Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

PURPOSE

The National Hospice and Palliative Registry contains patient data from German hospice and palliative care facilities about symptoms. The aim of the study at hand is to differentiate symptom burden of patients in palliative care units between Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and other hospitals regarding symptom burden and relief of patients in palliative care units.

METHODS

The registry analysis provided data of patients in palliative care units (2014-2018). We analyzed characteristic and symptom-related data on 18 symptoms, with considerable symptom-burdened patients (moderate or severe). We followed a cancer (yes/no) and facility-specific descriptive analysis (f, %, μ, Mdn, SD, V, r) using SPSS.

RESULTS

We evaluated 10,447 patient records (CCC: 4234 pts/non CCC 6,213 pts), 82% with a cancer diagnosis. For cancer patients, the mean age in CCC-affiliated palliative care units was 68 (SD 19-99) years, in others 73 (SD 23-104) years (p < 0.05; V = 0.2). The proportion of patients with significant symptom burden is lower in CCC-affiliated than in other palliative care units. The difference between facilities shows a significant weak effect in pain, vomiting and constipation, depressiveness, anxiety, and tension. The proportion of cases which symptom burden could be alleviated is higher in CCC-affiliated palliative care units with significant weak/medium effect in pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, constipation, wound care problems, depressiveness, anxiety, tension, confusion, and problems in organizing care.

CONCLUSION

We found differences in symptom burden and symptom relief between CCC-affiliated and other palliative care units. CCCs should continue to feel responsible for sharing knowledge about symptom relief, such as through standard operating procedures and education.

Comparison of Palliative Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Expectation of German Paramedics Between a Rural and an Urban Structured Emergency Medical Service Area

OBJECTIVE(S)

Differences in the German emergency medical service (EMS) can be seen in the countryside in contrast to the city with regard to travel distances to hospitals and in the access routes of EMS-physicians. In order to investigate the success of establishment of palliative crisis cards associated with training and the rural and urban EMS structures, two urban and two rural EMS areas were compared using the Paramedic Palliative Care Test (PARPACT). Methods: The PARPACT includes test items on palliative knowledge (PK, maximum score: 15 points) and palliative self-efficacy expectations (PSE, maximum score: 18 points), as well as items on palliative attitudes in dealing with palliative care patients. We used a 4-point Likert-type scale. For data analysis, nonparametric tests (χ-test and Mann-Whitney U test) were used in addition to descriptive analysis (frequencies, means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges). Results: In total, 291 out of 750 ambulance or EMS personnel participated in the voluntary survey. Rural ambulance or EMS personnel answered the PK-questions correctly more often on average (mean: 11.19, SD: 1.85) than urban ambulance or EMS personnel (mean: 9.18, SD: 2.39; Mann-Whitney U test: U=5040.000, P=.001). In addition, ambulance or EMS personnel with the highest level of training (3-year-trained paramedics) performed better in PK (mean: 10.38, SD: 2.31) than less intensively training ambulance or EMS personnel (mean: 9.58, SD: 2.43; Mann-Whitney U-test: U=8446.500, P=.004). In terms of PSE, rural ambulance or EMS personnel also achieved higher mean PSE-scores (mean: 12.55, SD: 2.60) than urban ambulance or EMS personnel (mean: 9.77, SD: 3.41; Mann-Whitney U-test: U=5148.500, P=.001). Conclusions: Better training in the EMS is associated with improved PK compared to less qualified nonphysician EMS staff. The establishment of palliative crisis cards and the structures in the city alone do not lead to improved knowledge and PSE.

Drivers and barriers of patients' acceptance of video consultation in cancer care

Background

Due to digitization in the medical sector, many healthcare interactions are switched to online services. This study assessed the acceptance of video consultations (VCs) in cancer care, and determined drivers and barriers of acceptance.

Methods

A cross-sectional online-based survey study was conducted in Germany from February 2022 to February 2023. Recruitment took place at oncology outpatient clinics, general practitioners, oncology practices and via cancer-related social media channels. Inclusion criteria were a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and internet access. Sociodemographic, medical data, eHealth-related data were acquired via an online assessment. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used to determine the acceptance of VC and its predictors.

Results

Of N = 350 cancer patients, 56.0% (n = 196) reported high acceptance of VC, 28.0% (n = 98) stated moderate acceptance and 16.0% (n = 56) indicated low acceptance. Factors influencing acceptance were younger age (β = -.28, p < .001), female gender (β = .35, p = .005), stage of disease (β = .11, p = .032), high digital confidence (β = .14, p = .010), low internet anxiety (β = -.21, p = .001), high digital overload (β = -.12, p = .022), high eHealth literacy (β = .14, p = .028), personal trust (β = -.25, p < .001), internet use (β = .17, p = .002), and the UTAUT predictors: performance expectancy (β = .24, p < .001), effort expectancy (β = .26, p < .001), and social influence (β = .34, p < .001).

Conclusions

Patients' acceptance of VC in cancer care is high. Drivers and barriers to acceptance identified should be considered for personalized applications. Considering the growing demand for cancer care establishing digital healthcare solutions is justified.

Ratios of monocytes and neutrophils to lymphocytes in the blood predict benefit of CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment in metastatic breast cancer

Biomarkers to identify metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients resistant to CDK4/6 inhibition (CDK4/6i) are currently missing. We evaluated the usefulness of the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as predictive markers for de novo resistance to CDK4/6i. Various blood cell counts and MLR, NLR, PLR were recorded before treatment initiation (baseline) and four weeks later from 97 mBC patients receiving endocrine therapy (ET) alone or in combination with CDK4/6i. Binary blood cell count/ratios (mean = cut-off) were related to outcome using Cox regression. High MLR (p = 0.001) and high NLR (p = 0.01) at baseline significantly correlated with a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in the CDK4/6i cohort, independent of any other clinical parameter as determined by multivariate Cox regression. Both, high MLR (p = 0.008) and high NLR (p = 0.043) as well as a decrease in PLR after four weeks of CDK4/6i first line treatment (p = 0.01) indicated a shorter overall survival. Moreover, decreasing PLR (p = 0.043) and increasing mean corpuscular volume (MCV; p = 0.011) within the first cycle of CDK4/6i correlated with a shorter PFS and decreasing MLR (p = 0.039) within the first cycle of first-line CDK4/6i was also correlated with shorter PFS. In summary, easily assessable blood cell parameter were shown to have predictive, monitoring and prognostic value and thus, could, in future, be used for individualized CDK4/6i therapy management. Most importantly, the imbalance of NLR and MLR at baseline might serve as predictive marker for de novo resistance to CDK4/6i in mBC patients.

Falling off the screening grid-Predictors for postponed utilization of psycho-oncological support in cancer patients and its implications for distress assessment and management

OBJECTIVE

Distress assessment of cancer patients is considered state-of-the-art. In addition to distress scores, individual care needs are an important factor for the initiation of psycho-oncological interventions. In a mono-centric, observational study, we aimed for characterization of patients indicating a subjective need but declining to utilize support services immediately to facilitate implementation of adapted screenings.

METHODS

This study analyzed retrospective data from routine distress screening and associated data from hospital records. Descriptive, variance and regression analyses were used to assess characteristics of postponed support utilization in patients with mixed cancer diagnoses in different treatment settings.

RESULTS

Of the total sample (N = 1863), 13% indicated a subjective need but postponed support utilization. This subgroup presented as being as burdened by symptoms of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001) and distress (p < 0.001) as subjectively distressed patients with intent to directly utilize support. Time periods since diagnosis were shorter (p = 0.007) and patients were more often inpatients (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite high heterogeneity among the subgroups, this study identified distress-related factors and time since diagnosis as possible predictors for postponed utilization of psycho-oncological interventions. Results suggest the necessity for time-individualized support which may improve utilization by distressed patients.

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) Improve the Assessment of Underrated Physical and Psychological Symptom Burden among Oncological Inpatients

For advanced cancer inpatients, the established standard for gathering information about symptom burden involves a daily assessment by nursing staff using validated assessments. In contrast, a systematic assessment of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is required, but it is not yet systematically implemented. We hypothesized that current practice results in underrating the severity of patients' symptom burden. To explore this hypothesis, we have established systematic electronic PROMs (ePROMs) using validated instruments at a major German Comprehensive Cancer Center. In this retrospective, non-interventional study, lasting from September 2021 to February 2022, we analyzed collected data from 230 inpatients. Symptom burden obtained by nursing staff was compared to the data acquired by ePROMs. Differences were detected by performing descriptive analyses, Chi-Square tests, Fisher's exact, Phi-correlation, Wilcoxon tests, and Cohen's r. Our analyses pointed out that pain and anxiety especially were significantly underrated by nursing staff. Nursing staff ranked these symptoms as non-existent, whereas patients stated at least mild symptom burden (pain: mean_NRS/epaAC = 0 (no); mean_ePROM = 1 (mild); p < 0.05; r = 0.46; anxiety: mean_epaAC = 0 (no); mean_ePROM = 1 (mild); p < 0.05; r = 0.48). In conclusion, supplementing routine symptom assessment used daily by nursing staff with the systematic, e-health-enabled acquisition of PROMs may improve the quality of supportive and palliative care.

Systematic symptom screening in patients with advanced cancer treated in certified oncology centers: results of the prospective multicenter German KeSBa project

PURPOSE

Guidelines recommend a structured symptom screening (SC) for especially advanced cancer patients (CPs). The aim of this multicenter German prospective quality assurance project KeSBa (Kennzahl Symptom- und Belastungserfassung) was to gain knowledge on SC procedures in Oncology Centers (OCs) for advanced cancer patients and a first impression on the consequences of SC.

METHODS

The KeSBa project consisted of three phases: pilot, 3 months screening and feedback phase. Participating OCs decided to use either the Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS) or the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) and defined the cutoff values for positive screening results.

RESULTS

Out of 172 certified German OCs, 40 (23%) participated in the KeSBa pilot phase, 29 (16.8%) in the 3 months screening phase using MIDOS (n = 18, 58.6%) or IPOS (n = 11, 41.3%) and in the feedback round. 25/29 performed paper-based screening (86.2%). 2.963 CPs were screened. Results were documented for 1255 (42.2%, SC +) positive and 874 (29.5%, SC-) negative screenings depending on the center´s schedules: 452 SC + CPs (28.4%) and 42 SC- CPs (2.6%) had contact to specialized palliative care or other supportive specialist teams afterwards, 458 SC + CPs (28.8%) and 605 SC- CPs (38.1%) remained in standard oncology care. In the feedback round missing resources (personal and IT) and improved communication were mentioned most often.

CONCLUSION

Routine SC is feasible in advanced CPs treated in OCs but associated with considerable workload. In 42.2% of CPs SC was classified as positive, indicating the need of further diagnostics or professional judgment. SC requires staff and IT resources.

Abstract 2140: DNA damage response in circulating tumor cells shows predictive value for metastatic breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors

Background: Resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i), like Palbociclib and Ribociclib, plus endocrine therapy (TX) is an omnipresent topic for metastatic (M), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) patients (pts). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent the oncogenic heterogeneity in real time. Here, we aim to identify markers of resistance to CDK4/6i by mRNA profiling of CTCs.

Methods: Blood of 90 HR+/HER2-MBC pts drawn before CDK4/6i plus endocrine TX (baseline: n=57 pts first line; n=33 second or more line pts), 19 HR+/HER2-MBC pts receiving endocrine monoTX (control group) and matched samples of 78/62 of these 109 pts after six months of TX/at progression (PD) were analyzed. Isolation of CTCs was conducted using the AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select. Expression profiling was conducted with preamplified cDNA utilizing QuantiNova LNA Probe assays targeting 25 genes. qPCR data were normalized to CD45 and data of 20 healthy female donors. Consumables: QIAGEN, Germany. Only results with Benjamini Hochberg corrected p&lt;0.05 in univariate Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression with non-adjusted p&lt;0.05 are demonstrated.

