Familial uveal melanoma and other tumors in 25 families with monoallelic germline MBD4 variants

BACKGROUND

Monoallelic germline MBD4 pathogenic variants were recently reported to cause a predisposition to uveal melanoma, associated with a specific tumor mutational signature and good response to immunotherapy. Monoallelic tumor pathogenic variants have also been described in brain tumors, breast cancers, and myxofibrosarcomas, whereas biallelic germline MBD4 pathogenic variants have been involved in a recessive hereditary adenomatous polyposis and a specific type of acute myeloid leukemia.

METHODS

We analyzed MBD4 for all patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma at Institut Curie since July 2021 and in the 3240 consecutive female probands explored at the Institut Curie for suspicion of predisposition to breast cancer between July 2021 and February 2023.

RESULTS

We describe 25 families whose probands carry a monoallelic germline pathogenic variant in MBD4. Eighteen of these families presented with uveal melanoma (including a case patient with multiple uveal melanoma), and 7 families presented with breast cancer. Family histories showed the first familial case of uveal melanoma in monoallelic MBD4 pathogenic variant carriers and other various types of cancers in relatives, especially breast, renal, and colorectal tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Monoallelic MBD4 pathogenic variant may explain some cases of familial and multiple uveal melanoma as well as various cancer types, expanding the tumor spectrum of this predisposition. Further genetic testing in relatives combined with molecular tumor analyses will help define the tumor spectrum and estimate each tumor's risk.

Discordance between GCIG CA-125 progression and RECIST progression in the CALYPSO trial of patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

CA-125 alone is widely used to diagnose progressive disease (PD) in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (PSROC) on chemotherapy. However, there are increasing concerns regarding its accuracy. We assessed concordance between progression defined by CA-125 and RECIST using data from the CALYPSO trial.

METHODS

We computed concordance rates for PD by CA-125 and RECIST to determine the positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV).

RESULTS

Of 769 (79%) evaluable participants, 387 had CA-125 PD, where only 276 had concordant RECIST PD (PPV 71%, 95% CI 67-76%). For 382 without CA-125 PD, 255 had RECIST PD but 127 did not (NPV 33%, 95% CI 29-38). There were significant differences in NPV according to baseline CA-125 (≤100 vs >100: 42% vs 25%, P < 0.001); non-measurable vs measurable disease (51% vs 26%, P < 0.001); and platinum-free-interval (>12 vs 6-12 months: 41% vs 14%, P < 0.001). We observed falling CA-125 levels in 78% of patients with RECIST PD and CA-125 non-PD.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 2 in 3 women with PSROC have RECIST PD but not CA-125 PD by GCIG criteria. Monitoring CA-125 levels alone is not reliable for detecting PD. Further research is required to investigate the survival impact of local therapy in radiological detected early asymptomatic PD.

Long Terms Follow-Up of the Randomized MetaspHER Study Comparing Intravenous Versus Subcutaneous Trastuzumab in Patients' With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The subcutaneous (H-SC) formulation of trastuzumab was demonstrated to be as effective and safe as intravenous (H-IV) and highly preferred by patients in early breast cancer. The present randomized MetaspHER trial (NCT01810393) has been the first study assessing patient's preference in metastatic setting and we report the final analysis with long term follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who completed a first line chemotherapy with trastuzumab and achieved a long terms response lasting more than 3 years were randomized to receive 3 cycles of 600 mg fixed-dose H-SC, followed by 3 cycles of standard H-IV, or the reverse sequence. The primary endpoint was overall preference for H-SC or H-IV at cycle 6 and was previously reported. Secondary endpoints included safety over 1 year of treatment and with 4 additional years follow up. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were assessed in this final analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 113 patients were randomized and treated and the median follow-up duration was 45.4 months (range: 0.8-48.8). After the cross over period all patients excepted 2 pursued the H-SC. During the 18 cycles overall treatment period, at least 1 adverse event (AE), 1 AE of grade ≥3, and 1 serious adverse events (SAE) were respectively reported among 104 patients (92.0%), 23 patients (20.4%), and 16 patients (14.2%), respectively. Also, 10 patients (8.9%) experienced at least 1 cardiac event, including 4 patients (3.5%) with ejection fraction decreased. Beyond cycle 18 no significant additional safety concern emerged. PFS and OS rates at months 42 were 74.8% (64.7%-82.4%) and 94.9% (88.2%-97.9%), respectively. No factor appeared related to the survival outcome excepted the complete response status at baseline.

CONCLUSION

The safety was consistent with the known H-IV and H-SC profiles without any safety concern raised over a prolonged exposure to H-SC.

Overall survival and patient-reported outcome results from the placebo-controlled randomized phase III IMagyn050/GOG 3015/ENGOT-OV39 trial of atezolizumab for newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact on overall survival (OS) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of combining atezolizumab with standard therapy for newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The placebo-controlled double-blind randomized phase III IMagyn050/GOG 3015/ENGOT-OV39 trial (NCT03038100) assigned eligible patients to 3-weekly atezolizumab 1200 mg or placebo for 22 cycles with platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab. Coprimary endpoints were progression-free survival (already reported) and OS in the PD-L1-positive and intent-to-treat (ITT) populations, tested hierarchically. Prespecified PRO analyses focused on disease-related abdominal pain and bloating symptoms (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-OV28), functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (QLQ-C30).

RESULTS

After 38 months' median follow-up, the OS hazard ratio in the PD-L1-positive population was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.66-1.06; p = 0.13); median OS was not estimable with atezolizumab versus 49.2 months with placebo. The hazard ratio for OS in the ITT population was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.78-1.09; median 50.5 versus 46.6 months, respectively). At week 9, similar proportions of patients in both arms of the neoadjuvant cohort showed ≥10-point improvement from baseline in abdominal pain and bloating, functioning, and HRQoL. In the primary surgery cohort, similar proportions of patients in each arm had improved, stable, or worsened physical and role function and HRQoL from baseline over time. Neither cohort showed differences between arms in treatment-related symptoms or overall side-effect bother.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporation of atezolizumab into standard therapy for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer does not significantly improve efficacy or impose additional treatment burden for patients.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov registration: NCT03038100.

Clinical, pathological, and comprehensive molecular analysis of the uterine clear cell carcinoma: a retrospective national study from TMRG and GINECO network

BACKGROUND

Uterine clear cell carcinomas (CCC) represent less than 5% of uterine cancers. Their biological characteristics and clinical management remain uncertain. A multicenter study to explore both clinical and molecular features of these rare tumors was conducted.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective national study was performed within the French TMRG (Rare Gynecologic Malignant Tumors) network. Clinical data and, when available, FFPE blocks were collected. Clinical features, treatments, and outcome (progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)) were analyzed and correlated to the protein (tissue micro-array), RNA (Nanostring nCounter® technology), and DNA (array-Comparative Genomic hybridization and target-next generation sequencing) levels using the tumor samples available.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients with uterine CCC were enrolled, 61 from endometrial localization and 5 with cervix localization. Median age at diagnosis was 68.9 years old (range 19-89.7). Most tumors were diagnosed at an early stage (78% FIGO stage I-II). Hysterectomy (performed in 90%) and lymph node dissection (80%) were the most frequent surgical treatment. More than 70% of patients received external beam radiotherapy and 57% received brachytherapy. Nearly half (46%) of the patients received chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 24.7 months, median PFS was 64.8 months (95 CI [5.3-124.4]) and median OS was 79.7 (IC95 [31.0-128.4]). Low hormone receptor expression (13% estrogen-receptor positive), frequent PI3K pathway alterations (58% PTEN loss, 50% PIK3CA mutations), and P53 abnormalities (41%) were observed. Mismatch repair deficiency was identified in 20%. P16 expression was associated with shorter PFS (HR = 5.88, 95 CI [1.56-25], p = 0.009). Transcriptomic analyzes revealed a specific transcriptomic profile notably with a high expression of immune response-associated genes in uterine CCC displaying a very good overall prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Uterine CCC reported to be potentially MSI high, hormone receptors negative, and sometimes TP53 mutated. However, some patients with immune response-associated features and better prognosis may be candidate to treatment de-escalation and immunotherapy.

Recommandations pour la pratique clinique Nice/Saint-Paul-de-Vence 2022–2023 : Prise en charge du cancer du col de l'utérus avancé

French recommendations for clinical practice, Nice/Saint-Paul-de-Vence 2022-2023: Management of advanced cervical cancer The prognosis of cervical cancer remained pejorative until recently, first-line treatment consisting of platinum-based chemotherapy, associated with bevacizumab whenever possible, without any other therapeutic innovation for several years. However in 2022, immunotherapy appeared in the therapeutic landscape. Pembrolizumab can now be prescribed, thanks to the early access status granted by the HAS in September 2022, in patients with PD-L1 positive tumors. In parallel, bevacizumab generic is now reimbursed, allowing its association with chemotherapy on top of pembrolizumab, if indicated. For patient relapsing after platinium salts, and who never received immunotherapy, cemiplimab could be delivered and reimboursed since spring 2023, whatever could be PD-L1 status. Pretherapeutic work-up includes imaging combining MRI and PET/CT or CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, as well as evaluation of PD-L1 status on tumor and immune cells to define the CPS score that will determine eligibility to pembrolizumab treatment (CPS > 1). Possibilities of locoregional treatment depend on individual situations and are discussed on a case-by-case basis in multidisciplinary meetings. Early supportive care is always recommended and inclusion in clinical trials must be systematically considered.

