Leavey, Patrick J.

10035 Background: Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare malignancy of children, adolescents and young adults for which outcomes have progressively improved through intensification of conventional chemotherapy, including interval compression of cycles. Prior cooperative group reports of relapsed EwS included patients treated less intensively and with fewer treatment options at relapse. Here, we report overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors post-first recurrence in patients with EwS treated with frontline interval-compressed chemotherapy. Methods: We included patients treated on the last three phase 3 COG EwS studies treated with interval compressed chemotherapy, which accrued from 2001-2019. Patients with initially localized disease (L-EwS) were treated on AEWS0031 arm B and AEWS1031. Patients with initially metastatic disease (M-EwS) were treated on AEWS1221. The primary outcome was OS from first relapse. Demographic and clinical data from original diagnosis and from relapse were analyzed as potential prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and groups compared with log-rank tests. Results: 366 patients experienced disease recurrence as first event and were included in this analysis (AEWS0031 arm B, n = 69, AEWS1031, n = 115, for a total of 184 with L-EwS; AEWS1221, n = 182, all with M-EwS). Median age at relapse was 16 years. Median time from initial enrollment to first relapse was 1.52 years and was shorter for patients with M-EwS (Kruskall-Wallis, p < 0.001). First relapses were isolated local, isolated distant, and combined in 24%, 70%, and 6.4% of patients, respectively. Metastatic stage at initial diagnosis was associated with increased risk of post-first recurrence OS event (p < 0.0001). Two-year OS post-first recurrence (OS 2y ) was 25.6% for patients with M-EwS and 48.5% for patients with L-EwS. Time to first recurrence was also a predictor of post-recurrence survival (p < 0.0001): patients with initial L-EwS and relapse < 2 years from diagnosis had OS 2y of 31.4% vs. 70.8% for later relapses. Patients with initial M-EwS and relapse < 2 years from diagnosis had OS 2y of 18.9% vs. 71.2%. Patients with combined relapses had higher risk of post-relapse death compared to other patterns of failure (p = 0.003), an effect that was largely driven by the one seen in patients with initial L-EwS. Conclusions: Overall survival of patients with first recurrent EwS after having received modern era therapy with interval compressed chemotherapy on recent COG trials remains poor, particularly for M-EwS, early relapse and combined relapses. These data will inform the design of trials for this relapsed population and provide critical data to help counsel patients about goals of care at first relapse.

10032 Background: Identifying clinical and biological factors associated with outcomes in localized Ewing sarcoma (ES) will enable risk-stratified clinical trials with the goal of improved outcomes for high-risk patients and decreased treatment toxicity for low-risk patients. The specific aims of this analysis in localized ES patients were 1) to classify extraosseous (EO) primary tumors with subdivisions into deep (viscera, glands, body cavities, muscle, nerves) and superficial (cutaneous and subcutaneous) sites, and 2) to understand the relationship between baseline clinical factors (age, sex, primary tumor site, size (maximum dimension and volume)) and event-free survival (EFS). Methods: The analytic cohort included ES patients treated with ICC on AEWS0031 and AEWS1031. Primary tumor sites were defined as pelvic, non-pelvic, and EO (deep vs. superficial). Post-enrollment EFS was the primary endpoint. Univariate analyses used the Kaplan–Meier method (logrank test). Multivariable analyses used Cox proportional hazards models. To assess the impact of tumor volume as a continuous variable, a subgroup analysis was conducted using AEWS1031 only, as tumor volumes were collected prospectively on this study. Visual exploration of effects of continuous variables on EFS event hazard used restricted cubic splines with 3 knots. Tests were performed at the 5% level. Results: AEWS0031 (n = 628) and AEWS1031 Regimen B (n = 283) yielded 911 patients. In univariate analyses, difference in risk of EFS event was observed between tumor sites ( P = 0.03). EO tumors had the highest estimated EFS compared to pelvic and non-pelvic (5 year EFS 84.7% vs. 72.4% and 75.9%). Superficial EO appeared to be a very low-risk group, albeit interpretations are limited by the small group size and singular event (one second malignant neoplasm among 15 patients). In multivariable analysis of the combined cohort, sex, race, and ethnicity were not prognostic. EO tumors may be associated with decreased hazard compared with non-pelvic bone primaries (HR 0.58, P = 0.07), and tumors ≥200 mL with increased hazard (HR 1.56, P < 0.01). In the subgroup analysis, tumor volume and age were prognostic and in visualizations age was non-linearly related to the hazard of EFS event, increasing until approximately 15 years. Tumor volume was non-linearly related to the hazard of EFS event and increased until approximately 400 mL. Conclusions: Patients with ES and primary tumors ≥200 mL continue to be at higher risk of an EFS event when treated with ICC, and EO tumors may be lower risk compared with other sites. Risk of an event appears to remain constant in ES patients ≥15 years or with primary tumors ≥400 mL. These findings should be validated in prospective trials and tumor biology integrated with clinical factors to improve risk stratification for localized ES.

AbstractPatients with resectable Ewing sarcoma (ES) in select sites, such as the pelvis or chest wall, have a higher risk of positive microscopic margins following surgery. AEWS1031 was the first North American/Australasia ES cooperative group trial allowing standardized preoperative radiotherapy, intended to minimize the morbidity of combined modality local tumor control as well as improve the likelihood of clear surgical margins. In this study, we found that the use of low‐dose preoperative radiation to a smaller target volume resulted in a high rate of R0 resection. The robust pathologic response rate strengthens existing evidence illustrating the radiosensitivity of Ewing sarcoma.

11529 Background: To evaluate clinical characteristics and patterns of treatment failure in patients with localized Ewing sarcoma (ES) treated on AEWS1031 according to local control (LC) strategies, tumor size, and tumor site. Methods: AEWS1031 was a phase 3 randomized trial comparing two interval compressed chemotherapy regimens. Patients who completed LC on AEWS1031 were analyzed. LC was with surgery alone (S), definitive radiation therapy (RT), or surgery plus radiation (S+RT), and determined by the treating investigator. Local failure (LF) and distant failure (DF) were defined as recurrence at primary tumor site or distant site, respectively. Fine and Gray method was used to estimate cumulative incidence of LF and DF from time LC was completed. P-values were calculated using logrank or Gray’s test, as appropriate. A two-sided p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: 588 patients completed LC. Median age at enrollment was 13.0 years (range: 0.6- 33.9 years). Tumor sites were categorized as extremity (230; 39%), axial (142; 24%), extraosseous (110; 19%), and pelvis (106; 18%). At diagnosis, tumor volume (TV) was ≥200 mL in 170 patients (31%) and maximum tumor dimension (MTD) was ≥8 cm in 289 patients (52%). LC was with S in 320 patients (54%), RT in 160 (27%), and S+RT in 108 (18%). Eight patients received preoperative RT. Fifty-three patients (13.1%) who received S±RT had an R1 resection. LC with S was more likely for extremity (58%), RT for pelvis (38%) and S+ RT for axial (36%) and extraosseous (34%) primary tumors (p <0.01). With median follow up of 67.6 months from LC, the 5-year cumulative incidences of LF and DF for the entire cohort were 6.0% (95% CI, 4.3-8.3%) and 11.0% (95% CI, 8.6-13.9%), respectively. Eleven patients experienced simultaneous LF and DF. LF incidence was 5.0% for S, 8.4% for RT, and 5.6% for S+RT (p=0.47). DF incidence was 11.8% for S, 6.4% for RT, and 15.1% for S+RT (p=0.16). LF incidence by tumor site was 3.6% for extremity, 8.7% for pelvis, 7.3% for axial, and 6.8% for extraosseous (p=0.08). LF incidence was higher for primary tumors ≥200 mL (11.3%) compared to tumors < 200 mL (3.9%; p<0.01) and for tumors ≥8 cm (7.8%) compared to tumors < 8 cm (4.4%; p=0.02). Tumor size was associated with a higher LF incidence for S and RT, but not for S+RT (Table). LF incidence was 4.0% for R0, 7.5% for R1 with RT, and 16.7% for R1 without RT (p=0.02). Conclusions: We report the lowest LF incidence to date for prospective ES trials conducted. Both larger TV and MTD were associated with higher LF. Future investigations will aim to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy dose-intensity on LC and identify risk-stratification variables for improved LC. Five-year LF incidence by LC and tumor size. Clinical trial information: NCT01231906 . [Table: see text]

PURPOSE The primary aim of this phase III randomized trial was to test whether the addition of vincristine, topotecan, and cyclophosphamide (VTC) to interval compressed chemotherapy improved survival outcomes for patients with previously untreated nonmetastatic Ewing sarcoma. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard five-drug interval compressed chemotherapy (regimen A) for 17 cycles or experimental therapy with five cycles of VTC within the 17 cycles (regimen B). Patients were stratified by age at diagnosis (< 18 years and ≥18 years) and tumor site (pelvic bone, nonpelvic bone, and extraosseous). Tumor volume at diagnosis was categorized as < 200 mL or ≥ 200 mL. Local control occurred following six cycles. Histologic response was categorized as no viable or any viable tumor. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between randomized groups with stratified log-rank tests. RESULTS Of 642 enrolled patients, 309 eligible patients received standard and 320 received experimental therapy. The 5-year EFS and OS were 78% and 87%, respectively. There was no difference in survival outcomes between randomized groups (5-year EFS regimen A v regimen B, 78% v 79%; P = .192; 5-year OS 86% v 88%; P = .159). Age and primary site did not affect the risk of an EFS event. However, age ≥ 18 years was associated with an increased risk of death at 5 years (hazard ratio 1.84; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.96; P = .009). The 5-year EFS rates for patients with pelvic, nonpelvic bone, and extraosseous primary tumors were 75%, 78%, and 85%, respectively. Tumor volume ≥ 200 mL was significantly associated with lower EFS. CONCLUSION While VTC added to five-drug interval compressed chemotherapy did not improve survival, these outcomes represent the best survival estimates to date for patients with previously untreated nonmetastatic Ewing sarcoma.

11529 Background: Maximum tumor dimension > 8 cm. and large tumor volume have been reported to be adverse prognostic factors in patients with ES but have not been prospectively evaluated in the context of a phase 3 clinical trial with interval compressed chemotherapy. Methods: COG AEWS1031 (NCT01231906) was a randomized phase 3 clinical trial comparing interval compressed chemotherapy regimens in patients with newly diagnosed localized ES of bone and soft tissue. A correlative objective of AEWS1031 was to evaluate tumor size and volume as prognostic factors. Institution-reported dimensions of the primary tumor from baseline imaging were prospectively collected. For inclusion in this analysis, patients had to have at least 1 tumor dimension reported for tumor size analyses and dimensions in 3 axes for tumor volume analyses. Maximum dimension was dichotomized as less than vs. > / = 8cm. Tumor volume was dichotomized as less than vs. > / = 200 mL. Event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) from enrollment were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared between groups using a two-sided log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the Cox model. Results: The 5-year EFS and OS of the 629 eligible patients was 78% (95% CI: 75-81%) and 87% (95% CI: 84-90%) respectively and there was no significant difference in both EFS and OS between the randomized interval compressed chemotherapy arms of AEWS1031. 590 of 629 (94%) patients were evaluable for maximum tumor dimension and 307 (52%) had tumors > / = 8 cm. Patients with tumors > / = 8 cm were at significantly increased risk for EFS events (p = 0.016) with estimated 5-year EFS of 73.7% (95% CI: 68.1 vs.78.4%) vs. 82.9% (95% CI 77.7-87.1%) for patients with tumors < 8 cm [HR: 1.53 (1.08-2.17)]. For tumor volume, 586 of 629 patients (93%) were evaluable and 180 (31%) had tumors > / = 200 mL. Patients with tumor volume > / = 200 mL were at significantly increased risk for EFS events (p = 0.003) with estimated 5-year EFS of 70% (95% CI: 62.3-76.4%) vs. 81.6% (95% CI: 77.2-85.2%) for patients with tumors < 200 mL [HR: 1.69 (1.2-2.39)]. Conclusions: Maximum tumor dimension and tumor volume as defined are both prognostic in patients with newly diagnosed localized ES treated with interval compressed chemotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT01231906 .

BackgroundHumanism and professionalism are virtues intrinsic to the practice of medicine, for which we lack a standard, evidence‐based approach for teaching and evaluation. Pediatric hematology‐oncology (PHO) fellowship training brings new and significant stressors, making it an attractive setting for innovation in humanism and professionalism training.ProcedureWe electronically surveyed a national sample of PHO fellows to identify fellows' educational needs in humanism and professionalism. Next, we developed a case‐based, faculty‐facilitated discussion curriculum to teach this content within pilot fellowship programs. We assessed whether fellowships would decide to offer the curriculum, feasibility of administering the curriculum, and satisfaction of fellow and faculty participants.ResultsSurveys were completed by 187 fellows (35%). A minority (29%) reported that their training program offers a formal curriculum in humanism and/or professionalism. A majority desires more formal teaching on balancing clinical practice and research (85%), coping with death/dying (85%), bereavement (78%), balancing work and personal life (75%), navigating challenging relationships with patients (74%), and depression/burn out (71%). These six topics were condensed into four case‐based modules, which proved feasible to deliver at all pilot sites. Ten fellowship programs agreed to administer the novel curriculum. The majority (90%) of responding fellows and faculty reported the sessions touched on issues important for training, stimulated reflective communication, and were valuable.ConclusionsPediatric hematology‐oncology fellows identify numerous gaps in their training related to humanism and professionalism. This curriculum offers an opportunity to systematically address these educational needs and can serve as a model for wider implementation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:335–340. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.