The PARTNER trial of neoadjuvant olaparib in triple-negative breast cancer

PARTNER is a prospective, phase II-III, randomised controlled clinical trial, which recruited patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)1,2, who were gBRCA wild type (gBRCAwt)3. Patients (n=559) were randomised on a 1:1 basis to neoadjuvant carboplatin with paclitaxel +/- olaparib 150mg twice daily, days 3 to 14, for 4 cycles (gap schedule olaparib, research arm) followed by 3 cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy before surgery. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR)4, and secondary endpoints included event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS)5. pCR was achieved in 51% in the research arm and 52% in the control arm (p=0.753). Estimated EFS at 36 months in research and control arms were 80% and 79% (log-rank p>0.9); OS were 90% and 87.2% (log-rank p=0.8) respectively. In patients with pCR, estimated EFS at 36 months was 90%, and with non-pCR was 70% (log-rank p < 0.001) and OS was 96% and 83% (log-rank p < 0.001) respectively. Neo-adjuvant olaparib did not improve pCR rates, EFS or OS when added to carboplatin/paclitaxel and anthracycline chemotherapy in patients with TNBC (gBRCAwt). This is in marked contrast to the major benefit of olaparib (gap schedule) in those with gBRCA pathogenic variants (gBRCAm) which is reported separately (gBRCAm article). ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03150576.

A UK prospective multicentre decision impact, decision conflict and economic evaluation of the 21-gene assay in women with node+ve, hormone receptor+ve, HER2-ve breast cancer

BACKGROUND

For a tumour profiling test to be of value, it needs to demonstrate that it is changing clinical decisions, improving clinical confidence, and of economic benefit. This trial evaluated the use of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® assay against these criteria in 680 women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative early breast cancer with 1-3 lymph nodes positive (LN+) in the UK National Health Service (NHS).

METHODS

Prior to receipt of the Recurrence Score (RS) result, both the physician and the patient were asked to state their preference for or against chemotherapy and their level of confidence on a scale of 1-5. Following receipt of the RS result, the physician and patient were asked to make a final decision regarding chemotherapy and record their post-test level of confidence.

RESULTS

Receipt of the RS result led to a 51.5% (95% CI, 47.2-55.8%) reduction in chemotherapy, significantly increased the relative and absolute confidence for both physicians and patients and led to an estimated saving to the NHS of £787 per patient.

CONCLUSION

The use of the Oncotype DX assay fulfils the criteria of changing clinical decisions, improving confidence and saving money.

Comparison of Circulating Tumor DNA Assays for Molecular Residual Disease Detection in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

Detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients who have completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer is associated with a high risk of relapse, yet the optimal assay for ctDNA detection is unknown.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The cTRAK-TN clinical trial prospectively used tumor-informed digital PCR (dPCR) assays for ctDNA molecular residual disease (MRD) detection in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. We compared tumor-informed dPCR assays with tumor-informed personalized multimutation sequencing assays in 141 patients from cTRAK-TN.

RESULTS

MRD was first detected by personalized sequencing in 47.9% of patients, 0% first detected by dPCR, and 52.1% with both assays simultaneously (P < 0.001; Fisher exact test). The median lead time from ctDNA detection to relapse was 6.1 months with personalized sequencing and 3.9 months with dPCR (P = 0.004, mixed-effects Cox model). Detection of MRD at the first time point was associated with a shorter time to relapse compared with detection at subsequent time points (median lead time 4.2 vs. 7.1 months; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Personalized multimutation sequencing assays have potential clinically important improvements in clinical outcome in the early detection of MRD.

Olaparib and Ceralasertib (AZD6738) in Patients with Triple-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Results from Cohort E of the plasmaMATCH Trial (CRUK/15/010)

PURPOSE

Approximately 10% to 15% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) have deleterious mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 and may benefit from PARP inhibitor treatment. PARP inhibitors may also increase exogenous replication stress and thereby increase sensitivity to inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein. This phase II study examined the activity of the combination of PARP inhibitor, olaparib, and ATR inhibitor, ceralasertib (AZD6738), in patients with advanced TNBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with TNBC on most recent biopsy who had received 1 or 2 lines of chemotherapy for advanced disease or had relapsed within 12 months of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy were eligible. Treatment was olaparib 300 mg twice a day continuously and celarasertib 160 mg on days 1-7 on a 28-day cycle until disease progression. The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate (ORR). Tissue and plasma biomarker analyses were preplanned to identify predictors of response.

RESULTS

70 evaluable patients were enrolled. Germline BRCA1/2 mutations were present in 10 (14%) patients and 3 (4%) patients had somatic BRCA mutations. The confirmed ORR was 12/70; 17.1% (95% confidence interval, 10.4-25.5). Responses were observed in patients without germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutations, including patients with mutations in other homologous recombination repair genes and tumors with functional homologous recombination deficiency by RAD51 foci.

CONCLUSIONS

The response rate to olaparib and ceralasertib did not meet prespecified criteria for activity in the overall evaluable population, but responses were observed in patients who would not be expected to respond to olaparib monotherapy.

Abstract PD5-03: PD5-03 Comparison of a personalized sequencing assay and digital PCR for circulating tumor DNA based Molecular Residual Disease detection in early-stage triple negative breast cancer in the cTRAK-TN trial

Background: Detection of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in patients (pts) who have completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer is associated with a high risk of future relapse. Identifying those at high risk of subsequent relapse may allow tailoring of further therapy to delay or prevent recurrence. Previous analysis of this cohort showed that tools capable of detecting ctDNA at lower concentrations are needed to increase sensitivity and lengthen the lead time between ctDNA detection and relapse. We compared ctDNA detection via a personalised sequencing assay to dPCR in patients from the cTRAK TN clinical trial. Methods: The cTRAK-TN trial recruited 161 pts into prospective ctDNA surveillance with dPCR, with ctDNA positive pts randomised to 1) CT staging plus pembrolizumab therapy for patients without relapse or 2) observation. Pts had serial post-treatment surveillance plasma samples collected every 3 months for up to 2 years. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on tumor DNA from FFPE samples to design personalised Residual Disease and Recurrence (RaDaR®) multiplex PCR based NGS assays. Retrospectively, plasma DNA extracted from a minimum of 2mls banked plasma, was sequenced with personalised RaDaR assays, and ctDNA detection identified with a proprietary algorithm. dPCR assays tracked 1-2 mutations, as previously described. Primary endpoint was rate of positive ctDNA detection by 12 months from start of surveillance in both assays. Secondary endpoints were agreement in ctDNA detection between RaDaR and dPCR assays and lead-time between ctDNA detection and disease recurrence. Results: Overall, 147 pts and 241 tissue samples were subject to WES, and RaDaR assays were developed for 142 pts with sufficient plasma for testing. RaDaR assays tracked a median of 47 variants (range 33-56) per patient, and a total of 907 timepoints were analysed (median 6 timepoints per pt, range 1-11). With RaDaR, 39.4% (56/142) patients tested ctDNA positive during follow-up, with a median ctDNA detected level of 0.081% estimated variant allele fraction (eVAF). With dPCR, 35.2% (50/142) pts tested ctDNA positive. The ctDNA detection rate by 12 months from the start of ctDNA surveillance was 36.2% (95% CI; 27.6% – 43.7%) with RaDaR and 29.9% (95%CI; 21.6% – 37.3%) with dPCR. The overall test agreement between RaDaR and dPCR assays was 92.7% (95%CI; 90.7% – 94.4%). From a patient perspective, 58.7% pts were ctDNA negative for both assays, 32.9% ctDNA were positive for both assays and 8.6% presented discrepancies. ctDNA was detected by RaDaR but not by dPCR in 9 pts and it was detected by dPCR but not by RaDaR in 3 pts. Among ctDNA positive pts, 55.2% were first detected positive by RaDaR, 5.2% by dPCR, and 39.6% were detected at the same time-point (test of proportions, p&lt; 0.001). The median lead time from ctDNA detection to relapse was 7.1 months (95% CI 5.9 – 15.9%) with RaDaR and 5.7 months (95% CI 3.2% – 7.4%) with dPCR. Conclusion: The RaDaR personalised multi-mutation sequencing assay detected MRD with a longer median lead time prior to relapse, and with higher sensitivity, than dPCR mutation tracking assays. These findings have implications for the choice of ctDNA assay in clinical trials designed to treat patients at the point of MRD detection.

