Early Tumor Shrinkage and Depth of Response as Predictors of Survival for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis of JCOG1113

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DpR) reflect outcomes of chemotherapy in various cancers. This study evaluated the association of ETS and DpR with clinical outcomes using data from JCOG1113, which demonstrated the non-inferiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) to gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) for chemotherapy-naïve advanced biliary tract cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 354 (289 with measurable target lesions) patients enrolled in JCOG1113 were divided into ETS-unachieved and ETS-achieved groups (≥20% tumor reduction at week 6) and DpR-low and DpR-high groups (≥40% maximum shrinkage) until 12 weeks after enrollment. The impact of ETS and DpR on survival outcome was evaluated using the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

The proportions of patients in the ETS-achieved and DpR-high groups were similar between the 2 treatment arms. The hazard ratios (HRs) of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the ETS-achieved group were 0.70 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-0.93) and 0.60 (95%CI, 0.44-0.81), respectively. The HRs of PFS and OS for the DpR-high group were 0.67 (95%CI, 0.48-0.94) and 0.64 (95%CI, 0.46-0.90), respectively. In the subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot analysis, most patients in the ETS-achieved group in the GC arm did not experience disease progression after 12 weeks from the landmark.

CONCLUSION

As on-treatment markers, ETS and DpR were effective tools. ETS was clinically useful, because it can be used to evaluate the outcomes of treatment early at a specific time.

Effect of systemic inflammatory response on induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: an exploratory subgroup analysis on systemic inflammatory response in JCOG1106

OBJECTIVE

JCOG1106, a randomized phase II trial conducted to compare chemoradiotherapy (S-1 concurrent radiotherapy) with (Arm B) or without (Arm A) induction chemotherapy using gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, showed a more favorable long-term survival in Arm A. This study was aimed at exploring whether some subgroups classified by the systemic inflammatory response might derive greater benefit from either treatment.

METHODS

All subjects eligible for JCOG1106 were included in this analysis (n = 51/49 in Arm A/B). This exploratory subgroup analysis was performed by Cox regression analysis to investigate the impact of the systemic inflammatory response, as assessed based on the serum C-reactive protein, serum albumin (albumin), Glasgow Prognostic Score and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, at the baseline on overall survival. P values <0.1 for the interaction were regarded as denoting significant association.

RESULTS

Glasgow prognostic score showed significant treatment interactions for overall survival. Hazard ratios of Arm B to Arm A were 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.23) in the Glasgow Prognostic Score 0 (C-reactive protein ≤10 mg/L and albumin ≥35 g/L) (n = 44/34 in Arm A/B) and 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.24-1.50) in the Glasgow Prognostic Score 1/2 (C-reactive protein >10 mg/L and/or albumin <35 g/L) (n = 7/15) (P-interaction = 0.06). C-reactive protein alone and albumin alone also showed significant treatment interactions for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival benefits of induction chemotherapy in chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer were observed in patients with elevated Glasgow Prognostic Score, high C-reactive protein and low albumin. These results suggest that systemic inflammatory response might be considered to apply induction chemotherapy preceding chemoradiotherapy.

Comparison of clinical features by primary sites in patients with biliary tract cancer who received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy: An exploratory analysis of JCOG1113

548

Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) include gallbladder cancer (GBC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC), and ampulla of Vater cancer (AV). Although it was previously reported that there were differences in clinical features individually, the reported data were limited to data from some subgroup analyses of recent randomized controlled trials. JCOG1113 (UMIN000010667) showed the non-inferiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 to gemcitabine plus cisplatin in terms of overall survival (OS) in patients (pts) with advanced BTCs. We aimed to compare clinical features among the primary sites of BTCs using JCOG1113 data. Methods: Among the 354 pts enrolled in JCOG1113, 352 pts were included in this analysis except for 2 pts without BTCs. We compared the patient characteristics and treatment outcomes, such as OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR), among the four primary sites. Results: Of the 352 pts, 137 pts (38.9%), 94 pts (26.7%), 108 pts (30.7%) and 13 pts (3.7%) had GBC, IHCC, EHCC, and AV, respectively. GBC was more common in females (58.4%) than males, in contrast to the other primary sites. The percentage of pts with metastatic disease for GBC was the highest (78.1%) and involved multiple metastatic organs (41.6%), in contrast with the other primary sites. The median OS for GBC, IHCC, EHCC and AV were 12.6 months (reference), 15.7 months (hazard ratio [HR]; 0.749, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.559-1.005), 16.3 months (0.704, 0.532-0.934) and 11.5 months (1.148, 0.633-2.080), respectively. The median PFS for GBC, IHCC, EHCC and AV were 5.7 months (reference), 6.2 months (0.843, 0.644-1.104), 8.7 months (0.636, 0.489-0.826) and 4.1 months (1.506, 0.851-2.665), respectively. The ORRs for GBC, IHCC, EHCC and AV were 34.4%, 28.9%, 34.4%, and 0.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Except for AV which included a few patients in this trial, GBC showed a poorer prognosis compared with the other primary sites. Furthermore, it was more likely to include metastatic disease and multiple metastases, and this is likely one of the causes of the poorer prognosis. [Table: see text]

