Hypoxia-Directed Treatment of Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Standard curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal carcinoma results in significant toxicity. Since hypoxic tumors are radioresistant, we posited that the aerobic state of a tumor could identify patients eligible for de-escalation of chemoradiotherapy while maintaining treatment efficacy. METHODS: We enrolled patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma to receive de-escalated definitive chemoradiotherapy in a phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03323463). Patients first underwent surgical removal of disease at their primary site, but not of gross disease in the neck. A baseline 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography scan was used to measure tumor hypoxia and was repeated 1-2 weeks intratreatment. Patients with nonhypoxic tumors received 30 Gy (3 weeks) with chemotherapy, whereas those with hypoxic tumors received standard chemoradiotherapy to 70 Gy (7 weeks). The primary objective was achieving a 2-year locoregional control (LRC) of 95% with a 7% noninferiority margin. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight patients with T0-2/N1-N2c were enrolled, of which 152 patients were eligible for analyses. Of these, 128 patients met criteria for 30 Gy and 24 patients received 70 Gy. The 2-year LRC was 94.7% (95% CI, 89.8 to 97.7), meeting our primary objective. With a median follow-up time of 38.3 (range, 22.1-58.4) months, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 94% and 100%, respectively, for the 30-Gy cohort. The 70-Gy cohort had similar 2-year PFS and OS rates at 96% and 96%, respectively. Acute grade 3-4 adverse events were more common in 70 Gy versus 30 Gy (58.3% v 32%; P = .02). Late grade 3-4 adverse events only occurred in the 70-Gy cohort, in which 4.5% complained of late dysphagia. CONCLUSION: Tumor hypoxia is a promising approach to direct dosing of curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for HPV-related carcinomas with preserved efficacy and substantially reduced toxicity that requires further investigation.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab in advanced salivary gland cancer: a phase 2 trial.

Salivary gland cancers (SGCs) are rare, aggressive cancers without effective treatments when metastasized. We conducted a phase 2 trial evaluating nivolumab (nivo, anti-PD-1) and ipilimumab (ipi, anti-CTLA-4) in 64 patients with metastatic SGC enrolled in two histology-based cohorts (32 patients each): adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC; cohort 1) and other SGCs (cohort 2). The primary efficacy endpoint (≥4 objective responses) was met in cohort 2 (5/32, 16%) but not in cohort 1 (2/32, 6%). Treatment safety/tolerability and progression-free survival (PFS) were secondary endpoints. Treatment-related adverse events grade ≥3 occurred in 24 of 64 (38%) patients across both cohorts, and median PFS was 4.4 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4, 8.3) and 2.2 months (95% CI: 1.8, 5.3) for cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. We present whole-exome, RNA and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing data from pre-treatment and on-treatment tumors and immune cell flow cytometry and TCR sequencing from peripheral blood at serial timepoints. Responding tumors universally demonstrated clonal expansion of pre-existing T cells and mutational contraction. Responding ACCs harbored neoantigens, including fusion-derived neoepitopes, that induced T cell responses ex vivo. This study shows that nivo+ipi has limited efficacy in ACC, albeit with infrequent, exceptional responses, and that it could be promising for non-ACC SGCs, particularly salivary duct carcinomas. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03172624 .

Post-operative PET/CT improves the detection of early recurrence of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: We evaluate the impact of post-operative 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) for radiation planning on the detection of early recurrence (ER) and treatment outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated with post-operative radiation between 2005 and 2019 for OSCC at our institution. Extracapsular extension and positive surgical margins were classified as high risk features; pT3-4, node positivity, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor thickness >5 mm, and close surgical margins were considered intermediate risk features. Patients with ER were identified. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for imbalances between baseline characteristics. RESULTS: 391 patients with OSCC were treated with post-operative radiation. 237 (60.6%) patients underwent post-operative PET/CT planning vs. 154 (39.4%) who were planned with CT only. Patients screened with post-operative PET/CT were more likely to be diagnosed with ER than those planned with CT only (16.5 vs. 3.3%, p < 0.0001). Among patients with ER, those with intermediate features were more likely than those high risk features to undergo major treatment intensification, including re-operation, the addition of chemotherapy, or intensification of radiation by ≥ 10 Gy (91% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001). Post-operative PET/CT was associated with improved disease-free and overall survival for patients with intermediate risk features (IPTW log-rank p = 0.026 and p = 0.047, respectively) but not high risk features (IPTW log-rank p = 0.44 and p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Use of post-operative PET/CT is associated with increased detection of early recurrence. Among patients with intermediate risk features, this may translate to improved disease-free survival.

