Exploring Barriers to Pediatric Cancer Clinical Trials: The Role of a Networked, Just-in-Time Study Program

The Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act mandates that newly developed targeted oncology drugs be tested in children when molecular targets are relevant to pediatric cancers. In its first year, the RACE for Children Act was effective in creating novel drug development opportunities for children with cancer; however, significant barriers to clinical trial enrollment persist. Pediatric cancer clinical trials are impacted by challenges surrounding logistics, complexity, and access. As such, there is potential for a networked and centralized study approach to address these barriers. Here we discuss adapting a just-in-time clinical trial approach for adults to serve the pediatric oncology population. Through innovative patient matching solutions leveraging large, real-world datasets with high computational power, the Tempus Integrated Molecular Evaluation (TIME) for Kids Program aims to address barriers in the development of new therapies. This commentary explores the potential for reducing challenges in developing novel pediatric therapeutics, advancing equity in genomic biomarker testing for precision tailored treatment, and improving outcomes for pediatric oncology patients.

Assessment of Tumor Mutational Burden and Outcomes in Patients With Diverse Advanced Cancers Treated With Immunotherapy

Importance

There are few studies assessing the association of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients with diverse advanced cancers.

Objective

To clinically validate a TMB biomarker from a next-generation sequencing targeted gene panel assay.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A prespecified cohort study using the deidentified clinicogenomic Tempus database of patients sequenced between 2018 and 2022, which contained retrospective, observational data originating from 300 cancer sites including 199 community sites and 101 academic sites. Patients with advanced solid tumors across 8 cancer types and more than 20 histologies, sequenced with Tempus xT who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the first-line or second-line setting were included. Data were analyzed from September 2018 to August 2022.

Exposure

Treatment with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antiprogrammed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) ICI and/or in combination with a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 ICI.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the association of tumor mutational burden (TMB) binary category (high [≥10 mut/mb] vs low) with overall survival (OS) in patients treated with ICIs. Secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), and time to progression (TTP).

Results

In the evaluable cohort of 674 patients, the median (IQR) age was 69.4 (28.6-89.8) years, 271 patients (40.2%) were female, and 435 patients (64.5%) were White. The most common advanced cancers were non-small cell lung cancer (330 patients [49.0%]), followed by bladder cancer (148 patients [22.0%]), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (96 patients [14.8%]). Median (IQR) follow-up was 7.2 (3.2-14.1) months. High TMB (TMB-H) cancers (206 patients [30.6%]) were significantly associated with longer OS than low TMB (TMB-L) cancers (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; upper confidence bound [UCB], 0.91; P = .01). In a prospective subset of 403 patients treated with ICIs after TMB testing, TMB-H cancers (135 patients [33.5%]) were significantly associated with longer OS (HR, 0.61; UCB, 0.84; P = .005), PFS (HR, 0.62; UCB, 0.82; P = .003), and TTP (HR, 0.67; UCB, 0.92; P = .02) than TMB-L cancers. An overall survival benefit was seen regardless of the type of ICI used (pembrolizumab, 339 patients; HR, 0.67; UCB, 0.94; P = .03), other ICIs (64 patients; HR, 0.37; UCB, 0.85; P = .03), and after adjusting for PD-L1 and microsatellite stability status (403 patients; HR = 0.67; UCB, 0.92; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of patients with advanced solid tumors treated with ICIs in diverse clinics, TMB-H cancers were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with TMB-L cancers.

Translating an Economic Analysis into a Tool for Public Health Resource Allocation in Cancer Survivorship

Background. The complexity of decision science models may prevent their use to assist in decision making. User-centered design (UCD) principles provide an opportunity to engage end users in model development and refinement, potentially reducing complexity and increasing model utilization in a practical setting. We report our experiences with UCD to develop a modeling tool for cancer control planners evaluating cancer survivorship interventions. Design. Using UCD principles (described in the article), we developed a dynamic cohort model of cancer survivorship for individuals with female breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer over 10 y. Parameters were obtained from the National Program of Cancer Registries and peer-reviewed literature, with model outcomes captured in quality-adjusted life-years and net monetary benefit. Prototyping and iteration were conducted with structured focus groups involving state cancer control planners and staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association. Results. Initial feedback highlighted model complexity and unclear purpose as barriers to end user uptake. Revisions addressed complexity by simplifying model input requirements, providing clear examples of input types, and reducing complex language. Wording was added to the results page to explain the interpretation of results. After these updates, feedback demonstrated that end users more clearly understood how to use and apply the model for cancer survivorship resource allocation tasks. Conclusions. A UCD approach identified challenges faced by end users in integrating a decision aid into their workflow. This approach created collaboration between modelers and end users, tailoring revisions to meet the needs of the users. Future models developed for individuals without a decision science background could leverage UCD to ensure the model meets the needs of the intended audience.

