Feasibility and acceptability of a nurse-led telehealth intervention (BOLSTER) to support patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis and their caregivers: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with advanced gynecologic (GYN) and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers frequently develop peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), which limits prognosis and diminishes health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Palliative procedures may improve PC symptoms, yet patients and caregivers report feeling unprepared to manage ostomies, catheters, and other complex needs. Our objectives were to (1) assess the feasibility of an efficacy trial of a nurse-led telehealth intervention (BOLSTER) for patients with PC and their caregivers; and (2) assess BOLSTER's acceptability, potential to improve patients' HRQoL and self-efficacy, and potential impact on advance care planning (ACP). METHODS: Pilot feasibility RCT. Recently hospitalized adults with advanced GYN and GI cancers, PC, and a new complex care need and their caregivers were randomized 1:1 to BOLSTER or enhanced discharge planning (EDP). We defined feasibility as a ≥ 50% approach-to-consent ratio and acceptability as ≥70% satisfaction with BOLSTER. We assessed patients' HRQoL and self-efficacy at baseline and six weeks, then compared the proportion experiencing meaningful improvements by arm. ACP documentation was identified using natural language processing. RESULTS: We consented 77% of approached patients. In the BOLSTER arm, 91.0% of patients and 100.0% of caregivers were satisfied. Compared to EDP, more patients receiving BOLSTER experienced improvements in HRQoL (68.4% vs. 40.0%) and self-efficacy for managing symptoms (78.9% vs. 35.0%) and treatment (52.9% vs. 42.9%). The BOLSTER arm had more ACP documentation. CONCLUSIONS: BOLSTER is a feasible and acceptable intervention with the potential to improve patients' HRQoL and promote ACP. An efficacy trial comparing BOLSTER to usual care is underway. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03367247; PI: Wright.

Phase II Trials of Iniparib (BSI-201) in Combination with Gemcitabine and Carboplatin in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Iniparib (BSI-201), a novel anticancer agent thought to have poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitory activity and synergy with both gemcitabine and carboplatin (GC) was evaluated in 2 cohorts with GC. METHODS: Parallel multicenter, single-arm, phase II studies using a Simon two-stage design. Eligible patients had a histological diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal carcinoma and demonstration of platinum-sensitive (≥6 months [mo]) or -resistant disease (relapse 2-6 mo post-platinum). Carboplatin (AUC 4 IV day 1), gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8), and iniparib (5.6 mg/kg IV days 1, 4, 8, and 11) were given on a 21-day cycle. RESULTS: The overall response rate (ORR RECIST 1.0) in platinum sensitive disease was 66% (95% CI, 49-80) with a higher response rate in the 15 pts with germline BRCA mutations (gBRCAmut) (73%). Median PFS was 9.9 (95% CI, 8.2-11.3) months. In the platinum resistant population the ORR was 26% (95% CI, 14-42), however in the 11 pts for whom BRCA mutation was present, the best overall response was PR in 5 (46%). Median PFS was 6.8 months (range, 5.7-7.7 months). Notably, among the 17 CA-125-response-evaluable patients who did not achieve tumor response, 7 (41.2%) patients had a CA125 response, and 93% has clinical benefit (CR + PR + SD). The GCI combination was generally well tolerated despite a high incidence of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, with no new toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: Given the subsequent lack of efficacy demonstrated for iniparib in breast cancer, these are studies of GC and demonstrate a higher than traditionally appreciated activity in patients with platinum-sensitive and -resistant recurrent ovarian cancer, especially in patients that harbor a BRCA mutation, resetting the benchmark for efficacy in phase II trials. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01033292 & NCT01033123).

A randomized phase II trial of bevacizumab vs. bevacizumab and erlotinib as first-line consolidation after carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab in newly diagnosed patients with mullerian tumors.

