A phase I study of docetaxel plus synthetic lycopene in metastatic prostate cancer patients

PURPOSE

Our preclinical studies showed that lycopene enhanced the anti-prostate cancer efficacy of docetaxel in animal models. A phase I trial (NCT0149519) was conducted to identify an optimum dose of synthetic lycopene in combination with docetaxel (and androgen blockade [androgen deprivation therapy, ADT]), and to evaluate its effect on the safety and pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

Subjects were treated with 21-day cycles of 75 mg/m2 docetaxel (and ADT), plus lycopene at 30, 90 or 150 mg/day. A Bayesian model averaging continual reassessment method was used to guide dose escalation. Pharmacokinetics of docetaxel and multiple correlative studies were carried out.

RESULTS

Twenty-four participants were enrolled, 18 in a dose escalation cohort to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and six in a pharmacokinetic cohort. Docetaxel/ADT plus 150 mg/day synthetic lycopene resulted in dose-limiting toxicity (pulmonary embolus) in one out of 12 participants with an estimated probability of .106 and thus was chosen as the MTD. Lycopene increased the AUCinf and Cmax of plasma docetaxel by 9.5% and 15.1%, respectively. Correlative studies showed dose-related changes in circulating endothelial cells and vascular endothelial growth factor A, and reduction in insulin-like growth factor 1R phosphorylation, associated with lycopene therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of docetaxel/ADT and synthetic lycopene has low toxicity and favourable pharmacokinetics. The effects of lycopene on biomarkers provide additional support for the toxicity-dependent MTD definition.

HIGHLIGHTS

The maximum tolerated dose was identified as 150 mg/day of lycopene in combination with docetaxel/ADT for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer patients. Small increases in plasma exposure to docetaxel were observed with lycopene co-administration. Mechanistically significant effects were seen on angiogenesis and insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling by lycopene co-administration with docetaxel/ADT.

Integration of liquid biopsy and immunotherapy: opening a new era in colorectal cancer treatment

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the conventional treatment approaches for colorectal cancer (CRC), offering new therapeutic prospects for patients. Liquid biopsy has shown significant potential in early screening, diagnosis, and postoperative monitoring by analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). In the era of immunotherapy, liquid biopsy provides additional possibilities for guiding immune-based treatments. Emerging technologies such as mass spectrometry-based detection of neoantigens and flow cytometry-based T cell sorting offer new tools for liquid biopsy, aiming to optimize immune therapy strategies. The integration of liquid biopsy with immunotherapy holds promise for improving treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer patients, enabling breakthroughs in early diagnosis and treatment, and providing patients with more personalized, precise, and effective treatment strategies.

The Discovery of Novel Circulating Cancer-Related Cells in Circulation Poses New Challenges to Microfluidic Devices for Enrichment and Detection

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enumeration has been widely used as a surrogate predictive marker for early diagnoses, the evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy, and cancer prognosis. Microfluidic technologies for CTCs enrichment and detection have been developed and commercialized as automation platforms. Currently, in addition to CTCs, some new types of circulating cancer-related cells (e.g., CCSCs, CTECs, CAMLs, and heterotypic CTC clusters) in circulation are also reported to be correlated to cancer diagnosis, metastasis, or prognosis. And they widely differ from the conventional CTCs in positive markers, cellular morphology, or size, which presents a new technological challenge to microfluidic devices that use affinity-based capture methods or size-based filtration methods for CTCs detection. This review focuses on the biological and physical properties as well as clinical significance of the novel circulating cancer-related cells, and discusses the challenges of their discovery to microfluidic chip for enrichment. Finally, the current challenges of CTCs detection in clinical application and future opportunities are also discussed.

Liquid biopsy at the frontier of detection, prognosis and progression monitoring in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and a leading cause of carcinogenic death. To date, surgical resection is regarded as the gold standard by the operator for clinical decisions. Because conventional tissue biopsy is invasive and only a small sample can sometimes be obtained, it is unable to represent the heterogeneity of tumor or dynamically monitor tumor progression. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a new minimally invasive or noninvasive diagnostic strategy to detect CRC at an early stage and monitor CRC recurrence. Over the past years, a new diagnostic concept called “liquid biopsy” has gained much attention. Liquid biopsy is noninvasive, allowing repeated analysis and real-time monitoring of tumor recurrence, metastasis or therapeutic responses. With the advanced development of new molecular techniques in CRC, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), exosomes, and tumor-educated platelet (TEP) detection have achieved interesting and inspiring results as the most prominent liquid biopsy markers. In this review, we focused on some clinical applications of CTCs, ctDNA, exosomes and TEPs and discuss promising future applications to solve unmet clinical needs in CRC patients.

