A biobank analysis of prognostic biomarkers of the systemic inflammatory response in patients presenting with malignancy of undefined primary origin

Prognostic value of the Scottish Inflammatory prognostic Score in patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 ≥ 50 % progressing on first-line pembrolizumab

BACKGROUND

Most patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy will experience progressive disease (PD). Only a minority will go on to receive subsequent systemic anticancer therapy for which outcomes are guarded. We investigated the prognostic significance of biomarkers of systemic inflammation following failure of first-line pembrolizumab for NSCLC to aid subsequent management decisions.

METHODS

Patients with radiological and/or clinical evidence of PD on first-line pembrolizumab for advanced NSCLC at a regional Scottish cancer centre were identified. Inflammatory biomarkers at the time of PD, including serum albumin, neutrophil count and the Scottish Inflammatory Prognostic Score (SIPS; combing albumin and neutrophils), and clinicopathological factors, including age, sex, histology, PDL1 expression and time to PD were recorded. The relationship between these and post-progression overall survival (ppOS) were examined.

RESULTS

Data were available for 211 patients. Median ppOS was 2.1 months. Only SIPS was predictive of ppOS on multivariate analysis (HR2.54 (95 %CI 1.81-3.56) (<0.001)), stratifying ppOS from 0.8 months (SIPS2), to 1.8 months (SIPS1), to 8.1 months (SIPS0) (p < 0.001). Thirty (14 %) patients received second-line systemic anticancer therapy with median ppOS 8.7 months. These patients had lower levels of systemic inflammation, as defined by albumin (p < 0.001), neutrophil count (p = 0.002), and SIPS (p = 0.004)), than all other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

SIPS, a simple biomarker of systemic inflammation, predicts ppOS after first-line pembrolizumab and may be useful alongside routine assessments of patient fitness to inform individualised discussions about subsequent treatment. We highlight poor outcomes in this patient group and a role for SIPS in signposting transition to best supportive care and early referral to palliative care. It may also help identify a small group of patients most likely to benefit from further lines of therapy.

Initial active surveillance for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: 10 years' experience at a regional cancer Centre

A subset of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) follow an indolent disease course and may benefit from initial active surveillance (AS). However, selecting patients suitable for this approach is challenging. To investigate this we sought to define outcomes of patients with mRCC suitable for initial AS. All patients with mRCC clinically selected for initial AS at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre between January 2010 and December 2020 were identified. Key inflammatory biomarkers (haemoglobin, white cell count, neutrophil count, platelets, C-reactive protein [CRP], albumin, corrected calcium) and the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk score were measured. The relationship between these and time to systemic anticancer therapy (tSACT) and overall survival (OS) was analysed. Data were available for 160 patients. Estimated median overall survival was 88.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 34.0-127.0) months. Median tSACT was 31.8 (IQR 12.0-76.3) months. On multivariate analysis, only CRP was predictive of tSACT (HR 2.47 [95% CI:1.59-3.85] p < 0.001) and OS (HR 3.89 [95% CI:2.15-6.83] p < 0.001). Patients with CRP > 10 mg/L were more likely to commence SACT within 1 year than those with CRP≤10 mg/L (41% vs. 18%, Relative Risk 2.16 (95% CI:1.18-3.96) (p = 0.012)). IMDC risk score was not predictive of tSACT or OS. Active surveillance is an appropriate initial management option for selected patients with mRCC. CRP, a biomarker of systemic inflammation, may provide additional objective information to assist clinical decision-making in patients with mRCC being considered for initial AS. Although this is a retrospective observational study, the cohort is well defined and includes all patients managed with initial AS in an inclusive real-world setting.

Hypoalbuminaemia as a Prognostic Biomarker of First-Line Treatment Resistance in Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: Despite significant advances in systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), many patients still fail to respond to treatment or develop treatment resistance. Albumin, a biomarker of systemic inflammation and malnutrition, predicts survival in many cancers. We evaluated the prognostic significance of albumin in patients receiving first-line targeted therapy or immunotherapy-based SACT for metastatic NSCLC.

Methods: All patients treated with first-line targeted therapy or immunotherapy-based SACT for metastatic NSCLC at a regional Scottish cancer centre were identified. Serum albumin at pre-treatment, after 12-weeks of treatment, and at the time of progressive disease were recorded. The relationship between albumin (≥ 35g/L v <35g/L) and overall survival (OS) was examined.

Results: Data were available for 389 patients of both targeted therapy cohort (n = 159) and immunotherapy-based therapy cohort (n = 230). Pre-treatment albumin was predictive of OS in each cohort at HR1.82 (95%CI 1.23–2.7) (p =0.003) and HR2.55 (95%CI 1.78–3.65) (p < 0.001), respectively. Pre-treatment albumin <35 g/L was associated with a significantly higher relative risk of death within 12 weeks in each cohort at RR9.58 (95%CI 2.20–41.72, p = 0.003) and RR3.60 (95%CI 1.74–6.57, p < 0.001), respectively. The 12-week albumin was predictive of OS in each cohort at HR1.88 (95%CI 1.86–4.46) (p < 0.001) and HR2.67 (95%CI 1.74–4.08) (p < 0.001), respectively. 46 out of 133 (35%) evaluable patients treated with targeted therapy and 43 out of 169 (25%) treated with immunotherapy-based therapy crossed over albumin prognostic groups between pre-treatment and 12-week. The prognostic value of 12-week albumin was independent of pre-treatment albumin status. A majority of patients had albumin <35g/L at the time of progressive disease when it was also predictive of survival following progressive disease at HR2.48 (95%CI 1.61–3.82) (p < 0.001) and HR2.87 (95%CI 1.91–4.31) (p < 0.001) respectively).

Conclusions: Albumin is a reliable prognostic factor in patients with metastatic NSCLC, predicting survival independent of the class of drug treatment at various time points during the patient journey. Tracking albumin concentrations during systemic therapy may indicate disease activity or treatment response over time.

Characterisation and outcomes of patients referred to a regional cancer of unknown primary team: a 10-year analysis

BACKGROUND

In the United Kingdom, national guidance published in 2010 recommended the establishment of specialist teams to improve clinical pathways for patients presenting with malignancies of undefined primary origin (MUO) and cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This study sought to define outcomes of patients referred to a regional MUO/CUP service.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively on all patients (n = 1225) referred to a regional CUP team over a 10-year period. Patient demographics, clinical, pathological and outcome data were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

Confirmed CUP (cCUP) was diagnosed in 25% of patients. A primary metastatic cancer was identified in 36%, 5% were diagnosed with provisional CUP (pCUP), 27% retained the diagnosis of MUO and in 8% a non-cancer diagnosis was made. Median survival was low in all patients with a final malignant diagnosis: primary identified 9.0 months, cCUP 4.0 months, pCUP 1.5 months and MUO 1.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with MUO have poor outcomes irrespective of the final diagnosis. These patients need a patient-centred, streamlined, rapid diagnostic pathway. There are clear benefits to primary and secondary care teams having access to a dedicated, multidisciplinary MUO/CUP service, with clinical nurse specialists supporting the patients, to help facilitate this pathway and ensure early oncology review.