Perioperative dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (VESPER): survival endpoints at 5 years in an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study

BACKGROUND

The optimal perioperative chemotherapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer is not defined. The VESPER (French Genito-Urinary Tumor Group and French Association of Urology V05) trial reported improved 3-year progression-free survival with dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (dd-MVAC) versus gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy, but not in the overall perioperative setting. In this Article, we report on the secondary endpoints of overall survival and time to death due to bladder cancer at 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

VESPER was an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 28 university hospitals or comprehensive cancer centres in France, in which adults (age ≤18 years and ≤80 years) with primary bladder cancer and histologically confirmed muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma were randomly allocated (1:1; block size four) to treatment with dd-MVAC (every 2 weeks for a total of six cycles) or GC (every 3 weeks for a total of four cycles). Overall survival and time to death due to bladder cancer (presented as 5-year cumulative incidence of death due to bladder cancer) was analysed by intention to treat (ITT) in all randomly assigned patients. Overall survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method with the treatment groups compared with log-rank test stratified for mode of administration of chemotherapy (neoadjuvant or adjuvant) and lymph node involvement. Time to death due to bladder cancer was analysed with an Aalen model for competing risks and a Fine and Gray regression model stratified for the same two covariates. Results were presented for the total perioperative population and for the neoadjuvant and adjuvant subgroups. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01812369, and is complete.

FINDINGS

From Feb 25, 2013, to March 1, 2018, 500 patients were randomly assigned, of whom 493 were included in the final ITT population (245 [50%] in the GC group and 248 [50%] in the dd-MVAC group; 408 [83%] male and 85 [17%] female). 437 (89%) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 5·3 years (IQR 5·1-5·4); 190 deaths at the 5-year cutoff were reported. In the perioperative setting (total ITT population), we found no evidence of association of overall survival at 5 years with dd-MVAC treatment versus GC treatment (64% [95% CI 58-70] vs 56% [50-63], stratified hazard ratio [HRstrat] 0·79 [95% CI 0·59-1·05]). Time to death due to bladder cancer was increased in the dd-MVAC group compared with in the GC group (5-year cumulative incidence of death: 27% [95% CI 21-32] vs 40% [34-46], HRstrat 0·61 [95% CI 0·45-0·84]). In the neoadjuvant subgroup, overall survival at 5 years was improved in the dd-MVAC group versus the GC group (66% [95% CI 60-73] vs 57% [50-64], HR 0·71 [95% CI 0·52-0·97]), as was time to death due to bladder cancer (5-year cumulative incidence: 24% [18-30] vs 38% [32-45], HR 0·55 [0·39-0·78]). In the adjuvant subgroup, the results were not conclusive due to the small sample size. Bladder cancer progression was the cause of death for 157 (83%) of the 190 deaths; other causes of death included cardiovascular events (eight [4%] deaths), deaths related to chemotherapy toxicity (four [2%]), and secondary cancers (four [2%]).

INTERPRETATION

Our results on overall survival at 5 years were in accordance with the primary endpoint analysis (3-year progression-free survival). We found no evidence of improved overall survival with dd-MVAC over GC in the perioperative setting, but the data support the use of six cycles of dd-MVAC over four cycles of GC in the neoadjuvant setting. These results should impact practice and future trials of immunotherapy in bladder cancer.

FUNDING

French National Cancer Institute.

The Impact of an Enrolment in Clinical Trial on Tolerance and Pathological Response for Patients Treated by Neoadjuvant MVAC Against an Invasive Bladder Cancer. A Retrospective Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION

MVAC (Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Adriamycin, and Cisplatin) neoadjuvant chemotherapy a standard treatment for invasive bladder cancer is associated with mainly haematological toxicities. Randomized clinical trials remain a gold standard for treatment outcomes and efficacy assessment. Patients enrolled in clinical trials are selected and tend to benefit from a stricter follow-up unlike everyday clinical practice patients. Conversely, real-life observational studies better define the effectiveness of treatments in clinical routine practice. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of clinical trial monitoring on MVAC-related toxicities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with an infiltrative localized bladder cancer treated by MVAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2013 and 2019 were enrolled, and divided into 2 groups: patients included in a clinical trial namely "VESPER study" during their treatment and patients treated in clinical routine practice.

RESULTS

Out of 59 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study, 13 patients were included in a clinical trial. Clinical characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Comorbidities were more frequent in the nonclinical trial group (NCTG). Completed 6 cures treatment proportion was higher in the clinical trial group (CTG) (69.2% vs. 50%). Yet, in this group, patients had more doses reduction (38.5% vs. 19.6%). The proportion of complete pathologic response was higher in patients enrolled in clinical trial (53.8% vs. 39.1%). Statistically, the expected stricter monitoring due to clinical trial enrolment had no impact on the complete pathologic response and clinically relevant toxicities.

DISCUSSION

When compared to conventional clinical practice, clinical trial enrolment induced no significant difference on the pathologic complete response or toxicity rate. Further large prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.

Refining the Characterization and Outcome of Pathological Complete Responders after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Lessons from the Randomized Phase III VESPER (GETUG-AFU V05) Trial

Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection is the optimal treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In recent years, the VESPER trial showed a statistically significant higher progression-free survival with dd-MVAC (dose dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) compared to GC (gemcitabine and cisplatin). In the present report, we refine the characterization and outcome of patients whose cystectomy specimens were pathologically free of cancer (pathological complete response, pCR). We confirm that these patients portend a better outcome as compared to patients with invasive disease (≥pT1N0) at cystectomy. Nested variant and lymphovascular invasion were identified as adverse predictive factors of pCR. Progression-free survival probability three years after pCR on cystectomy was about 85%, regardless of the NAC regimen. A lower creatinine clearance and the delivery of less than four cycles were associated with a higher risk of relapse. Predicting the efficacy of NAC remains a major challenge. The planned analysis of molecular subtypes in the VESPER trial could help predict which patients may achieve complete response and better outcome.

