Abstract Background: DS-8201a is a HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate with a topoisomerase 1 (topo1) inhibitor payload. Preclinical evidence suggests that inhibiting PARP can potentiate topo1 inhibitor-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. However, the clinical activity of combined topo1-inhibiting chemotherapy and PARP inhibition has been limited by toxicity. We hypothesized that targeted delivery of a topo1 inhibitor via DS-8201a may reduce systemic toxicity, while maintaining synergistic cytotoxic activity in combination with olaparib (PARPi). DS-8201a + olaparib was evaluated in the ongoing CTEP #10355 trial (NCT04585958). Results from Dose Escalation are presented. Methods: Accrual was limited to pts ≥18 years old with advanced or recurrent solid tumors expressing HER2, defined as HER2 IHC ≥1+ or ERBB2 amplification by NGS or ISH (local testing allowed). DS-8201a was given Q3W across all dose escalation regimens. Olaparib dosing in continuous (Module 1 D1-21) and intermittent schedules (Module 2 D8-14; Module 3 D3-9) were explored. A 3+3 dose escalation design was followed in Mod 1 & 2 and up to 6 pts in a safety cohort were planned for Mod 3. Primary endpoints included safety as graded by CTCAE v5 and determination of an RP2D. Results: As of Oct 26, 2025, 30 pts were enrolled and 28 pts were treated. 12 pts had uterine and 16 pts had ovarian cancer; mean age was 61.6 years, median number of prior therapies was 4 (range 1-10). HER2 expression by local testing was: 4 pts IHC 1+, 17 pts IHC 2+, 6 pts IHC 3+, 1 pt ERBB2 amplification (IHC not reported). 9/10 pts enrolled in Mod 1 (continuous olaparib) were DLT-evaluable: 1/7 pts at DL1 (DS-8201a 4.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 100mg BID D1-21) and 3/3 pts at DL2 (DS-8201a 5.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 100mg BID D1-21) experienced DLTs (G4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, WBC decrease, colitis), halting further Mod 1 enrollment. 12/16 pts enrolled to Mod 2 (intermittent olaparib) were DLT-evaluable and only 1 pt at the highest dose level (DL3, DS-8201a 5.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 300mg BID D8-14) experienced a DLT (G3 colitis). Hematologic TRAEs were markedly attenuated in Mod 2 compared to Mod 1: 12% vs 30% G3 and 19% vs 50% G4 neutropenia; 25% vs 70% G3 anemia; 6% vs 20% G3 and 0% vs 20% G4 thrombocytopenia. 2/2 DLT-evaluable pts in Mod 3 (intermittent olaparib; DS-8201a 5.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 300mg BID D3-9) experienced DLTs (G3 diarrhea, G3 nausea & vomiting, G4 neutropenia), halting further Mod 3 enrollment. The Mod 2 DL3 regimen of DS-8201a 5.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 300mg BID D8-14 was declared the RP2D and is under further investigation in an ongoing Dose Expansion cohort enrolling HER2 IHC 1+ platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Objective responses were observed across all modules and dose levels. Conclusions: In pts with HER2-expressing advanced solid tumors, DS-8201a in combination with intermittently-dosed olaparib was tolerable. DS-8201a 5.4mg/kg IV Q3W + olaparib 300mg BID D8-14 was selected as the RP2D for further evaluation in Dose Expansion. Additional endpoints of clinical activity will be presented. Citation Format: Elizabeth K. Lee, Andrea Wahner Hendrickson, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Cheryl A. Pickett, Yinglu Zhou, Su-Chun Cheng, Madeline Polak, Hannah Sawyer, Martin Hayes, Ursula A. Matulonis, Geoffrey I. Shapiro, Panagiotis A. Konstantinopoulos. CTEP #10355 A phase 1 trial of DS-8201a and olaparib in HER2-expressing malignancies: Results from dose escalation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT035.
