The Oncology Biomarker Discovery framework reveals cetuximab and bevacizumab response patterns in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Precision medicine has revolutionised cancer treatments; however, actionable biomarkers remain scarce. To address this, we develop the Oncology Biomarker Discovery (OncoBird) framework for analysing the molecular and biomarker landscape of randomised controlled clinical trials. OncoBird identifies biomarkers based on single genes or mutually exclusive genetic alterations in isolation or in the context of tumour subtypes, and finally, assesses predictive components by their treatment interactions. Here, we utilise the open-label, randomised phase III trial (FIRE-3, AIO KRK-0306) in metastatic colorectal carcinoma patients, who received either cetuximab or bevacizumab in combination with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI). We systematically identify five biomarkers with predictive components, e.g., patients with tumours that carry chr20q amplifications or lack mutually exclusive ERK signalling mutations benefited from cetuximab compared to bevacizumab. In summary, OncoBird characterises the molecular landscape and outlines actionable biomarkers, which generalises to any molecularly characterised randomised controlled trial.

Standard diametric versus volumetric early tumor shrinkage as a predictor of survival in metastatic colorectal cancer: subgroup findings of the randomized, open-label phase III trial FIRE-3 / AIO KRK-0306.

OBJECTIVES: Early tumor shrinkage (ETS) quantifies the objective response at the first assessment during systemic treatment. In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), ETS gains relevance as an early available surrogate for patient survival. The aim of this study was to increase the predictive accuracy of ETS by using semi-automated volumetry instead of standard diametric measurements. METHODS: Diametric and volumetric ETS were retrospectively calculated in 253 mCRC patients who received 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) combined with either cetuximab or bevacizumab. The association of diametric and volumetric ETS with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was compared. RESULTS: Continuous diametric and volumetric ETS predicted survival similarly regarding concordance indices (p > .05). In receiver operating characteristics, a volumetric threshold of 45% optimally identified short-term survivors. For patients with volumetric ETS ≥ 45% (vs < 45%), median OS was longer (32.5 vs 19.0 months, p < .001) and the risk of death reduced for the first and second year (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.25, p < .001, and HR = 0.39, p < .001). Patients with ETS ≥ 45% had a reduced risk of progressive disease only for the first 6 months (HR = 0.26, p < .001). These survival times and risks were comparable to those of diametric ETS ≥ 20% (vs < 20%). CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of ETS in predicting survival was not increased by volumetric instead of diametric measurements. Continuous diametric and volumetric ETS similarly predicted survival, regardless of whether patients received cetuximab or bevacizumab. A volumetric ETS threshold of 45% and a diametric ETS threshold of 20% equally identified short-term survivors. KEY POINTS: • ETS based on volumetric measurements did not predict survival more accurately than ETS based on standard diametric measurements. • Continuous diametric and volumetric ETS predicted survival similarly in patients receiving FOLFIRI with cetuximab or bevacizumab. • A volumetric ETS threshold of 45% and a diametric ETS threshold of 20% equally identified short-term survivors.

Treatment of metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma with axitinib and pembrolizumab in an 80-year-old patient with a history of autoimmune disorders.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignancy with low sensitivity to chemotherapy. While localized ASPS has a very good prognosis after resection, the 5-year overall survival rate drops substantially in metastatic disease. We report the case of an 80-year-old male patient with ASPS of the left elbow and metastasis to the lung, lymph nodes and peritoneum. After weighing the benefits and risks, systemic treatment with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab combined with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosinkinase inhibitor axitinib was initiated in this patient with a history of psoriasis and Crohn's disease. After only two cycles of therapy, a significant size reduction of the nodal cervical metastasis became apparent. A partial response of all metastases was then confirmed in the first computed tomography restaging. So far, side effects have remained manageable, especially with regard to the development or worsening of autoimmune adverse events. The patient continued to have a high quality of life, while also remaining in ongoing partial response for 15 months at the time of submission. While sarcomas generally have low sensitivity to immunotherapies, ASPS is an exception, and checkpoint inhibition is an integral part of its systemic therapy.