Dose-Dense Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin or Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as Perioperative Chemotherapy for Patients With Nonmetastatic Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Results of the GETUG-AFU V05 VESPER Trial

PURPOSE

The optimal perioperative chemotherapy regimen for patients with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer is not defined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between February 2013 and March 2018, 500 patients were randomly assigned in 28 French centers and received either six cycles of dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (dd-MVAC) once every 2 weeks or four cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) once every 3 weeks before surgery (neoadjuvant group) or after surgery (adjuvant group). We report the primary end point of the GETUG-AFU V05 VESPER trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01812369): progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years. Secondary end points were time to progression and overall survival.

RESULTS

Four hundred thirty-seven patients (88%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy; 60% of patients received the planned six cycles in the dd-MVAC arm, 84% received four cycles in the GC arm, and thereafter, 91% and 90% of patients underwent surgery, respectively. Organ-confined response (< ypT3N0) was observed more frequently in the dd-MVAC arm (77% v 63%, P = .001). In the adjuvant group, 40% of patients received six cycles in the dd-MVAC arm, and 81% of patients received four cycles in the GC arm. For all patients in the clinical trial, 3-year PFS was improved in the dd-MVAC arm, but the study did not meet its primary end point (3-year rate: 64% v 56%, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77 [95% CI, 0.57 to 1.02], P = .066); nevertheless, the dd-MVAC arm was associated with a significantly longer time to progression (3-year rate: 69% v 58%, HR = 0.68 [95% CI, 0.50 to 0.93], P = .014). In the neoadjuvant group, PFS at 3 years was significantly higher in the dd-MVAC arm (66% v 56%, HR = 0.70 [95% CI, 0.51 to 0.96], P = .025).

CONCLUSION

In the VESPER trial, dd-MVAC improved 3-years PFS over GC. In the neoadjuvant group, a better bladder tumor local control and a significant improvement in 3-year PFS were observed in the dd-MVAC arm.

Randomized phase II study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of sunitinib by dose administration regimen in anti-angiogenic naïve patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): Final analysis of SURF study

344

Background: SUN is approved in mRCC setting at the dose of 50mg daily for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks rest (4/2 schedule). The 4/2 schedule often requires dose modifications for toxicity. Current recommendation is to reduce the dose to 37.5mg per day. Alternative schedules (2 weeks of treatment followed by one-week rest (2/1 schedule) have shown promising results. SURF trial evaluated prospectively schedule 2/1 when toxicity occurs. Methods: SURF [NCT02689167] is a prospective, non-comparative randomized study. Patients (pts) with mRCC (clear cell) were included at SUN initiation. When a dose adjustment of SUN was required, patients were randomized between 4/2 schedule at 37.5mg daily and experimental 2/1 schedule at 50mg daily. Primary objective was to assess duration of SUN treatment among the 73 first evaluable pts. Overall 226 pts were enrolled with 133 randomized. All other analyses are shown for the 133 randomized patients. Results: Pts were 75.2% males, with a median age 63.7 years for 94% with a Karnofsky ≥ 80%. Of them, 54.9% had partial/total nephrectomy. IMDC risk score was favourable (45.1%), intermediate (46.6%) or poor (8.3%). Pts characteristics were well balanced between 2 arms. Metastatic sites were lungs (60.5%), bones (16.3%), lymph nodes (15.5%). At 6 months, 48 patients (65.8%) of the 2/1 schedule were still on treatment (above predefined threshold for positivity). Other data are listed on the table. No new safety signal was identified. Permanent SUN discontinuation due to toxicity was 22.2% in control arm vs 12.3% in experimental arm. Conclusions: SURF is the largest prospective randomised trial evaluating two different SUN schedules modifications in mRCC in case of toxicity. This positive trial confirms the role of adapting SUN to a 2/1 schedule rather than reducing SUN dose to the classical 4/2 schedule. Clinical trial information: NCT02689167. [Table: see text]

The Anti-Nectin 4: A Promising Tumor Cells Target. A Systematic Review

The nectin cell adhesion protein 4 (Nectin-4) is overexpressed in multiple human malignancies. Such aberrant expression is correlated with cancer progression and poor prognostic. Nectin-4 has emerged as a potential biomarker and promising targeted therapy. This review aimed to gather the current state of the literature about Nectin-4 relevance in preclinical tumor models and to summarize its clinical relevance regarding cancer. A systematic assessment of literature articles was performed by searching in PUBMED (MEDLINE) from the database inception to May 2021, following PRISMA guidelines. Preclinical models unanimously demonstrated membrane and cytoplasmic location of the Nectin-4. Furthermore, Nectin-4 was overexpressed whatever the location of the solid tumors. Interestingly, a heterogeneity of Nectin-4 expression has been highlighted in bladder urothelial carcinoma. High serum Nectin-4 level was correlated with treatment efficiency and disease progression. Finally, generated Anti-drug-Conjugated targeting Nectin-4 induced cell death in multiple tumor cell lines. Nectin-4 emerge as a promising target for anti-cancer drugs development because of its central role in tumorigenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Enfortumab vedotin targeting Nectin-4 demonstrated encouraging results and should be extended to other types of solid tumors.

