Genomic profile analysis of leiomyomas with bizarre nuclei and fumarate hydratase deficient leiomyomas: Strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of array-CGH interpretation.

A close relationship has been demonstrated between genomic complexity and clinical outcome in uterine smooth muscle tumors. We studied the genomic profiles by array-CGH of 28 fumarate hydratase deficient leiomyomas and 37 leiomyomas with bizarre nuclei (LMBN) from 64 patients. Follow-up was available for 46 patients (from three to 249 months, mean 87.3 months). All patients were alive without evidence of disease. For 51 array-CGH interpretable tumors the mean Genomic Index (GI) was 16.4 (median: 9.8; from 1 to 57.8), significantly lower than the mean GI in LMS (mean GI 51.8, p < 0.001). We described three groups: (1) a group with FH deletion (24/58) with low GI (mean GI: 11 vs. 22,4, p = 0.02), (2) a group with TP53 deletion (17/58) with higher GI (22.4 vs. 11 p = 0.02), and (3) a group without genomic events on FH or TP53 genes (17/58) (mean GI:18.3; from 1 to 57.8). Because none of these tumors recurred and none showed morphological features of LMS we concluded that GI at the cut-off of 10 was not applicable in these subtypes of LM. By integration of all those findings, a GI <10 in LMBN remains a valuable argument for benignity. Conversely, in LMBN a GI >10 or alteration in tumor suppressor genes, should not alone warrant a diagnosis of malignancy. Nine tumors were tested with Nanocind CINSARC® signature and all were classified in low risk of recurrence. We propose, based on our observations, a diagnostic approach of these challenging lesions.

Evaluating video-based consultations in routine clinical practice at a comprehensive cancer center.

INTRODUCTION: Integrating telemedicine into cancer care remains a major challenge. There are little clinical evidence for teleconsultation efficacy and safety in daily oncology practice. This study as a pioneering experience, aimed to analyze patient and physician opinions regarding the implementation of telemedicine consultations, and to identify major limitations of telehealth spread in an oncology institute. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During COVID-19 lockdown, patients and physicians who took part to at least one video-based teleconsultation between March and May 2020, were enrolled in this observational study. All eligible patients received an anonymous online questionnaire. On the other hand, all physicians eligible to participate were asked through email to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: In this study, 31 physicians and 304 patients consented to participate in this study by answering the questionnaire and were included. Regarding telemedicine satisfaction, 65.8% of patients were satisfied. The lack of clinical examination was the major limitation reported by 77% of patients. Patients belonging to a high socio-professional category were statistically more dissatisfied with the relationship with their doctor (OR = 2.31 and 95% CI [1.12; 4.74]). CONCLUSION: This study showed promising results of incorporating video-based teleconsultations into cancer patient management. Randomized clinical trials are needed in order to accelerate the digital implementation in clinical practice.