Role of aneuploid circulating tumor cells and CD31+ circulating tumor endothelial cells in predicting and monitoring anti-angiogenic therapy efficacy in advanced NSCLC

Prognosticating the efficacy of anti‐angiogenic therapy through longitudinal monitoring and early detection of treatment resistance in cancer patients remain highly challenging. In this study, co‐detection and comprehensive phenotypic and karyotypic molecular characterization of aneuploid circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) were conducted on non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. Prognostic values of the cell‐based significant univariate risk factors identified by Cox regression analyses were progressively investigated. Subjects showing an increase in total post‐therapeutic platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (CD31)^– CTCs and CD31⁺ CTECs exhibited a significantly reduced median progression‐free survival (mPFS) and overall survival. Further stratification analyses indicated that pretherapeutic patients bearing vimentin (Vim)⁺ CTECs (mesenchymal M‐type) at baseline revealed a significantly shortened mPFS compared with patients with Vim^– CTECs. Post‐therapeutic patients harboring epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)⁺ CTCs and CTECs (epithelial E‐type), regardless of Vim expression or not, showed a significantly reduced mPFS. Post‐therapeutic patients possessing de novo EpCAM⁺/Vim⁺ (hybrid E/M‐type) CTECs displayed the shortest mPFS. Patients harboring either pre‐ or post‐therapeutic EpCAM^–/Vim^– null CTECs (N‐type) exhibited a better response to therapy compared to patients harboring EpCAM⁺ and/or Vim⁺ CTECs. The presented results support the notion that baseline Vim⁺ CTECs and post‐therapeutic EpCAM⁺ CTCs and CTECs are predictive biomarkers for longitudinal monitoring of response to anti‐angiogenesis combination regimens in NSCLC patients.

Tumor Microenvironment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The Arbitrator in Patients' Outcome

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer accounts for approximately 10% of all annually diagnosed cancers worldwide being liver metastasis, the most common cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer. The interplay between tumor and stromal cells in the primary tumor microenvironment and at distant metastases are rising in importance as potential mechanisms of the tumor progression. In this review we discuss the new biomarkers derived from tumor microenvironment and liquid biopsy as emerging prognostic and treatments response markers for metastatic colorectal cancer. We also review the developing new clinical strategies based on tumor microenvironmental cells to tackle metastatic disease in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in western countries. Its mortality rate varies greatly, depending on the stage of the disease. The main cause of CRC mortality is metastasis, which most commonly affects the liver. The role of tumor microenvironment in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis development has been widely studied. In this review we summarize the role of the tumor microenvironment in the liver pre-metastatic niche formation, paying attention to the distant cellular crosstalk mediated by exosomes. Moreover, and based on the prognostic and predictive capacity of alterations in the stromal compartment of tumors, we describe the role of tumor microenvironment cells and related liquid biopsy biomarkers in the delivery of precise medication for metastatic CRC. Finally, we evaluate the different clinical strategies to prevent and treat liver metastatic disease, based on the targeting of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, targeting angiogenesis pathways and regulating immune response are two important research pipelines that are being widely developed and promise great benefits.

Phase I dose escalation study of sorafenib plus S-1 for advanced solid tumors

S-1, an oral pyrimidine fluoride-derived agent, is effective against various cancers. Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, was found to prolong the survival of various cancers and enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. We conducted a phase I dose escalation study to determine dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of S-1 when combined with sorafenib for refractory solid tumors. Eligible patients received escalating doses (30, 35, and 40 mg/m² bid) of S-1 Day 1 (D1)-D14 and continuous sorafenib 400 mg bid from cycle 1 D8 every 21 days in a standard 3 + 3 study design. Primary endpoint was MTD. Thirteen patients were enrolled between May 2010 and Feb 2012. DLT developed in two (one grade 3 erythema and one prolonged grade 2 hand-foot-skin reaction) of the 6 patients at 35 mg/m² dose level. One pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) patient achieved a durable partial response (27.9 months). Four colon cancer patients had stable disease and 3 of them had progression-free survival greater than 6 months. This study determined the recommended (MTD) S-1 dose of 30 mg/m² bid for this regimen. This result warrants further phase II studies for advanced pNET and colon cancer to evaluate the efficacy of this combination.

CD276-Positive Circulating Endothelial Cells Do Not Predict Response to Systemic Therapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer

CD276 can discriminate between tumor derived and normal CECs (circulating endothelial cells). We evaluated whether CD276⁺CEC is a clinically relevant biomarker to predict response to palliative systemic therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Samples were prospectively collected from patients with mCRC enrolled in the ORCHESTRA trial (NCT01792934). At baseline and after three cycles of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin and oxaliplatin ± bevacizumab, CECs were measured by flowcytometry (CD34⁺CD45^negCD146⁺DNA⁺; and CD276⁺). A clinically relevant cut-off value of (CD276⁺)CECs was determined as 100% sensitivity (and 80% specificity in 95% confidence interval) identifying patients with progressive disease within 6 months. There were 182 baseline samples and 133 follow up samples available for analysis. CEC and CD276⁺CEC counts significantly increased during treatment from 48 to 90 CEC/4 mL (p = 0.00) and from 14 to 33 CD276⁺CEC/4 mL (p = 0.00) at baseline and at first evaluation, respectively. CEC and CD276⁺CEC counts were not predictive for poor response (area under the curve (AUC) 0.53 for CEC and AUC 0.52 for CD276⁺CEC). Despite numerical changes during therapy, CEC and CD276⁺CEC counts do not adequately predict poor response to first line palliative systemic therapy in patients with mCRC.