TAXOMET: A French Prospective Multicentric Randomized Phase II Study of Docetaxel Plus Metformin Versus Docetaxel Plus Placebo in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

Docetaxel (DOCE) is a standard of care in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Several retrospective studies suggested a decrease in Prostate Cancer incidence and mortality with metformin (MET). MET has also demonstrated anti-tumor activity in Prostate Cancer preclinical models, with increased apoptosis when added to DOCE. We aimed at exploring the role of MET in combination with DOCE in mCRPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Non-diabetic mCRPC patients were randomly assigned to receive DOCE 75 mg/m² every 21 days + prednisone (5 mg. BID) with either MET 850 mg BID (D+M) or placebo (D+P) up to 10 cycles. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) response ≥50% from baseline was the primary end point. Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity and quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

Out of 99 patients were randomized (D+M = 50; D+P = 49) in 10 French centers. The median follow-up was 86 (IQR 73-88) months. The PSA-response rate reached 66% in the D+M arm, but was not different from that observed in the D+P arm (63%, P = 0,94). In the D+M and D+P arms, the ORR was 28% and 24%, the median PFS was 7.8 and 6.0 months and the median OS was 27 and 20 months (ns), respectively. Diarrhea grade I to II was more frequent in the MET arm (66% vs. 43%). No impairment of QoL was observed.

CONCLUSION

MET addition failed to improve the standard DOCE regimen in mCRPC. Further research targeting tumor cell metabolism should be performed.

Second-generation hormonotherapy in prostate cancer and bone microenvironment

Prostate cancer (Pca) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting men in France. Before the age of 75 years old, 1 in 8 French men will have Pca. Androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) remain the standard of care. Such therapies induce significant bone loss. The bone-remodelling cycle depends on the androgen synthesis signalling pathways. Furthermore, age-specific hormonal decline plays a key role in the decrease in bone mass. As a result, the older the patients, the more likely they are to have osteoporosis if they are treated with hormone therapy. Their risk of osteoporotic fracture has an impact on their quality of life and their capacity of independent living. In recent years, newer hormone therapies (acetate abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide and darolutamide) have proved efficient in metastatic castration-resistant Pca (mCRPC) patients as well as in hormone naïve patients, and actually in nonmetastatic diagnosis. The combination of these treatments with ADT highly inhibit androgen production pathways. They are prescribed to aged patients undergoing bone density loss after first-generation antiandrogen treatment. Specific recommendations for bone health management in Pca patients are currently lacking. To date, bone mineral density in patients treated with second-generation hormone therapy has never been assessed in a prospective study. This review aims at reviewing what is known about the impact of second-generation hormonotherapy on bone microenvironment.

[A complex case of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis following intravesical BCG therapy]

Bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma in 90 % of cases) is the most common neoplasia of the urinary tract. Superficial carcinoma represents 70-80 % of bladder cancers. The treatment of these tumours includes, after transuretral resection, intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation therapy. This treatment constitutes, by its immune-mediated anti-tumoral action, the first step of immunotherapy in cancer. Severe complications (granulomatosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis or orchitis) are rare (0.5-2 %). Here we report a complex case of pulmonary granulomatosis secondary to BCG therapy. This is a 74-year-old male, treated for superficial bladder carcinoma by transuretral resection (pT1G3) and then endovesical instillations of BCG therapy for two months. Two years later, a new transuretral resection shows an infiltrating urothelial carcinoma pT2G3. The extension balance finds a persistent micro-nodular pulmonary infiltrate. A broncho-alveolar lavage is then realised but no mycobacteria was found. A surgical biopsy of a nodule is performed and revealed a histiocytic reaction without any neoplastic element. Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was finally positive. In the absence of a secondary lesion, the patient had a cysto-prostatectomy and began a tritherapy against tuberculosis. Post-BCG therapy granulomatosis is a rare complication but should remain a differential diagnosis in front of the appearance of pulmonary nodes in patients who have received posttransuretral resection BCG instillations. Mycobacterial DNA PCR research remains the most sensitive examination.

1211 Assessing the Accuracy of a Dry-EEG Headband for Measuring Brain Activity, Heart Rate, Breathing and Automatic Sleep Staging

Introduction

The development of new sleep study devices, adapted for daily use, is necessary for diagnosis of sleep disorders. However, this requires to be both suitable for daily use and capable of recording accurate electrophysiological data. This study assesses the signal acquisition of a comfortable sleep headband, using dry electrodes, and the performance of its automatic sleep staging algorithms compared to the gold-standard clinical PSG scored by 4 sleep experts.

Methods

42 participants slept at a sleep center wearing both the Dreem headband (DH) and a PSG simultaneously. We measured 1) the EEG signal similarity between both devices, 2) heart rate, breathing frequency and respiration rate variability (RRV) agreement, and 3) the performance of the headband automatic sleep scoring compared to PSG sleep experts manual scoring.

Results

Results demonstrate a strong correlation between the EEG signals acquired by the headband and those from the PSG, and the signals acquired by the headband enable monitoring of alpha (r= 0.75 ± 0.11), beta (r= 0.74 ± 0.14), delta (r = 0.78 ± 0.16), and theta (r = 0.63 ± 0.15) frequencies during sleep. The mean absolute error for heart rate, breathing frequency, and RRV was 2.2 ± 0.8 bpm, 0.3 ± 0.2 cpm and 3.1 ± 0.4 %, respectively. Automatic Sleep Staging reached an overall accuracy of 84.1 ± 7.5% (F1 score: 83.0 ± 8.4) for the headband to be compared with an average of 86.4 ± 5.5% (F1 score: 86.5 ± 5.5) for the 4 sleep experts.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the capacity of the headband to both precisely monitor sleep-related physiological signals and process them accurately into sleep stages. This device paves the way for high-quality, large-scale, longitudinal sleep studies.

Support

This Study has been supported by Dreem sas.

