The potential mechanism, recognition and clinical significance of tumor pseudoprogression after immunotherapy

Clinical Management of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treated With Talquetamab

BACKGROUND

Talquetamab is a bispecific antibody targeting the multiple myeloma-associated antigen G protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 member D (GPRC5D). In the phase 1/2 MonumenTAL-1 trial (NCT03399799/NCT04634552), overall responses rates were > 71% in patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Due to the distribution of the target antigen, a unique pattern of GPRC5D-associated adverse events (AEs) was observed, together with T-cell redirection-associated AEs. Management strategies for talquetamab-associated AEs are described.

DISCUSSION

GPRC5D-associated AEs included dermatologic (rash, nonrash, and nail toxicities) and oral AEs (dysgeusia, dysphagia, and dry mouth). The incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) were consistent with other T-cell redirection therapies. The incidence of high-grade infections was lower than observed with B-cell maturation antigen-targeting bispecific antibodies, with less frequent use of intravenous immunoglobulin required. GPRC5D-associated AEs were mostly low grade and led to few discontinuations. Skin toxicities were managed with emollients, topical corticosteroids, and oral corticosteroids (for high-grade, persistent, or AEs that progress). Nail toxicities were commonly managed with emollients. Based on investigator experience, dose modification may be effective for controlling oral events. Observation for potential weight changes is required. Infections were managed per standard of care. CRS and ICANS were effectively managed, consistent with other trials of T-cell redirection therapies.

CONCLUSION

Although talquetamab had a distinct safety profile, AEs were considered clinically manageable and mostly low grade. With appropriate education and support, health care practitioners can ensure patients with RRMM maintain quality of life and treatment adherence. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Predicting resistance and pseudoprogression: are minimalistic immunoediting mathematical models capable of forecasting checkpoint inhibitor treatment outcomes in lung cancer?

BACKGROUND

The increased application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 in lung cancer treatment generates clinical need to reliably predict individual patients' treatment outcomes.

METHODS

To bridge the prediction gap, we examine four different mathematical models in the form of ordinary differential equations, including a novel delayed response model. We rigorously evaluate their individual and combined predictive capabilities with regard to the patients' progressive disease (PD) status through equal weighting of model-derived outcome probabilities.

RESULTS

Fitting the complete treatment course, the novel delayed response model (R2=0.938) outperformed the simplest model (R2=0.865). The model combination was able to reliably predict patient PD outcome with an overall accuracy of 77% (sensitivity = 70%, specificity = 81%), solely through calibration with primary tumor longest diameter measurements. It autonomously identified a subset of 51% of patients where predictions with an overall accuracy of 81% (sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 81%) can be achieved. All models significantly outperformed a fully data-driven machine learning-based approach.

IMPLICATIONS

These modeling approaches provide a dynamic baseline framework to support clinicians in treatment decisions by identifying different treatment outcome trajectories with already clinically available measurement data.

LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Conjoint application of the presented approach with other predictive tools and biomarkers, as well as further disease information (e.g. metastatic stage), could further enhance treatment outcome prediction. We believe the simple model formulations allow widespread adoption of the developed models to other cancer types. Similar models can easily be formulated for other treatment modalities.

Immune-related osteoblastic bone alterations mimicking bone metastasis in a small-cell lung cancer patient treated with durvalumab: a case report

Background

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy is currently the standard first-line treatment for advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Immunotherapy can induce specific adverse events, called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). IrAEs of bones have rarely been reported. However, identifying bone irAEs could be important in avoiding misdiagnosis and ensuring appropriate patient management. This is the first report describing the diagnosis of irAEs of osteoblastic bone changes mimicking bone metastasis in a SCLC patient treated with durvalumab.

Case Description

In this report, we describe a unique and challenging case in which a 54-year-old female patient with SCLC treated with durvalumab, an immunotherapy drug, exhibited osteoblastic bone changes that appeared similar to bone metastasis on imaging but were actually a side effect of immunotherapy. Before treatment, imaging revealed no bone metastasis. In the third month after treatment with durvalumab, computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple bone alterations, predominantly osteoblastic lesions with minor osteolytic changes. Various imaging tests suggested bone metastasis, but she had no symptoms related to bone disease. Notably, the lesions in the chest had achieved a partial response. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the CT-guided pathological biopsy results, the patient's symptoms, and the biological characteristics of SCLC, we determined that these bone changes were irAEs occurring in the skeletal system. The patient was followed up for 10 months, during which time the bone lesions remained stable.

Conclusions

IrAEs of bones are rare, and their manifestations vary. Sometimes, the imaging manifestations of bone irAEs are difficult to distinguish from bone metastasis. If patients show variable treatment responses between different lesions, careful evaluation (including a pathological biopsy) is necessary.

Therapeutical Usefulness of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Aggressive or Metastatic Pituitary Tumours

Therapeutic options for pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) refractory to temozolomide are scarce. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly inhibitors of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway and its ligand (PD-L1), have been experimentally used in aggressive or metastatic PitNETs. We aimed to study the therapeutic usefulness of anti-PD-1 drugs in patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs. Published cases and case series involving patients with PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical-pathological features, previous therapies, drug dosage and posology, and the best radiological and biochemical responses, as well as survival data, were evaluated. We identified 29 cases of aggressive (n = 13) or metastatic (n = 16) PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was documented in eighteen cases (62.1%), seven were prolactinomas (24.1%), and four were non-functioning PitNETs. All patients underwent various therapies prior to using ICIs. Overall, a positive radiological response (i.e., partial/complete radiological response and stable disease) was observed in eighteen of twenty-nine cases (62.1%), of which ten and four were ACTH- and prolactin-secreting PitNETs, respectively. Hormonal levels reduced or stabilised after using ICIs in 11 of the 17 functioning PitNET cases with available data (64.7%). The median survival of patients treated with ICIs was 13 months, with a maximum of 42 months in two ACTH-secreting tumours. Among 29 patients with PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, the positive radiological and biochemical response rates were 62.1% and 64.7%, respectively. Altogether, these data suggest a promising role of ICIs in patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs refractory to other treatment modalities.

Identification of a Proteomic Signature for Predicting Immunotherapy Response in Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Immunotherapy has improved survival rates in patients with cancer, but identifying those who will respond to treatment remains a challenge. Advances in proteomic technologies have enabled the identification and quantification of nearly all expressed proteins in a single experiment. Integrating mass spectrometry with high-throughput technologies has facilitated comprehensive analysis of the plasma proteome in cancer, facilitating early diagnosis and personalized treatment. In this context, our study aimed to investigate the predictive and prognostic value of plasma proteome analysis using the SWATH-MS (Sequential Window Acquisition of All Theoretical Mass Spectra) strategy in newly diagnosed patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving pembrolizumab therapy. We enrolled 64 newly diagnosed patients with advanced NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab. Blood samples were collected from all patients before and during therapy. A total of 171 blood samples were analyzed using the SWATH-MS strategy. Plasma protein expression in metastatic NSCLC patients prior to receiving pembrolizumab was analyzed. A first cohort (discovery cohort) was employed to identify a proteomic signature predicting immunotherapy response. Thus, 324 differentially expressed proteins between responder and non-responder patients were identified. In addition, we developed a predictive model and found a combination of seven proteins, including ATG9A, DCDC2, HPS5, FIL1L, LZTL1, PGTA, and SPTN2, with stronger predictive value than PD-L1 expression alone. Additionally, survival analyses showed an association between the levels of ATG9A, DCDC2, SPTN2 and HPS5 with progression-free survival (PFS) and/or overall survival (OS). Our findings highlight the potential of proteomic technologies to detect predictive biomarkers in blood samples from NSCLC patients, emphasizing the correlation between immunotherapy response and the idenfied protein set.

