Results of a global phase II study with crizotinib in advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Approximately 3–5% of NSCLC harbors ALK gene rearrangements. Crizotinib is a first-in-class, oral, small-molecule competitive ALK inhibitor with anti-MET activity. Methods: PROFILE 1005 is an ongoing global, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of crizotinib (250 mg BID in 3-week cycles) in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC who progressed after ≥1 chemotherapy for recurrent/advanced/metastatic disease. Tumor response was evaluated by RECIST 1.1 every 6 weeks. Patient-reported symptoms and global quality of life (QOL) were assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and LC-13 at baseline, day 1 each cycle and at end of treatment. Results: As of June 2011, 439 patients were evaluable for safety and 255 patients for tumor response. Median age was 53 years. The majority of patients were female (53%), never smokers (65%), and had adenocarcinoma (92%), ECOG PS 0–1 (83%) and ≥2 prior chemotherapy regimens (85%). Among patients evaluable for efficacy, median treatment duration was 25 weeks (77% of patients still ongoing). ORR was 53% (95% CI: 47–60), disease control rate at 12 weeks was 85% (95% CI: 80–89), median duration of response was 43 weeks (96% CI 36–50) and median PFS was 8.5 months (95% CI: 6.2–9.9). The most frequent treatment-related AEs were visual effects (50%), nausea (46%), vomiting (39%), and diarrhea (35%), mostly grade 1–2. 29 patients (6.6%) had treatment-related SAEs, including dyspnea and pneumonitis (4 patients each; 0.9%), and febrile neutropenia and renal cyst (2 patients each; 0.5%). A statistically significant (p<0.05) and clinically meaningful (≥ 10 points) improvement from baseline was observed for patient-reported overall pain, pain in chest, cough, dyspnea, insomnia, fatigue and global QOL. Conclusions: Crizotinib demonstrated a high response rate and PFS, favorable tolerability profile and improvement in patient-reported symptoms. These results provide strong evidence for crizotinib as a standard of care for advanced ALK-positive NSCLC.

Stem cell transplantation effectively occludes bronchopleural fistula in an animal model

BACKGROUND

Bronchopleural fistula after lung resection still represents a challenging life-threatening complication for thoracic surgeons. Considering its extremely high mortality rate, an effective treatment is urgently required. Our project investigated the hypothesis of experimental bronchopleural fistula closure by bronchoscopic injection of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the cavity of the fistula, evaluating its feasibility and safety in a large animal model.

METHODS

An experimental bronchopleural fistula was created in 9 goats after right upper tracheal lobectomy. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups: one received autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell bronchoscopic transplantation; the other received standard bronchoscopic fibrin glue injection.

RESULTS

All animals receiving bronchoscopic stem cell transplantation presented fistula closure by extraluminal fibroblast proliferation and collagenous matrix development; none (0%) died during the study period. All animals receiving standard treatment still presented bronchopleural fistula; 2 of them (40%) died. Findings were confirmed by pathology examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchoscopic transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells effectively closes experimental bronchopleural fistula by extraluminal fibroblast proliferation and collagenous matrix development. Stem cells may play a crucial role in the treatment of postresectional bronchopleural fistula after standard lung resection. Although these results provide a basis for the development of clinical therapeutic strategies, the exact mechanism by which they are obtained is not yet completely clear; further studies are required to understand exactly how stem cells work in this field.

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors beyond focal progression obtain a prolonged disease control in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung

INTRODUCTION

Recent data show that EGFR pathway and its inhibition maintain their role after progression of disease during EGFR TKI therapy in NSCLCs. We conducted a retrospective study with the aim of evaluating efficacy and feasibility of prosecution of EGFR TKI therapy beyond focal progression associated to locoregional radiotherapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of all NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs in our institution from 2004 to 2012. We included in the analysis patients that after a focal disease progression, meant as a single lesion RECIST progression, have been treated with definitive locoregional radiotherapy, associated to continuation of EGFR TKI therapy until further progression.

RESULTS

15 out of 147 patients (10%) satisfied inclusion criteria. The median progression free survival, measured from the date of focal progression until further progression of disease or death by any cause, was 10,9 months (range 3-32 months). The corresponding 6 and 12 months PFS rates were 73% and 33%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The longer disease control observed in our patients suggests that continuation of EGFR TKI beyond focal progression associated to a locoregional treatment is an efficacious therapeutic strategy.

Epstein-Barr virus in tumor-infiltrating B cells of myasthenia gravis thymoma: an innocent bystander or an autoimmunity mediator?