Results: At baseline, in pts treated with CDK4/6i in the first line, CETN2 (HR 3.6)/MLH3 (HR 4)/E2F1 (HR 5.3) overexpression signals in CTCs correlated significantly with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and shorter overall survival [(baseline to death, OS) (HR 8.3/HR 4.9/HR 3.8)], whereas ESR1 signals correlated with a shorter OS (HR 4.4). After six months of TX, in CDK4/6i treated pts, CXCR4 and CETN2 signals correlated with a shorter PFS and the signal dynamics from baseline to six months of CXCR4, CETN2 and PCNA also correlated with a shorter PFS. At PD, STAT1 signals were identified as potential Ribociclib specific resistance markers and Hippo pathway inhibition as a potential new approach for postCDK4/6i TX, because TEAD2 and WWTR1 correlated with shorter remaining time to death.

Conclusion: We identified overexpression of transcripts involved in DNA damage response mechanisms (CETN2, MLH3 and/or PCNA) at baseline to have predictive and/or prognostic value in first line CDK4/6i treated pts while signal dynamics of CETN2 and PCNA to six months of TX could serve as monitoring marker in these pts. Currently, further longitudinal blood sampling over the course of treatment is underway to give a deeper insight in resistance development under CDK4/6i treatment.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Charlotte Gruber, Stefanos Ioannis Moukas, Mitra Tewes, Hans-Christian Kolberg, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. DNA damage response in circulating tumor cells shows predictive value for metastatic breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2140.

Abstract P5-02-25: Transcriptional profiling of CTCs in metastatic breast cancer patients in the course of CDK4/6 inhibition

Background: De novo resistance defined as progression within six months and acquired resistance are one of the major problems in the subset of metastatic (M), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) patients without visceral crisis receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy (TX). Here, we aim to identify predictive and monitoring markers of CDK4/6i resistance by conducting transcriptional profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that represent a real-time snapshot of the heterogeneity. Methods: Blood of (A) 60 HR+/HER2- MBC patients drawn at baseline of Palbociclib plus endocrine TX (TX as first line n=31, second or more lines n=29), (B) 19 HR+/HER2- MBC patients drawn before the initiation of endocrine monoTX (control) and matched blood samples of these patients after six months under TX (n=72) and at the time of progression (n=42) were analyzed. To enlarge the global CDK4/6i cohort at baseline, blood of (C) 32 patients before the initiation of Ribociclib plus endocrine TX was also drawn. Patients with progression within six months were defined as non-responders. Isolation of CTCs was conducted using positive immunomagnetic selection (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select) and preamplified cDNA was analyzed by a multimarker qPCR panel utilizing QuantiNova LNA Probe assays targeting 25 genes involved in the DNA damage -, MAPK -, STAT -, Hippo – pathway or cell cycle, chemokine sensing, multidrug resistance and cell adhesion. qPCR data was normalized to CD45 and data of 20 healthy female donor controls to identify BC CTC specific overexpression signals with a specificity of &gt;90% for all targets. Consumables: QIAGEN, Germany. Statistical analysis included log-rank testing and univariate Cox regression. Results: For first line CDK4/6i treated patients at baseline, CETN2 and E2F1 signals correlated significantly with worse progression-free survival (PFS) while CETN2 signals also related significantly to non-response. Furthermore, CETN2 and PCNA signals were significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS). Analyzing the Palbociclib cohort after six months of TX, PCNA signals correlated significantly with a decreased PFS while EpCAM signals showed a significant association with OS. In addition, CETN2, CXCR4, EpCAM, MLH3, WWTR1 signals after six months were shown to correlate significantly with a decreased OS and PFS and MAPK1 signals were only found in the non-responders. While non-response was related to appearing (from baseline to six months under TX) ABCC2, JUN and MAPK1 signals, disappearing ABCC2 signals were only found in the responders. Dynamics of ABCC2, CXCR4, EpCAM, JUN, MAPK1, MLH3, STAT1 and WWTR1 signals from baseline to six months under TX correlated significantly with OS and CXCR4 signal dynamics significantly with a worse PFS. At the time of progression, the presence of E2F1, JUN, MAPK1 and STAT1 signals correlated significantly with a decreased OS and in comparison to baseline analysis, the prevalence of ABCC2, EpCAM, E2F1, CETN2 and CXCR4 signals increased. Conclusion: CTC overexpression signals at baseline of targets involved in the cell cycle (CETN2 and E2F1) might be predictive markers for de novo resistance to CDK4/6i as first line TX, while ABCC2 (multidrug resistance), EpCAM (cell adhesion), E2F1, CETN2 and CXCR4 (chemokine sensing) signals could indicate acquired resistance to Palbociclib. In case of disease progression, E2F1, JUN (cell cycle) and targets of the MAPK- and STAT- pathway could be relevant targets for therapeutic strategies beyond Palbociclib TX. Monitoring and prognostic value was shown for single and repeated measurement of signals under TX in genes involved in resistance, cell cycle progression, DNA damage response (MLH3, PCNA), chemokine sensing, cell adhesion and the MAPK-, STAT- and Hippo (WWTR1) pathway.

Citation Format: Sabine Kasimir-Bauer, Charlotte Gruber, Stefanos Moukas, Mitra Tewes, Hans-Christian Kolberg, Rainer Kimmig, Corinna Keup. Transcriptional profiling of CTCs in metastatic breast cancer patients in the course of CDK4/6 inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-02-25.

Neurofeedback Treatment Affects Affective Symptoms, But Not Perceived Cognitive Impairment in Cancer Patients: Results of an Explorative Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

EEG biofeedback (NF) is an established therapy to enable individuals to influence their own cognitive-emotional state by addressing changes in brainwaves. Psycho-oncological approaches of NF in cancer patients are rare and effects are hardly studied.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this explorative, randomized controlled trial was to test the effectiveness of an alpha and theta NF training protocol, compared to mindfulness based therapy as an established psycho-oncological treatment.

METHODS

Of initially 62 screened patients, 56 were included (inclusion criteria were cancer independent of tumor stage, age >18 years, German speaking; exclusion criteria suicidal ideation, brain tumor). Randomization and stratification (tumor stage) was conducted by a computer system. Participants got 10 sessions over 5 weeks, in (a) an NF intervention (n = 21; 13 female, 8 male; MAge = 52.95(10 519); range = 31 to 73 years)) or (b) a mindfulness group therapy as control condition (CG; n = 21; ie, 15 female, 6 male; MAge = 50.33(8708); range = 32 to 67 years)). Outcome parameters included self-reported cognitive impairment (PCI) as primary outcome, and secondary outcomes of emotional distress (DT, PHQ-8, GAD-7), fatigue (MFI-20), rumination (RSQ), quality of life (QoL, EORTC-30 QoL), self-efficacy (GSE), and changes in EEG alpha, and theta-beta band performance in the NF condition.

RESULTS

No changes in cognitive impairment were found (P = .079), neither in NF nor CG. High affective distress was evident, with 70.7% showing elevated distress and 34.1% showing severe depressive symptoms. Affective symptoms of distress (P ≤ .01), depression (P ≤ .05) and generalized anxiety (P ≤ .05) decreased significantly over time. No differences between NF and CG were found. There was a significant increase of the alpha band (P ≤ .05; N = 15) over the NF sessions. Self-efficacy predicted QoL increase in NF with P ≤ .001 and an explained variance of 48.2%.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to investigate NF technique with regard to basic mechanisms of effectiveness in a sample of cancer patients, compared to an established psycho-oncological intervention in this field. Though there were no changes in cognitive impairment, present data show that NF improves affective symptoms comparably to mindfulness-based therapy and even more pronounced in QoL and self-efficacy.Trial registration: ID: DRKS00015773.

Palliative care outpatients in a German comprehensive cancer center-identifying indicators for early and late referral

PURPOSE

Despite that early integration of palliative care is recommended in advanced cancer patients, referrals to outpatient specialised palliative care (SPC) frequently occur late. Well-defined referral criteria are still missing. We analysed indicators associated with early (ER) and late referral (LR) to SPC of an high volume outpatient unit of a comprehensive cancer center.

METHODS

Characteristics, laboratory parameters and symptom burden of 281 patients at first SPC referral were analysed. Timing of referral was categorized as early, intermediate and late (> 12, 3-12 and < 3 months before death). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to referral timing. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine symptom severity and laboratory parameter in each referral category.

RESULTS

LRs (50.7%) had worse scores of weakness, loss of appetite, drowsiness, assistance of daily living (all p < 0.001) and organisation of care (p < 0.01) in contrast to ERs. The mean symptom sum score was significantly higher in LRs than ERs (13.03 vs. 16.08; p < 0.01). Parameters indicative of poor prognosis, such as elevated LDH, CRP and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p < 0.01) as well as the presence of ascites (p < 0.05), were significantly higher (all p < 0.001) in LRs. In univariable analyses, psychological distress (p < 0.05) and female gender (p < 0.05) were independently associated with an ER.

CONCLUSION

A symptom sum score and parameters of poor prognosis like NLR or LDH might be useful to integrate into palliative care screening tools.

Entwicklung einer KI-gestützten Bewegungstherapie bei onkologischen Palliativpatienten

HintergrundDie wechselnde Symptomlast ist eine große Hürde in der Sporttherapie von onkologischen Palliativpatienten. Die täglich variierende Symptomstärke erschwert die Einstellung einer optimalen Trainingsbelastung und stellt neben der Motivation eine große Barriere für die Teilnahme an bewegungstherapeutischen Interventionen dar. Ein durch Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) gesteuertes Training könnte helfen, die Trainingseinheiten individuell anzupassen und die Autonomie von Palliativpatienten zu erhalten.

Methoden Fünf Patienten mit fortgeschrittener unheilbarer Krebsdiagnose haben im Rahmen der Routineversorgung eine supervidierte Bewegungstherapie absolviert. Dabei wurde ein Elektrokardiogramm über einen Polar H10 Brustgurt aufgezeichnet und daraus kardiale und respiratorische Vitalparameter extrahiert. Eine Klassifikation in drei Intensitätsstufen über KI erfolgte anhand von neuronalen Netzen.

Ergebnisse Das KI-gesteuerte Training hat eine sehr hohe Klassifikationsgüte (F1-Score: 0,95±0,05) durch die Vereinigung von respiratorischen und kardialen Vitalparametern. Diese Kombination erzielt genauere Klassifikationsergebnisse als die einzelnen Datensätze für kardiale Parameter (0,93±0,06) und respiratorische Parameter (0,72±0,06). Die Berücksichtigung einer Baselinemessung hat eine positive Wirkung auf die Klassifikationsgenauigkeit.

Diskussion Diese Studie stellt die erste Untersuchung zum Einsatz von KI zur Klassifizierung von trainingswissenschaftlichen Inhalten bei onkologischen Palliativpatienten dar. Diese vulnerable Patientengruppe kann von einer objektiven Erfassung des Belastungsniveaus anhand von Parametern des kardiovaskulären Systems profitieren. Mit nur fünf Patienten wird die Aussagekraft dieser explorativen Studie über Kreuzvalidierung hergestellt. Zukünftig sollen weitere Parameter wie ein subjektives Empfinden, Alter, Größe und Geschlecht die Klassifikation weiter verbessern. In einem integrierten System ist eine individuelle Trainingssteuerung in Echtzeit möglich.

