for AJCC Stage Group). Results: The sample consisted of 19,902 HCC patients: 69.7% White, 9.2% Black, 20.2% API, 1.0% AI; 69.1% male; 45.1% diagnosed in 2004-2009; 56.2% age 65-74, 35.6% 75-84, and 8.2% 85 and older; 58.3% married; 7.4% Midwest, 12.4% Northeast, 17.0% Southeast, 63.2% Pacific West; 44.9% Regional/Distant Stage (SEER Summary Stage) and 41.2% Stage III/IV (AJCC Stage Group). After controlling for confounding variables, Asian/Pacific Islanders had a decreased odds of presenting with late stage disease relative to whites in both the SEER Summary Stage (OR: 0.867, CI:0.805-0.934) and AJCC Stage Group (OR: 0.904, CI:0.838-0.975). Conclusions: Racial disparities exist at the presentation of HCC in the 65+ population. Asian/Pacific Islanders are less likely to be diagnosed with late stage HCC compared to whites. There is a need to study further these relationships in subpopulations.

Abstract PL03-01: NCI-MATCH: A new paradigm in the era of genomic oncology

Oncology has undergone major changes in systemic treatment options, from chemotherapy to antiangiogenic agents to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors to immunotherapy. Historically, a therapeutic agent is tested in separate trials as monotherapy or combined with investigational or approved agents/modalities, to determine antitumor activity in each histology based on the premise that each histology responds differently to the same treatment. This paradigm is time consuming and may or may not make use of molecular characterization to test each agent in each histology. However, with the expansion of biologic understanding and development of various biomarkers, e.g., estrogen receptor and Her 2 amplification, we move beyond the basic paradigm of general histology to one in which treatment is based upon molecular characteristics of the tumor. Examples of recent discoveries from this more modern paradigm are (1) multiple histologies sharing a common molecular profile and (2) a subset within a single histology having a given molecular characteristic. Various agents have been tested singularly in terms of molecular aberrations and histology, e.g., ALK inhibitors and NSCLC. However, with the rapid increase in the number of targeted agents in development, more facile and efficient clinical trial designs are needed.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) collaborated in designing the Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice trial (NCI-MATCH or EAY131), the first large-scale signal-finding precision medicine oncology trial in the United States to incorporate centralized NGS testing to direct patients to parallel (nonrandomized) phase II treatment arms under a master protocol. The trial is being conducted by the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), with ECOG-ACRIN leading the trial. More than 100 investigators from across the NCTN adult cancer-oriented member groups (Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, ECOG-ACRIN, NRG Oncology, and SWOG) have worked collaboratively to design and lead what is currently 30 treatment arms (subprotocols), with more arms in development. Wide-scale NCTN investigator involvement ensures use of the latest knowledge to define the actionable mutations required for eligibility and to make evidence-based selections of experimental agents.

In NCI-MATCH, patients are assigned treatment based on the genomic alterations found in their tumors through genomic sequencing and other tests at the time of initial enrollment for screening. Unlike other phase II trials, each arm is open to advanced solid tumors, lymphomas, or myeloma that share a set of molecular aberrations, not restricted to a single histology. This strategy accommodates and encourages enrollment of rare tumors for which there are often no standard treatments and limited clinical trial options.

NCI-MATCH has 10-30 concurrent treatment arms available to patients at any given time, testing both investigational agents and FDA-approved drugs for new indications. Most treatment arms have an enrollment goal of 35 patients, with some arms that address tumor gene variants of higher prevalence expanded to 70 patients. Together, the NCTN and NCI Community Oncology Research Program provide infrastructure for many clinical sites (>1100) to participate, providing ready access to physicians and patients; screening enrollment has occurred in all 50 states in the U.S, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. A specific assay was developed for the trial (the MATCH assay), and a laboratory network was organized to rapidly process the tissue and efficiently interrogate for mutations. NCI and ECOG-ACRIN statisticians developed the analysis plan and are currently maintaining data that are closely monitored by safety experts for any adverse event signals. Lastly, a bioinformatics system (MATCHbox) was developed to coordinate molecular data collection and support rule-based decision-making based on those data.

