A Phase I Study of Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccine Pulsed with Allogeneic Stem-like Cell Line Lysate in Patients with Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a heterogeneous malignancy with multiple subpopulations of cancer cells present within any tumor. We present the results of a phase I clinical trial using an autologous dendritic cell (DC) vaccine pulsed with lysate derived from a GBM stem-like cell line. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM were enrolled as separate cohorts. Eligibility criteria included a qualifying surgical resection or minimal tumor size, ≤ 4-mg dexamethasone daily dose, and Karnofsky score ≥70. Vaccine treatment consisted of two phases: an induction phase with vaccine given weekly for 4 weeks, and a maintenance phase with vaccines administered every 8 weeks until depletion of supply or disease progression. Patients with newly diagnosed GBM also received standard-of-care radiation and temozolomide. The primary objective for this open-label, single-institution trial was to assess the safety and tolerability of the autologous DC vaccine. RESULTS: For the 11 patients with newly diagnosed GBM, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.75 months, and median overall survival was 20.36 months. For the 25 patients with recurrent GBM, median PFS was 3.23 months, 6-month PFS was 24%, and median survival was 11.97 months. A subset of patients developed a cytotoxic T-cell response as determined by an IFNγ ELISpot assay. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM with autologous DC vaccine pulsed with lysate derived from an allogeneic stem-like cell line was safe and well tolerated. Clinical outcomes add to the body of evidence suggesting that immunotherapy plays a role in the treatment of GBM.

Gliosarcoma vs. glioblastoma: a retrospective case series using molecular profiling.

BACKGROUND: Gliosarcoma (GS) refers to the presence of mesenchymal differentiation (as seen using light microscopy) in the setting of glioblastoma (GB, an astrocytoma, WHO Grade 4). Although the same approach to treatment is typically adopted for GS and GB, there remains some debate as to whether GS should be considered a discrete pathological entity. Differences between these tumors have not been clearly established at the molecular level. METHODS: Patients with GS (n=48) or GB (n=1229) underwent molecular profiling (MP) with a pan-cancer panel of tests as part of their clinical care. The methods employed included next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA and RNA, copy number variation (CNV) of DNA and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The MP comprised 1153 tests in total, although results for each test were not available for every tumor profiled. We analyzed this data retrospectively in order to determine if our results were in keeping with what is known about the pathogenesis of GS by contrast with GB. We also sought novel associations between the MP and GS vs. GB which might improve our understanding of pathogenesis of GS. RESULTS: Potentially meaningful associations (p<0.1, Fisher's exact test (FET)) were found for 14 of these tests in GS vs. GB. A novel finding was higher levels of proteins mediating immuno-evasion (PD-1, PD-L1) in GS. All of the differences we observed have been associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in other tumor types. Many of the changes we saw in GS are novel in the setting of glial tumors, including copy number amplification in LYL1 and mutations in PTPN11. CONCLUSIONS: GS shows certain characteristics of EMT, by contrast with GB. Treatments targeting immuno-evasion may be of greater therapeutic value in GS relative to GB.

