Patient outcome in the Belgian medical need program on bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma

Efficacy of apatinib combined with temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent high‑grade glioma: A meta‑analysis

Recurrent high-grade glioma is a refractory disease, and its prognosis is poor. Although the treatment of apatinib combined with temozolomide provides improved efficacy and is able to prolong survival, this conclusion has been based on small samples. In order to clarify this treatment's efficacy, a meta-analysis was performed in the present study. Different databases were screened and finally, 10 studies were included, comprising 357 patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas. The efficacy and prognosis were analyzed using Stata software. The results indicated that the overall objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of apatinib combined with temozolomide were 0.36 (95% CI, 0.26-0.46) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.82-0.89), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that the overall ORR was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.29-0.57) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.14-0.38), and the DCR was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85-0.93) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.69-0.84) in the treatment of apatinib with temozolomide dose-dense group and the conventional-dose group (5/28 regimen), respectively. Further prognostic analysis indicated that the median overall survival of patients with high-grade glioma treated with apatinib combined with temozolomide was 8.21 months (95% CI, 7.20-9.22 months) and the median progression-free survival was 5.45 months (95% CI, 4.53-6.37). Analysis of the publication bias of the effect size revealed that there was bias in the DCR, while no bias was found in the remaining effect size (ORR, median overall survival and median progression-free survival). After correction by the trim-and-fill method, bias was indicated to have no significant impact on the results. In conclusion, apatinib combined with temozolomide has the effect that, compared with traditional Bevacizumab treatment, it can improve the efficacy in the treatment of recurrent high-grade glioma and improve prognosis. When combining with dose-dense temozolomide, the effect may be better than that of the conventional 5/28 regimen.

Intracerebral administration of CTLA-4 and PD-1 immune checkpoint blocking monoclonal antibodies in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: a phase I clinical trial

Background

Patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGB) have a poor prognosis with a median overall survival (OS) of 30–39 weeks in prospective clinical trials. Intravenous administration of programmed cell death protein 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 inhibitors has low activity in patients with rGB. In this phase I clinical trial, intracerebral (IC) administration of ipilimumab (IPI) and nivolumab (NIVO) in combination with intravenous administration of NIVO was investigated.

Methods

Within 24 hours following the intravenous administration of a fixed dose (10 mg) of NIVO, patients underwent a maximal safe resection, followed by injection of IPI (10 mg; cohort-1), or IPI (5 mg) plus NIVO (10 mg; cohort-2) in the brain tissue lining the resection cavity. Intravenous administration of NIVO (10 mg) was repeated every 2 weeks (max. five administrations). Next generation sequencing and RNA gene expression profiling was performed on resected tumor tissue.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled (cohort-1: n=3; cohort-2: n=24). All patients underwent maximal safe resection and planned IC administrations and preoperative NIVO. Thirteen patients (cohort-1: n=3; cohort-2: n=10) received all five postoperative intravenous doses of NIVO. In cohort-2, 14 patients received a median of 3 (range 1–4) intravenous doses. Subacute postoperative neurological deterioration (n=2) was reversible on steroid treatment; no other central nervous system toxicity was observed. Immune-related adverse events were infrequent and mild. GB recurrence was diagnosed in 26 patients (median progression-free survival (PFS) is 11.7 weeks (range 2–152)); 21 patients have died due to progression. Median OS is 38 weeks (95% CI: 27 to 49) with a 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year OS-rate of, respectively, 74.1% (95% CI: 57 to 90), 40.7% (95% CI: 22 to 59), and 27% (95% CI: 9 to 44). OS compares favorable against a historical cohort (descriptive Log-Rank p>0.003). No significant difference was found with respect to PFS (descriptive Log-Rank test p>0.05). A higher tumor mRNA expression level of B7-H3 was associated with a significantly worse survival (multivariate Cox logistic regression, p>0.029).

Conclusion

IC administration of NIVO and IPI following maximal safe resection of rGB was feasible, safe, and associated with encouraging OS.

Trial registration

NCT03233152.

Safety and efficacy of VB-111, an anticancer gene therapy, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: results of a phase I/II study

BACKGROUND

VB-111 is a non-replicating adenovirus carrying a Fas-chimera transgene, leading to targeted apoptosis of tumor vascular endothelium and induction of a tumor-specific immune response. This phase I/II study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of VB-111 with and without bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM).

