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Molina, Julian R.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9962-4635

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 152

Association of Sex, Age, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status With Survival Benefit of Cancer Immunotherapy in Randomized Clinical Trials
Yang, Fang , Molina, Julian R. , Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R. , Pagliaro, Lance C. , Li, Rutian , Wang, Lifeng , Liu, Baorui , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Wang, Michael , Halfdanarson, Thorvardur R , Markovic, Svetomir N. , Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V. , Wei, Jia , Wang, Yucai

JAMA Network Open | August 7, 2020 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 8 | Pages: e2012534

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12534 Get It

An International Phase 2 Study of Pazopanib in Progressive and Metastatic Thyroglobulin Antibody Negative Radioactive Iodine Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Bible, Keith C. , Menefee, Michael E., Millward, Michael , Maples, William J., Karlin, Nina J. , Kane, Madeleine, Molina, Julian R. , Donehower, Ross C. , Lim, Wan‐Teck , Flynn, Patrick J. , Richardson, Ronald L., Traynor, Anne M. , Rubin, Joseph, LoRusso, Patricia , Smallridge, Robert C., Burton, Jill K., Voss, Jessie S., Rumilla, Kandalaria M., Kipp, Benjamin R. , Harris, Pamela Jo , Erlichman, Charles , Kumar, Aditi, Lin, Chia‐Chi , Goh, Boon Cher , Adkins, Douglas R. , Suman, Vera J. , Kumar, Aditi , Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V.

Thyroid® | June 15, 2020 | Volume: 30 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 1254-1262

10.1089/thy.2019.0269 Get It

Introduction: Multikinase inhibitors have clinical activity in radioactive iodine refractory (RAIR) differentiated thyroid cancers (DTCs) but are not curative; optimal management and salvage therapies remain unclear. This study assessed clinical effects of pazopanib therapy in RAIR-DTC patients with progressive disease, examining in parallel biomarker that might forecast/precede therapeutic response. Methods: Assessment of responses and toxicities and of any association between thyroglobulin (Tg) changes cycle 1 and RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors) response to pazopanib therapy were prospectively undertaken in Tg antibody negative RAIR-DTC patients. RECIST progressive metastatic disease <6 months preceding enrollment was required. With a sample size of 68 (assuming 23 attaining partial response [PR]), there would be 90% chance of detecting a difference of >30% when the proportion of patients attaining PR whose Tg values decrease by >50% is >50% cycle 1 (one-sided α = 0.10, two sample test of proportions). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) change or mutational status or pretreatment were also explored as early correlates of eventual RECIST response. Results: From 2009 to 2011, 60 individuals were treated and evaluated; (one additional patient withdrew; another was found ineligible before therapy initiation); 91.7% had previous systemic therapy beyond RAI. Adverse events included one death (thromboembolic) deemed possibly pazopanib associated. Twenty-two confirmed RECIST PRs resulted (36.7%, confidence interval; CI [24.6–50.1]); mean administered 4-week cycles was 10. Among 44 fully accessible patients, the Tg nadir was greater among the 20 attaining PR (median: −86.8%; interquartile range [IQR]: −90.7% to −70.9%) compared with the 28 who did not (median: −69.0%; IQR: −78.1% to −27.7%, Wilcoxon rank-sum test: p = 0.002). However, the difference in the proportion of PRs among those whose Tg fell ≥50% after cycle 1 versus those that did not were not significantly correlated (−23.5% [CI: −55.3 to 8.3]; Fisher's exact test p -value = 0.27). RECIST response was also not correlated with/predicted by early MCV change, receipt of prior therapy, or tumor mutational status. Conclusions: This trial prospectively confirmed pazopanib to have clinical activity and manageable toxicities in patients with progressive RAIR-DTC. Response to pazopanib, however, was not robustly forecast by early associated changes in Tg or MCV, by prior therapy, or by tumor mutational status. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00625846.
Clinical significance of brain metastases in patients with bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors: A population-based analysis.
Zhu, Mojun , Leventakos, Konstantinos , Starr, Jason S. , Molina, Julian R. , Fuentes, Harry E , Gile, Jennifer , Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam , Schild, Steven E. , Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e21575-e21575