BACKGROUND: The combination of paclitaxel to platinum remains the backbone of therapy in patients with advanced Mullerian tumors. In patients with newly diagnosed Mullerian tumors, we investigated the progression-free survival benefit of bevacizumab and bevacizumab and erlotinib as consolidation therapy post-induction therapy. METHODS: Sixty patients were enrolled in a phase II trial of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab (induction therapy). After the completion induction therapy, patients were stratified by response (≥ SD) and then randomized (1:1) to either bevacizumab (A) or bevacizumab and erlotinib (AE.) The primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints included the response rate of induction and consolidation therapy and toxicity profile of each consolidative arm. Each consolidative arm was compared to the historical control GOG 111. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients advanced to the consolidative phase of the trial. Twelve patients were removed in the induction phase, the majority for toxicity. The most common toxicity (grade ≥ 3) was diarrhea (20%: arm AE; 0%: arm A). One patient in the AE arm had a fatal cardiac arrest deemed unrelated to the study treatment. No gastrointestinal perforations were reported. The median PFS in the AE and A arm was 18.9 months (p < 0.0001) and 13.3 months (p: ns), respectively. The overall rate of grade 3/4 toxicities in the AE arm was 72% and in the A arm 30%. Six patients remain free of disease 10 years after enrollment. CONCLUSION: Combinatorial consolidation therapy with AE was associated with an improved progression-free survival in patients with Mullerian tumors.

Stepping into survivorship pilot study: Harnessing mobile health and principles of behavioral economics to increase physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: Physical activity improves physical function, quality of life, and mental health, yet fewer than 80% of ovarian cancer survivors meet activity guidelines. This pilot intervention study aimed to increase physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors by leveraging principles of behavioral economics, gamification, and social support. METHODS: This 24-week study (12-week intervention; 12-week follow-up) enrolled women with ovarian cancer after completion of first-line treatment with a self-selected "teammate." Participants used Fitbits to measure daily steps, select an increased step goal, and enroll in a collaborative game, including points and levels for achieving step goals. Primary outcomes were feasibility (defined a priori as ≥60% approach-to-consent ratio and ≥ 70% adherence to Fitbit), acceptability (≤20% of participants reporting burden or regret for participation) and preliminary efficacy (≥70% reporting increased motivation); exploratory outcomes included change in steps. RESULTS: We recruited 24 participants (mean age = 63 years, range = 37-79 years) with a 94% approach-to-consent ratio. All participants completed the intervention with 94% tracker adherence. At 24-week follow-up, 1/24 (≤5%) of participants reported burden; 0/24 (0%) reported regret for study participation; and 22/24 (>90%) agreed/strongly agreed that "the study motivated me to increase activity levels." Participants' mean daily steps were 6210.7 (±3328.1) at baseline and increased to 7643 (± 3610.9) steps (p < 0.001) during the 12-week intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy, justifying a larger randomized clinical trial to test efficacy at increasing activity levels. Future studies should examine strategies for maintaining increased activity levels in survivors over time.

Sequential Phase II clinical trials evaluating CRLX101 as monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Topoisomerase-1 inhibitors are an important class of cytotoxics associated with toxicity that limits their use. CRLX101 is a novel cyclodextrin-containing polymer conjugate of camptothecin (CPT) that self-assembles into nanoparticles to deliver sustained levels of active CPT into cancer cells while substantially reducing systemic exposure. METHODS: We conducted sequential phase II, open label, single arm clinical trials to evaluate CRLX101 as a single agent (n = 29) and with bevacizumab (Bev) (n = 34). Patients (pts) had measurable recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal or primary peritoneal cancer, that could be platinum refractory, resistant or sensitive. Cohort A (Single agent CRLX101) allowed up to 3 prior chemotherapy regimens, but no prior topo-1 inhibitors. Pts received CRLX101 15 mg/m2 IV every 14 days Q28 with response evaluation every 2 cycles. Cohort B also received Bev 10 mg/kg D1,15 Q28, and included only platinum resistant disease with up to 2 prior lines, and more rigorous eligibility criteria. RESULTS: CRLX101 was well tolerated other than nausea, fatigue and anemia. 29 pts. received a median of 3 (1-16) cycles with a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 68% and overall response rate (ORR) of 11%. With the addition of Bev in Cohort B (n = 34), the CBR was increased to 95% and the ORR to 18%. PFS was 4.5 months (0.9 to 15.9 months) in Cohort A and 6.5 months (2.8 to 14.4 months) in Cohort B. Bev increased the incidence of hypertension and qualitatively increased bladder toxicities, but without SAEs. CONCLUSIONS: CRLX101 meets the clinical need for an effective and tolerable topoisomerase I inhibitor and can be safely combined with bevacizumab.

