O’Neil, Bert H.

TPS475 Background: The prognosis of pancreas adenocarcinoma (PCA) remains poor. A chemotherapy backbone is the current standard of care in PCA. The choice of a chemotherapeutic backbone may impact the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy in PCA. Ramucirumab has increased activity with fluoropyrimidines (5FU) because 5FU increases VEGF expression. Methods: This is a double-blind, placebo controlled Phase II study. Subjects will receive either Ramucirumab or a placebo followed by mFOLFIRINOX every two weeks of a 28 day cycle until progression or discontinuation for other reasons. The primary endpoint of this clinical trial is nine month PFS defined as the time from enrollment to the time of progression or death. Among the key inclusion criteria, subjects must have recurrent or metastatic pancreas adenocarcinoma (PCA) with no prior first-line systemic treatment, ECOG PS 0-1, adequate organ function, no DVT, PE or other thromboembolism within three months of randomization. Total number of patient enrolled as of September 19, 2018 is 48 of 85 at eight sites; 27 male (56%), 42 Caucasians (87.5%), three African American (6.2%), one Asian (2%). Median age is 63 (40 - 76). Majority of patients (41) had de novo metastatic disease and six with recurrent disease after surgery. Regimen has been tolerated well with no unanticipated events. Clinical trial information: NCT02581215.

638 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular subtypes in part based on RAS mutational status. It is plausible that RAS mutations are differentially distributed between CC and AA and may contribute to poor outcomes in AAs with CRC. Methods: We did a retrospective analysis of CALGB/SWOG 80405 trial patients. We divided the entire cohort into 2 groups: a) Common RAS: mutation in KRAS exon 2, codon 12 or 13; b) Extended RAS: any NRAS mutations or mutation in KRAS except those listed above. We then analyzed these two subgroups for association between RAS mutations and race (3 categories: Caucasian, AA, Others) using chi-square test for univariate analyses and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. We also analyzed the effect of extended RAS testing on prognosis of metastatic CRC by estimating the overall survival (OS) using Kaplan-Meier method and 95% confidence interval (CI). Cox proportional-hazard model was used for multivariate analyses. Results: There were 1729 CRC patients in common RAS group of which 357 (20.6%) had mutations present. Extended RAS group had 621 patients of which 95 (15.5%) had mutations present. There was no significant difference in the rate of common RAS mutations between CC and AA (20.5% vs. 24%, p=0.22). However, extended RAS mutations were significantly more in AA as compared to CC (25% vs. 14%, p=0.02). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, prior adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiation confirmed higher odds of extended RAS mutation in AA compared to CC (adjusted OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.23; p=0.02). The median OS in patients with an extended RAS mutation was shorter as compared to those without extended RAS mutation (25.3 vs. 31.9 months; HR 1.26; 95% CI 0.99-1.62; p=0.05). Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, gender, race, prior adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiation showed a trend towards longer OS in patients without extended RAS mutation as compared those with extended RAS mutation (adjusted HR= 1.24, 95% CI, 0.97-0.1.58, p=0.08). Conclusions: Extended RAS mutations are significantly more common in AA as compared to CC. Additionally, presence of extended RAS mutation may confer a poor prognosis in CRC patients.

4106 Background: Cancer stem cells are fundamentally important for resistance to therapy, recurrence and metastasis. Napabucasin is a first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor in development identified by its ability to inhibit STAT3-driven gene transcription and spherogenesis of cancer stem cells (Li et al, PNAS 112(6):1839, 2015). Preclinical studies suggest that napabucasin sensitizes heterogeneous cancer cells to chemotherapy and targeted agents. Methods: A phase Ib/II multi-center study in mPDAC pts was performed to confirm the RP2D, PK profile and evidence of anticancer activity of napabucasin in combination with nabPTX and Gem. Pts received napabucasin 240 mg BID with weekly nabPTX 125 mg/m2 and gem 1000 mg/m2for 3 out of every 4 weeks until disease progression (PD) or other discontinuation criterion. Results: Of 71 intent to treat (ITT) pts enrolled, 49 (69%) were treatment-naïve and 22 (31%) received neoadjuvant treatment. There were no significant PK interactions, dose-limiting or unexpected toxicities. Most common adverse events (AEs) included grade 1 diarrhea/cramping, nausea and fatigue with grade 3 AEs noted in 12 pts: fatigue (8), electrolyte imbalance (2), diarrhea (1), dehydration (1), nausea (1) and weight loss (1). Among pts who received RECIST evaluation (60), disease control (DCR; CR+PR+SD) was observed in 55 (92%), with 1 CR (2%) and 26 PR (43%) (31 - 78% regression). Of 11 pts with non-evaluable disease, treatment stopped due to compliance (4), consent withdrawal (3), clinical PD (1), toxicity (1), insurance (1) and death (1). Among 71 ITT pts, DCR was observed in 55 (77%), with 1 CR (1.4%) and 26 PR (37%). Maturing median progression free survival and overall survival (OS) in ITT pts is >7.1 and >10.4 m, respectively. Conclusions: This study showed that napabucasin can be combined with nabPTX and gem, with encouraging signs of efficacy in mPDAC now being confirmed in a phase 3 study. Clinical trial information: NCT02231723. [Table: see text]

TPS4148 Background: Cancer stem cells are considered to be fundamentally important for resistance to therapy, recurrence and metastasis. Napabucasin is a first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor identified by its ability to inhibit STAT3-driven gene transcription and spherogenesis of cancer stem cells (Li et al, PNAS 112(6):1839, 2015). Preclinical studies suggest that napabucasin sensitizes heterogeneous cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, including nab-PTX and gem. Encouraging anticancer activity in mPDAC was observed in a phase Ib (El-Rayes et al, ASCO 2016) study of 37 pts, reporting 93% (28/30) disease control rate (DCR) and 50% (15/30) overall response rate (ORR), with 1 complete and 14 partial responses and prolonged disease control ( > 24 wks) in 57% (17/30) of pts who have had a RECIST evaluation. On the basis of these data, a phase III trial is being conducted in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Methods: This study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02993731) will assess the efficacy of napabucasin+nab-PTX+gem vs nab-PTX+gem in pts with mPDAC (n = 1132). Pts must have been diagnosed with mPDAC < 6 weeks prior to randomization and not have received treatment for metastatic disease. Pts are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive napabucasin 240 mg PO twice daily continuously plus nab-PTX+gem IV weekly for 3 out every 4 weeks, or nab-PTX+gem IV weekly for 3 out every 4 weeks. Pts will be stratified by geography, performance status and presence of liver metastases. Treatment will continue until disease progression, death, intolerability or patient/investigator decision to stop. Primary endpoint is overall survival (OS) in the general study population (HR 0.80 for OS improvement from 8.5 to 10.63 months); secondary endpoints include progression free survival (PFS), OS and PFS in the biomarker positive sub-population, ORR and DCR, safety and quality of life. In addition, blood and tumor archival tissue will be assessed for pharmacokinetic and biomarker analyses. Global enrollment is underway. Clinical trial information: NCT02993731.

3541 Background: Pembrolizumab (PEM) has activity in patients with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). Oxaliplatin (OX) and 5FU lead to immunogenic cell death and increased antigen presentation. We hypothesized that combining mFOLFOX6 and PEM may enhance immunogenic cell death and improve outcome in patients with CRC irrespective of MMR status. Methods: Subjects ≥18 years old with untreated, unresectable CRC were assigned to a single arm study. The study had a safety run in cohort of six patients (OX 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5FU 400 mg/m2, 5FU infusion 2400 mg/m2over 46 hours) and PEM 200 mg Q 3 weeks, followed by a phase II cohort. The primary objective was median progression free survival (mPFS), with secondary objectives: safety and toxicity per CTCAE V4.03, median overall survival, response rate, immune related response, disease control rate, and molecular correlates. Results: Between 4/2015 and 9/2016, 30 subjects were enrolled with following characteristics: 11 female, 26 Caucasian, median age: 45 years (25-75), 3 with dMMR, 22 MMR-proficient, and 5 with no available data. During the safety run in, 2 patients had G3 febrile neutropenia (FN) and 1 G4 neutropenia. The data safety monitoring committee recommended dose reduction of mFOLFOX6 to OX 68 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5FU of 320 mg/m2, 5FU infusion of 1920 mg/m2over 46 hours and PEM 200 mg Q 3 weeks. At the data cut off (12/29/16), median follow up was 24 weeks (10-66) and 27 patients remained on study. Rate of G3/4 toxicity associated with FOLFOX/PEM and PEM alone was 36.7% and 13.2%, respectively. No further FN was observed. No grade 5 toxicity was seen on study. Best response was recorded as: 1 complete response, 15 partial response (CR +PR = 53%), and 14 stable disease, with 100% DCR at 8 weeks. One patient with dMMR had resection after 2 months of therapy with complete pathologic response. MPFS has not been reached (95% CI: 5.5 months, NR). Conclusions: Based on these preliminary results, PEM/mFOLFOX6 has acceptable toxicity though demonstrated a suggestion of increased neutropenia in the initial cohort. Clinical activity was seen in patients with untreated advanced CRC including those with proficient MMR. Clinical trial information: NCT02375672.

3529 Background: Cancer stem cells are considered to be fundamentally important for resistance, recurrence and metastasis. Napabucasin is a first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor in development identified by its ability to inhibit STAT3-driven gene transcription and spherogenesis of cancer stem cells (Li et al, PNAS 112(6):1839, 2015). Preclinically, napabucasin sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy and targeted agents. Methods: A phase Ib/II multi-center study in mCRC pts was done to confirm the RP2D and signs of anti-cancer activity of napabucasin in combination with FOLFIRI +/- Bev. Pts received napabucasin 240 mg PO BID with bi-weekly FOLFIRI IV +/- Bev 5 mg/kg until disease progression or other discontinuation criterion. Results: 82 pretreated mCRC pts were enrolled (ITT); including 32 (39%) previously treated with FOLFIRI +/- bev. Of the 82 pts, 48 received FOLFIRI and 34 FOLFIRI plus bev in combination with napabucasin. There was no dose-limiting or unexpected toxicity or significant PK interactions. Most common adverse events (AEs) included grade 1/2 diarrhea, cramping, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and anorexia with grade 4 diarrhea in 1 pt and 27 pts with grade 3 AEs including: diarrhea (15), fatigue (5), dehydration (1), electrolyte imbalance (4), abdominal pain (1), vomiting (1) and weight loss (1), which resolved with dose reduction and supportive care. Disease control (CR+PR+SD) was observed in 55 of 66 pts who received RECIST evaluation (83%), with 1 CR (1.5%), 13 PR (20%) (33-100% regression) and 27 SD with tumor regression (41%). Conclusions: This phase Ib/II study confirmed that napabucasin can be safely combined with FOLFIRI +/- bev, and shows encouraging signs of efficacy in pretreated mCRC pts, including pts previously treated with FOLFIRI +/- bev. Clinical trial information: NCT02024607. [Table: see text]

3503 Background: 80405 found no OS or Progression Free Survival (PFS) difference when bevacizumab (BV) or cetuximab (Cet) was added to 1st-line FOLFOX or FOLFIRI in All RAS wild type (wt) mCRC pts. There was a significant 1° side by biologic interaction (P int: OS = 0.008, PFS = 0.001) favoring pts with left-sided (L) 1°. Analyses of 1° tumors beyond All RAS includes Consensus Molecular Subtype (CMS), BRAF and MSI. (CMS results - see Lenz et al; BRAF -see Innocenti et al) We asked whether 1° tumor location - L vs right (R) - is an independent prognostic marker when these other molecular features are considered. Methods: We used a Cox proportional hazard model stratified by prior XRT and +/- adjuvant chemo; adjusted for age, gender, synchronous vs metachronous, CMS, MSI and BRAF status. Pts with transverse (T) tumors were excluded in this analysis. Results: Sidedness was determined in 782 pts (L - 472; R - 256; T -54). Molecular data from 728 pts (with L - and R-sided 1°s) was available as follows: KRAS -- 291, NRAS -393, BRAF - 393, MSI - 378, CMS - 533. L vs R mOS: 32.9 v 19.6 months (mo) (p < 0.0001). See Table for OS results in All RAS / BRAF wt and BRAF mutant (mut) pts. Sidedness (R vs L) is an independent prognostic marker even after adjusting for all these molecular features: HR = 1.392 (1.032, 1.878), p = 0.031. Conclusions: Primary tumor location is an independent prognostic factor when adjusted for age, gender, synchronous/metachronous, CMS, MSI and BRAF status. We are exploring clinical variables such as tumor burden, metastatic sites and measurability of disease in an attempt to explain the impact of sidedness. Support: U10CA188021, U10CA180882. Eli Lilly and Co, Genentech/Roche, Pfizer, Sanofi. Clinical trial information: NCT002655850. [Table: see text]