Efficacy and safety of Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy for advanced CLDN18.2-positive gastric or gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

The benefit of adding Zolbetuximab to the treatment in patients with Claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJ) is not yet fully elucidated.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for GC or GEJ adenocarcinoma. We computed hazard-ratios (HRs) or odds-ratios (ORs) for binary endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Three studies and 1,233 patients were included. Comparing with Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, progression-free survival (PFS) rate (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.49-0.84; p < 0.01) and overall survival (OS) rate (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.62-0.83; p < 0.01) were significant in favor of the Zolbetuximab group. Regarding effectiveness, the Objective Response Rate (ORR) was (OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.87-1.53; p = 0.34).

CONCLUSIONS

In this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs, the incorporation of Zolbetuximab alongside chemotherapy offers a promising prospect for reshaping the established treatment paradigms for patients diagnosed with advanced CLDN18.2-positive GC/GEJ cancer.

Advances in MRI-Based Assessment of Rectal Cancer Post-Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

Rectal cancer presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, with neoadjuvant therapy playing a pivotal role in improving resectability and patient outcomes. MRI serves as a critical tool in assessing treatment response. However, differentiating viable tumor tissue from therapy-induced changes on MRI remains a complex task. In this comprehensive review, we explore treatment options for rectal cancer based on resectability status, focusing on the role of MRI in guiding therapeutic decisions. We delve into the nuances of MRI-based evaluation of treatment response following neoadjuvant therapy, paying particular attention to emerging techniques like radiomics. Drawing from our insights based on the literature, we provide essential recommendations for post-neoadjuvant therapy management of rectal cancer, all within the context of MRI-based findings.

Determinants of Survival with Combined HER2 and PD-1 Blockade in Metastatic Esophagogastric Cancer

PURPOSE

We report updated clinical outcomes from a phase II study of pembrolizumab, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy (PTC) in metastatic esophagogastric cancer in conjunction with outcomes from an independent Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The significance of pretreatment 89Zr-trastuzumab PET, plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics, and tumor HER2 expression and whole exome sequencing was evaluated to identify prognostic biomarkers and mechanisms of resistance in patients treated on-protocol with PTC. Additional prognostic features were evaluated using a multivariable Cox regression model of trastuzumab-treated MSK patients (n = 226). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from MSK and Samsung were evaluated for mechanisms of therapy resistance.

RESULTS

89Zr-trastuzumab PET, scRNA-seq, and serial ctDNA with CT imaging identified how pre-treatment intrapatient genomic heterogeneity contributes to inferior progression-free survival (PFS). We demonstrated that the presence of intensely avid lesions by 89Zr-trastuzumab PET declines in tumor-matched ctDNA by 3 weeks, and clearance of tumor-matched ctDNA by 9 weeks were minimally invasive biomarkers of durable PFS. Paired pre- and on-treatment scRNA-seq identified rapid clearance of HER2-expressing tumor clones with expansion of clones expressing a transcriptional resistance program, which was associated with MT1H, MT1E, MT2A, and MSMB expression. Among trastuzumab-treated patients at MSK, ERBB2 amplification was associated with improved PFS, while alterations in MYC and CDKN2A/B were associated with inferior PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the clinical relevance of identifying baseline intrapatient heterogeneity and serial ctDNA monitoring of HER2-positive esophagogastric cancer patients to identify early evidence of treatment resistance, which could guide proactive therapy escalation or deescalation.

Low energy amplitude modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in combination with standard treatment or as monotherapy to show improvement in quality of life in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

290

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal cancer without curative option for most patients. Hence the importance to improve health related quality of life (HRQoL). Amplitude-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), as a novel and non-toxic therapy, has potential for improving HRQoL in advanced HCC patients. Methods: An open-label, single center, prospective clinical protocol was performed in advanced HCC patients as an initial and salvage treatment modality. Systemic exposure to EMF was used in combination with a systemic conventional treatment or as a single treatment. A spoon-shaped antenna placed in the oral cavity delivered EMF over 90 minutes with monthly repetitions until death or consent withdrawal. The effect on HRQoL was the primary objective of this study. Patients answered the EORTC-C30 v3.0 questionnaires prior to every EMF exposure. Clinically meaningful change (CMC) and time to deterioration (TTD) for Global Health (QoL), Role Functioning (RF) and Physical Functioning (PF) were used in the analysis. Results: From March 2018 to April 2020, 55 advanced HCC patients were submitted to 373 EMF exposures. 41/55 (75%) patients had repetitive exposures (mean # 4, ranging from 2-16). 87% were male, median age was 67, 84% were BLCL-C, 16% were Child-Pugh B, 29% had extra-hepatic metastasis, 55% had failed previous treatment and 71% had documented radiological progression. 31(56%) patients received EMF in combination with systemic therapy (28 TKI and 3 anti-PDL1). 24 patients received EMF as a single treatment modality. The mean baseline score was 68.1 for QoL and 77.1 for RF and PF. 61%, 76% and 49% of patients experienced positive change in QoL, RF and PS scores immediately prior to the second exposure, respectively. +CMC was reported in 20%, 17% and 32% of patients, respectively for QoL, RF and PS. The median QoL TTD was not reached. The median RF TTD was 7.2 month and the median PF TTD was 11.9 month. The median RF TTD for patients in combination treatment was 11.4 months and in a single treatment was 13.5 month. The median PF TTD for patients in combination treatment was 12.8 months and in single treatment was 14.5 month. Conclusions: Advanced HCC patients showed positive changes in QoL, RF and PF HRQoL scores after single exposure to EMF. The benefit from EMF in HRQoL was durable both in combination with TKI or as a single modality in advanced HCC patients. These results support future development as a novel palliative treatment modality in advanced HCC patients. Clinical trial information: NCT 01686412.