Switch to fulvestrant and palbociclib versus no switch in advanced breast cancer with rising ESR1 mutation during aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib therapy (PADA-1): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: In advanced oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors frequently stems from ESR1-mutated subclones, which might be sensitive to fulvestrant. The PADA-1 trial aimed to show the efficacy of an early change in therapy on the basis of a rising ESR1 mutation in blood (bESR1mut), while assessing the global safety of combination fulvestrant and palbociclib. METHODS: We did a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial in 83 hospitals in France. Women aged at least 18 years with oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 were recruited and monitored for rising bESR1mut during first-line aromatase inhibitor (2·5 mg letrozole, 1 mg anastrozole, or 25 mg exemestane, orally once per day, taken continuously) and palbociclib (125 mg orally once per day on days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle) therapy. Patients with newly present or increased bESR1mut in circulating tumour DNA and no synchronous disease progression were randomly assigned (1:1) to continue with the same therapy or to switch to fulvestrant (500 mg intramuscularly on day 1 of each 28-day cycle and on day 15 of cycle 1) and palbociclib (dosing unchanged). The randomisation sequence was generated within an interactive web response system using a minimisation method (with an 80% random factor); patients were stratified according to visceral involvement (present or absent) and the time from inclusion to bESR1mut detection (<12 months or ≥12 months). The co-primary endpoints were investigator-assessed progression-free survival from random assignment, analysed in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all randomly assigned patients), and grade 3 or worse haematological adverse events in all patients. The trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03079011), and is now complete. FINDINGS: From March 22, 2017, to Jan 31, 2019, 1017 patients were included, of whom 279 (27%) developed a rising bESR1mut and 172 (17%) were randomly assigned to treatment: 88 to switching to fulvestrant and palbociclib and 84 patients to continuing aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib. At database lock on July 31, 2021, randomly assigned patients had a median follow-up of 35·3 months (IQR 29·2-41·4) from inclusion and 26·0 months (13·8-34·3) from random assignment. Median progression-free survival from random assignment was 11·9 months (95% CI 9·1-13·6) in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group versus 5·7 months (3·9-7·5) in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group (stratified HR 0·61, 0·43-0·86; p=0·0040). The most frequent grade 3 or worse haematological adverse events were neutropenia (715 [70·3%] of 1017 patients), lymphopenia (66 [6·5%]), and thrombocytopenia (20 [2·0%]). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events in step 2 were neutropenia (35 [41·7%] of 84 patients in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group vs 39 [44·3%] of 88 patients in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group) and lymphopenia (three [3·6%] vs four [4·5%]). 31 (3·1%) patients had grade 3 or worse serious adverse events related to treatment in the overall population. Three (1·7%) of 172 patients randomly assigned had one serious adverse event in step 2: one (1·2%) grade 4 neutropenia and one (1·2%) grade 3 fatigue among 84 patients in the aromatase inhibitor and palbociclib group, and one (1·1%) grade 4 neutropenia among 88 patients in the fulvestrant and palbociclib group. One death by pulmonary embolism in step 1 was declared as being treatment related. INTERPRETATION: PADA-1 is the first prospective randomised trial showing that the early therapeutic targeting of bESR1mut results in significant clinical benefit. Additionally, the original design explored in PADA-1 might help with tackling acquired resistance with new drugs in future trials. FUNDING: Pfizer.

ROSALINE: a phase II, neoadjuvant study targeting ROS1 in combination with endocrine therapy in invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the most common histologic subtype of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (i.e., no special type [NST]). ILC differs from NST in clinical presentation, site-specific metastases and response to conventional therapies. Loss of E-cadherin protein expression, due to alterations in its encoding gene CDH1, is the most frequent oncogenic event in ILC. Synthetic lethality approaches have shown promising antitumor effects of ROS1 inhibitors in models of E-cadherin-defective breast cancer in in vivo studies and provide the rationale for testing their clinical activity in patients with ILC. Entrectinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting TRK, ROS1 and ALK tyrosine kinases. Here, the authors present ROSALINE (NCT04551495), a phase II study testing neoadjuvant entrectinib and endocrine therapy in women with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative early ILC.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Breast cancer is not a unique disease, but rather a heterogeneous disease, with different subtypes. Lobular breast cancer is the second most common histologic subtype of breast cancer after ductal breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer has some peculiar characteristics that make it a distinct entity in the context of breast cancer. Nevertheless, few clinical studies so far have focused specifically on this subtype. ROSALINE is a clinical study aimed to test entrectinib, a new drug that showed promising activity in preliminary research studies, in combination with endocrine therapy in women with lobular breast cancer before surgery. Trial Registration Number: NCT04551495 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Impact of Metastasis Surgery and Alkylating-Agent-Based Chemotherapy on Outcomes of Metastatic Malignant Phyllodes Tumors: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic phyllodes tumors have poor prognosis with median overall survival of 11.5 months. The objective of this study is to identify prognostic factors and the best options for management of metastatic malignant phyllode tumors (MMPTs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicentric retrospective study, including cases of MMPT from 10 sarcoma centers, was conducted. The primary end-point was overall survival (OS), and the secondary end-point was the clinical benefit of chemotherapy (CBCT) rate. RESULTS: 51 MMPT patients were included. Median time from diagnosis to metastatic recurrence was 13 months. Management of MMPT consisted in surgery of the metastatic disease for 16 patients (31.3%), radiation therapy of the metastatic disease for 15 patients (31.9%), and chemotherapy for 37 patients (72.5%). Median follow-up was 62.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 31-80 months]. Median OS was 11.5 months (95% CI 7.5-18.7 months). On multivariate analysis, two or more metastatic sites [hazard ratio (HR) 2.81, 95% CI 1.27-6.19; p = 0.01] and surgery of metastasis (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.78; p = 0.01) were independently associated with OS. The CBCT rate was 31.4% and 16.7% for the first and second lines. Polychemotherapy was not superior to single-agent therapy. Alkylating-agent-based chemotherapy, possibly associated with anthracyclines, was associated with a better CBCT rate than anthracyclines alone (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study emphasize the impact of the number of metastatic sites on survival of MMPT patients and the leading role of metastasis surgery in MMPT management. If systemic therapy is used, it should include alkylating agents, which are associated with a better clinical benefit.

