PI3K activation promotes resistance to eribulin in HER2-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Eribulin is a microtubule-targeting agent approved for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer (BC) previously treated with anthracycline- and taxane-based regimens. PIK3CA mutation is associated with worse response to chemotherapy in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic BC. We aimed to evaluate the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway mutations in eribulin resistance. METHODS: Resistance to eribulin was evaluated in HER2- BC cell lines and patient-derived tumour xenografts, and correlated with a mutation in the PI3K/AKT pathway. RESULTS: Eleven out of 23 HER2- BC xenografts treated with eribulin exhibited disease progression. No correlation with ER status was detected. Among the resistant models, 64% carried mutations in PIK3CA, PIK3R1 or AKT1, but only 17% among the sensitive xenografts (P = 0.036). We observed that eribulin treatment induced AKT phosphorylation in vitro and in patient tumours. In agreement, the addition of PI3K inhibitors reversed primary and acquired resistance to eribulin in xenograft models, regardless of the genetic alterations in PI3K/AKT pathway or ER status. Mechanistically, PI3K blockade reduced p21 levels likely enabling apoptosis, thus sensitising to eribulin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PI3K pathway activation induces primary resistance or early adaptation to eribulin, supporting the combination of PI3K inhibitors and eribulin for the treatment of HER2- BC patients.

Phase Ia/b Study of Giredestrant ± Palbociclib and ± Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Agonists in Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Locally Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: Giredestrant is an investigational next-generation, oral, selective estrogen receptor antagonist and degrader for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. We present the primary analysis results of the phase Ia/b GO39932 study (NCT03332797). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with ER+, HER2-negative locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer previously treated with endocrine therapy received single-agent giredestrant (10, 30, 90, or 250 mg), or giredestrant (100 mg) ± palbociclib 125 mg ± luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist. Detailed cardiovascular assessment was conducted with giredestrant 100 mg. Endpoints included safety (primary), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy. RESULTS: As of January 28, 2021, with 175 patients enrolled, no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, and the MTD was not reached. Adverse events (AE) related to giredestrant occurred in 64.9% and 59.4% of patients in the single-agent ± LHRH agonist and giredestrant + palbociclib ± LHRH agonist cohorts, respectively (giredestrant-only-related grade 3/4 AEs were reported in 4.5% of patients across the single-agent cohorts and 3.1% of those with giredestrant + palbociclib). Dose-dependent asymptomatic bradycardia was observed, but no clinically significant changes in cardiac-related outcomes: heart rate, blood pressure, or exercise duration. Clinical benefit was observed in all cohorts (48.6% of patients in the single-agent cohort and 81.3% in the giredestrant + palbociclib ± LHRH agonist cohort), with no clear dose relationship, including in patients with ESR1-mutated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Giredestrant was well tolerated and clinically active in patients who progressed on prior endocrine therapy. Results warrant further evaluation of giredestrant in randomized trials in early- and late-stage ER+ breast cancer.

Pembrolizumab plus eribulin in hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (KELLY): An open-label, multicentre, single-arm, phase â ¡ trial.

BACKGROUND: Pembrolizumab has modest activity if used in patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, previously treated metastatic breast cancer (BC). Our study investigated whether there would be any clinical benefit in combining chemotherapy with pembrolizumab in a similar patient population. METHODS: This single-arm, phase Ⅱ trial enrolled women aged ≥18 years with HR+, HER2-negative, inoperable, locally recurrent or metastatic BC. Patients were previously treated with hormonal therapy and 1-2 chemotherapy regimens for locally recurrent and/or metastatic BC. On each 21-day cycle, patients received intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg on day 1 and eribulin 1∙23 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8. The primary endpoint was the clinical benefit rate. Analysis of safety and activity was carried out in all patients who met the screening criteria and received at least 1 dose of study treatment. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03222856. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients enrolled between January 29 and October 17, 2018, clinical benefit was achieved in 25 (56∙8%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 41∙0-71∙7), objective response in 18 (40∙9%, 95% CI: 26∙3-56∙8), median progression-free survival was 6∙0 months (95% CI: 3∙7-8∙4), and 1-year overall survival was 59∙1% (95% CI: 45∙8-76∙2). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) of any grade were neutropenia (20 [45∙5%]), anaemia (17 [38∙6%]), alopecia (19 [43∙2%]), asthenia (19 [43∙2%]), diarrhoea (14 [31∙8%]), fatigue (14 [31∙8%]), and peripheral neuropathy (12 [27∙3%]). Serious AEs occurred in 14 (31∙8%) patients including febrile neutropenia (3 [6∙8%]), neutropenia (2 [4∙5%]), fever (2 [4∙5%]) and peripheral neuropathy (2 [4∙5%]). Immune-related AEs occurred in 11 (25∙0%) patients. One (2∙3%) patient died of cardiac arrest unrelated to study treatment. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab plus eribulin demonstrates encouraging antitumour activity in patients with heavily pre-treated, HR+, HER2-negative, locally recurrent or metastatic BC. The safety and tolerability of the combination is similar to eribulin or pembrolizumab monotherapy.

