Gregory Wilson

Abstract S3-01: The TNT trial: A randomized phase III trial of carboplatin (C) compared with docetaxel (D) for patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced triple negative or BRCA1/2 breast cancer (CRUK/07/012)

Introduction: Subgroups within sporadic triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) appear to share impaired DNA damage response mechanisms with BRCA1/2 mutation-associated breast cancers. This has been hypothesised to confer particular sensitivity to DNA-damaging platinum chemotherapy. The TNT trial, a randomized phase III trial in women with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced TNBC or BRCA1/2 mutation-associated breast cancer, aimed to test this hypothesis and examine treatment effect in biological subgroups. Patients & Methods: Eligible patients had either ER-, PR-, HER2- breast cancer or were known BRCA1/2 carriers (any ER/PR/HER2). Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either C (AUC 6 q3wk) or D (100mg/m2 q3wk) for 6-8 cycles or until disease progression if sooner and could cross over to the alternative treatment on confirmed progression. Ineligible patients included those who had ECOG performance status >2, received adjuvant taxane therapy in the last 12 mths, any previous treatment with a platinum chemotherapy, or previous non-anthracycline chemotherapy for metastatic disease. For consenting patients a blood sample and archived tissue samples were obtained for BRCA1/2 genotyping and central biomarker analysis (primary tumour, lymph nodes and recurrent tumour biopsy if available) of subtypes within TNBC and biomarkers of DNA repair deficiency. The primary endpoint was RECIST objective tumour response up to cycle 6 of randomised treatment. Secondary endpoints included toxicity, progression free survival (PFS), time to progression and overall survival. TNT aimed to detect a 15% improvement in ORR with C compared to D, with planned target sample size range of 370-450 depending on assumed ORR in D patients (2-sided α=0.05, power=90%). 376 (188 C, 188 D) were recruited from 74 UK centres between Apr 08 and Mar 14. Results: A snapshot of the data was taken on 30/5/14 at which point 336 (89.4%) patients had experienced a PFS event, with overall median PFS time of 4.4 mths. Median age of patients was 55 yrs (IQR 48-63). 366/376 (97%) patients had TNBC of whom 18 were also known BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, with the remaining 10 patients receptor +ve and BRCA1/2 carriers. 338/376 (90%) had metastatic and 38/376 (10%) recurrent locally advanced disease. 53% had liver or lung metastases affecting the parenchyma and 34% had received previous adjuvant taxane therapy. Median time from initial diagnosis to entering TNT was 2.2 yrs (IQR 1.5-3.5). Primary tumour tissue has currently been received for 277 patients, blood from 286 patients and recurrent tumour tissue from 85 patients. Discussion: TNT will report evidence on the activity of single agent platinum chemotherapy compared with single agent taxane in patients with TNBC and BRCA1/2 associated breast cancer. Correlative analyses of BRCA1/2 mutation status, subtypes and DNA repair biomarkers will also be reported. TNT will be the first randomised trial to report the activity of platinum compared with standard chemotherapy within TNBC subtypes and in relation to BRCA1/2 mutation status and DNA repair biomarkers. Safety, tolerability and response to crossover treatment will also be presented. Citation Format: Andrew Tutt, Paul Ellis, Lucy Kilburn, Cheryl Gilett, Sarah Pinder, Jacinta Abraham, Sophie Barrett, Peter Barrett-Lee, Stephen Chan, Maggie Cheang, Mitch Dowsett, Lisa Fox, Patrycja Gazinska, Anita Grigoriadis, Alexander Gutin, Catherine Harper-Wynne, Matthew Hatton, Sarah Kernaghan, Jerry Lanchbury, James Morden, Julie Owen, Jyoti Parikh, Peter Parker, Nazneen Rahman, Rebecca Roylance, Adam Shaw, Ian Smith, Rose Thompson, Kirsten Timms, Holly Tovey, Andrew Wardley, Gregory Wilson, Mark Harries, Judith Bliss. The TNT trial: A randomized phase III trial of carboplatin (C) compared with docetaxel (D) for patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced triple negative or BRCA1/2 breast cancer (CRUK/07/012) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr S3-01.

A prospective observational study of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in routine practice in a UK cancer centre

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess levels of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in routine practice.Materials and methodsThe study was an observational prospective evaluation using patient self-reports. One hundred and two patients with cancer in a single cancer centre in UK receiving their first chemotherapy treatment participated in the study and were followed up over four cycles, providing a total of 272 assessments of nausea and vomiting. Data was collected with the use of the MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT), which is an eight-item short clinical scale assessing acute and delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy.ResultsResults indicated that acute vomiting was experienced by 15.7% of the patients in cycle 1 and delayed vomiting by 14.7%, while acute nausea was present in 37.3% of the patients and delayed nausea in 47.1%, increasing over the subsequent cycles. Moderately emetogenic and highly emetogenic chemotherapy had the highest incidence of CINV, whereas patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy showed significant levels of delayed nausea. Acute symptoms were more easily controlled than delayed symptoms.DiscussionThe data suggest that, while vomiting is well controlled, nausea remains a significant problem in practice, and optimal management of CINV is yet to be achieved. Understanding more clearly the biological basis of nausea will assist in managing this complex symptom more effectively in practice.