10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.e21575 Get It

e21575 Background: The clinical significance of brain metastases in patients with bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) tumors is unknown; we therefore conducted a population based analysis to evaluate the implications of brain metastases in these patients. Methods: The NCDB database was queried to identify patients with stage IV bronchopulmonary NE tumors treated between the years of 2004-2012. Patients were split into two groups based on the presence of brain metastases at diagnosis and survival probabilities with multivariate models were performed. Results: A total of 7,725 patients with Stage IV bronchopulmonary NE tumors were identified. The histological subtypes studied in this cohort were NE carcinoma (65.4%), large cell NE carcinoma (30.5%), typical carcinoid (2.8%) and atypical carcinoid (1.3%) . The patients included in this study were mainly white (86.4%) men (56.8%) with a median age of 67 years who had liver (9.5%), bone (6.2%) and brain (5.9%) metastases at diagnosis. The median overall survival (OS) of the cohort was 5.59 (95% CI: 5.4-5.8) months, but when OS was stratified by histological subtype it was significantly better in patients with typical carcinoid (table). In the whole cohort, the median OS did not differ between patients with and without brain metastases (5.55 vs. 5.68; p = 0.24). However, a sensitivity analysis by histology showed that the presence of brain metastases worsen the median OS of patients with typical carcinoid only (15.1 vs 4.6, p = 0.04). An adjusted multivariate analysis restricted to patients with brain metastases showed that administration of systemic chemotherapy (HR:0.5; 95% CI:0.35-0.72, p < 0.001) and resection of distant metastases (HR:0.5; 95% CI:0.29-0.88, p = 0.017) were the two most powerful independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: The presence of brain metastases negatively impact survival of patients with typical carcinoids but not in those with the other histological subtypes included in this study. Staging MRI should be strongly considered at diagnosis in patients with bronchopulmonary NE tumors, due to the sizable proportion of these patients presenting with brain metastases and also due to its prognostic value in a subset of this population. [Table: see text]
Management of bronchopulmonary carcinoid: NCDB database analysis.
Zhu, Mojun , Westin, Gustavo Figueiredo Marcondes, Leventakos, Konstantinos , Wigle, Dennis A. , Jaroszewski, Dawn E. , Molina, Julian R. , Fuentes, Harry E , Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam , Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e21007-e21007

10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.e21007 Get It

e21007 Background: There is a lack of data to guide the management of resectable bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors (BCTs). Methods: The NCDB database was retrospectively reviewed to analyze the roles of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Patients with a diagnosis of clinically staged T1-2/N0-1 typical carcinoid (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC) between 2004-2012 were included. Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariable analysis were performed. Results: A total of 2148 patients (TC 1874 & AC 274; T1/1648 & T2/500) were identified. The median age was 59 (range 18-89). There was a female (69.7%) and right lung (56.9%) predominance. Fifty-three patients received pneumonectomy, 68 chemotherapy, and 84 radiation therapy. The impact of age, histology (TC vs. AC), medical comorbidities (Charlson/Deyo score 0 vs. ≥1) and type of surgery [sublobar resection (SR) vs. lobectomy vs. lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection (L/MLND)] were subsequently examined. AC, older age, and comorbidities were associated with shorter overall survival (OS) by both univariate and multivariable analysis. Patients who underwent lobectomy had longer OS (119 months) than those with SR (109 months) or L/MLND (115 months). However, this association was not significant by multivariable analysis with age incorporated as either a categorical ( < 60 vs. ≥60) or a continuous variable (Table). In the subgroup analysis of patients with T1, T2, TC and AC respectively, type of surgical resection was not significantly associated with OS by multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Patients with resectable BCTs have excellent OS. Atypical histology, older age, and comorbidities predicted inferior OS. There were insufficient data to support the use of perioperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Lobectomy was associated with prolonged OS by univariate analysis but this was not significant in the multivariable model, suggesting that SR is a reasonable approach for patients who cannot tolerate lobectomy. MLND did not seem to provide additional survival benefits. [Table: see text]
The effect of cardiovascular disease on the association between immune-related adverse events and overall survival.
Oren, Ohad , Molina, Julian R.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 7059-7059

