Citations

98 Background: Concomitant with widespread adoption of axillary ultrasound (AUS) with ultrasound-guided needle biopsy (USNB) of suspicious lymph nodes (LN) for preoperative nodal staging of breast cancer patients, utilization of breast MRI, which includes axillary imaging, has increased. Little is known about the added value of MRI imaging of the axilla in this context. We undertook this study to assess the role of breast MRI in preoperative axillary nodal staging. Methods: We studied 988 consecutive invasive breast cancers in patients undergoing primary operation including axillary surgery, without neoadjuvant therapy, from 2010-2011. Results: 505 patients (51%) underwent MRI of which 168 (33%) demonstrated suspicious findings in the axilla. Abnormal axillary MRI findings included cortical thickening, edema, enhancement, hilar effacement, and/or altered shape and size. 114 patients had findings concordant with AUS. 54 patients had suspicious LNs on MRI either without a preceding AUS (33 cases) or after an initially negative AUS (21 cases). Second look AUS was performed in 29 of these cases and was abnormal in 3 (10%) in whom USNB confirmed metastatic adenopathy. Of the 54 cases with MRI-detected suspicious LNs 20 (37%) were node positive at operation with a pN stage of N0 (63%), N0i+ (5%), N1mic (4%), N1 (20%), N2 (6%), N3 (2%); extranodal extension was seen in 7 of 20 node-positive patients (35%). Conclusions: Second look AUS, when performed secondary to suspicious axillary MRI findings, identified LN metastasis preoperatively in 10% of patients. When MRI is done to evaluate the breast in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, axillary findings can enhance the accuracy of preoperative nodal staging. We recommend second look AUS when MRI demonstrates suspicious axillary LN findings. [Table: see text]

49 Background: Predicting nodal positivity can guide surgical planning in breast cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) have established nomograms to predict sentinel node positivity. We propose that addition of distance of tumor from the nipple (DFN) can improve their performance. Methods: With IRB approval clinical T1/T2 tumors with pre-biopsy ultrasound were reviewed. MSKCC and MDACC nomogram predictions and the AUC-ROC were calculated. The addition of DFN was examined using multiple logistic regression and comparison of AUC-ROC values. Results: 401 breast cancers with clinical T1 (85%) or T2 (15%) tumors in 395 patients were included; of which 79/401 (19.7%) were node positive. Tumors were significantly closer to the nipple in those with positive nodes. 17/33 (51.5%) tumors within 2 cm of the nipple were node-positive versus 62/368 (16.8%) tumors > 2 cm from the nipple (p<0.0001). The MSKCC and MDACC nomograms each demonstrated good discrimination between node positive and negative patients with AUC-ROC values of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.64-0.77) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.68-0.81), respectively. When added to the MSKCC nomogram, DFN ≤2 cm contributed significantly (OR 4.78, p=0.0001) to prediction of node positivity and improved the AUC-ROC to 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67-0.80). Similarly, DFN ≤2 cm was significant (OR 4.73, p=0.0002) when added to the MDACC nomogram and improved the AUC to 0.76 (95% CI: 0.70-0.82). Within nomogram probability categories, the proportion with positive nodes was consistently higher with DFN ≤2 cm. Conclusions: Tumor distance from nipple is associated with nodal positivity. When added to nomograms it improves prediction of node positivity. DFN should be considered when considering likelihood of nodal positivity for treatment planning. [Table: see text]

166 Background: T-DM1 is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of trastuzumab, a stable linker, and the cytotoxic agent DM1. Few T-DM1 data are available in settings approximating clinical practice. We present safety and efficacy data from T-PAS, an expanded access study of T-DM1 in patients (pts) with previously treated HER2-positive MBC. Methods: T-PAS is a US multicenter study of T-DM1 (3.6 mg/kg q3w) in HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or FISH/CISH+) locally advanced or MBC. Key eligibility criteria: prior anthracycline and taxane; prior capecitabine or 5-FU and ≥2 HER2-directed agents (including trastuzumab and lapatinib) for MBC; LVEF ≥50%. Primary endpoint: safety; secondary endpoint: investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) in pts with measurable disease. Safety was assessed on day 1 of each cycle; ECHO/MUGA scans were every 12 weeks. Results: This analysis includes 215 pts enrolled in May 2010–Sep 2011 (data cutoff 7/31/2012). Pts received a median of 7 prior systemic MBC therapies (range 1–23) with a median cumulative anthracycline dose of 240 mg/m2(range 6–2645). At baseline, median LVEF was 60% and 50% of pts had investigator-reported cardiovascular disease. Median follow-up was 5.9 months (range 0.1–25.3); median T-DM1 duration was 5.0 months (range 0–23) with 15.8% receiving >18 cycles. ORR was 25.6% (42/164). Rate of grade ≥3 AEs was 43.7% and of SAEs of any grade was 18.1%. Most common all-grade AEs were fatigue (50.7%), nausea (36.3%), and headache (24.2%). Most common grade ≥3 AEs were thrombocytopenia (7.9%), fatigue (4.7%), and increased aspartate aminotransferase and anemia (each 3.7%). There were no grade ≥3 bleeding events. Cardiac dysfunction (primarily asymptomatic decreases in LVEF) was reported in 8 pts (3.7%); 4 were grade ≥3, 3 resulting in T-DM1 discontinuation. Conclusions: In this study that more closely reflects the real-world setting, the safety profile of T-DM1 was similar to that previously reported in conventional clinical trials, with no new safety signals. In this pretreated population (median of 7 prior therapies for HER2-positive MBC), significant activity was observed. Clinical trial information: NCT01120561.

