Development, Practice Patterns, and Early Clinical Outcomes of a Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Clinic.

Multidisciplinary care has been associated with improved survival in patients with primary liver cancers. We report the practice patterns and real world clinical outcomes for patients presenting to the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) multidisciplinary liver clinic (MDLC). We analyzed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 100) and biliary tract cancer (BTC, n = 76) patients evaluated at the JHH MDLC in 2019. We describe the conduct of the clinic, consensus decisions for patient management based on stage categories, and describe treatment approaches and outcomes based on these categories. We describe subclassification of BCLC stage C into 2 parts, and subclassification of cholangiocarcinoma into 4 stages. A treatment consensus was finalized on the day of MDLC for the majority of patients (89% in HCC, 87% in BTC), with high adherence to MDLC recommendations (91% in HCC, 100% in BTC). Among patients presenting for a second opinion regarding management, 28% of HCC and 31% of BTC patients were given new therapeutic recommendations. For HCC patients, at a median follow up of 11.7 months (0.7-19.4 months), median OS was not reached in BCLC A and B patients. In BTC patients, at a median follow up of 14.2 months (0.9-21.1 months) the median OS was not reached in patients with resectable or borderline resectable disease, and was 11.9 months in patients with unresectable or metastatic disease. Coordinated expert multidisciplinary care is feasible for primary liver cancers with high adherence to recommendations and a change in treatment for a sizeable minority of patients.

Assessment of HER2 status in patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma treated with epirubicin-based chemotherapy: heterogeneity-related issues and prognostic implications.

BACKGROUND: HER2 and topoisomerase 2 alpha (TOP2A) genomic status was previously reported to predict benefit from anthracyclines in breast cancer. We sought to define the prognostic impact and possible pitfalls related to these biomarkers in resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: HER2 and TOP2A gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization and HER2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were assessed on whole tissue sections from 101 patients receiving peri- or postoperative epirubicin-based chemotherapy. In a subgroup of patients, at least two matched tumor blocks, originating either from surgical procedures (n = 88) or diagnostic biopsies (n = 32), were available for HER2 analyses by IHC. RESULTS: Eighteen of 101 patients (17.8 %) were HER2 positive, whereas TOP2A was amplified in 4 of 84 patients (4.7 %). HER2 positivity was significantly associated with improved disease-free survival [HR = 0.47 (95 % CI 0.22-0.99), P = 0.046] and overall survival [HR = 0.33 (95 % CI 0.13-0.83), P < 0.018], independent of clinical-pathologic features. HER2 expression in matched tumor blocks from the same resection specimen was discordant in up to 11.8 % of pairs, while this rate increased up to 27.2 % when diagnostic biopsies and paired surgical samples were compared. CONCLUSIONS: HER2 status is an independent prognostic biomarker in gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas receiving epirubicin-based chemotherapy. Compared to diagnostic biopsies, HER2 assessment in multiple resection specimens might lower the risk of sampling errors. These findings have several implications with respect to the optimal choice of the sample to be submitted to IHC testing of HER2.

Exploring the Clinical Use of Molecular Profiling of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Molecular profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) can detect actionable molecular alterations and guide targeted therapies. We explore the clinical use of molecular profiling of ICC in our comprehensive multidisciplinary clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with a tissue diagnosis of ICC seen between 2019 and 2023 were identified. A retrospective review was performed to identify their molecular profiles and targeted therapy. The association between the detection of actionable molecular alterations and overall survival (OS) from the first clinic visit date was studied. Patients with an OS of less than 2 months were excluded. RESULTS: Among 194 patients with ICC, 125 had molecular profiling. Actionable molecular alterations were detected in 56 (45%) patients, including microsatellite instability (n = 3), high tumor mutational burden (>10 muts/mb; n = 5), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations (n = 22 and 6, respectively), BRAF V600E mutations (n = 2), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha mutations (n = 7), breast cancer 1 and breast cancer 2 mutations (n = 5), mesenchymal epithelial transition amplification (n = 2), fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 and 3 fusions (n = 13), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 overexpression (n = 6), and receptor tyrosine kinase 1 fusion (n = 1). Twenty-one patients received targeted therapies during their treatment course. Survival analysis revealed that for 120 patients with molecular profiling, the detection of an actionable molecular alteration was associated with improved mean OS (34.1 vs 23.6 months, p = 0.008). Among 70 patients with nonmetastatic ICC, the detection of an actionable molecular alteration was associated with improved mean OS (32.1 vs 27.5 months, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Actionable molecular alterations were frequently observed in patients with ICC. Detection of actionable alterations was associated with improved OS. The role of targeted therapy needs further exploration in prospective multicenter studies.

