Personalized circulating tumor DNA for monitoring disease status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with locoregionally advanced HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) relapse. Circulating tumor (ct)DNA has the potential to identify minimal residual disease, but its clinical utility for virus-negative HNSCC is not well understood. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a personalized, commercial ctDNA assay (Signatera™, Natera) during clinical care of patients treated for predominantly newly diagnosed HPV-negative HNSCC. Signatera™ utilizes 16-plex PCR from matched tumor and blood. Objectives were to understand ctDNA detectability and correlate changes post-treatment with disease outcomes. RESULTS: Testing was successful in 100/116 (86%) patients (median age: 65, 68% male, 65% smokers); testing failed in 16 (14%) due to insufficient tissue. Oral cavity (55, 47%) tumors were most common; most had stage III-IV disease (82, 71%) while 17 (15%) had distant metastases. Pre-treatment, 75/100 patients with successful testing (75%) had detectable ctDNA (range: 0.03-4049.69 MTM/mL). No clinical features predicted ctDNA detectability or levels (multivariate analysis). At median follow-up of 5.1 months (range: 0.2-15.1), 55 (55%) had >1 test result (range: 1-7; 194 samples). Of 55, 17 (31%) remained ctDNA positive after starting treatment. Progression-free survival was significantly worse for patients who were ctDNA positive vs. negative post-treatment (HR 7.33, 95%CI 3.12-17.2, p<0.001); 1-year overall survival was 89.1% vs. 100%, respectively (HR 7.46, 95%CI 0.46-119.5; p=0.155). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor-informed ctDNA testing is feasible in non-viral HNSCC. ctDNA positivity is an indicator of disease progression and associated with inferior survival. Further research is warranted to understand whether ctDNA may be leveraged to guide therapy in HNSCC.

A phase I/II trial of sapanisertib in advanced anaplastic and radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There are limited therapeutic options for patients with recurrent/metastatic anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and radioiodine refractory (RAIR) differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) refractory to multi-kinase inhibitors. This multi-center trial evaluated sapanisertib, a next generation oral kinase inhibitor of mTOR complexes 1/2, in ATC and RAIR DTC. METHODS: A safety run-in phase I was followed by non-randomized phase II trial in ATC, with an exploratory cohort in RAIR DTC. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients with ATC who were without disease progression at 4 months. Safety and survival outcomes were key secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (20 ATC; 26 DTC) were enrolled including 40 (18 ATC; 22 DTC) who received recommended phase II dose of 5 mg daily. Eleven percent (2/18, 95% C.I.: 1.4-34.7%) of patients with ATC were progression-free at 4 months, 22.2% (4/18) had stable disease as best response. Enrollment in the ATC cohort stopped early with 18 patients out of proposed 23 due to overall futility. One confirmed partial response (4.5%, 1/22) occurred in RAIR DTC, with stable disease in 63.6% (14/22) patients. Median progression-free survival was 1.6 (95% C.I.: 0.9-2.8) months and 7.8 (2.0-not reached) months in ATC and DTC, respectively. Grade 3 treatment related adverse events occurred in 30% of patients who received the phase II dose, most common being anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, skin rash and hyperglycemia. Genomic alterations in the PI3 K/AKT/mTOR pathway were not associated with response or PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Sapanisertib monotherapy did not meet the primary endpoint of this trial (proportion progression-free at 4 months) in ATC, and did not show clinically meaningfully activity. Clinical trials with alternative therapeutic strategies are needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02244463.

Immunomethylomic profiles of long-term head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survivors on immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Aim: This study addresses the challenge of predicting the response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients to immunotherapy. Methods: Using DNA methylation cytometry, we analyzed the immune profiles of six HNSCC patients who showed a positive response to immunotherapy over a year without disease progression. Results: There was an initial increase in CD8 T memory cells and natural killer cells during the first four cycles of immunotherapy, which then returned to baseline levels after a year. Baseline CD8 T cell levels were lower in HNSCC immunotherapy responders but became similar to those in healthy subjects after immunotherapy. Conclusion: These findings suggest that monitoring fluctuations in immune profiles could potentially identify biomarkers for immunotherapy response in HNSCC patients.

[Box: see text].

The ERK inhibitor GDC-0994 selectively inhibits growth of BRAF mutant cancer cells.