The influence of major hepatectomy on gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer: An exploratory subset analysis of JCOG1113

419

Background: JCOG1113 (UMIN000001685) is a randomized phase III trial in patients (pts) with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) that shows the non-inferiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) to gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) regarding overall survival (OS). Previous reports suggest that a history of major hepatectomy (MH) may affect dose intensity and adverse event (AE) frequency and reduce treatment efficacy in chemotherapy due to impairment of liver function and drug metabolism. We thus investigated whether a history of MH affects the frequency of AEs and treatment efficacy in recurrent BTC pts in JCOG1113. Methods: Among the 354 pts enrolled in JCOG1113, 76 recurrent pts with recurrence after surgery were included in this analysis. We compared the frequency of AEs, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS of GC vs. GS in pts treated with MH vs. non-major hepatectomy (NMH). Results: Of the 76 pts, 17 on GC and 13 on GS were included in the MH group, while 20 on GC and 26 on GS were included in the NMH group. The primary sites were only intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hilar cholangiocarcinoma in the MH group, and there were no differences between the groups regarding sex, performance status, biliary drainage, or site of recurrence. The hazard ratio (HR) of GS to GC for PFS was 0.74 (95% CI 0.35–1.56) in the MH group and 0.97 (95% CI 0.52–1.82) in the NMH group. The hazard ratio (HR) of GS to GC for OS was 0.99 (95% CI 0.418–2.36) in the MH group and 1.17 (95% CI 0.59–2.33) in the NMH group. The median PFS and OS for GS in the MH group were 12.2 months and 21.5 months. These were longer than the 6.8 months and 15.1 months in the original results for GS in JCOG1113. Regarding AEs, Grade 3-4 AEs, specifically neutrophil count decreased (73.1%/92.3%), platelet count decreased (3.9%/15.4%), and rash (7.7%/15.4%), were more common in MH pts than NMH pts on GS. On GC, AEs in the MH and NMH pts did not show any consistent trends. The relative dose intensities (RDIs) of gemcitabine (70.7%/62.5%) and S-1 (70.4%/54.5%) were lower in MH pts than NMH pts on GS. The RDIs of gemcitabine (67.4%/63.0%) and cisplatin (73.6%/65.0%) were slightly lower in MH pts than NMH pts on GC. Conclusions: For pts with a history of MH, some AEs increased, and the RDIs were lower, especially that of S-1 for GS. On the other hand, the HR for PFS suggests that GS may be more effective than GC in MH pts.

Phase II study of S-1 and oxaliplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the gastric or esophagogastric junction: KSCC1601

BACKGROUND

Perioperative chemotherapy is the standard of care for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). This phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for LAGC and esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC).

METHODS

Patients completed up to three cycles of SOX₁₃₀ (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² on day 1, oral S-1 40-60 mg twice daily for 2 weeks every 3 weeks), followed by gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy. The primary endpoint was the pathological response rate (pRR). The anastomosis leakage rate was the secondary endpoint in patients with EGJC, and other secondary endpoints were the R0 resection, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates.

RESULTS

Between April 2016 and July 2017, 47 patients (24 EGJC, 23 LAGC) were enrolled in this study. Forty-two patients (89.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 76.9-96.5) underwent surgery, and R0 resection was achieved in 41 patients. The pRR was 59.5% (90% CI = 45.7-72.3). The major grade 3 or 4 toxicities were appetite loss in six patients (12.8%), thrombocytopenia in five patients (10.6%), and neutropenia and diarrhea in three patients (6.4%) each. The rate of severe anastomotic leakage (Clavien-Dindo classification grade III or higher) in 20 EGJC was 25.0% (90% CI = 10.4-45.6). The 3-year OS and RFS rate were 62.9% (95% CI = 47.2-75.1) and 53.2% (95% CI = 38.1-66.2), respectively.

CONCLUSION

SOX₁₃₀ demonstrated substantial benefit for LAGC and EGJC. However, special attention should be paid to anastomotic leakage during surgery for EGJC.

Comparison of gemcitabine-based chemotherapies for advanced biliary tract cancers by renal function: an exploratory analysis of JCOG1113

JCOG1113 is a randomized phase III trial in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) (UMIN000001685), and gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) was not inferior to gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC). However, poor renal function often results in high toxicity of S-1. Therefore, we examined whether GS can be recommended for patients with low creatinine clearance (CCr). Renal function was classified by CCr as calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula: high CCr (CCr ≥ 80 ml/min) and low CCr (80 > CCr ≥ 50 ml/min). Of 354 patients, 87 patients on GC and 91 on GS were included in the low CCr group, while there were 88 patients on GC and 88 patients on GS in the high CCr group. The HR of overall survival for GS compared with GC was 0.687 (95% CI 0.504–0.937) in the low CCr group. Although the total number of incidences of all Grade 3–4 non-haematological adverse reactions was higher (36.0% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.0002), the number of patients who discontinued treatment was not different (14.1% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.679) for GS compared with GC in the low CCr group. This study suggests that GS should be selected for the treatment of advanced BTC patients with reduced renal function.

