Unique Patterns of Heterogeneous Mismatch Repair Protein Expression in Colorectal Cancer Unveil Different Degrees of Tumor Mutational Burden and Distinct Tumor Microenvironment Features.

Mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is usually homogeneously retained or lost. Rare lesions may show a heterogeneous pattern of MMR protein expression. We evaluated MMR protein expression (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) in 200 CRCs, identifying 3 groups with proficient MMR protein expression (MMRp), deficient MMR protein expression (MMRd), and heterogeneous MMR protein expression (MMRh). MMRh tumors were microdissected on the basis of the expression of the heterogeneous marker. DNA was extracted and subjected to targeted sequencing. RNA was purified from bulk tumors of all MMRh cases and in a control series of 15 MMRp and 10 MMRd CRCs and analyzed using the PanCancer IO 360 Panel (NanoString Technologies). Twenty-nine of the 200 cases (14.5%) were MMRd. Nine cases (4.5%) showed a heterogeneous pattern of MMR expression, with 6 tumors harboring concomitant loss of one of the other MMR proteins, thus featuring areas with double loss at immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing (MMRh double-loss cases). Four of the 6 MMRh double-loss cases were suitable for a separate sequence variant analysis of IHC double-negative and IHC single-negative components of the tumor. In all lesions, both components exhibited a high tumor mutation burden (TMB). Nevertheless, a significant increase in TMB in the double-negative components was observed (mean TMB: negative, 70 mut/Mb vs positive, 59 mut/Mb) because of a higher number of subclonal variants compared with the other component. Comparative gene expression analyses among MMRd, MMRp, and MMRh CRCs highlighted differential gene expression patterns and an increased number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in MMRh lesions, which is also characterized by a substantial population of exhausted CD8+ lymphocytes. We describe a unique subgroup of CRCs showing heterogeneous expression of MMR proteins in a background of concomitant loss of one of the other markers.

Inactivation of DNA repair triggers neoantigen generation and impairs tumour growth.

Molecular alterations in genes involved in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) promote cancer initiation and foster tumour progression. Cancers deficient in MMR frequently show favourable prognosis and indolent progression. The functional basis of the clinical outcome of patients with tumours that are deficient in MMR is not clear. Here we genetically inactivate MutL homologue 1 (MLH1) in colorectal, breast and pancreatic mouse cancer cells. The growth of MMR-deficient cells was comparable to their proficient counterparts in vitro and on transplantation in immunocompromised mice. By contrast, MMR-deficient cancer cells grew poorly when transplanted in syngeneic mice. The inactivation of MMR increased the mutational burden and led to dynamic mutational profiles, which resulted in the persistent renewal of neoantigens in vitro and in vivo, whereas MMR-proficient cells exhibited stable mutational load and neoantigen profiles over time. Immune surveillance improved when cancer cells, in which MLH1 had been inactivated, accumulated neoantigens for several generations. When restricted to a clonal population, the dynamic generation of neoantigens driven by MMR further increased immune surveillance. Inactivation of MMR, driven by acquired resistance to the clinical agent temozolomide, increased mutational load, promoted continuous renewal of neoantigens in human colorectal cancers and triggered immune surveillance in mouse models. These results suggest that targeting DNA repair processes can increase the burden of neoantigens in tumour cells; this has the potential to be exploited in therapeutic approaches.

Liquid biopsies to monitor and direct cancer treatment in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers worldwide. Despite recent improvements in treatment and prevention, most of the current therapeutic options are weighted by side effects impacting patients' quality of life. Better patient selection towards systemic treatments represents an unmet clinical need. The recent multidisciplinary and molecular advancements in the treatment of CRC patients demand the identification of efficient biomarkers allowing to personalise patient care. Currently, core tumour biopsy specimens represent the gold-standard biological tissue to identify such biomarkers. However, technical feasibility, tumour heterogeneity and cancer evolution are major limitations of this single-snapshot approach. Genotyping circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has been addressed as potentially overcoming such limitations. Indeed, ctDNA has been retrospectively demonstrated capable of identifying minimal residual disease post-surgery and post-adjuvant treatment, as well as spotting druggable molecular alterations for tailoring treatments in metastatic disease. In this review, we summarise the available evidence on ctDNA applicability in CRC. Then, we review ongoing clinical trials assessing how liquid biopsy can be used interventionally to guide therapeutic choice in localised, locally advanced and metastatic CRC. Finally, we discuss how its widespread could transform CRC patients' management, dissecting its limitations while suggesting improvement strategies.