Surgical Margins and Adjuvant Therapies in Malignant Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal threshold of surgical margins for breast malignant phyllodes tumors (MPTs) and the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter nationwide retrospective study of all MPT cases with central pathological review within the French Sarcoma Group. Endpoints were local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) rates. RESULTS: Overall, 212 patients were included in the study. All non-metastatic patients underwent primary surgical treatment, including 58.6% of conservative surgeries. An R0 resection was achieved in 117 patients (59.4%: 26.9% of patients with 1-2 mm margins, 12.2% of patients with 3-7 mm margins, 20.3% of patients with ≥ 8 mm margins). Ninety-four patients (45%) underwent a second surgery (SS) to obtain R0 margins, with a final mastectomy rate of 72.6%. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were performed in 91 (43.1%) and 23 patients (10.9%), respectively, but were not associated with better outcomes. Mastectomy was significantly associated with better LRFS (p < 0.001). Margins of 0, 1, or 2 mm with SS were associated with better MFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.3, p = 0.005) and OS (HR 0.32, p = 0.005) compared with margins of 0-1-2 mm without SS. Wider margins (> 8 mm) were not superior to margins of 3-7 mm (3-7 mm vs. > 8 mm; HR 0.81, p = 0.69). Age (HR 2.14, p = 0.038) and tumor necrosis (HR 1.96, p = 0.047) were found to be poor prognostic factors and were associated with MFS. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that 3 mm margins are necessary and sufficient for surgical management of MPTs, and emphasizes the importance of SS to obtain clear margins in case of 0-1-2 mm margins. No impact of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was detected in this study.

GREB1-CTNNB1 fusion transcript detected by RNA-sequencing in a uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumor (UTROSCT): A novel CTNNB1 rearrangement.

Mutations of CTNNB1 have been implicated in tumorigenesis in many organs. However, tumors harboring a CTNNB1 translocation are extremely rare and this translocation has never been reported in a uterine mesenchymal neoplasm. We report a novel translocation t(2;3)(p25;p22) involving the GREB1 (intron 8) and CTNNB1 (exon 3) in a uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumor (UTROSCT), which exhibited extrauterine metastasis. The translocation detected by RNA-sequencing was validated by RT-PCR, and resulted in nuclear expression of ß-catenin. Juxtapositioning with GREB1, which is overexpressed in response to estrogens, resulted in overexpression of a truncated and hypophosphorylated nuclear ß-catenin in the primary and recurrent tumors. This accumulation of nuclear ß-catenin results in a constitutive activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway with a major oncogenic effect. The CTNNB1 gene fusion, promoted by an estrogen-responsive gene (GREB1), could be a potential driver of tumorigenesis in this case and a therapeutic target with adapted inhibitors. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry performed on 11 additional UTROSCTs showed no CTNNB1 fusion transcript or nuclear ß-catenin immunoreactivity.

Uterine and vaginal sarcomas resembling fibrosarcoma: a clinicopathological and molecular analysis of 13 cases showing common NTRK-rearrangements and the description of a COL1A1-PDGFB fusion novel to uterine neoplasms.

