Clinical biomarkers of response in advanced renal cell carcinoma

Apatinib for recurrent/progressive glioblastoma multiforme: A salvage option

Purpose: The recurrent/progressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) carries a dismal prognosis and the definitive treatment strategy has not yet been established. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib in recurrent/progressive GBM patients.

Materials and methods: The clinical data of 19 recurrent/progressive GBM patients who received apatinib treatment from November 2015 to December 2019 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were collected retrospectively in this study. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reviewed and assessed.

Results: The overall ORR was 52.6%, and the DCR was 73.7%. Median PFS and OS were 5.1 and 10.4 months, respectively. The 6-month PFS and OS rates were 38.9% and 68.4%, respectively. The 12-month PFS and OS rates were 16.7% and 36.8%, respectively. The treatment-related toxicities were generally well-tolerated. The most common grade 3/4 AEs were hand-foot syndrome (36.8%) and hypertension (21.1%).

Conclusion: Our study showed that apatinib therapy provided a better salvaging option for recurrent/progressive GBM patients and the toxicity was manageable.

The influence of dynamic changes in lipid metabolism on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The role of lipid metabolic status in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is insufficient.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the influence of dynamic changes of lipid metabolism on survival outcomes in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were collected, both before tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy and at different time points of tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment duration. Other clinicopathological and survival data were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical outcomes, including tumour response, progression-free survival and overall survival, were analysed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and the log-rank test was used to analyse statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 127 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, initially treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line systemic therapy, were included. In the whole cohort, the serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol fluctuated but gradually increased during tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment. In survival analysis, the higher serum level of lipid metabolism, the longer progression-free survival was observed. In terms of overall survival, all post-treatment lipid metabolism, including the percentages of increasing change, were correlated with better survival. Further multivariate analysis showed that patients with five components of treatment-related dysfunction of lipid metabolism had superior survival to those with less than five components. However, lipid metabolism was not correlated with tumour response.

CONCLUSION

Increasing parameters of lipid metabolism indicated improvement of survival in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma, especially the increasing percentages.

Association between tyrosine-kinase inhibitor induced hypertension and treatment outcomes in metastatic renal cancer

BACKGROUND

Tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) drugs have been considered first line treatment for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) for over a decade. TKI-induced hypertension is a common adverse-event in patients treated for metastatic RCC.

AIM

This study was aimed at investigating an association between TKI-induced hypertension and treatment outcomes for metastatic RCC patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Retrospective data pertaining to patients with histologically or radiologically confirmed metastatic RCC treated with sunitinib, pazopanib, sorafenib, axitinib or cabozantinib between June 2012 and May 2019 were evaluated. Clinical information and serial blood pressure measurements were extracted from medical records for each patient. We compared objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and 12-month survival between TKI-induced hypertension (TIH) and non-TIH groups using χ² and Mann-Whitney tests. Out of 72 patients screened, 52 met study eligibility criteria. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years (range: 42-85 years) with a clear male predominance. The majority of patients had a history of nephrectomy with clear cell pathology. Almost all patients were on first-line TKI therapy with sunitinib or pazopanib. Median follow-up was 11 months. About half of patients developed TKI-induced hypertension (grade 2-3). In the TIH group 82% were commenced on an antihypertensive agent. Median PFS measured 30.5 weeks for TIH group compared to 22.2 weeks for non-TIH (P = .05). The 6 month and 12 month survival rates for TIH were 82% and 56%, respectively, as compared to 76% and 44% for non-TIH.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of TKI-induced hypertension was found to be a positive prognostic factor for progression in patients with metastatic RCC.

Efficacy and Prognostic Factors of Sunitinib as First-Line Therapy for Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in an Arab Population

PURPOSE

Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been the mainstay first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We reviewed the efficacy of first-line therapy with sunitinib in patients with mRCC in an Arab population.