Serial Analysis of Gene Mutations and Gene Expression during First-Line Chemotherapy against Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Identification of Potentially Actionable Targets within the Multicenter Prospective Biomarker Study REVEAL.

Most metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients succumb to refractory disease due to secondary chemotherapy resistance. To elucidate the molecular changes associated with secondary resistance, we recruited 64 patients with mCRC and hepatic metastases before standard first-line chemotherapy between 2014 and 2018. We subjected DNA from primary tumor specimens (P), hepatic metastasis specimens after treatment (M), and liquid biopsies (L) taken prior to (pre), during (intra), and after (post) treatment to next generation sequencing. We performed Nanostring expression analysis in P and M specimens. Comparative bioinformatics and statistical analysis revealed typical mutational patterns with frequent alterations in TP53, APC, and KRAS in P specimens (n = 48). P and pre-L (n = 42), as well as matched P and M (n = 30), displayed a similar mutation spectrum. In contrast, gene expression profiles classified P (n = 31) and M (n = 23), distinguishable by up-regulation of immune/cytokine receptor and autophagy programs. Switching of consensus molecular subtypes from P to M occurred in 58.3% of cases. M signature genes SFRP2 and SPP1 associated with inferior survival, as validated in an independent cohort. Molecular changes during first-line treatment were detectable by expression profiling rather than by mutational tumor and liquid biopsy analyses. SFRP2 and SPP1 may serve as biomarkers and/or actionable targets.

Early weight loss is an independent risk factor for shorter survival and increased side effects in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing first-line treatment within the randomized Phase III trial FIRE-3 (AIO KRK-0306).

Body weight loss is frequently regarded as negatively related to outcomes in patients with malignancies. This retrospective analysis of the FIRE-3 study evaluated the evolution of body weight in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). FIRE-3 evaluated first-line FOLFIRI (folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan) plus cetuximab or bevacizumab in mCRC patients with RAS-WT tumors (ie, wild-type in KRAS and NRAS exons 2-4). The prognostic and predictive relevance of early weight loss (EWL) regarding patient outcomes and treatment side effects were evaluated. Retrospective data on body weight during first 6 months of treatment were evaluated (N = 326). To correlate with efficacy endpoints and treatment side effects, patients were grouped according to clinically significant EWL ≥5% and <5% at Month 3. Age constituted the only significant predictor of EWL following a linear relationship with the corresponding log odds ratio (P = .016). EWL was significantly associated with the incident frequencies of diarrhea, edema, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Further, a multivariate analysis revealed EWL to be an independent negative prognostic factor for overall survival (32.4 vs 21.1 months; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-2.38; P = .0098) and progression-free survival (11.8 vs 9.0 months; HR: 1.72; 95% CI = 1.18-2.5; P = .0048). In conclusion, EWL during systemic treatment against mCRC is significantly associated with patient age. Patients exhibiting EWL had worse survival and higher frequencies of adverse events. Early preventative measures targeted at weight maintenance should be evaluated, especially in elderly patients being at highest risk of EWL.

Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers of the Whole Liver Tumor Burden Improve Survival Prediction in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.

Finding prognostic biomarkers with high accuracy in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a challenging problem. To improve the prediction of survival and to investigate the relevance of quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIB) we combined QIB with established clinical parameters. In this retrospective study a total of 75 patients with metastatic PC and liver metastases were analyzed. Segmentations of whole liver tumor burden (WLTB) from baseline contrast-enhanced CT images were used to derive QIBs. The benefits of QIBs in multivariable Cox models were analyzed in comparison with two clinical prognostic models from the literature. To discriminate survival, the two clinical models had concordance indices of 0.61 and 0.62 in a statistical setting. Combined clinical and imaging-based models achieved concordance indices of 0.74 and 0.70 with WLTB volume, tumor burden score (TBS), and bilobar disease being the three WLTB parameters that were kept by backward elimination. These combined clinical and imaging-based models have significantly higher predictive performance in discriminating survival than the underlying clinical models alone (p < 0.003). Radiomics and geometric WLTB analysis of patients with metastatic PC with liver metastases enhances the modeling of survival compared with models based on clinical parameters alone.

Primary Chemotherapy in a 47-Year-Old Patient with Giant Ulcerative and Necrotizing Nonseminomatous Testicular Germ Cell Tumor.

