Immune checkpoint blockers in solid organ transplant recipients and cancer: the INNOVATED cohort

BACKGROUND

Patients with solid organ transplant (SOT) and solid tumors are usually excluded from clinical trials testing immune checkpoint blockers (ICB). As transplant rates are increasing, we aimed to evaluate ICB outcomes in this population, with a special focus on lung cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study collecting real data of ICB use in patients with SOT and solid tumors. Clinical data and treatment outcomes were assessed by using retrospective medical chart reviews in every participating center. Study endpoints were: overall response rate (ORR), 6-month progression-free survival (PFS), and grade ≥3 immune-related adverse events.

RESULTS

From August 2016 to October 2022, 31 patients with SOT (98% kidney) and solid tumors were identified (36.0% lung cancer, 19.4% melanoma, 13.0% genitourinary cancer, 6.5% gastrointestinal cancer). Programmed death-ligand 1 expression was positive in 29% of tumors. Median age was 61 years, 69% were males, and 71% received ICB as first-line treatment. In the whole cohort the ORR was 45.2%, with a 6-month PFS of 56.8%. In the lung cancer cohort, the ORR was 45.5%, with a 6-month PFS of 32.7%, and median overall survival of 4.6 months. The grade 3 immune-related adverse events rate leading to ICB discontinuation was 12.9%. Allograft rejection rate was 25.8%, and risk of rejection was similar regardless of the type of ICB strategy (monotherapy or combination, 28% versus 33%, P = 1.0) or response to ICB treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

ICB could be considered a feasible option for SOT recipients with some advanced solid malignancies and no alternative therapeutic options. Due to the risk of allograft rejection, multidisciplinary teams should be involved before ICB therapy.

Perioperative Treatment Strategies in EGFR-Mutant Early-Stage NSCLC: Current Evidence and Future Challenges

Treatment with 3 years of adjuvant osimertinib is considered a new standard in patients with completely resected stage I to IIIA NSCLC harboring a common sensitizing EGFR mutation. This therapeutic approach significantly prolonged the disease-free survival and the overall survival versus placebo and revealed a significant role in preventing the occurrence of brain metastases. However, many unanswered questions remain, including the optimal duration of this therapy, whether all patients benefit from adjuvant osimertinib, and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in this population. Indeed, there is a renewed interest in neoadjuvant strategies with targeted therapies in resectable NSCLC harboring oncogenic drivers. In light of these considerations, we discuss the past and current treatment options, and the clinical challenges that should be addressed to optimize the treatment outcomes in this patient population.

Assessing the impact of structured reporting on learning how to report lung cancer staging CT: A triple cohort study on inexperienced readers

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical utility of chest computed tomography (CT) reports for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staging generated by inexperienced readers using structured reporting (SR) templates from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR-SR) and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM-SR), compared to traditional non-systematic reports (NSR).

METHODS

In a cohort of 30 NSCLC patients, six third-year radiology residents reported CT examinations in two 2-month-apart separate sessions using NSR in the first and NSR, RCR-SR, or SIRM-SR in the second. Couples of expert radiologists and thoracic oncologists in consensus evaluated completeness, accuracy, and clarity. All the quality indicators were expressed on a 100-point scale. The Wilcoxon signed ranks, and Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Results showed significantly higher completeness for RCR-SR (90 %) and SIRM-SR (100 %) compared to NSR (70 %) in the second session (all p < 0.001). SIRM-SR demonstrated superior accuracy (70 % vs. 55 %, p < 0.001) over NSR, while RCR-SR and NSR accuracy did not significantly differ (60 % vs. 62.5 %, p = 0.06). In the second session, RCR-SR and SIRM-SR surpassed NSR in completeness, accuracy, and clarity (all p < 0.001, except p = 0.04 for accuracy between RCR-SR and NSR). SIRM-SR outperformed RCR-SR in completeness (100 % vs. 90 %, p < 0.001) and accuracy (70 % vs. 62.5 %, p = 0.002), with equivalent clarity (90 % for both, p = 0.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Inexperienced readers using RCR-SR and SIRM-SR demonstrated high-quality reporting, indicating their potential in radiology residency programs to enhance reporting skills for NSCLC staging and effective interaction with all the physicians involved in managing NSCLC patients.

Proton and photon radiotherapy in stage III NSCLC: Effects on hematological toxicity and adjuvant immune therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) followed by adjuvant durvalumab is standard-of-care for fit patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) results in different doses to organs than intensity modulated photon therapy (IMRT). We investigated whether IMPT compared to IMRT reduce hematological toxicity and whether it affects durvalumab treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospectively collected series of consecutive patients with stage III NSCLC receiving CCRT between 06.16 and 12.22 (staged with FDG-PET-CT and brain imaging) were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was the incidence of lymphopenia grade ≥ 3 in IMPT vs IMRT treated patients.

