Mann, Bhupinder

Abstract BACKGROUND Craniopharyngiomas, primary brain tumors of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis, can cause significant clinical sequelae. Treatment using surgery, radiation, or both often entails significant morbidity. In prior work, we demonstrated that ninety-five percent of papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCP) harbor BRAF V600E mutations (Brastianos et al. Nature Genetics 2014). In this multicenter National Cancer Institute cooperative group trial (Alliance A071601), we evaluated the safety and efficacy of BRAF/MEK inhibition in patients with PCP without prior irradiation. METHODS Eligible patients, with measurable disease and whose PCP screened positively for BRAF mutations, without prior radiation, received the BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination vemurafenib/cobimetinib in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint of objective response rate at 4 months based on centrally determined volumetric data was evaluated in 16 patients on this single arm phase 2 trial. RESULTS Based on volumetric response criteria by central radiology review, 15 of 16 patients (94%; 95% CI: 70% to 100%) had a durable objective partial response to therapy. Thus, this study met primary endpoint for overall response rate. The median tumor reduction was 91% (range of 68% to 99%). Median follow-up was 22 months (95% CI: 19 to 30 months) and median number of treatment cycles was 8. Median progression-free survival and duration of response were not yet reached. Three patients progressed during follow-up after therapy was discontinued; none have died. The sole non-responder stopped treatment after eight days due to toxicity. Grade 3 toxicities at least possibly related to treatment occurred in 12 patients (rash in 6 patients). Grade 4 toxicities were observed in two patients: hyperglycemia (n=1) and increased creatine phosphokinase (n=1). Three patients discontinued treatment for adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that BRAF/MEK inhibitors are a safe and effective treatment for PCP without prior irradiation. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882; U24CA196171, U10CA180868 (NRG); Genentech; . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03224767.

1596 Background: Structured feedback from community oncologists regarding trial design rarely occurs. Survey templates were created to assess trial feasibility, design and scientific interest from the community, with the aim of improving accrual. We report results from a survey regarding redesign of the Phase III CODEL trial for newly diagnosed 1p/19q codeleted AG, which employed this approach. Methods: A field-tested, online survey template was tailored for CODEL and emailed to U.S. and international oncologists. The survey assessed (a) practice changes resulting from ASCO 2012 data from RTOG 9402 (abstract # 2008b) and EORTC 26951 (abstract # 2); (b) scientific interest in a redesigned trial; and (c) potential accrual issues. Respondents reviewed a brief trial concept and answered 15 questions anonymously via a web-based system. Results: 173 oncologists completed the survey over 2 weeks in Sept 2012(48% US, 52% Int’l; 35% med oncs, 31% rad oncs, 29% neuro-oncs). Results from the 2 prior studies substantially influenced clinicians’ treatment decisions for patients with newly diagnosed 1p19q codeleted AG--from only 9% recommending RT+PCV prior to the ASCO reports, to 46% after the results were presented. Previously, 25% recommended RT alone, and after ASCO, no one did. Most indicated strong interest in the revised CODEL research questions, trial design, randomization arms, and in re-opening the revised trial. The most interesting schema was a 3-arm design (selected by 45% of respondents): (RT + procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine chemotherapy [PCV]) vs. (RT + Temozolomide [TMZ]) vs. (TMZ alone), with neuro-oncs (49%) preferring it most, and rad oncs least (36%). The second most interesting choice (27%) was RT+PCV vs. RT+TMZ; the third choice (20%) was RT+TMZ vs. TMZ alone. Most (61%) felt patients would accept any arm. Respondents encountered eligible patients frequently enough to meet projected CODEL accrual goals. Conclusions: Survey findings significantly influenced decisions on how best to redesign the CODEL trial. Rapid, web-based surveys of community oncologists can provide important feedback regarding level of interest, which might facilitate timely accrual and trial completion.

e16569 Background: The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) provides access to NCI-sponsored trials. To participate in a multi-center trial, sites must first complete the trial’s Protocol Specific Requirements (PSRs); interested sites are listed as “pending” in the CTSU database until all PSRs are completed. The aim of this investigation was to examine site activation delays for a study with multiple start-up steps and evaluate an intervention directed at helping sites more rapidly open it to patient accrual. Methods: NCCTG N0577, an anaplastic glioma trial named CODEL, was identified as a slow accruing trial with many sites listed as pending activation in the CTSU’s database (>85%; n=227 pending). Most N0577 pending sites had 1-2 incomplete PSRs (with 75% requiring only a neurocognitive certification), and we suspected that sites were not aware of these requirements. To accelerate site activation for N0577, we created an intervention using Awareness Theory. First, N0577 was amended to streamline the neurocognitive certification process. We then generated email lists of the 227 pending sites’ PIs (n=21; note: many were PIs of multiple sites) and their respective administrators (n=46), and created tailored email notices by PSR category explaining the necessary steps to complete N0577 activation at their site or to report their site as not planning to participate. Emails were sent to sites via the CTSU. Results: 31 sites (14%) registered activity for N0577 within 3 weeks of the intervention. Of these, 22 changed status to “approved,” 2 were disapproved, 1 withdrew, and 6 made changes but remained pending. This represents a marked increase (+520%) in site activity of the CTSU Regulatory Support Service (RSS) for N0577, compared with the monthly average (5 events/mo) during the preceding 6 months. Accrual is being monitored to observe for any increases and will be reported. Conclusions: Complicated and incomplete PSRs delay site activation of multi-center trials and may impact accrual. Streamlining PSR processes and early monitoring of CTSU site activation with notifications to sites of outstanding PSRs for trials can increase the timeliness of sites opening trials, with the potential to improve accrual.