METHODS

Medical records of patients with mRCC treated at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia, during the period from 2007 to 2016, were reviewed. Demographic data, treatment received, response, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients who received sunitinib were identified. The median age was 60 years (range, 18 to 78 years), and 42 of the 55 patients were men (76.3%). International Metastatic RCC Diagnostic Consortium prognostic scores for favorable/intermediate/poor were 14.5%/43.6%/38.2%, respectively. The median performance status was 1, and the median Charlson comorbidity index score was 9. Thirty-seven patients (67.2%) had cytoreductive nephrectomy. Thirty-seven patients (67.2%) had clear cell histology. Twenty-two patients (40%) underwent dose reduction. Twenty-seven patients (49%) received second-line therapy, and seven patients (12.7%) received third-line therapy. Response rates were complete response in one patient (1.8%), partial response in 17 (30.9%), stable disease in 10 (18.1), and disease progression in 20 (36.3%). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.0 and 24.7 months, respectively. Univariate analysis showed statistically improved PFS for dose reduction (P = .015) and the development of hypothyroidism (P = .03). It also showed statistically improved OS for dose reduction (P = .035), hypothyroidism (P = .0002), and cytoreductive nephrectomy (P = .0052). Multivariate analysis showed statistically improved PFS for dose reduction (P = .01) and OS for development of hypothyroidism (P = .007).

CONCLUSION

Our data for sunitinib in mRCC show significantly lower PFS than expected. The absence of prognostic value of the International Metastatic RCC Diagnostic Consortium scoring system and pathologic subtype warrant further investigation and possible inclusion of genetic scoring in this ethnic group of patients.

Hypertension as a prognostic factor in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effect of hypertension on the prognosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study aimed to assess the predictive value of TKIs-induced hypertension in patients with mRCC.

Methods

This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019129593). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library database were searched with terms: “renal cell carcinoma”, “hypertension”, “blood pressure”, “tyrosine kinase inhibitor”, “sunitinib”, “axitinib”, “sorafenib” and “pazopanib” until March 21, 2019. Hazard Ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) were extracted and analyzed with Stata 15.0 software. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² value. Meta-regression, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and precisely assessed by Egger’s and Begg’s tests. The quality of evidence of outcomes was generated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results

A total of 4661 patients from 22 studies were included in the study. The results showed that the increase of blood pressure was an effective predictor for longer PFS (HR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.48–0.71, p < 0.001; I² = 77.3%) and OS (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.45–0.70, p < 0.001; I² = 77.4%) of patients with mRCC. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients receiving sunitinib and pazopanib could have longer PFS and OS.

Conclusions

This study indicated that TKIs-induced hypertension may be a good predictor for better prognosis of patients with mRCC receiving TKIs treatment, especially using sunitinib or pazopanib.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12894-019-0481-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma showing drastic reduction after pazopanib administration accompanied by severe liver dysfunction

Pazopanib is an orally bioavailable tyrosine kinase inhibitor anticancer drug approved worldwide for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Here we report the case of a patient whose recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma showed a drastic reduction immediately after pazopanib administration accompanied by severe liver dysfunction. His liver function was restored conservatively by giving him hepatoprotectors and having him stop taking pazopanib. The recurrent tumor disappeared but by 4 months later had regrown.

Targeting the renin-angiotensin system to improve cancer treatment: Implications for immunotherapy

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (RASi)-widely prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases-have considerable potential in oncology. The RAS plays a crucial role in cancer biology and affects tumor growth and dissemination directly and indirectly by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. We review clinical data on the benefit of RASi in primary and metastatic tumors and propose that, by activating immunostimulatory pathways, these inhibitors can enhance immunotherapy of cancer.

Efficacy and safety of first-line sunitinib in Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

AIM

We report the first prospective study of sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in China.

METHODS

Chinese mRCC patients received first-line sunitinib 50 mg daily (4/2 regimen). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate and safety were assessed. Potential efficacy biomarkers were explored in post hoc analyses.

RESULTS

Median PFS was 61.7 weeks; median OS was 133.4 weeks; objective response rate was 31.1%. Most frequent adverse events (AEs) were: hand-foot syndrome (63.8%), decreased white blood cell count (52.4%), fatigue (51.4%) and decreased platelet count (51.4%). AEs were identified that predicted longer PFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

Sunitinib showed efficacy and manageable AE profile in treatment-naive Chinese mRCC patients. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm identified AEs as predictors of efficacy.

Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors to Mitigate Cancer Treatment-Related Adverse Events

Treatment-related side effects are a major clinical problem in cancer treatment. They lead to reduced compliance to therapy as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Well-known are the sequelae of chemotherapy on the heart, especially in childhood cancer survivors. Therefore, measures to mitigate the adverse events of cancer therapy may improve health and quality of life in patients with cancer, both in the short and long term. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) affects all hallmarks of cancer, and blockage of the RAS is associated with an improved outcome in several cancer types. There is also increasing evidence that inhibition of the RAS might be able to alleviate or even prevent certain types of cancer treatment-related adverse effects. In this review, we summarize the potential of RAS inhibitors to mitigate cancer treatment-related adverse events, with a special emphasis on chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, radiation injury, and arterial hypertension. Clin Cancer Res; 24(16); 3803-12. ©2018 AACR.