A Phase 2 Trial of Protein Kinase C Iota Inhibition With the Combination of Auranofin and Sirolimus in Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
Objectives: This trial served as a proof-of-concept for whether inhibition of protein kinase C iota (PKCι) with auranofin and sirolimus provide antineoplastic effects in patients with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Methods: This drug combination was administered to patients with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Dosing was based on unpublished phase 1 data and consisted of auranofin 6 mg and sirolimus 5 mg both orally per day of a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was tumor response. Available tumor tissue was assessed for PKCι protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and PRKCI copy number by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) after the start of cancer therapy. Results: Twenty-two patients were enrolled, and 21 were evaluable for all clinical trial endpoints. One patient was unevaluable because she did not receive a full chemotherapy cycle. No tumor responses were seen in the first 21 patients, resulting in early trial termination per a priori trial design. The median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% CI: 1.8-3.7). The median overall survival was 4.4 months (95% CI: 2.6-12.5). Fourteen (67%) patients had at least one grade 3 or worse adverse event. Nineteen of 21 evaluable patients had available tumor tissue, which showed the median PKCι copy number averaged per cell of 3 (range: 2 to 7), and PKCι expression (at least 1+) in all. Conclusions: As prescribed here, auranofin and sirolimus manifested no antineoplastic activity in patients with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer that expressed PKCι.
The NCCN Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer/Fallopian Tube Cancer/Primary Peritoneal Cancer provide multidisciplinary diagnostic workup, staging, and treatment recommendations for this disease. These NCCN Guidelines Insights detail how the evolution of the use of PARP inhibitors as maintenance and single-agent regimens for the treatment of ovarian cancer informed panel recommendations in the guidelines.
NRG‐GY012: Randomized phase 2 study comparing olaparib, cediranib, and the combination of cediranib/olaparib in women with recurrent, persistent, or metastatic endometrial cancer
AbstractPurposeThis paper reports the efficacy of the poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib alone and in combination with the antiangiogenesis agent cediranib compared with cediranib alone in patients with advanced endometrial cancer.MethodsThis was open‐label, randomized, phase 2 trial (NCT03660826). Eligible patients had recurrent endometrial cancer, received at least one (<3) prior lines of chemotherapy, and were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1), stratified by histology (serous vs. other) to receive cediranib alone (reference arm), olaparib, or olaparib and cediranib for 28‐day cycles until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was progression‐free survival in the intention‐to‐treat population. Homologous repair deficiency was explored using the BROCA‐GO sequencing panel.ResultsA total of 120 patients were enrolled and all were included in the intention‐to‐treat analysis. Median age was 66 (range, 41–86) years and 47 (39.2%) had serous histology. Median progression‐free survival for cediranib was 3.8 months compared with 2.0 months for olaparib (hazard ratio, 1.45 [95% CI, 0.91‐2.3] p = .935) and 5.5 months for olaparib/cediranib (hazard ratio, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.43–1.14] p = .064). Four patients receiving the combination had a durable response lasting more than 20 months. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were hypertension in the cediranib (36%) and olaparib/cediranib (33%) arms, fatigue (20.5% olaparib/cediranib), and diarrhea (17.9% cediranib). The BROCA‐GO panel results were not associated with response.ConclusionThe combination of cediranib and olaparib demonstrated modest clinical efficacy; however, the primary end point of the study was not met. The combination was safe without unexpected toxicity.
NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Ovarian Cancer, Version 3.2022
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the United States, with less than half of patients living >5 years following diagnosis. The NCCN Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer provide recommendations for the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up for patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel discussion behind recent important updates to the guidelines, including revised guidance on alternative chemotherapy regimens for patients with advanced age and/or comorbidities, a new algorithm for recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma based on developing research and novel therapeutic agents, and updated language regarding tumor molecular analysis applications in ovarian cancer.