BRAF or RAS mutation-induced aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is frequently observed in human cancers. As the key downstream node of MAPK pathway, ERK1/2 is as an important therapeutic target. GDC-0994 (ravoxertinib), an orally bioavailable, highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of ERK1/2, showed acceptable safety and pharmacodynamic profile in a recent phase I clinical trial. In this study, we investigated dependence of the anti-tumor effect of ERK inhibitor GDC-0994 on genetic alterations in the MAPK pathway. The results showed that GDC-0994 sharply inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation and induced remarkable G1 phase cell-cycle arrest in cancer cells harboring BRAF mutation but had little effect on cell behaviors in most RAS mutant or wild-type cell lines. The expression of a large number of genes, particularly the genes in the cell cycle pathway, were significantly changed after GDC-0994 treatment in BRAF mutant cells, while no remarkable expression change of such genes was observed in wild-type cells. Moreover, GDC-0994 selectively inhibited tumor growth in a BRAF mutant xenograft mice model. Our findings demonstrate a BRAF mutation-dependent anti-tumor effect of GDC-0994 and provide a rational strategy for patient selection for ERK1/2 inhibitor treatment.

Derivation and external validation of a simple risk score for predicting severe acute kidney injury after intravenous cisplatin: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and externally validate a prediction model for severe cisplatin associated acute kidney injury (CP-AKI). DESIGN: Multicenter cohort study. SETTING: Six geographically diverse major academic cancer centers across the US. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (≥18 years) receiving their first dose of intravenous cisplatin, 2006-22. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was CP-AKI, defined as a twofold or greater increase in serum creatinine or kidney replacement therapy within 14 days of a first dose of intravenous cisplatin. Independent predictors of CP-AKI were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model, which was developed in a derivation cohort and tested in an external validation cohort. For the primary model, continuous variables were examined using restricted cubic splines. A simple risk model was also generated by converting the odds ratios from the primary model into risk points. Finally, a multivariable Cox model was used to examine the association between severity of CP-AKI and 90 day survival. RESULTS: A total of 24 717 adults were included, with 11 766 in the derivation cohort (median age 59 (interquartile range (IQR) 50-67)) and 12 951 in the validation cohort (median age 60 (IQR 50-67)). The incidence of CP-AKI was 5.2% (608/11 766) in the derivation cohort and 3.3% (421/12 951) in the validation cohort. Each of the following factors were independently associated with CP-AKI in the derivation cohort: age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine level, hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, platelet count, serum albumin level, serum magnesium level, and cisplatin dose. A simple risk score consisting of nine covariates was shown to predict a higher risk of CP-AKI in a monotonic fashion in both the derivation cohort and the validation cohort. Compared with patients in the lowest risk category, those in the highest risk category showed a 24.00-fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.49-fold to 42.78-fold) higher odds of CP-AKI in the derivation cohort and a 17.87-fold (10.56-fold to 29.60-fold) higher odds in the validation cohort. The primary model had a C statistic of 0.75 and showed better discrimination for CP-AKI than previously published models, the C statistics for which ranged from 0.60 to 0.68 (DeLong P<0.001 for each comparison). Greater severity of CP-AKI was monotonically associated with shorter 90 day survival (adjusted hazard ratio 4.63 (95% CI 3.56 to 6.02) for stage 3 CP-AKI versus no CP-AKI). CONCLUSION: This study found that a simple risk score based on readily available variables from patients receiving intravenous cisplatin could predict the risk of severe CP-AKI, the occurrence of which is strongly associated with death.

Additional Oncogenic Alterations in RAS-Driven Differentiated Thyroid Cancers Associate with Worse Clinicopathologic Outcomes.