Recommandations pour la pratique clinique Nice/Saint-Paul-de-Vence 2022–2023 : Prise en charge du cancer de l'endomètre métastatique et/ou en rechute

Recommendations for clinical practice Nice/Saint-Paul-de-Vence 2022-2023 : Management of advanced/relapsing endometrial cancer Since the first recommendations in 2020 concerning metastatic and/or relapsed endometrial cancer, new treatment options have shown a benefit on patients' life expectancy, justifying their update. In first line, the choice will be made between chemotherapy with carboplatin/paclitaxel or hormone therapy with progestin, depending on tumor characteristics (histological type, grade, expression of hormone receptors, rate of progression). In case of a dMMR tumors, the use of immunotherapy within the framework of a therapeutic trial is an option. Beyond first-line chemotherapy, current standard treatment consists of the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib, regardless of MMR status. Close clinical and biological monitoring is however necessary given the potential toxicity. Chemotherapy retains its place either as monotherapy (paclitaxel or doxorubicin) in the event of failure or contraindication to pembrolizumab-lenvatinib, or in combination with carboplatin in the event of a long free interval and pMMR tumor. The numerous ongoing clinical trials evaluating new therapeutic targets or strategies adapted to molecular or histological types should allow further improvements the prognosis of patients with metastatic endometrial cancer.

Olaparib plus bevacizumab first-line maintenance in ovarian cancer: final overall survival results from the PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 trial

BACKGROUND

In the PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 primary analysis, maintenance olaparib plus bevacizumab demonstrated a significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer patients in clinical response after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, irrespective of surgical status. Prespecified, exploratory analyses by molecular biomarker status showed substantial benefit in patients with a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation (BRCAm) or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD; BRCAm and/or genomic instability). We report the prespecified final overall survival (OS) analysis, including analyses by HRD status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomized 2:1 to olaparib (300 mg bid; up to 24 months) plus bevacizumab (15 mg/kg q3w; 15 months total) or placebo plus bevacizumab. Analysis of OS, a key secondary endpoint in hierarchical testing, was planned for ∼60% maturity or 3 years after the primary analysis.

RESULTS

After median follow-up of 61.7 and 61.9 months in the olaparib and placebo arms, respectively, median OS was 56.5 versus 51.6 months in the ITT (hazard ratio [HR]=0.92, 95% CI 0.76-1.12; P=0.4118). Subsequent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapy was received by 105 (19.6%) olaparib patients versus 123 (45.7%) placebo patients. In the HRD-positive population, OS was longer with olaparib plus bevacizumab (HR=0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.85; 5-year OS rate, 65.5% versus 48.4%); at 5 years, updated PFS also showed a higher proportion of olaparib plus bevacizumab patients without relapse (HR=0.41, 95% CI 0.32-0.54; 5-year PFS rate, 46.1% versus 19.2%). Myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, aplastic anemia, and new primary malignancy incidence remained low and balanced between arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Olaparib plus bevacizumab provided clinically meaningful OS improvement for first-line patients with HRD-positive ovarian cancer. These prespecified exploratory analyses demonstrated improvement despite a high proportion of patients in the placebo arm receiving PARP inhibitors post-progression, confirming the combination as one of the standards of care in this setting with the potential to enhance cure.

Evaluation of Scores to Reflect Toxicity Impact on Quality of Life of Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: AURELIA Substudy

BACKGROUND

Current standards for toxicity reporting do not fully capture the impact of adverse events (AEs) on patients' quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to evaluate the association between toxicity and QoL by using toxicity scores that take into account CTCAE grade grouping and AE duration and cumulation.

METHODS

Analyses were performed on the AURELIA trial dataset, including 361 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer treated with chemotherapy alone or with bevacizumab. Global and physical functioning QoL were issued from the EORTC QoL Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), collected at baseline and 8/9 and 16/18 weeks after treatment initiation. Four toxicity scores were computed: the total number of AEs, multiplied by their grade and not, and the cumulative duration of AEs, weighted by their grade and not. Each score included all AEs or only grade 3/4 nonlaboratory or treatment-related AEs. The relationship between toxicity scores and QoL was assessed through linear mixed regression.

RESULTS

We found that 171 (47.5%) and 43 (11.9%) patients experienced at least one grade 3 or 4 AE, respectively, whereas 113 (31.4%) experienced grade 2 AEs only. Physical QoL was negatively associated with all toxicity scores when computed with all grades of AEs (all P<.01), with a weaker association when treatment-related AEs were considered. Global QoL was negatively associated with toxicity scores computed with nonlaboratory all-grade AEs only (β, -3.42 to -3.13; all P<.01). Degrees of association were lower when considering the AE duration.

CONCLUSIONS

In this analysis of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, toxicity scores based on the cumulative number of AEs, modulated or not by grade, were more effective at predicting QoL changes than those based on AE duration. Toxicity impact on QoL was better reflected when grade 2 AEs were taken into account together with grade 3/4 AEs, whatever their treatment imputability, and when laboratory AEs were excluded.

AXIN2 germline testing in a French cohort validates pathogenic variants as a rare cause of predisposition to colorectal polyposis and cancer

Only a few patients with germline AXIN2 variants and colorectal adenomatous polyposis or cancer have been described, raising questions about the actual contribution of this gene to colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility. To assess the clinical relevance for AXIN2 testing in patients suspected of genetic predisposition to CRC, we collected clinical and molecular data from the French Oncogenetics laboratories analyzing AXIN2 in this context. Between 2004 and June 2020, 10 different pathogenic/likely pathogenic AXIN2 variants were identified in 11 unrelated individuals. Eight variants were from a consecutive series of 3322 patients, which represents a frequency of 0.24%. However, loss-of-function AXIN2 variants were strongly associated with genetic predisposition to CRC as compared with controls (odds ratio: 11.89, 95% confidence interval: 5.103-28.93). Most of the variants were predicted to produce an AXIN2 protein devoid of the SMAD3-binding and DIX domains, but preserving the β-catenin-binding domain. Ninety-one percent of the AXIN2 variant carriers who underwent colonoscopy had adenomatous polyposis. Forty percent of the variant carriers developed colorectal or/and other digestive cancer. Multiple tooth agenesis was present in at least 60% of them. Our report provides further evidence for a role of AXIN2 in CRC susceptibility, arguing for AXIN2 testing in patients with colorectal adenomatous polyposis or cancer.

A RAD51 functional assay as a candidate test for homologous recombination deficiency in ovarian cancer

RATIONALE

Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), defined as BRCA1/2 mutation (BRCAmut) or high genomic instability, is used to identify ovarian cancer (OC) patients most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitors. While these tests are useful, they are imperfect. Another approach is to measure the capacity of tumor cells to form RAD51 foci in the presence of DNA damage using an immunofluorescence assay (IF). We aimed to describe for the first time this assay in OC and correlate it to platinum response and BRCAmut.

METHODS

Tumor samples were prospectively collected from the randomized CHIVA trial of neoadjuvant platinum +/- nintedanib. IF for RAD51, GMN and gH2AX was performed on FFPE blocks. Tumors were considered RAD51-low if ≤10% of GMN-positive tumor cells had ≥5 RAD51 foci. BRCAmut were identified by NGS.

RESULTS

155 samples were available. RAD51 assay was contributive for 92% of samples and NGS available for 77%. gH2AX foci confirmed the presence of significant basal DNA damage. 54% of samples were considered HRD by RAD51 and presented higher overall response rates to neoadjuvant platinum (P = 0.04) and longer progression-free survival (P = 0.02). In addition, 67% of BRCAmut were HRD by RAD51. Among BRCAmut, RAD51-high tumors seem to harbor poorer response to chemotherapy (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

We evaluated a functional assay of HR competency. OC demonstrate high levels of DNA damage, yet 54% fail to form RAD51 foci. These RAD51-low OC tend to be more sensitive to neoadjuvant platinum. The RAD51 assay also identified a subset of RAD51-high BRCAmut tumors with unexpected poor platinum response.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without nintedanib for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: Lessons from the GINECO double-blind randomized phase II CHIVA trial

AIM

The oral anti-angiogenic therapy nintedanib prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) when combined with chemotherapy after primary surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The randomized phase II CHIVA trial evaluated the impact of combining nintedanib with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed unresectable FIGO stage IIIC-IV epithelial ovarian cancer received 3-4 cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel every 3 weeks as NACT before interval debulking surgery (IDS), followed by 2-3 post-operative cycles. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either nintedanib 200 mg twice daily or placebo on days 2-21 every 3 weeks during NACT (omitting peri-operative cycles), and then as maintenance therapy for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was PFS.

RESULTS

Between January 2013 and May 2015, 188 patients were randomized (124 to nintedanib, 64 to placebo). PFS was significantly inferior with nintedanib (median 14.4 versus 16.8 months with placebo; hazard ratio 1.50, p = 0.02). Overall survival (OS) was also inferior (median 37.7 versus 44.1 months, respectively; hazard ratio 1.54, p = 0.054). Nintedanib was associated with increased toxicity (grade 3/4 adverse events: 92% versus 69%, predominantly hematologic and gastrointestinal), lower response rate by RECIST (35% versus 56% before IDS), and lower IDS feasibility (58% versus 77%) versus placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding nintedanib to chemotherapy and in maintenance as part of NACT for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer cannot be recommended as it increases toxicity and compromises chemotherapy efficacy (IDS, PFS, OS).

CLINICALTRIALS

govregistration: NCT01583322.

Association and performance of polygenic risk scores for breast cancer among French women presenting or not a familial predisposition to the disease

BACKGROUND

Three partially overlapping breast cancer polygenic risk scores (PRS) comprising 77, 179 and 313 SNPs have been proposed for European-ancestry women by the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) for improving risk prediction in the general population. However, the effect of these SNPs may vary from one country to another and within a country because of other factors.