Prognostic value of CEC count in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with bevacizumab and chemotherapy: a prospective validation study (UCBG COMET)

BACKGROUND

Proof of concept studies has reported that circulating endothelial cell (CEC) count may be associated with the outcome of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients treated by chemotherapy and the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab. We report the results obtained in an independent prospective validation cohort (COMET study, NCT01745757).

METHODS

The main baseline criteria were HER2-negative mBC, performance status 0-2 and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. CECs were detected by CellSearch® from 4 ml of blood at baseline and after 4 weeks of weekly paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy. CEC counts (considered both as a continuous variable and using the previously described 20 CEC/4 ml cutoff) were associated with clinical characteristics and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

CEC count was obtained in 251 patients at baseline and in 207 patients at 4 weeks. Median baseline CEC count was 22 CEC/4 ml (range 0-2231). Baseline CEC counts were associated with performance status (p = 0.02). No statistically significant change in CEC counts was observed between baseline and 4 weeks of therapy. High baseline CEC count was associated with shorter PFS in univariate and multivariate analyses (continuous: p < 0.001; dichotomized: HR 1.52, 95% CI [1.15-2.02], p = 0.004). CEC counts at 4 weeks had no prognostic impact.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that CEC count may be associated with the outcome of mBC patients treated with chemotherapy and bevacizumab. However, discrepancies with previous reports in terms of both the timing of CEC count and the direction of the prognostic impact warrant further clinical investigation.

Prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells in metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

There is urgent need for improved staging in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) in comparison with circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients with mCRC amenable for potentially curative surgery.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients were enrolled prospectively. CTC and CEC were measured with the CellSearch System (Veridex, NJ, USA). Cut-off values were determined using ROC analyses. Prognostic factors were identified by Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

ROC analyses revealed ≥ 21 CEC as cut-off levels for detection, which was present in 68 (49%). CEC detection was associated with female gender (p = 0.03) only, whereas CTC detection was associated with presence of the primary tumor (p = 0.007), metastasis size (p < 0.001), bilobar liver metastases (p = 0.02), CEA (p < 0.001) and CA 19-9 levels (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis only CEC detection (HR 1.81; p = 0.03) and preoperative CA19-9 levels (HR 2.28, p = 0.005) were revealed as independent predictors of poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

CEC are of stronger prognostic value than CTC. Further studies are required to validate these results and to evaluate CEC as predictive biomarker for systemic therapy alone as well as in combination with other markers such as CA19-9.

Oral versus intravenous fluoropyrimidines for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients prefer oral to intravenous (IV) palliative chemotherapy, provided that oral therapy is not less effective. We compared the efficacy and safety of oral and IV fluoropyrimidines for treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of oral and IV fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy in patients treated with curative or palliative intent for CRC.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 5), along with OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, and Web of Science databases, in June 2016. We also searched five clinical trials registers, several conference proceedings, and reference lists from study reports and systematic reviews. We contacted pharmaceutical companies to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oral and IV fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy in patients treated with curative or palliative intent for CRC.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors extracted data and assessed risk of bias independently. We assessed the seven domains in the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool and three additional domains: schedules of outcome assessment and/or follow-up; use of intention-to-treat analysis; and baseline comparability of treatment arms.