Predicting survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving combination targeted immunotherapy: an evaluation of volumetric imaging parameters.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential of volumetric imaging in predicting survival of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving immunotherapy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis included 40 patients with advanced HCC who received targeted immunotherapy. Baseline and follow-up contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed. The largest tumor was chosen as the index lesion. Viable tumor volume (qViable) and percentage tumor viability (%Viability) were calculated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and Tumor volume change after treatment (qRECIST) were measured. Associations with overall survival (OS) were assessed. Cox regression analysis assessed the association between variables and overall survival (OS). A new prognostic stratification system was attempted to categorize patients based on significant predictors of OS. Patients with a baseline %viability > 69% and %viability reduction ≥ 8% were classified as better prognosis. Patients were stratified into better, intermediate and worse prognosis groups based on baseline %viability > 69% and ≥ 8% %viability reduction (better prognosis); baseline %viability ≤ 69% and < 8% %viability reduction (worse prognosis); remainder were intermediate prognosis. RESULTS: Patients with baseline %Viability > 69% and %Viability reduction ≥ 8% showed significantly higher OS. Multivariate analysis confirmed %Viability and %Viability reduction as significant predictors of OS. A prognostic stratification system using these parameters stratified patients into better, intermediate and worse prognosis groups, with the better prognosis showing highest OS. Most patients (97.5%) had stable disease by RECIST while the prognostic model re-classified 47.5% as better prognosis, 37.5% intermediate prognosis, and 15% worse prognosis. CONCLUSION: Volumetric parameters of %Viability and %Viability reduction predict OS in HCC patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Salvage Ipilimumab plus Nivolumab after Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Combination anti-PD-(L)1/CTLA-4 blockade is approved in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the first-line setting or after sorafenib, but whether this treatment has efficacy after prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy is unknown. We performed a multicenter retrospective review of patients with advanced HCC treated with ipilimumab plus nivolumab after prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, excluding patients with prior anti-CTLA-4 treatment. Of the 32 patients who met our inclusion criteria, prior anti-PD-(L)1 regimens included atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (50%, n = 16), other anti-VEGF plus anti-PD-(L)1 combinations (31%, n = 10), and anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapy (19%, n = 6). The median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-8). The objective response rate with ipilimumab plus nivolumab by RECIST 1.1 was 22% [1 complete response (3%), 6 partial response (19%), 8 stable disease (25%), 16 progressive disease (50%), and 1 not evaluable (NE) (3%)], and objective response was associated with improved progression-free survival and overall survival. Immune-related adverse events were reported in 13 patients (41%), with no new safety signals. This study demonstrates that ipilimumab plus nivolumab has efficacy in patients with HCC who have received prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, suggesting that failure to respond to prior PD-(L)1 blockade should not preclude treatment with salvage ipilimumab plus nivolumab. Prospective studies are needed to define the optimal sequence of therapies. Significance: Anti-PD-(L)1 containing regimens are the preferred first-line treatment for advanced HCC, but whether salvage with PD-(L)1/CTLA-4 blockade is effective in patients who have failed prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy is unknown. Our study demonstrates that ipilimumab plus nivolumab has clinical activity in patients with advanced HCC previously treated with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, supporting the continued use of this regimen in the late-line setting after prior anti-PD-(L)1 exposure.