Toxicity profile of approved anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Purpose

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are antibodies against the programmed-death-receptor- 1 (PD-1) which are associated with distinct immune related adverse effects (AEs). This meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the toxicity profile of these agents.

Methods

PubMed search was conducted in February of 2016. The randomized trials needed to have at least one of the study arms consisting of nivolumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy and a control arm containing no anti-PD-1 therapy. Data were analyzed using random effects meta-analysis for risk ratios. Heterogeneity across studies was analyzed using Q and I² statistics.

Results

Nine randomized trials and 5,353 patients were included in our meta-analysis. There was evidence of significant heterogeneity between studies. The pooled relative risk (RR) for treatment-related all grade AEs and grade 3/4 AEs was 0.88 (95% CI 0.81-0.95;P=0.002) and 0.39 (95% CI 0.29-0.53; P<0.001) respectively favoring anti-PD-1 therapy versus standard of care approach. The RR of treatment-related death was 0.45 (95% CI 0.19-1.09; P=0.076). Patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors had an increased risk of hyperthyroidism [RR of 3.44 (95% CI 1.98-5.99; P<0.001)] and hypothyroidism [RR of 6.79 (95% CI 3.10-14.84; P<0.001)]. All grade pruritus and vitiligo were also more common among these patients. The pooled absolute risks of pneumonitis and hypophysitis were 2.65% and 0.47% respectively.

Conclusion

Approved PD-1 inhibitors are well tolerated, associated with significant low risk of severe treatment-related AEs and increased risk of thyroid dysfunction, pruritus, and vitiligo.

Prognostic role of the cumulative toxicity in patients affected by metastatic renal cells carcinoma and treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor-related toxicities have been reported to be predictive and/or prognostic factors in patients affected by metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We aim to investigate the incidence of cumulative toxicity and its prognostic role in mRCC patients treated with sunitinib or pazopanib. mRCC patients treated with sunitinib or pazopanib at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan were reviewed for the incidence of adverse events. Cumulative toxicity was defined as the presence of more than one selected adverse event of any grade. Prognoses were evaluated by the International mRCC Database Consortium criteria. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox analysis. A total of 104 patients were included in the final analysis. Only 18.3% did not experience any of the selected toxicities: 26.9% had one, 35.6% had two and 19.2% all three toxicities. Accordingly, 54.8% of patients experienced cumulative toxicity. In those with or without cumulative toxicity, the median PFS was 27.6 versus 7.2 months and the median OS was 61.2 versus 18.7 months, respectively. When cumulative toxicity was adjusted for International mRCC Database Consortium prognostic groups, it maintained its prognostic role for both PFS (hazard ratio: 0.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.49; P<0.001) and OS (hazard ratio: 0.27, 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.48; P<0.001). A major limitation was the retrospective and monocentric nature of the analysis. We reported the prognostic role of cumulative toxicity because of hypertension, hypothyroidism and hand-foot syndrome in patients affected by mRCC and treated with sunitinib or pazopanib.

Optimal use of lenvatinib in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer

The development of orally active, multitargeted kinase inhibitors (MKIs) represents a significant advance in the treatment of progressive, metastatic thyroid cancer. Lenvatinib, an MKI targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, c-Kit, and RET, has shown efficacy in stabilizing previously progressive disease, with emerging evidence of a possible benefit in terms of overall survival. However, lenvatinib is associated with a side-effect profile similar to those of other MKIs that might affect the outcome of therapy. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical efficacy and safety of MKIs in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer in pivotal phase III trials. Common adverse events that may occur during lenvatinib therapy and their management are discussed, including conditions in which its administration should be temporarily withdrawn and resumed pending resolution of adverse events. We focus on data from a subanalysis of Japanese patients in the SELECT trial and in a post-marketing study in Japan. We suggest that lenvatinib is a valuable treatment option for advanced differentiated thyroid cancer. Monitoring and careful management of adverse events including supportive care are required to ensure continuation of therapy.

Clinical outcome of patients who reduced sunitinib or pazopanib during first-line treatment for advanced kidney cancer

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the different outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who receive a reduced first-line dose of sunitinib or pazopanib compared to those who continue at the standard dose.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All the patients treated in 11 oncological centers in Italy for mRCC who started first-line treatment with sunitinib or pazopanib at the standard dose. Descriptive statistical tests were used to highlight differences among groups. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared across the groups using log-rank tests, the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for statistically significant variables was also done.