The thymus plays a key role in myasthenia gravis (MG), a B cell-mediated autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junction. Most MG patients have thymic abnormalities, including hyperplasia and thymoma, a neoplasm of thymic epithelial cells. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with autoimmune diseases and tumors. Recently, we showed EBV persistence and reactivation in hyperplastic MG thymuses, suggesting that EBV might contribute to intra-thymic B cell dysregulation in MG patients. Here, we investigated EBV involvement in thymoma-associated MG, by searching for EBV markers in MG (n=26) and non-MG (n=14) thymomas. EBV DNA and EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA (EBER) 1 transcript were detected in 14/26 (53.8%) and 22/26 (84.6%) MG thymomas, and only in 3 of 14 (21.4%) non-MG thymomas. Latent EBNA2 and late gp350/220 lytic transcripts were undetectable in all, but one, thymomas, and early lytic BZLF1 transcript was absent in all samples, suggesting that early infection events and EBV reactivation were very rare in thymomas. EBER1 and 2-positive cells were detected in MG, but not in non-MG, thymomas, as well as cells expressing EBV latency proteins (EBNA1, LMP1, LMP2A), that were mainly of B cell phenotype, indicating EBV association with MG rather than with thymoma. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 transcriptional levels were higher in MG than non-MG thymomas and positively correlated with EBER1 levels, suggesting a role for EBERs in TLR3 activation. Our findings show that EBV is commonly present in thymoma-infiltrating B cells of myasthenic patients, indicating a contribution of EBV to B cell-mediated autoreactivity in MG associated with thymic tumor.

The Activity of Chemotherapy in Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors: A Multicenter, European Retrospective Case Series Analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to review the activity of cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) treated at nine European sarcoma reference centers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients of any age, with histologically proven IMT, treated with anthracycline-based methotrexate plus/minus vinorelbine/vinblastine (MTX-V) or other chemotherapeutic regimens between 1996 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was confirmed at the local level by an expert pathologist. Response was retrospectively assessed by local investigators by RECIST v1.1. Progression-free survival (PFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were computed by Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were included. Twenty-five patients (8 localized, 17 advanced disease) received an anthracycline-based regimen; 21 were evaluable for response. Overall response rate (ORR) was 10/21 (47.6%). At a 70.8-month median follow-up (FU), median RFS and median OS were not reached (NR) in patients with localized disease; median PFS and median OS were 6.3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.9-13.4) and 21.2 (IQR: 7.7-40.7) months in patients with advanced disease. Thirteen patients received MTX-V (4 localized, 9 advanced disease), all evaluable for response. ORR was 7/13 (53.8%). At a 56.6-month median FU, median RFS and median OS were 42.5 (IQR: 12.9-61.2) months and NR (no death events) in patients with localized disease, and NR (IQR: 24.9 to NR) and 83.4 months (IQR: 83.4 to NR) in patients with advanced disease. In the "other-regimens group," responses were seen in 3/4 patients treated with oral cyclophosphamide and 1/2 with docetaxel/gemcitabine.

CONCLUSION

Anthracycline-based and MTX-V regimens are very effective in IMT, with a similar ORR in both groups. MTX-V achieved a prolonged disease control. Responses were also seen with oral cyclophosphamide and docetaxel/gemcitabine, but few patients were treated with these schedules.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an ultrarare sarcoma with known sensitivity to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors in ALK-fused cases, although ALK inhibitors are not licensed in the disease. The current knowledge on the activity of cytotoxic chemotherapy is limited. This multi-institutional retrospective study on pediatric and adult patients with IMT shows that cytotoxic chemotherapy, and in particular anthracycline-based and methotrexate plus/minus vinorelbine/vinblastine regimens, represents a treatment option and can be considered in IMT patients irrespectively from ALK status. This study provides a benchmark for future studies on new medical therapies.

First-in-human phase I study of the ALK inhibitor LDK378 in advanced solid tumors

