Twelve-Month Follow-up of the Immune Response After COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Genitourinary Cancers: A Prospective Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vaccinations against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have had a transformative impact on morbidity and mortality. However, the long-term impact of vaccination on patients with genitourinary cancers is currently unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to assess seroconversion rates in patients with genitourinary cancers receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Patients with prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, or urothelial cancer who had not been vaccinated for COVID-19 were included. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 2, 6, and 12 months of one dose of an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine. Antibody titer analysis was performed using the SCoV-2 Detect IgG ELISA assay, and the results were reported as immune status ratio (ISR). A paired t-test was used for comparison of ISR values between timepoints. In addition, T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing was performed to assess for differences in TCR repertoire 2 months after vaccination. RESULTS: Out of 133 patients enrolled, 98 baseline blood samples were collected. At 2-, 6-, and 12-month time points 98, 70, and 50 samples were collected, respectively. Median age was 67 (IQR, 62-75), with the majority of patients diagnosed with prostate (55.1%) or renal cell carcinoma (41.8%). Compared to baseline (0.24 [95% CI, 0.19-0.31]) a significant increase in the geometric mean ISR values was observed at the 2-month timepoint (5.59 [4.76-6.55]) (P < .001). However, at the 6-month timepoint, a significant decrease in the ISR values was observed (4.66 [95% CI, 4.04-5.38]; P < .0001). Notably, at the 12-month timepoint, the addition of a booster dose resulted in an absolute increase in the ISR values compared to those who did not receive a booster dose (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Only a minority of patients with genitourinary cancers did not ultimately achieve satisfactory seroconversion after receiving commercial COVID-19 vaccination. Cancer type or treatment rendered did not appear to affect the immune response mounted after vaccination.

Patients' Perceptions Regarding the Relevance of Items Contained in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of assessing health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This study explored the perceived relevance of items that make up the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19 (FKSI-19), as judged by patients with mRCC. METHODS: This was a multinational cross-sectional survey. Eligible patients responded to a questionnaire composed of 18 items that assessed the perceived relevance of each item in the FKSI-19 questionnaire. Open-ended questions assessed additional issues deemed relevant by patients. Responses were grouped as relevant (scores 2-5) or nonrelevant (score 1). Descriptive statistics were collated, and open-ended questions were analyzed and categorized into descriptive categories. Spearman correlation statistics were used to test the association between relevance and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients were included (gender: 78.1 M, 21.9F; median age: 64; treatment: 38.4 immunotherapy, 29.8 targeted therapy, 13.9 immuno-TKI combination therapy) in the study. The most relevant questions evaluated fatigue (77.5), lack of energy (72.2), and worry that their condition will get worse (71.5). Most patients rated blood in urine (15.2), fevers (16.6), and lack of appetite (23.2) as least relevant. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed several themes, including emotional and physical symptoms, ability to live independently, effectiveness of treatment, family, spirituality, and financial toxicity. CONCLUSION: There is a need to refine widely used HR-QOL measures that are employed among patients diagnosed with mRCC treated with contemporary therapies. Guidance was provided for the inclusion of more relevant items to patients' cancer journey.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Genitourinary Cancers: A Survey Study.

Since the approval of the COVID-19 vaccines, their safety and efficacy has been widely demonstrated in patients with cancer. However, there remain patients with reservations regarding vaccination. We aimed to assess genitourinary cancer patients' perceptions of the vaccines as well as barriers and influencers of decision-making through the completion of a questionnaire. While vaccine-associated concerns were observed, most patients with genitourinary cancers were willing to receive the vaccine. Moving forward, differing strategies could be considered to enhance patient education on the utility of vaccination in the setting of cancer and beyond.

Racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of germline or somatic DNA sequencing among patients with advanced prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer.