OBJECTIVE

To assess their associated risk and predictive performance in French women from (1) the CECILE population-based case-control study, (2) BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic variant (PV) carriers from the GEMO study, and (3) familial breast cancer cases with no BRCA1/2 PV and unrelated controls from the GENESIS study.

RESULTS

All three PRS were associated with breast cancer in all studies, with odds ratios per standard deviation varying from 1.7 to 2.0 in CECILE and GENESIS, and hazard ratios varying from 1.1 to 1.4 in GEMO. The predictive performance of PRS₃₁₃ in CECILE was similar to that reported in BCAC but lower than that in GENESIS (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.67 and 0.75, respectively). PRS were less performant in BRCA2 and BRCA1 PV carriers (AUC = 0.58 and 0.54 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results are in line with previous validation studies in the general population and in BRCA1/2 PV carriers. Additionally, we showed that PRS may be of clinical utility for women with a strong family history of breast cancer and no BRCA1/2 PV, and for those carrying a predicted PV in a moderate-risk gene like ATM, CHEK2 or PALB2.

CHEOPS trial: a GINECO group randomized phase II assessing addition of a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor to oral vinorelbine in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The objective of the CHEOPS trial was to assess the benefit of adding aromatase inhibitor (AI) to metronomic chemotherapy, oral vinorelbine, 50 mg, three times a week for pre-treated, HR + /HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients.

METHODS

In this multicentric phase II study, patients had to have progressed on AI and one or two lines of chemotherapy. They were randomized between oral vinorelbine (Arm A) and oral vinorelbine with non-steroidal AI (Arm B).

RESULTS

121 patients were included, 61 patients in Arm A and 60 patients in Arm B. The median age was 68 years. 109 patients had visceral metastases. They all had previously received an AI. The study had been prematurely stopped following the third death due to febrile neutropenia. Median PFS trend was found to be different with 2.3 months and 3.7 months in Arm A and Arm B, respectively (HR 0.73, 95%CI 0.50-1.06, p value = 0.0929). No statistical difference was shown in OS and better tumor response. 56 serious adverse events corresponding to 25 patients (21%) were reported (respectively, 12 (20%) versus 13 (22%) for arms A and B) (NS).

CONCLUSION

The addition of AI to oral vinorelbine over oral vinorelbine alone in aromatase inhibitor-resistant metastatic breast cancer was associated with a non-significant improvement of PFS. Several unexpected serious adverse events were reported. Metronomic oral vinorelbine schedule, at 50 mg three times a week, requires close biological monitoring. The question of hormonal treatment and chemotherapy combination remains open.

Switch to fulvestrant and palbociclib versus no switch in advanced breast cancer with rising ESR1 mutation during aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib therapy (PADA-1): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

In advanced oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors frequently stems from ESR1-mutated subclones, which might be sensitive to fulvestrant. The PADA-1 trial aimed to show the efficacy of an early change in therapy on the basis of a rising ESR1 mutation in blood (bESR1^mut), while assessing the global safety of combination fulvestrant and palbociclib.

METHODS

We did a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial in 83 hospitals in France. Women aged at least 18 years with oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 were recruited and monitored for rising bESR1^mut during first-line aromatase inhibitor (2·5 mg letrozole, 1 mg anastrozole, or 25 mg exemestane, orally once per day, taken continuously) and palbociclib (125 mg orally once per day on days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle) therapy. Patients with newly present or increased bESR1^mut in circulating tumour DNA and no synchronous disease progression were randomly assigned (1:1) to continue with the same therapy or to switch to fulvestrant (500 mg intramuscularly on day 1 of each 28-day cycle and on day 15 of cycle 1) and palbociclib (dosing unchanged). The randomisation sequence was generated within an interactive web response system using a minimisation method (with an 80% random factor); patients were stratified according to visceral involvement (present or absent) and the time from inclusion to bESR1^mut detection (<12 months or ≥12 months). The co-primary endpoints were investigator-assessed progression-free survival from random assignment, analysed in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all randomly assigned patients), and grade 3 or worse haematological adverse events in all patients. The trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03079011), and is now complete.

FINDINGS

From March 22, 2017, to Jan 31, 2019, 1017 patients were included, of whom 279 (27%) developed a rising bESR1^mut and 172 (17%) were randomly assigned to treatment: 88 to switching to fulvestrant and palbociclib and 84 patients to continuing aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib. At database lock on July 31, 2021, randomly assigned patients had a median follow-up of 35·3 months (IQR 29·2-41·4) from inclusion and 26·0 months (13·8-34·3) from random assignment. Median progression-free survival from random assignment was 11·9 months (95% CI 9·1-13·6) in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group versus 5·7 months (3·9-7·5) in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group (stratified HR 0·61, 0·43-0·86; p=0·0040). The most frequent grade 3 or worse haematological adverse events were neutropenia (715 [70·3%] of 1017 patients), lymphopenia (66 [6·5%]), and thrombocytopenia (20 [2·0%]). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events in step 2 were neutropenia (35 [41·7%] of 84 patients in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group vs 39 [44·3%] of 88 patients in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group) and lymphopenia (three [3·6%] vs four [4·5%]). 31 (3·1%) patients had grade 3 or worse serious adverse events related to treatment in the overall population. Three (1·7%) of 172 patients randomly assigned had one serious adverse event in step 2: one (1·2%) grade 4 neutropenia and one (1·2%) grade 3 fatigue among 84 patients in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group, and one (1·1%) grade 4 neutropenia among 88 patients in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group. One death by pulmonary embolism in step 1 was declared as being treatment related.

INTERPRETATION

PADA-1 is the first prospective randomised trial showing that the early therapeutic targeting of bESR1^mut results in significant clinical benefit. Additionally, the original design explored in PADA-1 might help with tackling acquired resistance with new drugs in future trials.

FUNDING

Pfizer.

Phase Ib INEOV neoadjuvant trial of durvalumab +/- tremelimumab with platinum chemotherapy for patients (pts) with unresectable ovarian cancer (OC): Final complete resection and pathological response rates

5557

Background: We have shown that neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel (NACP) increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PDL1 expression in OC pts. INEOV evaluated NACP with durvalumab (D) +/- tremelimumab (T) in pts with unresectable OC. We previously reported that NACP with D+/-T was feasible and safe but the addition of T did not improve interval debulking surgery (IDS) rates after 3 cycles (C3) (ESMO 2021). Here we provide an update with longer follow up including data on delayed IDS performed after 6 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment. Key secondary endpoints include complete resection (CC0) and complete pathological response rates. Methods: Pts with stage IIIC/IV OC were randomized to NACP + D (1125mg) alone (arm A) or with T (75mg once at C2) (arm B). Interval debulking surgery (IDS) was planned after C3, or delayed after C6. Pts in arm A not operable after C3 crossed over to arm B, pts in arm B crossed over to standard of care (SOC). Pts were assessed for delayed IDS after C6. Complete pathological response (pCR) was defined as no residual tumor cells found on any surgical specimens, or no residual tumor cells on any samples outside the ovary at IDS. Results: Sixty four (N = 64) of 66 pts (IIIC/IV: 70%/30%) randomized were evaluable. After C3, 66% (21/32) of pts in arm A and 59% (19/32) in arm B had IDS. The 11 pts in arm A not candidate for IDS after C3 crossed over to arm B until C6 and 5/11 benefited from delayed IDS. The 13 pts in arm B inoperable at C3 went on to receive SOC (NACP +/- bevacizumab), and 5/13 became eligible for delayed IDS after C6. Overall, IDS was performed in 50 of 64 evaluable pts, and most (45/50) achieved macroscopically complete resection (CC0), so that the overall CC0 rate was 70% (45/64), with no significant difference between arms (CC0 = 75% vs 65% in arm A vs B). Among the 50 pts who had IDS, complete pathological responses were observed in 18% of pts. Conclusions: Taking into account the whole treatment strategy including delayed IDS after 6 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment, we have shown that neoadjuvant CP with D+/- T results in encouraging CC0 (70%) and pCR (18%) rates. However there was no apparent benefit to the addition of T to D. Studies are ongoing to describe the immune features predictive of pCR as well as the impact of treatment on the immune microenvironment. Clinical trial information: NCT03249142.

TEDOVA/GINECO-OV244b/ENGOT-ov58 trial: Neo-epitope based vaccine OSE2101 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab versus best supportive care (BSC) as maintenance in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer with disease control after platinum

TPS5614

Background: Besides PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab, there are no approved maintenance therapies after platinum based chemotherapy for patients with a platinum sensitive relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer (OC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as single agents have limited activity in OC. One attractive strategy is to turn OC from immunogenic “cold” to “hot” tumors via vaccination with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). OSE2101 is a multiple-neoepitope vaccine restricted to HLA-A2-positive patients (45% of OC patients) targeting 5 TAAs: TP53, MAGE2, MAGE3, CEA and HER2. These neo-epitopes are modified to increase both major histocompatibility complex and the T cell receptor binding affinity. The proof of concept for this approach was recently demonstrated with OSE2101 improving overall survival in a phase III trial in lung cancer progressing after ICI (Besse et al. 2021). The combination of OSE2101 with an ICI may most effectively harness anti-tumor immunity. Methods: TEDOVA is an international randomized open-label, phase II trial evaluating the benefit of maintenance by OSE2101 alone or in combination with PD1 inhibition (pembrolizumab) after platinum based chemotherapy in relapsed OC, previously treated with bevacizumab (if eligible) and a PARP inhibitor (if eligible). Patients (N=180) with CR/PR/SD at the end of chemotherapy are randomized (1:1:2) to: Observation/BSC (Arm A), OSE2101 alone (Arm B), or OSE2101 in combination with pembrolizumab (Arm C). Experimental treatments are continued until progression, or intolerance, for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include overall response rate, safety, time to subsequent first or second treatment (TTST-1, TTST-2) and overall survival. 180 HLA-A*02 positive patients will be randomized. HLA-A*02 negative patients will be followed in a separate observational cohort. The sample size is calculated to provide 90% power to detect an improvement in PFS for Arm C vs Arm A with a HR of 0.57. Three one-sided Log-rank tests will be considered in a pre-defined sequence: H1: C (OSE2101+pembrolizumab) vs A (BSC); H2: C (OSE2101+pembrolizumab) vs B (OSE2101) and H3: B vs A. The type I error will be α=5%. The type II error will be β=10%. Tests will be one-sided. Status: The TEDOVA/GINECO-OV244b/ENGOT-ov58 trial is currently recruiting. Clinical trial information: NCT04713514.