RESULTS

A total of 591 patients were included in the study. Of these, 45.7% received a reduced dose of sunitinib or pazopanib after a median treatment time of 3.6 months at the standard dose. The median overall survival in the patients who continued to receive the standard dose was 24.0 months compared to 49.4 months for those who received a reduced dose (hazard ratio = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.42-2.29; P<0.001). Only 45% of the patients received second-line therapy: 42.5% had an mTOR and 54.1% a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Second-line overall survival was 19.8 and 11.8 months, respectively, in the patients who received, or did not, a reduced dose during first-line therapy (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Toxicity-related dose reduction is a common event in mRCC patients who have started first-line therapy with either sunitinib or pazopanib. This is positively related to the outcomes of both first- and second-line therapy.

Is Change in Hemoglobin Level a Predictive Biomarker of Tyrosine Kinase Efficacy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma? A Turkish Oncology Group Study

BACKGROUND

There are insufficient predictive markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

A total of 308 metastatic RCC patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The increased hemoglobin (Hb) group had significantly higher progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) compared with the decreased Hb group at 11.5 versus 6.35 months (p < .001) and 21.0 versus 11.36 months (p < .001) respectively. The 1- and 3-year OS rates were higher in the Hb increased group, i.e., 84% versus 64% and 52% versus 35% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that increased Hb levels after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy could be a predictive marker of RCC.

Correlation of c-Met Expression and Outcome in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Sunitinib

BACKGROUND

Treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has improved substantially since the introduction of targeted therapies, but no predictive biomarkers are available. The proto-oncogene c-Met is involved in tumor angiogenesis, development, and metastasis. The main objective was to evaluate c-Met expression in sunitinib-treated patients with mRCC, including patients with bone metastases.

METHODS

c-Met expression was analyzed from 137 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples using a validated immunostaining protocol.

RESULTS

Patients with low c-Met expression (n = 78) had longer progression-free survival (PFS) (median 14.3 vs. 6.5 months; P < .001) and overall survival (OS) (median 32.1 vs. 20.1 months; P = .049) than those with high expression. High c-Met expression was an independent predictor of unfavorable PFS in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for the Heng risk criteria (HR 1.60 [1.09-2.35]; P = .016). In a subgroup of patients with no bone metastases (n = 106), low c-Met expression was associated with a both longer OS (unadjusted HR 0.63 [95% CI, 0.42-0.95]; P = .034) and PFS (unadjusted HR 0.47 [95% CI, 0.31-0.71]; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

High c-Met expression was associated with poor survival in patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib. Interestingly, the prognostic role may vary based on the location of metastases.

Macrocytosis during sunitinib treatment predicts progression-free survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Sunitinib, a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in patients in ‘low’ and ‘intermediate’ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Heng risk groups. Disruptions of hematopoiesis, such as anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, are typically observed during sunitinib treatment. When it comes to RBC parameters, an increase in mean cell volume (MCV) tends to occur, meeting the criteria for macrocytosis in some patients (MCV > 100 fL). We examined changes in RBC parameters of 27 mRCC patients treated with sunitinib (initial dose of 50 mg/day, 6-week treatment: 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off) and correlated them with progression-free survival time (PFS). Patients who had macrocytosis after 3 treatment cycles had significantly longer PFS than those whose MCV stayed less than 100 fL (not reached vs. 11.2 months, p < 0.001). We also found a correlation between MCV values after the first and third treatment cycles and the risk of progression: HR of 0.9 (0.81–0.99) and 0.76 (0.65–0.90) per 1 fL increase in MCV, respectively. The mechanism of MCV elevation during sunitinib treatment has not yet been fully explained. One of the probable causes is sunitinib’s inhibitory influence on c-Kit kinase, as is the case with imatinib. For mRCC patients, this phenomenon could help predict PFS, but since our sample was small, further studies are essential.