RESULTS

271 patients were enrolled (IMPT: n = 71, IMRT: n = 200) in four centers. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy. Median age: 66 years, 58 % were male, 36 % had squamous NSCLC. The incidence of lymphopenia grade ≥ 3 during CCRT was 67 % and 47 % in the IMRT and IMPT group, respectively (OR 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.0-4.9, P = 0.03). The incidence of anemia grade ≥ 3 during CCRT was 26 % and 9 % in the IMRT and IMPT group respectively (OR = 4.9, 95 % CI: 1.9-12.6, P = 0.001). IMPT was associated with a lower rate of Performance Status (PS) ≥ 2 at day 21 and 42 after CCRT (13 % vs. 26 %, P = 0.04, and 24 % vs. 39 %, P = 0.02). Patients treated with IMPT had a higher probability of receiving adjuvant durvalumab (74 % vs. 52 %, OR 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.16-0.79, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

IMPT was associated with a lower incidence of severe lymphopenia and anemia, better PS after CCRT and a higher probability of receiving adjuvant durvalumab.

Unveiling the Potential of Venn Diagrams as a Helpful Tool for Clinical Reasoning: An Illustrative Case-based Discussion

Venn diagrams graphically represent a cognitive approach that can assist in highlighting information shared by different data sets while eliminating nonoverlapping conditions. When applied to clinical reasoning, such an approach helps physicians visually focus on data pertaining to differential diagnoses. We present and discuss a 3-step reasoning pathway derived from a real-life case in which we used Venn diagrams to diagnose drug-related pneumonitis in a 67-year-old man with advanced bladder cancer and nodular lung findings at chest CT. This education paper supports using Venn diagrams in Radiology.

The Association of Gross Tumor Volume and Its Radiomics Features with Brain Metastases Development in Patients with Radically Treated Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

To identify clinical risk factors, including gross tumor volume (GTV) and radiomics features, for developing brain metastases (BM) in patients with radically treated stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Clinical data and planning CT scans for thoracic radiotherapy were retrieved from patients with radically treated stage III NSCLC. Radiomics features were extracted from the GTV, primary lung tumor (GTVp), and involved lymph nodes (GTVn), separately. Competing risk analysis was used to develop models (clinical, radiomics, and combined model). LASSO regression was performed to select radiomics features and train models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC-ROC) and calibration were performed to assess the models' performance.

RESULTS

Three-hundred-ten patients were eligible and 52 (16.8%) developed BM. Three clinical variables (age, NSCLC subtype, and GTVn) and five radiomics features from each radiomics model were significantly associated with BM. Radiomic features measuring tumor heterogeneity were the most relevant. The AUCs and calibration curves of the models showed that the GTVn radiomics model had the best performance (AUC: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.71-0.86; sensitivity: 84%; specificity: 61%; positive predictive value [PPV]: 29%; negative predictive value [NPV]: 95%; accuracy: 65%).

CONCLUSION

Age, NSCLC subtype, and GTVn were significant risk factors for BM. GTVn radiomics features provided higher predictive value than GTVp and GTV for BM development. GTVp and GTVn should be separated in clinical and research practice.

Adjuvant durvalumab after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC harbouring uncommon genomic alterations

Adjuvant durvalumab is the standard of care for patients with stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), without progression after concurrent chemo-radiation (CCRT). Patients with stage III NSCLC harbouring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements do not seem to benefit from durvalumab. Data are lacking about patients harbouring other driver genomic alterations (dGA). We performed a multicentre (N = 4, Netherlands and Italy) retrospective study including consecutive patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC and treated with CCRT-with or without adjuvant durvalumab-between 2016 and 2022. We enrolled 271 patients; 130 of which received adjuvant durvalumab. Sixty-six patients had dGA (41 KRAS mutations, 4 EGFR common mutations and 21 uncommon dGA). In the entire population, the median PFS was 24.9 months (95% CI 17.5-32.4) and 12.6 months (95% CI 9.0-16.1) with and without durvalumab (p = 0.001). In the dGA group (excluding common EGFR), mPFS was 12.3 months (95% CI 7.8-16.8) with and 7.6 (95% CI 3.4-11.9) without durvalumab (p = 0.038). For patients with KRAS mutations, mPFS was 12.3 months (95% CI 3.6-20.9) with and 7.2 months (95% CI 1.8-12.6) without durvalumab (p = 0.12). Among patients with uncommon dGA, mPFS was 12.9 months (95% CI 8.4-17.4) with and 7.6 months (95% CI 1.4-14) without durvalumab (p = 0.23). We have shown a meaningful survival benefit of adjuvant durvalumab in patients harbouring KRAS mutations and uncommon dGA. This is the largest stage III NSCLC cohort showing the efficacy of durvalumab in patients with uncommon dGA. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.

