Bemarituzumab plus mFOLFOX6 as first-line treatment in East Asian patients with FGFR2b-overexpressing locally advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer: subgroup of FIGHT final analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the FIGHT study (NCT03694522) bemarituzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody selective for fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (FGFR2b), plus mFOLFOX6 showed clinically meaningful efficacy in patients with FGFR2b-positive (2+/3+ membranous staining by immunohistochemistry) locally advanced unresectable/metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal cancer (G/GEJC). A meaningful proportion of patients in FIGHT were enrolled in East Asia, reflecting global epidemiology of G/GEJC. METHODS: This subgroup analysis of the global, phase 2, double-blind FIGHT study included all patients enrolled in East Asian sites. Patients were randomized 1:1 to bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 (15 mg/kg and one 7.5 mg/kg dose on cycle 1, day 8) or matching placebo-mFOLFOX6. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate, and safety. Efficacy was evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 24 months. RESULTS: The East Asian subgroup comprised 89 patients (57% of overall study population); 45 were randomized to bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 and 44 to placebo-mFOLFOX6. Median PFS (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 12.9 months (8.8-17.9) with bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 and 8.2 months (5.6-10.3) with placebo-mFOLFOX6 (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29-0.87); median OS (95% CI) was 24.7 months (13.8-33.1) vs 12.9 months (9.3-21.4), respectively (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.96). Treatment benefit was more pronounced in patients with FGFR2b-positive G/GEJC in ≥ 10% of tumor cells. No new safety signals were reported. CONCLUSION: In East Asian patients with FGFR2b-positive advanced/metastatic G/GEJC enrolled in the global FIGHT study, bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 showed clinically meaningful outcomes over placebo-mFOLFOX6.

Evaluation of two-stage hepatectomy using portal vein embolization for colorectal liver metastasis: a retrospective nationwide cohort survey in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) enables patients to undergo surgery for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) which one-stage hepatectomy cannot remove. Although the outcome of TSH has been reported, there is no original report from Japan. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of TSH in Japanese patients with CRLM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the nationwide database that included clinical information of 12,519 patients treated with CRLM between 2005 and 2017 in Japan. The primary outcome measure was overall survival. The second outcome measure was progression-free survival. Fisher's exact test, chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U test were conducted to examine an intergroup difference. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox regression model. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS: Of the database, 53 patients undergoing TSH using portal vein embolization (PVE) were identified and analyzed. Their morbidity and in-hospital mortality rate at the second hepatectomy were 26.4% and 0.0%. The mean observation period was 21.8 months. The estimated 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rate were 92.5%, 70.8% and 34.7%. Multivariate analyses showed that more than 10 liver nodules significantly increased the mortality risk by 4.2-fold (95%CI 1.224-14.99, P= 0.023). Survival analysis revealed that repeat hepatectomy for disease progression after TSH was superior to chemotherapy in overall survival (mean: 49.6 vs. 18.7, months, P= 0.004). CONCLUSION: In the Japanese cohort, TSH was confirmed to be a safety procedure with acceptable survival outcome. More than 10 liver nodules may be a predictor for unfavorable outcome of patients with CRLM undergoing TSH. Furthermore, repeat hepatectomy can be a salvage treatment for resectable intrahepatic recurrence after TSH.

Potent therapeutic strategy in gastric cancer with microsatellite instability-high and/or deficient mismatch repair.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy that presents challenges in patient care worldwide. The mismatch repair (MMR) system is a highly conserved DNA repair mechanism that protects genome integrity during replication. Deficient MMR (dMMR) results in an increased accumulation of genetic errors in microsatellite sequences, leading to the development of a microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) phenotype. Most MSI-H/dMMR GCs arise sporadically, mainly due to MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) epigenetic silencing. Unlike microsatellite-stable (MSS)/proficient MMR (pMMR) GCs, MSI-H/dMMR GCs are relatively rare and represent a distinct subtype with genomic instability, a high somatic mutational burden, favorable immunogenicity, different responses to treatment, and prognosis. dMMR/MSI-H status is a robust predictive biomarker for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) due to high neoantigen load, prominent tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpression. However, a subset of MSI-H/dMMR GC patients does not benefit from immunotherapy, highlighting the need for further research into predictive biomarkers and resistance mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical, molecular, immunogenic, and therapeutic aspects of MSI-H/dMMR GC, with a focus on the impact of ICIs in immunotherapy and their potential as neoadjuvant therapies. Understanding the complexity and diversity of the molecular and immunological profiles of MSI-H/dMMR GC will drive the development of more effective therapeutic strategies and molecular targets for future precision medicine.