Randomized phase II study of chemoradiotherapy with versus without induction chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial, JCOG1106

BACKGROUND

Chemoradiotherapy is a treatment option for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. However, the efficacy of induction chemotherapy prior to chemoradiotherapy is uncertain. The aim of this randomized, multicentre phase II study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemoradiotherapy with and without induction chemotherapy to determine the significance of induction chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly assigned to the chemoradiotherapy arm (Arm A) or induction chemotherapy followed by the chemoradiotherapy arm (Arm B). Patients in Arm A underwent radiotherapy with concurrent S-1. Patients in Arm B received induction gemcitabine for 12 weeks, and thereafter, only patients with controlled disease underwent the same chemoradiotherapy as Arm A. After chemoradiotherapy, gemcitabine was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity in both arms. The primary endpoint was overall survival.

RESULTS

Amongst 102 patients enrolled, 100 were eligible for efficacy assessment. The probability of survival was greater in Arm B in the first 12 months, but the trend was reversed in the following periods (1-year survival 66.7 vs. 69.3%, 2-year survival 36.9 vs. 18.9%). The hazard ratio was 1.255 (95% confidence interval 0.816-1.930) in favour of Arm A. Gastrointestinal toxicity was slightly more frequent and three treatment-related deaths occurred in Arm A.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the chemoradiotherapy using S-1 alone had more promising efficacy with longer-term survival, compared with induction gemcitabine followed by chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000006811.

Analysis of early tumor shrinkage and depth of response in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin or gemcitabine plus S-1: An exploratory analysis of JCOG1113

301

Background: JCOG1113 is a randomized phase III trial to confirm the non-inferiority of gemcitabine (GEM) plus S-1 (GS) compared with GEM plus cisplatin (GC) regarding overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). Although the non-inferiority of GS to GC was demonstrated, the difference in the nature of tumor shrinkage effects between GC and GS is not clear. Early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DpR) are considered as on-treatment markers that reflect the anti-tumor effect to chemotherapy and have been reported to be associated with survival in metastatic colorectal cancer. However, there are few studies assessing ETS or DpR in advanced BTC. Therefore, we evaluated the association between ETS, DpR, and clinical outcomes in JCOG1113. Methods: We conducted an exploratory analysis of JCOG1113, which included chemotherapy-naïve patients with recurrent or unresectable BTC. ETS was defined as tumor reduction in the sum of the longest diameters of the target lesions at week 6 when compared with that at baseline. DpR was defined as the maximum tumor shrinkage observed until 12 weeks from enrollment. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Progression-free survival (PFS) and OS for ETS and DpR were estimated from week 6 and 12 (landmarks) after enrollment, respectively. Multivariable analyses for PFS and OS, adjusted for baseline factors, were performed using a stratified Cox regression model. Results: Of the 354 registered patients in JCOG1113, 277 patients in the ETS group and 230 patients in the DpR group were included in this study. Seventy-seven patients (27.8%) achieved ETS ≥ 20% (ETS high group) and 52 patients (22.6%) achieved DpR ≥ 40% (DpR high group). The proportion of ETS high group (GC, 25.4%; GS, 30.4%) and DpR high group (GC, 21.2%; GS, 24.1%) was similar between the arms. The patient characteristics of ETS high group were not different between GC and GS. The hazard ratio (HR) of the ETS high group compared with the ETS low group for PFS and OS was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–1.00) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.60–1.07), respectively. The impact of ETS was higher in GC (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43–0.95) than GS (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.60–1.28) in PFS. The HR of DpR high group compared with DpR low group for PFS and OS was 0.75 (95% CI 0.55–1.03) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.57–1.09), respectively. The impact of DpR was higher in GC (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40–0.998) than GS (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.57–1.37) in PFS. ETS and DpR were significantly associated with both PFS and OS in the multivariable analyses. Conclusions: ETS and DpR may be useful as on-treatment markers associated with PFS and OS in patients with advanced BTC, especially in those treated with GC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000010667.

Clinical features of immune-mediated hepatotoxicity induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancers

PURPOSE

The risk factors and clinical characteristics of ICI-induced immune-mediated hepatotoxicity (IMH) are not fully understood. Thus, the present study sought to clarify the clinical features of IMH.

METHODS

All patients treated with ICIs between September 2014 and April 2019 at our institution were included. Clinical data were retrospectively collected from medical records. The frequency of grade ≥ 2 liver damage, clinical characteristics, and risk factors for developing IMH were examined.

