Perioperative circulating tumor DNA as a potential prognostic marker for operable stage I to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a noninvasive biomarker for dynamically monitoring tumors. However, published data on perioperative ctDNA in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are currently limited. METHODS: This prospective study recruited 123 patients with resectable stage I to IIIA NSCLC. Preoperative and postoperative plasma samples and tumor tissue samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing with a panel of 425 cancer-related genes. Peripheral blood samples were collected before surgery, postoperatively within 1 month, and every 3 to 6 months for up to 3 years. RESULTS: After 4 exclusions, 119 eligible patients were enrolled from June 2016 to February 2019. Presurgical ctDNA was detectable in 29 of 117 patients (24.8%) and was associated with inferior recurrence-free survival (RFS; hazard ratio [HR], 2.42; 95% CI, 1.11-5.27; P = .022) and inferior overall survival (OS; HR, 5.54; 95% CI, 1.01-30.35; P = .026). Similarly, ctDNA was detected in 12 of 116 first postsurgical samples (10.3%) and was associated with shorter RFS (HR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.22-7.58; P = .012). During surveillance after surgery, longitudinal ctDNA-positive patients (37 of 119; 31.1%) had significantly shorter RFS (HR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.59-7.55; P < .001) and significantly shorter OS (HR, 9.99; 95% CI, 1.17-85.78; P = .010) in comparison with longitudinal ctDNA-negative patients. Serial ctDNA detection preceded radiologic disease recurrence by a median lead time of 8.71 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that perioperative ctDNA analyses can predict recurrence and survival, and serial ctDNA analyses can identify disease recurrence/metastasis earlier than routine radiologic imaging in patients with resectable NSCLC. LAY SUMMARY: The utility of serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring for predicting disease recurrence and survival for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well characterized. The detection of ctDNA before and after surgery is associated with the identification of a high risk of disease recurrence and long-term patient outcomes for resectable NSCLC. Perioperative ctDNA analyses identify disease recurrence earlier than routine radiologic imaging. ctDNA analyses can detect minimal residual disease for resectable NSCLC and thus can facilitate early intervention.

Phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant bevacizumab plus pemetrexed and carboplatin in patients with unresectable stage III lung adenocarcinoma (GASTO 1001).

BACKGROUND: The objective of this phase 2 trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of induction bevacizumab plus chemotherapy followed by surgery in patients with unresectable stage III lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The authors investigated induction bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2) and carboplatin (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 5) followed by surgery for patients with unresectable stage III lung adenocarcinoma ages 18 to 65 years. The patients received neoadjuvant therapy every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. Surgery was scheduled 3 to 4 weeks after the last neoadjuvant therapy; then, the medical team assessed each patient's resectability status. The primary endpoint was the resectability rate. RESULTS: From April 2012 to April 2014, 42 patients were enrolled and received bevacizumab plus pemetrexed and carboplatin. Grade 3 or 4 induction-related AEs included fatigue in 5 patients, neutropenia in 4 patients, hypertension in 1 patient, anemia in 1 patient, and thrombocytopenia in 1 patient. One patient achieved a complete response, 22 achieved a partial response, 17 had stable disease, and 2 had progressive disease. After neoadjuvant therapy, 31 patients (73.8%) underwent surgery, including 11 who underwent pneumonectomy. Complete (R0) resection was achieved in 22 patients (52.4%). Reoperation was required in 1 patient because of a bleeding intercostal artery. No perioperative thromboembolic events or wound-healing problems were observed. The median event-free survival was 15.4 months, and the 1-year event-free survival rate was 56.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with neoadjuvant bevacizumab in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by surgery appears to be feasible and safe in patients with unresectable stage III lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer 2016;122:740-747. © 2015 American Cancer Society.

Prognostic role of the ABO blood types in Chinese patients with curatively resected non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis of 1601 cases at a single cancer center.

