Phase Ib study of anlotinib combined with TQB2450 in pretreated advanced biliary tract cancer and biomarker analysis

Clinical and biomarker analyses of SHR-1701 combined with famitinib in patients with previously treated advanced biliary tract cancer or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a phase II trial

Advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have poor prognoses and limited treatment options. Here, we conducted this first-in-class phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SHR-1701, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), combined with famitinib, a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced BTC or PDAC who failed previous standard treatment (trial registration: ChiCTR2000037927). Among 51 enrolled patients, the BTC cohort showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 28% (including 2 complete responses) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 80%, with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 5.1 months and a median overall survival (mOS) of 16.0 months. In the PDAC cohort, the ORR was 15% (2 complete responses), with a DCR of 60%, and the mPFS and mOS were 2.1 months and 5.3 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 29.4% of patients, with no grade 5 TRAEs reported. Exploratory analyses revealed that primary tumor resection history, peripheral blood immunophenotype changes, and distinct immune-metabolic profiles were associated with treatment benefits. An immune/metabolism score integrating the features of six genes was developed as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in multiple cohorts, allowing for the selection of patients most likely to experience positive outcomes from this therapy regimen. In conclusion, our study provides proof-of-concept data supporting the potential of SHR-1701 plus famitinib as an effective and safe subsequent-line therapy for refractory BTC and PDAC, highlighting the promise of targeting PD-L1, TGF-β, and angiogenesis pathways simultaneously.

Efficacy and safety of camrelizumab, apatinib, and capecitabine combination therapy in advanced biliary tract cancer: a phase 2, nonrandomized, prospective study

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a highly malignant tumor, with limited therapy regimens and short response duration. In this study, we aim to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of camrelizumab, apatinib, and capecitabine as the first- or second-line treatment in patients with advanced BTC.

METHODS

In this phase 2, nonrandomized, prospective study, eligible patients received camrelizumab (200 mg, d1, Q3W), apatinib (250 mg, qd, d1-d21, Q3W), and capecitabine (1000 mg/m², bid, d1-d14, Q3W) until trial discontinued. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

From July 2019 to April 2023, we enrolled a total of 28 patients, of whom 14 patients were in the first-line treatment setting and 14 patients were in the second-line setting. At the data cutoff (April 30, 2023), the median follow-up duration was 18.03 months. Eight of 28 patients reached objective response (ORR: 28.57%), with an ORR of 50% and 7.1% for first-line and second-line treatment patients (P = .033). The median PFS was 6.30 months and the median OS was 12.80 months. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) occurred in 9 (32.14%) patients, including elevated transaminase, thrombocytopenia, etc. No serious treatment-related AEs or treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

In this trial, the combination of camrelizumab, apatinib, and capecitabine showed promising antitumor activity and manageable toxicity in patients with advanced BTC, especially in the first-line setting.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04720131.

Camrelizumab combined with gemcitabine and apatinib in treating advanced PD-L1-positive biliary tract cancers

The efficacy of combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy has previously been demonstrated in patients with biliary tract cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab in combination with gemcitabine and apatinib as a first- or second-line treatment for advanced programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive biliary tract cancer. This prospective, single-arm, and exploratory clinical trial aimed at recruiting 20 PD-L1-positive patients (tumor proportion score ≥1% or combined positive score ≥1) who met the inclusion criteria. Camrelizumab (200 mg) was administered in combination with gemcitabine (800 mg/m2) and apatinib (250 mg). The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. Fourteen patients were enrolled between September 2, 2020, and December 15, 2022. At the data cutoff on August 16, 2023, the median follow-up time was 11.4 months (interquartile range, 4.5-15.4), with one patient still undergoing treatment. Among the enrolled patients, six achieved a partial response, and four had stable disease. The ORR was 42.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.7-71.1), and the DCR was 71.4% (95% CI, 41.9-91.6). The median PFS was 5.4 months (95% CI, 2.8-not reached), and the median OS was 13.5 months (95% CI, 5.7-not reached). The most frequent grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse event was neutropenia (n = 4, 29%). The combination of camrelizumab, gemcitabine, and apatinib showed promising efficacy and acceptable safety in patients with advanced PD-L1-positive biliary tract cancer.