RESULTS

Overall, 250 patients (median age 71 years; range 30-87 years; 202 males and 48 females) were included in the analyses. Forty-five patients had elevated transaminase levels (> threefold the upper limit of normal). Of these, 21 were considered to have IMH. The remaining 24 patients had other causes of elevated transaminase levels. Steroids were administered to 13/21 patients with IMH. Although all patients exhibited improvement, IMH was not associated with the anticancer efficacy of the ICIs or OS. A multivariable analysis revealed that IMH was significantly associated with malignant melanoma (odds ratio [OR] 11.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-38.0; P = 0.0002) and ipilimumab-nivolumab combination therapy (OR 61.2; 95% CI 7.9-1275.3; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Immune-mediated hepatotoxicity occurred in 9.5% of patients treated with ICIs. Appropriate therapeutic interventions are important to avoid affecting the patient's prognosis, and accurate diagnosis of IMH is essential for this purpose. The frequency of IMH varied according to the type of cancer and the drug used, and was significantly higher in patients with malignant melanoma and in patients given ipilimumab-nivolumab combination therapy.

Phase 1 study of Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel/S-1 in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (GeNeS1S trial)

PURPOSE

We conducted a phase 1 study to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel/S-1 combination chemotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We enrolled patients aged 20 years or older with unresectable pancreatic cancer and who had not been treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel were administered on days 1 and 8, and S-1 was administered orally twice daily for 2 weeks, repeated every 3 weeks. The starting dose was level 0 [gemcitabine 700 mg/m², nab-paclitaxel 90 mg/m², S-1 60/80/100 mg/day (< 1.25 m²/1.25-1.50 m²/ > 1.5 m²)]. Dose-limiting toxicities were determined during the first course, and a classical 3 + 3 dose finding design was planned.

RESULTS

From March 2018 to October 2019, 20 patients were enrolled. At dose level 0, three of six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities; one grade 3 skin rash on day 8, and two grade 3 or 4 neutropenia on day 8. At dose level-1 (gemcitabine 600 mg/m², nab-paclitaxel 90 mg/m², and S-1 50/70/80 mg/day), two of twelve patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities, all of which were grade 3 neutropenia on day 8. The most frequently observed toxicity during eight courses was neutropenia. Other treatment-related adverse events were mild. Eleven out of 19 (58%) patients achieved partial response.

CONCLUSION

We defined the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose for combination therapy with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel/S-1 as dose level-1. Considering the observed response rate, further studies are warranted in order to determine the efficacy of this regimen (UMIN-CTR 000030007).

Phase II clinical trial of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma with a family history of pancreatic/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer or personal history of breast/ovarian/prostate cancer (FABRIC study)

BACKGROUND

A family/personal history of breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer is a useful predictive marker for response to platinum-based chemotherapy in treating patients with pancreatic cancer. These cancers, and prostate cancer, are known as BRCA-related malignancies. We evaluated the efficacy of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with a family/personal history of these cancers.

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with a family history of pancreatic/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer or a personal history of breast/ovarian/prostate cancer were included. Patients received fixed dose-rate gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m²) every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was 1-year survival, and the threshold and expected values were set at 30 and 50%, respectively. The target sample size was determined to be 43, with a one-sided alpha value of 5% and power of 80%. A total of 45 patients were enrolled.

RESULTS

Among the first 43 enrolled patients, the 1-year survival rate was 27.9% [90% confidence interval (CI) 17.0-41.3], which did not meet the primary endpoint. Median overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rates were 7.6 months (95% CI 6.0-10.7), 4.0 months (95% CI 2.0-4.6), and 26.7% (95% CI 14.6-41.9), respectively, in all registered patients. The GEMOX regimen was generally tolerated; the most common grade three or higher adverse events were hematological toxicities.

CONCLUSION

GEMOX did not show the expected efficacy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with a family or personal history of pancreatic/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer. Selection of GEMOX based on family/personal history is not recommended.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000017894.

Combination gemcitabine plus S-1 versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin for advanced/recurrent biliary tract cancer: the FUGA-BT (JCOG1113) randomized phase III clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) is the standard treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC); however, it causes nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, and requires hydration. Gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) reportedly has equal to, or better, efficacy and an acceptable toxicity profile. We aimed to confirm the non-inferiority of GS to GC for patients with advanced/recurrent BTC in terms of overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We undertook a phase III randomized trial in 33 institutions in Japan. Eligibility criteria included chemotherapy-naïve patients with recurrent or unresectable BTC, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 - 1, and adequate organ function. The calculated sample size was 350 with a one-sided α of 5%, a power of 80%, and non-inferiority margin hazard ratio (HR) of 1.155. The primary end point was OS, while the secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), adverse events (AEs), and clinically significant AEs defined as grade ≥2 fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, or diarrhea.

RESULTS

Between May 2013 and March 2016, 354 patients were enrolled. GS was found to be non-inferior to GC [median OS: 13.4 months with GC and 15.1 months with GS, HR, 0.945; 90% confidence interval (CI), 0.78-1.15; P = 0.046 for non-inferiority]. The median PFS was 5.8 months with GC and 6.8 months with GS (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.70-1.07). The RR was 32.4% with GC and 29.8% with GS. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated. Clinically significant AEs were observed in 35.1% of patients in the GC arm and 29.9% in the GS arm.