In vitro throughput screening of anticancer drugs using patient-derived cell lines cultured on vascularized three-dimensional stromal tissues.

The development of high-throughput anticancer drug screening methods using patient-derived cancer cell (PDC) lines that maintain their original characteristics in an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture system poses a significant challenge to achieving personalized cancer medicine. Because stromal tissue plays a critical role in the composition and maintenance of the cancer microenvironment, in vitro 3D-culture using reconstructed stromal tissues has attracted considerable attention. Here, a simple and unique in vitro 3D-culture method using heparin and collagen together with fibroblasts and endothelial cells to fabricate vascularized 3D-stromal tissues for in vitro culture of PDCs is reported. Whereas co-treatment with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, and 5-fluorouracil significantly reduced the survival rate of 3D-cultured PDCs to 30%, separate addition of each drug did not induce comparable strong cytotoxicity, suggesting the possibility of evaluating the combined effect of anticancer drugs and angiogenesis inhibitors. Surprisingly, drug evaluation using eight PDC lines with the 3D-culture method resulted in a drug efficacy concordance rate of 75% with clinical outcomes. The model is expected to be applicable to in vitro throughput drug screening for the development of personalized cancer medicine. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: To replicate the cancer microenvironment, we constructed a cancer-stromal tissue model in which cancer cells are placed above and inside stromal tissue with vascular network structures derived from vascular endothelial cells in fibroblast tissue using CAViTs method. Using this method, we were able to reproduce the invasion and metastasis processes of cancer cells observed in vivo. Using patient-derived cancer cells, we assessed the possibility of evaluating the combined effect with an angiogenesis inhibitor. Further, primary cancer cells also grew on the stromal tissues with the normal medium. These data suggest that the model may be useful for new in vitro drug screening and personalized cancer medicine.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locoregional anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) in western countries. However, there have been few reports on the clinical outcomes of CCRT in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of CCRT, prognostic factors, and the clinical impact of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression of ASCC in Japan. METHODS: Patients with locoregional ASCC were enrolled between 2007 and 2017. All patients received CCRT consisting of ≥ 45 Gy of radiation, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin C. Disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were estimated. Expression of p16 and PD-L1 were assessed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC). RESULTS: This study included 36 patients, of whom 30 (83.3%) were female. Among the participants, 32 (88.9%) achieved complete clinical remission, while six (16.7%) experienced recurrence. The five-year DFS and five-year OS were 72.2% and 84.7%, respectively. Grades ≥ 3 serious AEs included neutropenia in 10 (27.7%) and perianal dermatitis in eight (22.2%). In a univariate analysis, male sex, lymph node metastasis, and large tumor size were significantly associated with worse outcome. In a multivariate analysis, tumor size was an independent factor associated with short DFS. Of the 30 patients whose biopsy specimens were available for IHC, 29 (96.7%) were positive for p16, and 13 (43.3%) were positive for PD-L1. However, PD-L1 expression did not show any clinical impact. CONCLUSIONS: The comparative etiology, clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors of CCRT observed in Japanese patients with locoregional ASCC were consistent with western data.

Intratumor transforming growth factor-ß signaling with extracellular matrix-related gene regulation marks chemotherapy-resistant gastric cancer.

Drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells remain following chemotherapy and can cause cancer relapse. However, it is unclear when acquired resistance to chemotherapy emerges. Here, we compared the gene expression profiles of gastric cancer patient-derived cells (GC PDCs) and their respective xenograft tumors with different sensitivities to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by using immunodeficient female BALB/c-nu mice. RNA sequencing analysis of 5-FU-treated PDCs demonstrated that DNA replication/cell cycle-related genes were transiently induced in the earlier phase of DTP cell emergence, while extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes were sustainably upregulated during long-term cell survival in 5-FU-resistant residual tumors. NicheNet analysis, which uncovers cell-cell signal interactions, indicated the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) pathway as the upstream regulator in response to 5-FU treatment. This induced ECM-related gene expression in the 5-FU-resistant tumor model. In the 5-FU-resistant residual tumors, there was a marked upregulation of cancer cell-derived TGF-ß1 expression and increased phosphorylation of SMAD3, a downstream regulator of the TGF-ß receptor. By contrast, these responses were not observed in a 5-FU-sensitive tumor model. We further found that TGF-ß-related upregulation of ECM genes was preferentially observed in non-responders to chemotherapy with 5-FU and/or oxaliplatin among 22 patient-derived xenograft tumors. These observations suggest that chemotherapy-induced activation of the TGF-ß1/SMAD3/ECM-related gene axis is a potential biomarker for the emergence of drug resistance in GCs.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan in HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer: exploratory biomarker analysis of the randomized, phase 2 DESTINY-Gastric01 trial.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) showed statistically significant clinical improvement in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) gastric cancer in the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial. Exploratory results from DESTINY-Gastric01 suggested a potential benefit in patients with HER2-low gastric cancer. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in HER2 expression or gene alteration, an inherent characteristic of gastric cancer tumors, presents a challenge in identifying patients who may respond to T-DXd. Specific biomarkers related to therapeutic response have not been explored extensively. Exploratory analyses were conducted to assess baseline HER2-associated biomarkers in circulating tumor DNA and tissue samples, and to investigate mechanisms of resistance to T-DXd. Baseline HER2-associated biomarkers were correlated with objective response rate (ORR) in the primary cohort of patients with HER2+ gastric cancer. The primary cohort had 64% concordance between HER2 positivity and HER2 (ERBB2) plasma gene amplification. Other key driver gene amplifications, specifically MET, EGFR and FGFR2, in circulating tumor DNA were associated with numerically lower ORR. Among 12 patients with HER2 gain-of-function mutations, ORR was 58.3% (7 of 12). ORR was consistent regardless of timing of immunohistochemistry sample collection. Further investigations are required in larger studies.

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy as first line treatment for advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: RATIONALE-305 randomised, double blind, phase 3 trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab added to chemotherapy as first line (primary) treatment for advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma compared with placebo plus chemotherapy. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, phase 3 study. SETTING: 146 medical centres across Asia, Europe, and North America, between 13 December 2018 and 28 February 2023. PARTICIPANTS: 1657 patients aged ≥18 years with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression status, who had not received systemic anticancer therapy for advanced disease. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to receive either tislelizumab 200 mg or placebo intravenously every three weeks in combination with chemotherapy (investigator's choice of oxaliplatin and capecitabine, or cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) and stratified by region, PD-L1 expression, presence or absence of peritoneal metastases, and investigator's choice of chemotherapy. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was overall survival, both in patients with a PD-L1 tumour area positivity (TAP) score of ≥5% and in all randomised patients. Safety was assessed in all those who received at least one dose of study treatment. RESULTS: Of 1657 patients screened between 13 December 2018 and 9 February 2021, 660 were ineligible due to not meeting the eligibility criteria, withdrawal of consent, adverse events, or other reasons. Overall, 997 were randomly assigned to receive tislelizumab plus chemotherapy (n=501) or placebo plus chemotherapy (n=496). Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy showed statistically significant improvements in overall survival versus placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with a PD-L1 TAP score of ≥5% (median 17.2 months v 12.6 months; hazard ratio 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.59 to 0.94); P=0.006 (interim analysis)) and in all randomised patients (median 15.0 months v 12.9 months; hazard ratio 0.80 (0.70 to 0.92); P=0.001 (final analysis)). Grade 3 or worse treatment related adverse events were observed in 54% (268/498) of patients in the tislelizumab plus chemotherapy arm versus 50% (246/494) in the placebo plus chemotherapy arm. CONCLUSIONS: Tislelizumab added to chemotherapy as primary treatment for advanced or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma provided superior overall survival with a manageable safety profile versus placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with a PD-L1 TAP score of ≥5%, and in all randomised patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03777657.