TQB2450 with or without anlotinib as maintenance treatment in subjects with locally advanced/unresectable non-small cell lung cancer that have not progressed after prior concurrent/sequential chemoradiotherapy (R-ALPS): study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III trial

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TQB2450 (benmelstobart) is a novel humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Anlotinib, an oral multitargeted anti-angiogenic agent with potential synergy with ICIs, has shown efficacy in relapsed and advanced NSCLC. Accumulating preclinical data suggest a synergism between immunological and anti-angiogenic therapies through the improvement of the immune microenvironment of the tumor. In this study, we hypothesized that the combination of TQB2450 and anlotinib as maintenance treatment would enable further improvements in the outcomes of patients with locally advanced/unresectable NSCLC without driver mutations that have not progressed after definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Methods

The Radiotherapy and Anlotinib Let PD-L1 Superb (R-ALPS) study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III study (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT04325763). A total of 534 eligible participants will be randomized to receive TQB2450 (1,200 mg) plus anlotinib (8 mg), or TQB2450 (1,200 mg) plus placebo, or placebo as maintenance therapy. Progression-free survival (PFS), assessed by the independent review committee is the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints include additional measures of efficacy, safety, and biomarkers. An interim analysis of the effectiveness will be conducted when 70% (286 cases) of the total PFS events have been reached.

Discussion

The development of the R-ALPS study will contribute to a deeper insight into the interplay between immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy and thus might expand the treatment options available to patients with locally advanced or unresectable NSCLC.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04325763. Date of registration: May 27, 2020. Protocol version: Version 4.0, Sep 16, 2022 (https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04325763).

An Active Trend of Immunotherapy Combination Regimen as Second-Line Therapy Towards Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer

Background

As a second-line therapy, oxaliplatin/fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) remains the standard of care for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC); however, its efficacy is suboptimal. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether, compared with chemotherapy alone, the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination regimen improved the overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced BTC.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with advanced BTC who received chemotherapy or ICI combination therapy as second-line (L2) treatment between January 1, 2018, and April 1, 2022, were retrospectively identified.

Results

A total of 98 patients with BTCs were reviewed and recruited: the chemotherapy group (cohort A, n = 40), the chemotherapy plus ICIs group (cohort B, n = 27), and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) plus ICIs group (cohort C, n = 31). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and median OS were 2.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-4.2) and 7.8 months (95% CI: 5.9-12.0) for cohort A, 4.3 months (95% CI: 2.9-8.4) and 10.9 months (95% CI: 7.67-NA) for cohort B, 5.1 months (95% CI: 4.0-8.3) and 10.1 months (95% CI: 8.23-NA) for cohort C, respectively. The confirmed overall response rates were 7.5% (3/40, cohort A), 22.2% (6/27, cohort B), and 19.4% (6/31, cohort C), whereas the disease control rates were 47.5% (19/40, cohort A), 77.8% (21/27, cohort B), and 77.4% (24/31, cohort C). Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse reaction were reported in 20.0% (cohort A), 37.0% (cohort B), and 41.9% (cohort C) of the patients.

Conclusions

The ICI combination strategy beyond first-line (L1) systemic chemotherapy plays a positive role in advanced BTCs. Both TKIs plus ICIs and chemotherapy plus ICIs could be considered candidates for trials and applied as competitive L2 treatment regimens for advanced BTCs in clinical practice.

Anti-PD-L1 antibody TQB2450 combined with tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor AL2846 for immunotherapy-refractory advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective phase 1b cohort study

BACKGROUND

Effective systemic therapy remains limited for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly after prior failed treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Theoretically, a combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with ICIs may restore immunotherapy sensitivity.

METHODS

In this phase 1b study, patients received AL2846, an antiangiogenic TKI with multiple targets (c-MET, VEGFR1, c-KIT, Axl, RET, KDR, and VEGFR3), in combination with an anti-PD-L1 antibody (TQB2450) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, death, or discontinuation for any cause. The primary end points included overall response rate (ORR) and safety, with secondary end points encompassing progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and duration of response.