0616 Validation of a Sleep Headband for Detecting Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Introduction

Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold-standard to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA severity diagnosis is defined by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) defined as the number of apnea and hypopnea events measured per hour of sleep. The Dreem2 headband (DH) is a self-administered, easy to use device that measure EEG, breathing frequency, heart rate and sound at-home. In our study, we assessed the performance of the DH to automatically detects OSA compared to 3 sleep’s experts scoring on PSG.

Methods

41 subjects (8 females, 42.6 ± 13.7 y.o.) having a suspicion of OSA performed a night at-home wearing both a PSG and the DH. Each PSG record was scored for apnea and hypopnea events by 3 independent trained sleep experts following AASM guidelines. The deep learning approach DOSED, was trained on the DH signals using the manual apnea scoring. 10-fold cross-validation was used to provide predictions for each of the 41 subjects with the DH.

Results

We observed an average AHI expert’s scoring of 13.6 ± 10.1 CI[10.5, 16.5] compared to 12.9 ± 10.3 CI[9.6, 15.8] for the DH. Both, the correlation between the 3 scorers (r= 0.88, p &lt; 0.001) and the DH and the scorers (r=0.79, p&lt; 0.001) were significant. The specificity and sensitivity to detect mild OSA (AHI ≤ 5) was 84.4 % and 96.4 % for the DH and 86.5 % and 86.0% for the scorers.

Conclusion

The results show that the DH using deep learning can detect OSA with an accuracy similar to the sleep experts. The use of DH paves the way for longitudinal monitoring of patients with a suspicion of OSA and its accessibility could lead to better screening of the general population.

Support

This Study has been supported by Dreem sas.

Vefora, GETUG-AFU V06 study: Randomized multicenter phase II/III trial of fractionated cisplatin (CI)/gemcitabine (G) or carboplatin (CA)/g in patients (pts) with advanced urothelial cancer (UC) with impaired renal function (IRF)—Results of a planned interim analysis

461

Background: Standard treatment for advanced UC is chemotherapy (CT) combining CI and G. 70% of pts with UC are over 65 and 40% of them are unfit for CI because of IRF or comorbidities. CA replaces frequently CI, when creatinine clearance (Cr Cl) is < 60 ml/min according to Cockroft and Gault formula (CGF). However, CA tends to show a lower efficacy than CI, due to decreased dose intensity of CT. Methods: We performed a multicentre randomized phase II/III study in order to compare the activity and safety of a CT regimen with fractionated CI or CA for advanced UC in 1st line setting among pts unfit for standard CT because of IRF (40 ≤ Cr Cl ≤ 60ml/min) according to CGF. We report here the results of the interim analysis of phase II. Treatment: Arm A: CA AUC4,5 D1+ G 1000 mg/m² D1, [D1 = D21]; Arm B: fractionated CI 35 mg/m² D1D8 + G 1000 mg/m² D1D8, [D1 = D21] The co-primary objectives of the phase II were to evaluate activity (non-progression (RECIST V1.1) at (D21 C6)) and safety defined by the absence during treatment of: IRF: Cr Cl <35 mL/min or deterioration of Cr Cl >20%; delayed CT (≥ 2 weeks); decrease twice G dose on day 1 for: NCI CTC grade III or IV non-hematologic toxicity; hematologic toxicity; A two-stage Bryant and Day design was used. Results: A planned first step analysis was performed after randomization of 25 and 21 pts from April 2015 to January 2018. 23 and 19 of them were evaluable (resp. Arm A/B). 8 failures were reported for safety reason in experimental arm B, 7 for renal toxicity. Conclusions: According to our pre planned first step analysis, the trial met criteria for excessive toxicity in experimental arm (fractionated CI), predominantly renal toxicity. The study was therefore definitely stopped. Survival results will be available at the meeting. Clinical trial information: NCT02240017 . [Table: see text]

[Docetaxel for octogerian metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patient: A multicentric ten years' experience]

INTRODUCTION

There is very few data about the management of elderly patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The aim of this study was to analyze the management of patients aged 80 and over treated with docetaxel for a mCRPC.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Clinical and pathological characteristics of octogerians treated with docetaxel were collected retrospectively from 3 French centers from 2009 to 2019. Patient's outcome, treatments administered before and/or after docetaxel were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Data of 89 patients could be analyzed. A total of 20.2 % of patients received the standard regimen and 79.8 % received an adapted one. Patients in the adapted group were significantly older than in standard one. Other patient's characteristics - including the geriatric scales - were similar. Dose reductions for toxicity were more frequent in the standard group (P=0.04). The median overall survival of the total population was 13.3 months. It was longer in the standard group than in the adapted group (26.1 months vs 12.4 months=0.01). In multivariate analysis, the type of docetaxel regimen (standard versus adapted) was an independent predictor of survival.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests the benefit of the standard management even in oldest patients. A geriatric evaluation should certainly be processed in patients with poor oncogeriatric scale in order to select the sub-population able to receive the full dose standard docetaxel regimen.

Leptomeningeal Metastases in Renal Cell Carcinoma at Initial Diagnosis: 2 Case Reports and Literature Review

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) in solid tumors are rare, even more in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To date there is a lack of consensual treatment modalities of leptomeningeal metastasis. Furthermore, with the improvement of outcomes and more effective systemic targeted therapies, the management of leptomeningeal metastasis becomes a real challenge. We here report two cases of RCC with leptomeningeal metastasis at initial diagnosis. Both patients had concurrent adjacent skull bone metastasis. Therapeutic management of both patients consisted in surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy in one case. Systemic treatment was delayed according to current recommendations for the management of metastatic RCC. The aim of this work is to report the therapeutic approach and related outcomes and also provide a review of the currently available literature on leptomeningeal disease in renal cell carcinoma. Indeed, local treatment with curative outcome of meningeal location in RCC should be performed specially in LM at initial diagnosis.