The SAFFO Study: Sex-Related Prognostic Role and Cut-Off Definition of Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR) in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Background: Emerging data suggest that gender-related immune system composition affects both immune response and efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer patients (pts). This study aimed to investigate the sex-related prognostic role of MLR in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) pts. Methods: We analyzed a retrospective consecutive cohort of 490 mCRC patients treated from 2009 to 2018 at the Oncology Departments of Aviano and Pordenone (training set) and Udine (validation set), Italy. The prognostic impact of MLR on overall survival (OS) was evaluated with uni- and multivariable Cox regression models. The best cut-off value to predict survival was defined through ROC analyses. Results: Overall, we identified 288 males (59%) and 202 females (41%); 161 patients (33%) had a right-sided, 202 (42%) a left-sided primary, and 122 (25%) a rectal tumor. Interestingly, gender was associated with MLR (p = 0.004) and sidedness (p = 0.006). The obtained cut-off value for MLR in females and males was 0.27 and 0.49, respectively. According to univariate analysis of the training set, MLR (HR 9.07, p ≤ 0.001), MLR > 0.27 in females (HR 1.95, p = 0.003), and MLR > 0.49 in males (HR 2.65, p = 0.010) were associated with poorer OS, which was also confirmed in the validation set. In multivariate analysis, MLR > 0.27 in females (HR 2.77, p = 0.002), MLR > 0.49 in males (HR 5.39, p ≤ 0.001), BRAF mutation (HR 3.38, p ≤ 0.001), and peritoneal metastases (HR 2.50, p = 0.003) were still independently associated with worse OS. Conclusions: Males and females have a different immune response. Our study showed that high MLR, both in males and females, is an unfavorable Independent prognostic factor. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.

EGFR T790M testing through repeated liquid biopsy over time: a real-world multicentric retrospective experience

Background

About 15% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Upfront treatment with first and second generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (1-2gen TKIs) is superior to chemotherapy. The most frequent resistance mechanism to 1-2gen TKIs is EGFR T790M mutation, which is targeted by osimertinib. T790M mutation can be revealed by liquid biopsy (LB) or by tissue rebiopsy (TB). LB is easily feasible but less sensitive than TB. We focused on repeated LBs and analyzed clinical features associated with EGFR T790M detection.

Methods

This is a retrospective multicenter observational study including EGFR-mutant NSCLC consecutive patients with disease progression (PD) after 1-2gen TKIs and with a first EGFR LB negative for T790M mutation, referred between 2016 and 2019. Aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of T790M mutation using LB in a real-life setting and the prevalence of T790M mutation by repeated LBs. We explored the association of T790M with clinical-pathological features and, through a survey, we evaluated the decision-making process behind LB request. Data on TBs were also collected.

Results

One hundred and ten patients were included in the study, for a total of 326 LBs. Median number of LB per patient was 3.0. The T790M prevalence through LB was 34.5%. Over time, significantly more LBs were requested "at clinical and radiological PD" and "at radiological PD" compared to "arbitrarily". The probability of finding the T790M mutation for a patient across each subsequent LB did not significantly change. Liver and lymph node PD were significantly correlated to T790M positivity. Notably, "at PD" compared to "arbitrarily" LB request and liver, bone or lymph node PD were correlated to the detection of any EGFR mutation in cfDNA. TB was performed in 59.7% of patients with a T790M negative LB and 18.8% of them were T790M positive. In most cases, TB was not feasible due to anatomical reasons. In our study population, the overall T790M prevalence-detected with both LB and TB-was 42.7%.

Conclusions

Repeated LB testing can be useful in a real-life scenario to detect EGFR T790M mutation.

Immunotherapy in unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: state of the art and novel therapeutic approaches

The standard of care for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by 1 year of adjuvant durvalumab. Despite the survival benefit granted by immunotherapy in this setting, only 1/3 of patients are alive and disease free at 5 years. Novel treatment strategies are under development to improve patient outcomes in this setting: different anti-programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 [anti-PD-(L)1] antibodies after CCRT, consolidation immunotherapy after sequential chemoradiotherapy, induction immunotherapy before CCRT and immunotherapy concurrent with CCRT and/or sequential chemoradiotherapy. Cross-trial comparison is particularly challenging in this setting due to the different timing of immunotherapy delivery and different patients' inclusion and exclusion criteria. In this review, we present the results of clinical trials investigating immune therapy in unresectable stage III NSCLC and discuss in-depth their biological rationale, their pitfalls and potential benefits. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential mechanisms of synergism between chemotherapy, radiation therapy and different monoclonal antibodies, and how this affects the tumor immune microenvironment. The designs and questions tackled by ongoing clinical trials are also discussed. Last, we address open questions and unmet clinical needs, such as the necessity for predictive biomarkers (e.g. radiomics and circulating tumor DNA). Identifying distinct subsets of patients to tailor anticancer treatment is a priority, especially in a heterogeneous disease such as stage III NSCLC.