MAIN RESULTS

We included nine RCTs (total of 10,918 participants) that examined treatment with curative intent for CRC with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. We included 35 RCTs (total of 12,592 participants) that examined treatment with palliative intent for inoperable advanced or metastatic CRC with chemotherapy (31 first-line studies, two second-line studies, and two studies of first- or second-line chemotherapy). All studies included male and female participants, and no studies included participants younger than 18 years of age. Patients treated with curative intent for CRC with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy • Disease-free survival (DFS): DFS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 1.00; seven studies, 8903 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Overall survival (OS): OS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.00; seven studies, 8902 participants analysed; high-quality evidence).• Grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs): Participants treated with oral fluoropyrimidines experienced less grade ≥ 3 neutropenia/granulocytopenia (odds ratio (OR) 0.14, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.16; seven studies, 8087 participants; moderate-quality evidence), stomatitis (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.30; five studies, 4212 participants; low-quality evidence), and any grade ≥ 3 AEs (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.90; five studies, 7741 participants; low-quality evidence). There was more grade ≥ 3 hand foot syndrome (OR 4.59, 95% CI 2.97 to 7.10; five studies, 5731 participants; low-quality evidence) in patients treated with oral fluoropyrimidines. There were no differences between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines in occurrence of grade ≥ 3 diarrhoea (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.25; nine studies, 9551 participants; very low-quality evidence), febrile neutropenia (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.90; four studies, 2925 participants; low-quality evidence), vomiting (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.34; eight studies, 9385 participants; low-quality evidence), nausea (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.51; seven studies, 9233 participants; low-quality evidence), mucositis (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.62; four studies, 2233 participants; very low-quality evidence), and hyperbilirubinaemia (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.52 to 5.38; three studies, 2757 participants; very low-quality evidence). Patients treated with palliative intent for inoperable advanced or metastatic CRC with chemotherapy • Progression-free survival (PFS): Overall, PFS was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11; 23 studies, 9927 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Whilst PFS was worse in participants treated with oral compared with IV fluoropyrimidines when UFT/Ftorafur or eniluracil with oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was used, PFS did not differ between individuals treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines when capecitabine, doxifluridine, or S-1 was used.• OS: Overall, OS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.05; 29 studies, 12,079 participants; high-quality evidence). OS was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines when eniluracil with oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was used.• Time to progression (TTP): TTP was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14; six studies, 1970 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Objective response rate (ORR): ORR did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.06; 32 studies, 11,115 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Grade ≥ 3 AEs: Participants treated with oral fluoropyrimidines experienced less grade ≥ 3 neutropenia/granulocytopenia (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.18; 29 studies, 11,794 participants; low-quality evidence), febrile neutropenia (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.36; 19 studies, 9407 participants; moderate-quality evidence), stomatitis (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.33; 21 studies, 8718 participants; low-quality evidence), mucositis (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.24; 12 studies, 4962 participants; low-quality evidence), and any grade ≥ 3 AEs (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.94; 14 studies, 5436 participants; low-quality evidence). There was more grade ≥ 3 diarrhoea (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.50 to 1.84; 30 studies, 11,997 participants; low-quality evidence) and hand foot syndrome (OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.84 to 5.43; 18 studies, 6481 participants; moderate-quality evidence) in the oral fluoropyrimidine arm. There were no differences between oral and IV fluoropyrimidine arms in terms of grade ≥ 3 vomiting (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.40; 23 studies, 9528 participants; low-quality evidence), nausea (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.36; 25 studies, 9796 participants; low-quality evidence), and hyperbilirubinaemia (OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.64; nine studies, 2699 participants; low-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Results of this review should provide confidence that treatment for CRC with most of the oral fluoropyrimidines commonly used in current clinical practice is similarly efficacious to treatment with IV fluoropyrimidines. Treatment with eniluracil with oral 5-FU was associated with inferior PFS and OS among participants treated with palliative intent for CRC, and eniluracil is no longer being developed. Oral and IV fluoropyrimidines have different patterns of side effects; future research may focus on determining the basis for these differences.

Early detection of poor outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: tumor kinetics evaluated by circulating tumor cells

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide. New prognostic markers are needed to identify patients with poorer prognosis, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) seem to be promising to accomplish this.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted by blood collection from patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC), three times, every 2 months in conjunction with image examinations for evaluation of therapeutic response. CTC isolation and counting were performed by Isolation by Size of Epithelial Tumor Cells (ISET).

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients with mCRC with a mean age of 57.3 years (31-82 years) were included. Among all patients, 60% (n=32) were carriers of wild-type KRAS (WT KRAS) tumors and 90% of them (n=29) were exposed to monoclonal antibodies along with systemic treatment. Evaluating CTC kinetics, when we compared the baseline (pretreatment) CTC level (CTC1) with the level at first follow-up (CTC2), we observed that CTC1-positive patients (CTCs above the median), who became negative (CTCs below the median) had a favorable evolution (n=14), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 14.7 months. This was higher than that for patients with an unfavorable evolution (CTC1- that became CTC2+; n=13, 6.9 months; P=0.06). Patients with WT KRAS with favorable kinetics had higher PFS (14.7 months) in comparison to those with WT KRAS with unfavorable kinetics (9.4 months; P=0.02). Moreover, patients whose imaging studies showed radiological progression had an increased quantification of CTCs at CTC2 compared to those without progression (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION

This study made possible the presentation of ISET as a feasible tool for evaluating CTC kinetics in patients with mCRC, which can be promising in their clinical evaluation.

Circulating endothelial cells for evaluation of tumor response in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving first-line chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) reflect the neovascularization in the tumor mass. We therefore investigated the potential role of CEC kinetics after first-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 45 healthy subjects and 51 naïve patients with advanced NSCLC. Quantification of CD146+ CECs was performed using immunomagnetic separation (IMS).

RESULTS

Pretreatment and posttreatment CEC levels in NSCLC patients were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (p&lt;0.0001). An objective response was achieved after chemotherapy with partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) in 26 patients, whereas the remaining 25 patients had progressive disease (PD). Baseline CEC levels were significantly higher in PR/SD patients than in PD patients (p = 0.039). After chemotherapy, CEC count significantly decreased in PR/SD patients (p = 0.014) and increased in patients with PD (p = 0.019). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the percentage change of CEC counts between the 2 groups (p = 0.0016). No significant difference in the median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) was observed between patients with high baseline CEC counts and those with low baseline CEC levels. However, patients with high percentage change in CEC count had longer OS than those with low percentage change after chemotherapy (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in CEC counts after chemotherapy reflect tumor response in advanced NSCLC patients. Moreover, high percentage changes in CEC counts after chemotherapy may predict longer OS in advanced NSCLC. High baseline CEC levels might be an indicator of tumor response in advanced NSCLC patients after first-line chemotherapy.

