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Golan T, Milella M, Ackerstein A, Berger R. The changing face of clinical trials in the personalized medicine and immuno-oncology era: report from the international congress on clinical trials in Oncology & Hemato-Oncology (ICTO 2017). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:192. [PMID: 29282151 PMCID: PMC5745625 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0668-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, the oncology community has witnessed major advances in the understanding of cancer biology and major breakthroughs in several different therapeutic areas, from solid tumors to hematological malignancies; moreover, the advent of effective immunotherapy approaches, such as immune-checkpoint blockade, is revolutionizing treatment algorithms in almost all oncology disease areas. As knowledge evolves and new weapons emerge in the “war against cancer”, clinical and translational research need to adapt to a rapidly changing environment to effectively translate novel concepts into sustainable and accessible therapeutic options for cancer patients. With this in mind, translational cancer researchers, oncology professionals, treatment experts, CRO and industry leaders, as well as patient representatives gathered in London, 16-17 March 2017, for The International Congress on Clinical Trials in Oncology and Hemato-Oncology (ICTO2017), to discuss the changing face of oncology clinical trials in the new era of personalized medicine and immuno-oncology. A wide range of topics, including clinical trial design in immuno-oncology, biomarker-oriented drug development paths, statistical design and endpoint selection, challenges in the design and conduct of personalized medicine clinical trials, risk-based monitoring, financing and reimbursement, as well as best operational practices, were discussed in an open, highly interactive format, favoring networking among all relevant stakeholders. The most relevant data, approaches and issues emerged and discussed during the conference are summarized in this report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia Golan
- Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Emek HaEla St 1, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michele Milella
- Division of Medical Oncology 1, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Aliza Ackerstein
- Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Emek HaEla St 1, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ranaan Berger
- Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Emek HaEla St 1, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Silvestris N, Ciliberto G, De Paoli P, Apolone G, Lavitrano ML, Pierotti MA, Stanta G. Liquid dynamic medicine and N-of-1 clinical trials: a change of perspective in oncology research. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:128. [PMID: 28903768 PMCID: PMC5598055 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0598-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The increasing use of genomics to define the pattern of actionable mutations and to test and validate new therapies for individual cancer patients, and the growing application of liquid biopsy to dynamically track tumor evolution and to adapt molecularly targeted therapy according to the emergence of tumor clonal variants is shaping modern medical oncology., In order to better describe this new therapeutic paradigm we propose the term "Liquid dynamic medicine" in the place of "Personalized or Precision medicine". Clinical validation of the "Liquid dynamic medicine" approach is best captured by N-of-1 trials where each patient acts as tester and control of truly personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Silvestris
- Medical Oncology Unit and Scientific Directorate, Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS National Cancer Institute "Regina Elena", Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo De Paoli
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS "Centro di Riferimento Oncologico", Aviano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Apolone
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Lavitrano
- BBMRI.it and Department of Medicine and Surgery University Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Pierotti
- Senior Group Leader Foundation Institute FIRC Molecular Oncology (IFOM) Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stanta
- Department of Medical Sciences of the University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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PTEN status is a crucial determinant of the functional outcome of combined MEK and mTOR inhibition in cancer. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43013. [PMID: 28220839 PMCID: PMC5318947 DOI: 10.1038/srep43013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Combined MAPK/PI3K pathway inhibition represents an attractive, albeit toxic, therapeutic strategy in oncology. Since PTEN lies at the intersection of these two pathways, we investigated whether PTEN status determines the functional response to combined pathway inhibition. PTEN (gene, mRNA, and protein) status was extensively characterized in a panel of cancer cell lines and combined MEK/mTOR inhibition displayed highly synergistic pharmacologic interactions almost exclusively in PTEN-loss models. Genetic manipulation of PTEN status confirmed a mechanistic role for PTEN in determining the functional outcome of combined pathway blockade. Proteomic analysis showed greater phosphoproteomic profile modification(s) in response to combined MEK/mTOR inhibition in PTEN-loss contexts and identified JAK1/STAT3 activation as a potential mediator of synergistic interactions. Overall, our results show that PTEN-loss is a crucial determinant of synergistic interactions between MAPK and PI3K pathway inhibitors, potentially exploitable for the selection of cancer patients at the highest chance of benefit from combined therapeutic strategies.