Citation Format: Maria Coakley, Prithika Sritharan, Guillermo Villacampa, Claire Swift, Kathryn Dunne, Lucy Kilburn, Katie Goddard, Patricia Rojas, Andy Joad, Warren Emmett, Charlene Knape, Karen Howarth, Peter S. Hall, Catherine Harper-Wynne, Tamas Hickish, Iain Macpherson, Alicia F. Okines, Andrew M. Wardley, Duncan Wheatley, Simon Waters, Rosalind Cutts, Isaac Garcia-Murillas, Judith Bliss, Nicholas Turner. PD5-03 Comparison of a personalized sequencing assay and digital PCR for circulating tumor DNA based Molecular Residual Disease detection in early-stage triple negative breast cancer in the cTRAK-TN trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr PD5-03.

Abstract P6-01-11: A UK prospective multicentre decision impact, decision conflict and economic evaluation of the use of Oncotype DX® to guide chemotherapy in 680 women with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer and 1 to 3 nodes involved

Introduction: For a test to be of value, it needs to demonstrate that it is changing clinical decisions, improving clinical confidence and of economic benefit.

This trial looked at the use of Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score ® (RS) assay against these criteria in 680 women with hormone receptor positive (HR+), HER2 negative early breast cancer with 1 to 3 lymph nodes positive (LN+) in the UK National Health Service (NHS) (5 teaching and 9 district general hospitals) between 2017 and 2022.

Methods: Patients with LN+ early breast cancer who were willing and fit to receive chemotherapy (CT) were consented to join the trial. At the initial oncologists’ appointment, physicians were asked to state their preference for or against CT and their level of confidence in their decision on a scale of 1 to 5. Following receipt of the RS result physicians were asked to make a final decision for or against CT and similarly record their level of confidence.

Descriptive analyses were used to characterize (1) patient and tumour characteristics, (2) change in treatment recommendations post-RS testing (by RS result and nodal status), and (3) change in physicians’ level of confidence post-RS testing (by RS result and nodal status). Average cost for chemotherapy and RS test price were used to estimate overall cost savings.

Results: A total of 680 patients were recruited. 16 patients were excluded (5 failed samples, 5 withdrew consent, 3 HER2 positives, 2 with advanced disease, and 1 specimen delayed in transit), leaving 664 assessable patients. The median age was 58 years and 77.1% of women were post-menopausal. Most patients had a RS of 0-17 (n=400, 60.2%); while 206 (31%) had a RS of 18-30 and 58 (8.7%) had a RS of 31-100. Using post-RxPONDER cutoffs, 566 (85.2%) had an RS of 0-25; 98 (14.8%) had an RS of 26-100.

Decision impact results: The decision impact results broken down by RS result and nodal status are detailed in Table 1. Of the 662 patients with complete decision impact data, in 359 (54.2%) the recommendation by the physician changed from CT+ hormone therapy (HT) to HT alone. In 286 (43.2%) cases the decision was unchanged and in 17 (2.6%) the recommendation changed from HT alone to CT+HT. Overall 342 (51.7%) cases were spared chemotherapy.

Decision conflict results: The change in the physicians’ level of confidence by RS result and nodal status are detailed in Table 2. Of the 660 cases with complete decision conflict data, physicians reported an increase in confidence in their recommendations after receiving the RS in 363 (55.0%), confidence was unchanged in 219 (33.2%) and decreased confidence in 78 (11.8%) cases.

Economic analysis: Using the estimates of Burdanov et al, the average costs of a course of chemotherapy in the UK is £6,000 to £7,000. An estimate of the overall cost saving of 342 courses is £2,064,00 to £2,408,000 and the overall cost of 664 RS assays at the list price of about £2580 (although an undisclosed discount applies to the NHS) is £1,713,120. This suggests that the use of RS assay represents a significant saving to the NHS.

Conclusion: The use of Oncotype DX assay in node positive early breast cancer leads to about half of women being spared chemotherapy, a significant improvement in clinical confidence for oncologists and an economic saving to the health care system.

Table 1 Pre- vs Post-Oncotype DX Treatment Recommendation by Physician According to Recurrence Score and Nodal Status

Table 2 Change in Physicians’ Level of Confidence Post-Oncotype DX Testing According to Recurrence Score and Nodal Status

Citation Format: Simon D. Holt, Priyadharshini Sai-Giridhar, Mark Verrill, Laura Pettit, Anna Rigg, Tamas Hickish, Caroline D. Archer, Anshu Wadhawan, Marianne Dillon, Jo Dent, Mark R. Nathan, Ludger Barthelmes, Shazza rehman, Paige Innis, Saira Khawaja. A UK prospective multicentre decision impact, decision conflict and economic evaluation of the use of Oncotype DX® to guide chemotherapy in 680 women with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer and 1 to 3 nodes involved [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-01-11.

Results of the c-TRAK TN trial: a clinical trial utilising ctDNA mutation tracking to detect molecular residual disease and trigger intervention in patients with moderate- and high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Post-treatment detection of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients predicts high risk of relapse. c-TRAK TN assessed the utility of prospective ctDNA surveillance in TNBC and the activity of pembrolizumab in patients with ctDNA detected [ctDNA positive (ctDNA+)].

PATIENTS AND METHODS

c-TRAK TN, a multicentre phase II trial, with integrated prospective ctDNA surveillance by digital PCR, enrolled patients with early-stage TNBC and residual disease following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or stage II/III with adjuvant chemotherapy. ctDNA surveillance comprised three-monthly blood sampling to 12 months (18 months if samples were missed due to coronavirus disease), and ctDNA+ patients were randomised 2 : 1 to intervention : observation. ctDNA results were blinded unless patients were allocated to intervention, when staging scans were done and those free of recurrence were offered pembrolizumab. A protocol amendment (16 September 2020) closed the observation group; all subsequent ctDNA+ patients were allocated to intervention. Co-primary endpoints were (i) ctDNA detection rate and (ii) sustained ctDNA clearance rate on pembrolizumab (NCT03145961).

RESULTS

Two hundred and eight patients registered between 30 January 2018 and 06 December 2019, 185 had tumour sequenced, 171 (92.4%) had trackable mutations, and 161 entered ctDNA surveillance. Rate of ctDNA detection by 12 months was 27.3% (44/161, 95% confidence interval 20.6% to 34.9%). Seven patients relapsed without prior ctDNA detection. Forty-five patients entered the therapeutic component (intervention n = 31; observation n = 14; one observation patient was re-allocated to intervention following protocol amendment). Of patients allocated to intervention, 72% (23/32) had metastases on staging at the time of ctDNA+, and 4 patients declined pembrolizumab. Of the five patients who commenced pembrolizumab, none achieved sustained ctDNA clearance.

CONCLUSIONS

c-TRAK TN is the first prospective study to assess whether ctDNA assays have clinical utility in guiding therapy in TNBC. Patients had a high rate of metastatic disease on ctDNA detection. Findings have implications for future trial design, emphasising the importance of commencing ctDNA testing early, with more sensitive and/or frequent ctDNA testing regimes.

Results from plasmaMATCH trial cohort E: A phase II trial of olaparib and ceralasertib in patients with triple-negative advanced breast cancer (CRUK/15/010)

1024

Background: The plasmaMATCH trial was an open label platform trial, consisting of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing in ̃1000 patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) linked to parallel treatment cohorts with therapies matched to mutations identified in ctDNA. Cohorts A-D have already reported (Turner N et al, Lancet Oncol 2020). Cohort E recruited patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) without a targetable mutation identified at ctDNA screening, treating with olaparib (PARP inhibitor) plus ceralasertib (ATR inhibitor). Methods: Patients with TNBC who had received 1 or 2 lines of chemotherapy for advanced disease or relapsed within 12 months of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy were eligible. Treatment was olaparib 300mg b.i.d continuously and ceralasertib 160mg qd on days 1–7 on a 28 day cycle, until disease progression. The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate by RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints included clinical benefit rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. Biomarker analysis included response according to BRCA and somatic DNA repair gene status and ATM loss. Using a two-stage design with a target response rate of 25%, unacceptable response rate of 10%, alpha=2% and power=90%, ≥13 responses out of 69 evaluable stage 2 patients were required to infer efficacy (5/37 stage 1). Results: Between 17/09/18 and 5/10/20 75 patients enrolled in Cohort E of whom 70 were evaluable for response. The median age was 55.6 years. 42 (56%) patients had 1 and 13 (17.3%) had 2 prior line(s) of chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Efficacy is shown in Table. The most common grade ≥3 adverse events were: hypertension 12 (17%) and anaemia 9 (13%). Dose reductions and interruptions occurred in 19 (26.4%) and 34 (47.2%) patients respectively. Conclusions: The response rate to olaparib and ceralasertib did not meet pre-specified criteria for efficacy in the overall evaluable population. Responses were observed in patients without germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutations. Translational analyses are underway to identify potential biomarkers of response in this population and will be presented at the meeting. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN16945804. [Table: see text]

Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels and Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer: Post hoc Analysis of the MOSAIC and PETACC-8 Trials

BACKGROUND

We explored and validated the association of postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in stage III colon cancer.