CONCLUSIONS

GS, which does not require hydration, should be considered a new, convenient standard of care option for patients with advanced/recurrent BTC.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

This trial has been registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm), number UMIN000010667.

Adapalene Gel 0.1% Versus Placebo as Prophylaxis for Anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Induced Acne-Like Rash: A Randomized Left-Right Comparative Evaluation (APPEARANCE)

LESSONS LEARNED

The results of the APPEARANCE trial indicate that adapalene does not prevent acne-like rash over placebo when added to topical moisturizer and oral minocycline but instead may have a detrimental effect. Therefore, adapalene is not recommended as prophylaxis against acne-like rash induced by anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapies.Given that acne-like rash was completely controlled with placebo in approximately half of patients, predictive measures to identify patients needing intensive prophylaxis are required.

BACKGROUND

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies are frequently associated with acne-like rash. To evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of adapalene, a topical retinoid used as first-line therapy for acne vulgaris, we conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, evaluator-blinded, left-right comparative trial.

METHODS

Patients with non-small cell lung, colorectal, or head and neck cancer scheduled to receive anti-EGFR therapies were randomly assigned to once-daily adapalene application on one side of the face, with placebo on the other side. All patients had topical moisturizer coapplied to both sides of the face, and received oral minocycline. The primary endpoint was the difference in total facial lesion count of acne-like rash at 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints included complete control rate (CCR) of acne-like rash (≤5 facial lesions) and global skin assessment (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] scale, grade 0-4) at 4 weeks. Two blinded dermatologists independently evaluated the endpoints from photographs.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients were enrolled, of whom 26 were evaluable. Adapalene treatment was associated with a greater lesion count than placebo at 4 weeks, although the difference was not statistically significant (mean, 12.6 vs. 9.8, p = .12). All four patients with a difference >10 in lesion count between face sides had a greater count on the adapalene-treated side. No significant differences were observed in CCR of acne-like rash (54% vs. 50%) or IGA scale (mean grade, 1.9 vs. 1.7) between the adapalene and placebo sides.

CONCLUSION

Adapalene is not recommended as prophylaxis against acne-like rash induced by anti-EGFR therapies.

The influence of renal function on gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer: An exploratory subgroup analysis of JCOG1113

368

Background: JCOG1113 is a randomized phase III trial to evaluate gemcitabine (GEM) plus S-1 (GS) versus GEM plus cisplatin (GC) regarding overall survival (OS) for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) (UMIN000001685) and the non-inferiority of GS was demonstrated. It is necessary to consider renal function using cisplatin or S-1 because cisplatin has renal toxicity, and the toxicity of S-1 is affected by renal function. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of renal function on the efficacy and safety of GC and GS in JCOG1113. Methods: All enrolled patients (pts) in JCOG1113 (n = 354) were analyzed. Eligibility criteria included chemotherapy-naïve pts with recurrent or unresectable biliary tract adenocarcinoma, ECOG-PS of 0–1, CCr > 50 ml/min, and adequate organ function. Renal function was classified into two groups by creatinine clearance (CCr) as calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula; high CCr (CCr ≥ 80 ml/min) or low CCr (80 > CCr ≥ 50 ml/min). The impact of renal function on OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared using the Cox regression model. The adverse events (AEs) were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Eighty-eight pts on GC and 88 pts on GS were included in the high CCr group, and 87 pts on GC and 91 pts on GS were included in the low CCr group. There were no differences between the groups regarding, sex, PS, primary site, biliary drainage, operation, or recurrence, except for age. The hazard ratio (HR) of GS to GC for OS was 1.12 (95% CI 0.81–1.56) in the high CCr group and 0.80 (95% CI 0.58–1.11) in the low CCr group. The HR of GS to GC for PFS was 1.06 (95% CI 0.78–1.44) in the high CCr group and 0.69 (95% CI 0.50–0.94) in the low CCr group. Grade 3-4 AEs of white blood cell count decreased (35.3%/23.6%), anemia (29.4%/7.9%) and platelet count decreased (18.8%/10.1%) were more common in GC than GS in the low CCr group. In contrast, the incidence of all grade 3-4 non-hematological AEs was higher (36.0%/11.8%) in GS than GC in the low CCr group ( p = 0.0002). Conclusions: GS was better in terms of OS, PFS, and hematological toxicities than GC in the low CCr group. GS might be recommended for the population with lower renal function in the treatment for advanced BTC.

