Overall Survival with Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant pembrolizumab therapy after surgery for renal-cell carcinoma was approved on the basis of a significant improvement in disease-free survival in the KEYNOTE-564 trial. Whether the results regarding overall survival from the third prespecified interim analysis of the trial would also favor pembrolizumab was uncertain. METHODS: In this phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) participants with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma who had an increased risk of recurrence after surgery to receive pembrolizumab (at a dose of 200 mg) or placebo every 3 weeks for up to 17 cycles (approximately 1 year) or until recurrence, the occurrence of unacceptable toxic effects, or withdrawal of consent. A significant improvement in disease-free survival according to investigator assessment (the primary end point) was shown previously. Overall survival was the key secondary end point. Safety was a secondary end point. RESULTS: A total of 496 participants were assigned to receive pembrolizumab and 498 to receive placebo. As of September 15, 2023, the median follow-up was 57.2 months. The disease-free survival benefit was consistent with that in previous analyses (hazard ratio for recurrence or death, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.87). A significant improvement in overall survival was observed with pembrolizumab as compared with placebo (hazard ratio for death, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.87; P = 0.005). The estimated overall survival at 48 months was 91.2% in the pembrolizumab group, as compared with 86.0% in the placebo group; the benefit was consistent across key subgroups. Pembrolizumab was associated with a higher incidence of serious adverse events of any cause (20.7%, vs. 11.5% with placebo) and of grade 3 or 4 adverse events related to pembrolizumab or placebo (18.6% vs. 1.2%). No deaths were attributed to pembrolizumab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant pembrolizumab was associated with a significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival, as compared with placebo, among participants with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma at increased risk for recurrence after surgery. (Funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck; KEYNOTE-564 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03142334.).

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab after Nephrectomy in Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with renal-cell carcinoma who undergo nephrectomy have no options for adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence that have high levels of supporting evidence. METHODS: In a double-blind, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma who were at high risk for recurrence after nephrectomy, with or without metastasectomy, to receive either adjuvant pembrolizumab (at a dose of 200 mg) or placebo intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 17 cycles (approximately 1 year). The primary end point was disease-free survival according to the investigator's assessment. Overall survival was a key secondary end point. Safety was a secondary end point. RESULTS: A total of 496 patients were randomly assigned to receive pembrolizumab, and 498 to receive placebo. At the prespecified interim analysis, the median time from randomization to the data-cutoff date was 24.1 months. Pembrolizumab therapy was associated with significantly longer disease-free survival than placebo (disease-free survival at 24 months, 77.3% vs. 68.1%; hazard ratio for recurrence or death, 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.87; P = 0.002 [two-sided]). The estimated percentage of patients who remained alive at 24 months was 96.6% in the pembrolizumab group and 93.5% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for death, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.96). Grade 3 or higher adverse events of any cause occurred in 32.4% of the patients who received pembrolizumab and in 17.7% of those who received placebo. No deaths related to pembrolizumab therapy occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Pembrolizumab treatment led to a significant improvement in disease-free survival as compared with placebo after surgery among patients with kidney cancer who were at high risk for recurrence. (Funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck; KEYNOTE-564 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03142334.).

Differential Sensitivity of Germline and Somatic BRCA Variants to PARP Inhibitor in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

PURPOSE: The introduction of PARP inhibitors (PARPis) as a treatment option for patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) modified the approach of BRCA testing worldwide. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants on treatment response and survival outcomes in patients diagnosed in our institution. METHODS: A total of 805 HGSOC samples underwent BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant detection by using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Among them, a pathogenic alteration was detected in 104 specimens. Clinicopathological features and germline status were recovered, and alteration types were further characterized. The clinical significance of variant type in terms of response to chemotherapy and to PARPis as well as overall survival were evaluated using univariate analysis. RESULTS: In our cohort, 13.2% of the HGSOC samples harbored a pathogenic BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant, among which 58.7% were inherited. No difference was observed between germline and somatic variants in terms of the gene altered. Interestingly, patients with somatic variants only (no germline) demonstrated better outcomes under PARPi treatment compared to those with germline ones. CONCLUSION: The determination of the inheritance or acquisition of BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations could provide valuable information for improving management strategies and predicting the outcome of patients with HGSOC.

