Background/Objectives: Standard treatment of multiply relapsed Ewing sarcoma remains to be established. Recent studies evaluating tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with anti-angiogenic properties have shown encouraging results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of TKIs in patients with Ewing sarcoma. Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for clinical trials (CTs) and cohort studies assessing TKIs in the treatment of advanced Ewing sarcoma patients who received at least one prior line of therapy. The main outcome was objective response rate (ORR). All analyses were conducted using R software (v.4.2.2), employing random effects models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We included 14 studies (seven phase II CT and seven retrospective cohorts), comprising 257 patients. The following TKIs were evaluated: cabozantinib, regorafenib, apatinib, anlotinib, sorafenib, lenvatinib, sunitinib, fruquintinib, and imatinib. In a pooled analysis of all Ewing sarcoma patients treated with TKIs, the ORR was 23% (95% CI, 11.2–37.1%) and the DCR was 61.1% (95% CI, 47.3–74.2%). Responses were numerically higher but statistically nonsignificant between clinical trials and real-world studies. The analysis including only single-agent TKIs showed better responses for anlotinib and apatinib, yet these drugs are not available in Western countries. Among the FDA-approved TKIs, superior outcomes were noted with single-agent cabozantinib. (ORR: 21.6%) and regorafenib (ORR: 11.3%). Several studies did not report toxicity data exclusively for Ewing sarcoma patients; thus, conclusions about toxicity are mostly based on the general population of studies and may not be fully representative of Ewing sarcoma patients. Conclusions: Anti-angiogenic TKIs have shown important anti-tumoral activity in patients with Ewing sarcoma. Efficacy was consistently seen in both clinical trials and real-world studies. Nonetheless, there are important differences in study design and population that may limit our interpretation of efficacy and toxicity findings.
Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for localized dMMR/MSI-h gastroesophageal cancers (GEC): A systematic review with meta-analysis.
373 Background: Recent studies have demonstrated encouraging outcomes with neoadjuvant ICIs in pts with localized deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) and/or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) GEC, prompting discussions around the feasibility of nonoperative management (NOM). However, current evidence is largely from phase 1 and 2 clinical trials with limited sample sizes. Thus, the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant ICI in this pt population remain subject to ongoing debate. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective and retrospective studies evaluating neoadjuvant ICIs in pts with localized dMMR/MSI-H GEC according to the PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcomes were pathological complete response (pCR) and complete clinical response (cCR) rates. cCR was defined as no evidence of residual disease on tumor-specific imaging and on endoscopy with biopsy. Secondary outcomes included major pathologic response (MPR) rates and the incidence of grade 3–4 immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to pool event rates for occurrence of cCR, pCR, MPR and grade 3-4 irAEs. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used. NOM was assessed as part of the qualitative analysis. Results: 20 studies comprising 396 pts treated with neoadjuvant ICIs were included. Three studies utilized double ICI blockade (PD-1/ PD-L1 inhibitor plus CTLA-4 inhibitor), while the remaining studies primarily utilized monotherapy with a PD-1 inhibitor, with or without chemotherapy. Overall, 320 (81.0%) underwent surgical resection. The pooled pCR rate was 41.6% (95% CI, 33.1%–50.8%), cCR 63.8% (95% CI, 45.6%–78.8%), and MPR 64.2% (95% CI, 49.1%–76.9%). The pooled incidence of grade 3–4 irAEs was 5.1% (95% CI, 0.6%–12.2%). Subgroup analysis showed higher pCR with ≥3 months versus <3 months of ICI (50.2% [95% CI 42.2–58.3] vs 28.4% [18.9–40.2]; χ²=8.69, p=0.003). Forty-four pts were managed with NOM, two experienced early local regrowth over median follow-up ranging from 11.5 to 28 months. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant ICI therapy appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for pts with localized dMMR/MSI-H GEC. Neoadjuvant ICI exposure for ≥3 months seems to yield higher pCR rates than <3 months. The high and prolonged cCR rates support the nonoperative strategy in selected patients with dMMR/MSI-H GEC.