Citations 336

Clinical outcome associated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and orthotopic liver transplantation versus definitive chemoradiation in 49 patients with unresectable, hilar, or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 4, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 4_suppl | Pages: 494-494

10.1200/jco.2020.38.4_suppl.494

494 Background: Our aim was to compare survival between patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT group) versus definitive chemoradiation (CRT group) for extrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: 49 patients (20 in OLT group vs. 29 in CRT group) with unresectable hilar/extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were treated at Mayo Clinic Arizona between Feb. 1998–Sep. 2019. Treatment included external beam radiation therapy (median 4500cGy) and boost (median 900cGy) with either continuous 5-flurouracil (dose range 180–225 mg/m2) or capecitabine (dose range 825–1000 mg/m2 BID) prior to or without OLT. Radiation boosts were delivered with EBRT or bile duct brachytherapy. Patients were between 27.9–84.3 years (median 64.3) at diagnosis. 18 patients had previous diagnosis of PSC. Results: Between Feb. 1998–Sep. 2019, 31(63%) of 49 patients died by the end of follow-up. Of patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy and OLT, 7(35%) of 20 patients died. 24(86%) of 28 patients treated with definitive therapy died. The OLT cohort were younger (mean age 56.5 vs. 69.0 years), more likely to have PSC and UC (65% vs. 17%), and had a lower CA 19-9 (median 43 vs. 535)(P < 0.003). From the end date of radiation, median overall survival was 76.8 months vs. 15.6 months for the OLT and CRT groups, respectively. Survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 78% and 69% in the OLT group compared to 19% and 6% in the CRT group (HR 7.73; 3.04-19.65:(P < 0.0001)). Progression-free survival (89% vs. 30% at 3 years), and distant metastasis-free survival (88% vs. 66% at 3 years) favored OLT versus CRT alone (HR 5.74;1.12-29.34:(P < 0.02)). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the method of treatment (OLT vs. CRT) was the only variable associated with better clinical outcomes. Conclusions: In patients with unresectable extrahepatic/hilar cholangiocarcinoma, survival was higher in those who underwent chemoradiation and OLT. Patients who received definitive chemoradiation in the absence of OLT were expected to have worse overall, progression-free, and metastasis-free survival.
Continuous fluropyrimidine (FP) with platinum (P) based chemotherapy (CT) versus maintenance FP after induction therapy in advanced gastric (G) and gastroesophageal (GE) cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 4, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 4_suppl | Pages: 375-375

10.1200/jco.2020.38.4_suppl.375

375 Background: Combination FP with P CT have become the standard of care for advanced G/GEJ cancer. Clinical trials in conjunction with practice, have adopted induction FP and P CT for 3-4 months (mos). In other GI malignancies, induction CT followed by maintenance CT (MTC) has been shown to improve patient (pt) outcomes compared to observation, with a decrease in treatment (trmt) related toxicities with induction therapy. However a maintenance approach in G/GEJ cancer has not been investigated in clinical trials. We investigated pt outcomes with metastatic G/GEJ cancer who received continuous induction (CTX) versus induction followed by MTC. Methods: A retrospective analysis of pts with metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with (FP+ P)-based CT between 2007 to 2017 from three centers of a single institution was performed. Metastatic G/GEJ cancer pts who achieved at least stable disease after initial induction trmt were included. Pts were categorized into the CTX group if they received greater than 16 weeks or 8 cycles of combined CT and assigned to the MTC group if they received maintenance FP monotherapy after 8 or less cycles of combined induction CT. Data was extracted from the medical record to determine progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities. Results: Sixty-four pts that met criteria and were evaluated, thirty-four received CTX and thirty received MTC. No significant difference in PFS (12.1 vs 8.0 mos p = .72, HR=1.10 95%CI .66-1.83) was observed between the CTX and MTC groups, additionally there was no significant difference in OS. A significant decrease in trmt related toxicities were observed, with a higher proportion of thrombocytopenia (84.8% vs 50.0% p = .004), and grade 3 neuropathy (39.4% vs 13.8% p =.024) in CTX pts (Table). Conclusions: MTC following induction FP/P CT is associated with an improved toxicity profile and appears to be effective compared to CTX in metastatic G/GEJ cancer. Prospective randomized studies confirming its potential benefits compared with continuous induction CT are warranted. [Table: see text]
Advances in the treatment of biliary tract cancers