Testicular cancer is a rare disease; however, cure rates are high for all tumor stages. Mostly, the disease is diagnosed in an early (local) stage. We report the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a giant nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. At the time of diagnosis, the patient demonstrated a necrotizing and ulcerating growing mass in the left scrotum with an approximate size of 22 × 18 cm. According to the prognostic classification of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG 1997), the patient exhibited a high-risk profile due to alpha-fetoprotein >10,000 ng/mL and lactate dehydrogenase >10× the upper limit of normal in serum. Primary orchiectomy was infeasible due to the tumor's size, the patient's poor general condition and initial intensive care unit treatment. Primary systemic chemotherapy was applied. After 3 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin, along with 1 cycle of cisplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide, tumor resection with histomorphological examination showed a complete pathological response. Despite the delayed initiation of the therapy, primary chemotherapy was completed timely and showed promising results. Reasons for the late hospitalization were personal responsibilities regarding his family. Better awareness and knowledge of testicular cancer among young men might prevent the here reported delay of medical consultation and avoid testicular tumors of such enormous size. Psychosocial assessment and distress management is important as an integral part of comprehensive care of testicular cancer patients.

Patients with colorectal cancer and brain metastasis: The relevance of extracranial metastatic patterns predicting time intervals to first occurrence of intracranial metastasis and survival.

The aim of the study was to investigate the predictive impact of extracranial metastatic patterns on course of disease and survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and brain metastasis (BM). A total of 228 patients (134 male [59%], 94 female [41%]) with histologically proven CRC and BM were classified into different groups according to extracranial metastatic patterns. Time intervals to metastatic events and survival times from initial CRC diagnosis, extracranial and intracranial metastasis were analyzed. Extracranial organs mostly affected were liver (102 of 228 [44.7%]) and lung (96 of 228 [42.1%]). Liver and lung metastases were detected in 31 patients (13.6%). Calculated over the entire course of disease, patients with lung metastasis showed longer overall survival (OS) than patients with liver metastasis or patients without lung metastasis (43.9 vs 34.6 [P = .002] vs 35.0 months [P = .002]). From the date of initial CRC diagnosis, lung metastasis occurred later in CRC history than liver metastasis (24.3 vs 7.5 months). Once lung metastasis was diagnosed, BM occurred faster than in patients with liver metastasis (15.8 vs 26.0 months; Δ 10.2 months). Accordingly, OS from the diagnosis of liver metastasis was longer than from lung metastasis (27.1 vs 19.6 months [P = .08]). Once BM was present, patients with lung metastasis lived longer than patients with liver metastasis (3.8 vs 1.1 months [P = .028]). Shortest survival times in all survival categories analyzed revealed patients with concurrent liver and lung metastasis. Patients with CRC and BM form a heterogeneous cohort where extracranial metastasis to liver or lungs predicts survival.

The relevance of CT-based geometric and radiomics analysis of whole liver tumor burden to predict survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prediction of 1-year survival (1-YS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with use of a systematic comparative analysis of quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIBs) based on the geometric and radiomics analysis of whole liver tumor burden (WLTB) in comparison to predictions based on the tumor burden score (TBS), WLTB volume alone, and a clinical model. METHODS: A total of 103 patients (mean age: 61.0 ± 11.2 years) with colorectal liver metastases were analyzed in this retrospective study. Automatic segmentations of WLTB from baseline contrast-enhanced CT images were used. Established biomarkers as well as a standard radiomics model building were used to derive 3 prognostic models. The benefits of a geometric metastatic spread (GMS) model, the Aerts radiomics prior model of the WLTB, and the performance of TBS and WLTB volume alone were assessed. All models were analyzed in both statistical and predictive machine learning settings in terms of AUC. RESULTS: TBS showed the best discriminative performance in a statistical setting to discriminate 1-YS (AUC = 0.70, CI: [0.56, 0.90]). For the machine learning-based prediction for unseen patients, both a model of the GMS of WLTB (0.73, CI: [0.60, 0.84]) and the Aerts radiomics prior model (0.76, CI: [0.65, 0.86]) applied on the WLTB showed a numerically higher predictive performance than TBS (0.68, CI: [0.54, 0.79]), radiomics (0.65, CI: [0.55, 0.78]), WLTB volume alone (0.53, CI: [0.40. 0.66]), or the clinical model (0.56, CI: [0.43, 0.67]). CONCLUSIONS: The imaging-based GMS model may be a first step towards a more fine-grained machine learning extension of the TBS concept for risk stratification in mCRC patients without the vulnerability to technical variance of radiomics. KEY POINTS: • CT-based geometric distribution and radiomics analysis of whole liver tumor burden in metastatic colorectal cancer patients yield prognostic information. • Differences in survival are possibly attributable to the spatial distribution of metastatic lesions and the geometric metastatic spread analysis of all liver metastases may serve as robust imaging biomarker invariant to technical variation. • Imaging-based prediction models outperform clinical models for 1-year survival prediction in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases.