Association of Angiopoietin-2 and Ki-67 Expression with Vascular Density and Sunitinib Response in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

The Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2, Angpt2) growth factor is a context-dependent antagonist/agonist ligand of the endothelial Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase and known to promote tumour angiogenesis and metastasis. Angiopoietin antagonists have been tested in clinical cancer trials in combination with VEGF-based anti-angiogenic therapy, including sunitinib, which is widely used as a first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). However, little is known about Ang2 protein expression in human tumours and the correlation of tumour Ang2 expression with tumour vascularization, tumour cell proliferation and response to anti-angiogenic therapies. Here, we evaluated, using immunohistochemistry, the expression of Ang2, CD31 and the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 in the primary kidney cancer from 136 mRCC patients, who received first-line sunitinib after nephrectomy. Ang2 protein expression was restrained to RCC tumour vessels, and correlated with tumour vascularization and response to sunitinib. High pre-therapeutic Ang2 expression, and more strongly, combined high expression of both Ang2 and CD31, were associated with a high clinical benefit rate (CBR). Low cancer Ki-67 expression, but not Ang2 or CD31 expression, was associated with favourable progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as compared to patients with high Ki-67 expression (PFS 6.5 vs. 10.6 months, P = 0.009; OS, 15.7 vs. 28.5 months, P = 0.015). In summary, in this study to investigate endothelial Ang2 in mRCC patients treated with first-line sunitinib, high cancer Ang2 expression was associated with the CBR, but not PFS or OS, whereas low Ki-67 expression was significantly associated with long PFS and OS.

Spotlight on lenvatinib in the treatment of thyroid cancer: patient selection and perspectives

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, with over 60,000 cases reported per year in the US alone. The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased in the last several years. Patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) generally have a good prognosis. Metastatic DTC can often be treated in a targeted manner with radioactive iodine, but the ability to accumulate iodine is lost with decreasing differentiation. Until recently, chemotherapy was the only treatment in patients with advanced thyroid cancer, which is no longer amenable to therapy with radioactive iodine. The modest efficacy and significant toxicity of chemotherapy necessitated the need for urgent advances in the medical field. New insights in thyroid cancer biology propelled the development of targeted therapies for this disease, including the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib as salvage treatment for DTC. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a second tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lenvatinib, for the treatment of radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer. Although associated with a significant progression-free survival improvement as compared to placebo in a large Phase III study (median progression-free survival 18.2 vs 3.6 months; hazard ratio 0.21; 99% confidence interval 0.14-0.31; P<0.001), the benefit of lenvatinib needs to be proved in the context of associated moderate to severe toxicities that require frequent dose reduction and delays. This article reviews the evidence supporting the use of lenvatinib as salvage therapy for radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer, with a focus on the toxicity profile of this new therapy.

Angiotensin system inhibitors and survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with VEGF-targeted therapy: A pooled secondary analysis of clinical trials

Use of angiotensin system inhibitors (ASIs; angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) has been reported to be associated with improved survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), particularly when used with vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapies. This study was a secondary pooled analysis of two Phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with mRCC: NCT00334282 comparing pazopanib to placebo and NCT00720941 comparing pazopanib to sunitinib. ASI users were defined as patients using an ASI at baseline. Association with overall survival (OS; primary outcome) and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. The association was adjusted in multivariable analysis for baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP), use of other antihypertensive drugs and prognostic factors comprising the Heng risk criteria for mRCC. Of 1,545 patients pooled from the two RCTs, 649 (42%) were using one or more antihypertensive drugs at baseline, 385 (59%) of which were using an ASI. In the multivariable analysis of patients using pazopanib or sunitinib, no significant association was observed between baseline ASI use and OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.18], p = 0.80) or PFS (HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.73-1.06], p = 0.17). Exploratory subgroup analysis of NCT00720941 highlighted that the effect of baseline ASI use on OS may differ between patients treated with sunitinib and pazopanib. In conclusion, use of ASIs at baseline was not a significant independent prognostic factor for improved survival in a pooled analysis of mRCC patients treated with pazopanib or sunitinib.

Sunitinib administered on 2/1 schedule in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the RAINBOW analysis

BACKGROUND

First-line sunitinib is recommended in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but it is frequently associated with relevant toxicities and subsequent dose reductions. Alternative schedules, such as 2-week-on treatment and 1-week-off (2/1 schedule), might improve tolerability. We evaluated the safety and outcomes of this schedule in a large multicenter analysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective, multicenter analysis of mRCC patients treated with first-line sunitinib on a 2/1 schedule. Data of 249 patients were reviewed: 208 cases who started sunitinib on the 4/2 schedule (full dosage: 188/208, 90.4%) and thereafter switched to the 2/1 schedule for toxicity (group 4/2 → 2/1) and 41 patients who started first-line sunitinib with the 2/1 schedule because of suboptimal clinical conditions (group 2/1). A total of 211 consecutive patients treated with the 4/2 schedule in another institution served as external controls. Safety was the primary end point. Treatment duration (TD), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also analyzed.