Physical exercise at the crossroad between muscle wasting and the immune system: implications for lung cancer cachexia

Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by involuntary weight loss and wasting of skeletal muscle mass. It is associated with worse overall survival and quality of life. The cancer-induced systemic inflammation and the consequent host derived catabolic stimuli, trigger cachexia by inhibiting muscle protein synthesis and enhancing muscle catabolism. The muscle itself may further promote chronic inflammation, introducing a vicious catabolic circle. Nutritional support alone plays a limited role in the treatment of cancer cachexia and should be combined with other interventions. Physical exercise lowers systemic inflammation and promotes muscle anabolism. It also attenuates the age-related physical decline in elderly and it might counteract the muscle wasting induced by the cancer cachexia syndrome. This review describes how cancer-induced systemic inflammation promotes muscle wasting and whether physical exercise may represent a suitable treatment for cancer-induced cachexia, particularly in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We summarized pre-clinical and clinical studies investigating whether physical exercise would improve muscle performance and whether this improvement would translate in a clinically meaningful benefit for patients with cancer, in terms of survival and quality of life. Moreover, this review describes the results of studies investigating the interplay between physical exercise and the immune system, including the role of the intestinal microbiota.

Synaptophysin expression in V600EBRAF-mutated advanced colorectal cancers identifies a new subgroup of tumours with worse prognosis

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine differentiation has been extensively associated with worse prognosis and to mechanisms of therapy resistance in several epithelial cancers. A high prevalence of neuroendocrine differentiation was recently described in ^V600EBRAF-mutated (BRAFmt) metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs) but no data are available about its prognostic impact in this setting.

METHODS

We assessed synaptophysin immunohistochemical expression in a multi-institutional series of 159 BRAFmt mCRCs with matched clinical and pathological information. Tumours were dichotomized as synaptophysin high and low. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

Thirty-five tumours (22.0%) showed any level of positivity for synaptophysin, and 18 (11.3%) were characterized by positivity in at least 20% of tumour cells. Four cases resulted 100% synaptophysin positive. The histotype of synaptophysin-positive tumours (i.e. ≥20%) was not otherwise specified in 11 cases (61.1%) and mucinous adenocarcinoma in 4 cases (22.2%). Four cases were DNA mismatch repair deficient (22.2%) and 7 (38.9%) were characterized by a high number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. At multivariate analysis, high synaptophysin expression was a negative independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-3.33, p = 0.006) and OS (HR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.35-3.85, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among BRAFmt mCRCs, synaptophysin-positive tumours are characterized by worse PFS and OS. Further studies should investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of the neuroendocrine phenotype to identify novel-targeted treatment strategies.

Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Older Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: What to Expect in the Real World

BACKGROUND

The role of platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) for the treatment of older patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still a matter of debate, despite the advent of immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with first-line PBC prescription and, secondly, to evaluate the impact of first-line PBC on survival, treatment intensity, risk of hospitalization, and subsequent treatments.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed a consecutive series of 474 older patients (age ≥ 70 years) diagnosed with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Italy from January 2009 to March 2017.

RESULTS

Overall, 198 patients were deemed eligible, and 65.2% received a PBC. At multivariate analysis, older age was the only factor associated with PBC prescription. In the whole cohort, 46 patients (23.2%) were hospitalized for chemotherapy-related toxicity. Both PBC prescription (odds ratio [OR] 2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-4.87, p = 0.04) and tumor burden (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.07-5.32, p = 0.03) emerged as independent risk factors for hospitalization. Moving to significant predictors of patterns of care, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status > 0 was associated with greater risk of first-line failure (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.15-4.20, p = 0.02), while bone metastases (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.69, p = 0.005) and a Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥ 3 (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.84, p = 0.016) independently predicted lower probability of receiving second-line therapy. Remarkably, PBC did not significantly impact overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.61-1.14, p = 0.24) and progression-free survival (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.70-1.28, p = 0.73) compared to single-agent chemotherapy (SAC). However, according to an exploratory landmark analysis, patients who received four cycles of treatment or maintenance therapy experienced prolonged overall survival, regardless of PBC use.