Current management of stage I testicular germ cell tumors in a French cancer institute. A practice analysis over the 10 past years

BACKGROUND

Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCTs) represent the most frequent malignant tumour among young male adults. Orchiectomy alone cure 80% of stage I. Standard options after orchiectomy include radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CT) by 1 cycle of carboplatin AUC 7 or active surveillance (SV) for seminomatous GCTs (SGCT) and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND), CT by 1 or 2 cycles of Bleomycine Etoposide Cisplatine (BEP) or active surveillance for nonseminomatous GCTs (NSGCT). Adjuvant treatments decrease the relapse rate after orchiectomy with substantial toxicities without any benefit on overall survival. Recent guidelines accorded utmost importance on SV rather than adjuvants strategies. The main objective of this study was to describe our current practice over the 10 past years in regard of these recommendations.

METHODS

Data of 50 patients with stage I GCT treated in our institute were collected between 2006 and 2016. Demographic and anatomopathologic data were reported. Clinical practice in our center was analyzed during two periods [2006-2011] and [2012-2016] according to the European Association of Urology Guidelines in 2011.

RESULTS

Patient's median age was 35.3 years. The analysis of clinical practice during the last 10 years showed that in SGCT, main treatment was RT than SV and CT. This option declined over the years (89% between 2006-2010 versus 53% between 2011-2016) whereas SV was more often employed (27% between 2011-2016 versus none between 2006-2010). Surveillance was used for 64% of NSGCT.

CONCLUSIONS

In our center, RT was less used over the years for the benefit of SV which is recommended by guidelines.

TAXOMET: A French prospective multicenter randomized controlled phase II study comparing docetaxel plus metformin versus docetaxel plus placebo in mCRPC

5004

Background: Docetaxel (DOCE) is a standard of care in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Several retrospective cohort studies suggest a decrease in PC incidence and mortality with metformin (MET). MET has also demonstrated anti-tumor activity in PC preclinical models, with increase apoptosis when added to DOCE. The addition of MET could enhance DOCE efficacy in mCRPC patients (pts). Methods: TAXOMET is a phase II prospective multicentric randomized controlled trial. Non-diabetic mCRPC pts were assigned 1:1 to receive DOCE 75mg/m2 every 21 days + prednisone (P) 5 mg twice a day and either MET 850mg twice a day (arm A) or placebo (arm B), up to 10 cycles. The primary end point was PSA response rate (≥50% decrease). Main secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR, according to RECIST v1.1), clinical and biological progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity and quality of life (QoL). Comparisons between arm A and B were performed using Chi² test for qualitative data and Log-rank test for survival data. Results: From January 2013 to December 2015, 99 pts were randomized (50 pts in arm A and 49 pts in arm B) in 10 french centers, and 95 pts were evaluable. No difference was observed between arm A and arm B in PSA-response rate (72% in both arms), ORR (28% in both arms), clinical or biological mPFS (7.3 months vs 5.8 months p = 0.848) and mOS (24.2 months (95CI: 17.2 – 33.7) vs 19.7 months (95CI: 14.8 – 36.8), p = 0.53), respectively. There was no difference between arms in adverse events, except a trend for diarrhea to be more common with MET (70% in arm A vs 50% in arm B, p = 0.072), but few grade 3-4 events. There was no difference in QoL according to QLQ-C30 score between the two arms during the treatment period. Conclusions: This is the first prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate the combination of MET with DOCE+P in mCRPC. The addition of MET has no meaningful clinical benefit in this setting. Clinical trial information: NCT01796028.

Cancer du rein métastatique : recommandations et perspectives en 1re ligne

METASTATIC RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

WHICH TREATMENTS IN FIRST-LINE SETTING?: The treatment of metastatic kidney cancer has radically changed during the past decade, notably with the development of tyrosin kinase inhibitors (TKI) and the rise of immunotherapy. Kidney cancer, especially clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRC) which regroups 80% of cases, is associated with increased angiogenesis and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) dependent signaling pathways. Targeted therapies have therefore modified therapeutical strategies through direct inhibition of VEGF on its receptor or inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Consequently, new anti-angiogenic molecules are now available as first line treatment and are to be prioritized depending on tumoral histology and prognostic groups. These new molecules have allowed increased patient survival. Immunotherapy is again currently transforming our first line therapeutical approach of metastatic kidney cancer with numerous ongoing therapeutical trials including combination of targeted therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors or association of various immunotherapies. Beyond these major first line changes, difficulties still remain in the therapeutical sequence which is crucial in the care of these patients. This report aims to underline first line therapeutical recommendations in metastatic kidney cancer and expose results of recent assays.

Denosumab Toxicity When Combined With Anti-angiogenic Therapies on Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A GETUG Study

BACKGROUND

About one-third of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have detectable metastases at diagnosis. Among them, bone is the second most frequent metastatic site. Treatment of metastatic RCC mostly relies on anti-angiogenic (AA) therapies and, more recently, immunotherapy. Skeletal-related events (SREs) can be prevented with bone-targeted therapies such as denosumab (Dmab), which has demonstrated superiority when compared with zoledronic acid in solid tumors. However, there is limited available data on Dmab toxicity in combination with AA therapies in patients with kidney cancer. The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the toxicity profile (mainly osteonecrosis of the jaw [ONJ] and hypocalcemia) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with Dmab and AA therapy combination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study among centers from the French Groupe d'Etudes des Tumeurs Uro Genitales (GETUG). Patients with bone metastases who received concurrently or sequentially AA therapy and Dmab were included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients with mRCC were enrolled. Although no patient presented with severe hypocalcemia, ONJ occurred in 7 (17%) of 41 patients. Interestingly, all patients with ONJ received the Dmab and AA combination in the first line of treatment; among these patients, 3 patients had no risk factor other than the Dmab and AA combination.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of ONJ was high in this real-life population of patients with mRCC treated with AA therapies combined with Dmab. This toxicity signal should warn physicians about this combination in the mRCC population.