We sought to determine racial and ethnic differences in perceptions (quality of communication, expectations, and concerns) of germline or somatic DNA sequencing (genomic profiling). Patients with prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer were surveyed using a questionnaire that assessed previous experience, beliefs, expectations, and concerns regarding genomic profiling. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to identify factors associated with patients' perceptions of genomic profiling. A total of 150 consecutive patients were enrolled. The majority were male (74%) with a mean age of 68 years old. Most patients underwent somatic testing (54%), 24% undertook germline testing, and 21% undertook both tests. Significant differences were found across racial and/or ethnicity concerning factors that could have influenced patients' decision to pursue genomic profiling, including ability to guide the type of treatment (White: 54.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 43.9%, p = 0.04) and potential to improve treatment response (White: 10.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 22.0%, p = 0.04). Other ethnic group of patients were more concerned about learning that the cancer was less treatable or aggressive (43.8% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.01) and anxious about what would be learnt from genomic profiling (34.4% vs. 21.3, p = 0.01) as compared to White patients. Our findings reinforce the importance of developing culturally tailored education to help patients participate actively in decisions about genomic profiling.

Cabozantinib plus immunotherapy combinations in metastatic renal cell and urothelial carcinoma.

Treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) have increased dramatically over the past decade. However, even when novel approaches have proven to be effective as monotherapy, many patients still develop progressive disease, and different strategies are needed to increase clinical response and quality of life. Strategies combining targeted therapy (TT) and immunotherapy (IO) have emerged as a way to shorten the gap between responders and nonresponders to monotherapy and have reported promising results. In this review, we discuss the current role of cabozantinib in combination with IO agents in the treatment of metastatic RCC and UC and go over future directions in the field.

Lay abstract Treatment options for both advanced kidney and bladder cancers have increased significantly over the last decade. However, even when these new approaches have proven to be effective, many patients still experience disease progression. Therefore, different strategies are needed to increase the response to treatment and quality of life. Strategies combining therapies directed to reduce the tumor's blood supply (targeted therapies) and therapies that increase the ability of the body to recognize and attack tumor cells (immunotherapy) have emerged as a way to increase the effectiveness obtained when using these drugs on their own. In this review, we discuss the current role of cabozantinib, a targeted therapy, in combination with immune-based agents in the treatment of advanced kidney and bladder cancers and go over future directions in the field.

Cabozantinib and nivolumab with or without live bacterial supplementation in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a randomized phase 1 trial.

Supplementation with CBM588, a bifidogenic live bacterial product, has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in persons with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) receiving nivolumab and ipilimumab. However, its effect on those receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor-based combinations is unknown. In this open-label, randomized, investigator-initiated, phase 1 study, 30 participants with locally advanced or mRCC with histological confirmation of clear cell, papillary or sarcomatoid component were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive cabozantinib (an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, MET and AXL) and nivolumab (anti-programmed cell death protein 1) with or without CBM588 as first-line treatment. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on stool samples to characterize their gut microbiome at baseline and 13 weeks into treatment. The primary endpoint was a change in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp.; secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity profile. The primary endpoint of the study was not met and the addition of CBM588 to cabozantinib and nivolumab did not result in a difference in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. or alpha diversity (as measured by the Shannon index). However, ORR was significantly higher in participants treated with CBM588 compared to those in the control arm (14 of 19, 74% versus 2 of 10, 20%; P = 0.01). PFS at 6 months was 84% (16 of 19) and 60% (6 of 10) in the experimental and control arms, respectively. No significant difference in toxicity profile was seen between the study arms. Our results provide a preliminary signal of improved clinical activity with CBM588 in treatment-naive participants with mRCC receiving cabozantinib and nivolumab. Further investigation is needed to confirm these findings and better characterize the underlying mechanism driving this effect.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05122546.