OReO/ENGOT Ov-38 trial: Impact of maintenance olaparib rechallenge according to ovarian cancer patient prognosis—An exploratory joint analysis of the BRCA and non-BRCA cohorts

5558

Background: In the Phase IIIb OReO/ENGOT Ov-38 trial (NCT03106987), maintenance olaparib (O) rechallenge significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) vs placebo in patients (pts) with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer (PSROC) regardless of their BRCA status (Pujade-Lauraine, ESMO 2021). The impact of prognostic factors on this PFS benefit were unknown. Methods: Pts had PSROC, one prior line of PARP inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance and were in response to platinum-based chemotherapy (Cx). Pts were enrolled into two cohorts – BRCA mutated (BRCAm) and non-BRCAm – and randomized to receive maintenance O (300 mg bid) or placebo. Primary endpoint was PFS. Post-hoc individual patient data meta-analysis was used to combine both cohorts using fixed and random effect models, interaction, and stratified tests in the Cox model. Stepwise Cox multivariate model for PFS and logistic regression models were used for late relapse, defined as disease progression occurring >24 weeks after randomization. Randomization stratification criteria and cohort effect were included in all models. Results: This study included 220 pts from the BRCAm (n=112) and non-BRCAm (n=108) cohorts recruited between October 3, 2017 and February 10, 2021. No heterogeneity was detected between cohorts: Cochran’s Q test P=0.53 (fixed and random); interaction test P=0.63. The O effect was consistent, and no significant interactions were observed between subgroups. In the multivariate PFS analyses, the main independent factors for prognosis were CA-125 level, visceral disease (liver, lung, pleura, brain), and treatment arm. These factors were independent predictive factors for late relapse among the 181 evaluable pts with the opportunity of at least 6 months of follow-up (Table). Conclusions: In the OReO/ENGOT Ov-38 trial, CA-125 level and presence of visceral disease at baseline were the best predictors of patient outcome. Maintenance olaparib rechallenge was effective overall regardless of prognostic subgroup. Clinical trial information: NCT03106987. [Table: see text]

Genomic Instability Is Defined by Specific Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer: A Subgroup Analysis of AGO OVAR 12 Trial

Background: Following disappointing results with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in ovarian cancer, it is essential to explore other immune targets. The aim of this study is to describe the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) according to genomic instability in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) patients receiving primary debulking surgery followed by carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy +/− nintedanib. Methods: 103 HGSOC patients’ tumor samples from phase III AGO-OVAR-12 were analyzed. A comprehensive analysis of the TME was performed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray. Comparative genomic hybridization was carried out to evaluate genomic instability signatures through homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score, genomic index, and somatic copy number alterations. The relationship between genomic instability and TME was explored. Results: Patients with high intratumoral CD3+ T lymphocytes had longer progression-free survival (32 vs. 19.6 months, p = 0.009) and overall survival (OS) (median not reached). High HLA-E expression on tumor cells was associated with a longer OS (median OS not reached vs. 52.9 months, p = 0.002). HRD profile was associated with high HLA-E expression on tumor cells and an improved OS. In the multivariate analysis, residual tumor, intratumoral CD3, and HLA-E on tumor cells were more predictive than other parameters. Conclusions: Our results suggest HLA-E/CD94-NKG2A/2C is a potential immune target particularly in the HRD positive ovarian carcinoma subgroup.

Diagnostic histologique et moléculaire des cancers de l'ovaire - recommandations pour la pratique clinique Saint-Paul 2021: Histological and molecular diagnosis of ovarian

Oncogenetic testing is now part of standard management in high grade ovarian cancer, including at least mutational status of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes. If necessary, tumor genetic testing is followed by constitutional testing to either confirm the constitutional origin of variants identified in BRCA1/2 genes or detect variants in other predisposition genes. The whole process including prescription of tumoral testing, retrieval of analysis report and communication of results must be formalized, as well as information on possible consequences of the results for the patient and her family. Tumor material must meet criteria of size and cellularity to allow high-quality analysis. These samples are processed during the preanalytical phase with two major steps : time of cold ischemia and fixation. Only pathogenic (Class V) and likely pathogenic (Class IV) variants shown in tumor tissue are mentioned in the report. Currently, only BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are routinely studied but, in the future, analysis will be extended to other genes involved in homologous recombination repair. In patients without BRCA mutation, other biomarkers reflecting sensitivity to PARP inhibitors, such as HRD scores (homologous recombination deficiency) that appeared recently, will have to be implemented in routine practice in order to better select patients for these treatments and choose optimal therapy.

Regorafenib or Tamoxifen for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer with rising CA125 and no evidence of clinical or RECIST progression: A GINECO randomized phase II trial (REGOVAR)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of regorafenib versus tamoxifen in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer biological recurrence, defined by CA-125 increase without radiological (RECIST criteria) or symptomatic evidence of progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

116 patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer presenting an isolated increase of CA-125 were planned to be randomized. Regorafenib was administered orally at 160 or 120 mg daily, 3 weeks on/1 week off or tamoxifen at 40 mg daily, until disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was Progression-Free Survival, assessed by progression according to RECIST 1.1 or death (by any cause). Secondary endpoints included Overall Survival, Best Response and CA-125 response rate.

RESULTS

68 patients were randomized. Median age was 67 years (range: 30-87). Primary site of cancer was ovarian for most patients (92.6%). Tumors were predominantly serous / (89.7%), high grade (83.6%) and initial FIGO staging was III for 69.6% of the patients. Most (79.4%) patients were included after the first line of platinum-based treatment. After a median follow-up of 32 months, there was no difference of progression-free survival (PFS) between regorafenib and tamoxifen groups (p = 0.72), with median PFS of 5.6 months (CI 90%: 3.84-7.52) for the tamoxifen arm and 4.6 months (CI 90%: 3.65-7.33) for the regorafenib arm. There was also no difference in term of overall survival, best response or CA-125 response, delay to next therapy. Regorafenib presented a less favorable safety profile than tamoxifen, with grade 3/4 events occurring for 90.9% of the patients compared to 54.3% for tamoxifen. The most frequent were cutaneous, digestive, and biological events. Notably, hand-foot syndrome occurred in 36.4% of these patients.

CONCLUSION

Regorafenib presented an unfavorable toxicity profile compared to tamoxifen, with no superior efficacy in this population of patients.

"Chronic fatigue, quality of life and long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in patients treated for non-epithelial ovarian cancer: national case-control protocol study of the GINECO-Vivrovaire rare tumors INCa French network for rare malignant ovarian tumors"

BACKGROUND

Germ cell tumors and sex cord stromal tumors are rare cancers of the ovary. They mainly affect young women and are associated with a high survival rate. The standard treatment mainly involves conservative surgery combined with chemotherapy [bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP)] depending on the stage and the prognostic factors, as for testicular cancers. As reported in testicular cancer survivors, chemotherapy may induce sequelae impacting quality of life, which has not yet been evaluated in survivors of germ cell tumors and sex cord stromal tumors. The GINECO-VIVROVAIRE-Rare tumor study is a two-step investigation aiming to assess i) chronic fatigue and quality of life and ii) long-term side-effects of chemotherapy with a focus on cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders.

METHODS

Using self-reported questionnaires, chronic fatigue and quality of life are compared between 134 ovarian cancer survivors (cancer-free ≥2 years after treatment) treated with surgery and chemotherapy and 2 control groups (67 ovarian cancer survivors treated with surgery alone and 67 age-matched healthy women). Medical data are collected from patient records. In the second step evaluating the long-term side-effects of chemotherapy, a subgroup of 90 patients treated with chemotherapy and 45 controls undergo the following work-up: cardiovascular evaluation (clinical examination, non-invasive cardiovascular tests to explore heart disease, blood tests), pulmonary function testing, audiogram, metabolic and hormonal blood tests. Costs of sequelae will be also assessed. Patients are selected from the registry of the INCa French Network for Rare Malignant Ovarian Tumors, and healthy women by the 'Seintinelles' connected network (collaborative research platform).

DISCUSSION

This study will provide important data on the potential long-term physical side-effects of chemotherapy in survivors of Germ Cell Tumors (GCT) and Sex Cord Stromal Tumors (SCST), especially cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, and neurotoxicity. The identification of long-term side-effects can contribute to adjusting the treatment of ovarian GCT or SCST patients and to managing follow-up with adapted recommendations regarding practices and chemotherapy regimens, in order to reduce toxicity while maintaining efficacy. Based on the results, intervention strategies could be proposed to improve the management of these patients during their treatment and in the long term.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov : 03418844 , on 1 February 2018. This trial was registered on 25 October 2017 under the unique European identification number (ID-RCB): 2017-A03028-45. Recruitment Status: Recruiting.

