Jennifer Shannon

Pancreatic cancer hENT1 expression and survival from gemcitabine in patients from the ESPAC-3 trial

BACKGROUND Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) levels in pancreatic adenocarcinoma may predict survival in patients who receive adjuvant gemcitabine after resection. METHODS Microarrays from 434 patients randomized to chemotherapy in the ESPAC-3 trial (plus controls from ESPAC-1/3) were stained with the 10D7G2 anti-hENT1 antibody. Patients were classified as having high hENT1 expression if the mean H score for their cores was above the overall median H score (48). High and low hENT1-expressing groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Three hundred eighty patients (87.6%) and 1808 cores were suitable and included in the final analysis. Median overall survival for gemcitabine-treated patients (n = 176) was 23.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.3 to 26.0) months vs 23.5 (95% CI = 19.8 to 27.3) months for 176 patients treated with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (χ(2) 1=0.24; P = .62). Median survival for patients treated with gemcitabine was 17.1 (95% CI = 14.3 to 23.8) months for those with low hENT1 expression vs 26.2 (95% CI = 21.2 to 31.4) months for those with high hENT1 expression (χ(2)₁= 9.87; P = .002). For the 5-fluorouracil group, median survival was 25.6 (95% CI = 20.1 to 27.9) and 21.9 (95% CI = 16.0 to 28.3) months for those with low and high hENT1 expression, respectively (χ(2)₁ = 0.83; P = .36). hENT1 levels were not predictive of survival for the 28 patients of the observation group (χ(2)₁ = 0.37; P = .54). Multivariable analysis confirmed hENT1 expression as a predictive marker in gemcitabine-treated (Wald χ(2) = 9.16; P = .003) but not 5-fluorouracil-treated (Wald χ(2) = 1.22; P = .27) patients. CONCLUSIONS Subject to prospective validation, gemcitabine should not be used for patients with low tumor hENT1 expression.

MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA: IMPROVED OUTCOME WITH ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY

Background:  Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Patients remain at high risk of locoregional and distant relapse despite treatment. Most studies support the incorporation of locoregional adjuvant radiotherapy in reducing the risk of relapse.

Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck The Immunosuppression, Treatment, Extranodal Spread, and Margin Status (ITEM) Prognostic Score to Predict Outcome and the Need to Improve Survival

The authors propose a prognostic score model using a prospective study of patients with regional metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Prognostic factors for progression-free and overall survival in advanced biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND Biliary tract cancer is an uncommon cancer with a poor outcome. We assembled data from the National Cancer Research Institute (UK) ABC-02 study and 10 international studies to determine prognostic outcome characteristics for patients with advanced disease. METHODS Multivariable analyses of the final dataset from the ABC-02 study were carried out. All variables were simultaneously included in a Cox proportional hazards model, and backward elimination was used to produce the final model (using a significance level of 10%), in which the selected variables were associated independently with outcome. This score was validated externally by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis using the independent international dataset. RESULTS A total of 410 patients were included from the ABC-02 study and 753 from the international dataset. An overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) Cox model was derived from the ABC-02 study. White blood cells, haemoglobin, disease status, bilirubin, neutrophils, gender, and performance status were considered prognostic for survival (all with P < 0.10). Patients with metastatic disease {hazard ratio (HR) 1.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-2.02]} and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 2 had worse survival [HR 2.24 (95% CI 1.53-3.28)]. In a dataset restricted to patients who received cisplatin and gemcitabine with ECOG PS 0 and 1, only haemoglobin, disease status, bilirubin, and neutrophils were associated with PFS and OS. ROC analysis suggested the models generated from the ABC-02 study had a limited prognostic value [6-month PFS: area under the curve (AUC) 62% (95% CI 57-68); 1-year OS: AUC 64% (95% CI 58-69)]. CONCLUSION These data propose a set of prognostic criteria for outcome in advanced biliary tract cancer derived from the ABC-02 study that are validated in an international dataset. Although these findings establish the benchmark for the prognostic evaluation of patients with ABC and confirm the value of longheld clinical observations, the ability of the model to correctly predict prognosis is limited and needs to be improved through identification of additional clinical and molecular markers.

Panitumumab added to docetaxel, cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine in oesophagogastric cancer: ATTAX3 phase II trial.

