Philip E. Lammers

Barriers to the Use of Trastuzumab for HER2+ Breast Cancer and the Potential Impact of Biosimilars: A Physician Survey in the United States and Emerging Markets

Trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has become a standard of care for patients with HER2+ breast cancer. The cost of therapy, however, can limit patient access to trastuzumab in areas with limited financial resources for treatment reimbursement. This study examined access to trastuzumab and identified potential barriers to its use in the United States, Mexico, Turkey, Russia and Brazil via physician survey. The study also investigated if the availability of a biosimilar to trastuzumab would improve access to and use of HER2 monoclonal antibody therapy. Across all countries, a subset of oncologists reported barriers to the use of trastuzumab in a neoadjuvant, adjuvant or metastatic setting. Common barriers to the use of trastuzumab included issues related to insurance coverage, drug availability and cost to the patient. Overall, nearly half of oncologists reported that they would increase the use of HER2 monoclonal antibody therapy across all treatment settings if a lower cost biosimilar to trastuzumab were available. We conclude that the introduction of a biosimilar to trastuzumab may alleviate cost-related barriers to treatment and could increase patient access to HER2-directed therapy in all countries examined.

Genomic Characterization of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer in African Americans by Targeted Massively Parallel Sequencing

PURPOSE Technologic advances have enabled the comprehensive analysis of genetic perturbations in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, African Americans have often been underrepresented in these studies. This ethnic group has higher lung cancer incidence and mortality rates, and some studies have suggested a lower incidence of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Herein, we report the most in-depth molecular profile of NSCLC in African Americans to date. METHODS A custom panel was designed to cover the coding regions of 81 NSCLC-related genes and 40 ancestry-informative markers. Clinical samples were sequenced on a massively parallel sequencing instrument, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocation was evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. RESULTS The study cohort included 99 patients (61% males, 94% smokers) comprising 31 squamous and 68 nonsquamous cell carcinomas. We detected 227 nonsilent variants in the coding sequence, including 24 samples with nonoverlapping, classic driver alterations. The frequency of driver mutations was not significantly different from that of whites, and no association was found between genetic ancestry and the presence of somatic mutations. Copy number alteration analysis disclosed distinguishable amplifications in the 3q chromosome arm in squamous cell carcinomas and pointed toward a handful of targetable alterations. We also found frequent SMARCA4 mutations and protein loss, mostly in driver-negative tumors. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that African American ancestry may not be significantly different from European/white background for the presence of somatic driver mutations in NSCLC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that using a comprehensive genotyping approach could identify numerous targetable alterations, with potential impact on therapeutic decisions.

Evolving landscape of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer treatment and the future of biosimilars.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer comprises approximately 15%-20% of all breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. The introduction of anti-HER2 therapy has significantly improved clinical outcomes for patients with HER2+ breast cancer, and multiple HER2-directed agents (ie, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine [T-DM1]) are approved for clinical use in various settings. The treatment landscape for patients with HER2+ breast cancer is continuing to evolve. While novel agents and therapeutic strategies are emerging, biologic therapies, particularly trastuzumab, are likely to remain a mainstay of treatment. However, access issues create barriers to the use of biologics, and there is evidence for underuse of trastuzumab worldwide. A biosimilar is a biologic product that is highly similar to a licensed biologic in terms of product safety and effectiveness. Biosimilars of trastuzumab are in development and may soon become available. The introduction of biosimilars may improve access to anti-HER2 therapies by providing additional treatment options and lower-cost alternatives. Because HER2-targeted drugs may be administered for extended periods of time and in combination with other systemic therapies, biosimilars have the potential to result in significant savings for healthcare systems. Herein we review current and emerging treatment options for, and discuss the possible role of biosimilars in, treating patients with HER2+ breast cancer.

Inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandin E2 by low dose aspirin: implications for adenocarcinoma metastasis