Amyloid aggregates accumulate in melanoma metastasis modulating YAP activity.

Melanoma progression is generally associated with increased transcriptional activity mediated by the Yes-associated protein (YAP). Mechanical signals from the extracellular matrix are sensed by YAP, which then activates the expression of proliferative genes, promoting melanoma progression and drug resistance. Which extracellular signals induce mechanotransduction, and how this is mediated, is not completely understood. Here, using secretome analyses, we reveal the extracellular accumulation of amyloidogenic proteins, i.e. premelanosome protein (PMEL), in metastatic melanoma, together with proteins that assist amyloid maturation into fibrils. We also confirm the accumulation of amyloid-like aggregates, similar to those detected in Alzheimer disease, in metastatic cell lines, as well as in human melanoma biopsies. Mechanistically, beta-secretase 2 (BACE2) regulates the maturation of these aggregates, which in turn induce YAP activity. We also demonstrate that recombinant PMEL fibrils are sufficient to induce mechanotransduction, triggering YAP signaling. Finally, we demonstrate that BACE inhibition affects cell proliferation and increases drug sensitivity, highlighting the importance of amyloids for melanoma survival, and the use of beta-secretase inhibitors as potential therapeutic approach for metastatic melanoma.

Personalized therapeutic strategies in HER2-driven gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab is the only approved targeted therapy in patients with HER2-amplified metastatic gastric cancer (GC). Regrettably, in clinical practice, only a fraction of them achieves long-term benefit from trastuzumab-based upfront strategy. To advance precision oncology, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of different HER2-targeted strategies, in HER2 "hyper"-amplified (≥ 8 copies) tumors. METHODS: We undertook a prospective evaluation of HER2 targeting with monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, in a selected subgroup of HER2 "hyper"-amplified gastric patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), through the design of ad hoc preclinical trials. RESULTS: Despite the high level of HER2 amplification, trastuzumab elicited a partial response only in 2 out of 8 PDX models. The dual-HER2 blockade with trastuzumab plus either pertuzumab or lapatinib led to complete and durable responses in 5 (62.5%) out of 8 models, including one tumor bearing a concomitant HER2 mutation. In a resistant PDX harboring KRAS amplification, the novel antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan (but not trastuzumab emtansine) overcame KRAS-mediated resistance. We also identified a HGF-mediated non-cell-autonomous mechanism of secondary resistance to anti-HER2 drugs, responsive to MET co-targeting. CONCLUSION: These preclinical randomized trials clearly indicate that in HER2-driven gastric tumors, a boosted HER2 therapeutic blockade is required for optimal efficacy, leading to complete and durable responses in most of the cases. Our results suggest that a selected subpopulation of HER2-"hyper"-amplified GC patients could strongly benefit from this strategy. Despite the negative results of clinical trials, the dual blockade should be reconsidered for patients with clearly HER2-addicted cancers.

The genomic landscape of response to EGFR blockade in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with 1.2 million patients diagnosed annually. In late-stage colorectal cancer, the most commonly used targeted therapies are the monoclonal antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab, which prevent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. Recent studies have identified alterations in KRAS and other genes as likely mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance to anti-EGFR antibody therapy. Despite these efforts, additional mechanisms of resistance to EGFR blockade are thought to be present in colorectal cancer and little is known about determinants of sensitivity to this therapy. To examine the effect of somatic genetic changes in colorectal cancer on response to anti-EGFR antibody therapy, here we perform complete exome sequence and copy number analyses of 129 patient-derived tumour grafts and targeted genomic analyses of 55 patient tumours, all of which were KRAS wild-type. We analysed the response of tumours to anti-EGFR antibody blockade in tumour graft models and in clinical settings and functionally linked therapeutic responses to mutational data. In addition to previously identified genes, we detected mutations in ERBB2, EGFR, FGFR1, PDGFRA, and MAP2K1 as potential mechanisms of primary resistance to this therapy. Novel alterations in the ectodomain of EGFR were identified in patients with acquired resistance to EGFR blockade. Amplifications and sequence changes in the tyrosine kinase receptor adaptor gene IRS2 were identified in tumours with increased sensitivity to anti-EGFR therapy. Therapeutic resistance to EGFR blockade could be overcome in tumour graft models through combinatorial therapies targeting actionable genes. These analyses provide a systematic approach to evaluating response to targeted therapies in human cancer, highlight new mechanisms of responsiveness to anti-EGFR therapies, and delineate new avenues for intervention in managing colorectal cancer.

