Citations 90

ACCRU-GI-2008: A phase II randomized study of atezolizumab (Atezo) plus a multi-kinase inhibitor (MKI) versus MKI alone in patients with unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) who previously received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Bev).

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 6, 2022 | Volume: 40 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: TPS4170-TPS4170

10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.tps4170

TPS4170 Background: IMbrave150 is the first study demonstrating the benefit of anti-PDL1 in the frontline treatment of aHCC, and established Atezo/Bev as a new 1st line standard for aHCC. There is currently limited evidence to guide subsequent therapy for aHCC patients progressing on Atezo/Bev. ACCRU-GI-2008 is designed to determine the benefit of continuing Atezo into 2nd line and the safety of Atezo plus a MKI in patients with aHCC who previously received Atezo/Bev. The study is being conducted across 12 centers in the United States (ClincalTrials.gov#: NCT05168163). Methods: This study utilizes a 2:1 randomized phase II design where eligible patients will receive either Atezo/MKI (experimental arm) or MKI alone (control). Patients will be stratified according to the MKI choice (cabozantinib or lenvatinib, per physician’s decision), etiology of HCC (viral vs. non-viral) and alpha-fetoprotein level ( < 400 vs. > = 400 ng/mL). The major eligibility criteria are histological/cytological diagnosis or clinical diagnosis of HCC per the AASLD or WASL 2018 guidelines, has advanced disease not amendable to curative treatment, previously received and progressed on Atezo/Bev, has received only 1 previous line of systemic therapy (2nd line only), ECOG PS 0-1, Child Pugh Class A, adequate organ reserves and RECIST v1.1 measurable disease; previous MKI for advanced disease is excluded. The primary endpoints are overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). A total sample size of 122, with 89 PFS events, we will have 80% power to detect an improvement in median PFS from 4 to 7 months, assuming a one-sided significance level of 0.05. With approximately 84 deaths, we will have 80% power to detect an improvement in median OS from 10 to 18 months, assuming a one-sided significance level of 0.05. The overall one-sided significance level, for the study, is 0.1. An OS interim analysis will be conducted at 89 PFS events. Secondary endpoints include objective response, duration of response, and adverse events. Archival tumor and serial blood samples will be collected to evaluate for potential prediction biomarkers and mechanisms of sensitivity/resistance. Baseline and on-treatment tumor biopsy specimens will also be collected from the initial 10 patients of each arm. The study is approved by the ethics committee and enrollment to the study will be underway by Q2/3 2022. Clinical trial information: NCT05168163.
Responses to immune checkpoint inhibition among MSI-H pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A multi-institutional case series.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 6, 2022 | Volume: 40 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 4145-4145

10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.4145

4145 Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer death. Outcomes remain poor, due to irresectability at diagnosis for many and sub-optimal responses to systemic therapy. Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the standard of care. High microsatellite instability (MSI-H) predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in many cancers. Detecting high MSI is rare in PDAC (incidence <2%), but case reports demonstrate potential therapeutic benefit with ICI. Here, we present multi-institutional data to characterize the clinical behavior of MSI-H PDAC, with special attention to response to ICI. Methods: Cases of MSI-H PDAC were obtained by reviewing data of all PDAC patients from our tertiary cancer center who had undergone genomic sequencing by one commercially available platform. The resulting cohort was supplemented with MSI-H PDAC cases identified by GI oncology specialists at multiple institutions. De-identified patient data were compiled and analyzed. Results: 15 MSI-H PDAC patients were identified. 20% had stage II disease at diagnosis, 27% stage III, and 53% stage IV. 73% of patients received ICI (n=11); 40% as 1st line and 33% as 2nd line. These patients demonstrated 100% overall response rate; 45% complete response (1 pathologic CR, 4 radiographic CR) and 55% partial response. No patient that received ICI had lost response or died after a median follow-up of 18 months (range 6-89 mos). 1 patient had oligoprogression of a single hepatic lesion after 7 mos that was then irradiated; this patient retained radiographic CR for 17 subsequent mos (ongoing). In this cohort, we observe poor responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy. In total, 12 regimens were trialed among 9 patients. Overall response rate was 0%. 42% achieved disease stability, with median duration of response of 2 mos; only 2 cases maintained disease stability for >5 mos. 4 patients did not receive ICI; all patients died, with a median survival of 7.5 mos. Conclusions: MSI-H PDAC represents a rare but important subtype of PDAC with unique clinical behavior. Given its rarity, large-scale analyses and trials are unlikely to be performed, making case series such as ours crucial. In our cohort, we observe impressive, durable responses to ICI, along with very poor responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Our data argues for consideration of ICI in any patient presenting with MSI-H PDAC, including in the first-line and neoadjuvant settings.
KRAS wild-type pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Molecular and therapeutic opportunities.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 6, 2022 | Volume: 40 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 4130-4130