Evaluation of Proton Therapy Reirradiation for Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Use of proton therapy reirradiation (PT-ReRT) for head and neck cancer is increasing; however, reports are heterogenous and outcomes can be difficult to interpret. Objective: To evaluate outcomes and toxic effects following PT-ReRT in a uniform and consecutive cohort of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients with recurrent primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with PT-ReRT from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, at a single institution. Patient, clinical, and treatment characteristics were obtained, and multidisciplinary review was performed to record and grade early and late toxic effects. Exposures: Proton therapy reirradiation. Main Outcomes and Measures: Follow-up was defined from the start of PT-ReRT. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for outcomes of interest, including local control (LC), locoregional control, distant metastatic control, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was used to assess associations of covariates with OS. Results: A total of 242 patients (median [range] age, 63 [21-96] years; 183 [75.6%] male) were included. Of these patients, 231 (95.9%) had a Karnofsky performance status score of 70 or higher, and 145 (59.9%) had at least a 10-pack-year smoking history. Median (range) follow-up was 12.0 (5.8-26.0) months for all patients and 24.5 (13.8-37.8) months for living patients. A total of 206 patients (85.1%) had recurrent disease vs second primary or residual disease. The median (range) interval between radiation courses was 22 (1-669) months. Median PT-ReRT dose was 70 cobalt gray equivalents (CGE) for the fractionated cohort and 44.4 CGE for the quad shot cohort. For the fractionated cohort, the 1-year LC was 71.8% (95% CI, 62.8%-79.0%) and the 1-year OS was 66.6% (95% CI, 58.1%-73.8%). For the quad shot cohort, the 1-year LC was 61.6% (95% CI, 46.4%-73.6%) and the 1-year OS was 28.5% (95% CI, 19.4%-38.3%). Higher Karnofsky performance status scores (hazard ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.99; P = .046) and receipt of salvage surgery prior to PT-ReRT (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.84; P = .005) were associated with improved OS, whereas receipt of quad shot (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.36-2.86; P < .001) was associated with worse OS. There were a total of 73 grade 3 and 6 grade 4 early toxic effects. There were 79 potential grade 3, 4 grade 4, and 5 grade 5 late toxic effects. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that, compared with previous reports with photon-based reirradiation, patients are living longer with aggressive PT-ReRT; however, surviving patients remain at risk of early and late complications.

Toxicity Profiles and Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Nonmetastatic Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy vs Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Importance: Patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) treated with radiotherapy often experience substantial toxic effects, even with modern techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) has a potential advantage over IMRT due to reduced dose to the surrounding organs at risk; however, data are scarce given the limited availability and use of IMPT. Objective: To compare toxic effects and oncologic outcomes among patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic OPC treated with IMPT vs IMRT with or without chemotherapy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic OPC who received curative-intent radiotherapy with IMPT or IMRT at a single-institution tertiary academic cancer center from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, with follow-up through December 31, 2021. Exposures: IMPT or IMRT with or without chemotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were the incidence of acute and chronic (present after ≥6 months) treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and oncologic outcomes, including locoregional recurrence (LRR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Fisher exact tests and χ2 tests were used to evaluate associations between toxic effects and treatment modality (IMPT vs IMRT), and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare LRR, PFS, and OS between the 2 groups. Results: The study included 292 patients with OPC (272 [93%] with human papillomavirus [HPV]-p16-positive tumors); 254 (87%) were men, 38 (13%) were women, and the median age was 64 years (IQR, 58-71 years). Fifty-eight patients (20%) were treated with IMPT, and 234 (80%) were treated with IMRT. Median follow-up was 26 months (IQR, 17-36 months). Most patients (283 [97%]) received a dose to the primary tumor of 70 Gy. Fifty-seven of the patients treated with IMPT (98%) and 215 of those treated with IMRT (92%) had HPV-p16-positive disease. There were no significant differences in 3-year OS (97% IMPT vs 91% IMRT; P = .18), PFS (82% IMPT vs 85% IMRT; P = .62), or LRR (5% IMPT vs 4% IMRT; P = .59). The incidence of acute toxic effects was significantly higher for IMRT compared with IMPT for oral pain of grade 2 or greater (42 [72%] IMPT vs 217 [93%] IMRT; P < .001), xerostomia of grade 2 or greater (12 [21%] IMPT vs 68 [29%] IMRT; P < .001), dysgeusia of grade 2 or greater (16 [28%] IMPT vs 134 [57%] IMRT; P < .001), grade 3 dysphagia (4 [7%] IMPT vs 29 [12%] IMRT; P < .001), mucositis of grade 3 or greater (10 [53%] IMPT vs 13 [70%] IMRT; P = .003), nausea of grade 2 or greater (0 [0%] IMPT vs 18 [8%] IMRT; P = .04), and weight loss of grade 2 or greater (22 [37%] IMPT vs 138 [59%] IMRT; P < .001). There were no significant differences in chronic toxic effects of grade 3 or greater, although there was a significant difference for chronic xerostomia of grade 2 or greater (6 IMPT [11%] vs 22 IMRT [10%]; P < .001). Four patients receiving IMRT (2%) vs 0 receiving IMPT had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube for longer than 6 months. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, curative-intent radiotherapy with IMPT for nonmetastatic OPC was associated with a significantly reduced acute toxicity burden compared with IMRT, with few chronic toxic effects and favorable oncologic outcomes, including locoregional recurrence of only 5% at 2 years. Prospective randomized clinical trials comparing these 2 technologies and of patient-reported outcomes are warranted.