Parental health in fellowship trainees: Fellows’ satisfaction with current policies and interest in innovation
Background: Parenthood during medical training is common and impacts trainee well-being. However, current graduate medical education parental health policies are often limited in scope. We explored current fellowship trainees’ knowledge of/satisfaction with current policies as well as interest in potential changes/additions to existing policies. Methods: Fellowship program directors/coordinators at a three-site academic institution were surveyed and information was collected from 2015 to 2019 regarding fellow demographics and parental health policies. We distributed an electronic survey to fellows containing Likert-type-scale questions rating knowledge/level of satisfaction with current parental health policies and interest in potential additions/modifications to current policies. Results: Thirty-five of 47 (74%) fellowship programs responded. An average of 11% of female fellows and 15% of male fellows took parental leave during the study period. Three (9%) of the programs had at least one additional parental health policy beyond institutional graduate medical education policies. In the fellow survey, 175 of 609 fellows responded (28.7%), of which 84 (48.6%) were female. Although 89.1% agreed/strongly agreed that parental health is an important part of health and well-being for fellows, only 32% were satisfied/very satisfied with current policies (no significant sex-related differences). Fellows reported the following potential interventions as important/very important: 79.2% increased (paid) maternity leave (72.7% male, 86.7% female, p = 0.02), 78% increased (paid) paternity leave (76.4% male, 81.9% female, p = 0.37), 72.3% part-time return to work (60.2% male, 84.3% female, p = 0.0005), 63% coverage for workup/management of infertility (52.3% male, 74.7% female, p = 0.002), and 79.9% on-site day care (70.7% male, 89.2% female, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Parental health includes multiple domains, not all of which are covered by current policies. Fellows feel that parental health is an important part of overall health and well-being, but most are not satisfied with current policies. Expanded access to parental leave and new policies (part-time return to work, infertility management, and on-site day care) are opportunities for innovation.
Dual Inhibition of mTORC1/mTORC2 Induces Apoptosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma by Preventing Rictor Mediated AKTS473 Phosphorylation by Potentiating AKT2-PHLPP1 Association
Abstract Abstract 772 The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a crucial role in proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals in various lymphomas. The mTORC1 inhibitors, such as the rapamycin analogs temsirolimus and everolimus, have achieved a 38% overall response rate in heavily pretreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL); however, most responses are partial, and many patients are resistant. One mechanism for resistance to mTORC1 inhibitors is that mTORC2 remains unaffected (Blood 2009 Oct 1; 114 (14): 2926–2935). We hypothesize that combined mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibition will be more effective in MCL. We tested the dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor OSI-027 (OSI Pharmaceuticals) on MCL cell lines and patient samples that were demonstrated to have a high amount of mTORC2 (Rictor and its target p-AKTS473) and mTORC1 (Raptor and its targets pS6 and p4E-BP1) targets. Dual inhibition through OSI-027 inhibited pAKTSer473, a direct target of mTORC2 without any obvious effect on AKTTh308 in these cells. On the other hand, the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin had no effect on pAKTSer473. Interestingly, both drugs effectively suppressed phosphorylation of S6; only OSI-027 decreased phosphorylation of 4E-BP1Th37/46. We next assessed the effect of OSI-027 on MCL proliferation and apoptosis and showed that dual inhibition of mTORC1/mTORC2 through OSI-027 caused growth arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in both MCL patient cells treated ex vivo and established MCL cell lines; however, we did not see any significant effect of rapamycin on apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that AKT has direct effects on some members of the apoptosis pathway such as forkhead transcription factors (FOXO), caspase 9, and BAD. OSI-027 treatment significantly inhibited p-FOXO3AT32 with some inhibitory effect on pBADS136. These data suggest that FOXO3A is an important target of AKT through which OSI-027 is exerting its apoptotic effects. There are several potential mechanisms whereby OSI-027 prevents AKTS473 phosphorylation: 1) deactivation of kinases upstream of AKT; 2) activation of phosphatases down-stream of AKT. OSI-027 treatment of MCL cells produced no change in phosphorylated PI3K p85/p55 or PDK1 protein. These data eliminate the possibility of involvement of the PI3K pathway in OSI-027 mediated AKT dephosphorylation. We did find that OSI-027 mediated deactivation of AKTS473 is, at least in part, phosphatase dependent. The PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP) family of phosphatases have been shown to directly dephosphorylate and inactivate AKTS473. To determine if AKT and PHLPP1 or PHLPP2 are associated in MCL cells, we immunoprecipitated AKT from MCL cells and probed for association with endogenous PHLPP1 and PHLPP2. All the MCL lines do express endogenous PHLPP1 and PHLPP2; however, they are not complexed to AKT. Further studies using the AKT isoforms AKT1 and AKT2 found AKT2 to be associated with PHLPP1; there was no association of AKT1 or AKT2 to PHLPP2. To investigate if OSI-027 enhanced the AKT2-PHLPP1 interaction, we repeated the co-immunoprecipitation assay in the OSI-027 treated MCL cell lines and demonstrated that OSI-027 increased the interaction of AKT2-PHLPP1. Further we showed that OSI-027 exposure did not alter the expression level of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 proteins. In summary the dual inhibition of mTORC1/mTORC2 by OSI-027 in MCL is more effective than mTORC1 inhibition by rapamycin. We present the mechanism that OSI-027 induces apoptosis in MCL cell lines by inhibition of Rictor-AKT-FOXO3A signaling, and this is mediated in part by activation of the phosphatase PHLPP1. These findings indicate that simultaneously targeting mTORC1 and mTORC2 may be effective in patients with MCL. Disclosures: Barr: OSI Pharmaceuticals: Employment.