Because genomics in oncology is rapidly expanding and evolving, NCI-MATCH required flexibility to accommodate brisker screening accrual than anticipated, and adaptation to constantly emerging information about new drugs and new molecular alterations. The goal to sequence the tumors of 6,000 patients with NCI funding was achieved two years ahead of schedule, but that cohort was not sufficient to fill all the arms—in particular, those aimed at the most rarely occurring tumor gene aberrations. Currently, the goal for the trial is to complete the open treatment arms by allowing for designated commercial and academic laboratories to notify ordering physicians when genomic tests they ordered to guide clinical care indicate a potential eligibility to a NCI-MATCH arm with a rare variant and allow for enrollment to the relevant treatment subprotocol if the patient meets all subprotocol eligibility criteria. The tissue confirmation of the molecular abnormality on the MATCH assay by the central laboratories will be accomplished after subprotocol enrollment so that patient treatment will not be delayed for confirmation. A demonstration project is now under way to test the applicability of this approach and potentially develop common standards for future use. With tumor sequencing becoming a more and more common practice in oncology, this may allow patients with mutations of low prevalence to have investigational treatment options.

NCI-MATCH is expanding its panel and definition of actionable mutations to allow greater flexibility to incorporate in real time new mutations supported with adequate levels of evidence. The valuable genomic and clinical outcome data collected in the trial will permit evaluation of efficacy of targeting certain actionable mutations with a specific agent. In addition, biospecimens are being collected to build a rich resource for conducting auxiliary biology studies that may answer questions about prevalence of mutations in the metastatic setting, prevalence of mutations in rare histologies, and resistance mechanisms of various targeted therapy. At this meeting, two abstracts will provide an overall trial update and present information about the prevalence of mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) in the centrally screened population.

Citation Format: Alice P. Chen, Peter J. O'Dwyer, Lyndsay Harris, Barbara A. Conley, Stanley R. Hamilton, Mickey Williams, Robert J. Gray, Shuli Li, Lisa M. McShane, Lawrence V. Rubinstein, Susanna I. Lee, Shaji Kumar, Edith P. Mitchell, James A. Zwiebel, Constantine A. Gatsonis, Lalitha K. Shankar, Paolo F. Caimi, Carlos L. Arteaga, A John Iafrate, Jeffrey Sklar, Richard F. Little, Keith T. Flaherty. NCI-MATCH: A new paradigm in the era of genomic oncology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2017 Oct 26-30; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PL03-01.

The Violence Epidemic in the African American Community: A Call by the National Medical Association for Comprehensive Reform

While much progress has occurred since the civil rights act of 1964, minorities have continued to suffer disparate and discriminatory access to economic opportunities, education, housing, health care and criminal justice. The latest challenge faced by the physicians and public health providers who serve the African American community is the detrimental, and seemingly insurmountable, causes and effects of violence in impoverished communities of color. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number one killer of black males ages 10-35 is homicide, indicating a higher rate of violence than any other group. Black females are four times more likely to be murdered by a boyfriend or girlfriend than their white counterparts, and although intimate partner violence has declined for both black and white females, black women are still disproportionately killed. In addition, anxiety and depression that can lead to suicide is on the rise among African American adolescents and adults. Through an examination of the role of racism in the perpetuation of the violent environment and an exploration of the effects of gang violence, intimate partner violence/child maltreatment and police use of excessive force, this work attempts to highlight the repercussions of violence in the African American community. The members of the National Medical Association have served the African American community since 1895 and have been advocates for the patients they serve for more than a century. This paper, while not intended to be a comprehensive literature review, has been written to reinforce the need to treat violence as a public health issue, to emphasize the effect of particular forms of violence in the African American community and to advocate for comprehensive policy reforms that can lead to the eradication of this epidemic. The community of African American physicians must play a vital role in the treatment and prevention of violence as well as advocating for our patients, family members and neighbors who suffer from the preventable effects of violence.