RESULTS

Between November 2021 and September 2022, 18 patients with ESCC and 15 patients with HCC, whose ORR was 11.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1%-32.8%) and 0%, respectively, were enrolled. Adverse events (AEs) of any grade and treatment-related AEs were documented in 32 patients (97.0%) and 31 patients (93.9%), respectively. Grade 3 or higher AEs were observed in 10 patients (30.3%), with vomiting (6.1%) and infectious pneumonia (9.1%) being the most prevalent. Median PFS and OS values were 3.22 months (95% CI, 1.35-5.68 months) and 5.98 months (95% CI, 3.71-8.87 months), respectively, in patients with ESCC, and 5.55 months (95% CI, 2.66 months to not evaluable [NE]) and 16.72 months (95% CI, 4.86 months to NE), respectively, in patients with HCC. The DCRs were 66.7% (95% CI, 43.75%-83.72%) in patients with ESCC and 73.3% (95% CI, 48.05%-89.10%) in patients with HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined TQB2450 and AL2846 therapy exhibited a favorable safety profile in immunotherapy-refractory patients with advanced ESCC and HCC.

Combination of anlotinib and toripalimab for an advanced biliary tract cancer patient with high Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status: a case report

Up to 80% of biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients relapse within 3 years after surgery and the efficacy of second-line treatment remains dismal for patients who progressed on gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy. Median overall survival of patients with palliative chemotherapy is less than 1 year. The feasibility and safety of targeted therapies plus immunotherapies remain scanty currently, and patients with recurrent or advanced BTCs often experience a rapid decline in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. This case report is the first report suggesting a 17-month progression-free survival (PFS), partial response, and another 11-month PFS after progressive disease of anlotinib plus toripalimab in advanced BTC with high ECOG performance status. We report a 67-year-old Chinese male with BTC. He was observed with progressive disease after surgical resection, adjuvant chemotherapy, palliative chemotherapy, and diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage IV (cT3N0M1) extrahepatic BTC. The patient experienced a rapid decline in performance status, and he received oral anlotinib and toripalimab with informed consent. MRI scans showed partial response on 22 June 2022. PET-CT showed that tumor activity has been inhibited on 8 March 2023. He achieved 17 months of PFS. Although the patient developed solitary lung metastasis, he had a continuous survival benefit from treatment of anlotinib plus toripalimab after lung radiotherapy. Until the writing of the case draft, he had achieved another 11 months of PFS. The present case suggests that anlotinib plus toripalimab might be a potential effective treatment for advanced BTCs patients with high ECOG performance status.

Emerging biomarkers for immunotherapy response in biliary tract cancers: a comprehensive review of immune checkpoint inhibitor strategies

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have rising incidence and mortality rates. Chemotherapy's limited efficacy has led to exploring new treatments like immunotherapy. which offers modest benefits. Moreover, the identification of reliable predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint therapy in BTCs remains elusive, hindering personalized treatment strategies. This review provides an overview of the current landscape of emerging biomarkers for immunotherapy response in BTCs. We discuss the incremental benefits of combination therapy and the evolving role of immunotherapy in managing advanced BTC. Additionally, we highlight the need for robust predictive biomarkers to optimize treatment outcomes and foster a more individualized approach to patient care. We aim to identify promising research avenues and strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient survival in BTCs.

Gefitinib (an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) plus anlotinib (an multikinase inhibitor) for untreated, EGFR-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (FL-ALTER): a multicenter phase III trial

Dual inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways offers the prospect of improving the effectiveness of EFGR-targeted therapy. In this phase 3 study (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT04028778), 315 patients with treatment-naïve, EGFR-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomized (1:1) to receive anlotinib or placebo plus gefitinib once daily on days 1-14 per a 3-week cycle. At the prespecified final analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), a significant improvement in PFS was observed for the anlotinib arm over the placebo arm (hazards ratio [HR] = 0.64, 95% CI, 0.48-0.80, P = 0.003). Particularly, patients with brain metastasis and those harboring EGFR amplification or high tumor mutation load gained significant more benefits in PFS from gefitinib plus anlotinib. The incidence of grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events was 49.7% of the patients receiving gefitinib plus anlotinib versus 31.0% of the patients receiving gefitinib plus placebo. Anlotinib plus gefitinib significantly improves PFS in patients with treatment-naïve, EGFR-mutated, advanced NSCLC, with a manageable safety profile.