Sequencing of Taxanes and New Androgen-targeted Therapies in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: Results of the International Multicentre Retrospective CATS Database

BACKGROUND

The optimal sequence of life-extending therapies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate outcomes among mCRPC patients treated with docetaxel (DOC), cabazitaxel (CABA), and a novel androgen receptor-targeted agent (ART; abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide) according to three different sequences.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Data from 669 consecutive mCRPC patients were retrospectively collected between November 2012 and October 2016.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary endpoint was the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response (decrease ≥50% from baseline) to each therapy. Secondary endpoints included best clinical benefit, time to PSA progression, radiological progression-free survival (rPFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 158 patients received DOC→CABA→ART (group 1), 456 received DOC→ART→CABA (group 2), and 55 received ART→DOC→CABA (group 3). At baseline, PSA progression only and Gleason <8 were more common in group 3. PSA response on DOC was lower in group 3 than in other groups (p=0.02) and PSA response on CABA was higher in the second than in the third line (p=0.001). In Group 3, rPFS on ART (6.6 mo) and DOC (9.2 mo) was also shorter than in the other groups. OS calculated from the first life-extending therapy reached 34.8, 35.8, and 28.9 mo in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p=0.007). Toxicity was comparable between the arms. The main limitations of the trial are its retrospective design and the low number of patients in group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective trial, sequencing of DOC, CABA, and one ART, was associated with median OS of up to 35.8 mo. CABA seemed to retain its activity regardless of treatment sequence. DOC activity after ART appeared to be reduced, but the data are insufficient to conclude that cross-resistance occurs.

PATIENT SUMMARY

The order of drugs administered to patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer could impact their efficacy, with cabazitaxel appearing to retain its activity whatever the therapeutic sequence.

[French national survey on incoming phone calls in oncology departments]

INTRODUCTION

Oral therapies have shifted the follow-up of patients with cancer from hospital to home. As a consequence, the number of incoming calls has increased. To understand the source, reasons, management and burden of calls, we underwent a French national survey. The objective was to describe the way calls are managed in oncology departments.

METHODS

The study was a prospective survey in a representative sample of French oncology specialists using oral therapies.

RESULTS

Among 51 participating onco/radiotherapy departments, 86 % of specialists were oncologists or hematologists and 14 % radiation oncologists. Eighty percent were from public centers and 20 % from private ones. The median number of calls/week was 110. Sixty-six percent of calls were from patients and families and 23 % from general practitioners. Upon calls reception by the secretaries, half of them corresponded to a medical question. Sixty-five percent of centers did not have an established specific procedure and 70 % of responders did not specifically train their teams to address the management of calls. Sixty-five percent of the specialists spent more than 30min/day. Most of them considered it disturbing medical activities. Sixty-six percent of patients calls were related to adverse effects of treatments. Twenty-two percent of specialists declared at least one severe adverse effect linked to misinterpretation of a call.

DISCUSSION

With the increase of oral therapies, incoming phone calls represent an important burden of work. To improve calls management, adaptations of organizations are needed.

Bleeding risk of terminally ill patients hospitalized in palliative care units: the RHESO study

Essentials Bleeding incidence as hemorrhagic risk factors are unknown in palliative care inpatients. We conducted a multicenter observational study (22 Palliative Care Units, 1199 patients). At three months, the cumulative incidence of clinically relevant bleeding was 9.8%. Cancer, recent bleeding, thromboprophylaxis and antiplatelet therapy were independent risk factors.

SUMMARY

Background The value of primary thromboprophylaxis in patients admitted to palliative care units is debatable. Moreover, the risk of bleeding in these patients is unknown. Objectives Our primary aim was to assess the bleeding risk of patients in a real-world practice setting of hospital palliative care. Our secondary aim was to determine the incidence of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and to identify risk factors for bleeding. Patients/Methods In this prospective, observational study in 22 French palliative care units, 1199 patients (median age, 71 years; male, 45.5%), admitted for the first time to a palliative care unit for advanced cancer or pulmonary, cardiac or neurologic disease were included. The primary outcome was adjudicated clinically relevant bleeding (i.e. a composite of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding) at 3 months. The secondary outcome was symptomatic deep vein thrombosis. Results The most common reason for palliative care was cancer (90.7%). By 3 months, 1087 patients (91.3%) had died and 116 patients had presented at least one episode of clinically relevant bleeding (fatal in 23 patients). Taking into account the competing risk of death, the cumulative incidence of clinically relevant bleeding was 9.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3-11.6). Deep vein thrombosis occurred in six patients (cumulative incidence, 0.5%; 95% CI, 0.2-1.1). Cancer, recent bleeding, antithrombotic prophylaxis and antiplatelet therapy were independently associated with clinically relevant bleeding at 3 months. Conclusions Decisions regarding the use of thromboprophylaxis in palliative care patients should take into account the high risk of bleeding in these patients.

