Yvonne Summers

Tracking the Evolution of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND Among patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), data on intratumor heterogeneity and cancer genome evolution have been limited to small retrospective cohorts. We wanted to prospectively investigate intratumor heterogeneity in relation to clinical outcome and to determine the clonal nature of driver events and evolutionary processes in early‐stage NSCLC. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, we performed multiregion whole‐exome sequencing on 100 early‐stage NSCLC tumors that had been resected before systemic therapy. We sequenced and analyzed 327 tumor regions to define evolutionary histories, obtain a census of clonal and subclonal events, and assess the relationship between intratumor heterogeneity and recurrence‐free survival. RESULTS We observed widespread intratumor heterogeneity for both somatic copy‐number alterations and mutations. Driver mutations in EGFR, MET, BRAF, and TP53 were almost always clonal. However, heterogeneous driver alterations that occurred later in evolution were found in more than 75% of the tumors and were common in PIK3CA and NF1 and in genes that are involved in chromatin modification and DNA damage response and repair. Genome doubling and ongoing dynamic chromosomal instability were associated with intratumor heterogeneity and resulted in parallel evolution of driver somatic copy‐number alterations, including amplifications in CDK4, FOXA1, and BCL11A. Elevated copy‐number heterogeneity was associated with an increased risk of recurrence or death (hazard ratio, 4.9; P=4.4×10‐4), which remained significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Intratumor heterogeneity mediated through chromosome instability was associated with an increased risk of recurrence or death, a finding that supports the potential value of chromosome instability as a prognostic predictor. (Funded by Cancer Research UK and others; TRACERx ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01888601.)

Tracking genomic cancer evolution for precision medicine: the lung TRACERx study.

TRACERx, a prospective study of patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer, aims to map the genomic landscape of lung cancer by tracking clonal heterogeneity and tumour evolution from diagnosis to relapse.

PD‐L1 testing for lung cancer in the UK: recognizing the challenges for implementation

A new approach to the management of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has recently emerged that works by manipulating the immune checkpoint controlled by programmed death receptor 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1). Several drugs targeting PD‐1 (pembrolizumab and nivolumab) or PD‐L1 (atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab) have been approved or are in the late stages of development. Inevitably, the introduction of these drugs will put pressure on healthcare systems, and there is a need to stratify patients to identify those who are most likely to benefit from such treatment. There is evidence that responsiveness to PD‐1 inhibitors may be predicted by expression of PD‐L1 on neoplastic cells. Hence, there is considerable interest in using PD‐L1 immunohistochemical staining to guide the use of PD‐1‐targeted treatments in patients with NSCLC. This article reviews the current knowledge about PD‐L1 testing, and identifies current research requirements. Key factors to consider include the source and timing of sample collection, pre‐analytical steps (sample tracking, fixation, tissue processing, sectioning, and tissue prioritization), analytical decisions (choice of biomarker assay/kit and automated staining platform, with verification of standardized assays or validation of laboratory‐devised techniques, internal and external quality assurance, and audit), and reporting and interpretation of the results. This review addresses the need for integration of PD‐L1 immunohistochemistry with other tests as part of locally agreed pathways and protocols. There remain areas of uncertainty, and guidance should be updated regularly as new information becomes available.

Third-Line Chemotherapy in Small-Cell Lung Cancer: An International Analysis

INTRODUCTION Small-cell lung cancer is an aggressive disease for which the mainstay of treatment is chemotherapy. Despite good initial responses most patients will relapse. Some will receive second-line therapy with clinical benefit, but for third-line chemotherapy there is little evidence to guide treatment decisions and the benefits of treatment are unknown. This study investigated the treatment of SCLC in the third-line setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS An international, multicenter retrospective analysis of patients who received at least 3 lines of chemotherapy for their SCLC was performed. RESULTS From 2000 to 2010, 120 patients were identified from 5 centers: median age 61, 40% (n = 72) limited stage, and 79% (n = 95) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1. Only 22% of these patients received 3 distinct lines of chemotherapy. The remainder were rechallenged with a chemotherapy regimen used at least once previously. Six percent received platinum-based chemotherapy in all 3 lines. In third-line, response rate was 18% and median overall survival was 4.7 months. Factors associated with longer survival included normal baseline LDH levels and response to second-line chemotherapy. On multivariate analysis only normal baseline LDH retained statistical significance. Thirty-five patients went on to receive chemotherapy beyond the third line. CONCLUSION Few SCLC patients receive 3 chemotherapy lines. Most patients were rechallenged with a similar regimen at least once. Response and survival in the third-line setting are modest. Lack of response to second-line chemotherapy and elevated baseline LDH level might predict lack of benefit from third-line treatment. This data set does not include patients receiving fewer lines for comparison.