Effect of Nivolumab vs Bevacizumab in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma: The CheckMate 143 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Clinical outcomes for glioblastoma remain poor. Treatment with immune checkpoint blockade has shown benefits in many cancer types. To our knowledge, data from a randomized phase 3 clinical trial evaluating a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor therapy for glioblastoma have not been reported. Objective: To determine whether single-agent PD-1 blockade with nivolumab improves survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma compared with bevacizumab. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this open-label, randomized, phase 3 clinical trial, 439 patients with glioblastoma at first recurrence following standard radiation and temozolomide therapy were enrolled, and 369 were randomized. Patients were enrolled between September 2014 and May 2015. The median follow-up was 9.5 months at data cutoff of January 20, 2017. The study included 57 multicenter, multinational clinical sites. Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 to nivolumab 3 mg/kg or bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks until confirmed disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, or death. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 369 patients were randomized to nivolumab (n = 184) or bevacizumab (n = 185). The MGMT promoter was methylated in 23.4% (43/184; nivolumab) and 22.7% (42/185; bevacizumab), unmethylated in 32.1% (59/184; nivolumab) and 36.2% (67/185; bevacizumab), and not reported in remaining patients. At median follow-up of 9.5 months, median OS (mOS) was comparable between groups: nivolumab, 9.8 months (95% CI, 8.2-11.8); bevacizumab, 10.0 months (95% CI, 9.0-11.8); HR, 1.04 (95% CI, 0.83-1.30); P = .76. The 12-month OS was 42% in both groups. The objective response rate was higher with bevacizumab (23.1%; 95% CI, 16.7%-30.5%) vs nivolumab (7.8%; 95% CI, 4.1%-13.3%). Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were similar between groups (nivolumab, 33/182 [18.1%]; bevacizumab, 25/165 [15.2%]), with no unexpected neurological TRAEs or deaths due to TRAEs. Conclusions and Relevance: Although the primary end point was not met in this randomized clinical trial, mOS was comparable between nivolumab and bevacizumab in the overall patient population with recurrent glioblastoma. The safety profile of nivolumab in patients with glioblastoma was consistent with that in other tumor types. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02017717.

Primary CNS lymphoma commonly expresses immune response biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare and there is limited genomic and immunological information available. Incidental clinical and radiographic responses have been reported in PCNSL patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To genetically characterize and ascertain if the majority of PCNSL patients may potentially benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors, we profiled 48 subjects with PCNSL from 2013 to 2018 with (1) next-generation sequencing to detect mutations, gene amplifications, and microsatellite instability (MSI); (2) RNA sequencing to detect gene fusions; and (3) immunohistochemistry to ascertain PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was calculated using somatic nonsynonymous missense mutations. RESULTS: High PD-L1 expression (>5% staining) was seen in 18 patients (37.5%), and intermediate expression (1-5% staining) was noted in 14 patients (29.2%). Sixteen patients (33.3%) lacked PD-L1 expression. PD-1 expression (>1 cell/high-power field) was seen in 12/14 tumors (85.7%), uncorrelated with PD-L1 expression. TMB of greater than or equal to 5 mutations per megabase (mt/Mb) occurred in 41/42 tumors, with 19% (n = 8) exhibiting high TMB (≥17 mt/Mb), 71.4% (n = 30) exhibiting intermediate TMB (7-16 mt/Mb), and 9.5% (n = 4) exhibiting low TMB (≤6 mt/Mb). No samples had MSI. Twenty-six genes showed mutations, most frequently in MYD88 (34/42, 81%), CD79B (23/42, 55%), and PIM1 (23/42, 55%). Among 7 cases tested with RNA sequencing, an ETV6-IGH fusion was found. Overall, 18/48 samples expressed high PD-L1 and 38/42 samples expressed intermediate to high TMB. CONCLUSIONS: Based on TMB biomarker expression, over 90% of PCNSL patients may benefit from the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

A phase I trial of surgical resection with Gliadel Wafer placement followed by vaccination with dendritic cells pulsed with tumor lysate for patients with malignant glioma.