Exploratory analysis of serum HER2 extracellular domain for HER2 positive gastric cancer treated with SOX plus trastuzumab.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical utility of serum HER2 extracellular domain (sHER2 ECD) using data from a clinical trial evaluating trastuzumab combined S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) in HER2 positive gastric cancer. METHODS: sHER2 ECD were prospectively measured at baseline and subsequent treatment courses. Based on each quantile point of baseline sHER2 ECD levels and its early changes, patients were divided into two groups and compared clinical outcomes. RESULTS: 43 patients were enrolled, and 17 patients (39.5%) were positive for baseline sHER2 ECD. Higher baseline sHER2 ECD levels tended to have lower hazard ratios (HRs). When divided into two groups by baseline sHER2 ECD of 19.1 ng/ml, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was longer in the higher group (mPFS: 16.8 vs 8.7 months, p = 0.359. mOS: 35.5 vs 20.6 months, p = 0.270), respectively. After initiation of treatment, sHER2 ECD significantly decreased up until the third cycle. Higher reduction rates of sHER2 ECD within 3 cycles also tended to have lower HRs. When divided into two groups by reduction rate of 42.5%, mPFS and mOS was longer in the higher reduced group (mPFS: 17.2 vs 8.7 months, p = 0.095. mOS: 65.0 vs 17.8 months, p = 0.047), respectively. Furthermore, higher reduction rates could surrogate higher objective response rates (ORR) (ORR: 90% vs 63.2% for 29.5%, p = 0.065. 100% vs 70% for 42.5%, p = 0.085), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline sHER2 ECD levels and its early decline may be useful biomarkers for SOX plus trastuzumab efficacy in HER2 positive gastric cancer.

Pharmacologic Targeting of Histone H3K27 Acetylation/BRD4-dependent Induction of ALDH1A3 for Early-phase Drug Tolerance of Gastric Cancer.

Anticancer drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells at an early phase of chemotherapy reshape refractory tumors. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3 (ALDH1A3) is commonly upregulated by various anticancer drugs in gastric cancer patient-derived cells (PDC) and promotes tumor growth. However, the mechanism underlying the generation of ALDH1A3-positive DTP cells remains elusive. Here, we investigated the mechanism of ALDH1A3 expression and a combination therapy targeting gastric cancer DTP cells. We found that gastric cancer tissues treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed high ALDH1A3 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR and ChIP sequencing analyses revealed that histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation was enriched in the ALDH1A3 promoter in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-tolerant persister PDCs. By chemical library screening, we found that the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) inhibitors OTX015/birabresib and I-BET-762/molibresib suppressed DTP-related ALDH1A3 expression and preferentially inhibited DTP cell growth. In DTP cells, BRD4, but not BRD2/3, was recruited to the ALDH1A3 promoter and BRD4 knockdown decreased drug-induced ALDH1A3 upregulation. Combination therapy with 5-FU and OTX015 significantly suppressed in vivo tumor growth. These observations suggest that BET inhibitors are efficient DTP cell-targeting agents for gastric cancer treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: Drug resistance hampers the cure of patients with cancer. To prevent stable drug resistance, DTP cancer cells are rational therapeutic targets that emerge during the early phase of chemotherapy. This study proposes that the epigenetic regulation by BET inhibitors may be a rational therapeutic strategy to eliminate DTP cells.

First-Line Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: 3-Year Follow-Up of the Phase III CheckMate 649 Trial.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.We report 3-year efficacy and safety results from the phase III CheckMate 649 trial. Patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to nivolumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy. Primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review (BICR) in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥5. With 36.2-month minimum follow-up, for patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥5, the OS hazard ratio (HR) for nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.81); 21% versus 10% of patients were alive at 36 months, respectively; the PFS HR was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60 to 0.81); 36-month PFS rates were 13% versus 8%, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) per BICR was 60% (95% CI, 55 to 65) with nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus 45% (95% CI, 40 to 50) with chemotherapy; median duration of response was 9.6 months (95% CI, 8.2 to 12.4) versus 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 7.9), respectively. Nivolumab plus chemotherapy also continued to show improvement in OS, PFS, and ORR versus chemotherapy in the overall population. Adding nivolumab to chemotherapy maintained clinically meaningful long-term survival benefit versus chemotherapy alone, with an acceptable safety profile, supporting the continued use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as standard first-line treatment for advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Bemarituzumab as first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: final analysis of the randomized phase 2 FIGHT trial.