Low energy amplitude modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to show antitumor effect in combination with standard treatment or as monotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

332

Background: Exposure to amplitude-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) in immortalized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell cultures and xenograft models demonstrated anti-tumor effect. Patients with advanced HCC exposed to systemic EMF showed objective response with potential survival benefit. Methods: An open-label, single center, prospective clinical protocol was performed in advanced HCC patients as an initial, second or third treatment modality. Systemic exposure to EMF modulated at patient-specific frequencies was applied as an add-on strategy (combination) to systemic conventional treatment or as a single therapeutic modality. A spoon-shaped antenna placed in the oral cavity delivered EMF over 90 minutes with monthly repetitions until death or consent of withdrawal. The primary objective was overall survival (OS) in comparison with historical control group of 45 advanced patients HCC from the same institution. Retrospective radiological review was conducted by two independent radiologists for objective response (OR) using RECIST1.1 criterion. Results: From March 2018 to April 2020, 55 advanced HCC patients were submitted to 373 EMF exposures. 87% were male, median age of 67, 84% were BLCL-C, 16% were Child-Pugh B, 29% had extra-hepatic metastasis, 55% had failed previous treatment and 71% had documented radiological progression. 31(56%) patients received EMF in combination with systemic therapy (25 sorafenib, 3 lenvatinib, 3 nivolumab). 24 patients received EMF as single treatment modality. The median OS for the entire patient cohort was 11.5 months. The median OS for combination treatment was 12.0 month and the median OS for single modality was 11.3 months. The median OS for the historical control was 5.3 month. The median OS from the entire cohort and the historical control were significant different (p = 0.0026) but the median OS from combination and single modality were not (p = 0.3434). Radiological images were available from 38(69%) patients. There were 6/38 (16%) documented objective responses (1 CR and 5 PR) and 30/38 (79%) patients experienced disease control. 4/21 (19%) OR were in patients using TKIs + EMF and 2/17 (12%) OR were in patients using EMF alone. Conclusions: EMF showed objective anti-tumor effect in combination with TKI or as single modality in advanced HCC patients. EMF showed improvement in overall survival in comparison with the historical control group supporting future development as a novel systemic treatment modality in advanced HCC patients. Clinical trial information: NCT 01686412.

Impact of adjuvant treatment according to gastric cancer molecular subtypes

e15513

Background: The four subtypes of gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) identified by the Cancer Genome Atlas project (TCGA) have different molecular signatures and prognosis. Several centers have tried to classify GC using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH), examining the tumors according to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status, microsatellite instability (MSI), aberrant E-cadherin expression and TP53 status. Here we aim to verify the impact of adjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy (ACT/PCT) or adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) according to the molecular subtypes profile. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all GC patients who underwent gastrectomy and D2-lymphadenectomy at our institution from a prospective collected medical database. Deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR), E-cadherin and p53 were evaluated by IHC for determining the MSI, genomically stable (GS) and chromosomal instability (CIN, with and without p53 aberrant) subtypes, respectively. EBV positivity was detected by ISH. Results: Among the 178 stage II/III patients included, 67 had surgery alone, 47 received ACT/PCT and 64 CRT. 16 had aberrant E-cadherin (GS, 9%), 33 dMMR (MSI, 18.5%), 74 aberrant p53 expression (CIN p53-aberrant, 41.6%), 104 normal p53 expression (CIN p53-normal, 58.4%) and 18 EBV-positivity (EBV, 10.1%). Two or more altered status were present in GC of 16 patients. When analyzed independently, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that EBV, dMMR, CIN p53-normal and GS subtypes did not obtain any benefit of ACT/PCT or CRT in disease free survival (DFS) (p = 0.71; p = 0.33; p = 0.41; p = 0.21, respectively). Meantime, those treatments impact positively in DFS for EBV-negative, proficient MMR and non-GS (p = 0.01; p = 0.007; p = 0.01). CIN subtype with p53 aberrant obtained most benefit for ACT/PCT or CRT (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In accordance with other studies we achieved no benefit for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with EBV, dMMR and GS GC subtypes. Patients with p53 aberrant expression had greater benefit for ACT/PCT or CRT. This simple method of classification can potentially help to tailor adjuvant treatment.