Abstract CT157: An open-label Phase II study of combination of TSR-042, bevacizumab, and niraparib in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (OC): Cohort A of the OPAL trial
Abstract Background: Most patients with advanced OC relapse after initial standard platinum-based chemotherapy, and eventually the disease becomes platinum-resistant. Niraparib (ZEJULA®) was the first selective poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) approved in the United States and Europe for maintenance treatment in patients with recurrent OC regardless of BRCA mutation status. Preclinical evidence suggests that niraparib activates the stimulator of interferon genes pathway to increase immune cell infiltration and synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy. Additionally, hypoxia induces contextual synthetic lethality by impairing homologous recombination, and therefore induction of hypoxia by inhibition of angiogenesis could lead to synergy with PARPi. In the TOPACIO/KEYNOTE-162 trial, niraparib in combination with pembrolizumab has shown efficacy in recurrent, platinum-resistant OC. Niraparib in combination with the anti-angiogenic agent bevacizumab is under study for the treatment of recurrent platinum-sensitive OC (AVANOVA trial) and advanced OC following response on frontline platinum-based chemotherapy (OVARIO trial). TSR-042 is an anti-PD-1 humanized monoclonal antibody that has shown clinical activity as monotherapy in early phase trials. Cohort A of the OPAL trial will evaluate the novel triple combination of the PARPi niraparib, angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab, and PD-1 inhibitor TSR-042 in patients with platinum-resistant OC who are naïve to PARPi therapy. Methods: Eligible patients will have high-grade recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer of the ovary and progressed ≤6 months from completion of ≥4 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. Additional key eligibility criteria include 1-2 prior lines of anticancer therapy for OC, no prior therapy with an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody, and no prior therapy for OC with a PARPi. Patients will receive a combination regimen of 500 mg TSR-042 on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for 4 cycles, then 1000 mg on day 1 of every other cycle beginning on cycle 5 until progression or toxicity, 15 mg/kg bevacizumab on day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 15 months, and niraparib 300 mg or 200 mg (for patients <77 kg or platelet count <150,000/µL at screening) daily until disease progression or toxicity. The primary endpoint is to evaluate treatment efficacy by confirmed objective response rate per investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1 criteria. Secondary objectives are evaluation of progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, and disease control rate. Exploratory objectives are to identify potential biomarkers of tumor response, including BRCA status and homologous recombination repair gene status and to evaluate the evolution of the molecular profile of the tumor and tumor microenvironment in response to treatment. Clinical trial identification: NCT03574779 Citation Format: Joyce Liu, Camille Gunderson, Andrea Wahner Hendrickson, Elena Ratner, Elisabeth Diver, John Moroney, Rebecca C. Arend, Melinda Louie-Gao, Sarah Wang, Katarina Luptakova, Gottfried E. Konecny. An open-label Phase II study of combination of TSR-042, bevacizumab, and niraparib in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (OC): Cohort A of the OPAL trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT157.
Loratadine for Paclitaxel-Induced Myalgias and Arthralgias
Background: Seventy percentage of patients who receive paclitaxel have diffuse, refractory myalgias, and arthralgias. Based on anecdotal reports, this study explored whether loratadine, an antihistamine, palliates these symptoms. Methods: The medical records of postoperative ovarian and patients with endometrial cancer were studied, as these patients are routinely prescribed paclitaxel. Records were screened for patients who received paclitaxel and loratadine concurrently. Results: Forty patients are the focus of this report. Eight had paclitaxel-induced myalgias and arthralgias and then took loratadine; of these, 6 (75%; 95% confidence interval: 35%, 97%) manifested evidence of symptom improvement: “She did experience some migrating generalized body aches and pains…but this has resolved.” Of those already receiving loratadine but with no myalgias and arthralgias, only 11 of 32, or 34% (95% confidence interval: 19%, 53%), developed myalgias and arthralgias (in contrast to the previously reported symptom rate of 70%). No adverse events were clearly attributed to loratadine. Conclusion: These preliminary data support further study of loratadine for paclitaxel-induced myalgias and arthralgias.