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Background: LDK378 is a novel, potent and selective small molecule anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor (IC50 0.00015 μM), that does not inhibit c-MET (IC50 3.2 μM). Tumor regression has been observed in ALK-driven NSCLC xenografts. A first-in-human, Phase I study is being conducted to determine the MTD and safety profile in patients (pts) with tumors with ALK rearrangement, amplification or mutation. Other objectives were safety, PK and antitumor activity in pts with ALK-driven NSCLC, both naïve to ALK inhibitors and relapsed following previous ALK inhibitor treatment, and other ALK-positive cancers. Methods: Adult pts with advanced malignancies harboring a genetic alteration in ALK who progressed on standard therapy or for whom there was no effective therapy, were given once daily oral LDK378 on a continuous 21-day schedule. Dose escalation, starting at 50 mg/day, was guided by a Bayesian logistic regression model (BLRM) to determine the MTD. Results: At a January 5th 2012 cutoff,31 pts (primary site: lung 26 pts; breast 3 pts; other 2 pts; median age 52 years; 87% ECOG PS 0/1) were enrolled and received LDK378 at doses of 50–750 mg/day. Two dose limiting toxicities, Grade (Gr) 3 alanine aminotransferase elevation (1 pt), and Gr 3 hypophosphatemia (1 pt) occurred in 8 pts at a 400 mg dose level. BLRM allowed dose escalation, and there were no DLTs in 4 pts at 500 mg. Median duration of treatment with LDK378 was 7 weeks (range <1–22+). At the cutoff date, 13 (42%) pts discontinued treatment: 1 (3%) due to adverse events (AEs), and 12 (39%) due to disease progression; 18 (58%) pts were still on treatment. The most frequent AEs (all Gr) were nausea (45%), vomiting (36%), and diarrhea (29%). The most frequent Gr 3/4 AEs were diarrhea and dyspnea (2 pts [7%] each). At doses ≥400 mg steady state exposures exceeded efficacious exposures in xenograft models. Of 16 pts with available response data (RECIST, per investigator) there were 4/6 responses in crizotinib (CRZ)-treated pts, and 2/10 responses in CRZ-naïve pts, of whom 7 were treated below 400 mg. All responses were in NSCLC. Conclusions: Daily oral LDK378 is well tolerated up to 500 mg/day, and escalation continues at 750 mg/day. Preliminary responses have been seen in both CRZ-naïve and CRZ-relapsed pts.

Targeting ALK in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer: biology, diagnostic and therapeutic options

The discovery of EML4-ALK fusion gene in a subgroup of patients with lung adenocarcinoma led to the development of a new class of agents, the ALK inhibitors, and dramatically improved the clinical outcome of these patients. The striking results from clinical trials with crizotinib, the first ALK inhibitor evaluated, allowed the accelerated approval of crizotinib from the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite the high initial results, patients acquire resistance to crizotinib, and different next generation ALK kinase inhibitors have been developed. In the current review, we will analyze the biology of EML4-ALK gene, the acquired resistance mechanisms to crizotinib, the therapeutic strategies, currently under evaluation, designed to overcome crizotinib resistance, and the open issues that need to be addressed in order to improve outcome in ALK+ Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Erlotinib-Induced Breast Cancer Regression

Objective:

To report a case of erlotinib-induced breast cancer regression.

Case Summary:

A 38-year-old woman developed bilateral locoregional malignant cutaneous lymphangitis following a right subcutaneous mastectomy and 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. After several systemic chemotherapy regimens, the lymphangitis worsened rapidly, with progressive skin ulceration. Morphine and dexamethasone were given, with suboptimal pain control. A chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and vinorelbine was started. After 2 full-dose administrations, while lymphangitis continued to worsen, erlotinib 150 mg/day was added to the regimen. After 10 weeks of treatment, pain subsided and analgesics were discontinued. Physical examination revealed a partial regression of malignant cutaneous lymphangitis and pulmonary metastases, with resolution of ulceration.

Discussion:

There has been increased interest in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer. Gefitinib has shown a low level of efficacy, while preliminary clinical data on erlotinib were not conclusive and suggested lack of clinical activity. Molecular analysis of the tumor in our patient revealed a profile predictive of response to EGFR selective inhibitors in some patients with lung cancer.

Conclusions:

The addition of erlotinib to our patient's chemotherapy regimen resulted in antitumor activity in breast cancer in which an activated EGFR pathway was demonstrated. This finding is consistent with available preclinical and clinical data on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors across tumor types and supports the efforts to optimize EGFR selective inhibitors in treating breast cancer and other malignancies.

Moving towards molecular-guided treatments: erlotinib and clinical outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Erlotinib is an orally administered small-molecule inhibitor of EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase that is approved for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer. Erlotinib was first approved for the treatment of unselected NSCLC patients with advanced disease after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen, and it was subsequently demonstrated to also confer a significant clinical benefit as maintenance therapy after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In all clinical studies, erlotinib treatment was associated with a good safety profile. Activating mutations in the EGFR gene have emerged as the strongest predictive marker of response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, erlotinib and gefitinib, independently of other clinical and molecular features. Results from recently published, randomized Phase III trials showed that first-line erlotinib significantly prolongs progression-free survival in patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC with favorable tolerability, compared with standard chemotherapy. EGFR mutation testing is a crucial factor in the decision-making process regarding the most appropriate initial treatment option for patients. Specific molecular alterations in crucial genes have been discovered and associated with resistance to erlotinib, limiting its efficacy. New targeted agents and combined-treatment strategies are now under evaluation in clinical trials of NSCLC patients following progression to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Visual effects in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with crizotinib