Bevacizumab: a review of its use in advanced cancer

The humanized monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin(®)) has been available in the EU since 2005. Results of phase III trials demonstrate that adding intravenous bevacizumab to antineoplastic agents improves progression-free survival and/or overall survival in patients with advanced cancer, including when used as first- or second-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, as first-line therapy in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, as first-line therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, as first-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer, and as first-line therapy in epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer or in recurrent, platinum-sensitive or platinum-resistant disease. Results of these studies are supported by the findings of routine oncology practice studies conducted in real-world settings. The tolerability profile of bevacizumab is well defined and adverse events associated with its use (e.g. hypertension, proteinuria, haemorrhage, wound healing complications, arterial thromboembolism, gastrointestinal perforation) are generally manageable. In conclusion, bevacizumab remains an important option for use in patients with advanced cancer.

CECs and IL-8 Have Prognostic and Predictive Utility in Patients with Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer: Biomarker Correlates from the Randomized Phase-2 Trial of Olaparib and Cediranib Compared with Olaparib in Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Olaparib (O), a polyADPribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, and cediranib (C), a VEGF receptor (VEGFR)1-3 inhibitor together had greater activity than O alone in women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (OvCa). The objective of this study is to identify potential lead biomarker candidates for response to O + C in the setting of a multi-institutional phase II study of O with and without C in recurrent platinum-sensitive OvCa.

METHODS

A self-selected group of patients participated in a prospectively planned exploratory biomarker substudy of the randomized phase II study of O versus O + C. Whole blood for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and plasma isolation was collected prior to and on day 3 of treatment. Quantitation of circulating endothelial cells (CEC), IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, and soluble VEGFR-2 plasma concentrations, and polyADPribose (PAR) incorporation were performed. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of XRCC1 280H, R194W, and Q399R was done. Dynamic contrast-enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was performed at baseline and day 3 of treatment. Parameter changes were compared between the two arms using an exact Wilcoxon rank sum test. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to examine survival outcome.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients elected to participate in the translational substudy, seven patients on O and six patients on O + C. Patients on O + C had a greater decrease in IL-8 concentration and larger CEC fold increase compared with those on O alone (p = 0.026, p = 0.032). The fold increase in CEC on day 3 was associated with duration of progression-free survival (PFS) (R (2) = 0.77, 95% CI 0.55-0.97, p < 0.001). IL-8 post-pretreatment changes correlate with PFS (p = 0.028). XRCC1 DNA polymorphisms were not related to PFS. All patients had reduction in PAR incorporation, and all except one had reduction in vascular flow on DCE-MRI.

CONCLUSION

Our exploratory correlative studies indicate that CEC and IL-8 changes may be predictive for response to O + C and prognostic in recurrent platinum-sensitive OvCa, requiring prospective validation.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A c.*237C>T polymorphism is associated with bevacizumab efficacy and related hypertension in metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

No predictive marker has been yet identified for bevacizumab which is widely used in metastatic colorectal cancer.

AIMS

Evaluate impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms involved in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor pathway on efficacy and tolerance of bevacizumab.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients who were treated with bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer, and for whom a deoxyribonucleic acid sample was available. Ten polymorphisms in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, his receptors and hypoxia inducible factor-1α were genotyped on germ line DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction TaqMan(®).

RESULTS

89 patients were included. The CC genotype for rs3025039 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A c.*237C>T) was associated with a significantly better time to treatment failure (14.2 months) as compared to the CT and TT genotypes (6.0 months) in univariate (p = 0.004) and multivariate (p = 0.022; HR = 0.57; 95% CI [0.35-0.92]) analysis. Patients with at least one T allele showed worse overall survival and progression-free survival as compared to homozygous CC patients in univariate analysis (respectively p = 0.016 and p = 0.044). There was significantly more severe hypertension for the CC genotype (29.5%) compared to CT and TT genotypes (7.1%) (p = 0.022) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective study, the rs3025039 polymorphism was significantly associated with time to treatment failure and hypertension in patients treated with bevacizumab-based chemotherapy.

Changes in circulating microRNA-126 during treatment with chemotherapy and bevacizumab predicts treatment response in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Background:

This study investigated the predictive value of circulating microRNA-126 (cir-miRNA-126) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with first-line chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab.