Meta-analyses have demonstrated that low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of developing adenocarcinoma metastasis, and when colon cancer is detected during aspirin treatment, there is a remarkable 83% reduction in risk of metastasis. As platelets participate in the metastatic process, the antiplatelet action of low-dose aspirin likely contributes to its antimetastatic effect. Cycloxooxygenase-2 (COX-2)–derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also contributes to metastasis, and we addressed the hypothesis that low-dose aspirin also inhibits PGE2 biosynthesis. We show that low-dose aspirin inhibits systemic PGE2 biosynthesis by 45% in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001). Aspirin is found to be more potent in colon adenocarcinoma cells than in the platelet, and in lung adenocarcinoma cells, its inhibition is equivalent to that in the platelet. Inhibition of COX by aspirin in colon cancer cells is in the context of the metastasis of colon cancer primarily to the liver, the organ exposed to the same high concentrations of aspirin as the platelet. We find that the interaction of activated platelets with lung adenocarcinoma cells upregulates COX-2 expression and PGE2 biosynthesis, and inhibition of platelet COX-1 by aspirin inhibits PGE2 production by the platelet–tumor cell aggregates. In conclusion, low-dose aspirin has a significant effect on extraplatelet cyclooxygenase and potently inhibits COX-2 in lung and colon adenocarcinoma cells. This supports a hypothesis that the remarkable prevention of metastasis from adenocarcinomas, and particularly from colon adenocarcinomas, by low-dose aspirin results from its effect on platelet COX-1 combined with inhibition of PGE2 biosynthesis in metastasizing tumor cells. Cancer Prev Res; 9(11); 855–65. ©2016 AACR.

Role of Rituximab and Rituximab Biosimilars in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), is the most-common subtype of NHL. DLBCL can be classified into at least 3 major immunologically distinct types, which contributes to considerable variation in disease prognosis and response to treatment. DLBCL potentially is curable, even when diagnosed at advanced stages. The current standard of care for most patients with untreated or relapsed/refractory DLBCL is chemoimmunotherapy containing rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. With advanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DLBCL and specific signaling pathways that are activated in different subtypes, potential new therapeutic targets have been identified, some of which are at the late stages of clinical development. This review summarizes the critical role of rituximab in the current standard of care treatment for DLBCL and discusses why rituximab is likely to remain an important component of treatment options for DLBCL in the foreseeable future. In addition, current and emerging therapeutic agents, including potential benefits of rituximab biosimilars, for patients with DLBCL are discussed. The advent of rituximab biosimilars may facilitate accessibility of rituximab-based chemotherapies to patients with DLBCL and has potential cost-saving benefits for healthcare systems globally.

nab-Paclitaxel in Combination With Weekly Carboplatin With Concurrent Radiotherapy in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

LESSONS LEARNED The concomitant use of weekly nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy was demonstrated to be a safe therapeutic approach in this phase I trial of 10 evaluable patients with stage III NSCLC.Despite the lack of systemic glucocorticoids, there were no reported infusion reactions or cases of peripheral neuropathy in this trial, both of which are known to occur with the use of paclitaxel. BACKGROUND Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a 5-year survival rate of 20%, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy results in significant toxicity with the use of current chemotherapeutic agents. nab-Paclitaxel was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2012 for use along with carboplatin in advanced NSCLC. This study was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of weekly nab-paclitaxel given in combination with carboplatin and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. METHODS Escalating doses of once-weekly nab-paclitaxel were given along with once-weekly carboplatin area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) of 2 and concurrent radiotherapy 66 Gy in 33 fractions, followed by 2 cycles of carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel consolidation chemotherapy. RESULTS Eleven patients were enrolled and received treatment per protocol, with 10 evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. At dose level 1 (nab-paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2)), 2 DLTs were observed: esophagitis and radiation dermatitis. Six patients were enrolled at dose level 0 (nab-paclitaxel 40 mg/m(2)) with no DLTs. Nine of 10 evaluable patients had a partial response. CONCLUSION Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with nab-paclitaxel 40 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC 2 is a safe and well-tolerated therapeutic regimen in patients with stage III NSCLC. A separate phase I/II study to evaluate the efficacy of this regimen is under way.

Somatic Mutation Spectrum of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer in African Americans: A Pooled Analysis

Introduction: The mutational profile of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become an important tool in tailoring therapy to patients, with clear differences according to the population of origin. African Americans (AAs) have higher lung cancer incidence and mortality than Caucasians, yet discrepant results have been reported regarding the frequency of somatic driver mutations. We hypothesized that NSCLC has a distinct mutational profile in this group. Methods: We collected NSCLC samples resected from self-reported AAs in five sites from Tennessee, Michigan, and Ohio. Gene mutations were assessed by either SNaPshot or next generation sequencing, and ALK translocations were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: Two hundred sixty patients were included, mostly males (62.3%) and smokers (86.6%). Eighty-one samples (31.2%) were squamous cell carcinomas. The most frequently mutated genes were KRAS (15.4%), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, 5.0%), PIK3CA (0.8%), BRAF, NRAS, ERBB2, and AKT1 (0.4% each). ALK translocations were detected in two nonsquamous tumors (1.7%), totaling 61 cases (23.5%) with driver oncogenic alterations. Among 179 nonsquamous samples, 54 (30.2%) presented a driver alteration. The frequency of driver alterations altogether was lower than that reported in Caucasians, whereas no difference was detected in either EGFR or KRAS mutations. Overall survival was longer among patients with EGFR mutations. Conclusions: We demonstrated that NSCLC from AAs has a different pattern of somatic driver mutations than from Caucasians. The majority of driver alterations in this group are yet to be described, which will require more comprehensive panels and assessment of noncanonical alterations.