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology | January 19, 2020 | Volume: 36 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 85-89

10.1097/mog.0000000000000606 | PMID 31972599

Purpose of review To review new treatment and advances in biliary tract cancer (BTC). Recent findings In the prespecified per-protocol analysis of the randomized phase III trial BILCAP, adjuvant capecitabine offers overall survival (OS) benefit when compared with observation with statistical significance. In the first-line setting in metastatic BTC, gemcitabine and S-1 had noninferior OS compared with gemcitabine and cisplatin. In a separate phase III study, the triplet of gemcitabine, cisplatin and S-1 (GCS) had superior OS compared with standard gemcitabine and cisplatin. The regimen of modified FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) regimen can be considered a potential standard option in the second-line setting for patients who failed first-line therapy with gemcitabine-based regimens. Trials in genomically selected patients indicate activity of fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors, mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Summary Capecitabine is a new option for adjuvant treatment in resected BTC. In the metastatic setting, gemcitabine and S-1 or GCS are new options for first-line therapy and modified FOLFOX regimen should be considered as a potential new empirical standard of care in genomically agnostic patients requiring second-line therapy. Future randomized trials will evaluate the role of targeted agents and immunotherapy in advanced BTC, both in monotherapy and in combination.
The Role of Maintenance Strategies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

JAMA Oncology | December 19, 2019 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 3 | Pages: e194489

10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.4489 | PMID 31855256

Phase II Trial of Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Patients with Advanced, Refractory Biliary Tract Carcinoma

The Oncologist | December 11, 2019 | Volume: 25 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 380-e763

10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0874 | PMID 31826977

AbstractTrial InformationClick here to access other published clinical trials.Lessons LearnedTrifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) shows promising antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma, including patients with 5-fluorouracil refractory tumors. FTD/TPI has an acceptable safety profile and should be studied further in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma after progression on standard first-line therapy.BackgroundPatients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) refractory to first-line therapy lack an established second-line option. Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) has activity in both fluoropyrimidine-sensitive and -resistant tumors, which led us to conduct a single arm phase II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FTD/TPI for patients previously treated for advanced BTC.MethodsPatients with advanced BTC previously treated with at least one line of chemotherapy were enrolled and treated with FTD/TPI until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint target was to have at least 6 patients who were progression free and alive at 16 weeks among 25 evaluable patients. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity.ResultsOf 27 evaluable patients, 59.3% received at least three prior lines of therapy, and 81.5% had previous exposure to fluoropyrimidine. Eight (32%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.9%–53.5%) patients were progression free at 16 weeks in the primary analysis population (n = 25), which met the predefined efficacy criteria. Median PFS and OS were 3.8 (95% CI, 2–5.8 months) and 6.1 (95% CI, 4.4–11.4 months) months, respectively. No objective responses were seen. There were no unexpected safety signals noted.ConclusionFTD/TPI demonstrated promising antitumor activity, with acceptable toxicity, in heavily pretreated patients with advanced BTC.
2-O, 3-O Desulfated Heparin (ODSH) May Mitigate Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia in Patients Treated with Combination Gemcitabine (G)/Nab-Paclitaxel (A), a Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy Regimen

