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Merseburger, Axel S.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6467-3931

Mayo Clinic

University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Citations 5

Real-world clinical outcomes by HER2 expression in locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC): Results from the global SGNDV-003 retrospective study.
Koshkin, Vadim S. , Jaillon, Christine Abraham, Mar, Nataliya, Maillet, Denis, Shariat, Shahrokh F., Singh, Parminder, Drakaki, Alexandra, Graham, Laura, Merseburger, Axel S. , Huang, Jiaoti, Galsky, Matthew D., Sokolowski, Kevin M. , Jiang, Dingfeng, Lonning, Shaparak, Yu, Hong, Burgess, Earle F., Mar, Nataliya , Maillet, Denis , Shariat, Shahrokh F. , Singh, Parminder Pal , Khaki, Ali Raza , Drakaki, Alexandra , Galsky, Matthew D. , Yin, Lei , Zhang, Wei , Burgess, Earle F.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 27, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 4562-4562

10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.4562 Get It

4562 Background: Approximately 50-80% of patients (pts) with la/mUC have tumors with HER2 protein expression. As HER2-directed therapies enter development, a robust understanding of HER2 prevalence and real-world outcomes with standard-of-care (SOC) therapies across HER2 expression subgroups is needed. SGNDV-003 (NCT05902494) is a global retrospective chart review study in which HER2 status was assessed via central lab testing and outcomes were analyzed by HER2 status in pts with la/mUC. Methods: SGNDV-003, conducted 6/2023-7/2025, included pts with la/mUC who received ≥1 prior treatment (tx) (incl. 1 line of platinum-based chemotherapy [chemo]). HER2 status was centrally tested using a UC-specific investigational immunohistochemistry [IHC] and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays. HER2 status was defined as: HER2-positive (IHC3+ or IHC2+/ISH+), HER2-low (IHC2+/ISH- or IHC1+), HER2-expressing (IHC3+, 2+, 1+), and HER2-zero (IHC0). Index line of therapy (LOT) was defined as the first LOT received after platinum-based chemo. Outcomes included real-world objective response rate (rwORR) (per RECIST 1.1 or physician-assessed response) to index LOT, real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS), and overall survival (OS) from start of index LOT. Data was analyzed via descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 353 pts with la/mUC and available HER2 status were analyzed (male, 76%; median age, 70 years). 70% of pts were HER2 expressing (19% HER2-positive, 51% HER2-low); 30% were HER2-zero. Disease characteristics were well balanced by HER2 status. Index LOT tx and real-world outcomes are shown in the Table. Immuno-oncology therapies (IO) and enfortumab vedotin (EV) were the most common index LOTs. For IO, rwORRs were 21% for HER2-expressing and 17% for HER2-zero. For EV mono, rwORRs were 36% (HER2-expressing) and 38% (HER2-zero), respectively. Conclusions: This global study provides a robust estimate of HER2 distribution in la/mUC based on standardized central lab testing, showing high prevalence of HER2 expression. Real-world outcomes with current SOC therapies were broadly consistent across HER2 subgroups, establishing an important benchmark for the clinical development of HER2-directed therapies in this setting. HER2-positive (n=67) HER2-low (n=181) HER2-expressing (n=248) HER2-zero (n=105) Total (n=353) Real-world Outcomes rwORR, n (%)[95% CI] 17 (25.4)[15.5, 37.5] 50 (27.6)[21.3, 34.7] 67 (27.0)[21.6, 33.0] 22 (21.0)[13.6, 30.0] 89 (25.2)[20.8, 30.1] Median rwPFS (95% CI), mo 2.8(2.0, 4.1) 3.7(2.7, 5.1) 3.0(2.7, 4.5) 2.6(2.1, 3.4) 2.9 (2.6, 3.5) Median OS(95% CI), mo 12.2(9.3, 16.5) 11.5(9.5, 13.5) 11.9(10.3, 13.4) 7.7(5.9, 9.9) 10.8(9.1, 12.3) Index LOT, n% IO EV monoChemoOther tx 37 (55)17 (25)10 (15)3 (5) 94 (52)51 (28)24 (13)14 (8) 131 (53)68 (27)34 (14)17 (7) 65 (62)21 (20)12 (11)7 (7) 196 (56)89 (25)46 (13)24 (7)
Response to Rucaparib in BRCA-Mutant Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Identified by Genomic Testing in the TRITON2 Study
Loehr, Andrea , Patnaik, Akash , Campbell, David , Shapiro, Jeremy , Bryce, Alan H. , McDermott, Ray , Sautois, Brieuc , Vogelzang, Nicholas J. , Bambury, Richard , Voog, Éric , Zhang, Jingsong , Hussain, Arif , Ryan, Charles J. , Merseburger, Axel S. , Daugaard, Gedske , Heidenreich, Axel , Fizazi, Karim , Higano, Celestia S. , Krieger, Laurence E. , Watkins, Simon P. , Despain, Darrin , Simmons, Andrew D. , Dowson, Melanie, Golsorkhi, Tony, Chowdhury, Simon, Abida, Wassim , Ryan, Charles J , Daugaard, Gedske , Heidenreich, Axel , Sternberg, Cora N , Watkins, Simon P , Simmons, Andrew D , Golsorkhi, Tony , Bryce, Alan H , Vogelzang, Nicholas J , McDermott, Ray , Patnaik, Akash , Piulats, Josep M.