PROTOCOL VERSION

Version n° 4.2 dated from Feb 19, 2021.

TRIAL SPONSOR

Centre François Baclesse, 3 avenue du Général Harris, F-14076 Caen cedex 05, France.

Classification of 101 BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants of uncertain significance by cosegregation study: A powerful approach

Up to 80% of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants remain of uncertain clinical significance (VUSs). Only variants classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic can guide breast and ovarian cancer prevention measures and treatment by PARP inhibitors. We report the first results of the ongoing French national COVAR (cosegregation variant) study, the aim of which is to classify BRCA1/2 VUSs. The classification method was a multifactorial model combining different associations between VUSs and cancer, including cosegregation data. At this time, among the 653 variants selected, 101 (15%) distinct variants shared by 1,624 families were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic or benign/likely benign by the COVAR study. Sixty-six of the 101 (65%) variants classified by COVAR would have remained VUSs without cosegregation data. Of note, among the 34 variants classified as pathogenic by COVAR, 16 remained VUSs or likely pathogenic when following the ACMG/AMP variant classification guidelines. Although the initiation and organization of cosegregation analyses require a considerable effort, the growing number of available genetic tests results in an increasing number of families sharing a particular variant, and thereby increases the power of such analyses. Here we demonstrate that variant cosegregation analyses are a powerful tool for the classification of variants in the BRCA1/2 breast-ovarian cancer predisposition genes.

Diagnostic chest X-rays and breast cancer risk among women with a hereditary predisposition to breast cancer unexplained by a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation

Background

Diagnostic ionizing radiation is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC). BC risk increases with increased dose to the chest and decreases with increased age at exposure, with possible effect modification related to familial or genetic predisposition. While chest X-rays increase the BC risk of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers compared to non-carriers, little is known for women with a hereditary predisposition to BC but who tested negative for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutation.

Methods

We evaluated the effect of chest X-rays from diagnostic medical procedures in a dataset composed of 1552 BC cases identified through French family cancer clinics and 1363 unrelated controls. Participants reported their history of X-ray exposures in a detailed questionnaire and were tested for 113 DNA repair genes. Logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the association with BC.

Results

Chest X-ray exposure doubled BC risk. A 3% increased BC risk per additional exposure was observed. Being 20 years old or younger at first exposure or being exposed before first full-term pregnancy did not seem to modify this risk. Birth after 1960 or carrying a rare likely deleterious coding variant in a DNA repair gene other than BRCA1/2 modified the effect of chest X-ray exposure.

Conclusion

Ever/never chest X-ray exposure increases BC risk 2-fold regardless of age at first exposure and, by up to 5-fold when carrying 3 or more rare variants in a DNA repair gene.

Further studies are needed to evaluate other DNA repair genes or variants to identify those which could modify radiation sensitivity. Identification of subpopulations that are more or less susceptible to ionizing radiation is important and potentially clinically relevant.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-021-01456-1.

Abstract CT189: Characterization of ESR1 mutations at metastatic relapse and outcome under first line aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib in the PADA-1 trial

Background: Palbociclib (Pal) combined with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) is a standard of care as first line therapy in ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) ESR1 mutation (ESR1mut) status prior to treatment initiation may be associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) under first line Pal+AI; however, the impact of the exact type of ESR1mut, of their quantitative levels and clonality are unknown. In a subsidiary analysis of the first line PADA-1 phase 3 trial, cfDNA samples previously detected as positive by ddPCR were submitted to NGS; mutations types, level and clonality were correlated with patient outcomes under first line Pal+AI. Methods: PADA-1 (NCT03079011) is a phase III trial testing the clinical utility of real time ESR1mut detection in the blood of patients treated with AI-Pal. Main inclusion criteria are patients with ER+ HER2- MBC, who never received adjuvant AI or completed adjuvant AI for &gt;12 months, with neither prior therapy for MBC nor visceral crisis. ESR1mut are tracked in cfDNA from up to 4ml of plasma by a single ddPCR assay targeting E380, L536, Y537 and D538 hotspots (i.e. &gt;90% of known ESR1 activating mutations) with 0.1% sensitivity (Jeannot et al, Oncogene 2020). We sequenced the ddPCR positive cfDNA samples using a short amplicon-based NGS panel spanning 30 genes, including the full sequence of ESR1. We assessed for the correlation between PFS and ESR1mut type (NGS), absolute level (copy/ml, ddPCR) or variant allelic frequency (VAF, NGS & ddPCR), and clonality (NGS, pending the detection of other driver mutations). Results: Among the 1,017 included patients, N=33 (3.2%) had an ESR1mut detected by ddPCR at inclusion (median VAF= 2.5%, range (0.09-46.6%). 26/33 left-over cfDNA samples were available for NGS. ESR1mut VAFs retrieved by NGS and ddPCR showed an excellent intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC= 0.98; 95% CI [0.89;0.99]). In N=3 samples with low VAF by ddPCR (&lt;1%), NGS was not able to detect ESR1mut. ESR1 codons 380, 536, 537 and 538 were mutated in N=5, 6, 10 and 7 patients, respectively (5 patients (19.2%) having polyclonal mutations). Among evaluable patients, ESR1mut were found clonal and subclonal in 11 (47.8%) and 12 (52.2%) patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 24.8 months (range 0-41.9 months) (485 PFS events among the 1,017 included patients), ESR1mut detection at inclusion was found to be a prognostic factor for PFS (median PFS = 11.6 months 95% CI [8.3; NR] vs 28.5 months 95% CI [23.3;30.2]; HR= 2.2 95% CI = [1.4;3.4]). ESR1mut type, clonality and baseline levels had no significant additional impact on PFS. Conclusion: Presence of ESR1mut detected in cfDNA at metastatic relapse are associated with a shorter PFS under first line AI and palbociclib. ddPCR and NGS yielded similar quantitative results, while supplementary information obtained by NGS (mutation type and clonality) did not add further prognostic information. Funding: Pfizer, French National Cancer Institute (Grant PRT-K 2020-041)

Citation Format: Anne Pradines, Céline Callens, Aurélia Doussine, Ivan Bièche, Jérôme Lemonnier, Marjorie Mauduit, Thomas Bachelot, Florence Dalenc, Alain Lortholary, Barbara Pistilli, Thibault De La Motte Rouge, Renaud Sabatier, Jean-Marc Ferrero, Sylvain Ladoire, Frédérique Berger, François-Clément Bidard. Characterization of ESR1 mutations at metastatic relapse and outcome under first line aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib in the PADA-1 trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT189.

Sapanisertib Plus Exemestane or Fulvestrant in Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive/HER2-Negative Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

This open-label, multicenter, phase IB/II study evaluated sapanisertib, a dual inhibitor of mTOR kinase complexes 1/2, plus exemestane or fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺)/HER2-negative (HER2^-) advanced/metastatic breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients had previously progressed on everolimus with exemestane/fulvestrant and received ≤3 (phase IB) or ≤1 (phase II) prior chemotherapy regimens. Patients received sapanisertib 3 to 5 mg every day (phase IB), or 4 mg every day (phase II) with exemestane 25 mg every day or fulvestrant 500 mg monthly in 28-day cycles. Phase II enrolled parallel cohorts based on prior response to everolimus. The primary objective of phase II was to evaluate antitumor activity by clinical benefit rate at 16 weeks (CBR-16).

RESULTS

Overall, 118 patients enrolled in phase IB (n = 24) and II (n = 94). Five patients in phase IB experienced dose-limiting toxicities, at sapanisertib doses of 5 mg every day (n = 4) and 4 mg every day (n = 1); sapanisertib 4 mg every day was the MTD in combination with exemestane or fulvestrant. In phase II, in everolimus-sensitive versus everolimus-resistant cohorts, CBR-16 was 45% versus 23%, and overall response rate was 8% versus 2%, respectively. The most common adverse events were nausea (52%), fatigue (47%), diarrhea (37%), and hyperglycemia (33%); rash occurred in 17% of patients. Molecular analysis suggested positive association between AKT1 mutation status and best treatment response (complete + partial response; P = 0.0262).

CONCLUSIONS

Sapanisertib plus exemestane or fulvestrant was well tolerated and exhibited clinical benefit in postmenopausal women with pretreated everolimus-sensitive or everolimus-resistant breast cancer.

Efficacy and Safety of First-line Single-Agent Carboplatin vs Carboplatin Plus Paclitaxel for Vulnerable Older Adult Women With Ovarian Cancer: A GINECO/GCIG Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Single-agent carboplatin is often proposed instead of a conventional carboplatin-paclitaxel doublet in vulnerable older patients with ovarian cancer. Such an approach could have a detrimental effect on outcomes for these patients.

Objective

To compare the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of single-agent carboplatin every 3 weeks, weekly carboplatin-paclitaxel, or conventional every-3-weeks carboplatin-paclitaxel in vulnerable older patients with ovarian cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This international, open-label, 3-arm randomized clinical trial screened 447 women 70 years and older with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer by determining their Geriatric Vulnerability Score; 120 patients with a Geriatric Vulnerability Score of 3 or higher were stratified by country and surgical outcome. Enrollment took place at 48 academic centers in France, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Canada from December 11, 2013, to April 26, 2017. Final analysis database lock April 2019. Data analysis was performed from February 1 to December 31, 2019.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to receive 6 cycles of (1) carboplatin, area under the curve (AUC) 5 mg/mL·min, plus paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2, every 3 weeks; (2) single-agent carboplatin, AUC 5 mg/mL·min or AUC 6 mg/mL·min, every 3 weeks; or (3) weekly carboplatin, AUC 2 mg/mL·min, plus paclitaxel, 60 mg/m2, on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was treatment feasibility, defined as the ability to complete 6 chemotherapy cycles without disease progression, premature toxic effects-related treatment discontinuation, or death.