A study of using epigenetic modulators to enhance response to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in microsatellite stable advanced colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 95% of advanced colorectal cancer patients (CRC) have mismatch repair MMR-proficient (MMRp) tumors, which do not respond to PD1 blockade alone. Preclinical studies have shown that combined histone deacetylases (HDAC) and/or DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) inhibition can induce susceptibility to immune checkpoint therapy and inhibit tumor growth. We conducted a pilot trial evaluating PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in combination with DNMT and HDAC inhibitors in MMRp CRC. The study was designed with a biological endpoint of change in immune cell infiltration, to determine the optimal epigenetic combination that optimizes the tumor microenvironment. This trial was designed to test that hypothesis. RESULTS: From January 2016 to November 2018, 27 patients were enrolled with median age of 57 (range 40-69) years. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.79 months and 9.17, respectively. One patient in Arm C achieved a durable partial response by RECIST criteria, lasting for approximately 19 months. The most common treatment-related hematological adverse events in all arms were anemia (62%), lymphopenia (54%) and thrombocytopenia (35%), and non-hematological AEs were anorexia (65%), nausea (77%), and vomiting (73%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of 5-azacitidine and romidepsin with pembrolizumab was safe and tolerable in patients with advanced MMRp CRC, but with a minimal activity. Further mechanistic investigations are needed to understand epigenetic-induced immunologic shift and to expand the potential applicability of checkpoint inhibitors in this setting.

Relationship of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage and Hepatic Function to Health-Related Quality of Life: A Single Center Analysis.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is known to be an important prognostic indicator and clinical endpoint for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the correlation of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage with HRQoL in HCC has not been previously studied. We examined the relationship between BCLC stage, Child-Pugh (CP) score, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status on HRQoL for patients who presented at a multidisciplinary liver cancer clinic. HRQoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire. Fifty-one patients met our inclusion criteria. The FACT-Hep total and subscales showed no significant association with BCLC stages (p = 0.224). Patients with CP B had significantly more impairment in FACT-Hep than patients with CP A. These data indicate that in patients with HCC, impaired liver function is associated with reduced quality of life, whereas the BCLC stage poorly correlates with quality of life metrics. Impairment of quality of life is common in HCC patients and further studies are warranted to determine the impact of early supportive interventions on HRQoL and survival outcomes.

Immune landscape of tertiary lymphoid structures in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy is thought to produce long-term remissions through induction of antitumor immune responses before removal of the primary tumor. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), germinal center-like structures that can arise within tumors, may contribute to the establishment of immunological memory in this setting, but understanding of their role remains limited. Here, we investigated the contribution of TLS to antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. We found that neoadjuvant immunotherapy induced the formation of TLS, which were associated with superior pathologic response, improved relapse free survival, and expansion of the intratumoral T and B cell repertoire. While TLS in viable tumor displayed a highly active mature morphology, in areas of tumor regression we identified an involuted TLS morphology, which was characterized by dispersion of the B cell follicle and persistence of a T cell zone enriched for ongoing antigen presentation and T cell-mature dendritic cell interactions. Involuted TLS showed increased expression of T cell memory markers and expansion of CD8+ cytotoxic and tissue resident memory clonotypes. Collectively, these data reveal the circumstances of TLS dissolution and suggest a functional role for late-stage TLS as sites of T cell memory formation after elimination of viable tumor.

Expanding the immunotherapy roadmap for hepatocellular carcinoma.