10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.7059 Get It

7059 Background: Preliminary data suggests that immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are associated with lower all-cause mortality, presumably due to improved anti-tumor responses. Investigations of large cohorts are needed to establish better understanding of that association. Methods: We reviewed the Mayo Clinic database for all patients who received an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Descriptive and uni-variate analyses were generated. Results: Between March, 2010 and July, 2019, 3,326 patients received an ICI. The most common irAEs were colitis (287, 8.6%), pneumonitis (238, 7.2%) and hepatitis (227, 6.9%). A total of 933 (28.1%) patients developed at least 1 irAE and 176 (5.3%) patients experienced 2 or more irAEs. Survival analysis demonstrated an association between the number of irAEs and all-cause mortality (log-rank, P < 0.0001), a relationship which was maintained for the 3 most common cancer types (lung, melanoma, renal) and for the individual ICI agents. In patients with lung cancer, colitis (P = 0.04) but not pneumonitis (P = 0.83) was associated with improved overall survival. No association between irEA and all-cause mortality was demonstrated in patients with history of stroke (log-rank, P = 0.12), peripheral artery disease (PAD) (log-rank, P = 0.68) and obesity (log-rank, P = 0.18). In an analysis of pre-ICI body-mass index (BMI), an association between irAE and lower overall mortality was shown in patients with BMI < 30 (log-rank, P < 0.001) and not in those with higher BMIs (log-rank, P = 0.09). The presence of stroke, PAD and obesity were associated with higher all-cause mortality in a survival analysis (P < 0.001). The irAE-mortality association was not modulated by the presence hypertension (log-rank, P < 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (log-rank, P < 0.0001), or heart failure (log-rank, P = 0.006). Conclusions: The development of any irAE is associated with higher overall survival. The presence of numerous cardiovascular disease states neutralizes that association, likely a result of competing causes of mortality although interaction with immune or inflammatory pathways is possible. In addition, pneumonitis is not associated with better overall survival in patients with lung cancer presumably due to compromise of already-tenuous respiratory status.
Efficacy of Second-Line Chemotherapy in Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
McGarrah, Patrick W. , Leventakos, Konstantinos , Hobday, Timothy J. , Molina, Julian R. , Finnes, Heidi D. , Westin, Gustavo Figueiredo Marcondes, Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R. , Halfdanarson, Thorvardur R , McGarrah, Patrick

Pancreas | April 10, 2020 | Volume: 49 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 529-533

10.1097/mpa.0000000000001529 Get It

Objectives A platinum/etoposide doublet is standard first-line therapy for poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PD NEC); however, evidence to guide treatment beyond first-line regimens is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of second-line regimens in PD NEC. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients treated with second-line chemotherapy for PD NEC. Inclusion criteria were previous first-line therapy with platinum/etoposide, extrapulmonary PD NEC, and follow-up data. The primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after second-line therapy. Secondary end points included OS and PFS from first-line therapy. Results Sixty-four patients were included. The median OS from initiation of second-line therapy was 6.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9–8.9). The median PFS was 2.3 months (95% CI, 2.0–3.2). No second-line regimen showed a statistically significant difference in OS or PFS. There was a significant increase in OS for cisplatin first-line regimens compared with carboplatin (17.0 months [95% CI, 12.5–22.6] vs 11.7 months [95% CI, 8.0–14.0]). Conclusions The efficacy of current second-line therapy in PD NEC is poor. No second-line regimen showed statistically significant superiority. Cisplatin was associated with longer OS regardless of second-line regimen or age. However, unmeasured confounders such as performance status or comorbidities may explain this effect.
Exploring sex differences in small cell lung cancer: Is this a hormonal issue?
Duma, Narjust , Ho, Thanh P. , Funni, Shealeigh A., Inselman, Jonathan , Paripati, Harshita, Adjei, Alex A. , Molina, Julian R. , Durani, Urshila , Mansfield, Aaron S.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 12, 2020 | Volume: 37 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e20077-e20077

