Association of clinical factors and recent anticancer therapy with COVID-19 severity among patients with cancer: a report from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer may be at high risk of adverse outcomes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We analyzed a cohort of patients with cancer and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) reported to the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) to identify prognostic clinical factors, including laboratory measurements and anticancer therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with active or historical cancer and a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis recorded between 17 March and 18 November 2020 were included. The primary outcome was COVID-19 severity measured on an ordinal scale (uncomplicated, hospitalized, admitted to intensive care unit, mechanically ventilated, died within 30 days). Multivariable regression models included demographics, cancer status, anticancer therapy and timing, COVID-19-directed therapies, and laboratory measurements (among hospitalized patients).

RESULTS

A total of 4966 patients were included (median age 66 years, 51% female, 50% non-Hispanic white); 2872 (58%) were hospitalized and 695 (14%) died; 61% had cancer that was present, diagnosed, or treated within the year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Older age, male sex, obesity, cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, non-Hispanic black race, Hispanic ethnicity, worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, recent cytotoxic chemotherapy, and hematologic malignancy were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Among hospitalized patients, low or high absolute lymphocyte count; high absolute neutrophil count; low platelet count; abnormal creatinine; troponin; lactate dehydrogenase; and C-reactive protein were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Patients diagnosed early in the COVID-19 pandemic (January-April 2020) had worse outcomes than those diagnosed later. Specific anticancer therapies (e.g. R-CHOP, platinum combined with etoposide, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors) were associated with high 30-day all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical factors (e.g. older age, hematological malignancy, recent chemotherapy) and laboratory measurements were associated with poor outcomes among patients with cancer and COVID-19. Although further studies are needed, caution may be required in utilizing particular anticancer therapies.

CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER

NCT04354701.

Clinical activity of the oral MEK1/MEK2 inhibitor GSK1120212 in pancreatic and colorectal cancer

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Background: GSK1120212 is a reversible, highly selective allosteric inhibitor of MEK1/MEK2. The objectives of this phase I study are to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and response rate of GSK1120212 in advanced solid tumors. Cohorts of advanced chemoresistant pancreas (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have been enrolled.

Methods: GSK1120212 is given orally, once daily (QD). In this three-part study GSK1120212 was escalated to an MTD, was administered in selected tumor types to evaluate recommended phase II doses (RP2D), and was evaluated for minimum biological activity using PD assessments.

Results: 202 patients (pts) have received ≥ 1 dose of GSK1120212, including 26 PC and 27 CRC pts. The MTD is 3 mg QD and the RP2D is 2 mg QD. Dose limiting toxicities are rash (N=2), diarrhea (N=1), central serous retinopathy (N=2) and are reversible. At 2 mg QD (N=68), the most common adverse events are rash (47% G1, 37% G2, 4% G3) and diarrhea (41% G1, 12% G2, 1% G3). There has been one event of retinal vein occlusion. GSK1120212 has a small peak:trough ratio of ∼ 2 and an effective half life of ∼ 4.5 days. Steady state is reached by ∼ day 15. In the 26 evaluable PC pts, 2 partial responses (PR) and 11 stable diseases (SD) have been observed. 1 PR is KRAS mutation positive and is ongoing at 28 weeks. Among the SD pts, 2 achieved ≥ 20% tumor reduction and at least 3 were on study for 16 weeks or longer. CA19-9 reduction ≥ 55% was observed in both PR and 3 SD pts, 1 of which remained on study for 40 weeks. Among the KRAS mutation positive CRC pts (n=12), 4 SD were observed. These pts were on study for 31, 28, 16, and 16 weeks. Among the KRAS mutation negative or status unknown pts (n=12), 2 SD were observed; no pt was on study for > 19 weeks. Among the B-RAF mutation positive pts (n=3), 2 SD were observed; both are still ongoing at >16 weeks.

Conclusions: The RP2D is well tolerated. The long effective half life and small peak:trough ratio of GSK1120212 allow constant target inhibition within a narrow range of exposure. GSK1120212 demonstrates durable clinical activity in a subset of pts with PC or CRC.

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