Targeted therapy guided by circulating tumor DNA analysis in advanced gastrointestinal tumors.

Although comprehensive genomic profiling has become standard in oncology for advanced solid tumors, the full potential of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based profiling in capturing tumor heterogeneity and guiding therapy selection remains underexploited, marked by a scarcity of evidence on its clinical impact and the assessment of intratumoral heterogeneity. The GOZILA study, a nationwide, prospective observational ctDNA profiling study, previously demonstrated higher clinical trial enrollment rates using liquid biopsy compared with tissue screening. This updated analysis of 4,037 patients further delineates the clinical utility of ctDNA profiling in advanced solid tumors, showcasing a significant enhancement in patient outcomes with a 24% match rate for targeted therapy. Patients treated with matched targeted therapy based on ctDNA profiling demonstrated significantly improved overall survival compared with those receiving unmatched therapy (hazard ratio, 0.54). Notably, biomarker clonality and adjusted plasma copy number were identified as predictors of therapeutic efficacy, reinforcing the value of ctDNA in reflecting tumor heterogeneity for precise treatment decisions. These new insights into the relationship between ctDNA characteristics and treatment outcomes advance our understanding beyond the initial enrollment benefits. Our findings advocate for the broader adoption of ctDNA-guided treatment, signifying an advancement in precision oncology and improving survival outcomes in advanced solid tumors.

A multicenter, prospective, phase II trial of second-line aflibercept plus FOLFIRI in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to an anti-EGFR antibody: HGCSG1801.

Aflibercept (AFL) plus FOLFIRI prolongs overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI previously treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. Therefore, we conducted a prospective open-label phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI in Japanese patients with mCRC failing a prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy plus an anti-EGFR agent. AFL (4 mg/kg iv) followed by FOLFIRI (irinotecan 180 mg/m2, leucovorin 200 mg/m2 iv, bolus 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] 400 mg/m2, and infusional 5-FU 2400 mg/m2/46 h) was given every 2 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 6 months. Forty three patients were enrolled between November 2019 and October 2022. The primary endpoint was met: 6-month PFS rate was 58.8% (90% confidence interval [CI], 45.7%-72.0%). Median PFS and OS were 7.3 months (95% CI, 5.5-11.0 months) and 18.8 months (95% CI, 12.9-26.6 months), respectively. The overall response rate was 20.9% (95% CI, 10.0-36.0%) and disease control rate was 88.4% (95% CI, 74.9-96.1%). The main grade ≥3 adverse events included hypertension (62.8%), neutropenia (55.8%), leukopenia (25.6%), febrile neutropenia (11.6%), fatigue (9.3%), anorexia (9.3%), proteinuria (9.3%), and diarrhea (7.0%). No deaths and no new safety signals with a causal relation to the study treatment were observed. This study suggests that AFL plus FOLFIRI shows a high response rate and a manageable safety profile in Japanese patients with mCRC who failed prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy plus an anti-EGFR agent.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Advanced Solid Tumors With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Amplification Identified by Plasma Cell-Free DNA Testing: A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase II Basket Trial.

