Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Influence Survival in Pleural Mesothelioma: Digital Gene Expression Analysis and Supervised Machine Learning Model.

The exact mechanism of desmoplastic stromal reaction (DSR) formation is still unclear. The interaction between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has an important role in tumor progression, while stromal changes are a poor prognostic factor in pleural mesothelioma (PM). We aimed to assess the impact of CAFs paracrine signaling within the tumor microenvironment and the DSR presence on survival, in a cohort of 77 PM patients. DSR formation was evaluated morphologically and by immunohistochemistry for Fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP). Digital gene expression was analyzed using a custom-designed CodeSet (NanoString). Decision-tree-based analysis using the "conditional inference tree" (CIT) machine learning algorithm was performed on the obtained results. A significant association between FAP gene expression levels and the appearance of DSR was found (p = 0.025). DSR-high samples demonstrated a statistically significant prolonged median survival time. The elevated expression of MYT1, KDR, PIK3R1, PIK3R4, and SOS1 was associated with shortened OS, whereas the upregulation of VEGFC, FAP, and CDK4 was associated with prolonged OS. CIT revealed a three-tier system based on FAP, NF1, and RPTOR expressions. We could outline the prognostic value of CAFs-induced PI3K signaling pathway activation together with FAP-dependent CDK4 mediated cell cycle progression in PM, where prognostic and predictive biomarkers are urgently needed to introduce new therapeutic strategies.

Triiodothyronine and dexamethasone alter potassium channel expression and promote electrophysiological maturation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND: Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have emerged as a promising tool for disease modeling and drug development. However, hiPSC-CMs remain functionally immature, which hinders their utility as a model of human cardiomyocytes. OBJECTIVE: To improve the electrophysiological maturation of hiPSC-CMs. METHODS AND RESULTS: On day 16 of cardiac differentiation, hiPSC-CMs were treated with 100 nmol/L triiodothyronine (T3) and 1 µmol/L Dexamethasone (Dex) or vehicle for 14 days. On day 30, vehicle- and T3 + Dex-treated hiPSC-CMs were dissociated and replated either as cell sheets or single cells. Optical mapping and patch-clamp technique were used to examine the electrophysiological properties of vehicle- and T3 + Dex-treated hiPSC-CMs. Compared to vehicle, T3 + Dex-treated hiPSC-CMs had a slower spontaneous beating rate, more hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, faster maximal upstroke velocity, and shorter action potential duration. Changes in spontaneous activity and action potential were mediated by decreased hyperpolarization-activated current (If) and increased inward rectifier potassium currents (IK1), sodium currents (INa), and the rapidly and slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium currents (IKr and IKs, respectively). Furthermore, T3 + Dex-treated hiPSC-CM cell sheets (hiPSC-CCSs) exhibited a faster conduction velocity and shorter action potential duration than the vehicle. Inhibition of IK1 by 100 µM BaCl2 significantly slowed conduction velocity and prolonged action potential duration in T3 + Dex-treated hiPSC-CCSs but had no effect in the vehicle group, demonstrating the importance of IK1 for conduction velocity and action potential duration. CONCLUSION: T3 + Dex treatment is an effective approach to rapidly enhance electrophysiological maturation of hiPSC-CMs.

Everolimus after failure of one prior VEGF-targeted therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Final results of the MARC-2 trial.

MARC-2, a prospective, multicenter phase IV trial, aimed to investigate clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with everolimus after failure of one initial vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI) therapy and to identify subgroups benefiting most, based on clinical characteristics and biomarkers. Patients with clear cell mRCC failing one initial VEGFR-TKI received everolimus until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival rate (6moPFS). Secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), PFS, overall survival (OS), and safety. Between 2011 and 2015, 63 patients were enrolled. Median age was 65.4 years (range 43.3-81.1). 6moPFS was 39.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.0-51.3) overall, 54.4% (95% CI, 35.2-70.1) vs 23.7% (95% CI, 10.5-39.9) for patients aged ≥65 vs <65 years and 51.4% (95% CI, 34.7-65.7) vs 18.2% (95% CI, 5.7-36.3) for patients with body mass index (BMI) >25 vs ≤25 kg/m2 . A Cox proportional hazards model confirmed a longer PFS for patients aged ≥65 years (hazard ratio [HR] 0.46; 95% CI, 0.26-0.80) and a longer OS for patients with BMI >25 kg/m2 (HR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18-0.71). Median PFS and median OS were 3.8 months (95% CI, 3.2-6.2) and 16.8 months (95% CI, 14.3-24.3). ORR was 7.9% and disease control rate was 60.3%. No new safety signals emerged. Most common adverse events were stomatitis (31.7%), fatigue (31.7%), and anemia (30.2%). One patient died from treatment-related upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Everolimus remains a safe and effective treatment option for mRCC patients after one prior VEGFR-TKI therapy. Patients aged ≥65 years and patients with BMI >25 kg/m2 benefited most.