High grade gliomas are associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. Conventional treatments and management of high grade gliomas have shown little improvement in 5-year overall survival. This phase I trial evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and potential synergy of surgical resection with Gliadel Wafer implantation, followed by autologous tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) vaccine in patients with malignant glioma. Primary end points of this study were safety and surrogate markers of immunogenicity, overall survival, and progression free survival. Following surgical resection, Gliadel Wafers were placed along the resection cavity. Patients subsequently received intradermal injections of autologous tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccines 3 times at 2 week intervals. Treatment response was evaluated clinically and through MRI at regular intervals. Twenty-eight patients received Gliadel Wafers and DC vaccination: 11 newly diagnosed (8 glioblastoma [GBM], 2 anaplastic astrocytoma [AA], and 1 anaplastic oligodendroglioma [AO]) and 17 recurrent (15 GBMs, 1 AA, and 1 AO) high grade gliomas. Immunogenicity data was collected for 20 of the 28 patients. Five of 20 patients showed elevated IFN-γ responses following vaccination. Median progression-free survival and overall survival for all GBM patients in the trial from the start of vaccination were 3.6 months and 16.9 months respectively. Comparisons between vaccine responders and non-vaccine responders were not statistically significant. Adjuvant autologous dendritic cells pulsed with tumor-lysate following resection and Gliadel Wafer placement is safe, elicits modest immunogenicity and shows similar clinical outcomes in patients who had DC vaccination in previous studies.

A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial of Dendritic Cell Vaccine ICT-107 in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial of ICT-107 in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a double-blinded randomized phase II trial of ICT-107 in newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma (GBM) and tested efficacy, safety, quality of life (QoL), and immune response. HLA-A1+ and/or -A2+-resected patients with residual tumor ≤1 cm3 received radiotherapy and concurrent temozolomide. Following completion of radiotherapy, 124 patients, randomized 2:1, received ICT-107 [autologous dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with six synthetic peptide epitopes targeting GBM tumor/stem cell-associated antigens MAGE-1, HER-2, AIM-2, TRP-2, gp100, and IL13Rα2] or matching control (unpulsed DC). Patients received induction ICT-107 or control weekly × 4 followed by 12 months of adjuvant temozolomide. Maintenance vaccinations occurred at 1, 3, and 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: ICT-107 was well tolerated, with no difference in adverse events between the treatment and control groups. The primary endpoint, median overall survival (OS), favored ICT-107 by 2.0 months in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population but was not statistically significant. Progression-free survival (PFS) in the ITT population was significantly increased in the ICT-107 cohort by 2.2 months (P = 0.011). The frequency of HLA-A2 primary tumor antigen expression was higher than that for HLA-A1 patients, and HLA-A2 patients had higher immune response (via Elispot). HLA-A2 patients achieved a meaningful therapeutic benefit with ICT-107, in both the MGMT methylated and unmethylated prespecified subgroups, whereas only HLA-A1 methylated patients had an OS benefit. CONCLUSIONS: PFS was significantly improved in ICT-107-treated patients with maintenance of QoL. Patients in the HLA-A2 subgroup showed increased ICT-107 activity clinically and immunologically.

The current state of molecular testing in the treatment of patients with solid tumors, 2019.

The world of molecular profiling has undergone revolutionary changes over the last few years as knowledge, technology, and even standard clinical practice have evolved. Broad molecular profiling is now nearly essential for all patients with metastatic solid tumors. New agents have been approved based on molecular testing instead of tumor site of origin. Molecular profiling methodologies have likewise changed such that tests that were performed on patients a few years ago are no longer complete and possibly inaccurate today. As with all rapid change, medical providers can quickly fall behind or struggle to find up-to-date sources to ensure he or she provides optimum care. In this review, the authors provide the current state of the art for molecular profiling/precision medicine, practice standards, and a view into the future ahead.

Post-irradiation lumbosacral radiculopathy associated with multiple cavernous malformations of the cauda equina: Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Multiple radiation-induced cavernous malformations of the cauda equina are extremely rare. A review of the literature suggested that the post-irradiation lumbosacral radiculopathy in our patient was most likely associated with a diagnosis of multiple radiation-induced cavernous malformations of the cauda equina. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 76-year-old man with a remote history of abdominal radiation therapy presented with a 6-month history of progressively worsening right foot drop and balance impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple enhancing areas of the cauda equina concerning for carcinomatous meningitis, however, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was unrevealing. Intraoperative findings were consistent with multiple radiation-induced cavernous malformations of the cauda equina. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple radiation-induced cavernous malformations of the cauda equina may mimic carcinomatous or infectious meningitis. Clinicians should be suspicious of this diagnosis when CSF and MRI findings are inconsistent with metastatic disease or infectious meningitis in patients who present with radiculopathy and a history of radiation therapy.