Radiomics predicts response of individual HER2-amplified colorectal cancer liver metastases in patients treated with HER2-targeted therapy.

The aim of our study was to develop and validate a machine learning algorithm to predict response of individual HER2-amplified colorectal cancer liver metastases (lmCRC) undergoing dual HER2-targeted therapy. Twenty-four radiomics features were extracted after 3D manual segmentation of 141 lmCRC on pretreatment portal CT scans of a cohort including 38 HER2-amplified patients; feature selection was then performed using genetic algorithms. lmCRC were classified as nonresponders (R-), if their largest diameter increased more than 10% at a CT scan performed after 3 months of treatment, responders (R+) otherwise. Sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values in correctly classifying individual lesion and overall patient response were assessed on a training dataset and then validated on a second dataset using a Gaussian naïve Bayesian classifier. Per-lesion sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV were 89%, 85%, 93%, 78% and 90%, 42%, 73%, 71% respectively in the testing and validation datasets. Per-patient sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 86%. Heterogeneous response was observed in 9 of 38 patients (24%). Five of nine patients were carriers of nonresponder lesions correctly classified as such by our radiomics signature, including four of seven harboring only one nonresponder lesion. The developed method has been proven effective in predicting behavior of individual metastases to targeted treatment in a cohort of HER2 amplified patients. The model accurately detects responder lesions and identifies nonresponder lesions in patients with heterogeneous response, potentially paving the way to multimodal treatment in selected patients. Further validation will be needed to confirm our findings.

HER2 Positivity Predicts Unresponsiveness to EGFR-Targeted Treatment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: HER2 amplification is detected in 3% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), making tumors in the metastatic setting vulnerable to double pharmacological HER2 blockade. Preclinical findings show that it also might impair response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type metastatic CRC underwent molecular screening of HER2 positivity by HERACLES criteria (immunohistochemistry 3+ or 2+ in ≥50% of cells, confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization). A sample of consecutive HER2-negative patients was selected as control. A regression modeling strategy was applied to identify predictors explaining the bulk of HER2 positivity and the association with response to previous anti-EGFR treatment. RESULTS: From August 2012 to April 2018, a total of 100 HER2-positive metastatic CRC tumors were detected out of 1,485 KRAS exon 2 wild-type screened patients (6.7%). HER2-positive patients show more frequently lung metastases (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-3.61; p = .014) and higher tumor burden (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10-2.01; p = .011), and tumors were more likely to be left sided (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.22-1.11; p = .088). HER2-positive patients who received treatment with anti-EGFR agents (n = 79) showed poorer outcome (objective response rate, 31.2% vs. 46.9%, p = .031; progression-free survival, 5.7 months vs. 7 months, p = .087). CONCLUSION: Testing for HER2 should be offered to all patients with metastatic CRC because the occurrence of this biomarker is unlikely to be predicted based on main clinicopathological features. Patients with HER2-amplified metastatic CRC are less likely to respond to anti-EGFR therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Patients with HER2-amplified/overexpressed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) harbor a driver actionable molecular alteration that has been shown in preclinical models to hamper efficacy of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapies. The present study confirmed that this molecular feature was associated with worse objective tumor response and shorter progression-free survival in response to previous anti-EGFR therapies. Moreover, it was found that the occurrence of this biomarker is unlikely to be predicted based on main clinicopathological features. Therefore, HER2 status assessment should be included in the molecular diagnostic workup of all mCRC for speedy referral to clinical trials encompassing HER2-targeted double blockade independently of previous anti-EGFR treatment.

Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES): a proof-of-concept, multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: We previously found that dual HER2 blockade with trastuzumab and lapatinib led to inhibition of tumour growth in patient-derived xenografts of HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer. In this study, we aimed to assess the antitumour activity of trastuzumab and lapatinib in patients with HER2-positive colorectal cancer. METHODS: HERACLES was a proof-of-concept, multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial done at four Italian academic cancer centres. We enrolled adult patients with KRAS exon 2 (codons 12 and 13) wild-type and HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to standard of care (including cetuximab or panitumumab), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, and at least one measurable lesion. We defined HER2 positivity in tumour samples by use of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in-situ hybridisation in accordance with our previously validated colorectal cancer-specific diagnostic criteria. Eligible patients received intravenous trastuzumab at 4 mg/kg loading dose followed by 2 mg/kg once per week, and oral lapatinib at 1000 mg per day until evidence of disease progression. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective response (defined as complete response or partial response), which was assessed by independent central review in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with EudraCT, number 2012-002128-33. FINDINGS: Between Aug 27, 2012, and May 15, 2015, we screened 914 patients with KRAS exon 2 (codons 12 and 13) wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and identified 48 (5%) patients with HER2-positive tumours, although two died before enrolment. Of these patients, 27 were eligible for the trial. All were evaluable for response. At the time of data cutoff on Oct 15, 2015, with a median follow-up of 94 weeks (IQR 51-127), eight (30%, 95% CI 14-50) of 27 patients had achieved an objective response, with one patient (4%, 95% CI -3 to 11) achieving a complete response, and seven (26%, 95% CI 9-43) achieving partial responses; 12 (44%, 95% CI 25-63) patients had stable disease. Six (22%) of 27 patients had grade 3 adverse events, which consisted of fatigue in four patients, skin rash in one patient, and increased bilirubin concentration in one patient. No grade 4 or 5 adverse events were reported. We detected no drug-related serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: The combination of trastuzumab and lapatinib is active and well tolerated in treatment-refractory patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer. FUNDING: Associazione Italiana Ricerca Cancro (AIRC), Fondazione Oncologia Niguarda Onlus, and Roche.

Assessment of a HER2 scoring system for colorectal cancer: results from a validation study.

We sought to develop criteria for ERBB2-positivity (HER2) in colorectal cancer to ensure accurate identification of ERBB2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer patients suitable for enrollment in a phase II trial of ERBB2-targeted therapy (HERACLES trial). A two-step approach was used. In step 1, a consensus panel of pathologists adapted existing protocols for use in colorectal cancer to test ERBB2 expression and amplification. Collegial revision of an archival test cohort of colorectal cancer samples led to specific recommendations for adapting current breast and gastric cancer criteria for scoring ERBB2 in colorectal cancer. In step 2, from September 2012 to January 2015, colorectal-specific ERBB2 testing protocols and ERBB2 scoring criteria were used to centrally screen for ERBB2-positive KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer patients to be enrolled in the HERACLES trial (clinical validation cohort). In both archival test (N=256) and clinical validation (N=830) cohorts, a clinically sizeable 5% fraction of KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer patients was found to be ERBB2-positive according to the colorectal cancer-specific ERBB2 scoring criteria. ERBB2-positive tumors showed ERBB2 immunostaining consisting of intense membranous ERBB2 protein expression, corresponding to homogenous ERBB2 amplification, in >50% of cells. None of the immunohistochemistry 0 or 1+ cases was amplified. Concordance between SISH and FISH was 100%. In conclusion, we propose specific criteria for defining ERBB2-positivity in colorectal cancer (HERACLES Diagnostic Criteria). In a phase II trial of trastuzumab and lapatinib in a cetuximab-resistant population, HERACLES Diagnostic Criteria shaped the selection of patients and defined ERBB2 as a predictive marker for response to ERBB2-targeted therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Erlotinib versus docetaxel as second-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and wild-type EGFR tumours (TAILOR): a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Erlotinib is registered for treatment of all patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its efficacy for treatment of patients whose tumours are EGFR wild-type-which includes most patients-is still contentious. We assessed the efficacy of erlotinib compared with a standard second-line chemotherapy in such patients. METHODS: We did this randomised controlled trial in 52 Italian hospitals. We enrolled patients who had metastatic NSCLC, had had platinum-based chemotherapy, and had wild-type EGFR as assessed by direct sequencing. Patients were randomly assigned centrally (1:1) to receive either erlotinib orally 150 mg/day or docetaxel intravenously 75 mg/m(2) every 21 days or 35 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15, every 28 days. Randomisation was stratified by centre, stage, type of first-line chemotherapy, and performance status. Patients and investigators who gave treatments or assessed outcomes were not masked to treatment allocation, investigators who analysed results were. The primary endpoint was overall survival in the intention-to-treat population. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00637910. FINDINGS: We screened 702 patients, of whom we genotyped 540. 222 patients were enrolled (110 assigned to docetaxel vs 112 assigned to erlotinib). Median overall survival was 8·2 months (95% CI 5·8-10·9) with docetaxel versus 5·4 months (4·5-6·8) with erlotinib (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·73, 95% CI 0·53-1·00; p=0·05). Progression-free survival was significantly better with docetaxel than with erlotinib: median progression-free survival was 2·9 months (95% CI 2·4-3·8) with docetaxel versus 2·4 months (2·1-2·6) with erlotinib (adjusted HR 0·71, 95% CI 0·53-0·95; p=0·02). The most common grade 3-4 toxic effects were: low absolute neutrophil count (21 [20%] of 104 in the docetaxel group vs none of 107 in the erlotinib group), skin toxic effects (none vs 15 [14%]), and asthenia (ten [10%] vs six [6%]). INTERPRETATION: Our results show that chemotherapy is more effective than erlotinib for second-line treatment for previously treated patients with NSCLC who have wild-type EGFR tumours.