BACKGROUND: We report the final results of the randomized phase 2 FIGHT trial that evaluated bemarituzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody selective for fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (FGFR2b), plus mFOLFOX6 in patients with FGFR2b-positive (2 + /3 + membranous staining by immunohistochemistry), HER-2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC). METHODS: Patients received bemarituzumab (15 mg/kg) or placebo once every 2 weeks with an additional bemarituzumab (7.5 mg/kg) or placebo dose on cycle 1 day 8. All patients received mFOLFOX6. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate, and safety. Efficacy was evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 24 months. RESULTS: In the bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 (N = 77) and placebo-mFOLFOX6 (N = 78) arms, respectively, 59.7% and 66.7% of patients were FGFR2b-positive in ≥ 10% of tumor cells. The median PFS (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 9.5 months (7.3-13.7) with bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 and 7.4 months (5.7-8.4) with placebo-mFOLFOX6 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI 0.49-1.08); median OS (95% CI) was 19.2 (13.6-24.2) and 13.5 (9.3-15.9) months, respectively (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.52-1.14). Observed efficacy in FGFR2b-positive GC in ≥ 10% of tumor cells was: PFS: HR 0.43 (95% CI 0.26-0.73); OS: HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.31-0.85). No new safety findings were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In FGFR2b-positive advanced GC, the combination of bemarituzumab-mFOLFOX6 led to numerically longer median PFS and OS compared with mFOLFOX6 alone. Efficacy was more pronounced with FGFR2b overexpression in ≥ 10% of tumor cells. Confirmatory phase 3 trials are ongoing (NCT05052801, NCT05111626). CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03694522.

Analysis of Adverse Events Associated with Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Patients with Gastric and Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) has displayed demonstrable efficacy and manageable toxicity in previously treated patients with advanced gastric and breast cancer, and it has been approved in Japan. However, there is a lack of data on the optimal management in clinical practice. Therefore, we assessed the adverse event (AE) profiles of T-DXd in patients with advanced gastric or breast cancer to provide guidance for appropriate management. This retrospective study was conducted at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. We reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced gastric or breast cancer who received T-DXd between May 2020 and December 2021. AEs occurring within the first three cycles of T-DXd were evaluated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Thirty-six patients were enrolled (gastric: n = 19, breast: n = 17). All 15 males had gastric cancer, whereas 4 and 17 females had gastric and breast cancer, respectively. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurred in five patients (14%), but no patients had severe ILD. Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities, including nausea (61%), vomiting (22%), decreased appetite (33%), and diarrhea (39%), were the most common AEs. The incidence of GI toxicities did not differ by cancer type; however, nausea was significantly more common in females (81 vs. 33%; p < 0.01). T-DXd was safely administered in clinical practice in patients with previously treated advanced gastric or breast cancer. The management of GI toxicities is important in the clinical implementation of T-DXd.

Phase II Study of the Liposomal Formulation of Eribulin (E7389-LF) in Combination with Nivolumab: Results from the Gastric Cancer Cohort.

