A Dramatic Response to Second-Line Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in BRAF-V600-Mutated Metastatic Melanoma

Introduction

Current treatment options for BRAF V600-mutated unresectable stage III/IV melanoma include anti-PD-1 monotherapy or combination with anti-CTLA-4 or anti-LAG-3 agents, BRAF/MEK inhibitors, and clinical trials. The strategy of combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab has shown promising results, achieving higher response rates, longer duration of response, improved progression-free survival, and enhanced overall survival. The optimal sequence of treatments remains a topic of interest, with preliminary data suggesting a greater effectiveness of immunotherapy as the first-line approach. Preclinical trials have indicated that the efficacy of this sequence may be due to the modification of the immune environment by BRAF kinase inhibitors, leading to immune escape by tumor cells and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Case Presentation

We present a case of a 72-year-old woman with high-burden metastatic melanoma who failed to respond to prior targeted therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors and exhibited a successful response to the second-line treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab. We discuss the potential reasons for this positive outcome contributing to the current debate concerning treatment sequences, resistance mechanisms, and biomarkers predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic melanoma.

Conclusion

We believe that in few years the therapeutic algorithms in BRAF V600-mutated unresectable stage III/IV melanoma will be more complex since they will define clearly the correct therapeutic sequences with the inclusion of new immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs and multiple predictive biomarkers of response to better select patients eligible to immunotherapy.

Breakthrough Cancer Pain Clinical Features and Differential Opioids Response: A Machine Learning Approach in Patients With Cancer From the IOPS-MS Study

PURPOSE

A large proportion of patients with cancer suffer from breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). Several unmet clinical needs concerning BTcP treatment, such as optimal opioid dosages, are being investigated. In this analysis the hypothesis, we explore with an unsupervised learning algorithm whether distinct subtypes of BTcP exist and whether they can provide new insights into clinical practice.

METHODS

Partitioning around a k-medoids algorithm on a large data set of patients with BTcP, previously collected by the Italian Oncologic Pain Survey group, was used to identify possible subgroups of BTcP. Resulting clusters were analyzed in terms of BTcP therapy satisfaction, clinical features, and use of basal pain and rapid-onset opioids. Opioid dosages were converted to a unique scale and the BTcP opioids-to-basal pain opioids ratio was calculated for each patient. We used polynomial logistic regression to catch nonlinear relationships between therapy satisfaction and opioid use.

RESULTS

Our algorithm identified 12 distinct BTcP clusters. Optimal BTcP opioids-to-basal pain opioids ratios differed across the clusters, ranging from 15% to 50%. The majority of clusters were linked to a peculiar association of certain drugs with therapy satisfaction or dissatisfaction. A free online tool was created for new patients’ cluster computation to validate these clusters in future studies and provide handy indications for personalized BTcP therapy.

CONCLUSION

This work proposes a classification for BTcP and identifies subgroups of patients with unique efficacy of different pain medications. This work supports the theory that the optimal dose of BTcP opioids depends on the dose of basal opioids and identifies novel values that are possibly useful for future trials. These results will allow us to target BTcP therapy on the basis of patient characteristics and to define a precision medicine strategy also for supportive care.

Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Preliminary Data of The Italian Oncologic Pain Multisetting Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS)

Introduction

An ongoing national multicenter survey [Italian Oncologic Pain multiSetting Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS)] is evaluating the characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTP) in different clinical settings. Preliminary data from the first 1500 cancer patients with BTP enrolled in this study are presented here.

Methods

Thirty-two clinical centers are involved in the survey. A diagnosis of BTP was performed by a standard algorithm. Epidemiological data, Karnofsky index, stage of disease, presence and sites of metastases, ongoing oncologic treatment, and characteristics of background pain and BTP and their treatments were recorded. Background pain and BTP intensity were measured. Patients were also questioned about BTP predictability, BTP onset (≤10 or >10 min), BTP duration, background and BTP medications and their doses, time to meaningful pain relief after BTP medication, and satisfaction with BTP medication. The occurrence of adverse reactions was also assessed, as well as mucosal toxicity.