Activated c-SRC in ductal carcinoma in situ correlates with high tumour grade, high proliferation and HER2 positivity

Overexpression and/or activity of c-Src non-receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with progression of several human epithelial cancers including breast cancer. c-Src activity in ‘pure’ ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was measured to assess whether this predicts recurrence and/or correlates with HER2 expression and other clinical parameters. Activated c-Src levels were evaluated in DCIS biopsies from 129 women, with median follow-up at 60 months. High levels of activated c-Src correlated with HER2 positivity, high tumour grade, comedo necrosis and elevated epithelial proliferation. In univariate analysis, high activated c-Src level associated with lower recurrence-free survival at 5 years (P=0.011). Thus, high c-Src activity may identify a subset of DCIS with high risk of recurrence or progression to invasive cancer where therapeutics targeting c-Src may benefit this patient subset.

UGT1A1*28 genotype predicts gastrointestinal toxicity in patients treated with intermediate-dose irinotecan

AIMS Variants in UGT1A1 have previously been associated with toxicity from irinotecan chemotherapy. We conducted a pragmatic prospective cohort study to establish the relevance of UGT1A1 variants in the prediction of severe diarrhea and neutropenia in patients with colorectal cancer receiving irinotecan in a routine clinical setting. MATERIALS & METHODS Genotyping of UGT1A1*28 and c.-3156G>A was undertaken in an unselected, prospective cohort of 96 individuals treated with irinotecan at a single major UK oncology centre. Data on cytotoxic drugs received, and toxicity for all irinotecan treatment cycles were collected from case notes. Over 95% (92/96) of patients received an intermediate dose of irinotecan (180 mg/m(2), twice weekly). Irinotecan was given in combination with other cytotoxic drugs in 93/96 subjects and Grade 3 or 4 toxicity occurred in 23% of subjects. RESULTS No association was found between UGT1A1*28 or c.-3156G>A and neutropenia. However, individuals carrying two copies of UGT1A1*28 (p = 0.04; OR: 14; 95% CI: 1.1-185) or c.-3156G>A (p = 0.03) had a significantly increased risk of diarrhea over all cycles. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that UGT1A1 genotyping is not a good predictor of hematological toxicity in patients treated with intermediate irinotecan doses. However, it may be useful in the identification of patients at risk of severe diarrhea.

Concurrent irinotecan, oxaliplatin and UFT in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: a Phase I study

The feasibility of combining UFT plus leucovorin (LV) with alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin was investigated in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Twenty-five patients, median age 63 (range 24–79) years, World Health Organisation performance status 0–2 and median four marker lesions, received irinotecan 180 mg m−2 on day 1, oxaliplatin 85–100 mg m−2 on day 15 and UFT 200–300 mg m−2 day−1 with LV 90 mg day−1, days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle. Patients were treated in cohorts of three. At the highest dose (irinotecan 180 mg m−2, oxaliplatin 100 mg m−2 and UFT 300 mg m−2 day−1), three of four patients experienced grade 3 toxicity. Diarrhoea, lethargy and vomiting were dose-limiting. Three of nine patients had grade 2 toxicities at the maximum tolerated dose (irinotecan 180 mg m−2, oxaliplatin 100 mg m−2 and UFT 250 mg m−2 day−1). There were no grade 3 toxicities in the first month of therapy. The overall response rate was 71% in 21 evaluable patients; progression-free survival was 8.8 months. Alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin plus UFT is an effective and well-tolerated first-line treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We recommend a dose of irinotecan 180 mg m−2 on day 1, oxaliplatin 100 mg m−2 on day 15 and UFT 250 mg m−2 day−1 with LV 90 mg day−1 on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle for future studies.

Evaluation of hypertension and proteinuria as markers of efficacy in antiangiogenic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor pathway is strongly implicated in cancer-related angiogenesis. Antiangiogenic agents such as bevacizumab commonly cause hypertension (HTN) and proteinuria (PTN), which may be biomarkers of response and clinical outcome. Study: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with histologically proven metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with either bevacizumab or a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in combination with chemotherapy at The Christie Hospital from January 2006 to September 2009. Results: Of 90 patients evaluated, 50 were eligible. Seventeen (34%), 4 (8%), and 3 (6%) patients developed Common Toxicity Criteria (v 3.0) grades 1, 2, and 3 HTN, respectively. Response rates were 42% for patients with grades 0 to 1 HTN compared with 86% for patients with ≥grade 2 HTN (P=0.043). Median overall survival was 21.6 months for patients with grades 0 to 1 HTN and 25.2 months for patients with ≥grade 2 HTN (P=0.270). Twelve patients (24%) developed grade 1 PTN and 4 patients (8%) developed ≥grade 2 PTN. Median overall survival was 23.9 months for patients with grades 0 to 1 PTN and 4.2 months for those with ≥grade 2 PTN (P=0.028). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the utility of PTN as a surrogate marker of outcome in antiangiogenic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Although HTN is predictive of a significantly higher response rate, the development of PTN during treatment with bevacizumab or tyrosine kinase inhibitor portends poorer survival and should be evaluated prospectively.