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 4723-4723

10.1182/blood.v120.21.4723.4723

Abstract Abstract 4723 Introduction: Combination G/A has been shown to be apromising investigational therapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. A randomized phase II trial was initiated to determine if ODSH, a low anticoagulant heparin derivative that blocks several pancreatic cancer cell survival pathways, would enhance the efficacy of G/A. Preliminary data from the first 10 patients administered ODSH demonstrated an unexpected and profound preservation of peripheral blood counts, despite the highly myelosuppressive G/A regimen they also received. Methods: Patients with previously untreated, metastatic pancreatic cancer were treated with G (1000 mg/m2) and A (125 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days until either disease progression or unacceptable toxicities ensued. ODSH (4 mg/kg bolus followed by a 48 hr. continuous IV infusion at a dose of 0.375 mg/kg/hr for 48 hrs) was administered with each treatment. The first 10 patients received A/G plusODSH with plans for a randomized comparison between A/G with and without ODSH involving 50 patients. Patients were required to have ECOG 0–1 as well as adequate hematological and bilirubin level <1.5 ULN. G-CSF administration was permitted per investigator discretion. Here we present hematological data on the 10 patients treated with A/G plus ODSH. Results: 10 patients were administered up to 5 cycles of G/A plus ODSH. The patients had a median age of 66 years (range, 59 to 75 years) and 50% were male. The median platelet and neutrophil counts prior to each cycle are listed in Table 1. No patients had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia during any of the cycles. Forty percent of patients had grade 3 neutropenia, but none had grade 4 during any of the cycles. Only 1 patient received 1 dose of G-CSF after day 15 in cycle #1. Conclusions: A previous trial of G/A in patients with previously untreated, metastatic pancreatic cancer reported grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in 28% (19% grade 3 and 9% grade 4) and 75% (26% grade 3 and 49% grade 4) of patients, respectively (Von Hoff, J Clin Oncol, 2011). With the addition of ODSH to an equivalent chemotherapy regimen in a similar patient cohort, the current trial reported grade 3 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in 0% and 40% of patients, respectively, with no patients having grade 4 thrombocytopenia or neutropenia. With successive cycles, median platelet counts were stable to improved and a trend existed for reduced neutropenia with ODSH treatment. An explanation for the apparent salutary effects of ODSH on marrow function may involve its interaction with platelet factor 4 (PF4). PF4 is released from the alpha-granules of injured megakaryocytes after chemotherapy delivery. Increased PF4 levels promote thrombocytopenia by inhibiting thrombopoietin production and megakaryopoiesis (Lambert, Blood, 2007; Lambert, Int J Radiation Oncology Biol Phys, 2011). The high molecular weight and strong negative charge of ODSH may result in avid binding to platelet factor 4 (PF4), possibly leading to decreased PF4 levels and more rapid post-chemotherapy platelet recovery (Joglekar, Thromb Haemost, 2012). PF4 may also facilitate neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells, and reduced PF4 levels from ODSH binding may demarginate and preserve neutrophil values (Kasper, Blood, 2006). Further study of ODSH as a marrow protective agent in myelosuppressivechemotherapy regimens is warranted. Disclosures: Off Label Use: The use of nab-paclitaxel and ODSH in pancreatic cancer. Marcus:Paringenix: Employment, Equity Ownership. Quintana Diez:Paringenix, Inc.: Employment.
Abstract 5049: Associations of aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, statins, and metformin with risk of biliary tract cancer: A Swedish population-based cohort study

Cancer Research | August 7, 2019 | Volume: 79 | Issue: 13_Supplement | Pages: 5049-5049

10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-5049

Abstract Objectives: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) comprise the second most common type of hepatobiliary cancer. Given the increase in global BTC incidence, with associated morbidity and mortality, together with the limited therapeutic options, there is increasing interest in strategies for disease prevention. We performed a population-based cohort study to determine the association between low dose aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, statins, metformin, other risk factors and the risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC), while assessing confounding by sex. Methods: We conducted a nationwide Swedish population-based cohort study using the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry, which virtually completely enumerates use of prescribed medications nationwide since 2005. BTC diagnosis (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [iCCA], extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [eCCA] or gallbladder cancer [GBC]) was ascertained from the Swedish Cancer Registry. Age-scaled Cox models, with exposure as time-varying covariates, were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), separately for men and women. Results: In the 5.7 million person cohort, the risk of iCCA was significantly lower in men using statins (HR 0.62,95%CI 0.39-1.00,p=0.05), with a non-significant reduction in women. Statin use was associated with a significantly decreased risk of eCCA in both women (HR 0.60,0.38-0.94,p=0.03) and men (HR 0.47,0.28-0.80,p=0.01). Low dose aspirin (HR 0.76,0.60-0.97,p=0.03) was associated with a lower risk of GBC only in women, while statins (HR 0.72,0.55-0.93,p=0.01) showed a significantly decreased risk of GBC in women and a non-significant reduction in men. For all BTC subtypes, combined use of low dose aspirin and statins did not confer additional risk reductions beyond those achieved by statins alone. Male and female users of non-aspirin NSAIDs appeared to be at increased risk of BTC and its subtypes. Metformin did not significantly affect risk of BTC. Conclusion: We performed the largest population-based cohort study evaluating risk and protective factors for BTC. Our results provide strong evidence in favor of the chemopreventive roles of low dose aspirin and statins in a subtype-and sex-specific manner. Individual risk factors contribute to development of BTC subtypes in different magnitudes. If randomized controlled clinical trials validate our findings and provide favorable evidence of the efficacy and safety of these drugs in the prevention of BTCs, our results could potentially be practice-changing, leading to improvements in the outcomes in this population. Citation Format: Lorena Marcano-Bonilla, Cathy D. Schleck, W. Scott Harmsen, Omid Sadr-Azodi, Mitesh J. Borad, Tushar Patel, Gloria M. Petersen, Terry M. Therneau, Lewis R. Roberts, Nele Brusselaers. Associations of aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, statins, and metformin with risk of biliary tract cancer: A Swedish population-based cohort study [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 5049.
Abstract 4417: Synergy of cyclin dependentkinase 4/6 inhibitors with cytotoxic chemotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma

Cancer Research | August 7, 2019 | Volume: 79 | Issue: 13_Supplement | Pages: 4417-4417

10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-4417

Abstract Purpose: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly lethal malignancy that often presents at advanced stages. Gemcitabine/cisplatin (GP) represents the standard-of-care but provides only a modest response rate and survival benefit. Loss of the CDK4/6 inhibitor CDKN2A is a prevalent genetic event in CCA, thus CDK4/6 inhibitors, FDA-approved in some breast cancer regimens, are hypothesized to have a role in treating CCA. Clinical challenges to target cell cycle dysregulation and exploit cytotoxic chemotherapy include predictive biomarkers for selecting patients most likely to respond. We hypothesized autophagy is involved in therapeutic resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors, and plays a role in the activity of GP in CCA. Thus, we investigated CDK4/6 inhibitors as monotherapy, and combined with GP in CCA, measuring multiple readouts pertaining to drug synergy, putative pathway biomarkers and autophagy. Methods: The activity of 3 FDA approved CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib, as monotherapy (N=24), and combined with GP (N=10), was assessed in CCA cell lines by measuring relative cell number with Cell TiterGlo, and apoptosis with Annexin/PI and cleaved caspase3 quantification via flow cytometry. To characterize RB status for biomarker potential, protein levels of CCND1, CDK4, CDK6, RB, and CDKN2A were measured by western blot. Autophagy was measured using an autophagy flux assay, LysoTracker confocal staining, and by quantifying protein levels of LC3B, p62 and Beclin1A. Results: 22/24 (92%) of CCA cell lines were found to have at least one defect likely relevant to CDK4/6 inhibition: CDKN2A (92%), Rb1 (63%), CDK4 (23%) and cyclin D1 (32%). Protein levels of CDKN2A and RB1 showed moderate correlation with CDK4/6 inhibitor activity. Abemaciclib was the most potent CDK inhibitor in vitro (IC50≤0.5uM; palbociclib IC50&gt;1uM; ribociclib IC50&gt;5uM). Combined abemaciclib and GP showed higher cytotoxicity and synergy at lower doses compared to chemotherapy alone or single-agent abemaciclib. Compared to CDK4/6 inhibitors or chemotherapy alone, combination therapy enhanced growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. Abemaciclib triggered autophagy mediated by significant increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Combination therapy reduced ROS production and thus autophagy, as seen by reduced autophagic flux, reduced LysoTracker mean fluorescence intensity, a decrease in the expression of LC3B-II, Beclin1A and an increase in p62. Conclusion: These results suggest CDK4/6 inhibitors interact synergistically with GP in CCA and mechanistically disrupt autophagy. This suggests potential to further explore CDKN2A and RB as biomarkers for preclinical sensitivity in CCA. Pre-clinical data supports ongoing clinical studies of this concept, as well as planned clinical studies of GP and alternative CDK4/6 inhibitors. Citation Format: Mansi Arora, James Bogenberger, Nagalo Bolni, Yumei Zhou, Latha Kannan, Jan Egan, Raquel Yokoda, Daniel H. Ahn, Mitesh J. Borad. Synergy of cyclin dependentkinase 4/6 inhibitors with cytotoxic chemotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma [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 4417.
Profiling of 3,634 cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) to identify genomic alterations (GA), tumor mutational burden (TMB), and genomic loss of heterozygosity (gLOH).