Phase II Study of Bendamustine in Relapsed Chemotherapy Sensitive or Resistant Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: To determine the time to progression (TTP), response rate (RR), and toxicity for North American patients with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with bendamustine in the second- or third-line setting. Methods: Patients with relapsed, histologically confirmed SCLC were eligible for enrollment on study. The study population included patients with both chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant disease treated with up to two prior lines of chemotherapy. Patients were treated with 120 mg/m2 of bendamustine on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day cycle for up to six cycles. Primary end point was TTP; secondary end points included toxicity, RR, and overall survival. Results: Fifty-nine patients were accrued, 50 patients met eligibility for enrollment. The median age of patients was 62, and 56% were men. Twenty-nine patients (58%) had chemotherapy-sensitive disease. Median TTP was 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–5.4), median overall survival was 4.8 months (95% CI, 3.8–6.3), and the RR was 26% (95% CI, 13.3%–39.5%). Patients with chemosensitive disease had a median TTP of 4.2 months (95% CI, 3.3–6.0) compared with 3.4 months (95% CI, 2.7–∞) for chemotherapy-resistant disease. The RR was 33% (95% CI, 14.2%–51.8%) in patients with chemosensitive disease and 17% (95% CI, 0%–34.4%) in those with chemoresistant disease. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were fatigue (20%), dyspnea (12%), and anemia (12%). Conclusion: Bendamustine has modest activity in relapsed SCLC similar to other agents evaluated in this patient population.

Barriers to the Access of Bevacizumab in Patients with Solid Tumors and the Potential Impact of Biosimilars: A Physician Survey

Access to bevacizumab, an important component of oncology treatment regimens, may be limited. This survey of oncologists in the US (n = 150), Europe (n = 230), and emerging markets (EM: Brazil, Mexico, and Turkey; n = 130) examined use of and barriers to accessing bevacizumab as treatment of advanced solid tumors. We also assessed the likelihood that physicians would prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar, if available. Bevacizumab was frequently used as early-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic non-squamous non–small-cell lung cancer, and metastatic ovarian cancer (all markets), and as a second-line therapy in glioblastoma multiforme (US, EM). A greater percentage of EM-based physicians cited access-related issues as a barrier to prescribing bevacizumab versus US and EU physicians. Lack of reimbursement and high out-of-pocket costs were cited as predominant barriers to prescribing and common reasons for reducing the number of planned cycles. Overall, ~50% of physicians reported they “definitely” or “probably” would prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar, if available. Efficacy and safety data in specific tumor types and lower cost were factors cited that would increase likelihood to prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar. A lower cost bevacizumab biosimilar could address the unmet needs of patients and physicians worldwide, and may have the greatest impact on patient outcomes in EM.

Fetuin-A (alpha 2HS glycoprotein) modulates growth, motility, invasion, and senescence in high-grade astrocytomas

Glioblastomas (high‐grade astrocytomas) are highly aggressive brain tumors with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. In the present studies, we have defined the role of fetuin‐A, a liver‐derived multifunctional serum protein, in the growth of an established glioblastoma cell line, LN229. We hereby demonstrate that these cells synthesize ectopic fetuin‐A which supports their growth in culture in the absence of serum. We have demonstrated that a panel of tissue microarray (TMA) of glioblastomas also express ectopic fetuin‐A. Knocking down fetuin‐A using shRNA approach in LN229, significantly reduced their in vitro growth as well as growth and invasion in vivo. The fetuin‐A knockdown subclones of LN229 (A and D) also had reduced motility and invasive capacity. Treatment of LN229 cells with asialofetuin (ASF), attenuated their uptake of labeled fetuin‐A, and induced senescence in them. Interestingly, the D subclone that had ~90% reduction in ectopic fetuin‐A, underwent senescence in serum‐free medium which was blunted in the presence of purified fetuin‐A. Uptake of labeled exosomes was attenuated in fetuin‐A knockdown subclones A and D. Taken together, the studies demonstrate the impact of fetuin‐A as significant node of growth, motility, and invasion signaling in glioblastomas that can be targeted for therapy.