Trichomegaly of the Eyelashes After Treatment with Erlotinib in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

The expanding use of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in the management of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer has led to an interest in the early identification of those who are likely to gain benefit. We present the case of a patient with a durable clinical response, who developed trichomegaly (excessive eyelash growth) without the characteristic skin rash.

Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in early stage NSCLC: CTCs and serum/plasma markers

Resection of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) offers patients the best hope of cure, however recurrence rates post-resection remain high suggesting the presence of micro-metastatic disease at the time of surgery undetected by standard staging methods. A critical step in the metastatic cascade is the entry of tumor cells into the circulation enabling their distribution to and seeding of distant organs. This review explores the evidence for predictive and prognostic circulating biomarkers in the early stage NSCLC population. We summarize studies that have explored a variety of targets including circulating proteins, nucleic acids and more recently circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as potentially clinically relevant biomarkers in the early stage setting. Circulating biomarkers may add clinically relevant information about the biological behavior of tumors over and above that provided by pathological staging. Improvement in the stratification of patients according to the likelihood of metastatic relapse after radical treatments such as surgical resection could allow more effective targeting of systemic therapies such as adjuvant chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Antitumor Activity Using Change in Tumor Size of the Survivin Antisense Oligonucleotide LY2181308 in Combination with Docetaxel for Second-Line Treatment of Patients with Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Open-Label Phase II Study

Chemoresistance is mediated, in part, by the inhibition of apoptosis in tumor cells. Survivin is an antiapoptotic protein that blocks chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. To investigate whether blocking survivin expression enhances docetaxel-induced apoptosis in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we compared the antitumor activity of the survivin inhibitor LY2181308 plus docetaxel with docetaxel alone. We used change in tumor size (CTS) as a primary endpoint to assess its use in early decision-making for this and future studies of novel agents in NSCLC. Patients (N = 162) eligible for second-line NSCLC treatment (stage IIIB/IV) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1 were randomized 2:1 to receive LY2181308 (750 mg intravenously, weekly) and docetaxel (75 mg/m2 intravenously, day 1) or docetaxel alone every 21 days. CTS from baseline to the end of cycle 2 was compared between the two treatment arms. The mean (SD) tumor size ratio for LY2181308/docetaxel and docetaxel was 1.05 (0.21) and 1.00 (0.15) (p = 0.200), respectively, suggesting no significant improvement in antitumor activity between the arms. Because there was also no significant difference between the two arms for progression-free survival (PFS) (2.83 months with LY2181308/docetaxel and 3.35 months with docetaxel [p = 0.191]), both arms were combined. Using the combined arms, CTS correlated with PFS (PFS = 4.63 months in patients with decreased CTS compared with 2.66 months in patients with increased CTS), supporting its use in early decision-making in phase II studies.

Randomized phase III trial of erlotinib versus docetaxel in patients with advanced squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer failing first line platinum-based doublet chemotherapy stratified by Veristrat good versus Veristrat poor. The European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP) EMPHASIS-lung trial.