Clinicopathological characterisation of MTAP alterations in gastrointestinal cancers.

BACKGROUND: Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is an essential metabolic enzyme in the purine and methionine salvage pathway. In cancer, MTAP gene copy number loss (MTAP loss) confers a selective dependency on the related protein arginine methyltransferase 5. The impact of MTAP alterations in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remains unknown although hypothetically druggable. Here, we aim to investigate the prevalence, clinicopathological features and prognosis of MTAP loss GI cancers. METHODS: Cases with MTAP alterations were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and a real-world cohort of GI cancers profiled by next-generation sequencing. If MTAP alterations other than loss were found, immunohistochemistry was performed. Finally, we set a case-control study to assess MTAP loss prognostic impact. RESULTS: Findings across the TCGA dataset (N=1363 patients) and our cohort (N=508) were consistent. Gene loss was the most common MTAP alteration (9.4%), mostly co-occurring with CDKN2A/B loss (97.7%). Biliopancreatic and gastro-oesophageal cancers had the highest prevalence of MTAP loss (20.5% and 12.7%, respectively), being mostly microsatellite stable (99.2%). In colorectal cancer, MTAP loss was rare (1.1%), while most MTAP alterations were mutations (5/7, 71.4%); among the latter, only MTAP-CDKN2B truncation led to protein loss, thus potentially actionable. MTAP loss did not confer worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: MTAP alterations are found in 5%-10% of GI cancers, most frequently biliopancreatic and gastro-oesophageal. MTAP loss is the most common alteration, identified almost exclusively in MSS, CDKN2A/B loss, upper-GI cancers. Other MTAP alterations were found in colorectal cancer, but unlikely to cause protein loss and drug susceptibility.

Cancer in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Persons: A Review.

Importance: Transgender and gender-diverse individuals face unique challenges, including barriers to health care access and inequities in treatment, that may influence cancer risk and outcomes. Observations: In this narrative review, a scoping review was conducted focusing on primary and secondary prevention and epidemiology of cancer, barriers to health care services, and health care practitioners' knowledge about specific issues pertaining to transgender and gender-diverse individuals. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase, were reviewed for citations from their inception to December 31, 2021. This review revealed that transgender and gender-diverse people had a high prevalence of tobacco consumption and alcohol use and high rates of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV. Transgender and gender-diverse individuals were less likely to adhere to cancer screening programs and had a higher incidence of HIV- and HPV-associated cancers. Social and economic determinants seemed to drive these disparities in risk factors and outcomes. A lack of knowledge about gender minorities' health needs among health care practitioners was evidenced, and it represented a major hurdle to cancer prevention, care, and survivorship for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Discrimination, discomfort caused by gender-labeled oncological services, stigma, and lack of cultural sensitivity of health care practitioners were other barriers met by transgender and gender-diverse persons in the oncology setting. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that transgender and gender-diverse peoples' needs in the cancer care continuum are not optimally addressed. Effective solutions are needed to offer the best care to every patient in a person-centric and gender diversity-sensitive environment.

Genetic and pharmacological modulation of DNA mismatch repair heterogeneous tumors promotes immune surveillance.