Real-world efficacy of docetaxel plus nintedanib after chemo-immunotherapy failure in advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Aim: This real-world analysis evaluated docetaxel plus nintedanib in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma after chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor failure, for whom treatment options are limited. Methods: Data were sourced retrospectively from seven German centers. Results: Of 93 patients, overall response rate was 41.4% (disease control rate: 75.9%). Of 57 patients given third-line docetaxel plus nintedanib, overall response rate was 50.0% (disease control rate: 82.7%). Median overall survival following third-line docetaxel plus nintedanib was 8.4 months. Adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of docetaxel plus nintedanib. Conclusion: To date, this was the largest retrospective, real-world analysis of docetaxel plus nintedanib after chemotherapy-immunotherapy failure, indicating that docetaxel plus nintedanib offers meaningful clinical benefits in this setting.

Lay abstract The standard of care for patients with lung adenocarcinoma has advanced with the introduction of immunotherapy in the first-line setting. However, limited clinical data are available to help guide treatment decisions after failure of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Nintedanib is an oral antiangiogenic agent that is approved in the EU and other countries in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic lung adenocarcinoma after first-line chemotherapy. This study is a retrospective, real-world analysis of docetaxel plus nintedanib in 93 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma who progressed on immunotherapy (either in sequence or in combination with chemotherapy). The results suggest that docetaxel plus nintedanib offers a meaningful clinical benefit in this setting. Safety findings were generally consistent with the known safety profile of docetaxel plus nintedanib.

Muslims' experiences of equality recognition in Germany: Effects on identification with the larger society and on equality recognition of other societal subgroups.

OBJECTIVES: Fostering the identification of societal minorities with the larger society is an essential political aim. In this article, we analyze whether minority members' perception of being recognized by society leads to a stronger identification with society, and whether this identification fosters more willingness to recognize other societal subgroups' members as equal members of society. METHOD: Our analysis is based on both a cross-sectional (N = 1,059, 49% female, mean age = 31 years, 78% with migration background, i.e., first- to third-generation) and a longitudinal (N = 159, 57% female, mean age = 30 years, 76% with migration background) sample of Muslims living in Germany. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling and path analyses suggested that the perception to be recognized by society as equals yielded stronger identification with Germany. In contrast, the perception that one's needs are recognized had no effect on the identification with Germany, while the perception of achievement recognition even tended to decrease identification with Germany. Identification with Germany, in turn, led to an increased willingness of respondents to extend equality recognition to subgroups' members whose beliefs and/or practices our respondents (on average) disapproved. CONCLUSIONS: When the societal majority imparts to minorities a sense of being recognized as equals, this equality recognition colors the broader societal framework within which intergroup relations take shape. We further suggest that-if it is desired that subgroups identify with society-the most viable option is a multicultural model of society, which enables minorities to simultaneously retain their subgroup identity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Gene expression profiling of homologous recombination repair pathway indicates susceptibility for olaparib treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a tumour arising from pleural cavities with poor prognosis. Multimodality treatment with pemetrexed combined with cisplatin shows unsatisfying response-rates of 40%. The reasons for the rather poor efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatment are largely unknown. However, it is conceivable that DNA repair mechanisms lead to an impaired therapy response. We hypothesize a major role of homologous recombination (HR) for genome stability and survival of this tumour. Therefore, we analysed genes compiled under the term "BRCAness". An inhibition of this pathway with olaparib might abrogate this effect and induce apoptosis. METHODS: We investigated the response of three MPM cell lines and lung fibroblasts serving as a control to treatment with pemetrexed, cisplatin and olaparib. Furthermore, we aimed to find possible correlations between response and gene expression patterns associated with BRCAness phenotype. Therefore, 91 clinical MPM samples were digitally screened for gene expression patterns of HR members. RESULTS: A BRCAness-dependent increase of apoptosis and senescence during olaparib-based treatment of BRCA-associated-protein 1 (BAP1)-mutated cell lines was observed. The gene expression pattern identified could be found in approx. 10% of patient samples. Against this background, patients could be grouped according to their defects in the HR system. Gene expression levels of Aurora Kinase A (AURKA), RAD50 as well as DNA damage-binding protein 2 (DDB2) could be identified as prognostic markers in MPM. CONCLUSIONS: Defects in HR compiled under the term BRCAness are a common event in MPM. The present data can lead to a better understanding of the underlaying cellular mechanisms and leave the door wide open for new therapeutic approaches for this severe disease with infaust prognosis. Response to Poly (ADP-ribose)-Polymerase (PARP)-Inhibition could be demonstrated in the BAP1-mutated NCI-H2452 cells, especially when combined with cisplatin. Thus, this combination therapy might be effective for up to 2/3 of patients, promising to enhance patients' clinical management and outcome.