Toxicity Profiles and Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Nonmetastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy vs Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Importance: Patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are primarily treated by radiotherapy with curative intent with or without chemotherapy and often experience substantial treatment-related toxic effects even with modern radiation techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) may improve the toxicity profile; however, there is a paucity of data given the limited availability of IMPT in regions with endemic NPC. Objective: To compare toxic effects and oncologic outcomes among patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic NPC when treated with IMPT vs IMRT with or without chemotherapy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study included 77 patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic NPC who received curative-intent radiotherapy with IMPT or IMRT at a tertiary academic cancer center from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Forty-eight patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumors were included in a 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis for survival outcomes. The end of the follow-up period was March 31, 2021. Exposures: IMPT vs IMRT with or without chemotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were the incidence of acute and chronic treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and oncologic outcomes, including locoregional failure-free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: We identified 77 patients (25 [32.5%] women; 52 [67.5%] men; median [interquartile range] age, 48.7 [42.2-60.3] years), among whom 28 (36.4%) were treated with IMPT and 49 (63.6%) were treated with IMRT. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 30.3 (17.9-41.5) months. On multivariable logistic regression analyses, IMPT was associated with lower likelihood of developing grade 2 or higher acute AEs compared with IMRT (odds ratio [OR], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.60; P = .01). Only 1 case (3.8%) of a chronic grade 3 or higher AE occurred in the IMPT group compared with 8 cases (16.3%) in the IMRT group (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.01-1.21; P = .15). Propensity score matching generated a balanced cohort of 48 patients (24 IMPT vs 24 IMRT) and found similar PFS in the IMPT and IMRT groups (2-year PFS, 95.7% [95% CI, 87.7%-100%] vs 76.7% [95% CI, 60.7%-97.0%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.07-1.47; P = .14). No locoregional recurrence or death was observed in the IMPT group from the matched cohort. Two-year LRFS was 100% (95% CI, 100%-100%) in the IMPT group and 86.2% (95% CI, 72.8%-100%) in the IMRT group (P = .08). Three-year OS was 100% (95% CI, 100%-100%) in the IMPT group and 94.1% (95% CI, 83.6%-100%) in the IMRT group (P = .42). Smoking history was the only clinical factor significantly associated with both poor LRFS (HR, 63.37; 95% CI, 3.25-1236.13; P = .006) and poor PFS (HR, 6.33; 95% CI, 1.16-34.57; P = .03) on multivariable analyses. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, curative-intent radiotherapy with IMPT for nonmetastatic NPC was associated with significantly reduced acute toxicity burden in comparison with IMRT, with rare late complications and excellent oncologic outcomes, including 100% locoregional control at 2 years. Prospective trials are warranted to direct the optimal patient selection for IMPT as the primary radiotherapy modality for nonmetastatic NPC.

