Circulating DNA changes are predictive of disease progression after transarterial chemoembolization.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is used to treat patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the clinical impact of a-fetoprotein (AFP) and circulating cell-free and tumor DNA (cfDNA and ctDNA) changes around the TACE procedure. Our prospective monocentric study enrolled consecutive patients treated with TACE, with samples collected at baseline (D - 1), Day 2 (D + 2) and 1 month (M + 1) after TACE. cfDNA was quantified by the fluorometric method, and ctDNA was quantified by digital polymerase chain reaction designed for two hotspot TERT mutations. Computerized tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging were performed at M + 1 every 3 months following TACE and independently reviewed. The objective was to identify thresholds of cfDNA, ctDNA and AFP changes associated with progressive disease (PD) using receiver operating characteristic curves. Thirty-eight patients were included from March 2018 to March 2019. All markers significantly increased from D - 1 to D + 2 (P < .005), and cfDNA and ctDNA significantly decreased from D + 2 to M + 1 (P < .0001). The analysis of changes from D - 1 to M + 1 identified thresholds at +31.4% for cfDNA and 0% for ctDNA that were significantly associated with PD at M + 1 (44.4% [>+31.4%] vs 3.8% [≤+31.4%] and 50.0% [>0%] vs 5.0% [≤0%], respectively). No significant threshold was identified for AFP. Using a score combining cfDNA and ctDNA, the patients were classified into high- or low-risk PD groups at M + 1, with PD rates of 80.0% vs 4.3% (P = .001) and median progression-free survival times of 1.3 vs 10.3 months (P = .002). Our study suggests that cfDNA and ctDNA increases around the TACE procedure and are associated with therapeutic failure.

CEA, CA19-9, circulating DNA and circulating tumour cell kinetics in patients treated for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that CEA kinetics are a marker of progressive disease (PD) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study was specifically designed to confirm CEA kinetics for predicting PD and to evaluate CA19-9, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumour cell (CTC) kinetics. METHODS: Patients starting a chemotherapy (CT) with pre-treatment CEA > 5 ng/mL and/or CA19.9 > 30 UI/mL were prospectively included. Samples were collected from baseline to cycle 4 for CEA and CA19-9 and at baseline and the sixth week for other markers. CEA kinetics were calculated from the first to the third or fourth CT cycle. RESULTS: A total of 192 mCRC patients were included. CEA kinetics based on the previously identified >0.05 threshold was significantly associated with PD (p < 0.0001). By dichotomising by the median value, cfDNA, ctDNA and CA19-9 were associated with PD, PFS and OS in multivariate analysis. A circulating scoring system (CSS) combining CEA kinetics and baseline CA19-9 and cfDNA values classified patients based on high (n = 58) and low risk (n = 113) of PD and was independently associated with PD (ORa = 4.6, p < 0.0001), PFS (HRa = 2.07, p < 0.0001) and OS (HRa = 2.55, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: CEA kinetics alone or combined with baseline CA19-9 and cfDNA are clinically relevant for predicting outcomes in mCRC. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01212510.

The Day after Tomorrow: How Should We Address Health System Organization to Treat Cancer Patients after the Peak of the COVID-19 Epidemic?

On March 11, 2020, the WHO director general declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This pandemic evolves in successive phases, i.e., phase 1 (the start phase), phase 2 ("the storm"), and phase 3 (the recession). To date, oncology and surgery groups have only given instructions for addressing phases 1 and 2. To prevent excess cancer mortality, health care systems (HCS) need to be restructured. Our aim is to detail the specificities of each epidemic phase and discuss several methods of organization to optimize cancer patient flow during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during phase 3. Hospitals must be reorganized in order to create a cancer hub that is free of infection, allowing for the safe treatment of patients. Hospital structures are different, but all allow for the creation of virus-free areas. Screening programs are critical and need to be applied to all people entering the virus-free zone, including health care workers. Some reorganization proposals are internal to a hospital, while others require interhospital collaboration. The heterogeneity and complexity of HCS will make interhospital management difficult. The ministry of health has an important role in managing the cancer crisis. Cancer management should be declared a priority. Oncological and surgical societies must coordinate their efforts to facilitate this prioritization. The anticipation of oncological management during phase 3 of the pandemic is necessary because it requires a complete readjustment of HCS. This adaptation should allow for the continuation of cancer care to prevent excess cancer mortality, as the virus will still be present for a currently undetermined period of time.