[Disseminated tuberculosis mimicking metastatic gastric cancer - a case report]. / Disseminierte Tuberkulose imitiert metastasiertes Magenkarzinom ­ ein Fallbericht.

Increasing numbers of active tuberculosis in Germany were recorded in the last years. Thus, also extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis gain clinical significance as differential diagnoses, especially when a metastatic tumor disease is suspected. We report the case of a 77-year-old male patient who presented with unilateral leg pain and B symptoms. Further investigations revealed an osteolytic mass in the sacrum as well as CT-morphological findings consistent with metastatic gastric cancer. However, transgastric biopsies showed necrotising granuloma with giant cells leading to molecular and cultural detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis instead of suspected neoplastic tissue. A nine-month treatment regimen for suspected disseminated tuberculosis with bone involvement was initiated according to national guidelines. Clinical and radiological follow up examinations after treatment completion showed complete remission.

Clusters of iron-rich cells in the upper beak of pigeons are macrophages not magnetosensitive neurons.

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate magnetosensation in vertebrates is a formidable scientific problem. One hypothesis is that magnetic information is transduced into neuronal impulses by using a magnetite-based magnetoreceptor. Previous studies claim to have identified a magnetic sense system in the pigeon, common to avian species, which consists of magnetite-containing trigeminal afferents located at six specific loci in the rostral subepidermis of the beak. These studies have been widely accepted in the field and heavily relied upon by both behavioural biologists and physicists. Here we show that clusters of iron-rich cells in the rostro-medial upper beak of the pigeon Columbia livia are macrophages, not magnetosensitive neurons. Our systematic characterization of the pigeon upper beak identified iron-rich cells in the stratum laxum of the subepidermis, the basal region of the respiratory epithelium and the apex of feather follicles. Using a three-dimensional blueprint of the pigeon beak created by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, we mapped the location of iron-rich cells, revealing unexpected variation in their distribution and number--an observation that is inconsistent with a role in magnetic sensation. Ultrastructure analysis of these cells, which are not unique to the beak, showed that their subcellular architecture includes ferritin-like granules, siderosomes, haemosiderin and filopodia, characteristics of iron-rich macrophages. Our conclusion that these cells are macrophages and not magnetosensitive neurons is supported by immunohistological studies showing co-localization with the antigen-presenting molecule major histocompatibility complex class II. Our work necessitates a renewed search for the true magnetite-dependent magnetoreceptor in birds.