Efficacy and safety of anlotinib plus anti-PD-1 agents in patients with refractory advanced biliary tract cancers

BACKGROUND

Anlotinib has demonstrated promising anti-tumor efficacy in various solid tumors. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that immune therapy can enhance the systemic responses of anlotinib. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of combining anlotinib with PD-1 inhibitors compared to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy as a second-line treatment option for advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs).

METHODS

A total of 242 patients with BTCs were screened at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2015 to October 2022. Among them, 78 patients who received either anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors (AP) or fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy (FB) as second-line treatment were included in the study. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), safety, and predictive tumor biomarkers.

RESULTS

Among the 78 patients with BTCs, 39 patients received AP, while 39 patients were administered FB. The ORR in the AP group was 20.5%, compared to 5.1% in the FB group. The DCR was 87.2% in the AP group and 66.7% in the FB group. The AP group demonstrated significantly better ORR and DCR compared to the FB group (p = 0.042, p = 0.032). The median PFS and OS in the AP group were 7.9 months (95% CI: 4.35-11.45) and 13.9 months (95% CI: 5.39-22.41), respectively. In the FB group, the median PFS and OS were 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.17-5.03) and 13.2 months (95% CI: 8.72-17.68), respectively. The AP group exhibited significantly better median PFS than the FB group (p = 0.027). In the subgroup analysis, patients without liver metastasis had a much longer PFS in the AP group compared to the FB group (14.3 vs. 5.5 months, p = 0.016). Similarly, patients with CEA ≤ 5 μg/L also demonstrated a longer PFS in the AP group compared to the FB group (8.7 vs. 3.9 months, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of anlotinib and PD-1 inhibitors demonstrated a promising clinical effect compared to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of refractory advanced BTCs. Liver metastases and CEA levels may serve as predictive factors for identifying patients who may benefit from AP therapy.

Efficacy and safety of maintenance therapy with anlotinib for advanced cholangiocarcinoma after first-line chemotherapy and the variations in efficacy based on different neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of anlotinib as maintenance therapy in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma following first-line chemotherapy.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 154 patients with advanced biliary tract cancer admitted to the hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. All patients received first-line intravenous chemotherapy with gemcitabine combined with cisplatin, oxaliplatin, or tegafur. Among the 106 patients who achieved disease control, 47 received oral anlotinib hydrochloride (12 mg daily, 2 weeks on/1 week off) as maintenance therapy. Clinical efficacy, including ORR, DCR, DOR, PFS, and OS, was compared between the anlotinib maintenance and non-maintenance groups. Subgroup analysis based on NLR levels was also performed.

RESULTS

Among the 47 anlotinib maintenance patients, the ORR was 21.28% and the DCR was 51.06%. The median DOR was 36 weeks, and the median PFS was 43 weeks in the anlotinib group, versus 28 weeks and 38 weeks in the non-maintenance group, respectively. The median OS was not reached in the anlotinib group but was 48 weeks in the non-maintenance group. Patients receiving anlotinib maintenance had significantly longer DOR, PFS, and OS (all p < 0.05). Patients with low NLR levels had better survival benefits from anlotinib.

CONCLUSION

Maintenance therapy with anlotinib demonstrates potential efficacy and a reliable safety profile in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma following first-line treatment. The efficacy of anlotinib therapy appears to be influenced by NLR levels. Further validation with larger sample sizes is warranted to strengthen the robustness and reliability of the results.

Toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitor combinations in solid tumours: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can be associated with significant toxicity. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the toxicity of combination treatment of ICIs with TKIs (ICI + TKI) in clinical trials with solid organ malignancies. Our primary endpoint explored the incidence of grade 3 - 5 (G3-5) treatment-related toxicity and our secondary endpoints included the incidence of toxicity by treatment type, disease type and studies with run-in strategies. A total of 9750 abstracts were identified, of which 72 eligible studies were included. The most common disease types were non-small cell lung cancer (n=8, 11.1%), renal cell carcinoma (n=10, 13.8%) and hepatobiliary cancers (n=10, 13.8%). The overall incidence of G3-5 toxicity was 56% (95% CI = 50% - 61%). The most common TKIs combined with ICIs in this analysis were multi-targeted TKIs (n = 52, 72%), VEGF specific (n = 9, 12.5%), or oncogene-targeting TKIs (EGFR, ALK, BRAF, MEK) (n =11, 15.3%). Oncogene-targeted TKIs were associated a higher incidence of rashes and immune related adverse events (irAEs) and lower incidence of hypertension. In studies which used a TKI 'run-in' to mitigate toxicity, the pooled estimate of G3-5 toxicity was 71% (95% CI 57-81%). Almost half of studies (48%) omitted the incidence of G3-5 irAEs. Our work suggests that the majority of patients who receive ICI-TKI combinations will experience high grade toxicity (G3-G5) and that toxicity may be specific to TKI partner (Oncogene targeted TKIs: Rash, irAEs; VEGF/Multitargeted: Hypertension). These data did not suggest that a TKI 'run-in' was associated with a lower incidence of G3-5 toxicity. Reporting of irAEs was inconsistent supporting the need for harmonisation of adverse event reporting to include onset, duration and treatment.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022367416.

Anlotinib synergizes with venetoclax to induce mitotic catastrophe in acute myeloid leukemia

Venetoclax is a BCL2-targeted drug employed in treating various cancers, particularly hematologic malignancies. Venetoclax combination therapies are increasingly recognized as promising treatment strategies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we conducted an unbiased drug screen and identified anlotinib, a promising multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with oral activity currently utilized in the treatment of solid tumor, as a potent enhancer of venetoclax's anticancer activity in AML. Our investigation encompassed AML cell lines, primary cells, and mouse models, demonstrating effective low-dose combination therapy of anlotinib and venetoclax with minimal cytopenia or organ damage. Proteomic analysis revealed abnormal mitotic signals induced by this combination in AML cells. Mechanistically, anlotinib synergized with venetoclax by suppressing ARPP19 protein, leading to sustained activation of PP2A-B55δ. This inhibited AML cells from entering the mitotic phase, culminating in mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis. Additionally, we identified a specific synthetic lethal vulnerability in AML involving an ARPP19 mutation at S62 phosphorylation. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of anlotinib and venetoclax combination therapy in AML, warranting further clinical investigation.

Current and Future Therapeutic Targets for Directed Molecular Therapies in Cholangiocarcinoma

We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data, clinical trials (MEDLINE; ncbi.pubmed.com), congress contributions (asco.org; esmo.org), and active recruiting clinical trains (clinicaltrial.gov) on targeted therapies in cholangiocarcinoma. Palliative treatment regimens were analyzed as well as preoperative and perioperative treatment options. We summarized the current knowledge for each mutation and molecular pathway that is or has been under clinical evaluation and discussed the results on the background of current treatment guidelines. We established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for second-line settings, including IDH-, BRAF-, and NTRK-mutated tumors, as well as for FGFR2 fusion, HER2/neu-overexpression, and microsatellite instable tumors. Other options for targeted treatment include EGFR- or VEGF-dependent pathways, which are known to be overexpressed or dysregulated in this cancer type and are currently under clinical investigation. Targeted therapy in CCA is a hallmark of individualized medicine as these therapies aim to specifically block pathways that promote cancer cell growth and survival, leading to tumor shrinkage and improved patient outcomes based on the molecular profile of the tumor.

Genomic characterization and immunotherapy for microsatellite instability-high in cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) is a unique genomic status in many cancers. However, its role in the genomic features and immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is unclear. This study aimed to systematically investigate the genomic characterization and immunotherapy efficacy of MSI-H patients with CCA.