PURPOSE: HERALD/EPOC1806 was conducted as a multicenter phase II trial assessing trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) therapy for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-amplified progressive stage solid tumors detected by cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients exhibited advanced solid tumors with HER2 amplification that was identified via next-generation sequencing of cfDNA testing, without the requirement for immunohistochemical HER2 testing. The studied group was administered T-DXd at 5.4 mg/kg once every 3 weeks until onset of disease progression or intolerable toxicity. RESULTS: Overall, 4,734 patients underwent cfDNA testing from December 2019 to January 2022, and 252 demonstrated HER2 amplification. Finally, the study included 62 patients with 16 cancer types with a median baseline plasma HER2 copy number (CN) of 8.55 (range, 2.4-73.9). Confirmed overall response rate (ORR) by investigator assessment was 56.5% (95% CI, 43.3 to 69.0), thus showing a value beyond the 5% threshold. Responses were evaluated for 13 cancer types, including KRAS-mutant colorectal (1/3), PIK3CA-mutant endometrial (5/6), and tissue HER2-negative gastric (1/2) cancers. Plasma HER2 CN above versus below the baseline median value did not differ for impact response; however, clearance of HER2 amplification in cfDNA on cycle 2 day 1 had higher response values compared with persistence. Median progression-free survival and response duration were 7.0 (95% CI, 4.9 to 9.7) and 8.8 (95% CI, 5.8 to 11.2) months, respectively, with the majority of complications being mild to moderate. Interstitial lung diseases were identified in 16 (26%) patients, including 14 patients with grade 1 disease, one patient with grade 2 disease, and one patient with grade 3 disease. CONCLUSION: T-DXd treatment demonstrated high ORR with durable response in patients with advanced HER2-amplified solid tumors determined with cfDNA testing.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2-positive advanced colorectal cancer (DESTINY-CRC02): primary results from a multicentre, randomised, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab deruxtecan has shown encouraging activity in patients with treatment-refractory HER2-positive, RAS wild-type and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Dose optimisation and further antitumour assessments in patients with RAS mutations and those with previous anti-HER2 therapy are warranted. We aimed to evaluate two doses of trastuzumab deruxtecan (5·4 mg/kg and 6·4 mg/kg) to establish the recommended dose in patients with pretreated HER2-positive, RAS wild-type or mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: DESTINY-CRC02 was a multicentre, randomised, two-stage, two-arm, phase 2 study done in 53 research hospitals and medical centres in Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA. Eligible patients were aged 18 years and older or 20 years and older (depending on region) with pretreated pathologically documented, unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic HER2-positive, and RAS wild-type or mutant colorectal cancer. Patients were required to have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 and have received previous chemotherapy, and anti-EGFR, anti-VEGF, or anti-PD-L1 therapy, if clinically indicated. In stage 1, patients were randomly assigned (1:1), via a secure interactive response technology system, to receive 5·4 mg/kg or 6·4 mg/kg trastuzumab deruxtecan administered intravenously every 21 days. Stratification factors were ECOG performance status, HER2 status, and RAS status. In stage 2, patients were assigned into the 5·4 mg/kg treatment group only. The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate by blinded independent central review, assessed in all patients for whom treatment was assigned (full analysis set). Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04744831, and is ongoing (not recruiting). FINDINGS: Between March 5, 2021, and March 29, 2022, 135 patients were centrally screened, 122 of whom were enrolled. In stage 1, 40 patients each were randomly assigned to receive trastuzumab deruxtecan 5·4 mg/kg and 6·4 mg/kg. In stage 2, an additional 42 patients were enrolled in the 5·4 mg/kg group. 64 (52%) participants were male and 58 (48%) were female. The median duration of follow-up was 8·9 months (IQR 6·7-10·5) in the 5·4 mg/kg group and 10·3 months (5·9-12·7) in the 6·4 mg/kg group. The confirmed objective response rate by blinded independent central review was 37·8% (31/82 [95% CI 27·3-49·2]) in the 5·4 mg/kg group and 27·5% (11/40 [14·6-43·9]) in the 6·4 mg/kg group. 34 (41%) of 83 patients in the 5·4 mg/kg group and 19 (49%) of 39 in the 6·4 mg/kg group had grade 3 or worse drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events. The most common grade 3 or worse drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events were neutrophil count decreased (13 [16%] of 83 patients), anaemia (six [7%]), nausea (six [7%]), and white blood cell count decreased (five [6%]) in the 5·4 mg/kg group; and were neutrophil count decreased (10 [26%] of 39 patients), anaemia (eight [21%]), platelet count decreased (four [10%]), and white blood cell count decreased (four [10%]) in the 6·4 mg/kg group. Drug-related serious adverse events occurred in 11 (13%) of 83 patients in the 5·4 mg/kg group and six (15%) of 39 patients in the 6·4 mg/kg group; the most common in the 5·4 mg/kg group was nausea (three [4%] patients) and the most common in the 6·4 mg/kg group were fatigue (two [5%] patients), neutropenia (two [5%]), and thrombocytopenia (two [5%]). A drug-related treatment-emergent adverse event related to death occurred in one (1%) patient in the 5·4 mg/kg group (due to hepatic failure). Adjudicated drug-related interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis events were observed in seven (8%) patients in the 5·4 mg/kg group (all grade 1 or 2) and in five (13%) patients in the 6·4 mg/kg group (four grade 1 or 2; one grade 5). INTERPRETATION: The promising antitumour activity and favourable safety profile support trastuzumab deruxtecan 5·4 mg/kg as the optimal single-agent dose for patients with pretreated HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer, including those with RAS mutations, previous anti-HER2 therapy, or both. FUNDING: Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca.