Impact of Size and Location of Metastases on Early Tumor Shrinkage and Depth of Response in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Subgroup Findings of the Randomized, Open-Label Phase 3 Trial FIRE-3/AIO KRK-0306.

BACKGROUND: The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) are used to define degrees of response to chemotherapy. For accelerated response evaluation, early tumor shrinkage (ETS) of ≥ 20% has been suggested as a predictor for outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Together with depth of response (DpR), new alternative metrics have been provided, yielding promising outcome parameters. In this analysis, we aimed to further characterize ETS and DpR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This analysis was based on FIRE-3, a randomized phase 3 trial comparing first-line FOLFIRI plus either cetuximab or bevacizumab in KRAS exon 2 wild-type mCRC. ETS and DpR were determined on the basis of RECIST 1.1 in a blinded radiologic review. ETS was evaluated as a categorized (≥ 20% shrinkage) and continuous parameter. The impact of baseline location and size of metastases on ETS and DpR were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of 592 patients, 395 (66.7%) had data available for radiologic review. Median continuous ETS for lung, liver, and suspected lymph node metastases was 20%, 23%, and 30%, respectively. The median DpR was -32%, -44%, and -50%, respectively (all P < .01). In multivariate analysis, lung metastases were significantly associated with inferior DpR (P = .021), whereas hepatic metastases led to higher DpR (P = .024). Large metastases were associated with favorable ETS, whereas small metastases were correlated with higher DpR (P < .001). CONCLUSION: ETS and DpR depend on the location and size of metastases in mCRC. These associations may establish the basis for further research to optimize the predictive accuracy of both parameters. This may help basing treatment decisions on ETS and DpR.

Predictive and prognostic value of magnesium serum level in FOLFIRI plus cetuximab or bevacizumab treated patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: results from the FIRE-3 (AIO KRK-0306) study.

Magnesium wasting is a frequent side effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-antibody treatment as magnesium-absorption mechanisms are dependent on EGFR signaling. EGFR-inhibition results in decreased renal reabsorption. There is evidence that hypomagnesemia during cetuximab treatment correlates with response. The prognostic role of hypomagnesemia during bevacizumab treatment has not been studied yet. Here, we evaluate the prognostic value of hypomagnesemia in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab or bevacizumab as first-line therapy. A total of 391 of 752 patients of the firstline irinotecan study population had magnesium levels measured at baseline and for the first three cycles (6 weeks) of treatment. Of those, 240 had Rat Sarkoma wildtype tumors. Overall hypomagnesemia was more common in the cetuximab compared to the bevacizumab arm (80 vs. 43%, P < 0.005). During therapy, magnesium showed a time-dependent decrease to 80% of baseline in the cetuximab and to 89% in the bevacizumab arm. Whereas magnesium continued to decrease over time in the cetuximab-treated patients, it remained stable in the bevacizumab-treated. Overall response rate (ORR) was associated with higher magnesium at week 6 (20.9 vs. 79.1%, P = 0.041). Bevacizumab-treated patients with magnesium levels below the median value at week 6 had a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS; 11.7 vs. 9.9 months, P = 0.034; hazard ratio 0.73) and a trend towards longer overall survival (OS) (29.6 vs. 23.2 months, P = 0.089; hazard ratio 0.77). Hypomagnesemia at predefined time points and magnesium nadir had no significant effect on ORR, OS and PFS in the cetuximab arm. Our data show different magnesium kinetics in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab or bevacizumab. For patients treated with cetuximab, hypomagnesemia did not have an impact on response and survival. Hypomagnesemia might have a prognostic value in bevacizumab treatment.