In a recent Lancet Oncology article, Yau et al. report the CheckMate 459 trial results. This is the first phase III trial comparing the single-agent anti-programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy nivolumab to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib for treatment-naive patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chemoradiation-induced alteration of programmed death-ligand 1, CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and mucin expression in rectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: DNA damage and resulting neoantigen formation is considered a mechanism for synergy between radiotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibition to induce antitumor immune response. We investigated neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT)-induced changes in CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocyte, PD-L1 and mucin expression in rectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor samples of rectal adenocarcinoma patients undergoing resection between 2008-2014 with (n = 62) or without (n = 17) nCRT treatment were collected. Sections were stained with CD8 and PD-L1 antibodies for immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of CD8+ cells was recorded in the tumor, interface tumor and background rectal side. Image analysis was used to determine the density of CD8+ lymphocytes. The percentage of PD-L1 expression was manually counted in tumor cells (TC), tumor stroma (TS) and the invasive front (IF). Mucin expression was determined as the percentage of the mucin area in the whole tumor area. RESULTS: PD-L1 expression on TCs was identified in 7.6% (6/79) of nCRT specimens (p = 0.33) and in none of the non-nCRT patients. Median densities of CD8+ infiltrating T lymphocytes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mucin expression was significantly higher in the nCRT cohort (p = 0.02). Higher neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) after nCRT was associated with worse outcome (HR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.00-1.08). CONCLUSIONS: nCRT exposure was associated with a non-significant difference in PD-L1 expression in rectal adenocarcinoma patients, possibly due to sample size limitations. Further mechanistic investigations and comprehensive immune analysis are needed to understand nCRT-induced immunologic shift in rectal cancer and to expand the applicability of checkpoint inhibitors in this setting.

Clinical, Genomic, and Transcriptomic Data Profiling of Biliary Tract Cancer Reveals Subtype-Specific Immune Signatures.

PURPOSE: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are aggressive cancers that carry a poor prognosis. An enhanced understanding of the immune landscape of anatomically and molecularly defined subsets of BTC may improve patient selection for immunotherapy and inform immune-based combination treatment strategies. METHODS: We analyzed deidentified clinical, genomic, and transcriptomic data from the Tempus database to determine the mutational frequency and mutational clustering across the three major BTC subtypes (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [IHC], extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer). We subsequently determined the relationship between specific molecular alterations and anatomical subsets and features of the BTC immune microenvironment. RESULTS: We analyzed 454 samples of BTC, of which the most commonly detected alterations were TP53 (42.5%), CDKN2A (23.4%), ARID1A (19.6%), BAP1 (15.5%), KRAS (15%), CDKN2B (14.2%), PBRM1 (11.7%), IDH1 (11.7%), TERT (8.4%), KMT2C (10.4%) and LRP1B (8.4%), and FGFR2 fusions (8.7%). Potentially actionable molecular alterations were identified in 30.5% of BTCs including 39.1% of IHC. Integrative cluster analysis revealed four distinct molecular clusters, with cluster 4 predominately associated with FGFR2 rearrangements and BAP1 mutations in IHC. Immune-related biomarkers indicative of an inflamed tumor-immune microenvironment were elevated in gallbladder cancers and in cluster 1, which was enriched for TP53, KRAS, and ATM mutations. Multiple common driver genes, including TP53, FGFR2, IDH1, TERT, BRAF, and BAP1, were individually associated with unique BTC immune microenvironments. CONCLUSION: BTC subtypes exhibit diverse DNA alterations, RNA inflammatory signatures, and immune biomarkers. The association between specific BTC anatomical subsets, molecular alterations, and immunophenotypes highlights new opportunities for therapeutic development.

Clinical Outcomes in Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare form of liver cancer primarily affecting children and young adults. Although considered a subset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), FLC has unique molecular and pathologic characteristics, suggesting that it may require different treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used in the treatment of HCC, but efficacy and safety in FLC has not been characterized. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with FLC to determine responses to ICI therapy. Response rates were assessed based on RECIST 1.1 criteria, and Kaplan-Meier statistics were used for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: FLC tumors were characterized by low tumor mutational burden (TMB) and absent PD-L1 expression. We identified 19 patients who received ICIs, including 15 who received ICI therapy alone [programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, +/- cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor]. Objective tumor responses were observed in 3/19 patients (15.8%), including 2/15 patients (13.3%) who received ICIs alone, all partial responses. Median PFS and OS were 5.5 and 26.0 months, respectively. Grade 3-4 immune related adverse events were observed in 4/19 (21.1%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: ICI therapy has modest clinical activity in FLC, and novel therapeutic combinations are needed.