Pseudoprogression Following Liver Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) in a Patient With Oligometastatic Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a non-invasive form of radiation that has been utilized for oligometastatic malignancies. However, pseudoprogression is a common radiological occurrence following this treatment, which manifests as an increase in tumor size before its reduction. We discuss a case of a 58-year-old female patient who initially presented with uterine leiomyosarcoma. Following surgery and postoperative radiation, she was later found to have solitary liver metastasis after three years of surveillance, which was managed by SBRT. However, on short-term follow-up, the lesion was found to have increased in size, prompting discussion regarding whether the growth was a progression of disease or a secondary effect of treatment. After close follow-up, the tumor continued to shrink until it was no longer visible on imaging. This is the first report discussing pseudoprogression following SBRT in a retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma patient. It serves as a reminder for clinicians to consider the possibility of pseudoprogression before the failure of therapy.

Pseudoprogression in a patient with metastatic melanoma treated with PD-1 and LAG-3 inhibition

Pseudoprogression encapsulates a process of temporary radiographic growth followed by subsequent regression of metastatic melanoma lesions in response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), such as the combination of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 therapy. This occurs in approximately 5-10% of ICB-treated patients, but has not yet been described in the context of novel combination therapies. Here, we report a case of an 89-year-old patient with metastatic melanoma to the liver, lung and lymph nodes, who underwent treatment with Opdualag (combining anti-PD-1 nivolumab and anti-lymphocyte-activation gene 3 relatlimab ICBs), and developed pseudoprogression after two cycles of therapy. The patient experienced a radiographic increase in liver metastatic lesion size, but was found to have a subsequent reduction in these lesions. The patient has been on therapy for 18 months without evidence of disease progression and continues to be clinically well-appearing.

The role of immunotherapy in patients with lung cancer and brain metastases: a narrative review of the literature

Worldwide, approximately half of the patients diagnosed with lung cancer (LC) will develop, simultaneously or asynchronously, brain metastases (BMs). The existence of BMs negatively affects the quality of life and constitutes a poor prognostic factor, linked with high mortality. Locoregional therapy with surgery or radiation is, until now, the treatment of choice, especially for symptomatic patients; however, both options are linked to a high complication rate. The question arising here is whether, in asymptomatic patients, the benefit outweighs the risk and whether an alternative method can be used to treat this special category of patients. Over the last decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have represented a major breakthrough in the field of oncology, and several molecules have been approved as a treatment option for LC. This review tried to analyze the tumor microenvironment of both the primary lung tumor and the BMs in order to evaluate the intracranial activity of ICIs, outline the main challenges of including these agents in the treatment of LC with BMs, highlight the available information from the main clinical trials, and mark the potential positive effect of choosing a combination therapy. In conclusion, it appears that immunotherapy has a positive effect, inhibiting the progression of BMs, but more data should be published specifically for this category of patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Re-Challenging PD-1 Inhibitors in Second-Line Treatment in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Previously Treated with Chemotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitors

Background

We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-PD1 rechallenge in combination with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) who have progressed on prior anti-PD1 therapy.

Patients and Methods

We enrolled patients with mNPC who received chemotherapy combined with PD-1 immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or chemotherapy alone after prior progression of anti-PD1 therapy. The primary endpoint was progress-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR).

Results

A total of 96 patients were eligible between January 2015 and December 2020. Thirty-seven (38.5%) were in the PD-1 ICIs re-challenge group, while the remaining 59 patients (61.5%) were in the chemotherapy group. The ORR and DCR of PD-1 ICIs group and chemotherapy group were 37.8% vs 23.7% and 86.5% vs.74.5%, respectively. After a median follow-up period of 21.1 months (IQR 16.1-28.7), the log-rank analysis demonstrated a significantly improved PFS in the PD-1 ICIs re-challenge group compared to the chemotherapy group (8.4 months [95% CI 4.3-14.0] vs 5.0 months [95% CI 2.8-7.2], P = 0.03). However, no significant difference in OS was observed between the two groups (28.3 vs 24.1 months, P = 0.09). The two groups had similar adverse reactions, but the incidence of grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in the PD-1 ICIs re-challenge group (18.9% vs 3.4%, P = 0.025).

Conclusion

mNPC patients who progressed from prior anti-PD1 therapy could benefit from the anti-PD1 rechallenge in combination with chemotherapy. However, further validation is needed.

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Non-melanoma Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck

OPINION STATEMENT

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy will change the standard of care for advanced resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and possibly other non-melanoma skin cancers. With pathological complete response rates around 50% for cSCC in early studies, neoadjuvant therapy allows patients the possibility of significant reduction in tumor size, de-escalation of adjuvant therapy, and improved long-term outcomes. Patients must be carefully selected to ensure that there is a margin of safety with respect to resectability, such that if a tumor progresses on neoadjuvant therapy, there remains a curative surgical option that is acceptable to the patient. The optimal treatment paradigm is an area of active research, with many researchers questioning whether adjuvant therapy, or even local therapy, is necessary in patients who seem to have a complete response. The ability to predict who will respond will become even more critical to answer, as a significant number of patients do not want to risk their disease progressing, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas of the head and neck. Recent studies in melanoma show promise for improved response rates using combination therapies, and these strategies may apply to cSCC as well. The use of LAG-3 inhibitors or mRNA vaccine technology may further improve the utility of neoadjuvant strategies.

A Review of Immunotherapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Cancer immunotherapy in the form of immune checkpoint inhibitors has led to a dramatic increase in the survival of patients with lung cancer across all stages. Over the past decade, the field has experienced rapid maturation; however, several challenges continue to complicate patient management. This review aims to highlight the data that led to this dramatic shift in practice as well as to focus on key challenges. These include determining the optimal therapy duration, managing frail patients or those with brain metastases, addressing the challenges posed by immune-related adverse events, and defining the various patterns of clinical and radiological responses to immunotherapy.

Symptomatic pseudoprogression in metastatic colorectal cancer

A man in his 70s with metastatic colorectal cancer presented with worsening clinical symptoms and imaging studies concerning for disease progression. He had received two cycles of pembrolizumab, but due to his symptomatic presentation and significant decline in performance status, there was concern for worsening disease. Transitioning to hospice was briefly considered, given his clinical decline and the notable increase in tumour size. Despite the presence of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings, pseudoprogression-defined as an increase in the size(s) of and/or visual appearance of new lesion(s), followed by a response-was also considered as part of the diagnostic possibilities. Consequently, the decision was made to proceed with a third cycle of pembrolizumab. During his subsequent outpatient follow-up, the patient showed significant symptomatic improvement and reported a decrease in his palpable right flank mass. With further immunotherapy, the patient continued to demonstrate symptomatic and radiological improvement.

[18F]F-Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Radiotracers for Imaging PARP Expression and Their Potential Clinical Applications in Oncology

Including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in managing patients with inoperable tumors has significantly improved outcomes. The PARP inhibitors hamper single-strand deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair by trapping poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) at sites of DNA damage, forming a non-functional "PARP enzyme-inhibitor complex" leading to cell cytotoxicity. The effect is more pronounced in the presence of PARP upregulation and homologous recombination (HR) deficiencies such as breast cancer-associated gene (BRCA1/2). Hence, identifying HR-deficiencies by genomic analysis-for instance, BRCA1/2 used in triple-negative breast cancer-should be a part of the selection process for PARP inhibitor therapy. Published data suggest BRCA1/2 germline mutations do not consistently predict favorable responses to PARP inhibitors, suggesting that other factors beyond tumor mutation status may be at play. A variety of factors, including tumor heterogeneity in PARP expression and intrinsic and/or acquired resistance to PARP inhibitors, may be contributing factors. This justifies the use of an additional tool for appropriate patient selection, which is noninvasive, and capable of assessing whole-body in vivo PARP expression and evaluating PARP inhibitor pharmacokinetics as complementary to the currently available BRCA1/2 analysis. In this review, we discuss [18F]Fluorine PARP inhibitor radiotracers and their potential in the imaging of PARP expression and PARP inhibitor pharmacokinetics. To provide context we also briefly discuss possible causes of PARP inhibitor resistance or ineffectiveness. The discussion focuses on TNBC, which is a tumor type where PARP inhibitors are used as part of the standard-of-care treatment strategy.