Highlights

Model complexity and unclear purpose are 2 barriers that prevent lay users from integrating decision science tools into their workflow.Modelers could integrate the user-centered design framework when developing a model for lay users to reduce complexity and ensure the model meets the needs of the users.

Discordance between patient with cancer and caregiving partner self-reported financial toxicity

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Background: While financial toxicity (FT) is a well-documented problem facing cancer patients, few studies have simultaneously investigated the financial experiences of patients and their caregiving partners. Here, we report concordance and discordance in experiences of FT between cancer patients and their caregiving partners. Methods: Patients aged ≥18 with stage II-IV breast, lung, or colorectal cancer who had received treatment within the past two years and were married or in a committed, cohabitating relationship were enrolled along with their partners. Patient and caregiver responses to the FACIT-COST (lower scores indicating higher FT; score ≤ 26 meeting FT threshold) were calculated, and dyads were categorized as concordant or discordant in their experience of FT. Logistic regression models were used to explore patient and caregiver predictors of FT. Results: A total of 327 dyads (median patient age 53, 45% stage IV, 36% breast, 44% colorectal, 19% lung) were included in the analysis. Numeric COST scores were lower in patients (27, IQR: 19, 25) than in caregivers (30, IQR: 23,37) and more patients than caregivers met the threshold for FT (45% vs. 34%, p = 0.002). Both members of the dyad had similar FT experiences in 74% of cases (26% and 48% reported FT and no FT respectively) while 26% diverged in their experience of FT (8% of partners reported FT while the patient did not; 18% of patients reported FT while the caregiver did not.) Higher patient age was associated with a reduced odds of patient-reported FT (OR for each year: 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.98) while higher odds of FT was seen with increased patient comorbidities (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.26-1.96 for each comorbidity) and patient race (Black OR: 1.41 - > 10 compared to White). Similarly, caregiver comorbidity, caregiver race, and female sex increased the odds of caregiver-reported FT. In addition, the odds of caregiver-reported FT were higher with lower annual household income ($60,000-$120,000: OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09-0.73, > $120,000: OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.04-0.51 compared to less than $60,000), and the presence of children in the home (OR: 4.15, 95% CI: 1.88-9.67). Conclusions: More than a quarter of patients and caregivers had discordant experiences of FT. Assessing both members of a patient-caregiver dyad for FT is therefore critical to understanding the household financial impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Differences in patient and caregiving partner responses to individual items on the FACIT-COST questionnaire

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Background: The financial impacts of cancer diagnosis and treatment extend beyond patients to affect intimate partners. Understanding how both members of the dyad experience financial toxicity (FT) can help inform dyadic interventions to address FT. We compare patient and partner responses to items on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-COST, a patient-reported outcome measure of cancer-related financial distress. Methods: Adult patients with stage II-IV breast, lung, or colorectal cancer and their spouse/ cohabiting partner independently completed the 11-item FACIT-COST. Correlations between responses by both members were calculated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: There were 336 dyads (median patient age 53, 45% stage IV, 84% white) included in the analysis. Both members of the dyad had similar FT experiences in 74% of cases (26% and 48% reported FT and no FT respectively) while 26% diverged in their experience of FT. Responses to items 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11 (Table) were highly correlated (r > 0.6) while responses to questions 4 (I feel I have no choice about the amount of money we spend on care) and 5 (I am frustrated that I cannot work or contribute as much as I usually do) were weakly correlated (0.3 > r > 0), with patients generally reporting worse scores than partners on these items. Conclusions: Within-couple correlation between FACIT-COST items varies, with multiple responses weakly correlated. Future research should assess the impact of this variation on psychosocial functioning and explore approaches to facilitate dyadic communication around this important issue.[Table: see text]

Real-world survival analysis by tumor mutational burden in non-small cell lung cancer: a multisite U.S. study

BACKGROUND

Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a potential biomarker to predict tumor response to immuno-oncology agents in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multi-site cohort study evaluated patients diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC between 2012 and 2019 who had received comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and any NSCLC-related treatment at 9 U.S. cancer centers. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with TMB <10 and TMB ≥10.

RESULTS

Among the 667 patients with CGP results, most patients received CGP from Foundation Medicine (64%) or Caris (20%). Patients with TMB ≥10 (vs. TMB <10) were associated with a positive smoking history. TMB was associated with ALK (p = 0.01), EGFR (p < 0.01), and TP53 (p < 0.05) alterations. TMB >10 showed a significant association towards longer overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.88, p = 0.02) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.85, p = 0.02) in patients treated with first-line immunotherapy and tested by Foundation Medicine or Caris at treatment initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

TMB levels greater than or equal to 10 mut/Mb, when tested by Foundation Medicine or Caris at treatment initiation, were significantly associated with improved OS and PFS among patients treated with first-line immunotherapy-containing regimens. Additional prospective research is warranted to validate this biomarker along with PD-L1 expression.