Phase II study of MEDI-575, an anti-platelet-derived growth factor-α antibody, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

MEDI-575, an immunoglobulin G2κ monoclonal antibody, selectively binds to platelet-derived growth factor-α receptor (PDGFR-α) with high specificity. This multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of MEDI-575 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Adults with first recurrence of glioblastoma following surgery, temozolomide, and radiation received MEDI-575 25 mg/kg intravenously over 60 min every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Six-month progression-free survival rate (PFS-6) was the primary end point; secondary measures included response rate, overall survival (OS), and safety/tolerability. PDGFR-α expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Fifty-six patients were enrolled; median age was 56.5 years (range 23-79), 66 % were male, and 66 % were aged ≥65 years. PFS-6 was 15.4 % [90 % confidence interval (CI) 8.1-24.9]. No complete or partial responses were observed; 23 (41.1 %) patients had stable disease as best response. Median PFS was 1.4 months (90 % CI 1.4, 1.8); median OS was 9.7 months (90 % CI 6.5, 11.8). The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (16 %), nausea (13 %), and fatigue (13 %). Twelve (21 %) patients reported grade ≥3 AEs, with hydrocephalus (n = 3), dysphagia (n = 2), and convulsion (n = 2) reported in more than 1 patient. Two patients had treatment-related Grade ≥3 AEs of decreased lymphocyte count and asthenia (n = 1 each). Seven patients (13 %) discontinued MEDI-575 owing to AEs. Labeling of PDGFRα in glioblastoma cells and tumor-associated stromal cells was highly variable, with no correlation with PFS. MEDI-575, although well tolerated, had limited clinical activity in recurrent glioblastoma.

Long-term Remission Over Six Years for a Patient with Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated with Cediranib/Lomustine.

Cediranib is an orally available, pan-VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. A previous Phase III study of patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with this drug did not meet the primary end of progressive-free survival (PFS). We identified one patient, a 57-year-old Caucasian female who, following surgery in October 2008 and concurrent temozolomide and radiation therapy from November 8, 2008, to January 6, 2009, developed a tumor progression of the left posterior frontal measuring 1.2 x 1.5 cm in February 2009. She was enrolled in a randomized, Phase III, placebo-controlled, partially-blinded clinical trial of cediranib as either monotherapy or in combination with lomustine (CCNU) versus CCNU. She was randomized to receive a combination therapy with 1st cycle CCNU 190 mg and cediranib 20 mg per day on April 15, 2009. However, she developed nephrotic syndrome and uncontrolled hypertension and was taken off this study in May 2010. Her six-week MRI showed a 50% tumor regression and a complete response at twenty-four weeks. With no enhancement seen on MRI on June 4, 2015, she has been off therapy and in clinical remission over five years with high functional level and good quality of life (KPS-90%). This is a case report of successful therapy for recurrent glioblastoma with long-term remission despite termination of therapy greater than six years from cediranib and limited CCNU dosage.