Therapeutic management of neuro-oncologic patients - potential relevance of CSF liquid biopsy.

Background: In the era of precision medicine, cancer treatment is increasingly tailored according to tumor-specific genomic alterations. The analysis of tumor-derived circulating nucleic acids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by next generation sequencing (NGS) may facilitate precision medicine in the field of CNS cancer. We therefore evaluated whether NGS from CSF of neuro-oncologic patients reliably detects tumor-specific genomic alterations and whether this may help to guide the management of patients with CNS cancer in clinical practice. Patient and methods: CSF samples from 27 patients with various primary and secondary CNS malignancies were collected and evaluated by NGS using a targeted, amplicon-based NGS-panel (Oncomine Focus Assay). All cases were discussed within the framework of a molecular tumor board at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich. Results: NGS was technically successful in 23/27 patients (85%). Genomic alterations were detectable in 20/27 patients (74%), 11/27 (40%) of which were potentially actionable. After discussion in the MTB, a change of therapeutic management was recommended in 7/27 (26%) of the cases. However, due to rapid clinical progression, only 4/27 (15%) of the patients were treated according to the recommendation. In a subset of patients (6/27, 22%), a high number of mutations of unknown significance suggestive of a high tumor mutational burden (TMB) were detected. Conclusions: NGS from cerebrospinal fluid is feasible in routine clinical practice and yields therapeutically relevant alterations in a large subset of patients. Integration of this approach into a precision cancer medicine program might help to improve therapeutic options for patients with CNS cancer.

Treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer with genetically modified autologous mesenchymal stem cells: Results from the phase 1/2 TREAT-ME-1 trial.

TREAT-ME-1, a Phase 1/2 open-label multicenter, first-in-human, first-in-class trial, evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of treatment with genetically modified autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), MSC_ apceth_101, in combination with ganciclovir in patients with advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. Immunological and inflammatory markers were also assessed. All patients (3 in Phase 1; 7 in Phase 2) received three treatment cycles of MSC_apceth_101 at one dose level on Day 0, 7, and 14 followed by ganciclovir administration according to the manufacturer's instructions for 48─72 h after MSC_apceth_101 injection. Ten patients were treated with a total dose of 3.0 x 106 cells/kg MSC_apceth_101. 36 adverse events and six serious adverse events were reported. Five patients achieved stable disease (change in target lesions of -2 to +28%). For all patients, the median time to progression was 1.8 months (95% CI: 0.5, 3.9 months). Median overall survival could not be estimated as 8/10 patients were still alive at the end of the study (1 year) and therefore censored. Post-study observation of patients showed a median overall survival of 15.6 months (ranging from 2.2─27.0 months). Treatment with MSC_apceth_101 and ganciclovir did not induce a consistent increase or decrease in levels of any of the tumor markers analyzed. No clear trends in the immunological markers assessed were observed. MSC_apceth_101 in combination with ganciclovir was safe and tolerable in patients with advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, with preliminary signs of efficacy in terms of clinical stabilization of disease.

Efficacy of bevacizumab in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the additive effect of bevacizumab when combined with first-line chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library in April 2018. When possible, data were pooled to estimate summary effects. The present analysis evaluated treatment related efficacy based on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The analysis was performed to define the overall effect and the effect observed in currently used chemotherapy regimens. RESULTS: Seven randomised studies were included. In the analysis of the overall effect, PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, p < 0.00001) and OS (HR 0.85, p = 0.0008) clearly favoured bevacizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. When the analysis was focused on currently used chemotherapy excluding 5-FU bolus regimens and including only infusional 5-FU plus irinotecan or oxaliplatin, the addition of bevacizumab prolonged PFS (HR 0.79, p < 0.0001) but not OS (HR 0.92, p = 0.18). However, addition of bevacizumab to fluoropyrimidine monotherapy lead to a significant prolongation of PFS (HR 0.57, p < 0.00001) and OS (HR 0.83, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis demonstrates that the effect of bevacizumab on survival is not consistent throughout the included regimens. Considering only presently used regimens, a significant effect on PFS and OS was only observed when bevacizumab was added to fluoropyrimidine monotherapy.