Results

Background pain was well controlled with opioid treatment (numerical rating scale 3.0 ± 1.1). Patients reported 2.5 ± 1.6 BTP episodes/day with a mean intensity of 7.5 ± 1.4 and duration of 43 ± 40 min; 977 patients (65.1%) reported non-predictable BTP, and 1076 patients (71.7%) reported a rapid onset of BTP (≤10 min). Higher patient satisfaction was reported by patients treated with fast onset opioids.

Conclusions

These preliminary data underline that the standard algorithm used is a valid tool for a proper diagnosis of BTP in cancer patients. Moreover, rapid relief of pain is crucial for patients’ satisfaction. The final IOPS-MS data are necessary to understand relationships between BTP characteristics and other clinical variables in oncologic patients.

Funding

Molteni Farmaceutici, Italy.

Abstract P2-08-06: Usefulness of the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting first-line progression free-survival in triple-negative breast cancer patients

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent predictor of poor prognosis inunselected breast cancer patients with NLR >3.3. Moreover, pre-treatment NLR has been associated with disease-free and overal survival (OS) in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We aimed to determine whether the NLR is predictive of progression-free survival (PFS) in metastatic TNBC.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 48 TNBC patients who received at least one administration of first-line (1°L) chemotherapy for advanced disease from October 2004 to April 2014. The NLR (absolute neutrophil count/absolute lymphocyte count) was calculated from the full blood count routinely performed immediately before the initiation of first-line treatment. The association between categorical variables was calculated by X2 test. PFS (from start of 1°L treatment to disease progression or death) and OS (from start of 1°L treatment to death) were estimated using Kaplan Meier method. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine the independent prognostic significances of the NLR (co-variables stage at diagnosis, histology, and tumor grade).

Results: NLR was not associated with stage at diagnosis (p=0.214), histology (p=0.597), or tumor grade (p=0.775). After a median follow-up of 10.9 months (range 1.3-54.9), 88.6% of TNBC patients with NLR≤3.3 versus 0.0% of patients with NLR>3.3 had a 1°L PFS>3 months (p<0.001). Similarly, 62.9% of TNBC patients with NLR≤3.3 versus 30.8% of patients with NLR>3.3 had an OS>10 months (p=0.047). Metastatic TNBC patients with NLR≤3.3 had a longer median 1°L PFS (5.2 months) and median OS (13.5 months) compared with patients with NLR>3.3 (1°L PFS 2.1 months, p<0.001; OS 7.7 months, p=0.018). In multivariable analysis, NLR>3.3 is associated with a shorter PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 22.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.7-75.1, p<0.001) and higher risk of death (HR 3.2, 95%CI 1.4-7.4, p=0.005).

Conclusion: Our study showed that pre-treatment NLR is associated with 1°L PFS and OS in patients with metastatic TNBC. However, further investigation in larger series of metastatic TNBC is warranted.

Citation Format: Fontanella C, Fanotto V, Gerratana L, Bonotto M, Cinausero M, Bozza C, Iacono D, Russo S, Andreetta C, Minisini AM, Moroso S, Mansutti M, Fasola G, Puglisi F. Usefulness of the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting first-line progression free-survival in triple-negative breast cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-06.

Risk factors and survival outcomes in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer

Development of central nervous system (CNS) metastases in breast cancer (BC) is associated with poor prognosis. The incidence of CNS metastases in metastatic BC is reported to be about 10-16 %, but different subtypes of BC are associated with different risk of developing CNS metastases. We retrospectively analysed the risk of CNS metastases and the outcome in a cohort of 473 patients with metastatic BC. CNS metastases were diagnosed in 15.6 % of patients and median survival from diagnosis of CNS metastases was 7.53 (25th-75th 2.8-18.9) months. The risk of developing CNS metastases was higher in patients with grade 3, hormone receptor negative, HER2-positive, high Ki-67 BC. When compared to luminal A subtype, only HER2-positive BC was associated with increased risk of CNS metastases. Survival from diagnosis of CNS metastases was longer in patients with HER2-positive BC, while it was shorter in patients that did not receive any locoregional treatment, or with extra-CNS disease, or with more than 3 CNS lesions.