CA19.9 decrease >15% is a predictor of favourable outcome in patients treated for advanced pancreatic carcinoma: analysis of two independent cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Although carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9) is widely used in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA), no consensual cut-off value of CA19.9 decrease has been established for treatment monitoring. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including patients with a baseline CA19.9 ≥ 37 UI/ml and with locally advanced or metastatic PA from two French centers. CA19.9 measurements were performed at baseline and first CT-scan evaluation. The aim was to use a training set to determine the best cut-off of CA19.9 decrease for predicting progressive disease (PD) and to analyze its performance in an independent validation cohort. RESULTS: A total of 95 and 93 patients were included in the training and validation sets, respectively. A ≤15% CA19.9 decrease was the best cut-off for predicting PD with a sensitivity (Se) = 68% and a specificity (Sp) = 90%. In the validation set, this threshold was associated with Se = 76% and Sp = 83%. A >15% CA19.9 decrease was significantly associated with improved PFS (median 8.3 versus 3.1 months, p < 0.0001) and OS (median 14 versus 7.2 months, p < 0.0001). A >15% CA19.9 decrease was also identified as a factor independently associated with OS (HRa = 0.25, 95% CI:0.14-0.44). CONCLUSIONS: A CA 19.9 decrease >15% is a favourable predictor of outcome in patients treated for advanced PA.

Copy number variations in DCC/18q and ERBB2/17q are associated with disease-free survival in microsatellite stable colon cancer.

We conducted a prospective study to assess the prognostic impact of selected copy number variations (CNVs) in Stage II-III microsatellite stable (MSS) colon cancer. A total of 401 patients were included from 01/2004 to 01/2009. The CNVs in 8 selected target genes, DCC/18q, EGFR/7p, TP53/17p, BLK/8p, MYC/8q, APC/5q, ERBB2/17q and STK6/20q, were detected using a quantitative multiplex polymerase chain reaction of short fluorescent fragment (QMPSF) method. The primary end-point was the impact of the CNVs on the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS). The recurrence rate at 4 years was 20.9%, corresponding to 14% Stage II patients versus 31% Stage III patients (p < 0.0001). The 4-year DFS was significantly decreased in patients with a loss at DCC/18q (p = 0.012) and a gain at ERBB2/17q (p = 0.041). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that Stage III, a loss at DCC/18q and a gain at ERBB2/17q were independent factors associated with DFS. A combination of DCC/18q and ERBB2/17q was also associated with relapse, with the hazard ratio increasing from 1 to 2.4 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-4.1) and 3.1 (95% CI, 1.2-8.4) in the presence of 0, 1 or 2 alterations, respectively (p = 0.0013). CNVs in DCC/18q and ERBB2/17q are significantly associated with DFS in Stage II-III MSS colon cancer.

Diagnostic value of CA19.9, circulating tumour DNA and circulating tumour cells in patients with solid pancreatic tumours.

BACKGROUND: The direct comparison of CA19.9, circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has never been performed for the diagnosis of solid pancreatic tumours (SPTs). METHODS: We included 68 patients with a SPT referred for EUS-FNA. CTCs were analysed using size-based platform and ctDNA using digital PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values were evaluated for each marker and their combination. RESULTS: SPTs corresponded to 58 malignant tumours (52 pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) and 6 others) and 10 benign lesions. The sensitivity and specificity for PA diagnosis were 73% and 88% for EUS-FNA, 67% and 80% for CTC, 65% and 75% for ctDNA and 79% and 93% for CA19.9, respectively. The positivity of at least 2 markers was associated with a sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 91%, respectively. CtDNA was the only marker associated with overall survival (median 5.2 months for ctDNA+ vs 11.0 months for ctDNA-, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CA19.9 alone and in combination with ctDNA and/or CTC analysis may represent an efficient method for diagnosing PA in patients with SPTs. Further studies including a larger cohort of patients with both malignant and benign lesions will be necessary to confirm these promising results.

Effects of KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA mutations on the efficacy of cetuximab plus chemotherapy in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective consortium analysis.

