Ahn, Daniel H.

4070 Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options. Genomic analyses have led to the elucidation of numerous dysregulated genes in esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and the potential for advancement of targeted therapies in this disease. Data regarding circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) plasma analysis in EC in real-world clinical practice is limited. Methods: We performed ctDNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis in patients (pts) with EC (January 2015- February 2018). ctDNA analysis was performed using Guardant 360 (Guardant Health, CA) which detects single nucleotide variants and insertion/deletion mutations, and specific amplifications and fusions, in up to 73 different genes. The mutant allele fraction (MAF) for detected alterations was calculated relative to wild type in ctDNA. Therapeutic relevance was defined as alterations within OncoKB levels 1-3B and R1. Results: Among 450 pts, 487 total samples were analyzed (77% AC, 31% SCC). ctDNA NGS revealed at least one genomic alteration (excluding variants of uncertain significance and synonymous mutations) in 81% of pts (90% AC, 88% SCC). Median number of alterations per AC patient was 4 [range, 1-59] and a median MAF of 0.84% (range, 0.02% - 83.7%); SCC was 5 [range, 1-26], with a median MAF of 0.99% (range, 0.01% - 85.2%). The total number of unique alterations was 1,162. The most commonly altered genes in AC: TP53 (70%), KRAS (20%), ERBB2 (18%), EGFR (16%), PIK3CA (16%); in SCC: TP53 (88%), PIK3CA (24%), CCND1 (23%), KRAS (21%), EGFR 15%). Therapeutically relevant alterations will be described. Conclusions: ctDNA plasma profiling of pts with EC is a feasible alternative and non-invasive method to gather comprehensive genomic data. Further large comparison studies to assess landscape of genomic alterations observed through ctDNA versus tissue-based assays, in addition to studies of targeted therapy outcomes based on ctDNA-detected alterations, are needed.

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]

3524 Background: In mCRC, induction combination chemotherapy with targeted agents is considered the mainstay of treatment. This is typically followed by maintenance therapy vs. observation which had been examined in various trials. However, it remains unclear how best optimize maintenance strategy. We aim to evaluate comparative effectiveness to support best maintenance strategy. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating different maintenance strategies in previously untreated mCRC patients (pts): observation (obs), bevacizumab (bev), fluoropyrimidine (FP), FP+bev, or continuing induction regimen (CTX). Outcomes of interest included OS and PFS. The overall effect was pooled using the DerSimonian random effects model. We conducted network meta-analysis based on White’s multivariate meta-regression to pool evidence from direct and indirect comparisons. Agents were ranked using surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) probabilities. Higher SUCRA scores correspond to greater efficacy. Results: Twelve trials at low risk of bias (5540 pts) were included. Network meta-analysis shows no benefit of CTX over obs in terms of PFS (HR 0.7; 95% CI 0.46-1.09) and OS (HR 0.95; 95% CI 0.85-1.07). Compared to obs, maintenance therapy shows PFS benefit (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.43-0.77) with only a trend in OS (HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.83-1.009). All maintenance strategies (FP, FP+bev, and bev) show significant improvement in PFS over obs. On SUCRA analysis, maintenance treatment (FP or FP+bev) has the highest likelihood of achieving better PFS (67.1% for FP and 99.8% for FP+bev) and OS (81.3% for FP and 73.2% for FP+bev). Conclusions: A maintenance strategy with at least a FP with or without the addition of bevacizumab is preferred. However, given the lack of a clear OS benefit, obs is an acceptable alternative. Optimal maintenance strategies should be dependent on factors including patient preferences, cost and toxicities. [Table: see text]

PURPOSE Recent advances in molecular diagnostic technologies have allowed for the evaluation of solid tumor malignancies via noninvasive blood sampling, including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling. We sought to characterize the ctDNA genomic alteration landscape in patients with biliary tract cancers (BTCs). PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2015 to February 2018, 124 patients with BTC at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center underwent ctDNA testing using a clinically available assay. The majority of samples (n = 122) were tested using the 73-gene panel that includes somatic genomic targets, including complete or critical exon coverage in 30 and 40 genes, respectively, and in some, amplifications, fusions, and indels. RESULTS A total of 138 samples were included, with approximately 70% of patients having intrahepatic BTC. All patients had locally advanced or metastatic BTC. Samples with one or more alterations, when variants of unknown significance were excluded, numbered 105 (76%). Each sample contained, on average, three alterations with a median allelic fraction of 0.52%. The overall landscape of alterations is summarized in Figures 1 and 2. After excluding variants of unknown significance, therapeutically relevant alterations were observed in 76 patients (55%), including BRAF mutations, ERBB2 amplifications, FGFR2 fusions, FGFR2 mutations, and IDH1 mutations seen in 21% of patients. A different spectrum of alterations was observed in patients with early-onset BTC (younger than age 50 years) compared with older patients (older than age 50 years). CONCLUSION Data on ctDNA in BTC is currently limited. Our study, the largest cohort reported to date to our knowledge, demonstrates the feasibility of ctDNA testing in this disease. We provide a foundation upon which the field can continue to grow.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be a distinct population of cells within a tumor mass that are capable of asymmetric division and known to have chemoresistant characteristics. The description and identification of CSC models in cancer growth and recurrence has inspired the design of novel treatment strategies to overcome treatment resistance by targeting both CSCs and non-CSC tumor cells. Several cellular signaling pathways have been described as playing a role in the induction and maintenance of stemness in CSCs, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, STAT3, and Hedgehog pathways. In this review, we aim to review some of the ongoing CSC therapeutic targeting strategies in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Abstract Purpose: This first-in-human phase I study (NCT 01417546) evaluated the safety profile, optimal immunologic/biological dose (OID/OBD), and immunogenicity of the combination of two peptide B-cell epitope vaccines engineered to represent the trastuzumab- and pertuzumab-binding sites. Although trastuzumab and pertuzumab have been approved for clinical use, patients often develop resistance to these therapies. We have advanced a new paradigm in immunotherapy that focuses on humoral responses based on conformational B-cell epitope vaccines. Patients and Methods: The vaccine is comprised of two chimeric HER-2 B-cell peptide vaccines incorporating a “promiscuous T-cell epitope.” Patients were immunized with the vaccine constructs emulsified with nor-muramyl-dipeptide adjuvant in a water-in-oil Montanide ISA 720VG vehicle. Eligible patients with metastatic and/or recurrent solid tumors received three inoculations every 3 weeks. Results: Forty-nine patients with a median of 4 prior lines of chemotherapy received at least 1 vaccination. Twenty-eight patients completed the 3 vaccination regimens. Six patients received 1 six-month boost after the regimen, and one patient received 7 six-month boosts. No serious adverse reactions or dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The vaccine was well tolerated with dose level 2 as the recommended phase II dose. The most common related toxicity in all patients was injection-site reactions (24%). Two patients had a partial response, 14 had stable disease, and 19 had progressive disease. Conclusions: The study vaccine is safe, exhibits antitumor activity, and shows preliminary indication that peptide vaccination may avoid therapeutic resistance and offer a promising alternative to monoclonal antibody therapies.