METHODS

We enrolled 887 patients with CCA in this study. Tumor samples were collected for next-generation sequencing. Differences in genomic alterations between the MSI-H and microsatellite stability (MSS) groups were analyzed. We also investigated the survival of PD-1 inhibitor-based immunotherapy between two groups of 139 patients with advanced CCA.

RESULTS

Differential genetic alterations between the MSI-H and MSS groups included mutations in ARID1A, ACVR2A, TGFBR2, KMT2D, RNF43, and PBRM1 which were enriched in MSI-H groups. Patients with an MSI-H status have a significantly higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) (median 41.7 vs. 3.1 muts/Mb, P < 0.001) and more positive programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (37.5% vs. 11.9%, P < 0.001) than those with an MSS status. Among patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor-based therapy, those with MSI-H had a longer median overall survival (OS, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.17, P = 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS, HR = 0.14, P < 0.001) than patients with MSS. Integrating MSI-H and PD-L1 expression status (combined positive score ≥ 5) could distinguish the efficacy of immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

MSI-H status was associated with a higher TMB value and more positive PD-L1 expression in CCA tumors. Moreover, in patients with advanced CCA who received PD-1 inhibitor-based immunotherapy, MSI-H and positive PD-L1 expression were associated with improved both OS and PFS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 07/01/2017 (NCT03892577).

TQB2450 in patients with advanced malignant tumors: results from a phase I dose-escalation and expansion study

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has demonstrated impressive clinical benefits in multiple tumor types. TQB2450, a novel monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death ligand 1, has shown safety and efficacy in preclinical studies.

Objectives

This first-in-human study aimed to evaluate the safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and preliminary antitumor activity of TQB2450 in patients with advanced malignant tumors.

Design and methods

In this phase I study, eligible patients with advanced malignant tumors received intravenous TQB2450 once every 3 weeks. This study consisted of a 3 + 3 dose-escalation phase (1-30 mg/kg) and a specific dose-expansion phase (1200 mg). The primary endpoints were maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and safety. The secondary endpoints were PK, immunogenicity, and investigator-assessed response rate.

Results

Between April 2018 and February 2020, 40 patients were enrolled (22 in the dose-escalation phase and 18 in the dose-expansion phase). No DLT was reported and the MTD was not reached. Grade ⩾3 or worse treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) occurred in 11 (27.50%) patients, with the most frequent being aspartate aminotransferase increased (5.00%), leukopenia (5.00%), and anemia (5.00%). Treatment-related serious AEs were reported in six patients, the most common of which was decompensated liver function (5.00%). No treatment-related death was reported. The maximum serum concentration of TQB2450 increased in a dose-proportional manner. Treatment-induced anti-drug antibodies were detected in 31.58% (12/38) of patients. The investigator assessed the objective response rate as 5.00% and the disease control rate was 52.50%, including 2 partial responses and 19 stable diseases. The median progression-free survival was 2.69 (95% confidence interval, 2.07-6.14) months.

Conclusion

TQB2450 has a manageable safety profile with favorable PK and immunogenicity and has shown early evidence of clinical activity in advanced malignant tumors.

ClinicalTrialsgov identifier

NCT03460457.

Phase Ib study of anlotinib in combination with anti-PD-L1 antibody (TQB2450) in patients with advanced acral melanoma

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma, the most common subtype of melanoma in Asians, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and responds poorly to current programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TQB2450 and anlotinib in patients with advanced acral melanoma in a phase Ib study (NCT03991975).