RESULTS

In group 4/2 → 2/1, the overall incidence of grade ≥ 3 toxicities was significantly reduced (from 45.7% to 8.2%, P < 0.001) after the switch to 2/1 schedule. This advantage was maintained also in the 106/188 cases (56.4%) who maintained the full dosage. Fatigue, hypertension, hand-foot syndrome and thrombocytopenia were less frequent. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events in the negatively selected group 2/1 (only 73.2% starting at full dose) was 26.8%, similar to what observed in the external control group (29.4%). Median TD was 28.2 months in the 4/2 → 2/1 group (total time spent with both schedules), 7.8 months in the 2/1 group and 9.7 months in external controls. Median PFS was 30.2, 10.4 and 9.7 months, respectively. Median OS was not reached, 23.2 and 27.8 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

mRCC patients who moved to a modified 2/1 schedule of sunitinib experience an improved safety profile compared with that observed during the initial 4/2 schedule.

Ongoing Screening and Treatment to Potentially Reduce Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Related Fatigue in Renal Cell Carcinoma

CONTEXT

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents 1% to 4% of adult malignancies, and approximately 33% of patients with RCC present with metastatic disease and have a poor prognosis. Better understanding of RCC tumor biology has led to the development of several molecularly targeted agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), to manage advanced disease. Although evolving data suggest these drugs may be beneficial in RCC, they are associated with significant toxicities. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common toxicities associated with the TKIs used in RCC.

OBJECTIVES

To review the incidence, pathophysiology, and management of CRF in patients with RCC who are undergoing targeted therapy with TKIs.

METHODS

A comprehensive database search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and MEDLINE. References of all cited articles also were reviewed. Data from articles published between 1975 and June 2014 were considered. A narrative review regarding the incidence, pathophysiology, and management of CRF in patients with RCC undergoing targeted therapy with TKIs was performed.

RESULTS

CRF is one of the most common TKI toxicities in patients with metastatic RCC and often is the dose-limiting toxicity. Management of TKI-related CRF can be difficult and may necessitate various nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions.

CONCLUSION

TKI-related CRF in patients with RCC is a highly distressing complication of cancer therapy. CRF can substantially influence drug compliance, the ability to maximally treat, and quality of life. It is important to recognize this common, yet frequently underdiagnosed complication and initiate appropriate management strategies, to increase the likelihood for optimal outcomes.

Co-occurring adverse events enable early prediction of progression-free survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with sunitinib: a hypothesis-generating study

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Clinical practice shows significant differences in treatment outcomes and toxicity of sunitinib across patients. This retrospective study assessed early predictive markers for progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with sunitinib in the first-line setting.

METHODS

We evaluated 28 patients with stage IV clear cell RCC (with good or intermediate MSKCC risk prognosis) treated at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Cracow between 2008 and 2013. Data included demographic profiles, adverse events during first cycle of therapy, treatment delays, and treatment outcomes. Sunitinib was administered on a standard schedule (50 mg/day, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). PFS values were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test; we identified independent PFS predictors using multiple Cox regression models.

RESULTS

PFS was significantly longer in patients who experienced at least 1 adverse event after the first cycle of sunitinib (median 17.6 months vs. 5.6; p = 0.006). Hypertension and hand-foot syndrome were significantly correlated with longer PFS (29.3 vs. 6.0 months; p = 0.002, and not reached vs. 9.8 months; p = 0.002, respectively). We observed a similar (though not significant) tendency for neutropenia (17.5 vs. 8.4 months; p = 0.055). In multiple Cox regression, hypertension was the only individual independent predictor of PFS, but the co-occurrence of any 2 or 3 sunitinib-induced adverse events also predicted longer survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Although small, our study suggests that hypertension and hand-foot syndrome predict longer PFS in patients with clear cell RCC treated with sunitinib. The co-occurrence of 2 or more side effects seems also a significant predictor of longer survival. Larger studies are warranted to confirm the correlation between co-occurring side effects and PFS.

Predictive molecular biomarkers to guide clinical decision making in kidney cancer: current progress and future challenges

Although the past decade has seen a surfeit of new targeted therapies for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), no predictive molecular biomarker is currently used in routine clinical practice to guide personalized therapy as a companion diagnostic. Many putative biomarkers have been suggested, but none have undergone rigorous validation. There have been considerable advances in the biological understanding of RCC in recent years, with the development of accompanying molecular diagnostics that with additional validation, may be helpful for routine clinical decision making. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of predictive biomarkers in RCC management and also highlight upcoming developments of interest in biomarker research for personalizing RCC diagnostics and therapeutics.