Perioperative chemotherapy with nivolumab for HER2-negative locally advanced gastric cancer: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab with chemotherapy has been transformative for metastatic gastric cancer (GC). The potential of this regimen for local tumor control could be utilized for perioperative chemotherapy in locally advanced GC with bulky tumors or lymph node metastasis involving other organs. CASE PRESENTATION: Five patients with HER2-negative advanced GC were treated with nivolumab and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. All patients presented with clinical stage III or IVA GC with tumors in contact with either the pancreas or liver. Following chemotherapy, all tumors demonstrated shrinkage, allowing successful radical gastrectomies including four minimally invasive approach without postoperative complications. Four patients avoided combined resection of other organs. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative chemotherapy with nivolumab was effective for local disease control in this case series. This regimen could be a promising treatment approach for locally advanced GC; however, its survival benefits should be evaluated in clinical trials.

Risk Factor Analysis for Anti-epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Monoclonal Antibody-induced Problematic Skin Toxicities in Patients With Liver Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We previously reported that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and baseline liver metastasis are at a higher risk of developing grade ≥2 overall skin toxicities when treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody. This study aimed to identify additional factors associated with skin toxicities induced by anti-EGFR treatment in patients with liver metastatic CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with liver metastatic CRC who initially received anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody-containing treatment (n=77) were retrospectively assessed. The primary endpoint was to identify the factor(s) responsible for the development of grade ≥2 overall skin toxicities. Additionally, factors for grade ≥2 rash and paronychia were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of grade ≥2 overall skin symptoms, rash, and paronychia was 62.3%, 31.2%, and 28.6%, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that age <65 years and anemia were independent baseline risk factors for grade ≥2 overall skin toxicities (adjusted hazard ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval=1.10-3.97, p=0.02 for age; 2.36, 1.20-4.61, p=0.01 for anemia). In contrast, combination prophylaxis using systemic minocycline and corticosteroid ointment was a preventive factor (0.47, 0.25-0.88, p=0.02). Males and age <65 years were baseline risk factors for grade ≥2 rash, and combination prophylaxis was identified as a preventive factor. No factors were identified for paronychia. CONCLUSION: Age <65 years and anemia were identified as independent baseline risk factors. Additionally, combination prophylaxis was found to be a preventive factor against anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody-induced grade ≥2 overall skin toxicities in patients with liver metastatic CRC.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Expressing Biliary Tract Cancer (HERB; NCCH1805): A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial.