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Biomarker-Guided Non-Adaptive Trial Designs in Phase II and Phase III: A Methodological Review. J Pers Med 2017; 7:jpm7010001. [PMID: 28125057 PMCID: PMC5374391 DOI: 10.3390/jpm7010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarker-guided treatment is a rapidly developing area of medicine, where treatment choice is personalised according to one or more of an individual’s biomarker measurements. A number of biomarker-guided trial designs have been proposed in the past decade, including both adaptive and non-adaptive trial designs which test the effectiveness of a biomarker-guided approach to treatment with the aim of improving patient health. A better understanding of them is needed as challenges occur both in terms of trial design and analysis. We have undertaken a comprehensive literature review based on an in-depth search strategy with a view to providing the research community with clarity in definition, methodology and terminology of the various biomarker-guided trial designs (both adaptive and non-adaptive designs) from a total of 211 included papers. In the present paper, we focus on non-adaptive biomarker-guided trial designs for which we have identified five distinct main types mentioned in 100 papers. We have graphically displayed each non-adaptive trial design and provided an in-depth overview of their key characteristics. Substantial variability has been observed in terms of how trial designs are described and particularly in the terminology used by different authors. Our comprehensive review provides guidance for those designing biomarker-guided trials.
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Alekseenko IV, Pleshkan VV, Monastyrskaya GS, Kuzmich AI, Snezhkov EV, Didych DA, Sverdlov ED. Fundamentally low reproducibility in molecular genetic cancer research. RUSS J GENET+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795416070036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Tajik P, Zwinderman AH, Mol BW, Bossuyt PM. Trial Designs for Personalizing Cancer Care: A Systematic Review and Classification. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:4578-88. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-3722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Burock S, Meunier F, Lacombe D. How can innovative forms of clinical research contribute to deliver affordable cancer care in an evolving health care environment? Eur J Cancer 2013; 49:2777-83. [PMID: 23777742 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As health care costs are constantly rising and governments are reforming their healthcare systems there is an urgent need to reshape the European clinical research landscape. To bridge the translational gap extensive research to understand the mechanism of the agents and of the disease has to be performed and the real benefit of drugs needs to be assessed independently. Furthermore, meaningful data for reimbursement strategies will be a major goal of future clinical trials as well. Therefore, a new integrated model of clinical cancer research is needed to optimise the R&D process. Strategies to ensure that we can gather robust and relevant data about the effectiveness of various healthcare interventions have to be developed to provide optimal patient care within the limits of a healthcare budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susen Burock
- EORTC Headquarters, Avenue E. Mounier 83/11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Finn L, Tan W. Proof of Concept to Clinical Confirmation: Evolving Clinical Trial Designs for Targeted Agents. ISRN ONCOLOGY 2012; 2012:478607. [PMID: 22701804 PMCID: PMC3371752 DOI: 10.5402/2012/478607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
No single therapy benefits the majority of patients in the practice of oncology as responses differ even among patients with similar tumor types. The variety of response to therapy witnessed while treating our patients supports the concept of personalized medicine using patients' genomic and biologic information and their clinical characteristics to make informed decisions about their treatment. Personalized medicine relies on identification and confirmation of biologic targets and development of agents to target them. These targeted agents tend to focus on subsets of patients and provide improved clinical outcomes. The continued success of personalized medicine will depend on the expedited development of new agents from proof of concept to confirmation of clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Finn
- Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Winston Tan
- Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
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Vaccaro V, Melisi D, Bria E, Cuppone F, Ciuffreda L, Pino MS, Gelibter A, Tortora G, Cognetti F, Milella M. Emerging pathways and future targets for the molecular therapy of pancreatic cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2011; 15:1183-96. [PMID: 21819318 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2011.607438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic cancer treatment remains a challenge for clinicians and researchers. Despite undisputable advances in the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression, early disease detection and clinical management of patients has made little, if any, progress in the past 20 years. Clinical development of targeted agents directed against validated pathways, such as the EGF/EGF receptor axis, the mutant KRAS protein, MMPs, and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, alone or in combination with gemcitabine-based standard chemotherapy, has been disappointing. AREAS COVERED This review explores the preclinical rationale for clinical approaches aimed at targeting the TGF-β, IGF, Hedgehog, Notch and NF-κB signaling pathways, to develop innovative therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. EXPERT OPINION Although some of the already clinically explored approaches (particularly EGFR and KRAS targeting) deserve further clinical consideration, by employing more innovative and creative clinical trial designs than the gemcitabine-targeted agent paradigm that has thus far invariably failed, the targeting of emerging and relatively unexplored signaling pathways holds great promise to increase our understanding of the complex molecular biology and to advance the clinical management of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Vaccaro
- Medical Oncology A, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Reddy RM, Kakarala M, Wicha MS. Clinical trial design for testing the stem cell model for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:2696-708. [PMID: 24212828 PMCID: PMC3757438 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3022696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cancer stem cell model introduces new strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancers. In cancers that appear to follow the stem cell model, pathways such as Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog may be targeted with natural compounds such as curcumin or drugs to reduce the risk of initiation of new tumors. Disease progression of established tumors could also potentially be inhibited by targeting the tumorigenic stem cells alone, rather than aiming to reduce overall tumor size. These new approaches mandate a change in the design of clinical trials and biomarkers chosen for efficacy assessment for preventative, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative treatments. Cancer treatments could be evaluated by assessing stem cell markers before and after treatment. Targeted stem cell specific treatment of cancers may not result in “complete” or “partial” responses radiologically, as stem cell targeting may not reduce the tumor bulk, but eliminate further tumorigenic potential. These changes are discussed using breast, pancreatic, and lung cancer as examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishindra M. Reddy
- Medical Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, 2120 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-734-763-7337; Fax: +1-734-615-2656
| | - Madhuri Kakarala
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; E-Mails: (M.K.); (M.S.W.)