10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.4130

4130 Background: KRAS is mutationally activated in over 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Compared to pts with KRAS mutation, KRAS wild-type (wt) PDAC seem to have better response to therapy and may harbor potentially actionable molecular alterations. Here, we analyze the molecular profile and clinical outcome of a cohort of pts with KRAS wt PDAC. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on pts with PDAC who underwent CLIA-certified Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) testing at Mayo Clinic between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2021. Pts with KRAS wt PDAC with available reports were included. Their genomic drivers, RNA expression, demographics, disease characteristics, therapies offered, and clinical outcome data were collected. The study was approved by the institutional IRB. Results: Of the 241 eligible pts, 8% (19) has KRAS wt PDAC. Among those, 2 pts had no mutation identified by the gene/molecular panel used. Of the 17 pts (89%) with identified alterations, mutations found in ³ 2 pts were TP53 (53%), CDKN2A (16%) and CDKN2B/ERBB2/PTEN/MSH3/RNF43/FBXW7/KMT2D/GNAS (11% each). Chromosomal rearrangements were identified in 5 (26%): CADPS2-BRAF, GP2-ERBB2, PTPRK-RSPO3, EML4-NTRK3 and TFG-MET. RNA expression results were available in 12 pts: common overexpression were ERBB2 (27%) and MET/NRAS/MYC/CCDN1/CCNE1/AR (18% each); and the under-expression MGMT (18%). Among the 13 pts with available MSI status via NGS, 2 (11%) were MSI-high (both had high TMB [28.4 and 23.7 m/MB]) while all others were TMB < 10 m/MB. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years (68% males). 8/19 (42%) were Stage IV at diagnosis with 15/19 (79%) pts ultimately diagnosed with metastatic disease. Among metastatic pts, median lines of treatment received was 2.5 (range:0-4). 4 pts received FOLFIRINOX (FFX), 2 gemcitabine/ nab-paclitaxel (GP) and tumor response were comparable to previously reported results. 1 received 1st-line pembrolizumab and remained on therapy at the time of analysis. The median length of follow up from diagnosis was 29 months. A patient with TFG-MET re-arrangement previously progressed on FFX and GP was treated using a MET inhibitor, and achieved significant CA19-9 drop and pancreas tumor shrinkage at 1st restaging, with ongoing response. Conclusions: The molecular profile of KRAS wt PDAC is highly heterogeneous and difficult to generalize. Novel approaches (e.g., basket trials) are needed to develop therapy for this rare PDAC subgroup.
Phase I study of HFB200301, a first-in-class TNFR2 agonist monoclonal antibody in patients with solid tumors selected via Drug Intelligent Science (DIS).

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 6, 2022 | Volume: 40 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: TPS2670-TPS2670

10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.tps2670

TPS2670 Background: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2) is expressed on effector CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, T regulatory cells, natural killer cells, and myeloid cells. Targeting TNFR2 is anticipated to yield effective anti-tumor immunity by stimulating T-cell and NK-cell activation and proliferation in the tumor microenvironment. HFB200301 is a first-in-class anti-TNFR2 agonistic monoclonal antibody that triggers both innate and adaptive immune stimulation by binding to a specific epitope on TNFR2. HFB200301 has demonstrated dose-dependent anti-tumor activity in human TNFR2 knock-in mice bearing MC38 and Hepa1-6 syngeneic tumors. Methods: HFB200301 is being evaluated in a first-in-human, open-label, multi-center, dose escalation and expansion study in adult patients with advanced solid tumors. A single-cell immune profiling platform, DIS, was deployed to identify unique tumor-infiltrating T cell signatures that could help optimize patient selection for HFB200301 treatment. It is hypothesized that the presence of an effector T cell subpopulation that express both TNFR2 and CD8A in solid tumors may represent a tumor microenvironment favorable to TNFR2 agonism. The following cancer indications have been identified based on the prevalence of a TNFR2 high/CD8 high signature: Epstein-Barr Virus positive (EBV+) gastric cancer, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), cutaneous melanoma, testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT), soft tissue sarcoma (STS), and PD-L1+ cancers: cervical cancer, pleural mesothelioma, lung adenocarcinoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The escalation portion of the study explores increasing doses in cohorts of up to six patients, utilizing mTPI-2 design to determine recommended dose(s) for expansion (RDE(s)). Based on pharmacokinetic modeling to maximize HFB200301 activity, 60-minute intravenous infusions of HFB200301 are administered every 4 weeks. Once RDE(s) is determined, expansion into three indication-specific cohorts is planned to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Key eligibility criteria include histologically documented advanced or metastatic solid tumors in the above listed indications. Patient enrollment opened in February 2022 in the USA, with plans for additional clinical sites in Spain and China. The primary objective is to identify the RDE, characterize safety and tolerability of HFB200301, and determine RP2D. Secondary objectives include pharmacokinetic parameters, preliminary evidence of anti-tumor efficacy (e.g., ORR, DCR, DOR) and pharmacodynamic evaluation (e.g., T cell subsets) in the blood and in the tumor. Furthermore, a potential predictive biomarker signature derived based on the DIS single-cell immune profiling approach will be investigated retrospectively. Clinical trial information: NCT05238883.
Cell-Free Tumor DNA Dominant Clone Allele Frequency Is Associated With Poor Outcomes in Advanced Biliary Cancers Treated With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

JCO Precision Oncology | June 6, 2022 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: 6 | Pages: No page available