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Background: Crizotinib is an ALK inhibitor indicated in the US for advanced ALK-positive NSCLC. Visual effects reported by patients treated with crizotinib were characterized using the Visual Symptom Assessment Questionnaire (VSAQ). Methods: Patients with previously treated, advanced ALK-positive NSCLC were administered 250 mg BID crizotinib in an ongoing phase II study (PROFILE1005, NCT00932451; Pfizer). Patients completed the VSAQ at day 1 of each 21 day cycle and at end of treatment. The VSAQ has a recall period of 3 weeks and consists of 7 questions assessing presence, frequency, timing, duration and degree of bother of visual effects and their impact on Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The visual effects assessed included appearance of overlapping shadows/after images, flashing lights and streamers/strings/floaters, difficulty adapting to lights and seeing at night. Patients rated degree of bother on a 5-point scale ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely’. Impact on ADL was measured using a 10-point scale (0: no effect; 10: completely prevented ADL). Frequency analyses were performed. Results: As of June 1 2011, visual effects as identified by VSAQ were reported by 63% (114/182) of patients at cycle 2 (C2), 57% at C3 (85/149), 52% at C4 (64/123) and 41% at C5 (46/112). The most commonly experienced visual events were appearance of flashing lights (C2:81%; C3:82%; C4:84%; C5: 76%), streamers/strings/floaters (C2: 83%; C3:78%; C4: 81%; C5:87%) and overlapping shadows/after images (C2:70%; C3:77%; C4:87%; C5:84%). Most patients reported each event to last ≤1 minute (C2:61%; C3:71%; C4:77%; C5: 70%). Majority of patients reported event frequency at each cycle of < 7 days/wk (50–78%). Patients reported that the visual effects occurred mostly in the morning (52–62%) and/or evening (62–73%). Majority of patients reported that visual effects were not at all or a little bothersome (C2:62%; C3:61%; C4:66%; C5:65%). Majority of patients indicated no or minimal impact on ADL (C2:80%; C3:80%; C4:83%; C5:87%). Conclusions: Visual effects identified by VSAQ in patients treated with crizotinib were frequent, but were reported to be transient with no or minimal impact on ADL.

Muscle and Muscle-like Autoantigen Expression in Myasthenia Gravis Thymus: Possible Molecular Hint for Autosensitization

The thymus is widely recognized as an immunological niche where autoimmunity against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) develops in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, who mostly present thymic hyperplasia and thymoma. Thymoma-associated MG is frequently characterized by autoantibodies to the muscular ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) and titin (TTN), along with anti-AChR antibodies. By real-time PCR, we analyzed muscle—CHRNA1, RYR1, and TTN—and muscle-like—NEFM, RYR3 and HSP60—autoantigen gene expression in MG thymuses with hyperplasia and thymoma, normal thymuses and non-MG thymomas, to check for molecular changes potentially leading to an altered antigen presentation and autoreactivity. We found that CHRNA1 (AChR-α subunit) and AIRE (autoimmune regulator) genes were expressed at lower levels in hyperplastic and thymoma MG compared to the control thymuses, and that the RYR1 and TTN levels were decreased in MG versus the non-MG thymomas. Genes encoding autoantigens that share epitopes with AChR-α (NEFM and HSP60), RYR1 (neuronal RYR3), and TTN (NEFM) were up-regulated in thymomas versus hyperplastic and control thymuses, with distinct molecular patterns across the thymoma histotypes that could be relevant for autoimmunity development. Our findings support the idea that altered muscle autoantigen expression, related with hyperplastic and neoplastic changes, may favor autosensitization in the MG thymus, and that molecular mimicry involving tumor-related muscle-like proteins may be a mechanism that makes thymoma prone to developing MG.

Antitumor activity of sorafenib and imatinib in a patient with thymic carcinoma harboring c-KIT exon 13 missense mutation K642E

We report the case of a man with an advanced nonkeratinizing squamous cell thymic carcinoma harboring c-KIT exon 13 missense mutation K642E. This aberration is rare and has never been described previously in patients with thymic cancers. It has been found in a small number of cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and also in several cases of acral and mucosal melanomas. Some of the patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor or melanoma harboring this rare mutation have had a tumor response when treated with imatinib. In contrast, in our case, the mutation was associated with primary resistance to full doses of imatinib but, at the same time, it was not a cause of resistance to sorafenib.

Safety and activity of Combined AVElumab with Axitinib in unresectable or metastatic Thymomas B3 and Thymic carcinomas: The CAVEATT study