Abstract PD5-02: Durability of clinical benefit with niraparib + pembrolizumab in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer beyond BRCA: (TOPACIO/Keynote-162)
Abstract Background: PARP inhibitor (PARPi) monotherapy has previously demonstrated clinical activity only in patients with a germline BRCA mutation (BRCAmut), while single-agent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy has achieved response rates of only 5–20% in advanced triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In preclinical studies, PARP inhibition enhanced anti-tumor immunity, increased infiltration of proliferating CD8+ T cells, and synergized with anti-PD-1 agents in BRCA wildtype (wt) tumors. TOPACIO is a fully enrolled, phase I/II trial of niraparib + pembrolizumab (pembro) in advanced TNBC. This combination achieved 28% objective response rate (ORR) and 50% disease control rate (DCR) in evaluable patients. Although activity was highest in patients with BRCAmut (ORR=60%; DCR=80%), durable clinical benefit was also observed in patients without BRCA mutations. In this study, we conducted exploratory biomarker analyses to evaluate their potential correlation with durable clinical benefit (any complete response [CR] or partial response [PR] regardless of duration or stable disease [SD] for ≥16 weeks) beyond BRCA mutations. Method: ORR was assessed by RECIST v1.1. Duration of disease control (DDC) was defined as time from first dose of study treatment to radiologic disease progression or death. Tumor mutational status of homologous recombination repair (HRR) and other DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway genes was determined using an NGS panel. Immunoprofiling was conducted using NanoString IO360 panel complimented with 30 DNA repair spike-ins. Tumor immune micro-environment was characterized using multiplex immuno-fluorescence (CycIF). PD-L1 status was determined using the Agilent/DAKO 22C3 IHC clinical trial assay. Results: Of 46 evaluable patients, 20 achieved durable clinical benefit (any CR/PR or SD≥16 weeks) with niraparib + pembro combination, of which 8 were tumor BRCA wild type (wt), and 1 was BRCA unknown. Of the 9 BRCAwt/unknown patients, 5 had deleterious mutations in HRR/DDR pathway genes, whereas the remaining 4 had no mutations (HRR/DDR wt). Mutations that were associated with response include CHEK1 (CR; DDC=10.3 mos), ATR (CR; DDC=6.4 mos), PALB2 (PR; DDC=3.5 mos), BLM (SD; DDC=8.1 mos), and NBN/RAD51C (SD; DDC=3.7 mos). Of 4 patients that had no identified mutations (HRR/DDR wt), 1 patient had CR; DDC=10.3 mos, and the remaining 3 patients had SD with DDC ranging from ∼4-8 mos. Of note, all 4 HRR/DDR wt patients were also PD-L1-negative. Table:Durable clinical benefit in BRCAwt/unknown patientsHRR/DRR MutationsPD-L1 StatusBest ResponseDDC (Months)CHEK1+CR10.3†ATR+CR6.4PALB2*UnknownPR3.5BLM-SD8.1NBN/RAD51C+SD3.7None-CR10.3†None-SD8.2None-SD4.2None-SD3.9*BRCA status unknown; †Treatment is ongoing. Conclusion: Patients with mutations beyond BRCA achieved durable clinical benefit with niraparib + pembro treatment; five of these patients had DDC >6 mos. Mutations in genes that are associated with the HRR/DDR pathway appear to confer sensitivity to niraparib + anti-PD1. Additional translational analyses, including immunoprofiling and CycIF, will be presented. Funding: TESARO, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA sponsored the study. Citation Format: Vinayak S, Tolaney SM, Schwartzberg L, Mita M, McCann G, Tan AR, Wahner Hendrickson A, Forero A, Anders C, Wulf G, Dillon P, Lynce F, Zarwan C, Erban J, Färkkilä A, Zhou Y, Buerstatte N, Graham JR, Arora S, Dezube B, Telli ML. Durability of clinical benefit with niraparib + pembrolizumab in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer beyond BRCA: (TOPACIO/Keynote-162) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD5-02.