Beyond the Barrier: Unraveling the Mechanisms of Immunotherapy Resistance

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) induces a remarkable and durable response in a subset of cancer patients. However, most patients exhibit either primary or acquired resistance to ICB. This resistance arises from a complex interplay of diverse dynamic mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment (TME). These mechanisms include genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic alterations that prevent T cell trafficking to the tumor site, induce immune cell dysfunction, interfere with antigen presentation, drive heightened expression of coinhibitory molecules, and promote tumor survival after immune attack. The TME worsens ICB resistance through the formation of immunosuppressive networks via immune inhibition, regulatory metabolites, and abnormal resource consumption. Finally, patient lifestyle factors, including obesity and microbiome composition, influence ICB resistance. Understanding the heterogeneity of cellular, molecular, and environmental factors contributing to ICB resistance is crucial to develop targeted therapeutic interventions that enhance the clinical response. This comprehensive overview highlights key mechanisms of ICB resistance that may be clinically translatable.

Resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer with deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability: misdiagnosis, pseudoprogression and/or tumor heterogeneity?

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with deficiency of the deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) pathway/microsatellite instability (MSI) is characterized by a high mutation load and infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In agreement with these findings, clinical trials have demonstrated a significant activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in dMMR/MSI metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients and, more recently, in CRC patients with early disease undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. However, despite high response rates and durable clinical benefits, a fraction of mCRC patients, up to 30%, showed progressive disease when treated with single agent anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody. This article discusses the three main causes that have been associated with early progression of dMMR/MSI mCRC patients while on treatment with ICIs, i.e., misdiagnosis, pseudoprogression and tumor heterogeneity. While pseudoprogression probably does not play a relevant role, data from clinical studies demonstrate that some dMMR/MSI CRC cases with rapid progression on ICIs may be misdiagnosed, underlining the importance of correct diagnostics. More importantly, evidence suggests that dMMR/MSI mCRC is a heterogeneous group of tumors with different sensitivity to ICIs. Therefore, we propose novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome of dMMR/MSI CRC patients.

AMPK-a key factor in crosstalk between tumor cell energy metabolism and immune microenvironment?

Immunotherapy has now garnered significant attention as an essential component in cancer therapy during this new era. However, due to immune tolerance, immunosuppressive environment, tumor heterogeneity, immune escape, and other factors, the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy has been limited with its application to very small population size. Energy metabolism not only affects tumor progression but also plays a crucial role in immune escape. Tumor cells are more metabolically active and need more energy and nutrients to maintain their growth, which causes the surrounding immune cells to lack glucose, oxygen, and other nutrients, with the result of decreased immune cell activity and increased immunosuppressive cells. On the other hand, immune cells need to utilize multiple metabolic pathways, for instance, cellular respiration, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways to maintain their activity and normal function. Studies have shown that there is a significant difference in the energy expenditure of immune cells in the resting and activated states. Notably, competitive uptake of glucose is the main cause of impaired T cell function. Conversely, glutamine competition often affects the activation of most immune cells and the transformation of CD4+T cells into inflammatory subtypes. Excessive metabolite lactate often impairs the function of NK cells. Furthermore, the metabolite PGE2 also often inhibits the immune response by inhibiting Th1 differentiation, B cell function, and T cell activation. Additionally, the transformation of tumor-suppressive M1 macrophages into cancer-promoting M2 macrophages is influenced by energy metabolism. Therefore, energy metabolism is a vital factor and component involved in the reconstruction of the tumor immune microenvironment. Noteworthy and vital is that not only does the metabolic program of tumor cells affect the antigen presentation and recognition of immune cells, but also the metabolic program of immune cells affects their own functions, ultimately leading to changes in tumor immune function. Metabolic intervention can not only improve the response of immune cells to tumors, but also increase the immunogenicity of tumors, thereby expanding the population who benefit from immunotherapy. Consequently, identifying metabolic crosstalk molecules that link tumor energy metabolism and immune microenvironment would be a promising anti-tumor immune strategy. AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase in eukaryotes, serving as the central regulator of metabolic pathways. The sequential activation of AMPK and its associated signaling cascades profoundly impacts the dynamic alterations in tumor cell bioenergetics. By modulating energy metabolism and inflammatory responses, AMPK exerts significant influence on tumor cell development, while also playing a pivotal role in tumor immunotherapy by regulating immune cell activity and function. Furthermore, AMPK-mediated inflammatory response facilitates the recruitment of immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TIME), thereby impeding tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis. AMPK, as the link between cell energy homeostasis, tumor bioenergetics, and anti-tumor immunity, will have a significant impact on the treatment and management of oncology patients. That being summarized, the main objective of this review is to pinpoint the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy by regulating the energy metabolism of the tumor immune microenvironment and to provide guidance for the development of new immunotherapy strategies.

Correlation between tumor size change and outcome in a rare cancer immunotherapy basket trial

BACKGROUND

RECIST criteria for progressive disease, partial response, and complete response, reflecting +20%, -30%, and -100% tumor size changes, respectively, are critical outcome variables in oncology clinical trials. Herein, we evaluated post-immunotherapy tumor size change correlation with outcomes.

METHODS

We used a unique clinical trial data resource, a multicenter basket trial in patients with rare solid tumors treated with nivolumab (anti-PD-1) and ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) between 2017 and 2023 (National Cancer Institute/Southwest Oncology Group-sponsored DART trial [NCT02834013]) (open at 1083 sites at its peak). Outcome associations were evaluated by survival analysis techniques including Martingale residuals.

RESULTS

In 638 evaluable patients, we found strong linear relationships between percent change in tumor measurement up to a 40%-50% increase and progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (both Cox regression P < .001; landmark analyses based on day 65). Pearson R correlation between survival estimates and tumor change category were -0.94, -0.89, and -0.89 (PFS) and -0.84, -0.90, and -0.90 (OS) for median, 6-month (PFS), and 1-year (OS) and for 1-year (PFS) and 2-year (OS) estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

Percent change in tumor measurement per RECISTv1.1 (the sum of longest dimensions of target lesions) has a linear association with PFS and OS up to a 40% to 50% increase in tumor measurement in this cohort of patients with rare cancers who received combination immune checkpoint blockade. Quantitative first scan tumor measurement changes include important information to evaluate the potential efficacy of a therapy beyond the proportion of patients who achieve an objective response.

[Advances in Pseudoprogression of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has greatly improved the prognosis of advanced lung cancer patients, but can lead to pseudoprogression (PsP), which complicates clinical evaluation and management. PsP is manifested as temporary enlargement of the tumour or the appearance of new lesions, etc., and improvement in imaging occurs with continued treatment, mostly without worsening of clinical symptoms. Currently, there are still difficulties in the early diagnosis of PsP, and its occurrence mechanism is not yet clear, lacking good predictive factors and related biomarkers. This article reviews the current research status of PsP of ICIs in non-small cell lung cancer in order to provide helpful clinical strategies for oncologists using these drugs.
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Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography Features for Diagnosing Pseudoprogression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Immunotherapy: A Case Report of the Response after Pseudoprogression

A male patient in his 70s with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo+Bev) therapy. Initial computed tomography (CT) revealed tumor growth along with an increase in tumor markers, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) showed multiple round avascular areas within the nodules with an appearance similar to a slice of Swiss cheese. Continuation of immunotherapy with consideration of the potential for pseudoprogression produced a dramatic response. Although it is difficult to distinguish between true progression and pseudoprogression, the Swiss cheese-like appearance on CEUS may be important for the early diagnosis of pseudoprogression.