METHODS

Patients with stage III colon cancer from the MOSAIC and PETACC-8 trials were enrolled. The relation between CEA and outcomes was continuously modeled with the restricted cubic splines (RCS) method. Association of CEA with outcomes was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, with two risk groups among patients with a CEA level ≤5 ng/mL. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were constructed.

RESULTS

The CEA level was available in 1,292 (96%) and 2,477 (97%) patients in the discovery and validation cohorts. The RCS analysis confirmed that patients with a CEA level >5 ng/mL were at highest risk of recurrence or death and those with a CEA level ≤5 ng/mL presented a heterogeneous risk population. In the discovery cohort, the 3-year DFS rate was 75%, 65%, and 45% in a group of patients with CEA level of 0-1.30 ng/mL (n = 630), 1.30-5 ng/mL (n = 613), and >5 ng/mL (n = 49), respectively (P < 0.001). CEA was independently associated with endpoints. All findings were confirmed in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative CEA level was highly and independently associated with DFS and OS, especially in patients with a CEA level of ≤5 ng/mL, suggesting that this cutoff is not optimal.

IMPACT

CEA levels should be applied more accurately in future trials and clinical practice.

Systemic chemotherapy with or without cetuximab in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis (New EPOC): long-term results of a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The interim analysis of the multicentre New EPOC trial in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis showed a significant reduction in progression-free survival in patients allocated to cetuximab plus chemotherapy compared with those given chemotherapy alone. The focus of the present analysis was to assess the effect on overall survival.

METHODS

New EPOC was a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with KRAS wild-type (codons 12, 13, and 61) resectable or suboptimally resectable colorectal liver metastases and a WHO performance status of 0-2 were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive chemotherapy with or without cetuximab before and after liver resection. Randomisation was done centrally with minimisation factors of surgical centre, poor prognosis cancer, and previous adjuvant treatment with oxaliplatin. Chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 2 h, l-folinic acid (175 mg flat dose administered intravenously over 2 h) or d,l-folinic acid (350 mg flat dose administered intravenously over 2 h), and fluorouracil bolus 400 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 5 min, followed by a 46 h infusion of fluorouracil 2400 mg/m2 repeated every 2 weeks (regimen one), or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 2 h and oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14 repeated every 3 weeks (regimen two). Patients who had received adjuvant oxaliplatin could receive irinotecan 180 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 min with fluorouracil instead of oxaliplatin (regimen three). Cetuximab was given intravenously, 500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks with regimen one and three or a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 followed by a weekly infusion of 250 mg/m2 with regimen two. The primary endpoint of progression-free survival was published previously. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, preoperative response, pathological resection status, and safety. Trial recruitment was halted prematurely on the advice of the Trial Steering Committee on Nov 1, 2012. All analyses (except safety) were done on the intention-to-treat population. Safety analyses included all randomly assigned patients. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number 22944367.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 26, 2007, and Oct 12, 2012, 257 eligible patients were randomly assigned to chemotherapy with cetuximab (n=129) or without cetuximab (n=128). This analysis was carried out 5 years after the last patient was recruited, as defined in the protocol, at a median follow-up of 66·7 months (IQR 58·0-77·5). Median progression-free survival was 22·2 months (95% CI 18·3-26·8) in the chemotherapy alone group and 15·5 months (13·8-19·0) in the chemotherapy plus cetuximab group (hazard ratio [HR] 1·17, 95% CI 0·87-1·56; p=0·304). Median overall survival was 81·0 months (59·6 to not reached) in the chemotherapy alone group and 55·4 months (43·5-71·5) in the chemotherapy plus cetuximab group (HR 1·45, 1·02-2·05; p=0·036). There was no significant difference in the secondary outcomes of preoperative response or pathological resection status between groups. Five deaths might have been treatment-related (one in the chemotherapy alone group and four in the chemotherapy plus cetuximab group). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events reported were: neutrophil count decreased (26 [19%] of 134 in the chemotherapy alone group vs 21 [15%] of 137 in the chemotherapy plus cetuximab group), diarrhoea (13 [10%] vs 14 [10%]), skin rash (one [1%] vs 22 [16%]), thromboembolic events (ten [7%] vs 11 [8%]), lethargy (ten [7%] vs nine [7%]), oral mucositis (three [2%] vs 14 [10%]), vomiting (seven [5%] vs seven [5%]), peripheral neuropathy (eight [6%] vs five [4%]), and pain (six [4%] vs six [4%]).

INTERPRETATION

Although the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy improves the overall survival in some studies in patients with advanced, inoperable metastatic disease, its use in the perioperative setting in patients with operable disease confers a significant disadvantage in terms of overall survival. Cetuximab should not be used in this setting.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK.

Abstract OT3-17-03: Impact of the Oncotype DX breast cancer assay on treatment decisions in a UK population of patients with oestrogen receptor positive early breast cancer with 1-3 lymph nodes positive who are candidates for chemotherapy, but for whom the benefits are uncertain - Interim results

Introduction: The addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to hormonal therapy is recommended for patients with lymph node-positive (LN+ve), estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2-ve early breast cancer, despite the fact that many women will remain disease-free even if they do not receive chemotherapy. Therefore, a number of patients with LN+ EBC may be unnecessarily exposed to the toxicities of chemotherapy with no treatment benefit. In the UK, the Oncotype DX® Recurrence Score (RS) is recommended by NICE for routine testing in patients with ER+ HER2-ve, lymph node negative early stage breast cancer. Approximately 32% of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients will have lymph node involvement but do not have distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Objectives: Primary objective is to characterize how the results on the Oncotype DX® assay impact the decision-making process of physicians in the UK for women with ER+ HER2-ve EBC with 1-3 lymph nodes involved who are potential candidates for chemotherapy, but for whom the benefits may be uncertain. Secondary objectives include; (1) Assess the impact of the Oncotype DX RS in clinical practice in patients with 1-3 lymph nodes positive EBC, (2)Analyse distribution of RS and (3)Observe the percentage of patients not receiving chemotherapy as a result of the Oncotype DX RS. Methods: Postoperative patients with lymph node positive disease: N=720. Micrometastasis = 70patients, 1 Lymph Node Positive = 400patients, 2 Lymph Node Positive = 200patients & 3 Lymph Node Positive = 50patients (exploratory analysis). Study start date October 2017 to projected study end date of December 2021. INTERIM Results: To date, 194 patients have entered the Oncotype DX Node POS Study since October 2017 from 13 recruiting institutions across the UK. The nodal status is as follows; micrometastasis = 21patients (10%), 1 lymph node positive = 103 patients (53%), 2 lymph node positive = 53 patients (27%) and 3 lymph node positive =17 patients (9%). The average age of patient was 57.5years (range 27-79). Of 194 patients, 189 have received a recurrence score in the 1-3 lymph node positive setting. Average RS was 13.8 (range 0-63). Micrometastasis category received an average RS of 15, 1 LN+ve category received an average RS of 15.5, 2 LN+ve category received an average RS of 15.8 and 3 LN+ve category received an average RS of 20.8. Of 189 patients the decision to administer chemotherapy changed in 140 patients (74%) once the Oncotype DX score had been received. Decision to administer chemotherapy remained the same in 49 patients (26%). This shows that Oncotype DX greatly alters the decision-making process in patients with 1-3 LN+ve, despite the trial not setting a chemotherapy cut-off score. Those patients who received a recurrence score of 18 or below = 129 (68%). Patients who received a recurrence score of above 18 = 60 (32%). The largest nodal category (1 LN+ve) witnessed the highest rate of patients receiving a RS of below 18 (70%), followed by 2 LN+ve (66%) and 3 LN+ve (43%). One patient with 2 lymph nodes positive received a RS of zero. Weak correlation was observed between histopathological factors and recurrence score. Conclusion: Interim results show the use of the Oncotype DX assay in patients with 1-3 lymph node-positive (LN+ve), ER+ HER2-ve, EBC significantly alters the decision-making process in guiding use of chemotherapy. Result show that 74% of patients were spared chemotherapy where there was deemed to be no additional benefit over hormonal therapy alone. This resulted in 140 patients being spared the unnecessary side effects and exposure to toxicities of chemotherapy. This also prevented overtreatment of patients from a healthcare economic cost perspective.