PURPOSE: RAS mutations occur across the spectrum of thyroid neoplasms, and more tools are needed for better prognostication. The objective of this study was to evaluate how additional genetic events affecting key genes modify prognosis in patients with RAS-mutant thyroid cancers, and specifically differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We performed a clinical-genomic analysis of consecutive patients with DTC, poorly differentiated (PDTC), or anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) between January 2014 and December 2021, in whom a custom-targeted next-generation sequencing assay was performed. Patients harboring RAS mutations were included, and we compared their clinical features and outcomes based upon the presence of additional oncogenic alterations. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were identified, with 22% (17/78) harboring a driver RAS mutation plus an additional oncogenic alteration. All six (100%) ATCs had an additional mutation. Compared with DTCs harboring a solitary RAS mutation, patients with DTC with RAS and additional mutation(s) were more likely to be classified as American Thyroid Association high-risk of recurrence (77% vs. 12%; P < 0.001) and to have larger primary tumors (4.7 vs. 2.5 cm; P = 0.002) and advanced stage (III or IV) at presentation (67% vs. 3%; P < 0.001). Importantly, over an average 65-month follow-up, DTC-specific-mortality was more than 10-fold higher (20% vs. 1.8%; P = 0.011) when additional mutations were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of key additional mutations in patients with RAS-mutant thyroid cancers confers a more aggressive phenotype, increases mortality risk in DTC, and can explain the diversity of RAS-mutated thyroid neoplasia. These data support genomic profiling of DTCs to inform prognosis and clinical decision-making.

Association of Pretreatment Circulating Tumor Tissue-Modified Viral HPV DNA With Clinicopathologic Factors in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Importance: Circulating tumor tissue-modified viral (TTMV) human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is a dynamic, clinically relevant biomarker for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Reasons for its wide pretreatment interpatient variability are not well understood. Objective: To characterize clinicopathologic factors associated with TTMV HPV DNA. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included patients evaluated for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, between December 2019 and January 2022 and who were undergoing curative-intent treatment. Exposures: Clinicopathologic characteristics including demographic variables, tumor and nodal staging, HPV genotype, and imaging findings. Main Outcomes and Measures: Pretreatment circulating TTMV HPV DNA from 5 genotypes (16, 18, 31, 33, and 35) assessed using a commercially available digital droplet polymerase chain reaction-based assay, considered as either detectable/undetectable or a continuous score (fragments/mL). Results: Among 110 included patients, 96 were men (87%) and 104 were White (95%), with a mean (SD) age of 62.2 (9.4) years. Circulating TTMV HPV DNA was detected in 98 patients (89%), with a median (IQR) score of 315 (47-2686) fragments/mL (range, 0-60 061 fragments/mL). Most detectable TTMV HPV DNA was genotype 16 (n = 86 [88%]), while 12 patients (12%) harbored other genotypes. Circulating TTMV HPV DNA detection was most strongly associated with clinical N stage. Although few patients had clinical stage N0 disease, only 4 of these 11 patients (36%) had detectable DNA compared with 94 of 99 patients (95%) with clinical stage N1 to N3 disease (proportion difference, 59%; 95% CI, 30%-87%). Among patients with undetectable TTMV HPV DNA, more than half (7 of 12 [58%]) had clinical stage N0 disease. The TTMV HPV DNA prevalence and score increased with progressively higher clinical nodal stage, diameter of largest lymph node, and higher nodal maximum standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography/computed tomography. In multivariable analysis, clinical nodal stage and nodal maximum standardized uptake value were each strongly associated with TTMV HPV DNA score. Among 27 surgically treated patients, more patients with than without lymphovascular invasion had detectable TTMV HPV DNA (12 of 12 [100%] vs 9 of 15 [60%]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, circulating TTMV HPV DNA was statistically significantly associated with nodal disease at HPV-positive OPSCC diagnosis. The few patients with undetectable levels had predominantly clinical stage N0 disease, suggesting assay sensitivity for diagnostic purposes may be lower among patients without cervical lymphadenopathy. Mechanisms underlying this association, and the use of this biomarker for surveillance of patients with undetectable baseline values, warrant further investigation.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Recurrent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting cluster of differentiation (CD)19 has had a transformative impact on patient outcomes in a subset of patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We present a patient with refractory large B-cell lymphoma in complete remission for 2 years following treatment with CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy, who presented with 2 weeks of progressive aphasia. Imaging revealed a left occipital brain lesion and biopsy demonstrated features diagnostic of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Further evaluation revealed severe hypogammaglobulinemia and a low CD4 count. She was treated with pembrolizumab and intravenous immunoglobulin resulting in decreased cerebrospinal fluid viral load without clinical improvement and died 8 weeks after presentation. This case highlights that there is potential for severe opportunistic infections after CAR T-cell therapy, including fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Strategies to enhance post-treatment immune reconstitution are essential to further harness the unique potency of CAR T-cell therapy.