Methods:

The study included 68 patients. Blood samples (plasma) were collected before the treatment initiation, at the first clinical evaluation after 3 weeks and at progression. Levels of cir-miRNA-126 were determined by qRT–PCR after purification of total RNA from plasma. Primary clinical end points were response rates evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours (RECIST) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

Changes in circulating miRNA-126 during treatment were predictive of tumour response. Non-responding patients had a median increase in cir-miRNA-126 of 0.244 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.050–0.565) compared with a median decrease of −0.374 (95% CI, −0.472 to −0.111) in the responding patients, P=0.002. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated by comparing the changes in tumour size with the changes in cir-miRNA-126, r=0.48, P=0.0001. Grouping the patients according to the changes in cir-miRNA-126 disclosed a borderline significant separation of the groups in the PFS analysis favouring patients with decreasing miRNA-126 levels, hazard ratio (HR) 0.60 (95% CI, 0.33–1.09), P=0.07.

Conclusions:

The present results indicate that changes in cir-miRNA-126 during treatment are related to the response to chemotherapy and bevacizumab in patients with mCRC, thus representing a possible biomarker for the resistance to anti-angiogenic containing treatments.

Circulating endothelial cells and their subpopulations: role as predictive biomarkers in antiangiogenic therapy for colorectal cancer

Several anticancer therapies have been developed to block angiogenesis, a key mechanism in tumor growth and metastasis. The predominantly cytostatic action of these compounds makes an assessment of their clinical activities inadequate if based only on the reduction of the tumor dimensions, as this may not reflect their true biologic efficacy. Thus, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that permit the recognition of potentially responsive subjects and to spare toxicity in those who are unlikely to benefit from treatment. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have been recently indicated as potential surrogate biomarkers of angiogenesis in several types of cancer. The possibility of rapidly quantifying these cells represents a promising tool for monitoring the clinical outcome of tumors with the potential to assess response to various treatments. However, the identification and quantification of CECs is technically difficult and not well standardized. A variety of methods to detect CECs in patients with solid tumors have been used; these are based on different technical approaches, combinations of surface markers, sample handling, and staining protocols. With an expanding interest in the field of potential clinical applications for CECs in oncology, the development of standardized protocols for analysis is mandatory. The aim of this review was to critically summarize the available data concerning the clinical value of CECs and their subpopulations as biomarkers of antiangiogenic therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Quantification of circulating endothelial cells as a predictor of response to chemotherapy with platinum and pemetrexed in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) play an important role in tumor neovascularization and may have prognostic value in cancer patients. This study was designed to investigate the role of CEC as a marker for predicting platinum plus pemetrexed first-line chemotherapy efficacy in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

A prospective study was performed whose main objective was to study whether the numbers of CEC at baseline and prior to the second and third cycle of chemotherapy were response predictors. Sixty-nine patients received cisplatin plus pemetrexed, and peripheral blood samples were performed at baseline and after second and third cycle. Separation and CEC count were performed using inmunomagnetic separation (CellSearch).

RESULTS

The CEC count in 4 mL of peripheral blood was obtained prior to the first, second, and third cycle of treatment. Baseline levels and evolution of CEC were correlated with response to treatment according to RECIST criteria after three cycles of treatment. Sixty-nine patients were included: 43 (64.2 %) received cisplatin/pemetrexed and 24 (35.8 %) carboplatin/pemetrexed. Range of baseline CEC: 8-965 (mean of 153 cel/4 mL). The results after 3 cycles were: 25 partial responses (36.2 %), 17 cases of stabilization of disease (24.6 %), 16 of progressive disease (23.2 %) and 11 non-evaluables (16 %). No significant relationship between the baseline CEC count and response was found (p value = 0.831). Increase >50 % between the first and second cycle was correlated significantly with progression disease (p = 0.008). Patients who had a baseline CEC count greater than the mean (>153 cells/4 mL) showed longer progression-free survival and global survival without statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

In this homogeneous group of patients with NSCLC, there is no correlation between response to treatment and CEC baseline levels. The increase in CEC numbers after the first cycle could be a negative predictive factor.

Predictive and prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with standard chemotherapy

PURPOSE

Monitoring circulating endothelial cells (CECs) count reflects the tumor vasculature in cancer patients and might be a predictor of response to chemotherapy. We therefore investigated the clinical significance of changes in CECs count after three cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 89 naive NSCLC patients at diagnosis and after chemotherapy. The CECs were quantified by an immuno-magnetic technique and fluorescent microscopy. After chemotherapy, patients were assessed according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors as partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) or progression disease (PD).

RESULTS

Baseline CECs levels were significantly higher in PR patients (n = 62) than those in patients with SD/PD (n = 27) (p = 0.0007). Although there was no significant correlation between baseline CECs levels and progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.287), patients with high percentage change in CECs count after chemotherapy had significantly longer PFS than those with low percentage change (p = 0.048). Regarding treatment efficacy, CECs count significantly decreased after chemotherapy in comparison with CECs count at baseline in patients with PR (p < 0.0001). By contrast, CECs levels after chemotherapy were significantly higher than those at diagnosis in patients with PD (p = 0.002). Moreover, there was no significant change between pre- and post-treatment CECs amount in patients with SD (p = 0.681).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline CECs levels might be an early predictive biomarker for treatment efficacy in advanced NSCLC patients. Our results suggest the change in CECs count after chemotherapy as a prognostic factor for tumor response and PFS in NSCLC.