Results

A total of 120 women were randomized. The mean and median age was 80 (interquartile range, 76-83; range, 70-94) years; 43 (36%) had a Geriatric Vulnerability Score of 4 and 13 (11%) had a Geriatric Vulnerability Score of 5; 40 (33%) had stage IV disease. During its third meeting, the independent data monitoring committee's recommendation led to the termination of the trial because single-agent carboplatin was associated with significantly worse survival. Six cycles were completed in 26 of 40 (65%), 19 of 40 (48%), and 24 of 40 (60%) patients in the every-3-weeks combination, single-agent carboplatin, and weekly combination groups, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events were less common with the standard every-3-weeks combination (17 of 40 [43%]) than single-agent carboplatin or weekly combination therapy (both 23 of 40 [58%]). Treatment-related deaths occurred in 4 patients (2 of 40 [5%] in each combination group).

Conclusions and Relevance

This randomized clinical trial shows that compared with every-3-weeks or weekly carboplatin-paclitaxel regimens, single-agent carboplatin was less active with significantly worse survival outcomes in vulnerable older patients with ovarian cancer.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02001272.

ENGOT-en11/GOG-3053/KEYNOTE-B21: Phase 3 study of pembrolizumab or placebo in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy with/without radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk endometrial cancer

TPS5608

Background: Pembrolizumab, a selective humanized anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated activity in patients with previously treated mismatch repair (MMR) deficient (dMMR; 57.1% ORR as monotherapy and 63.6% ORR as combination therapy with lenvatinib) and MMR proficient (pMMR; 36.2% ORR as combination therapy with lenvatinib) endometrial cancer (EC). ENGOT-en11/GOG-3053/KEYNOTE-B21 is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind study of pembrolizumab or placebo in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy with/without radiotherapy in patients with EC. Methods: Eligible patients are ≥18 years old with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed high-risk (stage I/II non-endometrioid, stage III/IVa, p53 abnormality) EC (carcinoma or carcinosarcoma) following surgery with curative intent with no evidence of disease post-operatively or on imaging, and without prior systemic therapy/radiotherapy. In total, ̃990 patients are randomized to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo Q3W for 6 cycles + chemotherapy (carboplatin area under the curve [AUC] 5 or 6 + paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 Q3W or carboplatin AUC 2 or 2.7 + paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 QW) in stage 1. Patients receive pembrolizumab 400 mg or placebo Q6W for 6 cycles in stage 2 per their treatment assignment. At the investigator’s discretion, radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy [EBRT] and/or brachytherapy) ± radiosensitizing cisplatin 50 mg/m2 (days 1 and 29) may be administered after completion of chemotherapy. Randomization is stratified by MMR status (pMMR vs dMMR) and, within pMMR, by planned radiation therapy (cisplatin-EBRT vs EBRT vs no EBRT), histology (endometrioid vs non-endometrioid), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) surgical stage (I/II vs III/IVA). Dual primary endpoints are disease-free survival (DFS; per investigator assessment) and overall survival (OS), both estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, with a stratified log-rank test to assess treatment differences and a Cox proportional hazard model with Efron’s method of tie handling to assess the magnitude of treatment differences. Secondary endpoints include DFS (per blinded independent central review), DFS (per investigator assessment) and OS by biomarker status (PD-L1 and tumor mutational burden), safety (per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0) and quality of life (per European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 [EORTC QLQ-C30] and Endometrial Cancer Module [EORTC QLQ-EN24]). The study began enrollment in December 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT04634877.

Evaluation of a RAD51 functional assay in advanced ovarian cancer, a GINECO/GINEGEPS study

5513

Background: Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), defined as BRCA1/2 mutation ( BRCAmut)or high genomic instability, is currently used to identify patients (pts) with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitors. While these genomic tests are useful, they are imperfect: some BRCAm EOC demonstrate primary PARPi resistance and some HR-proficient benefit. Another approach to evaluate HRD is to measure the capacity of tumor cells to recruit nuclear RAD51 foci during S/G2 phase in the presence of double strand DNA damage using multiplexed immunofluorescence (IF) for RAD51, geminin (GMN) and yH2AX. We aimed to describe for the 1st time HRD using this RAD51 functional assay in EOC and correlate RAD51 status to platinum response and BRCAmut. Methods: Tumor samples and clinical data were collected prospectively from pts in the randomized CHIVA trial of neoadjuvant platinum chemotherapy +/- nintedanib. IF for RAD51, GMN, and DAPI was performed on a 3uM slide from FFPE blocks, where feasible, yH2AX was positively scored on a consecutive slide. Tumors were considered RAD51-deficient if < 10% of gem+ tumor cells (TC) had > 5 RAD51+ foci. BRCAmut were identified by NGS. Results: 155 baseline chemotherapy naïve EOC samples were available. All were advanced stage (IIIC/IV), 75% were G3, 7% G2, 2% G1, and 16% grade UK. A contributive RAD51 result was obtained for 90% (139/155) of samples. Contributive NGS results were available for 130 samples. Overall, yH2AX scores were high (median % TC+: 86%, IQR: 56%-100%) confirming the presence of significant basal DNA damage in high grade EOC. Only 8 samples were yH2AX-low, including two of the three G1 tumors. In contrast, 55% (76/155) of samples were considered RAD51-deficient (score < 10%). With regard to outcome, pts with RAD51-deficient tumors had significantly higher overall response rates to neoadjuvant platinum (68% vs 37%, p = 0.04) and significantly longer median progression-free survival (HR 0.50, IC95% 0.25-0.98, p = 0.02). Considering BRCA status, 15% of tumors harbored a deleterious BRCAmut and 67% of these were RAD51-deficient. Importantly among BRCAmut EOC, the RAD51-proficient tumors had significantly poorer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (RR = 17% vs 75%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: We evaluated a novel functional assay of HR functionality in advanced EOC. The assay requires minimal tissue and yields contributive results in 90% of cases. Overall, EOC demonstrate high levels of basal DNA damage, yet 55% fail to recruit RAD51 foci during S/G2 cell cycle phase. These RAD51-deficient EOC have improved outcome after neoadjuvant platinum. Conversely, the RAD51 assay also identified a small subset of RAD51-high BRCAmut tumors with poor platinum response. Whether this RAD51 functional assay may also predict PARP inhibitor benefit is currently being investigated.

ROCSAN trial (GINECO-EN203b/ENGOT-EN8): A multicentric randomized phase II/III evaluating dostarlimab in combination with niraparib versus niraparib alone compared to chemotherapy in the treatment of endometrial/ovarian carcinosarcoma after at least one line of platinum based chemotherapy

TPS5604

Background: Gynecological carcinosarcomas (CS) are rare and highly aggressive tumors with a 5-year overall survival (OS) < 10%. After initial treatment majority of patients (pts) relapse and receive diverse chemotherapies (CT) producing modest benefits. The median PFS in relapse after platinum based CT is less than 4 months and median OS less than 1 year. New innovative strategies are urgently needed. Since CS showed high DNA damage response activity and potentially a high tumor mutation load resulting in neo-antigens, a synergy between PARPi and anti-PD1 is expected. Methods: ROCSAN is a multicentric, randomized, open-label, integrated Phase II/III study. In the Phase II, 63 pts with recurrent or progressing endometrial or ovarian CS after at least a first line of platinum-based CT will be randomized (2:2:1) to receive either niraparib in monotherapy, niraparib in combination with dostarlimab or standard CT (paclitaxel, doxorubicine, gemcitabine, topotecan). Stratification factors include the number of previous CT lines (1 vs 2-3), FIGO stage at diagnosis (I-II vs III-IV), CS localisation (ovarian vs endometrial), and performance status (0-1 vs 2). The primary objective of the Phase II is to select the best experimental strategy between niraparib and dostarlimab/niraparib combination based on Response Rate at 4 months (RR-4M by RECIST1.1). A single stage design with a 10% unacceptable RR-4M and a 30% targeted RR-4M was used to determine Phase II sample size, assuming a 10% one sided alpha for each comparison and more than 90% power. A pick-the-winner selection design could be used in case of promising efficacy in each experimental arm. At the interim analysis, an Independent Data Monitoring Committee will make recommendation for the selection of the optimal experimental arm. The Steering committee could then support to continue enrolment for the international Phase III which is calibrated to detect an improvement in median OS from 7 months (Standard CT) to 11.7 months (best experimental arm). Assuming a 5% alpha level and 80% power, 133 additional pts could be randomized (2:1). Secondary endpoints include safety, PFS, PFS2, TTST, ORR, duration of response, patient report outcomes (assessed via EORTC QLQ-C30 OV28, HADS, PRO-CTCAE). A translational program supported by European Community is associated to the clinical study to identify predictive biomarkers of response/resistance to study treatments, to correlate with immune environment, a special focus on genetic instability and the EMT process will be included. Trial is currently recruiting only in France for the phase II part, the first pt was randomized in July 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT 03651206.