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Background: Patients (pts) with advanced B3 thymoma (B3T) and thymic carcinoma (TC) resistant to chemotherapy have limited treatment options. Treatment with Anti-PD1 showed not negligible toxicity and limited activity, and anti-VEGFR drugs obtained limited and short lasting antitumor responses. No data on combined anti-PD1/PD-L1 with antiangiogenic drugs are available in B3T/TC. We report preliminary results on safety and activity of avelumab combined with axitinib in this pts population. Methods: The CAVEATT is a single arm, multicentric, phase II trial in immunotherapy-naive pts with advanced B3T or TC, progressing after at least one line of platinum based chemotherapy. Prior therapy with antiangiogenic drugs is allowed. Pts received Avelumab 10 mg/kg iv every 2 weeks and Axitinib 5 mg twice a day until progression or toxicity. The primary objective of the study is overall response rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1; secondary endpoints include ORR by irRC and ITMIG, and QoL by EORTC QLQ-C30. An interim futility analysis is planned after the enrollment of the first 18 patients. If at least 5 out of 18 patients will obtain a PR, the accrual will continue to reach the total number of 33 pts, according with a Simon’s minimax design. Tumor and blood samples are collected at baseline and whenever feasible at disease progression, to identify predictive biomarkers of response and mechanisms of resistance to treatment. Results: 1 pt with B3T and 12 with TC were enrolled from April 2019 to January 2020. Median age was 59 years (range 33-77). 8 pts received ≥2 previous line of therapies, and 6 pts were pretreated with an antiangiogenic drug. The median follow-up was 5.1 months. 10 pts were evaluable for response. The proportions of patients who achieved a partial response (PR) or a stable disease (SD) were respectively 40% (95% CI 17%–69%) and 60% (95% CI 30%–83%). The median PFS was 7.9 months (95% CI 2.5–NA) 12 pts were evaluable for toxicity. Treatment-related adverse events (AE) of grade 1 or 2 occurred in 7 (58%) pts, and the most common was diarrhea (3 pts). Grade ≥3 AEs occurred in 2 (17%) pts: 1 had G3 hyperthension and 1 G3 hand foot syndrome, both leading to axitinib drug reduction. No immune-related AEs (irAEs) were observed. No patient stopped treatment for toxicity, 5 pts stopped for progressive disease, and 8 pts are still on treatment. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest promising antitumor activity and a good toxicity profile of the combination of axitinib and avelumab in pts with advanced B3T and TC. Accrual is ongoing to reach the target of 33 pts Clinical trial information: 2017-004048-38 .

Pathological and clinical features of enteric adenocarcinoma of the thymus. A pooled analysis of cases from a reference center and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary enteric adenocarcinoma of the thymus (EAT) is a recently proposed rare subtype of thymic carcinoma. Unlike thymic carcinomas with squamous histology, for which clinical guidelines are available, little knowledge is available regarding the clinical and pathological features of EAT, and there is no consensus on the best treatment algorithm for such tumors.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the literature, searching for all cases of EAT reported. We also retrospectively reviewed all cases of EAT treated at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) between January 2000 and January 2020. Individual patient data were extracted and analyzed in order to delineate clinical and pathological features, as well as patients' prognosis and treatments outcome, evaluated in terms of Disease free Survival (DFS), Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Thirty-three cases (29 reported in literature and 4 new cases treated at IEO) of thymic adenocarcinoma deploying enteric differentiation as defined by WHO-criteria were analyzed. All tumors showed positive immunoreactivity for cytokeratin (CK) 20 and/or caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2). Data on molecular profiling by next-generation sequencing were available in only 3 cases, and did not show actionable findings. At diagnosis, 11 pts had an early-stage (Masaoka I-II) and 22 a locally advanced (10 pts) or metastatic (12 pts) disease. Median-DFS of patients with localized disease was 12 months (95% CI, 7-19). Patients who received systemic chemotherapy were mostly treated with regimens commonly used for thymic epithelial tumors, with a discouraging PFS of 3-5 months for patients with stage IV disease. Median OS of the whole population was 34 months (95% CI, 24-NA:. mOS was not reached for patients with stage I-II disease versus 34 months in stage III-IV (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Available evidence suggests that EAT represents a distinct entity in the context of thymic epithelial tumors, characterized by aggressive clinical behavior, poor responsiveness to chemotherapy and dismal patients prognosis. More research is needed to better define optimal management strategies for patients with such rare disease.

Guideline-Based Follow-Up Outcomes in Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor With Low Risk of Recurrence: A Report From the Italian Sarcoma Group

Importance

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) follow-up is recommended by international guidelines, but data on the role of follow-up in patients with low relapse risk are missing. For these patients, the potential benefit of anticipating recurrence detection should be weighed against psychological burden and radiologic examination loads in terms of costs and radiation exposure.

Objective

To evaluate the outcomes of guideline-based follow-up in low-risk GIST.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multi-institutional retrospective cohort study involving Italian Sarcoma Group reference institutions evaluated patients with GIST who underwent surgery between January 2001 and June 2019. Median follow-up time was 69.2 months. Data analysis was performed from December 15, 2022, to March 20, 2023. Patients with GIST at low risk according to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria were included provided adequate clinical information was available: primary site, size, mitotic index, surgical margins, and 2 or more years of follow-up.