Cabozantinib-nivolumab sequence in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: The CABIR study.

Nivolumab and cabozantinib are approved agents in mRCC patients after sunitinib/pazopanib (TKI) failure. However, the optimal sequence, cabozantinib then nivolumab (CN) or nivolumab then cabozantinib (NC), is still unknown. The CABIR study aimed to identify the optimal sequence between CN and NC after frontline VEGFR-TKI. In this multicenter retrospective study, we collected data from mRCC pts receiving CN or NC, after frontline VEGFR-TKI. A propensity score (PrS) was calculated to manage bias selection, and sequence comparisons were carried out with a cox model on a matched sample 1:1. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) from the start of second line to progression in third line (PFS2-3 ). Key secondary endpoints included overall survival from second line (OS2 ). Out of 139 included mRCC patients, 38 (27%) and 101 (73%) received CN and NC, respectively. Overlap in PrS allowed 1:1 matching for each CN pts, with characteristics well balanced. For both PFS2-3 and OS2 , NC sequence was superior to CN (PFS2-3 : HR = 0.58 [0.34-0.98], P = .043; OS2 : 0.66 [0.42-1.05], P = .080). Superior PFS2-3 was in patients treated between 6 and 18 months with prior VEGFR-TKI (P = .019) and was driven by a higher PFSL3 with cabozantinib when given after nivolumab (P < .001). The CABIR study shows a prolonged PFS of the NC sequence compared to CN in mRCC after first line VEGFR-TKI failure. The data suggest that cabozantinib may be more effective than nivolumab in the third-line setting, possibly related to an ability of cabozantinib to overcome resistance to PD-1 blockade.

Abiraterone acetate in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: long term outcome of the Temporary Authorization for Use programme in France.

BACKGROUND: COU-AA-301 trial has proved that abiraterone acetate (AA), a selective inhibitor of androgen biosynthesis, improved overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) after a first line of docetaxel. Based on this result, a Temporary Authorization for Use (TAU) was performed between December 2010 and July 2011 to provide patients with mCRPC the opportunity to receive AA before its commercialization. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of AA treatment in this TAU. METHODS: Between December 2010 and July 2011, we conducted an ambispective, multicentric cohort study and investigated data from 20 centres participating to the AA TAU for patients presenting mCRPC and already treated by a first line of chemotherapy (CT). Statistical analyses of the data were performed using the Stata software v13 to identify predictive and prognostic factors. RESULTS: Among the 408 patients, 306 were eligible with a follow-up at 3 years. Median OS was 37.1 months from beginning of CT and 14.6 months from AA introduction. 211 patients (69%) received ≥ 3 months of AA and 95 patients (31%) were treated less than 3 months. In the multivariate analyses, duration of AA was significantly correlated with PSA decrease at 3 months. Additionally, shorter time under AA treatment, presence of multiple sites of metastasis and previous hormonal treatment duration were three independent factors associated with poorer OS. At the time of analysis ten patients were still under treatment for more than 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical response monitored by PSA changes at 3 months is a strong predictive factor for AA treatment duration. Some high responders' patients could beneficiate from AA for more than 3 years.

Multidisciplinary real-world management of metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: A French national study (PROFILE study).