Progression-free survival (PFS) and second PFS (PFS2) by disease stage in patients (pts) with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer receiving bevacizumab (bev) with olaparib/placebo maintenance in the phase III PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 trial

5514

Background: In the Phase III PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 trial (NCT02477644), the addition of maintenance olaparib to bev in pts with newly diagnosed advanced high-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC) resulted in a significant PFS benefit, particularly in HRD-positive (HRD+) pts (hazard ratio [HR] 0.33; 95% CI 0.25–0.45) (Ray-Coquard et al. NEJM 2019). We explored efficacy in HRD+ pts by disease stage. Methods: Pts with newly diagnosed, FIGO stage III–IV HGOC in response after platinum-based chemotherapy + bev received bev (15 mg/kg q3w for 15 months [mo]) + either olaparib (300 mg bid for 24 mo) or placebo (pbo). This exploratory analysis evaluated PFS (data cut-off [DCO]: Mar 22 2019) and PFS2 (DCO: Mar 22 2020) in HRD+ pts (tumor BRCA1/ BRCA2 mutation [tBRCAm] or genomic instability score [Myriad myChoice HRD Plus] ≥42) by FIGO stage. Results: 387/806 randomized pts (48%) were HRD+; 272/387 (70%) had stage III disease and 115/387 (30%) had stage IV disease. 153 (56%) HRD+ stage III pts and 61 (53%) HRD+ stage IV pts had a tBRCAm. Among HRD+ stage III pts, 172 (63%) had upfront surgery (51/172 [30%] had residual disease) and 90 (33%) had interval surgery (19/90 [21%] had residual disease); 52 (45%) HRD+ stage IV pts had upfront surgery (34/52 [65%] had residual disease) and 55 (48%) had interval surgery (18/55 [33%] had residual disease). Median follow-up for PFS and PFS2 was respectively 24.8 and 37.2 mo in HRD+ stage III pts and 24.0 and 37.0 mo in HRD+ stage IV pts. Median PFS, PFS2 and HRs are in the Table. Among HRD+ stage III pts, 36-mo PFS2 (olaparib + bev vs pbo + bev) was 74% vs 60%; among HRD+ stage IV pts, 53% vs 30%. Among HRD+ stage III pts with no residual disease after upfront surgery, HR (95% CI) for PFS was 0.15 (0.07–0.30) and for PFS2 was 0.22 (0.06–0.67). Among HRD+ stage III pts with residual disease after upfront surgery or who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or HRD+ stage IV pts, HR (95% CI) for PFS was 0.38 (0.27–0.53) and PFS2 was 0.68 (0.46–1.03). Conclusions: In the PAOLA-1 study, maintenance olaparib + bev provided a PFS and PFS2 benefit over pbo + bev in HRD+ pts, irrespective of FIGO stage and residual disease after upfront surgery. Clinical trial information: NCT02477644. [Table: see text]

Patient-centred outcomes and effect of disease progression on health status in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation receiving maintenance olaparib or placebo (SOLO1): a randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

In the phase 3 SOLO1 trial, maintenance olaparib provided a significant progression-free survival benefit versus placebo in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation in response after platinum-based chemotherapy. We analysed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient-centred outcomes in SOLO1, and the effect of radiological disease progression on health status.

METHODS

SOLO1 is a randomised, double-blind, international trial done in 118 centres and 15 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older; had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0-1; had newly diagnosed, advanced, high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer with a BRCA mutation; and were in clinical complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to either 300 mg olaparib tablets or placebo twice per day using an interactive voice and web response system and were treated for up to 2 years. Treatment assignment was masked for patients and for clinicians giving the interventions, and those collecting and analysing the data. Randomisation was stratified by response to platinum-based chemotherapy (clinical complete or partial response). HRQOL was a secondary endpoint and the prespecified primary HRQOL endpoint was the change from baseline in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian Cancer Trial Outcome Index (TOI) score for the first 24 months. TOI scores range from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicated better HRQOL), with a clinically meaningful difference defined as a difference of at least 10 points. Prespecified exploratory endpoints were quality-adjusted progression-free survival and time without significant symptoms of toxicity (TWiST). HRQOL endpoints were analysed in all randomly assigned patients. The trial is ongoing but closed to new participants. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01844986.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 3, 2013, and March 6, 2015, 1084 patients were enrolled. 693 patients were ineligible, leaving 391 eligible patients who were randomly assigned to olaparib (n=260) or placebo (n=131; one placebo patient withdrew before receiving any study treatment), with a median duration of follow-up of 40·7 months (IQR 34·9-42·9) for olaparib and 41·2 months (32·2-41·6) for placebo. There was no clinically meaningful change in TOI score at 24 months within or between the olaparib and placebo groups (adjusted mean change in score from baseline over 24 months was 0·30 points [95% CI -0·72 to 1·32] in the olaparib group vs 3·30 points [1·84 to 4·76] in the placebo group; between-group difference of -3·00, 95% CI -4·78 to -1·22; p=0·0010). Mean quality-adjusted progression-free survival (olaparib 29·75 months [95% CI 28·20-31·63] vs placebo 17·58 [15·05-20·18]; difference 12·17 months [95% CI 9·07-15·11], p<0·0001) and the mean duration of TWiST (olaparib 33·15 months [95% CI 30·82-35·49] vs placebo 20·24 months [17·36-23·11]; difference 12·92 months [95% CI 9·30-16·54]; p<0·0001) were significantly longer with olaparib than with placebo.

INTERPRETATION

The substantial progression-free survival benefit provided by maintenance olaparib in the newly diagnosed setting was achieved with no detrimental effect on patients' HRQOL and was supported by clinically meaningful quality-adjusted progression-free survival and TWiST benefits with maintenance olaparib versus placebo.

FUNDING

AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp & Dohme.

Gene- and pathway-level analyses of iCOGS variants highlight novel signaling pathways underlying familial breast cancer susceptibility

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in over 180 loci have been associated with breast cancer (BC) through genome‐wide association studies involving mostly unselected population‐based case‐control series. Some of them modify BC risk of women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutation and may also explain BC risk variability in BC‐prone families with no BRCA1/2 mutation. Here, we assessed the contribution of SNPs of the iCOGS array in GENESIS consisting of BC cases with no BRCA1/2 mutation and a sister with BC, and population controls. Genotyping data were available for 1281 index cases, 731 sisters with BC, 457 unaffected sisters and 1272 controls. In addition to the standard SNP‐level analysis using index cases and controls, we performed pedigree‐based association tests to capture transmission information in the sibships. We also performed gene‐ and pathway‐level analyses to maximize the power to detect associations with lower‐frequency SNPs or those with modest effect sizes. While SNP‐level analyses identified 18 loci, gene‐level analyses identified 112 genes. Furthermore, 31 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and 7 Atlas of Cancer Signaling Network pathways were highlighted (false discovery rate of 5%). Using results from the “index case‐control” analysis, we built pathway‐derived polygenic risk scores (PRS) and assessed their performance in the population‐based CECILE study and in a data set composed of GENESIS‐affected sisters and CECILE controls. Although these PRS had poor predictive value in the general population, they performed better than a PRS built using our SNP‐level findings, and we found that the joint effect of family history and PRS needs to be considered in risk prediction models.

What's new?

Genetic studies have identified more than 180 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer susceptibility, but these studies are reaching their limits. Here, the authors evaluated SNPs in the iCOGS genotyping array using a multilevel approach, including single variant, gene, and pathway analyses. They measured the contribution of the SNPs to breast cancer in patients who have a sister with breast cancer but do not carry a BRCA1/2 mutation. They showed that a pathway‐derived polygenic risk score performed poorly in the general population, and that the best predictive model must include family history.

Quality of advanced ovarian cancer surgery: A French assessment of ESGO quality indicators

OBJECTIVES

In 2016, the European Society of Gynecology Oncology (ESGO) published indicators defining the quality of surgical management of advanced ovarian cancer. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of ovarian cancer patient management in regional centers authorized for gynecological cancer, based on the ESGO list of quality indicators.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was conducted from January 1 to June 30, 2016. The following quality indicators 1 "rate of complete surgical resection", 4 "center participating in clinical trials in gynecologic oncology", 5 "treatment planned and reviewed at a multidisciplinary team meeting", 6 "required preoperative workup", 8 "minimum required elements in operative reports" and 9 "minimum required elements in pathology reports" were selected.

RESULTS

91 patients were evaluated in 16 centers. The required preoperative workup was incomplete in 25% of cases. Treatment was not planned at a multidisciplinary team meeting for 24%. An evaluation score of peritoneal involvement was included in 40% of the operative reports and the quality of surgical resection was reported in 72%. Primary surgery was most often performed in a peripheral hospital (48%), interval surgery in a private center (37%), and closure surgery in a regional cancer center (43%). No institution respected the six quality indicators evaluated. One regional cancer center respected five items and two private centers did not respect any.

CONCLUSION

Whilst the ESGO quality indicators provide objective, validated and evaluable support which centers can use to improve quality of care, we observed heterogeneous practices amongst the centers evaluated.

Need for risk-adapted therapy for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: A large multicenter analysis of germ cell tumors' patients from French TMRG network

BACKGROUND

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors are rare tumors, affecting young women with a generally favorable prognosis. The French reference network for Rare Malignant Gynecological Tumors (TMRG) aims to improve their management. The purpose of this study is to report clinicopathological features and long-term outcomes, to explore prognostic parameters and to help in considering adjuvant strategy for stage I patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from patients with MOGCT registered among 13 of the largest centers of the TMRG network were analyzed. We report clinicopathological features, estimated 5-year event-free survival (5y-EFS) and 5-year overall survival (5y-OS) of MOGCT patients.

RESULTS

We collected data from 147 patients including 101 (68.7%) FIGO stage I patients. Histology identifies 40 dysgerminomas, 52 immature teratomas, 32 yolk sac tumors, 2 choriocarcinomas and 21 mixed tumors. Surgery was performed in 140 (95.2%) patients and 106 (72.1%) received first line chemotherapy. Twenty-two stage I patients did not receive chemotherapy. Relapse occurred in 24 patients: 13 were exclusively treated with upfront surgery and 11 received surgery and chemotherapy. 5y-EFS was 82% and 5y-OS was 92.4%. Stage I patients who underwent surgery alone had an estimated 5y-EFS of 54.6% and patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy 94.4% (P < .001). However, no impact on estimated 5y-OS was observed: 96.3% versus 97.8% respectively (P = .62). FIGO stage, complete primary surgery and post-operative alpha fetoprotein level significantly correlated with survival.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant chemotherapy does not seem to improve survival in stage I patients. Active surveillance can be proposed for selected patients with a complete surgical staging.