Genomic and Clinical Prognostic Factors in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Recently data suggest that telomerase reverse transcripatase (TERT) promoter mutations portend superior outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in mUC. In our retrospective analysis from 2 tertiary cancer centers, we assessed the predictive role of TERT mutations along with other parameters. METHODS: Patient registries were queried for patients treated with ICI for mUC with available genomic and clinical data. Select clinical and laboratory parameters, in addition to primary tumor site, histology, treatment modality, and setting were recorded. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), and mutational status of TERT, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, TMB, TP53, RB1, KMT2D, ARID1A, ERBB2, KDM6A, PIK3CA, FGFR3, and ATM were noted. Univariate analysis of significance concerning overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) was conducted. RESULTS: In total, 113 patients were found to meet inclusion criteria. In our study, ORR was 55%, median PFS was 5.1 months (0.2-71.8), and median OS was 13.4 months (0.2-84.8). On univariate analysis, female sex, NLR>5, and ATM mutation were associated with inferior PFS and OS, whereas upper tract primary disease and ECOG score ≥ 2 were associated with worse OS. On multivariate analysis, NLR >5 was associated with worse PFS and OS whereas upper tract primary disease, albumin <3.4 g/dL, hemoglobin <10 g/dL and ATM mutation were significantly associated with worse OS on multivariate analysis. No significant differences were seen in ORR, PFS, or OS regarding TERT promoter mutations. CONCLUSION: TERT promoter mutations were not significantly associated with any difference in outcome in patients treated with ICI.

Changes in Perception of Cure Among Patients With Genitourinary Cancers Initiating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: We explored changes in perceptions of cure among patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers starting Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal study assessed patients before starting therapy and 3-months later with a questionnaire that included patient perceptions of ICIs and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety scale. General linear modeling was used to investigate changes in expectation of cure over time, and chi-square tests were used to determine the association between expectation of cure and perceptions of ICIs and anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were recruited (73% male, 84% diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma). The proportion of patients who possessed an accurate expectation of cure increased over time (55.6%-66.7%, P = .001). An accurate expectation of cure was associated with lower rates of anxiety over time. Patients with inaccurate expectation of cure reported more severe side effects and worse self-reported ECOG score at the follow-up assessment (P = .04). CONCLUSION: We found that patients with GU metastatic cancer treated with ICI therapy have increasingly accurate expectations of cure over time. Accurate expectation of cure is associated with decreased anxiety. Further research is needed to fully explore this dynamic over time and help inform interventions that can help patients develop accurate expectations.

Ultrasensitive Circulating Tumor DNA Pilot Study Distinguishes Complete Response and Partial Response With Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been validated across multiple indications in the adjuvant and surveillance settings. We evaluated whether targeted digital sequencing (TARDIS) may distinguish a partial response (PR) from a complete response (CR) among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had mRCC that yielded a PR or CR to ICI therapy. Peripheral blood was obtained at a single time point for ctDNA analysis. TARDIS was used for quantification of average variant allele fractions (VAFs). Our primary objective was to determine the association between VAFs and depth of response (PR v CR). A secondary objective was to determine whether VAFs were associated with disease progression. RESULTS: Twelve patients were analyzed, nine of whom achieved a PR (75%). Patients received either nivolumab monotherapy (50%) or nivolumab plus ipilimumab (50%). ctDNA analysis incorporated an average of 30 patient-specific mutations (range, 19-35); average coverage depth was 103,342 reads per target. TARDIS quantified a significant difference in VAFs between PR and CR (median, 0.181% [IQR, 0.077%-0.420%] v 0.007% [IQR, 0.0%-0.028%], respectively [P = .014]). Of the 12 patients in the series, six patients demonstrated radiographic progression subsequent to ctDNA assessment. Patients who progressed on subsequent scans had significantly higher ctDNA than those who maintained their response (median, 0.362% [IQR, 0.181%-2.71%] v 0.033% [IQR, 0.007%-0.077%], respectively [P = .026]). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, TARDIS accurately differentiated PR from CR among patients with mRCC receiving immunotherapy, and also prospectively identified patients at risk for subsequent progression. Given these findings, we envision subsequent studies that validate these results and investigate the utility of this assay to discern appropriate candidates for discontinuation of immunotherapy.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Predictors of Response from Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Patients with Oligoprogressive Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been shown to be safe and effective for delaying systemic treatment change among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). In this study, we sought to assess the genomic signatures of patients with mRCC who underwent SBRT for oligoprogression. A total of 30 patients with oligoprogressive disease were identified, the majority of whom had clear cell renal cell carcinoma (83.3%) and were receiving first-line treatment (53.3%). Genomic and transcriptomic sequencing were available in 20 and 16 patients, respectively. Duration of systemic treatment (DOT) was categorized as that prior (DOT[P]) and subsequent (DOT[S]) to radiation treatment. The median DOT(P) and DOT(S) were 15.1 and 18.3 mo, respectively, with a median DOT(S)/DOT(P) ratio of 1.4. Patients who had a DOT(S)/DOT(P) ratio of ≥1 had increased expression in pathways related to cell proliferation and development. In contrast, among patients with a ratio of ≤1, the reactive oxygen species pathway was enriched. This study highlights the potential role of genomics and transcriptomics to refine radiation treatment selection in patients with mRCC. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we looked at mutations and genomic expressions among kidney cancer patients who responded better to stereotactic body radiotherapy. We found that enriched expression of certain pathways might play a role in response to radiotherapy.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab with or without live bacterial supplementation in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a randomized phase 1 trial.