While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the standard of care for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), recent strategies like intensification of systemic treatment (Rozet et al., 2020) (i.e. adding another treatment to ADT) and radiotherapy have improved overall survival. PROFILE, a national retrospective multicentric real-world study, involved patients with mCSPC recruited by medical oncologists, urologists, and radiation oncologists, and who started treatment between November 2020 and May 2021. Patients by sites were included consecutively. Data were collected from medical records. Primary objectives were to: (1) describe retrospectively the characteristics of whole population of patients with mCSPC as well as subgroups defined by prognostic factors in France at diagnosis; (2) identify current practices for managing mCSPC in a real-life clinical setting. Among the 416 patients with mCSPC included in the PROFILE study, 315 (76%) were synchronous (metastasis at the initial diagnosis) and 101 (24%) were metachronous patients (metastasis diagnosed post-progression). A majority (83% of synchronous and 73% of metachronous patients) received an intensified systemic treatment (ADT plus ARSI [androgen-receptor signaling inhibitors]±chemotherapy±primary tumour radiotherapy±metastasis-directed therapy [MDT]), while only 40% of low-volume patients received prostate radiotherapy. This study depicts the standardization of new therapeutic strategies for patients with mCSPC in France with most of them receiving an intensified treatment, mainly with ADT+ARSI (64% of synchronous intensified patients and 76% of metachronous intensified patients). Most of patients were assessed using conventional imaging (CT scan and/or bone scan). Overall, PROFILE results are in line with French and European guidelines for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of such patients (Rozet et al., 2020; Cornford et al., 2021).

[Metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Management of toxicities of combinations]. / Cancer du rein métastatique : gestion des toxicités des combinaisons.

New combinations of antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or dual ICI have been shown to be effective in phase III trials compared to sunitinib in the first-line treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer. While ICI doublet is already used in other indications, TKI/ICI combinations are more recent and the management of their adverse effects (AEs) are less well known, particularly with regard to the accountability of each therapeutic class. The objective of this article is to analyze the safety data from the main phase III studies to provide clinicians with practical advice for managing the AEs from these combinations. Their management depends largely on the type of combination and their grade. In the case of a TKI/ICI combination, discontinuation of the 2 molecules is considered from grade 2. Rapid improvement in symptoms suggests that the AE is related to the TKI. It is then possible, after resolution, to reintroduce the TKI, if needed by reducing the dose, and to continue the ICI. Otherwise, the blame falls on the ICI and treatment usually involves corticosteroids. Management also depends on the type of AE and its severity. In some cases (dysthyroidism), treatment with TKI/ICI may be continued. In other situations (cardiac or neurological toxicity), it should be discontinued from grade 1 and hospitalization and corticosteroid therapy should be considered immediately. In all cases, information and education are integral parts of the prevention and proper management of potential AEs.

Primary Renal Tumour Response in Patients Treated with Nivolumab for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results from the GETUG-AFU 26 NIVOREN Trial.

Primary tumour response may impact therapeutic strategies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) but remains unknown in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors. We aimed to describe the response of the primary tumour in patients who did not undergo upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy (uCN) and were treated with nivolumab in the GETUG-AFU-26 NIVOREN phase 2 trial. Primary tumour response was prospectively assessed, as well as the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Among 720 patients, 111 did not undergo uCN, mainly patients with intermediate (45%) and poor (49%) International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk. In the 111 patients, nivolumab was used in the second line for 63% of patients and the third line or more for 37%, with an ORR of 16% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1025%); with a median follow-up of 24.5 mo (95% CI 21.6-27.1), median PFS was 2.7 mo (95% CI 2.5-4.0) and median OS was 15.9 mo (95% CI 9.5-19.8). A total of 67 patients had an evaluable primary renal lesion, four of whom (6%) experienced shrinkage of more than 30%. Overall, patients who did not undergo uCN had adverse baseline characteristics and nivolumab activity against the primary tumour was limited. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we observed that nivolumab was associated with a limited response of the primary tumour in previously treated patients with metastatic kidney cancer.

Real-world evidence of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Results from the CABOREAL Early Access Program.