Role of FDG PET/CT in Patients With Lymphoma Treated With Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: Current Concepts

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a cellular therapy in which the patient's T cells are enhanced to recognize and bind to specific tumor antigens. CAR T-cell therapy was initially developed for the treatment of leukemia, but its current main indication is the treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. FDG PET/CT plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis, staging, therapy response assessment, and recurrence evaluation of patients with metabolically active lymphoma. Consistent with the examination's role in lymphoma management, FDG PET/CT is also the imaging modality of choice to evaluate patients before and after CAR T-cell therapy, and evidence supporting its utility in this setting continues to accumulate. In this article, we review current concepts in CAR T-cell therapy in patients with lymphoma, emphasizing the critical role of FDG PET/CT before and after therapy. A framework is presented that entails performing FDG PET/CT at four time points over the course of CAR T-cell therapy: pretherapy at baseline at the time of decision to administer CAR T-cell therapy and after any bridging therapies and posttherapy 1 and 3 months after infusion. PET parameters assessed at these time points predict various patient outcomes.

Is there an association between lymph node size and hyperprogression in immunotherapy-treated patients?

BACKGROUND

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) can be described as an accelerated increase in the growth rate of tumors combined with rapid clinical deterioration observed in a subset of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy, specifically with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The reported incidence of HPD ranges from 5.9% to 43.1% in patients receiving ICIs. In this context, identifying reliable predictive risk factors for HPD is crucial as it may allow for earlier intervention and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed ten metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. The identification of HPD was based on the diagnostic criteria proposed by Ferrara R et al. This study aimed to investigate whether there is an association between LN size and HPD using a cutoff value of 3 cm for LN size. Given the limited sample size, Fisher's exact test was used to test this association. We conducted a Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis to estimate the median overall survival (OS) of patients with HPD and compared it to those without HPD.

RESULTS

Three patients (30%) developed HPD, while seven (70%) did not. Fisher's exact test revealed a statistically significant association between the HPD and LN size ≥ 3 cm (p=0.008). In the HPD group, the median OS was significantly shorter, with a median OS of 3 months, whereas in the non-HPD group, the median OS was not reached (P =0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study found a significant association between LN size ≥ 3 cm in the pretreatment period and HPD development.

Tumor Response Evaluation Using iRECIST: Feasibility and Reliability of Manual Versus Software-Assisted Assessments

OBJECTIVES

To compare the feasibility and reliability of manual versus software-assisted assessments of computed tomography scans according to iRECIST in patients undergoing immune-based cancer treatment.

METHODS

Computed tomography scans of 30 tumor patients undergoing cancer treatment were evaluated by four independent radiologists at baseline (BL) and two follow-ups (FU), resulting in a total of 360 tumor assessments (120 each at BL/FU1/FU2). After image interpretation, tumor burden and response status were either calculated manually or semi-automatically as defined by software, respectively. The reading time, calculated sum of longest diameter (SLD), and tumor response (e.g., "iStable Disease") were determined for each assessment. After complete data collection, a consensus reading among the four readers was performed to establish a reference standard for the correct response assignments. The reading times, error rates, and inter-reader agreement on SLDs were statistically compared between the manual versus software-assisted approaches.

RESULTS

The reading time was significantly longer for the manual versus software-assisted assessments at both follow-ups (median [interquartile range] FU1: 4.00 min [2.17 min] vs. 2.50 min [1.00 min]; FU2: 3.75 min [1.88 min] vs. 2.00 min [1.50 min]; both p < 0.001). Regarding reliability, 2.5% of all the response assessments were incorrect at FU1 (3.3% manual; 0% software-assisted), which increased to 5.8% at FU2 (10% manual; 1.7% software-assisted), demonstrating higher error rates for manual readings. Quantitative SLD inter-reader agreement was inferior for the manual compared to the software-assisted assessments at both FUs (FU1: ICC = 0.91 vs. 0.93; FU2: ICC = 0.75 vs. 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Software-assisted assessments may facilitate the iRECIST response evaluation of cancer patients in clinical routine by decreasing the reading time and reducing response misclassifications.

A neural tract-inspired conduit for facile, on-demand biopsy of glioblastoma

Background

A major hurdle to effectively treating glioblastoma (GBM) patients is the lack of longitudinal information about tumor progression, evolution, and treatment response.

Methods

In this study, we report the use of a neural tract-inspired conduit containing aligned polymeric nanofibers (i.e., an aligned nanofiber device) to enable on-demand access to GBM tumors in 2 rodent models. Depending on the experiment, a humanized U87MG xenograft and/or F98-GFP+ syngeneic rat tumor model was chosen to test the safety and functionality of the device in providing continuous sampling access to the tumor and its microenvironment.

Results

The aligned nanofiber device was safe and provided a high quantity of quality genomic materials suitable for omics analyses and yielded a sufficient number of live cells for in vitro expansion and screening. Transcriptomic and genomic analyses demonstrated continuity between material extracted from the device and that of the primary, intracortical tumor (in the in vivo model).

Conclusions

The results establish the potential of this neural tract-inspired, aligned nanofiber device as an on-demand, safe, and minimally invasive access point, thus enabling rapid, high-throughput, longitudinal assessment of tumor and its microenvironment, ultimately leading to more informed clinical treatment strategies.

Sixth-Week Immune-Nutritional-Inflammatory Biomarkers: Can They Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?

BACKGROUND

We investigated the relationships between inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI), and modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) to determine whether they could predict treatment response to pembrolizumab or nivolumab (immunotherapy) 6 weeks after the start of treatment (post-treatment).

METHODS

We included all patients with lung cancer treated with immunotherapy. We examined the biomarker trends and explored their associations with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response rate (RR) at 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The presence of liver metastasis, low post-treatment NLR (<5), low post-treatment PLR (<170), intermediate post-treatment LIPI, and immune-related adverse events were significantly associated with the response. The multivariate analysis revealed that high post-treatment NLRs ≥ 5 (p = 0.004) and PLRs ≥ 170 (p ≤ 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of shorter OS. A good LIPI status was associated with better PFS (p = 0.020) and OS (p = 0.065). Post-treatment mGPS (0-2) was significantly associated with improved PFS (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.064).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-treatment NLR, PLR, LIPI, and mGPS are associated with worse OS and recurrence. These findings should be independently and prospectively validated in further studies.

Case Report: Long-term metabolic response of metastatic uveal melanoma to pembrolizumab on FDG-PET/CT despite a serial pseudoprogressions phenomenon

Uveal melanoma (UV) is a rare and aggressive melanoma with poor 1-year survival. up to 50% of UV patients develop metastases, mainly to the liver. Here, the authors present a 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) study of a very rare case of secondarily metastatic UV in an 81-year-old Caucasian with a dramatic response to pembrolizumab associated with serial pseudogression. 18F-FDG-PET associated with clinical status and peripheral blood derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) were performed to guide therapeutic strategy due to an atypical pseudoprogression phenomenon.

Tumour-agnostic plasma assay for circulating tumour DNA predicts outcome in recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with a PD-1 inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Only 15-20% of recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN) patients derive long-term benefit from nivolumab or pembrolizumab. We developed a circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) tumour-agnostic assay aimed at the early prediction of single agent programmed cell death 1 (PD1) inhibitor efficacy in R/M SCCHN.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our tumour-agnostic assay included 37 genes frequently mutated in R/M SCCHN and two HPV16 genes. Primary endpoint was the concordance between ctDNA kinetics (ΔctDNA) and the best overall response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. ΔctDNA was defined as the difference in mean variant allele frequency (VAF) between the on-treatment sample harvested 6-10 weeks (FU1) after PD1 inhibitor initiation and the pre-treatment plasma sample (ΔctDNA = mean FU1 VAF - mean pre-treatment VAF).

RESULTS

ctDNA was detected in 35/44 (80%) of the pre-treatment plasma samples. The concordance between ΔctDNA and imaging response was observed in 74%. Median progression-free survival was 8.6 months in the favourable ΔctDNA group and 2.5 months in the unfavourable ΔctDNA group (p = 0.057). Median overall survival (OS) was 18.1 and 8.2 months in the favourable and unfavourable ΔctDNA groups, respectively (p = 0.13). In patients with PD-L1 expressing SCCHN (Combined Positive Score ≥1), OS was significantly better in patients with favourable ΔctDNA compared with patients with unfavourable ΔctDNA: median OS was 41.5 and 8.4 months (p = 0.033), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumour-agnostic ctDNA analysis for human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative and HPV-positive R/M SCCHN is feasible. ctDNA kinetics show promising results in predicting the efficacy of PD1 inhibitors in R/M SCCHN.

Pembrolizumab monotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): can patient stratification be improved in the UK Tayside population? A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor used to treat advanced patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumour proportion score (TPS) ≥50. Further sub-division of TPS-based stratification has not been evaluated in the UK, although smoking-induced tumour mutational burden and the immunogenic effects of prior radiotherapy are suggested to improve response.

AIMS

To investigate if PD-L1 TPS ≥80%, smoking status or radiotherapy before or within 2 months of treatment influenced progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy.

METHODS

PD-L1 TPS, smoking status and radiotherapy exposure were compared in patients with NSCLC in National Health Service (NHS) Tayside (n=100) treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy between 1 November 2017 and 18 February 2022. Survival estimates were compared using log-rank analysis, and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to investigate the influence of potential confounding factors, including tumour stage and performance status.

RESULTS

PFS was not significantly different (log-rank HR=0.330, p=0.566) comparing patients with PD-L1 TPS 50-79% and PD-L1 TPS ≥80%. Smokers had significantly improved PFS (log-rank HR=4.867, p=0.027), while patients receiving radiotherapy had significantly decreased PFS (log-rank HR=6.649, p=0.012). A Cox regression model confirmed that both radiotherapy (p=0.022) and performance status (p=0.009) were independent negative predictors of PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

More rigorous PD-L1 TPS stratification did not influence survival outcomes. Smoking history improved PFS, although it was not an independent response predictor, while radiotherapy and performance status independently influenced clinical response. We suggest that further stratification of PD-L1 TPS is not warranted, while performance status and radiotherapy treatment may be additional clinically useful biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab in patients with NSCLC.

Intratumoral heterogeneity after targeted therapy in murine cancer models with differing degrees of malignancy

INTRODUCTION

Conventional morphologic and volumetric assessment of treatment response is not suitable for adequately assessing responses to targeted cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in tumor composition after targeted therapy in murine models of breast cancer with differing degrees of malignancy via non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice bearing highly malignant 4T1 tumors or low malignant 67NR tumors were treated with either a combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI, anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA-4) or the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib, following experiments with macrophage-depleting clodronate-loaded liposomes and vessel-stabilizing angiopoietin-1. Mice were imaged on a 9.4 T small animal MRI system with a multiparametric (mp) protocol, comprising T1 and T2 mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging. Tumors were analyzed ex vivo with histology.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

All treatments led to an increase in non-viable areas, but therapy-induced intratumoral changes differed between the two tumor models and the different targeted treatments. While ICI treatment led to intratumoral hemorrhage, sorafenib treatment mainly induced intratumoral necrosis. Treated 4T1 tumors showed increasing and extensive areas of necrosis, in comparison to 67NR tumors with only small, but also increasing, necrotic areas. After either of the applied treatments, intratumoral heterogeneity, was increased in both tumor models, and confirmed ex vivo by histology. Apparent diffusion coefficient with subsequent histogram analysis proved to be the most sensitive MRI sequence. In conclusion, mp MRI enables to assess dedicated therapy-related intratumoral changes and may serve as a biomarker for treatment response assessment.

Pseudoprogression in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma treated with first-line single-agent doxorubicin

AIM

To evaluate the incidence of pseudoprogression in patients with metastatic or inoperable uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) treated with first-line single-agent doxorubicin.

METHODS

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust Sarcoma Unit database was searched to identify all patients with metastatic or inoperable LMS treated with first-line doxorubicin from January 2006 to January 2022. Patients with available computed tomography scans performed at baseline and during doxorubicin therapy were included. Response evaluation criteria in solid tumours v1.1 and Choi criteria were applied. Any increase in the sum of the longest diameter that decreased on the subsequent scan was labelled as pseudoprogression.

RESULTS

The total number of patients evaluated was 52. In total, 19% (n = 10) of patients treated with doxorubicin showed pseudoprogression. However, pseudoprogression at the time of the second scan was not associated with time to doxorubicin failure. Choi criteria identified 30% (n = 3) of pseudoprogressors as responding.

CONCLUSION

Despite the use of doxorubicin as first-line therapy for soft-tissue sarcomas for over 40 years, pseudoprogression has not been described. This retrospective study shows that pseudoprogression occurs in 19% of patients with metastatic/inoperable uterine LMS treated with first-line doxorubicin. Choi criteria were not consistently able to differentiate pseudoprogression from true progression. It is imperative that oncologists and radiologists are aware of this as symptomatically stable/improving patients may benefit from continued treatment despite initial radiological growth in tumour size.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0

Since the first approval for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma more than a decade ago, immunotherapy has completely transformed the treatment landscape of this chemotherapy-resistant disease. Combination regimens including ICIs directed against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) agents or, more recently, anti-lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) agents, have gained regulatory approvals for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, with long-term follow-up data suggesting the possibility of cure for some patients with advanced disease. In the resectable setting, adjuvant ICIs prolong recurrence-free survival, and neoadjuvant strategies are an active area of investigation. Other immunotherapy strategies, such as oncolytic virotherapy for injectable cutaneous melanoma and bispecific T-cell engager therapy for HLA-A*02:01 genotype-positive uveal melanoma, are also available to patients. Despite the remarkable efficacy of these regimens for many patients with cutaneous melanoma, traditional immunotherapy biomarkers (ie, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, T-cell infiltrate and/or microsatellite stability) have failed to reliably predict response. Furthermore, ICIs are associated with unique toxicity profiles, particularly for the highly active combination of anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 agents. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a panel of experts to develop this clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, including rare subtypes of the disease (eg, uveal, mucosal), with the goal of improving patient care by providing guidance to the oncology community. Drawing from published data and clinical experience, the Expert Panel developed evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for healthcare professionals using immunotherapy to treat melanoma, with topics including therapy selection in the advanced and perioperative settings, intratumoral immunotherapy, when to use immunotherapy for patients with BRAFV600-mutated disease, management of patients with brain metastases, evaluation of treatment response, special patient populations, patient education, quality of life, and survivorship, among others.

Role of immunotherapy in chondrosarcoma: A case report and review of the literature

Chondrosarcomas (CSs) consist of a heterogenous group of primary bone cancers arising from malignant cells which produce cartilaginous matrix. As the second most common primary bone cancer, CS are often resistant to systemic chemotherapy due to poor vascularization, slow proliferation, and expression of multidrug-resistant pumps. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the field of oncology and are now designated as frontline therapy for many solid tumor cancers. Several studies have demonstrated increased expression of programed cell death 1 (PD-1) and PD-L1 in CS tissue in vitro, which has led to the development of multiple clinical trials for immunotherapy in patients with aggressive CS. In this review, we highlight the ongoing investigation into the role for immunotherapy in CS. We also report the case of a 44-year-old female with a history of stage IV primary CS of the right shoulder who underwent radical resection with recurrence and demonstrated a spectacular sustained response to pembrolizumab at our center. Our review highlights the need for further studies investigating the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of aggressive bone sarcomas that are resistant to standard surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment.

Undetected pseudoprogressions in the CeTeG/NOA-09 trial: hints from postprogression survival and MRI analyses

PURPOSE

In the randomized CeTeG/NOA-09 trial, lomustine/temozolomide (CCNU/TMZ) was superior to TMZ therapy regarding overall survival (OS) in MGMT promotor-methylated glioblastoma. Progression-free survival (PFS) and pseudoprogression rates (about 10%) were similar in both arms. Further evaluating this discrepancy, we analyzed patterns of postprogression survival (PPS) and MRI features at first progression according to modified RANO criteria (mRANO).

METHODS

We classified the patients of the CeTeG/NOA-09 trial according to long vs. short PPS employing a cut-off of 18 months and compared baseline characteristics and survival times. In patients with available MRIs and confirmed progression, the increase in T1-enhancing, FLAIR hyperintense lesion volume and the change in ADC mean value of contrast-enhancing tumor upon progression were determined.

RESULTS

Patients with long PPS in the CCNU/TMZ arm had a particularly short PFS (5.6 months). PFS in this subgroup was shorter than in the long PPS subgroup of the TMZ arm (11.1 months, p = 0.01). At mRANO-defined progression, patients of the CCNU/TMZ long PPS subgroup had a significantly higher increase of mean ADC values (p = 0.015) and a tendency to a stronger volumetric increase in T1-enhancement (p = 0.22) as compared to long PPS patients of the TMZ arm.

CONCLUSION

The combination of survival and MRI analyses identified a subgroup of CCNU/TMZ-treated patients with features that sets them apart from other patients in the trial: short first PFS despite long PPS and significant increase in mean ADC values upon mRANO-defined progression. The observed pattern is compatible with the features commonly observed in pseudoprogression suggesting mRANO-undetected pseudoprogressions in the CCNU/TMZ arm of CeTeG/NOA-09.

Dissociated response to PD-1 inhibitors combined with radiotherapy in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Anti-programmed death 1/anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) combined with radiotherapy (RT) has a synergistic effect on systemic tumor control. A dissociated response (DR), characterized by some lesions shrinking and others growing, has been recognized with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy or combination therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and clinical benefit of DR in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors receiving PD-1 inhibitors in combination with RT.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors receiving PD-1 inhibitor combined with RT at the Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second People's Hospital Affiliated with Soochow University. Treatment response was assessed for each measurable lesion according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours ( RECIST) v 1.1 guidelines. Patterns of response are divided into four groups: (1) DR, (2) uniform response, (3) uniform progression, and (4) only stable lesions. The overall survival (OS) of different groups was compared using Kaplan-Meier methods and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

Between March 2019 and July 2022, 93 patients were included. The median follow-up was 10.5 months (95% CI 8.8-12.1). The most common tumor types were lung cancer (19.8%), colorectal adenocarcinoma (17.2%), and esophageal cancer (10.8%). DR was observed in 22 (23.7%) patients. The uniform progression and DR are two different patterns of progression. After confirming progression, the overall survival of patients with DR was significantly longer than that of patients with uniform progression (9.9 months (95%CI 5.7-14.1) vs. 4.2 months (95%CI 1.9-6.5), P = 0.028). Compared with DR patients who did not continue PD-1 inhibitor combined with RT or PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy (n = 12), DR patients who continued treatment (n = 10) had significantly longer OS (15.7 (95%CI 3.5-27.9) vs 8.2 (95%CI 5.6-10.8) months, P = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

DR is not uncommon (23.7%) in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors treated with PD-1 inhibitors combined with RT and shows a relatively favorable prognosis. Some patients with DR may benefit from continued PD-1 inhibitor therapy in combination with RT or PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy and may have longer OS.

Case Report: Successful treatment of advanced hepatocarcinoma with the PD-1 inhibitor Camrelizumab

Primary liver cancer is characterized by closely related with chronic liver inflammation, thereby reversing hypoxic immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumor cell growth by immunotherapy drug is a potentially effective strategy. Camrelizumab is an anti-PD-1 antibody being developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. We reported a case of an adult critical Chinese patient with primary hepatocellular carcinoma and lung metastasis completely responding to Camrelizumab, most of the lesions were stable and no new lesions occurred after 1-year treatment, which provides us to reconsider the therapeutic effect of Camrelizumab on such patients. Camrelizumab had a safety profile for the patient in our case report, except for the occurrence of RCCEP. This case provides the evidence of the effective antitumor activity and manageable toxicities of Camrelizumab for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, which was the first application as far as we know.

Tumor monocyte content predicts immunochemotherapy outcomes in esophageal adenocarcinoma

For inoperable esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), identifying patients likely to benefit from recently approved immunochemotherapy (ICI+CTX) treatments remains a key challenge. We address this using a uniquely designed window-of-opportunity trial (LUD2015-005), in which 35 inoperable EAC patients received first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors for four weeks (ICI-4W), followed by ICI+CTX. Comprehensive biomarker profiling, including generation of a 65,000-cell single-cell RNA-sequencing atlas of esophageal cancer, as well as multi-timepoint transcriptomic profiling of EAC during ICI-4W, reveals a novel T cell inflammation signature (INCITE) whose upregulation correlates with ICI-induced tumor shrinkage. Deconvolution of pre-treatment gastro-esophageal cancer transcriptomes using our single-cell atlas identifies high tumor monocyte content (TMC) as an unexpected ICI+CTX-specific predictor of greater overall survival (OS) in LUD2015-005 patients and of ICI response in prevalent gastric cancer subtypes from independent cohorts. Tumor mutational burden is an additional independent and additive predictor of LUD2015-005 OS. TMC can improve patient selection for emerging ICI+CTX therapies in gastro-esophageal cancer.

The benefit of treatment beyond progression with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a multi-center retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Treatment beyond progression (TBP) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is an evolving field due to the limitations of conventional imaging in response evaluation. However, real-life data on the benefit of TBP is scarce, especially from the limited resource settings and patients treated in the later lines. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the survival benefit of TBP with ICIs in patients with advanced tumors from a limited resource setting.

METHODS

For this multi-center retrospective cohort study, we included 282 patients treated with ICIs and had radiological progression according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. We evaluated post-progression survival according to the use of TBP (TBP and non-TBP groups) with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The cohort's median age was 61, and 84.4% were treated in the second or later lines. 82 (29.1%) of 282 patients continued on ICIs following the initial progression. In multivariate analyses, patients in the TBP group had improved post-progression survival compared to non-TBP (13.18 vs. 4.63 months, HR: 0.500, 95% CI: 0.349-0.717, p < 0.001). The benefit of the TBP was independent of the tumor type, treatment line, and age. Furthermore, TBP with ICIs remained associated with improved post-progression survival (HR: 0.600, 95% CI: 0.380-0.947, p = 0.028) after excluding the patients with no further treatment after progression in the non-TBP arm.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed that patients receiving ICIs beyond progression had considerably longer survival. Continuation of ICIs after progression should be considered a reasonable management option for patients with advanced cancer, specifically for patients with limited alternative options.