Patients affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), often respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapies, while those with mismatch repair-proficient (MMRp) tumors generally do not. Interestingly, a subset of MMRp CRCs contains variable fractions of MMRd cells, but it is unknown how their presence impacts immune surveillance. We asked whether modulation of the MMRd fraction in MMR heterogeneous tumors acts as an endogenous cancer vaccine by promoting immune surveillance. To test this hypothesis, we use isogenic MMRp (Mlh1+/+) and MMRd (Mlh1-/-) mouse CRC cells. MMRp/MMRd cells mixed at different ratios are injected in immunocompetent mice and tumor rejection is observed when at least 50% of cells are MMRd. To enrich the MMRd fraction, MMRp/MMRd tumors are treated with 6-thioguanine, which leads to tumor rejection. These results suggest that genetic and pharmacological modulation of the DNA mismatch repair machinery potentiate the immunogenicity of MMR heterogeneous tumors.

Position paper of the Italian association of medical oncology on health disparities among transgender and gender-diverse people: the Assisi recommendations.

Transgender and gender-diverse individuals experience substantial health disparities across the cancer care continuum. Despite well recognized unique healthcare needs, there are barriers in accessing cancer prevention and treatment services, influenced by disadvantages in key social-economic determinants of health which result in worse clinical outcomes, as compared to the general population. The Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) acknowledges the critical relevance of this issue. The "Assisi Recommendations" here summarize the outcomes of the "AIOM Oncology Ethics Day" dedicated to gender differences in oncology and cancer care of transgender and gender-diverse people. The recommendations generated during a 2-day multidisciplinary discussion address the various aspects of cancer care experience of transgender and gender-diverse people. The promotion of research in this field, through the generation of new evidence and the collection of prospective data, has been identified as a priority action to mitigate these disparities. By acknowledging the challenges of cancer care in transgender and gender-diverse people and recognizing the need for dedicated policy and clinical recommendations, AIOM demonstrates its commitment to improving the health and well-being of all patients with cancer, regardless of their gender identity or any other personal or social circumstances, as part of health-for-all societal vision.

Circulating Tumor DNA to Drive Treatment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

In the evolving molecular treatment landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the identification of druggable alterations is pivotal to achieve the best therapeutic opportunity for each patient. Because the number of actionable targets is expanding, there is the need to timely detect their presence or emergence to guide the choice of different available treatment options. Liquid biopsy, through the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), has proven safe and effective as a complementary method to address cancer evolution while overcoming the limitations of tissue biopsy. Even though data are accumulating regarding the potential for ctDNA-guided treatments applied to targeted agents, still major gaps in knowledge exist as for their application to different areas of the continuum of care. In this review, we recapitulate how ctDNA information could be exploited to drive different targeted treatment strategies in mCRC patients, by refining molecular selection before treatment by addressing tumor heterogeneity beyond tumor tissue biopsy; longitudinally monitoring early-tumor response and resistance mechanisms to targeted agents, potentially leading to tailored, molecular-driven, therapeutic options; guiding the molecular triage towards rechallenge strategies with anti-EGFR agents, suggesting the best time for retreatment; and providing opportunities for an "enhanced rechallenge" through additional treatments or combos aimed at overcoming acquired resistance. Besides, we discuss future perspectives concerning the potential role of ctDNA to fine-tune investigational strategies such as immuno-oncology.

An open-label phase 2 study of twice-weekly bortezomib and intermittent pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with ovarian cancer failing platinum-containing regimens.

BACKGROUND: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is an established treatment for relapsed ovarian cancer. Preclinical and clinical evidences in other tumor types suggest that the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib can act synergistically with PLD. METHODS: Patients with relapsed ovarian cancer (N = 58), previously treated with platinum (100%) and taxane (95%), received bortezomib, 1.3 mg/m intravenous (days 1, 4, 8, and 11), and PLD, 30 mg/m intravenous (day 1), every 3 weeks. Tumor responses were assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors and Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup criteria. An optimal 2-stage design was implemented. Gene expression profiling in peripheral blood was characterized before and during treatment in 10 platinum-sensitive patients enrolled in stage 2 of the study. RESULTS: Median number of bortezomib-PLD cycles was 3.5. Of 38 patients in the platinum-sensitive group, 9 responses were observed (median duration, 4.8 months). The platinum-resistant group was closed at stage 1 owing to lack of response. Toxicity was moderate and mainly consisted of hematologic, gastrointestinal, and mucositis events. Of the total 58 patients, peripheral neuropathy was reported in 9 patients (none were grade 3). Transcription profiling identified the prevalence of genes associated with ribonucleoprotein complexes, RNA processing, and protein translation. The gene expression changes were more robust in patients who responded or had stable disease compared with patients who had progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of bortezomib and PLD was well tolerated, but the antitumor activity is insufficient to warrant further investigation in ovarian cancer.