Previous studies have suggested that the gut microbiome influences the response to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) in patients with cancer. CBM588 is a bifidogenic live bacterial product that we postulated could augment CPI response through modulation of the gut microbiome. In this open-label, single-center study (NCT03829111), 30 treatment-naive patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma with clear cell and/or sarcomatoid histology and intermediate- or poor-risk disease were randomized 2:1 to receive nivolumab and ipilimumab with or without daily oral CBM588, respectively. Stool metagenomic sequencing was performed at multiple timepoints. The primary endpoint to compare the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. at baseline and at 12 weeks was not met, and no significant differences in Bifidobacterium spp. or Shannon index associated with the addition of CBM588 to nivolumab-ipilimumab were detected. Secondary endpoints included response rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity. PFS was significantly longer in patients receiving nivolumab-ipilimumab with CBM588 than without (12.7 months versus 2.5 months, hazard ratio 0.15, 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.47, P = 0.001). Although not statistically significant, the response rate was also higher in patients receiving CBM588 (58% versus 20%, P = 0.06). No significant difference in toxicity was observed between the study arms. The data suggest that CBM588 appears to enhance the clinical outcome in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab-ipilimumab. Larger studies are warranted to confirm this clinical observation and elucidate the mechanism of action and the effects on microbiome and immune compartments.

Circulating cytokines associated with clinical response to systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Circulating cytokines and angiogenic factors have been associated with clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving systemic therapy. However, none have yet examined cytokine concentrations in parallel cohorts receiving either immunotherapy or targeted therapy. METHODS: In this prospective correlative study, we enrolled 56 patients who were planned for treatment with either a vascular endothelial growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI) or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Eligibility requirements permitted any RCC histologic subtype, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma risk classification, and line of therapy. Immunologic profile was assessed at baseline and after 1 month on treatment using a Human Cytokine 30-plex protein assay (Invitrogen). Clinical benefit was defined as complete response, partial response, or stable disease ≥6 months per RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) V.1.1 criteria. RESULTS: Clinical benefit was similar between VEGF-TKI and ICI arms (65% vs 54%). Patients with clinical benefit from VEGF-TKIs had lower pretreatment levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p=0.02), IL-1RA (p=0.03), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF) (p=0.02). At 1 month, patients with clinical benefit from ICIs had higher levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (p=0.04) and IL-12 (p=0.03). Among patients on VEGF-TKIs, those with clinical benefit had lower 1 month IL-13 (p=0.02) and granulocyte macrophage CSF (p=0.01) as well as higher 1 month VEGF (p=0.04) compared with patients with no clinical benefit. CONCLUSION: For patients receiving VEGF-TKI or ICI therapy, distinct plasma cytokines were associated with clinical benefit. Our findings support additional investigation into plasma cytokines as biomarkers in metastatic RCC.