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Locally Advanced, Human Papillomavirus-Unrelated Head and Neck Cancer: A Multicenter, Phase II Trial.

PURPOSE: Pembrolizumab improved survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aims of this study were to determine if pembrolizumab would be safe, result in pathologic tumor response (pTR), and lower the relapse rate in patients with resectable human papillomavirus (HPV)-unrelated HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (200 mg) was administered and followed 2 to 3 weeks later by surgical tumor ablation. Postoperative (chemo)radiation was planned. Patients with high-risk pathology (positive margins and/or extranodal extension) received adjuvant pembrolizumab. pTR was quantified as the proportion of the resection bed with tumor necrosis, keratinous debris, and giant cells/histiocytes: pTR-0 (<10%), pTR-1 (10%-49%), and pTR-2 (≥50%). Coprimary endpoints were pTR-2 among all patients and 1-year relapse rate in patients with high-risk pathology (historical: 35%). Correlations of baseline PD-L1 and T-cell infiltration with pTR were assessed. Tumor clonal dynamics were evaluated (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02296684). RESULTS: Thirty-six patients enrolled. After neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, serious (grades 3-4) adverse events and unexpected surgical delays/complications did not occur. pTR-2 occurred in eight patients (22%), and pTR-1 in eight other patients (22%). One-year relapse rate among 18 patients with high-risk pathology was 16.7% (95% confidence interval, 3.6%-41.4%). pTR ≥10% correlated with baseline tumor PD-L1, immune infiltrate, and IFNγ activity. Matched samples showed upregulation of inhibitory checkpoints in patients with pTR-0 and confirmed clonal loss in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with locally advanced, HPV-unrelated HNSCC, pembrolizumab was safe, and any pathologic response was observed in 44% of patients with 0% pathologic complete responses. The 1-year relapse rate in patients with high-risk pathology was lower than historical.

Last-line local treatment with the Quad Shot regimen for previously irradiated head and neck cancers.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with prior irradiated head and neck cancer (HNC) who are ineligible for definitive retreatment have limited local palliative options. We report the largest series of the use of the Quad Shot (QS) regimen as a last-line local palliative therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 166 patients with prior HN radiation therapy (RT) treated with QS regimen (3.7 Gy twice daily over 2 consecutive days at 4 weeks intervals per cycle, up to 4 cycles). Palliative response defined by symptom(s) relief or radiographic tumor reduction, locoregional progression free survival (LPFS), overall survival (OS) and radiation-related toxicity were assessed. RESULTS: Median age was 66 years. Median follow-up for all patients was 6.0 months and 9.7 months for living patients. Overall palliative response rate was 66% and symptoms improved in 60% of all patients. Predictors of palliative response were > 2 year interval from prior RT and 3-4 QS cycles. Median LPFS was 5.1 months with 1-year LPFS 17.7%, and median OS was 6.4 months with 1-year OS 25.3%. On multivariate analysis, proton RT, KPS > 70, presence of palliative response and 3-4 QS cycles were associated with improved LPFS and improved OS. The overall Grade 3 toxicity rate was 10.8% (n = 18). No Grade 4-5 toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION: Palliative QS is an effective last-line local therapy with minimal toxicity in patients with previously irradiated HNC. The administration of 3-4 QS cycles predicts palliative response, improved PFS, and improved OS. KPS > 70 and proton therapy are associated with survival improvements.

Cisplatin exposure causes c-Myc-dependent resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The loss of p16 is a signature event in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that leads to increased Cyclin Dependent Kinase 4/6 (CDK) signaling. Palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, is active for the treatment of a subset of HNSCC. In this study, we analyzed patient response data from a phase I clinical trial of palbociclib in HNSCC and observed an association between prior cisplatin exposure and CDK inhibitor resistance. We studied the effects of palbociclib on cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant HNSCC cell lines. We found that while palbociclib is highly effective against chemo-naive HNSCC cell lines and tumor xenografts, prior cisplatin exposure induces intrinsic resistance to palbociclib in vivo, a relationship that was not observed in vitro. Mechanistically, in the course of provoking a DNA damage-resistance phenotype, cisplatin exposure upregulates both c-Myc and cyclin E, and combination treatment with palbociclib and the c-Myc bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 exerts a synergistic anti-growth effect in cisplatin-resistant cells. These data show the benefit of exploiting the inherent resistance mechanisms of HNSCC to overcome cisplatin- and palbociclib resistance through the use of c-Myc inhibition.