Citation Format: Daniel Thomas, William Maxwell, Caroline Archer, Anne Rigg, Tamas Hickish, Jo Dent, Laura Pettit, Marianne Dillon, Christy Goldsmith, Mark Verrill, Ludger Barthelmes, Saira Khawaja, Yousef Sharaiha, Mark Davies, Fawaz Arikat, Sahail Khan, Asma Munir, Anita Huws, Simon DavidHenry Holt. Impact of the Oncotype DX breast cancer assay on treatment decisions in a UK population of patients with oestrogen receptor positive early breast cancer with 1-3 lymph nodes positive who are candidates for chemotherapy, but for whom the benefits are uncertain - Interim results [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-17-03.

3-month versus 6-month adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with high-risk stage II and III colorectal cancer: 3-year follow-up of the SCOT non-inferiority RCT

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy administered over 6 months is the standard adjuvant regimen for patients with high-risk stage II or III colorectal cancer. However, the regimen is associated with cumulative toxicity, characterised by chronic and often irreversible neuropathy.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of 3-month versus 6-month adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer and to compare the toxicity, health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness of the durations.

DESIGN

An international, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority, Phase III, parallel-group trial.

SETTING

A total of 244 oncology clinics from six countries: UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged ≥ 18 years who had undergone curative resection for high-risk stage II or III adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum.

INTERVENTIONS

The adjuvant treatment regimen was either oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil or oxaliplatin and capecitabine, randomised to be administered over 3 or 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was disease-free survival. Overall survival, adverse events, neuropathy and health-related quality of life were also assessed. The main cost categories were chemotherapy treatment and hospitalisation. Cost-effectiveness was assessed through incremental cost comparisons and quality-adjusted life-year gains between the options and was reported as net monetary benefit using a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year per patient.

RESULTS

Recruitment is closed. In total, 6088 patients were randomised (3044 per group) between 27 March 2008 and 29 November 2013, with 6065 included in the intention-to-treat analyses (3-month analysis, n = 3035; 6-month analysis, n = 3030). Follow-up for the primary analysis is complete. The 3-year disease-free survival rate in the 3-month treatment group was 76.7% (standard error 0.8%) and in the 6-month treatment group was 77.1% (standard error 0.8%), equating to a hazard ratio of 1.006 (95% confidence interval 0.909 to 1.114; p-value for non-inferiority = 0.012), confirming non-inferiority for 3-month adjuvant chemotherapy. Frequent adverse events (alopecia, anaemia, anorexia, diarrhoea, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, mucositis, sensory neuropathy, neutropenia, pain, rash, altered taste, thrombocytopenia and watery eye) showed a significant increase in grade with 6-month duration; the greatest difference was for sensory neuropathy (grade ≥ 3 was 4% for 3-month vs.16% for 6-month duration), for which a higher rate of neuropathy was seen for the 6-month treatment group from month 4 to ≥ 5 years (p < 0.001). Quality-of-life scores were better in the 3-month treatment group over months 4-6. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed 3-month treatment to cost £4881 less over the 8-year analysis period, with an incremental net monetary benefit of £7246 per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The study achieved its primary end point, showing that 3-month oxaliplatin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy is non-inferior to 6 months of the same regimen; 3-month treatment showed a better safety profile and cost less. For future work, further follow-up will refine long-term estimates of the duration effect on disease-free survival and overall survival. The health economic analysis will be updated to include long-term extrapolation for subgroups. We expect these analyses to be available in 2019-20. The Short Course Oncology Therapy (SCOT) study translational samples may allow the identification of patients who would benefit from longer treatment based on the molecular characteristics of their disease.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN59757862 and EudraCT 2007-003957-10.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 64. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. This research was supported by the Medical Research Council (transferred to NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre - Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; grant reference G0601705), the Swedish Cancer Society and Cancer Research UK Core Clinical Trials Unit Funding (funding reference C6716/A9894).

Association of colon cancer (CC) molecular signatures with prognosis and oxaliplatin prediction-benefit in the MOSAIC Trial (Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5FU-LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer)

3503

Background: MOSAIC and C-07 showed that oxaliplatin (OX) added to 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin significantly improved disease free survival (DFS). However, OX is associated with neurotoxicity and the vast majority of patients do not receive OX-benefit; highlighting the importance of an OX-benefit predictor. In C-07, colon tumors with a CRCA (Colorectal Cancer Assigner) stem-like subtype were associated with a poor prognosis and no OX-benefit, but stage III patients with an enterocyte subtype did. We tested the association of CRCA and CMS molecular subtypes with prognosis and OX-benefit in stage III MOSAIC patients. Also, recombination proficiency scores (RPS) were tested for the same associations. RPS scores quantify the efficiency of DNA-damage repair. Low RPS have been associated with inferior overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients treated with surgery alone but better OS for patients who received surgery plus chemotherapy. Methods: Gene expression profiles from 590 stage III pts with follow up were successfully profiled by a custom designed nCounter code set. CRCA subtypes were determined by a locked down algorithm based on a re-estimated centroid using 72 genes (Song et al 2016). CMS subtypes were determined by modified single sample predictor (SSP) using 84 genes. RPS scores were determined as previously described by Pitroda et al (2014). Signature predictions were made while blinded to clinical outcome and signature performance was evaluated while blinded to gene expression. Results: The stem-like subtype was associated with a very poor prognosis (Stem-like vs others HR=1.56, p<0.01) and no OX-benefit. CRCA and CMS subtypes did not associate with OX-benefit. Using a median cut point, stage III patients with low RPS scores received significant OX-benefit (HR=0.67, p=0.033, N=290) and patients with high RPS scores did not (HR=1.2, p=0.32, N=300) with significant interaction p=0.025. Conclusions: The observation in C-07, that the stem-like subtype has the poorest prognosis and did not receive OX-benefit, was validated in MOSAIC, identifying patients who need new therapies. RPS scores may help to identify the subset of patients with OX-benefit in stage III CC, confirmation of this observation is currently being investigated in C-07. Support: PA DoH; NSABP; Sanofi.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels predict favorable outcome after bermekimab, a first-in-class true human interleukin-1α antibody, in a phase III randomized study of advanced colorectal cancer

Bermekimab is a true human monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-1alpa (IL-1α), an inflammation-mediating alarmin. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a natural molecule that blocks IL-1α activity by occupying the IL-1 receptor. The effect of endogenous IL-1Ra levels on the effectiveness of bermekimab is unknown. We investigated whether pre-treatment levels of circulating IL-1Ra, assessed by an enzyme-linked immunoassay, correlated with achievement of the primary outcome endpoint (effect on lean body mass and symptoms at week 8) in a Phase III study (2:1 randomization) of bermekimab versus placebo (each with best supportive care) in advanced colorectal cancer. Patients who responded to bermekimab in terms of achieving the primary endpoint had lower levels of IL-1Ra than non-responders (N = 204 patients; median = 843 vs. 1035 pg/ml, p=0.0092); no such relationship was observed in the placebo arm (N = 100 patients; 901 vs. 984 pg/ml, p = 0.55). Multivariate analysis corroborated that, in the bermekimab group, patients with lower baseline IL-1Ra levels were more likely to achieve the primary endpoint (odds ratio (OR) 1.7 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1 to 2.6), p = 0.017); in contrast, in the placebo arm, pre-treatment plasma IL-1Ra levels were not associated with outcome (OR 1.2 (95% CI 0.6 to 2.5), p = 0.57). The current findings demonstrate that, in a randomized phase III trial, patients with advanced colorectal cancer and lower levels of circulating IL-1Ra are more responsive to treatment with the IL-1α-targeting antibody bermekimab and these observations define a potential biomarker for anti-IL-1α therapy.