BACKGROUND: Real-world data on cabozantinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is limited. This study (CABOREAL) reports treatment patterns and outcomes for patients treated with cabozantinib through the French Early Access Program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicentre (n = 26), observational, retrospective study enrolled patients with mRCC who had received ≥1 dose of cabozantinib. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method; subgroups were compared using the log-rank test. A multiple Cox regression model assessed predictive factors of OS after cabozantinib initiation. RESULTS: Four hundred and ten recruited patients started treatment between September 2016 and February 2018: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2, 39.3%; poor International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) risk, 31.7%; 0-1, 2 and ≥3 previous treatment lines, 25.3%, 33.4% and 41.2%, respectively; bone metastases, 55.9%; brain metastases, 16.8%. Median (min-max) follow-up was 14.4 (0-30) months. Overall, 57.0% of patients had a dose reduction, 15.6% an alternative dose schedule. The median average daily dose was 40.0 mg. Median (quartile [Q]1-Q3) treatment duration was 7.6 (0.1-29.1) months, median OS was 14.4 months, and the 12-month OS rate was 56.5% (95% confidence interval: 51.5-61.2). Most patients (54.4%) received subsequent treatment. Predictive factors associated with longer OS were body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (p = 0.0021), prior nephrectomy (p = 0.0109), favourable or intermediate IMDC risk (p < 0.0001) and cabozantinib initiation at 60 mg/day (p = 0.0486). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest real-world study to date, cabozantinib was effective in unselected, heavily pretreated patients with mRCC. Initiation at 60 mg/day was associated with improved outcomes. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03744585.

Bevacizumab-related surgical site complication despite primary tumor resection in colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Combining conventional systemic chemotherapy with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab is now recommended as a first treatment for metastatic colorectal neoplasms. The risk for short-term postoperative complications related to bevacizumab has been assessed. Late postoperative complications related to bevacizumab have also been suggested by preliminary reports. METHODS: We reviewed a cohort of 142 patients with previous surgery for primary colonic or rectal tumor and without evidence of local recurrence, receiving bevacizumab for metastatic disease. RESULTS: Four patients experienced a late surgical site complication related to bevacizumab. Common features were rectal location, low anastomosis, and preoperative irradiation. Combining these three factors, the risk of a bevacizumab-related complication was 4 in 27 (14.8%); if previous history of postoperative leakage was reported, the risk was raised to 2 in 4. No complications occurred in colonic location or the non-irradiated patients. The mechanism of these complications could be ischemic lesion in post-irradiated tissues involving anastomoses. CONCLUSION: We conclude that angiogenesis inhibitors should be carefully considered for patients having low colorectal anastomosis and previous irradiation.

Comparative Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With and Without Zometa for Management of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer With Serum VEGF as Primary Endpoint: The NEOZOL Study.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become the treatment of choice for locally advanced breast cancer. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is a bisphosphonate initially used in the treatment of bone metastases because of its antibone resorption effect. Antitumor effects of ZA, including the inhibition of cell adhesion to mineralized bone or the antiangiogenic effect, have been demonstrated. However, the clinical significance of these effects remains to be determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a multicenter open-label randomized trial to analyze the value of adding ZA to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for TNM clinical stage T2/T3 breast cancer. The primary endpoint was the evolution of serum VEGF. RESULTS: The data from 24 patients were included in the ZA group and 26 in the control group. The evolution of serum VEGF was slightly in favor of ZA at 5.5 months (-0.7% vs. +7.5%), without reaching statistical significance (P = .52). The secondary endpoints were the breast conservation rate (higher with ZA; 83.3% vs. 65.4%; P = NS), pathologic complete response (no effect), and circulating tumor cells (odds ratio, 0.68 in favor of ZA; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-24.36). No cases of jaw necrosis or severe renal failure were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: ZA is an antitumor drug of interest because of its multiple effects on tumor biology. Larger trials with longer follow-up that include additional endpoints such as relapse and survival rates would be of interest.