Anti-Trop2 blockade enhances the therapeutic efficacy of ErbB3 inhibition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ErbB3 has been widely implicated in treatment resistance, but its role as a primary treatment target is less clear. Canonically ErbB3 requires EGFR or ErbB2 for activation, whereas these two established treatment targets are thought to signal independently of ErbB3. In this study, we show that ErbB3 is essential for tumor growth of treatment-naive HNSCC patient-derived xenografts. This ErbB3 dependency occurs via ErbB3-mediated control of EGFR activation and HIF1α stabilization, which require ErbB3 and its ligand neuregulin-1. Here, we show that ErbB3 antibody treatment selects for a population of ErbB3-persister cells that express high levels of the transmembrane protein Trop2 that we previously identified as an inhibitor of ErbB3. Co-treatment with anti-ErbB3 and anti-Trop2 antibodies is synergistic and produces a greater anti-tumor response than either antibody alone. Collectively, these data both compel a revision of ErbB-family signaling and delineate a strategy for its effective inhibition in HNSCC.

PET of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Activity in Cancer: Preclinical Assessment and First In-Human Studies.

Purpose To demonstrate that positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine 18 (18F) fluorthanatrace (FTT) depicts activated poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose)polymerase (PARP) expression and is feasible for clinical trial evaluation. Materials and Methods All studies were conducted prospectively from February 2012 through July 2015 under protocols approved by the local animal studies committee and institutional review board. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC, in g/mL· min) for 18F-FTT was assessed in normal mouse organs before and after treatment with olaparib (n = 14), a PARP inhibitor, or iniparib (n = 11), which has no PARP inhibitory activity. Murine biodistribution studies were performed to support human translational studies. Eight human subjects with cancer and eight healthy volunteers underwent imaging to verify the human radiation dosimetry of 18F-FTT. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess for differences among treatment groups for the mouse studies. Results In mice, olaparib, but not iniparib, significantly reduced the 18F-FTT AUC in the spine (median difference before and after treatment and interquartile range [IQR]: -17 g/mL· min and 10 g/mL · min, respectively [P = .0001], for olaparib and -3 g/mL · min and 13 g/mL · min [P = .70] for iniparib) and in nodes (median difference and interquartile range [IQR] before and after treatment: -23 g/mL · min and 13 g/mL · min [P = .0001] for olaparib; -9 g/mL · min and 17 g/mL · min [P = .05] for iniparib). The effective dose was estimated at 6.9 mSv for a 370-MBq 18F-FTT dose in humans. In humans, the organs with the highest uptake on images were the spleen and pancreas. Among five subjects with measurable tumors, increased 18F-FTT uptake was seen in one subject with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and another with liver cancer. Conclusion The results suggest that 18F-FTT uptake reflects PARP expression and that its radiation dosimetry profile is compatible with those of agents currently in clinical use. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

A metabolic synthetic lethal strategy with arginine deprivation and chloroquine leads to cell death in ASS1-deficient sarcomas.

Sarcomas comprise a large heterogeneous group of mesenchymal cancers with limited therapeutic options. When treated with standard cytotoxic chemotherapies, many sarcomas fail to respond completely and rapidly become treatment resistant. A major problem in the investigation and treatment of sarcomas is the fact that no single gene mutation or alteration has been identified among the diverse histologic subtypes. We searched for therapeutically druggable targets that are common to a wide range of histologies and hence could provide alternatives to the conventional chemotherapy. Seven hundred samples comprising 45 separate histologies were examined. We found that almost 90% were arginine auxotrophs, as the expression of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 was lost or significantly reduced. Arginine auxotrophy confers sensitivity to arginine deprivation, leading temporarily to starvation and ultimately to cell survival or death under different circumstances. We showed that, in sarcoma, arginine deprivation therapy with pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) maintains a prolonged state of arginine starvation without causing cell death. However, when starvation was simultaneously prolonged by ADI-PEG20 while inhibited by the clinically available drug chloroquine, sarcoma cells died via necroptosis and apoptosis. These results have revealed a novel metabolic vulnerability in sarcomas and provided the basis for a well-tolerated alternative treatment strategy, potentially applicable to up to 90% of the tumors, regardless of histology.