The Compassionate Use Advisory Committee (CompAC) for development of pre-approval access to investigational drugs

e18001

Background: In May 2015, CompAC was formed at NYU to provide guidance fairly and transparently on allocating a limited supply of , Daratumumab, to patients outside of clinical trials. Janssen, manufacturer of Daratumumab, was receiving numerous pre-approval requests for access to the drug. Daratumumab (Darzalex) was approved in the U.S. for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy and approved by EMA for monotherapy. The SPR program was phased out based on country level approvals, with requests and submissions managed in a regulatory and legal environment.Methods: CompAC was 10 medical experts, bioethicists, and patient advocates; ethical and medical principles for review and process guidelines developed. Weekly meetings were held to consider SPR requests, with 3 members voting each week. After U.S. approval, requests for drug were considered only from countries where Janssen was seeking but had not gained approval. Recommendations were conveyed weekly for final decisions. Results: A total of 331 cases were received by Janssen of which 5 withdrew and 2 expired, leaving 324 cases for review. Of these, 180 were sent to CompAC and 163 were recommended by CompAC for treatment. Janssen approved all 163. CompAC recommended declining 17 of these cases; Janssen declined 15 (2 cases were approved based on additional information provided). Of the 144 patients excluded by Janssen before CompAC review, 27 were due to low benefit/risk profile, 17 provided incomplete clinical information, 42 for other variables, 46 received alternative therapies, 10 for referral to another pre-approval access channel, and 2 commercially available drug. Of the cases that CompAC recommended declining, 11 were due to low benefit/risk profile, for 3 alternative therapies available, and remaining 3 for miscellaneous reasons. Requests were received from 13 countries, the majority from outside the U.S.Conclusions: CompAC was successfully implemented and provided rapid review of SPR requests for pre-approval Daratumumab access. Janssen is extending CompAC to other relevant assets. Other companies are considering the model.

American Society of Clinical Oncology Strategic Plan for Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Oncology Workforce

In December 2016, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Board of Directors approved the ASCO Strategic Plan to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Oncology Workforce. Developed through a multistakeholder effort led by the ASCO Health Disparities Committee, the purpose of the plan is to guide the formal efforts of ASCO in this area over the next three years (2017 to 2020). There are three primary goals: (1) to establish a longitudinal pathway for increasing workforce diversity, (2) to enhance ASCO leadership diversity, and (3) to integrate a focus on diversity across ASCO programs and policies. Improving quality cancer care in the United States requires the recruitment of oncology professionals from diverse backgrounds. The ASCO Strategic Plan to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Oncology Workforce is designed to enhance existing programs and create new opportunities that will move us closer to the vision of achieving an oncology workforce that reflects the demographics of the US population it serves.

Cetuximab Plus Chemoradiotherapy in Immunocompetent Patients With Anal Carcinoma: A Phase II Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network Cancer Research Group Trial (E3205)

Purpose Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCAC) is characterized by high locoregional failure (LRF) rates after sphincter-preserving definitive chemoradiation (CRT) and is typically associated with anogenital human papilloma virus infection. Because cetuximab enhances the effect of radiation therapy in human papilloma virus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, we hypothesized that adding cetuximab to CRT would reduce LRF in SCCAC. Methods Sixty-one patients with stage I to III SCCAC received CRT including cisplatin, fluorouracil, and radiation therapy to the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes (45 to 54 Gy) plus eight once-weekly doses of concurrent cetuximab. The study was designed to detect at least a 50% reduction in 3-year LRF rate (one-sided α, 0.10; power 90%), assuming a 35% LRF rate from historical data. Results Poor risk features included stage III disease in 64% and male sex in 20%. The 3-year LRF rate was 23% (95% CI, 13% to 36%; one-sided P = .03) by binomial proportional estimate using the prespecified end point and 21% (95% CI, 7% to 26%) by Kaplan-Meier estimate in a post hoc analysis using methods consistent with historical data. Three-year rates were 68% (95% CI, 55% to 79%) for progression-free survival and 83% (95% CI, 71% to 91%) for overall survival. Grade 4 toxicity occurred in 32%, and 5% had treatment-associated deaths. Conclusion Although the addition of cetuximab to chemoradiation for SCCAC was associated with lower LRF rates than historical data with CRT alone, toxicity was substantial, and LRF still occurs in approximately 20%, indicating the continued need for more effective and less toxic therapies.