CT attenuation of liver metastases before targeted therapy is a prognostic factor of overall survival in colorectal cancer patients. Results from the randomised, open-label FIRE-3/AIO KRK0306 trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic value of pre-therapeutic computed tomography (CT) attenuation of liver metastases for overall survival (OS) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: In the open-label, randomised, prospective phase-III FIRE-3 trial, patients with histologically confirmed mCRC received fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with either cetuximab or bevacizumab. Participating patients gave written informed consent prior to study entry. In CT at baseline (portal venous phase, slice thickness ≤5 mm), mean attenuation [Hounsfield units (HU)] of liver metastases was retrospectively assessed by semi-automated volumetry. Its prognostic influence on OS was analysed in Kaplan-Meier-analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression and an optimal threshold was determined. RESULTS: In FIRE-3, 592 patients were enrolled between 2007 and 2012. Among the 347 patients eligible for liver volumetry, median baseline CT attenuation of liver metastases was 59.67 HU [interquartile range (IQR), 49.13, 68.85]. Increased attenuation was associated with longer OS {per 10 HU: hazard ratio (HR), 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78, 0.93], p < 0.001}. The optimised threshold (≥61.62 HU) was a strong predictor for increased OS [median, 21.3 vs 30.6 months; HR, 0.61 (95% CI, 0.47, 0.80), p < 0.001]. Multivariate regression controlling for correlated and further prognostic factors confirmed this [HR, 0.60 (95% CI, 0.45, 0.81), p = 0.001]. Furthermore, mean attenuation ≥61.62 HU was significantly associated with increased early tumour shrinkage (p = 0.002) and increased depth of response (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Increased mean baseline CT attenuation of liver metastases may identify mCRC patients with prolonged OS and better tumour response. KEY POINTS: • In colorectal cancer, increased attenuation of liver metastases in baseline computed tomography is a prognostic factor for prolonged OS (p < 0.001). • A threshold of ≥61.62 HU was determined as optimal cut-off to identify patients with prolonged OS (p < 0.001), early tumour shrinkage (p = 0.002) and increased depth of response (p = 0.012).

Towards volumetric thresholds in RECIST 1.1: Therapeutic response assessment in hepatic metastases.

OBJECTIVES: To empirically determine thresholds for volumetric assessment of response and progress of liver metastases in line with the unidimensional RECIST thresholds. METHODS: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer initially enrolled in a multicentre clinical phase-III trial were included. In all CT scans, the longest axial diameters and volumes of hepatic lesions were determined semi-automatically. The sum of diameters and volumes of 1, ≤2 and ≤5 metastases were compared to all previous examinations. Volumetric thresholds corresponding to RECIST 1.1 thresholds were predicted with loess-regression. In sensitivity analysis, the concordances of proposed thresholds, weight-maximizing thresholds and thresholds from loess-regression were compared. Classification concordance for measurements of ≤2 metastases was further analyzed. RESULTS: For measurements of ≤2 metastases, 348 patients with 629 metastases were included, resulting in 4,773 value pairs. Regression analysis yielded volumetric thresholds of -65.3% for a diameter change of -30%, and +64.6% for a diameter change of +20%. When comparing measurements of unidimensional RECIST assessment with volumetric measurements, there was a concordance of significant progress (≥+20% and ≥+65%) in 88.3% and of significant response (≤-30% and ≤-65%) in 85.0%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with hepatic metastases, volumetric thresholds of +65% and -65% were yielded corresponding to RECIST thresholds of +20% and -30%. KEY POINTS: • Volumes and diameters of liver metastases from colorectal cancer were determined. • Volumetric thresholds of +65%/-65% corresponding to RECIST 1.1 are proposed. • Comparing both measurements, concordance was 88.3% (significant progress) and 85.0% (significant response).