Development of an AI-supported exercise therapy for advanced cancer patients

Exercise therapy is able to reduce symptom burden in advanced cancer patients (ACP). However, ACP daily form differs between days e.g. tumor and therapy induced. We included five ACP to classify individual exercise capacity due to cardiovascular parameters. Features are extracted from the electrocardiogram and then processed with a neural network after feature selection. Results indicate a high classification quality with an F1 score up to 0.95 ± 0.05. Including neuronal networks for training control can potentially help to manage exercise intensity ideal.

The OUTREACH study: oncologists of German university hospitals in rotation on a palliative care unit-evaluation of attitude and competence in palliative care and hospice

PURPOSE

The effect of the duration of an educational rotation presented at a palliative care unit on the palliative care knowledge gain and the increase of palliative care self-efficacy expectations are unclear.

METHODS

This national prospective multicenter pre-post survey conducted at twelve German University Comprehensive Cancer Centers prospectively enrolled physicians who were assigned to training rotations in specialized palliative care units for three, six, or twelve months. Palliative care knowledge [in %] and palliative care self-efficacy expectations [max. 57 points] were evaluated before and after the rotation with a validated questionnaire.

RESULTS

From March 2018 to October 2020, questionnaires of 43 physicians were analyzed. Physicians participated in a 3- (n = 3), 6- (n = 21), or 12-month (n = 19) palliative care rotation after a median of 8 (0-19) professional years. The training background of rotating physicians covered a diverse spectrum of specialties; most frequently represented were medical oncology (n = 15), and anesthesiology (n = 11). After the rotation, median palliative care knowledge increased from 81.1% to 86.5% (p < .001), and median palliative care self-efficacy expectations scores increased from 38 to 50 points (p < .001). The effect of the 12-month rotation was not significantly greater than that of the 6-month rotation.

CONCLUSION

An educational rotation presented in a specialized palliative care unit for at least six months significantly improves palliative care knowledge and palliative care self-efficacy expectations of physicians from various medical backgrounds.

Web-based mindfulness and skills-based distress reduction for patients with cancer: study protocol of the multicentre, randomised, controlled confirmatory intervention trial Reduct

INTRODUCTION

Many patients with cancer experience severe psychological distress, but as a result of various barriers, few of them receive psycho-oncological support. E-mental health interventions try to overcome some of these barriers and the limitation of healthcare offers, enabling patients with cancer to better cope with psychological distress. In the proposed trial, we aim to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the manualised e-mental health intervention Make It Training- Mindfulness-Based and Skills-Based Distress Reduction in Oncology. Make It Training is a self-guided and web-based psycho-oncological intervention, which includes elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction and acceptance and commitment therapy. The training supports the patients over a period of 4 months. We expect the Make It Training to be superior to treatment as usual optimised (TAU-O) in terms of reducing distress after completing the intervention (T1, primary endpoint).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study comprises a multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled confirmatory interventional trial with two parallel arms. The proposed trial incorporates four distinct measurement time points: the baseline assessment before randomisation, a post-treatment assessment and 3 and 6 month follow-up assessments. We will include patients who have received a cancer diagnosis in the past 12 months, are in a curative treatment setting, are 18-65 years old, have given informed consent and experience high perceived psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ≥13) for at least 1 week. Patients will be randomised into two groups (Make It vs TAU-O). The aim is to allocate 600 patients with cancer and include 556 into the intention to treat analysis. The primary endpoint, distress, will be analysed using a baseline-adjusted ANCOVA for distress measurement once the intervention (T1) has been completed, with study arm as a binary factor, baseline as continuous measurement and study centre as an additional categorical covariate.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty Essen has approved the study (21-10076-BO). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, the project website, and among self-help organisations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS); DRKS-ID: DRKS00025213.

[PARPACT: Paramedic Palliative Care Test : Validation of a questionnaire to assess palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy expectations of paramedics]

Hintergrund

Angesichts der Vielzahl von Palliativpatienten, die vom Rettungsdienst versorgt werden, spielen Aus- und Weiterbildung in palliativmedizinischen Themen eine immer größere Rolle. Zur Verbesserung der Entscheidungsfindung in Rettungssituationen wurde in vielen Städten ein Palliativ- bzw. Notfallausweis eingeführt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Um den Erfolg von Bildungsmaßnahmen und den Effekt des Palliativ- bzw. Notfallausweises zu überprüfen, wurde ein Fragebogen zur Ermittlung von palliativem Wissen und palliativer Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung im Rettungsdienst entwickelt und validiert.

Material und Methoden

Die Entwicklung und Inhaltsvalidierung erfolgte mithilfe eines Delphi-Prozesses. Zur Konstruktvalidierung wurde die Faktorenanalyse genutzt. Die Kriteriumsvalidität wurde anhand von 22 speziell in Palliative Care geschulten Pflegekräften überprüft. Die Reliabilität wurde mittels Cronbachs α als Maß der internen Konsistenz ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

291 von 750 Rettungsdienstmitarbeitern nahmen an der freiwilligen Befragung teil. Nach Abschluss des Delphi-Prozesses bestand Konsens, dass die wichtigen Themen Schmerz, Dyspnoe, Sedierung, Sterbebegleitung, Sterbehilfe und rechtliche Aspekte im Fragebogen abgedeckt sind. Das Ergebnis der Faktorenanalyse sprach für eine 6‑Faktoren-Lösung. Bei der Kriteriumsvalidierung zeigte sich ein signifikanter Unterschied im palliativen Wissen zwischen den Palliative-Care-Pflegekräften (M_Rang 289,73) und den Rettungsdienstmitarbeitern (M_Rang 146,97, U = 281.000, r = 0,40, p < 0,001). Cronbachs α lag für die Wissensfragen bei 0,70 und für die Subskala der palliativen Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung bei 0,82.

Diskussion

Mit dem Paramedic Palliative Care Test (PARPACT) liegt ein validiertes Messinstrument zur Überprüfung von Bildungsmaßnahmen im Rettungsdienst vor.

A Systematic Review of the Safety, Feasibility and Benefits of Exercise for Patients with Advanced Cancer

Simple Summary

Most advanced cancer patients suffer from severe symptoms due to cancer and medical treatment. Common symptoms are physical weakness, mental problems, and tiredness. Research has shown that exercise positively influences cancer-related side effects during and after treatment and longevity in cancer survivorship. However, exercise as a supportive therapy in advanced cancer patients is still not recommended in oncological guidelines. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the safety, feasibility, and benefits of exercise for patients with advanced cancer. Based on the results of 14 included exercise intervention studies, we conclude that exercise is safe and feasible, seems to improve physical performance, and may lower symptoms like chronic tiredness. Early integration of exercise for advanced cancer patients should be considered as usual care as a supportive strategy.

Abstract

Exercise therapy is a common supportive strategy in curative cancer treatment with strong evidence regarding its positive effects on, for example, cancer-related fatigue, health- related quality of life, and physical function. In the field of advanced cancer patients, knowledge about exercise as a useful supportive strategy is missing. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of exercise interventions as well as its effects on lowering the symptom burden. We included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled trials with advanced cancer patients receiving any type of exercise intervention. After an extensive literature search (in accordance to PRIMSA guidelines) in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus, 14 studies including 940 participants with different cancer entities were eligible. The results indicated the safety of exercise. In total, 493 participants received exercise interventions, with nine adverse events and no severe adverse events. The median recruitment rate was 68.33%, and adherence to exercise intervention was 86%. Further research with a high-quality and larger sample size is needed to clarify the potential of exercise with advanced cancer patients. Different advanced cancer entities have distinguished symptoms, and future research should construct entities-specific trial populations to figure out the best supportive exercise interventions.

Symptoms During Outpatient Cancer Treatment and Options for Their Management

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients account for a large segment of the German healthcare system, with a 5-year prevalence of around 1.7 million persons. Advances in oncological treatment, now frequently performed on an outpatient basis, are granting many of these individuals a longer life span. At the same time, cancer patients often suffer disease-related symptoms and adverse effects from their tumor treatment, which may strongly impair their quality of life despite the improved techniques for management of side effects.

METHODS

This review is based on a selective literature search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases carried out in December 2019 and January 2020. Special attention was paid to guidelines, expert opinions, and recommendations from professional societies.

RESULTS

Alongside decreased well-being, cancer patients often suffer from fatigue (70-100%), loss of appetite (6-53%), pain (30-80 %), and dyspnea (10-70%). The prevalence and severity of the symptoms varies depending on the tumor entity and the patient's sex. A meta-analysis showed that besides causal treatment, physical activity achieves moderately strong effects in tumor-associated fatigue syndrome (Cohen's d = 0.30 [0.25; 0.36]). The WHO recommends early use of opioids in tumor-associated pain. A meta-analysis of randomized trials described symptom relief by means of opioids also in dyspnea (standardized mean difference: -0.32 [-0.53; -0.10]). Increasingly, guidelines are recommending regular palliative medical symptom screening.

CONCLUSION

Regular documentation of symptoms in outpatients offers the opportunity for targeted management of symptoms during treatment with the involvement of various disciplines such as palliative medicine, exercise therapy, and psychotherapy.

[18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/CT to Assess the Early Metabolic Response in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive HER2-Negative Metastasized Breast Cancer Treated with Cyclin-Dependent 4/6 Kinase Inhibitors

INTRODUCTION

Addition of cyclin-dependent 4/6 kinase (CDK4/6) inhibitors to endocrine therapy is standard of care in the treatment of women with advanced hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer. However, the predictive factors for the treatment response to CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy are poorly elucidated. Early changes in the by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) uptake of tumors receiving different kinds of therapy have proven to reliably predict treatment outcomes in a variety of malignancies. Therefore, the feasibility of early metabolic response assessment to predict the long-term treatment response to CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy was evaluated in the present study.

METHODS

Eight patients underwent FDG-PET/CT before and after the initiation of CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy (ribociclib, palbociclib or abemcaciclib). CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy was combined with either aromatase inhibition or fulvestrant. The median interval between the treatment start (including baseline PET) and the follow-up PET examination was 14 days. Conventional radiographic staging was performed 3 months after the start of CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. The percentual changes in molecular tumor volume, SUVpeak, the summed SUVpeak of up to 5 metastases (PERCIST-5), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated for each patient.

RESULTS

Three patients showed progressive disease after 3 months of CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy, whereas 5 patients showed disease control (3 stable disease and 2 partial remission). Disease control was maintained in these patients (follow-up range 7-22 months). Patients with disease control had a significantly greater decline in TLG (-55.3 vs. 16.7%; p < 0.05). The same was true for the PERCIST-5 (-21.9 vs. 11.3%, p < 0.05). All patients with progressive TLG showed treatment failure and/or a poor outcome.

CONCLUSION

Elevated TLG on early FDG-PET seems to be associated with long-term treatment failure and a poor outcome in patients undergoing CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy for metastatic breast cancer. Early findings indicate a potential prognostic value of early FDG-PET in this setting and warrant a prospective evaluation.