Combined pembrolizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum resistant ovarian cancer: A phase 2 clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in vitro may have immunomodulatory abilities and preclinical evidence suggests it synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade. We hypothesized that combining PLD and pembrolizumab would be active in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). METHODS: This was a single-arm, multi-center phase II trial. Eligible patients had PROC with ≤2 prior lines of cytotoxic therapy for recurrent or persistent disease. Twenty-six patients were enrolled and given pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks and PLD 40 mg/m2 IV every 4 weeks. Patients were assessed radiographically every 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (CBR), defined as complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD) ≥24 weeks. The study was powered to detect an improvement in CBR from 25% to 50%, with rejection of the null hypothesis if at least 10 patients achieved clinical benefit. T-cell inflamed gene expression profiles (GEP) and PD-L1 were assessed and correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were evaluable for best overall response. The study satisfied its primary endpoint, with 12 patients achieving clinical benefit for a CBR of 52.2% (95% CI 30.6-73.2%). There were 5 PRs (21.7%) and 1 CR (4.3%), for an overall response rate (ORR) of 26.1%. Six patients had SD lasting at least 24 weeks. Combination therapy was well tolerated without unexpected toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of pembrolizumab and PLD was manageable, without unexpected toxicities, and showed preliminary evidence of clinical benefit in the treatment of platinum resistant ovarian cancer. ORR and median PFS of combination therapy in this study was higher than historical comparisons of PLD alone or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02865811.

Phase 1 and 2 study of carboplatin and pralatrexate in patients with recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this phase 1 and 2 trial was to identify the appropriate dose of combined carboplatin and pralatrexate for patients with recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer. METHODS: In phase 1, patients received carboplatin (at an area under the curve of 5) and increasing doses of pralatrexate until the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of pralatrexate was achieved. The primary endpoint was the response rate. Additional endpoints were safety, response duration, progression-free survival, overall survival, and pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled in phase 1, and 20 were enrolled in phase 2. Of all 50 patients, 49 completed the study. The mean patient age was 59 years, and patients completed a median of 6 cycles. The MTD for pralatrexate was 105 mg/m2 . The clinical benefit rate (complete responses plus partial responses plus stable disease) was 86%. Of 26 patients who received the MTD, 12 had a partial response, 11 had stable disease, and 2 had disease progression. The progression-free survival rate at 3 and 6 months was 87% and 79%, respectively; and the overall survival rate was 98% at 6 and 12 months and 66% at 24 months. Of 30 patients, 18 (60%) in phase 1 experienced an adverse event of any grade; and, of those, 4 patients (13%) had a grade 3 or greater adverse event. In phase 2, 12 patients (60%) had an adverse event of any grade, and 4 (20%) had grade 3 or greater toxicity. There was a significant reduction in the total body clearance of pralatrexate when it was received concurrently with carboplatin. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients responded to carboplatin-pralatrexate combination. This regimen is well tolerated and effective in this patient population. Cancer 2016;122:3297-3306. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Phase 2 trial of aromatase inhibition with letrozole in patients with uterine leiomyosarcomas expressing estrogen and/or progesterone receptors.