PURPOSE: E7389-LF is a liposomal formulation of the microtubule dynamics inhibitor eribulin and has shown preliminary efficacy in the treatment of gastric cancer. Study 120, a phase Ib/II open-label study, assessed efficacy and safety of E7389-LF in combination with nivolumab, a programmed cell death (PD)-1 inhibitor. This report focuses on the gastric cancer cohort within the expansion phase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had unresectable, measurable gastric cancer, progression following a platinum drug plus fluoropyrimidine (1L), and a taxane-containing regimen (2L). The primary objective of the expansion phase was objective response rate, secondary objectives included safety and PFS, and exploratory objectives included overall survival and biomarker evaluation. Patients received E7389-LF 2.1 mg/m2 in combination with nivolumab 360 mg every 3 weeks, both as intravenous infusions. Tumor responses were assessed every 6 weeks by the investigators per RECIST v1.1. Plasma and tumor biomarkers were assessed. RESULTS: In the 31 patients who received E7389-LF in combination with nivolumab, the objective response rate was 25.8% [confidence interval (CI), 11.9-44.6]. The median progression-free survival was 2.69 months (95% CI, 1.91-2.99) and median overall survival was 7.85 months (95% CI, 4.47-not estimable). The most common treatment-related TEAE of any grade were neutropenia (77.4%), leukopenia (74.2%), and decreased appetite (51.6%). E7389-LF in combination with nivolumab significantly increased CD8-positive cells at C2D1 (P = 0.039), and six of seven vascular markers and four IFNγ-related markers showed increases from C1D1. CONCLUSIONS: Promising antitumor activity was observed with E7389-LF in combination with nivolumab in patients with gastric cancer, and no new safety signals were observed, compared with either monotherapy.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric cancer: a multicenter, open-label, expanded-access study.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is an antibody-drug conjugate that consists of an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody bound by a cleavable tetrapeptide-based linker to a cytotoxic topoisomerase I inhibitor. Prior to marketing approval in Japan in September 2020, this expanded-access study was conducted to provide T-DXd to previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. METHODS: This multicenter, open-label, expanded-access study was conducted between March 25 and September 25, 2020 at 17 Japanese sites. Previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas received T-DXd 6.4 mg/kg via intravenous infusions at 3-week intervals. Serious adverse events (SAEs), all potential cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, all liver-related events potentially meeting Hy's Law criteria, and all cases of overdose were reported on the case report forms. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were treated with T-DXd. Among the 17 (26.6%) patients with reported SAEs, 10 (15.6%) had SAEs related to T-DXd treatment. Febrile neutropenia was the most common SAE (n = 6). SAEs led to death in six patients; drug-related SAEs (sepsis and febrile neutropenia) led to death in one patient. Drug-related ILD, as determined by the external Adjudication Committee, occurred in three patients (Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3: all n = 1). CONCLUSION: This expanded-access study provided T-DXd to a broader population of Japanese patients prior to marketing approval in Japan, bridging the gap between clinical trials and drug approval. No new safety concerns were identified.

APC/PIK3CA mutations and ß-catenin status predict tankyrase inhibitor sensitivity of patient-derived colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant WNT/ß-catenin signaling drives carcinogenesis. Tankyrases poly(ADP-ribosyl)ate and destabilize AXINs, ß-catenin repressors. Tankyrase inhibitors block WNT/ß-catenin signaling and colorectal cancer (CRC) growth. We previously reported that 'short' APC mutations, lacking all seven ß-catenin-binding 20-amino acid repeats (20-AARs), are potential predictive biomarkers for CRC cell sensitivity to tankyrase inhibitors. Meanwhile, 'Long' APC mutations, which possess more than one 20-AAR, do not predict inhibitor-resistant cells. Thus, additional biomarkers are needed to precisely predict the inhibitor sensitivity. METHODS: Using 47 CRC patient-derived cells (PDCs), we examined correlations between the sensitivity to tankyrase inhibitors (G007-LK and RK-582), driver mutations, and the expressions of signaling factors. NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J and BALB/c-nu/nu xenograft mice were treated with RK-582. RESULTS: Short APC mutant CRC cells exhibited high/intermediate sensitivities to tankyrase inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. Active ß-catenin levels correlated with inhibitor sensitivity in both short and long APC mutant PDCs. PIK3CA mutations, but not KRAS/BRAF mutations, were more frequent in inhibitor-resistant PDCs. Some wild-type APC PDCs showed inhibitor sensitivity in a ß-catenin-independent manner. CONCLUSIONS: APC/PIK3CA mutations and ß-catenin predict the sensitivity of APC-mutated CRC PDCs to tankyrase inhibitors. These observations may help inform the strategy of patient selection in future clinical trials of tankyrase inhibitors.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for borderline resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases: a single-institution retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to extract prognostic factors in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for borderline resectable colorectal liver metastasis (BR-CRLM) (tumor size ≥5 cm, number of tumors ≥4, or resectable extrahepatic diseases) and assess validity of this strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 2010, patients with BR-CRLM were treated with hepatectomy after six cycles of NAC. Prognostic factors of these patients were evaluated using clinicopathological data. RESULTS: Of 650 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for CRLM from 2010 to 2018, 246 BR-CRLM cases underwent hepatectomy after NAC (BR-NAC). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 16.7% and the 5-year overall survival rate (5y-OS) was 52.9%. Number of tumors ≥6, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥25 ng/mL, tumor diameter ≥5 cm, and progressive disease (PD) after NAC were identified as independent poor prognostic factors for OS. Patients were divided into four groups according to the number of risk factors, and prognoses of the four groups were well stratified. CONCLUSION: In patients with BR-NAC, number of tumors ≥6, CEA ≥25 ng/mL, tumor diameter ≥5 cm, and PD after NAC were independent poor prognostic factors. Patients with three or four risk factors showed poor prognosis and may need to switch chemotherapy.

Cetuximab every 2 weeks versus standard weekly dosing administration schedule.

Cetuximab every 2 weeks (Q2W) dosing schedule is approved by the US FDA and by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Phase II trials have found comparable efficacy and safety for the weekly (Q1W) and Q2W schedules, and real-world studies have shown noninferiority of the Q2W compared with the Q1W schedule. Several guidelines recommend cetuximab Q2W administration as an alternative to the Q1W dosing schedule. Cetuximab Q2W can be administered with a Q2W dose of chemotherapy, making it a more convenient option to the Q1W schedule, potentially resulting in reduced costs for administration, increased flexibility for clinical staff and improved patient adherence.

Cetuximab is a drug for patients with colorectal cancer or cancer of the head and neck. It is usually administered once a week. However, studies have shown that cetuximab given once every 2 weeks instead has similar clinical benefits and side effects. Based on this evidence, the every 2 weeks dosing schedule has been approved for use in USA and Japan. The every 2 weeks dosing schedule is a convenient alternative to the weekly schedule. It may result in fewer hospital visits, improved patient quality of life, reduced healthcare costs and more flexibility for medical staff. This review summarizes the current evidence and benefits for the every 2 weeks dosing schedule.

Clinical utility of the carcinoembryonic antigen level in patients with stage III colon cancer after surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The association between perioperative and post-adjuvant carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and recurrence and prognosis remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether perioperative CEA levels are an integral component of the assessment of recurrence and prognosis of patients with stage III colon cancer (CC). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research from 2005 to 2013. We enrolled patients with stage III CC who underwent complete resection of a primary tumor and received adjuvant chemotherapy. We analyzed the association between perioperative and post-adjuvant CEA levels and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 564 consecutive patients were included in the analysis. The RFS and OS of patients with high postoperative CEA levels were significantly worse than those of patients with normal postoperative CEA levels. In the multivariate analysis, high postoperative CEA levels were associated with shorter RFS and OS. The number of risk factors, postoperative CEA levels, and T/N-stage all had a cumulative effect on RFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: High postoperative CEA levels and the number of risk factors are associated with recurrence and worse prognosis for patients with stage III CC.

[Evaluation of the Leftover Capecitabine Tablets in Adjuvant CAPOX Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer].

Since it is important that patients take their oral anticancer therapy as prescribed, pharmacists need to assess adherence. In addition, oral anticancer drugs are expensive, and reuse of leftover drugs at outpatient pharmacy clinics is useful in reducing drug costs. The present study aimed to clarify when and why patients have leftover capecitabine tablets, and the cost of leftover capecitabine tablets reused at an outpatient pharmacy clinic, focusing on adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) chemotherapy for gastric cancer. We retrospectively studied patients who received adjuvant CAPOX chemotherapy for gastric cancer between November 1, 2015, and April 30, 2021, at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. The cost of leftover capecitabine reused by pharmacists was calculated based on the National Health Insurance drug price standard for the study period. This study included 64 patients who received adjuvant CAPOX chemotherapy. Thirty-seven patients had 152 leftover capecitabine tablets. The most common reasons for leftover capecitabine tablets were nausea and vomiting (21.7%), missed doses (18.4%), and diarrhea (13.2%). The leftover capecitabine tablets for 25 patients were reused at the outpatient pharmacy clinic at a cost of JPY 604142.8 (JPY 24165.7 per patient). The study results suggest that evaluating capecitabine adherence and the reasons for leftover capecitabine tablets at outpatient pharmacy clinics as well as reusing leftover medication can contribute to reducing drug costs.