Alternating irinotecan with oxaliplatin combined with UFT plus leucovorin (SCOUT) in metastatic colorectal cancer

Tegafur–uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin® (LV, folinic acid) with alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin were effective and well tolerated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a phase I study. This study expanded the maximum tolerated dose group. Patients aged ⩾18 years had histologically confirmed, inoperable, previously untreated, measurable mCRC. Patients received irinotecan 180 mg m−2 on day 1, oxaliplatin 100 mg m−2 on day 15 and UFT 250 mg m−2 plus LV 90 mg on days 1–21 every 28 days. The phase I/II study comprised 45 patients, 29 at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The response rate in 38 evaluable patients was 63% (95% confidence interval (CI): 49–80). Median time to progression and overall survival were 8.7 months (95% CI: 7.9–10.4) and 16.8 months (95% CI: 9.6–25.3), respectively. In the MTD group, one patient had grade 3 leucopaenia; one had grade 3 neutropaenia; three had grade 3 diarrhoea; and one had grade 3 neurotoxicity. No hand–foot syndrome grade >1 was seen. In total, 67% of eligible patients received second-line therapy. UFT plus LV with alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin is an efficacious first-line treatment for mCRC, with minimal neurotoxicity and hand–foot syndrome.

Addition of gemcitabine to paclitaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide adjuvant chemotherapy for women with early-stage breast cancer (tAnGo): final 10-year follow-up of an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND The tAnGo trial was designed to investigate the potential role of gemcitabine when added to anthracycline and taxane-containing adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer. When this study was developed, gemcitabine had shown significant activity in metastatic breast cancer, and there was evidence of a favourable interaction with paclitaxel. METHODS tAnGo was an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 superiority trial that enrolled women aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer who had a definite indication for chemotherapy, any nodal status, any hormone receptor status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function. Women were recruited from 127 clinical centres and hospitals in the UK and Ireland, and randomly assigned (1:1) to one of two treatment regimens: epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (four cycles of 90 mg/m2 intravenously administered epirubicin and 600 mg/m2 intravenously administered cyclophosphamide on day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by four cycles of 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel as a 3 h infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks) or epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (the same chemotherapy regimen as the other group, with the addition of 1250 mg/m2 gemcitabine to the paclitaxel cycles, administered intravenously as a 0·5 h infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks). Patients were randomly assigned by a central computerised deterministic minimisation procedure, with stratification by country, age, radiotherapy intent, nodal status, and oestrogen receptor and HER-2 status. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival and the trial aimed to detect 5% differences in 5-year disease-free survival between the treatment groups. Recruitment completed in 2004 and this is the final, intention-to-treat analysis. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2004-002927-41), ISRCTN (51146252), and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00039546). FINDINGS Between Aug 22, 2001, and Nov 26, 2004, 3152 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine (gemcitabine group; n=1576) or to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (control group; n=1576). 11 patients (six in the gemcitabine group and five in the control group) were ineligible because of pre-existing metastases and were therefore excluded from the analysis. At this protocol-specified final analysis (median follow-up 10 years [IQR 10-10]), 1087 disease-free survival events and 914 deaths had occurred. Disease-free survival did not differ significantly between the treatment groups at 10 years (65% [63-68] in the gemcitabine group vs 65% [62-67] in the control group), and median disease-free survival was not reached (adjusted hazard ratio 0·97 [95% CI 0·86-1·10], p=0·64). Toxicity, dose intensity, and a detailed safety substudy showed both regimens to be safe, deliverable, and tolerable. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were reported at expected levels in both groups. The most common were neutropenia (527 [34%] of 1565 patients in the gemcitabine group vs 412 [26%] of 1567 in the control group), myalgia and arthralgia (207 [13%] vs 186 [12%]), fatigue (207 [13%] vs 152 [10%]), infection (202 [13%] vs 141 [9%]), vomiting (143 [9%] vs 108 [7%]), and nausea (132 [8%] vs 102 [7%]). INTERPRETATION The addition of gemcitabine to anthracycline and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy at this dose and schedule confers no therapeutic advantage in terms of disease-free survival in early breast cancer, although it can cause increased toxicity. Therefore, gemcitabine has not been added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer for any subgroup. FUNDING Cancer Research UK core funding for Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Pfizer.

Rapid Analysis of Outcomes Using the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Dataset

We audited the accuracy of the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy dataset as a resource for rapid analysis of outcomes for patients, in this example, receiving Cancer Drug Fund funded monoclonal antibodies to treat metastatic colorectal cancer. We concluded that the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy dataset is a potentially valuable resource for rapidly determining survival outcome for patients treated with chemotherapy.