Gemcitabine-induced haemolytic uremic syndrome, although infrequent, can it be prevented: A case report and review of literature

Gemcitabine is an antineoplastic used to treat several malignancies including pancreatic cancer. Its toxicity profile is well known with myelotoxicity, increased vascular permeability and peripheral oedema as most frequent adverse events. However, several cases of acute renal failure have been reported and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) seems to be the underlying process. The cause of HUS remains unknown but its consequences can be lethal. Therefore, a high grade of suspicion is crucial to diagnose it and promptly treat it. This hopefully will reduce its morbidity. HUS is characterized by progressive renal failure associated with microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia. The primary event is damage to endothelial cells and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is the histopathological lesion. TMA affects mainly renal microvasculature. However, some cases evolve with central nervous or cardiovascular systems involvement. We present here a case of gemcitabine-induced HUS, with renal and cardiovascular system affected at the time of diagnosis which to our knowledge this is the first time of such case to be reported.

Disease-free and overall survival at 3.5 years for neoadjuvant bevacizumab added to docetaxel followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, for women with HER2 negative early breast cancer: ARTemis Trial

Background

The ARTemis trial previously reported that addition of neoadjuvant bevacizumab (Bev) to docetaxel (D) followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (D-FEC) in HER2 negative breast cancer improved the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. We present disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with central pathology review.

Patients and methods

Patients were randomized to 3 cycles of D followed by 3 cycles of FEC (D-FEC), ±4 cycles of Bev (Bev + D-FEC). DFS and OS were analyzed by treatment and by central pathology reviewed pCR and Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) class.

Results

A total of 800 patients were randomized [median follow-up 3.5 years (IQR 3.2–4.4)]. DFS and OS were similar across treatment arms [DFS hazard ratio (HR)=1.18 (95% CI 0.89–1.57), P = 0.25; OS HR = 1.26 (95% CI 0.90–1.76), P = 0.19). Both local pathology report review and central histopathology review confirmed a significant improvement in DFS and OS for patients who achieved a pCR [DFS HR = 0.38 (95% CI 0.23–0.63), P < 0.001; OS HR = 0.43 (95% CI 0.24–0.75), P = 0.003]. However, significant heterogeneity was observed (P = 0.02); larger improvements in DFS were obtained with a pCR achieved with D-FEC than a pCR achieved with Bev + D-FEC. As RCB class increased, significantly worse DFS and OS was observed (P for trend <0.0001), which effect was most marked in the ER negative group.

Conclusions

The addition of short course neoadjuvant Bev to standard chemotherapy did not demonstrate a DFS or OS benefit. Achieving a pCR with D-FEC is associated with improved DFS and OS but not when pCR is achieved with Bev + D-FEC. At the present time therefore, Bev is not recommended in early breast cancer.

ClinicalTrials.gov number

NCT01093235.

Perforated Duodenal Ulcer and Cigarette Smoking

Whilst the association between smoking and peptic ulceration has been reported previously, the relationship between smoking and the complications of ulcers, such as perforation, bleeding or acute painful exacerbation, has not been examined. In a retrospective study comparing 275 emergency admissions for peptic ulcer with 275 controls, cigarette smoking was significantly more common only in those with a perforated duodenal ulcer. Of 128 patients with perforated duodenal ulcers, 110 (86%) were cigarette smokers compared with 65 (51%) of the 128 matched controls (χ2, P<0.01). Cigarette smoking in patients with bleeding or acutely exacerbated ulcers was not significantly more common than in controls. These findings strongly suggest a particular association between smoking and perforated duodenal ulcer.

Increased DNA Methylation of ABCB1, CYP2D6, and OPRM1 Genes in Newborn Infants of Methadone-Maintained Opioid-Dependent Mothers

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether in utero opioid exposure, which has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental and social outcomes, is associated with altered DNA methylation of opioid-related genes at birth.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational cohort study of 21 healthy methadone-maintained opioid-dependent mother-infant dyads consecutively delivered at >36 weeks of gestation, and 2 comparator groups: smoking, "deprived" opioid-naïve mother-infant dyads (n = 17) and nonsmoking, "affluent" opioid-naïve mother-infant dyads (n = 15). DNA methylation of ABCB1, CYP2D6, and OPRM1 genes for mothers and babies was determined from buccal swabs. Plasma methadone concentrations were additionally measured for methadone-maintained opioid-dependent mothers.

RESULTS

DNA methylation for ABCB1 and CYP2D6 was similar in opioid-naïve infants compared with their mothers, but was less for OPRM1 (3 ± 1.6% vs 8 ± 1%, P < .0005). Opioid-exposed newborns had similar DNA methylation to their mothers for all genes studied and greater methylation of ABCB1 (18 ± 4.8% vs 3 ± 0.5%), CYP2D6 (92 ± 1.2% vs 89 ± 2.4%), and OPRM1 (8 ± 0.3% vs 3 ± 1.6%) compared with opioid-naïve newborns (P < .0005 for all 3 genes). Infant DNA methylation was not related to birth weight, length of hospital stay, maternal smoking, dose or plasma concentration of methadone at delivery, or postcode of residence.

CONCLUSIONS

In utero exposure to opioids is associated with increased methylation of opioid-related genes in the newborn infant. It is not clear whether these findings are due to opioid exposure per se or other associated lifestyle factors.

Impact of tumour histological subtype on chemotherapy outcome in advanced oesophageal cancer

AIM

To investigate the impact of histology on outcome in advanced oesophageal cancer treated with first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy.

METHODS

Individual patient data were pooled from three randomised phase III trials of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy ± platinum/anthracycline in patients with advanced, untreated gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) randomised between 1994 and 2005. The primary endpoint was overall survival of oesophageal cancer patients according to histology. Secondary endpoints were response rates and a toxicity composite endpoint.

RESULTS

Of the total 1836 randomised patients, 973 patients (53%) were eligible (707 patients with gastric cancer were excluded), 841 (86%) had adenocarcinoma and 132 (14%) had SCC. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with adenocarcinoma and SCC, with median overall survivals of 9.5 mo vs 7.6 mo (HR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.70-1.03, P = 0.09) and one-year survivals of 38.8% vs 28.2% respectively. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 44% for adenocarcinoma vs 33% for SCC (P = 0.01). There was no difference in the frequency of the toxicity composite endpoint between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference in survival between adenocarcinoma and SCC in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy despite a trend for worse survival and less chemo-sensitivity in SCC. Tolerance to treatment was similar in both groups. This analysis highlights the unmet need for SCC-specific studies in advanced oesophageal cancer and will aid in the design of future trials of targeted agents.

Central pathology review with two-stage quality assurance for pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the ARTemis Trial

The ARTemis Trial tested standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy±bevacizumab in the treatment of HER2-negative early breast cancer. We compare data from central pathology review with report review and also the reporting behavior of the two central pathologists. Eight hundred women with HER2-negative early invasive breast cancer were recruited. Response to chemotherapy was assessed from local pathology reports for pathological complete response in breast and axillary lymph nodes. Sections from the original core biopsy and surgical excision were centrally reviewed by one of two trial pathologists blinded to the local pathology reports. Pathologists recorded response to chemotherapy descriptively and also calculated residual cancer burden. 10% of cases were double-reported to compare the central pathologists' reporting behavior. Full sample retrieval was obtained for 681 of the 781 patients (87%) who underwent surgery within the trial and were evaluable for pathological complete response. Four hundred and eighty-three (71%) were assessed by JSJT, and 198 (29%) were assessed by EP. Residual cancer burden calculations were possible in 587/681 (86%) of the centrally reviewed patients, as 94/681 (14%) had positive sentinel nodes removed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy invalidating residual cancer burden scoring. Good concordance was found between the two pathologists for residual cancer burden classes within the 65-patient quality assurance exercise (kappa 0.63 (95% CI: 0.57-0.69)). Similar results were obtained for the between-treatment arm comparison both from the report review and the central pathology review. For pathological complete response, report review was as good as central pathology review but for minimal residual disease, report review overestimated the extent of residual disease. In the ARTemis Trial central pathology review added little in the determination of pathological complete response but had a role in evaluating low levels of residual disease. Calculation of residual cancer burden was a simple and reproducible method of quantifying response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy as demonstrated by performance comparison of the two pathologists.