BACKGROUND: Advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is an incurable disease. A significant percentage of cases of ULMS express estrogen and/or progesterone receptors (ER and/or PR). To the authors' knowledge, the role of estrogen suppression in disease management is not known. METHODS: The authors performed a single-arm phase 2 study of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole at a dose of 2.5 mg daily in patients with unresectable ULMS with ER and/or PR expression confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Tumor assessments were performed at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and every 8 weeks thereafter. Toxicity was monitored throughout treatment. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival at 12 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients was accrued, with a median of 2 prior treatment regimens (range, 0-9 treatment regimens). The median duration of protocol treatment was 2.2 months (range, 0.4 months-9.9 months). The 12-week progression-free survival rate was 50% (90% confidence interval, 30%-67%). The best response was stable disease in 14 patients (54%; 90% CI, 36%-71%). Three patients, all of whom had tumors expressing ER and PR in > 90% of tumor cells, continued to receive letrozole for > 24 weeks. The most common reason for treatment discontinuation was disease progression (85%). Letrozole was found to be well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Letrozole met protocol-defined criteria as an agent with activity in patients with advanced ULMS. Patients with the longest progression-free survival rate were those whose tumors strongly and diffusely expressed ER and PR.

Catumaxomab for the treatment of malignant ascites in patients with chemotherapy-refractory ovarian cancer: a phase II study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intraperitoneal catumaxomab in heavily pretreated patients with chemotherapy-refractory ovarian cancer and recurrent symptomatic malignant ascites. METHODS: The study is a single-arm open-label multicenter US phase II study. Patients received 4 three-hour intraperitoneal catumaxomab infusions (10, 20, 50, and 150 µg within 10 days). The primary end point was the percentage of patients with at least a 4-fold increase in the puncture-free interval (PuFI) relative to the pretreatment interval. The main secondary end points were puncture-free survival, overall survival, ascites symptoms, and safety. Time to first therapeutic puncture (TTPu) was analyzed post hoc. RESULTS: Forty patients were screened, and 32 patients (80%) were treated. Seven patients (23%) achieved the primary end point. The median PuFI was prolonged 2-fold from 12 to 27.5 days. The median TTPu was prolonged 4-fold from 12 to 52 days. The median puncture-free survival and overall survival were 29.5 and 111 days, respectively. Nineteen patients (59%) required puncture after catumaxomab treatment. Ascites symptoms improved in most of the 13 predefined categories. At study end, most symptoms were still improved compared with screening. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were related to cytokine release (vomiting, nausea, pyrexia, fatigue, and chills) or intraperitoneal administration (abdominal pain). Transient increases in liver parameters and transient decreases in blood lymphocytes were regularly observed but were generally without clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS: Catumaxomab prolonged PuFI and TTPu had a beneficial effect on quality of life, as shown by the improvement in ascites symptoms, and had an acceptable safety profile, which is consistent with its mode of action.

Combined aromatase, CDK4/6 and PI3K blockade using letrozole/abemaciclib/LY3023414 in endometrial cancer.

Several lines of preclinical evidence indicate that combining PI3K and CDK4/6 inhibitors may further enhance the efficacy of hormonal therapy by overcoming de novo and acquired resistance to PI3K and CDK4/6 blockade. We evaluated the combination of abemaciclib, letrozole and LY3023414 (an orally available, selective inhibitor of the class I PI3K isoforms and mTORC1/2) in recurrent endometrial cancer (EC). This study was terminated prematurely after 5 patients initiated protocol therapy due to discontinuation of further development of LY3023414. We report our findings from these patients, including one with recurrent endometrioid EC with AKT1, CTNNB1 and ESR1 hotspot mutations who had previously progressed through letrozole/everolimus and achieved a partial response to letrozole/abemaciclib/LY3023414.