Immune checkpoint inhibition: a future guided by radiology

The limitation of the function of antitumour immune cells is a common hallmark of cancers that enables their survival. As such, the potential of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) acts as a paradigm shift in the treatment of a range of cancers but has not yet been fully capitalised. Combining minimally and non-invasive locoregional therapies offered by radiologists with ICI is now an active field of research with the aim of furthering therapeutic capabilities in medical oncology. In parallel to this impending advancement, the "imaging toolbox" available to radiologists is also growing, enabling more refined tumour characterisation as well as greater accuracy in evaluating responses to therapy. Options range from metabolite labelling to cellular localisation to immune checkpoint screening. It is foreseeable that these novel imaging techniques will be integrated into personalised treatment algorithms. This growth in the field must include updating the current standardised imaging criteria to ensure they are fit for purpose. Such criteria is crucial to both appropriately guide clinical decision-making regarding next steps of treatment, but also provide reliable prognosis. Quantitative approaches to these novel imaging techniques are also already being investigated to further optimise personalised therapeutic decision-making. The therapeutic potential of specific ICIs and locoregional therapies could be determined before administration thus limiting unnecessary side-effects whilst maintaining efficacy. Several radiological aspects of oncological care are advancing simultaneously. Therefore, it is essential that each development is assessed for clinical use and optimised to ensure the best treatment decisions are being offered to the patient. In this review, we discuss state of the art advances in novel functional imaging techniques in the field of immuno-oncology both pre-clinically and clinically.

Machine Learning Improves the Prediction of Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Melanoma

Pretreatment LDH is a standard prognostic biomarker for advanced melanoma and is associated with response to ICI. We assessed the role of machine learning-based radiomics in predicting responses to ICI and in complementing LDH for prognostication of metastatic melanoma. From 2008-2022, 79 patients with 168 metastatic hepatic lesions were identified. All patients had arterial phase CT images 1-month prior to initiation of ICI. Response to ICI was assessed on follow-up CT at 3 months using RECIST criteria. A machine learning algorithm was developed using radiomics. Maximum relevance minimum redundancy (mRMR) was used to select features. ROC analysis and logistic regression analyses evaluated performance. Shapley additive explanations were used to identify the variables that are the most important in predicting a response. mRMR selection revealed 15 features that are associated with a response to ICI. The machine learning model combining both radiomics features and pretreatment LDH resulted in better performance for response prediction compared to models that included radiomics or LDH alone (AUC of 0.89 (95% CI: [0.76-0.99]) vs. 0.81 (95% CI: [0.65-0.94]) and 0.81 (95% CI: [0.72-0.91]), respectively). Using SHAP analysis, LDH and two GLSZM were the most predictive of the outcome. Pre-treatment CT radiomic features performed equally well to serum LDH in predicting treatment response.

Semiautomated Pipeline to Quantify Tumor Evolution From Real-World Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging

PURPOSE

A semiautomated pipeline for the collection and curation of free-text and imaging real-world data (RWD) was developed to quantify cancer treatment outcomes in large-scale retrospective real-world studies. The objectives of this article are to illustrate the challenges of RWD extraction, to demonstrate approaches for quality assurance, and to showcase the potential of RWD for precision oncology.

METHODS

We collected data from patients with advanced melanoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors at the Lausanne University Hospital. Cohort selection relied on semantically annotated electronic health records and was validated using process mining. The selected imaging examinations were segmented using an automatic commercial software prototype. A postprocessing algorithm enabled longitudinal lesion identification across imaging time points and consensus malignancy status prediction. Resulting data quality was evaluated against expert-annotated ground-truth and clinical outcomes obtained from radiology reports.

RESULTS

The cohort included 108 patients with melanoma and 465 imaging examinations (median, 3; range, 1-15 per patient). Process mining was used to assess clinical data quality and revealed the diversity of care pathways encountered in a real-world setting. Longitudinal postprocessing greatly improved the consistency of image-derived data compared with single time point segmentation results (classification precision increased from 53% to 86%). Image-derived progression-free survival resulting from postprocessing was comparable with the manually curated clinical reference (median survival of 286 v 336 days, P = .89).

CONCLUSION

We presented a general pipeline for the collection and curation of text- and image-based RWD, together with specific strategies to improve reliability. We showed that the resulting disease progression measures match reference clinical assessments at the cohort level, indicating that this strategy has the potential to unlock large amounts of actionable retrospective real-world evidence from clinical records.

Long-term follow-up of anti-PD-1 naïve patients with metastatic melanoma treated with IDO/PD-L1 targeting peptide vaccine and nivolumab

BACKGROUND

We have previously published initial efficacy of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)/anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) vaccine in combination with nivolumab in 30 anti-PD-1 therapy naïve patients with metastatic melanoma (cohort A). We now report long-term follow-up of patients in cohort A. Further, we report results from cohort B, where the peptide vaccine was added to anti-PD-1 therapy for patients with progressive disease during anti-PD-1 treatment.

METHODS

All patients were treated with a therapeutic peptide vaccine in Montanide targeting IDO and PD-L1 combined with nivolumab (NCT03047928). A long-term follow-up of safety, response rates, and survival rates were performed in cohort A including patient subgroup analyses. Safety and clinical responses were analyzed for cohort B.

RESULTS

Cohort A: At data cut-off, January 5, 2023, the overall response rate (ORR) was 80%, and 50% of the 30 patients obtained a complete response (CR). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 25.5 months (95% CI 8.8 to 39), and median overall survival (mOS) was not reached (NR) (95% CI 36.4 to NR). The minimum follow-up time was 29.8 months, and the median follow-up was 45.3 months (IQR 34.8-59.2). A subgroup evaluation further revealed that cohort A patients with unfavorable baseline characteristics, including either PD-L1 negative tumors (n=13), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (n=11), or M1c (n=17) obtained both favorable response rates and durable responses. The ORR was 61.5%, 79%, and 88% for patients with PD-L1- tumors, elevated LDH, and M1c, respectively. The mPFS was 7.1 months for patients with PD-L1- tumors, 30.9 months for patients with elevated LDH, and 27.9 months for M1c patients. Cohort B: At data cut-off, the best overall response was stable disease for 2 of the 10 evaluable patients. The mPFS was 2.4 months (95% CI 1.38 to 2.52), and the mOS was 16.7 months (95% CI 4.13 to NR).

CONCLUSION

This long-term follow-up confirms the promising and durable responses in cohort A. Subgroup analyses of patients with unfavorable baseline characteristics revealed that high response rates and survival rates were also found in patients with either PD-L1 negative tumors, elevated LDH levels, or M1c. No meaningful clinical effect was demonstrated in cohort B patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03047928.

Evaluation of Response to Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using the Combination of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and Alpha-Fetoprotein

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy (Atezo + Beva) is currently positioned as the first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC). It may be difficult to decide whether to continue this treatment if radiological response is assessed as stable disease (SD). Therefore, the relationship between radiological response and prognosis was analyzed. A total of 109 patients with u-HCC and Child-Pugh Score of 5-7 received this treatment. Radiological response was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and modified RECIST at the first and second evaluations. Of SD patients (n = 71) at the first RECIST evaluation, partial response, SD, and progressive disease (PD) were seen in 10, 55, and 6 patients, respectively, at the second evaluation. On multivariate analysis, in patients with SD at the first RECIST evaluation, a 25% or greater increase in the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) value from initiation of treatment (odds ratio, 7.38; p = 0.037) was the independent factor for PD at the second evaluation. In patients with SD (n = 59) at the second RECIST evaluation, decreased AFP from initiation of treatment (hazard ratio, 0.46; p = 0.022) was the independent factor related to progression-free survival on multivariate analysis. AFP trends could help decide the Atezo + Beva treatment strategy.