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.e20077 Get It

e20077 Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 10% to 15% of lung cancers among women and men. Though heavily associated with smoking, its incidence in women is rapidly increasing despite a decline in cigarette exposure. Given the changing demographics of SCLC and hormonal factors associated with other forms of lung cancer, we studied differences between sexes in SCLC. Methods: Utilizing the National Cancer Database, we identified all incident SCLC cases from 2004 to 2014. Patients were classified as limited stage (LS) or extensive stage (ES). Women were stratified by menopausal status (≥55 years = postmenopausal). Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used for overall survival (OS) and multivariable analysis. Results: 161,978 patients were identified. No significant sociodemographic differences were observed between sexes. The majority of patients were non-Hispanic whites (89.1%), followed by non-Hispanic blacks (7.5%). Men were more likely to be diagnosed with ES disease than women (63% vs. 56%). Both sexes initiated treatment within a similar time frame from diagnosis (chemotherapy, median: 18 days, IQR 8-32). Women had better median OS compared to men in both LS (15.2 vs. 12.7 months, HR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.83-0.86, p < 0.0001) and ES (6.4 vs. 5.7 months, HR: 0.88, 95% CI 0.87-0.90, p < 0.0001). No racial or ethnic disparities in OS were observed, overall and when examined within sex and disease stage groups. Differences between sexes in OS were also observed when comparing patients within the same racial/ethnic group (women having better OS). When divided by menopausal status, postmenopausal women with LS and ES had worse OS than premenopausal women (14.7 vs. 22 months, HR: 1.50, 95% CI 1.44-1.56; 6.1 vs. 9.8 months, HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.37-1.46, respectively). We also observed worse OS in older men when divided by age ( < 55 years and ≥55 years). In multivariable analysis, older age, postmenopausal status, and Medicaid as primary insurance were associated with worse OS for both LS and ES. Conclusions: In this large cohort, women with SCLC had better OS compared to men. Post-menopausal women had worse OS compared to pre-menopausal women. Since older men had a similar trend of worse survival compared to younger men, age might exert a more significant influence on survival than hormonal status in SCLC. Further studies with data on sexual hormone levels are necessary to better understand their role in women with SCLC.
Review of 200 consecutive patients with mutation profiling in a lung cancer individualized medicine clinic.
Molina, Julian R. , Jen, Jin , Jang, Jin Sung , Roden, Anja C. , Aubry, Marie‐Christine, Peikert, Tobias, Maldonado, Fabien , Thomas, Charles F., Edell, Eric S. , Lifeng, Wang, Deschamps, Claude, Nichols, Francis C., Cassivi, Stephen D. , Wigle, Dennis A. , Asiedu, Michael K. , Aubry, Marie-Christine, Lifeng, Wang, Yang, Ping , Allen, Mark S. , Shen, Robert K.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e19013-e19013

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.e19013 Get It

e19013 Background: Mutation profiling to assess for potentially druggable mutations in NSCLC is being offered at an increasing number of cancer centers throughout North America and internationally. Although data continue to accumulate for the potential value of mutation testing in designing chemotherapeutic regimens, the treatment impact of obtaining information beyond assessment of EGFR and ALK status remains unclear. How best to obtain and clinically utilize these data, including information from exome and whole genome sequencing, also remains unclear. Methods: Patients were reviewed electronically in a multidisciplinary conference regarding indications for testing and results of mutation profiling from various methods, including the mass-spec based LungCarta test, targeted NexGen sequencing, exome, and whole genome sequencing. Outcomes of the multidisciplinary review were communicated back to treating physicians. Results: Mutation testing was performed on 200 patients using a variety of approaches. The majority (>150) were surgically resected stage I and II tumors. Mutations in at least 1 major cancer driver gene, including EGFR, KRAS, MET, BRAF and PIK3CA, were found in 47% of all patients tested. EGFR mutations were present in 14.8% of patients tested, KRAS 21.3%, BRAF 2.6%, PIK3CA 3.2%, and MET 4.5%. A total of 8 patients underwent either exome or whole genome sequencing. A limited number of patients (<10) had mutation results that impacted treatment decisions from this cohort. Conclusions: Mutation profiling can influence treatment decisions in NSCLC, but at a low frequency. The role of exome and or whole genome sequencing for patients with NSCLC is evolving and remains undefined.
Feasibility of using the drug-induced apoptosis assay (MiCK assay) in mesothelioma as compared to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Wigle, Dennis A. , Hallquist, Allan, Presant, Cary A. , Molina, Julian R.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e18538-e18538