A randomized, phase II trial of oral azacitidine (CC-486) in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma at high risk for recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Of the only 20% of patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (rPDA), cancer recurs in 80% of cases. Epigenetic dysregulation is an early hallmark of cancer cells acquiring metastatic potential, and epigenetic modulators may reactivate tumor suppressor genes, delay recurrence, and sensitize PDA to future chemotherapy. METHODS: This was a randomized phase II study (NCT01845805) of CC-486 (oral DNA methyltransferase inhibitor azacitidine) vs. observation (OBS) in rPDA patients harboring high-risk features (stage pN1-2, R1 margins, or elevated CA 19-9 level) with no evidence of disease following standard adjuvant therapy. Patients were randomized to oral CC-486 treatment (300 mg daily on days 1-21 on a 28-day cycle) or OBS for up to 12 cycles or until disease relapse/unacceptable toxicities. Following recurrence, records of next-line therapies, imaging, and survival were obtained. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS)-time from randomization to recurrence (imaging/biopsy confirmed or death). Secondary endpoints included OS and PFS and ORR and metastatic PFS with subsequent next-line systemic therapy in metastatic setting. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (24 in CC-486 arm, 25 in OBS arm) were randomized: median age 66 (range 36-81), 53% male, 73% node positive, 49% elevated CA 19-9, 20% R1 resection, 63% and 100% received perioperative concurrent chemoradiation and chemotherapy, respectively. Median time from surgery to randomization was 9.6 mo (range 2.9-36.8). For the CC-486 arm, median treatment duration was 5.6 mo (range 1.3 to 12.8) with 14 treatment-related grade 3 or 4 AEs among 5 patients (22%) resulting in dose-reduction. Four patients (17%) discontinued therapy due to AEs. With median follow-up of 20.3mo (IQR 12.8, 41.4), 38 (79%) of evaluable patients recurred (34 imaging-confirmed, 4 clinically). Median PFS in imagining-confirmed cases was 9.2 and 8.9mo (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.46-1.87, p = 0.85) for CC-486 and OBS patients, respectively. Median OS (2-yr OS%) was 33.8 (50%) and 26.4 mo (61%) in CC-486 and OBS patients, respectively. (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.46-2.05, p = 0.96). ORR with subsequent chemotherapy in the metastatic setting was minimal in both arms. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with CC-486 following adjuvant therapy did not prolong time-to-relapse in patients with high-risk rPDA or improve disease response on 1st-line metastatic therapy.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Liver Cancer Staging at a Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Clinic.