Mesenchymal neoplasms of the uterus (corpus and cervix) encompass a heterogeneous group of tumors with differing morphologies, immunophenotypes and molecular alterations. With the advent of modern molecular techniques, such as next generation sequencing, newly defined genetic abnormalities are being reported in this group of neoplasms. Herein we report the clinicopathological and molecular features of a series of 13 spindle cell sarcomas of the uterus and vagina (10 cervix, 2 uterine corpus, 1 vagina) with morphology resembling fibrosarcoma. After targeted RNA-sequencing, dual FISH fusion and array-CGH analysis, 7 of 13 tumors exhibited NTRK rearrangements (6 TPM3-NTRK1 and 1 EML4-NTRK3) and 3 a COL1A1-PDGFB fusion; in the other 3 neoplasms, all of which were positive with S100 (2 diffuse, 1 focal), we identified no rearrangement. All the NTRK fusion-positive sarcomas were located in the cervix and exhibited diffuse staining with Trk while all the other neoplasms were negative. CD34 was diffusely positive in all 3 of the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion sarcomas. The latter molecular abnormality is identical to that commonly found in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and has not been reported previously in uterine mesenchymal neoplasms. We suggest that uterine sarcomas with a morphology resembling fibrosarcoma (and in which leiomyosarcoma and the known molecularly confirmed high-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas have been excluded) can be divided into 3 groups:- an NTRK fusion group, a COL1A1-PDGFB fusion group and a group containing neither of these molecular abnormalities which, on the basis of positive staining with S100, could be tentatively classified as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, although additional molecular studies may identify specific genetic alterations necessitating a nomenclature change. We suggest a diagnostic algorithm when reporting such neoplasms. Identification of these newly described fusion-associated sarcomas is important given the potential for targeted treatments.

Genome profiling is an efficient tool to avoid the STUMP classification of uterine smooth muscle lesions: a comprehensive array-genomic hybridization analysis of 77 tumors.

The diagnosis of a uterine smooth muscle lesion is, in the majority of cases, straightforward. However, in a small number of cases, the morphological criteria used in such lesions cannot differentiate with certainty a benign from a malignant lesion and a diagnosis of smooth muscle tumor with uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is made. Uterine leiomyosarcomas are often easy to diagnose but it is difficult or even impossible to identify a prognostic factor at the moment of the diagnosis with the exception of the stage. We hypothesize, for uterine smooth muscle lesions, that there is a gradient of genomic complexity that correlates to outcome. We first tested this hypothesis on STUMP lesions in a previous study and demonstrated that this 'gray category' could be split according to genomic index into two groups. A benign group, with a low to moderate alteration rate without recurrence and a malignant group, with a highly rearranged profile akin to uterine leiomyosarcomas. Here, we analyzed a large series of 77 uterine smooth muscle lesions (from 76 patients) morphologically classified as 19 leiomyomas, 14 STUMP and 44 leiomyosarcomas with clinicopathological and genomic correlations. We confirmed that genomic index with a cut-off=10 is a predictor of recurrence (P<0.0001) and with a cut-off=35 is a marker for poor overall survival (P=0.035). For the tumors confined to the uterus, stage as a prognostic factor was not useful in survival prediction. At stage I, among the tumors reclassified as molecular leiomyosarcomas (ie, genomic index ≥10), the poor prognostic markers were: 5p gain (overall survival P=0.0008), genomic index at cut-off=35 (overall survival P=0.0193), 13p loss including RB1 (overall survival P=0.0096) and 17p gain including MYOCD gain (overall survival P=0.0425). Based on these findings (and the feasibility of genomic profiling by array-comparative genomic hybridization), genomic index, 5p and 17p gains prognostic value could be evaluated in future prospective chemotherapy trials.

Role of geriatric intervention in the treatment of older patients with cancer: rationale and design of a phase III multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: In the general geriatric population, programs linking geriatric evaluation with interventions are effective for improving functional status and survival of the patients. Whether or not these interventions improve health related quality of life (HRQoL) or overall survival (OS) in older patients with cancer is not yet clear. Indeed, randomized data on the effect of such interventions on survival and HRQoL are rare and conflicting. We describe the rationale and design of a phase III multicenter trial aimed at assessing the efficacy of geriatric intervention in the management of elderly patients with cancer. METHODS/DESIGN: Approximately 1200 patients, 70 years and older, considered in need of a geriatric intervention based on the G8 screening tool will be randomized into two intervention arms. The 'Usual-care' arm involves standard oncological care based on pre-defined oncological protocols. In addition to the standard oncological care, the 'Case-management' arm involves a multidimensional geriatric assessment and interventions tailored for the patient. Efficacy will be assessed using a co-primary endpoint encompassing OS and HRQoL. DISCUSSION: This trial has been designed to assess whether focused geriatric case management can either improve OS or HRQoL in elderly cancer patients considered in need of geriatric assessment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02704832 .