Clinical Cancer Research | October 1, 2021 | Volume: 27 | Issue: 24 | Pages: 6677-6686

10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-2199 Get It

Abstract Purpose: The PARP inhibitor rucaparib is approved in the United States for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and a deleterious germline and/or somatic BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA) alteration. While sequencing of tumor tissue is considered the standard for identifying patients with BRCA alterations (BRCA+), plasma profiling may provide a minimally invasive option to select patients for rucaparib treatment. Here, we report clinical efficacy in patients with BRCA+ mCRPC identified through central plasma, central tissue, or local genomic testing and enrolled in TRITON2. Patients and Methods: Patients had progressed after next-generation androgen receptor–directed and taxane-based therapies for mCRPC and had BRCA alterations identified by central sequencing of plasma and/or tissue samples or local genomic testing. Concordance of plasma/tissue BRCA status and objective response rate and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rates were summarized. Results: TRITON2 enrolled 115 patients with BRCA+ identified by central plasma (n = 34), central tissue (n = 37), or local (n = 44) testing. Plasma/tissue concordance was determined in 38 patients with paired samples and was 47% in 19 patients with a somatic BRCA alteration. No statistically significant differences were observed between objective and PSA response rates to rucaparib across the 3 assay groups. Patients unable to provide tissue samples and tested solely by plasma assay responded at rates no different from patients identified as BRCA+ by tissue testing. Conclusions: Plasma, tissue, and local testing of mCRPC patients can be used to identify men with BRCA+ mCRPC who can benefit from treatment with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib.
Association of co-occurring gene alterations and clinical activity of rucaparib in patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated (BRCA+) metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Abida, Wassim , Campbell, David , Shapiro, Jeremy , McDermott, Raymond S., Bambury, Richard , Voog, Éric , Zhang, Jingsong , Ryan, Charles J. , Merseburger, Axel S. , Fizazi, Karim , Despain, Darrin , Loehr, Andrea , Dowson, Melanie, Golsorkhi, Tony, Chowdhury, Simon, Patnaik, Akash , Bryce, Alan H. , McDermott, Raymond S., Sautois, Brieuc , Vogelzang, Nicholas J. , Piulats, Josep M.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 6_suppl | Pages: 80-80