What could Nintedanib (BIBF 1120), a triple inhibitor of VEGFR, PDGFR, and FGFR, add to the current treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer?

Increasing knowledge of the pro-angiogenic processes involved in the progression of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has resulted in the clinical development of several anti-angiogenic agents, with bevacizumab currently being the only approved agent for mCRC. Nintedanib (BIBF 1120) has been shown to block the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). By targeting FGFR signaling, nintedanib may overcome resistance to previous anti-VEGF treatments, and may represent a better approach in patients with high basal levels of circulating FGFs. In this article, the angiogenic mechanisms implicated in mCRC are reviewed (focusing on the signaling pathways activated by VEGFR, PDGFR, and FGFR), along with the clinical data for nintedanib in the context of other anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors under clinical development for mCRC. Biomarkers that could predict response to nintedanib are also discussed.

Clinical value of circulating endothelial cells and of soluble CD146 levels in patients undergoing surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

Background:

Previous studies indicate that endothelial injury, as demonstrated by the presence of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), may predict clinical outcome in cancer patients. In addition, soluble CD146 (sCD146) may reflect activation of angiogenesis. However, no study has investigated their combined clinical value in patients undergoing resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods:

Data were collected from preoperative blood samples from 74 patients who underwent resection for NSCLC. Circulating endothelial cells were defined, using the CellSearch Assay, as CD146+CD105+CD45−DAPI+. In parallel, sCD146 was quantified using an ELISA immunoassay. These experiments were also performed on a group of 20 patients with small-cell lung cancer, 60 healthy individuals and 23 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Results:

The CEC count and the plasma level of sCD146 were significantly higher in NSCLC patients than in the sub-groups of controls (P<0.001). Moreover, an increased CEC count was associated with higher levels of sCD146 (P=0.010). Both high CEC count and high sCD146 plasma level at baseline significantly correlated with shorter progression-free survival (P<0.001, respectively) and overall survival (P=0.005; P=0.009) of NSCLC patients.

Conclusions:

The present study provides supportive evidence to show that both a high CEC count and a high sCD146 level at baseline correlate with poor prognosis and may be useful for the prediction of clinical outcome in patients undergoing surgery for NSCLC.

Prognostic value of CD109+ circulating endothelial cells in recurrent glioblastomas treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggest that circulating endothelial and progenitor cells (CECs and CEPs, respectively) may have predictive potential in cancer patients treated with bevacizumab, the antibody recognizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here we report on CECs and CEPs investigated in 68 patients affected by recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan and two Independent Datasets of rGBM patients respectively treated with bevacizumab alone (n=32, independent dataset A: IDA) and classical antiblastic chemotherapy (n=14, independent dataset B: IDB).

METHODS

rGBM patients with KPS ≥50 were treated until progression, as defined by MRI with RANO criteria. CECs expressing CD109, a marker of tumor endothelial cells, as well as other CEC and CEP subtypes, were investigated by six-color flow cytometry.

RESULTS

A baseline count of CD109+ CEC higher than 41.1/ml (1(st) quartile) was associated with increased progression free survival (PFS; 20 versus 9 weeks, P=0.008) and overall survival (OS; 32 versus 23 weeks, P=0.03). Longer PFS (25 versus 8 weeks, P=0.02) and OS (27 versus 17 weeks, P=0.03) were also confirmed in IDA with CD109+ CECs higher than 41.1/ml but not in IDB. Patients treated with bevacizumab with or without irinotecan that were free from MRI progression after two months of treatment had significant decrease of CD109+ CECs: median PFS was 19 weeks; median OS 29 weeks. The presence of two non-contiguous lesions (distant disease) at baseline was an independent predictor of shorter PFS and OS (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Data encourage further studies on the predictive potential of CD109+ CECs in GBM patients treated with bevacizumab.

Circulating endothelial cells and procoagulant microparticles in patients with glioblastoma: prognostic value

Aim

Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles are prognostic factors in cancer. However, their prognostic and predictive value in patients with glioblastoma is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells and microparticles in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with standard radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide. In addition, we have analyzed the methylation status of the MGMT promoter.

Methods

Peripheral blood samples were obtained before and at the end of the concomitant treatment. Blood samples from healthy volunteers were also obtained as controls. Endothelial cells were measured by an immunomagnetic technique and immunofluorescence microscopy. Microparticles were quantified by flow cytometry. Microparticle-mediated procoagulant activity was measured by endogen thrombin generation and by phospholipid-dependent clotting time. Methylation status of MGMT promoter was determined by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.

Results

Pretreatment levels of circulating endothelial cells and microparticles were higher in patients than in controls (p<0.001). After treatment, levels of microparticles and thrombin generation decreased, and phospholipid-dependent clotting time increased significantly. A high pretreatment endothelial cell count, corresponding to the 99^th percentile in controls, was associated with poor overall survival. MGMT promoter methylation was present in 27% of tumor samples and was associated to a higher overall survival (66 weeks vs 30 weeks, p<0.004).