Exposures

All patients underwent follow-up according to European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the number of tests needed to identify a relapse according to ESMO guidelines follow-up plan. Secondary outcomes included relapse rate, relapse timing, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), GIST-specific survival (GIST-SS), postrelapse OS, secondary tumor rates, and theoretical ionizing radiation exposure. An exploratory end point, new follow-up schedule proposal for patients with low-risk GIST according to the observed results, was also assessed.

Results

A total of 737 patients (377 men [51.2%]; median age at diagnosis, 63 [range, 18-86] years) with low-risk GIST were included. Estimated 5-year survival rates were 95.5% for DFS, 99.8% for GIST-SS, and 96.1% for OS. Estimated 10-year survival rates were 93.4% for DFS, 98.1% for GIST-SS, and 91.0% for OS. Forty-two patients (5.7%) experienced disease relapse during follow-up (9 local, 31 distant, 2 both), of which 9 were detected after 10 or more years. This translated into approximately 1 relapse detected for every 170 computed tomography scans performed, with a median radiation exposure of 80 (IQR, 32-112) mSv per patient. Nongastric primary tumor (hazard ratio [HR], 2.09; 95% CI, 1.14-3.83; P = .02), and KIT mutation (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.05-7.27; P = .04) were associated with a higher risk of relapse. Second tumors affected 187 of 737 patients (25%), of which 56 were detected during follow-up and represented the primary cause of death in these patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study on patients affected by low-risk GISTs, the risk of relapse was low despite a follow-up across 10 or more years. These data suggest the need to revise follow-up schedules to reduce the anxiety, costs, and radiation exposure of currently recommended follow-up strategy.

MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in resected stage IB-III NSCLC patients with or without sequential or concurrent chemotherapy

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Background: Previous trials with the MAGE-A3 recombinant (rec) protein formulated with an immunostimulant have shown induction of specific immune responses and signals of clinical activity in different cancer diseases. In this phase I/II study (NCT 00455572), we evaluated the safety profile of the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic (CI), formulated with the rec MAGE-A3 protein and the AS15 immunostimulant, and the induction of specific immune response with or without adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). Methods: MAGE-A3 CI was administered i.m. 8q3w in resected MAGE-A3+ stage IB-III NSCLC patients (pts). Three cohorts (C) were evaluated: Immunization with concurrent cisplatin plus vinorelbine (C1), sequentially after the same CT (C2) or with no CT (C3). The anti-MAGE-A3 humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated by ELISA and intracellular cytokine staining (T cells producing both IFNg and TNF) respectively. Adverse Events (AEs) were graded according to CTCAE v. 3.0. Results: A total of 38/55 treated pts received the 8 doses schedule (15/19 in C1, 14/18 in C2, 9/18 in C3). Almost all pts reported at least one AE, mostly general constitutional disorders and administration site reactions. Six patients reported related grade 3 AEs. No related grade 4-5 AE or related SAE were reported. Immunogenicity results in the total treated population are reported in the table below. Conclusions: In this trial, patients in cohorts 2 and 3 correspond to the two populations enrolled in the Phase III MAGRIT trial evaluating the same MAGE-A3 CI. The phase I/II results suggest that this CI is well tolerated and induces in all treated pts specific antibodies against MAGE-A3 after 4 doses in presence or not of concurrent or sequential adjuvant CT. About 25% of the treated pts are considered as CD4 responders in presence or not of concurrent or sequential adjuvant CT. [Table: see text]

Activity of chemotherapy in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT): A retrospective analysis within the Italian Rare Tumours Network (RTR)

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Background: IMT is a rare soft tissue tumour often curable with surgical resection. Nonetheless, in advanced cases a medical therapy is needed. Few data are available on the role of conventional chemotherapy. We report on a retrospective study on the activity of cytotoxic chemotherapy in pts with IMT treated within the RTR. Methods: Patients (pts) of any age with a centrally confirmed diagnosis of IMT treated with anthracycline-based or methotrexate (MTX) and vinorelbine/vinblastine-based regimens between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed. ALK status was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and FISH. Response was assessed by RECIST 1.1. Results: Twenty pts were retrospectively identified (ALK positive = 12, under assessment = 8); median age at the time of treatment start = 38, range = 5-77; disease extent: local disease = 2, locally advanced = 9, metastatic disease = 9. Thirteen pts (65%) received an anthracycline-based regimen, 7 (35%) MTX and vinorelbine/vinblastine. In the anthracycline-based group, 6 (46%) and 7 (54%) pts were treated for localized and advanced disease, respectively. Twelve pts were evaluable for response. Best responses were: 1 CR (8%), 6 PR (50%), 2 SD (17%), 3 PD (25%), for an ORR = 58%. 8 pts received a complete surgical resection at the end of the medical treatment and 6 are disease free. At 39 mos median follow-up, mPFS for 7 pts treated for advanced disease was 5.4 mos (IQR: 1.9-18.8). In the MTX and vinorelbine/vinblastine group, 2 (28%) and 5 (72%) pts were treated for localized disease and advanced disease, respectively. All pts were evaluable for response. Best responses were: 5 PR (50%), 3 SD (30%), 2 PD (20%), for an ORR = 50%. Two pts received a complete surgical resection after the end of chemotherapy and both are disease free. At 56.4 mos median follow-up, mPFS for pts with advanced disease was not reached, with disease progression reported only in 1 pt. Conclusions: Chemotherapy is an option in localised IMT when tumour shrinkage is needed as well as for tumour control in advanced disease. Clearly, its efficacy should be compared with ALK inhibitors, although of course both groups of agents may be resorted to stepwisely in advanced cases in need for medical therapy.