CONCLUSIONS

This study evaluated the real-world use of PBC in older patients with NSCLC, offering an insight into the determinants of its prescription and the pattern of care of these patients. Of note, PBC use was associated with a higher likelihood of hospitalization for chemotherapy-related toxicity, with no benefit on survival compared to SAC.

A Multi-Center, Real-Life Experience on Liquid Biopsy Practice for EGFR Testing in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients

Background: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a source of tumor genetic material for EGFR testing in NSCLC. Real-word data about liquid biopsy (LB) clinical practice are lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the LB practice for EGFR detection in North Eastern Italy. Methods: we conducted a multi-regional survey on ctDNA testing practices in lung cancer patients. Results: Median time from blood collection to plasma separation was 50 min (20–120 min), median time from plasma extraction to ctDNA analysis was 24 h (30 min–5 days) and median turnaround time was 24 h (6 h–5 days). Four hundred and seventy five patients and 654 samples were tested. One hundred and ninety-two patients were tested at diagnosis, with 16% EGFR mutation rate. Among the 283 patients tested at disease progression, 35% were T790M+. Main differences in LB results between 2017 and 2018 were the number of LBs performed for each patient at disease progression (2.88 vs. 1.2, respectively) and the percentage of T790M+ patients (61% vs. 26%).

Determinants of choice in offering drug holidays during first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: 'Drug holidays' (DH) for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were introduced to preserve quality of life. We studied factors associated to a DH offer in first line. Materials & methods: We retrospectively analyzed 754 consecutive patients treated with chemotherapy for mCRC in two Italian institutions between 2005 and 2017. Associations between baseline clinical-pathological factors and DH (56 or more days of treatment interruption) were investigated. Results: In 754 patients, previous metastasectomy, previous thermoablation and previous surgery of primary tumor were independently associated with DH. Excluding procedures or clinical trials: primary rectal cancer and resection of primary tumor were significantly associated to DH. Conclusions: DH was offered to patients with lower burden of disease, but further investigations are needed to safely guide a holiday strategy.

Seven Shades of Black Thoughts: COVID-19 and Its Psychological Consequences on Cancer Patients

An outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that started in China at the end of 2019 has rapidly spread all over the world. COVID-19 is plaguing people not only physically but also psychologically, and cancer patients are particularly exposed to this emotional threat. Herein, we describe the psychological threats posed by COVID-19 to cancer patients. Our analysis is based on the concerns of our patients during our daily clinical interactions in both outpatient and inpatient settings. We have summarized the patients' psychological issues: logistic overload, loneliness, fear, oxymoronic thoughts, helplessness, frustration, and emotional siege. We describe these psychological threats, provide clinical context for them, and offer practical suggestions for managing them, for the benefit of patients, their caregivers, and clinicians. Our hope is that, by sharing our clinical experience, we can help other oncologists increase their awareness of the psychological impact of the pandemic on cancer patients and implement solutions. Managing these challenges now should translate into improved standards of care when this infective storm is over. Paradoxically, COVID-19 could be an opportunity to learn how to better manage cancer care.

Management of immune-related adverse events: A single-center retrospective analysis in a real-world scenario

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Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), anti CTLA-4 and anti PD-1/PD-L1 agents, have demonstrated an improvement in survival outcome in several malignancies. Therapy with ICI is characterized by immune-related adverse events (irAEs) as a result of exuberant immune system activation. Despite good tolerance for ICI, the potentially severe and life-threatening irAEs underscore the importance of investigating optimal management strategies. Methods: A retrospective series of 130 consecutive patients (pts) treated with ICI from Jan 2012 to Dec 2017 was analyzed. Adverse events with a potential immunological etiology were defined as irAEs and graded according to CTCAE v.4.0. The aim of the study was to evaluate irAEs management in an academic hospital center. Results: Pts with a diagnosis of NSCLC n = 64 (49%), melanoma n = 55 (42%), kidney n = 9 (7%) and others n = 2 (2%) were investigated. Baseline ECOG PS was ≤ 1 in 96% of the pts. ICI represented first line treatment for 27% pts, second line for 57% and third or further line for the remaining 16%. 18% were treated with ipilimumab and 82% with anti PD-1/PD-L1 agents (nivolumab 60%, pembrolizumab 21%, atezolizumab 1%). Overall, 50 (38% of pts) developed an irAE.42% of irAEs were grade 1, 38% grade 2, 14% grade 3 and 6% grade 4. The most frequent irAEs were endocrinopathies in 17 pts (34%), followed by cutaneous toxicity in 9 pts (18%) and colitis and diarrhea in 7 pts (14%). A total of 373 unscheduled accesses were observed, 89 (24%) of them were due to irAEs: 78 were unplanned consultations in the oncology department and 11 in the emergency department. irAEs led to hospitalization in 14 pts for 118 days, cumulatively. Grade ≥ 2 colitis was the most frequent irAE associated with hospitalization, it occurred in 4 pts (29%). Colitis and diarrhea required the longest hospitalization (range 4-31 days). 48% (24 pts) required immunosuppressive treatment. Systemic steroids were the most common immunosuppressive agents used. Only one patient received infliximab as second line immunosuppressive treatment after steroid failure. Totally, irAEs required 67 specialist consultancies and additional diagnostic examinations. 15 pts required ICI discontinuation because of irAEs. Conclusions: In our center prevalence and severity of irAEs were similar to literature data. Considered the complexity of irAEs management, multidisciplinary approach and a trained hospital network plays a key role for a more efficient diagnostic and treatment work-up in pts who received ICI therapy and experienced irAEs.