Integrative statistical analyses of multiple liquid biopsy analytes in metastatic breast cancer

Background

Single liquid biopsy analytes (LBAs) have been utilized for therapy selection in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We performed integrative statistical analyses to examine the clinical relevance of using multiple LBAs: matched circulating tumor cell (CTC) mRNA, CTC genomic DNA (gDNA), extracellular vesicle (EV) mRNA, and cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Methods

Blood was drawn from 26 hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative MBC patients. CTC mRNA and EV mRNA were analyzed using a multi-marker qPCR. Plasma from CTC-depleted blood was utilized for cfDNA isolation. gDNA from CTCs was isolated from mRNA-depleted CTC lysates. CTC gDNA and cfDNA were analyzed by targeted sequencing. Hierarchical clustering was performed within each analyte, and its results were combined into a score termed Evaluation of multiple Liquid biopsy analytes In Metastatic breast cancer patients All from one blood sample (ELIMA.score), which calculates the contribution of each analyte to the overall survival prediction. Singular value decomposition (SVD), mutual information calculation, k-means clustering, and graph-theoretic analysis were conducted to elucidate the dependence between individual analytes.

Results

A combination of two/three/four LBAs increased the prevalence of patients with actionable signals. Aggregating the results of hierarchical clustering of individual LBAs into the ELIMA.score resulted in a highly significant correlation with overall survival, thereby bolstering evidence for the additive value of using multiple LBAs. Computation of mutual information indicated that none of the LBAs is independent of the others, but the ability of a single LBA to describe the others is rather limited—only CTC gDNA could partially describe the other three LBAs. SVD revealed that the strongest singular vectors originate from all four LBAs, but a majority originated from CTC gDNA. After k-means clustering of patients based on parameters of all four LBAs, the graph-theoretic analysis revealed CTC ERBB2 variants only in patients belonging to one particular cluster.

Conclusions

The additional benefits of using all four LBAs were objectively demonstrated in this pilot study, which also indicated a relative dominance of CTC gDNA over the other LBAs. Consequently, a multi-parametric liquid biopsy approach deconvolutes the genomic and transcriptomic complexity and should be considered in clinical practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13073-021-00902-1.

Changes in fatigue, barriers, and predictors towards physical activity in advanced cancer patients over a period of 12 months-a comparative study

Purpose

Physical activity (PA) is recommended to improve advanced cancer patients’ (ACP) physical functioning, fatigue, and quality of life. Yet, little is known about ACPs’ attitude towards PA and its influence on fatigue and depressiveness over a longer period. This prospective, non-interventional cohort study examined ACPs’ fatigue, depression, motivation, and barriers towards PA before and after 12 months of treatment among ACP

Methods

Outpatients with incurable cancer receiving treatment at a German Comprehensive Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe weakness/tiredness during self-assessment via MIDOS II were enrolled. Fatigue (FACT-F), depression (PHQ-8), cancer-related parameters, self-assessed PA behavior, motivation for and barriers against PA were evaluated (T0). Follow-up data was acquired after 12 months (T1) using the same questionnaire.

Results

At follow-up, fatigue (p=0.017) and depressiveness (p=0.015) had increased in clinical relevant extent. Physically active ACP did not show significant progress of FACT-F (p=0.836) or PHQ-8 (p=0.799). Patient-reported barriers towards PA remained stable. Logistic regression analyses identified motivation as a positive predictor for PA at both time points (T0, β=2.152, p=0.017; T1, β =2.264, p=0.009). Clinically relevant depression was a negative predictor for PA at T0 and T1 (T0, β=−3.187, p=0.044; T1, β=−3.521, p=0.041).

Conclusion

Our findings emphasize the importance of psychological conditions in physical activity behavior of ACP. Since psychological conditions seem to worsen over time, early integration of treatment is necessary. By combining therapy approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise in interdisciplinary care programs, the two treatment options might reinforce each other and sustainably improve ACPs’ fatigue, physical functioning, and QoL.

Trial registration

German Register of Clinical Trials, DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.05.2017

Screening for Palliative Care Needs: Pilot Data From German Comprehensive Cancer Centers

PURPOSE

Guidelines recommend several screening tools to identify patients with complex palliative needs. This diversity and lack of structural recommendations offer a wide scope for implementing screening. Against this background, the current status of implementation at German Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) funded by the German Cancer Aid has not yet been investigated.

METHODS

e-mail survey of the 17 hospital sites of the 13 CCCs. The questionnaire asked for structural characteristics of the centers as well as preconditions of the screening process. Structurally established screening procedures (one item) and standardized workflows, modes of performance, screening tools (four items), modes of training how to screen, and responsibilities (two items) were assessed.

RESULTS

In a 2-month period, 15 hospital sites responded; seven hospital sites conducted a palliative care needs (PCN) screening. Only one hospital site carried out PCN screening in almost all oncology departments, but only with the distress thermometer. Other hospital sites determined palliative needs by assessing physical symptoms using the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale or the Minimal Documentation System, and two hospital sites combined tools to determine both physical and psychological stress. The type of screening varied from paper-pencil-based to tablet computer-based documentation. The main barriers to implementation were identified as a lack of human resources and a lack of structural conditions.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of consensus among palliative care specialists and oncologists in the CCCs supported by the German Cancer Aid in PCN screening as well as of structured guidelines and the professional association. Structural requirements should be adapted to these needs, which include both technical and human resources. A combined psycho-oncologic and palliative care screening might help to formulate best practice recommendations.

Abstract 5366: Metastatic breast cancer subgroup specific mRNA profiles of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles

Background: We recently demonstrated great differences in the RNA profiles of matched circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in HER2 negative (HER2-) hormone receptor positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. To elucidate the clinical utility of CTC and EV RNA profiling, we here a) tested the RNA profiles of another MBC subgroup, namely the HER2 positive (HER2+) patients, and b) compared the profiles in the two cohorts.

Patients and methods: Blood was collected from 25 HER2+ (HR+ and HR-) and 35 HER2- (only HR+) MBC patients at the time of disease progression and at two consecutive staging time points. CTCs were isolated from 5 ml blood by positive immunomagnetic selection targeting EpCAM, EGFR and HER2 (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select). EVs were isolated from 4 ml pre-filtered plasma by affinity-based binding to a spin column (exoRNeasy). The mRNA was purified by Oligo-dT beads and reverse transcribed (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Detect). Pre-amplified cDNA was analyzed by multimarker qPCR assays (AdnaTest TNBC Panel prototype) for 18 genes (including AKT2, ALK, AR, AURKA, BRCA1, KIT, MET, EGFR, ERCC1, ERBB2, ERBB3, KRT5, mTOR, NOTCH1, PARP1, PIK3CA, SRC, GAPDH). Consumables: QIAGEN, Germany.

Results: In the HER2+ cohort, transcripts involved in the PI3K pathway were significantly more prevalent in CTCs compared to EVs and were found in more than 50% of these patients. In contrast, NOTCH1 and PARP1 were significantly more prominent in EVs as compared to their matched CTCs and EV PARP1 and EV AURKA overexpression signals were detected in more than 50% of patients. ERCC1 and SRC signals were present in CTCs as well as EVs in the majority of patients. ERCC1 signals in CTCs and EVs showed a significantly higher frequency in the HER2+ compared to the HER2-HR+ cohort. However, ERCC1 signals in CTCs of the HER2-HR+ cohort correlated with shorter survival time after first diagnosis of metastasis (p=0.011). In general, the overexpression signal prevalence was similar in both cohorts and both blood analytes. A small overlap of identical signals in CTCs and EVs of 15%/5% in the HER2+/HER2-HR+ cohort was observed. Interestingly, ERBB2 signals were only found in CTCs, not EVs, and in both cohorts with a similar prevalence (36%/40%). ERBB3 overexpression signals in CTCs significantly correlated with non-response only in the HER2-HR+ cohort (p=0.021). However, in HER2+ patients ERBB3 signals were only present at the time of progressive disease, but not at the time point of stable disease.

Conclusions: RNA profiling indicated great differences in CTCs and EVs in both subgroups. Moreover, data emphasize the immense diversity between HER2+ versus HER2-HR+ MBC patients, revealing the need for blood analyte specific and subgroup specific multimarker panel for therapy management based on liquid biopsies in the future.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Siegfried Hauch, Mitra Tewes, Hans-Christian Kolberg, Oliver Hoffmann, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. Metastatic breast cancer subgroup specific mRNA profiles of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5366.

[Cooperation between intensive care and palliative care : The status quo in German Comprehensive Cancer Centers]

Hintergrund

Die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit zwischen Intensivmedizin und Palliativmedizin kann die Versorgungsqualität verbessern. Das Ausmaß dieser Zusammenarbeit ist aber bisher kaum untersucht.

Ziel der Arbeit

Es sollten die angebotenen und in Anspruch genommenen palliativmedizinischen Unterstützungsangebote auf den Intensivstationen deutscher onkologischer Spitzenzentren erfasst werden.

Material und Methoden

Durchgeführt wurde eine quantitativ-qualitative, deskriptive Umfrage an den 16 von der Stiftung Deutsche Krebshilfe geförderten Zentren. Die im quantitativen Teil erfragten Häufigkeiten werden als Mittelwert und Median mit den jeweiligen Streumaßen dargestellt, während die im qualitativen Teil erhobenen Triggerfaktoren mit einer Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring ausgewertet wurden.

Ergebnisse

Von Juli bis August 2017 konnten Angaben aus 15 von 16 onkologischen Spitzenzentren (94 %) erfasst werden. Im Jahr 2016 wurden im Median 33 Intensivpatienten (Min. 0, Max. 100) palliativmedizinisch vorgestellt und 9 Patienten (Min. 1, Max. 30) auf eine Palliativstation verlegt. Regelmäßige intensivmedizinisch-palliativmedizinische Visiten sowie ein Screening-Tool zur Einbindung der spezialisierten Palliativmedizin sind an zwei onkologischen Spitzenzentren implementiert. Anhand von 23 genannten Triggern, die auf der Intensivstation eine palliativmedizinische Mitbehandlung ausgelöst haben, lassen sich nach qualitativer Analyse die drei Kategorien „Entscheidung und Einstellung des Teams“, „Zustand des Patienten“ und „Wunsch von Patienten und Angehörigen“ ableiten.

Diskussion

Trotz eines verfügbaren Angebots werden palliativmedizinische Ressourcen in den intensivmedizinischen Abteilungen der onkologischen Spitzenzentren immer noch selten genutzt. In die tägliche Routine integrierte Angebote wie Screening-Tools oder gemeinsame Visiten könnten die Ausnutzung der angebotenen palliativmedizinischen Ressourcen erhöhen und die Versorgungsqualität verbessern.

COVID-19-Related Fear and Health-Related Safety Behavior in Oncological Patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess cancer patients' psychological burden during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating distress (distress-thermometer), health status (EQ-5D-3L), general anxiety (GAD-7), COVID-19-related fear and associated behavioral changes and comparing these to matched healthy controls, using propensity score matching (PSM).

METHODS

During the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, March 16 to 30, 2020, 150 actually treated cancer patients and 150 matched healthy controls participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous online survey assessing health status, distress, general anxiety, COVID-19-related fear and behavioral changes (i.e., adherent safety behavior and dysfunctional safety behavior).