137 Background: Diabetes has been associated with an increased risk of mortality among patients with many types of cancers. Methods: We performed a case-control study of 109 breast cancer patients to determine the impact of diabetes on disease recurrence and survival. These 109 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during 2007-2011 with diabetes were identified from the institutional Cancer Registry and matched to 109 breast cancer patients without diabetes according to age, race/ethnicity and year of diagnosis. Statistical tests included paired t-tests, McNemar’s tests, and stratified Cox regression. Results: The median ages of those with and without diabetes were 68 years, and 91% in both groups were white (both matched). Patients with and without diabetes were not significantly different in terms of tumor grade, cancer stage, estrogen or progesterone receptor status, HER2 neu status, marital and employment status, smoking use, use of adjuvant chemotherapy, and steroid treatment (all P >.4). Patients with diabetes reported less use of alcohol (50% vs 64%, P=.04), and had greater BMI (79% overweight/obese vs 58%, P= .002). Survival analysis demonstrated no differences in survival from initial breast cancer diagnosis (HR=1.25, 95% CI 0.49-3.17) with median follow-up of 2.2 years (range 0.1-4.9), and no differences in recurrence-free survival (HR=1.00, 95% CI 0.14-7.10) though very few deaths and recurrences were observed. Within the diabetes group, 96 (88%) had type 2 diabetes and 97/106 (92%, 3 unknown) had diabetes pre-existing to cancer diagnosis. Initial diabetes therapy included diet (33, 30%), oral therapy (48, 44%), insulin (21, 19%), or oral+insulin (6, 6%). 7 patients required a change in diabetes therapy within 1 year of cancer diagnosis with 3 patients starting insulin. 32/70 (46%) with available lab data had 1 or more A1C >/=7 within 1 year of cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: In this retrospective, carefully matched case-control study, we developed a comprehensive profile of the patient population with newly diagnosed breast cancer and diabetes. Diabetes did not appear to impact mortality or recurrence-free survival based on descriptive estimates in this small breast cancer cohort.

75 Background: We investigated the association of germline variation in ten candidate genes important in prostate cancer biology (NKX3-1, JAK2, SLCO2B1, STAT3, CYP19A1, HSD17B4, TRMT11, PRMT3, HSD17B12, NCOA4) with overall survival (OS) in a cohort of metastatic CRPC stage patients. Methods: Patients (N=497) were enrolled at the time of androgen deprivation therapy failure for D2 stage prostate cancer. Candidate genes were selected from the literature and pilot studies. Genes were tagged using SNPs from HapMap with minor allele frequency (MAF) of >5% and r2≥0.8. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped using Illumina Veracode platform. The primary endpoint was OS, defined as time from development of CRPC to death. Principle components analysis was used for gene-levels tests. To account for multiple testing we calculated the false discovery rate (FDR). For SNP level results we estimated per allele (ordinal model) hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox regression and adjusted for age and Gleason score (GS). Results: We successfully genotyped 60 SNPs (from 10 genes) in 497 Caucasian subjects. The median age of the CRPC cohort was 71 years (range 43,93). The GS distribution was 51% subjects with GS≥8; 32% with GS7 and 17% with GS<7. After a median follow up of 2.1 years (IQ range: 1.2-3.6), 297 subjects had died. In unadjusted gene level analyses, NKX3-1 (p=0.04; FDR=0.03) was associated with OS. After adjusting for age and GS the result remained significant (p=0.03). Two of the 5 genotyped SNPs in this gene were associated with OS after adjustment for age and GS: rs10503733 (dominant model p=0.03, HR=0.77; 95 CI=0.60-0.98; A>C; MAF = 0.22) and rs7005368 (dominant model p=0.05, HR=1.38, 95CI=1.0-1.92; G>A; MAF=0.07). Both SNPs are in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium and in complete LD (D'=1), although r2 is low (r2=0.025) due to different allele frequencies. Conclusions: Variation in the homeobox NKX-1 gene, a prostate specific tumor suppressor gene involved in prostate development and carcinogenesis is significantly associated with OS in CRPC after accounting for age and GS. Further validation is needed to develop these as prognostic biomarkers.

446 Background: Despite the development of prognostic algorithms based on clinico-pathologic features, the ability to identify aggressive forms of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains suboptimal. Topoisomerase IIA (TOP2a) is a biomarker of DNA replication and a target for antineoplastic agents. Herein, we evaluate the association of TOP2a expression in ccRCC tumors with pathologic features of aggressiveness and risk of cancer-specific death. Methods: We identified 947 patients who underwent nephrectomy to treat clinically localized ccRCC between January 16, 1990, and September 27, 2006. TOP2a expression was assessed using IHC and scored as number of positive cells per mm2. We evaluated TOP2a expression using a continuous variable and tertile categories. For associations with pathologic features, we employed Kruskal-Wallis tests and for associations with cancer-specific survival, we generated Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: HigherTOP2a expression is associated with later stage, higher grade and higher Mayo SSIGN score (all p < 0.001). The risk of death from RCC increases with increasing TOP2a expression (p trend < 0.0001). Compared to patients in the lowest tertile, those patients with tumors in the highest tertile of TOP2a expression were at increased risk of RCC death (HR=2.31 95% CI 1.64-3.25; p < 0.0001). Interestingly, among those patients with low risk disease (SSIGN score 0-3; ~95% 10 year survival), those with high TOP2a were at increased risk of RCC death (HR=3.09 95% CI 1.29-7.40; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Higher TOP2a expression is associated with more aggressive pathologic features and increased risk of cancer-specific death among patients undergoing surgery for localized ccRCC. If confirmed, these data support further inquiry for TOP2a as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for ccRCC patients.

442 Background: For patients with advanced or locally recurrent (LR) renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the role of intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) remains controversial. We analyzed outcomes in a multi-institutional cohort of patients with RCC who received IORT. Methods: Between 1985 and 2010, 98 patients were treated with IORT for advanced or LR RCC at 9 institutions. We collected demographic, clinical, treatment, and outcomes data for all patients. Overall (OS), disease specific (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate Cox hazards regression was used to test significance. Results: IORT was delivered at nephrectomy for advanced disease (28%) or during resection of LR RCC in the renal fossa (72%). 69% of patients were male and mean age at RCC diagnosis was 57. At initial nephrectomy, primary T-stage was 17% T1, 12% T2, 55% T3, and 16% T4. Prior to IORT, 87% had visibly complete surgical resection of tumor. Mean IORT dose delivered was 14.7Gy (range 9-20Gy). Average post-op hospitalization was 10.7 days. Median follow-up after IORT was 1.6 years. OS at 1 and 5 years after IORT was 69% and 37% for advanced patients and 94% and 55% for LR patients, respectively. DFS at 1 and 5 years was 72% and 39% for advanced patients and 96% and 52% for LR patients, respectively. DSS at 1 and 5 years was 72% and 41% for advanced patients and 96% and 60% for LR patients, respectively. For the entire cohort, higher IORT dose (HR 1.3, p < 0.001), positive initial node status (HR 2.9-3.6, p < 0.01), and presence of sarcomatoid features (HR 3.7-6.9, p < 0.05) had a significant association with decreased OS, DFS and DSS. Patients who received adjuvant systemic therapy after IORT showed decreased DSS (HR 2.4, p = 0.03). When analyzing LR tumors alone, positive margin (HR 2.6, p = 0.01) was associated with decreased OS. Conclusions: We report on the largest known cohort of patients with RCC managed with IORT and we have identified factors associated with survival. Outcomes in our cohort with LR RCC treated with local resection and IORT compare favorably to similar groups treated with resection alone suggesting improved DSS may be possible with IORT.

386 Background: Angiogenesis plays a role in tumor growth and is partly mediated by factors in both the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways. Brivanib inhibits both VEGF receptor 2 and FGF receptors (FGFR)-1/2. Methods: Nephrectomy material from 40 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving sorafenib ± interferon was assessed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The Ariol imaging platform was used to stratify the specimens based on intensity of staining for FGF biomarkers: FGFR-1 and fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2 (pFRS2). The relationship between fibroblast growth factor pathway marker levels and progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression methods. To assess the efficacy of dual targeting of VEGF and FGF receptor signaling by brivanib, we treated a xenograft RCC mouse model with sunitinib, brivanib, or sunitinib followed by brivanib. Results: Our analysis indicated that more intense FGFR-1 staining was associated with shorter PFS (p = 0.0452), and that pFRS2 staining were not significantly associated with PFS (p = 0.2610). FGF pathway activation was associated with decreased PFS in patients with metastatic RCC treated with sorafenib. Xenograft mice were treated with 20 mg/kg sunitinib and after an initial stabilization phase, resistance developed by day 20. A switch to 30 mg/kg brivanib prolonged the stabilization phase after progression on sunitinib (p = 0.0033). Conclusions: The PFS of patients treated with sorafenib is associated with FGF pathway activation. In a xenograft RCC mouse model, brivanib overcame the tumor escape after initial treatment with sunitinib. Switching from sunitinib to brivanib at the time of tumor escape prolonged the stabilization phase and overcame a sunitinib-induced resistance phenotype. The results suggest that FGF pathway activation mediates both innate and acquired tumor resistance to VEGF receptor inhibition. The efficacy of dual inhibition of FGF and VEGF in the subset of patients with increased FGF activation prior to treatment requires further study.