10.1200/jco.2021.39.6_suppl.80 Get It

80 Background: The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor rucaparib was granted accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with BRCA+ mCRPC based on results from the phase 2 TRITON2 study (NCT02952534). The TP53 tumor suppressor gene is among the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers, including mCRPC, and alterations in TP53, PTEN, and RB1 are associated with poor prognosis in patients with prostate cancer and other tumor types. We present data on co-occurring alterations in patients with BRCA+ mCRPC treated with rucaparib in TRITON2. Methods: Patients had progressed on 1–2 lines of androgen receptor-directed therapy and 1 taxane-based chemotherapy and were treated with rucaparib 600 mg BID. Tissue and/or cell-free DNA extracted from plasma samples were profiled comprehensively for genomic alterations using Foundation Medicine, Inc., next-generation sequencing assays. Objective response rate (ORR) was assessed per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 criteria by independent radiologic review of patients with measurable disease. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate (≥50% decrease from baseline) was assessed in all patients. Results: Tissue and/or plasma samples were available for 114/115 patients with BRCA+ mCRPC (visit cutoff date: Dec. 23, 2019). Among patients with BRCA+ mCRPC who had samples available for comprehensive genomic profiling, 36.8% (42/114) had a co-occurring alteration in TP53. Deleterious alterations in PTEN were observed in 34.2% (39/114) of patients, 44% (17/39) of which were homozygous deletions of PTEN. RB1 loss was observed in 12.3% (14/114) of patients and was seen more frequently in patients with measurable disease (18.0%, 11/61) than in patients with non-measurable disease (5.7%, 3/53). Although patients with and without TP53 mutations had generally similar baseline demographics and disease characteristics, visceral disease was more prevalent in patients with TP53 mutations (54.8%; 23/42) than in those without them (29.2%; 21/72). Similar ORR and PSA response rates were seen in patients with BRCA+ mCRPC with or without TP53 mutation, with a non-significant trend towards lower response rates in patients with co-occurring TP53 alterations. Conclusions: Results from TRITON2 showed antitumor activity for rucaparib in patients with BRCA+ mCRPC associated with or without co-occurring alterations in TP53. Demographics and additional efficacy analyses in genomic subgroups with co-occurring alterations in TP53, PTEN, and RB1 will be reported. Clinical trial information: NCT02952534. [Table: see text]
Rucaparib in Men With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Harboring a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene Alteration
Abida, Wassim , Patnaik, Akash , Campbell, David , Shapiro, Jeremy , Bryce, Alan H. , McDermott, Ray , Sautois, Brieuc , Bambury, Richard , Voog, Éric , Zhang, Jingsong , Piulats, Josep M. , Ryan, Charles J. , Merseburger, Axel S. , Daugaard, Gedske , Heidenreich, Axel , Fizazi, Karim , Higano, Celestia S. , Krieger, Laurence E. , Watkins, Simon P. , Despain, Darrin , Simmons, Andrew D. , Loehr, Andrea , Dowson, Melanie, Golsorkhi, Tony, Chowdhury, Simon, investigators, on behalf of the TRITON2, Bryce, Alan H , Watkins, Simon P , Daugaard, Gedske , McDermott, Ray , Patnaik, Akash , Vogelzang, Nicholas J. , Sternberg, Cora N , investigators, on behalf of the TRITON2

Journal of Clinical Oncology | August 14, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 32 | Pages: 3763-3772