Design of splints based on the NiTi alloy for the correction of joint deformities in the fingers.

BACKGROUND: The proximal interphalange joint (PIP) is fundamental for the functional nature of the hand. The contracture in flexion of the PIP, secondary to traumatisms or illnesses leads to an important functional loss. The use of correcting splints is the common procedure for treating this problem. Its functioning is based on the application of a small load and a prolonged stress which can be dynamic, static progressive or static serial.It is important that the therapist has a splint available which can release a constant and sufficient force to correct the contracture in flexion. Nowadays NiTi is commonly used in bio-engineering, due to its superelastical characteristics. The experience of the authors in the design of other devices based on the NiTi alloy, makes it possible to carry out a new design in this work--the production of a finger splint for the treatment of the contracture in flexion of the PIP joint. METHODS: Commercial orthosis have been characterized using a universal INSTRON 5565 machine. A computational simulation of the proposed design has been conducted, reproducing its performance and using a model "ad hoc" for the NiTi material. Once the parameters have been adjusted, the design is validated using the same type of test as those carried out on commercial orthosis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For commercial splint the recovering force falls to excessively low values as the angle increases. Angle curves for different lengths and thicknesses of the proposed design have been obtained, with a practically constant recovering force value over a wide range of angles that vary between 30° and 150° in every case. Then the whole treatment is possible with only one splint, and without the need of progressive replacements as the joint recovers. CONCLUSIONS: A new model of splint based on NiTi alloy has been designed, simulated and tested comparing its behaviour with two of the most regularly used splints. Its uses is recommended instead of other dynamic orthosis used in orthopaedics for the PIP joint. Besides, its extremely simple design, makes its manufacture and use on the part of the specialist easier.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a physiology-driven approach to the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.

While confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have exceeded 4.7 million globally, scientists are pushing forward with efforts to develop vaccines and treatments in an attempt to slow the pandemic and lessen the disease's damage. Although no proven effective therapies for treating patients with COVID-19 or for managing their complications currently exist, the rapidly expanding knowledge regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and its interplay with hosts provides a significant number of potential drug targets and the potential to repurpose drugs already tested in other diseases. Herein, we report the biological rationale of immune-activating drugs and a brief summary of literature data on the potential therapeutic value of immune checkpoint inhibitors that have been recently tested beyond cancer treatment for their potential to restore cellular immunocompetence.

Efficacy and Safety of Trastuzumab Emtansine Plus Capecitabine vs Trastuzumab Emtansine Alone in Patients With Previously Treated ERBB2 (HER2)-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Phase 1 and Randomized Phase 2 Trial.