The clinical outcomes of combination chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced biliary tract cancer: An exploratory subgroup analysis of JCOG1113

349

Background: JCOG1113 is a randomized phase III trial to confirm the non-inferiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) to gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) in overall survival (OS). In the final analysis, GS demonstrated non-inferiority to GC in OS and was considered as a new option of standard of care for advanced BTC. However, there are few reports on the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced BTC. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the clinical outcomes of combination chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced BTC. Methods: Among all enrolled patients in JCOG1113, ≥ 75 years old patients were included in this exploratory subgroup analysis. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the influence of age at baseline on OS and PFS. Clinically relevant adverse events (AEs) were defined as any of grade 2 or more fatigue, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, and diarrhea, and were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among all enrolled patients, 155 patients in GC and 139 patients in GS were included in < 75 years old cohort and 20 patients in GC and 40 patients in GS were included in ≥ 75 years old cohort.The HR of ≥ 75 years old cohort to < 75 years old cohort for OS was 0.96 (95% CI 0.71–1.30) in all enrolled patients. The HR of ≥ 75 years old cohort to < 75 years old cohort for OS was 1.26 (95% CI 0.77–2.04) in GC, and 0.84 (95% CI 0.56–1.24) in GS. The HR of ≥ 75 years old cohort to < 75 years old cohort for PFS was 1.01 (95% CI 0.63–1.61) in GC, and 0.78 (95% CI 0.54–1.12) in GS. Clinically relevant AEs were 36.1% in < 75 years old cohort and 25.0% in ≥ 75 years old cohort in GC, and 29.5% in < 75 years old cohort and 32.5% in ≥ 75 years old cohort in GS. Conclusions: The clinical outcomes of combination chemotherapy in elderly patients were comparable to non-elderly patients. Clinical trial information: 000010667.

Randomized phase III study of gemcitabine plus S-1 combination therapy versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin combination therapy in advanced biliary tract cancer: A Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG1113, FUGA-BT)

205

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (GC) is the standard of care for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, GC is considered to be toxic because of nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss, and inconvenient due to requiring hydration before and after administration. GEM plus S-1 (GS) was reported to be promising with preferable efficacy and acceptable toxicity profile (UMIN000001685). This phase III study aimed to confirm the non-inferiority of GS to GC in terms of overall survival (OS). Methods: Eligibility criteria included chemotherapy-naïve patients with recurrent or unresectable biliary tract adenocarcinoma (gallbladder, intrahepatic biliary tract, extrahepatic biliary tract, or ampulla of Vater), an ECOG-PS of 0–1, and adequate organ function. In the GC arm, 1 g/m2 of GEM and 25 mg/m2 of cisplatin was infused on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. In the GS arm, 1 g/m2 of GEM was infused on days 1 and 8, and S-1 60, 80, or 100 mg/day according to body-surface area was administered from days 1 to 14 of a 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was OS and the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), adverse events (AEs), clinically relevant AEs defined as any of grade 2 or more fatigue, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, and diarrhea. The sample size was calculated to be 350 with a one-sided alpha of 5%, a power of 80%, non-inferiority margin of 1.155 in terms of hazard ratio (HR). Results: From May 2013 to March 2016, 354 patients were enrolled. The non-inferiority of GS to GC was demonstrated (median OS: 13.4 months (m) in GC and 15.1 m in GS, HR 0.95; 90% confidence interval (CI), 0.78 to 1.15; P = 0.046 for non-inferiority). Median PFS was 5.8 m in GC and 6.8 m in GS (HR 0.86, 95% CI, 0.70-1.07). RR was 32.4% in GC and 29.8% in GS. Preliminary AEs data demonstrated that both treatments were generally well tolerated, although clinically relevant AEs were observed 34.7% in GC and 31.2 % in GS. Conclusions: GS demonstrated non-inferiority to GC in OS with good tolerability and was considered as new convenient option of standard of care without hydration for advanced BTC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000010667.

Polypoid leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection

We report a rare case of polypoid leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus that was treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). A 63-year-old man with complaints of progressive dysphagia was referred to Hyogo Cancer Center for treatment of esophageal tumor. Esophagoscopy revealed a polypoid tumor 25 mm in diameter on the left side of the upper esophagus. Despite several biopsy specimens, the diagnosis could not be confirmed. Computed tomography showed a protruded, homogeneously enhancing mass in the upper esophagus, but no lymph node enlargement or metastasis. After 1.5 months, the esophagogram showed a filling defect 47 mm in diameter in the upper esophagus. Given this rapid tumor growth, en bloc resection was done by ESD for therapeutic diagnosis. After this treatment, the tumor seemed to grow larger, showing a short stalk and occupying the esophageal lumen. Histopathologically, the tumor comprised pleomorphic spindle cells with mitosis. Tumor invasion involved the lumina propria mucosae and contact with the muscularis mucosae, but not involving the submucosa. Immunohistochemical examination showed positive staining for smooth muscle actin and HHF35, but negative for desmin, caldesmon, CD34, c-kit, DOG1, ALK, S-100 protein and cytokeratin. These histopathological findings were compatible with a diagnosis of esophageal leiomyosarcoma derived from the muscularis mucosae.