Real-World Data on Olaparib in Relapsed BRCA-mutated Ovarian Cancer: A Multicenter GINECO RETROLA Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Olaparib was approved in 2014 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as maintenance treatment for patients with breast cancer gene (BRCA)-mutated platinum-sensitive relapsed high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) following the results of the Study 19. We present the results of a national real-world study on the effectiveness of olaparib in relapsed BRCA-mutated EOC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with EOC, peritoneal, and/or fallopian-tube cancer treated with olaparib in a French Center between May 2014 and March 2017 were included. The primary end-point of the study was progression-free survival. RESULTS: Of the 128 patients analyzed, 89 were treated according to the EMA label. The median progression-free survival was 17.0 months. The most common treatment-related toxicity was fatigue. Treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome (n=5) and a second cancer (n=1) were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: In this real-life setting, olaparib confirmed its efficacy and safety profile, as previously shown in clinical trials.

Trabectedin plus Durvalumab in Patients with Advanced Pretreated Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Ovarian Carcinoma (TRAMUNE): An Open-Label, Multicenter Phase Ib Study.

PURPOSE: Trabectedin has shown preclinical synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TRAMUNE is a phase Ib study investigating the combination of trabectedin with durvalumab through a dose escalation phase and two expansion cohorts, soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and ovarian carcinoma. Trabectedin was given at three dose levels (1 mg/m2, 1.2 mg/m2, and 1.5 mg/m2) on day 1, in combination with durvalumab, 1,120 mg on day 2, every 3 weeks. The primary endpoints were the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of trabectedin combined with durvalumab and the objective response rate (ORR) as per RECIST 1.1. The secondary endpoints included safety, 6-month progression-free rate (PFR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and biomarker analyses. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included (dose escalation, n = 9; STS cohort, n = 16; ovarian carcinoma cohort, n = 15, 80% platinum resistant/refractory). The most frequent toxicities were grade 1-2 fatigue, nausea, neutropenia, and alanine/aspartate aminotransferase increase. One patient experienced a dose-limiting toxicity at dose level 2. Trabectedin at 1.2 mg/m2 was selected as the RP2D. In the STS cohort, 43% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage, the ORR was 7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2-33.9], and the 6-month PFR was 28.6% (95% CI, 8.4-58.1). In the ovarian carcinoma cohort, 43% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage, the ORR was 21.4% (95% CI, 4.7-50.8), and the 6-month PFR was 42.9% (95% CI, 17.7-71.1). Baseline levels of programmed death-ligand 1 expression and CD8-positive T-cell infiltrates were associated with PFS in patients with ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Combining trabectedin and durvalumab is manageable. Promising activity is observed in patients with platinum-refractory ovarian carcinoma. See related commentary by Digklia et al., p. 1745.

Safety and Efficacy of the mTOR Inhibitor, Vistusertib, Combined With Anastrozole in Patients With Hormone Receptor-Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Endometrial Cancer: The VICTORIA Multicenter, Open-label, Phase 1/2 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Endometrial cancer is often hormone-dependent and treated with aromatase inhibitors. The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway deregulation observed in endometrial cancer drives hormonal resistance, thus supporting the rationale of combining mTOR inhibitor with endocrine therapy. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vistusertib in combination with anastrozole in the treatment of women with hormone receptor-positive recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. Design, Settings, and Participants: The VICTORIA study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial that accrued 75 patients with hormone receptor-positive recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer from 12 cancer centers in France in April 2016 to October 2019. After a safety run-in period, a Simon 2-stage design was used. Data analyses were performed from December 11, 2020, to March 11, 2021. Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to oral vistusertib (125 mg twice daily 2 days per week) and oral anastrozole (1 mg daily) in the combination vistusertib with anastrozole arm (V+A arm) or oral anastrozole alone (A arm). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was serious adverse events for the safety run-in period and progression-free rate at 8 weeks (8wk-PFR)-assessed with a blinded independent central review in phase 2. The secondary end points were objective response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and incidence of adverse events. Results: Of the 75 patients who were randomized, 73 (median [range] age, 69.5 [37-88] y; all female) were treated: V+A arm, 49 patients; A arm, 24 patients. In the V+A arm, the 8wk-PFR was 67.3% (unilateral 95% CI, 54.7%) and in the A arm, 39.1% (unilateral 95% CI, 22.2%). No significant serious adverse events were reported during the safety run-in period (n = 6 in V+A arm). The overall response rate was 24.5% (95% CI, 13.3%-38.9%) in the V+A arm vs 17.4% (95% CI, 5.0%-38.8%) in the A arm. With a median follow-up of 27.7 months, median PFS was 5.2 (95% CI, 3.4-8.9) in the V+A arm and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.6-8.9) months in the A arm. Fatigue, lymphopenia, hyperglycemia, and diarrhea were the most common (grade ≥2) adverse events associated with vistusertib. Conclusions and Relevance: This multicenter, open-label, phase 1/2 randomized clinical trial demonstrated that adding vistusertib to anastrozole improved 8wk-PFR, overall response rate, and PFS for patients with endometrial cancer and had manageable adverse events. Identification of molecular subgroups would allow for more precise selection of patients who may be most likely to experience favorable outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02730923.