Five year letrozole versus placebo in BRCA1/2 germline mutations carriers: Final results of LIBER, a double-blind randomized phase III breast cancer prevention trial

1534

Background: Women with germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) mutations have a 70% lifetime risk of breast cancer (BC). Medical prevention by aromatase inhibitors is effective in high-risk patients (pts), including those with familial risk. However, hormone prevention has not been specifically addressed in women (wn) carrying gBRCA1/2 mutations. Methods: LIBER is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial evaluating 5-year treatment with letrozole 2.5 mg/day (L) versus placebo (P) on decreasing BC incidence in post-menopausal women with gBRCA1/2 mutations ( NCT00673335 ). Eligible wn were aged 40-70 and could have had unilateral BC > 5 years ago. Randomization was stratified on mutation ( BRCA1/BRCA2), bilateral oophorectomy and history of prior BC. Primary endpoint was 5-year invasive BC-free survival (BC-FS) in wn with or without previous BC. Main secondary endpoints were safety and quality of life (menopause rating scale, SF36). 270 pts were required to observe 37 events to show a gain in 5-year invasive BC-FS from 80% to 92% (HR=0.35) with 1-sided α=0.05 and 90% power. Results: 170 wn were randomized from 02/2008 to 02/2013; 86 and 84 were assigned to the P and L arm. Median age was 55 years (range 40-70). Pt characteristics were well balanced; 59% and 41% carried gBRCA1 and gBRCA2 mutations. In P and L arms, 47% and 43% had prior BC, 43% and 42% stopped treatment prematurely, 37 and 23 serious adverse events occurred, and during active treatment, 8 and 10 wn had grade 3/4 toxicity. Median follow-up was 72.7 months. Five-year BC-FS did not significantly differ between the P and L arms (92% vs 91%, HR 0.83; 95%CI: 0.3-2.3, p=0.73) in the overall population, nor in the subgroups of wn with and without previous BC (74% vs 91%; HR 0.43; 95% CI: 0.1-1.3; 90% vs 86%; HR 1.29; 95% CI 0.4-3.9), gBRCA1 versus gBRCA2 or hormone receptor-positive BC. Letrozole had no effect on quality of life. The two groups did not significantly differ in bone density, which decreased over time in the overall population. Conclusions: In this prospective preventive trial, BC-FS was not significantly decreased by letrozole versus placebo in women with BRCA1/2 mutations. However, the study was underpowered (170 of 270 pts expected). Despite no differences in safety and quality of life, drop-out rate was high in both P and L arms. Clinical trial information: NCT00673335.

Correction to: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, natural menopause, and breast cancer risk: an international prospective cohort of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that columns in Table 2 were erroneously displayed.

Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, natural menopause, and breast cancer risk: an international prospective cohort of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

BACKGROUND

The effect of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) on breast cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers is uncertain. Retrospective analyses have suggested a protective effect but may be substantially biased. Prospective studies have had limited power, particularly for BRCA2 mutation carriers. Further, previous studies have not considered the effect of RRSO in the context of natural menopause.

METHODS

A multi-centre prospective cohort of 2272 BRCA1 and 1605 BRCA2 mutation carriers was followed for a mean of 5.4 and 4.9 years, respectively; 426 women developed incident breast cancer. RRSO was modelled as a time-dependent covariate in Cox regression, and its effect assessed in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

RESULTS

There was no association between RRSO and breast cancer for BRCA1 (HR = 1.23; 95% CI 0.94-1.61) or BRCA2 (HR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.62-1.24) mutation carriers. For BRCA2 mutation carriers, HRs were 0.68 (95% CI 0.40-1.15) and 1.07 (95% CI 0.69-1.64) for RRSO carried out before or after age 45 years, respectively. The HR for BRCA2 mutation carriers decreased with increasing time since RRSO (HR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.26-0.99 for 5 years or longer after RRSO). Estimates for premenopausal women were similar.

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence that RRSO reduces breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers. A potentially beneficial effect for BRCA2 mutation carriers was observed, particularly after 5 years following RRSO. These results may inform counselling and management of carriers with respect to RRSO.

Olaparib plus Bevacizumab as First-Line Maintenance in Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Olaparib has shown significant clinical benefit as maintenance therapy in women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer with a BRCA mutation. The effect of combining maintenance olaparib and bevacizumab in patients regardless of BRCA mutation status is unknown.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, international phase 3 trial. Eligible patients had newly diagnosed, advanced, high-grade ovarian cancer and were having a response after first-line platinum-taxane chemotherapy plus bevacizumab. Patients were eligible regardless of surgical outcome or BRCA mutation status. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive olaparib tablets (300 mg twice daily) or placebo for up to 24 months; all the patients received bevacizumab at a dose of 15 mg per kilogram of body weight every 3 weeks for up to 15 months in total. The primary end point was the time from randomization until investigator-assessed disease progression or death.

RESULTS

Of the 806 patients who underwent randomization, 537 were assigned to receive olaparib and 269 to receive placebo. After a median follow-up of 22.9 months, the median progression-free survival was 22.1 months with olaparib plus bevacizumab and 16.6 months with placebo plus bevacizumab (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.72; P<0.001). The hazard ratio (olaparib group vs. placebo group) for disease progression or death was 0.33 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.45) in patients with tumors positive for homologous-recombination deficiency (HRD), including tumors that had BRCA mutations (median progression-free survival, 37.2 vs. 17.7 months), and 0.43 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.66) in patients with HRD-positive tumors that did not have BRCA mutations (median progression-free survival, 28.1 vs. 16.6 months). Adverse events were consistent with the established safety profiles of olaparib and bevacizumab.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced ovarian cancer receiving first-line standard therapy including bevacizumab, the addition of maintenance olaparib provided a significant progression-free survival benefit, which was substantial in patients with HRD-positive tumors, including those without a BRCA mutation. (Funded by ARCAGY Research and others; PAOLA-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02477644.).

Decision of adjuvant chemotherapy in intermediate risk luminal breast cancer patients: A prospective multicenter trial assessing the clinical and psychological impact of EndoPredict® (EpClin) use (UCBG 2-14)

Purpose

Genomic tests can identify ER-positive HER2-negative localized breast cancer patients who may not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Such tests seem especially interesting in “intermediate” clinico-pathological risk categories. The psychological impact of the decision uncertainty in these women remains largely unexplored. We assessed the clinical and psychological impact of EndoPredict® (EpClin), a clinico-genomic test, in these patients.

Methods

This multicenter, single arm prospective study (NCT02773004) enrolled patients for which adjuvant chemotherapy was uncertain, based on predefined criteria. The primary endpoint was the proportion of change between initial adjuvant decision and final administration of chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included post-test (Day 17) and 1-year patient reported outcomes.

Results

One third of 200 evaluable patients had a high EpClin score (≥3.32867; 10 years cumulative risk of distance failure ≥10%). The overall change rate of chemotherapy decision was 72/200 (35.8%, 95% CI 29.2–42.4). Chemotherapy was withdrawn in 57 cases (28.4% [22.2–34.8]) and added in 15 (7.5% [3.8–11.2]. 6 changes (8%) were based on patients’ decisions. Anxiety and distress levels increased at Day 17 when adding chemotherapy after the test result (p < 10⁻⁷ and 0.00022 respectively), while stable in other situations. At 1-year, all patients had returned to the baseline anxiety and distress levels (mean anxiety 51.5, +/− SD = 2.5 [max. 80], mean distress 3±1 [max. 10]).

Conclusions

EndoPredict ® (EpClin) is clinically useful in deciding whether or not to administer adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with intermediate risk. A single-step decision is preferable since adding chemotherapy at a later stage increases anxiety and distress.

•

EndoPredict ® (EpClin) allowed a chemotherapy decision modification in 35% of the patients included in the Adendom trial.

•

Patient-physician concertation is important: 8% of treatment changes are based on patients’ will.

•

A single-step decision including the test appears preferable to limit anxiety and distress.

Actionability of HER2-amplified circulating tumor cells in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: the CirCe T-DM1 trial

BACKGROUND

In this prospective phase 2 trial, we assessed the efficacy of trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with HER2-positive CTC.

METHODS

Main inclusion criteria for screening were as follows: women with HER2-negative MBC treated with ≥ 2 prior lines of chemotherapy and measurable disease. CTC with a HER2/CEP17 ratio of ≥ 2.2 by fluorescent in situ hybridization (CellSearch) were considered to be HER2-amplified (HER2_amp). Patients with ≥ 1 HER2_amp CTC were eligible for the treatment phase (T-DM1 monotherapy). The primary endpoint was the overall response rate.

RESULTS

In 154 screened patients, ≥ 1 and ≥ 5 CTC/7.5 ml of blood were detected in N = 118 (78.7%) and N = 86 (57.3%) patients, respectively. ≥1 HER2_amp CTC was found in 14 patients (9.1% of patients with ≥ 1 CTC/7.5 ml). Among 11 patients treated with T-DM1, one achieved a confirmed partial response. Four patients had a stable disease as best response. Median PFS was 4.8 months while median OS was 9.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

CTC with HER2 amplification can be detected in a limited subset of HER2-negative MBC patients. Treatment with T-DM1 achieved a partial response in only one patient.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01975142, Registered 03 November 2013.