Prognostic role of macrophage infiltration and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in stage III colon cancer: The MIRROR study

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Background: Changes in peripheral blood cells composition may reflect immune microenvironment and its role in cancer growth. High monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) could be a marker of tumor’s recruitment of suppressive cells, showing a prognostic role. This study aimed to assess the prognostic impact of macrophage infiltration and MLR in stage III colon cancer (CC) patients (pts). Methods: This multicentric study retrospectively analyzed a consecutive cohort of 423 CC pts treated between 2008-2019 at the Cancer Centre of Aviano (Italy) (n = 300) and at the European Georges Pompidou Hospital of Paris (France) (n = 123). The association of MLR with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated with Cox regression analyses. Random Forrest was implemented on python using h2oai. Performance was assessed in terms of accuracy (ACC) and Matthews Coefficient (MCC). Analyses was adjusted on classical prognostic factors of stage III CC such as pT, pN, grade, location, ECOG PS. Results: Overall, 77% had pT1-3, 30% pN2 and 73% G1-2 tumors. Interestingly, 25% had a lymphatic and vascular invasion, 42/230 (18%) had MSI status, 69/152(45%) and 19/114 (13%) were KRAS and BRAF mutant. 56% had CEA > 5. Pts were treated with fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy. Notably, 130 cases were analyzed according to lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration (CD163, CD68, CD3, CD8). Of them, 78% had a CD163/CD8 ratio ≤3 and 74% a CD8/CD3 ratio ≤1.5. At median follow-up of 57 months, median DFS and OS were not reached, 31% of pts relapsed and 23% dead. By multivariate analysis, including statistically significant prognostic variables, CD163/CD8 ratio (HR 1.15, p = 0.039, 95%C.I. 1.1-1.32) and MLR > 0.45 (HR 2.98, p = 0.008, 95%C.I. 1.33-6.67) were associated with worse DFS. By multivariate analysis for OS, including statistically significant confounding variables, MLR > 0.45 (HR4.32, P = 0.012, 95%C.I. 1.37-9) and BRAF mutation predicted worse OS. According random survival forest for OS, CD68/CD3 were the first variable of importance (0.06), followed by MLR (0.009) and CD8 (0.007). Interestingly, high MLR followed by CEA, MSI, KRAS were the features linked with organotropism on liver (ACC 0.6 ±0.3), while high MLR, KRAS, pN, pT were mainly linked with lung colonization (ACC 0.6 ±0.2). Conclusions: High pre-treatment levels of MLR and CD163/CD8 ratio in stage III CC are independently associated with worse prognosis. The present study paves the way to a prospective validation of these promising cost-effective biomarkers.

The impact of prior chemotherapy (PrC) on immunotherapy outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: Real data from a mono-institutional study