Mutational analysis of pulmonary tumours with neuroendocrine features using targeted massive parallel sequencing: a comparison of a neglected tumour group.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The typical and atypical carcinoid (TC and AC), the large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and the small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) are subgroups of pulmonary tumours that show neuroendocrine differentiations. With the rising impact of molecular pathology in routine diagnostics the interest for reliable biomarkers, which can help to differentiate these subgroups and may enable a more personalised treatment of patients, grows. METHODS: A collective of 70 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours (17 TCs, 17 ACs, 19 LCNECs and 17 SCLCs) was used to identify biomarkers by high-throughput sequencing. Using the Illumina TruSeq Amplicon-Cancer Panel on the MiSeq instrument, the samples were screened for alterations in 221 mutation hot spots of 48 tumour-relevant genes. RESULTS: After filtering >26 000 detected variants by applying strict algorithms, a total of 130 mutations were found in 29 genes and 49 patients. Mutations in JAK3, NRAS, RB1 and VHL1 were exclusively found in SCLCs, whereas the FGFR2 mutation was detected in LCNEC only. KIT, PTEN, HNF1A and SMO were altered in ACs. The SMAD4 mutation corresponded to the TC subtype. We prove that the frequency of mutations increased with the malignancy of tumour type. Interestingly, four out of five ATM-mutated patients showed an additional alteration in TP53, which was by far the most frequently altered gene (28 out of 130; 22%). We found correlations between tumour type and IASLC grade for ATM- (P=0.022; P=0.008) and TP53-mutated patients (P<0.001). Both mutated genes were also associated with lymph node invasion and distant metastasis (P⩽0.005). Furthermore, PIK3CA-mutated patients with high-grade tumours showed a reduced overall survival (P=0.040) and the mutation frequency of APC and ATM in high-grade neuroendocrine lung cancer patients was associated with progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of high-throughput sequencing for the analysis of the neuroendocrine lung tumours has revealed that, even if these tumours encompass several subtypes with varying clinical aggressiveness, they share a number of molecular features. An improved understanding of the biology of neuroendocrine tumours will offer the opportunity for novel approaches in clinical management, resulting in a better prognosis and prediction of therapeutic response.

SOX4, SOX11 and PAX6 mRNA expression was identified as a (prognostic) marker for the aggressiveness of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung by using next-generation expression analysis (NanoString).

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung (NELC) account for 25% of all lung cancer cases and transcription factors may drive dedifferentiation of these tumors. This study was conducted to identify supportive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 16 TC, 13 AC, 16 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and 15 small cell lung cancer were investigated for the mRNA expression of 11 transcription factors and related genes (MYB, MYBBP1A, OCT4, PAX6, PCDHB, RBP1, SDCBP, SOX2, SOX4, SOX11, TEAD2). RESULTS: SOX4 (p = 0.0002), SOX11 (p < 0.0001) and PAX6 (p = 0.0002) were significant for tumor type. Elevated PAX6 and SOX11 expression correlated with poor outcome in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and small cell lung cancer (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0232, respectively) based on survival data of 34 patients (57%). CONCLUSION: Aggressiveness of NELC correlated with increasing expression of transcription factors. SOX11 seems to be a highly valuable diagnostic and prognostic marker for aggressive NELC.

Systemic treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: new agents in clinical trials raise hope of relevant improvements.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with limited therapeutic options and its incidence is still increasing in both Europe and the developing nations. Prognosis of MPM patients is poor even if the median survival durations have been slightly improved after the introduction of the up-to-date chemotherapy combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin. There is a continuing unmet need to develop better systemic treatment for this disease, but the rarity of the tumor type creates formidable challenges in clinical trial research. RECENT FINDINGS: Better understanding of the molecular machinery of MPM leads to the design and synthesis of novel compounds targeted against pathways identified as crucial for MPM cell proliferation and metastasis. Most efforts aim at improving standard first-line therapy, or developing effective second-line treatments. Several classes of drugs are currently being explored either in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed or as single agent for relapsed or progressive MPM. SUMMARY: This review focuses on several ongoing or recently completed clinical trials investigating novel, promising agents as first-line or second-line therapy for advanced MPM.