[French national survey on incoming phone calls in oncology departments]. / Enquête nationale française sur les appels téléphoniques entrants en oncologie médicale.

INTRODUCTION: Oral therapies have shifted the follow-up of patients with cancer from hospital to home. As a consequence, the number of incoming calls has increased. To understand the source, reasons, management and burden of calls, we underwent a French national survey. The objective was to describe the way calls are managed in oncology departments. METHODS: The study was a prospective survey in a representative sample of French oncology specialists using oral therapies. RESULTS: Among 51 participating onco/radiotherapy departments, 86 % of specialists were oncologists or hematologists and 14 % radiation oncologists. Eighty percent were from public centers and 20 % from private ones. The median number of calls/week was 110. Sixty-six percent of calls were from patients and families and 23 % from general practitioners. Upon calls reception by the secretaries, half of them corresponded to a medical question. Sixty-five percent of centers did not have an established specific procedure and 70 % of responders did not specifically train their teams to address the management of calls. Sixty-five percent of the specialists spent more than 30min/day. Most of them considered it disturbing medical activities. Sixty-six percent of patients calls were related to adverse effects of treatments. Twenty-two percent of specialists declared at least one severe adverse effect linked to misinterpretation of a call. DISCUSSION: With the increase of oral therapies, incoming phone calls represent an important burden of work. To improve calls management, adaptations of organizations are needed.

Clinical activity of sunitinib rechallenge in metastatic renal cell carcinoma-Results of the REchallenge with SUnitinib in MEtastatic RCC (RESUME) Study.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of sunitinib rechallenge in the third-line or later setting in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational study comprised 61 mRCC patients at 19 centres in France who received sunitinib rechallenge between January 2006 and May 2013. Patients received first-line sunitinib, ≥1 different targeted therapies, and then sunitinib rechallenge. Patient/disease characteristics, tolerability, treatment modalities, and outcomes of therapeutic lines were recorded. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS) in sunitinib rechallenge. RESULTS: Analyses included 52 patients; median age was 59 years, 75% were male, and 98% had clear-cell mRCC and prior nephrectomy. At sunitinib rechallenge versus first-line, patients had poorer performance (Karnofsky performance status 90-100: 30% versus 81%) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre prognostic risk (poor risk: 18% versus 3%). Overall, 20%, 65%, 12%, and 4% received sunitinib rechallenge as third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-line therapy, respectively, at 14.6 months (median) after stopping initial treatment. With first-line sunitinib and rechallenge, median PFS was 18.4 and 7.9 months, respectively; objective response rate was 54% and 15%. Two of eight rechallenge responders had not achieved first-line response. Median overall survival was 55.9 months. The sunitinib rechallenge safety profile was as expected, with no new adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: Sunitinib rechallenge is a feasible treatment option with potential clinical benefit for mRCC patients. Disease progression with first-line sunitinib may not be associated with complete or irreversible resistance to therapy.

Frequent expression of PD-L1 on circulating breast cancer cells.

Immune checkpoint regulators such as PD-L1 have become exciting new therapeutic targets leading to long lasting remissions in patients with advanced malignancies. However, in view of the remarkable costs and the toxicity profiles of these therapies, predictive biomarkers able to discriminate responders from non-responders are urgently needed. In the present paper, we provide evidence that PD-L1 is frequently expressed on metastatic cells circulating in the blood of hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients. We performed western blot, flow cytometry and immunocytochemical analyses to demonstrate the specificity of the PDL1 antibody used in our study and established immunoscores for PDL1 expression on single tumor cells. We then selected sixteen patients with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using the CellSearch(®) system and found PD-L1((+)) CTCs in 11 patients (68.8%). The fraction of PD-L1((+)) CTCs varied from 0.2 to 100% in individual patients. This is the first report demonstrating the expression of PD-L1 on CTCs. The established CTC/PD-L1 assay can be used for liquid biopsy in future clinical trials for stratification and monitoring of cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint blockade.