Multicenter retrospective analysis of systemic chemotherapy for advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma of the digestive system

This study analyzed outcomes of systemic chemotherapy for advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the digestive system. Clinical data from 258 patients with unresectable or recurrent NEC of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) or hepato-biliary-pancreatic system (HBP), who received chemotherapy, were collected from 23 Japanese institutions and analyzed retrospectively. Patients had primary sites in the esophagus (n = 85), stomach (n = 70), small bowel (n = 6), colorectum (n = 31), hepato-biliary system (n = 31) and pancreas (n = 31). Median overall survival (OS) was 13.4 months the esophagus, 13.3 months for the stomach, 29.7 months for the small bowel, 7.6 months for the colorectum, 7.9 months for the hepato-biliary system and 8.5 months for the pancreas. Irinotecan plus cisplatin (IP) and etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) were most commonly selected for GI-NEC and HBP-NEC. For patients treated with IP/EP (n = 160/46), the response rate was 50/28% and median OS was 13.0/7.3 months. Multivariate analysis among patients treated with IP or EP showed that the primary site (GI vs HBP; hazard ratio [HR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35-0.97) and baseline serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (not elevated vs elevated; HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.94) were independent prognostic factors for OS, while the efficacy of IP was slightly better than for EP (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.48-1.33; P = 0.389). IP and EP are the most common treatment regimens for NEC of the digestive system. HBP primary sites and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels are unfavorable prognostic factors for survival. A randomized controlled trial is required to establish the appropriate chemotherapy regimen for advanced NEC of the digestive system. This study was registered at UMIN as trial number 000005176.

Randomized phase II study of mixing steroid to reduce venous pain in patients with colorectal cancer receiving oxaliplatin through peripheral vein (APOLLO study)

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Background: Although theCapeOX (capecitabine+oxaliplatin) regimen obviates the need for a central venous port, administration of oxaliplatin through peripheral vein can cause venous pain. One of the reasons is pH. The pH level of oxaliplatin solution is about 4.8 and that of buffered by steroid is approximately 7.0. To test the hypothesis that adjusting the pH of oxaliplatin solution by mixing steroid can reduce venous pain, we have conducted the randomized control study to compare pH-adjusted oxaliplatin solution with unadjusted oxaliplatin solution. Methods: This was a single-blinded multicenter randomized phase II study. Colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin through peripheral vein were enrolled and randomly assigned to arm A (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 with dexamethasone (DEX) 2 mg) or arm B (the same, without DEX) (UMIN000004286. Venous pain was evaluated according to CTCAE criteria (ver. 4.0) and the verbal rating scale (VRS). Assessments were conducted every 3 weeks until cycle 4. Results: A total of 53 patients (38 men and 15 women; median age, 67 y.o.) were enrolled at 9 institutions in Japan. Of these, 47 evaluable patients were randomized to either arm A (n = 24) or arm B (n = 23). The incidence of venous pain (grade ≥ 2) was 33.3% in arm A and 60.9% in arm B (relative risk 0.55; p = 0.082). The venous pain (VRS score ≥ 3) was 12.5% in arm A and 26.1% in arm B (relative risk 0.48; p = 0.286). No difference was observed in response rate and safety. Conclusions: Adjusting the pH of oxaliplatin solution by addition of a low dose of DEX reduced severe venous pain without influence on response rate and safety. Clinical trial information: UMIN000004286. [Table: see text]

Multicenter retrospective analysis of systemic chemotherapy for advanced poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the digestive system

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Background: No standard regimen is yet established for advanced poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PDNEC) although regimens for small-cell lung carcinoma are usually adopted such as irinotecan + cisplatin (IP) or etoposide + cisplatin (EP). Our aim was to respectively investigate outcomes for advanced PDNEC of the digestive system according to patient characteristics and regimens. Methods: Data was collected from patient medical records at 23 hospitals in Japan. The selection criteria were as follows: 1) histologically proven PDNEC, small cell carcinoma, mixed endocrine-exocrine carcinoma with a PDNEC component, or histologically proven neuroendocrine tumor with rapidly progressive clinical course; 2) primary tumor arising from the gastrointestinal tract (GI) or the hepato-biliary-pancreatic system (HBP); and 3) inoperable or recurrent disease treated with systemic chemotherapy (Cx) between April 2000 and March 2011. Results: This study included 258 patients (males/females, 182/76) with median age of 62.5 years. Primary sites were esophagus/stomach/small bowel/colorectum/hepato-biliary system/pancreas in 85/70/6/31/31/35 patients (pts). According to the primary sites, the median overall survival period (mOS) was 13.4/13.3/29.7/7.6/7.9/8.5 months, and that of GI/HBP was 13.0/7.9 months, respectively. Most common regimen was IP (160 pts, 62%), followed by EP (46 pts, 18%). For IP/EP patients, response rates (RR) were 50%/27%, the median progression free survival periods (mPFS) were 5.2/4.0 months. Second line Cx was performed for 88 pts (55%)/28 pts (61%) and mOS from first line Cx were 13.0/7.3 months in IP/EP groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a primary site of HBP (HR=1.96, p=0.003) and performance status of 2 and more (HR=2.32, p=0.01) were independent unfavorable prognostic factors of PDNEC patients treated with systemic Cx, while the hazard ratio comparing IP with EP was 0.79 (p=0.305). Conclusions: PDNEC of HBP had poorer prognosis than GI. IP was the most common treatment regimen and seemed to show better treatment outcomes than EP.