Different micro-RNA expression profiles distinguish subtypes of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung: results of a profiling study.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (∼22 nucleotides), non-coding, highly conserved single-stranded RNAs with posttranscriptional regulatory features, including the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. They are deregulated in a broad variety of tumors showing characteristic expression patterns and can, thus, be used as a diagnostic tool. In contrast to non-small cell carcinoma of the lung neuroendocrine lung tumors, encompassing typical and atypical carcinoids, small cell lung cancer and large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer, no data about deregulation of tumor entity-specific miRNAs are available to date. miRNA expression differences might give useful information about the biological characteristics of these tumors, as well as serve as helpful markers.In 12 pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors classified as either typical carcinoid, atypical, large cell neuroendocrine or small cell lung cancer, screening for 763 miRNAs known to be involved in pulmonary cancerogenesis was conducted by performing 384-well TaqMan low-density array real-time qPCR. In the entire cohort, 44 miRNAs were identified, which showed a significantly different miRNA expression. For 12 miRNAs, the difference was highly significant (P<0.01). Eight miRNAs showed a negative (miR-22, miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-29c, miR-367*; miR-504, miR-513C, miR-1200) and four miRNAs a positive (miR-18a, miR-15b*, miR-335*, miR-1201) correlation to the grade of tumor biology. The miRNAs let-7d; miR-19; miR-576-5p; miR-340*; miR-1286 are significantly associated with survival. Members of the miR-29 family seem to be extremely important in this group of tumors. We found a number of miRNAs, which showed a highly significant deregulation in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Moreover, some of these deregulated miRNAs seem to allow discrimination of the various subtypes of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Thus, the analysis of specific sets of miRNAs can be proposed as diagnostic and/or predictive markers in this group of neoplasias.

Mdm2 protein expression is strongly associated with survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

AIMS: TP53 mutations are extremely rare in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In TP53 wild-type tumors, the functional p53 protein can be inactivated by MDM2. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 61 patient samples were tested for their Mdm2 and p53 protein expression levels via immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: This study demonstrates nuclear Mdm2 expression in three out of four mesothelioma cell lines and 21.3% of the MPM specimens investigated. After silencing of the MDM2 gene by siRNA in MPM cell lines, Mdm2 immunoexpression is lost and cells show changes indicative of severe damage. Mdm2 protein expression in MPM is detected in epithelioid and biphasic subtypes only and is significantly associated with poor survival compared with Mdm2-negative tumors. This may be explained by increased Mdm2 levels possibly leading to an increased ubiquitilation and proteasomal degradation of functional p53 protein. CONCLUSION: Expression of Mdm2 is a strong prognostic factor associated with shortened overall survival in MPM.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters as biomarkers for the effect of vatalanib in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

AIMS: To assess the utility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters in the demonstration of early antiangiogenic effects and as prognostic biomarkers in second-line treatment of advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer with vatalanib. PATIENTS & METHODS: The transfer constant (K(trans)) and the initial area under the contrast concentration-time curve at 60 s (AUC60) were assessed in 46 patients. Changes were compared with response evaluation from computed tomography imaging and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors guidelines. RESULTS: Statistically significant mean reductions in K(trans) (38.4%; p < 0.0001) and AUC60 (24.9%; p < 0.0001) were found at day 2. After 12 weeks, 16 patients (35%) demonstrated stable disease and 30 (65%) demonstrated progressive disease. No statistically significant differences in day 2 K(trans) and AUC60 reductions between stable disease and progressive disease patients were found. CONCLUSION: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in vascular parameters of non-small-cell lung cancer, but does not predict patient outcome.

CONTACT-01: A Randomized Phase III Trial of Atezolizumab + Cabozantinib Versus Docetaxel for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After a Checkpoint Inhibitor and Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Although checkpoint inhibitors have improved first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a therapeutic need remains for patients whose disease does not respond or who experience disease progression after anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immunotherapy. CONTACT-01 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04471428) evaluated atezolizumab plus cabozantinib versus docetaxel in patients with metastatic NSCLC who developed disease progression after concurrent or sequential treatment with anti-PD-L1/PD-1 and platinum-containing chemotherapy. METHODS: This multicenter, open-label, phase III trial randomly assigned patients 1:1 to atezolizumab 1,200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks (q3w) plus cabozantinib 40 mg orally once daily or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 weeks. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six patients were assigned atezolizumab plus cabozantinib, and 180 docetaxel. Minimum OS follow-up was 10.9 months. Median OS was 10.7 months (95% CI, 8.8 to 12.3) with atezolizumab plus cabozantinib and 10.5 months (95% CI, 8.6 to 13.0) with docetaxel (stratified hazard ratio [HR], 0.88 [95% CI, 0.68 to 1.16]; P = .3668). Median progression-free survival was 4.6 months (95% CI, 4.1 to 5.6) and 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.1 to 4.4), respectively (stratified HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.92]). Serious adverse events (AEs) occurred in 71 (38.4%) patients receiving atezolizumab plus cabozantinib and 58 (34.7%) receiving docetaxel. Grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 73 (39.5%) patients receiving atezolizumab plus cabozantinib and 58 (34.7%) receiving docetaxel. Grade 5 AEs occurred in 14 (7.6%) and 10 (6.0%) patients in the atezolizumab plus cabozantinib and docetaxel arms, respectively (treatment-related in four [2.2%] and one [0.6%], respectively). CONCLUSION: Atezolizumab plus cabozantinib after disease progression following anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immunotherapy and platinum-containing chemotherapy for metastatic NSCLC did not improve OS compared with docetaxel. Safety was consistent with known profiles of these agents.