10.1200/jco.20.01035 Get It

PURPOSE BRCA1 or BRCA2 ( BRCA) alterations are common in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and may confer sensitivity to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. We present results from patients with mCRPC associated with a BRCA alteration treated with rucaparib 600 mg twice daily in the phase II TRITON2 study. METHODS We enrolled patients who progressed after one to two lines of next-generation androgen receptor–directed therapy and one taxane-based chemotherapy for mCRPC. Efficacy and safety populations included patients with a deleterious BRCA alteration who received ≥ 1 dose of rucaparib. Key efficacy end points were objective response rate (ORR; per RECIST/Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 3 in patients with measurable disease as assessed by blinded, independent radiology review and by investigators) and locally assessed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response (≥ 50% decrease from baseline) rate. RESULTS Efficacy and safety populations included 115 patients with a BRCA alteration with or without measurable disease. Confirmed ORRs per independent radiology review and investigator assessment were 43.5% (95% CI, 31.0% to 56.7%; 27 of 62 patients) and 50.8% (95% CI, 38.1% to 63.4%; 33 of 65 patients), respectively. The confirmed PSA response rate was 54.8% (95% CI, 45.2% to 64.1%; 63 of 115 patients). ORRs were similar for patients with a germline or somatic BRCA alteration and for patients with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 alteration, while a higher PSA response rate was observed in patients with a BRCA2 alteration. The most frequent grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse event was anemia (25.2%; 29 of 115 patients). CONCLUSION Rucaparib has antitumor activity in patients with mCRPC and a deleterious BRCA alteration, but with a manageable safety profile consistent with that reported in other solid tumor types.
Non-BRCA DNA Damage Repair Gene Alterations and Response to the PARP Inhibitor Rucaparib in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Analysis From the Phase II TRITON2 Study
Abida, Wassim , Campbell, David , Patnaik, Akash , Shapiro, Jeremy , Sautois, Brieuc , Vogelzang, Nicholas J. , Voog, Éric , Bryce, Alan H. , McDermott, Ray , Ricci, Francesco , Zhang, Jingsong , Piulats, Josep M. , Fizazi, Karim , Merseburger, Axel S. , Higano, Celestia S. , Krieger, Laurence E. , Ryan, Charles J. , Feng, Felix Y. , Simmons, Andrew D. , Loehr, Andrea , Despain, Darrin , Dowson, Melanie, Green, Foad, Watkins, Simon P. , Golsorkhi, Tony, Chowdhury, Simon, Simmons, Andrew D , Watkins, Simon P , Golsorkhi, Tony , Bryce, Alan H , Vogelzang, Nicholas J , McDermott, Ray , Patnaik, Akash , Rowe, Julie Haewon

Clinical Cancer Research | February 21, 2020 | Volume: 26 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 2487-2496

10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-0394 Get It

Abstract Purpose: Genomic alterations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes other than BRCA may confer synthetic lethality with PARP inhibition in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). To test this hypothesis, the phase II TRITON2 study of rucaparib included patients with mCRPC and deleterious non-BRCA DDR gene alterations. Patients and Methods: TRITON2 enrolled patients who had progressed on one or two lines of next-generation androgen receptor–directed therapy and one taxane-based chemotherapy for mCRPC. Key endpoints were investigator-assessed radiographic response per modified RECIST/PCWG3 and PSA response (≥50% decrease from baseline). Results: TRITON2 enrolled 78 patients with a non-BRCA DDR gene alteration [ATM (n = 49), CDK12 (n = 15), CHEK2 (n = 12), and other DDR genes (n = 14)]. Among patients evaluable for each endpoint, radiographic and PSA responses were observed in a limited number of patients with an alteration in ATM [2/19 (10.5%) and 2/49 (4.1%), respectively], CDK12 [0/10 (0%) and 1/15 (6.7%), respectively], or CHEK2 [1/9 (11.1%) and 2/12 (16.7%), respectively], including no radiographic or PSA responses in 11 patients with confirmed biallelic ATM loss or 11 patients with ATM germline mutations. Responses were observed in patients with alterations in the DDR genes PALB2, FANCA, BRIP1, and RAD51B. Conclusions: In this prospective, genomics-driven study of rucaparib in mCRPC, we found limited radiographic/PSA responses to PARP inhibition in men with alterations in ATM, CDK12, or CHEK2. However, patients with alterations in other DDR-associated genes (e.g., PALB2) may benefit from PARP inhibition. See related commentary by Sokolova et al., p. 2439