Multicenter retrospective analysis of systemic chemotherapy in poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the digestive system

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Background: Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PDNEC) is a rare and aggressive disease. No standard regimen has yet been established for advanced PDNEC, although regimens for small-cell lung carcinoma such as irinotecan + cisplatin (IP) or etoposide + cisplatin (EP), are usually adopted. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes according to the patient’s characteristics and treatment regimens for patients with PDNEC of the digestive system.

Methods: Data was collected from the medical records of patients at 23 hospitals. The selection criteria were as follows: 1) histologically proven PDNEC, small cell carcinoma, mixed endocrine-exocrine carcinoma with a PDNEC component, or histologically proven neuroendocrine tumor with rapidly progressive clinical course; 2) primary tumor arising from the gastrointestinal tract (GI) or the hepato-biliary-pancreatic system (HBP); and 3) inoperable or recurrent disease treated with systemic chemotherapy between April 2000 and March 2011.

Results: There were 258 patients (pts). The median age was 62.5 years (range, 26-81); male/female, 182/76 pts; the primary site was the esophagus/stomach/small bowel/colorectum/hepato-biliary system/pancreas in 85/70/6/31/31/35 pts. According to these primary sites, the median overall survival period (mOS) was 13.4/13.3/29.7/7.6/7.9/8.5 months, respectively. The most commonly used regimen was IP (160 pts, 62%), followed by EP (46 pts, 18%). For the patients treated with IP/EP, the response rates (RR) were 50%/27%, the progression free survival periods (mPFS) were 5.2/4.0 months, and mOS were 13.0/7.3 months. The subgroup outcome data for patients with HBP or GI cancers are shown in Table. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that a primary HBP cancer (HR=1.96, p=0.002), and a poor PS (HR=2.33, p=0.01) were independent unfavorable prognostic factors.

Conclusions: PDNEC of the HBP has a poorer prognosis than GI. IP was the most commonly selected treatment regimen, and seemed to have a favorable treatment outcome.

[Table: see text]

Muscle-specific overexpression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor increases peripheral glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity

Physical exercise ameliorates metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, but the molecular basis of these effects remains elusive. In the present study, we found that exercise up-regulates heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) in skeletal muscle. To address the metabolic consequences of such gain of HB-EGF function, we generated mice that overexpress this protein specifically in muscle. The transgenic animals exhibited a higher respiratory quotient than did wild-type mice during indirect calorimetry, indicative of their selective use of carbohydrate rather than fat as an energy substrate. They also showed substantial increases in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose uptake by skeletal muscle. These changes were accompanied by increased kinase activity of Akt in skeletal muscle and consequent inhibition of Forkhead box O1-dependent expression of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 gene. Furthermore, mice with a high level of transgene expression were largely protected from obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance, even when maintained on a high-fat diet. Our results suggest that HB-EGF produced by contracting muscle acts as an insulin sensitizer that facilitates peripheral glucose disposal.

Overexpression of the transcriptional coregulator Cited2 protects against glucocorticoid-induced atrophy of C2C12 myotubes

In patients with various catabolic conditions, glucocorticoid excess induces skeletal muscle wasting by accelerating protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Although the transcriptional coactivator p300 has been implicated in this pathological process, regulatory mechanisms and molecular targets of its action remain unclear. Here we show that CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300-interacting transactivator with ED-rich tail 2 (Cited2), which binds to the cysteine-histidine-rich region 1 of p300 and CBP, regulates muscle mass in vitro. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of wild-type Cited2 significantly blocked morphological alterations of C2C12 myotubes with a concomitant decrease in myosin heavy chain protein in response to synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, which were attributable to the reduced induction of atrophy-related ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx. These myotube-sparing effects were less pronounced, however, with a carboxyl-terminally truncated mutant of Cited2 that lacked the ability to bind p300. These results suggest that the gain of Cited2 function counteracts glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy through inhibition of proteolysis mediated by p300-dependent gene transcription.

Insulin-induced GLUT4 movements in C2C12 myoblasts: evidence against a role of conventional kinesin motor proteins

Insulin induces translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 from intracellular storage compartment to the plasma membrane via complex mechanisms that require intact cytoskeletal networks. In cultured adipocytes, conventional kinesin motor proteins have been proposed to mediate GLUT4 movements on microtubules. It remains, however, unclear whether kinesin motor system plays a similar regulatory role in myocytes. We addressed this issue using C2C12 myoblasts, which have now been shown to express both heavy and light chains of conventional kinesin. In these cells, overexpression of either wild-type kinesin light chain 2 (KLC2) or its phosphorylation-defective mutant did not significantly affect insulin-stimulated translocation of exofacial Myc-tagged GLUT4-green fluorescent protein to the cell surface and its subsequent externalization. Likewise, a dominant-negative mutant of KLC2 had no marked effect on GLUT4 movements in this cell type. These results suggest that conventional kinesin is dispensable for insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation in cultured myoblasts and may thus reveal a cell-type specific role of the microtubules-based cytoskeleton in glucose transport in response to insulin.