| | - Max S. Wicha
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; E-Mails: (M.K.); (M.S.W.)
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Lymphocyte subpopulation and dendritic cell phenotyping during antineoplastic therapy in human solid tumors. Clin Exp Med 2010; 11:199-210. [PMID: 21161672 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-010-0120-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2010] [Accepted: 10/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Patients with cancer show variable levels of immunosuppression at the time of the presentation, and cytotoxic antineoplastic therapy is the primary contributor to the clinical immunodeficiency often observed during the course of the disease. In both hematological and solid tumors, this phenomenon is primarily related to the T-cell depletion associated with inhibition of dendritic cell ability to induce both primary and secondary T- and B-cell responses. Complete restoration of immunocompetence following antineoplastic therapy implicates the progressive recovery of various cell subpopulations, and it is a complex process that also depends on the type, the dose, the scheduling, and the associations of the employed drugs. In the era of target therapies, several antiangiogenic drugs are increasingly used in combination with standard chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Their clinical efficacy has been recently related not only to the specific antiangiogenic properties but also to an indirect hypothetical effect on the host immune system. In the present work, we have reviewed the most recent information regarding (1) the capacity of standard antineoplastic therapy to induce and maintain an immunodeficiency in patients with solid tumors and (2) the influence of the antiangiogenic treatment in association with standard chemotherapy on lymphocyte and dendritic cell subsets and the possible resulting additional antitumor mechanism.
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Brunetto AT, Kristeleit RS, de Bono JS. Early oncology clinical trial design in the era of molecular-targeted agents. Future Oncol 2010; 6:1339-52. [DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Loupakis F, Bria E, Vaccaro V, Cuppone F, Milella M, Carlini P, Cremolini C, Salvatore L, Falcone A, Muti P, Sperduti I, Giannarelli D, Cognetti F. Magnitude of benefit of the addition of bevacizumab to first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2010; 29:58. [PMID: 20504361 PMCID: PMC2890550 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-29-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Accepted: 05/26/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Although the addition of bevacizumab to 1st line chemotherapy provides a significant survival benefit for advanced colorectal cancer, the magnitudes of both advantages and toxicities have not been extensively investigated. Methods A literature-based meta-analysis was conducted; Hazard Ratios were extracted from randomized trials for primary end-points (Progression Free Survival, PFS, Overall Survival OS). The log of event-based risk ratio were derived for secondary endpoints (objective/partial response rate, ORR/PR; severe hypertension, bleeding and proteinuria). Absolute differences and the number needed to treat/harm (NNT/NNH) were calculated. A meta-regression analysis with clinical predictors and a sensitivity analysis according to the trial phase-design were conducted as well. Results Five trials (2,728 pts) were selected. The addition of bevacizumab to 1st line chemotherapy significantly increased both PFS (although with significant heterogeneity) and OS over exclusive chemotherapy by 17.1% and 8.6% (NNT 6 and 12), regardless of the study setting (non significant interaction between phase II and III). The chance to improve PR was significantly increased by 6.5% (NNT 15), with a trend for ORR. The risk of hypertension was significantly increased by 6.2% (NNH 16). According to the meta-regression analysis, female gender and rectal primary site were significant predictors for PFS benefit. Conclusions Notwithstanding all the concerns related to costs and the significant HTN risk, the significant outcome improvement provided by bevacizumab in first-line treatment for unselected advanced colorectal cancer patients, should be considered when choosing the appropriate up-front therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Loupakis
- UO Oncologia Medica 2 Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
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