Can Cost-effectiveness Analysis Inform Genotype-Guided Aspirin Use for Primary Colorectal Cancer Prevention?

BACKGROUND

Inherited genetic variants can modify the cancer-chemopreventive effect of aspirin. We evaluated the clinical and economic value of genotype-guided aspirin use for colorectal cancer chemoprevention in average-risk individuals.

METHODS

A decision analytical model compared genotype-guided aspirin use versus no genetic testing, no aspirin. The model simulated 100,000 adults ≥50 years of age with average colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease risk. Low-dose aspirin daily starting at age 50 years was recommended only for those with a genetic test result indicating a greater reduction in colorectal cancer risk with aspirin use. The primary outcomes were quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).

RESULTS

The mean cost of using genotype-guided aspirin was $187,109 with 19.922 mean QALYs compared with $186,464 with 19.912 QALYs for no genetic testing, no aspirin. Genotype-guided aspirin yielded an ICER of $66,243 per QALY gained, and was cost-effective in 58% of simulations at the $100,000 willingness-to-pay threshold. Genotype-guided aspirin was associated with 1,461 fewer polyps developed, 510 fewer colorectal cancer cases, and 181 fewer colorectal cancer-related deaths. This strategy prevented 1,078 myocardial infarctions with 1,430 gastrointestinal bleeding events, and 323 intracranial hemorrhage cases compared with no genetic testing, no aspirin.

CONCLUSIONS

Genotype-guided aspirin use for colorectal cancer chemoprevention may offer a cost-effective approach for the future management of average-risk individuals.

IMPACT

A genotype-guided aspirin strategy may prevent colorectal cancer, colorectal cancer-related deaths, and myocardial infarctions, while minimizing bleeding adverse events. This model establishes a framework for genetically-guided aspirin use for targeted chemoprevention of colorectal cancer with application toward commercial testing in this population.

Pharmacogenomics in kidney transplant recipients and potential for integration into practice

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Pharmacogenomic biomarkers are now used in many clinical care settings and represent one of the successes of precision medicine. Genetic variants are associated with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes leading to medication adverse effects and changes in clinical response. Actionable pharmacogenomic variants are common in transplant recipients and have implications for medications used in transplant, but yet are not broadly incorporated into practice.

METHODS

From the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group guidelines, and PharmGKB databases, 12 pharmacogenomic genes with 30 variants were selected and used to create diplotypes and actionable pharmacogenomic phenotypes. A total of 853 kidney allograft recipients who had genomic information available from a genome-wide association study were included.

RESULTS

Each recipient had at least one actionable pharmacogenomic diplotype/phenotype, whereas the majority (58%) had three or four actionable diplotypes/phenotypes and 17.4% had five or more among the 12 genes. The participants carried actionable diplotypes/phenotypes for multiple medications, including tacrolimus, azathioprine, clopidogrel, warfarin, simvastatin, voriconazole, antidepressants and proton-pump inhibitors.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Pharmacogenomic variants are common in transplant recipients, and transplant recipients receive medications that have actionable variants.

CLINICAL TRIAL

Genomics of Transplantation, clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01714440).

Identification of genomic aberrations associated with overall survival in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC)

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Background: Tumor comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in addition to risk stratification by IMDC criteria may aid in improving risk stratification. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of somatic mutations in addition to IMDC risk criteria. Methods: All patients with mccRCC treated with first line with VEGFR-TKI with CGP data available through a CLIA certified lab were included. Kaplan-Meier methodology and Cox proportional hazard ratios were used to test the association of overall survival with genomic alterations present in at least 7% of the population in this dataset. Genomic data were correlated with outcome by univariate analysis and subsequent multivariate testing, integrating genomic data with IMDC risk criteria. Results: A total of 58 patients met eligibly. The presence of any mutation in VHL, PBRM1, and MLL2 were prognostic in terms of overall survival (Table). The mutation status for these three prognostic genes was added to the IMDC risk model to test for the prognostic correlation. The mutations status of these 3 genes significantly correlated with overall survival (VHL: 0.32 [95% CI 0.11-0.95], PBRM1: 0.36 [0.14-0.96], and MLL2: 7.60 [1.35-24.6]) independent of the IMDC risk criteria. Conclusions: In mccRCC, VHL, PBRM1, and MLL2 mutations each predict overall survival independent of IMDC criteria. Further studies are warranted to assess alterations with low prevalence in this data set. Upon external validation, these data provide the rationale for integration of mutation status of these three genes in to the IMDC risk criteria.[Table: see text]

A cost-effectiveness analysis of pretreatment DPYD and UGT1A1 screening in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with FOLFIRI+bevacizumab (FOLFIRI+Bev)