RESULTS

Cancer patients showed no elevated level of distress, U = 10,657.5, p = 0.428, general anxiety U = 10,015.5, p = 0.099, or COVID-19-related fear compared to healthy controls, U = 10,948, p = 0.680. Both groups showed elevated COVID-19-related fear. Cancer patients reported more adherent safety behavior, such as washing hands more often or avoiding public places, U = 8,285, p < 0.001, d = 0.468. They also reported more dysfunctional safety behavior such as buying larger quantities of basic food, compared to healthy controls U = 9,599, p = 0.029, d = 0.256. Adherent safety behavior could be significantly explained by cancer diagnosis, increased COVID-19-related fear and subjective level of information about COVID-19, R 2 = 0.215, F(3) = 27.026, p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

This suggests that cancer patients are more likely to utilize adherent safety behavior. Cancer patients reported comparable levels of distress and anxiety compared to healthy controls. Still, the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with elevated COVID-19-related fear. Therefore, specific interventions are needed to prevent anxiety and improve mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buparlisib in combination with tamoxifen in pretreated patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer molecularly stratified for PIK3CA mutations and loss of PTEN expression

The PIKTAM study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the PI3K inhibitor buparlisib in combination with tamoxifen in hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺ ), HER2-negative advanced breast cancer patients after failure of prior endocrine therapy. In this open-label, single-arm phase II trial, 25 patients were enrolled in 11 sites in Germany. Patients were stratified according to PIK3CA mutation status (tissue and cfDNA from serum samples) and/or loss of PTEN expression. Patients received buparlisib (100 mg) and tamoxifen (20 mg) once daily on a continuous schedule (28-day cycle) until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was overall 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. Key secondary endpoints included the 6-month PFS rate in subpopulations, PFS, overall survival, overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. Overall, the 6-month PFS rate was 33.3% (n/N = 7/21, one-sided 95% CI 16.8-100) and median PFS was 6.1 (CI 2.6-10.6) months. The ORR and DCR were 12.5% and 44%. The PIK3CA-mutated subgroup consistently showed the highest 6-month PFS rate (62.5%, n/N = 5/8), median PFS (8.7 months), ORR (40%), and DCR (80%). No new safety signals emerged. Most common adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders (56%), psychiatric/mood disorders (48%), skin rash/hypersensitivity (44%), cardiovascular (40%), and hepatic (32%) events. The trial was prematurely terminated due to the substantially altered risk-benefit profile of buparlisib. Nevertheless, PIK3CA mutations emerged as a clinically feasible and useful biomarker for combined PI3K inhibition and endocrine therapy in patients with HR⁺ breast cancer. Further biomarker-stratified studies with isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors are warranted. EudraCT No: 2014-000599-24.

Fatigue, barriers to physical activity and predictors for motivation to exercise in advanced Cancer patients

Background

In order to counteract fatigue, physical activity (PA) is recommended for all stages of cancer. However, only few advanced cancer patients (ACP) are physically active. Quantitative data with high numbers of ACP reporting barriers to PA are missing. This study aimed to identify barriers to PA in ACP with tiredness/weakness and investigate their motivation towards it.

Methods

Outpatients with metastatic cancer receiving cancer care at a German Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe tiredness/weakness during self-assessment (MIDOS II) were enrolled. We assessed Fatigue-(FACF-F) and Depression (PHQ8) Scores, demographics, cancer-specific parameters, motivation for PA, physical, psychological and social barriers.

Results

141 of 440 eligible patients (32.0%) with different diagnoses agreed to participate. Patients frequently reported “I feel weakened due to my tumor therapy” (n = 108; 76.6%), physical symptoms (tiredness, weakness, dyspnea, joint-problems, pain, nausea [n = 107; 75.9%]) and fatigue (n = 99; 70.2%) as barriers to PA. However, no significant group differences regarding these barriers were found between physically active and inactive patients. Social barriers were rarely chosen. Motivated patients were 5.6 times more likely to be physically active (p < 0.001), also motivation turned out to be the strongest predictor for a physically active behavior (β = 1.044; p = 0.005). Motivated attitude towards PA was predicted by fatigue (β = − 2.301; p = 0.008), clinically relevant depression (β = − 1.390, p = 0.039), knowledge about PA and quality of life (QoL) (β = 0.929; p = 0.002), PA before diagnosis (β = 0.688; p = 0.005 and Interest in exercise program (β = 0.635; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

“I feel weakened due to my tumor therapy” is the most reported barrier to PA among both, physically and inactive patients. Motivation for PA is the strongest predictor of performing PA. Interest in PA, knowledge about PA/QoL and PA before diagnosis are main predictors of a motivated attitude. Absence/presence of social barriers did not associate with motivation, fatigue and depression proved to be a negative predictor. Programs including information, motivational counseling and individualized training should be offered for ACP to overcome barriers and reduce fatigue.

Trial registration

German Register of Clinical Trials DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.5.2017.

Improved survival in metastatic breast cancer: results from a 20-year study involving 1033 women treated at a single comprehensive cancer center

PURPOSE

Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have changed profoundly over the past 25 years. The outcome improved dramatically and was well quantified for early stage breast cancer (EBC). However, progress in the treatment of metastatic disease has been less convincingly demonstrated. We have studied survival data of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) from a large academic cancer center over a period of 20 years.

METHODS

Data from 1033 consecutive MBC patients who were treated at the Department of Medical Oncology of the West German Cancer Center from January 1990 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed for overall survival (OS) and risk factors. Patients were grouped in 5-year cohorts, and survival parameters of each cohort were compared before and after adjustment for risk factors.

RESULTS

Overall survival of patients with MBC treated at specialized center has significantly improved from 1990 to 2010 (hazard ratio 0.7, 95%CI 0.58-0.84). The increments in OS have become less profound over time (median OS 1990-1994: 24.2 months, 1995-1999: 29.6 months, 2000-2004: 36.5 months, 2005-2009: 37.8 months).

CONCLUSION

Survival of patients with MBC has improved between 1990 and 2004, but less from 2005 to 2009. Either this suggests an unnoticed shift in the patient population, or a lesser impact of therapeutic innovations introduced in the most recent period.

Abstract P5-01-14: The combined blood analysis of cell-free DNA and genomic DNA of circulating tumor cells reveals additive value in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients

Background: To gain comprehensive insights into the genomic complexity useful for therapy management in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), we aimed to isolate and analyze genomic DNA (gDNA) from circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and matched cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from a minimized blood volume. Methods: EDTA blood was drawn from 27 MBC patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2 negative primary tumors at the time of disease progression. CTCs and CTC mRNA were isolated from 2 × 5 ml whole blood using the AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select/Detect. Plasma of CTC-depleted blood was used for cfDNA isolation. gDNA from CTCs was isolated from the mRNA-depleted CTC lysates using the AllPrep DNA/RNA Nano Kit prototype. CTC gDNA and cfDNA were analyzed with a customized QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel for Illumina with unique molecular indices (UMIs) analyzing AKT1, AR, BRCA1, BRCA2, EGFR, ERCC4, ERBB2, ERBB3, ESR1, FGFR1, KRAS, MUC16, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN, PTGFR and TGFB1. The library preparation protocol was slightly modified for the usage of CTC gDNA using the entire amount of the CTC gDNA eluate as input without pre-quantification followed by fragmentation and ligation with an increased number of adapters. All libraries were analyzed by paired-end sequencing on the Illumina NextSeq Sequencer with a NextSeq 550 System High-Output Kit, 2 × 150 bp reads with a mean coverage of 11000 x (CTC gDNA) and 8000 x (cfDNA). Consumables: QIAGEN, Germany. Results: Isolation of CTC gDNA and cfDNA was successfully established in a condensed workflow. The UMI coverage observed for cfDNA (2000 x) differed from the UMI coverage for CTC gDNA (500 x), resulting in dramatically increased lowest detectable allele frequency (AF) called with a confidence of 90% in CTC gDNA compared to cfDNA. On average, 6 CTC gDNA variants and 2 cfDNA variants were detected in each patient. Most variants were found in the MUC16 gene in both analytes. BRCA2 variants were the second most prevalent variants in CTC gDNA and cfDNA. PIK3CA and ESR1 variants were less common in CTC gDNA compared with cfDNA, while ERBB2 variants were only detected in CTC gDNA. 57% of all cfDNA variants (29/51) were recovered in the matched CTC gDNA, while 89% of all variants were unique in either CTC gDNA (125 variants) or cfDNA (22 variants). On average, the cfDNA variants with low AF (mean 15%) were not detected in CTC gDNA, while the cfDNA variants that were also found in CTC gDNA exhibited a mean AF of 44%. Similarly, the unique CTC gDNA variants had a mean AF of 23%, while the shared variants were prevalent with a mean AF of 47% in the CTC gDNA fraction. Comparing the patients, 11%/14% of the single CTC gDNA / cfDNA variants were detected in more than one patient, hence the majority of variants was patient-specific. The portion of patients without detectable cfDNA variants or CTC gDNA variants was 15% (4/27) / 11% (3/27), but combined analysis of CTC gDNA and cfDNA identified variants in 26 of all 27 MBC patients (96%). Conclusion: cfDNA and CTC gDNA showed additive variant information. Thus, it is advised to assess cfDNA and CTC gDNA variants to receive a comprehensive genomic picture that might enable to identify the most suitable therapy regimen in each individual patient in the future.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Ann-Kathrin Bittner, Oliver Hoffmann, Mitra Tewes, Markus Storbeck, Peter Hahn, Siegfried Hauch, Markus Sprenger-Haussels, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. The combined blood analysis of cell-free DNA and genomic DNA of circulating tumor cells reveals additive value in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-14.

[Palliative Care Teams in the German Comprehensive Cancer Centers]

BACKGROUND

A palliative care team is recognized as a quality indicator in the consultation and care of patients with a tumor disease and is used nationally (92 %) in the National Cancer Institutes, model of the German Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). This begs the question of how palliative care teams are presently integrated into the CCCs.

METHOD

From July to August 2017, a paper-based quantitative survey of 16 locations of the CCCs, supported to that date, gathered information on the existence, personnel situation, use and prospects of a specialized inpatient palliative care service. The survey was addressed to the heads of the palliative medical units of the CCCs. The data were evaluated in SPSS (frequency, median, mean, range).

RESULTS

Fifteen CCCs took part in the survey (response 94 %). Thirteen of the fifteen CCCs have a service that also treats palliative patients. Twelve of thirteen CCCs of these are attainable during regular working hours (8a. m.-4 p. m. on weekdays). All services are staffed by physicians, additional eleven are staffed by nurses. Seven services are besides physicians and nurses joined by other professions. In 2016, 4482 median co-treatments were provided by the services, 80 % of these as additional charges without revenue and without codable OPS. In 2017, five centers plan to charge ZE 2017-133, two centers ZE 60 and three centers both intend to charge ZE 2017-133.

CONCLUSIONS

Services for palliative patients exist generally in the German CCCs, but only half of them satisfy the condition of multi-professionality required for the fulfillment of the german guidelines. The new surcharge introduced in 2017, which can be charged on an hourly basis, could create improvements in this regard and contribute to cost recovery. Thus, contrary to the previous arrangement, essential and reasonable performances with a time of treatment of less than seven days can be charged.

Abstract 1369: Establishment of a workflow for analysis of mRNA and gDNA from circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles and cell-free DNA from the same blood sample to mirror the genomic and transcriptomic complexity in metastatic breast cancer patients

Background: Blood analytes derived from liquid biopsies are discussed as useful tools for therapy stratification and for monitoring of clonal evolution. To gain comprehensive insights into the genomic and transcriptomic complexity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) useful for therapy management, we aimed to isolate and analyze mRNA and gDNA from circulating tumor cells (CTCs), mRNA from extracellular vesicles (EVs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the same blood sample with minimized volume in a condensed workflow.