METHODS

Patients with rGBM (n = 72) received VB-111 in 4 treatment groups: subtherapeutic (VB-111 dose escalation), limited exposure (LE; VB-111 monotherapy until progression), primed combination (VB-111 monotherapy continued upon progression with combination of bevacizumab), and unprimed combination (upfront combination of VB-111 and bevacizumab). The primary endpoint was median overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were safety, overall response rate, and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

VB-111 was well tolerated. The most common adverse event was transient mild-moderate fever. Median OS time was significantly longer in the primed combination group compared with both LE (414 vs 223 days; hazard ratio [HR], 0.48; P = 0.043) and unprimed combination (414 vs 141.5 days; HR, 0.24; P = 0.0056). Patients in the combination phase of the primed combination group had a median PFS time of 90 days compared with 60 in the LE group (HR, 0.36; P = 0.032), and 63 in the unprimed combination group (P = 0.72). Radiographic responders to VB-111 exhibited characteristic, expansive areas of necrosis in the areas of initial enhancing disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with rGBM who were primed with VB-111 monotherapy that continued after progression with the addition of bevacizumab showed significant survival and PFS advantage, as well as specific imaging characteristics related to VB-111 mechanism of action. These results warrant further assessment in a randomized controlled study.

Angiotensinogen promoter methylation predicts bevacizumab treatment response of patients with recurrent glioblastoma

Patients with recurrent glioblastoma achieving response to bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy have clinical improvement and prolonged survival. High gene expression of angiotensinogen (AGT) is associated with a poor bevacizumab response. Because AGT expression is epigenetically regulated, we aimed to investigate whether AGT promoter methylation in tumor tissue predicts response to bevacizumab combination therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The study included 159 patients with recurrent glioblastoma, treated with bevacizumab combination treatment (training cohort, n = 77; validation cohort, n = 82). All patients could be evaluated for treatment response and biomarkers. DNA methylation of 4 CpG sites in the AGT promoter was measured using pyrosequencing. A model for nonresponse was established using logistic regression analysis. In the training cohort, lower methylation of each of the four CpG sites in the AGT promoter was significantly associated with nonresponse (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean methylation level of all four CpG sites was associated with an increased likelihood of not achieving response to bevacizumab combination therapy (twofold decrease: odds ratio = 3.01; 95% confidence interval: 1.41-6.44; P = 0.004). We developed a model for nonresponse in the training cohort, where a threshold of mean AGT promoter methylation levels was set to below 12%. The model could predict bevacizumab nonresponse with 96% specificity. Importantly, this predictor was also significantly associated with nonresponse in the validation cohort (P = 0.037). Taken together, our findings suggest that low AGT promoter methylation in tumor tissue predicts nonresponse to bevacizumab combination treatment in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. We have, thus, established and successfully validated a predictor for nonresponse that can be used to identify patients who will not benefit from bevacizumab combination therapy.

Long-term survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab: a multicentric retrospective study

PURPOSE

Recurrence of glioblastoma (GB) occurs in most patients after standard concomitant temozolomide-based radiochemotherapy (CTRC). Bevacizumab (BV), an anti-VEGF antibody, has an effect on progression-free survival (PFS) but not on overall survival (OS). However, a small part of the patients experience a survival, longer than expected. This retrospective study aims to characterize long responder (LR) patients treated with BV for a first or second GBM recurrence.

METHODS

Medical records from patients (814) who received BV for a first or second recurrence of primary glioblastoma between September 2010 and September 2015, and initially treated by CTRC were analyzed. Patients, who had at least a stable disease according to RANO criteria at 12 months from the start of BV, were included. Patients who had, a secondary GB, or received BV in neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting were excluded.

RESULTS

We focused on 65 LR patients without progression 12 months after the first injection of BV (8%). Median PFS was 21.7 months [95% CI (19.3; 27.2)] and median OS was 31.1 months [95% CI (24.3; 37.5)] from the start of BV. No prognostic factor was associated with OS in multivariate analysis. Karnofsky performance status, neurological status and corticosteroid dose were stable at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight that among patients receiving bevacizumab in first or second recurrence, one patient out of twelve could be classified as LR. A median OS of 31.1 months from the start of BV could be expected in this subpopulation. These findings reinforce the potential benefit of the use of BV in the situation of recurrence. 256 words.

Biomarkers in Recurrent Grade III Glioma Patients Treated with Bevacizumab and Irinotecan

Predictive biomarkers and prognostic models are required to identify recurrent grade III glioma patients who benefit from existing treatment. In this study of 62 recurrent grade III glioma patients, a range of clinical and paraclinical factors are tested for association with progression-free survival, overall survival, and response to bevacizumab and irinotecan therapy. Significant factors from univariate screening are included in multivariate analysis. Biomarkers previously advanced as predictive or prognostic in the first-line setting did not affect outcome in this patient cohort. Based on the optimized model for overall survival, comprising performance status and p53 expression, a prognostic index is established.