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.e18538 Get It

e18538 Background: The drug-induced apoptosis MiCK assay has been predictive of outcomes in acute myelocytic leukemia, ovarian cancer, and a variety of solid tumors including breast cancer (Cancer Research 2012; 72:3901). We compared MiCK assay results in mesothelioma patients (pts) with NSCLC pts. Methods: Specimens from tissue or effusions were submitted to a central lab, processed to purify neoplastic cells, and a MiCK assay was performed as described (Cancer 2012; 118: 4877). Best chemotherapy regimens are defined as drugs/combinations with highest kinetic units (KU) of apoptosis +/- 1 SD compared to other drugs (this definition was predictive of outcomes in ovarian cancer). Active drugs have results over 1.0 KU of apoptosis. Results: 10 specimens have been submitted and 7 have been successful. Mean age was 69 and mean number of prior lines of therapy were 0.7 in 3 mesothelioma pts and 2.0 in 4 NSCLC pts. Mean number of drugs or combinations assayed successfully were 41 in mesothelioma and 20 in NSCLC. In mesothelioma, best active chemotherapy regimens (>1.0 KU) have been pemetrexed+doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and dactinomycin. In NSCLC, best active regimens have been doxorubicin+cisplatin, irinotecan, and cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine. In mesothelioma pts, the assay has been able to identify unexpected significant activity of several drugs: epirubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin, dactinomycin, bendamustine, melphalan, vincristine, topotecan, azacytidine and bortezomib. Conclusions: Use of the MiCK assay in mesothelioma is at least as successful in the laboratory as it is in NSCLC. Unexpected new leads for innovative therapeutic strategies have been identified by the in vitro results. This feasibility study justifies a prospective controlled trial of the MiCK assay in mesothelioma and NSCLC pts. Clinical trials of drugs with unexpected activity are warranted in mesothelioma pts. Clinical trial information: NCT 01770665.
A Ki-67 proliferation index cutoff value of 1% to predict 5-year RFS and OS in patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors.
Reungwetwattana, Thanyanan , Mandrekar, Sumithra J. , Kroneman, Trynda, Foster, Nathan R. , Aubry, Marie‐Christine, Yi, Eunhee S. , Kerr, Sarah E. , Shridhar, Vijayalakshmi, Voss, Jesse S. , Kipp, Benjamin R. , Molina, Julian R. , Aubry, Marie-Christine, Yang, Ping , Grothey, Axel

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 11119-11119

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.11119 Get It

11119 Background: Evaluation of prognostic factors in carcinoid tumors of the lung is limited due to the rarity of disease. This study assessed Ki-67 expression and other clinical variables as prognostic factors in 262 patients. Methods: A systematic search of Mayo Clinic lung cancer epidemiology and tumor registry databases from 1997 to 2009 identified 449 consecutive patients, with 262 having available tissue blocks [40 atypical carcinoids (AC) and 222 typical carcinoids (TC)]. Clinical data were collected by chart review. Tissue blocks were reviewed by 1/3 pathologists using WHO criteria. Tumors were tested for the Ki-67 index using digital image analysis (tumor tracing) by two operators. The association and predictive value of the factors with recurrence-free and overall survival (RFS and OS) were explored using univariable Cox proportional Hazards model and concordance (c) index. Results: Age, stage, smoking history, lymph node (LN) involvement and Ki-67 index were significant prognostic factors for RFS and OS. Median follow-up on alive-patients is 5 years (range: 0.006-5). Median percentage of Ki-67 index of AC and TC were 1.61% and 0.56% (P<0.0001), respectively. Patients with Ki-67 ≥ 1% had significantly worse RFS (HR=3.69, P<0.0001) and OS (HR=3.69, P=0.0007) compared with Ki-67 < 1% group. The c-index of Ki-67 (0.65) was comparable to the pathologic distinction between AC and TC (0.62 for original diagnosis and 0.63 for central-reviewed diagnosis). Conclusions: Ki-67 index cutoff value of 1% is a valuable prognostic biomarker for pulmonary carcinoids based on this large cohort. Our data also provide strong evidence for clinical variables such as age, stage, smoking history, and LN involvement as clinical prognostic factors in pulmonary carcinoids. A prognostic calculator incorporating Ki-67 and clinical variables is under development. [Table: see text]