Impact of Geriatric Assessment on the Tolerability of Combination Chemotherapy in Older Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Matched-Pair Analysis.

Because of their individual vulnerabilities, treatment decisions for older patients can be difficult. Geriatric assessment (GA) may help to select patients for systemic treatment, but its value is still unproven. Older cancer patients (≥65 years of age) with and without complex GA followed by discussion in the geriatric-oncologic conference, who had been treated in palliative intention with standard combination chemotherapy at the Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte, were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had been orally informed about the treatment options and had chosen chemotherapy beside supportive care. To reduce selection bias, the method of propensity-score matching was performed. Patient groups treated in the years 2011-2013 (without GA, group 1) and in the years 2014-2015 (with GA, group 2) were compared regarding different toxicity endpoints. The primary endpoint of the study was defined as numbers of patients with unplanned admission to the hospital or death during first-line chemotherapy and GA should reduce these events by 15%. Overall, 114 patients were evaluated in both groups. The median age was 74 years. Patients suffered from gastrointestinal carcinomas (47%), lung cancer (28%), breast cancer (12%), and other cancer types (3%). Consequently, most patients were treated with platinum-based (41%), fluoropyrimidine-based (35%), or anthracycline-based (13%) combination chemotherapy. In group 2, the events were numerically lower for all toxicity endpoints. The need for a premature stop of treatment was 54.4% in group 1 compared to 29.8% in group 2 (p < 0.01) and also the treatment-related mortality was significantly lower in group 2 (17.5% vs. 5.3%; p = 0.04). The primary endpoint, the rate of unplanned hospital admission, and death was 49.1% versus 35.1% (difference 14.0%), which did not reach the predefined border of 15%. There was a nonsignificant overall survival benefit in the group with GA (22.6 vs. 18.4 months). GA appears useful to better select older patients with advanced cancer for combination chemotherapy. The significant reduction of mortality during chemotherapy justifies the efforts and costs which need to be expended. To evaluate the effect of GA on overall survival, prospective trials are required.

Treatment Characteristics and Real-World Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Unresectable Stage III NSCLC Who Received Durvalumab After Chemoradiotherapy: Findings From the PACIFIC-R Study.

INTRODUCTION: The phase 3 PACIFIC trial established consolidation therapy with durvalumab as standard of care for patients with unresectable, stage III NSCLC and no disease progression after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The observational PACIFIC-R study assesses the real-world effectiveness of durvalumab in patients from an early access program. Here, we report treatment characteristics and a preplanned analysis of real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS). METHODS: PACIFIC-R (NCT03798535) is an ongoing, international, retrospective study of patients who started durvalumab (intravenously; 10 mg/kg every 2 wk) within an early access program between September 2017 and December 2018. The primary end points are investigator-assessed rwPFS and overall survival (analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method). RESULTS: As of November 30, 2020, the full analysis set comprised 1399 patients from 11 countries (median follow-up duration, 23.5 mo). Patients received durvalumab for a median of 11.0 months. Median rwPFS was 21.7 months (95% confidence interval: 19.1-24.5). RwPFS was numerically longer among patients who received concurrent versus sequential CRT (median, 23.7 versus 19.3 mo) and among patients with programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression greater than or equal to 1% versus less than 1% (22.4 versus 15.6 mo). Overall, 16.5% of the patients had adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation; 9.5% of all patients discontinued because of pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease. CONCLUSIONS: Consolidation durvalumab after definitive CRT was well tolerated and effective in this large, real-world cohort study of patients with unresectable, stage III NSCLC. As expected, rwPFS was longer among patients who received concurrent versus sequential CRT and patients with higher programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression. Nevertheless, favorable rwPFS outcomes were observed regardless of these factors.