Background:This randomised phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of panitumumab added to docetaxel-based chemotherapy in advanced oesophagogastric cancer.Methods:Patients with metastatic or locally recurrent cancer of the oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction or stomach received docetaxel and a fluoropyrimidine with or without panitumumab for 8 cycles or until progression. The primary end point was response rate (RECIST1.1). We planned to enrol 100 patients, with 50% expected response rate for combination therapy.Results:A total of 77 patients were enrolled. A safety alert from the REAL3 trial prompted a review of data that found no evidence of adverse outcomes associated with panitumumab but questionable efficacy, and new enrolment was ceased. Enrolled patients were treated according to protocol. Response rates were 49% (95% CI 34–64%) in the chemotherapy arm and 58% (95% CI 42–72%) in the combination arm. Common grade 3 and 4 toxicities included infection, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue. At 23.7 months of median follow-up, median progression-free survival was 6.9 months vs 6.0 months and median overall survival was 11.7 months vs 10.0 months in the chemotherapy arm and the combination arm, respectively.Conclusions:Adding panitumumab to docetaxel-based chemotherapy for advanced oesophagogastric cancer did not improve efficacy and increased toxicities.

The Impact of Positive Resection Margins on Survival and Recurrence Following Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objective and Background: Local and distant disease recurrence are frequently observed following pancreatic cancer resection, but an improved understanding of resection margin assessment is required to aid tailored therapies. Methods: Analyses were carried out to assess the association between clinical characteristics and margin involvement as well as the effects of individual margin involvement on site of recurrence and overall and recurrence-free survival using individual patient data from the European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-3 randomized controlled trial. Results: There were 1151 patients, of whom 505 (43.9%) had an R1 resection. The median and 95% confidence interval (CI) overall survival was 24.9 (22.9–27.2) months for 646 (56.1%) patients with resection margin negative (R0 >1 mm) tumors, 25.4 (21.6–30.4) months for 146 (12.7%) patients with R1<1 mm positive resection margins, and 18.7 (17.2–21.1) months for 359 (31.2%) patients with R1-direct positive margins (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, overall R1-direct tumor margins, poor tumor differentiation, positive lymph node status, WHO performance status ≥1, maximum tumor size, and R1-direct posterior resection margin were all independently significantly associated with reduced overall and recurrence-free survival. Competing risks analysis showed that overall R1-direct positive resection margin status, positive lymph node status, WHO performance status 1, and R1-direct positive superior mesenteric/medial margin resection status were all significantly associated with local recurrence. Conclusions: R1-direct resections were associated with significantly reduced overall and recurrence-free survival following pancreatic cancer resection. Resection margin involvement was also associated with an increased risk for local recurrence.

721PA MULTI-CENTRE, PHASE II, OPEN-LABEL, SINGLE ARM STUDY OF PANITUMUMAB, CISPLATIN AND GEMCITABINE IN BILIARY TRACT CANCER: PRIMARY RESULTS OF THE AGITG TACTIC STUDY

ABSTRACT Aim: Curative surgery is possible in less than a third of patients with biliary tract carcinoma (BTC). Most patients die of progressive cancer. This trial was designed to combine an optimal schedule of gemcitabine and cisplatin with the EGFR antibody panitumumab in patients with BTC. The primary objective was to determine the clinical benefit of this combination in KRAS wild-type (WT) BTC. Methods: Patients with KRAS WT locally advanced or metastatic BTC received gemcitabine1000mg/m2, cisplatin 25mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle, with panitumumab 9mg/kg IV on day 1. KRAS status was determined by high resolution melt analysis PCR and confirmed with direct sequencing. The primary endpoint was objective clinical benefit at 12 weeks. The regimen was considered to be of interest if at least a 70% clinical benefit rate was achieved. Secondary endpoints included RR by RECIST v1.1; Time to treatment failure; Tolerability and safety; PFS; OS; Duration of response; CA19.9 response; QoL. Results: 80 patients were screened, 68 were WT KRAS (85%). Of these, 48 were enrolled between 2012 and 2013, across 14 Australian centres. Baseline demographics were well balanced with mean age 62yrs (range 40-82yrs). WHO PS 0 to 1. Most common grade III/IV adverse events were neutropenia (33.3%), infection (22.9%), thrombocytopenia (20%) and anaemia (16%). In addition, acneiform rash (12.5%), hypomagnesaemia (10.4%), fatigue (10.4%), vomiting (8.3%) and diarrhoea (6.3%) were also reported. The objective clinical benefit rate at 12 weeks was 84.1% (95% CI 69.5 – 92.1%); 18 SD (40%), 16 PR (36%) and 1 CR (2%). At this early assessment the actuarial rate of progression free survival is 8.4 months (95% CI 5.6 – 16.6%). Among 45 assessable patients, 20 (44%) were responders according to RECIST criteria (95% CI 31 – 59%). Data relating to the Secondary Endpoints will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: The data presented confirms that the primary endpoint of the study was met. The combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin and panitumumab is a tolerable regimen with proven activity in our patient population. Further investigation of EGFR blockade in BTC is warranted. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and hENT1 predicts survival in pancreatic cancer

ABSTRACTBackgroundDihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) tumour expression may provide added value to human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) tumour expression in predicting survival following pyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsDPD and hENT1 immunohistochemistry and scoring was completed on tumour cores from 238 patients with pancreatic cancer in the ESPAC-3(v2) trial, randomised to either postoperative gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5FU/FA).ResultsDPD tumour expression was associated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio, HR = 1.73 [95% confidence interval, CI = 1.21–2.49], p = 0.003). This was significant in the 5FU/FA arm (HR = 2.07 [95% CI = 1.22–3.53], p = 0.007), but not in the gemcitabine arm (HR = 1.47 [0.91–3.37], p = 0.119). High hENT1 tumour expression was associated with increased survival in gemcitabine treated (HR = 0.56 [0.38–0.82], p = 0.003) but not in 5FU/FA treated patients (HR = 1.19 [0.80–1.78], p = 0.390). In patients with low hENT1 tumour expression, high DPD tumour expression was associated with a worse median [95% CI] survival in the 5FU/FA arm (9.7 [5.3–30.4] vs 29.2 [19.5–41.9] months, p = 0.002) but not in the gemcitabine arm (14.0 [9.1–15.7] vs. 18.0 [7.6–15.3] months, p = 1.000). The interaction of treatment arm and DPD expression was not significant (p = 0.303), but the interaction of treatment arm and hENT1 expression was (p = 0.009).ConclusionDPD tumour expression was a negative prognostic biomarker. Together with tumour expression of hENT1, DPD tumour expression defined patient subgroups that might benefit from either postoperative 5FU/FA or gemcitabine.

The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus molecular targeted-therapy in colorectal liver metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgery remains the standard of care for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). The use of molecular targeted therapy combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for CLMs, however, remains controversial. Current evidence suggests that neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus molecular targeted agents for CLMs confers high overall response rates. Combination treatment might also increase the resectability rates in patients with initially unresectable CLMs. Background: Surgery remains the standard of care for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs), with a 5-year survival rate approaching 35%. Perioperative chemotherapy confers a survival benefit in selected patients with CLMs. The use of molecular targeted therapy combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for CLMs, however, remains controversial. We reviewed the published data on combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy for resectable and initially unresectable CLMs. Materials and Methods: A literature search of the Medline and PubMed databases was conducted to identify studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus molecular targeted therapy in the management of resectable or initially unresectable CLMs. We calculated the pooled proportion and 95% confidence intervals using a random effects model for the relationship of the combination neoadjuvant treatment on the overall response rate and performed a systematic review of all identified studies. The analysis was stratified according to the study design. Results: The data from 11 studies of 908 patients who had undergone systemic chemotherapy plus targeted therapy for CLM were analyzed. The use of combination neoadjuvant therapy was associated with an overall response rate of 68% (95% confidence interval, 63%-73%), with significant heterogeneity observed in the studies (I 2 ¼ 89.35; P < .001). Of the 11 studies, 4 used a combination that included oxaliplatin, 2 included irinotecan, and 5 included a combination of both. Also, 7 studies used cetuximab and 4 bevacizumab. The overall progression-free survival was estimated at 14.4 months. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus molecular targeted agents for CLM confers high overall response rates. Combination treatment might also increase the resectability rates in initially unresectable CLM. Further studies are needed to examine the survival outcomes, with a focus on the differential role of molecular targeted therapy in the neoadjuvant versus adjuvant setting.