Delta-Radiomics Predicts Response to First-Line Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Liver Metastases.

The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a delta-radiomics score to predict the response of individual colorectal cancer liver metastases (lmCRC) to first-line FOLFOX chemotherapy. Three hundred one lmCRC were manually segmented on both CT performed at baseline and after the first cycle of first-line FOLFOX, and 107 radiomics features were computed by subtracting textural features of CT at baseline from those at timepoint 1 (TP1). LmCRC were classified as nonresponders (R-) if they showed progression of disease (PD), according to RECIST1.1, before 8 months, and as responders (R+), otherwise. After feature selection, we developed a decision tree statistical model trained using all lmCRC coming from one hospital. The final output was a delta-radiomics signature subsequently validated on an external dataset. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV), and negative (NPV) predictive values in correctly classifying individual lesions were assessed on both datasets. Per-lesion sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 99%, 94%, 95%, 99%, 85%, 92%, 90%, and 87%, respectively, in the training and validation datasets. The delta-radiomics signature was able to reliably predict R- lmCRC, which were wrongly classified by lesion RECIST as R+ at TP1, (93%, averaging training and validation set, versus 67% of RECIST). The delta-radiomics signature developed in this study can reliably predict the response of individual lmCRC to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Lesions forecasted as poor or nonresponders by the signature could be further investigated, potentially paving the way to lesion-specific therapies.

Efficacy of Retreatment with Oxaliplatin-Based Regimens in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients: The RETROX-CRC Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: oxaliplatin with fluoropyrimidine is a "mainstay" regarding the upfront treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In contrast, the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin-based regimens in late-care settings have been poorly reported. METHODS: we identified a real-world mCRC patient cohort who were re-treated with oxaliplatin, and in which clinicopathological features were retrospectively analyzed to identify efficacy-predictive determinants (RETROX-CRC study). RESULTS: of 2606 patients, 119 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Oxaliplatin retreatment response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 21.6% (CI 14.4-31.0%), and 57.8% (CI 47.7-67.4). A trend towards better RR and DCR was observed among patients who had first oxaliplatin in an adjuvant setting; a poorer outcome was observed if two or more intervening treatments were delivered. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.1 months (95%CI 4.3-6.1), reducing to 4.0 months (95%CI 3.07-5.13) if oxaliplatin was readministered beyond third-line (HR 2.02; 1.25-3.25; p = 0.004). Safety data were retrieved in 65 patients (54.6%); 18.5% (12/65) and 7.7% (5/65) had G3-4 toxicities. Toxicities led to discontinuation in 34/119 (28.6%). CONCLUSIONS: oxaliplatin retreatment produced further RR in around one-fifth of patients and DCR 57.8%. Efficacy decreased in more pre-treated patients and around one-third of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. Translational studies improving patient selection are warranted.

Targeting the DNA Damage Response Pathways and Replication Stress in Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer and targeting DNA damage response (DDR) is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy in different solid tumors. The effectiveness of targeting DDR in colorectal cancer has not been extensively explored. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We challenged 112 cell models recapitulating the genomic landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer with ATM, ATR, CHK1, WEE1, and DNA-PK inhibitors, in parallel with chemotherapeutic agents. We focused then on ATR inhibitors (ATRi) and, to identify putative biomarkers of response and resistance, we analyzed at multiple levels colorectal cancer models highly sensitive or resistant to these drugs. RESULTS: We found that around 30% of colorectal cancers, including those carrying KRAS and BRAF mutations and unresponsive to targeted agents, are sensitive to at least one DDR inhibitor. By investigating potential biomarkers of response to ATRi, we found that ATRi-sensitive cells displayed reduced phospho-RPA32 foci at basal level, while ATRi-resistant cells showed increased RAD51 foci formation in response to replication stress. Lack of ATM and RAD51C expression was associated with ATRi sensitivity. Analysis of mutational signatures and HRDetect score identified a subgroup of ATRi-sensitive models. Organoids derived from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer recapitulated findings obtained in cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a subset of colorectal cancers refractory to current therapies could benefit from inhibitors of DDR pathways and replication stress. A composite biomarker involving phospho-RPA32 and RAD51 foci, lack of ATM and RAD51C expression, as well as analysis of mutational signatures could be used to identify colorectal cancers likely to respond to ATRi.