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Background: Variants in DPYD and UGT1A1 impact toxicities experienced by patients being treated with FOLFIRI+bev. Testing allows providers to preemptively adjust dosing, reducing the toxicity that patients experience. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of pre-treatment testing for variants in DPYD and UGT1A1 in patients with mCRC receiving FOLFIRI+bev. Methods: We developed a six-state Markov model to compare pre-treatment genetic testing to no testing. The genetic testing arm screened for UGT1A1 and DPYD using a multi-gene panel. Patients were dosed per proposed guidelines (Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group) and allowed dose reductions based on toxicity. In the no-test arm, patients received full doses of FOLFIRI+bev, and dose reductions based on toxicity. Costs included medications, clinic visits, and hospitalizations to treat the disease and adverse events, and were obtained from the literature, adjusted to 2019 $US. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were used to assess effectiveness. We used a US health care system perspective with a 16 week horizon, the average length of time patients were exposed to FOLFIRI+bev in clinical trials. We conducted sensitivity analyses to determine the impact of uncertainty on outcomes. Results: Genetic testing cost $25,563, generating 0.21 QALYs. Standard of care cost $25,515, generating 0.20 QALYs. This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $4963 per QALY gained. Results were sensitive to costs of post-progression care, the probability of carrying UGT1A1 variants, and the impact of low-functioning DPYD variants on side effects. Conclusions: Pre-treatment testing for DPYD and UGT1A1 in patients receiving FOLFIRI+bev for mCRC is cost-effective, well below typical oncology ICERs of $50,000-100,000 per QALY. Further work is needed to characterize the impact of post-progression treatment and supportive care medications.

Tracked Patient Encounters During Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences and Skill Self-assessment Using Entrustable Professional Activities

Objective. To determine if the number of patient encounters during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) relates to student self-assessment of patient care skills using entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Methods. During 12-week acute care/institutional (AC/INST) APPEs, 15-week combined community pharmacy and ambulatory care (CPAC) APPEs, and three 5-week AC/INST or CPAC elective APPEs, fourth-year pharmacy students completed patient tracking surveys. Students documented the number of encounters, type of care provided, primary and secondary diagnoses, and special dosing/population considerations. Students completed self-assessment surveys for 12 EPAs. Students rated their ability to perform each EPA using a four-point scale (1=still developing this skill; 4=can do this independently) at the start and after each APPE semester. Results. Data were collected from May 2016 through April 2017. During this time, 165 students completed APPEs. Students reported 79,717 encounters. There was no significant correlation found between total number of encounters and EPA scores. The baseline EPA mean score was 3.1 and semester 3 EPA mean score was 3.7. The mean student-reported EPA scores did increase over time, some more quickly than others. Conclusion. Tracking student patient encounters provided insight into the quantity and variety of patients and conditions seen and level of care provided by students during APPEs. Mean scores on EPAs increased over time with increased exposure to patients. Patient tracking can be used to inform the curriculum by identifying potential gaps in both didactic and experiential education.

Use of IV fosphenytoin pharmacokinetics to determine the loading dose for a clinical trial of canine status epilepticus

OBJECTIVE

Canine status epilepticus (CSE) has potential as a translational platform to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel compounds and inform human status epilepticus trials. The aim of this study was to determine the intravenous dose of fosphenytoin (FOS) needed for dogs in a CSE clinical trial to attain phenytoin (PHT) concentrations similar to those used for human status epilepticus and monitor PHT concentrations.

METHODS

Four healthy dogs were used to characterize PHT pharmacokinetics. Each received either 15 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg of PHT equivalent intravenously. Blood samples were collected and FOS (total) and derived PHT (total and unbound) plasma concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Noncompartmental pharmacokinetics (PK) parameter values were determined and compartmental PK modeling and simulations were used to select the dose for the clinical trial with a target goal of 1-2 μg/ml unbound PHT at 30-60 min postinfusion. Predicted total and unbound PHT concentrations were compared with concentrations in blood collected from dogs treated for CSE in the clinical trial.

RESULTS

Initial estimates suggested that a loading dose of 25 mg/kg would attain unbound concentrations of 1-2 μg/ml; however, this dose produced concentrations above 3-6 μg/ml, which resulted in clinically significant toxicity. A two-compartment model best fit the PHT concentration data with alpha-phase half-life of 2-5 min and elimination half-life of ~5 h. Based on the simulations, a dose of 15 mg/kg was selected and used in the clinical trial and 15 of 16 dogs randomized to the treatment arm had PHT plasma concentrations within the goal range.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates that characterization of pharmacokinetics in a small number of dogs is useful in determining dosage regimens designed to attain targeted concentrations in clinical trials. Using this approach, we were able to determine a safe and effective dose of FOS for a clinical trial of CSE.