Conclusion

Levels of circulating endothelial cells may have prognostic value in patients with glioblastoma.

KRAS as prognostic biomarker in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with bevacizumab: a pooled analysis of 12 published trials

The significance of KRAS in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with bevacizumab (B) is not well understood. We conducted a systematic review and pooled analysis of published trials with the aim to assess the predictive and prognostic role of KRAS status in patients treated with B. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. The primary endpoints included objective response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The odds ratio (OR) for RR and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated or extracted by published data either using a fixed effect model or a random effect model. A total of 12 studies were included. A total of 2,266 patients were analysed (54 % were KRAS wt). The pooled RRs for KRAS wild-type (wt) versus mutated (mut) patients were 54.8 and 48.3 %, respectively (OR 1.42, P = 0.02). Median PFS was significantly longer in KRAS wt patients compared with that in KRAS mut patients (HR = 0.85; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.98; P = 0.02). Similarly, median OS was significantly better in wt KRAS patients compared with that in mut KRAS patients (HR = 0.65; 95 % CI 0.46-0.92; P = 0.01). This pooled analysis of 12 published studies shows that KRAS wt status is a good prognostic factor for B-based chemotherapy. Also, KRAS wt CRC is associated with a better RR with B plus chemotherapy than mut counterpart.

[Microenvironment and colorectal liver metastases angiogenesis: surgical implications]

Stephen Paget's proposed an original "seed and soil" theory, with organ-preference patterns of tumor metastasis resulting in interaction between metastatic tumor cells and their specific microenvironment. There is many experimental and clinical data showing that this theory is validated. More recently, it has been suggested that early changes in the microenvironment at the distant sites, could be induced by the primary tumor, reported as "pre-metastatic niche" formation. Tumor cells could produce growth factors, cytokines which could facilitate the recruitment and the mobilization of the bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells, and thus necessary for the tumor neovascularization and metastasis growth. Although the clinical value of the concept of the premetastatic niche is not yet elucidated, these data could encourage surgeons to perform the colorectal surgery first and then the liver surgery, in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases. The reciprocal interactions between primary tumor and microenvironment at the distant sites are therefore determinant for tumor progression. Taken together, the microenvironment is an important therapeutic target and surgeons and oncologist could discuss the choice of different surgical strategy for patient with synchronous colorectal liver metastases regarding the interaction with the microenvironment affected by primary tumor resection.

Targeted therapies in colorectal cancer-an integrative view by PPPM

In developed countries, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy, but it is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death. Clinicians are still faced with numerous challenges in the treatment of this disease, and future approaches which target the molecular features of the disorder will be critical for success in this disease setting. Genetic analyses of many solid tumours have shown that up to 100 protein-encoding genes are mutated. Within CRC, numerous genetic alterations have been identified in a number of pathways. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathology of CRC may present information on potential routes for treatment and may also provide valuable prognostic information. This will be particularly pertinent for molecularly targeted treatments, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody therapy. KRAS and BRAF mutations have been shown to predict response to anti-EGFR therapy. As EGFR can also signal via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) kinase pathway, there is considerable interest in the potential roles of members of this pathway (such as PI3K and PTEN) in predicting treatment response. Therefore, a combined approach of new techniques that allow identification of these biomarkers alongside interdisciplinary approaches to the treatment of advanced CRC will aid in the treatment decision-making process and may also serve to guide future therapeutic approaches.

Efficacy, safety, and biomarkers of single-agent bevacizumab therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularized tumor in which neoangiogenesis contributes to growth and metastasis. We assessed the safety, efficacy, and potential biomarkers of activity of bevacizumab in patients with advanced HCC.

METHODS

In this phase II trial, eligible patients received bevacizumab, 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. The disease-control rate at 16 weeks (16W-DCR) was the primary endpoint. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) were measured at baseline and throughout treatment.

RESULTS

The 16W-DCR was 42% (95% confidence interval, 27%-57%). Six of the 43 patients who received bevacizumab achieved a partial response (objective response rate [ORR], 14%). Grade 3-4 asthenia, hemorrhage, and aminotransferase elevation occurred in five (12%), three (7%), and three (7%) patients, respectively. During treatment, placental growth factor markedly increased, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A dramatically decreased (p < .0001); soluble VEGF receptor-2 (p < .0001) and CECs (p = .03) transiently increased on day 3. High and increased CEC counts at day 15 were associated with the ORR (p = .04) and the 16W-DCR (p = .02), respectively. Lower interleukin (IL)-8 levels at baseline (p = .01) and throughout treatment (p ≤ .04) were associated with the 16W-DCR. High baseline IL-8 and IL-6 levels predicted shorter progression-free and overall survival times (p ≤ .04).

CONCLUSION

Bevacizumab is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced HCC. The clinical value of CECs, IL-6, and IL-8 warrants further investigation.