Characterizing the relationships between tertiary and community cancer providers: Results from a survey of medical oncologists in Southern California.

BACKGROUND: Tertiary cancer centers offer clinical expertise and multi-modal approaches to treatment alongside the integration of research protocols. Nevertheless, most patients receive their cancer care at community practices. A better understanding of the relationships between tertiary and community practice environments may enhance collaborations and advance patient care. METHODS: A 31-item survey was distributed to community and tertiary oncologists in Southern California using REDCap. Survey questions assessed the following attributes: demographics and features of clinical practice, referral patterns, availability and knowledge of clinical trials and precision medicine, strategies for knowledge acquisition, and integration of community and tertiary practices. RESULTS: The survey was distributed to 98 oncologists, 85 (87%) of whom completed it. In total, 52 (61%) respondents were community practitioners and 33 (38%) were tertiary oncologists. A majority (56%) of community oncologists defined themselves as general oncologists, whereas almost all (97%) tertiary oncologists reported a subspecialty. Clinical trial availability was the most common reason for patient referrals to tertiary centers (73%). The most frequent barrier to tertiary referral was financial considerations (59%). Clinical trials were offered by 97% of tertiary practitioners compared to 67% of community oncologists (p = 0.001). Most oncologists (82%) reported only a minimal-to-moderate understanding of clinical trials available at regional tertiary centers. CONCLUSIONS: Community oncologists refer patients to tertiary centers primarily with the intent of clinical trial enrollment; however, significant gaps exist in their knowledge of trial availability. Our results identify the need for enhanced communication and collaboration between community and tertiary providers to expand patients' access to clinical trials.

Complementary Role of Circulating Tumor DNA Assessment and Tissue Genomic Profiling in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The role of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) as an adjunct to tissue genomic profiling is poorly defined in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). In this study, we aim to validate previous findings related to genomic alteration (GA) frequency in ctDNA and determine the concordance between ctDNA and tissue-based profiling in patients with mRCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Results of 839 patients with mRCC who had ctDNA assessment with a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified ctDNA assay between November 2016 and December 2019 were collected. Tissue-based genomic profiling was collected when available and concordance analysis between blood- and tissue-based testing was performed. RESULTS: ctDNA was assessed in 839 patients (comprising 920 samples) with mRCC. GAs were detected in 661 samples (71.8%). Tissue-based GAs were assessed in 112 patients. Limiting our analyses to a common 73-/74-gene set and excluding samples with no ctDNA detected, a total of 228 mutations were found in tissue and blood. Mutations identified in tissue (34.7%; 42/121) were also identified via ctDNA, whereas 28.2% (42/149) of the mutations identified in liquid were also identified via tissue. Concordance between ctDNA and tissue-based profiling was inversely related to the time elapsed between these assays. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the feasibility of ctDNA profiling in the largest mRCC cohort to date, with ctDNA identifying multiple actionable alterations. It also demonstrates that ctDNA and tissue-based genomic profiling are complementary, with both platforms identifying unique alterations, and confirms that the frequency of unique alterations increases with greater temporal separation between tests.

Immune Related Adverse Events: Classification and Management Approaches in Advanced Kidney Cancer.

Recent therapeutic advancements have incorporated immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) into the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Pivotal phase III trials have resulted in Food and Drug Administration approval for anti-programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 ICIs, either in combination with anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 ICIs or with vascular endothelial growth factor-directed targeted therapies, as standard-of-care frontline regimens. Immune checkpoint inhibitors offer improved clinical outcomes when compared to previous treatment options. However, these agents also present unique toxicity profiles collectively referred to as immune-related adverse events. Common immune-related adverse events include colitis, hepatitis, dermatitis, and thyroiditis. Rare toxicities, such as myocarditis and pneumonitis, have the potential for causing severe harm. Herein, we provide a case-based discussion of how to identify, grade, and manage irAEs in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.