Patterns of recurrence in patients treated with bevacizumab in the primary treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of the first site of recurrence in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who received first-line treatment with bevacizumab compared with patients who did not receive bevacizumab. METHODS: From the Cancer Registry database at our institutions, we identified a group of patients with recurrent EOC who underwent treatment from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010. Each patient record was evaluated to classify the site of first recurrence. Correlation between categorical variables was assessed with χ² test. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-two patients with advanced EOC (stage III or IV) who originally responded to chemotherapy and had a recurrence were identified. Of these, 37 (12.5%) had received postoperative chemotherapy bevacizumab, and 255 (87.5%) did not. Compared with those not treated with bevacizumab, there was a lower incidence of liver recurrence (0% vs 9%; P = 0.05) and a higher rate of lung and/or pleural recurrence (22% vs 5%; P = 0.001) and recurrence at distant sites (22% vs 9%; P = 0.03) in patients who received bevacizumab. There was no difference in the incidence of ascites at the time of recurrence between these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received bevacizumab as part of primary treatment for EOC had a higher rate of lung and/or pleural recurrence and a lower rate of liver recurrence. There was no difference in the rate of ascites at the time of recurrence.

Kidney function in patients with ovarian cancer treated with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have revolutionized the treatment of ovarian cancer; however, real-world data on kidney function among patients treated with PARPi are lacking. METHODS: We identified adults treated with olaparib or niraparib between 2015 and 2021 at a major cancer center in Boston, MA, USA. We determined the incidence of any acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as at least a 1.5-fold rise in serum creatinine from baseline in the first 12 months following PARPi initiation. We calculated the percentage of patients with any AKI and sustained AKI and adjudicated the etiologies by manual chart review. We compared trajectories in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among PARPi-treated and carboplatin and paclitaxel-treated patients with ovarian cancer, matched by baseline eGFR. RESULTS: Of 269 patients, 60 (22.3%) developed AKI, including 43 of 194 (22.1%) olaparib-treated patients and 17 of 75 (22.7%) niraparib-treated patients. Only 9 of 269 (3.3%) had AKI attributable to the PARPi. Of the 60 patients with AKI, 21 (35%) had sustained AKI, of whom 6 had AKI attributable to the PARPi (2.2% of the whole cohort). eGFR declined within 30 days post-PARPi initiation by 9.61 (SD = 11.017) mL/min per 1.73 m2 but recovered by 8.39 (SD = 14.05) mL/min per 1.73 m2 within 90 days after therapy cessation. There was no difference in eGFR at 12 months post-therapy initiation in patients receiving PARPi or controls receiving carboplatin and paclitaxel (P = .29). CONCLUSIONS: AKI is common following PARPi initiation as is a transient decline in eGFR; however, sustained AKI directly attributable to the PARPi and long-term eGFR decline are uncommon.

A Phase II, Two-Stage Study of Letrozole and Abemaciclib in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Recurrent Endometrial Cancer.

PURPOSE: Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive endometrial cancers (ECs) are characterized by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/RAS/ß-catenin (CTNNB1) pathway alterations in approximately 90% and 80% of cases, respectively. Extensive cross-talk between ER, PI3K, and RTK/RAS/CTNNB1 pathways leads to both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent ER transcriptional activity as well as upregulation of cyclin D1 which, in complex with cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6), is a critical regulator of cell cycle progression and a key mediator of resistance to hormonal therapy. We hypothesized that the combination of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole and CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib would demonstrate promising activity in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a phase II, two-stage study of letrozole/abemaciclib in recurrent ER-positive EC. Eligibility criteria included measurable disease, no limit on prior therapies, and all EC histologies; prior hormonal therapy was allowed. Primary end points were objective response rate by RECIST 1.1 and progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 6 months. RESULTS: At the data cutoff date (December 03, 2021), 30 patients (28 with endometrioid EC) initiated protocol therapy; 15 (50%) patients had prior hormonal therapy. There were nine total responses (eight confirmed), for an objective response rate of 30% (95% CI, 14.7 to 49.4), all in endometrioid adenocarcinomas. Median PFS was 9.1 months, PFS at 6 months was 55.6% (95% CI, 35.1 to 72), and median duration of response was 7.4 months. Most common ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (20%) and anemia (17%). Responses were observed regardless of grade, prior hormonal therapy, mismatch repair, and progesterone receptor status. Exploratory tumor profiling revealed several mechanistically relevant candidate predictors of response (CTNNB1, KRAS, and CDKN2A mutations) or absence of response (TP53 mutations), which require independent validation. CONCLUSION: Letrozole/abemaciclib demonstrated encouraging and durable evidence of activity in recurrent ER positive endometrioid EC.