Perspectives on cancer care in older patients in France.

In France, cancer is the leading cause of death. Its incidence is increasing due to the growing population and longer life expectancy. Although older adults represent most new cases, they remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Their prognosis is often worse due to delayed diagnosis and multimorbidities. Geriatric oncology has made great strides worldwide, highlighted by important studies implementing geriatric assessment in clinical research and supported by the successive national cancer plans. This paper reviews the most important actions taken in France during the last decade to improve the management of older patients with cancer.

The Nanocind Signature Is an Independent Prognosticator of Recurrence and Death in Uterine Leiomyosarcomas.

PURPOSE: Uterine leiomyosarcoma, which accounts for 7% of all soft-tissue sarcomas and 1%-3% of all uterine malignancies, is an aggressive tumor responsible for a significant proportion of uterine cancer-related deaths. While Federation Internationale des Gynaecologistes et Obstetristes (FIGO) stage is the most important prognostic factor, metastatic and relapse rates at stage I exceed 50% so it is currently impossible to predict the clinical outcome of stage I leiomyosarcomas. In 2010, our team published a transcriptomic signature composed of 67 genes related to chromosome biogenesis, mitosis control, and chromosome segregation. It has demonstrated its prognostic value in many cancer types and was recently successfully applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sarcomas by NanoCind on NanoString technology, making another step forward toward its use in routine practice. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Sixty uterine leiomyosarcomas at any stage, including 40 localized in the uterus (stage I), were analyzed with the NanoCind (CINSARC with NanoString) signature. Its prognostic value was evaluated for overall survival and relapse-free survival and compared in multivariate analysis with other prognostic markers like FIGO staging and genomic index. RESULTS: The NanoCind signature was able to split the heterogeneous group of uterine leiomyosarcomas of any stage including stage I into two distinct groups with different relapse-free survival and overall survival. These results were validated on an independent cohort of uterine leiomyosarcomas in The Cancer Genome Atlas consortium. CONCLUSIONS: The NanoCind signature is a powerful prognosticator that outperforms FIGO staging and the genomic index. The CINSARC signature is platform independent and "ready to use" and should now be used for randomization in future therapeutic trials.

Category "viewpoints and debates" Is trastuzumab as a single agent obsolete in early breast cancer? Yes.

In 2005, two adjuvant trials revolutionised breast cancer treatment demonstrating a 50% reduction in relapses when trastuzumab was added to adjuvant chemotherapy. In order to improve further on these results three large phase III trials were conducted. ALTTO trial evaluated lapatinib. This trial was negative and lapatinib was quite toxic. ExteNET trial evaluated neratinib in patients who already had completed adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab. Neratinib reduced the risk of relapse by 27% and the drug is FDA approved. However 40% of patients experienced grade 3 diarrhoea and this toxicity profile will be an issue in daily practice. APHINITY trial evaluated a combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab. Pertuzumab reduced the risk of relapse by 19% with a good toxicity profile. However the absolute invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) benefit at 4 years was only 1.7%. Despite this modest absolute benefit we believe that pertuzumab should be added to trastuzumab at least in two indications: first, in patients with node positive breast cancer, in whom the absolute IDFS benefit is 3.2% and qualify for a high clinical benefit based on ESMO magnitude of clinical benefit scale; second, in patients suitable for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In this group, the absolute IDFS benefit could be estimated as high as 7% (starting pertuzumab in the neoadjuvant setting and following it in the adjuvant setting up to a total of 18 injections). Our arguments are developed in this viewpoint. Pertuzumab is approved in these two indications by FDA and EMA.