Impact of financial burden on information and opportunity for cancer (ca) patients' (pts) participation (par) in clinical trials (cts)

166

Background: The degree to which cancer caused financial problems may influence ca pts par in cts and negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Financial burden of cts par, may include finding an appropriate trial, traveling to the trial site, paying for travel, lodging and some medical expenses. The Lazarex Cancer Foundation (LCF) was founded in 2006 with mission to improve care, giving hope, dignity, and life to advanced ca pts by providing assistance with options and costs to cts par, community outreach, and education. LCF developed processes to removing the barriers to cts par by improving equitable access to cancer care, increasing cts enrollment, retention and minority par, and increasing cts referrals. Methods: To determine the extent of benefit of LCF, we conducted a retrospective analysis of LCF beneficiaries participating in cts by reviewing and summarizing the #pts, states and countries of residence, age, type of cancer, location and distance to cts site, type of assistance, and #of advocacy/outreach. Results: From 1/01/2010 – 12/31/2015 1479 pts were assisted; age range 4-86 yrs, median 50-60; 638(43%) male, 790 (53%) female, 51 (3.4%) undeclared. 434 did not give racial/ethnic identity; of 1045, 67 (6.4%) were African American, 108 (10.3%) Hispanic, 38 (3.6) Asian Pacific Islander, other 22 (2.1), and Caucasian 760 (72.7%) –total minority 235 (22.5%). Pts resided in 49 states with largest CA-280, TX-131, MA-119, FL-81. Cts were at 115 sites; 38 NCI CCC, 8 NCI DCC. The most common diagnoses were breast-116, leukemia-87, colorectal-48 and many rare type tumors. The median household income was $75,000. Financial assistance to travel to and living expenses at the cts site was the most frequently identified need. Conclusions: Relieving pts of financial burden allows greater access to and participation in cancer clinical trials. Further research and greater resources are needed to define the patient needs and determine methods to eliminate and remove barriers to enrollment and retention. Future research should investigate coverage thresholds that minimize adverse financial outcomes and identify ca pts at greatest risk for financial toxicity to increase par in cts and enhance QoL.

Validation of tumor protein marker quantification by two independent automated immunofluorescence image analysis platforms

Protein marker levels in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections traditionally have been assayed by chromogenic immunohistochemistry and evaluated visually by pathologists. Pathologist scoring of chromogen staining intensity is subjective and generates low-resolution ordinal or nominal data rather than continuous data. Emerging digital pathology platforms now allow quantification of chromogen or fluorescence signals by computer-assisted image analysis, providing continuous immunohistochemistry values. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry offers greater dynamic signal range than chromogen immunohistochemistry, and combined with image analysis holds the promise of enhanced sensitivity and analytic resolution, and consequently more robust quantification. However, commercial fluorescence scanners and image analysis software differ in features and capabilities, and claims of objective quantitative immunohistochemistry are difficult to validate as pathologist scoring is subjective and there is no accepted gold standard. Here we provide the first side-by-side validation of two technologically distinct commercial fluorescence immunohistochemistry analysis platforms. We document highly consistent results by (1) concordance analysis of fluorescence immunohistochemistry values and (2) agreement in outcome predictions both for objective, data-driven cutpoint dichotomization with Kaplan-Meier analyses or employment of continuous marker values to compute receiver-operating curves. The two platforms examined rely on distinct fluorescence immunohistochemistry imaging hardware, microscopy vs line scanning, and functionally distinct image analysis software. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry values for nuclear-localized and tyrosine-phosphorylated Stat5a/b computed by each platform on a cohort of 323 breast cancer cases revealed high concordance after linear calibration, a finding confirmed on an independent 382 case cohort, with concordance correlation coefficients >0.98. Data-driven optimal cutpoints for outcome prediction by either platform were reciprocally applicable to the data derived by the alternate platform, identifying patients with low Nuc-pYStat5 at ~3.5-fold increased risk of disease progression. Our analyses identified two highly concordant fluorescence immunohistochemistry platforms that may serve as benchmarks for testing of other platforms, and low interoperator variability supports the implementation of objective tumor marker quantification in pathology laboratories.

African American Patients' Psychosocial Support Needs and Barriers to Treatment: Patient Needs Assessment

This study assessed adult patient's psychosocial support needs and treatment barriers in an urban diverse cancer center. A needs assessment was conducted with a convenience sample of adult oncology patients (n = 113; 71.7 % African American). Most patients were parenting school-age children and worried about them (96 %); 86.7 % would attend a family support program. Among patients who were married or partnered (68 %), 63.7 % were concerned about communication, coping, and emotional support; 53.9 % would attend a couple support program. Patients identified similar treatment barriers: transportation, babysitting for younger children, convenience of time/place, and refreshments. Findings suggest that behavioral health care providers should be available to screen cancer patients and improve access to appropriate psychosocial oncology support programs.