Addition of gemcitabine to paclitaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide adjuvant chemotherapy for women with early-stage breast cancer (tAnGo): final 10-year follow-up of an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The tAnGo trial was designed to investigate the potential role of gemcitabine when added to anthracycline and taxane-containing adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer. When this study was developed, gemcitabine had shown significant activity in metastatic breast cancer, and there was evidence of a favourable interaction with paclitaxel.

METHODS

tAnGo was an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 superiority trial that enrolled women aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer who had a definite indication for chemotherapy, any nodal status, any hormone receptor status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function. Women were recruited from 127 clinical centres and hospitals in the UK and Ireland, and randomly assigned (1:1) to one of two treatment regimens: epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (four cycles of 90 mg/m2 intravenously administered epirubicin and 600 mg/m2 intravenously administered cyclophosphamide on day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by four cycles of 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel as a 3 h infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks) or epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (the same chemotherapy regimen as the other group, with the addition of 1250 mg/m2 gemcitabine to the paclitaxel cycles, administered intravenously as a 0·5 h infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks). Patients were randomly assigned by a central computerised deterministic minimisation procedure, with stratification by country, age, radiotherapy intent, nodal status, and oestrogen receptor and HER-2 status. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival and the trial aimed to detect 5% differences in 5-year disease-free survival between the treatment groups. Recruitment completed in 2004 and this is the final, intention-to-treat analysis. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2004-002927-41), ISRCTN (51146252), and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00039546).

FINDINGS

Between Aug 22, 2001, and Nov 26, 2004, 3152 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine (gemcitabine group; n=1576) or to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (control group; n=1576). 11 patients (six in the gemcitabine group and five in the control group) were ineligible because of pre-existing metastases and were therefore excluded from the analysis. At this protocol-specified final analysis (median follow-up 10 years [IQR 10-10]), 1087 disease-free survival events and 914 deaths had occurred. Disease-free survival did not differ significantly between the treatment groups at 10 years (65% [63-68] in the gemcitabine group vs 65% [62-67] in the control group), and median disease-free survival was not reached (adjusted hazard ratio 0·97 [95% CI 0·86-1·10], p=0·64). Toxicity, dose intensity, and a detailed safety substudy showed both regimens to be safe, deliverable, and tolerable. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were reported at expected levels in both groups. The most common were neutropenia (527 [34%] of 1565 patients in the gemcitabine group vs 412 [26%] of 1567 in the control group), myalgia and arthralgia (207 [13%] vs 186 [12%]), fatigue (207 [13%] vs 152 [10%]), infection (202 [13%] vs 141 [9%]), vomiting (143 [9%] vs 108 [7%]), and nausea (132 [8%] vs 102 [7%]).

INTERPRETATION

The addition of gemcitabine to anthracycline and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy at this dose and schedule confers no therapeutic advantage in terms of disease-free survival in early breast cancer, although it can cause increased toxicity. Therefore, gemcitabine has not been added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer for any subgroup.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK core funding for Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Pfizer.

Biomarker prediction of efficacy to vandetanib plus gemcitabine in a phase II double blind multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma

4104

Background: We investigated the potential of biomarkers to predict efficacy of vandetanib and gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced (N = 41) or metastatic (N = 101) pancreatic cancer in a phase II double-blind multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Methods: All patients were 18y or above, (ECOG = 0-2), with at least 3 mths life expectancy had gemcitabine (1000mg/m2 30min iv wkly for 7 wks, followed by a 1wk break, then cycles of wkly treatment for 3wks with a 1-wk break) and randomly assigned to 300mg/d vandetanib or placebo once daily until disease progression. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) by intention to treat. A panel of potential biomarkers was tested to predict best survival with vandetanib and gemcitabine. Results: 142 patients were randomised, median FU = 24·9 mths with 131 deaths. The median (95% CI) OS in the 70 gemcitabine-placebo patients was 8·95 (6·55-11·7) mths and 8·83 (7·11-11·6) mths in the 72 gemcitabine-vandetanib patients (HR = 1·21, 95% CI = 0·85, 1·73; log rank X21df = 1·1; P = 0·303). A CTCAE V.4.02 rash grade 2 or above occurred in 4 (6 %) of 70 placebo patients versus 14 (19%) of 72 vandetanib patients. The median OS for the 14 vandetanib patients and with rash was 11·92 (10·89 – NA) mths, 7·76 (4·34 – 11·5) mths for the 58 vandetanib patients and without rash and 8·95 (6·55 – 11·7) mths for the gemcitabine-placebo patients (log rank Χ2 2df = 7·23; P = 0·03). We identified two biomarkers that could select patients for response to vandetanib (JN101, JN102). The biomarker combination was present in 26 patients with median OS of 12.1 (10.9, 16.0) mths versus 8.15 (6.67, 11.7) mths for 23 patients with the same biomarker profile in the placebo group (HR = 0.53 [0.29, 0.97], p = 0.0396). A logistic regression model showed that patients with JN102 were more likely to develop a rash (OR =0.81 [0.713, 0.925] p = 0.002). Conclusions: A two biomarker combination and a rash grade 2 or above may predict response to vandetanib and gemcitabine. This requires prospective evaluation. Clinical trial information: 96397434.

MABp1 to improve clinical outcomes of patients with symptomatic refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients: Per-protocol population analysis of phase III study (PT026)

3530

Background: Refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients derive minimal benefit from further exposure to toxic agents. MABp1 is an anti-interleukin 1 alpha antibody that is shown to prolong survival (NCT01767857) and improves outcomes when assessed with a primary endpoint based on a constellation of objective and patient self-reported measures (NCT02138422) (Hickish T. et al Lancet Oncology 2017). In the latter study, clinically advanced patients were enrolled (symptomatic, ECOG 1,2), and 18% of patients progressed prior to reaching the endpoint assessments. Here we present the outcomes in per-protocol population (PP), those patients completing week 8 assessments. Methods: 309 patients randomized 2:1 to receive MABp1 versus placebo. Patients were ECOG 1-2, with mCRC refractory to chemotherapy, any degree of weight loss, and cancer-associated symptoms. The composite primary endpoint assessed the rate of patients achieving stabilization or improvement in lean body mass (LBM) and two of three symptom measures (pain, fatigue, appetite loss) from screening to the week 8 assessment. The study was designed for placebo cross-over, thus OS analysis for MABp1 vs placebo was not possible. Results: 57 patients (38 MABp1 [18%] and 19 placebo [19%]) discontinued study prior to the week 8 assessment due to disease progression, including 17 (8%) and 11 (11%) deaths in MABp1 and placebo respectively. 62% of placebo patients received MABp1 after 8 weeks. 252 patients, 40% in MABp1 (68/169) vs 23% in placebo (19/83) met the primary endpoint (p = 0.003). 139 patients were available for PP survival analysis (90 MABp1 vs 49 Placebo). Median OS of those achieving the primary endpoint was 11.7 months vs 5.7 months for those that did not (HR 0.39; p < 0.0001). Radiographic stable disease was improved (42% vs 12%; p < 0.001) and incidence of SAEs (6% vs 15%; p = 0.11) reduced in those achieving the primary endpoint. Conclusions: Achieving the primary endpoint was associated with improvement in outcomes, RECIST stabilization, SAEs and survival. Further study should confirm the effect of MABp1 on survival in this population. Clinical trial information: NCT02138422.