Abstract P5-01-10: Clinical-pathological features and outcomes of Invasive lobular (ILC) vs Invasive ductal (IDC) breast cancer (BC): a mono-institutional series

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate different clinico-biological behavior associated to ILC compared to IDC evaluating implications on survival outcomes

Methods: We analyzed data from 3749 cases of IBC treated from 1995 to 2008 and categorized as having ILC, IDC and mixed/other. Associations between clinical-pathological variables and the ILC/IDC histotype were assessed using a χ2 test. Log-rank test and Cox regression model were performed to evaluate the impact of hystologic types on overall survival (OS), Event Free Survival (EFS) and Post-Progression Survival (PPS).

Results: We identified 445 (12%) ILC, 3021 (80.5%) IDC, 149 mixed (ductal-lobular) BC (3.9%) and 134 other hystotypes (3.6%). Median age was 61 (25–97) years. Compared with IDC, ILC occurred significantly (p < 0.001) more likely in older age, larger in size (T≥2: 46 vs 34%) with frequent axilla involvement (43 vs 37%). It was associated with better differentiated tumors usually presenting low ki67, high level of ER expression and HER2 negative status. Mastectomies were more frequent (45%) in ILC than in IDC (37%). As ILC showed higher ER expression rates, adjuvant hormonal (± previous chemo) therapy was more frequently given to them than IDC (77 vs 64%). At a median follow up of 77 (0–272) months, there were not significant differences in EFS (81.4 vs 82.1%, p = 0.7) and OS (82.8 vs 84.6%; p = 0.19) between ILC vs IDC. Relapses, contralateral and second tumors were 65 (15%), 9 (2%) and 22 (5%) in ILC vs 404 (13%), 84 (2.8%) and 174 (5.7%) in IDC. Local recurences were 16 (3.6%) vs 175 (5.7%) in ILC vs IDC; preferential sites of distant relapses were similar in both histotypes. Median time to first event was 38.3 in ILC vs 35.23 months in IDC. PPS was 16.5 m (0–100) in ILC and 22.2 m (0–187) in IDC. ILC showed worse prognosis than IDC within luminal A (86.9 vs 93.5%; p = 0.003), C (70.4 vs 88.5%; p = 0.028) and in triple negative subtypes (50 vs 73.1%; p = 0.021). No difference in OS was seen for age, size, hormonal and nodal status, except in N >3 ILC pts, in whom a trend of worse prognosis (55.6 vs 60.2%) was observed.

Conclusions: Despite the quite favorable biological pattern, ILC did not show a better outcomes than IDC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-10.

Association of body mass index and outcome in advanced breast cancer

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Background: Obesity represents a well-known risk factor for the development of breast cancer and an adverse prognostic factor in early disease. Overweight is associated with reduced efficacy of aromatase inhibitors in adjuvant setting. Few data have been reported about the potential relationship of overweight and outcome in advanced breast cancer (ABC). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated body mass index (BMI) in a consecutive series of 400 ABC patients treated at our institution. BMI was calculated at baseline of diagnosis of ABC. We evaluated association of BMI and other prognostic and predictive markers with Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). We evaluated PFS at first and subsequent lines of chemotherapy (CT) and endocrine therapy (ET). Overweight patients were defined as having BMI > 25. Results: Overweight patients were 52%. Median age of the population was 58 years. Median OS was 33.7 months. Overall, 76% of patients presented with ER+ and 17.7% with HER2+ ABC.Overweight was associated with increased age at diagnosis, menopausal status and luminal B or triple negative immunophenotype. At multivariate analysis, BMI > 25 was associated with better PFS at first-line ET (HR= 0.68, 95% CI 0.46-0.99). BMI was not associated with OS. Conclusions: BMI at baseline does not seem to be an adverse prognostic factor for ABC patients. Overweight may be associated with better PFS in endocrine responsive ABC treated with ET, especially in first-line setting. The role of BMI in ABC deserves to be further investigated.