Patients and Methods: EDTA blood (2x 9 ml) was drawn from 35 MBC patients with hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative primary tumor at time of disease progression and at two further consecutive staging time points. CTCs were isolated in duplicate from 5ml blood by immunomagnetic selection (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select, QIAGEN). Plasma (4 ml) of the CTC-depleted blood was used for cfDNA isolation (QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit, QIAGEN), plasma (4 ml) from the blood not used for CTC/cfDNA isolation was applied for EV isolation (exoRNeasy, QIAGEN). The mRNA purified from CTCs and EVs was analyzed by qPCR panel (AdnaPanel TNBC prototype, QIAGEN), while cfDNA was analyzed with a customized QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel for Illumina (QIAGEN) with unique molecular indices. We are working on a workflow to isolate gDNA from CTCs, starting from mRNA-depleted CTC lysates and analyzing the gDNA with a customized QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel. Isolation and mutation analysis of CTC gDNA was shown to be feasible in spiking experiments.

Results: Isolation of mRNA and gDNA from CTCs, mRNA from EVs and cfDNA was successfully established in a parallel workflow. CTC and EV mRNA profiles showed substantial differences synergizing with regard to their clinical relevance. Whereas overexpression of mTOR was related to therapy responsiveness in CTCs, mTOR signals in EVs related to therapy failure. ERBB2 overexpressing CTCs were found in one third of all MBC patients enabling new therapeutic options. Matched cfDNA revealed the appearance of pathogenic mutations (e.g. PIK3CA H1047R) across treatment indicating underlying resistance mechanisms. Moreover, we identified significant correlations of therapy outcome with the overexpression of transcripts/ presence of mutations in each of the isolated liquid biopsy analytes. Comparison of CTC gDNA and cfDNA is further conducted.

Conclusions: We were able to describe a complete workflow for parallel CTC mRNA, CTC gDNA, EV mRNA and cfDNA isolation from a minimized blood volume. In this research study each analyte showed synergistic potential for therapy management, thus the comprehensive picture of the genomic and transcriptomic complexity might in future enable to identify the most suitable therapy regiment in each individual patient.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Markus Storbeck, Peter Hahn, Siegfried Hauch, Markus Sprenger-Haussels, Ann-Kathrin Bittner, Oliver Hoffmann, Mitra Tewes, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. Establishment of a workflow for analysis of mRNA and gDNA from circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles and cell-free DNA from the same blood sample to mirror the genomic and transcriptomic complexity in metastatic breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1369.

Targeted deep sequencing revealed variants in cell-free DNA of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer patients

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is described to mirror intratumoral heterogeneity and gives insight about clonal evolution for improved therapeutic decisions. We sequenced cfDNA of a hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) cohort with a high coverage to examine the prevalence and relevance of any detected variant. cfDNA of 44 MBC patients was isolated, followed by library construction using a customized targeted DNA panel with integrated unique molecular indices analyzing AKT1, AR, BRCA1, BRCA2, EGFR, ERCC4, ERBB2, ERBB3, ESR1, FGFR1, KRAS, MUC16, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN, PTGFR, and TGFB1. CfDNA was sequenced on the NextSeq^® 550 platform (Illumina) and variants were analyzed with Ingenuity Variant Analysis (QIAGEN). We evaluated cfDNA variants in 40 of the 44 hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative patients with a high mean coverage of 22,000×, resulting in MUC16, BRCA2, ERBB3, and AR variant calling in > 90% of the patients. 47% of all AR variants were pathogenic and at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant was detected in each patient. A specific BRCA1 variant and > 3.5 pathogenic variants significantly associated with a reduced survival after diagnosis of metastasis. Longitudinal monitoring revealed an increase of pathogenic and likely pathogenic PIK3CA and ESR1 variant allele frequency under everolimus and exemestane, 8 months before proof of therapy failure by visual staging in one exemplary case. The identification of new variants with high prevalence, prognostic value, and dynamics under treatment by deep sequencing of cfDNA might empower sensitive monitoring and personalized therapeutic decisions.

Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Assessment of Residents and Fellows Following Palliative Care Unit Rotation: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

In Germany, some units of specialized palliative care (SPC) offer a 6- to 12-month rotation for resident physicians (RPs) and fellows from different specialties.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study aimed to evaluate feasibility of assessing palliative care knowledge (PCK) and palliative care self-efficacy (PCSE) using a paper-based questionnaire.

METHODS

Palliative care knowledge and PCSE were assessed by introducing a score, followed by a descriptive analysis (determination of frequency, mean, median, and range) using nonparametric tests (χ² test, Mann-Whitney U test).

RESULTS

We assessed 17 RPs following SPC rotation and 16 board-certified specialists (BCSs) who had no experience in SPC from 3 German comprehensive cancer centers. Resident physicians were predominantly enrolled in residency programs of hematology and oncology (n = 6), anesthesiology (n = 6), and psychosomatic medicine (n = 3). Resident physicians rotated between year 1 and 8 of residency. Fifteen RPs (88%) had elected this rotation and 72% preferred 12-month duration. The total PCK score of PCK was 27 (RPs) and 24 (BCSs; P = .002). Mean PCSE scores were 46 (RPs) and 39 (BCSs; P = .016). Of 71% of RPs, only 27% of BCSs knew how support of hospice service was initiated ( P = .004). Participants rated the items as comprehensible (n = 24; 73%), relevant (n = 25; 76%) and the questionnaire as adequately long (n = 23; 70%).

CONCLUSION

An improved PCK and PCSE were observed in physicians who rotated through an SPC unit; this resulted in an increased tangibility of local palliative care and hospice services. The questionnaire was comprehensible, relevant in terms of content, and adequate in length for a prospective multicenter survey.

Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Liquid biopsy analytes such as cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) exhibit great potential for personalized treatment. Since cfDNA and CTCs are considered to give additive information and blood specimens are limited, isolation of cfDNA and CTC in an "all from one tube" format is desired. We investigated whether cfDNA variant sequencing from CTC-depleted blood (CTC-depl. B; obtained after positive immunomagnetic isolation of CTCs (AdnaTest EMT-2/Stem Cell Select, QIAGEN)) impacts the results compared to cfDNA variant sequencing from matched whole blood (WB). Cell-free DNA was isolated using matched WB and CTC-depl. B from 17 hormone receptor positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer patients (QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit, QIAGEN). Cell-free DNA libraries were constructed (customized QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel for Illumina, QIAGEN) with integrated unique molecular indices. Sequencing (on the NextSeq 550 platform, Illumina) and data analysis (Ingenuity Variant Analysis) were performed. RNA expression in CTCs was analyzed by multimarker quantitative PCR. Cell-free DNA concentration and size distribution in the matched plasma samples were not significantly different. Seventy percent of all variants were identical in matched WB and CTC-depl. B, but 115/125 variants were exclusively found in WB/CTC-depl. B. The number of detected variants per patient and the number of exclusively detected variants per patient in only one cfDNA source did not differ between the two matched cfDNA sources. Even the characteristics of the exclusively detected cfDNA variants in either WB or CTC-depl. B were comparable. Thus, cfDNA variants from matched WB and CTC-depl. B exhibited no relevant differences, and parallel isolation of cfDNA and CTCs from only 10 mL of blood in an "all from one tube" format was feasible. Matched cfDNA mutational and CTC transcriptional analyses might empower a comprehensive liquid biopsy analysis to enhance the identification of actionable targets for individual therapy strategies.

Abstract P4-01-10: The analysis of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells from one blood tube might empower treatment decisions in metastatic breast cancer patients

Background: The detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as one of the analytes in liquid biopsy has been considered as surrogate marker to improve treatment decisions in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In addition, cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) released by tumor cells and harboring tumor-associated variants is further discussed to give additional information for therapeutic options. Thus, CTC and ctDNA analysis from the same blood tube is desired. To test usability of plasma, generated after CTC isolation from whole blood for ctDNA analysis, we analyzed ctDNA from 42 hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative MBC patients (pts) for the detection of tumor-associated variants (plasma isolated straight from whole blood) and compared the results for similarities and differences of the detected variants in a subgroup of these pts to those, obtained from plasma generated after CTC selection (taken from a separate tube).

Methods: 4 ml plasma of all MBC pts and 4 ml plasma obtained after immunomagnetic isolation of CTCs from 2x5ml blood [AdnaTest EMT-2/Stem Cell Select (n=17pts) followed by multimarker qPCR] were used for the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) applying the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit. A total of 30ng - 60ng cfDNA was applied for library construction using the QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel for Illumina with integrated unique molecular identifiers. Sequencing was executed on the NextSeq® 500 platform (Illumina, US). Data were analyzed using the QIAseq Targeted Sequencing Data Analysis Portal, the Biomedical Genomics Workbench and the Ingenuity Variant Analysis. All materials used were manufactured by QIAGEN, Germany.

Results: In the total cohort of 42 pts, most variants of all analyzed genes were detected in the MUC16 gene (31.2%). ERBB2, EGFR and AR (androgen receptor) also showed high numbers of variants (11.6%, 11.0% and 8.9%, respectively) with a majority detected pathogenic variants (47.7%) in AR. 92% of all detected variants showed an allele frequency of &lt;5% and some of the detected MUC16, ERBB2 and AR mutations significantly correlated with overall survival. Comparing the plasma results from a separate blood draw with the results from plasma samples after CTC selection in a subgroup of 17/42 pts, no significant difference was found for cfDNA concentration but variability within the cohort. Whereas the variant comparison of ctDNA isolated from both plasma sources showed great concordance, additional variants (around 15%) were exclusively found in one of the two matched samples. Interestingly, in the variant population exclusively found in ctDNA isolated after CTC isolation, the relative amount of pathogenic variants was increased compared to the variant fraction only found in ctDNA from plasma of a separate blood tube. Results obtained for frequently overexpressed CTC transcripts in this subgroup included genes involved in the PI3K signaling pathway as well as ERBB2 and ERBB3 in about 30% of the pts.

Conclusion: We here present a feasible workflow for CTC and ctDNA evaluation for expression and mutation analysis from the same blood sample. These data emphasize that the use of different liquid biopsy analytes can empower treatment decisions of MBC pts in the future.

Citation Format: Kasimir-Bauer S, Bittner A-K, Hoffmann O, Hauch S, Sprenger-Haussels M, Storbeck M, Benyaa K, Hahn P, Mach P, Tewes M, Kimmig R, and Keup C. The analysis of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells from one blood tube might empower treatment decisions in metastatic breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-01-10.

[Integration of Palliative Care into the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Germany - Consultation Hours and Fellowship Rotations of the Specialized Palliative Care]

BACKGROUND

 Comprehensive Cancer Centers are characterized by interdisciplinary exchange for meeting increasingly complex care needs during the course of the disease. Tumor consultations hours and fellowship rotations build hereby bridges between the subjects and disciplines.

OBJECTIVES

 In order to be able to provide support in the Comprehensive Cancer Center Network for the further integration of specialized palliative medicine, it was highlighted to what extent consultation hours and fellowship rotations for the palliative care are integrated into the centers.

METHODS

 Information about the spS and fellowship rotation of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (n = 16), which had previously been funded by the Cancer Aid, was paper-based collected with a survey questionnaire. For this purpose, the heads of the palliative care departments of the centers were interviewed from July to August 2017. The evaluation was performed by SPSS (frequency, mean value, median, range).

RESULTS

 15 from 16 centers responded to the survey (93.75 %). Nine centers (60 %) have a consultation hour for palliative care. Four from nine centers can submit this offer for ≥ 4 hours (44.4 %). Fellowship rotations in the palliative care occur primarily in all centers from oncology / hematology (n = 11, 73.3 %) and anaesthesia (n = 6) and often for a twelve months (n = 11) period of time.

CONCLUSION

 Outpatient structures of the palliative care have been insufficiently implemented to a consultation hour within Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The existing effort to integrate palliative care into the oncological course of disease requires further structuring in order to increase the visibility of palliative care services. Fellowship rotations in the palliative care department are regularly implemented in the network even if only for some of the subjects in order to raise awareness of the possibilities of the palliative care.