BACKGROUND: Following the discovery that mutant KRAS is associated with resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies, the tumours of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are now profiled for seven KRAS mutations before receiving cetuximab or panitumumab. However, most patients with KRAS wild-type tumours still do not respond. We studied the effect of other downstream mutations on the efficacy of cetuximab in, to our knowledge, the largest cohort to date of patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy in the pre-KRAS selection era. METHODS: 1022 tumour DNA samples (73 from fresh-frozen and 949 from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue) from patients treated with cetuximab between 2001 and 2008 were gathered from 11 centres in seven European countries. 773 primary tumour samples had sufficient quality DNA and were included in mutation frequency analyses; mass spectrometry genotyping of tumour samples for KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA was done centrally. We analysed objective response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival in molecularly defined subgroups of the 649 chemotherapy-refractory patients treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy. FINDINGS: 40.0% (299/747) of the tumours harboured a KRAS mutation, 14.5% (108/743) harboured a PIK3CA mutation (of which 68.5% [74/108] were located in exon 9 and 20.4% [22/108] in exon 20), 4.7% (36/761) harboured a BRAF mutation, and 2.6% (17/644) harboured an NRAS mutation. KRAS mutants did not derive benefit compared with wild types, with a response rate of 6.7% (17/253) versus 35.8% (126/352; odds ratio [OR] 0.13, 95% CI 0.07-0.22; p<0.0001), a median PFS of 12 weeks versus 24 weeks (hazard ratio [HR] 1.98, 1.66-2.36; p<0.0001), and a median overall survival of 32 weeks versus 50 weeks (1.75, 1.47-2.09; p<0.0001). In KRAS wild types, carriers of BRAF and NRAS mutations had a significantly lower response rate than did BRAF and NRAS wild types, with a response rate of 8.3% (2/24) in carriers of BRAF mutations versus 38.0% in BRAF wild types (124/326; OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.02-0.51; p=0.0012); and 7.7% (1/13) in carriers of NRAS mutations versus 38.1% in NRAS wild types (110/289; OR 0.14, 0.007-0.70; p=0.013). PIK3CA exon 9 mutations had no effect, whereas exon 20 mutations were associated with a worse outcome compared with wild types, with a response rate of 0.0% (0/9) versus 36.8% (121/329; OR 0.00, 0.00-0.89; p=0.029), a median PFS of 11.5 weeks versus 24 weeks (HR 2.52, 1.33-4.78; p=0.013), and a median overall survival of 34 weeks versus 51 weeks (3.29, 1.60-6.74; p=0.0057). Multivariate analysis and conditional inference trees confirmed that, if KRAS is not mutated, assessing BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations (in that order) gives additional information about outcome. Objective response rates in our series were 24.4% in the unselected population, 36.3% in the KRAS wild-type selected population, and 41.2% in the KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 wild-type population. INTERPRETATION: While confirming the negative effect of KRAS mutations on outcome after cetuximab, we show that BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations are significantly associated with a low response rate. Objective response rates could be improved by additional genotyping of BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations in a KRAS wild-type population. FUNDING: Belgian Federation against Cancer (Stichting tegen Kanker).

COVID-19 epidemic: Proposed alternatives in the management of digestive cancers: A French intergroup clinical point of view (SNFGE, FFCD, GERCOR, UNICANCER, SFCD, SFED, SFRO, SFR).

INTRODUCTION: Patients treated for malignancy are considered at risk of severe COVID-19. This exceptional pandemic has affected countries on every level, particularly health systems which are experiencing saturation. Like many countries, France is currently greatly exposed, and a complete reorganization of hospitals is ongoing. We propose here adaptations of diagnostic procedures, therapies and care strategies for patients treated for digestive cancer during the COVID-19 epidemic. METHODS: French societies of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal (GI) oncology carried out this study to answer two main questions that have arisen (i) how can we limit high-risk situations for GI-cancer patients and (ii) how can we limit contact between patients and care centers to decrease patients' risk of contamination while continuing to treat their cancer. All recommendations are graded as experts' agreement according to the level of evidence found in the literature until March 2020. RESULTS: A proposal to adapt treatment strategies was made for the main GI oncology situations. Considering the level of evidence and the heterogeneous progression of the COVID-19 epidemic, all proposals need to be considered by a multidisciplinary team and implemented with patient consent. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 epidemic may significantly affect patients treated for digestive malignancies. Healthcare teams need to consider adapting treatment sequences when feasible and according to the epidemic situation.

Model for end-stage liver disease score and systemic inflammatory response are major prognostic factors in patients with cirrhosis and acute functional renal failure.

UNLABELLED: Although it is often functional at presentation, acute renal failure has a poor prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. The role of inflammation, a key event in the outcome of cirrhosis, has never been studied in this setting. We aimed to investigate the predictive factors of mortality in patients with cirrhosis and acute functional renal failure, specifically in relation to inflammatory events. One hundred consecutive patients with cirrhosis from 5 French hospitals were prospectively included at the day of onset of acute renal failure. Medical history, treatments, and procedures during the month before inclusion were recorded. Physical examination, blood and urinary chemistries, and renal ultrasound examination were performed. The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), infection, and sepsis was assessed. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The mechanism of renal failure was functional in 83 patients. Causes of renal failure were hypovolemia (34%), hepatorenal syndrome without ongoing infection (17%), hepatorenal syndrome with ongoing infection (16%), nephrotoxicity (2%), and multifactorial (31%). SIRS was observed in 41% of patients, 56% of them with infection. In-hospital mortality was 68% in patients with SIRS and 33% in patients without (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only model for end-stage liver disease score and presence of SIRS, but not infection, remained associated with a poor outcome. CONCLUSION: The presence of SIRS, with or without infection, is a major independent prognostic factor in patients with cirrhosis and acute functional renal failure. This suggests that preventing and treating SIRS could decrease mortality in patients with cirrhosis and acute renal failure.