BACKGROUND: A positive association between the ABO blood types and survival has been suggested in several malignancies. The aim of this study was to assess the role of the ABO blood types in predicting the prognosis of Chinese patients with curatively resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1601 consecutive Chinese patients who underwent curative surgery for NSCLC between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009. The relationship between the ABO blood types and survival was investigated. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Group 1 (patients with the blood type O or B) had significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) compared with group 2 (patients with the blood type A or AB), with a median OS of 74.9 months versus 61.5 months [hazard ratio (HR) 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.96; P = 0.015]. Additionally, group 1 had significantly longer disease-free survival (DFS; HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.76-0.98; P = 0.022) and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS; HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.64-0.98; P = 0.024) than group 2. The association was not significantly modified by other risk factors for NSCLC, including smoking status, pathologic tumor-node-metastasis stage, pT category, pN category, and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between the ABO blood types and the survival of Chinese patients with resected NSCLC. Patients with the blood type O or B had significantly prolonged OS, DFS, and LRFS compared with those with the blood type A or AB.

A randomized phase 2 trial of erlotinib versus pemetrexed as second-line therapy in the treatment of patients with advanced EGFR wild-type and EGFR FISH-positive lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy and safety of erlotinib versus pemetrexed as second-line therapy for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type and EGFR fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-positive lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized, phase 2 study, patients with EGFR wild-type and EGFR FISH-positive adenocarcinoma who had developed disease progression after 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive erlotinib or pemetrexed until the time of disease progression or death, unacceptable toxicity, or a request for discontinuation by the patient. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: A total of 123 patients were enrolled (61 in the erlotinib arm and 62 in the pemetrexed arm). The median PFS was 4.1 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.6 months-6.6 months) in the erlotinib group versus 3.9 months (95% CI, 2.7 months-5.1 months) in the pemetrexed group. The difference in PFS between the 2 treatment groups was not significant (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.62-1.37 [P= .683]). The objective response rate appeared to be higher among patients receiving erlotinib compared with those receiving pemetrexed (19.7% vs 8.1%; P= .062). The 3 most commonly recorded adverse events were rash (54.1%), fatigue (19.7%), and diarrhea (16.4%) in the erlotinib group and fatigue (25.8%), nausea (24.2%), and anorexia (14.5%) in the pemetrexed group. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences noted with regard to efficacy between erlotinib and pemetrexed in the second-line setting for patients with advanced EGFR wild-type and EGFR FISH-positive lung adenocarcinoma. Both regimens appear to be effective treatment options for these patients.

Pemetrexed-carboplatin adjuvant chemotherapy with or without gefitinib in resected stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer harbouring EGFR mutations: a randomized, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) show great efficacy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations. The efficacy and safety of gefitinib following adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with EGFR mutation are unknown. METHODS: In this open-label, phase II study, patients with resected stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations (either exon 19 deletion or L858R point mutation) were assigned randomly to receive pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (AUC = 5), administered every 21 days for 4 cycles, followed with or without gefitinib (250 mg/day) for 6 months. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: From August 2008 to September 2011, 60 patients were included in our center. DFS was significantly longer among those who received pemetrexed and carboplatin (PC)-gefitinib than among those who received PC alone [hazard ratio (HR), 0.37; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.85; P = 0.014; median, 39.8 vs. 27.0 months]. The rates of 2-year DFS were 78.9 % in the PC-gefitinib group and 54.2 % in the PC alone group. The rates of 2-year overall survival (OS) were 92.4 % in the PC-gefitinib group and 77.4 % in the PC alone group (HR, 0.37; 95 % CI 0.12-1.11, P = 0.076). The most common adverse event was rash (43.3 %, 13/30) in the PC-gefitinib group and the administration of gefitinib following chemotherapy was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of gefitinib following PC adjuvant therapy shows significant improvement in DFS in patients with resected stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations.

Adjuvant icotinib versus observation in patients with completely resected EGFR-mutated stage IB NSCLC (GASTO1003, CORIN): a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial.

Background: This phase 2 trial aimed to compare adjuvant icotinib with observation in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive resected stage IB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We performed a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial from May 1, 2015 to December 29, 2020 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in China. Patients with completely resected, EGFR-mutant, stage IB (the 7th edition of TNM staging) NSCLC without adjuvant chemotherapy were randomised (1:1) to receive adjuvant therapy with icotinib (125 mg, three times daily) for 12 months or to undergo observation until disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). CORIN (GASTO1003) was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, with the number NCT02264210. Findings: A total of 128 patients were randomised, with 63 patients in the icotinib group and 65 patients in the observation group. The median duration of follow-up was 39.9 months. The three-year DFS was significantly higher in the icotinib group (96.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 91.3-99.9) than in the observation group (84.0%, 95% CI, 75.1-92.9; P = 0.041). The DFS was significantly longer in the icotinib group than in the observation group, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.23 (95% CI, 0.07-0.81; P = 0.013). The OS data were immature, with three deaths in the observation arm. In the icotinib group, adverse events (AEs) of any grade were reported in 49 patients (77.8%), and grade 3 or greater AEs occurred in four patients (6.3%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that adjuvant icotinib improved the 3-year DFS in patients with completely resected EGFR-mutated stage IB NSCLC with a manageable safety profile. Funding: This study was sponsored by Betta Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Impacts of EGFR mutation and EGFR-TKIs on incidence of brain metastases in advanced non-squamous NSCLC.

OBJECTIVE: Brain metastases remain lethal in lung cancer patients. The impacts of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the incidence of brain metastases in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still uncertain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1672 patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC with a definitive report on EGFR mutation status between January 2005 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The impacts of EGFR mutation status and EGFR TKIs use on the incidence of brain metastases and survival were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 1672 patients, 465 (27.8%) had an EGFR mutation, and 1207 (72.2%) did not. Four hundred and eighteen (25.0%) patients had baseline brain metastases. The cumulative incidence of brain metastases for patients in EGFR+ group was significantly higher than patients in EGFR- group (HR, 1.27; 95% CI 1.06-1.52; P=0.008). The cumulative incidence of brain metastases was also higher for patients who received an EGFR-TKI as their first-line treatment than those who received other first-line treatment (HR, 1.36; 95% CI 1.14-1.64; P=0.001). Patients harboring EGFR mutations had prolonged overall survival (OS) than patients with wild-type EGFR (HR, 0.47; 95% CI 0.41-0.54; P<0.001; median, 25.2 vs. 12.9 months). CONCLUSIONS: Both the EGFR mutation-positive status and the use of a TKI are associated with higher incidence of brain metastases for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC.

Elevated serum bilirubin levels are associated with improved survival in patients with curatively resected non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bilirubin levels have been associated with risk of several malignancies. The association between pretreatment serum bilirubin levels and survival of curatively resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. METHODS: This analysis was performed retrospectively in a cohort of 1617 consecutive patients with bilirubin levels within the range considered normal, who received curative resection for NSCLC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off points. The significance of pretreatment serum total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) levels in the prognosis of patients with curatively resected NSCLC was investigated. RESULTS: The cutoff points of serum TBIL, DBIL and IBIL were 9.50µmol/L, 3.45µmol/L and 6.95µmol/L, respectively. High TBIL was observed in 65.2% of entire patient population, high DBIL 50%, and high IBIL 56.8%. The high-TBIL group had significantly lengthened overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.84; P<0.001), disease-free survival (DFS; HR, 0.72; 95% CI 0.64-0.82; P<0.001) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS; HR, 0.74; 95% CI 0.60-0.91; P=0.004). Similarly, high-DBIL and high-IBIL levels were associated with longer OS, DFS, and DMFS with significant differences. In multivariable analysis, IBIL level was identified as an independent significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: Moderately elevated pretreatment bilirubin levels are associated with longer OS, DFS, and DMFS for patients with curatively resected NSCLC. IBIL is an independent prognostic factor in curative resected NSCLC.