Association of Performance Status With Survival in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Pembrolizumab Monotherapy.

Importance: Despite approximately 40% of patients having Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) scores of at least 2 in the real world, most landmark clinical trials that led to the use of pembrolizumab as standard of care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) excluded this group. Objective: To evaluate whether an ECOG PS score of at least 2 at the start of therapy is associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included all consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent treatment with palliative pembrolizumab monotherapy from February 2016 to October 2019 at a single academic cancer center, with data censoring on January 15, 2020. Exposures: ECOG PS score at start of therapy, with 0 and 1 indicating fully active or restricted in strenuous activity and scores of 2 and higher indicating increasing disability. Main Outcomes and Measures: PFS and OS, measured from initiation of pembrolizumab monotherapy. Results: Of 74 patients (median [range] age, 68.5 [33-87] years; 36 [48.7%] women; 53 [71.6%] White individuals) with median follow-up of 19.5 (95% CI, 13.4-27.8) months, 45 (60.8%) had an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, while 29 (39.2%) had an ECOG PS of at least 2. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics, except in age. Compared with patients with PS scores of 0 or 1, those with PS scores of at least 2 had significantly lower disease control rates (38 [88.4%] vs 15 [53.6%]; P = .002), shorter median PFS (7.9 [95% CI, 4.6-15.4] months vs 2.3 [95% CI, 1.8-4.8] months; P = .004), and shorter median OS (23.2 [14.0 vs 35.7] months vs 4.1 [95% CI, 2.1-6.9] months; P < .001). Among those potentially eligible for subsequent cancer-directed therapy beyond pembrolizumab monotherapy, patients in the group with PS scores of at least 2 were less likely to receive it than those with PS scores of 0 or 1 (2 [8.3%] vs 14 [45.2%]; P = .003). Multivariable adjustment for baseline characteristics confirmed ECOG PS of at least 2 as an independent risk factor for worse PFS (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.09-3.74; P = .03) and worse OS (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.40-5.89; P = .004). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, having an ECOG PS score of at least 2 was associated with poorer prognosis for treatment of advanced NSCLC with palliative pembrolizumab monotherapy. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate more objective and consistent measures of functional status to facilitate identification of patients with borderline performance status who may achieve durable clinical benefit from treatment with pembrolizumab monotherapy.

Targeting the mutant p53 secretome.

While p53 is the most highly mutated and perhaps best studied tumor suppressor protein related to cancer, it remains refractory to targeted therapeutic strategies. In this issue of the JCI, Tan and colleagues investigated the mechanistic basis of the mutant p53 secretome in preclinical models of lung adenocarcinoma. The authors uncovered miR-34a as a regulator of a conventional protein secretion axis, which is mediated by three proteins: the Golgi reassembly and stacking protein 55 kDa (GRASP55), basic leucine zipper nuclear factor 1, and myosin IIA. Inhibition of GRASP55 in TP53-deficient lung adenocarcinoma suppressed protumorigenic secretion of osteopontin/secreted phosphoprotein 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 and reduced tumor growth and metastases in mice as well as in patient-derived xenografts. These results provide a therapeutic opportunity to target downstream effects of p53 loss.

Dynamic single-cell RNA sequencing identifies immunotherapy persister cells following PD-1 blockade.

Resistance to oncogene-targeted therapies involves discrete drug-tolerant persister cells, originally discovered through in vitro assays. Whether a similar phenomenon limits efficacy of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade is poorly understood. Here, we performed dynamic single-cell RNA-Seq of murine organotypic tumor spheroids undergoing PD-1 blockade, identifying a discrete subpopulation of immunotherapy persister cells (IPCs) that resisted CD8+ T cell-mediated killing. These cells expressed Snai1 and stem cell antigen 1 (Sca-1) and exhibited hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal features characteristic of a stem cell-like state. IPCs were expanded by IL-6 but were vulnerable to TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity, relying on baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 2 (Birc2) and Birc3 as survival factors. Combining PD-1 blockade with Birc2/3 antagonism in mice reduced IPCs and enhanced tumor cell killing in vivo, resulting in durable responsiveness that matched TNF cytotoxicity thresholds in vitro. Together, these data demonstrate the power of high-resolution functional ex vivo profiling to uncover fundamental mechanisms of immune escape from durable anti-PD-1 responses, while identifying IPCs as a cancer cell subpopulation targetable by specific therapeutic combinations.