Patterns of recurrence in advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the distribution and outcomes of recurrent disease in patients with ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers after optimal cytoreduction and adjuvant intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer between 2004 and 2009 who underwent optimal cytoreductive surgery and received adjuvant intravenous (IV) and IP chemotherapy with paclitaxel and a platinum-based agent were eligible. Age, performance status, tumor origin, stage, and grade were recorded. First recurrences were identified using CA125 values, radiographic studies, operative notes, and pathology reports. Sites of recurrence were classified as intraperitoneal (IP), extraperitoneal (EP) or distant. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox multivariate regression models were used to assess the associations between recurrent disease distribution and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: One hundred forty-three patients met the criteria for inclusion. The majority were Stage III (86%) and serous histology (77%). Eighty-four (58.7%) received IV/IP paclitaxel/cisplatin per GOG-172 and 59 (41.3%) received IV/IP paclitaxel/carboplatin. Seventy-two percent completed 6 cycles. Ninety (62.9%) patients manifested a recurrence. One-hundred twelve sites of recurrence were identified with 70 (62.5%) IP and 42 (37.5%) EP and distant sites. Nineteen (21%) recurred in more than one site, i.e. both IP and EP locations. Site of recurrence did not impact OS, however, patients who recurred in multiples sites had significantly worse OS (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Approximately 40% of patients treated with IP chemotherapy have a first recurrence outside the peritoneal cavity. Though site of recurrence did not affect OS those with multi-focal recurrence demonstrate worse survival.

Patient-reported outcomes in relapsed ovarian cancer: results from a randomized Phase III study of trabectedin with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) versus PLD alone.

OBJECTIVE: Trabectedin in combination with PLD improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) in comparison to PLD alone in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer (J Clin Oncol; 2010 28:3107-14). Here we report the impact of the treatment combination on patient-reported functional status and symptoms. METHODS: Patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires, EORTC-QLQ C30, OV28, and EQ-5D were completed by patients at screening and on Day 1 of every other treatment cycle starting with Cycle 1, and at the end-of-treatment visit. RESULTS: Of the 672 patients randomized in this study, 663 treated patients completed at least one of the baseline questionnaires. Median cycles of treatment was 6 (131 days) for the combination arm and 5 (143 days) for the monotherapy arm. Longitudinal data analyses showed no significant differences between the treatment arms for any of the pre-specified scales. Similar analyses of other scales, including Health Index scores and Health State on the Visual Analog Scale, support these findings. Start of subsequent therapy was significantly delayed in the combination arm compared with the monotherapy arm (p=0.0032). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of trabectedin to PLD led to little or no decrement in patient-reported functional status and symptoms in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, as compared to treatment with PLD alone. The combination led to manageable and non-cumulative overall toxicity with a fewer PLD-associated adverse events, and a significant improvement in PFS and ORR compared to single agent.

A phase I study of AZD2171 and Temsirolimus in patients with advanced gynecological malignancies.