Introduction Docetaxel and erlotinib are registered second‐line treatments for wild‐type EGFR NSCLC. Previous studies suggested a predictive value of the VeriStrat test in second‐line therapy of NSCLC, classifying patients as either VeriStrat good or VeriStrat poor. EMPHASIS‐lung aimed at exploring this predictive effect in patients with squamous cell NSCLC. The trial closed prematurely because of low accrual and results from other trials. Our analysis includes an exploratory combined analysis with results from the PROSE trial. Methods EMPHASIS‐lung was a randomized phase III multicenter trial exploring the differential effect of second‐line erlotinib versus docetaxel on progression‐free survival (PFS) in VeriStrat good versus VeriStrat poor patients with squamous cell NSCLC. Results A total of 80 patients were randomized, with 72.5% categorized as VeriStrat good. Patient characteristics were balanced between VeriStrat status and treatment groups. The median PFS times with docetaxel and erlotinib treatment in the VeriStrat good cohort were 4.1 and 1.6 months, respectively, versus 1.9 and 2.1 months, respectively, in the VeriStrat poor cohort. The median overall survival (OS) times with docetaxel and erlotinib treatment in the VeriStrat good cohort were 7.8 and 8.4 months, respectively, and 4.4 and 5.2 months, respectively, in the VeriStrat poor cohort. An additional exploratory analysis was performed; in it, 47 patients from the squamous cell subgroup of PROSE were included in a combined analysis, contributing with 45 PFS and 41 OS events. Conclusions The final analysis of EMPHASIS‐lung did not show a differential effect on PFS for erlotinib versus docetaxel stratified by VeriStrat status. Similarly, in the combined analysis, no significant treatment by VeriStrat status interaction was observed (interaction p = 0.24 for PFS and 0.45 for OS, stratified by study).

SELECT-3: a phase I study of selumetinib in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in the first-line setting.

Background:We investigated selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY-142886), an oral, potent, and highly selective, allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor, plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy for patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:In this Phase I, open-label study (NCT01809210), treatment-naïve patients received selumetinib (50, 75, 100 mg BID PO) plus standard doses of gemcitabine or pemetrexed plus cisplatin or carboplatin. Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and determination of recommended Phase II doses.Results:Fifty-five patients received treatment: selumetinib 50 or 75 mg plus gemcitabine/cisplatin (n=10); selumetinib 50 mg plus gemcitabine/carboplatin (n=9); selumetinib 50, 75 or 100 mg plus pemetrexed/carboplatin (n=21); selumetinib 75 mg plus pemetrexed/cisplatin (n=15). Most frequent adverse events (AEs) were fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. Grade ⩾3 selumetinib-related AEs were reported in 30 (55%) patients. Dose-limiting toxicities (all n=1) were Grade 4 anaemia (selumetinib 75 mg plus gemcitabine/cisplatin), Grade 4 thrombocytopenia/epistaxis and Grade 4 thrombocytopenia (selumetinib 50 mg plus gemcitabine/carboplatin), Grade 4 febrile neutropenia (selumetinib 100 mg plus pemetrexed/carboplatin), and Grade 3 lethargy (selumetinib 75 mg plus pemetrexed/cisplatin). Partial responses were confirmed in 11 (20%) and unconfirmed in 9 (16%) patients.Conclusions:Standard doses of pemetrexed/carboplatin or pemetrexed/cisplatin were tolerated with selumetinib 75 mg BID. The selumetinib plus gemcitabine-containing regimens were not tolerated.

Can EBUS-TBNA provide an accurate diagnosis in patients found to have enlarged or FDG-avid lymph nodes during surveillance of previously treated lung cancer? A retrospective study.

Background:Reliable pathologic sampling methods are pivotal in the management of lung cancer patients who have undergone either curative intent or palliative treatment previously. Early diagnosis of localized disease recurrence may facilitate further curative treatment and rebiopsy at the point of disease progression during palliative treatment can inform further management. This study assessed the performance of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) lymph node sampling in a cohort of such patients. Methods:A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of EBUS-TBNA procedures at the University Hospital of South Manchester from August 2010 to August 2013. All patients with previously treated lung cancer and suspected nodal metastases (defined as nodal enlargement on CT>10 mm in the short axis or abnormal FDG avidity on PET-CT) were included. Results:The sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA, on a per patient and per lymph node basis, was 91.4% and 91.8%, respectively (CI, 80.8%-96.5%). The corresponding NPV was 87.5% and 89.7%, respectively (CI, 76.4%-95.9%). There were no major complications and 3 (5.4%) minor complications. From the malignant EBUS-TBNA samples, the NSCLC-NOS rate was 3.2% and adequate tissue for molecular testing was provided in 100% of the cases (16/16). Conclusions:EBUS-TBNA is a safe and highly effective diagnostic procedure in suspected nodal metastases after previous treatment for lung cancer. The sensitivity and NPV are equivalent to EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of “new” lung cancer.