Safety and activity of temsirolimus and bevacizumab in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma previously treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a phase 2 consortium study

PURPOSE

Bevacizumab or temsirolimus regimens have clinical activity in the first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This phase I/II trial was conducted to determine the safety of combining both agents and its efficacy in RCC patients who progressed on at least one prior anti-VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RTKI) agent.

METHODS

In the phase I portion, eligible patients were treated with temsirolimus (25 mg IV weekly) and escalating doses of IV bevacizumab (level 1 = 5 mg/kg; level 2 = 10 mg/kg) every other week. The primary endpoint for the phase II portion (RTKI resistant patients) was the 6-month progression-free rate. Secondary endpoints were response rate, toxicity evaluation, and PFS and OS.

RESULTS

Maximum tolerated dose was not reached at the maximum dose administered in 12 phase I patients. Forty evaluable patients were treated with the phase II recommended dose (temsirolimus 25 mg IV weekly and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks). The 6-month progression-free rate was 40 % (16/40 pts). Median PFS was 5.9 (4-7.8) months, and median OS was 20.6 (11.5-23.7) months. Partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease were seen in 23, 63, and 14 % of patients, respectively. Most common grade 3-4 AEs included fatigue (17.8 %), hypertriglyceridemia (11.1 %), stomatitis (8.9 %), proteinuria (8.9 %), abdominal pain (6.7 %), and anemia (6.7 %). Baseline levels of serum sFLT-1 and VEGF-A were inversely correlated with PFS and OS, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Temsirolimus and bevacizumab is a feasible combination in patients with advanced RCC previously exposed to oral anti-VEGF agents. The safety and efficacy results warrant further confirmatory studies in this patient population.

Incidence and relative risk of grade 3 and 4 diarrhoea in patients treated with capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil: a meta-analysis of published trials

AIM

Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine that can effectively replace infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for treatment of colorectal, gastric and breast cancer. This study aims to analyze the incidence and the relative risk of grade 3 and 4 diarrhoea in patients treated with capecitabine or 5-FU in randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

METHODS

MEDLINE and Cochrane Library were reviewed for RCTs that compared capecitabine with 5-FU for treatment of solid malignancies. The incidence and relative risk (RR) of grade 3/4 diarrhoea were estimated for each arm in the overall population and in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies and 15,761 patients were included. Among these 8303 and 7458 patients received capecitabine or 5-FU based therapies, respectively. In the overall populations severe diarrhoea was reported in 16.6% (95% CI 15.8, 17.4) and in 12.7% (95% CI 11.9, 13.4) of patients treated with capecitabine or 5-FU-based therapies, respectively. The RR was 1.39 (95% CI 1.14, 1.69, P = 0.0010). In 14,899 CRC patients, the incidence of severe diarrhoea was 17.0% (95% CI 16.2, 17.9) and 12.9% (95% CI 12.1, 13.7), respectively, with a RR of 1.46 (95% CI 1.18, 1.81, P < 0.0001). In CRC patients treated with combined chemotherapy, the RR was 1.40 (95% CI 1.07, 1.82; P = 0.01) for patients receiving oxaliplatin and 2.35 (95% CI 1.76, 3.13; P < 0.0001) for patients receiving irinotecan.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with capecitabine is characterized by an increased risk of severe diarrhoea, mainly in patients affected by CRC and treated with polichemotherapy. Combination treatment with irinotecan doubles the risk over 5-FU.

Acquired Hypothyroidism as a Predictive Marker of Outcome in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Literature-Based Meta-Analysis

Hypothyroidism in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) during treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sunitinib and sorafenib is a well-established side effect. Furthermore, the potential role of hypothyroidism as predictive marker of outcome has been studied but with conflicting results. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to assess the predictive value of hypothyroidism for progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with mRCC during TKI therapy. We searched PubMed and the electronic abstract databases of the major international congresses' proceedings to identify all eligible studies that reported a correlation between the development of hypothyroidism during TKI treatment and outcome in patients with mRCC. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PFS and OS were obtained from these publications and pooled in a meta-analysis. Eleven studies with a total of 500 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We found no statistical significant difference in PFS between patients who developed hypothyroidism during sunitinib therapy and unaffected patients (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.59-1.13; P = .22; 6 studies; 250 patients). The HR for OS was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.31-0.87; P = .01) for patients who developed hypothyroidism during sunitinib therapy compared with patients who did not (4 studies; 147 patients). The development of hypothyroidism during TKI therapy is not clearly shown to be predictive of efficacy in patients with mRCC. The observed advantage in OS for the patients with acquired hypothyroidism should be interpreted with caution.

Predictive biomarkers in renal cell cancer: insights in drug resistance mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

VEGF-targeted therapy is currently the first line treatment for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), but most patients either display primary (intrinsic) resistance or acquire drug resistance. In recent years multiple mechanisms of resistance to VEGF-targeted therapy emerged from preclinical research, but it is currently unknown to what extent these drug resistance modalities play a role in the clinic. Here we reviewed the current literature on biomarkers that predict treatment outcome in patients with ccRCC to gain insight in clinical drug resistance mechanisms.

METHODS

A search syntax was compiled by combining different synonyms of "biomarker" AND "renal" AND "cancer". MEDLINE was accessed through PubMed, where this syntax was entered and used to search titles and abstracts of publications. Articles were selected based on three criteria: (1) description of patients with clear cell RCC, (2) treatment with VEGF targeted therapy and (3) discussion of biomarkers that were studied for potential association with treatment response.

RESULTS

The literature search was performed on March 4th 2014 and yielded 1882 articles. After carefully reading the titles and abstracts based on the three previously mentioned criteria, 103 publications were evaluated. Backward citation screening was performed on all eligible studies and revealed another 24 articles. This search revealed that (1) High glucose uptake and low contrast enhancement on PET- and CT-imaging before start of treatment may correlate with poor response to therapy, (2) Low dose intensity due to treatment intolerance is related to shorter progression free survival. (3) Acquired resistance appears to be associated with rebound vascularization based on both longitudinal monitoring of contrast enhancement by CT and blood vessel counts in tumor tissue, and (4) Based on plasma cytokine and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) studies, interleukin-8, VEGFR-3, FGFR2 and HGF/MET emerged as potential clinical markers for chemoresistance.

CONCLUSION

Low dose intensity, specific tumor-imaging techniques and potential biological biomarkers may be predictive for response to VEGF-targeted therapy in ccRCC. Some of these plausible biomarkers may also provide more insight into the underlying mechanisms of resistance such as altered glucose metabolism and rapid rebound vascularization.

Pharmacodynamic change in plasma angiogenic proteins: a dose-escalation phase 1 study of the multi-kinase inhibitor lenvatinib

Background

Lenvatinib (E7080), an oral multi-kinase inhibitor, has inhibitory action on tumor cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis in preclinical models. We evaluated correlations between pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers with patient clinical outcomes in a lenvatinib phase 1 dose-escalation study.

Methods

Plasma angiogenic proteins were evaluated as potential PD biomarkers of response to lenvatinib in a dose-escalation phase 1 study. Lenvatinib was administered to 27 patients by twice-daily dosing in 3-week cycles; 2 weeks of treatment followed by 1 week of rest until discontinuation. Blood samples for plasma proteins were collected on days 1 (baseline), 8, and 15 of cycle 1, and days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 2. Selected clinical outcomes, including tumor shrinkage and adverse events (AEs), were used for correlative analyses of pharmacokinetic parameters and PD biomarkers.

Results

Tumor shrinkage and changes in PD biomarkers (increased vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha [SDF1α] levels and decreased soluble VEGF receptor 2 [sVEGFR2] levels) significantly correlated with increasing lenvatinib exposure. Observed changes in levels of VEGF, SDF1α, and sVEGFR2 were maintained on day 15 of cycle 1, but returned to baseline during the 1-week rest period, and similar changes were induced by reinstitution of treatment in cycle 2. The worst grades of hypertension, proteinuria, and fatigue were associated with changes in VEGF and HGF at day 8 of cycle 1. Maximum tumor shrinkage was correlated with increased SDF1α levels. Decreased sVEGFR2 level was also correlated with tumor shrinkage and frequency of hypertension, proteinuria, and fatigue. Tumor shrinkage significantly correlated with the worst grade of proteinuria, but not with hypertension or fatigue.

Conclusion

PD biomarker changes observed in plasma angiogenic proteins are correlated with lenvatinib-induced tumor shrinkage and AEs. Our findings warrant further assessment of plasma proteins associated with angiogenesis as potential biomarkers of lenvatinib activity.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00280397 (January 20, 2006).