10.1200/po.21.00274 | PMID 35666960

PURPOSE This investigation sought to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in metastatic biliary tract cancers (BTCs) treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of 67 patients who underwent ctDNA testing before platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment for metastatic BTC. For analysis, we considered the detected gene with highest variant allele frequency as the dominant clone allele frequency (DCAF). Results of ctDNA analysis were correlated with patients' demographics, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS The median age of patients was 67 (27-90) years. Fifty-four (80.6%) of 67 patients evaluated had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; seven had extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and six gallbladder cancers. Forty-six (68.6%) of the patients were treated with cisplatin plus gemcitabine, and 16.4% of patients received gemcitabine and other platinum (carboplatin or oxaliplatin) combinations, whereas 15% of patients were treated on a clinical trial with gemcitabine and cisplatin plus additional agents (CX4945, PEGPH20, or nab-paclitaxel). TP53, KRAS, FGFR2, ARID1A, STK11, and IDH1 were the genes with highest frequency as DCAF. The median DCAF was 3% (0%-97%). DCAF > 3% was associated with worse OS (median OS: 10.8 v 18.8 months, P = .032). Stratifying DCAF in quartiles, DCAF > 10% was significantly related to worse PFS (median PFS: 3 months, P = .014) and worse OS (median OS: 7.0 months, P = .001). Each 1% increase in ctDNA was associated with a hazard ratio of 13.1 in OS when adjusting for subtypes, metastatic sites, size of largest tumor, age, sex, and CA19-9. CONCLUSION DCAF at diagnosis of advanced BTC can stratify patients who have worse outcomes when treated with upfront platinum-based chemotherapy. Each increase in %ctDNA decreases survival probabilities.
Pembrolizumab Achieves a Complete Response in an NF-1 Mutated, PD-L1 Positive Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Benchmarks

Journal of Immunotherapy | January 12, 2022 | Volume: 45 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 222-226

10.1097/cji.0000000000000410 | PMID 35020691

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) represent a rare subtype of neural crest cell-derived soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Standard of care therapy comprises surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation, and most clinical studies have demonstrated finite survival benefit of radiation and chemotherapy. In metastatic disease, palliative chemotherapy provides very limited efficacy. We report a 60-year-old male patient with a primary para vertebral tumor at T7–T8 with lung metastases who recurred after surgical resection and later progressed on epirubicin plus ifosfamide. He was an international patient and referred to the phase 1 clinic. Molecular profiling and immunohistochemistry of the tumor revealed a PD-L1 expression of 70% (2+) and pathogenic genetic alterations by next-generation sequencing in ARID1A, CDKN2A, KMT2A, NF1, and TP53. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) with pembrolizumab was commenced, and interval computed tomography revealed a complete remission by cycle 6. Randomized clinical trials illustrate that ICTs such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibodies in STS cohorts display low or modest response rates by variable PD-L1 expression. This and 3 other case reports of disparate PD-L1 expression demonstrate complete responses in PD-L1 positive MPNSTs treated with ICT. These case reports necessitate further study of ICT in neural crest cell subtype of STS.
Tilsotolimod: an investigational synthetic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist for the treatment of refractory solid tumors and melanoma

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs | December 16, 2021 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 1-13

10.1080/13543784.2022.2019706 | PMID 34913781

342 Combining enadenotucirev and nivolumab increased tumour immune cell infiltration/activation in patients with microsatellite-stable/instability-low metastatic colorectal cancer in a phase 1 study

Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts | November 9, 2021 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: A368-A369

10.1136/jitc-2021-sitc2021.342

Novel biomarkers for cholangiocarcinoma: how can it enhance diagnosis, prognostication, and investigational drugs? Part-1

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs | September 28, 2021 | Volume: 30 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 1047-1056

10.1080/13543784.2021.1985461 | PMID 34579607

A Pilot Study of Ponatinib in Patients With FGFR-Altered Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma

No container title available | July 29, 2021 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.21203/rs.3.rs-741191/v1

Abstract Background:Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are rare, chemo resistant and are associated with a poor prognosis. Preclinical and early clinical work had demonstrated interesting anti-tumor activity from targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway. We hypothesized that ponatinib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against FGFR, would be active in BTC patients with FGFR alterations.Methods:This was a multi-center, single institution pilot study of ponatinib in patients with advanced, refractory BTC with FGFR alterations. The primary end point was overall response rate, with secondary points of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) assessment. Results:Twelve patients were enrolled prior to early termination of the trial. Clinical benefit (defined as complete/partial response + stable disease) of 45.5% was observed. All observed toxicities were manageable and reversible. Toxicities were mild, with lymphopenia (75%), rash (63%) and fatigue (50%) being the most frequent. No significant detriment in global QoL was observed.Conclusions:Ponatinib as a single agent in FGFR altered BTC is tolerable with very modest clinical activity. This is the first report of prospective assessment of FGFR inhibition in BTC using ponatinib, and the first study to report its effect on HRQoL. Further development of ponatinib will involve correlative studies to better refine patient selection, focus on combinations with other molecular targeted agents, conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, and studies to better understand mechanisms of treatment resistance.