METHODS

Patients received TQB2450 (1200 mg every 3 weeks) and anlotinib (10 mg or 12 mg once daily, 2-week on/1-week off) in the dose-escalation and dose-expansion phases. The primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were enrolled between June 2019 and June 2022. The majority of patients (16 of 19 patients) received anlotinib and TQB2450 as first-line treatment. No DLTs were observed, and MTD was not reached. Eighteen (94.7%) out of 19 patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), but most were grade 1 or 2. Grade 3 or greater TRAEs occurred in seven patients (36.8%). The ORR was 26.3% (two complete responses and three partial responses). The disease control rate was 73.7%. The median duration of response was 30.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.8-NA]. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% CI: 2.8-NA), and median overall survival was 20.3 months (95% CI: 14.8-NA). Whole-exome sequencing suggested that acquired drug resistance might be attributed to activation of the MAPK signalling pathway and transformation to an immunosuppressive tumour environment.

CONCLUSIONS

TQB2450 combined with anlotinib showed favourable tolerance and promising anti-tumour activity with a prolonged PFS compared with anti-PD1 monotherapy in patients with advanced acral melanoma.

Expert Consensus on Pathological Diagnosis of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (2022 version)

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) can originate from the large bile duct group (segment bile ducts and area bile ducts), small bile duct group (septal bile ducts and interlobular bile ducts), and terminal bile duct group (bile ductules and canals of Hering) of the intrahepatic biliary tree, which can be histopathological corresponding to large duct type iCCA, small duct type iCCA and iCCA with ductal plate malformation pattern, and cholangiolocarcinoma, respectively. The challenge in pathological diagnosis of above subtypes of iCCA falls in the distinction of cellular morphologies, tissue structures, growth patterns, invasive behaviors, immunophenotypes, molecular mutations, and surgical prognoses. For these reasons, this expert consensus provides nine recommendations as a reference for standardizing and refining the diagnosis of pathological subtypes of iCCA, mainly based on the 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System.

Long-lasting complete response to SHR-1701 plus famitinib in refractory advanced gallbladder cancer: A case report

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is an aggressive malignancy with few options for advanced-stage treatment. The combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with famitinib, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor, has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes in several clinical trials. We herein reported a case of a gallbladder cancer (GBC) patient with liver metastases, previously resistant to traditional chemotherapy. Remarkably, the patient achieved a complete response (CR) with a long-lasting survival benefit exceeding 3 years. This was achieved using a novel regimen combining SHR-1701, an anti-PD-L1/TGF-βR fusion protein, and famitinib, even though the patient had proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) and tested negative for PD-L1. Adverse events were limited and manageable. This is the first report of such a treatment regimen being applied in a clinical setting, suggesting that the SHR-1701 and famitinib combination may be a promising immunotherapeutic approach for patients with refractory advanced GBC.

Clinical research progress of targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy for advanced cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common and highly malignant form of cancer that has shown high rates of morbidity and mortality in recent years. The prognosis for cholangiocarcinoma is generally poor due to its aggressive nature and high recurrence rate. Most patients are diagnosed in the middle or late stages of the disease, making surgical treatment challenging. As a result, there is a pressing need to improve the treatment of advanced cholangiocarcinoma. The advancement of tumor genetics has allowed for more precise and targeted treatment approaches. Targeted molecular therapy has shown promise in cholangiocarcinoma treatment, and the study of immunotherapy has provided hope for patients who are not eligible for surgery or have a poor response to chemotherapy. However, the effectiveness of single targeted therapy or immunotherapy is limited. Therefore, the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy represents a significant breakthrough and challenge. Recent research on the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma has yielded promising results, surpassing the outcomes of single therapy or chemotherapy. This has sparked intense interest in further investigating this combined approach. In this article, we aim to review the development and research findings of targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy, providing new insights for the selection of combined therapy and future clinical research in cholangiocarcinoma.

Efficacy and safety of anlotinib as an adjuvant therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with a high risk of postoperative recurrence

Objective

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of postoperative recurrence and lacks an effective treatment to prevent recurrence. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in postoperative adjuvant therapy for HCC patients with high-risk recurrence factors.

Methods

For this multicenter, retrospective study, we recruited 63 HCC patients who received either anlotinib (n=27) or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) (n=36) from six research centers in China between March 2019 and October 2020. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety.