Vandetanib plus gemcitabine versus placebo plus gemcitabine in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma (ViP): a prospective, randomised, double-blind, multicentre phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Erlotinib is an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has shown a significant but only marginally improved median overall survival when combined with gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. Vandetanib is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR2, RET, and EGFR, all of which are in involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the clinical efficacy of vandetanib when used in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The Vandetanib in Pancreatic Cancer (ViP) trial was a phase 2 double-blind, multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial in previously untreated adult patients (aged ≥18 years) diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas confirmed by cytology or histology. Patients had to have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 0-2 and a documented life expectancy of at least 3 months. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive vandetanib plus gemcitabine (vandetanib group) or placebo plus gemcitabine (placebo group) according to pre-generated sequences produced on the principle of randomly permuted blocks with variable block sizes of two and four. Patients were stratified at randomisation by disease stage and ECOG performance status. All patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 as a 30-min intravenous infusion, weekly, for 7 weeks followed by a 1-week break, followed by a cycle of 3 weeks of treatment with a 1-week break, until disease progression, and either oral vandetanib 300 mg per day once daily or matching placebo. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome measure was overall survival (defined as the difference in time between randomisation and death from any cause or the censor date) in the intention-to-treat population. This trial has been completed and the final results are reported. The study is registered at EudraCT, number 2007-004299-38, and ISRCTN, number ISRCTN96397434.

FINDINGS

Patients were screened and enrolled between Oct 24, 2011, and Oct 7, 2013. Of 381 patients screened, 142 eligible patients were randomly assigned to treatment (72 to the vandetanib group and 70 to the placebo group). At database lock on July 15, 2015, at a median follow-up of 24·9 months (IQR 24·3 to not attainable), 131 patients had died: 70 (97%) of 72 in the vandetanib group and 61 (87%) of 70 in the placebo group. The median overall survival was 8·83 months (95% CI 7·11-11·58) in the vandetanib group and 8·95 months (6·55-11·74) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 1·21, 80·8% CI 0·95-1·53; log rank χ21df 1·1, p=0·303). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (35 [49%] of 72 patients in the vandetanib group vs 22 [31%] of 70 in the placebo group), thrombocytopenia (20 [28%] vs 16 [23%]), hypertension (nine [13%] vs 11 [16%]), leucopenia (12 [17%] vs 13 [19%]), and fatigue (17 [24%] vs 15 [21%]). No treatment-related deaths occurred during the study.

INTERPRETATION

The addition of vandetanib to gemcitabine monotherapy did not improve overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors might still have potential in the treatment of pancreatic cancer but further development requires the identification of biomarkers to specifically identify responsive cancer subtypes.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca.

Abstract P4-21-02: Pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus standard neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing and anthracycline-free chemotherapy regimens in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer: Efficacy analysis of a phase II cardiac safety study (TRYPHAENA)

Background:

The multicenter, open-label Phase II TRYPHAENA study (NCT00976989) showed that neoadjuvant pertuzumab (P) + trastuzumab (H) + chemotherapy (anthracycline-containing or anthracycline-free) was generally well tolerated with low rates of symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD, the primary endpoint), in patients (pts) with HER2-positive, operable, locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer. All three arms were highly clinically active: total pathologic complete response in the breast and axilla (tpCR; ypT0/is, ypN0) rates were 55–64%. We now report long-term disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and cardiac safety.

Methods:

Pts were randomized 1:1:1 to six 3-weekly neoadjuvant treatment cycles. Arm A: H + P (cycles 1–6) + fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide (FEC, cycles 1–3) + docetaxel (T) (cycles 4–6), Arm B: FEC (cycles 1–3) followed by T + H + P (cycles 4–6), Arm C: T + H + P + carboplatin (cycles 1–6). Adjuvant H was then given to complete 1 year of treatment. Doses: P 840mg loading and 420mg maintenance; H 8mg/kg loading and 6mg/kg maintenance; T 75mg/m2, up to 100mg/m2 if tolerated (Arms A and B); fluorouracil 500mg/m2; epirubicin 100mg/m2; cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2; carboplatin area under the plasma concentration–time curve 6. A preplanned descriptive analysis of DFS (time from surgery until disease progression or death), PFS (time from randomization until disease progression or death, equivalent to the common definition of event-free survival), and OS (time from randomization until death from any cause) was conducted 5 years after randomization of the last pt.

Results:

Median follow-up was balanced across arms (61.1 months in Arm A; 61.8 months in Arm B; 60.9 months in Arm C); 3-year Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival estimates and 95% CIs are shown in the table.

  Arm A n=73Arm B n=75Arm C n=773-year KM survival estimate, %DFS87 (79–95)88 (80–96)90 (82–97) PFS89 (81–96)89 (81–96)87 (80–95) OS94 (89–100)94 (89–100)93 (87–99)

For all three arms combined, the hazard ratio for DFS in pts who achieved tpCR versus those who did not achieve tpCR was 0.27 (95% CI 0.11–0.64). During post-treatment follow-up, 2/72 (2.8%) pts in Arm A, 3/75 (4.0%) in Arm B, and 4/76 (5.3%) in Arm C had LVSD (any grade). Of the pts with LVSD, only 1 pt experienced an event indicative of symptomatic LVSD (assessed as NYHA class II and grade ≥3). Also during this period, 8 pts in Arm A (11.1%), 12 (16.0%) in Arm B, and 9 (11.8%) in Arm C experienced LVEF declines to &lt;50% and ≥10% from baseline.

Conclusions:

The 3-year DFS and PFS rates were similar between treatment arms and were comparable to rates previously observed in the neoadjuvant NeoSphere study. Pts who achieved tpCR had improved DFS compared with those who did not achieve tpCR, supporting previous findings of an association between pCR and long-term outcomes (Cortazar et al, Lancet 2014). The combination of P, H, and standard anthracycline-containing or anthracycline-free chemotherapy regimens was generally well tolerated and no new safety signals were identified with 5 years follow-up.

Citation Format: Schneeweiss A, Chia S, Hickish T, Harvey V, Eniu A, Waldron-Lynch M, Eng-Wong J, Kirk S, Cortés J. Pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus standard neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing and anthracycline-free chemotherapy regimens in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer: Efficacy analysis of a phase II cardiac safety study (TRYPHAENA) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-21-02.

MABp1 as a novel antibody treatment for advanced colorectal cancer: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study

BACKGROUND

MABp1, an antibody that targets interleukin 1α, has been associated with antitumour activity and relief of debilitating symptoms in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We sought to establish the effect of MABp1 with a new primary endpoint in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Eligible patients for the double-blind phase of this ongoing, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial, had metastatic or unresectable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score 1 or 2, systemic inflammation, weight loss, and other disease-related morbidities associated with poor prognosis, and were refractory to oxaliplatin and irinotecan. Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive either MABp1 or placebo. Randomisation codes were obtained from a centrally held list via an interactive web response system. Patients received an intravenous infusion of 7·5 mg/kg MABp1 or placebo given every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was assessed in patients who received at least one dose of MABp1 or placebo (modified intention-to-treat population), and was a composite of stable or increased lean body mass and stability or improvement in two of three symptoms (pain, fatigue, or anorexia) at week 8 compared with baseline measurements. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02138422.

FINDINGS

Patients were enrolled between May 20, 2014, and Sept 2, 2015. The double-blind phase of the study was completed on Nov 3, 2015. Of 333 patients randomly assigned treatment, 207 received at least one dose of MABp1 and 102 at least one dose of placebo. 68 (33%) and 19 (19%) patients, respectively, achieved the primary endpoint (relative risk 1·76, 95% CI 1·12-2·77, p=0·0045). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events in the MABp1 group compared with in the placebo group were anaemia (eight [4%] of 207 vs five [5%] of 102 patients), increased concentration of alkaline phosphatase (nine [4%] vs two [2%]), fatigue (six [3%] vs seven [7%]), and increased concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (six [3%] vs two [2%]). After 8 weeks, 17 (8%) patients in the MABp1 group and 11 (11%) in the placebo group had died, but no death was judged to be related to treatment. The incidence of serious adverse events was not significantly different in the MABp1 group and placebo groups (47 [23%] vs 33 [32%], p=0·07).

INTERPRETATION

The primary endpoint was a useful means of measuring clinical performance in patients. MABp1 might represent a new standard in the management of advanced colorectal cancer.

FUNDING

XBiotech.

Patterns of progression, treatment of progressive disease and post-progression survival in the New EPOC study

BACKGROUND

The addition of cetuximab (CTX) to perioperative chemotherapy (CT) for operable colorectal liver metastases resulted in a shorter progression-free survival. Details of disease progression are described to further inform the primary study outcome.

METHODS

A total of 257 KRAS wild-type patients were randomised to CT alone or CT with CTX. Data regarding sites and treatment of progressive disease were obtained for the 109 (CT n=48, CT and CTX n=61) patients with progressive disease at the cut-off date for analysis of November 2012.

RESULTS

The liver was the most frequent site of progression (CT 67% (32/48); CT and CTX 66% (40/61)). A higher proportion of patients in the CT and group had multiple sites of progressive disease (CT 8%, 4/48; CT and CTX 23%, 14/61 P=0.04). Further treatment for progressive disease is known for 84 patients of whom 69 received further CT, most frequently irinotecan based. Twenty-two patients, 11 in each arm, received CTX as a further line agent.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the distribution of progressive disease and further treatment are as expected for such a cohort. The pattern of disease progression seen is consistent with failure of systemic micrometastatic disease control rather than failure of local disease control following liver surgery.

Comparing UK and 20 Western countries' efficiency in reducing adult (55-74) cancer and total mortality rates 1989-2010: Cause for cautious celebration? A population-based study

Objective

Every Western nation expends vast sums on health, especially for cancer; thus, the question is how efficient is the UK in reducing adult (55–74) cancer mortality rates and total mortality rates (TMR) compared to the other Western nations in the context of economic-input to health, the percentage of Gross-Domestic-Product-expenditure-on-Health.

Design

WHO mortality rates for baseline 3 years 1989–1991 and 2008–2010 were analysed, and confidence intervals determine any significant differences between the UK and other countries in reducing the mortalities. Efficiency ratios are calculated by dividing reduced mortality over the period by the average % of national income.

Setting

Twenty-one similar socio-economic Western countries.

Participants

The 21 countries’ general population.

Main outcome measures

Cancer mortality rates, total mortality rates Gross Domestic Product and Efficiency Ratios.

Results

Economic Input: In 1980, UK national income was 5.6% and the European average was 7.1%. By 2010, UK national income was 9.4% being equal 17th of 21 averaging 7.1% over the period. Europe’s 1980–2010 average of 8.4% yields a UK to Europe ratio of 1:1.18.

Clinical output 1989–2010: UK Cancer Mortality Rates was the sixth highest, but equal sixth biggest fall, significantly greater than 14 other countries. UK Total Mortality Rates was the fifth highest but third biggest decline, significantly greater than 17 countries. UK’s cancer Efficiency Ratios is largest at 1:301 and second biggest for Total Mortality Rates at 1.1341; the USA ratios were 1:152 and 1:525, respectively.

Conclusions

UK reduced mortalities indicate that the NHS achieves proportionally more with relatively less, but UK needs to match European average Gross-Domestic-Product-expenditure-on-Health to meet future challenges.

Computational pathology of pre-treatment biopsies identifies lymphocyte density as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

There is a need to improve prediction of response to chemotherapy in breast cancer in order to improve clinical management and this may be achieved by harnessing computational metrics of tissue pathology. We investigated the association between quantitative image metrics derived from computational analysis of digital pathology slides and response to chemotherapy in women with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

We digitised tissue sections of both diagnostic and surgical samples of breast tumours from 768 patients enrolled in the Neo-tAnGo randomized controlled trial. We subjected digital images to systematic analysis optimised for detection of single cells. Machine-learning methods were used to classify cells as cancer, stromal or lymphocyte and we computed estimates of absolute numbers, relative fractions and cell densities using these data. Pathological complete response (pCR), a histological indicator of chemotherapy response, was the primary endpoint. Fifteen image metrics were tested for their association with pCR using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Median lymphocyte density proved most strongly associated with pCR on univariate analysis (OR 4.46, 95 % CI 2.34-8.50, p < 0.0001; observations = 614) and on multivariate analysis (OR 2.42, 95 % CI 1.08-5.40, p = 0.03; observations = 406) after adjustment for clinical factors. Further exploratory analyses revealed that in approximately one quarter of cases there was an increase in lymphocyte density in the tumour removed at surgery compared to diagnostic biopsies. A reduction in lymphocyte density at surgery was strongly associated with pCR (OR 0.28, 95 % CI 0.17-0.47, p < 0.0001; observations = 553).

CONCLUSIONS

A data-driven analysis of computational pathology reveals lymphocyte density as an independent predictor of pCR. Paradoxically an increase in lymphocyte density, following exposure to chemotherapy, is associated with a lack of pCR. Computational pathology can provide objective, quantitative and reproducible tissue metrics and represents a viable means of outcome prediction in breast cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00070278 ; 03/10/2003.

Adjuvant Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin in Stage II to III Colon Cancer: Updated 10-Year Survival and Outcomes According to BRAF Mutation and Mismatch Repair Status of the MOSAIC Study

Purpose

The MOSAIC (Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/Fluorouracil/Leucovorin in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer) study has demonstrated 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 6-year overall survival (OS) benefit of adjuvant oxaliplatin in stage II to III resected colon cancer. This update presents 10-year OS and OS and DFS by mismatch repair (MMR) status and BRAF mutation.

Methods

Survival actualization after 10-year follow-up was performed in 2,246 patients with resected stage II to III colon cancer. We assessed MMR status and BRAF mutation in 1,008 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens.

Results

After a median follow-up of 9.5 years, 10-year OS rates in the bolus/infusional fluorouracil plus leucovorin (LV5FU2) and LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) arms were 67.1% versus 71.7% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; P = .043) in the whole population, 79.5% versus 78.4% for stage II (HR, 1.00; P = .980), and 59.0% versus 67.1% for stage III (HR, 0.80; P = .016) disease. Ninety-five patients (9.4%) had MMR-deficient (dMMR) tumors, and 94 (10.4%) had BRAF mutation. BRAF mutation was not prognostic for OS (P = .965), but dMMR was an independent prognostic factor (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.15 to 3.55; P = .014). HRs for DFS and OS benefit in the FOLFOX4 arm were 0.48 (95% CI, 0.20 to 1.12) and 0.41 (95% CI, 0.16 to 1.07), respectively, in patients with stage II to III dMMR and 0.50 (95% CI, 0.25 to 1.00) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.31 to 1.42), respectively, in those with BRAF mutation.

Conclusion

The OS benefit of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy, increasing over time and with the disease severity, was confirmed at 10 years in patients with stage II to III colon cancer. These updated results support the use of FOLFOX in patients with stage III disease, including those with dMMR or BRAF mutation.

Efficacy of neoadjuvant bevacizumab added to docetaxel followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, for women with HER2-negative early breast cancer (ARTemis): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The ARTemis trial was developed to assess the efficacy and safety of adding bevacizumab to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative early breast cancer.

METHODS

In this randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial, we enrolled women (≥18 years) with newly diagnosed HER2-negative early invasive breast cancer (radiological tumour size >20 mm, with or without axillary involvement), at 66 centres in the UK. Patients were randomly assigned via a central computerised minimisation procedure to three cycles of docetaxel (100 mg/m(2) once every 21 days) followed by three cycles of fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)), epirubicin (100 mg/m(2)), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2)) once every 21 days (D-FEC), without or with four cycles of bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) (Bev+D-FEC). The primary endpoint was pathological complete response, defined as the absence of invasive disease in the breast and axillary lymph nodes, analysed by intention to treat. The trial has completed and follow-up is ongoing. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2008-002322-11), ISRCTN (68502941), and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01093235).

FINDINGS

Between May 7, 2009, and Jan 9, 2013, we randomly allocated 800 participants to D-FEC (n=401) and Bev+D-FEC (n=399). 781 patients were available for the primary endpoint analysis. Significantly more patients in the bevacizumab group achieved a pathological complete response compared with those treated with chemotherapy alone: 87 (22%, 95% CI 18-27) of 388 patients in the Bev+D-FEC group compared with 66 (17%, 13-21) of 393 patients in the D-FEC group (p=0·03). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were reported at expected levels in both groups, although more patients had grade 4 neutropenia in the Bev+D-FEC group than in the D-FEC group (85 [22%] vs 68 [17%]).

INTERPRETATION

Addition of four cycles of bevacizumab to D-FEC in HER2-negative early breast cancer significantly improved pathological complete response. However, whether the improvement in pathological complete response will lead to improved disease-free and overall survival outcomes is unknown and will be reported after longer follow-up. Meta-analysis of available neoadjuvant trials is likely to be the only way to define subgroups of early breast cancer that would have clinically significant long-term benefit from bevacizumab treatment.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis.