Moynihan, Timothy J.

18552 Background: We reviewed Palliative Care Consultation Service (PCCS) referrals to attempt to promote earlier referrals, and to improve overall patient care. Methods: Eligibility for PCCS referral is life expectancy of one year or less. Data was collected prospectively on the first 461 referrals (452 individual patients) over the initial 30-month period (January 1, 2003 to July 1, 2005). Additional factors were retrospectively abstracted from documentation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was then performed. Results: 452 patients were seen (mean age 71.9 years), and 387 (86%) have died. Median length of inpatient stay was 8 days, with PCCS consultation requested 3 days prior to discharge. 107 patients (24%) died prior to hospital discharge. 345 patients survived to discharge, 236 (68%) died within 3 months, and 262 (76%) died within 6 months. Median survival from consultation to death was 12 days and after hospital discharge was 6 days. Secondary analysis determined that patients with malignancy had longer median survival from discharge to death than those with other diagnoses (11 days versus 3 days, p = 0.025). Median survival was longer with referrals from general surgery and surgical specialties (37 days and 8 days, respectively), compared to hematology-oncology and critical care (2 days and 0 days, respectively). Conclusions: The primary goal of the PCCS is to provide symptom control and maximize quality of life at the end of life. These data suggest palliative care services are unnecessarily delayed until too late. Education is necessary to facilitate earlier PCCS intervention. Survival analysis suggests providers are more likely to consider PCCS involvement in patients with malignancy compared with other diseases. Critical care and hematology-oncology, showed the lowest median survivals. Education efforts must be focused on these areas. Programs are underway to identify eligible patients earlier in their disease process, and educate providers about key end-of-life services provided to patients and families. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Context.— Autopsy rates have decreased dramatically despite providing important clinical information to medical practices and social benefits to decedents' families. Objective.— To assess the impact of an institutional Office of Decedent Affairs (ODA), a direct communication link between pathology and decedents' families, on hospital autopsy consent rates, autopsy-related communication, practitioner views, and next-of-kin experiences. Design.— A before and after study involving all hospital decedents whose deaths did not fall within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner's office from 2013 to 2018. A pathology-run ODA launched in May 2016 to guide next-of-kin through the hospital death process (including autopsy-related decisions) and serve as the next-of-kin's contact for any subsequent autopsy-related communication. Critical care and hematology/oncology practitioners were assessed for their autopsy-related views and decedents' next-of-kin were assessed for their autopsy-related experiences. Autopsy consent rates for non–medical examiner hospital deaths, autopsy-related communication rates, practitioner views on the role and value of autopsy, and next-of-kin autopsy experiences and decisions factors were compared prior to and after ODA launch. Results.— Autopsy consent rates significantly increased from 13.2% to 17.3% (480 of 3647 deaths versus 544 of 3148 deaths; P < .001). There were significant increases in the rate of autopsy-related discussions and bereavement counseling provided to decedents' families. Practitioner views on the positive role of autopsy for any hospital death and those with advanced stage cancer also significantly increased. Next-of-kin indicated more consistent autopsy-related discussions with the potential benefits of autopsy discussed becoming key decision factors. Conclusions.— An ODA improves hospital autopsy consent rates, autopsy-related communication, providers' autopsy-related views, and next-of-kins autopsy experiences.

5082 Background: We evaluated the association of germ-line variation in 10 candidate genes important in prostate cancer biology (NKX3-1, JAK2, SLCO2B1, STAT3, CYP19A1, HSD17B4, TRMT11, PRMT3, HSD17B12, NCOA4) with failure of AA in advanced prostate cancer patients. Methods: Patients (N=619) were enrolled for genotyping at the time of AA failure. Candidate genes were selected from the literature and previous pilot studies in smaller cohorts which had identified variation in TRMT11 and HSD17B12 to be associated with AA failure. Genes were tagged using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from HapMap with minor allele frequency of >5% and r2≥0.8. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped using Illumina Veracode platform. The primary endpoint was time to failure on AA, defined as time from initiating continuous AA to two serial PSA increases over the nadir or clinical or imaging based progression, whichever came first. Principal component analysis was used for gene-levels tests. Association with the primary endpoint was assessed using proportional hazards regression models at the gene-level and at the SNP level. For SNP level results we estimated per allele (ordinal model) hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox regression, adjusted for Gleason score (GS). Results: We successfully genotyped 60 SNPs (from 10 genes) in 519 subjects. The median age of the cohort was 71 years (range 43, 92). The GS distribution was 51% subjects with GS≥8; 33% with GS=7 and 17% with GS<7. Median time to AA failure for the cohort was 2.3 years (IQ range: 1.0-4.5). In gene level analyses adjusting for GS, TRMT11 (p=0.004), HSD17B12 (p=0.016), and JAK2 (p=0.044) genes were associated with time to AA failure. Four of the 18 genotyped SNPs in JAK2 were associated with AA failure after adjustment for GS (Table). Conclusions: Variation in the JAK2 gene is significantly associated with time to AA failure. Validation is needed to develop these as predictive biomarkers for AA in advanced prostate cancer. [Table: see text]

1024 Background: The combination of platinum agents and PARP inhibitors may benefit patients (pts) with BRCA-associated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We report on the response and clinical benefit rates when combining the PARP inhibitor veliparib (V) and carboplatin (carb) in a phase I trial. Methods: BRCA carriers with MBC were eligible. Carb starting at an AUC of 6 was given IV in 21-day cycles (C) and V was given orally twice daily (BID) at dose levels (L) L1 through L5. Results: Twenty-eight pts (26 eligible) carrying BRCA1 (12) or BRCA2 (15), or both (1) mutations were accrued between June 2010 and June 2012. The median age (32-66) was 45 years. The number (#) of prior chemotherapy regimens given for MBC was 1 (0-5); 70% of BCs were ER+, and 7% were HER2+. The schema, dose limiting toxicities (DLT) during C 1, median # of Cs on trial, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) are shown. There were 3 (12%) complete and 9 (35%) partial responses (PR). Unconfirmed PR or stable MBC (median duration: 8 months [6-10+]) were seen in 7 pts (27%); the clinical benefit rate was74%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) is 7.8 months (95% CI 7.3-9.5). The pt with Fallopian tube cancer had a CR. DLTs with C 1 were seen in 2/6 evaluable pts at L1 (1 pt w/grade 3 hyponatremia and dehydration, and 1pt w/grade 4 thrombocytopenia [PLT]), leading to de-escalation of carb. At L2, 1 pt had grade 4 PLT. At L5, 1 pt had grade 4 PLT, and 2 pts grade 3 PLT (1 pt also experienced grade 4 granulocytopenia [ANC]), defining the MTD at carb AUC 5 and V 150 mg BID (L4). Dose delays and/or dose adjustments due to grade ≥ 2 toxicities for ANC or PLT were seen during the first 3 Cs at L1 (100%), L2 (50 %), L3 (67%), L4 (83 %), and at L5 (67%). Conclusions: The combination of carb and V is active, and is associated with substantial clinical benefit rate and managable hematologic toxicities in BRCA carriers with MBC. Further definition of the role of V is warranted. [Table: see text]

534 Background: mTOR plays a critical role in promoting tumor cell growth. In preclinical studies, the anti-tumor activity of mTOR inhibitors is attenuated by feedback up-regulation of AKT mediated by IGF-1R. We designed a phase I trial to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and pharmacodynamic effects of the IGF-1R antibody IMC-A12 in combination with temsirolimus (tem) in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) where mTOR is frequently activated. Methods: A 3+3 phase I design was chosen. Tem and IMC-A12 were administered IV days (d) 1, 8, 15, and 22 of a 4-week cycle in pts with MBC refractory to standard therapies. Tumor response was evaluated by RECIST. Adverse events (AE) were reported using CTC v3.0. Serum IGF 1 and C-peptide levels on d2 (24h post infusion) and d8 prior to drug infusion were compared to baseline (BL) using paired t-test. Results: Of 26 pts enrolled, 4 did not complete cycle 1 due to progression (3) or co-morbid condition (1). MTD was determined from remaining 22 pts aged 34-72 (median 48) years with ECOG PS 0 (55%) or 1 (45%). 86% had ER+ cancer. Median number of regimens for MBC was 4. Two DLTs at the starting DL (DL 1) necessitated dose de-escalation of tem to 20mg (DL-1), then to 15 mg (DL-2) which was tolerable (Table). Subsequent dose escalation of IMC-A12 led to DLTs in 0 of 6 in DL-2A and 2 of 3 pts in DL-2B. The MTD was defined as DL-2A. Other AEs included gr 1/2 fatigue, neutropenia, anemia, and hyperglycemia. No CR or PR, but 4 SD lasting ≥ 4 months were observed. At DL-2, -2A and -2B, serum IGF 1 levels were significantly elevated on d2 (p <0.002) and d8 compared to BL (p <0.001), but C-peptide levels were not found to differ from BL. Conclusions: The MTD for the combination of IMC-A12 and tem in pts with MBC is lower than that observed for single agents alone. A phase II study is ongoing in MBC. The study is supported in part by ASCO CDA, Komen Craft to CXM, N01-CM62205 and N01-CM-2011-00071. [Table: see text]

PURPOSE Evidence-based treatments for metastatic, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer to the CNS are limited. We previously reported modest activity of neratinib monotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases. Here we report the results from additional study cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with measurable, progressive, HER2-positive brain metastases (92% after receiving CNS surgery and/or radiotherapy) received neratinib 240 mg orally once per day plus capecitabine 750 mg/m 2 twice per day for 14 days, then 7 days off. Lapatinib-naïve (cohort 3A) and lapatinib-treated (cohort 3B) patients were enrolled. If nine or more of 35 (cohort 3A) or three or more of 25 (cohort 3B) had CNS objective response rates (ORR), the drug combination would be deemed promising. The primary end point was composite CNS ORR in each cohort separately, requiring a reduction of 50% or more in the sum of target CNS lesion volumes without progression of nontarget lesions, new lesions, escalating steroids, progressive neurologic signs or symptoms, or non-CNS progression. RESULTS Forty-nine patients enrolled in cohorts 3A (n = 37) and 3B (n = 12; cohort closed for slow accrual). In cohort 3A, the composite CNS ORR = 49% (95% CI, 32% to 66%), and the CNS ORR in cohort 3B = 33% (95% CI, 10% to 65%). Median progression-free survival was 5.5 and 3.1 months in cohorts 3A and 3B, respectively; median survival was 13.3 and 15.1 months. Diarrhea was the most common grade 3 toxicity (29% in cohorts 3A and 3B). Neratinib plus capecitabine is active against refractory, HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases, adding additional evidence that the efficacy of HER2-directed therapy in the brain is enhanced by chemotherapy. For optimal tolerance, efforts to minimize diarrhea are warranted.