Results

In this study, the median follow-up time was 25.9 and 26.8 months in the anlotinib and TACE groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the median DFS between the anlotinib [26.8 months, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.8-NE] and TACE groups (20.6 months, 95% CI: 8.4-NE). The 12-month OS rates in the anlotinib and TACE groups were 96.3% and 97.2%, respectively. In the anlotinib group, 19 of 27 patients (70.4%) experienced treatment-emergent adverse events, with the most common events (≥10%) being hypertension (22.2%) and decreased platelet count (22.2%).

Conclusions

The results indicate that anlotinib, as a new, orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has the same efficacy as TACE, and side effects can be well controlled.

A phase Ib study of TQB2450 plus anlotinib in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer

This study explored the safety and preliminary efficacy of the anti-PD-L1 antibody TQB2450 combined with the multi-kinase inhibitor anlotinib in advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Patients with advanced TNBC who received at least one line of systemic therapy with anthracyclines and/or taxanes were enrolled in the dose-escalation and dose-expansion cohorts. Between May 29, 2019 and September 28, 2020, 34 patients were enrolled (three in the dose-escalation cohort and 31 in the dose-expansion cohort). The ORR was 26.5% (95% CI, 12.9-44.4) and the DCR was 73.5% (95% CI, 55.6-87.1). The median PFS was 5.6 (95% CI, 2.9-7.5) months, and the median OS was not reached. Seventeen (50.0%) patients had grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events, with the most common being QT interval prolongation (17.6%) and hypertension (14.7%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. TQB2450 combined with anlotinib as a chemotherapy-free treatment shows promising efficacy with a manageable safety profile for patients with previously treated advanced TNBC.

Targeting Angiogenesis in the Era of Biliary Tract Cancer Immunotherapy: Biological Rationale, Clinical Implications, and Future Research Avenues

Although biliary tract cancers are traditionally considered rare in Western countries, their incidence and mortality rates are rising worldwide. A better knowledge of the genomic landscape of these tumor types has broadened the number of molecular targeted therapies, including angiogenesis inhibitors. The role of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) could potentially change the first-line therapeutic approach, but monotherapy with ICIs has shown disappointing results in CCA. Several clinical trials are evaluating combination strategies that include immunotherapy together with other anticancer agents with a synergistic activity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) composition plays a pivotal role in the prognosis of BTC patients. The accumulation of immunosuppressive cell types, such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T-cells, together with the poor infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells, is known to predispose to a poor prognosis owing to the establishment of resistance mechanisms. Likewise, angiogenesis is recognized as a major player in modulating the TME in an immunosuppressive manner. This is the mechanistic rationale for combination treatment schemes blocking both immunity and angiogenesis. In this scenario, this review aims to provide an overview of the most recent completed or ongoing clinical trials combining immunotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitors with/without a chemotherapy backbone.

Development of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases

Since the first monoclonal antibody drug, muromonab-CD3, was approved for marketing in 1986, 165 antibody drugs have been approved or are under regulatory review worldwide. With the approval of new drugs for treating a wide range of diseases, including cancer and autoimmune and metabolic disorders, the therapeutic antibody drug market has experienced explosive growth. Monoclonal antibodies have been sought after by many biopharmaceutical companies and scientific research institutes due to their high specificity, strong targeting abilities, low toxicity, side effects, and high development success rate. The related industries and markets are growing rapidly, and therapeutic antibodies are one of the most important research and development areas in the field of biology and medicine. In recent years, great progress has been made in the key technologies and theoretical innovations provided by therapeutic antibodies, including antibody-drug conjugates, antibody-conjugated nuclides, bispecific antibodies, nanobodies, and other antibody analogs. Additionally, therapeutic antibodies can be combined with technologies used in other fields to create new cross-fields, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), CAR-natural killer cells (CAR-NK), and other cell therapy. This review summarizes the latest approved or in regulatory review therapeutic antibodies that have been approved or that are under regulatory review worldwide, as well as clinical research on these approaches and their development, and outlines antibody discovery strategies that have emerged during the development of therapeutic antibodies, such as hybridoma technology, phage display, preparation of fully human antibody from transgenic mice, single B-cell antibody technology, and artificial intelligence-assisted antibody discovery.