A nomogram to predict the recurrence-free survival and analyze the utility of chemotherapy in stage IB non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Large part of patients of stage IB non-small cell lung cancer (IB NSCLC) may suffer recurrence after surgery. This study is to determine risk factors and establish a nomogram for postoperative recurrence and to provide a reference for adjuvant chemotherapy selection in patients with stage IB NSCLC. METHODS: A total of 394 patients with postoperative stage IB NSCLC who visited Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2010 and June 2016 were selected. Patients were divided into training and validation cohorts based on the time of diagnosis. Independent risk factors were identified using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. A nomogram was created to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) and was validated with an independent cohort. The predictive ability of the nomogram was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. RFS between the high- and low-risk groups was determined using Kaplan-Meier curves, and subgroup analysis of chemotherapy was performed. RESULTS: Visceral pleura invasion, micropapillary structures, tumor size, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, preoperative serum cytokeratin-19 fragments (Cyfra21-1) level, and postoperative histology were identified as independent risk factors for stage IB NSCLC recurrence. Discrimination of the nomogram showed good prognostic accuracy and clinical applicability, with a C-index of 0.827 and 0.866 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The difference in RFS between the high- and low-risk groups in both cohorts was significant (P<0.05). Finally, a significant difference was observed on whether high-risk group should accept postoperative chemotherapy (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This nomogram can predict postoperative recurrence probability in patients with stage IB NSCLC, and can select patients with risk factors who need adjuvant chemotherapy.

Durvalumab after definitive chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC: Data of the German EAP.

Following the PACIFIC trial, durvalumab has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for consolidation of locally advanced PD-L1-positive NSCLC after chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Patients were treated with durvalumab in the EAP from 22.11.2017 to 15.10.2018 allowing analysis of its efficacy and safety. 211 patients were registered by 90 German centres. Data were collected retrospectively by questionnaire and queries. 56 centres reported data on 126 patients who actually received at least one cycle of durvalumab. In contrast to the PACIFIC-trial population, some patients with oligometastatic disease and a history of autoimmune disease are included in the EAP population. Information on PD-L1 status was obtained for 111 patients. Baseline data include age, gender, ECOG, stage (IASLC 8th ed.), and smoking history. Treatment data include mode of chemoradiotherapy, used chemotherapy agent, and duration of durvalumab therapy. Adverse evants were documented according to CTAEC 5.0. Data were analysed for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AE). The results were published in Lung Cancer [1].

Volumetric PET Response Assessment Outperforms Conventional Criteria in Patients Receiving High-Dose Pembrolizumab for Malignant Mesothelioma.

Fixed-dose pembrolizumab (200 mg absolute, day 1, every 3 wk) for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma did not result in survival benefit in the phase 3 PROMISE-meso trial compared with second-line chemotherapy. Because of lack of validated imaging response criteria, responder subgroups with potential survival benefit have not yet been identified. Here, we administered high-dose pembrolizumab (10 mg/kg, day 1, every 2 wk) considering the KEYNOTE-028 trial and assessed the prognostic value of PET metabolic response in patients with chemotherapy-resistant malignant mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum. Methods: Data from 27 patients with baseline and follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging were retrospectively analyzed. RECIST, version 1.1; modified RECIST; and PERCIST using both tumor lesion metabolic activity in a 1 cm3 spheric region of interest of up to 5 target lesions (PERCISTSULpeak) and metabolic tumor volume PERCIST (PERCISTMTV) were applied separately to categorize responders in CT and PET imaging studies. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between responders and nonresponders using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses. Programmed cell death protein 1 ligand expression status was assessed, and its association with outcome was investigated. Results: Twenty-seven patients had 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging at baseline and after at least 4 cycles pembrolizumab. Median PFS and OS were 3.4 and 15.1 mo, respectively. Response rates were 7%, 7%, 30%, and 30% based on RECIST, modified RECIST, PERCISTSULpeak, and PERCISTMTV response criteria, respectively. Response according to PERCISTMTV predicted prolonged OS or PFS (P < 0.01), whereas all other imaging criteria and programmed cell death protein 1 ligand expression did not. Conclusion:18F-FDG PET metabolic volume response predicts survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma receiving high-dose pembrolizumab. These results should prompt inclusion of PET response assessment in future phase 3 clinical trials.