PURPOSE: Temsirolimus, a mTOR inhibitor, and AZD2171, a VEGFR inhibitor, have independently shown activity in patients with gynecological malignancies. Understanding the pivotal role of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway in regulating angiogenesis, a phase I study utilizing Temsirolimus and AZD2171 was initiated to study the safety of targeting the mTOR and VEGF pathway in patients with recurrent or refractory gynecological malignancies. METHODS: Patients with advanced gynecological cancers were enrolled in this phase 1 study with Temsirolimus and AZD2171. A traditional 3 + 3 design was followed. The primary objective was to determine the MTD of the combination. Secondary objectives included efficacy, progression free survival (PFS) and toxicity profile. An expansion phase was planned after the MTD was determined. RESULTS: The study enrolled 11 patients over 16 months. All patients were enrolled in dose level 1. Due to toxicity, the trial was halted at dose level 1. No MTD was determined. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities included hypertension, thrombocytopenia, thromboembolic events, and hypertriglyceridemia. Five patients were evaluable for best overall clinical response. The best overall clinical response was stable disease. Two patients died without documented progression of disease. The median PFS was 7.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a conservative dose escalation, the toxicity data demonstrated that the combination of AZD2171 and Temsirolimus was not tolerable. Increased awareness of novel toxicities, pharmacological interactions, coupled with strict patient selection and early mitigation of side effects may enhance phase I clinical trial development.

Evaluation of Treatment With Talazoparib and Avelumab in Patients With Recurrent Mismatch Repair Proficient Endometrial Cancer.

Importance: Although the activity of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib (the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved immunotherapy for mismatch repair proficient endometrial cancer [MMRP EC]) is compelling, there are no biomarkers of response and most patients do not tolerate, do not respond to, or develop resistance to this regimen, highlighting the need for additional, potentially biomarker-driven therapeutic approaches for patients with recurrent MMRP EC. Objective: To assess the potential positive outcomes and safety of the combination of the polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitor talazoparib and the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor avelumab in recurrent MMRP EC. Design, Settings, and Participants: This investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm, 2-stage, phase 2 study nonrandomized controlled trial patients at 4 institutions in the US. Key eligibility criteria included measurable disease, unlimited prior therapies, and all endometrial cancer histologies. Interventions: Talazoparib, 1 mg, orally, daily, and avelumab, 10 mg/kg, intravenously, every 2 weeks, were administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. Main Outcomes and Measures: Statistical considerations were developed for 2 coprimary objectives of objective response rate and rate of progression-free survival at 6 months, with a 2-stage design that allowed for early discontinuation for futility. Prespecified exploratory objectives included the association of immunogenomic features (determined by targeted-panel next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry) with activity. Results: Thirty-five female patients (mean [SD] age, 67.9 [8.41] years) received protocol therapy; 9 (25.7%) derived clinical benefit after meeting at least 1 of the 2 coprimary end points. Four patients (11.4%) exhibited confirmed objective response rates (4 partial responses), and 8 (22.9%) survived progression free at 6 months. The most common grade 3 and 4 treatment-related toxic effects were anemia (16 [46%]), thrombocytopenia (10 [29%]), and neutropenia (4 [11%]); no patient discontinued receipt of therapy because of toxic effects. Tumors with homologous recombination repair alterations were associated with clinical benefit from treatment with avelumab and talazoparib. Tumor mutational burden, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and PD-L1 status were not associated with clinical benefit. Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this nonrandomized controlled trial suggest that treatment with avelumab and talazoparib demonstrated a favorable toxic effect profile and met the predetermined criteria to be considered worthy of further evaluation in MMRP EC. Immunogenomic profiling provided insights that may inform ongoing and future studies of polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase and PD-L1 inhibitor combinations in endometrial cancer. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02912572.