Treatment Outcomes for T4 Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

IMPORTANCE: Little is known about treatment outcomes for T4 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), particularly in the era of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate oncologic outcomes for T4 OPSCC treated with primary surgical and nonsurgical therapies. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort study of 131 patients from a single academic hospital, who were treated for T4a or T4b OPSCC (with any N stage and without distant metastatic disease at presentation) between 1998 and 2012 and had a minimum 2-year follow-up (the median follow-up time was 34.6 months). This study was conducted between January 1, 1998, and November 1, 2012. INTERVENTIONS: Sixty-nine patients underwent nonsurgical therapy, 47 (68%) of whom had p16-positive tumors. Nonsurgical treatment paradigms included induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (n = 36 [54%]), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n = 29 [43%]), and induction chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy alone (n = 2 [3%]). Sixty-two patients underwent surgical treatment, 50 (81%) of whom had p16-positive tumors. Fifty-seven surgical patients (92%) received adjuvant therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), 2-year gastrostomy and tracheostomy tube rates, and major complication rates. RESULTS: Significant baseline differences between the surgical vs nonsurgical groups included age (mean 59.8 vs 55.4 years [P = .005]), sex (male, 95% vs 84% [P = .04]), body mass index (<18.5 [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared], 3% vs 16% [P = .02]), and smoking history of 10 or more pack-years (48% vs 77% [P = .003]). For p16-positive patients, Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS, DSS, and DFS were significantly higher for surgically treated patients than for the nonsurgical group (χ(2)(1) = 7.335 for log-rank P = .007, χ(2)(1) = 8.607 for log-rank P = .003, and χ(2)(1) = 7.763 for log-rank P = .005, respectively). For p16-negative patients, Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS and DSS were higher for the surgical group but did not reach statistical significance (χ(2)(1) = 2.649 for log-rank P = .10 and χ(2)(1) = 2.077 for log-rank P = .15, respectively), while estimates of DFS were significantly higher for patients treated with primary surgery (χ(2)(1)= 3.869 for log-rank P = .049. In a multivariable Cox survival analysis, p16-positive immunohistochemical status had a significant positive association with OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.95 [P = .03]), DSS (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22-0.92 [P = .03]), and DFS (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.95 [P = .03]), and nonsurgical treatment had a significant negative association with OS (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.51-5.16 [P = .001]), DSS (HR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.59-7.16 [P = .002]), and DFS (HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.51-4.45 [P = .001]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Primary surgical treatment may be associated with improved outcomes in patients with T4 OPSCC. p16 Immunohistochemical status remains a strong prognostic indicator even in patients with locally advanced disease.

Loss of Trop2 causes ErbB3 activation through a neuregulin-1-dependent mechanism in the mesenchymal subtype of HNSCC.

In head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), four intrinsic subtypes (or groups) have been identified, and each one possesses a unique biology that will require specific treatment strategies. We previously reported that mesenchymal (group 2) tumors exhibit reduced levels of Trop2 expression. In this study, we investigated the functional role of Trop2 in HNSCC and find that loss results in autocrine activation of the EGFR family member ErbB3 via neuregulin-1. Trop2 localizes to both the cell surface and cytosol of HNSCC cells and forms a complex with neuregulin-1, which is predominantly cytosolic. Inactivation of Trop2 increases the concentration of neuregulin-1 at the cell surface where it is cleaved to activate ErbB3. In primary HNSCC, detection of ErbB3 activation was limited to Trop2 negative tumors. An analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC dataset confirms enrichment for ErbB3 activity in mesenchymal tumors. Notably, Trop2 loss triggers sensitivity to anti-ErbB3 antibodies, which results in reduced proliferation and tumorigenic growth of Trop2 negative HNSCC cancer cells. These results uncover a molecular mechanism by which tumor cells control the amount of cell-surface neuregulin-1 available for cleavage and ErbB3 activation. Moreover, we demonstrate that Trop2 is a potential surrogate biomarker to identify tumors with ErbB3 activation and may therefore respond to anti-ErbB3 therapeutics.