PURPOSE: Treatment options for patients with unresectable or recurrent biliary tract cancer (BTC) who progress on a gemcitabine-containing regimen are limited. In addition, the significance of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy in HER2-expressing BTC has not been sufficiently investigated. METHODS: In this phase II trial, participants from five institutions in Japan were enrolled. Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed unresectable or recurrent BTC with centrally confirmed HER2-positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC]3+ or IHC2+ and in situ hybridization [ISH]+) or HER2-low (IHC2+ and ISH-, IHC1+, and IHC0 and ISH+) and were refractory or intolerant to a gemcitabine-containing regimen. The patients received 5.4 mg/kg trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) once every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was the confirmed objective response rate (ORR) in HER2-positive BTC by an independent central review (threshold ORR, 15%; expected ORR, 40%). RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were enrolled and treated. Among these patients, 22 with HER2-positive disease comprised the primary efficacy population and had a confirmed ORR of 36.4% (90% CI, 19.6 to 56.1; P = .01), meeting the primary end point. Eight with HER2-low disease comprised the exploratory population and had a confirmed ORR of 12.5%. The most common ≥grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were anemia (53.1%) and neutropenia (31.3%). Eight patients (25.0%) had interstitial lung disease (ILD), including two grade 5 events. CONCLUSION: T-DXd showed promising activity in patients with HER2-positive BTC and a signal of efficacy in patients with HER2-low BTC. Although the safety profile was generally manageable, ILD requires careful monitoring and early intervention.

Novel ERBB2 Variant Potentially Associated with Resistance against Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody-Based Therapy in ERBB2-Amplified Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: HER2-targeted therapies in ERBB2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are effective; however, a notable portion of patients do not respond to treatment, and secondary resistance occurs in most patients receiving these treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of treatment efficacy and resistance in patients with ERBB2-amplified mCRC who received HER2-targeted therapy by analyzing multiomics data. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated genomic data from a nationwide large cancer genomic screening project, the SCRUM-Japan project. We analyzed paired genome and transcriptome data of tissue and genomic data of ctDNA collected pre- and postprogression in patients enrolled in the related trial, TRIUMPH, in ERBB2-amplified mCRC. RESULTS: In 155 patients with ERBB2-amplified solid tumors who received HER2-targeted therapy based on the SCRUM-Japan project, the objective response rate was 50%, 51%, and 35% in ERBB2 wild-type, variant of unknown significance, and pathogenic variant groups, respectively. In the paired genome and transcriptome data analyses in TRIUMPH, we identified the novel splicing-associated variant c.644-66_-2del in one of the 11 patients with paired whole-exome sequencing and whole-transcriptome sequencing data sets, which lacks the binding domain of pertuzumab, in progressed metastatic tumor as a variant with potential pathogenicity. The time-course ctDNA analysis detected c.644-66_-2del as an acquired variant. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the importance of ERBB2 genomic status when evaluating the efficacy of HER2-targeted therapies in ERBB2-amplified mCRC. The identification of a novel splicing-associated variant may provide insights into potential mechanisms of treatment resistance. Furthermore, we demonstrated the utility of ctDNA to follow the acquired genomic status of mCRC tumors.

Cardiovascular safety of pimitespib in patients with advanced solid tumors: An open-label, nonrandomized, phase 1 study.

BACKGROUND: Pimitespib (TAS-116), a first-in-class, oral, selective heat-shock protein 90 inhibitor, is approved as fourth-line treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors in Japan. This phase 1 study evaluated the cardiac safety of pimitespib. METHODS: In this open-label, nonrandomized, multicenter study, Japanese patients (aged ≥20 years) with refractory, advanced solid tumors received placebo on day -1, then pimitespib 160 mg daily on days 1-5 of the cardiac safety evaluation period. Electrocardiograms were conducted at baseline, and on days -2, -1, 1, and 5; and blood samples were collected on days 1 and 5. Patients then received once-daily pimitespib for 5 days every 3 weeks. The primary end point was the time-matched difference in QT interval corrected for heart rate using the Fridericia correction (QTcF) between pimitespib and placebo. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and preliminary efficacy were also assessed. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients in the cardiac safety-evaluable population, no clinically relevant QTc prolongation was observed; the upper bound of the one-sided 95% confidence interval for the time-matched difference in change from baseline in QTcF was <20 msec at all time points on days 1 and 5. Pimitespib pharmacokinetic parameters were consistent with previous data, and the time-matched difference in change from baseline in QTcF showed no marked increase as plasma concentrations increased. The safety profile was acceptable; 40% of patients experienced grade 3 or greater adverse drug reactions, mostly diarrhea (20%). The median progression-free survival was 3.1 months. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese patients with refractory, advanced solid tumors, pimitespib was not associated with clinically relevant QTc prolongation, and there were no cardiovascular safety concerns. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Pimitespib is a new anticancer drug that is being used to treat cancer in the stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal stromal tumors). This study demonstrated that pimitespib had no marked effect on heart rhythm or negative effects on the heart or blood vessels and had promising anticancer effects in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors who were unable to tolerate or benefit from standard treatment.

Large-scale, prospective observational study of regorafenib in Japanese patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a real-world clinical setting.

Background: Regorafenib improves overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced progressive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) after standard chemotherapy in phase III trials in the 3rd-line setting. This large-scale, prospective observational study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of regorafenib in Japanese patients with GIST in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: Patients with GIST received oral regorafenib at a maximum daily dose of 160 mg for weeks 1-3 of each 4-week cycle (dose could be modified at investigator's discretion). The primary objective was to assess safety, particularly significant adverse drug reactions (ADRs), as well as the frequency of occurrence of ADRs, hand and foot syndrome (HFS), discontinuation of treatment due to disease progression and adverse events. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate associations between OS or time to treatment failure (TTF) and baseline characteristics or HFS. Results: Between August 2013 and March 2021, 143 evaluable patients were enrolled. ADRs occurred in 90.2% of patients and led to treatment discontinuation in 28.3%. The most frequent ADRs were HFS, hypertension, and liver injury. The overall response rate was 11.3% and disease control rate 56.5% (RECIST) based on investigators' assessments. Median OS was 17.4 months (95% CI 14.24-23.68). Median TTF was 5.3 (95% CI 4.0-6.5) months. Improved OS and TTF responses occurred in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) of 0 or 1. Conclusion: The outcomes in this real-world study were consistent with those seen in clinical trials. No new safety concerns were identified. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT01933958.

The SCRUM-MONSTAR Cancer-Omics Ecosystem: Striving for a Quantum Leap in Precision Medicine.

The SCRUM-Japan MONSTAR-SCREEN consortium is a nationwide molecular profiling project employing artificial intelligence-driven multi-omics analyses for patients with advanced malignancies, aiming to develop novel therapeutics and diagnostics and deliver effective drugs to patients. Concurrently, studies assessing molecular residual disease-based precision medicine for resectable solid tumors, including CIRCULATE-Japan, are ongoing. The substantial data generated by these platforms are stored within a state-of-the-art supercomputing infrastructure, VAPOR CONE. Since 2015, our project has registered over 24,000 patients as of December 2023. Among 16,144 patients with advanced solid tumors enrolled in MONSTAR-SCREEN projects, 5.0% participated in matched clinical trials, demonstrating a 29.2% objective response rate and 14.8-month median survival (95% confidence interval, 13.4-16.3), for patients treated in the matched clinical trials. Notably, patients who received matched therapy demonstrated significantly prolonged overall survival compared with those who did not (hazard ratio 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.83).

Clinical features associated with NeoRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer A SCRUM-Japan GOZILA substudy.

"NeoRAS WT" refers to the loss of RAS mutations (MTs) following first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We evaluate the incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of NeoRAS WT mCRC using next-generation sequencing of plasma circulating tumor DNA. Patients with mCRC enrolled in the GOZILA study initially diagnosed with tissue RAS MT mCRC and received subsequent systemic therapy are eligible. NeoRAS WT is defined as the absence of detectable RAS MT in plasma and assessed in all eligible patients (Group A) and in a subgroup with at least one somatic alteration detected in plasma (Group B). Overall, 478 patients are included. NeoRAS WT prevalence is 19.0% (91/478) in Group A and 9.8% (42/429) in Group B. Absence of liver or lymph node metastasis and tissue RAS MTs other than KRAS exon 2 MTs are significantly associated with NeoRAS WT emergence. Overall, 1/6 and 2/6 patients with NeoRAS WT treated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) show partial response and stable disease for ≥6 months, respectively. NeoRAS WT mCRC is observed at a meaningful prevalence, and anti-EGFR mAb-based therapy may be effective.

QUATTRO-II randomized trial: CAPOXIRI+bevacizumab vs. FOLFOXIRI+bevacizumab as first-line treatment in patients with mCRC.

BACKGROUND: The QUATTRO-II trial examined the efficacy and safety of capecitabine+oxaliplatin+irinotecan (CAPOXIRI)+bevacizumab (BEV) vs. 5-fluorouracil+folinic acid+oxaliplatin+irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI)+BEV in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: In this phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04097444; jRCTs041190072), patients were randomized (1:1) to FOLFOXIRI+BEV or CAPOXIRI+BEV. The induction treatment in the FOLFOXIRI+BEV/CAPOXIRI+BEV arms was continued for 8/6 cycles (maximum 12/8 cycles if feasible), and the maintenance treatment was 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin+BEV or capecitabine+BEV at the investigators' discretion. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), with the two arms deemed equivalent if the hazard ratio (HR) of the point estimate was 0.80 < HR < 1.25. Secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), incidence of adverse events (AEs), and patient-reported outcomes. FINDINGS: Overall, 51 and 52 patients were randomized to FOLFOXIRI+BEV and CAPOXIRI+BEV, respectively. The study met its primary endpoint; PFS at median follow-up of 23.7 months was 10.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.7-13.3) in the FOLFOXIRI+BEV arm vs. 10.9 months (95% CI, 9.3-14.3) in the CAPOXIRI+BEV arm (HR 1.114 [0.80 < HR < 1.25], p = 0.654). In the FOLFOXIRI+BEV vs. CAPOXIRI+BEV arms, the 2-year OS rate (95% CI) was 65.5% (49.5%-77.6%) vs. 74.3% (59.8%-84.2%), and the ORR (95% CI) was 76.5% (62.5%-87.2%) vs. 84.6% (71.9%-93.1%). Major (grade ≥3) AEs in the FOLFOXIRI+BEV vs. CAPOXIRI+BEV arms were neutropenia (68.6% vs. 40.4%), febrile neutropenia (9.8% vs. 11.5%), diarrhea (7.8% vs. 17.3%), and appetite loss (7.8% vs. 17.3%). CONCLUSION: CAPOXIRI+BEV was well tolerated with reduced hematological toxicity and efficacy comparable to those of FOLFOXIRI+BEV, providing a potentially convenient first-line treatment alternative to FOLFOXIRI+BEV in patients with mCRC. FUNDING: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Three-year outcomes of preoperative chemoradiotherapy plus nivolumab in microsatellite stable and microsatellite instability-high locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We reported the short-term outcomes of the VOLTAGE trial that investigated the safety and efficacy of preoperative CRT followed by nivolumab and surgery. Here, we present the 3-year outcomes of this trial. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) LARC and five patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) LARC underwent CRT (50.4 Gy) followed by five doses of nivolumab (240 mg) and surgery. The 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and associations with biomarkers were evaluated. RESULTS: The 3-year RFS rates in patients with MSS and MSI-H were 79.5% and 100%, respectively, and the 3-year OS rates were 97.4% and 100%, respectively. Of the MSS patients, those with pre-CRT PD-L1 positivity, pre-CRT high CD8 + T cell/effector regulatory T cell (eTreg) ratio, pre-CRT high expression of Ki-67, CTLA-4, and PD-1 had a trend toward better 3-year RFS than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Three-year outcomes of patients with MSI-H were better than those of patients with MSS. PD-L1 positivity, elevated CD8/eTreg ratio, and high expression of Ki-67, CTLA-4, and PD-1 could be positive predictors of prognosis in patients with MSS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02948348.

Plain language summary of the FOENIX-CCA2 study: futibatinib for people with advanced bile duct cancer.

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: This summary describes the results from a phase 2 study called FOENIXCCA2. The study evaluated treatment with futibatinib in people with a rare form of advanced bile duct cancer called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (or iCCA), where the tumors have changes in the structure of a gene called FGFR2. These changes include FGFR2 gene fusions. Bile duct cancer often returns after surgery or cannot be treated by surgery because the tumor has spread, so it requires treatment with chemotherapy. People live for a median of 1 year after their first chemotherapy treatment and 6 months after their second treatment. This study included people whose cancer had grown/spread after one or more chemotherapy treatments. The aims of the study were to see if futibatinib could shrink the size of tumors and stop the cancer from growing/spreading and to see how long people lived when treated with futibatinib. Clinicians also looked at side effects from taking futibatinib and at how it affected people's quality of life. WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?: Futibatinib treatment shrank tumors in over 80% of people who received treatment. Tumors shrank by at least 30% in 42% of people. Futibatinib stopped tumors from growing/spreading for a median of 9.7 months. People who took the medicine lived for a median of 21.7 months, and 72% of people were still alive after 1 year. Side effects from taking futibatinib were like those reported for similar medicines, and clinicians considered the side effects to be manageable by adjusting the dose of futibatinib or treating the side effects. Most people reported that their quality of life stayed the same or improved during the first 9 months of taking futibatinib. WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN?: The results support the use of futibatinib for treating people with advanced bile duct cancer. Based on the results of this study, futibatinib is now approved in the US, Europe, and Japan. Futibatinib is approved for treating adults with advanced bile duct cancer who have received previous treatment for their cancer, and whose tumors have a gene fusion or other change in the FGFR2 gene.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02052778 (FOENIX-CCA2).

Phase II trial of niraparib for BRCA-mutated biliary tract, pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers: NIR-B.

Due to the widespread use of cancer genetic testing in gastrointestinal cancer, the BRCA1/2 genetic mutation has been identified in biliary tract cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Niraparib is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, and PARP inhibitors exert their cytotoxicity against cancer cells in the context of homologous recombination deficiency, such as BRCA mutations, via the mechanism of synthetic lethality. The aim of this phase II NIR-B trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of niraparib for patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent biliary tract cancer, pancreatic cancer or other gastrointestinal cancers with germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutations revealed by genetic testing. The primary end point is an investigator-assessed objective response rate in each cohort.Clinical Trial Registration: jRCT2011200023 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

A clinical study to confirm the efficacy and safety of niraparib for people with advanced biliary tract, pancreatic and other abdominal cancers with the BRCA genetic mutation: the NIR-B trial.BRCA gene is involved in repairing DNA injury and plays an important role in cancer growth. Cells with a mutation in the BRCA gene cannot repair DNA using a method called homologous recombination repair. Niraparib is part of a class of drugs called 'PARP inhibitors' that inhibit enzymes called 'PARP' involved in repairing DNA injury, and has shown efficacy against cancers with BRCA gene mutations. BRCA gene mutations are infrequent but have been found in a variety of cancers. The NIR-B trial is a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of niraparib for people with advanced biliary tract, pancreatic and other abdominal cancers with BRCA gene mutations.

English version of Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines 2022 for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) issued by the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.

The Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines 2022 for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) have been published in accordance with the Minds Manual for Guideline Development 2014 and 2017. A specialized team independent of the working group for the revision performed a systematic review. Since GIST is a rare type of tumor, clinical evidence is not sufficient to answer several clinical and background questions. Thus, in these guidelines, we considered that consensus among the experts who manage GIST, the balance between benefits and harms, patients' wishes, medical economic perspective, etc. are important considerations in addition to the evidence. Although guidelines for the treatment of GIST have also been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), there are some differences between the treatments proposed in those guidelines and the treatments in the present guidelines because of the differences in health insurance systems among countries.

Impact of preexisting proteinuria on the development of regorafenib-induced problematic proteinuria in real-world metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.

Regorafenib is the first multikinase inhibitor for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Proteinuria is a frequently encountered adverse effect, regardless of prior administration of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of baseline preexisting proteinuria on regorafenib-induced problematic proteinuria during real-world mCRC therapy. Patients with mCRC receiving regorafenib (n = 100) were retrospectively assessed and divided into control and preexisting proteinuria (baseline grade of 1-2) groups. The primary endpoint was the development of grade ≥ 2 (grade ≥ 3 in case of baseline grade 2 patients) proteinuria. Propensity score-matching was performed to confirm the robustness of primary analyses. Defined proteinuria occurred in 30.7 and 57.9% of patients in the control and preexisting proteinuria groups, respectively, with significant differences in the all-patient population (P = 0.01). The preexisting proteinuria group exhibited significant defined proteinuria development within 7 days of regorafenib initiation, grade ≥ 3 symptoms, and treatment suspension owing to proteinuria. Similar results were obtained in the propensity score-matched population. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, baseline proteinuria was a singular risk factor for defined proteinuria development (adjusted odds ratio; 3.76, 95% confidence interval; 1.45-9.75, P = 0.007). Collectively, our study revealed that patients with preexisting proteinuria develop regorafenib-induced proteinuria degradation.

CA125 Kinetics as a Potential Biomarker for Peritoneal Metastasis Progression following Taxane-Plus-Ramucirumab Administration in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Currently, no established marker exists for predicting peritoneal metastasis progression during chemotherapy, although they are major interruptive factors in sequential chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This multicenter retrospective study was conducted from June 2015 to July 2019, analyzing 73 patients with AGC who underwent taxane-plus-ramucirumab (TAX/RAM) therapy and had their serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) concentrations measured. Of 31 patients with elevated CA125 levels above a cutoff of 35 U/mL, 25 (80.6%) had peritoneal metastasis. The CA125 concentrations before TAX/RAM treatment were associated with ascites burden. The overall survival was significantly shorter in the CA125-elevated group. CA125 kinetics, measured at a median of 28 days after chemotherapy, were associated with the ascites response (complete or partial response: -1.86%/day; stable disease: 0.28%/day; progressive disease: 2.33%/day). Progression-free survival in the CA125-increased group, defined by an increase of 0.0067%/day using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was significantly poorer among patients with peritoneal metastases. In conclusion, this study highlights that CA125 kinetics can serve as an early predictor for the progression of peritoneal metastasis during TAX/RAM treatment.

Safety and Efficacy of Encorafenib, Binimetinib, and Cetuximab for BRAFV600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Results of the Japanese Expanded Access Program.

BACKGROUND: The phase 3 BEACON CRC study demonstrated the survival benefits of encorafenib and cetuximab, with or without binimetinib (the BEACON triplet or doublet regimen), for BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This expanded access program (EAP) and subsequent follow-up study assessed the efficacy and safety of the BEACON triplet regimen in Japanese patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The EAP was an open-label, single-arm study including Japanese patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC whose disease progressed after 1 to 2 prior regimens. The patients received the BEACON triplet regimen with 28-day cycles. The subsequent follow-up study assessed the survival outcomes following EAP completion. Safety was assessed only during the EAP. RESULTS: Among the 86 enrolled patients, 81 received the BEACON triplet regimen. The objective response rate and median progression-free survival were 27.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.0%-39.1%) and 5.26 (95% CI, 4.14-5.52) months, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 adverse events and treatment-related adverse events occurred in 43.2% and 28.4% of patients, respectively. No new safety signals were observed during the EAP. Among 58 patients with confirmed survival at EAP completion, 57 were included in the follow-up study. With a median observation period of 9.17 months through the EAP and follow-up study, the median overall survival was 10.38 (95% CI, 9.00-16.16) months. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of the BEACON triplet regimen in Japanese patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC were consistent with those reported in the BEACON CRC trial, supporting its use as a standard treatment for pretreated patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC.