Vorasidenib in IDH1- or IDH2-Mutant Low-Grade Glioma.

BACKGROUND: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant grade 2 gliomas are malignant brain tumors that cause considerable disability and premature death. Vorasidenib, an oral brain-penetrant inhibitor of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 enzymes, showed preliminary activity in IDH-mutant gliomas. METHODS: In a double-blind, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients with residual or recurrent grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma who had undergone no previous treatment other than surgery to receive either oral vorasidenib (40 mg once daily) or matched placebo in 28-day cycles. The primary end point was imaging-based progression-free survival according to blinded assessment by an independent review committee. The key secondary end point was the time to the next anticancer intervention. Crossover to vorasidenib from placebo was permitted on confirmation of imaging-based disease progression. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 331 patients were assigned to receive vorasidenib (168 patients) or placebo (163 patients). At a median follow-up of 14.2 months, 226 patients (68.3%) were continuing to receive vorasidenib or placebo. Progression-free survival was significantly improved in the vorasidenib group as compared with the placebo group (median progression-free survival, 27.7 months vs. 11.1 months; hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.56; P<0.001). The time to the next intervention was significantly improved in the vorasidenib group as compared with the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.43; P<0.001). Adverse events of grade 3 or higher occurred in 22.8% of the patients who received vorasidenib and in 13.5% of those who received placebo. An increased alanine aminotransferase level of grade 3 or higher occurred in 9.6% of the patients who received vorasidenib and in no patients who received placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma, vorasidenib significantly improved progression-free survival and delayed the time to the next intervention. (Funded by Servier; INDIGO ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04164901.).

mTORC2 Regulates Amino Acid Metabolism in Cancer by Phosphorylation of the Cystine-Glutamate Antiporter xCT.

Mutations in cancer reprogram amino acid metabolism to drive tumor growth, but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Using an unbiased proteomic screen, we identified mTORC2 as a critical regulator of amino acid metabolism in cancer via phosphorylation of the cystine-glutamate antiporter xCT. mTORC2 phosphorylates serine 26 at the cytosolic N terminus of xCT, inhibiting its activity. Genetic inhibition of mTORC2, or pharmacologic inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, promotes glutamate secretion, cystine uptake, and incorporation into glutathione, linking growth factor receptor signaling with amino acid uptake and utilization. These results identify an unanticipated mechanism regulating amino acid metabolism in cancer, enabling tumor cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

A brave new framework for glioma drug development.

Patients with brain tumours are motivated to participate in clinical trials involving repeat tissue sampling. Normalising the use of neoadjuvant and staged surgical trials necessitates collaboration among patients, regulatory agencies, and researchers. Initial and repetitive tissue sampling plays a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of resistance mechanisms and vulnerabilities in brain tumour therapy. Standardising biopsy techniques and ensuring technical uniformity across institutions are vital for effective interinstitutional collaboration. Although liquid biopsy technologies hold promise, they are not yet ready to replace tissue analysis. Clear communication about the risks and benefits of biopsies is essential, particularly regarding potential postoperative deficits. Changes in mindset and neurosurgical culture are imperative to achieve much needed breakthroughs in the development of new, effective therapies for brain tumours.

RANO 2.0 criteria: concepts applicable to the neuroradiologist's clinical practice.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) 2.0 criteria aim at improving the standardization and reliability of treatment response assessment in clinical trials studying central nervous system (CNS) gliomas. This review presents the evidence supporting RANO 2.0 updates and discusses which concepts can be applicable to the clinical practice, particularly in the clinical radiographic reads. RECENT FINDINGS: Updates in RANO 2.0 were supported by recent retrospective analyses of multicenter data from recent clinical trials. As proposed in RANO 2.0, in tumors receiving radiation therapy, the post-RT MRI scan should be used as a reference baseline for the following scans, as opposed to the pre-RT scan, and radiographic findings suggesting progression within three months after radiation therapy completion should be verified with confirmatory scans. Volumetric assessments should be considered, when available, especially for low-grade gliomas, and the evaluation of nonenhancing disease should have a marginal role in glioblastoma. However, the radiographic reads in the clinical setting also benefit from aspects that lie outside RANO 2.0 criteria, such as qualitative evaluations, patient-specific clinical considerations, and advanced imaging. SUMMARY: While RANO 2.0 criteria are meant for the standardization of the response assessment in clinical trials, some concepts have the potential to improve patients' management in the clinical practice.

dCas9/CRISPR-based methylation of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase enhances chemosensitivity to temozolomide in malignant glioma.