Immunotherapy as a Turning Point in the Treatment of Melanoma Brain Metastases

The incidence of tumor metastases in the brain is many times more frequent than primary brain tumors, affecting a very large share of patients suffering from systemic cancer. Advanced malignant melanoma is well known for its ability to invade the brain space and current treatment options, such as surgery and radiation therapy, are not very efficient and cause notable complications and morbidity. The aim of this review is to explore the recent advances and future potential of using immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma brain metastases. Several FDA approved immunotherapeutic drugs have shown to be able to at least double the overall survival rates in such patients. Clinical trials of varying phases are underway and available results are promising, significantly prolonging survival rates in patients with previously untreated melanoma brain metastases. Nevertheless, not all patients respond to these immunotherapies, facing a high percentage of resistant cases, without yet knowing the mechanisms and causes of resistance behind. Also, at the time of immunotherapy, a small percentage of patients is affected by pseudoprogression, which can be difficult to distinguish from true progression given the similarity of symptoms. Therefore, there is a pressing need for future research about treatment effectiveness in patients with brain metastases from melanoma, including outcomes from the perspective of patients.

[18F]FDG PET/CT in the Evaluation of Melanoma Patients Treated with Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is based on manipulation of the immune system in order to act against tumour cells, with growing evidence especially in melanoma patients. The challenges faced by this new therapeutic tool are (i) finding valid evaluation criteria for response assessment; (ii) knowing and distinguishing between "atypical" response patterns; (iii) using PET biomarkers as predictive and response evaluation parameters and (iv) diagnosis and management of immunorelated adverse effects. This review is focused on melanoma patients analysing (a) the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT in the mentioned challenges; (b) the evidence of its efficacy. For this purpose, we performed a review of the literature, including original and review articles. In summary, although there are no clearly established or globally accepted criteria, modified response criteria are potentially appropriate for evaluation of immunotherapy benefit. In this context, [18F]FDG PET/CT biomarkers appear to be promising parameters in prediction and assessment of response to immunotherapy. Moreover, immunorelated adverse effects are recognized as predictors of early response to immunotherapy and may be associated with better prognosis and clinical benefit.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Immunotherapy for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Therapeutic Advances and Biomarkers

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer and improved patients' prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have quickly become standard frontline treatment for metastatic non-oncogene addicted disease, either as a single agent or in combination strategies. However, only a few patients have long-term benefits, and most of them do not respond or develop progressive disease during treatment. Thus, the identification of reliable predictive and prognostic biomarkers remains crucial for patient selection and guiding therapeutic choices. In this review, we provide an overview of the current strategies, highlighting the main clinical challenges and novel potential biomarkers.

Changes in circulating tumor DNA and outcomes in solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Quantification of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels is a reliable prognostic tool in several malignancies. Dynamic changes in ctDNA levels in response to treatment may also provide prognostic information. Here, we explore the value of changes in ctDNA levels in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (host: PubMed) for trials of ICIs in advanced solid tumors in which outcomes were reported based on change in ctDNA levels. ctDNA reduction was defined as reported in individual trials. Typically, this was either >50% reduction or a reduction to undetectable levels. We extracted HRs and related 95% CIs and/or p values comparing ctDNA reduction versus no reduction for progression-free survival (PFS) and/or overall survival (OS). Data were then pooled in a meta-analysis. Variation in effect size was examined using subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

Eighteen trials were included in the meta-analysis. ctDNA levels were detectable in all participants in all studies prior to initiation of ICIs. A reduction in ctDNA measured 6-16 weeks after starting treatment was associated with significantly better PFS (HR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.28; p<0.001). Similarly, OS was superior in patients with reduced ctDNA levels (HR 0.18; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.26; p<0.001). The results were consistent across all disease sites, lines of treatment, magnitude of change (to undetectable vs >50% reduction) and whether treatment exposure comprised single or combination ICIs.

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced solid tumors, a reduction in ctDNA levels in response to ICIs is associated with substantial improvements in outcome. ctDNA change is an early response biomarker which may allow for de-escalation of cross-sectional imaging in patients receiving ICIs or support treatment de-escalation strategies.

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with "pseudoprogression" followed by complete response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo + Bev) is the first immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and in the current guidelines, it is positioned as the first-line chemotherapy for unresectable cases. Herein, we report a case of HCC with pseudoprogression followed by a complete response to Atezo + Bev. A 56 year-old man was diagnosed with intermediate-stage HCC, as defined by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system stage B. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple lesions in the liver without any extrahepatic lesions. First, he was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE); however, multiple residual lesions were observed on CT scan 2 months after TACE. Therefore, treatment with Atezo + Bev was initiated 4 months after TACE. After the third administration of Atezo + Bev, a CT scan showed progressive disease in intrahepatic lesions, along with increased serum levels of tumor markers. Although TACE was planned again, Atezo + Bev was continued while the patient was waiting for hospitalization. After the fifth administration of Atezo + Bev, serum levels of tumor markers decreased to the normal range. Magnetic resonance imaging showed prominently reduced tumor size. Therefore, Atezo + Bev was continued, and after the eighth administration, the CT scan showed the disappearance of all the liver lesions, indicating a complete response. In immunotherapy, the therapeutic response can sometimes be obtained in an atypical pattern due to either an increase in tumor burden or the appearance of new lesions, called "pseudoprogression," which is rare in HCC.

Molecular MRI-Based Monitoring of Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment Response

Immunotherapy constitutes a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. Its FDA approval for several indications has yielded improved prognosis for cases where traditional therapy has shown limited efficiency. However, many patients still fail to benefit from this treatment modality, and the exact mechanisms responsible for tumor response are unknown. Noninvasive treatment monitoring is crucial for longitudinal tumor characterization and the early detection of non-responders. While various medical imaging techniques can provide a morphological picture of the lesion and its surrounding tissue, a molecular-oriented imaging approach holds the key to unraveling biological effects that occur much earlier in the immunotherapy timeline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly versatile imaging modality, where the image contrast can be tailored to emphasize a particular biophysical property of interest using advanced engineering of the imaging pipeline. In this review, recent advances in molecular-MRI based cancer immunotherapy monitoring are described. Next, the presentation of the underlying physics, computational, and biological features are complemented by a critical analysis of the results obtained in preclinical and clinical studies. Finally, emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategies to further distill, quantify, and interpret the image-based molecular MRI information are discussed in terms of perspectives for the future.

Immunotherapy: Recent Advances and Its Future as a Neoadjuvant, Adjuvant, and Primary Treatment in Colorectal Cancer

Immunotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) has made great strides within the past decade. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a class of immunotherapy and have been shown to greatly improve patient outcomes in mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) CRC. Now, they are part of the standard of care for this subset of CRC. Because of this, there has been a growing interest in the efficacy and timing of immunotherapy for other subsets of CRC, including locally advanced, metastatic, and microsatellite stable (MSS). In this review, we aim to examine the three main classes of immunotherapy for CRC-immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer therapy (ACT), and tumor vaccines-and discuss the most recent advances and future directions for each.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable non-small-cell lung cancer

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibition has pushed the treatment paradigm for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) toward neoadjuvant therapy. A growing number of promising trials have examined the utility of neoadjuvant immunotherapy, both alone and in combination with other modalities such as radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy. The phase II LCMC3 and NEOSTAR trials demonstrated a role for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in inducing meaningful pathologic responses, and another phase II trial established the feasibility of combining neoadjuvant durvalumab with RT. Significant interest in neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy resulted in the conduct of multiple successful phase II trials including the Columbia trial, NADIM, SAKK 16/14, and NADIM II. Across these trials, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy led to high rates of pathologic response and improved surgical outcomes without compromising surgical timing or feasibility. CheckMate-816, which was a randomized phase III trial studying neoadjuvant nivolumab in addition to chemotherapy, definitively established a benefit for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone for resectable NSCLC. Despite the growing literature and success of these trials, several outstanding questions remain, including the relationship between pathologic response and patient survival, the role of biomarkers such as programmed death ligand 1 and circulating tumor DNA in determining patient selection and treatment course, and the utility of additional adjuvant therapies. Longer follow-up of CheckMate-816 and other ongoing phase III trials may help address these questions. Ultimately, the complexity of managing resectable NSCLC highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.