The prognostic value of G8 for functional decline.

PURPOSE: Clinical experience suggests that functional decline (FD) during treatment may have a major adverse impact on outcome. Geriatric assessment of older patients before cancer treatment is usually based on use of a screening tool (such as G8) followed by comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). However, many oncology teams cannot implement geriatric oncology management due to non-availability of geriatricians. Consequently, we decided to evaluate whether a procedure using G8 and routinely available factors could help oncologists foresee the outcome in patients ≥70: we firstly evaluated whether functional decline is a determinant of early death, then searched for predictors of early functional decline (measured before initiation of the second cycle of chemotherapy), including G8 but voluntarilly excluding CGA. METHODS: We tested the value of clinical, biological factors and early FD to predict early death on a cohort of 292 patients (≥70 years) treated with first-line chemotherapy. We then used a logistic regression model to search for pretreatment predictors of FD, including the same factors and G8 but excluding CGA. RESULTS: FD occurred in 48 patients. In multivariate analyses, early FD (OR = 4.13, 95% CI [1.89; 9.04], p < .01), disease extension (OR = 4.55, 95% CI [1.96; 10.57]; p < .01), and being male (OR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.12; 5.97], p = .02) were significant prognostic factors for early death; G8 was the only significant factor associated with FD (OR = 4.38, 95% CI [1.28; 14.92], p = .018). CONCLUSIONS: FD has an important prognostic significance in patients ≥70 treated with chemotherapy, and G8 predicts for its occurrence. These data reinforce the routine use of G8 in the management of these patients.

[Hepatotoxicity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors: Mechanisms involved and practical implications]. / Toxicité hépatique des inhibiteurs des tyrosines kinases : mécanismes en cause et conséquences pratiques.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used for the targeted treatment of solid cancers. TKIs produce a variable incidence of liver adverse events (5-25%) which can progress to severe liver injury in a minority of patients if treatment is maintained despite ongoing injury. This risk requires careful patient management to maintain treatment benefit without harm. This review highlights the various mechanisms of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, the formation of reactive metabolites and how this leads to toxicity. These critical events depend of the drug-specific characteristics of each TKI and the patient risk factors, especially genetic characterization. With improved understanding of the mechanisms leading to hepatotoxicity, several strategies have been adopted to prevent or treat this side effect. Recommendations on liver function liver test monitoring have been proposed according to each TKI.

Genomic complexity in pediatric synovial sarcomas (Synobio study): the European pediatric soft tissue sarcoma group (EpSSG) experience.

A genomic index (GI) tool using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on tumor cells has emerged as independent prognostic factor associated with the risk of metastatic relapse in synovial sarcoma (SS). The aim was to assess GI in pediatric patients with SS, to determine its value as a prognostic factor. All pediatric/adolescent/young adults' (<25 years) with localized SS prospectively included in the European EpSSG-NRSTS05 protocol with a contributive aCGH were selected. Definition of GI was A2 /C, where A is the total number of alterations (segmental gains and losses) and C is the number of involved chromosomes on aCGH results. GI1 group corresponds to cases with no copy number alterations (flat profile, GI = 0) and GI2 group cases with at least one or more copy number alterations (rearranged profile; GI ≥ 1). Samples were available from 61 patients. The median age of the cohort was 13 years (range: 4-24). Overall, 55.7% were GI1 group, and 44.3% GI2 . After a median follow-up of 62 months (range: 0.1-112), 10 tumor events occurred and five patients died. Respectively, for GI1 versus GI2 groups, five-year event-free survival (EFS) was 93.8 ± 4.2% versus 64.9 ± 10.1% (P < 0.006) and five-year Metastatic-Free Survival (MFS) 93.8 ± 4.2% versus 72.9 ± 9.5% (P < 0.04). In multivariate analysis, GI status as adjusted for IRS group, patient age, site, and tumor size remain independent prognostic for EFS with a relative risk (RR) of 6.4 [1.3-31.9] (P < 0.01) and RR for MFS is 4.8 [0.9-25.7] (P < 0.05). Genomic complexity evaluated through GI may explain the metastatic behavior of pediatric SS.