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Marques A, Cavaco P, Torre C, Sepodes B, Rocha J. Tumor mutational burden in colorectal cancer: Implications for treatment. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 197:104342. [PMID: 38614266 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of several advanced solid cancers, in colorectal cancer, the transformative benefit of these innovative medicines is currently limited to those with deficient mismatch repair or high microsatellite instability. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has emerged as a potential predictor of immunotherapy benefit, but the lack of standardization in its assessment and reporting has hindered the introduction of this biomarker in routine clinical practice. Here, we compiled 45 colorectal cancer studies utilizing numerical thresholds for high-TMB. In this group of studies, TMB cut-offs ranged from 6.88 to 41 mut/Mb and were most often set at 10, 17, or 20 mut/Mb. Additionally, we observed divergent TMB definitions and inconsistent disclosure of specific methodological details, which collectively emphasize the substantial lack of harmonization within the field. Ongoing efforts to harmonize TMB assessment will be critical to validate TMB as a predictive marker of immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Cavaco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Pharmacy Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa 1449-005, Portugal
| | - Carla Torre
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sepodes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - João Rocha
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal.
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Wang K, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Wu R, Zhou M, Yang W, Wan J, Shen L, Zhang H, Wang Y, Han X, Wang J, Zhang Z, Xia F. RIFLE: a Phase II trial of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy combined with fruquintinib and tislelizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf) 2023; 11:goad063. [PMID: 37842200 PMCID: PMC10568524 DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goad063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, the prognosis for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) still remains poor. The management of mCRC has become manifold because of the varied advances in the systemic and topical treatment approaches. For patients with limited number of metastases, radical local therapy plus systemic therapy can be a good choice to achieve long-term tumor control. In this study, we aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the combination of fruquintinib, tislelizumab, and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in mCRC (RIFLE study). Methods RIFLE was designed as a single-center, single-arm, prospective Phase II clinical trial. A total of 68 mCRC patients who have failed the first-line standard treatment will be recruited in the safety run-in phase (n = 6) and the expansion phase (n = 62), respectively. Eligible patients will receive SABR followed by fruquintinib (5 mg, d1-14, once every day) and tislelizumab (200 mg, d1, once every 3 weeks) within 2 weeks from completion of radiation. The expansion phase starts when the safety of the treatment is determined (dose limiting toxicity occur in no more than one-sixth of patients in the run-in phase). The primary end point is the objective response rate. The secondary end points include the disease control rate, duration of response, 3-year progression-free survival rate, 3-year overall survival rate, and toxicity. Conclusions The results of this trial will provide a novel insight into SABR in combination with PD-1 antibody and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor in the systematic treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, which is expected to provide new therapeutic strategies and improve the prognosis for mCRC patients. Trial registration NCT04948034 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yajie Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ruiyan Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Menglong Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Wang Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Juefeng Wan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Lijun Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jiazhou Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, P. R. China
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Bikhchandani M, Amersi F, Hendifar A, Gangi A, Osipov A, Zaghiyan K, Atkins K, Cho M, Aguirre F, Hazelett D, Alvarez R, Zhou L, Hitchins M, Gong J. POLE-Mutant Colon Cancer Treated with PD-1 Blockade Showing Clearance of Circulating Tumor DNA and Prolonged Disease-Free Interval. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1054. [PMID: 37239414 PMCID: PMC10218075 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer with high microsatellite instability is characterized by a high tumor mutational burden and responds well to immunotherapy. Mutations in polymerase ɛ, a DNA polymerase involved in DNA replication and repair, are also associated with an ultra-mutated phenotype. We describe a case where a patient with POLE-mutated and hypermutated recurrent colon cancer was treated with pembrolizumab. Treatment with immunotherapy in this patient also led to the clearance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). ctDNA is beginning to emerge as a marker for minimal residual disease in many solid malignancies, including colon cancer. Its clearance with treatment suggests that the selection of pembrolizumab on the basis of identifying a POLE mutation on next-generation sequencing may increase disease-free survival in this patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihir Bikhchandani
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Farin Amersi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Andrew Hendifar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexandra Gangi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Arsen Osipov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Karen Zaghiyan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Katelyn Atkins
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - May Cho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA
| | - Francesca Aguirre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dennis Hazelett
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Rocio Alvarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lisa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Megan Hitchins
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Jun Gong
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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Strickler JH, Hanks BA, Khasraw M. Tumor Mutational Burden as a Predictor of Immunotherapy Response: Is More Always Better? Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1236-1241. [PMID: 33199494 PMCID: PMC9912042 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-3054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including antibodies that block programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and PD-L1, have transformed the management of many cancers. However, the majority of patients have primary or acquired resistance to these immunotherapies. There is a significant unmet need for predictive biomarkers that can reliably identify patients who derive a clinically meaningful response from PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. High tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) has shown promise as a biomarker in lung cancer, but the broad applicability of TMB-H as a biomarker of response across all solid tumors is unclear. The FDA has approved the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, as a therapy for all solid tumors with TMB equal to or greater than 10 mutations/megabase as measured by the FoundationOne CDx assay. This approval was based on an exploratory analysis of the KEYNOTE-158 study, which was a single-arm, phase II multi-cohort study of pembrolizumab for select, previously treated advanced solid tumors. Here, we elucidate the caveats of using TMB as a biomarker with a universal threshold across all solid tumors. While we recognize the importance of this and other FDA pan-cancer approvals, several questions about TMB as a predictive biomarker remain unanswered. In this perspective, we discuss clinical trial evidence in this area. We review the relationship between TMB and the tumor immune microenvironment. We highlight the risks of extrapolating evidence from a limited number of tumor histologies to all solid tumors, and we propose avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brent A. Hanks
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Duke Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Mustafa Khasraw
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. .,Duke Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Durham, North Carolina
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Sha D, Jin Z, Budczies J, Kluck K, Stenzinger A, Sinicrope FA. Tumor Mutational Burden as a Predictive Biomarker in Solid Tumors. Cancer Discov 2020; 10:1808-1825. [PMID: 33139244 PMCID: PMC7710563 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 398] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor mutational burden (TMB), defined as the number of somatic mutations per megabase of interrogated genomic sequence, varies across malignancies. Panel sequencing-based estimates of TMB have largely replaced whole-exome sequencing-derived TMB in the clinic. Retrospective evidence suggests that TMB can predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and data from KEYNOTE-158 led to the recent FDA approval of pembrolizumab for the TMB-high tumor subgroup. Unmet needs include prospective validation of TMB cutoffs in relationship to tumor type and patient outcomes. Furthermore, standardization and harmonization of TMB measurement across test platforms are important to the successful implementation of TMB in clinical practice. SIGNIFICANCE: Evaluation of TMB as a predictive biomarker creates the need to harmonize panel-based TMB estimation and standardize its reporting. TMB can improve the predictive accuracy for immunotherapy outcomes, and has the potential to expand the candidate pool of patients for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Sha
- Departments of Medicine and Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Zhaohui Jin
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jan Budczies
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kluck
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Albrecht Stenzinger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank A Sinicrope
- Departments of Medicine and Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rochester, Minnesota
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