Phase I/randomized phase II study of afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, with or without protracted temozolomide in adults with recurrent glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: This phase I/II trial evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and pharmacokinetics of afatinib plus temozolomide as well as the efficacy and safety of afatinib as monotherapy (A) or with temozolomide (AT) vs temozolomide monotherapy (T) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). METHODS: Phase I followed a traditional 3 + 3 dose-escalation design to determine MTD. Treatment cohorts were: afatinib 20, 40, and 50 mg/day (plus temozolomide 75 mg/m(2)/day for 21 days per 28-day cycle). In phase II, participants were randomized (stratified by age and KPS) to receive A, T or AT; A was dosed at 40 mg/day and T at 75 mg/m(2) for 21 of 28 days. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival rate at 6 months (PFS-6). Participants were treated until intolerable adverse events (AEs) or disease progression. RESULTS: Recommended phase II dose was 40 mg/day (A) + T based on safety data from phase I (n = 32). Most frequent AEs in phase II (n = 119) were diarrhea (71% [A], 82% [AT]) and rash (71% [A] and 69% [AT]). Afatinib and temozolomide pharmacokinetics were unaffected by coadministration. Independently assessed PFS-6 rate was 3% (A), 10% (AT), and 23% (T). Median PFS was longer in afatinib-treated participants with epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) vIII-positive tumors versus EGFRvIII-negative tumors. Best overall response included partial response in 1 (A), 2 (AT), and 4 (T) participants and stable disease in 14 (A), 14 (AT), and 21 (T) participants. CONCLUSIONS: Afatinib has a manageable safety profile but limited single-agent activity in unselected recurrent GBM patients.

Phase II study of monthly pasireotide LAR (SOM230C) for recurrent or progressive meningioma.

OBJECTIVE: A subset of meningiomas recur after surgery and radiation therapy, but no medical therapy for recurrent meningioma has proven effective. METHODS: Pasireotide LAR is a long-acting somatostatin analog that may inhibit meningioma growth. This was a phase II trial in patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or progressive meningioma designed to evaluate whether pasireotide LAR prolongs progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6). Patients were stratified by histology (atypical [World Health Organization grade 2] and malignant [grade 3] meningiomas in cohort A and benign [grade 3] in cohort B). RESULTS: Eighteen patients were accrued in cohort A and 16 in cohort B. Cohort A had median age 59 years, median Karnofsky performance status 80, 17 (94%) had previous radiation therapy, and 11 (61%) showed high octreotide uptake. Cohort B had median age 52 years, median Karnofsky performance status 90, 11 (69%) had previous radiation therapy, and 12 (75%) showed high octreotide uptake. There were no radiographic responses to pasireotide LAR therapy in either cohort. Twelve patients (67%) in cohort A and 13 (81%) in cohort B achieved stable disease. In cohort A, PFS6 was 17% and median PFS 15 weeks (95% confidence interval: 8-20). In cohort B, PFS6 was 50% and median PFS 26 weeks (12-43). Treatment was well tolerated. Octreotide uptake and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels did not predict outcome. Expression of somatostatin receptor 3 predicted favorable PFS and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Pasireotide LAR has limited activity in recurrent meningiomas. The finding that somatostatin receptor 3 is associated with favorable outcomes warrants further investigation. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with recurrent or progressive meningioma, pasireotide LAR does not significantly increase the proportion of patients with PFS at 6 months.

A phase 2 trial of verubulin for recurrent glioblastoma: a prospective study by the Brain Tumor Investigational Consortium (BTIC).

Treatment options are limited for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Verubulin is a microtubule destabilizer and vascular disrupting agent that achieve high brain concentration relative to plasma in animals. Adults with recurrent GBM who failed prior standard therapy were eligible. The primary endpoint was 1-month progression-free survival (PFS-1) for bevacizumab refractory (Group 2) and 6-month progression-free survival (PFS-6) for bevacizumab naïve patients (Group 1). Verubulin was administered at 3.3 mg/m(2) as a 2-h intravenous infusion once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks in a 4-week cycle. The planned sample size was 34 subjects per cohort. 56 patients (37 men, 19 women) were enrolled, 31 in Group 1 and 25 in Group 2. The PFS-6 for Group 1 was 14% and the PFS-1 for Group 2 was 20%. Median survival from onset of treatment was 9.5 months in Group 1 and 3.4 months in Group 2. Best overall response was partial response (n = 3; 10% in Group 1; n = 1; 4.2% in Group 2) and stable disease (n = 7; 23% in Group 1; n = 5; 21% in Group 2). In Group 1, 38.7% of patients experienced a serious adverse event; however only 3.2% were potentially attributable to study drug. In Group 2, 44% of patients experienced a serious adverse event although none were attributable to study drug. Accrual was terminated early for futility. Single agent verubulin, in this dose and schedule, is well tolerated, associated with moderate but tolerable toxicity but has limited activity in either bevacizumab naïve or refractory recurrent GBM.