To compare liver cancer resectability rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Liver cancers usually present with nonspecific symptoms or are diagnosed through screening programs for at-risk patients, and early detection can improve patient outcomes. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic upended medical care across all specialties, but whether the pandemic was associated with delays in liver cancer diagnosis is not known. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients evaluated at the Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Clinic from January 2019 to June 2021 with a new diagnosis of suspected or confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or biliary tract cancer (BTC). Results: There were 456 liver cancer patients (258 HCC and 198 BTC). From January 2019 to March 2020 (pre-pandemic), the surgical resectability rate was 20%. The subsequent 6 months (early pandemic), the resectability rate decreased to 11%. Afterward from October 2020 to June 2021 (late pandemic), the resectability rate increased to 27%. The resectability rate early pandemic was significantly lower than that for pre-pandemic and later pandemic combined (11% lower; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-20%). There was no significant difference in resectability rates pre-pandemic and later pandemic (7% difference; 95% CI, -3% to 16%). In subgroup analyses, the early pandemic was associated with a larger impact in BTC resectability rates than HCC resectability rates. Time from BTC symptom onset until Multidisciplinary Liver Clinic evaluation increased by over 6 weeks early pandemic versus pre-pandemic (Hazard Ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.91). Conclusions: During the early COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a drop in the percentage of patients presenting with curable liver cancers. This may reflect delays in liver cancer diagnosis and contribute to excess mortality related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epigenetic modifiers synergize with immune-checkpoint blockade to enhance long-lasting antitumor efficacy.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors are firmly established as pillars of cancer therapy, but only a minority of cancer patients currently benefit from these therapies, and therapeutic combinations that can enhance responses are urgently needed. Recently, histone deacetylases (HDACs) have emerged as potential targets for immune modulation, but critical questions remain about their mechanisms of action. In this issue of the JCI, Truong et al. assess whether the HDAC inhibitor entinostat can enhance anti-PD-1 treatment in a bladder cancer model. Entinostat promoted a T cell-inflamed phenotype and had substantial antitumor efficacy when used in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. In addition, the authors showed that HDAC inhibition augmented tumor neoantigen presentation, resulting in the immune editing of tumor antigens. This study highlights a mechanism by which epigenetic modifier agents can synergize with immune-checkpoint blockade for enhanced and long-lasting antitumor activity.

Prognostic Implications of the Immune Tumor Microenvironment in Patients With Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the tumor microenvironment of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors relative to progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS: Immune profiling for CD3, CD8, programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in 2 cohorts of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: patients with short PFS (<4 years, n = 12) versus long PFS (≥4 years, n = 14) after surgery. Immune infiltrates in the tumor and interface were quantified. Programmed death-ligand 1 expression was determined within the tumor, stroma, and interface. RESULTS: Patients with shorter PFS had larger tumors (P = 0.02), mostly in the pancreas (P = 0.04). We observed a higher mean expression of CD3+, CD8+, programmed death-1+ cells, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase at the interface compared with the tumor: log 10 mean differences 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.68; P < 0.0001), 0.45 (95% CI, 0.32-0.59; P = 0.0002), 0.50 (95% CI, 0.40-0.61; P < 0.0001), and 0.24 (95% CI, 0.03-0.46; P = 0.046), respectively. Patients with longer PFS had higher intratumoral CD3+ T cells, log 10 mean difference 0.38 (95% CI, 0.19-0.57; P = 0.004). Programmed death-ligand 1 expression tended to be higher among patients with shortened PFS (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.68-5.91). CONCLUSIONS: Higher intratumoral CD3+ T-cell infiltrate was associated with longer PFS after resection.

A phase 2 trial of gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma with methylated checkpoint with forkhead and ring finger domain promoter and/or microsatellite instability phenotype.

We previously reported CHFR methylation in a subset of colorectal cancer (CRC; ∼30%) with high concordance with microsatellite instability (MSI). We also showed that CHFR methylation predicted for sensitivity to docetaxel, whereas the MSI-high phenotypes were sensitive to gemcitabine. We hypothesized that this subset of patients with CRC would be selectively sensitive to gemcitabine and docetaxel. We enrolled a Phase 2 trial of gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with MSI-high and/or CHFR methylated CRC. The primary objective was Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 response rate. Enrolled patients were treated with gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 70 mg/m2 on day 8 of each 21-day cycle. A total of 6 patients with CHFR-methylated, MSI-high CRC were enrolled from September 2012 to August 2016. The study was closed in September of 2017 due to poor accrual prior to reaching the first interim assessment of response rate, which would have occurred at 10 patients. No RECIST criteria tumor responses were observed, with 3 patients (50%) having stable disease as best response, 1 lasting more than 9 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.79 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, not available [NA]) and median overall survival (OS) was 15.67 months (95% CI = 4.24, NA). Common grade 3 toxicities were lymphopenia (67%), leukopenia (33%), and anemia (33%). Although negative, this study establishes a proof-of-concept for the implementation of epigenetic biomarkers (CHFR methylation/MSI) as inclusion criteria in a prospective clinical trial to optimize combinatorial strategies in the era of personalized medicine. Study Highlights WHAT IS THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC? CHFR silencing via DNA methylation has been suggested to be predictive of taxane sensitivity in diverse tumors. The frequent association of CHFR methylation with microsatellite instability (MSI) suggested a possible combination therapy with gemcitabine, because the MSI phenotype may result in sensitivity to nucleoside analogues. WHAT QUESTION DID THIS STUDY ADDRESS? We hypothesized that metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), which have CHFR methylation and MSI phenotype were sensitive to gemcitabine and docetaxel, and have designed this Phase 2 trial in biomarker-selected mCRC to test this prediction. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE? The study enrolled a molecularly defined subgroup of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and showed that the combination is safe in this population. Nevertheless, due to poor enrollment and early termination, no conclusions on the primary and secondary end points could be made. HOW MIGHT THIS CHANGE CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY OR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE? This study supports the feasibility of implementing DNA methylation markers in a prospective clinical trial and further efforts toward their application as predictive biomarkers for therapeutic agents in defined subsets of patients are warranted.

Implantation of a neoantigen-targeted hydrogel vaccine prevents recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after incomplete resection.

Tumor involvement of major vascular structures limits surgical options in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which in turn limits opportunities for cure. Despite advances in locoregional approaches, there is currently no role for incomplete resection. This study evaluated a gelatinized neoantigen-targeted vaccine applied to a grossly positive resection margin in preventing local recurrence. Incomplete surgical resection was performed in mice bearing syngeneic flank Panc02 tumors, leaving a 1 mm rim adherent to the muscle bed. A previously validated vaccine consisting of neoantigen peptides, a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist and AddaVaxTM (termed PancVax) was embedded in a hyaluronic acid hydrogel and applied to the tumor bed. Tumor remnants, regional lymph nodes, and spleens were analyzed using histology, flow cytometry, gene expression profiling, and ELISPOT assays. The immune microenvironment at the tumor margin after surgery alone was characterized by a transient influx of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), prolonged neutrophil influx, and near complete loss of cytotoxic T cells. Application of PancVax gel was associated with enhanced T cell activation in the draining lymph node and expansion of neoantigen-specific T cells in the spleen. Mice implanted with PancVax gel demonstrated no evidence of residual tumor at two weeks postoperatively and healed incisions at two months postoperatively without local recurrence. In summary, application of PancVax gel at a grossly positive tumor margin led to systemic expansion of neoantigen-specific T cells and effectively prevented local recurrence. These findings support further work into locoregional adjuncts to immune modulation in PDAC.

Precision Cancer Trials With Immunomodulatory Agents: Personalizing Histology Agnostic Approaches.

Advances in high-throughput technologies have yielded impressive insights into the molecular biology behind cancers, resulting in a powerful ally for the development of biomarkers-selected clinical trials, which are critical for translating our genomic knowledge into clinically meaningful outcomes. "Basket studies" or histology-agnostic clinical trials in biomarker-defined populations represent an important research strategy to continue making progress in this field. The recent accelerated US Food and Drug Administration approvals of anti-programmed death 1 pembrolizumab and nivolumab for mismatch repair-deficient cancers, as well as larotrectinib for cancers carrying TRK fusions, support the fundamental premise that some cancers may be best classified based on molecular phenotype and not site of origin. The studies that were conducted showing the efficacy of this approach serve as validation of the basket study paradigm. In the field of immune oncology, the advent of tumor agnostic strategies represents an important step toward discovering biomarkers of response and elucidating mechanisms of treatment efficacy and resistance across a variety of cancer types. We present a review and discussion of the progress in biomarker-defined approaches to drug development in immunology.