Bevacizumab in temozolomide refractory high-grade gliomas: single-centre experience and review of the literature

Background

Despite multidisciplinary treatment approaches, the prognosis for patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) is poor, with a median overall survival (OS) of 14.6 months for glioblastoma multiforme (GB). As high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) are found in HGG, targeted anti-antiangiogenic therapy using the humanized monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (BEV) was studied in a series of clinical trials. Still, the discrepancy of BEV's efficacy with regard to initial clinical and radiological response and its reported failure to prolong survival remains to be explained. Here, we illustrate the effectiveness of BEV in recurrent HGG by summarizing our single-centre experience.

Methods

We have retrospectively investigated the effect of BEV in temozolomide refractory HGG in 39 patients treated at the University Hospital of Ulm, Germany.

Results

Median duration of BEV treatment was 12.5 weeks; 23% of patients received BEV for more than 6 months and 15% for more than 1 year, until clinical or radiological tumour progression led to discontinuation. Furthermore, Karnofsky performance status increased in 30.6% and steroid dose decreased in 39% of all patients.

Conclusions

The review of literature reveals that phase II and III studies support BEV as an effective therapy in recurrent HGG, at least with regard to progression-free survival (PFS), but landmark phase III trials failed to prove benefit concerning OS. Here, we discuss reasons that may account for this observation. We conclude that prolonging PFS with maintenance of neurological function and personal and economic independency justifies the off-label use of BEV.

Randomized phase II study of axitinib versus physicians best alternative choice of therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

We conducted a randomized, non-comparative, multi center, phase II clinical trial in order to investigate the efficacy of axitinib, an oral small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with high affinity and specificity for the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma following prior treatment with radiation and temozolomide. Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with axitinib (5 mg BID starting dose; N = 22) or "physicians best alternative choice of therapy" that consisted of bevacizumab (N = 20) or lomustine (N = 2). Six-month progression-free survival served as the primary endpoint. The estimated 6-month progression-free survival rate was 34 % (95 % CI 14-54) for patients treated with axitinib and 28 % (95 % CI 8-48) with best alternative treatment; median overall survival was 29 and 17 weeks, respectively. Objective responses according to RANO criteria were documented in 28 % of patients treated with axitinib and 23 % of patients treated with best alternative therapy. A decrease in maximal uptake of 18F-fluoro-ethyL-tyrosine (18F-FET) by the glioblastoma on PET imaging was documented in 85 % of patients at the time of response on axitinib. Corticosteroid treatment could be stopped in four and tapered in seven out of the 15 patients who were treated with steroids at baseline in the axitinib cohort. Most frequent axitinib related grade ≥3 adverse events consisted of fatigue (9 %), diarrhea (9 %), and oral hyperesthesia (4.5 %). We conclude that axitinib has single-agent clinical activity and a manageable toxicity profile in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Development and validation of a prognostic model for recurrent glioblastoma patients treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan

BACKGROUND

Predictive markers and prognostic models are required in order to individualize treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Here, we sought to identify clinical factors able to predict response and survival in recurrent GBM patients treated with bevacizumab (BEV) and irinotecan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 219 recurrent GBM patients treated with BEV plus irinotecan according to a previously published treatment protocol were included in the initial population. Prognostic models were generated by means of multivariate logistic and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, corticosteroid use had a negative predictive impact on response at first evaluation (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22-0.93; p = 0.03) and at best response (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.26-1.02; p = 0.056). Three significant (p < 0.05) prognostic factors associated with reduced progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were identified. These factors were included in the final model for OS, namely corticosteroid use (HR 1.70; 95% CI 1.18-2.45; p = 0.004), neurocognitive deficit (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.04-1.89; p = 0.03) and multifocal disease (HR 1.56; 95% CI 1.15-2.11; p < 0.0001). Based on these results a prognostic index able to calculate the probability for OS at 6 and 12 months for the individual patient was established. The predictive value of the model for OS was validated in a separate patient cohort of 85 patients.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

A prognostic model for OS was established and validated. This model can be used by physicians to risk stratify the individual patient and together with the patient decide whether to initiate BEV relapse treatment.

Bevacizumab for glioblastoma

Individuals with glioblastoma are often characterized by older age, advanced neurologic manifestations at the primary stage, and unresectable tumors, and these factors are associated with poor treatment outcomes. Administration of bevacizumab (BV, Avastin^®) promotes tumor regression and improves cerebral edema, and is expected to improve neurologic findings in many patients with malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma. Although the addition of BV to the conventional standard therapy (chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma prolonged the progression-free survival time and the performance status of patients, it failed to extend overall survival time. However, more than 50% of glioblastoma patients show Karnofsky performance status ≤70 at initial presentation; therefore, BV should be used to improve or maintain their performance status as an initial treatment. Most of the adverse events of BV, except hypertension and proteinuria, occur as complications of glioblastoma, and explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of BV administration to patients is important. Herein, the efficacy, safety, and challenges of using BV for treating glioblastoma were reviewed.