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Background: Immunotherapy has changed the paradigm on NSCLC treatment. No widespread and reproducible predictive biomarkers have been established. We analyzed how PrC could affect ICI outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study and analyzed all NSCLC patients (pts) treated with ICI (nivolumab or atezolizumab or pembrolizumab) in our institution from 2015 to 2018 and followed until January 2020. All pts had received at least one PrC. We recorded clinical features of pts both before and after ICI treatment. Results: A total of 83 pts were included, with a median age of 69 (range, 47-82). Sixty pts (73%) were male, 74 (89%) were smokers and 81 (97%) had ECOG PS 0-1. Thirteen (15.7%) pts had a immune-related toxicity (iRT, G1-G2 76.9% and G3-G4 23.1%) and 21 (25.3%) continued ICI therapy beyond progression disease (PD). Patients with a PD as best response to PrC had more probability to reach a PD with ICI (p = 0.06). Median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) on ICI was 2.9 months (interquartile range, 1.9-9.4) with no statistical difference between pts with oligo- or diffuse progression (≤ or > 5 metastasis) during PrC (p = 0.42). Corticosteroids use was associated with worse PFS (p < 0.01). Median Overall Survival (OS) was 9.1 months (interquartile range, 3.3-26.5), with a benefit for pts with a stable disease (SD) or partial response (PR) to PrC (p = 0.02), for pts who experimented iRT (p = 0.04) and who didn’t receive corticosteroids (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis liver or brain metastases (HR 8.8, 95% CI 2.9-26.8 and HR 2.2, 95% CI 0.6-8.1), coticosteroids use (HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.3-10.5) or previous cisplatin-based chemotherapy (HR 8.4, 95% CI 2.3-30.1) were associated with worse OS. Instead, pts whit iRT (HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-1.3) and PR as best response to PrC (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.3-2.0) had a better OS. Conclusions: Our study confirms literature data and suggests that PrC could affect ICI outcomes. Tumor burden seems not to influence ICI outcomes, unlike response rate to PrC. Systemic corticosteroids use and iRT predicts ICI outcomes.

The MIMIC Study: Prognostic Role and Cutoff Definition of Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are circulating biomarkers that provide information about tumor-related inflammation and immune suppression. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of MLR and LDH in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This multicentric study analyzed a consecutive cohort of 528 patients with mCRC treated in 2009-2017. The whole population was randomly divided in training and validation cohort. The first was used to identify a threshold for MLR and to create the prognostic model with MLR and MLR-LDH combined (group 1: MLR-LDH low; group 2: MLR or LDH high; group 3: MLR-LDH high). The second cohort was used to validate the model.

RESULTS

At the median follow-up of 55 months, median overall survival (OS) was 22 months. By multivariate analysis, high MLR >0.49 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [C.I.], 1.39-4.04), high LDH (HR, 1.73; 95% C.I., 1.03-2.90) in the first model, group 2 (HR, 2.74; 95% C.I.; 1.62-4.66), and group 3 (HR, 3.73; 95% C.I., 1.94-7.18) in the combined model, had a worse prognosis in terms of OS. These data were confirmed both in the validation set and then in the whole cohort.

CONCLUSION

MLR and LDH are circulating cost-effective biomarkers, readily available in clinical practice, that can be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with mCRC.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

High monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels could be a sign of a tumor's recruitment of suppressive and inflammatory cells worsening prognosis of different types of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Currently, no data are available for metastatic CRC regarding a cutoff definition for MLR or the prognostic impact of MLR and MLR-LDH combined. The present study showed in the training cohort and confirmed in the validation and whole cohort that MLR is a reliable and independent laboratory biomarker, which is easy to use, to predict clinical outcomes in patients with mCRC. Moreover, MLR and composite MLR-LDH could potentially result in an incremental improvement in the prognostic value of these biomarkers, being used as stratification tools for patients with mCRC.

Emerging therapies in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer of the pleural surfaces frequently related to asbestos exposure. It is characterized by a poor prognosis even for patients treated with trimodality therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Moreover, the majority of patients are not candidates for surgery due to disease advanced stage or medical comorbidities. For these patients, the survival rate is even lower and few therapeutic options are currently available. Nevertheless, many interesting novel approaches are under investigation, among which immunotherapy represents one of the most promising emerging strategies. In this review, we will discuss the role of new therapeutic options, particularly immunotherapy, and present the results of the most important and promising clinical trials.

CK7 and consensus molecular subtypes as major prognosticators in V600EBRAF mutated metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

^V600EBRAF mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a subtype (10%) with overall poor prognosis, but the clinical experience suggests a great heterogeneity in survival. It is still unexplored the real distribution of traditional and innovative biomarkers among ^V600EBRAF mutated mCRC and which is their role in the improvement of clinical prediction of survival outcomes.

METHODS

Data and tissue specimens from 155 ^V600EBRAF mutated mCRC patients treated at eight Italian Units of Oncology were collected. Specimens were analysed by means of immunohistochemistry profiling performed on tissue microarrays. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

CDX2 loss conferred worse OS (HR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.03-2.86, p = 0.036), as well as high CK7 expression (HR = 2.17, 95%CI 1.10-4.29, p = 0.026). According to Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMS), CMS1 patients had better OS compared to CMS2-3/CMS4 (HR = 0.37, 95%CI 0.19-0.71, p = 0.003). Samples showing less TILs had worse OS (HR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.16-2.56, p = 0.007). Progression-free survival analyses led to similar results. At multivariate analysis, CK7 and CMS subgrouping retained their significant correlation with OS.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides new evidence on how several well-established biomarkers perform in a homogenous^V600EBRAF mutated mCRC population, with important and independent information added to standard clinical prognosticators. These data could be useful to inform further translational research, for patients' stratification in clinical trials and in routine clinical practice to better estimate patients' prognosis.