Evaluating bevacizumab in combination with FOLFIRI after the failure of platinum-etoposide regimen in patients with advanced poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma: The PRODIGE 41-BEVANEC randomized phase II study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with gastroenteropancreatic (GEP), metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) are treated with cisplatin (or carboplatin)-etoposide in first-line palliative chemotherapy (CT1). However, nearly all patients will develop resistance and there is no standard second-line treatment. AIM: PRODIGE 41-BEVANEC is an academic randomized, phase II study designed to evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with FOLFIRI after failure of CT1 in unknown primary NEC and GEP-NEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main eligibility criteria are age ≥18 years, metastatic (synchronous or metachronous) or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 GEP-NEC, and documented progressive disease during or after CT1 therapy. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 5 mg/kg bevacizumab with FOLFIRI, or FOLFIRI alone, every 14 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The hypothesis is to demonstrate a 6-month overall survival for at least 50% of the patients in bevacizumab arm versus 35% in the control arm (FOLFIRI alone). Secondary endpoints are objective response, response duration, progression-free survival, toxicity, and biochemical response. CONCLUSION: The study is currently opened in France (NCT02820857). The first patient was randomized on September 6, 2017.

Clinical value of chip-based digital-PCR platform for the detection of circulating DNA in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The detection of circulating DNA is considered a promising strategy in cancer patients. Digital PCR has emerged as a sensitive method able to quantify both circulating free and tumour DNA. AIM: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical value of a chip-based digital PCR for the detection of circulating DNA. METHODS: Digital PCR was used in 34 metastatic colorectal cancer patients to detect and quantify circulating free and tumour DNA based on K-ras mutational status. Clinical outcomes were analyzed according to circulating DNA measurements. RESULTS: Digital PCR yielded a detection rate of 69% for circulating tumour DNA. The median concentrations of circulating free and tumour DNA were 20 and 6.8 ng/mL, respectively, with significant correlation between both biomarkers (p<0.001). Median overall survival was 4.8 months in patients with high circulating free DNA (>75% quartile) versus not reached in patients with a low level (<25% quartile) (p=0.029). Moreover, median overall survival was significantly decreased in patients with detectable circulating tumour DNA compared to those without (respectively 11.8 months versus not reached, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Chip-based digital PCR is a simple and non-invasive method allowing the efficient detection of circulating DNA. Our results highlight that levels of these circulating markers may have a potential prognostic value.

Impact of nutritional parameter variations during definitive chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is frequently observed in patients with a locally advanced oesophageal carcinoma. However, variations of nutritional parameters during chemoradiotherapy have not been thoroughly investigated. AIM: To evaluate the characteristics and the impact of nutritional variations during treatment. METHODS: Weight loss, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level and daily food intake at baseline and during treatment (T1=week 1; T2=week 5 or 8; T3=week 11) were retrospectively analyzed in 101 patients with oesophageal carcinoma. RESULTS: Significant variations occurred during chemoradiotherapy with a decrease in serum albumin level (p<0.001), body mass index (p<0.001) and weight (p<0.001). Response rate to treatment was significantly lower in patients with undernutrition at T1 (p=0.05), from T1 to T2 (p=0.01) and from T1 to T3 (p=0.04). Median overall survival was 25 months in patients with persistent undernutrition from T1 to T2 vs 42 months in wellnourished patients from T1 to T2 and those malnourished only at T1 or T2 (p=0.05). In responders, patients presenting with a lower weight or a lower food intake from T1 to T3 had worse survival (33 vs 59 months, p<0.001 and 29 vs 61 months, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Significant variations of nutritional parameters occurred during chemoradiotherapy with a worse impact on response and survival.

[Rectal cancer: situation where a referral center is needed]. / Le cancer du rectum en situation de recours.

One of the objectives of the French strategic plan for cancer 2009-2013 is to structure the need for referral surgery, particularly for low rectal carcinoma. However, low rectal cancer is not the only situation in the field of rectal surgery where expert unit are needed for the referral of appropriate patients. We developed the multidisciplinary strategies for low rectal cancer, advanced rectal cancer, recurrent rectal cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis. Optimal management of these difficult situations can give a chance of long term survival while a non-optimal management could jeopardise the future of patients by changing a potentially curable disease into an incurable one.