Importance: ERBB2 (HER2)-targeted therapy provides benefits in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and gastric cancer, but additional treatments are needed to maximize efficacy and quality of life. Objective: To determine maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) plus capecitabine in patients with previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC and locally advanced/metastatic gastric cancer (LA/mGC) (phase 1) and the efficacy and safety of this combination vs T-DM1 alone in patients with mBC (phase 2). Design, Setting, and Participants: The MTD in phase 1 was assessed using a 3 + 3 design with capecitabine dose modification. Phase 2 was an open-label, randomized, international multicenter study of patients with mBC treated with T-DM1 plus capecitabine or T-DM1 alone. Eligible patients had previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC or LA/mGC with no prior chemotherapy treatment for advanced disease. Interventions: Patients in the phase 1 mBC cohort received capecitabine (750 mg/m2, 700 mg/m2, or 650 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1-14 of a 3-week cycle) plus T-DM1 3.6 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Patients with LA/mGC received capecitabine at the mBC phase 1 MTD, de-escalating as needed, plus T-DM1 2.4 mg/kg weekly. In phase 2, patients with mBC were randomized (1:1) to receive capecitabine (at the phase 1 MTD) plus T-DM1 or T-DM1 alone. Main Outcomes and Measures: The phase 1 primary objective was to identify the MTD of capecitabine plus T-DM1. The phase 2 primary outcome was investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR). Results: In phase 1, the median (range) age was 54.0 (37-71) and 57.5 (53-70) years for patients with mBC and patients with LA/mGC, respectively. The capecitabine MTD was identified as 700 mg/m2 in 11 patients with mBC and 6 patients with LA/mGC evaluable for dose-limiting toxic effects. In phase 2, between October 2014 and April 2016, patients with mBC (median [range] age, 52.0 [28-80] years) were randomized to receive combination therapy (n = 81) or T-DM1 (n = 80). The ORR was 44% (36 of 81 patients) and 36% (29 of 80 patients) in the combination and T-DM1 groups, respectively (difference, 8.2%; 90% CI, -4.5 to 20.9; P = .34; clinical cutoff, May 31, 2017). Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 78 of 82 patients (95%) in the combination group, with 36 (44%) experiencing grade 3-4 AEs, and 69 of 78 patients (88%) in the T-DM1 group, with 32 (41%) experiencing grade 3-4 AEs. No grade 5 AEs were reported. Conclusions and Relevance: Adding capecitabine to T-DM1 did not statistically increase ORR associated with T-DM1 in patients with previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC. The combination group reported more AEs, but with no unexpected toxic effects. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01702558.

The next era of treatment for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: Triplet combination-based endocrine therapies.

Until recently, the standard of care for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer was single-agent endocrine therapy, which aims to prevent estrogen receptor signaling. This therapeutic strategy has extended survival without the toxicity associated with chemotherapy, but primary endocrine therapy resistance is common, and secondary resistance develops over time. Adjunct downstream inhibition of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 pathway, intended to delay and prevent endocrine therapy resistance, has further extended progression-free survival in patients receiving endocrine therapy; however, resistance still eventually develops in these patients. Addition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors to combined CDK4/6 and endocrine inhibitor regimens may help prolong CDK4/6 inhibitor sensitivity. Early trials combining CDK4/6 inhibitors, PI3K or mTOR inhibitors, and endocrine therapy have shown encouraging signs of clinical activity. However, further research is needed to help understand the extent of treatment benefit from triplet therapy and where this strategy will fit in the treatment sequence for patients with HR+ breast cancer.

Targeting FGFR with dovitinib (TKI258): preclinical and clinical data in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR2 amplifications are observed in approximately 10% of breast cancers and are related to poor outcomes. We evaluated whether dovitinib (TKI258), an inhibitor of FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3, presented antitumor activity in FGFR-amplified breast cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Preclinical activity of dovitinib was evaluated in both breast cancer cell lines and an FGFR1-amplified xenograft model (HBCx2). Dovitinib was then evaluated in a phase II trial that included 4 groups of patients with human EGF receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer on the basis of FGFR1 amplification and hormone receptor (HR) status. FGFR1 amplification was assessed by silver in situ hybridization. Preplanned retrospective analyses assessed predictive value of FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGF3 amplifications by quantitative PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: Dovitinib monotherapy inhibits proliferation in FGFR1- and FGFR2-amplified, but not FGFR-normal, breast cancer cell lines. Dovitinib also inhibits tumor growth in FGFR1-amplified breast cancer xenografts. Eighty-one patients were enrolled in the trial. Unconfirmed response or stable disease for more than 6 months was observed in 5 (25%) and 1 (3%) patient(s) with FGFR1-amplified/HR-positive and FGFR1-nonamplified/HR-positive breast cancer. When qPCR-identified amplifications in FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGF3 were grouped to define an FGF pathway-amplified breast cancer in HR-positive patients, the mean reduction in target lesions was 21.1% compared with a 12.0% increase in patients who did not present with FGF pathway-amplified breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Dovitinib showed antitumor activity in FGFR-amplified breast cancer cell lines and may have activity in breast cancers with FGF pathway amplification.