Results of the GETUG-AFU 19 trial: A randomized phase II study of dose dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (dd-MVAC) with or without anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) monoclonal antibody panitumumab (PANI) in advanced transitional cell carcinoma (ATCC)

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Background: Frequent overexpression and correlation with stage and survival has been reported with the EGF-R pathway in ATCC. Methods: 93 patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic bladder or upper urinary tract (UUT) transitional cell carcinoma were planned with a 1:2 randomisation ratio. Patients with K-Ras or H-Ras mutations were excluded. dd-MVAC included M 30 mg/m2d1, V 3 mg/m2d2, D 30 mg/m2d2 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2d2 (d1 = d14) with G-CSF support. PANI 6 mg/kg was given on d2. The number of pts was determined from the 9-month median progression-free survival (PFS) rate reported with dd-MVAC. Using a one stage Fleming design, the dd-MVAC+PANI combination will be considered to be active if at least 37 patients among 70 do not show tumor progression at 9 months (p0 = 0.50, p1 = 0.70, alpha = 0.08 and beta = 0.03). As basal-like subtype might be related to Anti-EGFR treatment response, the phenotype was determined using a Keratin 5/6 and GATA3 double immunostaining (8 basal like among 58 cases tested). Results: From September 2010 to November 2015, 96 patients (bladder 68, UUT 21, both 8) received dd-MVAC (33) or dd-MVAC+PANI (63). No significant difference was observed among baseline characteristics and prognostic factors. The median number of cycles was 6 (1-6) in both arms. At least one grade > 2 toxicity was observed in 79% and 76% of patients in the dd-MVAC and PANI arms, respectively. More dermatological adverse events were observed in the PANI arm. Objective responses were reported in 23 (70%) pts in the dd-MVAC arm and 30 pts (48%) in the PANI arm. With a median follow-up of 27 months, PFS was 6.8 months and 5.7 months in the dd-MVAC and PANI arms respectively; OS was 20.2 months and 12.5 months in the dd-MVAC and PANI arms, respectively. No association was observed between PFS and basal-like feature for patients treated by MVAC+PANI. Molecular subtyping is in progress to confirm this observation at mRNA level. Conclusions: When combined with dd-MVAC, PANI does not seem to improve efficacy in pts with ATCC. Clinical trial information: NCT02818725.

Sequencing in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): Updated results of the FLAC International Database

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Background: Optimal sequencing of new androgen-receptor targeted agents (ART) abiraterone and enzalutamide with docetaxel (DOC) and cabazitaxel (CABA) is unknown. In this large retrospective cohort of mCRPC patients (pts) treated with CABA after docetaxel (DOC), we evaluated the impact of 3 different sequences: DOC → CABA (group 1, n = 267) Or DOC → ART → CABA (group 2, n = 183) Or DOC → CABA → ART (group 3, n = 124). Methods: Records of 574 consecutive mCRPC patients were retrospectively collected in 44 centres in 6 European countries (France, Spain, UK, Greece, Poland, Turkey) from August 2012 to July 2016. Disease history and clinical characteristics at initiation of DOC therapy and outcomes were collected. Factors influencing OS were evaluated using multivariate stepwise logistic regression. Results: At DOC initiation, median age was 67 years, 83% of pts were ECOG 0-1, 45.1% had pain and 10.8% had visceral metastases. Median number of DOC cycles was 7 (6 in group 2, 7 in groups 1 and 3). Median number of CABA cycles was 6 (6 in groups 1 and 2, 7 in group 3). Median duration of ART treatment was 5.9 and 4.4 mths in groups 2 and 3, retrospectively. Median OS from first DOC cycle were 30.1, 37.1 and 40.1 mths in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Factors influencing OS are summarized in the table below. Conclusions: Results of this retrospective cohort suggest that patients receiving DOC → CAB → ART show the greatest OS. High baseline PSA, short response to first-ADT and clinical progression of pts are major prognostic factors of OS at DOC initiation. The window of opportunity for chemotherapy should not be missed. [Table: see text]

The Microporosity of Activated Carbon Fibre KF1500 Assessed by Combined CO2 Adsorption and Calorimetry Techniques and by Immersion Calorimetry

The microporous structure of the activated carbon fibre KF1500 was investigated by applying a new technique as presented here. This was based on a combination of high-pressure CO2 adsorption measurements between 253 K and 353 K with direct measurement of the differential heats of adsorption at 298 K at low and medium coverages.

The validity of this approach was tested by using two activated carbons which has been characterized previously by a variety of techniques, including immersion calorimetry. It appears that a combination of high-pressure adsorption and calorimetry with CO2 alone is a useful tool for the characterization of the whole range of microporosity. This approach confirms earlier observations, according to which the initial stage of adsorption by strongly activated carbons corresponds to adsorption on the walls of large micropores rather than to the primary filling of small micropores.

Epicure: a European epidemiological study of patients with an advanced or metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma (UC) having progressed to a platinum-based chemotherapy

Background

Platinum-based systemic chemotherapy is considered the backbone for management of advanced urothelial carcinomas. However there is a lack of real world data on the use of such chemotherapy regimens, on patient profiles and on management after treatment failure.

Methods

Fifty-one randomly selected physicians from 4 European countries registered 218 consecutive patients in progression or relapse following a first platinum-based chemotherapy. Patient characteristics, tumor history and treatment regimens, as well as the considerations of physicians on the management of urothelial carcinoma were recorded.

Results

A systemic platinum-based regimen had been administered as the initial chemotherapy in 216 patients: 15 in the neoadjuvant setting, 61 in adjuvant therapy conditions, 137 in first-line advanced setting and 3 in other conditions. Of these patients, 76 (35 %) were initially considered as cisplatin-unfit, mainly because of renal impairment (52 patients). After platinum failure, renal impairment was observed in 44 % of patients, ECOG Performance Status ≥ 2 in 17 %, hemoglobinemia < 10 g/dL in 16 %, hepatic metastases in 13 %. 80 % of these patients received further anticancer therapy. Immediately after failure of adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy, most subsequent anticancer treatments were chemotherapy doublets (35/58), whereas after therapy failure in the advanced setting most patients receiving further anticancer drugs were treated with a single agent (80/114). After first progression to chemotherapy, treatment decisions were mainly driven by Performance Status and prior response to chemotherapy (>30 % patients). The most frequent all-settings second anticancer therapy regimen was vinflunine (70 % of single-agent and 42 % of all subsequent treatments), the main reasons evoked by physicians (>1 out of 4) being survival benefit, safety and phase III evidence.