The IMPACT study: early loss of skeletal muscle mass in advanced pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC) patients have multiple risk factors for sarcopenia and loss of skeletal muscle mass (LSMM), which may cause greater treatment toxicities, reduced response to cancer therapy, prolonged hospitalization, impaired quality of life, and worse prognosis.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study on advanced PC patients treated at the Department of Oncology of Udine, Italy, from January 2012 to November 2017. Among 162 patients who received chemotherapy, 94 consecutive patients with an available computed tomography (CT) scan were retrospectively analyzed. The primary objective of our study was to explore if an early LSMM ≥ 10% (measured at first radiological evaluation and compared with baseline) and/or baseline sarcopenia may impact prognosis. Baseline sarcopenia was defined according to Prado's criteria. Skeletal muscle area was measured as cross-sectional areas (cm² ) using CT scan data through the Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) image system.

RESULTS

In the whole cohort, 48% of patients were ≤70 years old, and 50% had metastatic disease. At baseline, 73% of patients had sarcopenia, and 16% presented a visceral fat area ≥ 44 cm² /m² . Overall, 21% experienced an early LSMM ≥ 10%. Approximately 33% of sarcopenic patients at baseline and ~35% of patients with early LSMM ≥ 10% had a body mass index > 25 kg/m² . Of note, 71% of patients were evaluated by a nutritionist, and 56% received a dietary supplementation (oral and/or parenteral). After a median follow-up of 30.44 months, median overall survival (OS) was 11.28 months, whereas median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.72 months. By multivariate analysis, early LSMM ≥ 10% was significantly associated with worse OS [hazard ratio (HR): 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-3.78; P = 0.007] and PFS (HR: 2.31; 95% CI 1.30-4.09; P = 0.004). Moreover, an exploratory analysis showed that inflammatory indexes, such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio variation, impact early LSMM ≥ 10% (odds ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.06-1.61, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Early LSMM ≥ 10% has a negative prognostic role in advanced PC patients. Further prospective investigations are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor mutated squamous cell lung cancer: a tailored therapy approach

We reported the case of a male patient suffering from a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, harboring a complex inframe deletion in exon 19 of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), treated with erlotinib and osimertinib and subsequently with immunotherapy. A 54-year-old male, with a light smoking history, presented in October 2015 with metastatic squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC). Deletion p.E746_S752>V in EGFR exon 19 was found and after progression to erlotinib treatment, the liquid biopsy-based re-assessment highlighted a p.T790M EGFR mutation. Osimertinib was then started. After 5 cycles disease progression was detected and nivolumab was started. A subsequent clinical and radiological progression occurred after 3 nivolumab administrations. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, performed on metastatic tissue, confirmed the original EGFR deletion and showed also the presence of EGFR p.G724S and TP53 p.P152L mutations. Patient died in December 2017. The reported case highlighted tumor's molecular features prominent role over histology, offering further insights about druggable mutations in SqCLC. Furthermore, we confirm the emerging role of EGFR p.G724S mutation as a Osimertinib resistence mechanism.

Defining a prognostic score based on O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase cut-off methylation level determined by pyrosequencing in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

PURPOSE

Epigenetic variations in the O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase gene had been widely associated with a favorable impact on survival in patients affected by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Aim of this study is to explore a scoring system based on the gene promoter methylation in order to predict patients' prognosis.

METHODS

A series of 128 patients with GBM was retrospectively analyzed. A training set and a validations set were then generated. The methylation level of CpGi from 74 to 83 was determined by pyrosequencing. In accordance to previous literature, each island was assigned with 1 point if the corresponding methylation level was higher than 9%. The sum consisted in a score that went from 0 (all CpGi < 9%) to 10 (all CpGi ≥ 9%). A threshold capable to detect a favorable outcome (overall survival, OS > 24 months) was identified by ROC analysis.

RESULTS

Median OS and follow-up were 14 and 32.6 months respectively. Among the total population, 35% of the pts had a score of 0, while 29% had a score of 10. A score ≥ 6 was associated with a favorable prognosis also when corrected for age (> 70 vs. ≤ 70 years) and ECOG performance status (0-1 vs. 2-3). Similar results were observed also in terms of PFS. Results were consistent in the training and in the validation set.

CONCLUSIONS

The present manuscript explored a novel scoring system capable to take into consideration the methylation status of each single CpGi, capable to better predict prognosis in GBM patients.