Phase III randomized trial comparing the efficacy of cediranib as monotherapy, and in combination with lomustine, versus lomustine alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: A randomized, phase III, placebo-controlled, partially blinded clinical trial (REGAL [Recent in in Glioblastoma Alone and With Lomustine]) was conducted to determine the efficacy of cediranib, an oral pan-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, either as monotherapy or in combination with lomustine versus lomustine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 325) with recurrent glioblastoma who previously received radiation and temozolomide were randomly assigned 2:2:1 to receive (1) cediranib (30 mg) monotherapy; (2) cediranib (20 mg) plus lomustine (110 mg/m(2)); (3) lomustine (110 mg/m(2)) plus a placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival based on blinded, independent radiographic assessment of postcontrast T1-weighted and noncontrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. RESULTS: The primary end point of progression-free survival (PFS) was not significantly different for either cediranib alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.50; two-sided P = .90) or cediranib in combination with lomustine (HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.53 to 1.08; two-sided P = .16) versus lomustine based on independent or local review of postcontrast T1-weighted MRI. CONCLUSION: This study did not meet its primary end point of PFS prolongation with cediranib either as monotherapy or in combination with lomustine versus lomustine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, although cediranib showed evidence of clinical activity on some secondary end points including time to deterioration in neurologic status and corticosteroid-sparing effects.

Retrospective analysis of the tolerability and activity of lacosamide in patients with brain tumors: clinical article.

OBJECT: The object of this study was to determine the tolerability and activity of lacosamide in patients with brain tumors. METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records at 5 US academic medical centers with tertiary brain tumor programs, seeking all patients in whom a primary brain tumor had been diagnosed and who were taking lacosamide. RESULTS: The authors identified 70 patients with primary brain tumors and reviewed seizure frequency and toxicities. The majority of the patients had gliomas (96%). Fifty-five (78%) had partial seizures only, and 12 (17%) had generalized seizures. Most of the patients (74%) were started on lacosamide because of recurrent seizures. Forty-six patients (66%) reported a decrease in seizure frequency, and 21 patients (30%) reported stable seizures. Most of the patients (54 [77%]) placed on lacosamide did not report any toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective analysis demonstrated that lacosamide was both well tolerated and active as an add-on antiepileptic drug (AED) in patients with brain tumors. Lacosamide's novel mechanism of action will allow for concurrent use with other AEDs, as documented by its activity across many different types of AEDs used in this patient population. Larger prospective studies are warranted.

NABTT 0502: a phase II and pharmacokinetic study of erlotinib and sorafenib for patients with progressive or recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: The signal transduction pathways of epidermal growth factor receptor and Ras are both important in the growth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We hypothesized that inhibition of both pathways would improve the survival time of patients with recurrent GBM. METHODS: Patients with recurrent/progressive GBM with 0-2 prior chemotherapy regimens received erlotinib 150 mg once daily and sorafenib 400 mg twice daily until progression. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed during cycle 1. RESULTS: The median overall survival was 5.7 months. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 14%. Toxicity was manageable. Clearance of erlotinib was markedly enhanced by sorafenib. CONCLUSION: The study did not meet its objective of a 30% increase in overall survival time compared with historical controls. Erlotinib and sorafenib have significant pharmacokinetic interactions that may negatively impact the efficacy of the combination regimen.