Prognostic value of radiologically enlarged lymph nodes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: Subgroup findings of the randomized, open-label FIRE-3/AIO KRK0306 trial.

PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic impact of radiologically enlarged lymph nodes ≥ 10 mm on the survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective, randomized, open-label FIRE-3/AIO KRK0306 trial evaluated the first-line therapy of patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer with fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan plus either cetuximab or bevacizumab. In the RAS wild-type population (n = 400), adequately evaluable baseline computed tomographies (n = 339) were reviewed for enlarged regional and distant lymph nodes. Their prognostic relevance was retrospectively analyzed in uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regressions. RESULTS: Median overall survival was 21.7 months in patients with enlarged lymph nodes and 33.2 months in patients without (hazard rate ratio [HR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.09; P < 0.001). This was confirmed in multivariable analysis (HR = 1.37, 95% CI, 1.02-1.83; P = 0.036). Progression-free survival of patients with enlarged lymph nodes showed a consistent but insignificant trend (9.9 vs. 11.1 months; HR = 1.23, 95% CI, 0.98-1.54; P = 0.072). Enlarged lymph nodes were also associated with BRAF-mutations (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The presence of radiologically enlarged lymph nodes in baseline staging has a negative prognostic value beyond established and potential prognostic parameters.

Treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer with genetically modified autologous mesenchymal stem cells - TREAT-ME-1 - a phase I, first in human, first in class trial.

PURPOSE: This phase I, first in human, first in class clinical study aimed at evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of treatment with genetically modified mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in combination with ganciclovir (GCV). MSC_apceth_101 are genetically modified autologous MSCs used as vehicles for a cell-based gene therapy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The study design consisted of a dose-escalation 3 + 3 design. All patients (n = 6) were treated with up to three applications of MSC_apceth_101, followed by GCV infusions given on three consecutive days starting 48 hours after injection of MSC_apceth_101. Three of six patients received a total dose of 1.5 × 106 cells/kg. Two patients received three doses of 1 × 106 cells/kg, while one patient received only two doses of 1 × 106 cells/kg due to a SADR. RESULTS: Six patients received MSC_apceth_101. No IMP-related serious adverse events occurred. Adverse-events related to IMP-injection were increased creatinine, cough, fever, and night sweat. TNF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and sE-Selectin, showed that repeated application is immunologically safe, but induces a switch of the functional properties of monocytes to an inflammatory phenotype. Treatment induced stable disease in 4/6 patients, and progressive disease in 2/6 patients. CONCLUSION: Treatment with MSC_apceth_101 in combination with GCV demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability in patients with advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma.

Prevalence and influence on outcome of HER2/neu, HER3 and NRG1 expression in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Our aim was to explore the impact of the HER2/neu, HER3 receptor as well as their ligands' neuregulin (NRG1) expression on the outcome of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). NRG1, HER2/neu and HER3 expression was evaluated in 208 patients with mCRC receiving 5-FU/LV plus irinotecan or irinotecan plus oxaliplatin as the first-line treatment. Biomarker expression was correlated with the outcome of patients. NRG1 (low: 192 vs. high: 16), HER2/neu (low: 201 vs. high: 7) and HER3 (low: 69 vs. high: 139) expressions were assessed in 208 patients. High versus low NRG1 expression significantly affected progression-free survival (PFS) [4.7 vs. 8.2 months, hazard ratio (HR): 2.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-4.13; P=0.001], but not overall survival (OS) (15.5 vs. 20.7 months, HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.76-2.35; P=0.32). High versus low HER3 expression (PFS: 7.1 vs. 8.8 months, HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.82-1.50; P=0.50; OS: 19.8 vs. 21.1 months, HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.70-1.30; P=0.75) and high compared with low HER2/neu expression (PFS: 7.7 vs. 8.0 months, HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.71-1.60; P=0.75; OS: 16.6 vs. 21.1 months, HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.75-1.71; P=0.57) did not influence outcome. High NRG1 expression was associated with inferior PFS in the FIRE-1 trial. We did not detect a prognostic impact of HER2/neu and HER3 overexpression in mCRC. The frequency of overexpression was comparable with other studies.