RNA Profiles of Circulating Tumor Cells and Extracellular Vesicles for Therapy Stratification of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Liquid biopsies are discussed to provide surrogate markers for therapy stratification and monitoring. We compared messenger RNA (mRNA) profiles of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to estimate their utility in therapy management.

METHODS

Blood was collected from 35 hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative patients with MBC at the time of disease progression and at 2 consecutive staging time points. CTCs were isolated from 5 mL of blood by positive immunomagnetic selection, and EVs from 4 mL of plasma by a membrane affinity-based procedure. mRNA was reverse transcribed, preamplified, and analyzed for 18 genes by multimarker quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. RNA profiles were normalized to healthy donor controls (n = 20), and results were correlated with therapy outcome.

RESULTS

There were great differences in mRNA profiles of EVs and CTCs, with only 5% (21/403) of positive signals identical in both fractions. Transcripts involved in the PI3K signaling pathway were frequently overexpressed in CTCs, and AURKA, PARP1, and SRC signals appeared more often in EVs. Of all patients, 40% and 34% showed ERBB2 and ERBB3 signals, respectively, in CTCs, which was significantly associated with disease progression (P = 0.007). Whereas MTOR signals in CTCs significantly correlated with response (P = 0.046), signals in EVs indicated therapy failure (P = 0.011). The presence of AURKA signals in EVs seemed to be a marker for the indication of unsuccessful treatment of bone metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results emphasize the potential of CTCs and EVs for therapy monitoring and the need for critical evaluation of the implementation of any liquid biopsy in clinical practice.

Abstract 3650: Use of unique molecular identifiers to gain insight about the true positive mutations in cfDNA of breast cancer patients for implementation of personalized treatment

Background: Blood analytes, as liquid biopsies, are discussed to be surrogate markers for therapy stratification, as serial sampling enabled by the minimal invasive nature of blood draw facilitates monitoring of clonal evolution. Mutational analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma of breast cancer (BC) patients (pts) may predict the ideal therapy strategy. In this regard, PIK3CA mutations in BC pts' cfDNA were already shown to correlate with treatment response. However, in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows, used for cfDNA analysis, artefacts are often induced during library construction. Here we used unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) to verify true positive PIK3CA mutations in cfDNA of BC pts.

Patients and methods: cfDNA was isolated from 54 plasma samples of 38 BC patients by affinity-based binding to magnetic beads (QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit, QIAGEN, Germany). 30ng - 60ng cfDNA was used for library construction with the QIAseq Targeted DNA Panel for Illumina (QIAGEN, Germany) with integrated UMIs. Sequencing was executed on the NextSeq ® 500 platform (Illumina, US). Data analysis was performed by QIAseq Targeted Sequencing Data Analysis Portal and the Biomedical Genomics Workbench. As a reference, the PIK3CA mutational status of matched tumor tissue DNA (analyzed by Sanger sequencing) was consulted.

Results: Library preparation was successful (yield &gt;15ng) in 52/54 cases. Mean coverage was ~20.000x (mean UMI coverage ~2.500x) and &gt;10.000x in 48/52 cases. The minimal allele frequency found for PIK3CA hotspot mutations (P539S, E545K, H1047R) by UMI analysis was 0.72%. In total, 133 mutations of the PIK3CA gene were identified as true positive mutations by UMI analysis in all 52 samples, which is a reduction of 69% (294/427) of all PIK3CA mutations incorrectly called by conventional data analysis. 59% of all different PIK3CA mutations called by UMI analysis appeared in over 5% of all pts. In the cohort of pts with PIK3CA hotspot mutant tumor tissue, 32% (6/19) showed the mentioned mutations also in matched cfDNA, whereas 16% of pts (3/19) without PIK3CA mutant tumor tissue were identified with true positive PIK3CA hotspot mutations in their plasma. Longitudinal analysis across two years during therapy revealed the increase in allele frequency (0%;11%;39%) of the PIK3CA H1047R mutation in one pt, whereas another pt showed a stable allele frequency of the PIK3CA P539S mutation (52%; 51%; 48%). Results will be expanded by consideration of mutations in BC hotspot genes despite PIK3CA and correlation to clinical parameter.

Conclusions: Unique molecular identifiers enable the identification of true positive mutations in cfDNA and can thus, be used in clinical practice to determine molecular drivers of individual cancer progression and to employ personalized therapy.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Karim Benyaa, Peter Hahn, Siegfried Hauch, Pawel Mach, Mitra Tewes, Hans-Christian Kolberg, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. Use of unique molecular identifiers to gain insight about the true positive mutations in cfDNA of breast cancer patients for implementation of personalized treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3650.

Predictors of outpatients' request for palliative care service at a medical oncology clinic of a German comprehensive cancer center

PURPOSE

Early integration of palliative care (PC) is recommended. The determination of predictors for patients' request for PC may guide implementation in clinical practice. Toward this end, we analyzed the symptom burden and distress of cancer patients in outpatient care and examined their need and request for PC.

METHODS

Between October 2013 and March 2016, 705 patients receiving outpatient cancer treatment took part in the survey. We used the new MInimal DOcumentation System to detect symptom clusters. Additionally, patients' request for palliative and psychosocial support was assessed. Groups of patients with PC request were compared to patients without PC request regarding their symptom clusters. Logistic regression analysis was applied to discover significant predictors for the requested inclusion of PC.

RESULTS

A total of 159 patients (25.5%) requested additional support by PC. Moderate and severe tiredness (40.3%), weakness (37.9%), pain (25.0%), loss of appetite (22.3%), and dyspnea (19.1%) were the most frequent symptoms. The group of patients requesting PC differed significantly in terms of pain, nausea, dyspnea, constipation, weakness, loss of appetite, tiredness, depression, and anxiety from patients without request for PC (p < .01). The perceived need for PC was identified by the significant predictors "depression," "anxiety," and "weakness" with an explained variance of 22%.

CONCLUSION

Combining a standardized screening questionnaire and the assessment of patients' request for PC allows systematic monitoring for patients' need for PC in a large Medical Oncology clinic. Depression, anxiety, and weakness are predictors of requesting PC service by patients receiving outpatient cancer treatment.

Establishment of a multimarker qPCR panel for the molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells in blood samples of metastatic breast cancer patients during the course of palliative treatment

Background

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are discussed to be an ideal surrogate marker for individualized treatment in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) since metastatic tissue is often difficult to obtain for repeated analysis. We established a nine gene qPCR panel to characterize the heterogeneous CTC population in MBC patients including epithelial CTC, their receptors (EPCAM, ERBB2, ERBB3, EGFR) CTC in Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition [(EMT); PIK3CA, AKT2), stem cell-like CTC (ALDH1) as well as resistant CTC (ERCC1, AURKA] to identify individual therapeutic targets.

Results

At TP0, at least one marker was detected in 84%, at TP1 in 74% and at TP2 in 79% of the patients, respectively. The expression of ERBB2, ERBB3 and ERCC1 alone or in combination with AURKA was significantly associated with therapy failure. ERBB2 + CTC were only detected in patients not receiving ERBB2 targeted therapies which correlated with no response. Furthermore, patients responding at TP2 had a significantly prolonged overall-survival than patients never responding (p = 0.0090).

Patients and Methods

2 × 5 ml blood of 62 MBC patients was collected at the time of disease progression (TP0) and at two clinical staging time points (TP1 and TP2) after 8–12 weeks of chemo-, hormone or antibody therapy for the detection of CTC (AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCell Select™, QIAGEN Hannover GmbH, Germany). After pre-amplification, multiplex qPCR was performed. Establishment was performed using various cancer cell lines. PTPRC (Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) and GAPDH served as controls.

Conclusions

Monitoring MBC patients using a multimarker qPCR panel for the characterization of CTC might help to treat patients accordingly in the future.

Gene Expression Signatures in Circulating Tumor Cells Correlate with Response to Therapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are thought to be an ideal surrogate marker to monitor disease progression in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We investigated the prediction of treatment response in CTCs of MBC patients on the basis of the expression of 46 genes.

METHODS

From 45 MBC patients and 20 healthy donors (HD), 2 × 5 mL of blood was collected at the time of disease progression (TP0) and at 2 consecutive clinical staging time points (TP1 and TP2) to proceed with the AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCellSelectTM (QIAGEN). Patients were grouped into (a) responder (R) and non-responder (NR) at TP1 and (b) overall responder (OR) and overall non-responder (ONR) at TP2. A 46-gene PCR assay was used for preamplification and high-throughput gene expression profiling. Data were analyzed by use of GenEx (MultiD) and SAS.

RESULTS

The CTC positivity was defined by the four-gene signature (EPCAM, KRT19, MUC1, ERBB2 positivity). Fourteen genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed between CTC+ and CTC− patients (KRT19, FLT1, EGFR, EPCAM, GZMM, PGR, CD24, KIT, PLAU, ALDH1A1, CTSD, MKI67, TWIST1, and ERBB2). KRT19 was highly expressed in CTC+ patients and ADAM17 in the NR at TP1. A significant differential expression of 4 genes (KRT19, EPCAM, CDH1, and SCGB2A2) was observed between OR and ONR when stratifying the samples into CTC+ or CTC−.

CONCLUSIONS

ADAM17 could be a key marker in distinguishing R from NR, and KRT19 was powerful in identifying CTCs.

Abstract 3777: RNA profiles of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles for therapy stratification of metastatic breast cancer patients

Background: Blood analytes, as liquid biopsies, are discussed to be surrogate markers for therapy stratification of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Repeated analysis is enabled by the minimal invasive nature of blood draw. Analysis of RNA enclosed in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be sensitive enough to detect disease progression earlier than contemporary visual staging methods. A prediction of the ideal therapy strategy via characterization of CTCs or EVs would be even more beneficial. Here we compare RNA profiles of CTCs and EVs in MBC patients to get insight into their feasibility for therapy stratification.

Patients and methods: Blood was collected from 10 MBC patients at the time of disease progression (T0) and at two consecutive clinical staging time points (T1 and T2) during therapy. Two cohorts were separated according to RECIST criteria a) Overall Responder showed response at T1 and T2 and b) Late Non-Responder displayed stable disease or partial remission at T1, but showed progressive disease at T2. CTCs were isolated from 5 ml blood by positive immunomagnetic selection targeting EpCAM, EGFR and HER2 (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Select TM, QIAGEN, Germany). EVs were isolated from 4 ml pre-filtered plasma by affinity-based binding to a spin column (exoRNeasy, QIAGEN, Germany). mRNA bound to Oligo-dT beads was purified and reverse transcribed (AdnaTest EMT2/StemCell Detect TM, QIAGEN, Germany). Pre-amplified cDNA was analysed by a multimarker qPCR (AdnaPanel TNBC, QIAGEN, Germany). RNA profiles of 18 genes (including AKT2, ALK, AR, AURKA, BRCA1, cKIT, cMET, EGFR, ERCC1, HER2, HER3, KRT5, mTOR, NOTCH1, PARP1, PI3K, SRC1, GAPDH) were normalized by data of healthy donors (n=20) and CD45 served as leukocyte control in the CTC preparation.

Results: In general, data analysis showed great differences in RNA profiles of EVs and CTCs. However, PI3K and SRC1 signals were found in similar frequencies in the EV and CTC fraction. HER2, HER3, cKIT or cMET signals significantly correlated with disease progression by analysis of either CTCs or EVs (p=0.001). In EVs, BRCA1 signals positively indicated response, while AR and KRT5 signals were related to a negative response. No marker was exclusively found in CTCs to correlate to the therapy-response course. In CTCs and EVs, however, similar signal courses for PI3K and cMET were found across all time points, revealing PI3K as potential positive response marker and cMET as potential negative response marker in both blood analytes.