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 27, 2019 | Volume: 37 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 4087-4087

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.4087

4087 Background: The management of CCA has evolved as targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) therapies have emerged. We used comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to characterize the genomic alterations (GA) that have potential to personalize therapy for CCA. Methods: 3634 CCA underwent hybrid capture based CGP on 0.8-1.1 Mb of the coding genome to identify GAs in exons and select introns in up to 404 genes, TMB, microsatellite status (MSI) and % monoallelic genome (gLOH). PD-L1 expression was determined by IHC (Dako 22C3). Results: 52% of CCA were female with a median age of 62 years (range 16 - > 89). The most common biopsy sites were liver (74%), lymph node (4%), bile duct (3.3%), and lung (2%). MSI-high was rare (1%), 118 and 47 cases had TMB > 10 and > 20 mut/mb respectively. Of the latter, 51% (24/47) were MSI-H. PD-L1 amplification (AMP) was present in 0.27%. Of 490 CCA tested, 43 (9%) were positive for PD-L1 expression. 11% of cases had gLOH > 16%, only 2 cases had both TMB > 20 and gLOH > 16%. GA were most common in TP53 (31%), CDKN2A (29%), KRAS (20%) and ARID1A (17%). Potentially targetable GAs included FGFR2 (11%, 85% fusions), BRAF (5%, 50% V600E), ERBB2 (5%, 72% AMP), MET (2%, 90% AMP), EGFR (0.52%) and rarer ( < 0.5%) FGFR3, RET, FGFR1, ALK, and ROS1 fusions. The FGFR2 fusions had 128 unique 3’ partner genes including BICC1 (26%), CCDC6 (3.2%), AHCYL1 (2.6%) and KIAA1217 (2.6%). FGFR2 fusions occurred in a mutually exclusive fashion from high gLOH (p < 0.002), but not high TMB. GA in IDH1 (15%) were mutually exclusive of FGFR2 fusions (p < 1e-13), but co-occurred with PBRM1 GA (23%, p < 1e-21), ARID1A (26% p < 1e-10). IDH1 GA had gLOH similar to the overall CCA population but were enriched for low TMB (p < 1e-3). Conclusions: Nearly 20% of CCA cases harbor targetable kinase GA, half of which were FGFR2 fusions. Independently, an additional 10% (gLOH) and 1% (high TMB, MSI and/or PD-L1 AMP) may benefit from PARP inhibitors and ICPI respectively. Independently, co-mutation of IDH1 and PBRM1/ARID1A defines a class of CCA that warrants further investigation for sensitivity to PARP inhibitors and may serve as a paradigm for other tumors (ie. gliomas) with a similar co-occurrence landscape.
Analysis of age, tumor-sidedness, and mismatch repair (MMR) genes with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in MMR-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (pts): A multi-institutional study.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 27, 2019 | Volume: 37 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: e15029-e15029

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.e15029

e15029 Background: ICIs induce durable responses in dMMR CRC pts with overall response rates (ORR) of 30-50%. Even though the loss of expression of any MMR gene predicts ICIs response, it is unknown if ORRs are similar across all MMR genes (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6). In this study, we analyzed the impact of each specific MMR gene loss and clinical characteristics of pts with best response to ICIs. Methods: Pts were eligible if they had confirmed dMMR CRC by IHC or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) by PCR, and received ICIs between 01/01/2012 and 10/01/2018 at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Mayo Clinic or Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Due to the pattern of frequent concurrent loss and functional dependency, the groups were categorized as MLH1 ±PMS2 vs. MSH2 ±MSH6. Cox proportional hazard model and Fisher’s exact test were used for the best response and the distribution of variable among the subgroups. Results: A total of 45 pts with dMMR CRC were identified. ORRs in MLH1 ±PMS2 and MSH2 ±MSH6 groups were 68% and 57.1% respectively without statistical difference (Table). Pts with age < 50 and 50-65 years old had better ORRs compared to pts with age >65 (58.3%, 85.7% and 42.1% respectively, P=0.036). Left-sided tumors had a trend toward higher ORRs compared to right-sided tumors (83.3% vs 51.5% P=0.086). Gender and BRAF status were not predictors of response. BRAF mutations were more common in right-sided tumors (29.6% vs 11.1% respectively) and in older patients. Conclusions: Our data suggest that MSI-H CRC pts aged 50-65 treated with ICIs, have improved ORR compared to pts > 65; pts with left-sided tumors have a trend toward improved ORR compared to those with right sided tumors. [Table: see text]