Kuniko Sunami

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab and standard chemotherapy drug combination in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a four arms phase Ib study

In this phase Ib study, four combination therapies of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and standard chemotherapy (cisplatin/gemcitabine, cisplatin/pemetrexed, carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab, or docetaxel) showed acceptable toxicity profiles in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Furthermore, these combination therapies presented encouraging antitumor activities.

Picoliter-Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Analysis of Cell-Free Plasma DNA to Assess EGFR Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma That Confer Resistance to Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of analyzing cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) by picoliter-droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to detect EGFR mutations that confer resistance to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used for treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Thirty-five LADC patients who received epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKI therapy, including ten who received tumor rebiopsy after development of resistance, were subjected to picoliter-ddPCR-cfDNA analysis to determine the fraction of cfDNA with TKI-sensitive (L858R and inflame exon 19 deletions) and -resistant (i.e., T790M) mutations, as well as their concordance with mutation status in rebiopsied tumor tissues. RESULTS cfDNA samples from 15 (94%) of 16 patients who acquired resistance were positive for TKI-sensitive mutations. Also, 7 (44%) were positive for the T790M mutation, with fractions of T790M (+) cfDNA ranging from 7.4% to 97%. T790M positivity in cfDNA was consistent in eight of ten patients for whom rebiopsied tumor tissues were analyzed, whereas the remaining cases were negative in cfDNA and positive in rebiopsied tumors. Prior to EGFR-TKI therapy, cfDNAs from 9 (38%) and 0 of 24 patients were positive for TKI-sensitive and T790M mutations, respectively. Next-generation sequencing of cfDNA from one patient who exhibited innate resistance to TKI despite a high fraction of TKI-sensitive mutations and the absence of the T790M mutation in his cfDNA revealed the presence of the L747P mutation, a known driver of TKI resistance. CONCLUSION Picoliter-ddPCR examination of cfDNA, supported by next-generation sequencing analysis, enables noninvasive assessment of EGFR mutations that confer resistance to TKIs. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Noninvasive monitoring of the predominance of tumors harboring the secondary T790M mutation in the activating mutation in EGFR gene is necessary for precise and effective treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. Because cells harboring the T790M mutation are resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the predominance of tumor cells harboring the T790M mutations influences the choice of whether to use conventional or next-generation TKIs. Digital polymerase chain reaction-based examination of cfDNA is a promising method; however, its feasibility, including its consistency with examination of rebiopsied tumor tissue, has not been fully proven. Here, picoliter-droplet digital polymerase chain reaction technology is presented as a candidate method for testing cfDNA and assessing the predominance of T790M-mutant tumors.

Frequent BRAF or EGFR Mutations in Ciliated Muconodular Papillary Tumors of the Lung

Introduction: Ciliated muconodular papillary tumors (CMPTs) are recently characterized, rare peripheral nodules of the lung. These small tumors are histologically comprised of a vaguely organized mixture of nonatypical ciliated columnar cells, mucous cells, and basal cells, and consistently follow a benign clinical course. However, the histogenesis of CMPTs remains uncertain. Methods: We performed detailed genomic analyses of 10 archived CMPT cases, using next‐generation sequencing and high‐resolution melting analysis. Results: Mutations were identified in eight of the 10 cases (80%); four cases harbored the BRAF‐V600E mutation, one case harbored the BRAF‐G606R mutation, and three cases harbored deletions in exon 19 of EGFR. All of the deletions in EGFR were of the E746‐T751/S752V subtype. Conclusions: The high prevalence of driver gene mutations in CMPTs supports the notion that these lesions are neoplastic rather than reactive or metaplastic.

Association of variations in HLA class II and other loci with susceptibility to EGFR -mutated lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma driven by somatic EGFR mutations is more prevalent in East Asians (30–50%) than in European/Americans (10–20%). Here we investigate genetic factors underlying the risk of this disease by conducting a genome-wide association study, followed by two validation studies, in 3,173 Japanese patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma and 15,158 controls. Four loci, 5p15.33 (TERT), 6p21.3 (BTNL2), 3q28 (TP63) and 17q24.2 (BPTF), previously shown to be strongly associated with overall lung adenocarcinoma risk in East Asians, were re-discovered as loci associated with a higher susceptibility to EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, two additional loci, HLA class II at 6p21.32 (rs2179920; P =5.1 × 10−17, per-allele OR=1.36) and 6p21.1 (FOXP4) (rs2495239; P=3.9 × 10−9, per-allele OR=1.19) were newly identified as loci associated with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma. This study indicates that multiple genetic factors underlie the risk of lung adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations.