368 Background: SGN-75 is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of a humanized anti-CD70 mAb conjugated to the microtubule-disrupting agent MMAF via a plasma-stable linker. Upon binding to CD70, SGN-75 internalizes and releases cys‑mcMMAF which binds tubulin and induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Methods: A phase 1, dose-escalation, multicenter study was initiated to investigate the safety, tolerability, PK, and antitumor activity of SGN-75 monotherapy in pts with CD70-positive metastatic RCC or relapsed/refractory NHL (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01015911). SGN-75 was administered IV in cohort-specific doses using 2 schedules [every 3 weeks (q3wk) or weekly (days 1, 8, 15 q28 days)] at doses of 0.3-4.5 mg/kg. Pts were eligible to receive treatment until PD. Results: A total of 58 pts (39 RCC/19 NHL) with a median age of 60.5 yrs (range 30-82) were treated. The MTD was 3 mg/kg q3wk; 2 pts had DLTs at 4.5 mg/kg q3wk (NHL pt had neutropenia and RCC pt had proteinuria). Weekly dosing (N=11) was terminated at the 0.6 mg/kg dose level after 2 pts with NHL developed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. At the MTD, adverse events (AEs) in ≥30% of RCC pts (N=21) were fatigue (52%), dry eye (48%), nausea (38%), constipation (33%), and corneal epithelium defect (33%). AEs ≥ Grade 3 in >10% of RCC pts treated at the MTD were corneal epithelium defect (19%) and thrombocytopenia (14%). PK analysis suggested that SGN-75 exposure was approximately dose-proportional with a mean terminal half-life of 6-11 days. Among the 32 pts with RCC treated in the q3wk schedule, all had prior nephrectomy and a median of 3 prior therapies (range 1-6). All pts had clear cell RCC, with the exception of 2 pts who had papillary RCC. Most pts had high CD70 expression by central IHC analysis (2 or 3+, 80-100% of cells). The best clinical responses of RCC pts treated q3wk were 2 PR, 12 SD, 12 PD, and 6 were not evaluable. Durations of response for the 2 responding pts were 23 and 41 weeks. The median duration of disease control (PR and SD) was 46.4 weeks [95% CI (12, 46)]. Conclusions: SGN-75 monotherapy was generally well tolerated in pts with metastatic RCC. Evidence of antitumor activity was observed in heavily pretreated RCC pts and further studies of SGN-75 in RCC are warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT01015911.

36 Background: Following radical prostatectomy (RP), 30-40% of patients have adverse pathology and are deemed at high risk for metastatic progression. The objective of this study was to validate the ability of Decipher, a genomic classifier (GC), to improve prediction of metastatic disease progression compared with clinical variables in order to better identify candidates for therapy intensification. Methods: A previously developed 22-feature GC model was validated in a prospectively designed case-cohort study of a clinically high-risk population (i.e., with one or more adverse pathological features) of 1,010 RP patients treated at Mayo Clinic between 2000-2006. A random sample of 20% of the cohort was subjected to microarray analysis and GC scores were generated for 219 patients. The primary endpoint, the c-index for predicting metastatic disease progression (i.e., positive bone or CT scans) was evaluated in a blinded analysis. Cox modeling and decision curve analyses were used to compare the performance of GC to individual clinical variables and prediction models. Results: GC had a c-index 0.79 (95% CI 0.71-0.86) that was significantly better than any single clinical variable. Cumulative incidence curves in the cohort showed that 72% of patients had low GC scores with only 3% and 6% incidence of metastatic disease at 5 and 10 years post RP. In contrast, for the 28% of patients with high GC scores, the cumulative incidence was 17% and 25% at 5 and 10 years post RP. Decision curve analysis showed that the GC model had higher overall net benefit compared to clinical variables over a wide range of ‘decision-to-treat’ thresholds for risk of metastasis. In multivariable modeling with clinicopathologic variables, GC remained the only significant independent predictor of metastasis (HR=1.51, for each 0.1 unit increment, p<0.001). Conclusions: GC can better predict metastatic disease progression compared with clinical variables and may select among patients with adverse pathology a majority that is in fact at low risk for metastasis.