New promising molecular targets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite advances in multimodality therapy, the overall 5-year survival rate is 40-50% in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and current multimodality approaches impart significant toxicities. This review highlights promising targets with the potential to improve clinical outcomes in HNSCC. RECENT FINDINGS: In addition to mutagenic exposure to tobacco and alcohol as risk factors, recent studies have shown that human papillomavirus is one of the main causes of HNSCC and as such is being investigated as a therapeutic target. Furthermore, recent data generated from whole exome sequencing of HNSCC, new insights into the biology of DNA damage repair, and increased understanding of tumor hypoxia responses are pointing to new therapeutic possibilities for treating HNSCC. SUMMARY: HNSCC is a heterogeneous disease. Improved treatment will require a rapid translation of basic science research, and the simultaneous development of novel therapeutics and corresponding biomarkers to guide their application.

Loss of Trop2 promotes carcinogenesis and features of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in squamous cell carcinoma.

Trop2, an oncogenic cell surface protein under investigation as a therapeutic target, is commonly overexpressed in several epithelial tumor types yet its function in tumor biology remains relatively unexplored. To investigate the role of Trop2 in epithelial carcinogenesis, we generated Trop2(-/-) mice, which are viable and possess a normal lifespan. Contrary to expectations, Trop2 loss fails to suppress keratinocyte transformation. Instead, ras-transformed Trop2(-/-) keratinocytes preferentially pass through an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and form tumors with spindle cell histology. Furthermore, Trop2 loss renders Arf-null mice susceptible to the formation of biphasic sarcomatoid carcinomas containing both squamous and spindle cell components upon carcinogen exposure in an otherwise skin cancer-resistant strain (C57BL/6). Immortalized keratinocytes derived from Trop2(-/-)Arf(-/-) mice exhibit enhanced proliferative and migratory capacity as well as increased activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and Src prior to transformation. The clinical relevance of these findings was supported by studying the molecular epidemiology of Trop2 in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. This analysis revealed that Trop2 mRNA levels are decreased in a subset of tumors with features of EMT, and total loss of Trop2 protein expression is observed in the spindle cell component of sarcomatoid carcinomas. Therefore, while previous studies have emphasized the potential importance of Trop2 gain of function, these results uncover a role for Trop2 loss in tumorigenesis and the mesenchymal transdifferentiation observed in a subset of squamous cell carcinomas.

RNA helicase DDX5 is a p53-independent target of ARF that participates in ribosome biogenesis.

The p19ARF tumor suppressor limits ribosome biogenesis and responds to hyperproliferative signals to activate the p53 checkpoint response. Although its activation of p53 has been well characterized, the role of ARF in restraining nucleolar ribosome production is poorly understood. Here we report the use of a mass spectroscopic analysis to identify protein changes within the nucleoli of Arf-deficient mouse cells. Through this approach, we discovered that ARF limited the nucleolar localization of the RNA helicase DDX5, which promotes the synthesis and maturation of rRNA, ultimately increasing ribosome output and proliferation. ARF inhibited the interaction between DDX5 and nucleophosmin (NPM), preventing association of DDX5 with the rDNA promoter and nuclear pre-ribosomes. In addition, Arf-deficient cells transformed by oncogenic RasV12 were addicted to DDX5, because reduction of DDX5 was sufficient to impair RasV12-driven colony formation in soft agar and tumor growth in mice. Taken together, our findings indicate that DDX5 is a key p53-independent target of the ARF tumor suppressor and is a novel non-oncogene participant in ribosome biogenesis.

Synthetic lethality through combined Notch-epidermal growth factor receptor pathway inhibition in basal-like breast cancer.

Basal-like breast cancers (BLBC) are highly aggressive, yet selective therapies targeting the specific oncoproteins driving these tumors have not been developed. These cancers frequently express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), with resistance to its inhibition being well documented, albeit poorly understood. Notch pathway activation is also common in this breast cancer subtype and can be suppressed by gamma-secretase inhibitors, which effectively block receptor cleavage and activation. Herein, we show that although inhibition of either EGFR or Notch signaling alone is insufficient to suppress basal-like breast tumor cell survival and proliferation, simultaneous inhibition uncovers a synthetic lethal relationship between these two oncogenic pathways. This lethality is due in part to significant decreases in AKT activation caused by combined EGFR and Notch inhibition. Expression of the activated form of Notch1 restores AKT activity and enables cells to overcome cell death after dual-pathway blockade. Combined pathway inhibition is also dramatically more effective at suppressing tumor growth in mice than blocking EGFR or Notch signaling alone. Thus, we show that Notch pathway activation contributes to resistance to EGFR inhibition, and provide a novel treatment strategy for BLBCs.