Multiplex Diagnosis of Oncogenic Fusion and MET Exon Skipping by Molecular Counting Using Formalin-Fixed Paraffin Embedded Lung Adenocarcinoma Tissues

Introduction: Fusions of the anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ALK), ret proto‐oncogene (RET), ROS proto‐oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ROS1), B‐Raf proto‐oncogene, serine/threonine kinase gene (BRAF), and neuregulin 1 gene (NRG1) and intronic MMNG HOS Transforming gene (MET) mutations are druggable oncogene alterations in lung adenocarcinoma that cause expression of aberrant transcripts. Because these aberrant transcripts are both infrequent (incidence <5%) and mutually exclusive, multiplex assays are required to detect them in tumor samples. Methods: Aberrant transcripts of the six aforementioned oncogenes (36 transcripts in total) were examined in a molecular counting (MC) assay, which counts RNA molecules by simultaneous hybridization of several probes. Forty‐one samples of surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma tissue found to express one of these aberrant oncogenic transcripts upon whole transcriptome sequencing (test cohort: n = 22) or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (validation cohort: n = 19) analyses were subjected to MC, after which biopsies were performed on tumor tissue samples. Results: Threshold values for the diagnosis of each of the 36 transcripts were determined in frozen and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples from the test cohort. On the basis of these threshold values, the MC assay diagnosed expression of oncogenic transcripts in the validation cohort samples with 100% accuracy. The assay also accurately detected oncogenic fusions in bronchial lavage fluid and transbronchial biopsy samples. Conclusions: The MC assay allows multiplex detection of oncogenic fusion and exon‐skipped transcripts in tumor samples, including in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples obtained in the clinic.

Impact of KRAS mutation on response and outcome of patients with stage III non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

The frequency and clinical profile of patients with stage III non‐small cell lung cancer harboring KRAS mutations have not yet been well documented. Here, we analyzed hotspot KRAS mutations using high‐resolution melting analyses in tumor specimens from patients who received chemoradiotherapy between January 2001 and December 2010 at the National Cancer Center Hospital. The associations between the presence of KRAS mutations and the response rate, relapse‐free survival, first relapse sites, survival post‐progression and overall survival were investigated. A total of 274 non‐squamous non‐small cell lung cancer patients received chemoradiotherapy at our hospital. After excluding 121 patients for whom tumor specimens were not available and 34 patients with EGFR mutations, the remaining 119 patients were included in the analysis. KRAS mutations were found at a frequency of 13%. Patients with KRAS mutations had a shorter median relapse‐free survival (6.1 vs 10.9 months) and a lower response rate (63% vs 81%). As for the first relapse site, patients with KRAS mutations had fewer local relapses (8% vs 23%) and more brain metastases (46% vs 12%). After disease progression, patients with KRAS mutations had a significantly shorter median survival post‐progression (2.5 vs 7.3 months, P = 0.028) and median overall survival (15.1 vs 29.1 months, P = 0.022). Our results suggested that KRAS mutation could be associated with a reduced efficacy of chemoradiotherapy and a shortened survival time.

Comparison of Amrubicin and Weekly Cisplatin/Etoposide/Irinotecan in Patients With Relapsed Small-cell Lung Cancer

Background Although several agents have been introduced for the treatment of relapsed small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC), there is still only limited evidence regarding second‐ and later‐line chemotherapies for these patients. Patients and Methods Consecutive patients with relapsed SCLC treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. Patients’ characteristics and treatments to explore factors associated with the survival outcomes were reviewed. Results A total of 580 patients diagnosed as having SCLC received first‐line chemotherapy/chemoradiotherapy, of which 343 (59%) received second‐line chemotherapy. Among the 343 patients, 193, 148, and 2 patients were diagnosed sensitive relapse, refractory relapse, and relapse of unknown sensitivity status, respectively. Second‐line chemotherapy regimens used were as follows: amrubicin (AMR) in 188 (55%) patients; weekly cisplatin/etoposide/irinotecan (PEI) in 56 (16%) patients; topotecan in 18 (5.2%) patients; others in 81 (24%) patients. In the analysis including all patients, the following outcomes were obtained for the patients treated with AMR and PEI, respectively: objective response rate: 51% and 73%; median progression‐free survival: 4.5 and 4.2 months; median overall survival: 10.0 and 10.8 months. Multivariate analysis identified sensitive relapse to first‐line treatment (vs. refractory relapse) (P = .007) and AMR as second‐line treatment (vs. PEI) (P = .005) as independent favorable prognostic factors for survival. Conclusion AMR showed a favorable trend compared with PEI in terms of the progression‐free survival and feasibility in SCLC patients with relapsed disease. Based on our findings, we suggest that a randomized trial comparing AMR and PEI is warranted. Micro‐Abstract Limited evidence is available for relapsed small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC). Five hundred eighty consecutive patients with relapsed SCLC treated at our institute were analyzed. Multivariate analysis identified sensitive relapse and amrubicin treatment as independent favorable prognostic factors for survival. Amrubicin showed a favorable trend compared with cisplatin/etoposide/irinotecan in terms of the progression‐free survival and feasibility in SCLC patients with relapsed disease.

Medical treatment involving investigational drugs and genetic profile of thymic carcinoma

BACKGROUND Thymic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm of the thymus, and information regarding its genetic profile and optimal medical treatment is limited. We sought to characterize the genetic profile of thymic carcinoma and to evaluate the efficacy of various medical treatments, including treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), cytotoxic agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 64 consecutive patients with thymic carcinoma at the National Cancer Center Hospital between April 1973 and March 2014. We analyzed treatment course of patients who underwent medical treatment involving investigational drugs. For patients with available tissue samples, targeted sequencing of 50 cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing was performed. RESULTS Thirty-six patients had received chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival in patients receiving first-line chemotherapy was 7.07 months (95% confidence interval, 5.67-8.93). Median survival time was 32.6 months (95% confidence interval, 23.2-43.4). As second- or later-line chemotherapy, a total of 13 patients were treated with 24 investigational drugs, including 8 multi-targeted TKIs, 5 cytotoxic agents, and 2 immune checkpoint inhibitors. Six (24%) of the patients treated with investigational drugs maintained disease control for at least 6 months. Tissue samples of 52 patients (81.3%) were available for targeted sequencing, consisting of 52 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and 16 fresh frozen tissue samples. The genetic alterations of TP53, KRAS, FBXW7, and NRAS were detected in 7 patients (13.5%), and no KIT mutations were noted. CONCLUSIONS Multi-targeted TKIs exhibited potential clinical efficacy for previously-treated thymic carcinoma. The frequency of genetic alterations in this study was low, with no apparent relationship with the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Clinical practice guidance for next-generation sequencing in cancer diagnosis and treatment (Edition 1.0)

In Japan, the social (medical) health‐care system is on the way to being developed to advance personalized medicine through the implementation of cancer genomic medicine, known as “cancer clinical sequencing,” which uses a next‐generation sequencer. However, no Japanese guidance for cancer genomic testing exists. Gene panel testing can be carried out to help determine patient treatment, confirm diagnosis, and evaluate prognostic predictions of patients with mainly solid cancers for whom no standard treatment is available. This guidance describes how to utilize gene panel testing according to the type of cancer: childhood cancer, rare cancer, carcinoma of unknown primary, and other cancers. The level of evidence classification for unified use in Japan is also detailed. This guidance establishes the basic principles of the quality control of specimens, requirements of medical institutions, informed consent, handling of data during the postanalysis stage, and treatment options based on the evidence level. In Japan, gene panel testing for cancer treatment and diagnosis is recommended to comply with this guidance. This is a collaborative work of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, Japan Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Japanese Cancer Association.

Abstract B25: Association of variations in HLA-class II and other loci with susceptibility to EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) driven by somatic EGFR mutations is more prevalent in East Asians (30-50%) than in European/Americans (10-20%). Understanding the genetic factors underlying such LADC is required to elucidate disease etiology and to identify effective methods of prevention. Methods: We investigate genetic factors underlying the risk of this disease by conducting a genome-wide association study, followed by two validation studies, in 3,173 Japanese patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma and 15,158 controls. Results: Four loci, 5p15.33 (TERT), 6p21.3 (BTNL2, HLA-class II), 3q28 (TP63) and 17q24.2 (BPTF), previously shown to be strongly associated with overall lung adenocarcinoma risk in East Asians, were re-discovered as loci associated with a higher susceptibility to EGFR mutation-positive. Citation Format: Kouya Shiraishi, Yukinori Okada, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoichiro Kamatani, Kyota Ashikawa, Yukihide Momozawa, Hideo Kunitoh, Shingo Matsumoto, Atsushi Takano, Kimihiro Shimizu, Akiteru Goto, Koji Tsuta, Shun-ichi Watanabe, Yuichiro Ohe, Yukio Watanabe, Yasishi Goto, Hiroshi Nokihara, Koh Furuta, Akihiko Yoshida, Koichi Goto, Tomoyuki Hishida, Masahiro Tsuboi, Katsuya Tsuchihara, Yohei Miyagi, Haruhiko Nakamura, Tomoyuki Yokose, Katsuya Tanaka, Toshiteru Nagashima, Yoichi Ohtaki, Daichi Maeda, Kazuhiro Imai, Yoshihiro Minamiya, Hiromi Sakamoto, Akira Saito, Yoko Shimada, Kuniko Sunami, Motonobu Saito, Teruhiko Yoshida, Jun Yokota, Fumihiko Matsuda, Keitaro Matsuo, Yataro Daigo, Michiaki Kubo, Takashi Kohno. Association of variations in HLA-class II and other loci with susceptibility to EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Improving Cancer Risk Prediction for Prevention and Early Detection; Nov 16-19, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(5 Suppl):Abstract nr B25.