Size of atrial septal defect after balloon atrial septostomy does not correlate with immediate improvement in oxygenation.

Objective: Transposition of great arteries is a common cyanotic heart defect. Balloon atrial septostomy aims to improve circulatory mixing and oxygenation. Previous studies have combined infants with intact ventricular septum and those with ventricular septal defect. Additionally, the septostomy was performed much later after birth. The objectives were to ascertain any correlation between the atrial septal defect size and oxygenation, before and after septostomy, as well the change in parameters pre-post procedure. Methods: We performed an audit of the last 10 years of clinical and echocardiographic data (2010-2020) for infants with transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum. A pediatric cardiologist, masked to clinical data, reviewed the images. Results: Our study of 25 infants with transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum noted that the procedure was performed at a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 3 (2, 4) hours after birth. Prostaglandin was administered to the majority of infants [20/25 (80%)]. While significant increases in partial pressure of oxygen (24±5 vs 40±6 mmHg, p<0.001) and preductal oxygen saturations (67%±18% vs 81%±11%, p=0.003) were noted, and while the atrial septal defect increased in size from 1.8±0.6 vs 4.8±0.7 mm (p<0.001), no correlation was noted between atrial septal defect size and oxygen saturations. Conclusions: In our study of infants with transposition of great arteries and intact ventricular septum managed with balloon atrial septostomy, no correlation was noted between the atrial septal defect size and oxygen saturations. Pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary blood flow may be important physiological variables determining oxygenation.

Clinical Benefit of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Advanced Lung Cancer with EGFR-G719A and Other Uncommon EGFR Mutations.

The optimal management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with noncanonical epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (i.e., exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R) is constrained by the heterogeneous behavior of individual uncommon mutations and limited prospective clinical data in this setting. Despite encouraging results with osimertinib from a recently published phase II trial from South Korea, afatinib remains the only currently approved drug for patients with tumors harboring uncommon EGFR mutations (i.e., S768I, L861Q, and/or G719X). When used at the standard dose of 40 mg daily, afatinib is associated with significant rates of treatment-related adverse events, leading to frequent dose reductions and treatment discontinuations. We report a case of a woman with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR-G719A mutation treated with afatinib (at an off-label pulse dose strategy that merits further evaluation in prospective studies) with sustained partial response for 20 months with manageable expected toxicities. Subsequent disease progression was mediated by off-target pan-EGFR inhibitor (including osimertinib)-resistant KRAS mutation and not by acquisition of EGFR-T790M. We further present the current state of evidence in the literature behind use of first-, second-, and third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors and summarize the evolving spectrum of activity ascribed to osimertinib (and newer EGFR inhibitors with a more favorable therapeutic window and intracranial penetration) in this population of patients with advanced NSCLC and uncommon EGFR mutations. KEY POINTS: Uncommon EGFR mutations characterize a heterogeneous group of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Afatinib is the only currently U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for management of advanced NSCLC with uncommon EGFR mutations (S768I, L861Q, and/or G719X). Afatinib treatment at 40 mg daily is associated with high rates of adverse events and dose reductions; alternative strategies including pulse intermittent dosing should be evaluated prospectively. Osimertinib (with favorable safety profile and intracranial penetration) has shown promising results in this population in a phase II trial from South Korea; additional trials are ongoing.

Association of Extended Dosing Intervals or Delays in Pembrolizumab-based Regimens With Survival Outcomes in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Besides modeling/simulation-based analysis, no post-approval studies have evaluated the optimal administration frequency of pembrolizumab in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study to evaluate the association between survival outcomes and treatment extensions/delays of pembrolizumab-based regimens in patients with advanced NSCLC. Those who had received at least 4 cycles in routine practice were divided into 2 groups: nonstandard (Non-Std, ≥ 2 cycles at intervals > 3 weeks + 3 days) and standard (Std, all cycles every 3 weeks or 1 cycle > 3 weeks + 3 days). RESULTS: Among 150 patients, 92 (61%) were eligible for the study (Non-Std, 27; Std, 65). The reasons for patients with extensions/delays in the Non-Std group included: immune-related adverse events (irAEs) (33%), non-irAE-related medical issues (26%), and patient-physician preference (41%). The Non-Std group was more likely to have a higher programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score, a higher number of treatment cycles, and pembrolizumab monotherapy. Univariate and 6-month landmark analyses showed longer median overall survival and progression-free survival in the Non-Std group compared with the Std group. After multivariable adjustment for confounding factors, there was no significant difference in overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-4.8; P = .824) or progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-9.6; P = .157) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that a significant proportion of patients with advanced NSCLC receive pembrolizumab-based regimens with extended intervals or delays in routine clinical practice and with similar outcomes to those receiving treatment at label-specified 3-week intervals. Given the durability of benefit seen and the potential for cost reduction and decreased infusion frequency in these patients, this requires validation in prospective trials.

Cases of ROS1-rearranged lung cancer: when to use crizotinib, entrectinib, lorlatinib, and beyond?

ROS1-rearranged (also known as ROS1 fusion-positive) non-small-cell lung cancer is an uncommon but distinct molecular subgroup seen in approximately 1-2% of cases. Oncogene addiction due to constitutive ROS1 tyrosine kinase activation has allowed development of molecularly targeted therapies with remarkable anti-tumor activity. Both crizotinib and entrectinib, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have now received approval by the FDA for treatment of patients with advanced ROS1-rearranged lung cancers; however, the clinical efficacy and safety of these drugs have been derived from expansion cohorts of single-arm phase I or basket clinical trials with relatively small populations of this clinically and molecularly distinct subgroup. Both drugs lead to high objective response rates (approximately 70-80%) and have manageable side effects, although only entrectinib has potent intracranial efficacy. Lorlatinib is an oral brain-penetrant ALK/ROS1 TKI with activity in both TKI-naïve and some crizotinib-resistant settings (albeit with limited potency against the crizotinib/entrectinib-resistant ROS1-G2032R mutation). We describe cases of advanced ROS1-rearranged lung cancer receiving crizotinib, entrectinib, and/or lorlatinib in first and later line treatment settings to dissect the current state of evidence supporting management decisions for these patients. The next generation ROS1 TKIs (repotrectinib and DS-6051b), owing to their broad activity against kinase mutations including ROS1-G2032R in preclinical studies, hold promise to transform the current treatment paradigm and permit even further gains with regards to long-term outcomes in this subset of patients.

Extended-Interval Dosing Strategy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: Will it Outlast the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Patients with lung cancer are particularly vulnerable to complications from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Recurrent hospital visits and hospital admission are potential risk factors for acquiring infection with its causative pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) constitute the therapeutic backbone for the vast majority of patients with advanced lung cancer in the absence of actionable driver oncogenes, there have been intense discussions within the oncology community regarding risk-benefit of delaying these treatments or use of alternative extended-interval treatment strategies to minimize the risk of viral transmission secondary to unintended nosocomial exposures. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for extended-interval strategy of pembrolizumab at a dose of 400 mg every 6 weeks for all already approved oncologic indications. Herein, we summarize the evidence from the in silico pharmacokinetic modeling/simulation studies supporting extended-interval dosing strategies for the ICIs used in lung cancer. We further review the evolving clinical evidence behind these approaches and predict that they will continue to be used in routine practice even long after the pandemic, particularly for patients with durable disease control.

Small cell transformation of non-small cell lung cancer on immune checkpoint inhibitors: uncommon or under-recognized?

BACKGROUND: Histological transformation of oncogene-driven lung adenocarcinoma to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) following treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a well-described phenomenon. Whether a similar transformation may drive acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in non-SCLC (NSCLC) is uncertain. Hence, tissue biopsies are not universally recommended at progression of NSCLC on ICPIs, unlike TKIs. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a woman in her mid-60s with a 35 pack-years tobacco history and stage IV squamous cell lung carcinoma with no targetable genomic alterations, whose disease progressed within 4 months of first line carboplatin/gemcitabine therapy. Her treatment was switched to second line nivolumab monotherapy which resulted in sustained partial response lasting 21 months. She subsequently developed rapid, bulky progression of mediastinal disease. Biopsy showed transformation to SCLC. Comparison of genomic profiling results from the initial NSCLC diagnosis and SCLC transformation revealed near-identical tumor profiles. Her disease responded to next line carboplatin/etoposide, though lasting for only 10 months. She died 14 months after detection of neuroendocrine transformation of her NSCLC. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify similar cases of NSCLC-to-small cell transformation on ICPIs. Nine patients, including our index case, were identified, with seven (77.8%) on nivolumab and two (22.2%) on pembrolizumab monotherapy. Median survival time since small cell transformation was 13.0 months (95% CI 2.0 to 16.0). Using our patient case as a framework, we further discuss the lack of consensus criteria to distinguish small cell transformation from de novo metachronous SCLC. CONCLUSIONS: Histological transformation to SCLC is a potential mechanism of acquired resistance to ICPIs in NSCLC. Repeat tissue biopsies should be considered at the time of progression, similar to oncogene-directed therapies. Prospective larger studies are warranted to further characterize NSCLC-to-small cell transformation on ICPIs using molecular fingerprinting with paired tumor genomic profiles, evaluation of neuroendocrine features at baseline and consideration of initial response.

Diuretic use in infants with developing or established chronic lung disease: A practice looking for evidence.

AIM: The objective was to assess respiratory efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone and ascertain any adverse effects. METHODS: Data from 2014 to 2018 was analysed for infants <28 weeks' gestational age (GA) administered oral diuretics. Impact on respiratory support, weight gain and electrolyte status was assessed as a pre-post intervention study. RESULTS: Of 491 infants, 117 (24%) were administered diuretics for evolving or established bronchopulmonary dysplasia. GA and birthweight of the cohort were 25.7 ± 1.1 weeks and 779 ± 172 g, respectively. Median (interquartile range) chronological age and GA at the start of diuretics was 45 (22, 62) days and 32.1 (30.1, 35.1) weeks, respectively. In 71/117 (61%) infants, diuretics were started at <36 weeks GA. Of them 63 (88.7%) went on to develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Median duration of diuretics was 38 (18-52) days. Modest improvement was noted in respiratory parameters (ventilator pressure (cm of H2 O), 8.8 ± 0.4 vs. 8.8 ± 0.5, P = 0.39, oxygen requirement (%), 32 ± 1 vs. 30 ± 1, P = 0.07 and pO2 (mm Hg) 34.5 ± 1.3 vs. 36.6 ± 1, P = 0.04. Ninety-eight (84%) infants developed hyponatraemia (<135 mmol/L); sodium supplements were administered in 58/98 (59%) infants. In one third infants, phosphate levels dropped below 1.8 mmol/L, needing supplementation. Weight gain (g/kg/day) slowed down significantly (18.2 ± 2.1 to 10 ± 2.9, P = <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of diuretics was associated with modest improvements in respiratory support requirements but was associated with significant electrolyte abnormalities and slowdown in weight gain (or weight loss).

Association Between Immune-Related Adverse Events and Clinical Outcomes to Programmed Cell Death Protein 1/Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Blockade in SCLC.

INTRODUCTION: The development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) has been associated with improved efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with urothelial cancer, melanoma, and NSCLC. Whether this association exists in patients with SCLC is currently unknown. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the relationship between irAEs and immunotherapy efficacy in SCLC. To account for the lead-time bias resulting from the time-dependent nature of irAEs, the development of irAEs was considered as a time-varying covariate in univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients treated with immunotherapy, 73 (39.9%) experienced at least one irAE. A total of 42 patients (22.9%) had grade 1 to 2 irAEs, whereas 31 patients (16.9%) had grade 3 to 4 irAEs. The median time of onset to the first irAE was 24 days (interquartile range: 14-55). The baseline clinicopathologic features were well-balanced between patients with and without irAEs. At a median follow-up of 24 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.0-31.6), the median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the irAE group than the non-irAE group (3.8 versus 1.3 mo, p < 0.0001). The median overall survival was also significantly longer among patients with irAEs than patients without irAEs (13.8 versus 2.9 mo, p < 0.0001). When analyzed as a time-varying covariate, the development of irAEs was associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.44 [95% CI: 0.29-0.66], p < 0.001) and overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.32-0.71], p < 0.001) in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS: The development of irAEs is associated with improved clinical outcomes for immunotherapy in patients with advanced SCLC.