Conclusion

In this daily practice experience, a majority of patients with urothelial carcinoma previously treated with a platinum-based therapy received a second chemotherapy regimen, most often a single agent after an initial chemotherapy in the advanced setting and preferably a cytotoxic combination after a neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Performance Status and prior response to chemotherapy were the main drivers of further treatment decisions.

Efficacy and safety of Vinflunine for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in routine practice based on the French multi-centre CURVE study

BACKGROUND

To retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of Vinflunine (VFL) under routine conditions and identify overall survival (OS) prognostic factors.

METHODS

Twenty centres participated in the retrospective study (minimum 4 patients undergoing VFL treatment for advanced/metastatic UC after platinum-based regimen progression. Primary endpoint was OS. Secondary endpoints: progression-free survival (PFS), radiological response rate (RR) RECIST criteria and toxicity (CTC NCI v3).

RESULTS

These centres enrolled 134 patients. Prior chemotherapy (CT) lines (≥ 1 palliative): 1 and ≥ 2 in 69% and 26% of patients, respectively. Performance status (PS): 0, 1, 2 in 25%, 46% and 23% of patients. Median OS = 8.2 months [6.5-9.4], PFS = 4.2 months and RR 22%, median number of 5 cycles. In risk groups based on 0-3 presence of adverse prognostic factors (PS ≥ 1, haemoglobin ≤ 10 g/dl and liver metastasis), median OS: 13.2, 9.9, 3.6, and 2.4 months (P < .0001), respectively; 3.3 months (1.9-5.6) in PS ≥ 2 subgroup.

CONCLUSION

This study reflects routine UC management and confirmed VFL patient efficacy. The drug is safe with gastro-intestinal and haematological prophylaxis. Analysis of prognostic factors for OS is consistent with pivotal trials.

Translating Clinical Evidence-Based Medicine into the Real World: Single-Center Experience with Cabazitaxel in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients

Background: We studied the efficacy and safety of cabazitaxel in unselected real-life patients. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively investigated all patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) treated with cabazitaxel 25 mg/m2 i.v. every 3 weeks combined with oral prednisolone (10 mg once daily) after first-line docetaxel chemotherapy. Study issues were to report patient characteristics and cabazitaxel data in terms of tolerance and efficacy. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. All data were compared with TROPIC results. Results: From 2011 to 2014, 41 patients received cabazitaxel; 15 patients (37%) had a performance status (PS) ≥2 versus 7% (p < 0.0001) in TROPIC, and 38 patients (93%) presented a Gleason score ≥7 at baseline (vs. 60%; p < 0.0001). All patients had metastatic disease at baseline. Previous therapies were radiotherapy in 17 patients (41 vs. 61%; p = 0.01) and surgery in 24 patients (59 vs. 52%; p = 0.4). The median number of cabazitaxel cycles was 5 (1-10) versus 6 (3-10) in TROPIC. Five patients completed 10 cycles of cabazitaxel (12%) versus 28% in TROPIC (p = 0.03). Toxicities were anemia (12 patients, 29%), diarrhea (9 patients, 22%), nausea (7 patients, 17%), pain (6 patients, 15%), sepsis (4 patients, 10%), neutropenia (3 patients, 7%) and urinary tract infection (1 patient, 2%). The tumor response rate was 19.5 versus 14.4% in TROPIC (nonsignificant). PFS was 4.5 months (95% CI 3.3-6.4) in our analysis and 2.8 months (95% CI 2.4-3.0) in TROPIC. OS was 12.1 months (95% CI 9.2 to not reached) and 15.1 months (95% CI 14.1-16.3), respectively. Conclusion: In our unselected mPC patients with poorer baseline clinical conditions and aggressive disease, cabazitaxel seems efficient and not more toxic than in the TROPIC study.

Efficacy and safety of sequential use of everolimus in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma previously treated by bevacizumab with or without interferon therapy: Results from pooled analysis of AVATOR, CHANGE, and TRAIN studies

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Background: Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. It gained approval based on the results of the RECORD-1 trial, which included patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) whose disease progressed after receiving vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting angiogenesis that is approved in patients (pts) with mRCC. AVATOR was the 1st study to explore the sequential use of bevacizumab followed by everolimus but with limited number of pts. Methods: In order to further explore this sequence pooled data from the AVATOR, CHANGE and TRAIN studies were analysed retrospectively. All pts had mRCC and were previously or currently treated with everolimus after failure of bevacizumab ± IFN. The primary end point was everolimus time to progression (TTP). Secondary end points were related to the overall survival (OS) of patients receiving the drug sequence, everolimus treatment and safety. Results: 89 pts were included in the analysis. Median age was 68 years [18-90]. At everolimus initiation ECOG was 0-1 for 72% pts and 16% were classified as poor prognosis from Heng classification. Exploring the duration of second-line everolimus treatment, 32% of patients received less than 3 months of everolimus and 35% received at least 6 months of treatment. At the time of data analysis, 20 pts (24%) were still receiving everolimus. Pts receiving everolimus after bevacizumab experienced a median TTP of 6 months [95%CI 4 - 14]. Median OS was not reached for everolimus second-line therapy. At 36 months after the start of first-line therapy, 60.4% of pts were still alive. All grades of common adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of everolimus. Conclusions: The larger size of this cohort confirms the signal previously seen with AVATOR that the sequence of bevacizumab followed by everolimus displays interesting efficacy with not unexpected toxicity from everolimus and compares favourably with RECORD-1.