Phase I trial of a multi-epitope-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the safety and immune responses to an autologous dendritic cell vaccine pulsed with class I peptides from tumor-associated antigens (TAA) expressed on gliomas and overexpressed in their cancer stem cell population (ICT-107). METHODS: TAA epitopes included HER2, TRP-2, gp100, MAGE-1, IL13Rα2, and AIM-2. HLA-A1- and/or HLA-A2-positive patients with glioblastoma (GBM) were eligible. Mononuclear cells from leukapheresis were differentiated into dendritic cells, pulsed with TAA peptides, and administered intradermally three times at two-week intervals. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were enrolled with 17 newly diagnosed (ND-GBM) and three recurrent GBM patients and one brainstem glioma. Immune response data on 15 newly diagnosed patients showed 33 % responders. TAA expression by qRT-PCR from fresh-frozen tumor samples showed all patient tumors expressed at least three TAA, with 75 % expressing all six. Correlations of increased PFS and OS with quantitative expression of MAGE1 and AIM-2 were observed, and a trend for longer survival was observed with gp100 and HER2 antigens. Target antigens gp100, HER1, and IL13Rα2 were downregulated in recurrent tumors from 4 HLA-A2+ patients. A decrease in or absence of CD133 expression was seen in five patients who underwent a second resection. At a median follow-up of 40.1 months, six of 16 ND-GBM patients showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. Median PFS in newly diagnosed patients was 16.9 months, and median OS was 38.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of four ICT-107 targeted antigens in the pre-vaccine tumors correlated with prolonged overall survival and PFS in ND-GBM patients. The goal of targeting tumor antigens highly expressed on glioblastoma cancer stem cells is supported by the observation of decreased or absent CD133 expression in the recurrent areas of gadolinium-enhanced tumors.

Postpartum extracranial bilateral vertebral artery dissection mimicking subarachnoid hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a rare condition and can potentially cause a stroke, particularly in young to middle-aged people. Bilateral extracranial VAD is extremely rare. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old woman complained of severe headache 1 hour postpartum. Her pain was relieved with medication and she was subsequently discharged. Three days later, the patient returned with worsening headache that she described as the worst headache of her life. Computed tomography and lumbar puncture was negative for subarachnoid hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance angiography showed bilateral extracranial vertebral artery occlusion. The patient remained stable with conservative therapy without further worsening of headache or any new neurological deficits. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of bilateral extracranial VAD in an immediate postpartum woman in the literature. The postpartum state is a risk factor for clinically relevant dissection, and this diagnosis should be considered. Outcomes for vertebral arterial dissection are usually favorable, but early diagnosis is critical for initiation of appropriate treatment of possible complications. Physicians must have a high index of suspicion for arterial dissection when patients note severe, atypical headache or neck pain.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of COL-3 in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas.

COL-3 is a chemically modified tetracycline that targets multiple aspects of matrix metalloproteinase regulation. This phase I clinical trial was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of COL-3 in adults with recurrent high-grade glioma, to describe the effects of enzyme-inducing antiseizure drugs (EIADs) on its pharmacokinetics, and to obtain preliminary evidence of activity. Adults with recurrent high-grade glioma were stratified by EIAD use. COL-3 was given orally daily without interruption until disease progression or treatment-related dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Three patients in each EIAD group were evaluated at each dose level beginning with 25 mg/m(2)/day and escalated by 25 mg/m(2)/day. Toxicity, response, and pharmacokinetics were assessed. Thirty-three patients were evaluated. The MTD was 75 mg/m(2)/day in the -EIAD patients while one was not determined in +EIAD patients. The common toxicities observed were anemia, ataxia, diarrhea, hypokalemia, CNS hemorrhage, and myalgia. One partial response was observed. -EIAD patients tended to have a higher steady-state trough concentration that was apparent only at the 100 mg/m(2)/day dose level (P = 0.01). This study suggests that: (a) EIAD use does affect the pharmacokinetics of COL-3 at higher doses; and (b) there was not enough suggestion of single-agent activity to warrant further study in recurrent high-grade gliomas.