Conclusions: Expression profiling in CTCs as well as in EVs is enabled by the described workflows. Preliminary data indicated great differences in RNA profiles of EVs and CTCs. The amount of included patients is continuously increased to validate the preliminary results obtained until now.

Citation Format: Corinna Keup, Siegfried Hauch, Linda Plappert, Markus Sprenger-Haussels, Pawel Mach, Mitra Tewes, Bahriye Aktas, Hans-Christian Kolberg, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. RNA profiles of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles for therapy stratification of metastatic breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3777. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3777

Comparison of the PI3KCA pathway in circulating tumor cells and corresponding tumor tissue of patients with metastatic breast cancer

The aim of the present study was to compare the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3KCA)-AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) pathway in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and corresponding cancerous tissues. Stemness-like circulating tumor cells (slCTCs) and CTCs in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been implicated as the active source of metastatic spread in breast cancer (BC). In this regard, the PI3KCA-AKT signaling pathway was demonstrated to be implicated in and to be frequently mutated in BC. The present study compared this pathway in slCTCs/CTCs in EMT and the corresponding tumor tissues of 90 metastatic BC patients (pts). slCTCs and CTCs in EMT were isolated using the AdnaTest EMT-1/StemCell for the detection of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1) (singleplex PCR) and PI3KCA, AKT2 and twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (multiplex PCR). Tumor tissue was investigated for PI3KCA hotspot mutations using Sanger sequencing of genomic DNA from micro-dissected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, and for the expression of ALDH1 and phosphorylated AKT (pAKT), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss, by immunohistochemistry. slCTCs were identified in 23% of pts (21/90 pts) and CTCs in EMT in 56% (50/90 pts) of pts. pAKT and ALDH1 positivity in tumor tissue was identified in 47 and 9% of cases, respectively, and a PTEN loss was observed in 18% of pts. A significant association was detected between pAKT expression in cancerous tissue and AKT2 expression in CTCs (P=0.037). PI3KCA mutations were detected in 32% of pts, most frequently on exons 21 (55%) and 10 (45%). Pts with PI3KCA mutations in tumor tissue had a significantly longer overall survival than pts with wild-type PI3KCA expression (P=0.007). Similar results were obtained for pts with aberrant PI3KCA signaling in CTCs and/or aberrant signaling in cancerous tissue (P=0.009). Therapy-resistant CTCs, potentially derived from the primary tumor or metastatic tissue, may be eliminated with specific PI3K pathway inhibitors, alone or in combination, to improve the prognosis of metastatic BC pts.

Comparison of the HER2, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression profile of primary tumor, metastases and circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer patients

Background

The expression of HER2, estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor can change during the course of the disease in breast cancer (BC). Therefore, reassessment of these markers at the time of disease progression might help to optimize treatment decisions. In this context, characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) could be of relevance since metastatic tissue may be difficult to obtain for repeated analysis. Here we compared HER2/ER/PR expression profiles of primary tumors, metastases and CTCs.

Methods

Ninety-six patients with metastatic BC from seven University BC Centers in Germany were enrolled in this study. Blood was obtained at the time of first diagnosis of metastatic disease or disease progression and analyzed for CTCs using the AdnaTest BreastCancer (QIAGEN Hannover GmbH, Germany) for the expression of EpCAM, MUC-1, HER2, ER and PR. HER2 expression on CTCs was additionally assessed by immunocytochemistry using the CellSearch® assay.

Results

The detection rate for CTCs using the AdnaTest was 43 % (36/84 patients) with the expression rates of 50 % for HER2 (18/36 patients), 19 % for ER (7/36 patients) and 8 % for PR (3/36 patients), respectively. Primary tumors and CTCs displayed a concordant HER2, ER and PR status in 59 % (p = 0.262), 39 % (p = 0.51) and 44 % (p = 0.62) of cases, respectively. For metastases and CTCs, the concordance values were 67 % for HER2 (p = 0.04), 43 % for ER (p = 0.16) and 46 % for PR (p = 0.6). Using the CellSearch® assay, the CTC-positivity rate was 53 % (42/79 patients) with HER2 expressed in 29 % (12/42) of the patients. No significant concordance (58 % and 53 %) was found when HER2 on CTCs was compared with HER2 on primary tumors (p = 0.24) and metastases (p = 0.34). Interestingly, primary tumors and metastases were highly concordant for HER2 (84 %, p = 1.13E-08), ER (90 %, p = 3.26E-10) and PR (83 %, p = 2.09E-09) and ER-and PR-positive metastases were significantly found to be of visceral origin (p = 0.03, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Here we demonstrate that the molecular detection of HER2 overexpression in CTC is predictive of the HER2 status on metastases. Detailed analysis of ER and PR expression rates in tissue samples and CTCs may provide useful information for making treatment decisions.

Abstract 502: Gene expression signatures in circulating tumor cells are prognostic for metastatic lesions in breast cancer patients and correlate with response to therapy

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are discussed to be an ideal surrogate marker to monitor disease progression in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Besides CTC characterization for targeted therapies, it would also be desirable to know where these cells derive from or to which organ site they are going to. Here we investigated whether it is possible to predict the origin of metastatic lesion based on the expression of 46 genes in CTC of MBC patients (pts).

Materials and Methods: 2×5 ml blood of 45 MBC pts and 20 healthy controls was collected at the time of disease progression (T0) and at two consecutive clinical staging (T1 and T2) for the detection of CTC applying immunomagnetic enrichment using the AdnaTest EMT-2/Stem Cell Select (QIAGEN Hannover GmbH, Germany). Pts were grouped a) into overall responders (OR) and overall non-responders (ONR), thus responding or not responding at T1 and T2 and b) according to sites of metastasis. PCR assays, targeting 46 transcripts and reference markers were used for a workflow based on pre-amplification and high throughput profiling (each samples in duplicates) with the full set of markers including also ValidPrime to correct for genomic background and InterPlate Calibrator to even out variations between runs. Data were analyzed using GenEx (MultiD, Sweden) and SAS. qPCR as well as technical reads were normalized using several normalization strategies.

Results: The multidrug resistant protein gene MRP1 was significantly differently expressed if OR and ONR groups were compared. In the following order of significance, VEGFR1, Keratin (KRT) 19, EGFR, MET1, ALDH, progesterone receptor (PR), UPA, Cathepsin D, KIT1 and Ki67 were differentially expressed in CTC of pts who had already developed liver metastasis as compared to pts without liver metastasis. Interestingly, a small group of pts, developing liver metastases in the course of disease, showed the estrogen receptor (ER), PR, HER2, mammaglobin, KRT19 on a significantly lower level as compared to the other pts. Similarly, once CTC were ER and PR positive, the probability of bone metastasis development decreased.

Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that the development of metastatic lesions is associated with site-specific CTC. Thus, besides using CTC as a monitoring tool to guide therapy, they might also indicate the site of metastasis which will allow a more precise decision concerning treatment strategy.

Citation Format: Maren Bredemeier, Philippos Edimiris, Pawel Mach, Mikael Kubista, Robert Sjoback, Marie Jindrichova, Eva Rohlova, Vendula Novosadova, Katarina Kolostova, Siegfried Hauch, Bahriye Aktas, Mitra Tewes, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. Gene expression signatures in circulating tumor cells are prognostic for metastatic lesions in breast cancer patients and correlate with response to therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 502.

Regaining familiarity with own body after treatment for operable lung cancer - a qualitative longitudinal exploration

Little is known about the experiences of operable lung cancer patients during treatment in a clinical setting based on fast-track surgery. The study aimed to explore (1) the embodied meaning of illness in patients with operable lung cancer during treatment to 4 months after surgery and (2) patterns of change over time that may affect the patients' daily lives. Twenty patients referred for lung cancer surgery were interviewed three times, corresponding to potential critical transition points following surgery: hospitalisation; hospital-to-home transition; and resumption of daily life activities. Data collection, analysis and interpretation followed a phenomenological hermeneutical approach inspired by Ricoeur and the theoretical framework was grounded in Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology of perception. The findings reveal the process patients went through in regaining familiarity with their own body after lung cancer treatment. Through the post-operative trajectory the patients' resumption of daily activities involved adjusting to a new awareness of everyday life, physical restrictions and their perception of themselves. The findings are expressed in four sub-themes: (1) perceptions of embodied alterations; (2) transformation of embodied structures in the transition from hospital to home was unexpectedly challenging; (3) embodied perceptions of the intersubjective world; and (4) transforming embodied disruptions into bodily awareness. Patients experienced a smooth treatment trajectory regarding physical consequences of illness and treatment which might be due to the fast-track surgery. Clinicians should be aware of patients' experiences of illness to facilitate patient reconstitution of own identity.

Abstract 372: Expression profiling of circulating tumor cells: A prognostic and predictive biomarker in metastatic breast cancer

Background:

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are discussed to be an ideal surrogate marker to monitor disease progression in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) since response to therapy can only be assessed retrospectively after a therapy strategy has already failed. Here we established a new profiling method to characterize the heterogeneous CTC population and investigated if it is possible to predict treatment response based on expression of 46 genes in CTCs of MBC patients.

Materials and Methods:

2×5 ml blood of 45 MBC patients was collected at the time of disease progression (T0) and at two consecutive clinical staging (T1 and T2) after 8-12 weeks of chemo-, hormone or antibody therapy for the detection of CTCs applying positive immunomagnetic selection targeting EpCAM, EGFR and HER2 using the AdnaTest EMT-2/Stem Cell Select (AdnaGen GmbH, Germany). Patients were classified into responders and non-responders at the time of clinical staging according to RECIST criteria. PCR assays targeting 46 selected transcript comprising breast cancer, stem cell, EMT, and references markers were designed and extensively optimized for a workflow based on pre-amplification and high throughput profiling. Each sample was profiled in duplicates with the full set of markers including also ValidPrime to correct for genomic background and InterPlate Calibrator to even out variations between runs. The entire workflow was validated to establish excellent technical reproducibility from sample collection through extraction, pre-amplification and analysis. Measured data were analyzed using parametric as well as non-parametric statistics with GenEx and SAS. qPCR as well as technical reads were normalized using the average expression of the reference genes B2M and ActB.

Results:

A number of genes, including ADAM17, CD24L4, EPCAM, KRT19, MTOR, HER2, TOP2A, and CD44 were differentially expressed in MBC patients (n = 45) as compared to healthy controls (n = 20). A group of non-responders could be identified based on gene expression. Interestingly, expression of ADAM17 (tumor necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme) differed significantly when responders were compared with non-responders at T1 (p = 0.000567).

Conclusion:

It is possible to distinguish MBC patients from healthy controls based on the expression of the genes investigated. Preliminary results indicate that ADAM17 is a key marker, distinguishing responders from non-responders. For more detailed analysis, it is desirable to build up a larger patient cohort in order to correlate gene expression profiles of CTC enriched samples to a given therapy for individualized treatment.

Citation Format: Maren Bredemeier, Mikael Kubista, Robert Sjöback, Marie Jendrichova, Eva Rohlova, Vednula Novosadova, Katarina Kolostova, Siegfried Hauch, Bahriye Aktas, Mitra Tewes, Rainer Kimmig, Sabine Kasimir-Bauer. Expression profiling of circulating tumor cells: A prognostic and predictive biomarker in metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 372. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-372