Comprehensive genomic profiling in colorectal cancer (CRC) to identify differing frequencies of clinically relevant genomic alterations (CRGA) in tumors of patients (pts) less than age 50 as compared to those of pts over age 65

570

Background: CRC is increasing in young pts and are believed to have worse pathological features than older pts. Mutational profiles may differ in pts. The objective of this study was to compare and describe the genomic complexity of CRC in pts < 50 to > 65 in the FoundationOne database. Methods: DNA was extracted from 2,267 FFPE clinical specimens with colorectal cancer (CRC) (< 50 yo, n=1280; > 65 yo, n = 987). CGP was performed on hybridization-captured, adaptor ligation based libraries to a mean coverage depth of 603X for 3,769 exons of 236 cancer-related genes plus 47 introns from 19 genes frequently rearranged in cancer. All classes of genomic alterations (GA) were identified. Clinically relevant genomic alterations (CRGA) were defined as GA linked to drugs on the market or under evaluation in mechanism driven clinical trials. Results: Among the 50 genes analyzed, the > differences were noted in BRAF and FAM123B in pts > 65. KRAS mutations occurred in 50.5% vs 51.3%; NRAS, 2.6% vs 4.8%, BRAF, 5.5% vs 11.9% in younger pts vs older pts, respectively. Few differences in genomic complexity were observed, although a trend toward increase frequency of BRAF mutations were observed in pts > 65. Conclusions: While some differences in tumor genomic profiles and complexity were observed in CRC pts < 50 vs > 65, changes in BRAF and FAM123B were more frequent in the > 65. Ongoing studies will assess differences in molecular and genomic features between younger and older CRC pts. [Table: see text]

MAVERICC, a phase 2 study of mFOLFOX6-bevacizumab (BV) vs FOLFIRI-BV with biomarker stratification as first-line (1L) chemotherapy (CT) in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

493

Background: Standard 1L mCRC treatment (tx) includes a CT backbone (e.g., modified leucovorin [LV]/5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/oxaliplatin [mFOLFOX6] or LV/ 5-FU/ irinotecan [FOLFIRI]) and biologic therapy (e.g., BV). The preferred CT backbone for anti VEGF tx is unknown. MAVERICC (NCT01374425), a global, randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial, assessed tx efficacy and safety of mFOLFOX6-BV vs FOLFIRI-BV in pts with mCRC. Intratumoral ERCC1 and plasma VEGF-A were studied as biomarkers for oxaliplatin- and BV-containing tx, respectively. Methods: Pts with mCRC (≥1 measurable metastatic lesion, ECOG performance status ≤1) were randomized 1:1 to receive BV (5 mg/kg) + mFOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI every 2 weeks, stratified by ERCC1 level (low [£1.7] vs high [>1.7]) and region. VEGF-A levels were measured at baseline. Primary objectives were to evaluate: ERCC1 as a biomarker of progression-free survival (PFS) in 1L mCRC tx (mFOLFOX-BV vs FOLFIRI); and VEGF-A as a biomarker for BV and as a biomarker in combination with ERCC1 for PFS following CT + BV. Secondary objectives were to evaluate: the effect of ERCC1 and VEGF-A on overall survival (OS), objective response rate, hepatic metastases resection, and safety. PFS and OS were estimated by Kaplan–Meier methods, hazard ratios (HR) were estimated by Cox regression, and p-values were based on stratified log-rank tests. ERCC1 biomarker analyses are presented here. Results: A total of 376 pts were randomized: median age, 61 yr; white race, 83%; US region, 85%. Baseline characteristics: ERCC1 high, 35%; KRAS mutant, 34%. Efficacy results are shown (see Table). Conclusion: Consistent with previous findings, PFS and OS were comparable in pts treated with either 1L mFOLFOX6-BV or FOLFIRI-BV. Exploratory analyses within pts with high ERCC1 levels suggest consistent results. VEGF-A analyses are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT01374425. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]