Primary malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast: A retrospective analysis from a referral center

BACKGROUND

The treatment for primary malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast (B-MPT) consists of wide local excision with negative margins (≥1 cm). However, because of their rarity, prognostic factors, type of surgery and adjuvant treatments are still a matter of debate.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective study to describe outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with primary B-MPT, who underwent breast surgery from January 2000 to December 2021. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of any recurrence. Secondary endpoints were the cumulative incidences of distant and local recurrences.

RESULTS

131 patients were included, of whom all received surgery, 5 adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy and 15 radiation therapy. After a median follow-up of 6.4 years, the cumulative incidences at 5-years of any, local and distant recurrences were of 26% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 4-34%), 16% (95%CI, 10-24%) and 10% (95%CI, 5.3-16%), respectively. Tumor size ≥ 5 cm was associated with higher distant recurrences (p = 0.05); instead, among small tumors (<5 cm), distant recurrences were higher in those with heterologous differentiation and/or multifocal disease (p = 0.06). Type of breast surgery (mastectomy vs. lumpectomy/excision) was not found to be significantly associated with distant (p = 0.32) or local (p = 0.17) recurrence, even after controlling local recurrence incidence for negative pathologic prognostic factors (p = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

The natural history of B-MPT is burdened by local and distant recurrences. Pathologic prognostic factors (i.e., tumor size, heterologous differentiation and multifocal disease) more than the type of wide breast surgery (mastectomy vs. lumpectomy) seem to represent the most significant prognostic factor for recurrences.

Trabectedin in advanced retroperitoneal well differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma (TRAVELL): Results of a phase 2 study from Italian sarcoma group (ISG)

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Background: To further explore the activity of T as second/further line treatment in retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and well differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma (LPS). The primary endpoint of the study was the growth modulation rate (GMR) defined as the ratio between the time to progression under T (TTP) and during previous chemotherapy treatment (TTP-1). The secondary end-points were objective response rate as per RECIST and PFS. Methods: This was a multicenter, single-arm Phase 2 study, conducted in 20 Italian centers. Patients with locally relapsed or metastatic disease, already treated with one or more previous systemic treatments with anthracyclines and/or ifosfamide, were enrolled. T was administered at a dose of 1.3-1.5 mg/mq with a top dose of 2.6 mg per cycle. T was administered as a 24h continuous infusion until progressive disease, major toxicity, patient’s intolerance or medical decision. As per protocol, patients were considered responders if the GMR was > 1.33, non-responders if < 0.75 and neither if 0.76-1.32. Eighty evaluable patients were needed to detect an odds of trabectedin response ≥ 2.5, corresponding to 71.4% of patients with a GMR > 1.33 (80% power, one-sided alpha 2.5%). Results: From August 2014 to February 2019, 104 patients were registered and 91 were evaluable for the primary endpoint (32 pts with LMS and 59 with LPS). Overall, the median number of cycles received was 6.0 (q1-q3 3.0-12.0), the main reason for treatment discontinuation was disease progression in 72% of patients, followed by medical decision (8%). The median TTP was 6.0 months (6.2 and 6.0 for LMS and LPS), while the median TTP-1 was 7.5 months (8.1 and 6.4 for LMS and LPS). Thirty three patients (52% 95%CI: 36-58, p = 0.674, odds of response = 1.1) had a GMR > 1.33 (LMS: 46%, 95%CI 26-67,odds = 0.85; LPS 56%, 95%CI 40-72, odds = 1.3).Overall, response rate (CR+PR) was 16% (24% for LMS and 12% for LPS). Overall, in LPS we observed 15/47 patients with GMR < 0.5 and 15/47 with GMR > 2. Among LMS patients, 9/26 had a GMR < 0.5 and 10/26 > 2. Between LPS six patients had a GMR > 5. Previous treatment had been based on anthracyclines and/or ifosfamide in 85% of patients (91% in LPS population). Conclusions: While the primary end point of the study was not met, we noticed a subgroup of patients with a markedly discrepant TTP with T in comparison to previous therapy (GMR < 0.5 or > 2, the latter including some pts with a long TTP with T). Efforts are ongoing to assess the pathologic counterparts of such discrepancies. T seems to be selectively active in poorly understood subgroups, with a pattern of activity distinct from other available agents. Clinical trial information: 2012-005428-14.