BACKGROUND: Malignant glioma carries a poor prognosis despite current therapeutic modalities. Standard of care therapy consists of surgical resection, fractionated radiotherapy concurrently administered with temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA-alkylating chemotherapeutic agent, followed by adjuvant TMZ. O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme, removes alkylated lesions from tumor DNA, thereby promoting chemoresistance. MGMT promoter methylation status predicts responsiveness to TMZ; patients harboring unmethylated MGMT (~60% of glioblastoma) have a poorer prognosis with limited treatment benefits from TMZ. METHODS: Via lentiviral-mediated delivery into LN18 glioma cells, we employed deactivated Cas9-CRISPR technology to target the MGMT promoter and enhancer regions for methylation, as mediated by the catalytic domain of the methylation enzyme DNMT3A. Methylation patterns were examined at a clonal level in regions containing Differentially Methylation Regions (DMR1, DMR2) and the Methylation Specific PCR (MSP) region used for clinical assessment of MGMT methylation status. Correlative studies of genomic and transcriptomic effects of dCas9/CRISPR-based methylation were performed via Illumina 850K methylation array platform and bulk RNA-Seq analysis. RESULTS: We used the dCas9/DNMT3A catalytic domain to achieve targeted MGMT methylation at specific CpG clusters in the vicinity of promoter, enhancer, DMRs and MSP regions. Consequently, we observed MGMT downregulation and enhanced glioma chemosensitivity in survival assays in vitro, with minimal off-target effects. CONCLUSION: dCas9/CRISPR is a viable method of epigenetic editing, using the DNMT3A catalytic domain. This study provides initial proof-of-principle for CRISPR technology applications in malignant glioma, laying groundwork for subsequent translational studies, with implications for future epigenetic editing-based clinical applications.

Diffusion MRI is superior to quantitative T2-FLAIR mismatch in predicting molecular subtypes of human non-enhancing gliomas.

PURPOSE: This study compared the classification performance of normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC) with percentage T2-FLAIR mismatch-volume (%T2FM-volume) for differentiating between IDH-mutant astrocytoma (IDHm-A) and other glioma molecular subtypes. METHODS: A total of 105 non-enhancing gliomas were studied. T2-FLAIR digital subtraction maps were used to identify T2FM and T2-FLAIR non-mismatch (T2FNM) subregions within tumor volumes of interest (VOIs). Median nADC from the whole tumor, T2FM, and T2NFM subregions and %T2FM-volume were obtained. IDHm-A classification analyses using receiver-operating characteristic curves and multiple logistic regression were performed in addition to exploratory survival analyses. RESULTS: T2FM subregions had significantly higher nADC than T2FNM subregions within IDHm-A with ≥ 25% T2FM-volume (P < 0.0001). IDHm-A with ≥ 25% T2FM-volume demonstrated significantly higher whole tumor nADC compared to IDHm-A with < 25% T2FM-volume (P < 0.0001), and both IDHm-A subgroups demonstrated significantly higher nADC compared to IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma and IDH-wild-type gliomas (P < 0.05). For classification of IDHm-A vs. other gliomas, the area under curve (AUC) of nADC was significantly greater compared to the AUC of %T2FM-volume (P = 0.01, nADC AUC = 0.848, %T2FM-volume AUC = 0.714) along with greater sensitivity. In exploratory survival analyses within IDHm-A, %T2FM-volume was not associated with overall survival (P = 0.2), but there were non-significant trends for nADC (P = 0.07) and tumor volume (P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: T2-FLAIR subtraction maps are useful for characterizing IDHm-A imaging characteristics. nADC outperforms %T2FM-volume for classifying IDHm-A amongst non-enhancing gliomas with preserved high specificity and increased sensitivity, which may be related to inherent diffusivity differences regardless of T2FM. In line with previous findings on visual T2FM-sign, quantitative %T2FM-volume may not be prognostic.

Amine-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging in brain tumors.

Amine-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly valuable as an amine- and pH-sensitive imaging technique in brain tumors, targeting the intrinsically high concentration of amino acids with exchangeable amine protons and reduced extracellular pH in brain tumors. Amine-weighted CEST MRI contrast is dependent on the glioma genotype, likely related to differences in degree of malignancy and metabolic behavior. Amine-weighted CEST MRI may provide complementary value to anatomic imaging in conventional and exploratory therapies in brain tumors, including chemoradiation, antiangiogenic therapies, and immunotherapies. Continual improvement and clinical testing of amine-weighted CEST MRI has the potential to greatly impact patients with brain tumors by understanding vulnerabilities in the tumor microenvironment that may be therapeutically exploited.

ABTC-0904: targeting glioma stem cells in GBM: a phase 0/II study of hedgehog pathway inhibitor GDC-0449.

PURPOSE: Gliomagenesis and resistance of glioblastoma (GBM) are believed to be mediated by glioma stem cells (GSC). Evidence suggests that SHH signaling promotes GSC proliferation and self-renewal. METHODS: ABTC-0904 was a two-arm, multicenter phase 0/II study of GDC-0449, an oral inhibitor of Smoothened (SMO) in patients undergoing resection for recurrent GBM. All patients (Arms I and II) had surgery and received drug post-operatively. Only patients in Arm I received drug prior to surgery. The primary objective was to determine 6-month progression free survival (PFS-6). Secondary endpoints include median PFS (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS), response rate, and toxicity. Correlative studies included bioanalysis of GDC-0449, and inhibition of SHH signaling, GSC proliferation and self-renewal. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were enrolled. Pharmacokinetics of GDC-0449 in plasma demonstrated levels within expected therapeutic range in 75% of patients. The proportion of tumorcells producing CD133+ neurospheres, neurosphere proliferation, self-renewal, and expression of the SHh downstream signaling was significantly decreased in Arm I following GDC-0449 treatment (p < 0.005; p < 0.001 respectively) compared to Arm II (no drug pre-op). Treatment was well tolerated. There were no objective responders in either arm. Overall PFS-6 was 2.4% (95% CI 0.9-11.1%). Median PFS was 2.3 months (95% CI 1.9-2.6) and mOS was 7.8 months (95% CI 5.4-10.1). CONCLUSIONS: GDC-0449 was well tolerated, reached tumor, and inhibited CD133+ neurosphere formation, but had little clinical efficacy as a single agent in rGBM. This suggests growth and maintenance of rGBM is not solely dependent on the SHH pathway thus targeting SMO may require combined approaches.

Multi-nuclear sodium, diffusion, and perfusion MRI in human gliomas.

PURPOSE: There is limited knowledge about the associations between sodium and proton MRI measurements in brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to quantify intra- and intertumoral correlations between sodium, diffusion, and perfusion MRI in human gliomas. METHODS: Twenty glioma patients were prospectively studied on a 3T MRI system with multinuclear capabilities. Three mutually exclusive tumor volumes of interest (VOIs) were segmented: contrast-enhancing tumor (CET), T2/FLAIR hyperintense non-enhancing tumor (NET), and necrosis. Median and voxel-wise associations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), normalized relative cerebral blood volume (nrCBV), and normalized sodium measurements were quantified for each VOI. RESULTS: Both relative sodium concentration and ADC were significantly higher in areas of necrosis compared to NET (P = 0.003 and P = 0.008, respectively) and CET (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02). Sodium concentration was higher in CET compared to NET (P = 0.04). Sodium and ADC were higher in treated compared to treatment-naïve gliomas within NET (P = 0.006 and P = 0.01, respectively), and ADC was elevated in CET (P = 0.03). Median ADC and sodium concentration were positively correlated across patients in NET (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001) and CET (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001), but not in areas of necrosis (r = 0.45, P = 0.12). Median nrCBV and sodium concentration were negatively correlated across patients in areas of NET (r=-0.63, P = 0.003). Similar associations were observed when examining voxel-wise correlations within VOIs. CONCLUSION: Sodium MRI is positively correlated with proton diffusion MRI measurements in gliomas, likely reflecting extracellular water. Unique areas of multinuclear MRI contrast may be useful in future studies to understand the chemistry of the tumor microenvironment.

Simultaneous quantification of perfusion, permeability, and leakage effects in brain gliomas using dynamic spin-and-gradient-echo echoplanar imaging MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and biologic correlations of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE), and quantitative maps derived from contrast leakage effects obtained simultaneously in gliomas using dynamic spin-and-gradient-echo echoplanar imaging (dynamic SAGE-EPI) during a single contrast injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with enhancing brain gliomas were prospectively imaged with dynamic SAGE-EPI, which was processed to compute traditional DSC metrics (normalized relative cerebral blood flow [nrCBV], percentage of signal recovery [PSR]), DCE metrics (volume transfer constant [Ktrans], extravascular compartment [ve]), and leakage effect metrics: ΔR2,ss* (reflecting T2*-leakage effects), ΔR1,ss (reflecting T1-leakage effects), and the transverse relaxivity at tracer equilibrium (TRATE, reflecting the balance between ΔR2,ss* and ΔR1,ss). These metrics were compared between patient subgroups (treatment-naïve [TN] vs recurrent [R]) and biological features (IDH status, Ki67 expression). RESULTS: In IDH wild-type gliomas (IDHwt-i.e., glioblastomas), previous exposure to treatment determined lower TRATE (p = 0.002), as well as higher PSR (p = 0.006), Ktrans (p = 0.17), ΔR1,ss (p = 0.035), ve (p = 0.006), and ADC (p = 0.016). In IDH-mutant gliomas (IDHm), previous treatment determined higher Ktrans and ΔR1,ss (p = 0.026). In TN-gliomas, dynamic SAGE-EPI metrics tended to be influenced by IDH status (p ranging 0.09-0.14). TRATE values above 142 mM-1s-1 were exclusively seen in TN-IDHwt, and, in TN-gliomas, this cutoff had 89% sensitivity and 80% specificity as a predictor of Ki67 > 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic SAGE-EPI enables simultaneous quantification of brain tumor perfusion and permeability, as well as mapping of novel metrics related to cytoarchitecture (TRATE) and blood-brain barrier disruption (ΔR1,ss), with a single contrast injection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Simultaneous DSC and DCE analysis with dynamic SAGE-EPI reduces scanning time and contrast dose, respectively alleviating concerns about imaging protocol length and gadolinium adverse effects and accumulation, while providing novel leakage effect metrics reflecting blood-brain barrier disruption and tumor tissue cytoarchitecture. KEY POINTS: • Traditionally, perfusion and permeability imaging for brain tumors requires two separate contrast injections and acquisitions. • Dynamic spin-and-gradient-echo echoplanar imaging enables simultaneous perfusion and permeability imaging. • Dynamic spin-and-gradient-echo echoplanar imaging provides new image contrasts reflecting blood-brain barrier disruption and cytoarchitecture characteristics.

The Future Glioblastoma Clinical Trials Landscape: Early Phase 0, Window of Opportunity, and Adaptive Phase I-III Studies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Innovative clinical trial designs for glioblastoma (GBM) are needed to expedite drug discovery. Phase 0, window of opportunity, and adaptive designs have been proposed, but their advanced methodologies and underlying biostatistics are not widely known. This review summarizes phase 0, window of opportunity, and adaptive phase I-III clinical trial designs in GBM tailored to physicians. RECENT FINDINGS: Phase 0, window of opportunity, and adaptive trials are now being implemented for GBM. These trials can remove ineffective therapies earlier during drug development and improve trial efficiency. There are two ongoing adaptive platform trials: GBM Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment (GBM AGILE) and the INdividualized Screening trial of Innovative GBM Therapy (INSIGhT). The future clinical trials landscape in GBM will increasingly involve phase 0, window of opportunity, and adaptive phase I-III studies. Continued collaboration between physicians and biostatisticians will be critical for implementing these trial designs.

EGFR Mutation Promotes Glioblastoma through Epigenome and Transcription Factor Network Remodeling.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification and mutations are the most common oncogenic events in glioblastoma (GBM), but the mechanisms by which they promote aggressive tumor growth are not well understood. Here, through integrated epigenome and transcriptome analyses of cell lines, genotyped clinical samples, and TCGA data, we show that EGFR mutations remodel the activated enhancer landscape of GBM, promoting tumorigenesis through a SOX9 and FOXG1-dependent transcriptional regulatory network in vitro and in vivo. The most common EGFR mutation, EGFRvIII, sensitizes GBM cells to the BET-bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 in a SOX9, FOXG1-dependent manner. These results identify the role of transcriptional/epigenetic remodeling in EGFR-dependent pathogenesis and suggest a mechanistic basis for epigenetic therapy.

The dopamine receptor antagonist trifluoperazine prevents phenotype conversion and improves survival in mouse models of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest adult brain cancer, and all patients ultimately succumb to the disease. Radiation therapy (RT) provides survival benefit of 6 mo over surgery alone, but these results have not improved in decades. We report that radiation induces a glioma-initiating cell phenotype, and we have identified trifluoperazine (TFP) as a compound that interferes with this phenotype conversion. TFP causes loss of radiation-induced Nanog mRNA expression, and activation of GSK3 with consecutive posttranslational reduction in p-Akt, Sox2, and ß-catenin protein levels. TFP did not alter the intrinsic radiation sensitivity of glioma-initiating cells (GICs). Continuous treatment with TFP and a single dose of radiation reduced the number of GICs in vivo and prolonged survival in syngeneic and patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models of GBM. Our findings suggest that the combination of a dopamine receptor antagonist with radiation enhances the efficacy of RT in GBM by preventing radiation-induced phenotype conversion of radiosensitive non-GICs into treatment-resistant, induced GICs (iGICs).

Relapse patterns and radiation dose exposure in IDH wild-type glioblastoma at first radiographic recurrence following chemoradiation.

PURPOSE: To quantify the radiation dose distribution and lesion morphometry (shape) at baseline, prior to chemoradiation, and at the time of radiographic recurrence in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). METHODS: The IMRT dose distribution, location of the center of mass, sphericity, and solidity of the contrast enhancing tumor at baseline and the time of tumor recurrence was quantified in 48 IDH wild-type GBM who underwent postoperative IMRT (2 Gy daily for total of 60 Gy) with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. RESULTS: Average radiation dose within enhancing tumor at baseline and recurrence was ≥ 60 Gy. Centroid location of the enhancing tumor shifted an average of 11.3 mm at the time of recurrence with respect to pre-IMRT location. A positive correlation was observed between change in centroid location and PFS in MGMT methylated patients (P = 0.0007) and Cox multivariate regression confirmed centroid distance from baseline was associated with PFS when accounting for clinical factors (P = 0.0189). Lesion solidity was higher at recurrence compared to baseline (P = 0.0118). Tumors that progressed > 12 weeks after IMRT were significantly more spherical (P = 0.0094). CONCLUSION: Most GBMs recur local within therapeutic IMRT doses; however, tumors with longer PFS occurred further from the original tumor location and were more solid and/or nodular.

Incidence, molecular characteristics, and imaging features of "clinically-defined pseudoprogression" in newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with chemoradiation.

PURPOSE: Pseudoprogression (PsP) remains an elusive and clinically important, yet ill-defined, phenomena that, generally, involves a period of early radiographic progression (enhancement) followed by a period of radiographic stability or regression. In the current study, we utilized data from the control arm of a phase III clinical trial in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma to explore imaging characteristics of "clinically-defined PsP", or early radiographic progression (PFS < 6 months from chemoradiation) followed by a long post-progression residual overall survival (ROS > 12 months). METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine patients with newly-diagnosed GBM from the control arm of the AVAglio trial (NCT00943826) who presented with early radiographic progressive disease (PD) (< 6 months) were included. Clinical characteristics, topographical patterns, and radiomic features were compared between newly-diagnosed GBM exhibiting early PD and early death (< 12-month ROS, "true PD") with those exhibiting early PD and a long residual survival (> 12-month ROS, "clinically-defined PsP"). RESULTS: "Clinically-defined PsP" occurred to 38.5% of patients with early PD, and was more associated with MGMT methylation (P = 0.02), younger age (P = 0.003), better neurological performance (P = 0.01), and lower contrast-enhancing tumor volume (P = 0.002) at baseline. GBM showing "true PD" occurred more frequently in the right internal capsule, thalamus, lentiform nucleus, and temporal lobe than those with "clinical PsP". Radiomic analysis predicted "clinical PsP" with > 70% accuracy on the validation dataset. CONCLUSION: Patients with early PD that eventually exhibit "clinically-defined PsP" have distinct clinical, molecular, and MRI characteristics. This information may be useful for treating clinicians to better understand the potential risks and outcome in patients exhibiting early radiographic changes following chemoradiation.

Leveraging external data in the design and analysis of clinical trials in neuro-oncology.

Integration of external control data, with patient-level information, in clinical trials has the potential to accelerate the development of new treatments in neuro-oncology by contextualising single-arm studies and improving decision making (eg, early stopping decisions). Based on a series of presentations at the 2020 Clinical Trials Think Tank hosted by the Society of Neuro-Oncology, we provide an overview on the use of external control data representative of the standard of care in the design and analysis of clinical trials. High-quality patient-level records, rigorous methods, and validation analyses are necessary to effectively leverage external data. We review study designs, statistical methods, risks, and potential distortions in using external data from completed trials and real-world data, as well as data sources, data sharing models, ongoing work, and applications in glioblastoma.

Preferential tumor localization in relation to 18F-FDOPA uptake for lower-grade gliomas.

PURPOSE: Although tumor localization and 3,4-dihydroxy-6-18F-fluoro-L-phenylalanine (FDOPA) uptake may have an association, preferential tumor localization in relation to FDOPA uptake is yet to be investigated in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs). This study aimed to identify differences in the frequency of tumor localization between FDOPA hypometabolic and hypermetabolic LGGs using a probabilistic radiographic atlas. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with newly diagnosed LGG (WHO grade II, 29; III, 22; isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type, 21; mutant 1p19q non-codeleted,16; mutant codeleted, 14) who underwent FDOPA positron emission tomography (PET) were retrospectively selected. Semiautomated tumor segmentation on FLAIR was performed. Patients with LGGs were separated into two groups (FDOPA hypometabolic and hypermetabolic LGGs) according to the normalized maximum standardized uptake value of FDOPA PET (a threshold of the uptake in the striatum) within the segmented regions. Spatial normalization procedures to build a 3D MRI-based atlas using each segmented region were validated by an analysis of differential involvement statistical mapping. RESULTS: Superimposition of regions of interest showed a high number of hypometabolic LGGs localized in the frontal lobe, while a high number of hypermetabolic LGGs was localized in the insula, putamen, and temporal lobe. The statistical mapping revealed that hypometabolic LGGs occurred more frequently in the superior frontal gyrus (close to the supplementary motor area), while hypermetabolic LGGs occurred more frequently in the insula. CONCLUSION: Radiographic atlases revealed preferential frontal lobe localization for FDOPA hypometabolic LGGs, which may be associated with relatively early detection.

Relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF) MR imaging reveals higher hypoxia in human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplified compared with non-amplified gliomas.

PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification promotes gliomagenesis and is linked to lack of oxygen within the tumor microenvironment. Using hypoxia-sensitive spin-and-gradient echo echo-planar imaging and perfusion MRI, we investigated the influence of EGFR amplification on tissue oxygen availability and utilization in human gliomas. METHODS: This study included 72 histologically confirmed EGFR-amplified and non-amplified glioma patients. Reversible transverse relaxation rate (R2'), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF) were calculated for the contrast-enhancing and non-enhancing tumor regions. Using Student t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, median R2', rCBV, and rOEF were compared between EGFR-amplified and non-amplified gliomas. ROC analysis was performed to assess the ability of imaging characteristics to discriminate EGFR amplification status. Overall survival (OS) was determined using univariate and multivariate cox models. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: EGFR amplified gliomas exhibited significantly higher median R2' and rOEF than non-amplified gliomas. ROC analysis suggested that R2' (AUC = 0.7190; P = 0.0048) and rOEF (AUC = 0.6959; P = 0.0156) could separate EGFR status. Patients with EGFR-amplified gliomas had a significantly shorter OS than non-amplified patients. Univariate cox regression analysis determined both R2' and rOEF significantly influence OS. No significant difference was observed in rCBV between patient cohorts nor was rCBV found to be an effective differentiator of EGFR status. CONCLUSION: Imaging of tumor oxygen characteristics revealed EGFR-amplified gliomas to be more hypoxic and contribute to shorter patient survival than EGFR non-amplified gliomas.

mTORC2 links growth factor signaling with epigenetic regulation of iron metabolism in glioblastoma.

In cancer, aberrant growth factor receptor signaling reprograms cellular metabolism and global gene transcription to drive aggressive growth, but the underlying mechanisms are not well-understood. Here we show that in the highly lethal brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM), mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), a critical core component of the growth factor signaling system, couples acetyl-CoA production with nuclear translocation of histone-modifying enzymes including pyruvate dehydrogenase and class IIa histone deacetylases to globally alter histone acetylation. Integrated analyses in orthotopic mouse models and in clinical GBM samples reveal that mTORC2 controls iron metabolisms via histone H3 acetylation of the iron-related gene promoter, promoting tumor cell survival. These results nominate mTORC2 as a critical epigenetic regulator of iron metabolism in cancer.

A phase 1 study of PF-06840003, an oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.

Background PF-06840003 is a highly selective indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO1) inhibitor with antitumor effects in preclinical models. This first-in-human phase 1 study evaluated safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy in recurrent malignant glioma to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Methods Patients (N = 17) received oral PF-06840003 in four dose-escalation groups: 125 mg once-daily (QD; n = 2); 250 mg QD (n = 4); 250 mg twice-daily (BID; n = 3); 500 mg BID (n = 8). A modified toxicity probability interval method determined the MTD. Results Four patients experienced serious adverse events (SAEs); one with treatment-related SAEs (grade 4 alanine and aspartate aminotransferase elevations). The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate at 500 mg BID was 12.5% (n = 1/8); the MTD was not reached. Following PF-06840003 dosing, median time to maximum plasma concentration for the active enantiomer PF-06840002 was 1.5-3.0 hr and mean elimination half-life was 2 to 4 hr (Cycle 1 Day 1). Urinary recovery of PF-06840002 was low (< 1%). At 500 mg BID, maximum mean percentage inhibition of 13C10 kynurenine vs endogenous kynurenine was 75% vs 24%. PF-06840002 CSF-to-plasma ratio was 1.00. Disease control occurred in eight patients (47%). Mean duration of stable disease (SD) was 32.1 (12.1-72.3) weeks. Two patients with SD discontinued the study at 450 and 561 days and continued PF-06840003 on compassionate use. Conclusion PF­06840003 up to 500 mg BID was generally well tolerated with evidence of a pharmacodynamic effect and durable clinical benefit in a subset of patients with recurrent malignant glioma. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02764151, registered April 2016.