Phase II Study of the WEE1 Inhibitor Adavosertib in Recurrent Uterine Serous Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is a distinct histologic subtype of endometrial cancer, with molecular characteristics suggesting frequent cell-cycle dysregulation paired with a high level of oncogene-driven replication stress. Adavosertib is a potent and selective oral inhibitor of the WEE1 kinase, a key regulator of the G2/M and S phase cell-cycle checkpoints. Because cells with impaired cell-cycle regulation and high replication stress may be vulnerable to WEE1 inhibition, we conducted this study to assess the activity of adavosertib monotherapy in women with recurrent USC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-arm two-stage phase II study with coprimary end points of objective response rate (ORR) and rate of progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6). Women with recurrent USC were treated with adavosertib monotherapy at a starting dose of 300 mg orally once daily days 1 through 5 and 8 through 12 of a 21-day cycle until disease progression. RESULTS: In 34 evaluable patients, 10 total responses (one confirmed complete response, eight confirmed partial responses, and one unconfirmed partial response) were observed with adavosertib monotherapy, for an ORR of 29.4% (95% CI, 15.1 to 47.5). Sixteen patients were progression-free at 6 months, for a PFS6 rate of 47.1% (95% CI, 29.8 to 64.9). Median PFS was 6.1 months, and median duration of response was 9.0 months. Frequent treatment-related adverse events (AEs) included diarrhea (76.5%), fatigue (64.7%), nausea (61.8%), and hematologic AEs. No clear correlation of clinical activity with specific molecular alterations was observed in an exploratory biomarker analysis. CONCLUSION: Adavosertib monotherapy demonstrated encouraging and durable evidence of activity in women with USC, and further investigation of this agent in this cancer and biomarkers of activity are indicated.

Phase II trial of GM-CSF in women with asymptomatic recurrent müllerian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: GM-CSF is a recombinant human cytokine, which promotes the proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes and monocytes, and is associated with anti-tumor activity. The primary objective was to define the median time to treatment termination (TTT) with women with relapsed ovarian cancer treated with single agent GM-CSF delivered subcutaneously (SC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Open label phase II study in asymptomatic patients with recurrent müllerian malignancy without an indication for immediate systemic chemotherapy. In the first cohort of 35 women, GM-CSF 250 microg/m(2) was administered SC on days 1-14 of a 28-day cycle, the second cohort received continuous GM-CSF 150 microg/m(2) given with dose escalation. RESULTS: Seventy-two women were enrolled. Best overall response included one complete response, and 20 patients with stable disease (23%), 4 of whom had stable disease for >6 months. Median TTT was 78 days. Toxicity in both cohorts was generally mild; however, four patients experienced excessive toxicity and withdrew consent. In the first cohort, CA-125 dropped in 70% of women from their baseline on study value (median change -23%, range -48 to +116%) after 14 days of GM-CSF. The magnitude of CA-125 drop during the first 2 weeks of therapy also showed a positive inverse correlation with day 15 white cell count for the whole group (p=0.038). CONCLUSION: GM-CSF is well tolerated and frequently associated with a decline in CA-125 that is correlated with leukocytosis. Although median TTT is modest, a subset of women had prolonged stable disease.

Phase I trial of liposomal doxorubicin and ZD1839 in patients with refractory gynecological malignancies or metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has activity in both breast and ovarian cancer. Preclinical data noted that ZD1839 acts synergistically with chemotherapy. Given the lack of cross-resistance between these two agents, a phase I trial was initiated examining the safety and efficacy of the combination of liposomal doxorubicin and ZD1839 in patients with recurrent gynecologic or metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined within the first two cycles of treatment. Escalating doses of liposomal doxorubicin were administered every 4 weeks with ZD1839. Pharmacokinetic analysis and correlative studies were performed. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in this study: six in each cohort. One DLT (febrile neutropenia) was observed in cohort 2. Dose level 3 was determined to be the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and an additional ten patients were accrued. Serious adverse events (SAEs) included one patient with mental status changes believed secondary to disease progression and two central nervous system (CNS) bleeds believed to be unrelated to the combination of study agents. Toxicities were generally mild except for skin and gastrointestinal toxicity. No cardiac toxicity was observed. The best response to therapy included four partial responses and 20 patients with stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: Liposomal doxorubicin with ZD1839 is an active regimen but is associated with increased skin toxicity in patients with advanced breast and gynecologic cancer.