Head-to-Head comparison of [18F]FES and [18F]FDG PET/CT in breast cancer patients: has a new era come?

PURPOSE

This review systematically compared, in a head-to-head manner, the diagnostic and prognostic performance of [18F]FDG and [18F]FES PET/CT in breast cancer (BC) patients.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to January 2025, without temporal limitations or restrictions on the number of patients in the included studies, to identify relevant articles comparing the diagnostic value of [18F]FDG and [18F]FES PET in BC patients. Selected imaging studies were analyzed using a modified version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist dedicated to systematic reviews.

RESULTS

A total of 20 papers were evaluated. Based on the CASP analysis, the quality of the study was variable. Totally, 806 patients affected by BC underwent both [18F]FDG and [18F]FES PET. Different setting of disease were considered, such as staging/diagnostic and prognostic value. In the initial staging of disease, [18F]FES PET/CT seemed to be more accurate than [18F]FDG. In the prognostic field, [18F]FES expression was a positive factor for the better prognosis, in particular when the amount of [18F]FDG uptake was low. [18F]FES seemed to be promising as a molecular agent in patients affected by invasive lobular BC.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the potential of [18F]FES as a complementary imaging biomarker to [18F]FDG, advocating for further studies to standardize PET metrics and refine their combined clinical utility.

Role of adjuvant imatinib dose in radically resected GIST harboring KIT exon 9 mutations

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Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a driver mutation in KIT exon 9 (Ex9) represent about 10% of all newly diagnosed cases. In the metastatic setting, Ex9-mutated GIST patients benefit from higher doses of imatinib (800 mg/day vs standard 400 mg/day). The additional therapeutic benefit from a higher dose of imatinib in the adjuvant setting in this molecular subgroup has not been confirmed. Methods: We retrospectively identified 105 patients (pts) with resected Ex9-mutated GIST treated with adjuvant imatinib (800 mg/day or 400 mg/day) in 15 different European centers. Disease-Free Survival (DFS) and Imatinib Failure-Free Survival (IFFS) were calculated and analyzed according to the daily dose of imatinib and relevant clinical and pathological variables. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate survival in univariate analyses, and the log-rank test was used to compare the groups. Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a univariable Cox model. A multivariate Cox regression model was also performed. Results: Of the 105 pts who met the inclusion criteria, 69 (65.7%) were treated with 400 mg/day and 36 (34.3%) with 800 mg/day. The risk score (AFIP-Miettinen criteria) between the two dose groups was not statistically different (P = 0.29). Median DFS was 73.0 months (mo) in the 400 mg/day group and 61.9 mo in the 800 mg/day group (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.47-1.47; P = 0.50). Median IFFS was 156.8 mo in the 400/day mg group and 117.4 mo in the 800 mg/day group (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.34-1.29; P = 0.19). In a multivariable analysis, the variables statistically associated with DFS were mitotic count, the longest tumor diameter and the duration of adjuvant therapy. Mitotic count and the duration of adjuvant therapy were also associated with IFFS. Importantly, the daily imatinib dose was not associated with survival in either analysis (Table). Conclusions: This is the largest reported cohort of pts with Ex9-mutated GIST treated with either the 400 mg/day or the 800 mg/day dose of adjuvant imatinib. Although retrospective in nature, the data confirm the prognostic value of mitotic count and suggest that patients with Ex9-mutated GIST derive no additional survival benefit from the 800 mg/day dose. [Table: see text]

First Report of Pembrolizumab Activity in KIT-Mutated Thymic Carcinoma

The antitumor activity of immunotherapy is strongly influenced by the presence of driver gene mutations/translocations. For this reason, knowledge of the predictive value of specific genetic alterations in relation to anti-PD(L)1 activity is highly useful for the clinical decision making process in many solid tumors, particularly in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Although data on the correlation between genetic alterations and response to immunotherapy are available in the majority of common cancers, data are lacking in the subset of patients with KIT-mutated Thymic Carcinoma (TC). As a consequence, although immunotherapy is a standard treatment for TC patients, the lack of this knowledge leads to uncertainty when proposing immunocheckpoint inhibitors in this subset of patients. Here we describe the first report of a patient with KIT-mutated TC who received the anti-PD1 agent pembrolizumab, which caused a sustained partial response. This case report of a sustained partial response achieved with pembrolizumab in a patient with KIT-mutated TC after progression to chemotherapy and imatinib may be supportive during clinical decision making for this extremely rare disease.